#not sure how else to tag spoilers here i hope that catches it :/

[oooooooooooo3]

the way in this ep percy and annabeth were both given the choice to sacrifice things that are important to them (his mom, her quest) by giving up the other. the way they both refused immediately. the way they will go on to turn down immortality for each other, too.

[certaimromance]

𝜗𝜚 So Long, Quantico.

Prison Reid x Fem!reader

Read part two here!

Summary: Your best friend asks you for a favor and you must defend the innocence of the man you were in love with, the same man for whom you left the FBI and moved to another country years ago.

Words: 1,6k.

Warnings & Tags: mentions of murder, trauma, death, jail. angst without happy ending. miscommunication. right person, wrong time. reid's time in jail. spoilers for season 13 and all the ones before that. english is not my first language (sorry for my mistakes, be kind please).

Note: First of all I want to thank you for all the support in my first post because the truth is that I didn't expect (if you haven't read it yet, I already have my masterlist). I still can't believe I reached 1000 notes, it makes me very happy.

And secondly, I apologize in advance for this, but I love drama and being a little cliche sometimes. I promise to write a nice, comfortable, less dramatic Spencer story in the future (I hope so) but ttpd is my everything lately.

♡ Enjoy! ♡

The constant pounding of your right leg against the table was beginning to make you desperate and to dwarf the room. You didn't know what to do to stop and think for a few seconds, you had even lost count of all the times you had tried to fix your already perfect and ironed clothes that you had spent hours choosing and modeling in front of your hotel mirror.

It felt like hours had passed since you arrived at the prison, though it was probably only a few minutes. Part of you wanted to run out of there and avoid a dangerous reunion at all costs. The other part was anchored to the chair and would not move until you found a way to get Spencer out of there and fulfill the favor Emily had asked of you.

You couldn't let your best friend down, especially when her job could be in jeopardy if Reid was still in prison. You wanted to make sure she was okay, and repay her for all the favors she had done for you during the years you had lived together in London. Without her, you probably would not have survived or become the successful and respected lawyer you were now. She helped you heal when you needed it, now it was your turn to help.

Before you could think, grab your things and maybe even leave the room to catch your breath, a guard abruptly opened the door. Your eyes immediately fell on the handcuffed man the guard had practically thrown into the chair in front of you.

You blinked several times, trying to process that you were actually standing in front of him. He looked so different from the way you remembered him from the occasional picture Prentiss showed you. The years hadn't gone by for nothing, you knew that, but Spencer looked like someone else. It was more than the messy hair, the beard, or the numerous bruises on his face that made you wince. It was that his eyes no longer sparkled, and he himself looked dull.

The guard came out after warning them that they only had fifteen minutes, and the cameras pointed directly at you two.

“Hey.” That was all you could say, biting your inner cheek at how stupid it sounded.

At first he didn't react and hardly seemed to breathe. His expression was like seeing a ghost, and you couldn't blame him after so many years of not hearing from you. You knew you looked different from the last time you saw each other because you had tried too hard to look like someone else. You wore your hair shorter and a different color, even the way you dressed was other. You looked more serious and grown up.

“What are you doing here?” He asked dryly after scanning you with his eyes for a few seconds.

You froze when you heard him speak and his voice, once music to your ears, was like a kick in the stomach.

“I came to help. I thought Emily told you...”

“She told me that she wanted to call you but I told her not to.” Spencer cut you off before you could continue speaking. “That you weren't going to help me.”

You frowned as your brain processed those words.

“Why not? You...you are my friend.” You said, trying to hide the tremor in your voice.

He clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes, trying to look away from you because it hurt. You could feel the tension multiply, making it almost impossible to breathe in the small room.

“Friends don't stop talking for six years and pretend the other doesn't exist.”

Oh, that had hurt.

It was true that you had disappeared from his life six years ago, and you had not made the slightest effort to return, even leaving the country with the excuse of looking for a better future. But you had your hidden reasons, you wanted to forget Spencer Reid and your intensely ridiculous and unrequited love.

From the first time you heard him talk about statistics and smile at you like a child, realizing that you listened to him like no one else, you fell madly in love with him for years. Always hoping that one day he would stop thinking of you as his friend and realize how much he deserved to be loved and that you would be happy to do so, that you could give him the whole world without hesitation if he asked you to.

At first you thought he wasn't that interested in love, that he was too smart and focused to lose his mind like you did for him. However, then you saw him several times interested and pining for other girls: the movie actress, JJ, the girl at the bar and Maeve...she was very different and painful for you.

You couldn't stand his strong love for her, at least not being so close to him and having to play the role of the best friend who always listened to him repeat how wonderful she was. Knowing that he could fall in love with someone he didn't even know personally instead of you, whom he saw every day and had known for years, changed you and made you run away to save your heart.

You got a new job far from the United States, thanks to Agent Hotchner and his glowing letter of recommendation. And so you went back to being an ordinary lawyer, no longer chasing serial killers or a boy genius who never loved you as you would have liked.

“Spence, I...” You tried to speak softly, almost having the urge to take his hand to make the situation better, but you didn't. “I'm sorry.”

He was obviously tense, he wouldn't even look you in the eye and you could swear his eyes were a little crystallized. He barely glanced at you for a second before speaking again.

“You don't have to say it if it's not true.”

“It's true.”

You stopped yourself for a second, sighing and centering yourself again.

“But I'm here for the case, to help you with that...and I'm sorry for everything that happened to you.” You said more calmly and with an almost sweet tone.

You both knew it was more than just the prison issue and the current situation. It was a sorry for Maeve's death, Alex, Morgan and Hotch's resignation, his mother's problems, Cat's damn appearance, and most of all for not being there to support him in all.

“You should have called and said so.” He finally responded after letting out a snort and tensing his jaw more.

“Yeah...I should have.” You admitted, shifting uncomfortably in your seat.

You thought silence would take over the room again, but instead he spoke again.

“You can go now.”

“I'm not going anywhere unless you're free.” You pointed out with determination.

“You don't have a problem with go before.” He said in the same indifferent tone that was beginning to irritate you.

You should have frozen, kept quiet and focused on the case to get him out of there. But you couldn't do that and act professional when your insides were burning with the memory of the past.

“Don't give me that, you know why I did.” You blurt out, frowning and instinctively pushing the chair away from the table that separates you from him.

“You never said anything to me.” He replied, running a hand through his hair in frustration before speaking again. “You just disappeared like everyone else I've ever loved because you got bored with me.”

“You know I left for the opposite reason, because I...” You tried to say, but your voice cracked and your hands shook in an awkward attempt to touch his. “I loved you the way that you were and...”

The sudden sound of the door opening made you gasp and immediately shut up. The presence of a grim-faced guard made you realize it was all over, and you pulled your hand away from Spencer's again.

“Time's up.” The guard reported and you signaled him to have at least more minutes.

Fortunately, the guard nodded and gave you only five more minutes. You looked at your client again, trying to get into the professional role and discuss his case, but he seemed to be in another world after your half sentences.

There was no room in Reid's mind for your words, after feeling guilty for so long for not doing enough to be a good friend to you, for scaring you away with his problems, for not being one you wanted to keep over time and return his calls. But now, did you really say what you thought? Did you really love and care for him?

Everything was tearing his word apart in that moment.

“You won't have to see me if you don't want to, but I'll get you out of here soon, Spencer. I swear.” You promised and you could see in his face the surprise at your honest tone.

Maybe he expected a different attitude from you, maybe he thought you were still so obsessed with him that you would insist on seeing him and kill yourself to make him laugh again. But you had matured, or so you thought. You were no longer the young woman who hugged him every time he felt far away and was content to be the one who was left over. Now, you were the brave woman who left the ship before it sank completely.

As you watched the guard check the handcuffs and lift Spencer out of the seat to take him away, something inside you reacted. You called out his name before you could react and quickly had his desperate eyes on you.

“You don't have to worry about the past...I'm over you.” You said confidently before nodding goodbye and walking out with one less burden.

He remained anchored to the ground, trying to process your words with his racing mind as he watched you leave him again.

You...you had been in love with him?

[jeankluv]

When the cherry blossoms bloom - Fushiguro Megumi & Itadori Yuji

summary: Tsumiki once told Megumi that if he was able to catch a cherry blossom petal he could make a wish and it would come true.

“Please wake up Itadori…” He said against his closed fist. “Come back to me…”

words: 1,4k

tags: Megumi centric fic, fluff Itafushi, post canon, canon fix, manga spoilers, Gojo-Megumi father son duo, everyone lives (except tsumiki I’m so sorry princess), angst, hurt/comfort, happy ending, two teens starting to fall in love with each other

notes: this my first time writing something that is not x reader/oc, so it’s kinda new. But after 266 i had the NEED to write about Itafushi and here it is. Btw tomorrow I will post a new chapter of the Geto fic

Jujutsu Kaisen materialist | ao3

The cold winter of that year welcomed spring. Japan in general was still recovering from the disasters of sorcery, Sukuna, the merger, etc., but the atmosphere seemed happier since the cherry blossoms had begun to bloom. Megumi stood in front of one of the trees and extended his hand, hoping to reach one of the many petals that fell to the ground.

His fist clenched as he picked up the petal and brought it to his chest and closed his eyes. Tsumiki had taught him that if he caught a petal and wished for something, it would become real.

Megumi wanted to wish for a lot of things, he wanted his sister to be back with him but he knew it was impossible. So he wished for something else.

“Please wake up Itadori…” He said against his closed fist. “Come back to me…”

Megumi pursed his lips and let go of the petal in his hand. It was a foolish wish, but his heart still held a small hope that Itadori might wake up from the coma that had trapped him on December 24th.

He tightened his grip around his backpack and continued walking back home. He had started a new school grade, in a normal, completely normal high school. With Sukuna's death, sorcery had completely disappeared and so had the Jujutsu school.

Megumi no longer had his ten shadows with him, he no longer had his shikigamis…

He blinked as he realized he had arrived home, a house that despite everything still felt empty. With a long sigh, he entered the key and the sound of the door opening filled his ears and he entered the apartment.

“I’m home…” He said taking off his shoes.

He heard footsteps approaching him and subtly looked towards the sound. “Don’t take off your shoes, we’re leaving.” Megumi raised an eyebrow.

“Why?”

“Shoko called me, Yuji woke up.” Megumi felt a chill run through his body and if it weren’t for the fact that he was leaning on the ground he probably would have fallen face first.

Megumi only nodded. “But you don’t have…”

“Ijichi is waiting.” He said. “I called you, your phone was off.”

“It probably ran out of battery.” He shrugged his shoulders.

“Megumi…” He sighed.

“What?”

“Nothing… just things will get better alright?”

Megumi simply sighed, not sure about trusting the words of the man he met all those years ago in front of his old house, making that weird face.

Gojo sighed as he leaned to the elevator wall. “By the way, until when are you going to keep calling me Gojo? I’m not your sensei anymore, so drop the Gojo-sensei, okay?” Gojo patted his head.

Megumi stayed in silent, looking at the man that over 10 years ago gave him a chance to live more time with his dear sister.

They had barely spoken about what had happened that winter. Gojo Satoru had broken down in front of him as soon as it was over, Megumi had been so in shock that he didn't know how to react when he saw the man who had always been so strong, hugging him and telling he was sorry for everything, while crying.

They both sit in silence in the car. Megumi, thinking about everything. Gojo has told him to call him by his name, that they knew each other for long enough. But Megumi felt heavy whenever he tried calling him Satoru, even Satoru-san. And the truth is that he tried, the first time he was around 12 when he tried calling him but the words ended up stuck on his throat.

And years later he still finds it hard, despite wanting to do it.

Megumi turned his attention to the outside of the window, seeing how the scenario started to change and they approached the familiar place he had been visiting for so many days.

Ijichi’s voice sounded inside the car and Megumi opened the door, leaving the car and walking fast to the familiar room.

“Megumi…” Gojo called him again. “Listen, Yuji might not be in the best state, okay?” He explained as he got near him.

“I understand…” He whispered.

“You…”

“It was never your fault.” Megumi cut him off.

Gojo opened his mouth and looked at him with surprise. “I…”

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“For you know… your eye.” He looked at it.

“This?” He pointed at his now blind eye. “That’s not your fault Megumi, I made this decision myself.”

Megumi only nodded, but still feeling kinda guilty. They both started to walk through the room, in silence. And when the room number appeared on their faces, Megumi felt nervous.

“I will go to talk with Shoko, okay?” Gojo told him.

“Okay…” He said and he watched as the white haired man walked away. “Wait!” Gojo paused and looked at him. “Thank… you Satoru-san.”

Megumi felt embarrassed and as soon Gojo’s name came out of his mouth he regretted it and he did it even more when he saw Gojo’s expression. “Me… Megumi!” He cried.

Megumi rolled his eyes and he entered the room, sighing. When he opened his eyes he was met with the figure of Itadori watching outside the window. He was still unaware that Megumi was there.

Megumi's hands trembled and, careful not to surprise Itadori, he approached him.

“Ita…”

“I’m so glad you are okay, Fushiguro.” Itadori turned to look at Megumi.

Megumi felt his heart begin to cry when he saw Itadoria's warm smile greet him so brightly again. Not only did his heart cry but his eyes ended up filling with tears as he sat next to Itadori’s bed.

His whole body started to shake and suddenly he felt Itadori’s touch on his shoulders.

“Don’t cry Fushiguro.” Itadori try to calm him down.

“Itadori…” Megumi murmured, he could barely see anything due to his eyes. “I… I… thank you for coming back.” Megumi looked at Itadori’s eye.

Itadori chuckled with tears also rolling down his eyes and he shook his head. “Thank you for not giving up, Fushiguro.” He smiled. “Thank you…”

Megumi couldn't hold back any longer and hugged Itadori tightly but with gentle touch, afraid of hurting Itadori. He felt Itadori's arms wrap around him and he closed his eyes, enjoying Itadori's warmth.

He doesn’t know for how long they both stayed like that, but Megumi felt like he was back at home. He was safe.

“Ita…”

“Megumi…” Itadori said and Megumi looked at him with surprise. “I… it’s fine if I call you by your name?”

Megumi’s heart fluttered and his cheeks reddened slightly. “Yes… yes it’s okay… can… can I call you by your name?”

Yuji nodded happily. “It would make me really happy.”

“Okay…” Megumi smiled slightly. “Yuji.”

Itadori moved on the bed and started to play with his hands. “Ummm… how is everyone?”

Megumi looked at him. “You saved everyone Yuji.” He said softly.

Yuji nodded. “Is Kugisaki alright?”

Megumi nodded back. “She is visiting her grandmother… Everyone is fine Yuji.”

“I just…”

“If it’s anyone’s fault, it was…”

“No!” Itadori cut him off. “No, it’s not, it was Sukuna’s fault. Not yours Megumi.” Yuji took Megumi’s hand on his. “You were going through something really though, what happened was never your fault.”

Megumi scanned Itadori's face and determined gaze and nodded. “It wasn’t yours either…” He whispered.

They both fell into a comfortable silence, their hands still held together, unbothered by the act.

“Megumi…” Itadori broke the silence and Megumi looked at him. “It’s spring… eh… would you like to go see the cherry blossom?” Yuji’s cheeks were slightly red as he asked that question.

Megumi felt his face burn and he nodded. “Yeah… yeah I would like that.”

Yuji nodded and smiled, they both did.

“OH! Shoko, look at my children!” Itadori and Megumi looked to the door where Gojo was standing making a dramatic expression.

Megumi rolled his eyes and Yuji smiled wildly. “Gojo-sensei!”

“Yuji-kun! How are you?” Gojo approached the bed.

Megumi watched the scene and a small smile formed on his lips. He had tried all his life to make Tsumiki happy, but that had not been possible. Nothing would ever be the same again, his sister was no longer there and he would have to start living without her.

But Megumi felt at that moment that he had enough reasons to keep living and be able to be happy. He didn’t want to give up anymore, there was something that made his heart feel alive again.

“Megumi?” Megumi’s eyes met that sweet and warm smile that belonged to Yuji, and he confirmed that feeling.

[dxncingwithastrxnger]

nightbringer's tango (Obey Me!)

**SPOILERS FOR LESSON 12+ OF NIGHTBRINGER!!!**

A/N: This has been rolling around in my head for the past week or two and I had to get it out!! My first ever obey me content, hope y'all enjoy it <33

Pairing(s): Barbatos x MC

Summary: While MC is in a coma and most of the devildom is asleep, the royal butler has his own visit with the attendant

Tag(s): Yandere themes, stalker themes, think those are the only necessary tags

Word Count: 818

Song Inspiration: Stalker's Tango By Autoheart

Not beta'd, all mistakes are my own.

~*~

[Author Masterlist]

~*~

“Your happiness is also my own…”

Said the Nightbringer.

“No, seriously, what’s the catch?”

Asked the attendant.

“There is none, my dear. You’ll see soon enough.”

The Nightbringer’s voice fades with a chuckle, as does the void they meet within.

And now here you are, passed out cold within the confines of a bedroom which will not truly be yours for a long time coming. Then again, you aren’t quite that unaware, are you?

A smirk finds its way onto the timeless man’s face. How convenient it is that you’re here at the House of Lamentation with those brothers rather than that vile magician. It’d be a lot more difficult to check in on the attendant with him roaming around. But here, not even Lucifer has enough experience with his current senses to detect his presence in this form.

Not a creak nor a breeze out of place as the shadowy figure of whom one might know as a butler during any other time passes through the halls, towards a sleeping beauty. Stepping over the bodies of the sleeping brothers gathered right outside the door, slipping between a crack to enter the room and close it securely behind him and-

And there you are. So rarely has he had the time to just admire his love recently. What a whirlwind the life of an attendant is. It’s part of why you were sent here, after all. Your main focus hasn’t quite reached him yet. But he knows it will. It always does, which is why he’s okay with waiting. He doesn’t want half of your attention. He wants all of it. Every single ounce of your eyes on him and only him. And every piece of you within his very hands. To hold, to touch, to melt, mold, and reshape into the best version of yourself. That is what is at the end of this road you’re on. You don’t understand now, but you will.

But for now, here you and him are. He steps over to your bedside, looking down at you with shining eyes of adoration. He reaches up and pushes down his hood, revealing his face, and then removes his gloves, setting them beside your pillow for the moment. The demon kneels down beside your bed and reaches a hand up to brush against your cheek. He lets out a chuckle at the slight shiver that runs through your body at the touch.

“I know you’re awake, love. You can hear me, can’t you?” Nightbringer coos softly.

A twitch of the attendant’s eyelid.

“Ah, yes, there you are.” He starts gently tracing each feature of your face, starting with the outline of it. “How I’ve missed you so. Even someone like I, who can see all of time, feels as though it’s been forever since we’ve had a moment alone.”

Breath puffs from your lips slightly harder than before, then returns to normal. A huff?

“Ah, yes, I suppose there’s moments in the void. But we can hardly count those. We’re barely alone then and we can’t even physically touch. Not like right now.” Tracing your eyes and eyebrows now, leaning forward so that his breath fans across your skin.

