#not because its cringe but because my mind can't fill in the blank like that.

[mechazushi]

Fortitude Privilege {Staring Yu/Na and Base Inspector} (A short story)

After everything had settled down, they let Kafka do what-the-fuck-ever. That also includes snuggling on his boyfriend at anytime during work hours.

Vice Captain Hoshina was the first to leave the training room when Iharu passed by with a new recruit. He was showing her around the expansive base when he was presented with an opportunity to have a down to earth meet-and-greet with the base's second in command.

"Hey! Vice Cap! Good timing. Yunna, this is our Vice Captain Hoshina. Vice-Cap, this is Yunna. She's a transfer from Division Seven." Iharu took the lead on the introductions while the two of them were exchanging salutes. They all began trading questions with each other, busy distracting themselves with platitudes to not notice another person turning a corner and coming up behind Hoshina. A tall, burly, and clearly tired individual shambled up behind the vice captain and slumped over his shoulder unceremoniously, almost knocking him over.

"Oof, Kafka! Is everything okay?" Hoshina said calmly at the intruder. The man he called Kafka just wrapped his arms lopsidedly around Hoshina's left shoulder as he dug his face into the crook of his neck on the right.

" 'M fine. Drained" He mumbled incoherently, sacrificing vowels in his state of exhaustion. He nuzzled his nose affectionately in the curve of Hoshina's neck and took a noticeable whiff. "New cologne's nice."

Yunna, the new recruit, became visibly flushed as she continued to stare on. Iharu was already completely desensitized to this and just continued his conversation with the Vice Captain. Noticing the state of shock on the newcomer, Iharu took a second to explain what was happening.

"This is Kafka Hibino. He's the Captain's and Vice Captain's boyfriend. Everyone has learned to just let him get away with this bullshit." Iharu smiled cheekily at Yunna after he had finished.

"What am I supposed to do when he's like this? Tell him 'No'?" Hoshina said as he crossed his arms. He felt the rumbling of deep throated laughter coming from the man on his shoulder.

"Conveniently leaving out the fact that I'm also a kaiju." Kafka said as he lifted his head a little just to speak clearly. Yunna made a small squeak of surprise as the revelation made all the pieces click into place.

Down the hallway behind Iharu, everyone could hear another person aggressively shouting as they came down their direction.

"Aw, shit." Hoshina whispered under his breath.

"Who's that?" Iharu questioned as he turned around to look.

"Base Inspector. Probably looking for me to bitch about something inane." Hoshina continued. Iharu took that as a sign to whisk the new person off to a different location, sensing a need to disappear before he got themselves caught in possible corporate crossfire. Hoshina prepped his best Resting Bitch Face as the lanky inspector approached viciously.

"Afternoon, Inspector." Hoshina said in a deadpan manner. He took a longer look at the man coming toward him and noticed he recognized none of the man's features.

'Hmm. I wonder if he's new?' Hoshina thought. His hopes were raised a little, thinking that this possibly new base inspector wouldn't have the same stick up his ass like the last two did.

"Vice Captain Hoshina. Just the person I was looking for." The inspector called out. He opened his mouth to begin what was most certainly about to be a mindless rant concerning some slighted offence over some breach in paperwork or protocol, but quickly shut it when he noticed Kafka making no move to acknowledge his presence.

"Well, I was going to bring up your continued disregard to execute less leniency toward how officers structure their reports, but now it seems I should take over instilling basic officer conduct as well." The Base Inspector straightened his square framed glasses and leveled the most demeaning glare at the tired, hairy, lump that had made its place on Hoshina's shoulder.

"Oh, lay off. He said he's tired." Hoshina countered. He was beginning to wonder if a mightier-than-thou attitude was a requirement to being an inspector.

"Lethargy is no excuse for blatant indifference to higher authority." The stringy looking man sniffed haughtily. A threatening, rolling, and loud inhuman growl emanated from Kafka, still not looking up from his place at Hoshina's side. Hoshina chuckled as he ruffled his hair while he talked to him.

"Mind being a dear and head up to Mina's office for a bit? The only adult in the room needs to discipline this child, apparently." Hoshina spoke in hushed tones, sounding incredibly loving into Kafka's ear. Only a more disappointed growling whimper was heard in response.

