#no high roofs anywhere near me and that would be really bad if i survived

[scarletcomet]

lil rant in tags. trigger warning for suicidal thoughts and that kind of stuff. if you feel like reading it please be aware of pretty detailed descriptions so please be careful. (also don’t worry i’m fine and not actually going to do anything. just needed to get my thoughts out)

[moxfirefly]

I have to thank @southernblossoms for this one, she got evil!Leo in my brain and he hasn’t left ever since.

TW: Violence, Gore, Blood, NSFW content below

Rated Explicit (18+ years)

“She said I'm looking like a bad man, smooth criminal

She said my spirit doesn't move like it did before

She said that I don't look like me no more, no more

I said I'm just tired”

Leonardo always knew there was an inch inside of him that was darkness.

If left alone and unchecked, it would spread. Fester like some disease and he feared that someday he’d allow it to course through his body so freely.

And let it win.

It seemed today would be that unfortunate day. A night like any other, just more bloodshed than necessary. But hey, who said they should go and kill his father? Torture him to such an extent and string up his body for his brothers and him to find.

In that very moment that inch had grown in his soul to a degree that it blinded him. All he knew was to destroy, to hurt and erase those who had done this. He felt so cold, hands cupping his fathers motionless bloodied feet, the gentle tapping of blood and the cries of his brothers echoing in his ears.

So when Leo stood, bloodied (not bathed in his own), holding the head of the monster responsible, how could he regain peace? This had only brought a momentary second of reprieve and it was so fleeting. He looked into Shredder’s lifeless eyes, numbness spreading but a need that had started out as an inch. A need to kill everyone who had been part of this, directly or indirectly.

They all deserved so much worse.

They all deserved death.

Slow and torturous.

He had disappeared after that night. His brothers knew that this was the end of their leader, of their beloved brother who wanted to believe that good in this world could prevail.

For them they never imagined that Leo would just let the darkness take hold of him, nestle him with such a loving embrace. For him to embrace it right back felt justified, for his brothers it painted the gory picture of things to come.

They never expected to meet him in the opposition. To view him as foe and not family. Leonardo had quickly taken hold of the scum of the earth. He had molded the darkness to serve him.

Raphael thought Shredder was their worst enemy.

He never expected to have Leo claim that spot in a matter of months.

The Foot had fallen under his ruling, and he wasted no time in setting examples, and the bloody path those examples left behind never seized to churn the brothers stomachs.

There was no means of bringing him back, and perhaps it’s for the better.

Because whatever has eaten away inside of Leonardo cannot simply be flushed out of his body, nor ripped from his very soul. The body counts too high by now as he strays further and further away from what he was taught.

From what his father taught him...

_______________

You run with the unsavories. An eat or be eaten mentality that has caused you to survive years and years of gang wars and mutant freaks. Not like you’d throw about that last bit, much less when you’re standing single file, close to pissing yourself because he’s there.

And Christ he’s a sight to behold.

A rumor, a legend, a monster.

You tell him you’ve got valuable info, you know where to follow the trail that’ll lead to success. Even when your partner tries to push his chin up in front of Leonardo, you’re already wincing at what his demise will be shaped in.

Leo really loves cutting heads off.

A strong emphasis on loves.

You swallow, eyes flying anywhere but the rapidly growing puddle of blood that approaches your feet. Even then, your eyes stray towards the newest leader of the Foot, Leo punctures his katana into the head, a crude skewer as he lifts it and examines the severed body part as if answers lie in the gush of blood that falls. Those dark blue eyes move on you, you swallow.

He walks over to you, blade in hand, blood tap tapping onto the ground “Your information” Leo’s voice is weightless, bored almost. You motion towards your pocket, the crumpled up note with a poorly drawn map the key to your salvation. Leo reaches his hand in and you’re still, stiff and frightened by the intrusive touch and his proximity.

He pulls the note out and examines, the ghastly expression of horror on the decapitated head so close you can smell the coppery scent. “Can you get more of this? The coordinantes?” You crane your neck to look at him, his stature imposing. “Yeah, I’m your girl for that shit, swear on it” He flicks the blade and the sound of the head rolling makes your stomach flip flop along with it.

You feel the tip of a bloodied katana on your chin.

“Don’t make me cut off such a pretty head, hm?” You want to nod but the blade digs and Leo’s mouth twitches in something akin to a smirk. The small cut to your chin stings, but you wonder why other parts of you vibrate.

The danger, the adrenaline, Leonardo.

_____________

Your next meeting doesn’t quell your nervousness. Leonardo is an impressive sight as always and it’s imposible to ignore that maybe you won’t make it out alive every time you both meet. Unless proven useful, which you take to heart. You bring all sorts of information, names, rumors, possible gangs wanting to take him on, the police. Any word you heard in regards to him.

“It’s possible they might try to meet you half way, catch you off guard” The warehouse is chilly, that fall weather starting to hit but Leo’s unfazed, the black tails of his mask move with the gust of winds. “Stupid of them to assume that” The second floor of the warehouse seems to be his own, leaving the rest of the crew bellow. He sits on the windowsill, cloth running up his katana, it had been bloody when you were brought in.

“I’m just repeating what I heard, I’m sure you’re more than adept to take them on” You stick your hands in the pockets of your jacket, you’d been frisked not like you were stupid enough to bring a weapon to this.

But then again, the more he polished that sword, the more you wished you had something.

“What else have you heard? Any word on Karai?” The woman in question had appeared to have disappeared into thin air after Shredder’s death and Leo taking command of the Foot soldiers. Wether she planned to reclaim what was hers or if she had simply quit was beyond you and anybody else. “Nothing on her, she might’ve skipped town or the country” You offered, eyes following the sword as Leo placed it on a nearby table.

“She strike you as the type? A coward?” He walked over towards you, his expression so eerily unreadable.

Yet, your eyes wandered over him. Over muscle and scales. Overs scars and bruises. That illogical part of your brain making you wonder and fantasize, because fear could be exciting.

There was something exciting about Leonardo.

“Well?” He was in front of you, looking down at you. It hits you how minuscule you must look to him.

“Probably plotting? You did murder her dad” You find his eyes, you swallow.

“Well he murdered mine. Eye for an eye...” He spoke gently almost.

“Makes the whole world go blind” You finished for him, and maybe that was stepping on a line but you noticed the corner of his mouth twitch up. For a brief second you catch his eyes scan yours, move across your face and settle at your lips.

Passed your neck, towards your breasts.

He turns around and grabs his sword.

“One week, find more info on her, your pay is downstairs” You’re dismissed and before you process anything a Foot soldier is ushering you downstairs and shoving an envelope in your hands.

That night you dream about what your lips might feel like against reptilian scales.

—————————

Karai’s whereabouts are practically unheard off. If there was a trail it had run cold months back and judging from the word of mouth being passed around there wasn’t anything sustainable. You dig up anything and everybody. Every dirt bag with an agenda, ex Foot soldiers, opposing gangs, the mob and just about anybody you have in your radar.

It yields nothing.

You can’t return to Leo with nothing.

Rubbing a hand across your tired face, you make your way through the back alleys of the city. Your one week was coming up and all you had were weak possibilities and baseless assumptions. In your line of business enough information to create doubt can go a long way, but this was conspiracy levels bad.

So you thought and you thought quick.

Pulling out your phone you called him first. Perhaps a dumb move but at the same time you figured it showed that you were trying. You asked if the two of you could meet, the line briefly went quiet before your text tone startled you. He hung up and you were met with the address of a building in Brooklyn and to go up to the roof.

To say you were scared was to put it lightly.

You were shitting yourself.

The roof of the building had a green house which seemed unused but it looked like it was being kept up with the vegetation still green and alive. Your hand made for the door knob but something you could only name as a sixth sense made you freeze.

Leo was there, the shift in the atmosphere was impossible to deny. Your turned and blinked.

Wherever he had been, it must’ve been worse. There was blood on him, a fresh gash by his arm and the steady drip drip of blood hitting the concrete. “Jesus are you...?” You knew he was ok, but whomever had been on the receiving end of this had it by far much worse.

“Inside, go inside” He motioned for the green house and you did. Your eyes scanned around hoping to find something to help with. There was a nest of sorts in a corner, several blankets and cushions, a table and a chair amidst the plants. You found what you were looking for near the bonsais, a shelf with a box of first aid. Leo went towards a counter with a basin and a jar of water, he went about cleaning the gash on his arm.

You approached him with the box of first aid, blue eyes were cautious as you took out antiseptic and gauze. Leo had turned to face you, giving you more room to work on his arm as you bandaged it. “You alright?” Your voice held hesitation, Leo’s questioning gaze turned to amusement. “I’m fine, what I want to know is why you wanted to meet” You finished bandaging him and took a step back.

Pick your words wisely, you thought with a slight shutter.

“Listen I’ve spoken with any and everyone who might have any clue but Karai is off the radar”Swallowing a lump in your throat you shrugged off your jacket, worry manifesting in heat. “I know this isn’t what you wanted and I’m really fucking good at my job but this bitch is either underground or who knows! Dead for all I know!” The exasperation and worry was clear as day, he either took this the right way or the wrong way.

Wrong way being you end up pushed off this very building, at best ironically enough.

Leo swallowed the information, clearly bouncing it around his head. The dry specks of blood scattered across his green flesh. An odd silence fell amongst you both and even when he rose in all his imposing glory you kept your eyes focused on him. Getting a read on that cold calculated gaze of his was hard enough.

Your throat feels painfully dry once he has you backed up against the wall. Something about dying alone with not even an audience to witness it didn’t sit too right with you.

But then again, Leo’s large hand gripped your neck, nothing too tight but enough to alert you to its presence. Those blue eyes looked haunted but just beneath that laid something you couldn’t just place your finger on. The tips of his fingers lightly caressed you, one of them fascinated with your quickened pulse. You can’t blink, unsure what may happen and when he dips down your adrenaline makes you flinch.

Leo halts his movement, his blood feels like it’s pumping loudly enough for you to hear. Wide eyed you lean up instead and ghost your lips against his, Leo sighs through his nostrils and it stays that way. A pull but not enough of a push because there’s still fear in your blood and a hesitation that you can’t put a name to from Leonardo.

Your phone going off startles you, nearly making you jump out of your skin and to a fraction of your dismay Leo takes a step away. One of your contacts name flashed on the screen which meant there could still be some good news. Your turned away to speak, pulling a marker from your pocket you write down some information on your forearm. It’s a quick conversation and once done you turn to see Leo putting together his gear again.

You bit your lip, whatever was about to happen would just have to take a back seat. ‘Fucking coward’ you can’t help but think about yourself.

“One of my guys says he might have it on good authority that Karai is still here” You watch him turn his head to listen, even if he’s got his back/shell to you. “Well?” He pushes while adjusting his swords.

“He says she might’ve just met up with...with one of your brothers” Tense doesn’t even begin to explain what his body did, the mear mention of his family was a sore subject and you had been warned to not even attempt to open that can of worms. Swallowing and feeling your throat stick from how dry it felt you see him pull out a key and toss it to you. “Send me that address, you’ll get your money at the warehouse” You barely manage to catch the key to the greenhouse, but still you raise a brow at the offering.

“Come back here when you’re ready” Is all he says about it, confusion is painted on your face but when he moved to leave he takes a moment to hold your chin. “Don’t make me regret this” He says and before you can attempt to ask he’s gone.

You stay there, twenty minutes or so in nothing but your thoughts and his words swimming around your mind.

Feeling heat between your legs and a lick of frustration consuming you.

_____________

Two weeks you contemplate the key in your pocket.

Two weeks you let your thumb hover over his number but never press down.

For two weeks you find your pillow between your legs, trying to reach the sensation he managed with just his body close to yours.

But nothing.

It’s not enough.

New York is covered in rain as you make your way through the sea of people. Regardless of the many umbrellas you still get soaked and by the time you’re up on that roof, hand digging out the key to the green house you’re drenched.

Inside you shake off the excess and remove your jacket. The cold hits you and you can’t help but feel silly that you’re here, maybe this is his way of taking you out, you’re not needed anymore by now you assume.

You turn on the few lanterns that are scattered through the room. Kicking off your boots you rub your arms and shiver, flesh breaking out into goosebumps as the door creaks open once more.

Leo’s equally drenched when he steps through, the black tails of his mask sticking to him. The two of you just stare at one another, steady drips of water and the rain outside picking up more strengh.

Carefully you watch him begin take apart his gear, leaving his katanas by the door. He’s trying to keep your apprehension at low levels, his steps slow and soft. You let your arms fall to your sides and as your heart tries to hammer out of your chest you don’t flinch this time, even as his hands go for the hem of your long sleeve. You take a deep breath as his eyes wander across your now exposed flesh. The fascination goes straight to your core, feeling yourself warm up as his hands rest on your stomach.

With trembling hands you unbutton your jeans and step out of them and the inhale Leo takes as he closes his eyes makes you reach for him. He holds you against him and sighs, large frame shuddering at the feel of your skin against his reptilian one. He buries his snout against your neck, breathing harder as his hands run all over your back and rear. Leo grips and kneads the flesh and a groan escapes against your ear that makes your wrap your arms around his neck. He feels the softness of your breasts against his chest, he’d be a liar if he said he hadn’t been dreaming about them for months now.

You can’t wrap your head around it but he feels just as you fantasized about him. The roughness of his flesh, the edges of his shell and god his teeth nip at your neck with a growl. Wiggling out of his hold you start to undo whatever else needs to be taken off and Leo can’t help but smirk at your frenzied movements. He allows you to undress him, he’s gutted when your hands land on his waist as you start to kneel before him.

“No, no, kiss me first” He cups your face and presses his mouth against yours and that’s it, you’re done for, you’re hooked and can’t go back now. His kiss is possessive, forceful and it drowns every thought in your brain.

You pressed against one of the tables with the many Bonsais when Leo’a tongue slithers into your awaiting mouth. He sits you down on the table and nudges your legs apart to fit himself in between them, you crane your neck up losing yourself in his kiss. He can taste rain water, feels the sweat and rain mingle on your skin. God he wants to run his tongue all over you, eat you whole if he could.

It feels like forever when he pulls away, reluctance in his body. Blue eyes search into your e/c eyes, he wants to see something maybe your fear so he denies himself falling into this rabbit hole. Your hands press against his plastron and gently you run your nails down the hard plates, you shake your head fascinated by the texture. He’s rough but strong, a marvel of a species.

With some difficulty you managed to push your underwear off and spread yourself again for his viewing pleasure. “I want you,” You nodded, eyes falling to the hard length between his legs. Leo wraps a large hand around it and pumps slowly, body shivering at the sensation. “God I fucking want you so bad” You feel him come back to you, mouth on yours in yet another harsh kiss.

The tip of his cock nudges against your wet heat and he bites your lip at the sensation. Leo pushes into you so frustratingly slow, even as his girth stretches you to a point you’ve never been before. You want him inside of you now, and Leo couldn’t agree more. He bottoms out inside of you with a lengthy groan, head thrown back in ecstasy. “You feel... so fucking good” He growls out through gritted teeth, hips picking up speed as you wantonly take him in. You press your lips to his chest and moan with each slow but pronounced thrust of his hips.

His hand finds itself at the back of your head, grabbing fistfuls of your hair to keep your gaze on his. The slight tug burns so good and you can’t help but keep your pleasure filled gaze on his own. Lips parted you let him rock into you steadily until his thrust start to slam into you. The sensation spreads all over your body, little shocks of pleasure rocking your body.

“Mine, you’re going to be mine and only mine” He voices lowly, a threat laced in his passion. You’re too far gone to speak, nodding aimlessly at his every word, moans falling from your lips. “Nobody will own you like I do, nobody will touch you, Y/N? You understand? I’m making you mine” He pressed his forehead to yours, lost in this feeling.

“Fuck yes, yours, I’m gonna be all yours” You lick his lips and when he reaches a hand between both your bodies your mind goes blank. A vicious shudder overtakes you as you muffle a scream against his jaw. He fills you up so good and so warm with a strange vibration that sounds like an endless growl. Each rope he pumps into you making his eyes roll back. You’re shattered against, limp and raw throat from the scream that leaves your mouth.

He watches your come down, hand against your cheek, thumb running across your lips. When he pulls out just enough to watch his essence cascade out of your pretty little hole, he pumps himself back into you. His eyes say it all, from here on out whatever your life was up to this point is over and done with. Leo nuzzles you still lazily pumping himself in you, blissful to the little tremors your cunt produces around his member making him harden once again. Picking you up, bodies still joined, he makes his way to the nest of blankets on the floor.

You hold onto him, all you can do is hold onto him.

____________

It’s rather odd to be in this position. With an entire year that’s passed it never seems to feel normal, not that you’re complaining though.

Being in a position of power by proxy has its fucking fun rewards.

For example nobody in this city will ever contemplate taking you out. Unless they want a very pissed off Foot Leader to set fire to the city and maybe even the world. From opposite points to now standing at his side. No one is to address you as below them, or touch you or let alone breath the same air you do.

You can still hear the bones that were cracked when one particularly unruly Foot soldier made snide comment about you. Each crack of the mans arm being slowly twisted until his arm broke still rang in your ears to this day. Leo hadn’t flinched, hadn’t even scowled even as the twist turned to pulling the limb off.

He did in fact fuck you hard against the glass windows of the hotel suite he had you both in. The copper scent lingering on his scales, but enraptured with the heat enveloping his cock.

With the city at war everyone had began to run amok to do their own barbaric things. Each part of the city divided between gangs, mobs, mutants, police and civilians. You were out on active Foot duties, you were still free to do as you pleased but with protection and Leo demanded your whereabouts on the hour due to possibilities of abduction.

He knew you were a weakness.

But did he give a shit? Of course not. Let them try, he hasn’t needed an excuse for his tyrannical acts thus far, but if harm did ever befall you, you only wished you could witness what his methods would be to exact his revenge.

And he was so familiar with revenge after all.

You admire yourself in the full length mirror, examining the body that training under Leo has provided you. The mutant terrapin in question comes up from behind you and wraps his strong sculpted arms around your waist. You can’t help but smirk as he rest his chin a top your head. “We’re heading out in half an hour” He mumbles against your hair, enjoying the scent. You watch through the mirror as his hands rub up and cup your breast, with a sigh you rest against his strong build. “What’s on the agenda tonight? Purple dragons?” You feel him shake his head, fingers dipping inside the cups of your bra. “Mob,” Is his sole reply.

You bite your lip, gripping his wrists. “We’ll be late” You try to muffle a moan as he tweaks a nipple, he grinds against your backside. “I’m killing them regardless, and I much rather have the scent of your cunt on my hands while I listen to their boring excuses for parley” Your knees buckled when you felt his hand slither inside your underwear, finger already parting your lips and humming as he feels how wet you already are.

You feel his other hand wrap around your neck, keeping you upright and your gaze on the mirror as his finger dips into your welcoming heat.

He engulfs your every thought, every sensation; and what’s the fate of the world when you’ve got him? He chose you just as much as you chose him. You’ve never considered yourself good, scumbag street rat who just happened to make a living amongst the other scumbags. But this? With Leonardo and the trail of bloodied heads he’s left behind, it’s hard not to be excited to see gasoline be poured on the city. He trails his lips to the shell of your ear and you can’t help but grin.

“Mine” He says.

Burn everything.

[collecting-stories]

Shane - ep. 12 - Georgia

Summary: Shane hassles you in the diner and you let slip to Daryl that you want to date him. 

A/N: Can’t believe we’re moving this far into it. 

Georgia Masterlist | The Walking Dead Masterlist

✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

You almost audibly groaned when Shane walked into the diner on Monday night. Daryl has been gone all weekend and you were quickly realizing that driving yourself around just wasn’t the same. You weren’t too proud to admit that you missed him, more than someone should miss an ‘in between’ friend as Tara had called him.  

“You know, in between a friend and a boyfriend.” She had explained after coining the term.  

“I get it.”

You were sure your mom was happy, as happy as she could be with you, because you’d been essentially only at the diner and at home all weekend. You’d even been on time for church on Sunday morning, an occurrence that was lacking lately. It wasn’t only Daryl’s absence that had you falling back into that place so close to the daughter that your mother wanted. The one who was perfect enough to fix all the problems she had. Deanna had told your mom, just like Aiden said she would. She’d called her on Friday morning to tell her that she’d noticed you driving with Daryl in his truck.  

“When was this?” Your mother had asked, holding her hand up for you to stop as you were preparing to walk out the door for school.  

“I’m gonna be late.” You stressed.  

She put her hand over the receiver and looked you dead in the eye, “move out that door and I swear to god you will not go out again for a week. School be damned.”

You waited, stood there anxiously by the front door as she cast you glancing and nodded her head and ‘mmhmm’d’ at the appropriate places. Your dad was supposed to be coming home soon from the halfway house he was living in and you’d thought maybe she was talking to him but then she hung up and turned to face you.  

“You wanna tell me why Deanna just called me and told me she saw you with Daryl Dixon.”  

“Cause he was fixing my car. I told you that, remember?” You knew you said it in that way that suggested she was dumb for asking so you weren’t surprised when she smacked you across the face. It didn’t take the sting away though and you flinched away from her when she kept on.  

“You’ve done some truly stupid things before but this really tops it, you know that! Running around town like some whore!”  

And you could’ve said something else, at least that was the inner monologue you gave yourself afterward, when you were sitting in class with Maggie, swearing that you fell in the bathtub during your shower. You could’ve said something else, maybe, but you didn’t.  

“You would know! Why isn’t dad back yet? Cause he’s not better or cause you’re still fucking your boss!”  

Tara told you after school that she had wait the weekend, until she was back from her mom’s house, before you could stay. So you put yourself on best behaviour mode, faking it through a bruised jaw and other, worse injuries, that no one could see. You rolled in late to class with a slip that said you had tripped in the shower and you continued that lie until the last bell rang and you were driving to 7-11 to meet Tara, to stay far away from your mom.  

“Monday,” she promised. “I’m back from my mom’s Monday night, you can come over then.”  

“She told me ‘as long as you’re under my roof you won’t be anywhere near Daryl’. Good then, watch me get out from under your roof. She acts like it hasn’t happened before.” You replied, whispering as you stood in the back of the soda aisle, far away from Jacqui’s eavesdropping. The last thing you needed was her telling everyone what you said.  

“Does Daryl know?” Tara asked, playing dumb.  

“No.” You replied, “and I’m not gonna tell him. If he does like me he doesn’t need to think I’m messed up.”  

“You’re not messed up, your mom is a dick.”  

“Look, I can fake it for a weekend, church, no friends, work. It’ll be fine.” You promised, “and on Monday night, your house.”

“If you need it sooner, I could talk to my dad.” Tara offered. He’d let you stay plenty of times in the past.  

“No, Monday’s fine.”  

You survived the weekend the exact way you said you would. You faked the nice girl you had strived to be in middle school and for the first three years of high school. You didn’t talk back, you were quiet, nice, you went to work and to church and it was like some kind of wonderful transformation that your mother probably attributed to herself. She’d scared you straight out of your rebellious crush on Daryl and back to the girl she wanted you to be.

But Sunday came and you were counting down the hours. Just another day and you’d be at Tara’s. Hopefully a few more hours and Daryl would be back. Tonight, thankfully, your mom had left church, changed and gone to work, which left you at the diner, closing it out with Lori when Shane walked in.  

“I know you got a thing for that Dixon boy but I think you should reevaluate your eyes.” Lori commented, coming up next to you. “Shane Walsh is mighty fine.”  

“First, Daryl’s older than you,” you pointed out. He was 23, same as Rick, and Lori was 21, a little closer in age to you. “Second, you forget your pregnant?”  

“A girl can’t look?” She shrugged, walking away as you pretended to gag.  

Shane seemed oblivious to the interaction as he came up and sat at the counter. You hadn’t seen him since the party, though both Glenn and Maggie had and they claimed he had asked how you were. You weren’t surprised, Shane always did fashion himself as something of a ‘knight in shining armour’ you could only imagine the size of his ego knowing he had effectively ‘saved’ you from Aiden.  

“Hey Shane, what can I get you?” You asked, pad and pen ready, as if you thought he was actually going to order and he didn’t just come here with some ulterior motive like Aiden.  

“You, back?” Shane asked, grinning at you.  

You rolled your eyes, taking a deep breath and trying not to say anything too awful. The last thing you felt like dealing with today was Shane. “Hilarious. Order or move Shane.”