“Look at you. You remind me of that one human fairytale. I’m sure you know the one.” Tracing the slope of your nose and around your mouth. “What do you say? Shall I be the prince that awakens you from your deep slumber?” His tone is filled with deep amusement.

His thumb running back and forth across your bottom lip lightly as he sighs, deflating slightly. “Alas, as much as I wish to, I cannot be the one to wake you up. That shall be the job of someone else.”

A sense of disappointment rolls off of you. He leans forward and gently presses his cool lips against your warm cheek. “No worries, you’ll be awoken soon. You won’t have to wait too much longer. Everything will play out exactly as it should.”

Another kiss to your temple and then to the top of your head. His hand leaves your face and instead reaches for your hand, twining your fingers together with his. “For now, let’s just hold each other, shall we?”

A slight squeeze of his hand in reply, the tiniest of noises, like words are trying to form.

“Sssshhhh, my love, I know. There is no need to waste energy on trying to speak.” A kiss to your nose now. “I already know how much you love me. And I love you just as much, you know that.” Finally, a kiss to your lips, followed by a sigh of contentment from the demon. “Just relax now, dear. We only have a few hours until morning.”

~*~

“Love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me, love me more…”

~*~

A/N: How did I do?? What do we think?? Please let me know!! Thank you so much for reading!! 💜💜💜

[bloopitynoot]

Reading SVSSS: Chapter 15

For those who don't know, I am reading SVSSS for the first time and sharing my thoughts!

If you have not read it, there will be spoilers! Consider this a warning.

Also- if you want to follow along, I am aiming to post updates daily. You can find all the posts in the tag bloopitynoot reads SVSSS. You can also check out the intro post for context on my read.

It's chapter 15! Time to figure out what happened to SQQ in the latest cliff hangar.

Today no tea- but I did have a blackberry cider that was very tasty.

I also did impulse buy a baby's-first-fountain pen to get into my little writing flow and add to the ambiance of my note taking journey. So, pls ignore the worse-than-usual writing; I am learning to write with it.

let's goooooo!

Well, SQQ appears to be in a coffin? p29

fuck, i'm already smudging the ink with my new pen. The lefty curse of it all. IDK how much of this is going to be legible later. RIP

okay... but how long has he been in here? MXTX is describing everything as dusty as hell. p30 (resolved as I read further- not very long LOL)

and he has his original body! That's exciting! Who did it though?? p30

LOL SQQ has 0 chance with this "advanced level plot" p31. He is totally fucked for sure.

These 'blind corpses' sound like a walking horror show. I would be so scared omg. I don't know how far the animated series got- but if this is animated that would look cool as fuck. p32

okay! they're fueled by breath! that's really neat though! pp33-34 Scary, but cool.

I would die immediately in this situation. When the thing (blind corpses) that are already horrible and unbeatable are scared of something else -> absolutely no hope in surviving. p35

ah, it is our little snake-man. I had a suspicion this was related to him and Luo Binghe's dad. He probably took SQQ's corpse too and brought it here. p35

OMG LOL Luo Binghe's dad is awful, but also feels like a troll AND is serving dad jokes. Re: thinking back to when SQQ knocked on the coffin and he answered from inside LOOOL. p36

Listen. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the absolute DILF that is Luo Binghe's father? I am a whole lesbian but that character art cannot objectively argued as anything else. p37

and now SQQ is going on about Tianlang-jun having BDE (not those exact words but I mean when you say he's working that coffin like it's a Paris fashion week runway and Luo binghe - the man you are obsessed with- could NEVER, it says something.). p38

That fucking power move too! SQQ: seems you've waited a while to meet me, why don't you come out of there and do so. Tianlang-jun: *bats eyes* okay but only if you hold my hand and work for it p39

SQQ has this habit of getting kidnapped "for his own good" but no one ever tells him why it's good for him XD this entire situation is so annoying. Tianlang-jun did this all so that he could get him away from the sects he wanted to destroy. p43

OMG scratch that. He also wants to use him as bait to snatch his sons body as his own. p45.

aside: I'm going to have to organize these notes later- I'm not catching the nuance in the hand written notes LOL my brain is processing faster than my hand (you will notice that the last 2 points here do not match my hand written notes because they were a hot mess).

What an entrance Luo Binghe! p47

Yes SQQ! You rescue your man from his dad (RE: holding Zhuzhi lang hostage) p51

holy shit. Zhuzhi lang is WILD - he really was about to just die instead of be a hostage LOL p52 I want to know what his character motivation is. He's giving the same blind trust energy as The Core Melting Hand in MDZS. Both just so loyal to a fault/their own demise. Do we learn more? or is this it? (genuine question- don't tell me WHAT we learn, just yes/no if we learn more).

That was so smart to hit the anti-theft measures in the tomb p53

aaaaaaaand he snatched the wrong person on the escape. well, that's fantastic. p54

I am loving the traps in this mausoleum though! The face with the magma and then the various rooms. I want to know if this exists as a D&D dungeon crawl/anyone has made one, I think it would be so fun. p59

omg. I don't think that Luo Binghe realizes/knows that that was his own father and cousin. that's so terrible. Truly Luo Binghe was treated so fucking badly literally his entire life. His dad does not even give a shit. Honestly probably only had him for this situation - needing a new body. p61

:((((( Our boy, Luo Binghe is in a bad way rn. gah! so many cliff hangers. p63

MXTX Cliffhangar Lord

And now I have to wait until tomorrow to see if baby Luo Binghe makes it. I'm sure SQQ is going to do something about it but dang, he is not well.

[olderthannetfic]

The ace asks about how asexuality and being aromantic is increasingly seen to mean "has sex and romance like a normal person" reminds me of the time I accidentally deeply angered an author. She had the tag 'asexual character' in her fic's tags, but since it's a 300k word long fic involving a lot of characters, it wasn't clear who that referred to right away. I left long comments on each chapter, talking about what I liked, sections that hit really hard, lines that I loved, etc., as I always do. (I like to ramble IRL and I can't turn it off even online.) At the halfway point of the fanfic, during a long comment about the OCs that helped flesh out the oft-mentioned but barely explored organizations and companies in the world of canon, I said that I hoped This One Specific OC or That Other Specific OC would turn out to be the asexual character, as I saw in them echoes of myself and a friend of mine (we're both ace).

She had never responded to a comment of mine before, but she did for that one... to yell at me about how the main character OC was aroace, actually. This was apparently supposed to be obvious since the word ace was used in the tie-in prequel fic, which I had held off on reading because the author's note mentioned it would have spoilers if you hadn't read the whole main fic. The character in question has a relationship not remotely different from any of the cishetallo or cisqueerallo relationships presented in the text. She develops a snarky sarcastic friendship with someone she finds visually beautiful and impossible to look away from, gets to know him a little, watches movies with him, they get into urban fantasy danger which they help each other through, they fuck and do so extremely regularly, and she has past exes who she also did all of this with.

And I was, apparently, a bigot with internalized aphobia and negative attitudes towards women who have sex because I didn't look at her and go, "Ah, yes, an aroace!" She informed me I was forcing unrealistic stereotypes no one adhered to onto ace people by thinking aces had to be a certain way and by refusing to see that

Her angry reply was so long it took three AO3 comments to send to me, and it didn't really make me convinced I'd misread the situation. It just made me convinced this wasn't an author I wanted to read more fic from, because 1. this is a lot of anger, holy crap and 2., I really think this is an excusable mistake on my part. I saw no signs this character was in any way different from any other couple in the fic beyond that she and her love interest didn't get to know each other's backstories as much and instead bonded more through experiences they shared, which in my opinion is not something that can be linked to any sexuality or lack thereof.

I feel like there's a moral in here. Like, authors, as a fellow author, I get that it sucks when someone else doesn't see the characters like you do, or misses something you thought was clear, etc. I get that it's frustrating. But don't rip into someone who's been gushing about every chapter of your fic individually just because they didn't catch one thing. I failed to realize one character's sexuality. That's not the same as hating you, the character or the writing.

Mostly I remember that incident as the day I stopped asking questions in my long comments. A sea of gushing does not make up for a mistake and the best way not to make those is to not ask if a tag relates to a character or line.

--

Oof. I mean, sure, there's a diversity of experience. Everything is a spectrum. Yada yadda. But if two labels become entirely indistinguishable, what's the point of even having them, much less getting mad when people can't spot the difference?

[thelocalmuffin]

"making suggestive dirty jokes" with asoryuu for the prompt ask? if u wanna of course!

Oh boy.

I admittedly am a terrible flirt IRL so I hope this is alright.

Title: Is that Karuma or are you excited to see me?

Word count: about 800 words

Summary: After a long week, Ryunosuke comes home to see Kazuma cooking and they catch up about the day before one gets a bit flirty.

Tags: domestic life, minor mentions of angst, post canon, dgs 2 spoilers, fluff, based on a headcanon by my friend Sigma that Kazuma didn't make it too far as a prosecutor

Finally, the weekend has arrived. Ryunosuke can finally decompress from the horrible week he had. He's glad he's finally realised his dream of becoming a lawyer, but no one told him how exhausting it would be.

Case after case, client after client, complaint after complaint, he's done with this awful day. He really could use some time to decompress.

When he gets back to his small home, there’s a strong aroma of a delicious dinner being crafted in the kitchen. He's grateful that dinner is about ready. It's one less thing he has to worry about.

He pokes his head to see Kazuma finishing up dinner. He’s in one of his casual hakamas, biting his lip as he focuses on cooking. It’s a new hobby of his. Ever since he’s returned home he's been dutifully trying to make up for all the trouble he's caused.

Not even six months after they crossed swords, Kazuma had been removed as a prosecutor. From Lord van Zieks' letter, apparently they both started getting a little too curious of what else the Crown had been hiding. When they were caught, Kazuma took the brunt of the accusations and was immediately fired.

Apparently, the new Lord Chief Justice also had not been thrilled at the aspect of a Japanese student studying underneath the Crown, so it was the golden opportunity to rid of the apprentice.

He was a wreck when he came home. Kazuma looked so defeated that all Susato-san and Ryunosuke could do was embrace their friend. After wrapping their arms around both, Kazuma asked if he could have a place to stay as he got back on his feet.

Even though it hadn’t been long, Ryunosuke offered his home to a struggling friend. It had first been just two roommates, but soon, the subtle romantic feelings had resurfaced and their passionate flame sparked after a night of shogi and a very heavy heart-to-heart. The conversation was both admitting their flaws and dreams, realising their bond had been strained, not damaged and it could be fixed.

So, they've been taking it slow. Well, as slow as two lovesick individuals who couldn't keep their hands off each other, anyway

Even so, Kazuma’s been determined to make up all he’s done to Ryunosuke and Susato-san with his freetime. Be that by helping around the house, running errands, or whatever he can do to make their lives easier as they adjust to their new busy schedule. If he’s not here, he’s helping clean up Susato-san’s home to make sure she doesn’t come home to a mess.

Today he was supposed to be elsewhere, though…

“Home early?” Ryunosuke asks as he pokes his head in. “I thought you were going to the university to see if you could continue your courses.”

“Hmm, lost track of time again, I see. You’re actually home late. It’s almost nine.” Kazuma hums, flipping the fish. “You look exhausted. Sit down and I’ll take care of you.”

Nine...

Ryunosuke glances at the clock, realising Kazuma is right.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’ve been sitting all day. I'd rather stand.” Ryunosuke shrugs the suggestion off. Kazuma’s still pretty curt, as per usual. “I want to help out.”

“There’s no need for that. I’m almost done anyway.” Kazuma opens the rice steamer, raising an eyebrow and closing it again after shaking his head. Without looking up, he continues. “What kept you so long?”

“We’ve been swarmed. That’s what happens when you try to fix up the entire legal system with a small team.”

“I know. You know, I could come in and help with some of the paperwork. If I learned anything from my time in London it's how to sort out cases efficiently and quickly."

“I might take you up on that. I appreciate the clean home, but Susato-san and I are swarmed.” Ryunosuke pauses. “Wait, what about-”

“Let’s not talk about how the university conference went today.” Kazuma whispers, each word peppered with defeat. His head hanging down as he exhales his next words. “I don’t want to damper the mood.”

Oh...they were not thrilled about what they learned...

“I think I can figure it out by context.” Ryunosuke swallows, moving to his partner, wrapping his arms around Kazuma’s waist. “I’m sorry.”

Kazuma’s head hangs down before exhaling. “It was a natural consequence of my actions. I’ll figure out what to do. I always do.”

“Well, you can work with us until you find a new fitting.”

Kazuma pauses, then nods. “Of course. I wouldn't mind at all. Saving me again, Naruhodo. What would I do without you? By this point, I’ll be indebted to you for the rest of my life.”

“Well, we got a lot of time to sort that debt out.” Ryunosuke’s hands move towards the hem of his clothes, before pressing his lips on Kazuma’s shoulders. “I jest. It’s alright. I don’t mind helping you find your path.”

It's silent as the fish sizzles in the pan and Ryunosuke closes his eyes. Kazuma's sweet vanilla lavender scent is so nice...

“Oh!” Kazuma breaks the silence before chuckling. “Is that Karuma or are you excited to see me?”

Ryunosuke pulls away, realising that Karuma’s hilt did indeed poke his arse.

He laughs before he wraps his arms around Kazuma’s waist once again, holding him closer. “Nope. Just Karuma. For now, anyway.”

Kazuma hums, a grin raising from his lips. “Mm, I like the sound of that. I think we could both use a good stress reliever after today. After we eat?”

“After we eat.”

[mantisgodiveblog]

This fandom is pretty good at catching themselves on spoilers, I think? But they tend to put the “oh wait I should tag spoilers on this right” a fair bit into the game. So completely fair to be careful around spoilers. It’s nice seeing you go in knowing the only the demo! Seeing you theorize is very fun. Alright that’s all from me. Have fun! I’ll have to remember to check in again at some point!

We're going into this with a... hmm. "No matter how good the fandom is at catching spoilers, there's still a change of being spoiled" mentality? We got into this from a mutual of ours who recommended it to us, and from there we've probably picked up some stuff - the only thing that we can really remember is one comic with the dandelion-head guy butchering a rabbit like "i'm going to get a good grade in teammate, something which is both normal to want and possible to achieve" and though we're sure that's spoilers somehow, we cannot think of what the fuck it would be spoiling.

Star-headed folk take classes in butchery in star school, maybe. Siffrin's Plot Important Field Dressing Master Class. Some fucking star guy eats Siffrin and then steals their place in the party. Maybe they have to do a Changeling Deal and trade their place in the universe for someone else's place in order to break the time loop, preventing the loop from repeating correctly as the starting conditions can no longer be replicated and forcing the timeline to return to an earlier state. We'll see, we suppose. Bit early to be making predictions like this when we don't know the trajectory beyond tragedy - though if these predictions turn out wrong and the muse strikes us, maybe we'll add them to the Prompt Jar.

Here's hoping that our gamer-ing goes well!

[tevivinter]

Tangled in your trance

Rating: General Audiences

Fandom: The Wayhaven Chronicles 

Pairing: Mason/Detective (Vincent Carter)

Tags: Book Three Spoilers, Cuddling, Fluff, Sharing a Bed

Words: 1,243

[Read on AO3]

Vincent can't believe he’s back at the warehouse.

Exhaustion washes over him, like a tidal wave swallowing him from above. He barely had the time to take a shower and change into pajamas before plopping himself on the bed. The mattress is soft and welcoming, the sudden comfort making a relieved sigh slip from his mouth. His eyelids feel heavy, even though his mind is still racing to process everything that happened tonight.

Well, this is much better than waking up in a cell.

Vince opens his eyes, feeling his throat tighten with the vision that pops into his mind. He had been locked up in a cage a few hours ago, when he was about to be sold off in an auction. The fresh memory of that place still makes his stomach turn. He shifts on the bed, unable to shake the remnants of fear that are tormenting his thoughts.

Looks like sleep won’t come very easily.

He stares at the ceiling with a defeated sigh. No matter how physically tired he is, he can’t help but think about the recent events. Perhaps he should have prepared a relaxing tea before going to bed.

Just when he’s debating whether to leave the room, someone knocks at the door.

There aren’t many people who would visit him at such a late hour. Vince’s heart thumps when he instantly pictures Mason waiting outside. He can almost feel the weight of the vampire’s gaze through the door, and the way he jumps out of the bed to see him is embarrassing to say the least.

The hurried motion makes Vince stumble over his backpack. He moves it out of the way with his feet, not bothering to turn on the lights as he walks. When he gets to the door, he takes a deep breath before opening it.

Stormy grey eyes stare at him with such an intensity that he’s left out speechless for a second. Mason’s shoulders are stiffened and his jaw is clenched. If Vince didn’t know any better, he could almost say that he’s scared for some reason.

“Can I have the night?” Mason asks, his words heavy with something that Vince can’t quite place.

The request almost sounds like a plea, and Vince finds himself unable to look away from his eyes. It is so difficult to read him when he looks at him like that. This has nothing to do with lust, and Vince can’t help the warmth of hope spreading inside his chest.

Still, he purses his lips for a small moment. “Sure. You can come in, as long as it's just to keep me company.”

Mason nods quietly, and Vince steps aside to allow him in.

“...I was trying to sleep,” Vince gestures before closing the door with a soft click. He’s aware of Mason’s gaze on him as he walks to the center of the room. He turns to face the vampire, rubbing at the back of his neck with a sigh. “But I can’t. My mind is still buzzing after tonight.”

“I know.” Mason’s reply comes out a bit strained. He remains still as he watches Vince sit on the mattress. “Can I join you?”

Vince opens his mouth to reply, but any words of protest die on his tongue when he notices the concerned frown still on Mason’s face. It’s a surprise to see there is no innuendo to his words, only a genuine question that lingers in the air.

“Yeah. Come here.” Vince lays on his side, waiting for Mason to hop on the bed as well.

Soon, the mattress sinks a little with the added weight. Vince’s breath catches when Mason gently wraps an arm around him, pulling his body closer. His back is pressed against the vampire’s chest, making it so easy to feel the thrumming heartbeat that mirrors his own. Even though Vince is a bit taller than him, their bodies fit together perfectly.

Vince’s shoulders drop as warmth seeps into his bones. They remain silent for a moment, simply enjoying the company of one another. Being close to Mason makes him feel safe in a way that he never felt with anyone else. Still, he notices the way Mason reaches for his hand, his touch laced with uncertainty.

“Hey. Are you alright?” Vince asks softly, their fingers entwined.

Mason takes a small breath, and Vince can feel the slow rise and fall of his chest. “Please don’t do that again.” His words are little more than a faint whisper brushing over Vince’s neck. “Make me feel that you're gone. I couldn't… I can’t deal with that.”

Vince blinks as he processes the fear behind Mason’s statement. He rubs his thumb over his knuckles with a gentle motion. “I didn’t mean to worry you that much. If Douglas hadn’t showed up, things would have gone according to the plan.”

He turns around to face Mason, their knees touching. Vince swallows as he catches his gaze again. “I was terrified when they threw me on that stage,” he admits after a second.

Mason frowns, his eyes gleaming dangerously in the dark. “Did they hurt you?”