"You could beg for more cuddles if she's in there." Hoshina sang quietly as he nosed Kafka's hair. The slacked-spined man lifted his head to stare disapprovingly at the unwanted interloper before planting a smooch to his Vice Captain's cheek and walked away, radiating an irritated aura all the way down the hall. The two that were left followed his path and waited for him to turn around a corner before continuing the discussion.

"You do know that having a relationship between a higher authority figure and an officer is prohibited, correct?" The inspector said as he turned back to face Hoshina.

"You know that man has a fortitude rating, correct?" Hoshina snarked.

"Don't you mean an aptitude rating?" The inspector returned wearily.

"No, fortitude." Hoshina reiterated firmly as he stepped closer into the inspector's personal space, " Ya'know, because he's a kaiju and all." The inspector tried not to express it, but he seemed taken aback. first from the clear hostility, then from realizing what Hoshina meant.

The inspector's lips flapped open and closed for a moment before letting slip a small, simple "oh."

"Were you not made aware that we had such a person within our ranks?" Hoshina asked poignantly.

"I was made very aware of such personnel." The inspector said as he adjusted his glasses again, "What I wasn't made aware of was how much leniency he seems to be permitted to have because of such an obscenely paltry standing." The inspector spoke with baseless higher authority, attempting to recover from finding himself on the back step. Hoshina could feel his lips being stretched thin over his teeth as he felt the need to use them to rip the throat out of this obstinate and unwarranted trespasser.

"Then you should have also been made aware of how that man had not only saved the lives of millions, but also saved the planet six times over consecutively." While being shorter than the inspector, Hoshina did a fine job of making it seem like he was towering over the other man.

" As... notable... as those achievements are, it shouldn't take away the fact that a relationship between an officer and a Vice Captain is unconducive to to the workplace since it could be used to unjustly gather sway in one's ranking." The base inspector held his position in the conversation, but was forced to slink down in height as he cowered under Hoshina's invasive presence.

"Ohh, trust me. The higher ups have made it very clear that he's already achieved the highest ranking they'll allow him, and that's being an exploitable weapon." Wrath tinged the edges of his words as he managed to climb higher over the base inspector.

"There is nothing in this world that he hasn't earned by not working his ass off for. So excuse me for thinking that the least he's owed is the right to express some fuckin' PDA." Hoshina could feel the tips of his lips curl into an unfriendly smile with an uncanny amount of teeth showing.

"If you really want to drag rank over this and piss off a man who's capable of leveling all of Western Japan for no decent reason, be my guest. If you have nothing drastically important to talk about, like something that's impeding the health and wellness of my officers, then I bid you farewell and hope your day is as wonderful as you are." Hoshina reclined back onto his heels and crisply marched away from the inspector, who still wasn't recovered from the invasion of personal space and was stuck being slant backwards, even as Hoshina moved out of eyesight.

Minutes later, Hoshina had found himself in Mina's office. Hoping to join in on Kafka's sudden bout of needed physical closure, he slipped past the threshold and quietly dumped his gym bag next to the door. Taking up most of the center of the room in front of the desk, was Mina, sandwiched between Bakko and Kafka. Reclined against the tiger formed monster, Mina looked silently overjoyed to have an asleep Kafka nestled between her legs as he rested his head on her stomach. Laying tilted on his side, the left portion of his face was buried in Mina's clothes while his arms had dug a hold around her midsection, framing his head. A low vibration hung in the air, getting louder as Hoshina snuck over.

"Need me to pry him off?" Hoshina lovingly muttered into Mina's forehead as he planted a small smooch as well.

"Later. Now, I need you to grab my phone!" Mina tried to contain her excitement as quietly as she could while gently brushing her free hand through Kafka's hair, the other being trapped under his heavy shoulder.

"Yes, he looks adorable, doesn't he?" Hoshina playfully rolled his eyes as he made moves to stand up.

"Well, yes, but you can't tell me you can't hear this?" Mina's smile was wide as she looked up at Hoshina. He took a second to listen as he processed the low rumble in the room.

"Is... is that not Bakko purring?" Hoshina questioned.