“I’m not joking.” He replied, leaning further across the counter.  

Over his shoulder Lori was shooting you a look that you were sure could translate into ‘jump on that offer’. You groaned, folding the notepad back up and slipping it into your apron. “Listen, Shane, I appreciate you standing up for me at the party and I’m sorry Aiden was a dick, I really didn’t want to be there with him-“

“Then why were you?”

“None of your business.” You snapped.  

“He trashed my house-“

“You both trashed your house! Don’t bitch at me because you got in a fight I didn’t ask you to get involved in.” You said, cutting him off.  

“So first it’s thanks so much and then it’s I don’t need you?”

“Yeah Shane,” you continued, “I was trying to be fucking nice to you but you’re being a dick. I’m sorry I don’t have feelings for you anymore but I can’t change that.”  

“You don’t mean that.” He said, keeping his voice low. He stood up and followed you down the counter as you tried to get back to work. As you lifted the gate on the counter he grabbed the other side, stopping you from going any further. “You got your head mixed up with that loser Dixon.”  

Your jaw tensed as you glared at him, “watch your mouth.” You let go of the gate, shoving passed him to get to your waiting tables.  

The resulting noise of the gate felt like it left an echo when Shane let go as well, turning and grabbing your arm. “Just talk to me, please!”

“I said no!” You snapped, pulling your arm away, “leave me alone Shane, I said no. I don’t want anything to do with you.”  

“Shane,” Otis’ voice caught both your attentions and you looked behind the counter to the window that offered a limited view of the kitchen. Otis was standing there, dish on the ledge, staring down Shane Walsh like he could fire bullets with his eyes. You’d known Otis your whole life and there wasn’t a person alive that ever had a bad word to say about him. He was a sweetheart, burly on the outside but teddy soft on the inside. He’d watched you hold your own with Shane in the past, and with Aiden. He watched you flirt with Daryl and told you more than a few times that you had that boy wrapped around your finger whether you thought so or not. And he watched Shane put his hand on you, “Think you should leave.”  

“We were just talking.” Shane replied, looking back at you like there was any chance in the world that you would defend him.  

“Yeah, and now you’re done.” Otis said.  

No further conversation was had. Shane nodded and left, Lori shooting him a sympathetic smile as he passed by her. You wanted to tell her to have at him, you could do without him hanging around. It was good Daryl was away for the weekend cause you were itching to go to his house as you stood outside the diner with Lori while she locked up.  

“You really over Shane?” She asked, as if she gave two shits about your life.

“Why?”

“Just wondering. He seems pretty passionate about you.”

“Passionate? Try aggressive.” You countered. He’d always been that way and you thought maybe there had been a time when you substituted who he was for who you wanted him to be but you liked to think you were a little smarter this time around.  

“What about Dixon?”

“Why are you asking me all these questions Lor?” You asked. You wanted nothing more than to get in your car and go home.  

“Just wondering, I get bored at the apartment, only one there to talk to is Rick and he’s on nights this week.” She replied. He was around whenever she had doctor’s appointments or if she needed something for the baby. She was more than positive that when the little Grimes was born he would be the best dad in King County but he seemingly less interested in being the best fiancé.  

“I don’t know,” you shrugged, answering her question finally, “Daryl and I aren’t dating though so it doesn’t matter.”  

“Think he’s waiting til you turn 18.” She asked.

“No, just don’t think he’s interested in dating me is all.”  

You’d given Daryl a lot of thought since you’d started spending time with him. There were times you thought maybe he liked you. Moments when it seemed plausible that there was something but it always felt like it was right before. This build up between the two of you with nothing to show for it in the end.  

“You have dated before right?”

“Obviously.” You replied, hand on the door of your car. If she would just get in and pull away , you could too.  

“Just checking.” She laughed, finally granting your wish and getting in the car.  

You peeled out after her, driving away from your street and pulling into the parking lot of the Shop’n’Bag. You parked as close as you could for a late night, your Jeep illuminated by the overhead light. The grocery store was practically dead at 10p as you grabbed a basket and walked around aimlessly. Hungry was not the way to shop but your mom was being a bitch and refusing to buy you groceries, going so far as to label the items in the refrigerator that she deemed hers.  

The freezer aisle, flickering from one of the ceiling lights, seemed to be your lucky spot. It wrapped the wall in the far left, two large cases running almost from wall to wall in the middle and a familiar frame leaning over one of them, cart full of other quick meals and beer beside him.  

“Hey stranger.” You greeted, stepping up next to him and leaning against the case.  

Daryl straightened, the faintest of smiles coming and going as he looked over at you, “ya ain’t stalking me are ya?”  

“No, I just finished at the diner, I’m starving.”  

“Ya know they make food there.” He replied, tossing a pack of steaks in the cart and moving along, you falling into step next to him.  

“I wasn’t hungry while I was there.” When he stopped again you pulled the three packs of stovetop mac and cheese out of your otherwise empty basket and dropped them in his cart before leaving your basket under the case.  

“I ain’t buying yer food.” He said, glancing over his shoulder at you. His eyes landed on the barely visible bruise that was still on your cheek, Tara’s words clear as day in his mind. “What happened?” He asked, hand brushing his own jaw in the same place.  

“Fell in the shower.”  

“Least it ain’t those cats this time.” He replied.  

“When did you get back?” You asked, following him down the aisle.  

“Like ten minutes ago, however long I been in here.” He said, pausing to throw something in his cart, “why?”

You shrugged, “it was boring this weekend, I missed you.”  

“Musta been real boring then.” He joked, turning his face away so you couldn’t see his cheeks going red. “Ya ain’t start any fights this weekend?”

“It wasn’t my fault,” you stressed. “Deanna called my mom though, told her she saw us driving in your truck.”  

“Told ya that ya shouldn’t be hanging around me.” Daryl replied, leaning against the handle of the cart. He watched you look through jars of red gravy until you found the one you wanted, sticking it in the cart. “I ain’t buying your food,” he repeated.

“I’ll pay for it,” you insisted, gripping the other end of the cart and smiling at him. “So, how was hunting?”

“A’ight. Got a deer in the bed a my truck.”  

You stuck your tongue out in disgust, “Glad my jeep’s fixed then.” You walked with Daryl through the rest of the store until he finally decided he was finished grocery shopping and turned his cart toward the check out, only one lane open this time of the night. When you tried to put the divider down between your order and his, Daryl put it back. “Thought you weren’t paying for me?”

“Ain’t a lot a stuff.” He shrugged, “bag it yerself though.”

“What a gentleman.” You laughed; scooting passed him so you could start bagging the groceries as the guy at the checkout put them through.  

Tara had told you enough times already that you should invite Daryl to your birthday, or just tell him that you like him and want to date him. You’d thought about both options plenty, positive that they were the only things on your mind these days. But actually, mentioning those things to him were a whole other story.  

“So, I turn 18 soon.” You mentioned as you walked out to your jeep with him. His truck was parked a few spaces down, blue tarp over the bed highlighted by a parking light. “Tara and Maggie are having a party for me.”  

“Ys sure that’s a good idea?” He joked, putting your groceries in the back for you.  

“Stop! No one’s ever gonna let me live that down.” You groaned.  

“Ya gonna invite me to yer party then?”  

You perked up a little, smiling, “well, yeah. And I was thinking too, you know, I’ll be 18.” You repeated at the end.  

“I heard ya.”

“I’ll be legal.” You clarified, as if he couldn’t catch on without you spelling it out for him.  

Daryl sighed, running a hand through his hair and looking at you a little more tired than before. “This ain’t a good idea, ya know,” he said, waving his hand between the two of you, “I ain’t got a lot going on right in my life. Ya shouldn’t be dragged into that.”  

“I’m not being dragged into anything,” you replied, “I really like you, I think I’ve been pretty obvious about it and if not then I’m telling you now. I like you and I’ll be 18 and I think-”

He stopped you by holding his hand up, “it ain’t gonna happen.”  

“Daryl-”

“I gotta get home,” he cut you off, stepping away from your car, “goodnight.”

“Yeah, goodnight.” You sighed, watching him walk away to his car.  

-

Taglist: @cbarter @onemorebeautifulnightmare @mainokutan  @solllaris @twdeadfanfic @legit-emily @gigilame @sabertooth-potato @enrapturedbythemoon @oncemorewithfeelingg @thanossexual @yespleasejayhalstead @hopesxxhigh @coffeebooksandfandom @jodiereedus22 @tehfabbooty @thecaptainsgingersnap @of-storms-and-sadness @alwaysadreamingoptimist @bucky-barnes-babies @ly--canthrope @daryldixonandfrogs @jaycc7983 @easnuppa @imaginecrushes @tonystarkismyboy @watchmeaspire @harpersmariano @guccicloudz @sapphire-angel @buzzybhee @alexbealee @elodieyung @its-evita-here 

[lavendertwilight89]

“Bite me” 🤣

only like... a billion years later...

Also posted on AO3 in Asks and Answers

Oh annnnnnnnd THERE IS SMOOTSSSSSSSS 

Tags:

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There was an infinite number of reasons Inuyasha hated Kagome going back home. Firstly, it shouldn’t be her home. She was home when she was in their era--or rather his era… either way, the future shouldn’t be where she called home. Her home was with him--or by him. Whatever.

Secondly, he wasn’t allowed to just go anywhere he pleased--specifically, to follow her around while she was at school or with her friends in town. What if she got into trouble and he wasn’t around to save her? She was always tripping or finding a way to get kidnapped or hurt--she was a walking accident! 

Thirdly, it fucking smelled terrible. The pollution and other modern smells overpowered his fucking senses. He often left with a migraine. Stupid future shit. No wonder demons weren’t around--they wouldn’t fucking survive.

Fourthly, he… well… he just missed her. When she wasn’t around. Near. God, she was turning him into the biggest wuss on the planet. 

They’d been traveling together for just over a year now; their friends and they had been to almost every corner of Japan. Naraku was still at large, but he had been quiet for quite some time. Probably just as frustrated as they were with the lack of jewel shards to be found. 

Shockingly, Inuyasha and Kagome had gotten into another fight. Not like the fights they used to have--noooo those had simmered down since their first year of travel. These were just based on… differences of opinions. Such as she, wanting to go home because she had a test and him, saying tests were pointless and she didn’t need to go.

Unfortunately… she won. Per usual. Only because she could fucking sit him and call it a day. So, he reluctantly followed her because--it wasn’t like he had anything better to do than watch the slayer and monk ogle each other or watch the slayer beat the tar outta him when he made to flirt with another woman.

Pass. Hard pass.

Even though he wasn’t supposed to, he trailed after her when she went to school. She was in something called ‘high school’ now and had to change uniforms. He didn’t really like the blue uniform. It reminded him she was getting older. Things were changing…

In good and bad ways. Good ways were, she was becoming a fucking woman. Her scent was beyond intoxicating each passing month. Yea, she had her cycle when she was fifteen but… now his demon sensed the maturity of her body taking form more and more. It took everything and more not to pour out his undying love for the woman and rut her in the middle of a fucking forest. Like an animal. But who was he kidding? She didn’t like him like that… Yea, they cared for each other. Yea they had kissed… but she was just--trying to save him. Yea, they’d hugged but she hugged Sango and Shippo… at rare times Miroku. He may be engaged but he wasn’t married yet. 

Another good change was they didn’t fight as much. Or as hard.

Bad ways… she was growing up. She wasn’t going to want to travel around forever. According to her, she wasn’t marrying age yet in this time, even though in his, she was ripe for the taking. But he knew she had suitors. Plural. All that could offer her way more than he could. He had what? An asshat brother who wished he was dead? A dark half-demon that hunted him and his kinda ex-fiance person? An ex who was dead, haunting the lands until her revenge was exacted? Possibly longer? The clothes on his back and sword at his hip...Yep. He had the whole package. 

Meanwhile, Koga had a full wolf tribe, ruled the mountains… And… what was the fuckin’ kid's name? Hobo? Hoko? Hojo--that was it. Both the Hojo idiots from both times. They had perfect happy little lives. No drama. No demons. They could offer her anything and everything. 

Gods… he was doomed. He loved her so much. Kikyo? Pft. Yea, he cared about Kikyo--like a friend you owed because you accidentally kinda-got-them-killed-kind-of thing. Guilt--that’s what Kagome called it. He felt guilty and felt he needed to make it alright.

Anyway, with the lack of action, she wanted to come back to her time, catch up, and shit. Blah blah blah… He knew she could sense him. Her powers had increased, another good change. But she didn’t sit him or come out and yell at him. In fact, she actually did manage to come up for lunch.

“Hey, I figured you’d be hungry,” she happily greeted him.

“You’re...not angry?”

“You’re staying out of sight, why would I be mad?”

“Are you embarrassed of me?”

“Of course not! Why would you ask that??” She asked as she sat down opening her lunch. She took a rice ball and placed her container between them. 

“Well it’s not like you let anybody see me or anything,” he glared at the food. He actually wasn’t even mad at her or the food. In all honesty, he was angered by his heritage. He was surprised when he felt her cool hand reach up and grab his face to look into her beautiful caramel eyes.

“I don’t want anyone to take you from me… You know there aren’t demons in this time. I don't want to put you in danger because they would want you. They would capture you and... What would I do without you?”

His heart pounded so hard he wondered if she could hear it with her human ears. Her eyes darkened and her lips parted from that soft smile. Her breath hitched and she bit down on her silken lip and all he could think about was devouring it.

Then he heard the door open and he pulled away from her, throwing his hat back on. She blushed madly and turned to see her friends coming out onto the roof with their lunches. Fucking perfect.

“Oh, h-hey guys,” she stuttered.

“Heyyyyy, are we interrupting anything?” The one named Eri smirked.

“NO!” He yelled, likely way too loudly and fast. But she seemed so flustered by what almost happened and he didn’t want them to think she was the idiot who got carried away.

“H-how are you guys,?” She asked with her fake smile. Damn. He hurt her. Again. She got caught up in the moment, and he took advantage of it. 

“Hojo’s coming up,” Yuka said with a gleam in her eye.

“Uhhhh…” Kagome started.

“I can go,” Inuyasha muttered.

“No!” She looked at him like a deer in headlights and gripped his hand. “I-I mean--nooooo, don’t go! I thought we were going to share my lunch?”

He was blushing and staring at their joined hands when the Hobo came out. The boy stalled for a moment drawing Inuyasha’s attention and when their eyes met, he could tell Hoho was sizing him up. Out of habit to protect Kagome from other’s opinions, he tried to draw his hand away from her, but her grip tightened. What was she doing?

“Hey Hojo,” she greeted.

“Hey Kagome, how are you today?”

“Great! Inuyasha was in the area and decided to join us for lunch.” Was she lying?? Why?? Why wouldn’t she just tell them he followed her? This boy couldn't hurt him.

“Inuyasha? Oh--you’re the guy from the festival last year,” Hojo said as he sat down on the other side of her.

“Yea, one and the same,” he confirmed gruffly. Staring at the boy in front of him, he was surprised when Kagome held out a riceball for him. He took it from her with the hand she wasn’t holding and muttered his thanks.

“Oh, are you sharing your lunch?” Ayumi cooed.

“Kagome, you probably need more nourishment than that--here, why don’t we share--”

“That’s okay Hojo. I appreciate the thought, but I’m honestly not that hungry. He’s doing me a favor helping me out,” she laughed fakely.

Did no one else see the mask Kagome put on aside from him? He knew that she loved Sango, that she confided in her about everything. Did these girls know anything about his Kagome?

The rest of the time it was just idle chit chat. Nothing for him to really follow as it was mainly about classes they were taking. He noticed Kagome’s hand didn’t leave his though even when she would reach and take food out of her little box, her grip never lessened. To be honest, he loved the feeling of his hand in hers. Even more so because she was doing it in front of her friends.

When lunchtime ended, her friends got up and led the way to the door. She lingered behind them and told them she’d catch up shortly. Hojo sent her a passing glance, obviously hesitant about leaving her alone with him, but complied when she bid him a good afternoon.

“I uhm… I’ll see you when school's out, okay?” Why was she acting all shy now? She was the only one who gripped his hand in hers.

“Uh...sure. That’s fine. I’ll just wait here then?”

“Mhm,” she smiled softly and with a final bite of her lip, she turned and went back inside.

The school literally couldn’t end soon enough. He needed to know what the fuck was actually going on with her.

The hours seemed like they took forever--of course, that’s how it always was when she wasn’t right by his side. Again, the biggest pussy on the planet when it came to her. 

Maybe he accidentally dozed off from boredom. Watching the clouds wasn’t the same without the bossy spirited girl who actually appreciated the little things while he laid on his back beside her, merely just enjoying her presence, but he didn’t realize she was outside until he heard the dumbass Hobo call out her name. He rolled onto his side to peer off the roof to see what was going on. 

She looked startled and began to look around--likely lookin’ for him. She’d be fuckin’ pissed if he just leaped down from there then. After all, she did just admit it wasn’t about embarrassment, it was about the danger of him being taken from her. Humans were odd creatures--always lookin’ to learn more and more about something. He knew what she said was true. 

But that only meant that even if he were to follow her back to this time to be with her, if she really wanted to be with her family, they’d have no future here either. Not like she’d likely want a future with him. He needed to--he needed to keep his head on straight. Why let his hopes get raised for nothing? 

“Kagome! How about I walk you home! You’re probably famished and could collapse from that vertigo your grandfather called about last week.”

“Hahahaha...of course he did,” she smiled while he smelled her annoyance and anger. Kagome had mentioned her grandpa making up some rather colorful excuses to get to miss school since she was always with him. While he told her she didn’t have to go, she pointed out that she did. At least for her family’s honor. That was the only reason he let her still travel back and forth… well actually it was the only reason she actually wanted to. 

He noticed she looked around again and finally saw him on the roof and frowned slightly. Biting her lip and then turning to look back at Hojo she said loudly enough to where he heard her mention, “Inuyasha said he was going to meet me at the corner but you can join us.”

“Oh...I see. Kagome, can I ask you something?” They started to walk away and while he had demonic hearing, with all the other chatter and distance they were putting between them was making it difficult what the man-child was asking of his--no--not his--Kagome. Just--Kagome.

“Sure, what’s up Hojo?” 

Inuyasha sneakily leaped onto the track of the school and then up and over the fence onto the house across from them. He proceeded to jump down so he wouldn’t be seen but could listen in on their conversation.

“What is up with that friend of yours? I would have figured with your health problems he would have encouraged you to eat--not the other way around.” Inuyasha wanted to growl at the thought that he would ever put his own health before hers.

“Oh, honestly I wasn’t that hungry. We often share lunches. I’m obviously not starving.”

“Does he--he visits you when you’re in the hospital? At the shrine when you’re not well??”

“Oh--uh--yeah! See? He’s very concerned.”

“Does he not have a job? Did he drop out of school?”

“No, no, nothing like that. He’s actually very intelligent. He does uh… exterminations?” He overheard her nervous laugh. That was the truth technically. Demons were what summoned them from village to village in hopes they would come across a jewel shard. But the money was shared. They were a pack. It wasn’t his alone--even if it was, no one would feed, clothe, or house a half-demon.

“Oh he must be very fortunate then… do you think the chemicals are the source of what are making you ill though?”

“Of course not! Being with Inuyasha is--” He heard her cut off and at that point, he was standing at the fork in the road when she had mentioned he would meet them. “It’s uh…”

“Do you really like him, Kagome?”

“Yes… I just--I don’t know if he feels the same,” he heard her whisper, likely hoping he wouldn’t hear. But he did. And his head was spinning. She ‘liked’ him? Well duh, they’d been traveling together for over a year together. He hoped she would at least kinda enjoy his company. But did she mean--is that why--

“Oh! Inuyasha!” 

Fuck he was made! He brought his head up and saw them walking towards him.

“Hey,” he replied back gruffly. It wasn’t his intention for it to have been so mean… but he was officially frustrated and confused.

“Everything ok?” Kagome asked sweetly as she blushed while she stood before him. Damnit.

“Yea. Fine. Let’s go,” he replied as he turned away. She groaned slightly--the one she used when she got bad news. He turned back to look at her and she looked highly disappointed… She acted like she didn’t want him to hear her little confession. Obviously she was embarrassed by liking him so why should she be upset if he acted like he didn’t hear her?

“Say, Kagome. What are you doing this Saturday?” 

Would she be pissed off if he broke this kid's nose? Didn’t he just hear she liked him?? 

“Uhm…” She started. Oh, fuck no.

“She’s gonna be with me, twerp,” he stated firmly as he swung around and wrapped his arm around Kagome’s shoulders. She seemed to tense under the initial contact but then relaxed. Her breathing was a little erratic like she was nervous but excited… What a weirdo.

“Oh I see, did you decide this for her?” Hojo questioned.

“Pretty sure it’s a mutual agreement at this point, kid.”

“Kagome?”

“Yes, I’m sorry Hojo. Inuyasha and I have plans.”

“Kagome--why--”

“Why what?” Inuyasha snapped.

“Why be with someone who doesn’t tell you how they feel? Make you feel appreciated? Kagome--I’m in love with you. Please--let me prove that to you. Let me show you how a man should treat a lady.” 

It took all he had to not punch the little dick in the throat. How dare he say those things to Kagome!

“Look here you little--”

“Hojo--I like spending time with Inuyasha,” Kagome countered.

“But Kagome--”

“Just because Inuyasha doesn’t like me in the same way doesn’t mean we can’t be friends, Hojo. If I want to stay with him then it’s really not--”

“You actually like me?” Inuyasha finally asked.

Kagome turned and looked at him from under his arm. She looked confused and she stepped out to be in front of him. She looked embarrassed and uncomfortable but she never hesitated in her response, “Inuyasha--of course I like you. I love you. I thought… it was obvious.”

“Kagome, I--” He realized they still had an audience and glared with a growl in the little fuck’s direction. “Do you mind?!” 

“Kagome?” 

DID THE FUCKING BRAT NOT HAVE GODDAMN EARS?!?!

“It’s okay Hojo. We need to talk. I’ll see you tomorrow at school.”

“Okay. Take care, Kagome,” he waved as he headed off in the other direction.

Now they were standing there. In the middle of the road. Irony. 

“Kagome I--”

“It’s really alright if you don’t feel the same. I just want to be by your side. As--as long as you’ll have me.”

“Why though?”

“Why--why what?”

“Why do you like me? I’m kind of an asshole. I always say the wrong thing, I always hurt you… I can’t offer you anything.”

Her soft cool hand on his cheek made him look her in the eyes. He could forever get lost in the chestnut eyes. Honestly, he almost did; he didn’t even notice she had started speaking.

“It’s not about what you have to offer me. Things--possessions-- they aren’t important to me. You are. Yeah, you’re rough around the edges but you only do that to protect yourself. I don’t try to take what you say personally, I know you don’t mean it. I just--I want you to know you don’t have to be afraid of me hurting you; I’d never harm you. I love you for who you are. My gruff half-demon protector.”

“Kagome…words--aren’t really my thing. But you kinda knew that, so--” He cut himself off and pulled her close to press his mouth against hers, praying to any fuckin’ God she didn’t sit him for acting without thinking. Though to be honest, he’d be lying if he said he had never thought about it. In fact, sometimes that was all he thought about. Along with some heated moaning and intimate places linked… Oh shit, his dick was already getting excited at the thought. 

Her hum of approval and fingers lacing through his hair, softly shifting his ball cap off his head brought him from his imagination. 

“Not here,” he barely grunted before scooping her up into his arms bridal style, leaping from the road to the roof of house after house until they arrived at her shrine. She urged him to take her up to her window where she crawled through before he entered after.

Once his feet were on the ground, he found himself engulfed in her embrace and her lips frantically moving against his. She flipped his hat off and whoaaaa--her hands were untying his haori. He stilled them and she whined but they needed to talk about this. Not just rush into whatever--well--that was wrong. He knew Kagome would never play with his heart. She had just declared she’d never hurt him; that her love wasn’t based on what he had or could give, it was based on who they were. But that was exactly why they needed to talk. 

“Hey--we don’t need to rush this--”

“Inuyasha I don’t want to wait until you’ve changed your mind about everything--” She proceeded to keep kissing him, his mind becoming this weird useless blob because damn if she didn’t taste fantastic. All his fantasies were coming true in just the movement of her lips.

“Fuck--Kagome--”

She hummed her approval over his vulgar words; weird as she usually was the one always conveying ‘manners’ but obviously she liked that she could make him helpless. 