“No.” Vince shakes his head. “Some Trappers wanted to take a sample of my blood, but they changed their minds after I talked them out of it.”

“Good.” Mason cups the side of his face to caress his cheek. The tenderness behind the gesture sends goosebumps all over Vince’s skin. “I would have ripped off the arms of anyone that touched you.”

Vince lets out a strained chuckle. “That’s… a bit intense.”

A shadow of a smirk lifts Mason’s lips. “It’s the truth.”

There is no doubt about that. Back at the auction, Mason’s murderous gaze had made it very clear not to mess with them.

“And what are you willing to give for all of him?” Anwir had asked, his voice shimmering with excitement.

Mason strode towards the stage, leaning against the edge of it while holding Vince’s gaze. His fingers slowly traced the shape of his face, confusion clouding his eyes.

“More than I thought I would ever give for anyone,” Mason replied.

The memory suddenly flashes back into Vince’s mind, making his heart thump. Just like before, grey eyes stare into his own, heavy with an emotion that he can’t quite place. And just like before, Mason traces his fingers around the shape of his face.

Vince’s throat feels tighter and a familiar flush takes over his cheeks. It’s far too late to deny the feelings he has for the vampire - even if he still doesn’t have the courage to express them out loud.

“I’m glad you were there.” His voice cracks slightly. “And I’m glad you’re here now.”

Vince shifts closer to wrap an arm around the vampire’s middle. His head rests just below Mason’s chin and they snuggle together once more in a mess of entwined limbs. Mason pulls him into a silent embrace.

“Go to sleep, handsome.” He mumbles, pressing a lazy kiss on Vince’s temple. “I’ll be here.”

A sudden wave of relief washes over Vince after hearing such words. His body sinks onto the mattress, and this time, there’s no reason to hold back the exhaustion that makes his eyelids heavy. Knowing that Mason is there is enough to make him feel safe.

Soon, all his worries seem to melt with the warmth of their shared embrace.

And so Vince falls asleep with a faint smile on his lips.

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

Thunder In Our Hearts (Part 7)

Summary: The reader and Soldier Boy know they need to take a risk and speak with the CIA if they want their plan against Homelander to work out. But things have a way of going wrong very quickly around these two...

Masterlist

Pairing: Soldier Boy/Ben x reader

Word Count: 2,300ish

Warnings: language, nudity, violence, drug/abuse/sexual assault/torture mentions

A/N: Spoilers for Season 3 of The Boys in this one! Uh oh…

__________

Two Months Later

“Y/N!” You looked up from the computer when Ben bounced in the house in his uniform, setting his shield down by the boot tray. “I think I know of a way to get close to Homelander.”

“So you can blast his powers out of him? I’m listening,” you said, Ben kicking off his boots and sliding into the chair nearby.

“The nerve agent. The same gas that can knock me out surely has to knock him out too, right?”

“Ben we went down this road. We know Vought has a supply of it but how to disperse it without killing anyone accidentally, including ourselves, is a problem.”

“I know. Which is why we install the gas in his apartment, activate it remotely and then I can go in, depower him and snap his neck like it’s nothing. Plus, I won’t end up killing the kid if he’s there. I can depower the both of them in one move.”

“How do we install the gas? We can’t exactly trust anyone else,” you said. 

“I know. That’s the part I’m hoping you could help me figure out. Do you have any old CIA contacts you could trust?” 

A thought crossed your mind but you didn’t like it. Ben saw your face though and smiled. “Oh come on, Y/N. I know you have something. Spill.”

“I know of a way we could potentially get a CIA agent to install the gas for us.”

“Perfect. What’s the catch?”

“The catch is they’d want something in return. A gift. A superpowered gift.” His gaze lowered and you sighed. “It’s too dangerous, Ben.”

“I want him dead.”

“I know but…Ben they’d make sure you’re gassed up before I hand you over. You’re going to be weak and vulnerable in that state. I can’t guarantee I save you and it’d be one, worthless and two, I’d lose you. We can’t risk that.”

“So you have a way of turning me in if you wanted to?” he asked after a moment. You glared at him, Ben shutting his eyes. “I’m not accusing you, kiddo. I’m just asking.”

“Backchannels tell me there’s an agent that wants you back. Mallory.” 

“Oh that bitch. Truth be told, I kind of liked her. Had that no fucks attitude like you,” he said. Ben leaned back in his seat and sighed. “What else do your backchannels say about me?”

“Mallory’s looking for you. Going after Homelander puts you at risk.”

“Any way of convincing her to get off my back?” he asked.

“She seems like the kind of woman that doesn’t back down.” He nodded. “Ben, she’ll find us eventually. You’ve been in public. I can try to talk to her, tell her you’ve changed. And if she tries to capture me, hey, you can be waiting nearby and just kill her.”

“Will she find us here someday?” You nodded, knowing it was only a matter of time. “Set up a meeting then. I want her off our backs and if not, we’ll find another way to deal with my fucking kid.”

Two Days Later

Something was wrong. Your meeting with Mallory had been over for nearly three minutes and Soldier Boy was not back at the car. You pulled up your phone and swiped to the air tag you’d shoved in his underwear as a precaution, much to his annoyance.

Your heart dropped when it showed the tag was on the back highway. 

“Mallory!” you shouted, rushing across the parking lot. She reached behind herself for her weapon but you figured you’d given her enough warning. You pressed the remote in your pocket, Mallory falling to the ground when a car exploded nearby. You ran over to her, kicking her gun away. “Where are you taking him?”

“He’s dangerous. I let him live once and it was a mistake. He needs to die.” You looked down, watching the blood rush out of her leg, shrapnel sticking out of it. “I’m doing you a favor.”

“I don’t have to kill you. But I don’t have to save you either,” you said, jogging away and for your car, trying to figure out some way in hell of catching up.

“Mistake, mistake,” you said ten minutes later. You’d managed to flip the van Ben was in by hitting the back end at nearly eighty miles an hour but you were stuck in your flipped car now and a pair of boots were coming your way. 

You looked around for anything to cut you loose, eyes wide when you saw a switchblade jammed in your cupholder. 

Ten seconds later you were crawling out of the car, a CIA agent was bleeding out on the ground nearby and you were carefully approaching the back of the open van, the agent’s gun drawn. The driver looked dead and you climbed inside the back, ripping off the mask over Ben’s face. His eyes fluttered open, heavy and tired as you started to undo his restraints.

“Ben it’ll be-” you gasped when something slid into your back. Someone yanked you backwards out of the van, holding a bloody knife in their hand. The agent you’d thought was dead on the side of the road was apparently very much alive. You grunted, falling to your knees as he approached.

Then, he was out of view completely, your head turning to find he’d been flung nearly fifty feet against a tree. 

Ben panted hard as you turned back, in nothing but his underwear still, his eyes dark and narrowed.

“I didn’t betray you,” you breathed out, falling forward. “You’re safe now Ben. You’re sa…”

You woke up in a dim room, Ben’s hand wrapped around yours. You blinked a few times, trying to get your bearings.

“You’re in the ICU,” he said quietly. “You were working in the yard early this morning when you fell off a ladder and onto a switchblade. You screamed for help and I came running out of the house when you woke me up. I drove us here in a hurry but you passed out along the way. Understand?” 

You slowly nodded, taking him in, a pair of blue scrubs on him, some simple hospital sandals on his feet.

“Y/N, you’re awake,” said a doctor that walked in with a chart in hand. “How are you feeling?”

“Crummy,” you mumbled, smiling at Ben. “Grateful he’s a light sleeper.”

“You’re very lucky he is. Ben, would you mind stepping out for a moment? I’d like to examine Y/N’s back.”

“Of course. Kiddo, you need anything?” he asked as he stood. You shook your head, swearing he was reluctant to let your hand go. When he was gone the doctor sat you up, forcing a smile.

“I know what you’re going to say,” you sighed. She didn’t move and you closed your eyes. “I have lots of scars on my back and I fell on a knife. I know where your mind is going.”

“Did Ben do this to you?” she asked. You shook your head. “Y/N, his story-”

“My dad hurt me as a kid. A lot.” You forced your eyes open, swallowing thickly. “He was awful. But Ben is…he would rather die than hurt me. Ben is good. All he did today was help me when I was scared and made a stupid mistake. I shouldn’t have left the knife undone, I know I shouldn’t have but it was my mistake. Trust me, he’s going to yell at me for being stupid on the ladder later but it’s only because he cares so much. I scared him so much today and he didn’t deserve that. He didn’t hurt me.”

“Okay,” she said softly. “Okay. It was an accident.” She paused a beat, searching carefully for her next words. “Was your father ever charged?”

“No. He’s dead now so it doesn’t matter.” You crossed your arms, staring at your lap. “Was Ben alright? When he brought me in?”

“I didn’t see you down in the ER but from what I understand, he carried you in shouting at the top of his lungs for someone to help. I had a feeling he was a good guy but I had to make sure.” You smiled, nodding your head. “So. Let’s talk about what we did in surgery.”

“Oh he’s such a sweetheart,” said your nurse that evening. Ben was using the shower in your room while he waited to go pick up dinner from the restaurant next door. “That boy keeps coming out and asking the nurses station if you’re doing alright.”

“Oh yes, he’s a regular old softie,” you said, smirking as you imagined Ben laughing under the stream of water. “The nurse earlier in the day said Ben could practice changing my bandage on me tonight?”

“Yeah, we’ll want to make sure he can do it once we send you home. How’s the pain?” she asked.

“I’m okay. Mostly I feel sore.” 

“Don’t be afraid to hit the pump,” she said as the bathroom door opened, Ben stepping out in a plain white shirt and pair of gray sweats he’d bought at a dollar store down the block. “Ah, Prince Charming. Right on time for your lesson.”

“What?” he said, looking like a deer in headlights. She rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm, pulling him closer to the bed.

“Anyone ever tell you that you look like that old supe, Soldier Boy?” she said.

“He gets that a lot,” you said with a smile, Ben making a face behind the nurse’s back. “But he’s just regular old Ben.”

“Well Ben, time for you to get antiquated with checking your girlfriend’s bandages.” You sat up and grunted, the nurse untying your gown to reveal the thick pad of white there. “I’m going to write this down for you but you want to change the bandage at least twice a day. Now start with a pair of gloves.”

You heard them snap on behind you, Ben shuffling his feet. The bandage peeled off and you heard a tiny inhale of air from him.

“Now I know it ain’t pretty but pay attention to the wound. If things turn red, inflamed, there’s pus, anything that doesn’t look right, bring her right back as she likely has an infection. Once you check she’s okay, disinfect and reapply a bandage.”

“You want me to touch her stitches?” His voice was small, smaller than you’d ever heard it before. “I can’t.”

“Hey. She has pain medication and she needs you to do this for her. You won’t hurt her,” said the nurse. “Take the cotton ball and gently dab the disinfectant over her injury.”

You barely felt a whiff of it on your skin, Ben silent the entire time. 

“Now get out a fresh bandage and tape it on.” He felt more comfortable with that step and after a few seconds, he let out a deep breath. “Now all you’re going to do is repeat that for the next two weeks and then we’ll see how she’s doing at her post-op. Not so bad, right?”

“No,” he said softly, a nurse popping their head in. 

“Ben, Dr. Hartlick would like to talk to you for a moment in the hall,” they said. You hummed, waving for him to go as your nurse tied your gown again.

“What’s that about?” you asked.

“He’s a little shook up. I know it’s hard to believe but people can get PTSD from accidents at home. You lost a lot of blood. We’ve been keeping an eye on him,” she said, helping you lay back down.

“Thank you and…if he does, I’ll make sure he’s okay too.” You looked through the glass window, Ben rubbing the back of his neck as the doctor spoke to him. “I know today was hard for him. For us both.”

That was the understatement of the century.

“Ben,” you said when he insisted on carrying you into the house the next day. “Can you please put me down? It wasn’t a deep cut and the doctor’s said I can walk around fine.”

He grumbled but set you on your feet, watching you carefully as you walked around, holding out your hands. It didn’t hurt at all, only when you bent, the two of you incredibly grateful the knife wound had been minor.

“Just be careful and I swear, if I see you picking up anything the next two weeks, I’ll happily tie you down to a chair.”

“I promise,” you said, stepping in front of him. You wrapped your arms around his waist, pulling him close. “We haven’t talked about what really happened.”

“I know you didn’t betray me,” he said, resting his chin on you shoulder, holding you as tight as he dared. No words left either one of you, the air quiet and still.

Then he inhaled deeply, letting it out slowly.

“You saved me,” he whispered. You hugged him harder, Ben burying his face in your neck. “I was trapped and you rescued me.”

“I’d say it was because we’re partners and all that but honestly, you’re fucking mine Ben and no one gets to take you away from me.” 

“Because of our deal.”

“I remember what you said in the car on the way to the hospital. You told me you loved me and that I couldn’t die yet, that I had more to teach you and you didn’t want to be alone again.” He clung on harder, body shaking. “I let Mallory bleed out. No one is going to bother us anymore. We’re safe. You’re safe. I love you too, you asshole old man.”

And then, he did what you’d been waiting to happen for months.

Ben fucking broke.

He fell down to his knees, crying against you, holding on for dear life and you let him.

For the first time in his life, he could just be himself.

________

A/N: Read Part 8 here!

[peachsayshi]

Ex husband Geto has me by the throat 😭‼️‼️ I love the way you write him and I’m eager to read about his and readers backstory (why they got divorced in the first place) do you have any crumbs to spare 😞🤲🏼

Monster & Man - Ex-Husband!Suguru x F!Reader

A/N: (PART 2) - (MANGA SPOILERS - I try not to get into too much detail but it’s mentioned) [MINORS AND AGELESS BLOGS DO NOT INTERACT] For you, anon, I can spare a whole loaf of bread ❤️ Here is the full backstory. Now, even though this is an au version where Geto didn’t turn evil, I genuinely can’t imagine him completely erasing that part of himself 😉 I hope you enjoy it! (the last part of the chapter will tie into the next one which focuses on the reader’s perspective). p.s. please keep in mind that while I take things from canon - I do not follow the timeline at all lol 

For requests - please read the blurb on my navigation to see what I am accepting.

TAGS: mentions: pregnancy + kids; smoking; use of sex toy

Acrid, decaying, and rotten.

Those were the only words that Suguru used when describing the taste of the curses he swallowed. He remembered throwing up the first time he ingested the black orb, and that chilling sensation of it poisoning his gut never changed from when he was a boy. The only difference is that he grew tolerant of the effects as he adjusted to his technique. He had a habit of meticulously brushing his teeth and sloshing mouthwash in repeated cycles afterwards, but the flavor had a tendency of lingering on his tongue no matter how many times he would rinse it out.

Water droplets trickled down his face, catching onto the tips of his dark hair but his eyes remained fixated on the open tap running against the sink. Blinking away the seconds, he tried to focus on the success that was tonights mission but instead was busy holding himself from spiraling into a panicked frenzy. 

This has been a struggle for him recently, and it’s been harder for him to ignore how bad swallowing curses made him feel, especially now that it constantly triggered the memory of a bullet that whizzed across his eyes…

Of Riko’s body in Satoru’s arms…

And the applause from those vicious, cruel monkeys who cheered on her death.

He could still hear it in the back of his mind, distinct but faint, all the while thinking…who am I doing this for?

“Suguru?”

The sorcerer straightened up immediately, pushing back his hair with his fingers as he glanced over his shoulder to find Satoru’s body leaning against the frame of the bathroom door.

“Satoru…” he greeted with a slight nod, turning off the tap as he cleared his throat, while trying his best to hide his shakes. “I thought you were still with the students.”

“We finished up a little while ago. Tonight was intense, I wanted to make sure they were okay…”

Suguru reached for the small hand towel, dabbing his face lightly to dry off. He then proceeded to remove the hair tie from around his wrist, and began sleeking back his locks into a neat bun.

“That includes you too, dear…” the white haired sorcerer cheekily added on after hearing no reply, noticing how naturally the rogue layers of Suguru’s bangs fell over his face.

Suguru’s eyes shifted to the mug in Satoru’s hand instead, “is that for me?” 

“Who else?” his friend warmly replied. 

Suguru took two long strides towards him to accept the beverage.

“It’s been a while since you’ve done an exorcism,” Satoru pointed out, placing his palm on Geto’s shoulder and squeezed him lightly.

Suguru looped his trembling index finger around the handle of the mug.

“You alright?”

“You don’t have to babysit me, you know?” Suguru responded, deliberately brushing off his best friend’s worries as he proceeded to take a sip of his drink. “Ugh, that’s horrible! Did you put sugar in my coffee?” he grumbled bitterly and scrunched up his nose, unable to hide the distasteful expression across his face.

“Two cubes actually,” Satoru replied, flashing both his middle and index finger to indicate the amount. “I know you have a hard time eating those nasty curses, so I thought hiding it with another flavor you can’t stand might help…”

The corner of Suguru’s lip lifted, “your heart is in the right place. However, your methods are questionable.”

“My good intention is what matters here,” Satoru playfully answered back, baring his pearly whites when he smiled.

Suguru leaned against the opposite frame of the door, resting his temple on the panel as he sighed while gazing out to the empty room. 

“I should be with you more often,” he confessed. “You’re carrying too much weight with the students…”

“Our two most valued instructors have been busy…”

Suguru arched his brow, “It’s not fair on you. You’ve got enough on your plate as it is.”

Satoru raised his hand to stop his friend from saying anything else.

“Suguru, you guys are my family. This is a burden I’m willing to carry. You have other priorities that are more important. Your kids, for example. Besides, you’re doing your best, and I know that your wife won’t return to us full time until Emi is a little bit older…”

“Ex-wife,” Suguru curtly corrected. “We aren’t married anymore and haven’t been for some time actually...”

Satoru let out an awkward laugh, “Right, heh, I swear it doesn’t feel that way...” 

Suguru didn’t take his comment lightly and he pinched his thin brows in frustration.

Satoru nervously rubbed the back of his neck, “sorry, I didn’t mean to say it...” 

“Innocent mistake,” Suguru shrugged, before taking a second sip of his coffee and expressing another look of disgust. “I can’t drink this shit, it’s cloying...” 

Satoru pouted, “Hey, you know that’s how I like my coffee…”

Suguru rolled his eyes before passing the cup back to him, “put me out of my misery and don’t let it go to waste then.” 

Satoru clicked his teeth, “that’s the last time I do something nice for you.” 

“You keep saying that...” Suguru rebutted, “but we know that’s not true.”

The dark haired sorcerer stepped passed his friend, feeling those blue eyes following him from behind as he approached the sofa to grab his hoodie that he flung over the arm rest. He put on the piece of clothing, fitting snugly underneath the fabric and reaching for the inside of his pocket. 

Satoru watched him pull out a white cigarette box, twirling it between his thumb and index finger as he proceeded to make his way towards the hallway. 

“Don’t light that in my house. I can’t stand the smell,” he lectured. 

“I’m going for a walk, I need to clear my head,” Suguru replied back, as he proceeded to make his way over to the front door. 

“Wait-” Satoru pleaded, “There’s something...something I need to let you know before you go.” 

“What is it?” 

“I got a phone call today from Nanami...” 