"No, he's awake!" Mina harshly whispered in joy as she jabbed her finger behind her, "This is all him!" She pointed her finger again at Kafka, emphasizing her revelation.

Hoshina made a quiet, deep throated cackle as he comically tiptoed around her desk to grab the phone and pull up the camera. He managed to settle onto the floor and shimmy his way under Mina's free arm as he held the camera close to Kafka's face. They got at least a good minute of audio, starring his purrs before Hoshina decided to end it there, not wanting to push their luck.

"It's a shame he can't purr all the time. Instead of the sleep talking, I mean." Mina commented as Hoshina made himself more comfortable in their embrace on the floor.

"We wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning if he did." Hoshina muttered sleepily as he finally stopped shifting when he found a good spot to settle into. Mina brushed his hair for a second while she returned the forehead kiss from earlier before relaxing into the warm and heavy pile she had unintentionally made for herself.

@iceclew

I hate to ask this from ya, but... Have you seen this yet? If you didn't have an opinion one way or another, that's fine. Just wanted to ask.

[shinelikethunder]

lads i'm starting to suspect that the ur-daddy-issues - the Alpha Daddy, if you will - might be SPN's own self-consciousness about not being the X-Files

i mean... compelled to mention its dad all the time whether or not anyone asked; insists to the point of petulance that it's Not Dad and Dad's Not Here Now; crushingly aware that it's stepping into daddy's shoes (ecological niche on network TV) and terrified of being too cringe to fill them; also, at the same time, SO terrified of repeating daddy's mistakes that it pre-emptively lampshades sins that have nothing to do with the ones it's actually committing....

....and oh, yeah, after six and a half seasons to find its feet and become its own person, it can't even get through a fun little homage/fakeout like "alien abductions? nope, made ya look, those are just what people's minds invent to fill in the blanks of being Taken By The Fae" without getting excruciatingly hung up on the silliness of its own Evil Fairies alt-explanation plot. like SO hung up that self-deprecating jokes weren't enough, it just HAD to have Dean do a haha-whoopsie honest-to-god literal hate crime about it.

i... fuck, i'm almost impressed. fractal daddy issues with fractally deranged coping mechanisms. as above so below, over and over and over into infinity, because it's dads all the way down.

(i'm given to understand that SPN's other closest ancestor is Buffy and i'll take a wild guess, based on guest-star casting alone, that it also has some buck-wild mommy issues. can't comment on those firsthand, though, because my grudge-aversion to giving Whedon evangelists the satisfaction of ever watching their shit... is SO much older and SO much deeper than my late, lamented, utterly vindicated, decade-plus insistence that i was not going to watch SPN because i knew it would just make me mad.)

[illuminiscentboba]

[𝟒:𝟓𝟐 𝐩𝐦] ; smile again

"This is dumb," you lowered the sunglasses with lenses in the shape of moon crescents. Though while you said it, you had trouble holding in your laughter.

"So? It's much better than staying home all day." He wasn't wrong. With how busy you were you didn't even have time to think about yourself, much less fun things.

Though you didn't expect semi eita to drive all the way to your house and try to serenade you until you opened the door.

He’d done that many times throughout your friendship, starting from that time Tendou dared him to yell your name when you guys were teens and he’d tried out a lot of different silly methods since then.

Him and his nonsense, a crooked smile made its way onto your face.

"But how did you know I was home all day?" He raised a judging brow at you, lowering his ridiculous swirl lensed sunglasses for further emphasis.

"Don't you think I listen to you when you tell me things? You said you weren't feeling well and it's my occupation to be your personal cheer-upper to drag you outside every now and then."

You didn't know whether to be touched or cringe but maybe you needed the fresh air. Or so Semi says.

He picked up a bright green feathery boa from the rack on the side, draping it around his neck. "How do I look? Oh, we should match!"

He laced an equally bright yellow one around you and only made you smile more as you watched him pose in front of the mirror, taking a selfie with you for 'the memories'.

"Do you two need help over here?" A worker approached you two and semi flinched. "Oh, no. We were just looking at the items...though I think I'm going to purchase these."

Purchase what? Was he talking about the sunglasses and boas? Wait...