“Damn, you shoulda confessed your feelings earlier, wench,” he smirked when he pulled away to trail kisses and drew teasing circles of his tongue against her throat. Her moan lit his cock on fire. Shit.

“Bite me, dog boy,” her husky voice sounded as he hovered over her shoulder. Pause. Did she just tell him to mark her? What did she know about demons and mating?? Or was she just teasing. This whole situation had gotten away from him. He began to pull back and her breath hitched. She was panicking.

“I’m not gonna go changin’ my mind but this is kinda--you don’t just--shit--sit down,” he ordered as he pulled her down to sit on the edge with him. Wrapping his arms around her to reassure her of his unvoiced feelings, he felt her snuggle into his hold. “Kagome… what you said kinda made me realize we--well--we need to try and talk.”

“What do you mean?” She seemed confused by his words. It dawned on him she had no idea she had asked him to mate with her. Not that he could blame her--demons didn’t just go around boasting… Scratch that. Normal demons that aren’t fleabags don’t blurt out mating rituals.

“What do you know of mating with demons?”

“Uh--I--” She turned as red as his haori and buried her face into said top and muttered her response, making his ears twitch to try and catch the muffled words she spoke. Oh, so she had just said ‘bite me’ as a retort… and totally missed the full meaning.

“Did the wolf-shit tell you all that? Because I may have to go skin him--”

“No! No! Sango had uh… mentioned it,” she admitted, biting her lip.

“Keh, ‘course that busybody did.”

“D-don’t be mad! I had asked her in all honesty…”

“Why didn’t you just ask me?” The look she gave him made him realize exactly why not. Disbelief. He was a callous asshole. Probably would have taken the wrong way… Whoops. “Nevermind. I got it. Are you sure this is something you truly want? What happens if once we complete the jewel the well closes? What if the old woman can’t get the village to accept us and we end up living in the forest? What if--”

“We can’t play a what-if game forever Inuyasha. We won’t know until we cross that bridge, but I told you the truth when I said none of that stuff matters… I don't belong here. This is just where I come to keep my family’s honor. My home is with you,” she said as she stroked her hands through his silky silver tresses. “Besides, I bet even if the village turned us away, Miroku and Sango would find a place for us to settle down--maybe her old slayer village.”

“Oh fuck, we’re stuck with them, aren’t we?”

“Inuyasha,” she warned him. He smirked down at her showing he was only teasing. They were friends. His family. Something he never thought he would ever have.

“We can wait to complete the mating ritual--it doesn’t have to be right now,” he said idly as he traced where he would mark her on her shoulder over her blazer.

“Are--Are you the one who is unsure?” She asked hesitantly as she shuddered from the light graze of his claws.

“No. This is the only thing I have ever been completely sure about my entire life.”

“But what about--I mean--”

“You can say her name.”

She averted her eyes and he pulled her chin back so she had to look him in the eyes. “I was going to become human for her. Mating is a thing for demons. Humans wither and die while demons live for centuries. I wanted someone to accept me--even if that meant I had to change. You’ve never asked that of me--fuck, you’ve begged me to stay the way I am. Kagome… I-- damnit, why is this so fucking hard!”

“You’re doing okay,” she whispered as her hands slid from his chest to his cheeks. “I love you, Inuyasha. I would be honored to be your mate.”

“I love you, Kagome,” he finally said as he slammed his hungry lips down onto hers. Her hands stayed on his cheeks as he moved from her chin to her hips to bring her closer even though she was perched on top of his lap.

She surprised him when she turned herself around to straddle his legs and pushed his chest down making him fall backward. How a tiny girl like her could ever startle him enough to knock him over was beyond comprehension. Her hands started to undo his haori and he made to undo the buttons on her blazer. It was sloppy, them removing each other’s clothing between their heated kisses, trembling excited fingers, and the awkward but hot as fuck grinding of their sex.

Her core was so fucking wet; he honestly couldn’t wait to taste her. He wondered if she tasted just as he imagined. Her fucking mouth tasted like cherries and honey--his fucking cock felt like it was going to fall off; he was so aroused. Between the bucking of her hips, the wetness of her panties, and the simple but teasing sweeps of her hand as she explored his body, he wasn’t going to last long. 

Losing his patience, he sliced through her bra and underwear and flipped her over so that her legs draped off the bed as he towered over her. Smirking down at her, he took control again as he began to devour her. All of her. Her lips, her neck, her clavicle, her breasts--he lingered there the longest, making sure the perky mounds were red, bruised, and thoroughly marked as his as he proceeded to lave and caress her toned stomach just before he found himself kneeling on the floor between her perfect shapely muscular thighs.

He didn’t even hesitate as he went straight to the weeping opening that was begging for his hardened length. It was a siren calling out to ship and he had to steer straight ahead and plunge into the abyss. And plunge he did--with tongue. A loud cry of his name was his answer in return. He brought one hand down to steady her hips as he continued to memorize her scent, her taste, and the sounds he could make her produce with abandon. 

Noticing there was a significant nub that she seemed to like to have teased the most, he moved his thumb to press and circle it as he used his tongue to continue to drink up her juices. It was clear with all her shaking and quivering that she was close to her orgasm. Her hands were frantically pressing his head into her folds, and her voice was fucking wrecked. She sounded like she had just run five kilometers nonstop and she was begging for water. And he ultimately would be the one to help her out with her thirst. With one last flick of his tongue, he switched his hand with his mouth and inserted one, then two, then three fingers slowly stretching her as he pumped in and out of her. His mouth found purchase on her nub and he sucked hard as his other hand softly stroked his own dick as he was fairly positive if he didn’t, it would burn off in the flames of arousal this woman was feeding him.

Thankfully her walls began to vibrate as she came undone around him and cried out his name in ecstasy. When she stopped twitching, he finally slunk back up her body and smirked down at the completely dazed look on her face. He couldn’t help but feel his confidence growing that if he could at least take care of her like that, happily sated every night, a home with Sango and Miroku, then he could give her the life she deserved. Not fully, but one she seemed to want.

Her hands reaching for his cock brought him from his wandering musings and damn--he’d never be able to go back to his own hand. Why was she so good at that?!? Fuck, shit, damnit, fuckkkk-- he grabbed her hand to still her motions and she gasped.

“Is--am I not--”

“N-nah, y-you are. Fuck, I almost just came all over you.”

“What if… I’d like that?”

His eyes widened and his ears perked up. What did she say? Anything he had to say went out the window when she shoved him against her headboard and engulfed his hardened length with her hot wet mouth. Some weird strangled sound came out his mouth as his hands went to her head without thinking. Fuck. Shit. He loosened his grip once he had some semblance of control and mainly kept his hands there to keep hair out of her way. Her tongue was swirling around him and he felt her spit literally drip down to where her hand was stroking him where her mouth couldn’t reach more than making up for the lapse of coverage. The other sneaky hand was fondling his sac and he literally swore right then it wouldn’t be the jewel, nor Naraku, Koga, his brother, or even Kikyo who would kill him--it was going to be Kagome. Because holy fuck he was about to fucking die. The ache in his stomach from not being touched was far gone and replaced with a burning passion; the tightening coil had grown taunt and he could barely tap her to gain her attention before it sprang loose. 

Panting, breathless, and grunting he managed a ‘“Comin’’, or some word like that. Either way, she hummed and that was what threw him off the edge. He could hardly not grab her head to keep her there, but he hadn’t needed to; she drank him up like he was producing actual milk and not seed for pups.

She pulled away from him and licked her lips, whether it was meant to be seductive or innocent didn’t really phase him as he grabbed her head and pulled her into a hard bruising kiss. Not only was he tasting her in his mouth from when he had given her pleasure but now he was tasting himself on her cherry red lips. Goddamn. He was the luckiest hanyou ever born. And he was already aggravatingly hard again.

“Mmmmm, Inuyasha,” she begged.

“What Kagome?”

“Bite me,” she pleaded. He lifted her to straddle him once more as he knelt on her bed and brought her face to meet his. Gazing deeply into her brown sparkling earthy eyes for any form of doubt, he exhaled and groaned as he lowered her onto his cock. Her arms wrapped around his neck and her breath hitched uneasily. Fuck. She was tight. Hot. Wet. He wasn’t even completely sheathed by her wet hot core and he felt her walls already stirring back to life as she moaned in his ears.

Once she was finally held on his lap by her hips, he was completely engulfed by her, it was an odd sense of fulfillment. Like everything in his life had led to that exact moment. Everything just suddenly fell into place. Every horrible unspeakable attack on his life, every mistake he ever made, any step he took, it all led to her--his Kagome. 

“You okay?” He managed to grind out around his gritted teeth. He was barely holding on for dear life; all he wanted to do was pound into her, but she deserved more--she deserved better.

“Perfect,” she sighed, groaning as she twisted her hips and good fucking Gods--she was fucking perfect.

She started to rise up on her calves to pull away from him and then slammed herself back down on him making them both whimper, groan, moan, growl as the fucking pure bliss of pleasure as she continued her actions with his help. He could never use his hand again. Ever. She had effectively ruined that for him. He would no longer be able to fantasize about her--it would always have to be her. Riding his cock. Like the fucking expert she was proving herself to be.

“Inu--Ya--Shaaaaaa,” she cried out as she tried to still her movement as she released all over his deeply embedded cock. Holy shit. If her coming apart in his arms was not the most erotic sight he had ever seen. It was the way her head was thrown back; her eyes were squeezed shut;her hair, damp from her sweat-glistened body, swaying behind her; her tight grip on his shoulder; her chest heaving, making her breasts bounce, and how her pussy effectively hid his dick.

“Ka--Kagome--” he stuttered, leaning his head down to her shoulder, pulling her back to him so their bodies were as close as possible as he continued thrusting into her. His tongue acted of its own accord as it brushed her shoulder all the way to the back of her ear as he huskily groaned making her return her own whimper. Her hands snuck their way from his shoulders to his ears--and if it didn’t feel fucking amazing. He moved his mouth back over her shoulder and kissed it lovingly before nuzzling it. “Ready?”

“Yes,” she cried.

His release snuck up on him from the beautiful sound of her pleasured filled voice. As he came, emptying himself into her womb, he bit down into her shoulder, marking her as his, filling her with his youki. He felt her reiki flow around him in return, caressing him, sheltering him with her love. And damn, if he didn’t feel like he was home.

The rest of the evening, they spent kissing and exchanging loving touches. Talking about their future, talking about their dreams. Inuyasha could swear he had never felt so relieved and happy in his entire miserable life. But then again, he didn’t have Kagome until the year before. He had never known what love and happiness ever was before her. And his life would never be miserable again, not with this amazing woman by his side.

[justjessame]

The Deal Chapter 3

Waking up in Daryl’s arms made the rest of the shitstorm of our day almost worth it. Almost because that was the day we all nearly REALLY died. We should have LISTENED to Dr. Jenner when he said the doors wouldn’t reopen. We should have listened to the tiny little voice in all our heads screaming that this was too easy, too safe, too good to be true. We didn’t, which is how we all nearly blew the hell up.

Thank God Dad had that fucking grenade. Thank God that Daryl can scare damn near anyone into opening most things up. And thank God that I wasn’t as stupid as Jacqui and Andrea. I think Dale’s made a horrible mistake saving Andrea. She wanted to die? Then let her. I don’t care what he sees in her. I see a problem that’s going to bite us all in the ass sooner or later.

After Dr. Jenner did a little audio visual of the virus that creates walkers, he basically tossed out the fact that the entire building was set to self destruct. The asshole did warn us not to come in, but still, my baby brother and Sofia shouldn’t have to deal with that kind of fucking fear. Wasn’t the fear of dying by a walker bad enough? Now they wouldn’t trust anyone. Asshole. Luckily we made it. With one that didn’t want to live, and a shit ton of us that did.

Daryl decided to ditch the truck, so it was the choice between curling my body tight against his on the bike, or the RV with whiny Andrea and Shane. Difficult choices. Riding away from the wreckage of the CDC, I clutched at Daryl’s hard abdomen and felt him twitch under my touch. “Does this bother you?” I asked in loud enough for him to hear me. My fingers tightened against him and I felt him inhale deeply. “Should I stop?”

“Only if you don’t want me to wreck us.” He laughed back at me. “Feels amazin’, Jess, but dying before we get to experience the entire thing might suck.”

I grinned into the wings on his vest. “I love you, Daryl Dixon.” I shouted, not caring if anyone heard, because we survived and had another day together.

“I love ya, too, baby girl.” He said back, weaving through the roads as we headed for whatever we’d come to next.

HOURS LATER~ CAR CLOGGED FREEWAY

What we came to next was a clogged highway with too many cars and not enough space for the RV to find a path. Daryl and I scouted ahead, must to my dad’s worry, but finding that we could move further was at least worth it.

We came back to relay the information and the decision was made to raid the cars for supplies before moving them out of the way. Of course a horde of the creepy crawlies found us. Carl, being sensible for his age, stayed put under the car Lori hid him under. Sofia, didn’t. Well, shit.

T-Dog had a horrible cut. Daryl was pissed off at the entire situation, and now Dad had run off to find Sofia. Daryl looked at me and I rushed to his side. “Should I go after them?” He whispered when I got close.

I shook my head. “No, Dad will come ask if he can’t find her.” I was sure of it. He’d been right behind her, so he should have found her and be out in minutes. The time ticked by and I was growing worried. I was about to tell Daryl that we should go in, when Dad came out-alone.

“Daryl?” He asked, and Daryl walked to him. I followed. “No, honey, not you.” I started to protest, but Daryl agreed. Well what the hell? “I need Daryl to track her. You need to stay here and keep everyone calm.” What about Shane, I thought.

“OK, Dad.” I looked at Daryl and wanted so badly to grab him and kiss him. And make him promise to stay safe and keep my dad safe. Instead I touched his hand. He nodded at me. “Stay safe.” It was a blanket statement, for the two of them. And then they disappeared back into the forest.

Carol was understandably upset, and Lori and Shane were tiptoeing around one another. I worked to keep everyone calm, and keep an eye on Carl. He was adamant that he should have a weapon, and I agreed with him. Just not on the type of weapon he wanted. He wasn’t ready for a gun, I told him, not yet. Why not find something stabby? And he nearly got eaten to find one. Then Lori and Shane argued about whether he could keep one or not. For fuck’s sake.

A full night and no Sofia. Dad and Daryl returned, Daryl checking on Carol in the RV and trying to maintain some kind of certainty in the uncertainty. I’d found a spacious minivan and when I tucked the seats down, I had a pretty decent bed. I grabbed my sleeping bag from the Jeep Dad was driving and made a nice little bed. I figured Daryl would keep his distance, since Dad and Lori were sleeping nearby, but he surprised me, tapping on the window as I was looking at the stars through the open sunroof. I smiled and opened the hatchback.

“Thought I’d join ya for a bit.” He whispered, crawling inside and over top of me. “Feels like forever since I’ve kissed ya.” His lips met mine and I sighed in agreement.

Soon the van was steamed up, even with the opening in the roof. I was clutching at his back, his mouth hungry against mine. God in heaven, if I died like that, I would have died happy. He pulled back, too soon for my liking, and smiled down at me. Even sweaty and dirty from the road and the swamp, he was the most gorgeous thing I’d ever seen.

“Ya don’t honestly think our first go is gonna be in a minivan, do ya?” He chuckled and rolled off of me to lay beside me. He pulled me against him, so he could hold me again. “Nah, girl, our first time’s gotta be memorable.”

I giggled. “Pretty sure every time will be memorable with you, Daryl.” My head was in the crook of his arm and I felt his lips on my forehead. “What do you have planned for our first time?” I asked, wanting a better version of a bedtime story.

He sighed and shifted so we were face to face. “Our first time should be under the stars.” He whispered, brushing my errant hair away from my face. “Cause they’re the only thing that can compare to how beautiful you are to me.” I smiled, who knew he had a poet’s heart? “So, somewhere with soft grass, even with this damn sleepin’ bag I want ya to have some cushion under ya. A cool breeze, because you’re skin and mine, together, feels like fire.” I nodded, swallowing at the picture he was painting for me. “And I want to see all of ya. Every tiny bit, and I want ya to see me. We’ll need a full moon for that.” I was drifting off as he continued. “We’re gonna need a long night, cause I don’t wanna have to stop for the sunrise.”

I woke up alone and groaned. I hated this nonsense. I heard the others talking outside, so I refolded my bag and tossed it back inside the Jeep. Stretching I felt his eyes on me. I looked up and sure enough, he was standing with Dad, but watching me like he would prey. I smiled and walked over to join them.

Dad kissed my temple almost absently, but included me in the planning. Everyone was searching today. Grid search, I asked, and he confirmed. OK, I thought, we’d all participated in one of those back home. Even Carl had, because Dad was absolutely certain every hand on deck meant every hand on deck. Once everyone had a part, me with Daryl thank God, we started off. T-Dog and Dale were staying back, to work on the RV and to keep an eye on things. Andrea, gun toting idiot, was giving Dale sass for saving her, sass for refusing her gun rights, and sass for everything that her life didn’t offer. I rolled my eyes.

Shane, Dad, and Carl were together and I was worried. That wasn’t a good idea. Not even close. When we heard the pealing of the bells, everyone’s hope grew. It wasn’t what we’d hoped for, the church held nothing but dead inside and an electronic timed bell outside. After we killed the dead and Daryl checked things out, Carol took a moment to get right with God, I thought about how my life could have been if the world hadn’t turned to shit.

Would I have met Daryl? Would our paths have ever crossed? I would have been attracted to him, of that I was certain. Every girl has a type, right? Well, he was definitely mine. I hadn’t dated much, remember I had to fight for summer camp, but when I had, there was a certain roughness to the guys I preferred. Men who weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty. Men who could hold their own anywhere, but also had a softer side. Sure, I was usually one of the few who could see that side, but knowing it was there was enough. So, Daryl would have been my type no matter what, but would we have met? I glanced up at Jesus on the cross and felt the most peace I’d felt for months. And that was my answer. Yes. We would have.

I met everyone outside as we waited for Carol. Shane, my dad, and Carl were going further on, but the rest of us were heading back to the vehicles and preparing for what comes next. Daryl and I rolled our eyes at Andrea’s bitchiness toward Lori having a gun when she didn’t, and I nearly high-fived my stepmom when she offered it to her and told everyone off for being irritable with Dad. I agreed with her, and dared Andrea to come at me.

“If you’d stop being so pissed about being alive,” I glared at the blonde, “you’d realize that you can totally die out here, all alone, and I’d happily leave your ass laying.” I offered, raising my bow as I felt Daryl’s hand on my arm.

She glared back at me and stomped off back in the direction we’d started from. Bitch. Lori looked at me like I was a stranger, but you know what? I didn’t care. We had enough trouble without a bitch with a death wish. Daryl and I kept the group moving and he tried to keep me calm. I was tired of it. Her attitude with Dale, her irritation with the rest of us. And why? Because she was useless in this world? Well, fuck you and toughen up. I kept going, eyes alert even if I was angry. I felt Lori come up beside me, but before she could say a word we heard the gunshot. Fear clutched my heart, a chill ran up my spin and I prayed that I wouldn’t lose one of my family members.

We waited a beat, before Daryl had us crossing a meadow, then a woman appeared on a horse with a baseball bat screaming Lori and my names. We looked up at her as Daryl held her in his sights on the crossbow. She was making little sense, but we heard Dad’s name and Carl’s then Lori climbed on the horse and I ran beside it. I glanced back at Daryl and I knew he understood. My family needed me. God, please don’t take them.

[comicgeekscomicgeek]

Their Hero Academia – Learning Curve

Presenting the next chapter of my on-going, next-gen, My Hero Academia fic, Their Hero Academia!  

Earlier chapters can be found here

Old habits died hard. Since he was a teenager, Katsuki has almost always risen at 0500.  Sure, there were a few times, like after his first Sports Festival or after some more grievous injuries and hospital stays, where he slept later than that, but it was a discipline he’d engrained in himself for ages.  He’d rise, change, go for a run or engage in other intensive exercise, and still be back in plenty of time to shower, change again, and get breakfast started before Shitty Hair and the kids had even woken up.

He couldn’t go for the run anymore.  He was only a few weeks out from his… injury.  They’d been able to fit him for and fabricate a standard prosthetic in record time, the perks of being the Number Four Hero.  He should have refused the expedited process, done it fair like everyone else.  He felt guilty for it, but Eijiro had convinced him to accept.

“You’ve spent your life helping other people, Katsuki,” Eijiro had said.  “Let somebody help you for once.”

So he still woke up at the asscrack of dawn and there was nothing he could do about it.  Eijiro’s sleeping bulk next to him wouldn’t stir for at least another hour at best.  How he could love someone who snored like a rusty chainsaw, he didn’t know.

With nothing to do for it, he swung himself up into a sitting position, needing more effort than usual to maintain his balance as he slid his foot to the floor.   He can still barely bring himself to look at his… stump.  Katsuki has heard about phantom limb before.  There was little doubt in his mind now that it existed.  There were times he was certain his leg was still there.

But it was not.  The Nomu had broken him.  A fucking robot broke him in ways that all the Villains he’d put away over the years never had.  There were so many enemies he’d made over the years who would have killed to have hurt him this badly, and it had been a damn robot that had done it. Sure, the robot mad obviously been part of some bigger scheme, but he got the feeling he wasn’t the target. Just collateral damage.

Once upon a time, that would have been a big enough blow to his pride that he would have flown into a rage, angry that some crackpot Villain didn’t consider him the world’s biggest threat.

He’d had a lot of therapy since he was a shit-for-brains teenager.  It still hurt, still made him angry, but not in the way it would have once upon a time.

His prosthetic leg stood next to the bed, a reminder of everything he’d lost.  It took the work of several long minutes to put it on. First, he fit the liner around his stump.  It was some kind of high tech interface material, printed circuits on the inside and out, but with a soft texture to prevent chafing and other issues.  Then he fit the socket of the prosthetic on top of that.  Because of the nature of his injury, it wasn’t a clean cut, taking nerves and other muscle fibers with it.  The major of what would be his “knee” was worked into the prosthetic.  Finally, he made sure the prosthetic itself was locked into place and pressed the small button on the side.  

There was a small electric hum as the leg came to life and a warm feeling circulated through his stump.  If he wasn’t too active, he could make this circuitry liner last the better part of three days.  The time was significantly less if he was.  Even though his Quirk was concentrated in his hands, all his sweat had a level of nitroglycerin to it that would eventually cause the circuitry to degrade.  He had plenty of spares, of course, but it was one more reason why he was out of the game for now.

It was almost like having a leg again.  Emphasis on almost.

Eijiro would tell him that he should rest while he could.  Melissa Togata and Mei Hatsume were hard at work on developing a prosthetic that will hold up to his Quirk.  But that would take time.  It was time he didn’t know how to fill.  He’d never been an idle person before.  He wasn’t sure he could survive as one.

He looked over at his husband’s sleeping form and smiled.  He still didn’t think he deserved anyone as understanding and patient as Eijiro.  

The time on the clock said 0515.  Katsuki had let his thoughts wander long enough.  It was time to start the day.

***

“You sure you don’t want any help, Bakubabe?”

“I told you, I’ve got this!”

Eijiro’s question was meant to be helpful, a simple domestic request.  But Katsuki couldn’t help but wonder if Eijiro didn’t think he could cut it. Those were negative thoughts and he had to constantly remind himself that every offer of help was not pity, was not shameful.

Besides, he enjoyed cooking. And there was no way in hell he was letting Eijiro cook.  The last time his husband had tried making breakfast, he’d somehow set the cereal on fire.

Katsuki was making breakfast, his attention was occupied by the stove, but he spared a moment to cast his eyes to the kitchen table, where Eijiro, Katsumi, and Tai were sitting.  Tai was eagerly telling Katsumi about everything she’d missed while at U.A. and Katsumi was listening attentively, her little brother bringing out a softer side in her she’d probably have murdered somebody if they had seen.  

He knew that it would be brief, that Katsumi would be gone all too quickly, first on vacation, then to the U.A. training camp, and then back to U.A., but it made him happy to have all his family back under one roof for a while.

His happy musings were interrupted by the doorbell ringing.  It was a little after 0800.  He wondered who the hell it could be.  They didn’t get a lot of company most of the time, though Pikachu and Lobes and Raccoon Eyes and Soy Sauce Face and all the rest had been coming around more lately.  Eijiro claimed it was because “they’re your friends and they care about you.”