Suguru’s eye twitched, his chest heaving for a moment as the tendons in his neck tensed up at the mere mention of their former co-worker. 

“Why did he call?” he questioned, his words turning cold. 

“He wants to return to the school. Apparently corporate life is much worse than he thought it would be…”  

Suguru’s throat tightened and all he could utter was one word through his gritted teeth. 

“Interesting.” 

Satoru nodded his head, wetting his lips as he looked down on his feet. He didn’t expect Suguru to react any differently, which is why he had the decency to discuss this with him before making his decision.

“Is this going to be a problem with you?” 

Frigid eyes held Satoru’s gaze with intensity, and Suguru allowed a few seconds to pass before calmly replying. “Not at all. I’ve always admired and respected his skills. Besides, you’re short staffed at the moment. Why wouldn’t you take him back?”

“I don’t need your feelings interfering...” 

Suguru pressed his lips together, the agitation weighing heavy on his shoulders. 

“Stop it,” he begged, “stop treating me like I’m about to snap at any given second. You’re only making this more difficult between us...” 

“Can you blame me?” his best friend argued back. 

“I’ve never blamed you, but I’m asking you to let it go for fuck’s sake. I can’t change the past. I can’t change the mistakes I’ve made. All I can do is forget and move on, and I need you to do the same...” 

“I worry because I’m afraid for you. What if you-” 

“I already lost the one person in my life who mattered,” Suguru bluntly replied, his hurt hanging over every word.“I can’t lose my kids too. Like you said, I have other priorities...” 

Silence lingered between the pair. Not a day went by where they didn’t have this conversation, where the trauma of their past didn’t remind them how they were bound to a secret that they could never share with anyone else. The dynamics of their friendship changed as a result, and Suguru knew it would take a while before Satoru would ever let his guard down around him again. 

“I’m just trying to protect you,” his white haired counterpart emphasized. 

“From myself?” Suguru laughed. 

“Yes,” Satoru bit back, “If I hadn’t shown up-” 

“Then I would have had the blood of all those villagers on my hands.” 

Satoru held his breath hearing how easily those malicious words left Suguru’s lips without hesitation.

“That’s the truth, Satoru, and you have to come to terms with it. I wanted to kill every last one of those people for putting their fingers on Mimiko and Nanako. I would made each of them suffer for asking me to murder those innocent girls…”

“Do you hear yourself?!” Satoru exclaimed, “You wonder why I’m always on edge and it’s because you say things that make me feel like you’re a complete stranger!”

“They locked those girls away like they were animals…beat them until they were black and blue…”

“I understand your pain but I’ve never been able to justify your reasons to kill, Suguru. If you had allowed your rage to control your actions, then...then we would have lost you for good.”

Suguru breathed, unaware that he had been tightly squeezing the cigarette box between his fingers. His heart ached from the way the strongest sorcerer’s voice cracked, and Satoru’s vulnerability made him appear like a scared little boy in Suguru’s eyes.

Suguru knew what it meant to earn the love of Satoru Gojo. Their valued friendship had an impenetrable bond that could stand the test of time. Even when they argued, they still held each other in such high regard that they could never truly feel any type of animosity towards the other person.

Suguru softened the muscles in his face.

“Whenever I spend time with Ryu, or hold Emi in my arms...all I can think about is how grateful I am that you stopped me. I truly thought nothing in the world would bring me happiness, and you made me realize how wrong I was...” he confessed, “but there is a constant battle that wages inside me. One that I am fighting every single day. All I’m asking for is the dignity to keep persisting without having your guilt shadowing me every single time you think I’m wavering…”

“I wasn’t...I wasn’t trying to make you feel worse-I guess I don’t realize when I’m overbearing…” Satoru admitted, snaking his bottom lip between his teeth as he stammered.

“You’re overbearing because you care, but we can’t keep dwelling on what happened.” 

He approached the front door, turning the handle as he swung it open. He took one step over the threshold before looking back around to face the only other person he ever considered his equal. 

“I’m not going anywhere, Satoru.” Suguru reassured, “You don’t have to worry about losing me again.” 

***

Suguru took a drag of his cigarette, counting each second as he contemplated whether or not to knock on your door. He checked the time again, fidgeting nervously as he paced back and forth. You’ve been giving him the cold shoulder ever since he brought up your neighbor and closed his eyes with regret as he recalled the confrontation.

Suguru has been making his reparations ever since he strayed off the path. He knew that Satoru was the reason why he had limitations when it came to handling missions. Suguru didn’t mind, partially because of his family, but mostly because he wasn’t ready to dive back into sorcery at the rate he was going. He knew deep down that regaining his best friend’s trust would change the circumstances of his situation and instead used his free time to dedicate himself to his beautiful children and the girls he naturally claimed as his own. 

Watching Mimiko and Nanako flourish as students made him immensely happy, especially when he considered the state that he initially found them in.

The only person that he has not been able to fully win over on his journey to redemption was you. 

“We don’t trust each other.” 

Those were the words that Suguru told Satoru Gojo the night he moved into his home. 

Those were the same words that you confessed to him after you signed the divorce papers. 

God knows you both tried to make it work when Ryu was born but nothing could fix what he broke. 

You’ve had your fingers wrapped around Geto’s heart for the last ten years. When the young sorcerer first laid his eyes on you at seventeen years old, he knew that there was something different about you. 

You were sixteen, a bewitching student with incredible cursed energy that left him breathless. Your beauty was merely the cherry on top of an already perfect being. 

He had his eyes set on you, but you were cautious and knew better than to allow a pretty face to sway you so easily. The two of you only grew close later down the line, when you were both finding your ground as new instructors to the next group of sorcerers. You were constantly paired up for assignments, which meant that you were bound to one another. Maybe it was fate, but as time progressed your platonic relationship began to shift. Suguru’s unrequited attraction only blossomed and you were finding it difficult to resist your own desire for him. Naturally, the divide began closing in, with seducing touches and flirtatious conversations left in its wake. The minute you initiated that first kiss, you had effectively claimed what was already yours to begin with. 

Your love for each other only grew over the next four years with the two of you weaving into one another in perfect sync. You both got married on a whim, disregarding the fuss over a big wedding and only caring for the vows which connected you to one another forever. 

Six months of abundant happiness was abruptly cut the day of Riko’s murder. 

Her death shattered Suguru Geto. 

That was the beginning of the end, the trigger point that led to the demise of his marriage...among other things. 

Outside of that dark cloud, Suguru could now see how easily he delved into his own madness. 

He distanced himself from his own support system. He wasn’t speaking to his friends, and was always fighting with his wife. He exorcised and swallowed curses as if his life depended on it. He couldn’t sleep without recounting the thunderous cheers from those who celebrated a child’s death, and rejected the morals that he once prided himself in believing in. 

The two of you were caught in a brutal current as a result, and in the midst of riding these turbulent waves, the both of you chose to drown each other to save yourselves. 

Day after day there were fights with no resolutions. Any unresolved tension was discussed with Suguru pressing your back up against a wall or bent over the table counters as he ravished you without restraint. The tender moments only happened at night, when vulnerability would seep through the cracks in an act of seduction, just so either one of you could feel a sense of the old love you shared.

A malicious toxin began spreading throughout his body, poisoning everything he touched. Suguru couldn’t rationalize how quickly he lost himself with everything around him breaking: his trust with non-sorcerers, his beliefs in a flawed system that controlled him, his own values and the suffering that he witnessed. 

He couldn’t even see how much he was hurting you. 

Things hit a breaking point when Suguru started neglecting you. He was spending days and nights away from your home without so much as a phone call to let you know his whereabouts. 

After the worry washed over, your paranoia got the best of you which is why he shouldn’t have been surprised when you sought out consolation in the arms of your friend. 

He still remembered stumbling back home that morning, exhausted and overwhelmed from a night of feeding.

You were anxiously waiting him, with your eyes swollen and filled with regret. 

He knew just from the way you looked, that this wasn’t going to end well. 

At the time, he remembered being annoyed by your behavior.

You had a way you tugging at his humanity that had his conscious swinging back and forth manically. One minute he was willing to watch the world burn, but the next ready to put out the fire just for your sake. 

He found himself sitting down next to you as you cried on his shoulder. The words poured out of you faster than he could register them, and to this day he wished that you never burdened him with your secret. 

You drank too much and invited Nanami over. 

You both got carried away.

You allowed him to kiss you...

to hold you...

to taste you between your legs and use his fingers to make you moan...

but that’s where it stopped. 

You gasped in between your apologies before confronting your partner who had driven you to this point. 

“Why are you never home? Where are you always going? What...what am I doing wrong? Why don’t you love me anymore?” 

Suguru still hated himself for forcing those words out of you. 

He wished he swallowed his pride in that moment, but the hurt of your betrayal outweighed everything else. 

His selfish rage was the reason why he decided to retaliate and he was calculative with vengeance. Riddled with spite, Suguru merely smiled at you as you stood there with your mouth agape watching him fuck someone else on the bed you shared. 

You kicked him out after that incident, leaving Suguru to his own devices and coming to the realization that neither of you loved each other enough to fix anything.

Shortly after is when he found the girls imprisoned in the village. 

Suguru dropped his cigarette onto the floor and tapped it with the tip of his boot, contemplating what might have happened if Gojo hadn’t swooped in at the right moment to stop his rampage. 

How would his life have turned out then? 

*** 

Suguru arched his brow as he watched you open the front door.

For a moment you look relieved to see him, but your face hardened immediately after.

Meanwhile, he was busy glazing over your body clad in a black silk robe, and trimmed with lace around the hem and sleeves. He wet his lips at the sight of your exposed thighs, drawing his attention to your calves before wandering back up to meet your eyes. 

“Do you always answer the door half naked?” he greeted with a hint of playful sarcasm.  

“Purely to keep others entertained,” you snapped back, while folding your arms protectively over your chest.

Suguru clenched his fist but held back on his rebuttal.

“Okay…I deserved that.”

“What are you doing here?” you impatiently questioned.

Suguru shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly, “I was walking around the neighborhood and thought I would stop by.” 

“At 2:00 A.M?” you pressed. 

Your ex-husband straightened his back, emphasizing his overbearing height as he raised one arm above his head and allowing it to rest against the frame of your front door.

“Is that a problem? You’re awake aren’t you?” 

You pressed your lips together in a firm line, hating the indifference in his tone. 

“If you came all this way to pick a fight with me then you should know that I’m not in the mood-” 

“I needed to clear my head and I didn’t know where else to go,” he confessed, softening his tone in the hopes to ease your apprehensive demeanor.

“Satoru’s company isn’t good enough?” 

“I wanted to see you.” 

Your cheeks grew hot and you studied his face to look for any sign of deception. 

He tapped his finger against the panel, “can I come in?” 

“No.” 

“Please?”  he begged, his pleading expression nearly melting you on the spot.

“That’s not going to work,” you insisted, averting your eyes away from his own as you stared down at your feet. 

Suguru exhaled before inching his way closer towards you. 

The tips of his fingers brushed under your chin, tilting your face upward as his thumb softly grazed over your lips. 

He arched forward and kissed you. 

Your chest lifted with your breath growing heavier as you found yourself subconsciously leaning forward in the hopes that he would part his lips to explore yours more openly.

You blinked a couple of times before catching yourself succumbing to your temptations.

You flattened your palm against his chest and pushed him away.

“That’s...” you whispered, your tone wavering only slightly as you shook your head. “That’s not going to work either.” 

Suguru wasn’t willing to give up yet. 

As you took a step back, he looped his arm behind your waist and drew your body into his. He could feel you clutch onto his hoodie, gripping him tightly but relaxing into his strong arms with ease. 

“I’m sorry,” he admitted, noting the way your eyes widened at his words. “I…I was wrong for confronting you. I know it’s been hard without me around. I’m grateful that you have somebody who has been looking out for you and I shouldn’t let other things get in the way of that.”

He waited patiently as you soaked in his apology. He hoped you would accept it, but knew it was unlikely considering that he had allowed his sharp tongue to dagger into you one too many times already.

“You really hurt me...”

Suguru swallowed the lump in his throat, his stomach tightening at how small your voice sounded. He understood that your statement carried meaning beyond the current situation at hand.

“I know...” he murmured, “it...it won’t happen again.” 

Your eyes shifted to the side, and you tugged at your bottom lip with your teeth. 

“I want to believe you.” 

Your ex-husband slumped his shoulders in defeat, “but you can’t.” 

“No,” you confirmed as you cleared your throat. “I can’t.” 

Suguru loosened his grip from around your waist, the disappointment washing over him as he took a step back, but stumbled when he felt you pull him closer.

“But,” you interrupted, forcing him to stop in his tracks as you glanced back up to meet his curious stare. “I haven’t been sleeping well and I don’t mind the company…”

Suguru lifted his brows upward in surprise and his heart raced from your unexpected request

“That makes the two of us,” he stated, finding his confidence again as he stepped across the threshold.

His fingers slowly fiddled around the belt of your robe. He quietly shut the door behind him before leaning back against the frame and leisurely massaging the soft silk between his thumb and index finger.

“Where are the kids?” 

“Fast asleep,” you informed. 

“I can crash on the couch...” Suguru acknowledged, but the wicked glint in his eye implied that he was already thinking of other options. 

“That should work,” you answered back, maintaining your hold on his stare as your own hands reached for the button of his jeans. “but if you prefer the bed...” 

His lips collided onto yours for a heated kiss, a familiar dance of teeth and tongue exchanged as his fingers undid the knot around your waist. He pushed the silk back across your shoulders, his hot breath fanning your neck as he reached to hold the flesh of your bare waist. 

The blood rushed between his legs and his curious mind began to wonder why you were awake this late at night while dressed so scantily. 

The both of you tiptoed around the house until you were safely hidden away in the bedroom. Suguru watched as you hungrily dropped the silk robe onto the floor, revealing your naked frame that was only covered by a pair of cotton panties. 

He threw off his jacket, piling his t-shirt on afterwards before rushing to undo his jeans. The second he was no longer restrained by his outfit, he charged forward to carry you up by your legs before pinning your back against the comfort of your mattress.

Your bodies rolled over the sheet with Suguru finding his position straddling on top of you. He wanted to resume kissing you, but got distracted when he noticed something pink flash out of the corner of his eye. 

A few seconds passed before an amused glow highlighted his handsome face.

Suguru picked up the toy with his right hand. “Was I interrupting something?” he teased. 

You choked back your words, your flustered self reaching for the sex toy begrudgingly but your ex-husband swiftly snapped his wrist back before you had a chance to grab it.

“If you even think of saying anything just remember that I’m still mad at you...” you grumbled.

Suguru chuckled, and used his left hand to grab onto your wrist, before catching your other one and placing them both above your head. 

A low vibration took over the silence, with a smirk tugging at Suguru’s lips as he guided the toy between your legs. 

“Is this why you didn’t want to be alone tonight?” he calmly asked, hearing a pretty moan escape you as he pressed it up against your clit. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll make it all up by taking such good care of you.” 

***

@damn-geto @pensivespecter @velvetlight333 @smoothy-ve @bisexualwomanofcolour @gl00mcore ore @tojisqueen @apsara-sophea @artemisthestar @mrsmorgenstern @sabyss @nanamikentcs @alreadyblondenow @rosenkow @mikasackrmann @shuxjodie @ekaterinatepes @jelly-jellx @lollipopd @bloombb @sluttoru 

[0risha]

RECOGNITION

series m.list

PAIRING : sukuna x fem!reader

SUMMARY : when an exchange student comes to jujutsu tech, Itadori is set on finding out why the King of curses is so interested in you.

TAGS : fluff, the tiniest bit of angst, jjk anime spoilers, some curse words, reader is described as a black female

NOTES : i’ve read a couple of works where sukuna meets his reincarnated lover so I wanted to try it out too, hope you enjoy. was supposed to make progress with my wips but I was in a sukuna mood. (◕ᴗ◕✿)

Sukuna feels your presence before he sees you. It’s one of those cliché moments where time puts its hand up to signal a standstill. Yuuji can feel it too when you pass by, your long braids swishing with each step.

He’s sure that he’s never seen you before but his shared body buzzes in remembrance. All the while, his emotions are overtaken by the unbridled feeling of wanting. 

After that, Itadori never took it upon himself to ask Sukuna about the matter because the curse didn’t seem to want to.

Sukuna had become more and more suppressed, his usual pop-ups were a rare occurrence, even when Megumi was around. However, for the whole month you’d been at Jujutsu Tech, the King of curses had been intent on observing from his throne of woven carcasses, body hunched over to just watch.

You’re an exchange student, Itadori recalls Gojo’s past conversation about a new second-year that would be coming from the states. You’re strong — at first, Itadori couldn’t help but think that this revelation was the reason for Sukuna’s interest —your cursed energy being perfect sediment for close combat and dealing precise blows, all the same, Itadori could feel a grappling hook of something that seemed to be festering.

It’s dark and brooding and it stirs every time you come into contact with him. And Yuuji thinks he might go crazy because he wants to know your connection with Sukuna and it’s not like he can ask you because your aura screams — unapproachable.

His chance comes when all the first-years are assigned to a mission, you're there for extra measure. Gojo’s shaman instincts telling him that this mission was far too exceeding for him, Nobara, and Megumi.

Though just as Gojo predicted, it goes terribly wrong and Itadori keels over with an empty hollow where his heart should be.

His last thoughts are consumed with a screeching mantra of his late grandfather’s words. In the crevice of his flickering mind, they're big bold letters that drip with poisoned regret.

Before his vision goes black, the last thing he sees is a heart-broken Megumi and your face which is flooded with guilt.

When Itadori comes face to face with the King of curses, the stench of rotting death overpowering his senses, he mulls over the terms laid out by Sukuna to come back, alive.

To be reunited with his friends and become some type of savior —sukuna's words, not his— he'd give up the reigns of his body so Sukuna could talk to you whenever he chose.

For the exchange of his life, the rules weren’t bad, a part of him knows that this selfish override could cause problems for you in the future, but he still agrees.

When he wakes up to a pure white ceiling and the smell of bleach he doesn’t expect to see you towering over him. Moving up to a sitting position, his cheeks nearly bleed red because he’s naked. His eyes frantically flit over to Gojo who’s sitting in the corner of the room, watching the exchange. The white-haired sorcerer shrugs in a ridiculed manner —silently telling Itadori that it wasn’t his problem.

“You called me,” your voice filters through the bright room. His eyebrows crinkle in confusion. Sukuna must've did something.

When his eyes flit back to you, he’s met with your monotone expression, your cascade of braids framing your face. And for the third time in his life, he’s scared. 

Your cursed energy, which for your level should leave little to no residual, is flaring with onyx undertones. Its sharpened jaws nearing closer and closer to Itadori in a beckoning manner. He's not sure why it's visible in the first place.

Gojo stays silent.

Brat, let me out. Sukuna, for the first time in weeks, pops up with a wide mouth on the palm of his hand. Without a second thought, Itadori allows him. 

Whilst wading in his domain of subconsciousness, he watches the exchange. Your expression stays the same as you study Sukuna’s marked face. 

