#not that i'm complaining i'm just surprised by how frequently it's been happening

[jichanxo]

(points vaguely in the direction of everyone who posts/reblogs kimutaku around me) i hope you know since joining this website i've had 8 separate dreams involving kimura takuya. eight.

[littlelou22]

you’re my sunshine | joel miller x fem!reader

summary: you and joel are polar opposites. you are sunshine while he is cloudy. but you’re his sunshine and he doesn’t quite know how to handle that.

warnings: insecure!joel, undefined age gap (reader is in 20s, joel is canon age), judgy ass jackson people

word count: 2.5k

divider credit: @saradika

requested: yes by the lovely and inspiring @pedgeitopascal 🫶🏻 find it here

a/n: second fic, lets gooooo. requests are open, so drop one if you would like (i'm still new at this so i may not do all of them, just trying to get back into writing first)

The people of Jackson were stumped by the three newcomers. 

Well, more specifically, they were stumped by you.

They didn’t understand how someone like you came along with the man and the girl.

There was Ellie. Even though she is only fourteen, the girl was wise beyond her years. A young girl that possessed the vocabulary of a sailor. Rough around the edges. Strong willed, incredibly witty, and as sarcastic as one could possibly be. 

There was Joel. A man hardened by the cards that life seemed to have dealt him, emotionally stunted, and just plain grumpy. Borderline rude to the members of the community, apart from his brother and sister in law. Over cautious of each and every person in the community.

And then there was you.

A woman who embodies the word sunshine. An optimist. The type to always lend a hand whenever needed. Smiles constantly adoring your face. You can find good in any situation, even during the apocalypse.

So it came as a surprise when the community found out that you were dating the grumpy old man.

If someone had asked when you and Joel had gotten together, you wouldn’t know what to tell them. You don’t know how or when it happened, it just was. It had always been. 

The two of you met a few years prior. Tess insisted that they needed another partner, a younger woman to attract a different type of customer. At first, Joel didn’t care. If that’s what the girl would do, then that was that. But when Tess brought you home, it shifted for him. He couldn’t stand the thought of the men in the QZ doing business with someone as sweet as you. As pure as you.

So he looked out for you and in turn, you did the same. Quick hellos turned into small talk which turned into conversations. A pickup turned into a hangout which turned into you going to sleep in his bed every night. It just happened.

You were Joel’s and he was yours. It was simple.

Simple to you, at least. You loved him, it was obvious to anyone around you. You looked at him as if he was the center of the universe. You told him as much, as frequently as he would allow you to. It didn’t bother you too much that he never said it back. Regardless of the small and doubting voices in your head, you knew he felt the same. 

Joel, even after years with you by your side, still didn’t quite understand how someone like you could be with someone like him. How someone like him could deserve to be with someone like you. After everything he had done before you, everything he had done to protect you. 

But you were. And it isn’t that Joel is complaining, because he is not, he just doesn’t know what to do about it. How to act around you in public with the prying (and equally as confused as him) eyes.

Everywhere the two of you went, the eyes followed. The thoughts of the community consumed Joel’s mind. He knew what they thought of him, hell, what they thought about Ellie. And while he couldn’t stand how they viewed his surrogate daughter, he understood why they viewed him.

He wasn’t kind like you. He didn’t acclimate like how you did. He didn’t offer his skills to better the community. He avoided going to the movie nights unlike you, who embraced the chance to mingle with the community. 

Joel didn’t miss the way the people would shy away from you whenever he would approach. How their conversation would abruptly end with a forced goodbye, as if Joel was an intruder to his own relationship.

As the time went by, Joel began to doubt himself. How could someone like you want to be with him? With a past like his? He wasn’t worthy of your attention. Of your time. Of your love. 

Hell, Joel couldn’t even bring himself to tell you that he loved you. Even after all the years you’ve spent together. He did, he loved you more than he ever thought was possible after Sarah died. He just didn’t know how to tell you.

Joel wasn’t a man of words, he was a man of action. He showed you that he loved you. Whether it was fixing you your favorite tea in the morning or building bookshelves for the many books you’ve found on patrol, he showed his love through acts of service. 

But he was beginning to doubt that it was enough for you.

It started at the Tipsy Bison. Joel had promised to help Tommy repair one of the decks to a house. You weren’t much help with a task like this, to your dismay, so you had wandered off to town with the promise of meeting the brothers when they had finished for the night. 

Ellie opted to stay back at the house, feigning sickness. You could see right through her act but knew how the girl had been struggling since arriving in Jackson. How she had been struggling before the three of you even got here. So, in spite of Joel’s obvious displeasure, you granted her the solace that she was silently requesting.

You were sitting at the bar with a group of women, discussing the upcoming holiday and how the town would celebrate it, when the Miller brothers made their appearance in the establishment. 

And while your smile grew at the sight of your man, the women around you seemed to tense. As Joel approached you, the conversation faded into quiet murmurs.

“Hi babe,” you greeted as he stopped in front of your stool. You watched as his cheeks flushed at the pet name, the smile you wore only growing. “You and Tommy finish the deck?”

“Not yet,” Joel responded, hand rubbing at the back of his neck. He nodded to the women surrounding you, only receiving a tight lipped smile back in response. “Got too dark and Maria needed him home.”

“The girls and I were just talking about how we could convince Tommy to dress up as Santa for the kids this year. Wouldn’t that be sweet?” You were excited about the idea, evident by the happiness lighting up your face.

“The sweetest,” Joel replied, shifting foot to foot under the watchful eyes of the women around you.

As you filled Joel in on the other plans for the upcoming celebration, the three other women that you had been planning with watched the interaction. It was almost comical to Joel – he was labeled as the rude one, yet these women were looking back and forth between the two of you with obvious confusion. Suspicion towards Joel. And, if Joel was reading it right, one of them was wearing a shade of disgust. 

Joel knew he wasn’t the best type of person in the world but to be looked at with disgust seemed a bit too far for him.

“Joel?” Your voice startled him from his thoughts. You had slipped your coat on before beginning to rise from the barstool you had been perched upon. “You ready to get back home? I want to make sure Ellie is okay.”

With a smile and a wave, you bid the ladies a goodbye before turning to your boyfriend. You watched as he forced a nod at them before he began to make his way towards the exit. Falling into step with him, you slip your hand into his coat pocket, lacing your fingers along his with a squeeze. Eyes on his face as you watch him let out a shuddering breath, shoulders tensing even more than they usually were.

You may be an optimist that sees the best in not only every person that you encounter but in the world as well, even if it is a fucked up mess thanks to the cordyceps. You may be a cheerful person with a smile on your face more often than not, even in the face of danger. But you weren’t stupid.

And you certainly weren’t blind.

You saw how the people in Jackson treated Joel. How they looked down upon him. He may not be totally involved in the community, but he helped where he could and when he could. The people of this town operated on favors, but it was hard to fulfill one for someone when you were on patrol as much as Joel was.

Everyone took rotations, yourself included. But Joel took it a step further. Maybe it was his incessant need to protect Ellie and yourself, maybe it was his nature. Or maybe it was just what he thought he could best provide to the community for. Joel was outside the wall more than he was inside of it, patrolling new and old areas alike to ensure the community’s safety. Going on what seemed like endless supply runs to restock any medication, materials, and other things that anyone could potentially even need.

Not only did you see everything Joel did for the community, even if they couldn’t share that view, but you saw how Joel treated Ellie. How he treated you.

How he wasn’t good with words or how he didn’t know how to show affection. But you knew, regardless of if he put it into words, how much he loved his two girls.

You knew he loved the two of you through the surprises he would bring back from patrol for the two of you. Whether it was a book you had mentioned liking in your childhood or hunting down every last remaining can of Chef Boyardee for Ellie, he showed you. Whether it was the old guitar he had traded to get for Ellie on her birthday or the singular flower he would pick for you ‘just because’, he showed you.

But regardless of the bountiful thanks you both had given him, you can see the doubt pooling in his eyes. The disappointment eating away at him at the thought of not being able to give the two of you more. The constant guilt of his past actions. You knew what he thought of himself and you knew that he didn’t think he could ever deserve you.

You just didn’t share that opinion.

So when you hear the women you were previously conversing with snickering about your boyfriend as you walk towards the exit, something snapped within you.

Slipping your hand from his, you practically march your way back to the women, leaving a perplexed Joel behind, watching from the door of the restaurant. Watching as your hand smacks onto the bar top in front of them, leaning over to sneer at each of them. You didn’t get like this often, preferring kindness, but when you did, Joel couldn’t help but gawk at you.

“You may think you know him,” your voice is as cold as your glare. “But you couldn’t even begin to understand the type of person that Joel is. Might I remind you that none of you have been on the other side of that wall, so you truly have no idea what he does every damn day to make sure that you can sit here on your asses and gossip like small town bitches.”

The women before you go silent, jaws dropping at your words. They hadn’t expected someone like you to snap. But the people of Jackson, especially those that were not on patrol rotation, had no idea what it was like on the outside. You had to do what you had to do, regardless of your sunny disposition. Just because you were usually radiating positivity didn’t mean you wouldn’t bite back when necessary.

You take their lack of a response as an answer. “Next time you want to judge someone based on their first impression, maybe try to understand what they’ve been through to get to this point first. If you went through even a fraction of the shit that the three of us went through to get here, you’d actually think before you spoke.”

“That’s not what we meant–”

“Then what did you mean by the constant glares? The whispering when you think no one can hear you? Running away the second you see him?” You raise your eyebrows at them, challenging them to respond. “Please tell me what you meant, I’m sure you had a great reason.”