“Somebody going to get that?” he asked.

“I’ll get it!” Tai said cheerfully, jumping up from his chair.  Before Katsuki could even blink, he was already running off.

“I’ll get it,” Eijiro said, getting up and pushing back from the table.  “Before Tai,” he added, hastily.  They lived in a gated community and had a very good security system, so the odds of it being anyone with ill intention towards them were minimal, but they still didn’t allow Tai to open the door without first checking who it was.  A door-cam would let Eijiro know if it was someone who shouldn’t be allowed inside, like a Villain, Monoma, or his mother.  Though for some reason Eijiro actually liked his mother and kept letting her inside.

Still, he listened in as he heard his husband and son answer the door.  “Oh, hi, Mister All Might!”

What?

“Whatever it is, I didn’t do it,” Katsumi said quickly.

***

All Might was sitting at his breakfast table.  He’d begged off any actual food, but had accepted the cup of coffee Katsuki had forced upon him.  Because he was a damn good host.  Katsuki took a minute to eat a few bites of his own food before he started talking.

“You do know Deku lives next door, right, old man?” he asked.  “You didn’t get lost, did you?”

It was ruder than he should have been, he knew.  Especially to someone he’d looked up to pretty much all his life.  But he had a damn morning routine and didn’t take well to having it disrupted.  Well, more disrupted than his current circumstances already had.  But he should really have been setting a better example for Tai.  

All Might laughed and shook his head.  “No,” he said.  “I’m in the right place.  I have matters I wish to speak to you on.  But perhaps it would be better in private?”

Katsuki exchanged a quick look with Eijiro and then another with Katsumi.  Over the years, they’d mastered the art of silent communication. He trusted Katsumi to know if she needed to get Tai out of the room.

“Anything you’ve got to say to me, you can say in front of my family,” he said instead.

All Might nodded and sipped his coffee.  “As you wish,” he said.  “But first, may I ask, how is your recovery going?”

The genuine concern in All Might’s eyes and in his voice spoke volumes.  Katsuki was privy to the old man’s secrets and the secrets Deku carried. He knew about how badly the old man had been injured ages ago and how he’d fought on regardless.  He knew about how All Might had held himself together with spit and bailing wire and kept on.  His own injuries weren’t anywhere near as bad as All Might’s had been, but unlike most offers of it, he actually appreciated the sympathy here.  

The unspoken message was clear.  You don’t have to put on a brave face for me. I’ve been where you are.  There’s no shame here.

And for once, Katsuki believed that.

“It’s going,” he admitted. “Still doing plenty of physical therapy. Haven’t fallen in a while.  I can do stairs now.”

“Daddy had to sleep in the guest room when he came home!” Tai volunteered.  “But I stayed with him so he wouldn’t be lonely!”

“Quiet the heroic act, Young Tai,” All Might said, giving Tai a smile.   That practically had his son glowing, though thankfully not the kind he did before he exploded.

All Might hesitated for a moment before he asked a second question.  “And your Agency?”

Katsuki winced at that and an apologetic look flitted across All Might’s face.  “It’s all right,” Katsuki said finally.  “Sidekicks are running things.  Got plenty of them after all.  They still send me some case files and I weigh in and give orders.”

“He won’t take a real leave of absence,” Eijiro said, the traitor.  “No matter how much I ask him to.”

“Brain still works, even if the rest of me doesn’t,” he snapped.  “I’ve still got work to do.  And speaking of, don’t you have to go in today?”

Eijiro looked at the clock and his eyes went wide.  “Oh, man! You’re right!  I totally forgot!”  He got up from his seat and kissed Katsuki on the cheek, ruffled Katsumi’s hair (to her indignant cries and swats), and gave Tai a hug.  “Nice to see you, All Might!” he said, running out the door.

Katsuki just shook his head. “What would he do without me?” he muttered.

“Anyway,” All Might said, “as I’m sure your daughter told you, I’m leaving my teaching position to become U.A.’s new principal.”

Katsuki fixed Katsumi with the same kind of look he used to get confessions out of Villains.  “I’m sure she did,” he said.

Katsumi shrugged. “You didn’t ask.”

“You’re gonna be the principal?” Tai asked, eyes wide.  “But who’s going to do your old job?”

“You said you were looking into a candidate,” Katsumi said.  She tapped a finger against her cheek and her mouth opened slightly and closed just as quickly.  If he hadn’t been watching, he would have missed it entirely.  But something in her posture changed and she sat up just a little straighter.

“I did,’ All Might said. “Good memory, Young Lady.   In truth, there was only one candidate we were considering…”

He turned and faced Katsuki. He didn’t even have to say it. Katsuki could put two and two together.

“What,” he said, “the fuck?”

“Daddy said a bad word!”

***

“Are you out of your da—are you out of your mind, old man?” Katsuki demanded, having forced All Might from the kitchen to his private study, putting him on small couch there that Eijiro or the kids crashed on when keeping him company.  The walls were filled with awards and newspaper articles, many of which had been clipped and saved by his overly-sappy husband.  He hadn’t been in here in a while.  Too much of a reminder of what he’d lost and what he might not have ever again.

Katsuki remained on his feet.  It almost put him and All Might at eye level.  All the better to glower and try to control this conversation.   Katsumi had taken Tai upstairs, but he was still aware that, with how loud he could get, his young and impressionable son might still overhear and repeat things he said.  And he’d had enough conversations with Tai’s teacher about that already.

“What,” he goes on, “in our history together, makes you think I’m possibly capable of being a teacher?”

“You’ve mentored any number of Sidekicks,” All Might said, calmly.  “And yes, there were those who complained you were a harsh taskmaster, but every single Sidekick who served under you and who went on to a solo career is a top one hundred Hero.  Even those Sidekicks that left your service to work for someone else are noted to have picked up many skills from you.”

“Well, duh,” he snapped. “Gotta bring up the quality of the dumba—of the people I’ve got working for me.  Can’t have them making me look bad!”

All Might chuckled at that. “And, of course, Young Shinso speaks very highly of your mentorship of him.”

Fuck.

“Shinso,” Katsuki said quietly.  With everything that had been going on, he hadn’t had much time to spare a thought for the kid.  He immediately felt guilty about that.  The kid had been right there when it had all gone down.  He knew Shinso had been feeling guilty about it, but he thought he’d patched things up with their little talk at the hospital.  That was how that worked, right?  Big speech, change the world.  Just like All Might.  

The better part of a decade and a half of parenting told him that was not how anything worked.

“How is he?  I haven’t seen him since…”

“He’s getting better every day,” All Might told him kindly.  “Not quite back to his usual self, even now, but a far cry from where he was back then.  Terrible business…”

All Might’s face had gone quite grim, and Bakugo could understand.  The Nomu were the legacy of his greatest enemy.  Even if it was only someone using those tools, the former Number One could only have been thinking about how if he’d been more certain All for One was in the grave, none of it would have happened.

“But Deku and the others are working on discovering the Villains behind it.  I’m sure we’ll see justice done.”

An awkward silence hung in the air for a moment, until Katsuki broke it.  Because he could connect the dots on this easily enough. “I’m not taking some kind of pity job,” he said.  “Just because I can’t go in the field right now doesn’t mean I’m not gonna leap right back in as soon as the eggheads get it figured out.”

Katsuki grunted.  His stump was beginning to ache.  He’d been on his feet too long, but he’d be damned if he’d give All Might the satisfaction of seeing him need to sit down. It would just prove his point.

“I won’t lie to you, Katsuki,” All Might said, his hands folded.  The Symbol of Peace, in his study, wearing one of those stupid mustard yellow pinstripe suits of his.  How Aunt Inko had never managed to get him to buy better clothes, he didn’t know.  “It was a factor.”

“I ought to throw you out of my house,” he growled, taking a menacing step forward.  He winced again.   “Dammit,” he hissed under his breath.  He really didn’t need to be looking weak now.  With as much dignity as he could muster, and trying to project that it was his choice, he sat down in his desk chair.  It was larger than was really needed to be to be functional, plush and comfortable, not fitting the business-like design of the rest of the study, and just big enough that Tai could sit with him in it.

“Can I ask you to hear me out first?” All Might asked, pleading with him.  

“You’ve got five minutes.”

All Might drew in a breath. “You forget, lad, I’ve seen you grow from an angry young man who threatened to kill his classmates on a regular basis to a responsible young adult who reigned in his behavior enough to get his license to one of the greatest Heroes in the country.  You’ve already had a career that would put many current and even veteran Heroes to shame.  And you really do have a lot of offer.  You’ve got plenty of natural talent, but you paired that with more hard work than anyone I’ve ever seen, other than Izuku.”

Katsuki tried very hard not to react to being compared to Deku like that.  They might have buried the hatchet years ago, but again, old habits died hard.

“More than that though,” All Might went on, “I know what it’s like to be struck down, to have people tell you that you should just give up.  I know what it’s like to have a bright future and...”

The silence that followed for the next several seconds was choking.  But Katsuki understood well what it meant.  All Might was more than lucky to still be among the living.  The different factors that had contributed to his still being alive were nothing short of a minor miracle.

Katsuki was down, but not out.  Injured, but still moving forward.  Still strong in the parts of him that were whole, not some skeleton running on fumes.

And yet the comparison was apt.  He’d been the Number Four Hero with eyes on the Number One slot, and even at forty-one, still had plenty of years left in him.

Had being the operative word.  As much as hated to think about it, the question of “what do I do now?” still weighed upon him.  Because if the eggheads couldn’t fix him…

All Might continued, “Though it was originally meant to simply be a cover for my search for a successor, I found I did love teaching.”  He smiled, ruefully.  “Even if I wasn’t very good at it at first.”

Katsuki had to laugh at that.  “That’s putting it mildly.”

“But the fact of the matter is, teaching helped me re-center myself, after I had spent the last vestiges of my power.  I got better at it.  Or at least I think I did.”

He chuckled again. “Yeah, you were all right.”

All Might shared in the chuckle.  “Such a ringing endorsement.  But the fact remains, Katsuki, U.A. was there for me when I needed it.  Let it be here for you.”

Katsuki looked at the clock. “Your five minutes are up.”

***

“So what did All Might want?” Eijiro asked that night at dinner.  Katsuki had cooked again.  It was something he could still do, so he insisted on doing it whenever possible. Because he pulled his own damn weight. He was nobody’s burden.

“Had to be something big,” Katsumi said.  “Dad sent me and the Squirt upstairs.  Heard him yelling at one point.”

“Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Katsuki said automatically.  Dad-instincts had gone to war with his objections to her spilling the beans and had ultimately won.

“That’s your objection here?” Katsumi asked.   But after he gave her a look, she followed up with, “Yes, sir.”

Eijiro was still awaiting an answer to his question.  He should have just said All Might was checking in on him, but he wasn’t and would never be a liar.  He would fully admit to having a fairly selective understanding of reality in the past, but he wasn’t a liar.   Besides, Katsumi and Tai would know that wasn’t true, even if they hadn’t heard what was going on.  And Katsumi was more than smart enough to have to put it together.  The clues hadn’t been hard to follow.

“He had a job offer for me,” he said, finally.

“Oh?” Eijiro asked, water bottle halfway to his mouth.  “Ah, doing what?”

“Teaching,” Katsuki replied.  He frowned. Might as well go for it. “He’s succeeding Nezu as principal and wants me to be the new first year Heroics teacher.”

“I thought that’s what it was,” Katsumi said, “but I didn’t believe it…”

“Believe it,” he said.

“Daddy’s gonna be a teacher?” Tai asked, eyes wide.

“Maybe,” Katsuki said. “I told him I’d think about it.”

“Oh,” Eijiro said.  He took a drink.  

Katsuki sighed.  Eijiro had on his “thinking” face.  The one he got when he wasn’t really sure what to say. Most of the time, it was pretty adorable.  “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said.

“Well,” Eijiro said, “it’s just, I know you’re itching to get back into action… just as soon as… you’re able…”   He trailed off, as though not quite sure how to finish that sentence.  “How’s that going to work?”

Yeah.  That was the goal.  “As soon as he was able.”   Whatever that meant.  And the timeline didn’t really seem good.  They all knew it.  No one said it, but they all knew it.  Well, Tai probably didn’t know it.  But they’d all been content to hold onto the fiction that it was just a matter of time until their lives were all back to normal.

He wasn’t a liar, but he was certainly good at burying things he didn’t want to think about.

“Might not be forever,” he said instead.  “But it’d get me out of the house.”

“He’s right about one thing,” Eijiro said, now that they were on slightly steadier ground.  “You’d be a great teacher.”

“I’m trying not to be insulting here, but…” Katsumi said.  She shrugged helplessly when they looked at her.

“No, really!” Eijiro insisted.  “Your dad’s the reason I passed all my regular classes!  Mina and Denki too!”

“Couldn’t have a bunch of dummies drag me down,” Katsuki said, his mind flashing back to long and yelling-filled study sessions.  He was pretty sure he wouldn’t be allowed to come up with insulting nicknames for his students or launch into profanity-laced tirades about how they wouldn’t know the quadratic equation from their own asses.

Katsumi, meanwhile, had pushed her plate away and was holding her head in her hands.  “I don’t believe this…”

That did give him a moment’s pause.  He hadn’t thought through this angle when he’d been talking to All Might.  “Look, if you don’t want me too…”

She pulled her head up. “I’ll live, Dad.  You would be good at it.   Who else did I get all my moves from?

“And besides,” she went on, “you’d be less embarrassing than Papa.”

“Katsumi!” Eijiro shrieked.  “I’m not embarrassing!  I’m the cool dad!”

“No, you’re not,” Katsumi and Katsuki said at the same time.  They stared for a moment, then laughed.

“Um,” Tai said, “if you’re gonna be a teacher, are we gonna have to move?”

“That’s something Papa and I would have to talk about,” Bakugo said.  Thoughts of no longer living within shouting distance of Deku, Pickahu, that Copycat Bastard, and Eijiro’s dumber half-brother danced through his mind, before remembering that Itsuka Tetsutetsu was already a U.A. teacher, splitting her time between living on campus and their home across the street from him, though they had the advantage of only having the one child.

“We’d probably move though,” he said.  “Or else I wouldn’t get to see you as much.  And nobody’d like that.”

Tai nodded.  “I’d miss you!  And if Papa had to do all the cooking, we’d starve!”

Eijiro crossed his arms and harrumphed.  “Everybody’s a critic.”

“You know he’s right, Papa,” Katsumi said.

Still…

“It’s your choice, Bakubabe,” Eijiro said after a moment.  “You know me.  I’ll follow you anywhere.  If you want this… if you need this, then we’ll do it.”

“Yeah,” Katsumi said. “As long as you promise not to embarrass me…”

“Daddy’s gonna be a teacher!” Tai said, helpfully.

“Yeah, okay,” he said. “Maybe I am…”

***

Later, Katsuki climbed into bed with Eijiro, the thoughts of the day still running through his head. He had been an easy sleeper, but ever since the Nomu, it took him longer and longer to fall asleep.  There were too many intrusive thoughts these days trying to undermine his confidence and sense of self.  He’d had nights like that before, like when his children had been born and he’d been worried as fuck about how he could be a good father.  But this, this was more like when he’d blamed himself for All Might’s last stand.

The thought that he would never be good enough again kept pounding against his the inside of his skull. The question of whether accepting this teaching job was giving up or being realistic asked itself a thousand times, in a thousand different ways.

“What do you really think, Eijiro?” he asked.  There wasn’t much need to be more specific than that.

Ejiro put a bookmark in his book, set it aside, and took off his reading glasses.  “Do you actually want my opinion, or is this one of those times where you’ve already made up your mind and are just looking for permission?”

Dammit, Eijiro was more perceptive than he gave him credit for.

“I want your opinion, Shitty Hair,” he said.  “I do this, it’s not just my life that’s affected.  It’s you, it’s Katsumi, it’s Tai.”

“Tai’s five,” Eijiro said. “Plus, he can adapt to anything. Worst thing for him will be if he doesn’t get to see Mako and Takeru as much.”

“And Katsumi?  Can’t imagine she wants her old man around every day.”

“Kana manages it with her mom,” Eijiro reminded him.  “Besides… after we thought we might lose you, I think she’d appreciate seeing you a little more often.”

“And what about you?” Katsuki demanded.  “Stop putting everybody else’s needs first and tell me what you think, Shitty Hair.”

Eijiro reached over and took his hand in his own.  He gave it a squeeze.  “Bakubabe. You’re my home.  Wherever you go, I go.  We’ll find a way to make it work.  You need this.  So if you want to do this, I’m behind you, one hundred percent.   We said for better or for worse. It’s the Manly thing to do.”

It sure seemed like a lot of worse right now.  But he didn’t back down from a fight.  

Katsuki nodded and gave Eijiro’s hand a squeeze in return.  “I’m not giving up, understand?  Just a temporary leave of absence to focus on my recovery and pass on a little wisdom.  That’s it. That’s what this is.”

Eijiro gave him a smile. One of his “I’m agreeing with you to allow you to save face, even though we both know you’re bluffing to cover up how afraid you are” smiles.  Eijiro had had a lot of practice with that one over the years.   He knew that if Eijiro truly thought he needed to, he’d call him on the bullshit.  

“Of course, Bakubabe. As long as you think you can do it, I’m with you.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?!  Of course I can do it!  Why wouldn’t I be able to do it?!  If All Might or that hobo Aizawa can teach…”

He stopped and gave Eijiro a swat upside the head with his free hand.  “I see what you did there, Shitty Hair.”

There are times, like now, where Katsuki wondered what he did to deserve someone like Eijiro in his life. Questioning that tended to lead down dark paths.  So for now, he was just going to welcome the support.

Him.  A teacher.  It was almost unthinkable.  And yet everyone kept saying he had it in him.  All Might, Eijiro, they all believed in him.

He used to believe in himself.  There were times in his life where he had believed in himself too much, believed in himself to the point of believing he was the center of the universe.  At least that wasn’t the case anymore.

But maybe, just maybe, he could get a little of that belief back.

[eliphante123]

Playing tw tag game w/ my oc

I haven't been tagged, yet but this looks fun. I've seen people post this from @edda-blattfe and they're pretty honest with their answers, so why not try it, myself. Also, I brought my oc to answer with me (I want to spice it up a bit) Taniya: happy to answer ^-^

~Dire Crowley appears before you~

Question 1: Welcome to Night Raven College! Did you enjoy the trip here?

Me: i don't know how did i get here but wow

Taniya: hmmm...yes and no

Me: why?

Taniya: if you were me, you know why -_-

Question 2: Wonderful! All students here must choose one of the seven dormitories to reside in during the school year. Which one do you choose? Why?

Me: I’m mostly interested in Ignihyde because of technologies and stuff

Taniya: look at my ears and tails, it’s obvious I’m from savanaclaw

Question 3: Now that you’re officially a student, what would you like to learn first?

Me: history about magic, I luv magic

Taniya: LEVITATION! SO I CAN USE IT TO CRUSH MY EMEMIES BY LIFTING A GIANT OBJECT AND THROW AT THEIR FACES!!! *gives out a cute evil laugh*

Me: 0_0'

Taniya: also I can easily get things from up high since that I'm short and I can easily clean my messy dorm room just like one of the movies *smiles*

Question 4: I’ll leave you to settle in now. Before I go, do you have any questions about the college?

Me: one question, *fangirling scream* why did you accept hot guys in your college?

Taniya: is there a potion for making me taller? 0w0

~Crowley out~ 

Taniya: hey! I’m talking here!

Question 5: Which dormitory leader are you excited to meet? Why?

Me: ALL BECAUSE THEY'RE SO HOT!!!

Taniya: I'm fine with everyone *whispers* except Leona and Azul

Question 6: Azul offers you the chance to fulfill your heart’s desire. What is it, and do you accept?

Taniya: don't you dare go near with that sea demon

Me: why? he's going to make my wish come true

Taniya: yeah but I'm warning you that guy is bad news

Me: just because you hate fish, doesn't mean you hate him, as well. Also, what about you? do you want something in your heart's desire?

Taniya: of course not! I won't make deals with someone who can impossibly grants people's wish and I still don't trust him, especially the twins

Question 7: Which of the boys are you friends with? Why?

Me: of course, Taniya!, ortho, ace, and kalim are cool to hangout

Taniya: most of my friends are Leona, Ruggie, Jack since we lived at the same dorm and the rest are ortho, idia, trey, kalim, lilia, and silver because they're ok to talk to

Taniya: aww

Me: ur welcome~

Question 8: C’mon, we all know everyone at the school is attractive. Is there someone (or more) you’re crushing on?

Me: WELL DUH! EVERY BOYS ARE ATTRACTIVE! and *looks at Taniya with a smirky face*

Taniya: what?

Me: is there someone you have a crush on?

Taniya: me? nah I'm not interested with guys

Me: ohohoh but there is and I know who~

Taniya: oh yeah tell me

Me: it’s obvious you two are like almost a couple but you just don’t realized it. He’s tall, cunning, handsome face and he's a third year

Taniya: dude every third year are tall, cunning, and handsome

Me: but you know him, right? you're always with him whenever he needs you *smiles*

Taniya: I’ve been hanging out with bunch of guys in my life and even if I do, none of them are my type but what you're refering to....

Me: *waiting for her to realize it’s Leona*

Taniya: hmm....nope doesn't ring my bell

Me: girl you need to learn more about love life

Taniya: no thanks

Question 9: The hallways are a terrifying place to be after hours. Who’s the last person you wanna be out there with?

Me: ready?

Taniya: ok

Me & Taniya: 1, 2, 3...GHOST!!!

Me: nailed it

Question 10: Would you rather listen to Jamil’s puns, work at the Mostro Cafe with Jade and Floyd, or clean the dungeons with Lilia?

Me: I'm fine with Jamil's puns

Taniya: I'll just go help cleaning the dungeon with Lilia

Question 11: Everyone loves karaoke night at the Cafe! Do you sing? If so, which song would be your go to?

Me: yeah I can sing but I don't know which song that fits me, I guess It'll Be Alright by Cody Francis

Taniya: I can sing as well and the song I would sing is Faster Car by Anders Lystell.....wait a minute! since when did the Cafe have karaoke?

Question 12: Riddle invites you to a tea party with the rest of Heartslabyul. Do you attend?

Me: yes, I love tea parties

Taniya: me too, so we don't have to get our heads cut

Me: oh yeah....

Question 13: Choose a champion!

Me: I know who's a champion

Taniya: same here

Both: ME!!! *looks at eachother*

Taniya: actually we're the champions

Question 14: Favorite headcanon(s)?

Me: I don't have a favorite but I like all of it

Taniya: canons x self-insert/oc's

Question 15: Unpopular opinion?

Both: nope/nada

Question 16: You forgot to send Maleus an invitation. Your survival plan?

Me: pretending I'm not invited either and next time, I will invite him to my "I'M SORRY FOR NOT INVITING YOU" party

Taniya: who's that?

Me: you know that horned guy that lives in the diasomnia and always been forgetten in every invitation.

Taniya: oh that guy, was he in the party, last week?

Me: idk but it's better to not mention about it to Maleus because he might gonna zap you with his spinning wheel staff like a grilled potato

Taniya: .....ok, I'm with your plan

Question 17: Be honest, would you trust Rook to shoot an apple off your head?

Me: ohhh yes, I want to see if he really shoot that apple

Taniya: no, I would probably be dead for 1.5 second -_-;

Question 18: Lilia, Ace, and Kalim invite you to hang out with them. Do you go?

Me: Absolutely

Taniya: eh why not

Question 19: Where is your favorite place to chill on campus?

Me: chilling at the Mostro Cafe while wearing my headphones on

Taniya: outside the campus roof or I could do parkour for fun

Me: ohh can I come?

Taniya: sure, if you know how to climb a high building before

Question 20: Ortho asks if you’ll help him drag Idia out of his room so he won’t skip class. How does that work out?

Me: I would convince him to go out because he’ll miss everything that is going on

Taniya: why not we use Idia’s unfinished vr headset then trick him that you, me, and ortho help fixing his vr and telling that we created an adventure virtual reality game called “NIGHT RAVEN SIMULATOR” for him, as a test subject, to practice interacting with other students. We just have to remove the lenses, make very convincing that everything is just a simulator/game, and lure him out from his room to attend his classes

Me: but what if he notice our trick?