“So hostile,” Sukuna bares, his powerful aura sifting through the room. You roll your eyes and crack a smile. Seamlessly ignoring the other man in the room— who you know Sukuna has a grudge with. 

“Am I not supposed to be?” you cross your arms and ask. “Being friendly would get me in trouble.”

“You remember me?” The King of curses cuts straight to the point, the question being so unexpected that Gojo shuffles in his seat, his spine rigid with anticipation. 

You nod stiffly. "I didn’t at first, not fully at least, but after coming into contact a few times, yeah.”

“It’s a shame I don’t have control over this body,” Sukuna presses a palm to your cheek, no doubt a loving caress. His deep baritone voice causing your skin to erupt into a turnpike for goosebumps to situate. “Do you remember how we parted last?”

“A sorcerer killed me or something,” you scratch the back of your neck under his intense stare. “Right through here,” you confess, pointing to the middle of your sternum.

“And you’ve become one?” Sukuna quirks an eyebrow, shoulders stiff with anger. 

“I didn’t even know I knew you until a month ago, calm down,” you wave in dismissal. Itadori takes note in the way Sukuna visibly relaxes, your words washing him in a bucket of warmth. “Is that all? I’ve got a mission in thirty minutes.” 

“I’m coming with you.” Sukuna jumps off the steel table, his bare feet touching the cool ground. You turn your eyes away from the bottom half of his body, ears growing hot in embarrassment.

“Eh? Is that allowed?” You turn to Gojo who’s still analyzing the situation beforehand and he shrugs with complacency. “Don’t let anyone see him,” Gojo warns, his stare serious even under his blindfold. You're not exactly sure what Gojo's thinking but you grasp the opportunity.

When you leave the autopsy room with a naked Sukuna by your side, careful to avoid any areas where Sukuna’s aura might be felt, you make it to Itadori’s dorm.

“Here.” You throw him Yuuji’s formal uniform and a pair of brown boots you find in the corner of his room. “I’m not wearing this,” Sukuna interjects.

“Huh?” Your upper lip curls up in confusion. “Then you’re not coming with me.” You turn to leave but he catches your arm in a tight grip.

“Fine, since you’re so damn adamant.” He releases his grip on your arm to slip into Yuuji’s clothes, when he finishes he turns to you with a glare.

“Good boy,” you praise, patting his tattooed cheek.

Internally, Itadori’s too bewildered to tease the curse. In all of his time spent with Sukuna in his body, he’s never seen the King of curses voluntarily listen to somebody else’s demands. The murky water he stands in ripples as he sits to observe everything that’s transpiring. 

When you both reach the site you were assigned to, you sigh in annoyance. “What is it?” Sukuna asks, hands in pockets as he studies your face.

“I was hoping to have an easy day, they’re not dangerous or anything but there’s more than a dozen in there.” You point to the abandoned building, its steel beams bending with age.

“I’ll exorcise them for you.”  

This is going completely against this guy’s morals, Yuuji thinks. 

Your eyebrows fly to your forehead as you grow giddy with happiness. “Really?” You exclaim clambering up to wrap him in a hug.

“If you don’t let go, I won’t.” He grumbles, head in your neck while inhaling your sweet scent. 

“Okayyy,” you inhale, trailing off, Sukuna not too far behind. 

The exorcism is completed in fifteen seconds, tops. You stare in amazement at his lithe movements. His sharp fingers extinguishing cores with precise stabs— the same way he did his vessel. When he’s done he turns to you with an eyebrow raised, his hands wet with unspoken substance. You turn away with a humph. 

“Was it not fast enough?” He walks towards you, concern written all over his expression.

“It was too fast,” you proclaim.

“Huh?” 

“You’re a show-off,” you turn to exit the building, your braids whizzing past his face. You hear his roaring laughter behind you as you make it outside.

The smell of freshly churned earth enters your nostrils as you walk down a fenced sidewalk with bent daffodils. “Where are we going?”

“A ramen shop.” His gaze flicks over to study your face which is softened with what seems to be tranquility. His heart tides over with pride once he realizes that you feel content with him, a 1000-year-old curse.

However, he knows it’s the result of your memories that tie in with his; shared massacres and intertwined fates. Multiple restarts of what seemed to be a never-ending cycle of mingled hearts. But this time jump was different than the others. 

You being a sorcerer is not the only obstacle, at all.

“Sukuna? Hey– you’re spacing out.” You wave a hand in front of his face to grab his attention. 

“We’re here.” He looks up to see a small ramen shop, its logo old with age. As he enters the shop, he somehow finds contentment in being in a place that you like. 

—

“You know you’re probably attracting sorcerers and curses alike as we speak?” You inquire, grabbing your ramen bowl from the waiter who nervously glances at Sukuna. His tattooed face also attracting unwanted attention. 

“Mhm, I’ll just kill them if they interfere.” You whip your head to turn to the waiter who you’re relieved to see, had already left.

“I knew you’d say that,” you stuff your face with a handful of steaming noodles. 

“Sukuna?”

“Mhm?” 

“What’s gonna happen between us?” You flick your index finger back and forth. “It’s not like the other times, I’m a dedicated sorcerer.”

“So?” 

“You’re the King of curses, I’m a sorcerer.” You repeat, dropping your wooden chopsticks to place your head on your propped fist. 

“Already made a deal with the brat, I can talk to you whenever and wherever I want,” he pulls his face closer to yours. 

“Yeah? What happens when they execute Itadori?” You curl your hands into balled fists, an unfamiliar emotion welling up in your throat. Somehow, it doesn't fit. It crosses your veins in a parasitic manner and your eyes glaze over.

“I’ll just come back.” He states matter of factly, voice coated with arrogance.

“You promise?” You whisper, holding out your pinky finger. You nearly scoff at your own action.

Ignoring the finger you bare out, he presses his lips against yours. It’s the same as he can remember, centuries ago. His body elates with a hum of electricity. And it's as if his body's creating a second space of void in which he feels his every sense being sharpened; the smooth curve of your full lips and the salty taste of previous ramen.

But before the kiss can go any further, you're pulling back.

“That was uh…” You blink once, twice, trying desperately to collect your thoughts. When you look back to Sukuna, you instead are met with Itadori’s clear face.

“The hell are you doing, brat?” Sukuna bares his teeth on the right side of Itadori’s cheek. ”I- I’m sorry just got a little uh.. flustered.” 

“The fuck are you getting flustered for?” Sukuna growls. 

“I- uh..” 

“It’s okay Yuuji, you can switch again another time,” you sympathize with the boy. His cheeks are coated in red.

“It’s getting late, eat some ramen so we can go.” You chuckle. Itadori nods as his hand reaches towards a pair of chopsticks.

“Touch my ramen and I’ll kill you again, you damn brat.”

back to m.list

[bumblerhizal-art]

Seven Snippet Sunday

I define snippet a touch loosely here. I think it's still Sunday at least. While i'm now starting compiling this post, it is at least. No promises for when i finish. But seven? Seven is dead-on.

Got tagged for this by @heniareth a short forever ago and tagging you back in return as well as @icylook @wild-houseplant and @scarletkilometers

The first six are coming from Novhen's prelude rewrite and the last one from shortly after. It's been in progress for a while, but i don't think i've posted any of these before. If i have, oops. Because of how i skip around writing, there are bits from all over the story so fic spoilers ahoy probably, but it's about the journey not the destination, y'know? Especially for a rewrite like this is

CW: Alcohol (#2, 4), Death (#5), Implied Sexual Assault (#5)

<1> Starting with a bit of "All or Nothing" foreshadowing

"You have no idea how lucky you are," Shianni twirled her dress. "The outfits, the music, the wine. It's a whole party all about you! Well, one-quarter about you." "So now you want to get married?" Novhen said. 'You do know what comes after, right?" She rolled her eyes. "Of course I do, and I'm sure I'll figure something out to get around it when the time comes.” "By which you mean you'll make me figure something out?" Shianni waved her hand flippantly. "Same thing."

<2> Those kids i missed on my first playthrough you get to tell the story to

In the dead of night long after the city's nobles had drifted off into their whiskey-scented sleep, she sent a prayer to the Dread Wolf and melted into the shadows-- "Who's the Dread Wolf," Sera interrupted. "One of the old elven gods from before the fall of the Dales. He was the god of rebellion," Novhen explained. Sera wrinkled her nose. “How many years ago did you say this story was?” “Not that many,” he answered. “There are still elves that worship the old gods.” Efraim raised his hand. "But I thought Andraste freed the elves. Shouldn't she be god of rebellion?” Novhen said, "Yes, she freed us, but she wasn’t a god. And the Chantry folk really don't like it when you say that. She was a prophet, remember. Now, are we ready to continue?" They nodded. "Good," Novhen said.

<;3>

"C'mon, wasn't it worth it to see their faces light up?" Soris shrugged noncommittally, "I guess. We should go find the rest of the wedding party." Soris began walking out of the alley, leaving Novhen to catch up. He teased, "If that's your attitude, let's hope your bride doesn't want too many kids." "I have to agree with you there," Soris laughed awkwardly. "What about you? Going to give Uncle Cyrion the army of grandbabies he's been begging for?" "I thought I made myself clear. The moment you turn your head, I'm climbing the wall and finding the Dalish." "You haven't left yet."

<;4> Back to the break in! I know i've posted scenes near this one

The guard tried to say, "What do you want?" But as his speech was garbled by sleep and, by the smell of it, alcohol, what came out was "Wharryawan?" "Could you tell us where Lord Vaughan's room is?" Novhen said. The guard lazily looked him up and down. "And who are you?" "We're the new help. We were supposed to start today." The guard snorted derisively. “Wish they would tell me about these things. Go find somebody else to hold your hand. I have a station to man.” “Right. Sorry, ser,” Novhen said apologetically. He grumbled and crossed his arms as he leaned back in his chair. Already, he was nodding off once again. "Load of good that did," Soris mumbled. Novhen gestured for him to keep quiet and opened the door. He made no special effort to open it quietly, which was just as well as it would have squealed no matter how he opened it. The guard shifted in his seat and barely opened one eye. Seeing nothing unexpected, he went back to sleep. He wouldn't remember them by the time he woke up.

<;5>

Novhen stared at him. "Fine. Give me 40 gold and the women, and I let you live." "No, no, you misunderstand. 40 gold and the girls return alive tomorrow. I can't leave my guests without entertainment. What kind of host–" An arrow sprouted from Vaughan's throat.

<;6>

"Where are you going?" He had been spotted. It wasn't Duncan's voice. It was that recruit from Redcliffe. Alistair was his name. "I just need to take a piss," Novhen said. It was only half a lie. Alistair visibly relaxed, "Oh, okay. Just stay in range of the fire. You never know what could get you at night." Novhen grunted affirmatively and trudged away from the camp. If he ran, Alistair would be ready to raise alarm immediately. It would take less than a minute for Duncan and Riordan to begin pursuit. If this were Denerim, he'd be able to shake them without problem, but this was as far from Denerim as he had ever been.

<7> Hey, this one isn't from the rewrite. What's up with that?

The messenger said, "Warden-Commander, the Arl of Denerim requests the presence of Warden Tabris in his tent." The hairs rose on Novhen's neck, but he remained still. If he had not already been identified, he would rather not give it away in his reaction. "What for?" Duncan asked coolly. "He would not say, ser." "Well, I'm afraid that unless the arl is willing to disclose his purpose, I cannot help. All of my Wardens are already preoccupied with more important matters." The messenger squirmed in his boots, "I understand, ser, but the arl was quite insistent that I fetch him." "And you will find me quite insistent that I cannot allow that," Duncan answered firmly.

[starglow-xx]

(About the brother!atsushi) aRE YOU READING MY MIND MISS?! Because that has been on my mind for MONTHS. TYSM For writing it was amazing!! If you don't mind, may I request (if requests are open) atsushi, still an older brother, but with a sister that's 10-13 yrs old? It's totally fine if you don't wanna do it. Keep up the good stories, ily mwuah!

*sobs* you’re so kind thank youu 🤧🤧

i wrote this a bit differently i hope that’s okay anon! at first i planned for this to be mainly abt atsushi and the reader, but i decided to add in relationship hcs with the agency bc i ran out of ideas

if you guys liked this don’t worry! im planning a special part two for this one so be the look out for it hehe

atsushi with a tween! sister

ft. the armed detective agency

like in my baby sister hcs, you’re still the most important thing to him period

the two of you got picked up by dazai and kunikida when he was 18 (obviously) and when you were 12

for a 12 year old, you were a bit small bc of malnourishment (which makes atsushi feel so bad) so both dazai and kunikida thought you were a bit younger than you actually were

they assumed you were about 9-10ish

you and atsushi both share a favorite food !! chazuke :)

so when kunikida treated the two of you, he made sure you got more bowls bc like i mentioned above, he feels really bad that you were malnourished and under weight

(don’t bring this up but kunikida felt bad too hehe)

when dazai went with your brother to the warehouse, you were with kunikida

imagine the surprise of the other ada members when kunikida came in with a little girl dressed in rags that popped out from behind him

kenji was the one who vocalized his thoughts 

“kunikida-san you have a daughter?! wow! i didn’t know that! :D”

when you found out your brother was a tiger, you were a bit concerned but you were actually kind of excited

you were even more excited when you found out the two of you were going to be taken in by the agency

anything was better than the stupid orphanage

and besides!

you got a tiger for an older brother and a bunch of other super powered agents to take care of you! who could want anything else?

at your age, you’re very impressionable and can be influenced easily so atsushi makes sure to teach you more in depth of good morals and the importance of kindness

his heart swells with pride and relief when he catches you being kind to others

pride bc he’s proud that even after all the two of you have gone through, you still ended up being a good kid and having a bright view of the world

and relief bc he hasn’t failed as a big brother

pfftt like he could ever fail

but please, from time to time reassure him that he’s perfect and the only big brother that you’d ever want bc he rlly needs that kind of validation

with his salary and savings, he tries to buy nice things for you

what a sweetheart 🥺

he saw you eyeing that one dress at a store window? fast forward abt a week and half and it’s inside a pretty gift bag for you

you wanted to try that dessert from the nice bakery? that’s dessert after dinner at one point

but other than buying you things, he sets money aside for you

like all the time

(y/n), here have this, you might need it”

“but nii-san you just gave me—”

“take it”

#1 spoiler

also your #1 confidant and source of physical affection

you tell him anything and everything (except crushies and those kinds of things)

atsushi loves it when you talk abt your day and he can see the big smile on your face and the sparkle in your eyes

it gives him the strength to keep going 😖😖

the two of you aren’t as touch starved as you’d probably think, but that’s only bc the two of you had each other

in your opinion, no one can match the hugs of your big brother

and it got even better bc YAYY he has tiger arms now ٩(◕‿◕)۶

if you ask, he’d carry you around too hehe

you also get nightmares quite often so he’ll always be there ready to calm you down, talk if you need to, and rock you back to sleep

god i love him 🤧🤧

atsushi will do everything in his power to protect you and make sure you get to grow up happy, supported, and loved

port mafia attack? oop he’s already taking you to the nearest escape route

someone is starting to harass you? they just got suckered punched into the next week

you want to go out to have some fun? he’ll go ask the president for a day off

you’re not feeling well? he’ll take another day off and take care of you

whatever you want to do, he’ll do it with you! (as long as it’s within reason)

will always be your #1 supporter! and he’s the president of your fan club hehe

he loves you so so much and will do anything for you; your life and happiness will always be more important to him

you are his reason to keep going

agency head canons !!

atsushi is your big brother, but kunikida is most definitely some sort of father figure

everyone can see it

except kunikida of course

kunikida scolds you lightly if he thinks your manners need work or if you make a mess in the agency

you listen to him of course and in turn as some sort of a reward, he’ll give you pieces of stationary

he always gives you the nice, good quality kind and you’re over the moon

atsushi adores it when you come running to him showing your new notebook or fountain pen and blabbering what you’re going to do with it

sometimes it isn’t even as a reward for being a good child; he’ll just give it to you and he’ll say smth like “i noticed you’ve used up your last notebook quite quickly, so here’s another one” or “did you run out of ink? here have this then”

he usually has a soft spot for children in general, but he most definitely has a soft spot (or a thousand) for you

yosano is kind of like a motherly figure to you

she gives you the guidance a mother should and goes on shopping trips with you!

atsushi always gets dragged along by you, but he thinks it’s worth it seeing you look so happy

yosano being a doctor also tries to teach the things you should know, or things that would be helpful to you

she’ll teach you the basics of cooking, sewing, how to treat a cold/fever, etc

also gives you excellent advice 1000% of the time

“remember (y/n)-chan if someone hurts you come tell me and then i’ll chop them into—”

“yOSANO-SENSEI DONT TELL HER THAT—”

fukuzawa is like a father to most in the agency but you see him more as a grandfather figure

bi weekly tea and gossip sessions hehe

along with cat talk!

most of the time though, it’s just you talking and him listening to you, but the two of you enjoy it nonetheless

“and then kunikida-san ended up crashing into a pole and dazai-san started to laugh at him and i did too because it was really funny but we ended up getting scolded—”

“hmm i see...”

he’ll let you stay in his office as he fills out paperwork; you’re usually doodling or drawing in your notebooks

sometimes he’ll meditate and you’ll join him, but 4/7 times you’d fall asleep

you always wake up with a blanket over you

dazai is like a cool but a highly concerning and kind of high maintenance uncle

frequently takes you out with him when he ditches work

walks in the park, eating at uzumaki so he has the excuse of treating you so he doesn’t have to pay his tab avoiding kunikida and sometimes chuuya and akutagawa, all that fun stuff

also tries to not talk abt suicide in front of you especially if it’s just the two of you alone

he knows that you mean the world to his pupil and that said pupil would probably hate him for putting suicide inside your brain

he teaches you random but useful things like how to pick a lock, how to steal kunikida’s notebook if you’re looking for some information, how to sweet talk your way out of things, etc.

is also the one to tell you that if you ever get a significant other to introduce them to the agency first

he always wants all of your gossip; some of them work pretty well for blackmail

“dazai-san! dazai-san! did you know that kunikida-san lost his glasses and he was looking for them for nearly an hour when he was just holding them the entire time??”

“woah really (y/n)-chan?! hey hey can you say it again into this recording device so kunikida-kun would believe me when i tell him—”

always ends up giving kunikida a heart attack when he says that you’ve been with him all day

ranpo is also like a cool but a highly concerning and kind of high maintenance uncle

will share some of his snacks, but don’t push it or you might not get anything at all

loves it when you compliment him

if you tagged along with him and your brother on a case, he will show off to impress you

“...and that’s how the crime happened”

“UWAHH RANPO-SAN YOU’RE SO COOL”

atsushi is lowkey and kunikida is highkey stressed that ranpo’s eating habits will rub off on you

“ne (y/n)-chan do you wanna try this highly caffeinated drink and this concerning amount of sugar filled snack?”

“can i really?!”