"Uhm, semi?! Why are we buying these?" He raked a hand through his messy ash blonde hair, perking up as an idea crossed his mind. "for...my performance, actually why don't we drop by my studio?"

And that was all the information he was willing to provide as you followed him out, now with more than one boa in hand.

The more you probed the wider his smile grew. Finally, you had arrived at his studio, the studio that was surprisingly...empty. "Where is everyone?"

"Oh, we had a day off because of some holiday. Though between me and you, I think my boss just wanted the day to himself." He smiled, taking your hand in his larger, calloused one.

He led you down a winding hall that opened toward a wide area with a stage, dark curtains along the side.

“Are we allowed to be here?" You watched as he made his way to what seemed to be a check out form on the desk by the door.

"Yeah, we usually make appointments so that things are divided fairly but it looks like it's just me and you today." He held up the blank sheet, and even though he held it in front of his face you could tell he was still smiling.

"Great." you smiled, bringing a folding chair towards the middle of the gym to watch him. As you unfolded it, he brought out two guitars.

"What are you doing over there, come on stage!" He called from across the room, holding apart the curtain so that you could head up the steps.

"What?"

"Did you think I was doing a solo show for you?" He teased as you raised a brow, having thought that exactly.

"We can do that another day, let me turn on the speakers." He shut the door off to the side that you guys came from, scrolling through the music options on his phone as you surveyed the guitar.

"Semi, I literally can't play guitar."

"Just because you aren't good at it doesn't mean you shouldn't-"

You clumsily strum the guitar, wincing at the loud sound. "On second thought maybe we should get you a different instrument."

"Wow, rude." He laughed, instead placing the guitar along the table instead of away. "I'll teach you how to play after our performance."

He handed you a mic and you took it, following him up the stage stairs. You didn't know what song to expect but the one that filled the private gymnasium made your eyes widen as you whirled around to look at Semi who grinned, gauging your reaction with amusement.

And so on that huge stage, you guys stayed there longer than expected, draped in your feather boas and dumb sunglasses laughing as you two messed up the lyrics, feeling like you were in your teens all over again.

Semi imitated the girl singer while you started to repeat his lines like a backup singer, making up your own lyrics as it continued.

He was beaming as he watched you, snorting when you tripped as you sauntered across the stage with your mic, just so happy to see you smile so much and happy that you guys were still as attached to the song all of those years.

You two then turned on a popular rock song from when you were younger and headbanged until your glasses flew off and hit him in the face.

"Are...you alright?" You could barely get out your words through your laughter, as he waved away the concern, trying to stop laughing himself.

“Yeah, we definitely need to hold more...performances together."

"Maybe next time I'll know how to play the guitar."

"I'm a diligent teacher and so there will be no slacking off." You grinned at him. You loved the idea of semi teaching you guitar. Maybe this day was really what you needed.

“I won't, maybe my hands will become just as calloused as yours. and I'll jump in the crowd and they'll carry me away like at concerts."

Semi grinned, his brown eyes glittering with amusement. "you mean crowd surfing? that's kind of bold for having done only one performance."

"Okay, maybe not right away." You two laugh as he starts up another song, another great one from your childhood. It's amazing that someone can change the direction of your day and mood just by being themselves.

A thank you almost slips past your lips but you already know what he's going to say, how he'll just smile and say it was nothing.

You still say it. "Thanks, semi."

He blinked before his expression softened and he reached to ruffle your already messy hair from headbanging.

"Jeez, y/n. I'll always be there on your dull and terrible days. Though maybe call me next time so I won't have to wake up your street with my guitar or throw rocks at your window?"

Now it was your turn to blink at him, not expecting him to go off and reassure you at the same time. You jokingly elbowed him for the trouble he's caused on previous occasions to reach you sometimes. Though you wouldn't have it any other way.

"Whatever you say, semisemi. Maybe try a mega horn next time, I'm starting to get bored of your love songs."

"Shut up, I know you love them. Should I try rapping that song from the line king?" You're already groaning as he clears his throat, ruining the movie for you. Soon enough, you guys start clean up before making your way to his car to eat out.