Taniya: don’t worry I’ll tell the other students/teachers that we have to play along with his virtual fantasy and not let Idia to suspect anything and everything that is reality

Me: but what if it fail?

Taniya: *sighs* if it fails, well at least we can do is getting him to experience of going out for one last time

Taniya: at the end of class, we’ll send him back to his room and tell everyone never mentioned about our “getting idia out from his room” plan

Me: ok that really is too much work but that’s actually smart of you

Taniya: well it’s that least I can do to help a friend to boost his confidence

Me: aww *hugs her*

Question 21: Who would you rather train with, Jack, Sebek, or Ashton?

Me: is it alright to say none of them?

Taniya: training with Jack, ok but with Ashton, no way

Question 22: You’re locked up in Mr. S’s shoppe after hours, who’s with you?

Me: do I really have to pick? then ace and kamil, we’ll get in trouble in the morning

Taniya: Ruggie, I guess? he’ll help me find a potion that can grow my height

Question 23: Leona fell asleep…again. This time on top of you. You have potions in 15 minutes; what do you do?

Me: I don’t mind sleeping with him, he’s kind of cute and comfy to begin with

Taniya: I’ll gently push him off and draw his face with a permanent marker while he’s asleep. When he wakes up, I’ll pretend nothing happened until someone notice his face

Me: that’s kinda devious

Taniya: that’s what he get for sleeping on me

Question 24: Would you rather go on a magic carpet ride with Kalim, let Vil give you the Pomefiore spa treatment, or play on Azul’s grand piano (with his supervision)?

Me: magic carpet with kalim!

Taniya: a spa treatment would be nice

Me: why don’t you join us?

Taniya: you know I have aerophobia! I won’t go anywhere that involves flying

Me: *whispers* you’re no fun

Taniya: I heard that

Question 25: Grimm feels a little left out. Comfort him?

Me: yes, I’ll give him a stuffed mouse to play with

Taniya: I’ll bring him along with me on a journey

Me: ohh like what?

Taniya: as a dorm assistant, I’ll hire him as my helping buddy to do the work in my dormitory    

Me: that’s nice

Ok that's all you want to see here and wow this is really long. For the tags, I bet almost everyone are already been tagged since I've been posting this kinda late so.... I guess @nerdgod555 , @ocean-water-tea , and @mint-sugar-1121 if anyone wants to do this game just go to @edda-blattfe and you can find that mention tw tag game. Hope u enjoy our crazy journey bye~ 

Taniya: good bye~ *waves her hand* ^-^

[hamilton-one-shots]

Omegaverse AU 9

When they got to the restaurant, Thomas parked and got out, getting over to the other side and opening the omega's door before he could do it himself.

John blushed at that and smiled. "You're quite the gentleman, aren't you?"

Thomas smiled. "I try to be.."

John stepped out of the car and walked beside Thomas as they made their way to the restaurant. He felt Thomas's hand brushing against his and pulled his own away, looking down a bit. He wasn't exactly comfortable with even the smallest displays of affection.

Not that Thomas needed an explanation. If John didn't want to hold his hand, he didn't want to hold his hand, nobody was dying over it.

Once they reached the entrance, John held the door open for Thomas, making the alpha smile, then followed him to the hostess for a seat. They were seated at a booth and sat across from each other, awkward silence quickly filling the air.

"So.." John began in an attempt to kill it. "How was your day?"

"It was alright. I did have to deal with a few idiots who were freaking out because they believed you were an omega.. I mean, you are, but I didn't write that."

John nodded. "I know what you mean.. Sorry you had to deal with that.. What did you tell them?"

"I just said that it wasn't their business. I got them off the topic of your dynamic," Thomas explained with a shrug.

"Okay... Thank you. I have no shame in being what I am, I just don't want it to reflect poorly on people who didn't do anything wrong, like Mr Washington. That man's a saint for all he does for me.." He gave him a job that pays as much as it would an alpha, he let him work from home during his heats, he gave John his own personal work space to keep him safe, before a problem even arose, and John still felt like an equal to his alphan peers.

Thomas smiled at that. "So, how are you enjoying your job with the newspaper?"

"It's pretty good," John stated. "The pay is fair, I enjoy writing what I write and I still get to draw cartoons, of course. And I don't feel like the office omega during meetings or something. Obviously, I stand out by being the only one besides Washington with my own office, but it's not the same during meetings. Washington makes alphas stay out of the meeting room when they're on their rut, not me. And I know I'd be allowed to go to the office during heat if people didn't have a huge problems with omegas in heat in general."

Thomas nodded at that line. "I know what you mean. It's not fair that alphas with ruts get to just go around and omegas in heat have to just shove themselves into a hole for a week. And then female omegas.. Do you mind if I call you that?"

"No, it's fine. As long as you don't say it in a degrading way or anything, I know what you mean. I know what I am," John assured. John was a man, but that didn't mean he had anything against being female.

"Right. If I do say anything offensive, just let me know. But, as I was saying, it sucks that you guys, especially, have to go through everything you go through.."

John shrugged. "Life is life.. At least the other girls there are betas." In an office with all of those alpha males and with the fact that he was just so used to it, John preferred to use the women's bathroom. Anywhere else, he was taunted by female alphas for being a trans guy in the girl's bathroom and for being an omega, but, at work, he could just take care of his business and leave. Whenever he ran into the girls, they just smiled at him. There wasn't much small talk, but when there was, it was friendly.

Thomas was shocked to see how grateful John was for such a basic human decency, but he supposed that there were just some things that an alpha would never have to go through that omegas just lived with. "It sounds pretty hard being an omega.." he absentmindedly commented.

"Yeah.. But you get used to it," John said with a shrug. It took a lot of getting used to, but he got used to it. "But, you know, you already know a lot about me, but I don't know anything about you. Tell me about yourself," John requested with a small smile. Part of him just wanted the subject to be changed, but he also genuinely wanted to learn more about Thomas. They were on a date, after all.

Thomas nodded and thought a bit. "I went to college and majored in pre-law because my parents kind of forced me. I wanted to be a writer, but they refused to listen, so I flunked out of law school first chance I had and began doing this. I don't know, I just... I wanted to write, but I wanted to write something other than novels.. Something nonfiction that people could relate to. These days, what's more relatable than a college student just trying to survive? Or any person trying to look for work, for that matter."

"Right," John agreed. "Even I got some help from reading your blog. You're really good at what you do."

"Thanks.." Thomas smiled. "But I can't deny one thing that Alexander says about me.. I did get through college on my parent's money. I had an easy childhood... But it's not like I lie about it. When people point it out, I just tell them it's true and all, but some of them keep pushing to get a rise out of me. I just shake it off. Just because I had it easy doesn't mean I'm incapable of trying to help others. I'm not trying to take pity and I try to put myself in their shoes."

"So.. Those discount diets that you post?.." John asked, curious.

"I try them all for at least a month and I record how I feel everyday." Sure, the all ramen diet was definitely a mistake, but there were some that were successful. "Besides, it wasn't like money was just rolling in when I started out. I had to save money, so I killed two birds with one stone there," Thomas said with a shrug.

John nodded. "You know.. If I wasn't an omega or trans or gay, I'd be just like you. My dad was loaded, but as soon as high school was over, I was on my own. That's the one good thing about being an omega: omega shelters a thing. Far from perfect, sure, but they're a roof over our heads and two good meals a day." Omegan shelters ran on volunteer work and government funding, but they also ran on the omegan philosophy of using resources, any resources, sparsely. Cupboards and storage rooms were full of extra resources, used only because expiration dates were near or because a newcomer came from the streets, starving. There were nicer shelters for homeless people of any dynamic, but during times of hardship, they were the first to fall to chaos. And, with people not expecting omegas to have anything, their shelters were left alone. It was selfish, but omega instinct was complex. It had to be. Of course, children and other omegas were saved, but others... not so much. It was rare that they actually felt bad about it, though. Omegas were treated as the lowest class. Why should they show kindness to those who show a new omega to the streets as soon as their first heat began? More than that, it was their fault that omegas were the rarest dynamic. The chance of becoming an omega is about the same as becoming a beta or alpha. The chance of survival as an omega made them the most rare.

And Thomas would never know any of that. He gave John a slight look of pity. "That's awful.." At least Thomas was able to take some of his scholarship money and use that to keep himself afloat until his blog was able to support him. From his point of view, it sounded like John was stuck being cold and starving.

"It could've been worse." John knew it was just survival. And he knew if that secret ever got out, there would be outrage. Omegan massacres weren't unheard of. "Besides, I made it out just fine and I know that everyone who was in my position will be too." Of course, omegas always took care of each other.

Thomas just nodded. There was nothing he could say about that, he had no idea what it was like to be in John's shoes. And, in this case, there was no way he'd ever find out.

[roccorrios]

How to Escape a Sinking Car (& Get Out While Underwater with a Window Break)

Several months ago 2 cousins, just 19 years old, drowned when their car plunged into a pond.

The driver was traveling from her workplace at Amazon to a nursing home where the other cousin worked.

Medical examiners say both women died of accidental drowning and that no foul play is suspected. This was a tragic and devastating incident for the community – and it doesn’t happen to just adults.

Children and babies are frequently victims in water related accidents.

I was even more surprising to find out that over 10,000 auto accidents like this happen each year.

Some survive, others don’t.

And it made me think, “would I know what to do in a situation like this?”

“How would I save children or other passengers in a drowning car?”

We all like to think that we’d be able to escape a car crash in water.

But being in the moment, inside a car sinking in water is far more disorienting than you may think.

It happens fast.

And you may even find yourself upside down and in the dark – a panic inducing moment even without passengers.

So, how long does it take for a car to sink?

On average your window of opportunity will be between 30-320 seconds – it’s fast, and the water doesn’t need to be deep to cause problems.

Additionally, a recent study revealed that door panels get jammed after 120 seconds.

Do power windows work underwater?

You’ll find that you have a short window of opportunity before you lose all electrical systems in your vehicle.

As a driver, your knowledge of what to do in a sinking car will enable you to rescue your family and other passengers while waiting for 911 to dispatch ambulances.

This is why it’s important to know exactly what to do before you ever find yourself in a situation like this.

Do you have a plan on how to get out of a drowning car? Here’s some “escape the car” help.

How to get out of a sinking car: 4 Simple Steps

First of all, make sure you have a car safety kit. You can find our Ultimate Car Emergency Safety Kit here.

Next, make sure to memorize the following steps:

Seatbelts

Windows

Children Out

You Out

There are two different scenarios when it comes to getting out of a car sinking in water.

One of them is while the windows are still above water, the other is while you are submerged.

How to get out of a car underwater

Can you open a car door underwater?

Once a car starts sinking, water exerts pressure in all directions.

Imagine trying to open your car door but there are 10 quarterbacks pushing against it from the outside.

No amount of kicking will be able to rescue you because of pressure increasing each second.

What to do if your car is submerged in water

1. Secure your phone

Whiplash injuries might occur when a car veers off the road and lands into a large mass of water.

Drivers and passengers can also sustain wrist fractures as they hold onto the nearest object for safety.

Your phone enables you to get professional medical attention as soon as possible.

Switch off your phone, and if possible, remove the battery quickly. Doing this prevents short-circuiting as you swim towards dry land. Alternatively, you can switch if off and put it in the nearest plastic bag you can find.

2. Take a deep breathe

Sometimes, things aren’t as bad as they appear. If the accident happens while you’re sober, your mind can shift attention from the loud splashing.

It’s during this moment that you can stop and recall where you’ve placed your car window breaker.

Panicking works against you because it makes it impossible to cut the seatbelt.

It’s also hard to remember about water pressure when your mind is clouded with fear.

That’s why taking a deep breathe helps you to figure out the best course of action.

3. Be ready to part with your belongings

It seems rational to scoop up all your belongings when water flows into your car. Especially when they’re high-end items like designer bags or MacBook laptops.

However, you might only have less than a minute to rescue yourself, and holding on to your belongings will prevent you from using your hands to swim.

Your phone is what you need the most because an accident might take place at night or in secluded areas.

In such situations, it might take a while before other people come to your rescue.

4. Unbuckle your seatbelt fast

Once your car starts sinking, it becomes a hazard to your life.

So, you need to get out urgently by unbuckling your seatbelt.

But, you need to follow the second step in this list, which is taking a deep breathe.

If your seatbelts seem jammed, you’ll need a sharp knife to cut through.

That’s why you need a rescue tool in your glove compartment.

Also, don’t wait for water to get inside your vehicle because wet seatbelts are harder to cut.

5. Roll down your windows

Now that you know how water exerts pressure on submerged doors, you need another escape route.

Car windows are large enough for adults to swim through.

But, do you really have to break the glass in order to swim to safety?

No one wants to deal with cuts and stitches when they’re already trapped in a life or death situation.

When your car hits the water, secure your escape routes by rolling down your window.

Doing this enables you to swim to safety without bleeding on the way out.

However, it also lets in water at a high rate.

6. Use a tool to break a car window underwater

Let’s assume you don’t have time to roll down the windows because your vehicle rolled over several times and landed inside water.

Is it possible to break the car window underwater?

Yes, it is but you have to do it before any water gets in.

All you need is a car rescue tool to clear your exit. They’re usually the size of a key holder and contain a sharp razor blade to cut through seatbelts.

A spring-loaded tool is ideal because you only have to press it against the corner of your car window to shatter the glass.

3 tips on how to escape a car submerged in water

Top Gear Sinking Car

1. Equip each passenger with a spring-loaded rescue tool

A spring-loaded rescue tool costs anywhere from $30-$50. It’s really affordable and worth it – even movie tickets also fall within the same price range.

Plus, it’s easy to carry because you can just attach it to your key chain or attach it to the headrest for quick access.

Additionally, children aged over 7 years can use it easily because you don’t need to press the tool against the window forcefully.

When each passenger has a tool within easy access, all passengers have the best chances of survival without complicated injuries.

2. Avoid storing heavy objects near headrests

Sometimes we tend to place heavy objects on the space between the backseat headrests and windshield.

Doing this puts both you and your passengers at great risk.

When a fast-moving car loses control and swerves into water, you’ll notice that the car sinks in nose first.

Why is this dangerous?

Because the impact hurls everything to the front.

Any bottles, electronics, and other items pose a danger to both you and your passengers because they’re moving at a high speed.

So, to avoid hurting yourself or your passengers, keep heavy items in the trunk.

3. Open the sunroof fast

When you’re driving in cold weather, your windows will be shut to insulate yourself.

So, what happens when you lose control and your car starts sinking?

How do you get out of a car underwater?

Well, the best solution is rolling down the windows or using a rescue tool.

However, it’s possible that your windows might be faulty and there’s no rescue tool around.

Does this mean that all hope is lost?

Certainly not.

You can act fast by opening the sunroof while cutting the seatbelt.

Escaping through the sunroof is easier for passengers because the car’s tilted position forces objects towards the roof.

How to escape a sinking car with children

1. Don’t panic

Children are highly in tune with your body language.

They can tell when things are going wrong by just looking at your face and listening to the tone in your voice.

Their ability to cooperate with your rescue efforts depends on your state of mind as the car starts sinking.

Remember to take deep breathes as you unbuckle your safety belt and roll down the windows.

Don’t shout back at the children when they scream in panic because it will only make things worse.

2. Start with the oldest to the youngest

Earlier on, we saw that your window of opportunity closes after two minutes.

So, in order for you to increase your chances of survival, the best strategy is to start with more able-bodied passengers.

Why is this important?

Because they can help you rescue other passengers by moving them out or breaking nearby windows.

It’s impossible to swim to the surface and then back to the wrecked car to rescue other passengers.

In most cases, the survivor is still traumatized and this hinders their ability to make rational decisions.

Plus, it’s hard to break car windows from outside when you don’t have a spring-loaded rescue tool.

3. Get a booster seat with quick release technology

In a drowning car, you might need to rescue more than one child.

Sometimes, it gets challenging when you’re driving with a toddler or child with a physical impairment because they’re relying on you to swim them to safety.

In such a situation, trying to cut through the seatbelt can be tricky due to the numerous straps attached.

However, you can scoop your child and swim away by just pressing a button on the booster seat thanks to quick release technology.

How to rescue a drowning person without floatation device

So far, we’ve looked at how to get out of a sinking vehicle and rescue passengers safely.

But, what happens when some of your passengers can’t swim?

In case one of your passengers starts drowning here’s what to do

1. Offer reassurance

Deep waters are terrifying because we’re used to stepping and walking on solid ground.

The drowning victim feels overwhelmed with fear and this makes them sink.

Your job is to help them focus their attention on staying afloat.

As you swim towards the victim, encourage them with inspiring words.

Tell them that they’re doing a great job and you’ll get them to safety fast.

Calming down your passengers makes them more cooperative towards your instructions.

2. Use the chin grab

When swimming towards your passenger, you’ll notice that he or she wants to dive and cling on to you for safety.

If they actually get a hold of you, it makes the situation worse because you can’t use your limbs to swim back to safety.

What’s the best approach?

Dive underwater for the sake of your drowning passenger.

Swim towards him or her and then turn towards their back.

Then, grab their hips and slide your least dominant hand to their chin.

For instance, a right-handed person will use their left hand to hold their victim’s chin up.

This position enables you to swim to safety without the passenger pulling your limbs.

The best way to get to safety is by using either the back or sidestroke.

3. Talk to them

The best rescue situation is where everyone comes out unscathed and still conscious.

As you swim to dry land, keep on motivating your passenger.

This engagement prevents their brain from switching off, enabling them to keep breathing throughout.

How to give CPR to a drowning person

Here are some quick easy steps to help you revive a friend, passenger, or relative as you await an ambulance.

1. Open their mouth to check for obstructions

Water can flood a drowning victim’s mouth as they gasp for air repeatedly.

This blocks their airway and puts them in a life-threatening situation.

How do you ensure that their airway is clear?

First, lay down your passenger on solid ground far from the water.

Next, place your right hand on their forehead then use your left hand to tilt their chin gently.

Open their mouth by pulling down their chin.

If your phone is still working, use the flashlight to check for any obstructions in the throat.

2. Clean any fluids on the victim’s mouth

Drowning can induce vomiting because the victim is choking with water.

Sometimes, the impact upon hitting an obstacle or water can cause cuts or gashes to the mouth.

As a rescuer, your health always remains the top priority and that’s why you can’t proceed to giving rescue breathes.

Nowadays, you can get pocketsize CPR masks ideal for such situations.

If you lost it while swimming to safety, just use your handkerchief or t-shirt to wipe your passenger’s mouth clean.

3. Check for a pulse

Assessing the pulse rate enables you to determine whether you need to give chest compressions.

How do you check for one?

Place your index and middle fingers at the center of your passenger’s neck then slide them sideways to the muscle until you feel a small depression.

If you can’t detect a pulse, prepare to give chest compressions.

4. Start with rescue breaths

The aim of giving rescue breathes is to stimulate your victim’s lungs.

Doing this also ensures that the brain and heart still receive enough oxygen.

Start by tilting your victim’s head upwards then open their mouth gently to clear their airway.

Next, place your mouth directly on top of theirs then blow deeply.

Watch if his or her chest is rising before giving the next rescue breath.

Rescue breathes are effective in reviving victims who passed out just moments before getting rescued to dry land.

5. Give 30 chest compressions

Before proceeding to this step, locate the center of your victim’s chest.

Place your thumb at the victim’s armpit then follow a straight line towards the center, which is halfway below the sternum.

Next, place the heel of your right hand then place your left hand on top while interlocking your fingers.

Before pumping, make sure your shoulders are straight.

Proceed to the compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.

It’s advisable to take off any jewelry or ties hanging on your victim’s neck.

Mythbusters underwater car survival tests

Let’s look at some of the widely spread, but wrong ways of how to get out of a drowning car.

Mythbusters fall into water

1. Myth: wait for the pressure to equalize

Some people believe that the best way to escape a submerged car is waiting for the water to fill up your car to chest level.

The inflowing water equalizes air pressure enabling you to open doors easily.

On surface level, it seems rational because it only takes a minute for water to fill up a car.

But, is it really a wise move?

As water fills up, it’s also carrying soil and objects of varying sizes.

The visibility inside deteriorates rapidly and this puts you at risk especially when you’re trying to find your car rescue tool.

Secondly, the incoming water adds weight and this can force your car to flip upside down.

It’s hard to rescue passengers when you’re stuck in this position.

2. Myth: kick out the windshield

Every major action movie star from Sylvester Stallone to Jason Statham have defiantly kicked out windshields in scenes involving submerged vehicles.

They make it look so easy that you immediately believe it’s a method that works in real life.

Unfortunately, it’s all camera tricks.

A windshield consists of two layers of thick glass and in between them is a layer of highly elastic plastic adhesive.

This design makes it able to withstand higher impacts from falling objects compared to your side windows.

Also, the steering wheel’s position makes it hard to thrust your legs with the required force.

3. Myth: break the side windows using your elbows

You’ve also seen this in a couple of movies. All you need to do is aim then strike the glass hard.

How effective is this method?

On a scale of one to ten, elbow strikes score a dismal three.

Why?

Because you’ll need to strike the window repeatedly to get a breakthrough.

Yet, you only have less than two minutes to get out of the sinking wreck.

If you somehow manage to break your window, you’ll be in a lot of pain and bleeding profusely due to the cuts sustained.

Finally… Rescuing yourself from a sinking car isn’t difficult as long as you retain mental composure.

It helps you to locate the right tools for the job as well as figuring out the best rescue plan for your passengers.

What’s the best way to prepare for these incidents?

Ensure that your car tires are in excellent condition when driving in snow or rainy weather, especially near rivers and lakes.

Finally, make sure there are a couple of rescue tools in your glove compartment in case your car gets submerged in water

More helpful reading:

How to Create a Disaster Plan for Your Home

How to Choose the Best Survival Kit

Wilderness Survival Kits: 10 Essentials You Should Always Bring With You Outdoors

The post How to Escape a Sinking Car (& Get Out While Underwater with a Window Break) appeared first on survivalistgear.co.

source https://survivalistgear.co/how-to-escape-a-sinking-car/ source https://survivalistgear1.tumblr.com/post/185529674842

[survivalistgear1]

How to Escape a Sinking Car (& Get Out While Underwater with a Window Break)

Several months ago 2 cousins, just 19 years old, drowned when their car plunged into a pond.

The driver was traveling from her workplace at Amazon to a nursing home where the other cousin worked.

Medical examiners say both women died of accidental drowning and that no foul play is suspected. This was a tragic and devastating incident for the community – and it doesn’t happen to just adults.

Children and babies are frequently victims in water related accidents.

I was even more surprising to find out that over 10,000 auto accidents like this happen each year.

Some survive, others don’t.

And it made me think, “would I know what to do in a situation like this?”

“How would I save children or other passengers in a drowning car?”

We all like to think that we’d be able to escape a car crash in water.

But being in the moment, inside a car sinking in water is far more disorienting than you may think.

It happens fast.

And you may even find yourself upside down and in the dark – a panic inducing moment even without passengers.

So, how long does it take for a car to sink?

On average your window of opportunity will be between 30-320 seconds – it’s fast, and the water doesn’t need to be deep to cause problems.

Additionally, a recent study revealed that door panels get jammed after 120 seconds.

Do power windows work underwater?

You’ll find that you have a short window of opportunity before you lose all electrical systems in your vehicle.

As a driver, your knowledge of what to do in a sinking car will enable you to rescue your family and other passengers while waiting for 911 to dispatch ambulances.

This is why it’s important to know exactly what to do before you ever find yourself in a situation like this.

Do you have a plan on how to get out of a drowning car? Here’s some “escape the car” help.

How to get out of a sinking car: 4 Simple Steps

First of all, make sure you have a car safety kit. You can find our Ultimate Car Emergency Safety Kit here.

Next, make sure to memorize the following steps:

Seatbelts

Windows

Children Out

You Out

There are two different scenarios when it comes to getting out of a car sinking in water.

One of them is while the windows are still above water, the other is while you are submerged.

How to get out of a car underwater

Can you open a car door underwater?

Once a car starts sinking, water exerts pressure in all directions.

Imagine trying to open your car door but there are 10 quarterbacks pushing against it from the outside.

No amount of kicking will be able to rescue you because of pressure increasing each second.

What to do if your car is submerged in water

1. Secure your phone

Whiplash injuries might occur when a car veers off the road and lands into a large mass of water.