“rANPO-SAN NO—”

ranpo definitely does stuff like that on purpose 

the tanizakis are like siblings to you!

a weird set of siblings but siblings nonetheless

the two of them adore you and think you’re precious

atsushi definitely knows how to do your hair whether it’s long or short but he got even better at it when he asked the two

hehe braid trains are definitely a thing + kyouka and kenji (and maybe even dazai)

sometimes you have sibling swap days

you’re with junichiro for most of the day and atsushi is with naomi

strange i know

each of the tanizaki siblings try to make it fun bc they know that the two of you did not at all have a happy upbringing

junichiro likes spending time with you by taking you out to different places that naomi likes to frequent

like the mall, different stores and restaurants, the park, places like those

naomi does the same thing with atsushi so if you ever bump into them, you go out and eat together :)

besides atsushi, the next one in line who spoils you the most would be junichiro (and yosano & kunikida both coming in at a close third)

he honestly can’t help it; you remind him of how naomi was when she was younger

and besides

he’s always been a sucker when it came to the happiness of a little sister

“would you really buy this for me junichiro-san?!”

“of course! don’t worry about it” :)

wanna talk abt boys/girls/celebrity crushes things like that? naomi is your girl

you feel a bit embarrassed to go talking to yosano or your brother abt that and kyouka does not know a thing abt them either

“uwahh naomi-san look at all these people in this magazine! they look so good!”

“right?! but of course onii-sama is still the best—”

you get along with kenji and kyouka quite nicely being roughly the same age as them; they’re also like siblings!

just pure, wholesome vibes from the three of you

you’re over the moon when she finds out that kyouka is staying with you and your brother

atsushi is twice as happy seeing you talk your mouth off and finally having a girl around your age to talk to

“do you think demon snow can change how she looks?”

“hmm... im not sure...”

you and kenji talk abt anything and everything

he even teaches you how to take care of plants!

sometimes the two of you are kind of in the same boat bc you don’t know much abt yokohoma being stuck in the orphanage and kenji doesn’t know much abt cities in general

“wait where are we again kenji-san?”

“ah we’re close to the ports! but im not really sure how close because i don’t know what the symbols on this sign mean”

“don’t worry! neither do i!”

bonus things!

yosano was kind of too late teaching you abt you know what

“NII-SAN IM BLEEDING IN BETWEEN MY LEGS”

you’re sobbing in the agency’s bathroom and atsushi is panicking trying to get you to open the door

“Y/N?! H-HOLD ON LET ME GET YOSANO SENSEI”

ranpo overhears and cackles making everyone around him confused

suddenly atsushi bursts in the agency basically on the verge of tears rambling incoherent sentences abt the bathroom, you, and blood

it just clicked for everybody in the room

(im going to pretend that kenji has sisters back home so that atsushi is the only one who remain oblivious here hehe)

atsushi is genuinely confused and sort of concerned that no one is freaking out with him

yosano waves her hand saying smth like that she’d take care of it and junichiro pulls atsushi to the side to talk to him

fast forward like half and hour and dazai and ranpo are cackling on the looks of both of your faces

honestly not sure who’s more traumatized, you or your brother

“why does this have to happen” :(

“ne ne (y/n)-chan!~ you’re too young but at some point you’re not going to have it!”

“uwahh really dazai-san?” :D

“yeah! but first you have to have ANFK—”

next thing you know your ears are being covered by your brother and dazai is thrown across the room by kunikida

you know

the normal

you’re twelve and have never gone to school, but the agency takes care of that

it’s too dangerous to go to school so they teach you what’s necessary and whatever else they can

kunikida takes care of math (obviously)

yosano takes care of science/biology/anatomy/health (whatever you wanna call it)

ranpo even dragged poe to help you with english

atsushi even got lucy to help you out with english too!

as tanizaki and naomi used to be students, they give you their old work books and they try to teach you all the other subjects

sometimes kyouka and kenji are there learing with you too!

sorry if there’s some errors! i’ll read through it again later :)

and as always, reblogs and shares are appreciated! i hope you all stay safe! and just in case nobody told you they loved you today, i love you! you are enough! <3

writing belongs to me! please do not plagiarize! the reblog button is there for a reason

[duuhrayliegh]

A Friend of Yours - pt. 3

pairing: bucky x reader

warnings: TFATWS SPOILERS!!!!!, language, canon lvl violence, soft!bucky, some suggestive content, it’s ten thousand words so i’m sure i missed something, just lmk and i’ll tag it accordingly babes.

word count: 10,246 (i may have gone a little overboard)

a/n: this is the last part, unless y’all want more. i’m rlly proud of myself w this series, granted MUCH of the content was already written for me, nonetheless, here you go. i hope y’all like it <3

read A Friend of Yours - pt. 1 and A Friend of Yours - pt. 2

p.s.: my requests and tag lists are open!!

check out my m.list here!

xoxo ray

The Wilson family house was adorable. Two stories with chipped blue paint on the walls and yellowing white on the columns. You had beat Sam there, so you decided to just look around for a few minutes before meeting Sarah and the boys. You walked out to the dock in front of their house, admiring the water, how still and calm it was. You were staring into the distance when you heard small footsteps from behind you.

“You know, it’s rude to sneak up on people.” You weren’t sure which boy it was, but you were trying to present a non-threatening front.

“You know, it’s rude to invite yourself onto someone else's property.” You were surprised when you heard Sam’s voice respond to you. Turning quickly to face the man with the confused expression. “I thought you wouldn’t come to the States because of the whole Enemy of it thing.” He walked away from you, gesturing for you to follow as he picked up your abandoned duffle. “He’s not here if that’s who you’re looking for.” You shook your head as you crossed the threshold into the living room.

“I’m not here for him, although he would be a much welcome bonus.” The two of you shared a laugh. “But no, I’m here to help you however I can.” Sam’s eyes narrowed, wondering if he should question your generosity. Your eyes must have given away your desperation for a home because he decided against it.

“Okay, but if you’re here, you’re gonna work. We’ve got a lot of shit to get done if we’re going to fix this boat up.”

“What boat?” You smiled at him as he began explaining what was going on. He just skimmed the top of what was really happening, but you could tell he was worried even though he wore a good facade.

“Get changed into some clothes you don’t mind getting messed up.”

“Am I going to be doing, like, manual labor?” He gave you a ‘duh’ look to which you groaned, “So, shorts are out of the question?” Sam had already walked into the kitchen before replying.

“Only if you want to freeze your ass off!” You changed quickly into a pair of ripped mom jeans that you cinched with a belt at your waist and a white short sleeved shirt.

“Do you have an overshirt I can borrow?”

“You mean, a flannel?” Sam shot back as he exited the room.

“Yeah, an overshirt.”

“No. A flannel. Come on, say it with me, flannel.” He tossed one your way, which you put on the rolled the sleeves up to your elbows.

“It’s an overshirt, Sam. I’m not seeing the issue.”

“Y/N, it's a flannel. Just say flannel, why you gotta make it all fancy?” He walked out the back door and onto a wooden bridge that led to the marina the boat was docked at. He didn’t let the flannel thing go the whole way over, making you laugh loudly and shake your head. As you walked up the dock, you could see several people helping Sarah and Sam with their boat.

“This is all you guys?” You were amazed, you hadn’t seen togetherness like this since before Aunt Peggy died. “Wow.” You said mostly to yourself as Sam walked you up to the woman of the hour.

“Sarah, we’ve got another one. Sarah, Y/N. Y/N, Sarah.” You stuck your hand out for Sarah to shake, which she did kindly. “I’m going to work on getting some of the siding off the boat. Sarah, Y/N is all yours.” He darted off, leaving you with Sarah.

“What ya got for me, Sarah? I’m here to do whatever you need.” She began instructing you to help with cataloging everything that people were bringing. Whether it be rusty spare parts or a couple twenty dollar bills, Sarah wanted to know and she wanted a record of it. A truck pulled up next to the boat and Sam got out hugging the men that exited it.

“Tommy, Carlos, man, this is amazing.” They exchanged a few more words before one of them asked the inevitable question.

“How do we get it off the truck?” A loud scraping sound emitted as the pallet was taken from the truck bed. Bucky lifted the bundle of parts over his head effortlessly, dropping it on the ground. He turned to the group of three men staring at him.

“You’re welcome.” You laughed as you approached. Bucky hauled a gray and black case onto the truck bed, speaking to Sam about it. Suddenly, one of the pipe fittings went out of whack, causing a steady stream of air to escape on the boat. Sarah stopped in front of it on the dock.

“Sam!” She was holding her clipboard as she watched Sam try to stop the leak with a crescent wrench. Bucky walked up next to Sarah, saying hi before telling Sam he was doing it wrong.

“Men. They even mansplain to other men, can you believe that?” You said from beside Sarah while Bucky finished fixing the leak. You tilted your head to admire him, “But we love to watch them work, huh?” She laughed as you wiggled your eyebrows at her. Bucky and Sam turned back to you and Sarah and Bucky’s eyes widened when they landed on your figure. Sam walked toward the front of the boat as Bucky stopped to introduce himself to Sarah.

“Sarah--” His eyes flicked to yours, “Y/N.” Then he quickly followed behind Sam.

“Oh, what was that, Y/N?” Sarah teased, two can play at that game.

“I don’t know, what was your thing about, Sarah?” You said her name like Bucky did to mess with her. She shoved your shoulder away and pushed you back to work.

You had to admit, watching Bucky do domestic type things with his metal appendage did things to you. Just knowing that he was comfortable enough to be around Sam’s whole family with his arm fully on display, made you happy.  The sun was beginning to go down, and you were sharing a beer with Sam and Bucky. Bucky hadn’t spoken to you directly since he got there and it was starting to irk you. You thought that you had something, but maybe not. Bucky rose from his position on the boat, clinking his bottle with Sam’s, claiming he needed to find a hotel room so he could catch his flight tomorrow.

“You’re just gonna set me up like that, huh?” Sam joked.

“I just don’t wanna make it weird for your family.” But Bucky’s eyes caught yours as he spoke.

“Just stay here, man.” Sam began a rant about the people of the town, ending with, “Plus we already got one freeloader for the night, what’s one more, right?”

“Oh goodie! Are we going to braid each other’s hair and play Seven Minutes in Heaven, too?” you teased Sam, but Bucky stiffened.

“We can do whatever you want.” Sam said, then he pointed at Bucky, “Just don’t flirt with my sister. Cause if you do, I’ll have Carlos cut you up, feed you to the fish.” Bucky made a face at Sam before smiling again.

Later that night, after you had all eaten dinner and the kids had gone to bed, you contemplated what your next move was going to be. You were sitting in one of the patio couches outside, a blanket wrapped around your legs, watching the stars reflection in the water. Bucky walked out on the porch, a pair of sweats-- that he had to borrow from Sam because he didn’t pack anything-- slung low on his hips, his blue Henley stopping just before the waistband of his boxers.

His gaze met yours and he approached you as if you were a wild animal and you were going to run away if he made any sudden movements. Your legs had been sprawled across both cushions of the couch, so instead of letting you change positions, Bucky just lifted your legs and then rested them on his lap. His left hand was rubbing back and forth just above your ankle.

“Is there a reason you’ve been avoiding me, James?” He ignored your question all together, opting to ask his own.

“Do you remember when we first met?” You thought back to the first time that you ever saw him. Chained to a chair, hair hiding his face from nosy onlookers.

“Uh, yeah. You were being treated like an animal, caged in a glass box. Why?” His left hand never stopped its motion on your leg.

“When you first started staring at me, I was absolutely positive that it was out of fear. Then when I actually looked at you, you were curious.” You nodded your head, recalling the emotions.

“That was a stressful day.” You could sense that Bucky didn’t need your input to get to where he was going.

“Then, when we were in that stupid tiny blue car that Steve had crammed us into,” he paused to laugh at the memory, “I was sure in that moment, that I was never going to see you again.” His gaze hadn’t left his palms on your legs, refusing to meet your eyes. “And when I saw you in Madripoor, I was positive that it was just someone who looked a lot like you. It couldn’t have been you, I wasn’t that lucky.”

His left hand gripped your leg as he spoke, “But then you started talking and I would’ve known that voice anywhere. All I wanted was to be close to you.”

“Bucky, you almost broke my arm because I sucker punched Zemo.” He shushed you.

“All I wanted was to be close to you, but I’m also a violent person.” He brought his head up, locking his steel blue orbs with yours. “Then you kept talking and you were so smart. So beautiful.” His metal hand left your leg to cup your chin. “Every word out of your mouth mesmerized me, even when you were kind of insulting me.” His thumb stroked your jaw, traveling up to your bottom lip. “And God, the way you said my name.” Your nostrils flared and your brow raised.

“What? James?” You trapped your bottom lip in between your teeth, giving Bucky reason to pull it out with his metal thumb. Your tongue shot out to wet your lips out of habit and Bucky shot you a glare.

“Doll. What’re you doing to me?” He dropped his thumb back to your cheek as his eye flicked over your face. He brought his hands down to your waist, holding it tightly and pulling you closer to him. Your ass now rested against his right leg, and he transferred his grip to wrap around your blanket covered thighs. A squeal escaped your lips without your permission, making your face contort.

“When we were sitting at the bar in your gallery I wanted nothing more than to smother you with all my love and affection.” Your heart rate increased, you want that too. “I’m glad I wasn’t able to though.” Your stomach dropped, a feeling of rejection washing over you. You began to pull away from him, wanting to escape his touch. He gripped your legs tighter against his body, “At that time, I wasn’t what I should be for you. I’ll probably never be exactly what I should be for you, but I’m selfish enough right now that I don’t care anymore.” He twisted his upper body to face you.

“What are you talking about, James?” A visible shiver ran down his spine as you said his real name. He brought both his hands up to grip your face. The cool air added to the temperature difference of his hands.

“I’m talking about this.” It wasn’t a half a second later that his lips were on yours. It took you a second to respond, but you did with fervor. Your hands traveled to his neck to show him that you wanted this too. His fingers fanned out, cupping behind your ears to bring you impossibly closer to him. His tongue traced your bottom lip, seeking entrance which you denied playfully. He brought his thumbs to rest on your chin, applying pressure as he asked again. At this point, you didn’t care about the pardon, or Karli and the Flag Smashers, or Sharon and the Power Broker, or even Sam, Sarah and the boys. You could only focus on James’ lips that were molding so perfectly with your own. You eventually had to break apart, your fingertips coming to rest on James’ kiss swollen lips. You locked eyes with him again, his pupils blown wide, and the two of you laughed.

“Oh, that.” You traced his lips while holding his stare. “Is that why you haven’t been talking to me?” He nodded quickly, gaze drifting down to your lips again. He leaned forward wanting to steal another kiss, but you stopped him. “That’s not okay behavior, James. You can’t just not talk to me because you’re frustrated with yourself.” He hummed a noise of assent, kissing your fingertips on his lips. His palm came up to keep your fingers pressed to his lips as his eyes roamed your face. “What does this mean, James? You aren’t just going to get my hopes up and then walk away right?”  He pulled back from you, a look of disappointment crossing his features.

“I’m sorry if I’ve made you feel like that would be a possibility.” He took a deep breath, “After my time in Wakanda, after Shuri de-programmed me, I thought I finally had a group of people I could trust. Then, Ayo was able to remove my arm within the blink of an eye, but not the way that they had when they were tweaking it.” He rested his body against the back of the patio couch. “My therapist had been telling me that I needed to trust someone, and up until that point, I did. I thought I had people who fully trusted me as well.” He looked over at you, silent tears racing down his cheeks. “This clearly isn’t a good excuse, but I felt like you wouldn’t have trusted me either.” Your hands came up to his face, wiping away his tears.

“James, I’ve known of you for years before I met you. Remember how Sharon said I did that report on you in high school?” He nodded as much as your hold on his face would allow him to. “Well, that’s when I first fell in love with the idea of you.” His eyes widened as you continued speaking. “Then, I was lucky enough to meet you and it felt like everything fell into place. After Sharon and I ran off to Madripoor, I wasn’t sure if I was going to see you again, and I was okay with that because maybe you were better left as an idea.” You laughed as you looked down at your lap, dropping your hands from his face. “Then I got dusted during the Blip, which is a whole other thing and then Sharon said that you were in Madripoor.” You shook your head then faced him, eyes locking with his red rimmed pair.

“I would love to fall in love with you. And right now, I want nothing more than to let the trust we have for each other grow into something more.” A wide smile spread across his face and he bared his teeth at you, scrunching his face at the nose.

“I want that too.” He leaned forward slapping a sloppy kiss onto your lips, which you returned with equal intensity. When Bucky pulled back from you to catch his breath, he left his forehead resting against your own. Your breaths synchronized and he patted his hand twice on your outer thigh, signalling you that he was going to get up. “We better get some sleep.” He stood in front of you, offering you his hand. You smiled as you entwined your fingers with his metal ones.

Luckily, Cas and AJ were kind enough to share a room tonight so you could sleep in the other. Bucky’s hand never left your side as he walked you up the stairs. Once you had reached the closed door, he wrapped his arm around you, twisting your body to face him, back pressed against the cold wood of the door. He pushed his whole body forward, molding your bodies together as his hands hooked into the waistband of your sleep shorts.

“I’m glad that we talked, Y/N.” He pecked your lips, pulling back afterwards to stare at your face.

“I’m glad we did too, but what are you doing?” A nervous laugh left your lips and Bucky’s eyes followed the movement.

“You’re just so pretty.” He leaned forward kissing your cheeks, “I’m happy,” A kiss to your chin. “that I’ll be able to,” one to your nose, “call you my doll soon.” His lips lingering on your forehead before bringing his chin up to the top of your head, pulling you into him for a hug. You brought your arms up to wrap around his waist, your face pressed into the spot where his neck and collarbone met.

“Am I not already your doll?” Your question was muffled against his skin, but he heard you.

“Not until I specifically ask you. You can be mine without being my doll, but I want to wine and dine you before I feast.” Your brows raised again and your lips rolled inwards.

“Before you feast?” You were holding back a laugh, so Bucky pulled back, his hands gripping your shoulders, face serious.

“Feast.” He reached behind you opening the door. He gave you a quick smooch before pushing you into the empty room, alone with your thoughts. You had a harder time falling asleep that night. Bucky, on the other hand, had no problem, sleeping like a rock with a smug smile on his face.

You woke up to the sound of eggshells being cracked and forks hitting the sides of ceramic plates. Walking down the stairs and into the kitchen, you saw Sarah working over the stove while Cas was scrambling eggs. Sarah heard you coming down, ever the always aware mother.

“Hey, hope you’re hungry, ‘cause you aren’t leaving this kitchen without eating somethin’.” She watched as you peered into the living room, searching for Bucky’s imposing figure. “I think he’s down at the dock with Sam. They left real early this morning and girl, I swear to God if they’re messin’ with that water pump, I’m going to strangle the both of them.” You laughed, taking the plate of scrambled eggs that AJ was holding out to you.

“Did you tell them that the water pump wasn’t the issue?” She nodded as she stirred the eggs in her pan. “Then you know that they are, Sarah.” The two of you shared a laugh as Cas and AJ sat down to eat, as well.

“Y’all better hurry up before you’re late for the bus.” The boys quickly shoved their remaining food into their mouths, rushing out the door after kissing their mother goodbye.