Their mouths opened and closed, searching for the words but found none. Still in shock over your outburst.

“That’s what I thought. Let’s keep this from happening again, yeah?” With that, you turn and head towards the door. As you pass Joel, you grab his hand and tug him outside. Once outside, you take a deep breath of fresh air, halting in your steps in effort to calm down your racing thoughts.

“W-What was that?” He asks, equally as stunned as the women that got told off by you.

You shrug. “I don’t like the way they talk about you. Or about Ellie.”

Joel shakes his head, crossing his arms over his chest as he stands in front of you. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“I wanted to,” you answer simply. “I know how it affects you. How you think about yourself as is. They only make it worse and that’s not okay with me.”

“You can’t blame them,” Joel sighs, rubbing his gloved hand down his face. “They aren’t wrong.”

“They are wrong, baby,” you tug his hands from his face, replacing them with your own by cupping his cheeks. “You have no idea how far from the truth they are, how far you are.”

You thumb his cheeks, a small smile playing on your lips as you think about him. “I know you don’t view yourself in the brightest light, Joel, but you are everything to me. You and Ellie are the best things in my life, I wouldn’t trade the two of you for anything in the world. I would do anything, say anything to make sure that you know how much you mean to me.”

His eyes are glassy as his hands slowly make their way to your wrists, swallowing hard at your words. You know he struggles to hear it, to hear any sort of praise that would go against his thoughts.

“You’re a man of action, not a man of words,” you whisper. “Let me show you how much I love you.”

Leaning up on your tiptoes, you press your lips to his. Joel stiffens, not used to the public display of attention. You hold firm, sliding your hands off his cheeks to wrap around his neck in an effort to pull him closer to you. After a moment, you feel him relax, hands shifting to your hips as he molds his lips against yours.

The two of you stay entangled in each other for a few more moments, lips dancing with one other. With one last peck, Joel pulls back, eyes shining as he takes your swollen lips and flushed skin. He looks at you in wonder, thumb brushing against your bottom lip.

“I love you too,” Joel whispers. “My sunshine.”

And for the first time in a long time, the smile on your face is mirrored on his.

[icyowl]

Vash Soulmate AU

Pairing: Vash the Stampede x f!reader

Synopsis: soulmate trope where injuries are transferred between one another. You've managed to hide it until now. 3k

A/N: I got nothing. Have fun!

———————

Soulmates: two people characterized by an undeniable pull towards and affection for one another. Signs include, but are not limited to, romantic attraction, frequently similar interests, and the sharing of injuries.

———————

Team: disheveled, exhausted, alive.

Body: pained, sore.

Brain: dizzy.

Sleep: beckoning. As soon as you could patch yourself up, whatever meager mattress awaited you would nonetheless be a welcomed friend. Just a bit longer.

“Hey, you alright?” Vash said while everyone began to split for their assigned rooms. Count on someone as caring as he to sense your exhaustion.

“Yeah, of course.” You replied. “Just tired.”

“After the day we had, I don't blame you.”

“Take care of that knife wound you got, okay? I saw what those bounty hunters did to you.”

“I'll be good as new tomorrow, promise.”

You knew that was a lie in more ways than one.

“Get some sleep.” He added before leaving the hallway for the boys' room. With the Stampede safely away, you listened closely for any sign of his return, and when you heard none, promptly collapsed into the wall and finally let your quivering legs let go of their last bit of strength. A relieved exhale, the kind that came only when you could let you guard down after having it up for so many hours, left you nothing but a sagging corpse against the hallway wall. Your hand delved under your clothing to assess the damage.

Blood.

Surprise? You wished.

Weary eyelids fell blissfully shut. Perhaps you'd wake up, maybe you didn't care whether you did or not, all you knew was the mere act of staying awake was more displeasing by the second. A part of you knew this couldn't continue. Your poor, feeble human body couldn't take much more of this. Just a quick rest. . .

“Hey.” Meryl said once she emerged from your shared room. Her tone indicated she'd finally had enough of your shenanigans.

“I know what you're gonna say.” You replied around a dry cough. The blood leaving your body was taking your energy with it. “Go away.”

“I could, but then you'd bleed to death. So come on, at least give me a chance of getting you on your feet.”

“Yes, Captain.”

Through a bit of struggle, Meryl finally managed to get you off the floor and into the room. Vash or any of the boys could have come into the hall if they caught sound of any of the groans and hisses and whimpers you gave, but thankfully did not. Your steps were slow, vision distorted, and Meryl barely managed to get you into the room and onto a bed before you spasmed from the pain and bit your sleeve to keep the boys from hearing it. Meryl reluctantly helped you out of your top and took the time to complain the entire way. This is ridiculous and I'm not helping you again. If you were more coherent you were sure you'd care.

A hefty weight landed square in your lap. “A first aid kit. You're welcome.” Meryl spoke as she took a seat on her own bed. This had happened enough that she didn't bother with you much and instead set about getting ready for the night. If you passed out, then maybe she'd worry.

Meryl pinned you with a dark glare when she had put up her jacket for the evening. “When are you going to tell him?”

Your hands worked down to open the kit without looking. Right now energy was too sparse to bother lifting your head. “He's already got so much on his plate, I—”

“You can't keep going like this. With how reckless he is, it'll kill you.” She bit back angrily. The fact she was angry made her even more angry. Soulmates were supposed to be a time of joy, not pain, sorrow, apprehension, trepidation. You and Vash should have been enjoying the bond ages ago; instead, she got to watch you hide away from him, patch yourself up in the dark and holding back tears when you needed a shoulder to cry on. Preferably the shoulder of a lean, glasses-wearing, gun-wielding, messy-headed typhoon.

“I will.” You said. The near-nightly routine you developed began to take shape even with the room's minimal light: unroll bandages, find gauze, lay out the towel, etc. Unfortunately, Meryl had heard your lies before and no longer bought them. She continued like you'd said nothing at all.

“Nick's too dense to have any idea, but Roberto's suspicious. He'll catch on soon, and do you think he's gonna keep your secret?”

“Can you just—” The brief blaze of intense fury coming to life in your blood was quelled under the knowledge that she had good intensions and clearly came from a place of compassion. Factually? Yes, she was right. You hated having to hide your injuries too. Obviously it would be so much easier to cry out whenever Vash got punched, kicked, grazed, beaten, tossed, pummeled, dropped—

You get the idea.

But emotionally? You just couldn't bare letting Vash and the others know of your situation. They'd only worry more, be more stressed, miss more sleep, treat you differently, carefully, like you were more important than them. This also felt like something you needed to keep up now that you'd gone along with the lie for so long. If you told the truth now, they'd only feel betrayed and distrusted. That was so far from the truth it nearly made you tear up just thinking of their faces. Vash especially. He'd feel it deeper than the other two.

“Can you just find some water, please? I can't hardly swallow.”

Thankfully Meryl did as you asked and made for the door.

“Swallow your pride, how's that sound?” She asked and closed the door before you could reply.

This wasn't about pride. Both of you knew that. You didn't have pride when you poured alcohol over the gash, screaming into your sleeve to stifle the noise and hopefully not tip off the boys next door. It wasn't there when the touches of the gauze made you thrash and your vision whiten with the spikes of agony. Pride wasn't felt when you looked at yourself — shaking hands, helpless sniffles, welling tears, tucked away in the dark of the room like you were ashamed to exist. You hadn't felt pride in a long time.

Pain. Pain was all you could comprehend. The gash was deep and oozed fresh blood readily every time you squeezed the surrounding area. You were probably queazy from seeing the life-force leave you and ebb uselessly onto your skin, clothing, and the bandages, but you were too light-headed to care. Trying to keep your dirty shirt out of the wound was difficult and eventually you accepted that it had to go. Infection would be hard to stave off and harder to conceal. It took a few tries to move your body in a way that would allow it to come off, but after some crying and more biting your hand to keep the screams at bay, it dropped from your hands onto the bed.

Fortunately Meryl came back swiftly with the water—

“You got any bandag-”

You heard Vash's voice, recognized his silhouette, cried out some sound of distress, just as he saw the blood, wraps, scars, bruises, stopped dead both physically and somewhere deep in his chest.

Some worthless insecurity - or maybe you stupidly still believed he hadn't seen even though his eyes had yet to leave you - made you grab your shirt to cover yourself, yell out at the flaring agony consuming you from the sudden move, and freeze. Even if he hadn't seen the wounds (he most certainly had), your shout would have tipped him off.

The shirt did a lousy job covering the scars - after all, they were everywhere. Neck, shoulders, chest, arms, hands, it was endless. Bruises filled in the rest of the macabre mosaic. Vash was only a few feet away from you, but when he called your name, it sounded distorted and distant. The heartbroken tone was the very thing you'd tried so hard to avoid.

“Its just a small cut, I'm oka-”

Then he began to cry, no, sob. His tears were endless and he did nothing to wipe them away so the two streams left his eyes, met at his chin, and fell in a steady drip to the floor. He started to violently shake, wrought with grief at the soul-breaking realization that you were hurt, he had caused it, and he'd been causing you pain for a long time.

He called your name like a plea. There was no real reason behind it. He wasn't mad, or calling you over to him. It was the hapless cry a child might do when looking for comfort. You hissed through the pain, shortened the distance, and stood in front of him on trembling legs. There was no point in hiding it any more. Slowly you let go of your dusty shirt with one hand, then the other, watching it fall, utterly terrified to look him in the eye. When had you heartbeat gotten so loud?