Drivers and passengers can also sustain wrist fractures as they hold onto the nearest object for safety.

Your phone enables you to get professional medical attention as soon as possible.

Switch off your phone, and if possible, remove the battery quickly. Doing this prevents short-circuiting as you swim towards dry land. Alternatively, you can switch if off and put it in the nearest plastic bag you can find.

2. Take a deep breathe

Sometimes, things aren’t as bad as they appear. If the accident happens while you’re sober, your mind can shift attention from the loud splashing.

It’s during this moment that you can stop and recall where you’ve placed your car window breaker.

Panicking works against you because it makes it impossible to cut the seatbelt.

It’s also hard to remember about water pressure when your mind is clouded with fear.

That’s why taking a deep breathe helps you to figure out the best course of action.

3. Be ready to part with your belongings

It seems rational to scoop up all your belongings when water flows into your car. Especially when they’re high-end items like designer bags or MacBook laptops.

However, you might only have less than a minute to rescue yourself, and holding on to your belongings will prevent you from using your hands to swim.

Your phone is what you need the most because an accident might take place at night or in secluded areas.

In such situations, it might take a while before other people come to your rescue.

4. Unbuckle your seatbelt fast

Once your car starts sinking, it becomes a hazard to your life.

So, you need to get out urgently by unbuckling your seatbelt.

But, you need to follow the second step in this list, which is taking a deep breathe.

If your seatbelts seem jammed, you’ll need a sharp knife to cut through.

That’s why you need a rescue tool in your glove compartment.

Also, don’t wait for water to get inside your vehicle because wet seatbelts are harder to cut.

5. Roll down your windows

Now that you know how water exerts pressure on submerged doors, you need another escape route.

Car windows are large enough for adults to swim through.

But, do you really have to break the glass in order to swim to safety?

No one wants to deal with cuts and stitches when they’re already trapped in a life or death situation.

When your car hits the water, secure your escape routes by rolling down your window.

Doing this enables you to swim to safety without bleeding on the way out.

However, it also lets in water at a high rate.

6. Use a tool to break a car window underwater

Let’s assume you don’t have time to roll down the windows because your vehicle rolled over several times and landed inside water.

Is it possible to break the car window underwater?

Yes, it is but you have to do it before any water gets in.

All you need is a car rescue tool to clear your exit. They’re usually the size of a key holder and contain a sharp razor blade to cut through seatbelts.

A spring-loaded tool is ideal because you only have to press it against the corner of your car window to shatter the glass.

3 tips on how to escape a car submerged in water

Top Gear Sinking Car

1. Equip each passenger with a spring-loaded rescue tool

A spring-loaded rescue tool costs anywhere from $30-$50. It’s really affordable and worth it – even movie tickets also fall within the same price range.

Plus, it’s easy to carry because you can just attach it to your key chain or attach it to the headrest for quick access.

Additionally, children aged over 7 years can use it easily because you don’t need to press the tool against the window forcefully.

When each passenger has a tool within easy access, all passengers have the best chances of survival without complicated injuries.

2. Avoid storing heavy objects near headrests

Sometimes we tend to place heavy objects on the space between the backseat headrests and windshield.

Doing this puts both you and your passengers at great risk.

When a fast-moving car loses control and swerves into water, you’ll notice that the car sinks in nose first.

Why is this dangerous?

Because the impact hurls everything to the front.

Any bottles, electronics, and other items pose a danger to both you and your passengers because they’re moving at a high speed.

So, to avoid hurting yourself or your passengers, keep heavy items in the trunk.

3. Open the sunroof fast

When you’re driving in cold weather, your windows will be shut to insulate yourself.

So, what happens when you lose control and your car starts sinking?

How do you get out of a car underwater?

Well, the best solution is rolling down the windows or using a rescue tool.

However, it’s possible that your windows might be faulty and there’s no rescue tool around.

Does this mean that all hope is lost?

Certainly not.

You can act fast by opening the sunroof while cutting the seatbelt.

Escaping through the sunroof is easier for passengers because the car’s tilted position forces objects towards the roof.

How to escape a sinking car with children

1. Don’t panic

Children are highly in tune with your body language.

They can tell when things are going wrong by just looking at your face and listening to the tone in your voice.

Their ability to cooperate with your rescue efforts depends on your state of mind as the car starts sinking.

Remember to take deep breathes as you unbuckle your safety belt and roll down the windows.

Don’t shout back at the children when they scream in panic because it will only make things worse.

2. Start with the oldest to the youngest

Earlier on, we saw that your window of opportunity closes after two minutes.

So, in order for you to increase your chances of survival, the best strategy is to start with more able-bodied passengers.

Why is this important?

Because they can help you rescue other passengers by moving them out or breaking nearby windows.

It’s impossible to swim to the surface and then back to the wrecked car to rescue other passengers.

In most cases, the survivor is still traumatized and this hinders their ability to make rational decisions.

Plus, it’s hard to break car windows from outside when you don’t have a spring-loaded rescue tool.

3. Get a booster seat with quick release technology

In a drowning car, you might need to rescue more than one child.

Sometimes, it gets challenging when you’re driving with a toddler or child with a physical impairment because they’re relying on you to swim them to safety.

In such a situation, trying to cut through the seatbelt can be tricky due to the numerous straps attached.

However, you can scoop your child and swim away by just pressing a button on the booster seat thanks to quick release technology.

How to rescue a drowning person without floatation device

So far, we’ve looked at how to get out of a sinking vehicle and rescue passengers safely.

But, what happens when some of your passengers can’t swim?

In case one of your passengers starts drowning here’s what to do

1. Offer reassurance

Deep waters are terrifying because we’re used to stepping and walking on solid ground.

The drowning victim feels overwhelmed with fear and this makes them sink.

Your job is to help them focus their attention on staying afloat.

As you swim towards the victim, encourage them with inspiring words.

Tell them that they’re doing a great job and you’ll get them to safety fast.

Calming down your passengers makes them more cooperative towards your instructions.

2. Use the chin grab

When swimming towards your passenger, you’ll notice that he or she wants to dive and cling on to you for safety.

If they actually get a hold of you, it makes the situation worse because you can’t use your limbs to swim back to safety.

What’s the best approach?

Dive underwater for the sake of your drowning passenger.

Swim towards him or her and then turn towards their back.

Then, grab their hips and slide your least dominant hand to their chin.

For instance, a right-handed person will use their left hand to hold their victim’s chin up.

This position enables you to swim to safety without the passenger pulling your limbs.

The best way to get to safety is by using either the back or sidestroke.

3. Talk to them

The best rescue situation is where everyone comes out unscathed and still conscious.

As you swim to dry land, keep on motivating your passenger.

This engagement prevents their brain from switching off, enabling them to keep breathing throughout.

How to give CPR to a drowning person

Here are some quick easy steps to help you revive a friend, passenger, or relative as you await an ambulance.

1. Open their mouth to check for obstructions

Water can flood a drowning victim’s mouth as they gasp for air repeatedly.

This blocks their airway and puts them in a life-threatening situation.

How do you ensure that their airway is clear?

First, lay down your passenger on solid ground far from the water.

Next, place your right hand on their forehead then use your left hand to tilt their chin gently.

Open their mouth by pulling down their chin.

If your phone is still working, use the flashlight to check for any obstructions in the throat.

2. Clean any fluids on the victim’s mouth

Drowning can induce vomiting because the victim is choking with water.

Sometimes, the impact upon hitting an obstacle or water can cause cuts or gashes to the mouth.

As a rescuer, your health always remains the top priority and that’s why you can’t proceed to giving rescue breathes.

Nowadays, you can get pocketsize CPR masks ideal for such situations.

If you lost it while swimming to safety, just use your handkerchief or t-shirt to wipe your passenger’s mouth clean.

3. Check for a pulse

Assessing the pulse rate enables you to determine whether you need to give chest compressions.

How do you check for one?

Place your index and middle fingers at the center of your passenger’s neck then slide them sideways to the muscle until you feel a small depression.

If you can’t detect a pulse, prepare to give chest compressions.

4. Start with rescue breaths

The aim of giving rescue breathes is to stimulate your victim’s lungs.

Doing this also ensures that the brain and heart still receive enough oxygen.

Start by tilting your victim’s head upwards then open their mouth gently to clear their airway.

Next, place your mouth directly on top of theirs then blow deeply.

Watch if his or her chest is rising before giving the next rescue breath.

Rescue breathes are effective in reviving victims who passed out just moments before getting rescued to dry land.

5. Give 30 chest compressions

Before proceeding to this step, locate the center of your victim’s chest.

Place your thumb at the victim’s armpit then follow a straight line towards the center, which is halfway below the sternum.

Next, place the heel of your right hand then place your left hand on top while interlocking your fingers.

Before pumping, make sure your shoulders are straight.

Proceed to the compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.

It’s advisable to take off any jewelry or ties hanging on your victim’s neck.

Mythbusters underwater car survival tests

Let’s look at some of the widely spread, but wrong ways of how to get out of a drowning car.

Mythbusters fall into water

1. Myth: wait for the pressure to equalize

Some people believe that the best way to escape a submerged car is waiting for the water to fill up your car to chest level.

The inflowing water equalizes air pressure enabling you to open doors easily.

On surface level, it seems rational because it only takes a minute for water to fill up a car.

But, is it really a wise move?

As water fills up, it’s also carrying soil and objects of varying sizes.

The visibility inside deteriorates rapidly and this puts you at risk especially when you’re trying to find your car rescue tool.

Secondly, the incoming water adds weight and this can force your car to flip upside down.

It’s hard to rescue passengers when you’re stuck in this position.

2. Myth: kick out the windshield

Every major action movie star from Sylvester Stallone to Jason Statham have defiantly kicked out windshields in scenes involving submerged vehicles.

They make it look so easy that you immediately believe it’s a method that works in real life.

Unfortunately, it’s all camera tricks.

A windshield consists of two layers of thick glass and in between them is a layer of highly elastic plastic adhesive.

This design makes it able to withstand higher impacts from falling objects compared to your side windows.

Also, the steering wheel’s position makes it hard to thrust your legs with the required force.

3. Myth: break the side windows using your elbows

You’ve also seen this in a couple of movies. All you need to do is aim then strike the glass hard.

How effective is this method?

On a scale of one to ten, elbow strikes score a dismal three.

Why?

Because you’ll need to strike the window repeatedly to get a breakthrough.

Yet, you only have less than two minutes to get out of the sinking wreck.

If you somehow manage to break your window, you’ll be in a lot of pain and bleeding profusely due to the cuts sustained.

Finally… Rescuing yourself from a sinking car isn’t difficult as long as you retain mental composure.

It helps you to locate the right tools for the job as well as figuring out the best rescue plan for your passengers.

What’s the best way to prepare for these incidents?

Ensure that your car tires are in excellent condition when driving in snow or rainy weather, especially near rivers and lakes.

Finally, make sure there are a couple of rescue tools in your glove compartment in case your car gets submerged in water

More helpful reading:

How to Create a Disaster Plan for Your Home

How to Choose the Best Survival Kit

Wilderness Survival Kits: 10 Essentials You Should Always Bring With You Outdoors

The post How to Escape a Sinking Car (& Get Out While Underwater with a Window Break) appeared first on survivalistgear.co.

source https://survivalistgear.co/how-to-escape-a-sinking-car/

[thelmawallton]

How to Escape a Sinking Car (& Get Out While Underwater with a Window Break)

Several months ago 2 cousins, just 19 years old, drowned when their car plunged into a pond.

The driver was traveling from her workplace at Amazon to a nursing home where the other cousin worked.

Medical examiners say both women died of accidental drowning and that no foul play is suspected. This was a tragic and devastating incident for the community – and it doesn’t happen to just adults.

Children and babies are frequently victims in water related accidents.

I was even more surprising to find out that over 10,000 auto accidents like this happen each year.

Some survive, others don’t.

And it made me think, “would I know what to do in a situation like this?”

“How would I save children or other passengers in a drowning car?”

We all like to think that we’d be able to escape a car crash in water.

But being in the moment, inside a car sinking in water is far more disorienting than you may think.

It happens fast.

And you may even find yourself upside down and in the dark – a panic inducing moment even without passengers.

So, how long does it take for a car to sink?

On average your window of opportunity will be between 30-320 seconds – it’s fast, and the water doesn’t need to be deep to cause problems.

Additionally, a recent study revealed that door panels get jammed after 120 seconds.

Do power windows work underwater?

You’ll find that you have a short window of opportunity before you lose all electrical systems in your vehicle.

As a driver, your knowledge of what to do in a sinking car will enable you to rescue your family and other passengers while waiting for 911 to dispatch ambulances.

This is why it’s important to know exactly what to do before you ever find yourself in a situation like this.

Do you have a plan on how to get out of a drowning car? Here’s some “escape the car” help.

How to get out of a sinking car: 4 Simple Steps

First of all, make sure you have a car safety kit. You can find our Ultimate Car Emergency Safety Kit here.

Next, make sure to memorize the following steps:

Seatbelts

Windows

Children Out

You Out

There are two different scenarios when it comes to getting out of a car sinking in water.

One of them is while the windows are still above water, the other is while you are submerged.

How to get out of a car underwater

Can you open a car door underwater?

Once a car starts sinking, water exerts pressure in all directions.

Imagine trying to open your car door but there are 10 quarterbacks pushing against it from the outside.

No amount of kicking will be able to rescue you because of pressure increasing each second.

What to do if your car is submerged in water

1. Secure your phone

Whiplash injuries might occur when a car veers off the road and lands into a large mass of water.

Drivers and passengers can also sustain wrist fractures as they hold onto the nearest object for safety.

Your phone enables you to get professional medical attention as soon as possible.

Switch off your phone, and if possible, remove the battery quickly. Doing this prevents short-circuiting as you swim towards dry land. Alternatively, you can switch if off and put it in the nearest plastic bag you can find.

2. Take a deep breathe

Sometimes, things aren’t as bad as they appear. If the accident happens while you’re sober, your mind can shift attention from the loud splashing.

It’s during this moment that you can stop and recall where you’ve placed your car window breaker.

Panicking works against you because it makes it impossible to cut the seatbelt.

It’s also hard to remember about water pressure when your mind is clouded with fear.

That’s why taking a deep breathe helps you to figure out the best course of action.

3. Be ready to part with your belongings

It seems rational to scoop up all your belongings when water flows into your car. Especially when they’re high-end items like designer bags or MacBook laptops.

However, you might only have less than a minute to rescue yourself, and holding on to your belongings will prevent you from using your hands to swim.

Your phone is what you need the most because an accident might take place at night or in secluded areas.

In such situations, it might take a while before other people come to your rescue.

4. Unbuckle your seatbelt fast

Once your car starts sinking, it becomes a hazard to your life.

So, you need to get out urgently by unbuckling your seatbelt.

But, you need to follow the second step in this list, which is taking a deep breathe.

If your seatbelts seem jammed, you’ll need a sharp knife to cut through.

That’s why you need a rescue tool in your glove compartment.

Also, don’t wait for water to get inside your vehicle because wet seatbelts are harder to cut.

5. Roll down your windows

Now that you know how water exerts pressure on submerged doors, you need another escape route.

Car windows are large enough for adults to swim through.

But, do you really have to break the glass in order to swim to safety?

No one wants to deal with cuts and stitches when they’re already trapped in a life or death situation.

When your car hits the water, secure your escape routes by rolling down your window.

Doing this enables you to swim to safety without bleeding on the way out.

However, it also lets in water at a high rate.

6. Use a tool to break a car window underwater

Let’s assume you don’t have time to roll down the windows because your vehicle rolled over several times and landed inside water.

Is it possible to break the car window underwater?

Yes, it is but you have to do it before any water gets in.

All you need is a car rescue tool to clear your exit. They’re usually the size of a key holder and contain a sharp razor blade to cut through seatbelts.

A spring-loaded tool is ideal because you only have to press it against the corner of your car window to shatter the glass.

3 tips on how to escape a car submerged in water

Top Gear Sinking Car

1. Equip each passenger with a spring-loaded rescue tool

A spring-loaded rescue tool costs anywhere from $30-$50. It’s really affordable and worth it – even movie tickets also fall within the same price range.

Plus, it’s easy to carry because you can just attach it to your key chain or attach it to the headrest for quick access.

Additionally, children aged over 7 years can use it easily because you don’t need to press the tool against the window forcefully.

When each passenger has a tool within easy access, all passengers have the best chances of survival without complicated injuries.

2. Avoid storing heavy objects near headrests

Sometimes we tend to place heavy objects on the space between the backseat headrests and windshield.

Doing this puts both you and your passengers at great risk.

When a fast-moving car loses control and swerves into water, you’ll notice that the car sinks in nose first.

Why is this dangerous?

Because the impact hurls everything to the front.

Any bottles, electronics, and other items pose a danger to both you and your passengers because they’re moving at a high speed.

So, to avoid hurting yourself or your passengers, keep heavy items in the trunk.

3. Open the sunroof fast

When you’re driving in cold weather, your windows will be shut to insulate yourself.

So, what happens when you lose control and your car starts sinking?

How do you get out of a car underwater?

Well, the best solution is rolling down the windows or using a rescue tool.

However, it’s possible that your windows might be faulty and there’s no rescue tool around.

Does this mean that all hope is lost?

Certainly not.

You can act fast by opening the sunroof while cutting the seatbelt.

Escaping through the sunroof is easier for passengers because the car’s tilted position forces objects towards the roof.

How to escape a sinking car with children

1. Don’t panic

Children are highly in tune with your body language.

They can tell when things are going wrong by just looking at your face and listening to the tone in your voice.

Their ability to cooperate with your rescue efforts depends on your state of mind as the car starts sinking.

Remember to take deep breathes as you unbuckle your safety belt and roll down the windows.

Don’t shout back at the children when they scream in panic because it will only make things worse.

2. Start with the oldest to the youngest

Earlier on, we saw that your window of opportunity closes after two minutes.

So, in order for you to increase your chances of survival, the best strategy is to start with more able-bodied passengers.

Why is this important?

Because they can help you rescue other passengers by moving them out or breaking nearby windows.

It’s impossible to swim to the surface and then back to the wrecked car to rescue other passengers.

In most cases, the survivor is still traumatized and this hinders their ability to make rational decisions.

Plus, it’s hard to break car windows from outside when you don’t have a spring-loaded rescue tool.

3. Get a booster seat with quick release technology

In a drowning car, you might need to rescue more than one child.

Sometimes, it gets challenging when you’re driving with a toddler or child with a physical impairment because they’re relying on you to swim them to safety.

In such a situation, trying to cut through the seatbelt can be tricky due to the numerous straps attached.

However, you can scoop your child and swim away by just pressing a button on the booster seat thanks to quick release technology.

How to rescue a drowning person without floatation device

So far, we’ve looked at how to get out of a sinking vehicle and rescue passengers safely.

But, what happens when some of your passengers can’t swim?

In case one of your passengers starts drowning here’s what to do

1. Offer reassurance

Deep waters are terrifying because we’re used to stepping and walking on solid ground.

The drowning victim feels overwhelmed with fear and this makes them sink.

Your job is to help them focus their attention on staying afloat.

As you swim towards the victim, encourage them with inspiring words.

Tell them that they’re doing a great job and you’ll get them to safety fast.

Calming down your passengers makes them more cooperative towards your instructions.

2. Use the chin grab

When swimming towards your passenger, you’ll notice that he or she wants to dive and cling on to you for safety.

If they actually get a hold of you, it makes the situation worse because you can’t use your limbs to swim back to safety.

What’s the best approach?

Dive underwater for the sake of your drowning passenger.

Swim towards him or her and then turn towards their back.

Then, grab their hips and slide your least dominant hand to their chin.

For instance, a right-handed person will use their left hand to hold their victim’s chin up.

This position enables you to swim to safety without the passenger pulling your limbs.

The best way to get to safety is by using either the back or sidestroke.

3. Talk to them

The best rescue situation is where everyone comes out unscathed and still conscious.

As you swim to dry land, keep on motivating your passenger.

This engagement prevents their brain from switching off, enabling them to keep breathing throughout.

How to give CPR to a drowning person

Here are some quick easy steps to help you revive a friend, passenger, or relative as you await an ambulance.

1. Open their mouth to check for obstructions

Water can flood a drowning victim’s mouth as they gasp for air repeatedly.

This blocks their airway and puts them in a life-threatening situation.

How do you ensure that their airway is clear?

First, lay down your passenger on solid ground far from the water.

Next, place your right hand on their forehead then use your left hand to tilt their chin gently.

Open their mouth by pulling down their chin.

If your phone is still working, use the flashlight to check for any obstructions in the throat.

2. Clean any fluids on the victim’s mouth

Drowning can induce vomiting because the victim is choking with water.

Sometimes, the impact upon hitting an obstacle or water can cause cuts or gashes to the mouth.

As a rescuer, your health always remains the top priority and that’s why you can’t proceed to giving rescue breathes.

Nowadays, you can get pocketsize CPR masks ideal for such situations.

If you lost it while swimming to safety, just use your handkerchief or t-shirt to wipe your passenger’s mouth clean.

3. Check for a pulse

Assessing the pulse rate enables you to determine whether you need to give chest compressions.

How do you check for one?

Place your index and middle fingers at the center of your passenger’s neck then slide them sideways to the muscle until you feel a small depression.

If you can’t detect a pulse, prepare to give chest compressions.

4. Start with rescue breaths

The aim of giving rescue breathes is to stimulate your victim’s lungs.

Doing this also ensures that the brain and heart still receive enough oxygen.

Start by tilting your victim’s head upwards then open their mouth gently to clear their airway.

Next, place your mouth directly on top of theirs then blow deeply.

Watch if his or her chest is rising before giving the next rescue breath.

Rescue breathes are effective in reviving victims who passed out just moments before getting rescued to dry land.

5. Give 30 chest compressions

Before proceeding to this step, locate the center of your victim’s chest.

Place your thumb at the victim’s armpit then follow a straight line towards the center, which is halfway below the sternum.

Next, place the heel of your right hand then place your left hand on top while interlocking your fingers.

Before pumping, make sure your shoulders are straight.

Proceed to the compressions at a rate of 100 per minute.

It’s advisable to take off any jewelry or ties hanging on your victim’s neck.

Mythbusters underwater car survival tests

Let’s look at some of the widely spread, but wrong ways of how to get out of a drowning car.

Mythbusters fall into water

1. Myth: wait for the pressure to equalize

Some people believe that the best way to escape a submerged car is waiting for the water to fill up your car to chest level.

The inflowing water equalizes air pressure enabling you to open doors easily.

On surface level, it seems rational because it only takes a minute for water to fill up a car.

But, is it really a wise move?

As water fills up, it’s also carrying soil and objects of varying sizes.

The visibility inside deteriorates rapidly and this puts you at risk especially when you’re trying to find your car rescue tool.

Secondly, the incoming water adds weight and this can force your car to flip upside down.

It’s hard to rescue passengers when you’re stuck in this position.

2. Myth: kick out the windshield

Every major action movie star from Sylvester Stallone to Jason Statham have defiantly kicked out windshields in scenes involving submerged vehicles.

They make it look so easy that you immediately believe it’s a method that works in real life.

Unfortunately, it’s all camera tricks.

A windshield consists of two layers of thick glass and in between them is a layer of highly elastic plastic adhesive.

This design makes it able to withstand higher impacts from falling objects compared to your side windows.

Also, the steering wheel’s position makes it hard to thrust your legs with the required force.

3. Myth: break the side windows using your elbows

You’ve also seen this in a couple of movies. All you need to do is aim then strike the glass hard.

How effective is this method?

On a scale of one to ten, elbow strikes score a dismal three.

Why?

Because you’ll need to strike the window repeatedly to get a breakthrough.

Yet, you only have less than two minutes to get out of the sinking wreck.

If you somehow manage to break your window, you’ll be in a lot of pain and bleeding profusely due to the cuts sustained.

Finally… Rescuing yourself from a sinking car isn’t difficult as long as you retain mental composure.

It helps you to locate the right tools for the job as well as figuring out the best rescue plan for your passengers.

What’s the best way to prepare for these incidents?

Ensure that your car tires are in excellent condition when driving in snow or rainy weather, especially near rivers and lakes.