After all, you guys were starving after that amazing performance.

a/n: PLATONIC FICS WYA- tho lmao, this is kind of self indulgent and half a tribute to my friend for listening to me and cheering me up and reassuring me :')) everyone deserves a semi he's literally a sweetheart and i hope that when you guys are struggling, you guys reach out to people around you too :)) (reposted becuz tumblr cancelled my tags dbfshdbjs)

[manikrege]

I never thought I'd write about "love" again but here I am

You ever been with someone you can never "be with?" A friendship that you know has much more to offer but also too much to lose?

Crap, it's that cheesy romcom cliché from Christmas 2008. My Jai has fallen for an Aditi. And I'm mulling about whether we should have that "talk" when we Zoom tonight.

Maybe they'll explain that they don't see me that way and this would complicate things. Heck, maybe they'll point out how we're from different backgrounds, countries, jobs, and religions - and I'll have to clarify that it's these differences I love the most. It's starting to feel like a Toastmaster's debate.

If I have to be both realistic and happy, I'm hoping that they'll smile, appreciate me for sharing my feelings, and promise to help me get over it eventually. Such mature discussion. Much wow.

Scenarios. Scenarios. Scenarios. As I'm slinging through the multiverse created by my anxiety-ridden, 23-year-old brain, I have to say that there's something different about this person that's keeping me awake. There has to be.

Because I thought I left behind this topic in my emo teen phase. With poems that I took the effort to rhyme lmaoooo. But its almost after an entire decade that I'm finding myself chirping down this path again. Spring in my step and all. So the writer in me is definitely curious.

See first of all, there wasn't a love-at-first-sight moment. It wasn't full of butterflies and crazy adventures. In fact, I can't pinpoint a specific day when I understood that I wanted more. There weren't any explosive fireworks. The hunch grew more like five sips of chai. Normal, comforting, simple. Like how you move into a new house and then it eventually becomes your home for no good reason. And you get into a cozy routine.

I have spent so much time in their company doing jackshit. This one day we camped in our university's library. On our own laptops doing our own assignments. When the guards told us it was time to leave, we walked out talking about how well-spent the day was and we should definitely do it again.

It's not like we haven't had fun together. We've hung out, flown to new cities. We've eaten with forks at fancy brunches and also ravaged through banana leaf buffets like Savannah lions.

We've also had the craziest of talks. From junk gossips to deep philosophical musings at 3AM. They once looked down at the dimly lit highway and told me how every passing car must have people with complex lives and stories that we'll never hear. Trippy? Well, you should see our chats, you'd think we're in the stratosphere.

But floating in between all that noise are many blank pages that weigh just as much. Silences I never felt obligated to fill. Sometimes, we just lie around and chill.

Which tells me that this new kind of love I'm discovering ... this love isn't all shining and glamorous. After all that excitement fades away, there's a cozy blanket of silence that takes over. You don't have to go on extravagant holidays to relax. You don't have to buy each other costly gifts to feel special. You don't have to upload Stories of everything you do together. There's nothing to prove to the world, nothing to show off.

Instead, it's the simple gestures. They're both noticed and reciprocated. The person's company is more than enough. And you no longer have to do only wild things to feel like you had a good time.

If you can feel happy cutting a cupcake in the dark and call it a party, when its not even your birthday, that's when you realize they're the one.

Mind you, even if there's comfort, there's also discomfort. I like that we call each other out on our bullshit. They don't just pretend to agree with all my decisions or opinions because I'm their best friend. In fact, there are so many things we do openly disagree on and also furiously debate about.

We also hold each other accountable for our mistakes. I have a loud mouth and when I leak something in a public conversation that I shouldn't have, they will remind me that I can do better.

This could've been a toxic or abusive thing where we're constantly pushing each other's buttons. But its not the case because toxic relationships rely on fear. The fear of causing damage. But when we discuss our issues, we're not afraid of permanently ruining or breaking things.

We understand that we cannot realistically always like each other. Sometimes, I will hate her. And I'll say it. They'll say they hate me even more. Sometimes I'll be so pissed off at something silly they did. But I won't feel bad or guilty about it. We respect these negative emotions and agree that we can be imperfect and kinda off on some days. These fleeting currents and tiny problems don't threaten our bond. I speak for both of us when I say we have this unbreakable faith that we'll always be able to 'work it out together.'