Vash's hands reached for you, then closed and retreated, before reaching again and holding your hands preciously. The weight of his guilt had his teeth creaking under the clench of his jaw and the tears had yet to slow.

“God,” he fumbled, “- I - fucking, god damn it - no-”

“Va-”

His fingers brushed over a scar near your collarbone. “When I let that guy stab me,” then they moved to the mark in your shoulder, “and I took the bullet for that girl, and here,” now they tickled your side, “when Nai burned me, god, this was when I got held hostage by those sisters,” he said after suddenly walking around you and seeing the minefield on your back. Some kind of wounded sound exploded from deep in his throat. The shame was crushing. “And here is from the police, and that's from those scientists taking biopsies—”

“Okay, okay.” You stepped away from the constant skim of his prying fingers and tried to hide yourself. It wasn't because you didn't like his reaction — it was perfectly reasonable — but being exposed like this was uncomfortable to say the least.

Now that you'd put space between your bodies, Vash hunched under the self-loathing flooding him, chin touching his chest, eyes pinched shut, and hands clenched furiously by his shivering sides. He had no right being close to you. “I'm sorry, I'm so, so, so sorry. Words can't - I can't-” He said through tears and snotty sniffles.

This is what you wanted to avoid. What should you say? What did he need right now? Comfort, obviously, and you yearned to hold him, but Vash was the type to push people away, to think himself a burden, a poison. How could you get him to change his tendencies without him thinking he was doing something wrong? How would you tell him to take it easy, not because you wanted to spare yourself from the pain or change who he was, but because seeing him in pain hurt like any real wound?

“Maybe we can come up with a solution together. If its - if you want. I don't want to force anything.” You offered into the subtle quiet of the room. This moment was pivotal. Rejection. Acceptance. It would be now.

Realization began to work into Vash's psyche. His fists loosened, his eyes stared far past the floor. It began to come into his mind that you were his soulmate, that he had a soulmate, that it was you, that he was so happy it was you and you were right in front of him, here, needing him physically, mentally, and all he could do was weep and cross your boundaries and then refuse to touch you like you weren't hurting.

“Y. . .” He started. Your incredulous statement was hard for him to process. “You think I don't want this? You think I'm even gonna let you out of my sight now-” Vash rushed through the distance between you in just a couple of steps, but stopped just before yanking you into him for the bone-crushing hug he desperately wanted to give. He knew the first rule of soulmates - skin to skin - but didn't want to overstep any bounds. You still looked a little embarrassed to be shirtless in front of him.

You also looked. . . pale. He always worried for you, but now that he knew of the unspoken connection between you two, he looked at you more carefully. Clammy, shaky, dull gaze, a slight sway to your weight. You had just began to lean dangerously far to one side but Vash was quick to support you by the elbows with lightening speed.

“Sorry.” Was all you could come up with.

“Don't be.” Vash replied. He should be the one apologizing, he thought.

Relaxing back against the bed was a godsend. Scratchy covers or not, getting off your feet was a blessing. You let Vash inspect your wound, too caught up in the relief to care. The secret was out, he wanted something with you, and now you were being diligently tended to by his gentle hands. You looked at the dusty ceiling, focusing on anything but the off-colored plaster.

“How are you able to focus?” You asked to try and stop thinking about the tickling sensation of his fingers. “You've got the same wound I do.”

He replied without looking up: “Biology, I guess.”

There was nothing to say to that. All you could do was try and remain still when his thumb gently brushed over a bruise. It was a kind touch, all of his were, but it was hard to let it happen. Topless, prone, letting him see so much of you; it was a little intimidating. You supposed you made it a fair trade when your eyes unabashedly locked onto him. The faint tint to his glasses wasn't enough to stop you from seeing his focus, touched with traces of sorrow. This quiet - two people sharing themselves with gazes and touches in the solace only a dark room could provide - was quickly feeding the connection previously snuffed out. Rapidly this man's face, respectfully tending to your injuries and looking nowhere else, was becoming quite the sight to behold. You didn't know you were looking at guilt. You didn't know that he felt like he'd done all this to you by his own hand: every scar, cut, scab, bruise, or knot.

Vash sat up, surmising he could only help with the most recent gash. “Alright, I'll need to clean it.”

“I already did.”

“Pouring booze over it doesn't count.”

“It's not that bad-”

Vash's eyes glared at you with a sudden edge. “I'm not letting this get worse.”

Now he looked a bit more like the infamous gunslinger everyone thought him to be. You decided to stay silent after that. He rummaged through various bags - knowing he was going through Meryl's things but not caring because this was you we're talking about and he wasn't going to let notions of respect stop him from helping you - and finally procured a bottle of rubbing alcohol. Vash was even meticulous enough to pinch the gauze between a set of tweezers before liberally dousing it in rubbing alcohol, worried his hands might cause infection.

“You ready?” He asked quietly, the soaking material hovering dangerously close to your skin. His grip was steady. Much steadier than yours would have been.

“Ready as ever.”

The last-ditch attempt at humor didn't last long. As soon as the gauze made a home in your skin, any thoughts other than the intense, stabbing discomfort spiraled away. The effort it took to stay still and not try to thrash away from the horrific feeling of course fabric digging through your screaming flesh was borderline incomprehensible. Perhaps it was the pain, perhaps the blood loss, but your brain began to float and swirl with a queazy nausea. In an effort to stay in the present reality you lashed out, grabbing onto anything that could give you some comfort. The warm clothes between your fingers meant you'd grabbed onto Vash — in itself nothing terrible — but when you looked and saw it was the flesh of his upper thigh in your grip, you hastily let go and instead settled for the bed linens beneath you.

“Sorry!” You rushed.

“I don't mind.” He replied. Nothing in his expression gave any of his emotions away (he really was very focused on stitching you up) which made it even more unnerving. Was he put off? Did ignoring what happened make you feel better? Did he not care? Did you want him to? “I like when you feel like you can rely on me.”

You continued to fist the sheets while Vash took his sweet time getting into every single nook and cranny of the cut. Even laying down you began to feel lightheaded. Sometimes Vash flinched, the only indication he felt what you did. It made sense; the transfer of pain and injury could be deadened until soulmates' bonds grew. From here on, both of you would have to be more careful. When he said he was done you sighed in relief, only to be told he needed to get you to sit up so he could wrap it properly.

“I'm gonna need some help.” You said.

“I wouldn't want it any other way.” He replied like it was nothing. His arms were warm and gentle as they worked between you and the sheets to support you properly. “Ready?” He asked, voice just a few inches from the skin of your neck and surprisingly smooth for how much he quivered on the inside.

You nodded.

Your grasp on his shoulders turned to hooked claws when the pain became too much. Vash had tried to be gentle, but it was going to hurt regardless. Then, wordlessly, he set about cushioning the gash with perhaps too much gauze and encircling your midsection in bandages. Again, maybe it was the blood loss, maybe not, but you shivered when he crossed the minimal space between you both to pass the wrappings behind your back.

“I never thought I'd have one.” He began. “I mean, I'm not even really human.”

“Didn't you feel every time I got hurt? Sure, it's not much compared to you, but you had to have felt my injuries too.”

“Honestly, it's hard to tell what's old and what's new at this point.” Vash finished by taking off his coat and wrapping you in it. After he pulled the front together to keep you warm (the shaking didn't escape him), he continued. His eyes stared at his coat, refusing to rise to meet you. “I know I don't have much right to ask this, but I can't stay quiet. Please, please promise me you'll try to be more open with me from now on? If you're hurting, I want to help.”

“If you'll do the same.”

Vash's eyes lifted in surprise. It would be hard - frankly he wasn't even really sure how - but it was fair. To share the hardships. “Then. . . we have a lot to talk about, I guess.”

[ifortom]

Bad Decisions - T.H. (1)

frat!Tom x Reader - Fake dating AU

Summary: Tom and Y/N, two students with opposite personalities, join forces to solve a problem: they both desperately need a fake relationship to escape different social pressures.

MASTERLIST

W/C: +3K

DAY 0

There is an unknown saying that says that every choice is a loss and that good choices will also hurt. Some may say that the best choices are those that are made calmly and cautiously. Choices made on impulse are the most worrying. Taking a risk without thinking about the consequences and not being sure you can deal with them is dangerous.

But perhaps, thinking too much about a decision to be made is not a good option. Sometimes we need to take risks and be willing to face whatever comes our way. Regardless of the need.

That's why you find yourself on an endless tightrope with only two alternatives: keep walking trying to keep your balance without seeing the end or throw yourself towards whatever can hold you before you hit the ground. That whatever being a brown haired boy with stars in his eyes who you call your friend.

‘’Friend” may even be too strong a word for what defines your relationship with the famous Tom Holland, one of the players on the college football team. Known for his charm and great performance on the field, intelligent, friendly and attentive, these are just some of the qualities that define the boy.

What started as just a pair project on social psychology has become a constant in your life. You and Tom worked hard during class and received a high grade due to your research performance and dedication. But what surprised you was Tom's insistence on staying in contact with you.

No stereotypes but truth be told, you would never have exchanged a single word if it weren't for this project. Despite having already crossed each other's path at times, nothing ever went beyond that.

Today, Tom is curled up on the sofa in your living room with a book in his hands, while you are sitting on the floor with a notebook open on the coffee table. Study dates happen frequently between the two of you. Despite his fame, Tom is very focused on his studies and is months away from graduating in psychology, just like you.

"Can we take that break you promised?" He says without looking up from the book but without reading a single word.

"It's been exactly 20 minutes since we started.'' You said.

"Isn't there a study method like this? You study for a few minutes and take a break?"