Finally, make sure there are a couple of rescue tools in your glove compartment in case your car gets submerged in water

More helpful reading:

How to Create a Disaster Plan for Your Home

How to Choose the Best Survival Kit

Wilderness Survival Kits: 10 Essentials You Should Always Bring With You Outdoors

The post How to Escape a Sinking Car (& Get Out While Underwater with a Window Break) appeared first on survivalistgear.co.

source https://survivalistgear.co/how-to-escape-a-sinking-car/

source https://survivalistgear1.wordpress.com/2019/06/11/how-to-escape-a-sinking-car-get-out-while-underwater-with-a-window-break/

[yourdreamscenarios]

When you surprise him on his birthday

A/N: A happy birthday to BTS Namjoon!! Here’s to you 🎉

Characters: Rap Monster / OC Genre: Fluff Word count: 2,526

“He knows something’s up, but he doesn’t know what. He keeps on guessing about what it could be, but he’s not even close. I don’t think he has any idea that you’re involved in any of this.” Taehyung said, excitement pealing inside of his voice. You could already picture him jumping up and down on his feet, not knowing what to do with all the energy that was rushing through him at this moment. This was such a big thing for him, being trusted with something important as this. It was exactly the reason why you had decided to pick Taehyung for this job. You knew that once he’d be a part of it he would take this very seriously. He wouldn’t say anything to Namjoon and he would make sure that the others would also keep their mouths shut. 

The one you were worrying about most was Jin, afraid that he would spoil something without meaning to. Sometimes he could simply choke things out without knowing he said them, only to get a heart attack afterwards because he revealed such a big secret. “Do you think he’ll be ready on time?” You asked, lifting your hand and taking a look at the watch on your wrist, which was indicating that he only had another ten minutes to be done. It surely hadn’t been easy to get all of this set up. There had been so many things that had needed to be arranged, so many things you’d had to take care of. But even though you had gone through a lot of effort to make all of this work, you were still glad you’d done it. Knowing how hard working he was, you knew that your boyfriend deserved this night. 

After all it was his birthday, and it was time for you to celebrate that an amazing human being like him had been born. You wouldn’t know what to do without him. “Yeah, I think so. I mean, the last time I checked on him he was getting changed…” He explained, and you flinched when you heard a clattering sound coming from the other side of the phone. Almost as if something had hit against the wall, or had fallen onto the floor. Then a low groan followed suit and you immediately recognized the owner of it. “He just tripped over his trousers, I really hope he didn’t rip them. I’m not sure if he owns a second pair of those…” Taehyung mumbled thoughtfully and you rolled your eyes while making sure your eyes were pointed on the road ahead of yourself. 

The person who had once invented the bluetooth connection and hand free way of calling really deserved an award or something. You used it all the time, when you came home from work or when you were on your way over to visit someone. For some reason it didn’t really surprise you that Namjoon had once again been able to get himself in this kind of situation. Somehow he always succeeded in getting himself into trouble. He would drop things, or break them just by looking at them. Having him near you when you were cooking diner was a danger on itself, because having any warm or sharp objects around him was a huge risk. He would trip over his own feet, destroying things by touching them or coming near them. 

And sometimes, when things got really ugly, he wasn’t just a danger to himself but to others as well. He had once destroyed Jimin’s phone because it slipped from his hands, while they’d been standing near the edge of a roof of a building for filming one of their music videos. The phone had fallen down at least six floors. It was an understatement to say that the device hadn’t survived that. He had once spilled coffee over Yoongi’s lyric papers, making it unable for anyone to read the words. A few months ago he had once let loose your rabbit inside of your apartment, the thing had rushed outside through the backdoor and you’d spend hours trying to catch it. In other words, as long as Namjoon was around no one was ever bored. 

“You better go check on him, to make sure he didn’t break anything.” You suggested, already imagining all your plans to get ruined because the two of you would have to spend his birthday in the waiting room of the emergency services. “Okay, I will! I’ll see you soon noona!” You bade him goodbye and ended the call. Stopping in front of a red traffic light you let your thoughts run freely, but they merely remained stuck on your boyfriend. The two of you had been dating for nine months now, which meant this was the first time you had the honor of celebrating his birthday with him. You’d been thinking about what you should do tonight for quite some time. You wanted to get him away from work, to make sure he could relax and that he didn’t have to be concerned about the things he usually worried about. 

For quite some time it had seemed as if he’d have to work on his birthday, which had made things even harder for you. But three weeks ago he’d told you that apparently they’d have the day off, which gave you a free shot. Knowing Namjoon the way you did, you knew that he wouldn’t be willing to blow things up into big proportions. He wouldn’t want the whole world to know how he spent his birthday, didn’t want it to be a big surprise. He’d be content if he could spend the night sitting on his couch and watching a movie, which you thought had been his first plan. He’d probably been thinking of ordering take out with the other guys, sitting in his room and composing some songs. No way that was going to happen. You wanted him to feel at least a little bit special during this night. Stopping in front of the dorm you parked the car and shut down the engine. 

The lights inside of the dorm were on, indicating that the boys were home. You’d asked them if they wanted to join you tonight, you really wouldn’t mind having them there. Since the two of you had started dating the other members had always been very acceptive towards you. They had become your friends over the months. But they had all refused, granting you this evening so that you could spend it alone with your boyfriend. They had already celebrated their friend’s birthday this morning, you had seen the pictures passing by on Twitter. Locking the car as soon as you got out you made your way towards the front door. Before you’d so much as looked at the doorbell the door opened already and Jimin appeared in your view. It seemed like they had been waiting for you to arrive. The sheepish smile on the younger boy’s face told you everything you needed to know and you tried not to groan because of how obvious this was. 

“What happened?” You asked, as you made your way inside, getting rid of your high heels and placing them next to each other in the hallway. Knowing you still had another thirty minutes left before you really had to get going, you hoped this was something that could be fixed. You had counted in some extra time, just in case anything like this would happen. “He bumped his head. It’s not that bad, he’ll just have a hump in the morning.” Jimin explained, guiding you through the house until the two of you stopped in the living room. There he was, sitting on the couch, a bag of ice pressed against the back of his head. Namjoon looked up the second you walked in, recognizing the sound of your footsteps and smiled apologetically at you.

“______________! What are you doing here?” He asked, frowning when he did a look over. Usually you were never dressed up when you came over, but tonight you were wearing a dress, your hair was pinned up and your make up was on point. It didn’t take very long for him to figure it out. All of a sudden he understood why his friends had wanted him in his suit so badly. He hadn’t expected you to have anything prepared for him. You’d sent him a message this morning to wish him a happy birthday, and he’d already been content with the fact that you had thought about it and you had taken the time to reach out for him. He didn’t expect big things from you, didn’t want you to go through all the effort. He didn’t even want you to buy him a gift, he’d explicitly told you that he didn’t want you to get him anything. 

And he knew that since he’d asked you, you wouldn’t. But he had never told you anything about taking him anywhere. Seemed like he hadn’t been thinking this through. On your bare feet you made your way over to him, sitting down beside him on the couch to take in the damage. “Is it bad?” You asked, taking over the bag from him to check his head. Seeing there was no cut or serious injury you relaxed. It could have been much worse. “I’m fine! I’ve been saying that for the past five minutes but they won’t listen to me.” He grumbled, and you smiled at Taehyung and Jimin, who both shrugged their shoulders. They all knew how things could get sometime, and they liked to be sure that it was nothing bad, because with Namjoon, you could never be sure. 

Putting the bag on the table he rose from the couch, towering over you. Though it wasn’t frightening at all, because he had a wide smile on his face. “It’s so good to see you.” He said, leaning over to fold his arms around you in a hug. As you pressed your face against him you were consumed by the smell of him, engulfed by his strong arms. Truly, there was no better place on this earth than here. If you could spend the rest of your life inside of his embrace than you wouldn’t even hesitate. “Happy birthday Namjoonie.” You muttered, leaning back so you could look at him. Nothing had changed, he didn’t look even slightly different than from a few days before. He was still your handsome boyfriend, simply another year older. 

You already knew just now that you would want to spend all of his birthday’s with him, to watch him grow old. As long as the two of you would be together it would all be fine. Jimin cleared his throat behind you, which reminded you of the presence of the other two boys in the room. Whenever you were with Namjoon, you temped to forget about your surroundings. “Since you asked me not to buy you anything, I didn’t.” You declared, brushing your hair back behind your shoulder and smiling up teasingly at him. Two weeks ago you’d asked him if he wanted something special for his birthday. Anything he would have named, you would have bought it, because honestly, your creativity had been very lost at that moment. You’d been going around the mall for days, looking for the right gift, but nothing had seemed good enough. 

Back then he had told you that he didn’t want you to get him anything, he didn’t need anything materialized to remind him of you. You’d felt kind of awkward about it, since it felt wrong not to give the guy you loved a present on a day like this. But you’d been able to stop yourself, and so you had done what you had promised. You hadn’t been to any other shops to look for a gift, hadn’t wrapped anything and didn’t have anything to give him. “But.” You said, reaching out for him to straighten up the tie he had decided to wear. He looked amazing. With his buttoned up shirt and his black trousers and blazer he seemed like some sort of model on the cover of a magazine. Unlike you, he didn’t have to try to look this good. 

Sometimes you envied him, thinking of all the hours you sometimes had to spend in the bathroom to get ready in the morning. “Instead I’m offering you my company, in a nice restaurant ten minutes from here.” You looked at the way his eyes squeezed a little as he smiled. Not having been willing to go too far because you’d known that he’d have a schedule in the morning, you had decided to stick with his favorite restaurant nearby. He never stopped talking about the meat they served out there, and you all knew how much this guy loved his meat. He could talk about it all night long. “You can still say no if you want to. I mean, we don’t have to go. I can just go home and…” You started, since he didn’t say anything. 

But he was very quick to back himself up, grabbing your hand and tugging you with him towards the front door. Taehyung was chuckling behind you and Jimin rolled his eyes, watching his slow witted leader walk out of the dorm. Usually his birthday’s were always the same. He would spend them indoors, or while working. In hotel rooms and concert halls, inside of his room or on the couch. He was glad that there was finally someone who forced him out of the house on his birthday, to have some fun. Jimin was glad his friend had found someone who truly loved him. Outside Namjoon was slowly walking up towards your car, gazing upwards to watch the way the stars colored the sky. It was a beautiful scene, but it was nothing compared to the beauty that was walking beside him. 

Turning his head to look at you he smiled, wondering how he’d ever been able to get this lucky. Intertwining his fingers with yours he gave them a gentle squeeze, causing you to stare up at him. “Thanks for this, it means a lot.” He said softly, sensing the adoration he felt for you crash into him in deep waves. You stopped walking, scrunched your nose at his cuteness and reached up to squeeze his cheek. He could be such a sweetheart. You wished he would stop thinking he didn’t deserve all of the effort people did for him, that he wouldn’t feel as if he didn’t work hard enough for it. If there was one person in the whole universe who deserved to be loved and held dearly, it was him. 

“Of course! I would have bought you the most awesome gift if you’d let me but since you wouldn’t…you can have me.” You giggled, nudging him with your shoulder and pressing the car keys inside of his hands so that he could drive. He laughed, his eyes lightning up the sky almost as much as the stars did. “It’s the best gift I ever could have asked for.” 

BTS Masterlist

[edream93]

I’m Hooked On All These Feelings (Harry of Auradon AU) Part 4

Okay so let’s all just assume that I’m not going to be able to give up Tumblr for 6 weeks. Oh well! Anyway, back with Part 4 of the Harry of Auradon AU (here’s the link for Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3)? Enjoy and of course let me know what you think either on here or on AO3 or FF.net. Likes are great but comments, even in the tags of reblogs are always appreciated.

I’m kind of nervous about this chapter because it really gave me a hard time but I hope you all still manage to enjoy!

On the Isle, 6 years ago

He hadn’t been there. Didn’t see it in person himself but the rumors that had spread throughout the Isle were so detailed, so vivid that ten year old Gil almost felt like he had been there which seemed so much worse to him than actually being there.

He checked everywhere he could think of. The dilapidated shack of an old pirate long dead that she would stay in any time her mother kicked her out. The rocky patch of the grey beach that she often went to when she was in one of her moods and wanted to be alone. He searched high and low until he finally found her alone in an alley near her mother’s shop. He could smell the rotten shrimp even before he got anywhere near her. Luckily enough, LeGume’s were made with stomachs of steel. And luckily enough for the girl he found alone and dejected in the alley, this son of Gaston, albeit not the smartest, was extremely loyal to his best friend.

“Go away!” Uma growled, wiping at her red eyes roughly before throwing a nearby empty bottle at him while sending him the nastiest glare she could manage.

Gil managed to easily dodge the bottle, barely batting an eye at the fact that she actually had been aiming for his head.

He got closer to her, frowning at the sudden realization that he never noticed how much shorter and smaller she was compared to him. Sure, Gil had recently gone through a growth spurt but she was tiny, just barely making it up to his chest. Her personality and confidence had just always seemed so large and reliable up until this point. Now...wow...he really couldn’t get over how small she looked.

“You have shrimp in your hair,” he pointed out reaching out to pull it from her hair. She slapped his hand away hard, taking a step back from him.

“How fucking dumb are you?” Uma yelled at him, kicking a nearby old and rotten crate until it collapsed. “Don’t you think I already know that?”

Gil saw that the act of destruction didn’t do anything to soothe her anger. Her rage. Her pain.

He felt helpless.

If it was a matter of strength or doing a small errand for her he knew explicitly what to do: he followed her, knowing Uma always was planning something. She was the brains, the beauty, the reason why they had both survived so long on the Isle and he was...well he had the brawn. But brawn was honestly a dime a dozen on the Isle. Replacing him wouldn’t be that hard...

“How could she do something like that? I thought we were partners! The baddest of the bad! I thought we were friends!” she cried out angrily shoving a nearby stack of crates, blinking rapidly against the tears in her eyes. Uma earned a yowl from one of Lucifer’s many kittens that had been perched on the crate before it jumped onto a nearby low roof, away from the rampaging girl. “Screw you!” she yelled after the cat. Suddenly, she turned her fury towards Gil. “And you! Why the hell are you still here? Where were you? Were you in on this the whole time? Thought it would be funny? Huh? HUH?!” she yelled at the boy,” pushing him hard with all her strength with each question.

At his unresponsiveness, her open palmed pushing turned to closed fisted hits that didn’t care where they landed.

“Why are you not fighting back!?” she growled angrily, braids flying, when the most he would do was let out a pained grunt. “Come on! Fight me! I’m already at the bottom of this fucking Isle food chain. Come at me!”

Gil shook his head. “No, I don’t want to, but you can keep hitting me,” he offered quietly, a stark contrast to her anger fueled rant. “My dad usually feels better after he’s done that when he has a rough day. You can do it too, if that’ll make you feel better. He usually goes until he knocks me out” he said earnestly, his expression showing that he wanted to please her, that he just wanted her to be alright.

Uma stared at him, the fire in her instantly simmering. She looked away from Gil’s eager to please face, disgusted with herself. Disgusted with the Isle. Disgusted with Mal and her backstabbing. Disgusted that hearing your friend was a punching bag for his dad wasn’t jarring as she knew it would be if they lived off this damn rock.

Uma took a deep breath but nearly gagged on the smell emitting from her hair. “Just...just help me take my braids out so I can watch this gunk out,” she murmured turning to head to the back entrance of the Chip Shop. “Then we’ll plan ways to get off this damn Isle and leave all these losers to rot behind.”

Gil grinned as he followed her, just happy that she was willing to include him in her plans. “Whatever you say, Shrim- I mean Uma!”

Rolling her eyes, Uma led the way and as always since they were six, Gil followed.

---

Auradon, Present

Coldness, that had nothing to do with the rain soaking into her clothes, sank deep into her bones.

“ If you’re against Mal, you’ve basically put a noose around your neck,” Jay’s voice taunted her thoughts.

The grey clouds above rolled across the sky with booming thunder and striking lightning as the only witnesses to her fury, her anger...her heartbreak…

“ Fuck Jay. Fuck Mal,” she thought with a lump in her throat as she imagined blue eyes as blue as the sea.

Why did the universe seem so intent on taking anything good from her life? Why was it that even amongst the villains she was a loser?

“Uma? Are you alright?” a concerned voice questioned above her just as the rain that had been pelting down on her suddenly stopped.

Jolting where she sat, Uma looked up into the worried too warm, too kind, (too naive) eyes of Prince Ben. A bright Auradon yellow umbrella was held above her head, covering her from the rain while the usually pristine blue and yellow of his suit began to quickly be drenched by the rain.

She didn’t answer. Wasn’t sure if she should answer, let alone how. Up until this point, Uma had tried to have limited contact with the prince. She avoided him mostly because his pretty in petty pink girlfriend Audrey was always glaring daggers at any of the Isle kids who dared got close to her precious Benny-Boo. However, If Uma was being perfectly honest though, the way that Ben looked at her, looked at all of them, like he could see the potential that her mother always denied her having, made her feel a twisting feeling in her gut that she didn’t even want to think of a guilt. (Villains never felt guilt, especially over princes.)

“Uma?” Ben questioned again when she still didn’t move let alone respond, eyes filling with more concern when she didn’t respond.

“I’m fine,” she managed to hoarsely get out, avoiding looking at him in hopes that he wouldn’t see how red her eyes were. She needed to get up, to get away from this too bright boy that she would inevitably have to deceive (from this too bright boy she may inevitably even play a role in his death). “You can go now,” she hissed, attempting to mask her discomfort when he continued to look at her with unfiltered concern.

Ben’s expression showed that he obviously didn’t believe her though.

“W-well,” he began sounding uncomfortable himself before his face lighted up in thought. “Let me walk you to wherever you were going at least,” he smiled easily. “I would be a bad host if I didn’t offer you some protection from the rain.”

Uma waited. Waited for him to laugh and mock her like she was so used to people on the Isle doing. Her shoulders slumped slightly when she realized that Beasty Boy was actually sincere. “You’re as sickeningly good as you look,” she sighed, the usual bite in her tone replaced with weariness.

The thunder above rumbled with a rumble of agreement.

Ben chuckled, still holding his umbrella carefully over her head as he gently guided her somewhere else, not seeming to mind at all the way his hair was plastered to his forehead.  

“How are you settling into Auradon?” he asked inquisitively. “I haven’t really had the opportunity to check up on you since you’ve arrived and Harry unfortunately likes to keep you all to himself.”

Rolling her eyes, Uma crossed her arms over her chest, easily keeping pace with his much longer legs. “Well school sucks but there’s less mold on the food here and I haven’t had to deal with one of my mother’s beatings in weeks so I guess it’s not horrible.”

She managed to hold back a snicker at the way his smile faltered on his face at her words.

“You’re mother beat you?” Ben questioned, looking very awkward.

“It’s the Isle, Princey Boy. Everyone’s parents either beats them with an extra helping of mentally fuck you up. Besides, a beating you can walk off,” she continued, finding some sort of sick fascination in the way his face grew paler. “Starvation and infection unfortunately is a little bit harder when you’re living twenty years in a garbage strike, eating whatever you royals throw away.” She glared hard at the boy, gaze heavy with blame. “Then again, malnutrition and death probably aren’t as regular an occurrence here as it is on the Isle, aren’t they?”

“I-I didn’t know -” Ben responded. “How is that possible?”

“Because you didn’t care to know! I mean who ever thinks about the villains?” Uma cut him off, ready to go off as soon as the first excuse left his mouth. However, the prince surprised her.

“You’re right. I didn’t,” he said honestly. “I never really thought about what life could have been like over there. I don’t think anyone here has. But I don’t think that’s acceptable for anyone, villain or not.”

Uma scoffed, choosing to focus on the way that water squished in her shoes than on the way that Prince Ben was looking at her. It was a look that was somewhere between the blind faith that Gil always showed her and the intense genuine interest Harry never failed to give her. It was unnerving seeing the ways the gears were turning in Ben’s head but not knowing exactly what he was thinking.

Silence settled thickly between them as Ben walked her around seemingly aimlessly. Not for the first time, Uma wondered how in the Seven Seas she found herself in this awkward situation and if there was any way she could get out of it. She just wanted to change clothes and hide away in the makeshift security of the library. Pretending that Mal didn’t exist. That Jay didn’t exist. That she didn’t have to once again lose what she wanted just to survive in this shitty world.

“You know, you’re not afraid to be honest, even with the a future king,” Ben grinned brightly once again though the remnants of their previous conversation obviously still weighed on his mind. “Another reason why I suppose Harry likes to spend time with you.”  

“More like stalking,” Uma murmured with no real heat.

“You’re important to Harry,” he shrugged with a grin growing wider, trying to hide his barely concealed giddiness when her cheeks darkened at his comment. “And I think it’s important to vet my fiance’s new girlfriend.”

Nearly tripping over her feet, Uma quickly spun around to face him, eyes wide.

“FIANCE?!?!” she snapped. Lightning flashed brightly above followed by a loud thunder clap. Uma ignored the way her heart felt like it was being stomped upon.

Barely a second passed before Ben broke out into laughter. Uma frowned, resisting the urge to stomp hard in the nearby muddy puddle and splash him. Instead she crossed her arms and demanded to know what was so funny.

“Sorry, sorry,” Ben apologized, a chuckle or two still escaping. “W-when Harry and I first met we were both really young and I had much longer hair,” he explained grin still wide on his face in nostalgia. “When our parents introduced us to each other, Harry apparently thought I was the prettiest girl he had ever seen and proposed to me right on the spot. When our parents had stopped laughing and explained that I was a boy he said just shrugged and said he would have a pretty boy as his husband then.”

Something in Uma’s chest twinged at the the thought of a little Harry, all wild, wind-swept dark hair and bright blue mischievous eyes taking a confused young prince’s hands in his and proclaiming his intent to marry.

“You know you just gave me perfect blackmail material against him,” Uma managed to smirk.

“And I hope you put it to good use,” Ben winked at her before his expression quickly sobered.

The rain around them seemed to lighten as Uma watched the little twitches his face made as he tried to make up his mind on whatever he was thinking. He was too easy to read, something that she realized she didn’t necessarily want to exploit at the moment.

“Listen Uma,” the prince sighed, looking at her with such an open and concerned expression she had to look away, fiddling with the sleeve of her rain and mud soaked jacket. “I know we haven’t had the chance to talk all that much but Harry never shuts up about you. Actually,” he chuckled slightly in thought, “I’ve never seen him like this with anyone else before.  He really cares about you and maybe I shouldn’t say this, but he looks at you like...well, like the way I expect a person does when they’ve found their true love.”

“Or maybe it’s just gas,” Uma hissed, suddenly feeling angry, pushing down the realization that she wanted his words to be true. She wasn’t some pretty pink princess. Who was this boy to tell her this? To play with her heart that had been broken and torn and stomped on so many times by crushing tentacles and purple heeled boots and give her something that she had long ago learned to abhor: hope.

The sky that had once seemed to have lighten quickly became dark again.

Ben shook his head. “I’m not lying to you. You’re-”

“I’m just a good time , aren’t I?” Uma cut him off, moving away from underneath the protection of the umbrella to put some space between them, her glare not letting up even as rained rolled down from her hair to her skin. “Probably placed a bet with you and the rest of you uppity goody-doers.”

“Uma,” Ben said placing a gentle hand on her arm when she tried to move from underneath the umbrella. Though gentle, his eyes were hard and Uma was hit with realization that her sailor was cared for. People cared about Harry. The prince cared about Harry.

That realization made her both somber and jealous in a way that she had difficulty understanding.

“Harry cares a lot about you. Deeply. He wouldn’t have given you his mother’s necklace if that was case,” he nodded towards where he knew the necklace was hidden underneath her shirt.  “His younger sister, CJ, wouldn’t be hounding me for details about you if he wasn’t head over heels. I mean,” he shrugged, letting go of her arm and seeming to struggle to find the right words. “When I look at you both...it just...it just fits. Does that make sense? Like you two were made for each other.”

“You’re talking about true love aren’t ya?” Uma groaned, nose wrinkling in distaste. Love was looked down upon the Isle. Love made you foolish and stupid. That was one thing her mother did teach her. “That shit doesn’t exist.”

“How can you be so sure?” he said with such a gentle smile that it made Uma nauseous to realize that he was being completely genuine. “I’m...I’m actually really jealous of Harry,” Ben continued, rubbing the back of his neck nervously, eyes growing dim for just a moment. “I-I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who I wholeheartedly wanted to give the moon and stars for.”

“Not even with Princess Sleeping Snobby?” Uma found herself asking, somewhat surprised to find that she was genuinely curious about his response.