“How do you do it?” Sarah’s head tilted, wondering what you were referring to. “Being a single mother and managing a business? Does it all get to be too much sometimes?” She could tell you were genuinely curious, so she sighed.

“It’s definitely challenging at times, but thankfully I have a good enough relationship with AJ and Cas that we’re able to get through pretty much anything. After we lost their Dad, I was all alone and scared. I’m still scared a lot of the time, scared that I’m going to mess them up, you know?” She paused a second to recollect her thoughts. “It’s just by chance that we live in this amazing community that helped me whenever I needed a little bit of assistance.” The conversation between the two of you fizzled after that, perhaps it was too heavy a topic for breakfast to handle. You followed her to meet a group of people at the marina, but the journey there wasn’t silent.

“So, I have a question, but you don’t have to answer it if you don’t want to. Although I feel like if you don’t answer it, you’re kind of answering it.” You encouraged her to ask whatever she wanted to. “You and Bucky are a thing, right?” You coughed, unsure of how to answer. “That’s all the confirmation I needed.” Sarah smiled at you as your mouth struggled to form words.

“We are, but we aren’t?” Sarah gave you a look making you roll your eyes. “I don’t know he said that he was excited to see where this was going and then we kissed, so yes?”

“Oh, he looks like a good kisser.”

“Right? Just like he’s got the bone structure and lip plumpness ratio down to a T.” There was a brief moment of silence before the two of you burst into a fit of laughter. The walk down the marina dock wasn’t a long one, so you were able to see Sam and Bucky hunched over a pile of scattered parts.

“Uh-huh. No. No.” Sarah’s head began shaking as Sam was arguing with Bucky, who wasn’t paying attention to him. Instead, his eyes were roaming your figure, lingering on your face. His eyes darted to Sam before he greeted the two of you with a wave of his hand.

“I told you specifically that the water pump was not the problem, and yet, here you are.”

“Yep, Samuel.” Bucky teasingly berated, taking Sarah’s side.

“You’re in just as much trouble, you by-stander.” Your voice lilted into a playful tone as Bucky made a shocked face at you.

“In our defense, we were supposed to be done long before you woke up.”

“I don’t come up to the sky to tell you how to barrel roll, so don’t come down here and mess around with things you don’t understand.” Your fist came up to your mouth.

“Oh, that’s a-burn, Bird Brain.” You pointed a finger at Sam, clutching your stomach with your other hand as Sarah swatted the two boys away. Bucky stopped next to you, wrapping his metal arm around the front of your body, delivering a soft kiss to your temple. He left with Sam, arguing the whole way to the house while you stayed with Sarah, reassembling the water pump.

By the time you had gotten back to the Wilson house, Bucky was hauling his backpack strap onto his shoulder. You slowed your approach, holding your open palms in front of you, confused as to what Bucky was doing.

“Where are you going?” He turned to face you, a smile spreading over his face. His metal arm wrapped around your waist again, pressing a kiss to your temple.

“I’m heading to New York, I’ve got some stuff to wrap up there. I want you to come with me.” You were taken aback, what about Karli and the GRC?

“We haven’t finished this whole thing with the Flag Smashers, or Walker. Bucky, we can’t just walk away from our responsibilities.” Bucky’s hands clasped around your shoulders.

“We aren’t, Y/N, I promise. Sam has Torres doing something with some signal do-dads and he’s going to call us the second he gets a lead.” He spoke calmly and you thought it over. At least he wasn’t trying to run away again, he was accepting that he had a real role in this. You could feel a shift coming, you weren’t quite sure what it meant, but you were hoping it was a good one.

“Okay, let’s go to New York.”

The two of you hadn’t even been in New York maybe twenty minutes when Sam texted Bucky that he had a line on where Karli was. Supposedly she was heading a takeover of the GRC meeting in Lower Manhattan. If being in New York as a wanted person was nerve wracking enough, now you were going to be surrounded by hundreds of government officials and some of New York’s finest. Bucky was on the phone with Sam, talking through the plan when your phone buzzed. Pulling the device out of your pocket, you saw Sharon’s name pop up.

“Heard you were having a bit of trouble with Karli again. Don’t worry, help is on the way, dear.” Your eyes rolled, still not over your argument before.

“You don’t need to be here for this Sharon.” You paused for a second, your left hand resting on your hip. “How did you even hear about this? Sam just now called Bucky, and I guarantee that he didn’t call you first.” Sharon chuckled on her end of the phone.

“You underestimate my reach, Y/N. I’ll meet you outside the building.” Your jaw clenched.

“Sharon, you said you didn’t want to help. What the hell changed that you’re so willing to put yourself in the middle of all this shit?” She was silent on her end.

“I figured you would want me there.” Well, shit what the fuck were you supposed to say to that?

“Lower Manhattan, keep quiet.” You hung up the phone before she could say anything else. You hated not talking to her, and being mad at her was next to impossible. This was your way of saying ‘I forgive you,’ and you knew she would understand. Bucky didn’t say anything as he watched you push your phone into the pockets of your jeans. He could tell something was off, but he could also see that you definitely didn’t want to talk about it right now. Instead he jerked his head for you to follow him, leading you through the streets of Manhattan.

The two of you could see the red lights illuminating the streets, letting you know that you were here. Bucky turned to you, holding his hand out to you, a single earpiece laying in the middle of his palm. As you took it, his hand drifted to your jaw, lifting it to face him. He placed a sweet kiss to your lips before nodding for you to stay behind him. You pulled the brim down on the hat you wore as you stuck to Bucky like glue. He led you through the barricade, one of the soldiers addressing him accordingly.

“Sergeant Barnes.” You made a face beneath your cap, holding back a laugh as Bucky came to a stop in front of you.

“Oh, Sergeant Barnes.” Bucky looked at you over his shoulder as his skin twitched. Your eyes widened. “Does that turn you on, James?” He wasn’t able to answer because of an interruption by Sam’s voice in your ears.

“By the way, I called in some backup.” An agent approached the two of you while Sam kept speaking. “Also, please remember that I can hear everything you say, Y/N. And I don’t need to know what makes the Tin Man tick.” You laughed at Sam’s statement as a twinge of pink ran up the back of Bucky’s neck.

“Excuse me, sir. Are you supposed to be here?” The agent’s hand came up to his hairline. A click sounded as the agent’s face began to glitch. “It’s me.”

“Sharon, what the hell are you doing here?” Sharon pointed an accusatory finger at you.

“Why didn’t you say that to her? The same people who want me in the Raft, want her there too. Or did you forget that?”

“Do I hear Sharon?” Sam asked as he listened in on your conversation.

“Unfortunately.” Bucky grumbled back.

“Hey Sam. I thought I’d get the band back together.” She threw a wink at you as she stepped closer to Bucky. Sam said something else to her, but you had zoned out to watch Sharon. “I hear pardons aren’t all they’re cracked up to be anyway.”

“Depends on the therapist.” Bucky said as he backed away from Sharon and closer to you.

“They’re going to move on the building soon. Be ready.” Sam brought you all back to the task at hand, switching into Captain mode. Bucky nodded to you and Sharon.

“Go with her.” You made a face at him, about to protest when he cut you off. “I don’t care. Stick with her, Y/N. Don’t get arrested though. We’ve got a date.” He wrapped his arm around the front of your waist, like he did at the Wilson house. He pressed a kiss to your temple, staying a little longer than necessary and giving your hip a squeeze before he released you. You heard glass break above your head as Sam crashed through one of the windows upstairs.

“You guys are going to have to do something. Don’t let ‘em out of the building.” You walked behind Bucky to enter the building, the metal detector going off for both you and Sharon. You shared a look with the woman.

“Oops.” Bucky pointed at a guard in tactical gear while he stepped forward.

“He’s one of them. I’ll get the evac.” He left before you could stop him, leaving you and Sharon to deal with the man he pointed at. The both of you followed him to the parking garage, where he was standing post next to two black armored vehicles. The two of you were waiting behind a pillar as you debated what to do.

“We need to stop him.”

“If we take him down now, they’re going to be suspicious and we are going to get arrested. Cool your jets, Y/N.” Your nostrils flared at her tone, crossing your arms over your chest.

“Why didn’t you tell Sam you were already coming?”

“What?” Sharon seemed startled by the question as if you didn’t catch the slip Sam said earlier.

“Sam said that he called in backup. I’m assuming he meant you because we’re the only four people he knows. So why didn’t you tell him you were already coming, or already here or whatever?”

“I didn’t think it was important.” She said dismissively, you could tell she wanted you to drop the subject, but you wanted the truth. Throwing a glance up to the guard, you saw him helping the GRC officials into the vans.

“Damn it Bucky, you had one job.” Bucky ran past you, grumbling a response as he loaded his weight onto a motorbike.

“We aren’t done with this, Sharon.” You pointed at her before she walked away from you. You watched as she ran into the guard then apologized profusely to him. When you caught up to her, she clicked a button in her hand, releasing a noxious gas in the guard’s face. You saw his skin being bubbling and sizzling.

“How’d you do that?” Your eyes hadn’t left the man in the car.

“Mercury vapor, amongst other things.” The two of you continued walking out of the garage, a helicopter started taking off from the helipad on the top of the building.

“Sam, that chopper’s about to take off.”

“Bucky!”

“I don’t fly, man. That’s your thing.” Sam groaned in the earpiece and then you saw him shoot out the window again, chasing after the helicopter. You walked alongside Sharon, following Bucky’s path after the NYPD vans. You got to the barricade just in time to see Scruff holding one of the cars back from falling off a ledge. You were too far away to be able to get to him in time to help, though. You stood next to Sharon as he was ripped away from the back of the car. Your heart dropped as your gaze went to Bucky, who was standing directly underneath the car that was about to crush him.

The crowd around you was holding their phones in front of their faces, at an angle that all they could see was the back of the NYPD van full of GRC officials screaming for help. As the car slipped farther and farther down the platform, your stomach churned more and more. Suddenly, the car stopped, hovering over the opening in the ground. You could make out Sam’s new wings on either side of the car. He pushed forward, lifting the car back to a safe position and then moving away, allowing the crowd to see him fully. The star on his suit glinted proudly as he stood still for a second. The crowd erupted in cheers for the savior. A man to your left cheered for ‘Black Falcon,’ but the man beside him corrected him before you had the chance to.

“No. That’s Captain America.” Red Wing left Sam’s suit to undo the locking mechanism on the back of the van and the GRC officials evacuated the vehicle quickly. Sam turned in the air, removing his shield from his back and throwing it at the Flag Smashers below, knocking them off their feet. At some point, you began moving toward the edge of the platform, ready to help and away from Sharon.

An explosion went off to your right, causing you to search for the source. Puffs of smoke were being thrown in the pit where Sam and Bucky stood and you could see Karli getting away in the confusion. Bucky’s voice rang through your ear.

“Hey. We’re underground. We entered the tunnel on William. Heading south.” You searched for Sharon so you could join up again, but you couldn’t find her. You could hear Sam telling Bucky that the Smashers had split up, and you knew that Bucky would’ve gone with Scruff to keep an eye on him, the unstable bastard. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Sharon crouched behind a stack of pallets, and your brows furrowed. She began whistling and then you heard Karli’s voice.

“Dovich? Is that you?” Sharon emerged from behind the stack, holding her gun in front of her.

“I’m disappointed in you.” Karli brought her gun up as well, speaking to Sharon as an old friend.

“That’s what I was gonna say.” Sharon brought her hands up in surrender, and your head tilted, what the fuck is going on? “You know, when you first came to Madripoor, you reminded me of a young me. I took you in, gave you an opportunity, and you betrayed me.” Oh hell no.

“Because you wanted to control a world that hurt you.” Karli lowered her gun but all her senses remained in overdrive. “But I wanted to change it. I’m not interested in power or an empire. I have bigger dreams.” Sharon scoffed, looking around, her eyes darting over where you were hidden behind a stack of boxes. Could it really be? Was Sharon really the person that you thought you knew?

“What, like this?” She stepped closer to Karli. “Come back and work for me again. All of you. We can make a difference together.” Sharon was trying really hard to convince Karli, but she wasn’t having it.

“You just want me because you need your muscle back. Without us Super Soldiers, how much power does the Power Broker really have?” Motherfucker. You zoned out a bit, trying to decide what to do. A male voice began speaking in French causing you to refocus.

“Four times, or--” You could see Batroc’s gun pointed at Karli and Sharon’s face was indifferent.

“I don’t do blackmail.” Sharon gripped her gun tighter, raising it quickly to shoot Batroc. Karli panicked and shot Sharon in the process. The gunshots were loud enough to give Sam an idea of where you were all located. You came out from your position, gun gripped in your hand as you stood closer to Sharon. Maybe you could salvage this situation before Sam got here.

“Karli, calm down.” You kept a tight hold on your pistol as you talked. “Look, I get it. You’re scared, but I’m going to need you to put the gun down.”

“I’ll put mine down when you do.” You could hear a slight shake in her voice. You tilted your head at her apologetically.

“You know I can’t do that.” You cast a glance at Sharon who was clutching her stomach, attempting to stop the blood flow. Karli gulped as she raised her gun again.

“Well, I can’t have any loose ends now, can I? You taught me that, Power Broker.” She sneered at a groaning Sharon. A blinding pain began radiating from your shoulder and your hand immediately when to the area. The force of the bullet knocked you off your feet, slamming your head into the ground.

“Shit, what the fuck Karli!” You could make out Sam’s figure coming up from behind Karli. You saw him process Karli standing over one dead body and two injured ones. The wheels began turning and he started speaking.

“So, what’s next, huh? You kill ten this time, then, what, a hundred? Where does it end?” He stepped closer to an agitated Karli. “Please, let me help you.” He kept his voice calm.

“Don’t try and manipulate me.” Karli approached Sam ready to attack. Their fight continued as she pushed Sam backwards.

“I’m not gonna fight you!” She knocked Sam down to the ground, with the swing of a metal bar.

“Stay down!” She shouted at him. You pushed yourself to your knees, adrenaline pumping allowing you to get to Sharon to help hold pressure on her stomach. You watched from over Sharon as Sam rose to his feet, holding his body in a fighting stance.

“I can do this all day.” She launched herself at Sam, throwing his body back into a bunch of cinder blocks. Sam held his shield in front of him, protecting from her punches.

“Fight back!” She shouted as she delivered blow after blow. Sam ducked low, grabbing onto her torso, using his thrusters to send the both of them flying. Karli used the momentum to push off the ground, to bring Sam up to the ceiling. You sat back on your knees, worry lacing your features.

Sam held one of her hands to his chest as she continued throwing the other into his shield. She gripped the top edge of the shield, using it to gain leverage. She pulled her hand away from his chest, tossing his body forward. The shield slipped from Sam’s arm and he laid on the ground, recovering from her attacks. Karli leant down to pick up her gun and you pushed yourself to your feet, ready to tackle her.

She raised her gun, aiming it at a now shieldless Sam. Karli hesitated, staring at Sam before committing to her cause, ready to kill Captain America. You were steadily creeping forward as she debated, but you could see the moment she decided to pull the trigger. Just before she could, a gunshot sounded from behind you. A gasp left your lips as Sam ran to hold Karli.

Your head whipped around to see Sharon leaning against the stack behind her, gun still smoking. Sharon shook her head at you as she holstered her weapon. Sam lifted Karli into his arms and carried her away from the both of you. You stood a good three feet away from Sharon, hand on your gun in the waistband of your jeans.

“When were you going to tell me that you’re the Power Broker.”

“What the hell are you on about now, Y/N.” Your brows raised and your mouth opened in shock.

“I was fucking here when Karli was talking to you, dumbass. Is that why you shot her? ‘Can’t have any loose ends,’ she said you taught her that, Sharon. What the fuck?” Sharon laughed at you.

“You’re imagining things, Y/N.” She rose to her feet and began walking away from you.

“Sharon, don’t fuck with me right now. How long have you been the fucking Power Broker?” You followed her up the tunnel and out to where you could see Sam lecturing a Senator. Sneaking around to a medical bag, you grabbed two pieces of gauze.

“I’m not the Power Broker.” Sharon rolled her eyes at you, leaning against a car behind the ambulances. You were about to say something else when you saw Bucky and Sam approach the two of you. They took in the two of you, an angry look on your face and an annoyed one on hers.

“You’re blocking my light.” Sharon bit out to Sam.

“We got to get you to a hospital.” Sam told Sharon as Bucky walked up to you, pulling your gauze away from your shoulder, checking your bullet wound.

“It’s through and through and you know they aren’t going to listen to you.”

“It’s not the worst thing that’s happened to me all week.” Your eyes glared at Sharon as you spoke. How long has she been doing this behind your back? Someone called for Sam’s attention.

“I think he’s talking to you.” Sharon said, turning away from the newcomer’s view. “Look, I’m sorry for how things ended down there.” Your jaw clenched but you remained silent. “For what it’s worth, the suit looks good on you.” She played a good victim, that’s for sure.

“Alright, can we get out of here, please?” Bucky wrapped his arm around your waist, leading you away from the ambulances and news cameras.

“I didn’t forget my promise either, guys.” Sam nodded at the two of you before turning to do his Cap duties. Bucky remained silent beside you, content with just being in your presence again.

He led you to his apartment, bringing you to the bathroom where he pulled out a first aid kit. He placed it on the countertop, placing his hands on your hips and lifting you onto the granite.

“You’re gonna need to take your shirt off.” He flipped the top of the kit open, searching for what he needed.

“Trying to get me naked already? At least take me to dinner first, Sergeant.” You winked as you peeled your shirt off. Bucky glared at you then quickly looked at your shoulder.

“This is going to hurt, just so you know.” He didn’t give you time to say anything else before starting to clean the hole in your shoulder. You hissed as stings radiated from the wound, cursing under your breath as he blew on it. “Alright, here we go.”  Bucky began stitching, returning your body to its former glory in his eyes. “How’d you managed to get shot?”

“I was attempting to get Karli to drop her gun.” You debated on telling Bucky what you learned about Sharon. “Who do you think the Power Broker is?” You asked gauging his reaction. His attention never wavered from his task. He soon finished with the front side of your shoulder, backing away and telling you to face the mirror. Bucky leaned forward, his hips pressing against your ass as he set to work on the exit wound.

“I have my theories. What about you?” You looked at the granite below, tracing the different lines, not answering for a few minutes.

“Mm, not really.” Was it naive to keep the knowledge to yourself? Probably, but this way you could deal with Sharon on your own and not have to involve Captain America.

“Y/N. You lived there for years, you’re telling me that you never encountered the Power Broker? Never worked for him before, procuring a particular art piece?” You shook your head as you felt him start to wrap your shoulder.

“No, I made sure that all my dealings were as clean as the illegal art trade could be.” Bucky nodded, closing the first aid kit and placing it back under the sink. He walked out of the bathroom and into his kitchen, pulling out a bottle of Advil. He shook two tablets into his metal hand and gave them to you along with a water bottle from the fridge.

“Take these and then go lay down. You need to sleep so your body can heal.” You could tell something was bothering him. You reached out to grasp his metal wrist.

“Hey, what’s wrong? Hmm?”

“Nothing. I’ve just got something to do.” You nodded.