"I don't think that's how it works, Tommy" You giggled.

"I'm bored" He says, closing the book and throwing it on the table in front of him.

"Studying isn't supposed to be boring. If it is for you, it means you're not learning anything."

"Seriously Y/N, you can't tell me that studying about catharsis and free association is fun" He looked at you in disbelief.

"Tom, this is literally part of the course curriculum... you should have known this when you signed up."

He huffed and lay down on the couch, looking at the ceiling of your living room.

You even tried to turn your attention to the content in front of you but every 30 seconds he would snort, clearly seeking your attention.

"Alright, you win!" You said, letting go of the pen that was in your hand and turning towards the boy lying comfortably on your sofa. "If my grades drop, it's your fault, and don't complain about yours later." He grinned standing up and sitting down.

"As if there's any chance your grades will drop, smartiepants” You rolled your eyes, sitting on the couch next to him. "I'm hungry. What do you say we order something to eat?"

Just as you thought about agreeing, his cell phone went off. He picked it up off the table and you noticed that it was a video call from Brian, one of the other players on the team.

Tom quickly looked at you who just shrugged. He got up answering the call.

"Where are you, bro?" The muffled sound came from the other end of the line.

"What is happening?" Tom asked while watching his friend, clearly out of control of his cell phone, focusing the camera on everything but himself.

"Bro, the party at Taylor's house, did you forget? Everyone's here. She said she invited you and she seems disappointed that you're not here yet. Where are you?” Tom rubbed the back of his neck.

"I'm at Y/N's house." He replied.

"Dude, again? You better be seizing the opportunity and using it to your advantage." Shaking his head, Tom walked to the open balcony door and closed it behind him, making it impossible for you to hear the rest of the conversation.

Even though you know him better now, you also know Tom's reputation around campus. You know that he has been involved with many girls and that he has already broken the hearts of most of them who always expected more from him than he was willing to give.

You also know that most of the kids on the team only think with their other head and not the one above their necks. You know people talk about your friendship with Tom. Everyone thinks you're fucking in secret.

But Tom never took any initiative in this regard. Nor did he show any interest in you in that way, despite the intimacy you very quickly created with each other. There have been a few nights where you shared a bed and even cuddled on the couch while watching a movie. Not to mention the dates you had together but were never named that way.

So everything was always platonic. Two people who understand each other and feel comfortable with each other to share the most intimate moments.

Even though this all happened in just 6 months.

Getting up, you started putting away your study materials, waiting for Tom to say he was going to that party. Surely you lost all desire to study and your only objective from that moment on was to lie in your bed until daylight.

Maybe you could even ask for something to eat and drown your sorrows.

Not 5 minutes had passed and you heard the sliding door to the balcony opening again.

"Hey, did you give up studying?" Tom said looking at the now clean table. His belongings were also already inside the backpack he brought and no longer scattered on the floor.

"Yeah, I thought about going to sleep, actually." Tom looked at you in surprise.

"I thought we were going to order something to eat... then we could watch a movie, that new horror movie you wanted to see just came out."

"It's called Totally Killer..."

"So... what are we waiting for? Would you really rather sleep than hide in my arms when a scene scares the hell out of you?" He said smiling and opening his arms.

"You know I never do that, and if I remember correctly you're the one who has to hide when a movie gets too scary."

"You know that's our secret, don't you?" He said sitting down on the couch.

"I thought you were going to... what's her name? Tina's party?" You said mockingly.

"Taylor, actually. And no, I'm not going there" He said and you sat down next to him.

"Can I know why?"

"You know Y/N... It's Taylor. Taylor Brown."

"Ah, the girl who won't let go of you? I thought she had given up, I haven't heard you talk about her in a while."

Taylor was one of the girls who had created too many expectations after a night with Tom. The problem is that it wasn't just one night. She was one of the only girls Tom almost had a relationship with, they hooked up several times and even hung out together all the time. But just 2 months after meeting you it seems they broke up, with the story that he wasn't ready for a relationship. And since then, Taylor has been looking for any opportunity to be close to Tom.

"She invited me and insisted that I go to the party today. I just spoke to her on the phone..." He sighed, running a hand through his curls. "I don't know what to do anymore Y/N... I made it clear to her that I don't want anything serious but she keeps pushing me."

"Do you want my honest opinion or do you want me to agree with whatever you say?"

"Be honest"

"First of all," You settled down on the couch, facing him, "you shouldn't have hooked up with her at Brian's party two weeks ago. You just fueled the fire even more."

"I was drunk, we kissed. And nothing more than that happened, you know that."

"Yes, I was there helping you when you got sick."

He laid his head back on the couch and closed his eyes.

"I just wanted to take a break from this. I didn't mean to. I don't want to give her hope. I have so many things to think about and a complicated relationship isn't one of them."

Tom is a person completely responsible for his actions. He was raised like this since he was a child. Despite loving football, he knows the importance of his studies and always seeks to improve himself more and more. He still doesn't know what career he wants to follow, as his talent for football was only discovered in his first year of college, but you're sure that whatever side he chooses will be a success. He knows he gets distracted easily and doesn't want to put anything in front of his main goal right now: graduating.

"If relationships weren't something so complicated, who knows..."

"I don't think relationships are complicated... people are." You sighed, moving closer to him and placing your head on his shoulder. "Relationships should be calm and welcoming. Of course, there is no relationship without problems and that's okay. But we are the problem... we are the ones who complicate things.” Tom gently took your hand that was in your lap and intertwined your fingers.

"Sometimes we overthink things. Relationships should be light. Not a weight we have to carry on our shoulders."

"I'm sorry" he said in a whisper as he stroked the back of your hand with his thumb.

Tom knows your story. He knows about the relationship you had that lasted 4 years and you swore it was that once in a lifetime thing. He even met the boy who broke your heart into thousands of pieces and left you to glue them back together alone. He didn't know you at the time, he only found out that your ex-boyfriend was his rival from another university a few months after you met and after he commented on the asshole who almost broke his leg during a match.

You and Sean met two months after classes started at a friendly match between the two universities. He accidentally slipped in front of you while running towards the field and you laughed at him. He flirted with you and promised he would take you out for coffee if he won the game.

His team lost but he kept his word.

It's hard to say when the flame between you went out. And this is something you don't try to think about often. Something inside you changed when Sean decided to leave your life. Maybe the broken pieces of your heart were still lying around, waiting to be fixed.

"It's okay... You don't have to feel about it."

"If I could, I would finish him off."

"Oh, how manly. My savior."

You laughed but soon the laughter was replaced by the silence of the apartment. The two of you continued to sit next to each other maintaining physical contact, Tom held your hand firmly and showed no signs of letting go anytime soon.

That was a constant between you. Even the silence was pleasant. Just each other's breath and presence was enough.

"My sister will be getting married in 2 months." You said.

"Woah, already? That's good isn't it?"

"It seems so." You sighed. "I don't wanna go."

"Why?"

"The last time I was home they wouldn't stop asking me about Sean... even after 5 months since we broke up."

Your family loved Sean. Just like you, at one point they were just waiting for you to announce your engagement.

"Do you need support?" He asked.

"I can't ask that of you"

"If you need me to go as your date it won't be a problem, you don't have to deal with this alone."

"Maybe I'll find a boyfriend in two months. Maybe they'll stop asking me about my ex if I show them I've moved on." You joked.

Silence returned and the two of you remained in the same position. As you closed your eyes, enjoying the calm of the moment, Tom's head was spinning with different thoughts.

That's when he found the solution.

“Y/N, would you like to be my girlfriend?”

"What?" You said scared, raising your head and looking at Tom's profile. "Are you crazy?" You said laughing.

"I meant... my fake girlfriend." He stared at you.

"Tom, you've got to be kidding."

"I'm serious. Think with me, okay?" He said looking at you seriously, which made the smile fall from your face. "You need to introduce someone to your family to forget about your damn ex. And I need to take a break from Taylor and show her that I'm not available."

"Tom... I don't... I don't think that's a good idea." You said, looking at everything around you except his eyes.

"Look, I'm not going to force you into anything... it was just a thought I had given of our situations." He said, settling back down on the couch.

You felt the air in the room change and Tom seemed shy and embarrassed by what he had just proposed.

"Tommy, this could end badly. I don't want things to get complicated between us."

"You know you don't need to, nothing has ever been like that with us. But it's okay, forget what I said. It was stupid, I don't know what I was thinking." He said, running his hand over his face.

Tom had already let go of your hand a while ago and suddenly you felt the extreme need to hold his again. But something changed and it was strange. He had just proposed a romantic relationship between the two of you. What would that involve? Kisses, hugs, dates... sex?

"Still hungry? Shall we order something?" You said trying to get back into the mood.

Tom got up quickly.

"Actually, I think I'll go. You said you wanted to sleep, so..."

Surprised by his decision, you stood up as you watched him put his backpack on his back.

"Ah, okay. So, can we watch the movie another day maybe?" You said awkwardly.

"Yeah, another day" He replied in the same tone.

Normally, he would hug you when saying goodbye but this time he just shook his head and walked towards the front door. He also left without looking back.

What just happened?

After Tom left you didn't do much. The hunger you felt completely disappeared too. You took a shower with the intention of relaxing your tense shoulders and then lay down on your bed.

Despite your attempts, nothing could put you into a deep sleep. Millions of thoughts were running through your head at the wrong time. How did Tom think of something like that? Does he feel comfortable with you on that level? Wouldn't that be weird? What could happen to your friendship? What is the limit of a fake relationship?

At some point during the night you decided to use your cell phone and browse social media.