Ben sighed as if he was reminded of a great burden. “Maybe at one point I think I did,” he said smiling at her sadly, a far off look in his eye. “But I’m actually not sure anymore,” he sighed before ushering her back under his umbrella. “Sometimes, I feel like the person I’m searching for is only real in my dreams. I mean, I thought- I thought if…” He stopped shaking his head. “Nevermind,” he smiled not at all convincingly.

She wanted to ask more, not to exploit him but because she was actually genuinely curious. She noticed, however, like walking out of a fog, that rain was no longer falling around them. This time, they were now inside the boy’s dorm, rain continuing to fall as a light sprinkle outside.

“I figured we could ask Harry for some spare towels,” Ben grinned down at her, a hint of his previous mischievousness in his eyes before she could stop him from knocking on the door.

They both paused when the door was pushed open on its own. Ben paused, worry evident before suddenly pushing further inside, calling Harry’s name, Uma at his heels. She held back a curse though when she bumped into the prince’s back when he suddenly stopped.

When she peered around the prince, she immediately wished she hadn’t, knowing she would never get the image out of her head of Harry lying on the ground, deathly pale with a familiar yellow bandana clutched in his hand.

---

On the Isle, 10 years ago

When they were six, when she jumped into the filthy water that surrounded the Isle after his brothers tied him up to the heaviest pieces of cement, she hadn't been trying to save him.

To be brutally honest, she didn't care one clam if one of the few legitimate sons of Gaston drowned or not. There were plenty of Gaston bastards on the Isle to replace the littlest LeGume runt.

However, Mal had dared her to. (Instigated her. Taunted.) The half fae had guessed that the cement would pull the young boy to the deepest of the deep murky depths of the surrounding waters and stated that she didn't believe that Uma was big or strong enough to swim down and retrieve the boy, despite her mer-folk lineage.

“ At least I know how to swim, Dragon Breath,” Ursula’s daughter had teased in that way that only close companions, friends, could. That way that had no real bite but underlining affection that was only still present in the youngest of the Isle before it was beaten out of them. (Neither of then realized how in four years that nickname would be said as a curse and with the force of a storm threatening to rage on the horizon...)

So Uma swam, barely breaking a sweat as she reached the water’s bottom where the youngest son’s of Gaston struggles were beginning to slow, gaze growing heavy, the amount of bubbles leaving his mouth diminishing.

For a moment, Uma thought about leaving him and just grabbing the silly yellow bandana he always covered his head with at least for proof that she actually did make it to the bottom of the water. Letting him drown would probably be the nicest thing she could do for the boy, anyway. After all, life on the Isle had no place for one so weak…

She was just about to swim away after grabbing his bandana when a slightly larger hand grasped her own. For a brief second as she looked back at the boy, their eyes met and something that Uma hadn’t realized was untied within her knotted.

Mine , was the only word she could put to the feeling that forced her to cut the ropes of the then once again unconscious boy before kicking her legs with a strength not common in a girl of her size until they broke the water surface.

And as she pulled Gil back to shore, seaweed stuck in her hair and Gil coughing up water along the way, Mal watched from the safety of dry land with narrowed eyes, clenched fists, and raging jealousy held within her tiny frame…

Mal rolled her eyes as she stepped back as Uma dragged the nearly drowned boy onto land, watching as the teal hair girl nearly glowed with smug satisfaction from the boy’s praise after he had the chance to cough up all the water.

Mal noticed the boy’s signature yellow bandana had been dropped on the wet sand at some point, forgotten by its owner. She picked it up, smiling wickedly to herself as she shoved it in her pocket for a later time.

“If you can’t take it,” she thought, continuing to watch as Uma pretended to hate the attention the Gaston boy was giving her. “Break it…”

[veliseraptor]

Current WIP Excerpts

inspired by @gaslightgallows​, because I am vain and love validation, have a line from each of my current WIPs. with a few exceptions.

there are A Lot.

Life In Reverse

Thanos stood before them, titan in truth as well as name. Loki’s heart jumped into his throat and his thoughts briefly flashed to a shattered world, fingers tearing through his mind, screaming as his being was turned inside out. Fear froze him in place, instinctive, animal. 

REMEMBER THIS COLD

Costume Porn: what it says, seriously. (Steve/Loki.)

Masquerade: Steve attends a costume ball. So does Loki.

Steve shifted nervously. “How did you know?”

“Body language,” Tony said simply. “You keep staring at him. Not that I can blame you. Guy looks unfairly good in a suit.”

“Why, thank you,” Loki said. Tony jumped, and then scowled a little.

the hills on fire for miles: The Thor: Ragnarok fic for RTC.

The woman standing in front of them was just barely illuminated by the early dawn light, but it was enough: she was hopelessly striking, lips quirked in a very faint and unpleasant smile, her eyes glittering coldly, looking from Steve to Loki.

“And you,” she said to him, “must be the youngest whelp. The failure. Which makes you…” she looked at Steve. “What does that make you?” 

Attempt #432: Someone asked for the AU where one of Doom’s Loki-clones survived. It’s gonna be bad, folks.

His first memory was a silver mask with rectangles for eyes and mouth, looking down at him. “Attempt four-hundred and thirty-two,” it said, “success.”

MCU

Into the Valley of Death Rode the Six Hundred: The “Loki wins” fic where he gloats at Steve in his spare time and then ends up fighting a war on three fronts and actually asking for help with one of them.

Steve opened his eyes to find a hand over his mouth and the strong iron smell of blood filling his nose. He sucked in a sharp breath, heart hammering into motion. “Open your mouth to cry out and I will take your tongue before you can make a sound.” Loki’s voice was low and soft, but there was something ragged and breathless there as well. “Nod if you understand.”

Strange Bedfellows: The “Clint and Loki are captured and undergo TERRIBLE SUFFERING and bond, sort of” fic. Hey, people do it for Tony/Loki I don’t see why I can’t go with it my way.

Clint Barton had observed that missions tended to go wrong in one of two ways. Either it was a gradual stacking up of problems that inevitably led to total collapse no matter how hard you tried to hold on, or it was the kind of thing where you were standing in the middle of the building and the roof fell on you.

The Priesthood of Natasha Romanov: The one where Loki declares Natasha his High Priestess. She’s not really into it, though.

She tried to tell Thor about her encounter with Loki in Berlin, but the minute she got out an “I saw” her throat closed up and then she was talking about the Berlin Art Museum with some enthusiasm, despite the fact that she hadn’t gone. A few circuitous routes met with no more success, and even hints appeared to be impossible. Whatever magic fuckery Loki had worked on her, it was thorough. 

important gangbang fic: Important Gangbang Fic.

The best thing about dropping in on Alfish parties was that by the time he arrived, most were too drunk to recognize him, or else too distracted to care.

so when the birds fly South: Loki gets beat up and Steve is the one to find him and I have no idea where this is going.

After months, months of thinking he’d been saved by that missile through the portal (irony of ironies) and then months more after he’d learned he had been mistaken, they’d run him to ground. He could run no further. Only turn and fight, and barely that, so little left in him.

Tear My Castle Down: The “Loki’s punishment is to be a slave to one of the Avengers but this time it’s Steve” fic.

Loki was shaking and pale, one hand braced on the doorframe, the other pulling at his collar, his chest heaving. Steve froze, mouth opening, and Loki half fell, grabbing his arm. “Captain,” he said, teeth chattering. “You need – you need to-”

which carries weight and always weighs the same: My Romanoff Big Bang fic, which is going to be a lot of “Natasha having interpersonal relationships” because I have interests.

Her training would have dictated that she fight until her last breath. That cornered, weaponless, and bleeding, she would go on fighting. Her training had told her they will try to seduce you, to steal your loyalties with grand promises. These are all lies. Of course, by the time Agent Clint Barton had her backed into a blind alley with nowhere to go, her loyalties were already for sale and she didn’t believe in anyone’s promises.

Subordination: Loki acquires his first dom, Sjofn. Shit is fun. Until it isn’t.

But he was a little tipsy, and a lot curious, and the way Sjofn was looking at him as though she wanted to devour him was making his whole body feel hot. Loki had lain with his fair share of women – and others – but feeling quite so pursued…that was new.

Just a Shadow Upon These Walls: Steve starts seeing a ghost. Steve starts seeing a ghost that is Loki. Things get weirder from there.

When Thor had left, Steve found a chair and sank down into it. Loki has been dead for almost two years. A day ago, Loki had been standing in Steve’s kitchen. How did he die? Steve should have asked, but he couldn’t have asked the question did he still have his eyes, couldn’t ask Thor that about his younger brother. His dead younger brother.

post Svartalfheim AU: depressed Loki goes to earth after TDW, starts running into Steve randomly, somehow this becomes Steve/Loki?? idk what

When Loki woke up, the first thing he felt was anger. It burned, sharp and fierce, because he had been cheated; he had died well, he had died loved, with Thor looking at him with something so much like care it had hurt worse than the wound in his chest. And once again, death spit him out, making a mockery of him. Of everything.

Thunderstorms: The sequel to “there’s a hell of a good universe next door” where Thor arrives.

“Steve,” Loki said, not looking away from Coulson, and then went on. “I could have slipped away from your clumsy trap at any time, or had your men fighting amongst themselves in the blink of an eye, or any number of more creative solutions. I could kill you with my bare hands right here, in this room, in – say – five seconds, perhaps less. I could probably even, if I had a mind, undermine your government until it fell to pieces.”

Steve made a faintly strangled sound that Loki ignored. “As you can see,” Loki said, sounding almost conversational, “I have not. And will not. I have little to no interest in involving myself in human politics. Unless I am mistaken, until today, you were unaware that I was here at all. It would be ideal for everyone if you chose to return to that state of affairs.”

forgive the children we once were: Bucky, who freed himself substantially earlier from Hydra’s control (during The Avengers), finds Loki, wounded and near death, after the events of Thor 2. Shenanigans ensue.

The stranger was still alive when Bucky got him into the apartment, though he looked like shit and Bucky had to hold his hand about an inch above his mouth to feel any breathing. Stupid, he thought. Gun's in the bedside table, just take care of it and dump the body. He half twitched toward the bedside table, but stopped at that. He still had questions. Dead bodies drew attention.

Sword Age, Wolf Age: the Ragnarok fic where things go a little differently when Thor comes back to Asgard.

“I have just saved your life and freed you and you would speak of what I owe you,” Loki said, starting away through the woods. “Such is the gratitude of the House of Odin.”

Someone to Watch Over You: Loki decides Steve needs a guardian angel. He doesn’t ask Steve about it. He also doesn’t expect to get labeled a sidekick.

Captain Steve Rogers, Loki had decided, was trying to get himself killed.

I’ll pull the devil down with me, one way or another: Thanos is coming. Loki doesn’t intend to take that lying down.

He stumbled out into Sanctuary, almost falling to his knees, and pried his hands away from the cube. His joints throbbed with the ache of the power filling him almost to bursting. He looked at it, glowing blue with swirls of light inside, and swallowed hard.

If this goes wrong, all the worlds will burn and it will be your fault.

keep your heart (close to the ground): the AU where Loki never invades, so the Avengers never form, and a depressed Steve and depressed Loki meet.

Lukas was leaning against the doorframe, one arm wrapped around his middle, blood covering half his face and dripping off his fingers. He smiled and there was blood on his teeth. “Hello,” he said. “Good. You still live here,” and listed forward. Steve, his thoughts spinning, caught him reflexively.

time may change me (but you can’t trace time): the fic where Loki tries to steal the Time Stone and gets stuck in a time loops. For some reason, it resets every time Steve dies.

“What did you do?” Rogers demanded.

“I have no idea,” Loki said. He was sitting in the sand and staring up at the sky, going over everything that had happened before this had started – everything he knew about the Time Stone and what it could do. He wasn’t getting anywhere.

Seams and Scars: Loki arrives on Midgard with his lips sewn shut.

Clint thought for sure he was going to die when he was slammed against the wall and those washed out, grey-green eyes met his. Clint’s eyes fixed on those gruesome black lines trickling blood. Stitches, he realized. He could see the knots. See the notch of a scar where one had torn through.

Who the hell does that? He remembered thinking, which was the last thought of his own he had before he set the spear to Clint’s heart and remade him in his image.

our history is coming to life again: The fic where a young Loki gets transplanted forward in time to post-The Dark World Earth. Things are not exactly going well for him.

“What happened,” Cap said, his voice tense.

“I’m dead, aren’t I,” was what came out of Loki’s mouth. And then he had to laugh, because obviously he wasn’t, he couldn’t be saying he was dead if he was dead, so he corrected, “was. I suppose.”

Temptation: Loki has a Steve problem.

Well, Loki thought. Well. It seemed his little problem was not solved after all. In fact, if anything, it was made worse. If he was going to imagine fucking Rogers every time he was trying to fight him-

Loki growled to himself. Damn him. Damn him and his beautiful eyelashes and beautiful eyes and sinfully beautiful mouth.

I know I’m the curséd one: Wanda and Loki, imprisoned for their magic, have to work together to escape.

He would not give in. Not to these. Not ever.

He would go mad (madder) first.

finding yourself at the end of the universe: The fic where Loki springs Steve from prison post Civil War, mostly out of spite, and they go on a dysfunctional road trip across space.

“Well,” said the last voice Steve had expected to hear. “That’s interesting.”

Steve’s eyes widened and he stared at Loki, struck dumb. Loki’s eyebrows quirked, gaze sweeping up and down. “Now why,” he murmured, “would they be keeping you down here with me? Have you been bad, Captain Rogers?”

Meet the Parents: Loki meets Sarah Rogers in the Roommates!AU.

“Offend her?” Steve’s eyebrows went up. “Why would you offend her?”

“Well,” Loki said, and stopped, searching for a diplomatic way to say I’m an addict, an asshole, and a bad influence without saying those precise words.

The Cold, the Dark, the Silence: It’s whump. That’s basically it.

His body was starting to fail. Loki could tell the signs of it in the way his hands shook, the chills that swept through him periodically. His healing had already been strained to the breaking point by his near death on Svartalfheim. Without food, with barely any water, the punishment his captors doled out in seemingly growing frustration was taking a toll.

the first steps stumbling forward: On Earth post-Ragnarok, Steve takes up secretly helping Asgardian refugees. There’s a familiar face among them.

“Thor said you were dead,” Rogers said.

“Thor is occasionally wrong about things,” Loki said. He didn’t particularly want to explain I was, sort of, but then I wasn’t, and then I took over Asgard and pretended to be my father for three years, which was actually very nice while it lasted.

escalated almost to an art: Yet another very dirty Loki/Grandmaster fic, where the Grandmaster experiments with drugging Loki in a variety of fun ways.

“You and me,” the Grandmaster said, reaching out and brushing his fingers along Loki’s jaw. “We’re going to have so much fun, aren’t we?”

Loki wished that didn’t sound so much like a threat.

He wished the fact that it did didn’t send a thrill down his spine.

Another Fall: Loki falls from Asgard into Hela’s prison.

“Interesting,” she said. She crouched down. “Where did you come from? The old fool sealed this place unfortunately well.” Loki coughed and choked. Her nose wrinkled. “I suppose if I want to get anything out of you I’ll need to fix you first.”

NOT MCU

Darkness, Darkness: The Morgana/Gwen fic set in “The Dark Tower.”

You should have trusted me, she thinks bitterly, as Gwen’s screams turn into sobs and Morgana’s own eyes sting. I loved you, Gwen. I loved you so much.

There’s a Lesson Here, I Just Don’t Know What It Is Yet: Still need to finish this Natasha/Yelena fic, still kicking myself over using an espionage plot, why did I do that.

“I’m on assignment,” she said blandly, rocking back on her heels, perched still too close. “And you? Still dancing for the Russian government?” Dancing. Yelena wondered if that was deliberate. After their last meeting, she’d tried learning to dance, briefly, but nothing about it had suited her.

the best all lack conviction: Fenris/Anders post Dragon Age II; they bicker, a lot, and maybe make out some too, eventually. Probably I will beat them up a lot too.

The wind blew the rain in on them again and the mage groaned, hunching his shoulders. “I hate Fereldan,” he muttered. “I truly do.”

“Perhaps you should have run to Tevinter,” Fenris said snidely. The mage gave him a baleful look but, to his surprise, did not say anything. He looked so pathetic that Fenris almost felt guilty. Almost.

Witches: Morrigan/Surana femslash fic, in which Merrin Surana would like to bang Morrigan and also become her.

She was tall as all humans were tall and carrying a staff on her back. She looked down her narrow nose at Merrin, Alistair, and the rest, air one of boredom and vague distaste. She was the most magnificent thing Merrin had ever seen.

The Interim: The fic about Morgana’s journey from dying of poison to coming back to Camelot dramatically changed and set on revenge.

She struggled to understand what was going on. To work out what had happened (he poisoned me) and what was happening now. It all hurt too much, though, and all she could do was lie there and whimper and hate how weak she felt. A cool hand pushed her hair off her brow. “It’s all right, sister. You’re safe.”

how this grace thing works: The first year at Grimglass lighthouse.

Felix up and vanished into the library the second he got the chance. He probably would’ve stayed there forever without eating if I hadn’t dragged him out sometimes for meals. He said the previous virtuer had just shoved books in wherever they fit so it’d be impossible to find anything. He dithered over a lot of ways of organizing them before settling on category and author, and then he’d mutter to himself about what category this book or that one really belonged in.

[lazilysillyprince]

The Jeep Gladiator Pickup Is an Off-Roading Tough Mudder

New Post has been published on http://duanyuju.com/the-jeep-gladiator-pickup-is-an-off-roading-tough-mudder/

The Jeep Gladiator Pickup Is an Off-Roading Tough Mudder

From the top of the mound, I can’t see much. Some trees. A sky mottled with the clouds that over the past few days have soaked this grassy meadow in the Sierra foothills. And a pair of hands, ostensibly attached to a human being with their arms held high, beckoning me forward. Obeying them seems like a terrible idea. About as bad as driving up to the top of this slope in the first place. But orders are orders. I engage my core, clench my cheeks, and push my right foot onto the accelerator pedal. The 3.6-liter V6 engine responds, and the four 32-inch wheels, clad in mud-loving tires, roll forward. And so the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck rumbles down the rock-strewn, 35-degree slope with all the eager, confident spasticity of a big dog bolting down a marble staircase.

A few seconds later, just as I’m starting to wonder if the afterlife really does look like Northern California, my guide turns his hands into fists to signal ‘stop,’ then gives me a thumbs up. “Good job!” I manage a nervous smile, but know not to take any credit. Jeep’s engineers have built the Gladiator for just this kind of folly, and they’ve invited me onto this off-road course because they want to show me just how good a job they did.

At a time when SUVs and pickups have never been more popular, the Gladiator is an about-time return to form for Jeep, which offered pickup versions of its vehicles from the late 40s through the early 90s. The front bit borrows heavily from the Wrangler, but the team insists that they didn’t just slap a bed on the existing ride. “The challenge for us was to develop a truck that’s a truck,” says Pete Milosavlevski, the Gladiator’s chief engineer.

Over the three years they spent developing this ride, Jeep’s engineering team made a series of choices that sought a balance between utility, ruggedness, and creature comforts. It equipped the Gladiator with solid axles, stronger wheels, the largest brakes in the segment, a bigger grille to bring in more cooling air, a “tried and true” steel bed at a time when competitors are going with aluminum and even carbon fiber.

Because they made the doors and roof extra easy to pop off, the Jeep’s designers stuck lockers both behind and under the rear seats, so you have places to store your valuables while you’re kayaking up that waterfall. They included a 115-volt outlet in the five-foot bed and a portable Bluetooth speaker that will survive half an hour underwater. It would take a few weeks of living with the Jeep to verify that all these little touches are good ideas, but a few minutes of bouncing over rocks was enough for me to appreciate the decision to rubber-wrap the armrests and door handles. That and the heated seats.

The four-door Gladiator starts at $33,545 (for the manual transmission Sport edition), but if you’ve got money to spend, a fully specced Rubicon version will run you closer to $60,000. Production at Jeep’s Toledo plant starts in April, with deliveries slated for May. Buy now, and you’ll get that 3.6-liter gas engine, good for 285 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque, and an EPA-rated 19 miles per gallon. Wait a year or so, and you can opt for a 3.0-liter diesel that will take the torque up to more than 400 pound-feet.

As I get step on the gas, though, I discover that the 260 figure is more than enough to go bobble-heading over the kind of terrain that in just about any other vehicle (including my feet) would make me say, Whoops, better take the long way ‘round. And by the end of the 30-minute off-road exercise, after watching the vehicle’s pitch and roll gauges whip to and fro like The New York Times’ election needles, I’m wearing a genuine smile. Most buyers won’t get anywhere near the limits of what the Gladiator can do—like happily plow through 30 inches of water—but those who do are sure to be entertained.

More Great WIRED Stories

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The Jeep Gladiator Pickup Is an Off-Roading Tough Mudder

New Post has been published on http://duanyuju.com/the-jeep-gladiator-pickup-is-an-off-roading-tough-mudder/

The Jeep Gladiator Pickup Is an Off-Roading Tough Mudder

From the top of the mound, I can’t see much. Some trees. A sky mottled with the clouds that over the past few days have soaked this grassy meadow in the Sierra foothills. And a pair of hands, ostensibly attached to a human being with their arms held high, beckoning me forward. Obeying them seems like a terrible idea. About as bad as driving up to the top of this slope in the first place. But orders are orders. I engage my core, clench my cheeks, and push my right foot onto the accelerator pedal. The 3.6-liter V6 engine responds, and the four 32-inch wheels, clad in mud-loving tires, roll forward. And so the Jeep Gladiator pickup truck rumbles down the rock-strewn, 35-degree slope with all the eager, confident spasticity of a big dog bolting down a marble staircase.

A few seconds later, just as I’m starting to wonder if the afterlife really does look like Northern California, my guide turns his hands into fists to signal ‘stop,’ then gives me a thumbs up. “Good job!” I manage a nervous smile, but know not to take any credit. Jeep’s engineers have built the Gladiator for just this kind of folly, and they’ve invited me onto this off-road course because they want to show me just how good a job they did.

At a time when SUVs and pickups have never been more popular, the Gladiator is an about-time return to form for Jeep, which offered pickup versions of its vehicles from the late 40s through the early 90s. The front bit borrows heavily from the Wrangler, but the team insists that they didn’t just slap a bed on the existing ride. “The challenge for us was to develop a truck that’s a truck,” says Pete Milosavlevski, the Gladiator’s chief engineer.

Over the three years they spent developing this ride, Jeep’s engineering team made a series of choices that sought a balance between utility, ruggedness, and creature comforts. It equipped the Gladiator with solid axles, stronger wheels, the largest brakes in the segment, a bigger grille to bring in more cooling air, a “tried and true” steel bed at a time when competitors are going with aluminum and even carbon fiber.

Because they made the doors and roof extra easy to pop off, the Jeep’s designers stuck lockers both behind and under the rear seats, so you have places to store your valuables while you’re kayaking up that waterfall. They included a 115-volt outlet in the five-foot bed and a portable Bluetooth speaker that will survive half an hour underwater. It would take a few weeks of living with the Jeep to verify that all these little touches are good ideas, but a few minutes of bouncing over rocks was enough for me to appreciate the decision to rubber-wrap the armrests and door handles. That and the heated seats.

The four-door Gladiator starts at $33,545 (for the manual transmission Sport edition), but if you’ve got money to spend, a fully specced Rubicon version will run you closer to $60,000. Production at Jeep’s Toledo plant starts in April, with deliveries slated for May. Buy now, and you’ll get that 3.6-liter gas engine, good for 285 horsepower, 260 pound-feet of torque, and an EPA-rated 19 miles per gallon. Wait a year or so, and you can opt for a 3.0-liter diesel that will take the torque up to more than 400 pound-feet.

As I get step on the gas, though, I discover that the 260 figure is more than enough to go bobble-heading over the kind of terrain that in just about any other vehicle (including my feet) would make me say, Whoops, better take the long way ‘round. And by the end of the 30-minute off-road exercise, after watching the vehicle’s pitch and roll gauges whip to and fro like The New York Times’ election needles, I’m wearing a genuine smile. Most buyers won’t get anywhere near the limits of what the Gladiator can do—like happily plow through 30 inches of water—but those who do are sure to be entertained.

More Great WIRED Stories