When you call someone your 'loved one,' it means they're signing up for the whole package. Which occasionally includes confusion, misunderstandings, disappointment, and hurt.

If you can openly talk about all your feelings and problems without having to worry about losing them, that's when you realize they're the one.

But all that said, I think the most special thing about this special person is how they make me want to be better without ever having to push me ahead.

What I mean is that they're a forever fan. At gatherings, they'll take me around like I'm Barack Obama and introduce me to all their friends, raving about the 'cool projects' I'm working on this year. They're my biggest cheerleader, hyper-supporter, and meme-liker to the point of cringe. When I'm down and sobbing about how I suck, they'll tell me to shut up and refuse to believe that I'm anything less than the best.

I feel immensely relaxed knowing that I'll always be good enough for them, even when I'm not good enough for myself. See, it's not a conditional contract. There's this underlying assurance that they'll be cheering me for me even when I'm behind, even when I finish last. I don't have to constantly worry about proving myself to them or living up to their 'expectations.'

A relationship of any kind and degree shouldn't feel constantly challenging, uncomfortable, and stressful. That kind of bullshit is often sold under the guise of tough love or training. But you shouldn't feel like you're dragging yourself to please or impress the person.

Because love is safety. It's like a soft sandpit in which we can become kids again and build whatever the fuck we want to. And when we have no power left, it's a force that burns through every fiber of our soul and gives us that last bit of fire to hold on. "Hold on," it says, "We're almost there."

This safe zone my special person has created without even realizing it ... it just makes me want to push myself every day. Their fierce belief in me makes me want to fight, even when I don't want to do it for myself. In fact, it was this person who once told me that we can't always love ourselves and that's why we need friends who can remind us of how worthy we are.

If they make you feel empowered to chase your dreams fearlessly, you know they're the one.

Now that I've said these things out loud, I guess I know that they're really the one.

But I don't feel prepared to tell them yet so I'm going to wait for some more time. I'm not rushing into things. It's perfectly acceptable. And anyway, I'm not worried about being too late. I won't regret telling them right away.

You know how I'm so sure?

Because love is, above all, friendship. And I have it right here, right now.

[illuminiscentboba]

[𝟒:𝟓𝟐 𝐩𝐦] ; smile again

"This is dumb," you lowered the sunglasses with lenses in the shape of moon crescents. Though while you said it, you had trouble holding in your laughter.

"So? It's much better than staying home all day." He wasn't wrong. With how busy you were you didn't even have time to think about yourself, much less fun things.

Though you didn't expect semi eita to drive all the way to your house and try to serenade you until you opened the door. 

He’d done that many times throughout your friendship, starting from that time Tendou dared him to yell your name when you guys were teens and he’d tried out a lot of different silly methods since then.

Him and his nonsense, a crooked smile made its way onto your face.

"But how did you know I was home all day?" He raised a judging brow at you, lowering his ridiculous swirl lensed sunglasses for further emphasis.

"Don't you think I listen to you when you tell me things? You said you weren't feeling well and it's my occupation to be your personal cheer-upper to drag you outside every now and then."

You didn't know whether to be touched or cringe but maybe you needed the fresh air. Or so Semi says.

He picked up a bright green feathery boa from the rack on the side, draping it around his neck. "How do I look? Oh, we should match!"

He laced an equally bright yellow one around you and only made you smile more as you watched him pose in front of the mirror, taking a selfie with you for 'the memories'.

"Do you two need help over here?" A worker approached you two and semi flinched. "Oh, no. We were just looking at the items...though I think I'm going to purchase these."

Purchase what? Was he talking about the sunglasses and boas? Wait...

"Uhm, semi?! Why are we buying these?" He raked a hand through his messy ash blonde hair, perking up as an idea crossed his mind. "for...my performance, actually why don't we drop by my studio?"

And that was all the information he was willing to provide as you followed him out, now with more than one boa in hand. 

The more you probed the wider his smile grew. Finally, you had arrived at his studio, the studio that was surprisingly...empty. "Where is everyone?"

"Oh, we had a day off because of some holiday. Though between me and you, I think my boss just wanted the day to himself." He smiled, taking your hand in his larger, calloused one.