Big mistake.

Angela, a colleague from a previous curricular subject had posted a series of photos and videos a few hours ago. The first photo was nothing more than a selfie in the bathroom mirror with another unknown girl. The following photos already included the place and people present at the party. In any other situation, you wouldn't care much about a specific photo, but due to the events of hours ago you felt heat rush to your face when you saw a photo of Tom with his arms around Taylor.

In fact, one of his arms was resting on her shoulders, while the other was on the shoulders of his best friend Harrison. Seemed friendly, just posing for the photo. But knowing their history, it's suspicious. So he went to the party after being rejected? Does what you did count as one?

At that moment you felt something changing inside you. Would it be a bad idea? Despite the short time, Tom has become a constant in your life and you know that he knows you like no one else. Still with your head racing, you left your cell phone aside and reflected a little more before sleep completely invaded you.

...

Due to the time you spent rolling around in bed before going to sleep, the extra 5 minutes before getting up became almost 30. You barely missed the first class of the day, and despite the teacher's ugly face when he saw you enter 15 minutes after hours, it was very useful. Lily, a friend, was already saving your spot.

"What took you so long?" She whispered.

"I'll tell you later." You replied smiling slightly.

The truth is that only one thing was on your mind this morning: finding Tom.

The class distracted you for long enough and when the teacher dismissed the class, you were one of the first to leave the room. Lily didn't even have time to ask you anything else.

You made your way through the halls to the courtyard, heading to the football field at the back of the campus knowing you would find your target there.

He was sitting in one of the lower stands. The sun made the sweat dripping off him shine, he had probably already ran around the field a little. The slightly tight uniform left little to the imagination. Some boys from the team were on the field chasing the ball, while others surrounded Tom.

You walked up to him, holding tight to the strap of your bag, suddenly not feeling as confident as before. When you were a few meters away, Tyler, one of the boys spotted you and tapped Tom on the shoulder getting his attention before pointing to where you were.

Tom looked confused but he got up and ran to you.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" He asked.

"Uh, I... I came to see you." You replied embarrassed. What was happening?

"Really?" He said with a playful tone. "I didn't know I was so dear to you" He joked.

"Yesterday you left very quickly and I..."

"I know, I'm sorry about that Y/N. Can we just forget it happened? Forget anything I said?" He cut you off and ran his hand through his hair looking embarrassed.

"Tommy..."

"Look, I need to keep training, the coach might complain and I don't want to get you in trouble." He interrupted you again. "Ah, I think I'm going to have lunch with the boys today, is that ok? We can arrange another day." He was already turning around before he even finished the sentence and fear spread throughout your body.

Was he suddenly avoiding you? Has he felt so embarrassed that the only option he has now is to push you away?

On impulse, you grabbed his hand before he moved further away from you. He turned around and you looked at him.

"I'll do it." You stated.

A/N: And so it begings! I'm really excited and I hope you like it. Don't forget to tell me what you think, feedback is important!

Tagging: @feelinglikeineedlotsofnaps @un06 @lnmp89 @hoodharlow @let-me-luve-you @erule @smoofine @smile2345 @itsdoni @helen-on-earth @hollands-underoos

[just-antithings]

This is not about antis, exactly, but there's definitely a similar vibe in the sentiments and it annoys me and I want to complain, so.

Apparently there's a program in my country that schools can sign up into that offers free "art experiences" to 8th graders (so about 14-year-olds). Looking at the program's website quickly, it seems to include plays, music concerts, probably art museum tours, I don't know what all. But like, either way, any of the stuff that the program offers is vetted beforehand to make sure it's suitable, and worksheets created for the kids to do before and after the show to try and get them to engage with art and understand what it makes them feel and whatever, and the kids get to rate whatever art thing it was they got to go to, afterwards.

Now, apparently, one of the things this program has arranged tickets for is some theater's current production of a comedic play written in the 19th century by one of the more famous playwrights/authors of my country's history (whose work, incidentally, was in his own time frequently under fire for its immoral and/or otherwise inappropriate depictions of whatever). I have never seen or read this particular play, so I can't tell you much about the plot or what the content of the text itself would be, beyond that it's a comedy that probably includes at least one character making a fool of himself, since that tends to be typical for the author's work afaik.

Anyway, to get to the point, the specific production that was on the program included, apparently, a scene in which, for comedic reasons, the main character's pants were pulled down enough for his bare ass to be visible, and something was written across his buttocks. And some other scenes which maybe, at least in the eyes of some in the audience, could be considered possibly somewhat sexually suggestive, though, again, I have not seen the particular production so I can't weigh in on whether they really are or not. Either way, even at worst, it's... come on, the school groups that was shown to were kids of about 14 years old, if they've never seen anything more sexually suggestive than that in movies or tv or somewhere, I'm honestly very surprised. In any case, the play contains no depictions of actual sex. And again, the play was checked by professionals and deemed to be appropriate for the program's art experience list.

Anyway, apparently the principal of some Christian school wrote an opinion piece in some news paper about oh how terrible and unnecessary sexualized and kids should not be exposed to that and so on and so forth. Aaaaand since then, the theater's social medias have been swamped with harrassing comments and, *sigh*, people accusing various people working on the production of pedophilia. To the point that the theater has had to switch off commenting altogether on many of their posts and made a policy of not answering phone calls from unknown comments anymore, because the shitstorm just got to that point.

And I just. literally WHY THE FUCK are people like this?? like. how do you even get from "theater play includes a scene where an actor's bare behind is visible and maybe a few other things with a slight sexual tone happen" to "people working for this theater are pedophiles and putting children in danger". Just. geez. it's so fucking stupid. Also I find it ironic that this was a work from the 19th century, that in its own time shocked people and was deemed immoral, and... what do you know, a modern rendition of the play also shocks people and gets deemed as immoral, apparently.

ugh that’s so shitty. time is a flat circle

[kerryweaverlesbian]

for the prompts! 9&13 combined 👀👀

(From this post) (also here's the last one I did).

Castiel had escaped to the empty kitchen at the earliest opportunity as soon as the number of people in the map room had exceeded 8. He doesn't mind crowds, he quite likes them outside - the warm, hurried rush of humanity is quite endearing - but he'd become accustomed to there being a maximum of 4 in the Bunker, including him, so it feels almost claustrophobic to have more, even somewhere as large as this.

He's not surprised that Dean came to find him two hours in, though he is a little surprised that it took him so long.

"There's just so many of them," Dean complains, a little muffled against Cas's shirt, "I think the fuckers are multiplying. I turn around, there's two of them, I look again, there's five."

"The creation of a new prophet is a cosmic event. I certainly would have noticed," Cas says, mildly. He strokes soothingly down Dean's back with one hand, and takes a sip of coffee with the other. Dean grumbles and blindly pushes the coffee mug away from his head when it brushes against him, squeezing into Cas tighter with the strong arms around his waist.

"How many prophets does one god need? There's not that much interesting stuff that happens in the world. And more importantly, why the hell do they have to come here?"

"You invited them."

"Kevin invited them!"

"Because you told him to."

"Well, the kid needs more friends! He can't just hang out with you, me, Sam and Garth for the rest of his life. Anyway, it's definitely working out, I haven't even seen him for over an hour."

"I think he went to his room."

"What?" Dean pulls his head back from his embrace, appalled.

"He said he wasn't feeling up to it."

Actually, he'd muttered stupid Dean, stupid Bunker, stupid prophets, I wish none of them had ever been born, fuck my life, this is the Andover middle school dance all over again as he'd loaded his arms with chips and stormed out of the kitchen in the opposite direction to the gathering, but Castiel's powers of extrapolation had been improving over recent years.

"Then who the hell is this party for?" Dean complains, but he doesn't resist when Cas pulls him back to his nuzzled in position. He likes having Dean here, choosing his company as the antidote to others. Dean belongs in any place that brings him comfort, and Cas is lucky that in his arms is where Dean frequently finds it.

"It appears to be for 47 strangers who are better at getting along than we are." Then he tips his head. "48."

"What?" Dean squawks, pushing back from Cas's chest with alarm.

"They're multiplying."

Dean laughs, "You're an asshole."

Cas agrees with a hum. "You like that about me."

"Sure do. Get over here."

Dean's kiss is lingering, sweet and tender, and Cas's chest glows with it. It takes a second for Cas to open his eyes after, and he's treated to Dean's warm, relaxed grin.

"I guess I better go get rid of them so we can all stop hiding, huh?"

"That would be wise," Cas agrees, but tugs onto Dean's outer shirt when he starts to turn, "You've got..."

He smooths fixes the front of Dean's hair where it'd got smooshed in his impromptu snuggles with gentle fingers, then brushes his thumb over Dean's eye crinkles with affection on the way down from it, since he was in the area. The warmth in Dean's gaze when Cas meets his eyes again cannot be overstated, matched only by the feeling in Cas's own heart. He gets kissed again, and would've been happy to continue that way all through the party, but then there's a crashing noise from the direction of the war room, followed by laughter, which wrenches Dean's attention away.

"That's it," Dean says, untucking his gun from the back of his jeans, "I'm clearing house. Two minutes, tops, and we're free and clear."

Cas wishes him luck as he , and 30 seconds later there's the sound of a gunshot and Dean's voice authoritatively saying "Y'all better haul ass out of my house right now or the next one's hitting a body!", then the desperate scrambling of 47 people scrambling out of a single door.

In 30 seconds less than Dean's suggested timeframe, the place is empty but for its regular inhabitants again. Cas smiles into his coffee cup. They don't need anyone else to be happy.