“Do you want me to come with you?” His head shook back and forth in denial.

“No, I need to do this alone. I’ll be back soon. Whenever I get back you better be asleep in that bed.” He pointed at the door to his room. He walked up next to you, wrapping his arm around the front of your waist and giving you a kiss on your temple. “I’ll be back, doll. I’ve just got a few things to wrap up.”

He left soon after, leaving you alone in his barren apartment. It was easy to see that he hadn’t made it his home. Probably feeling like he had no reason to, no ties to anyone here. Makes it easier when you have to bug out in a pinch. You walked into his room, searching for a shirt to wear to bed. Finding one of his shirts hanging in his closet, you pulled it over your head after removing your bra. You took off your jeans, trading them for your sleep shorts from your bag.

You climbed into his bed, waiting for his scent to envelope you, but it never came. Has he ever actually slept in this bed? So you laid there, unable to fall asleep, too many thoughts swirling in your brain. How long has Sharon been the Power Broker? Did it start when you first got to Madripoor? Or was it after you were dusted and she was there alone for five years? None of this changed the fact that she needed to be stopped. The amount of influence she had was too great. Your phone buzzed on the nightstand next to the bed, so you rolled over to pick it up.

Court hearing with the Senators tomorrow at 8 A.M. for you. -Sam

You thought about the possibility of being welcome back into your own country and not being treated like a criminal. Thought of the possibility of going to work for the government again. Of working with Bucky and Sam. Of being with Bucky without having to look over your shoulder all the time, and it made you smile. Your phone buzzing brought you out of your trance.

Also, you and Bucky need to come to my house tomorrow. Sarah’s throwing a party, they got the boat finished so we’re celebrating.

That made your smile grow, you were happy for the first time in a long time. The lock of the front door clicked and you jumped out of the bed, grabbing your knife, ready for an attack. You waited behind the door to Bucky’s bedroom, then swung it open. Your hand came up to the intruder's throat and your mind switched out of attack dog mode when you saw Bucky’s raised brow.

“Is there a reason for this?” His eyes were red and he had tear stains on his cheeks. You flipped your knife back down and placed it on top of your jeans.

“Sorry. Are you okay, James?” He shook his head and you opened your arms to him. He walked into your embrace, before exhaling harshly into your uninjured shoulder.

“No, but I will be.” He backed away for a second, taking in your form. “Didn’t I tell you that you were supposed to be asleep when I got back? Also, is that my shirt?”

“Yes, you did and yes, it is. Do you have an issue with that, Sergeant?” He quickly shook his head back and forth, leaning down to pick you up by your thighs and tossing you onto his bed.

“Not at all, doll. You look better in it than I do.” He smiled at you as he stripped down to his boxers before climbing into bed with you. Bucky tossed his arm over your waist, pulling your body into his. He sighed contentedly, basking in the way you smelled.

“Sam got me a hearing for a pardon.”

“Oh yeah? When’s that?” Bucky’s voice was muffled because he had buried his face in your neck, peppering small pecks there.

“Tomorrow morning at nine. Are you going to come?” Bucky thought on it for a moment, before shaking his head.

“I have one more thing to take care of.” You nodded.

“They got the boat fixed and Sarah invited us to the party. Sam says we have to go, it’s tomorrow too. I don’t actually know what time though he didn’t say.”

“Alright, I’ll pick something up to bring after I finish my thing.” You turned to face him, a smirk plastered on your face.

“So, Sergeant does it for you?” You giggled as he groaned and removed his arm from your waist. His hand came up to run through his hair, scratching his head

“Are we doing this right now, Y/N?” You released a cackle of a laugh, nodding in response. “Oh that’s how you’re gonna play this?” He attacked your sides, beginning to tickle you causing you to react accordingly. Somehow, he managed to end up on top of you, in between your thighs. He stopped suddenly to watch as you writhed and giggled.

“What?” You started getting self-conscious, afraid that there was something on your face. Your hands came up to hide your face from him, but Bucky wasn’t having it. He took your hands away from your face by trapping your wrists beside your head. “What? Why are you doing that?” You questioned, only halfway serious.

“You’re just so pretty.” He leaned forward, his lips meeting yours in a gentle kiss that soon turned into something else. His hands traveled back down to your sides, resting on the bare skin showing from your shirt having ridden up. The temperature difference shocked you enough to make you gasp, giving Bucky the perfect opportunity to slip his tongue in your mouth, escalating the situation.

Your hands came up to the back of his head, holding him in the kiss, guaranteeing that he wasn’t going anywhere. They made their way down his body to rest on his shirtless back. He pushed forward with his hips, the fabric separating the two of you becoming increasingly annoying. Bucky pulled back slightly, nudging you to open your eyes. There was a silent interaction between the two of you in that moment, neither of you was ready for anything intense, so the momentum slowed, but the energy level remained.

Bucky’s hands never left your body that night. Exploring and memorizing every ridge, every stretch mark, every piece of you that made you, you. You drifted your fingers over the scarred skin next to his arm, tiny feather touches that made him hum. Falling asleep in his arms was the easiest thing you ever had to do. And for Bucky, being able to hold you as you flutter asleep was beautiful. He watched as your face relaxed and all the tension left your body, allowing yourself to melt into his embrace. Bucky didn’t like to admit it, but he was a touch starved human being. All those years in and out of cryo and isolation gave his body plenty of reason to crave genuine human touch. And to have a human as charming and annoying as you was a dream come true, his doll.

You woke up before Bucky the next morning. You looked over at his face, tranquility lacing his features, unburdened with no glorious purposes. He was just your James. The two of you had separated sometime during the night, so you scooted closer to his frame. His metal arm is thrown across the pillow behind your head, giving you perfect access to his neck and chest. You glanced at the clock across the room, the hands telling you that it was seven thirty in the morning. If you wake him now, you could have at least thirty-five minutes of bliss, plus some heavy petting if you both were feeling cheeky.

You leaned forward towards his neck, placing tiny kisses from the base of his ear to the puckered skin of his shoulder. You were so focused on your task that you didn’t recognize the change in his breathing pattern.

“Good morning, doll.” If you could melt into the mattress, that would’ve done it. His fucking rasp grated you into a fine powder of a human. You hummed at him, not stopping your kisses, instead climbing up to his jaw and then to his lips. He turned his head and playfully laughed. “Nuh-uh, we’ve got morning breath, ya nasty.” You groaned, retreating from his figure completely.

“Fine, we will brush our teeth together and then come right back to this bed and you will love me, damn it.” Bucky laughed at you as you drug yourself into his bathroom. This was the type of bliss you wanted, and you only wanted to share it with a particular metal armed super soldier. It didn’t take long to brush your teeth, and you pushed on Bucky’s back to get him into the bed quicker. When he did get back into the bed, he was grumbling.

“I don’t know why we’re getting back in bed, we’re already up now.” He smiled as you glared at him. Bucky’s back was leaned against his headboard, so you swung your leg over his thighs, straddling his lower half. His hands rested on your waist as you brought yours up to the sides of his face.

“You frustrate me.” You said with a loving smile and tone before pecking his lips softly as he laughed. “What time do you have to leave for your thing?” You played with the strings of your sleep shorts as he answered you.

“Around eight-thirty, it takes me about thirty minutes to get there and it doesn’t open until nine.”

“I’m gonna be leaving around then, too. What do you wear when you’re going in front of senators to be pardoned for stealing a metal frisbee?” Bucky huffed a laugh, pulling you closer to him wrapping his arms around your back. “I’m thinking a crop top that says “Fuck You,” would that be too obvious?”

“Yeah, that one might be a little on the nose.” Bucky checked your shoulder as he spoke. “Your shoulder looks good, no infection, thanks to me.” He plastered a wide smile on his face afterwards. “Do you know what time Sharon’s hearing is?” You stiffened slightly at the mention of Sharon.

“Uh, no. Sam just told me my time and I haven’t talked to Sharon.” Bucky’s head tilted.

“Everything okay on that front?”

“Not really?” You went back and forth on what to tell him. You didn’t want to give him the extra burden of knowing what Sharon was. “We had a fight a few days ago and neither one of us has cooled off about it, so that’s a bit rocky.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” You shook your head, so Bucky just held you tighter. “Okay, you don’t have to.” He held you for a few more minutes, before backing away. “Alright we need to get ready.” You groaned, slackening your body, making everything about you dead weight.

“No. I don’t wanna.” You sounded like a child.

“You sound like a child.” Oh you whore, get out of my head, butt munch. Bucky said, pushing your body off his. He walked to his closet as you laid spread out like a starfish on his bed. Bucky had already picked out a shirt and put on pants whenever he walked back in and you were still laid on his bed.

“You’re gonna be late.” He leaned over your head, appearing to you upside down. His arms were resting on either side of your face, dropping down he pressed a kiss to your lips. “You’ve got to get up, Y/N.” He went to the other end of the bed, where your feet dangled off the edge. He grabbed your ankles and pulled you, you slid off the bed, taking the comforter with you. “Oh my god, this is pitiful, Y/N. You’re a grown woman!” Bucky shouted at you as he left the room.

The two of you parted ways after you got dressed, but not before Bucky wrapped his arm around the front of your waist and placed a kiss on your temple. You wondered why he did that so much, but you weren’t going to argue with the attention because you loved it. You walked up to the extravagant building that was bustling with people. Everything was white, you always wondered why that was. White represented innocence and America was anything but innocence. You ended up wearing your casual clothes for two reasons. One, you were being pardoned, why couldn’t you be comfortable for that? And two, you had somewhere to go after this and that was just as important as this court meeting to you. Walking into the courtroom, you took in all the faces in the seats. Your name was called immediately, so you approached the podium.

“Ms. Y/L/N, on behalf of the United States Intelligence Community, I’d like to offer you and your family our sincerest apologies.” You wanted to scoff, but you bit your tongue. “You’ve always been an incredible asset to our country. Today, we begin to set things right. We begin to repay some of the debt that is owed to you.” You bowed your head.

“Thank you, Senator. It’s been a long time coming.” You could see the Senator’s jaw clench, not used to being brushed off.

“And we’d like to offer you a full pardon. There might be an opening in your old division. Is that something that you’d be interested in?”

“Actually, Senator. I would like to thank you for that opportunity, but no. I’ll be working with Captain America.” The man’s whole body seemed to twitch.

“You aren’t authorized to make that kind of decision, Ms. Y/L/N.” This time you did scoff.

“Yeah, okay. Well thanks for the pardon.” You tapped the podium twice, leaning to walk away. “This has been great, I really feel like we’ve both said our peace. See ya later, Senator.” You walked out as you heard him calling your name. You pulled your phone out, dialing Bucky’s number.

“Hey doll! How’d court go?” You started walking to where you and Bucky had planned to meet after you got done with your respective tasks.

“Oh great! I’m working with Cap now.” You could almost see Bucky’s face.

“Wow, how’d you manage that?” You smirked.

“I can be very persuasive when I want to be, James.”

“Oh is that so, Y/N?” You could hear his smirk as he spoke. “Maybe you’ll have to be persuasive with me one day.” You laughed.

“James, I don’t have to be persuasive with you.” You caught sight of Bucky walking down the street with a store-bought cake in his hand. You held up your pinky finger wiggling it for emphasis, “I’ve got you wrapped around my finger.”

By the time you got to the marina that docked Paul & Darlene, you were buzzing with excitement. Bucky was giggling at your antics, you were practically bouncing in the passenger seat. As soon as Bucky got out of the car, Cas and AJ latched onto him. He went along with them, playing as if he was going to slam the cake into their faces. You walked past Bucky, hugging everyone who greeted you. Once you reached Sarah, you sat down on the picnic table for a second before taking off again. You stood to the side as you watched Sam take picture after picture with pretty much everyone from town.

Bucky stood next to you, chuckling about everyone’s reaction to Cap being from their hometown. One woman almost knocked Sam flat on his ass when she hugged him, a huge smile stretched over her face. You went back to the table Sarah was at, taking a seat next to her. Suddenly Bucky climbed on top of the table, holding his vibranium arm out with two children dangling off it. He was talking animatedly with his other as he told a story about Sam. You had zoned out just staring at him with the kids.

“You know, this could be you.” Sarah said as she leaned next to your ear.

“What could be?” You made a face at her.

“The kids, the community.” She looked over at Bucky, “That hunk of a man over there.” You slapped her shoulder softly before humming.

“I’ve thought about it, but that’s a two person decision and I don’t think either of us are at a point in our lives to raise another tiny human.” Sarah nodded, her features disbelieving.

“Just don’t let that one get away.” Her finger was pointed at Bucky who was playing with the kids at the edge of the dock. Bucky must’ve felt your gaze on him because he looked up, removing his dark sunglasses to lock eyes with you.

“Oh I don’t plan on it.” You smiled at her. You joined Bucky and Sam as they stood in front of Paul & Darlene, taking in the sunset reflecting on the water. Bucky wrapped his arm around your waist, pressing a kiss to your temple. You definitely don’t plan on it, you thought to yourself as you leaned into his embrace.

**********************

@londonalozzy @marvelofwitch @dramaticwittch @hellmoonsin @jn-wolf @youcancallmeishita @iabrokengirl @veroxloki @liveloudwriteloud @lainternettuale @angelofthetrenchcoats @rosiahills22 @peachymichu @sj-ficrecs @learisa @itsyagirl01 @simply-me-xoxo @ghoststudyy @taina-eny @japanrecs @sinfulhun-collapsedheart @isaordora @shutupstevie @sprsoldierfics @beachbabe925 @afuckingshituniverse @distinguishedgardenroadbonk @littlewhiterose @bcadc42 @tcc-gizmachine @imagines78643258 @mia-j-333

[ukeishin]

⊹ skin and bones.

note: ig makki deserves love or whatever 🙄🙄

inspired by this headcanon from @/mintmatcha.

ft. hanamaki takahiro.

wc: 1.1k

warning: gn!reader, insecurities, body image issues, hurt/comfort, timeskip!spoilers

Hanamaki is comfortable with himself. He’s confident for the most part and knows how to play to his strengths. He has a good sense of humor, so he likes to think and so he’s been told. He takes pride in the fact that it’s easy for him to spark laughter from others. He doesn’t let things affect him too much, never one to linger on events that have occurred in the past or fret over all the possibilities that the future holds.

But like every other person, Hanamaki has his weaknesses and insecurities. He’s just better at hiding it than most.

He knows he’s not the most attractive person ever, but that’s not to say Hanamaki necessarily dislikes how he looks. It’s just being friends with Oikawa, Matsukawa, and Iwaizumi in high school took its toll on him.

Objectively, Hanamaki knows his friends are attractive. He’s not blind. Oikawa had a whole fan club for fuck’s sake, but Matsukawa and Iwaizumi had their fair share of admirers as well. Hearing people talk about how everyone in your friend group is hot besides you doesn’t exactly boost one’s confidence. Hanamaki can’t recall how many times he thought a girl liked him, just for her to not so subtly ask if he could hook her up with one of his friends.

And that feeling stuck with Hanamaki even after he moved on from high school and graduated from college and met you. Standing in front of the mirror in your shared bathroom, Hanamaki’s body comes under scrutiny. His body’s changed a lot from high school. He’s put on some weight, evident by the slight pudge of his stomach and arms. His friends still look as great as ever, he thinks bitterly to himself. Oikawa’s a fucking pro-athlete while Iwaizumi’s an athletic trainer and Matsukawa? Well, Matsukawa’s Matsukawa.

“What are you doing Hiro?” Your gentle question has Hanamaki swiveling around to look at you. You’re leaning against the frame of the door, head tilted with a soft, knowing look on your face.

Hanamaki’s quick to slip on the t-shirt he has clutched in between his hands. “Was just checking myself out. You know, admiring my beauty?” He jokes, hoping that you won’t comment on what you saw. He thought you would still be out right now, catching up with one of your friends who you haven’t seen in a while. He must have spent more time looking in the mirror than he thought if you were home already.

“Hiro.” You place a hand on his arm, preventing him from putting on his shirt the rest of the way. “Can you take your shirt off for me, baby?”

He pauses. Slowly, Hanamaki inches his shirt up over his head and peels it off. He tenses underneath your light touch. Your palms hover over his chest before you reach up to entwine your fingers together behind his neck.

“Babe, if you wanted to see me naked all you had to do was ask,” Hanamaki jests, trying to lighten the mood.

“You’re beautiful, Hiro.”

Hanamaki isn’t quick enough to suppress the disbelieving scoff that escapes from his lips. Your brows furrow upon hearing the noise, prompting you to look at your boyfriend’s face, who’s pointedly looking away from you.

“Hiro, you know I love you, right?” Your hands slip from behind his neck to rest against his smooth cheeks. You gently tilt his head until he’s looking in your direction.

“Course I do. I love you too,” he quietly replies. Despite the situation, you can’t help the way your lips slope up into a small smile. You’re sure that you’ll never grow tired of hearing Hanamaki say those words.

“And since I love you that means I love you in your entirety. Your perceived flaws and all.” Hanamaki’s hands on your hips tighten, his nails digging almost painfully through the fabric of your shirt, but you don’t pay attention to the slight pain. Your attention is wholly devoted to the man in front of you, who you only wish could see himself the way you do.

Because to you, Hanamaki Takahiro is not perfect in the slightest.

He’s messy, always forgetting to tuck his shoes neatly in the designated spot by the door and leaving a trail of dirty laundry around your home more often than not. When you try and reprimand him about it, he only offers you a sheepish grin that looks completely unrepentant while telling you it won’t happen again. (It does happen again. And again. And again.)

He’s loud. When you’re attempting to get work done in the room that the two of you have designated as your office, you can still hear him playing his video games in the living room even if the door is closed. It’s irritating when all you want is peace and quiet so you can get some shit done and you can hear your boyfriend cursing out his friends for “sucking ass.”

But the thing is, even if Hanamaki isn’t perfect, which you never expected of him, you still love him completely.

Because Hanamaki’s considerate. Whenever you’re in a group and others drown out your voice, whether knowingly or unknowingly, and you’re left thinking that you’re better off just not speaking at all, Hanamaki is there by your side, prompting you to continue your thought. Because even if no one else wants to listen to what you have to say, you know that Hanamaki does, no matter how pointless you may believe it is.

He makes your day so much better without even realizing it. The countless dumb memes he sends throughout the day make you giggle and snort and shake your head, wondering how Hanamaki has such a large collection of cursed memes, seemingly for every possible occasion. And even though they’re dumb and stupid, they make you laugh and remind you that Hanamaki’s thinking of you.

And he’s so beautiful to you. You can feel the skepticism and doubt radiating off of his form, but Hanamaki is truly beautiful in ways that you cannot fathom. The smattering of freckles that litter his skin, the unbelievably pinkish hue of his hair, the soft curves of his arms and legs and stomach - you love it all.

Because you love him.

“I’m going to list some of the reasons I love you so much. Not all, because then we’d be standing here for an eternity.” That earns you a snort from Hanamaki. It’s not much, but you’re glad to see that his shoulders have relaxed the slightest bit. He pulls you closer until your chests are flush together and his forehead is touching yours.

“I think I can spare the time to listen.”

tagging: @babyworld.