He led you down a winding hall that opened toward a wide area with a stage, dark curtains along the side.

“Are we allowed to be here?" You watched as he made his way to what seemed to be a check out form on the desk by the door.

"Yeah, we usually make appointments so that things are divided fairly but it looks like it's just me and you today." He held up the blank sheet, and even though he held it in front of his face you could tell he was still smiling. 

"Great." you smiled, bringing a folding chair towards the middle of the gym to watch him. As you unfolded it, he brought out two guitars.

"What are you doing over there, come on stage!" He called from across the room, holding apart the curtain so that you could head up the steps.

"What?"

"Did you think I was doing a solo show for you?" He teased as you raised a brow, having thought that exactly.

"We can do that another day, let me turn on the speakers." He shut the door off to the side that you guys came from, scrolling through the music options on his phone as you surveyed the guitar.

"Semi, I literally can't play guitar."

"Just because you aren't good at it doesn't mean you shouldn't-"

You clumsily strum the guitar, wincing at the loud sound. "On second thought maybe we should get you a different instrument."

"Wow, rude." He laughed, instead placing the guitar along the table instead of away. "I'll teach you how to play after our performance."

He handed you a mic and you took it, following him up the stage stairs. You didn't know what song to expect but the one that filled the private gymnasium made your eyes widen as you whirled around to look at Semi who grinned, gauging your reaction with amusement.

And so on that huge stage, you guys stayed there longer than expected, draped in your feather boas and dumb sunglasses laughing as you two messed up the lyrics, feeling like you were in your teens all over again.

Semi imitated the girl singer while you started to repeat his lines like a backup singer, making up your own lyrics as it continued.

He was beaming as he watched you, snorting when you tripped as you sauntered across the stage with your mic, just so happy to see you smile so much and happy that you guys were still as attached to the song all of those years. 

You two then turned on a popular rock song from when you were younger and headbanged until your glasses flew off and hit him in the face.

"Are...you alright?" You could barely get out your words through your laughter, as he waved away the concern, trying to stop laughing himself.

"Are...you alright?" You could barely get out your words through your laughter, as he waved away the concern, trying to stop laughing himself.

“Yeah, we definitely need to hold more...performances together."

"Maybe next time I'll know how to play the guitar."

"I'm a diligent teacher and so there will be no slacking off." You grinned at him. You loved the idea of semi teaching you guitar. Maybe this day was really what you needed.

“I won't, maybe my hands will become just as calloused as yours. and I'll jump in the crowd and they'll carry me away like at concerts."

Semi grinned, his brown eyes glittering with amusement. "you mean crowd surfing? that's kind of bold for having done only one performance."

"Okay, maybe not right away." You two laugh as he starts up another song, another great one from your childhood. It's amazing that someone can change the direction of your day and mood just by being themselves.

A thank you almost slips past your lips but you already know what he's going to say, how he'll just smile and say it was nothing.

You still say it. "Thanks, semi."

He blinked before his expression softened and he reached to ruffle your already messy hair from headbanging.

"Jeez, y/n. I'll always be there on your dull and terrible days. Though maybe call me next time so I won't have to wake up your street with my guitar or throw rocks at your window?"

Now it was your turn to blink at him, not expecting him to go off and reassure you at the same time. You jokingly elbowed him for the trouble he's caused on previous occasions to reach you sometimes. Though you wouldn't have it any other way.

"Whatever you say, semisemi. Maybe try a mega horn next time, I'm starting to get bored of your love songs."

"Shut up, I know you love them. Should I try rapping that song from the line king?" You're already groaning as he clears his throat, ruining the movie for you. Soon enough, you guys start clean up before making your way to his car to eat out.

After all, you guys were starving after that amazing performance. 

a/n: GONNA REPOST TMR BECAUSE OF DYSFUNCTIONAL TAGS ‼️‼️‼️

PLATONIC FICS WYA- tho lmao, this is kind of self indulgent and half a tribute to my friend for listening to me and cheering me up and reassuring me :')) everyone deserves a semi he's literally a sweetheart and i hope that when you guys are struggling, you guys reach out to people around you too :))