@hauntedpearl hi Doe!!!! thank you for the prompts!! which were: Pressing their face into the other's neck, hiding from the world and brushing away an unruly lock of hair. I had been working on a Jo/Bela for this one but it wasn't working, and this one suddenly came to me in a vision this morning. So sappy. They love each otherrrrr. PS Sam's hiding in the armory lol. Not one of them likes big parties.

[definitelynotafurinasimp]

Hu tao , Amber and Kujo Sara with an innocent looking s/o when in battle they ace crazy and ruthless like Akechi in persona 5 royal when showing his true personality

Since I can't exactly make a post with 9 characters, I'm just picking the two I can think of something to write

Them with an innocent looking reader that turns out to be a merciless fighter

characters: Kujou Sara / Yelan x gn!reader (separate)

warnings: mentions of blood, although nothing graphic, reader commits some... rather over the top acts of "not exactly being goofy" (I mean, cmon, you can't expect them being the sanest of the bunch when they're compared to goro akechi)

a/n: Idk if you planned on sending me this request the moment I was done with p5r, but I have to applause you for the timeing.

Also, I'm so sorry for those people finding out about akechi not exactly being like he seems through this request, Idk how to hide the spoiler in the ask.

Anyway, hope you enjoy!

Kujou Sara

Sara knew how trouble looked, she had to deal with it on an almost daily basis with that oni running after her, demanding a rematch even though the winner was already clear, but whenever she looked at you, she saw a person that wouldn’t be able to harm a fly. And while she would never dare to say it out loud, looking at you always put her mind at ease, the same way others might have relaxed when seeing a cute dog doing nothing but existing.

So when she heard about how the road you frequently took was being blocked by a couple of thugs, her first instinct was to assemble a group as quickly as possible and try to clear it out before something were to happen to you, only to arrive just in time to watch you beating them into submission and seemingly enjoying every last second of it.

“...y/n?”, Sara couldn’t help but utter your name, completely dumbfounded by what she had just witnessed, only for you to dust off your clothes and turn to her with the same innocent smile you always wore.

“Oh, hey Sara! What are you doing here?”, you asked after noticing the other soldiers who looked just as surprised as their general, all of them having known you for a long enough time to have felt certain of your nature.

“Oh my- Sorry that you have to see me in this state, my clothes are completely dirty… I don’t know if I’ll be able to get the stains out of this- they just had to offer a fight on the one day I decided to dress in my favorite clothes…”, you apologized after following her stare back to your bloodied clothes, letting out a frustrated sigh as you inspected your shirt.

“That’s not- How- D-doesn’t matter. I’m just glad you’re unharmed”, the general’s voice betrayed her shock, only for her to quickly regain her composure.

Seeing you escape unharmed was a huge relief, even if she would be lying if she said what she saw wasn’t at least somewhat worrying… 

…what worried her more however, was that her heart skipped a beat or two while watching you show such strength.

Yelan

Yelan, being Yelan, didn’t need long to find out about your… change in behaviour when embroiled in a fight. After all, she couldn’t call herself an expert at reading people if she couldn’t even figure out someone this close to her.

Luckily for you, she quickly figured out that you going rogue only ever happened when you were attacked and never when you started a fight, causing her to confidently put you into the “no harm for innocent” box.

It also had the added upside of basically having a guard dog with her on every mission who didn’t hesitate for even a second to throw themself at any criminal stupid enough to try and harm her, and sure, while she would have been easily able to handle them herself, Yelan was the last person that would complain about not having to do something tiring.

“That’s enough”, Yelan finally put an end to your ‘advanced method of self-defense’, causing you to immediately get up, leaving the treasure hoarder to solemnly reflect on his decision to threaten you. That was if he was still conscious. “I need him to answer my questions later”, she explained further after seeing you send her a questioning look, her, as usual, mysterious voice refusing to betray any emotions.

As she bent down to inspect the person lying on the floor, you finally managed to calm yourself down, feeling the usual mix of shock and disappointment as you looked down at your knuckles, sighing as you looked for a bit of water to wash them, before making your way back, scooping the criminal up and taking his weapon, which by now laid several feet away from him, in case it could be used as evidence or something of those sorts.

“I know he began it by threatening us, but I can easily handle a dozen of them on my own, so at least try to refrain yourself from going overboard next time. The last thing we need is for word about a mysterious figure beating up people in the middle of night”, she told you off, only for you to nod as you continued to look down, causing Yelan to put on a soft smile.

“Good, now let’s get this done and over with. I have a pair of new dice and you look like just the right person to test them with.”

[sweetcarrotsandroses97]

drabble idea for bounded by a ring. or more like a part two i suppose of how jungkook courts oc

Hello anon, the courting matter is going to be developed deeper in further chapters, in the meantime here is a small drabble, I hope you will like it!

Warnings: one curse word, this is pure fluff guys, a bit of comedy and again, fluff.

It all started when Jungkook began getting home from work earlier that you noticed the difference in his behaviour. His smiles were becoming more frequent, lingering yet innocent touches graced your skin more than before.

And you didn't know why. Not that you were complaining, you adored his smile and the soft contact between your skin and his made butterflies to wildly fly in your stomach, resulting in you trying to suppress a blush more times than you could count.

Today was no different, with Jungkook leaving for work as usual but this time, he did something that left you so stunned that you stayed rooted on the ground for ten minutes after he had exited the flat.

For he had kissed your cheek before stepping out of the door. If you had been paying more attention you would have noticed the blush paint on his cheeks while he closed the door behind him.

His lips had touched your skin, something that had only happened on your wedding day. The action was to never to repeat itself, or that was what you thought considering the type of relationship you held with your husband.

But the surprises of that day didn't finish with his delicate kiss on your cheek. You sat on the couch, fingers typing furiously on the keyboard of your laptop as you were determined to finish the chapter of your new book today.

Then you heard it; someone was calling you. The sound of your phone vibrating on the coffee table snapped you out of your train of inspiration. You couldn't help the sigh that escaped your lips, thinking that perhaps it was your editor or someone from the marketing team. You put the laptop aside and stretched forwards, grasping your phone in your hand.

A smile graced your lips when you read the I.D. displayed on the screen. It was Jungkook. Without wasting another second, you answered his call.

"Hello?"

A couple of seconds passed in silence before you heard his deep voice from the other end.

"Hi, (y/n). What are you doing?"

You blinked a couple of times at the suddenness of his question, of his call.

"I'm... I'm writing, well was writing. Do you need something? Are you alright?"

You heard the shuffling of some papers in the background but you paid it no mind as he answered.

"That's great, I can't wait for the release of your new book."

Jungkook said, your frowned at his strange attitude but your heart fluttered at his words.

"Listen, (y/n), I wanted to... how do I say this? Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to have dinner with me tonight? I know a good restaurant that you will love."

You froze at his question. You could count with your fingers the times you had had dinner with Jungkook, again one of those times had been on your wedding day.

"W-why?"

You wanted to smack your head with the wall after that word escaped your lips before you could stop it. Little did you know, your silence was killing Jungkook from inside yet your small response caused him to suppress a chuckle.

"Because you are my wife and I want to have dinner with you. Is that so wrong for me to ask?"

You shook your head before remembering he couldn't see you.

"No, I never said it was wrong. It just caught me off-guard."

A moment or two passed in silence. You swallowed, not knowing what else to say. Your cheeks were as red as a tomato, you were going to need to take a cold shower after this.

"So... is that a yes, then?"

Your teeth nibbled at your bottom lip, glancing at the clock hanging over the large TV.

"Yes, let's have dinner."

Jungkook couldn't help the smile that grew on his face, full teeth on display. He wore that smile you found adorable on him, the one his friends like to tease him saying he had a "bunny smile".

"Okay then, I'll pick you up at 7:00. Pamper yourself but don't dress too formal. It is a casual dinner."

You nodded while agreeing with him with words.

"Alright."

"See you later, (y/n)."

"See you later, Jungkook."

He let out a soft chuckle at you mirroring his words before he hung up, unaware of how you smiled to yourself in the living room of your shared apartment.

"I'm gonna guess she agreed to dine with you according to your smile."

Jungkook was snapped from his thoughts as his mind remembered the call he just had with you. His eyes fixed on Namjoon's voice as he stood in front of his desk, Jimin was by his side as he held some sheets of paper with the planned conversation for Jungkook to read while he talked to you.

"Yes, hyung. She said yes."

The younger man stood up, picking up some papers before walking towards the exit of his office.

"I have to deliver this to Jin-hyung, I have to pick (y/n) up at 7:00."

And with that, he was out of the door.

"He really likes her."

Stated Namjoon. His gaze was fond of his younger friend who was already progressing in his married life.

"Yes, he does, hyung. Our Jungkookie is already grown up."

Jimin expressed with a tinge of nostalgia in his sweet voice, piling some papers on Jungkook's desk for he knew the younger one was going to be too distracted thinking about your date to pay any mind to the mess in his desk.

But both Jimin and Namjoon couldn't feel prouder for Jungkook. It was a step only he could take but his friends were going to be by his side forever, always supporting him.

"Of course he is grown up, Jimin-ah. It's up to us to prevent him from fucking this up."

Drabbles for The Handsome Husband Series are open!

I do not own the gif.

Sept/03/2023

[angelfleurry]

Hello!

I really liked your Shuichi/Ishimaru “discovering they had feelings” request, and I was wondering if may request one faith Mukuro Ikusaba (assuming you write for her, I didn’t see her in the blacklist but idk)

Mukuro Ikusaba Realising She Has Feelings!!:

Thank you so much for requesting, Anon!! I’m not the best at writing for Mukuro, so I hope I did okay! But I'm glad you asked for her, I enjoyed writing what I did, and I hope you like what I've come up with!

Sorry about the lack of info on the blacklist, by time this request has been uploaded I have edited it slightly! I wrote it late last night so I didn’t completely clarify! Have a wonderful day <3

~

♡ Is very good at hiding her realisation.

♡ Continues to act the same around you; a cold indifference that you never quite know how to interpret.

♡ On the inside, though, she is A MESS.

♡ Definitely protective of you, but from a subtle angle.

♡ What I mean by that is that she observes you from afar, never quite close enough for you to notice, but close enough that she can see all that’s occurring. (In an appropriate fashion, of course.)

♡ She definitely feels somewhat invasive when she does this, but she doesn’t know what to do with herself when it comes to you!

♡ Frequently checks your socials.

♡ Seeing you makes her feel rather safe and warm, even if barely any words are shared, and while she’s very unsure as to why specifically YOU make her feel so warm; she��s not complaining.

♡ Mukuro was rather fond of you to begin with, which did surprise her. She doesn’t really engage much with people, so when she realised how relieved she felt when she saw you, she knew something was up.

♡ Is unsure of whether or not she should talk about her feelings.

♡ She lets them settle, but it’s such a frustrating experience for her.

♡ Ends up being in her head quite a bit, constantly zoning out and mishearing conversations.

♡ Wants to spend more time with you; in fact, she CRAVES it, but she’s too nervous to even bring it up.

♡ Loves your company regardless though. Whether it be a text message or even catching a glimpse of you in the world, just a moment of you makes her feel so alive.

♡ It also makes her face go insanely red, and it definitely makes her legs buckle.

♡ She forgets to breathe when she sees you and, if Junko happens to be present, then she absolutely will be made fun of for it.

♡ Gradually, I imagine Mukuro would start to get softer with you; breaking that coldness she has. She’s not going to be bubbly, no, but she will give you a small smile and start engaging with you a lot more. In a quiet way though.

♡ What I mean by “quiet” is that in social situations she will gravitate towards you, sticking by you, while still maintaining that reserved mystery about her. She’ll express genuine curiosity about your life, or week, just general checking-in’s. She shows 100% attention when you talk, listening to every word you say.

♡ Even when you initiate conversation, she will be there for all of it. She genuinely adores you.

♡ Gets all bashful when you ask about her!

♡ Even so, despite her newfound affection towards you, it is still not wildly obvious she feels for you. To a majority of people, it just appears that she gets along best with you, that you’re the person aside from Junko that she doesn’t mind talking to. Nothing more, nothing less. They don’t suspect a thing.

♡ But we know it’s so much more.

♡ Thinks of you before she goes to sleep at night, hoping you’re resting well.

♡ When doing military practices and such, if Mukuro just so happens to do an excellent job (which, she’s the Ultimate Soldier, of course she does a good job), she imagines how amazing it would be if you were there to see her thrive. She imagines you cheering her on, and it makes her so very motivated! She WANTS to continue excelling at what she does, she wants to keep being present, she wants to exist for you!

♡ Realises how good she would be at protecting you, which makes her feel so proud.

♡ Then she gets all flustered at the way she’s thinking, somewhat embarrassed of herself, probably cringing.

♡ But not cringing at you, just at how soft she’s getting towards you!

♡ She loves you so very much, but she’s so uncertain of what to do!

♡ She intends to keep it to herself, but eventually she realises she’s going to have to talk to you about it!

♡ It makes her want to bash her head into a wall, but also makes her feel new wholesome branches of emotions she didn’t quite know existed.

♡ Somebody help her lungs please, she can’t keep forgetting to breathe!

[9leaguesofmirrors]

Possessive (a Ross Gaines x Joseph Lisgoe fanfic)

What can I say you guys? I love a bit of mutual possessiveness, it makes things that little bit more interesting

CONTENT WARNING: This one isn't smutty (it doesn't progress further than a kiss), but I gained the courage to play into a headcanon that Lisgoe has a pain k!nk so... yeah

Lisgoe trusted Ross, obviously, or they wouldn't have been together. He wouldn't have been with him if he wasn't 100% sure he wouldn't do anything stupid like cheat on him

But there was something about the fact he was still working closely with Pauline, the woman he'd previously slept with, coupled with the more frequent late nights that set his teeth on edge

Again, it wasn't that he didn't trust his partner, Lisgoe didn't know exactly why he felt like this, but the jealousy left an overwhelmingly bitter taste in his mouth. Maybe that was just a part of his DNA, alongside his partiality to violence

When Ross came home, Lisgoe managed to maintain normalcy. The last thing he needed to know about was the burning sensation in his stomach

"How was the battleaxe?" He asked, heading into the kitchen to greet his partner "Still a massive bitch?"

"She's either getting less irritating, or I'm slowly building a tolerance for her." Ross answered casually as he began brewing water in their kettle "It's probably the latter, if I'm being honest."

That wasn't the answer Lisgoe wanted. Nonetheless, he opted to not respond, instead focusing his attention on grabbing a large bottle of wine from the cupboard. He leaned against the counter, gripping the neck of the bottle like he was choking it with one hand

"You know what they say," he said as he popped the cork "a pig never changes where it has a shite." The end of the sentence was punctuated by him taking a large gulp

"I wish you wouldn't do that." Ross muttered as he poured boiled water into a mug of coffee granules and sugar "We have glasses."

"And I'm in a bad mood."

"You're always in a bad mood."

"Fuck off."

"It's true."

"Can a man not drink wine from the bottle anymore? I thought we lived in a free country."

"Joseph, we can't keep having this conversation-"

Whatever Ross was saying, Lisgoe wasn't listening. He was more focused on slamming the bottle down, grabbing at Ross's shirt and, in one sustained movement, pushing him against the nearest flat surface - which happened to be their fridge

"What's gotten into you?" Ross asked, furrowing his brows slightly "I mean, you're attitude doesn't surprise me, but this is-"

"I'm pissed off." Lisgoe hissed "And, since I can't drink my wine, I'm taking it out on you." He left firm kisses against Ross' mouth, pressing his hips against his partner's

"How very Dionysian." Ross' voice was level and almost mocking, but he wasn't complaining. A soft sigh left his lips as grabbed the back of Lisgoe's head, welcoming each press of their mouths together "I still don't know what this is about-"

"Shut up."

Instead of explaining, Lisgoe wasted no time and went straight for Ross' neck. This was quickly stopped

"I have work tomorrow," Ross reminded him "and going into work with a hickey wouldn't bode well for me."

"A hickey?" Came the harsh, breathy reply against his neck "That implies that I'm leaving it at one." Lisgoe moved so he was staring directly at him "Ross, I want you to go in fucking covered."

"So that's what this is about. You still don't trust me around Pauline, so this is you delivering a message to me - a punishment of sorts."

There was no offence or accusing in his voice, it was rather as if he were simply getting his facts straight

"No." Lisgoe pulled back a little, growing annoyed at himself "I trust you. I just... fuck sake, I'm just possessive. I've always been like that with you, with anything I give a shite about - which isn't a lot. If anything, it's a message for Pauline, but it's also a message for everyone that's looked at you or even fucking thought of you in certain ways-"

"I get it."

Not leaving any time for Lisgoe to respond, Ross pulled him into a deep kiss. He kept his grip on the back of his head as he other hand trailed down his stomach

"Do you not think I feel like that when people look at you?" He muttered against Lisgoe's lips

"Nobody looks at me." He couldn't help but laugh a little "And if they do, they either shite themselves or want to punch me."

"Some people do, it doesn't happen often, but they do."

"I think I'd have noticed that by now, Ross."

"They do."

"No they don't."

"Yes they fucking do, Joseph."

Frustration and sharp bitterness coloured Ross' voice, as if the sudden and very rare use of a curse word wasn't enough to clue Lisgoe in. There was also the way his jaw was tighter than normal, how his eyes were fixed into an icy glare... the slight heaviness of his breath...

... Shite. Thought Lisgoe. Do I find this attractive?

"Nobody comes near you because you're scary-looking." Ross explained, as if the mere thought of it filled him with rage "But I can see it in their eyes. How do you think I feel? It's repulsive. They need to keep their eyes and their thoughts off you." He looked away and muttered "Bunch of shit-for-brains..."

Yup, Lisgoe said to himself that confirms it: he's really fucking hot like this

Taking Ross' chin in his hand, he carefully tilted his head upwards to expose his throat. He studied it like a fresh canvas, dragging his eyes over the blank slate with a strange feeling of excitement

However, he suddenly had an idea and tilted Ross' head to face him

"Have you ever given a hickey before?"

Ross thought back to the few sexual encounter he'd had, then shook his head

"Make me your first." Lisgoe spoke with an air of command "I want to be the first person you leave your mark on."

"Joseph, I've never done it before, how am I supposed to give you a hickey when I have no idea how to give one?"

"I've given you plenty, you smarmy bastard! That's basically a free tutorial."

"I'm sorry," Ross sneered sarcastically "but when you're chewing me like a dog on a bone, I find myself forgetting to make notes."

"Are you gonna try it or not? Because I didn't tell you to argue back-"

Whatever Lisgoe wanted to say was quickly silenced by Ross pushing him backwards and slamming him into the kitchen counter, earning a strangled yell from him

"Fucking hell, Ross! Warn me next time!"

Once again, Lisgoe's words were silenced by the sensation of skin on his neck being taken in Ross' teeth. The feeling caused him to lean his head back with a breathy sound. Even though his eyes were closed, Lisgoe could feel Ross moving across his neck, as if alternating between each side

"5." Ross said as he pulled away "One for each person that looked at you this week."

"You keep score?" Teased a slightly breathless Lisgoe "Bit fucking sad, don't you think?"

"In the words of someone I know, 'I'm just possessive'."

"You can't use my words against me."

"And why's that?"

In response, Lisgoe grabbed Ross hard by his chin and threw him against the dining room table. He then let his fingers wrap around his throat, not pressing down on it, as his other hand clawed at his side

"Because, Ross," his lips grazed his partner's earlobe "you have no fucking idea what that word means."

"I'd love to understand," Ross' voice was gentle as he pulled Lisgoe in by the shirt "from your perspective."

Well, Lisgoe decided not to waste anymore time. Not only was he practically attacking Ross' throat with his teeth, but his hands were currently under his partner's shirt and clawing at his stomach and hips. His nails dug into the skin so deep that they both knew it would leave a mark. It made Ross hiss slighty due to pain, but Lisgoe could tell by the way he gasped out his name that it wasn't a bad feeling for him

Ross' arms slithered slowly around nis partner's neck, but the action was quickly stopped by Lisgoe gripping his wrists and whacking them against the table. He relished in the sound it illicited from his partner's mouth

"Are you trying to kill me?" Ross panted softly, his tone showed no annoying

"You look hot when you're a bit fucked up," came the casual reply "and I love the look on your face. It hurts, but you're clearly gagging for it."

"You're insane." Ross teased, looking Lisgoe up and down "Completely insane."

Lisgoe muttered something as he moved to Ross' collarbone, which his partner wasn't going to let slide

"Look at me and say-"

"I said 'I know I am"." He breathed against Ross' skin, his voice slightly gravelly "I'm completely, bat-shit fucking mad." Lisgoe grabbed his chin tightly again "And that's down to every pig that even thinks about making a pass at you."

His hand moved down to ghost Ross' throat, taking his lower lip in his teeth and pulling it, tearing a groan out of the pit of his partner's stomach

"It's too easy," Ross shrugged smugly "getting you all worked up. I'm not the only one 'gagging' for it."

"Fuck off."

"Bite me."

"Beg for it."

"I don't need to, you'll do it anyway."

Well, he certainly wasn't wrong about that. Lisgoe unbuttoned Ross' shirt and sunk his teeth into his collarbone, feeling ecstacy seep through at the whimpering cry his partner let out. Once again, his nails were under his shirt and left deep, red scratch marks down his chest

Suddenly, Lisgoe felt a hand at his own neck. The grip was noticably gentle, though it was clear Ross was trying his best

"Cute." Lisgoe smirked

"Shut it. I just don't think it's fair that you get to do all the marking. Feels slightly unbalanced, don't you think?"

He was interrupted by Lisgoe's pitying laugh as he took off the shirt he was wearing. By now, it was physically exhausting to restrain himself, and he just stared

"Don't tell me you're pussying out now."

That was quickly answered by Ross' teeth against Lisgoe's skin again, his arms around his waist. Though he wasn't as aggressive, he could feel Lisgoe's body shiver slightly as he exhaled shakily

After a brilliant, but inconcernable, length of time, Ross pulled back to admire his work. The way those red marks weaved in and out of the tattoos on his chest and climbed up his throat suited him quite well

"Fucking hell, Ross..."

That put a triumphant smirk on Ross' face, and he felt lips brushing the lobe of his ear and the hoarse voice of Lisgoe speaking into it

"For someone that's never done something like that, you're really fucking good at it."

"Really?" Ross tried to sound unaffected

"Mhm, and you look hot as fuck with all those marks on you."

He was used to Lisgoe being a vicious sod, it was surprisingly attractive in a flirtatious setting like this (not so much in day-to-day life, but that was beside the point). It was rare that Lisgoe outright praised him, but when he did, and in that voice... it echoed in his brain until it short-circuited

"You should see yourself in the mirror." Lisgoe added as he pulled away "If I were you, I'd take at least a week off."

As soon as he heard that, Ross pushed Lisgoe aside and went right up to their bedroom, standing in front of the mirror

At least I won't have to go in tomorrow, he thought, because I'll be in prison for killing my partner

Shirt unbuttoned (and creased to hell), Ross could see every hickey and bitemark that adorned his neck and collarbone. They weren't subtle either - of course they're not subtle, when has Joseph ever been considerate? - his skin was covered in purple bruises and deep red teeth imprints that could be seen from a mile away

"You asked for it."

Lisgoe was leaning against the doorframe with his arms folded. His neck was only slightly blemished with light red, almost pink, marks

At least one of us has some control

"Joseph, how am I going to explain this?"

"Like I said, you can always call in sick, they'll be gone in a few days-"

"I'm not skipping work because I'm dating a horny mosquito!"

"I still think it suits you." Lisgoe went over and stood behind Ross, wrapping his arms around his waist and breathing against his neck "And I told you before, I'm possessive."

"You're a leech, that's what you are."

Laughing softly to himself at Ross' annoyance, Lisgoe let his fingers ghost his throat; the tips of each running gently over the marks he'd left

"I can always ask the Reverend if she has any make-up shite. She won't give a fuck about the reason, she'd probably buy me drink for it."

"Don't bother."

"You're not actually going to work with that shite on your neck, are you?"

"Why not?" Ross' mouth quirked into a smug smile "Everyone will see it." He turned to the side, his lips brushing against Lisgoe's. His voice came out husky "That's what you want, isn't it?"

This was rewarded with a puff of laughter from Lisgoe, who was clearly enjoying the thought

Ross took Lisgoe's lips into a teasingly chaste kiss, delighting in those secret, almost needy sounds he managed to draw out

As the kiss gained aggression, all thoughts of outside stares and thoughts melted into the background

They had each other right where they wanted them

[teaberrii]

Chapter Twenty-Five: The President's Kiss

You and Cyno can’t be more different. He’s Akademiya’s perfect student council president. You’re a labelled, cursed delinquent who changes into a cat for eight hours when kissed.

When Cyno gets a complaint about you, he’s forced to take action, only for it to lead to unexpected circumstances.

Cyno/You

Chapter warnings: Smut

Notes:

Cross-posted on Ao3

Chapter index at the end of chapter one

Cyno has visited you at the hospital daily, frequently accompanied by one of your mutual friends. His mother also visits you when she's back in town. You are incredibly nervous about her reaction to how you got yourself into this mess, but she is surprisingly understanding. She even eventually meets your grandmother, Rahman, and Jebrael.

Cyno makes sure you know what’s been happening in your classes even though the teachers know you’re taking a leave of absence. He makes photocopies of his notes and—at your request—also brings you some of his favourite books to read.

You’re reading one of his books when Cyno visits you that weekend.

“You’re early!” you say, putting the book beside the vase full of flowers Nahida had picked out for you the day before. “Not that I’m complaining.”

Cyno puts down a bag of fresh fruit on a small table. "Class ended early," he says, smiling at you. He takes out a small apple and a plate and starts cutting them into pieces for you.

Cyno's been keeping you updated about his research and plans for law school. He still has his sights set on Liyue and will use the semester to prepare for the entrance exam and strengthen his resumé.

You’re about to get out of bed when Cyno rushes to your side. “What do you need?” he asks.

“I just want to get us some drinks!” you say. “It’s been almost a month, prez.” You smile at him. “I’m fine.”

You’re pouring you and Cyno some water when he asks, “Did you see the news about Akademiya?”

“The nurses were talking about it today.” You put one cup in front of him. “They were a little curious since they know I’m a student there.”

“It’s been pretty hectic,” Cyno sighs. You sit on the edge of your bed with your cup, looking out the window. Cyno lifts a small table over and puts the fruit down. Then, he sits next to you. “Some people are getting fired since they knew about Scaramouche’s background but let him in regardless because of money.”

“Eh… Not surprised,” you mutter, picking up another apple slice.

“Funny how it’s mostly those who’ve been around for a while.”

You frown. “I guess they thought they would get away with it.”

Cyno puts his arm around you, and you lean your head against his shoulder. “Maybe. There are also reports saying that the newer staff knew what was happening but kept quiet because of threats.”

You scoff. “It’s just like the student attitudes at Akademiya.”

“Now that this is blowing up, hopefully, it’ll change them, too.

Cyno’s cheek is against your head as you take his hand. “You know… I’ve been thinking… this whole thing probably wouldn’t have happened if Scaramouche hadn’t lost his mother.”

“Don’t tell me you’re blaming yourself, Catnip.”

"I'm not. But she was one of the better people in his life. I mean... even those tutors at the center weren't that much better. Maybe if someone had paid some attention to him, things wouldn't have gotten to this extent."

Cyno remembers you telling him that you're seriously considering going into teaching, as Nahida often visits you to get advice and help with her homework. You've considered becoming a professor, a high school teacher, or a student counsellor.

“But a teacher isn’t a therapist, Catnip,” Cyno says kindly.

“I know.” You smile at him.

“Hey, lovebirds!”

You and Cyno turn around and see Tighnari and Candace. “Excited to get discharged soon, Catnip?” Tighnari asks.

“Definitely.”

“We bring good news!” Candace says, sitting in a chair. “We’re getting a discount on the hotel we’re staying at since the owner is friends with Alhaitham and Kaveh.”

“You two still okay with sharing a room?” Tighnari asks.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Candace says sarcastically. “I mean… just look at them holding hands. I doubt it.”

You laugh as Tighnari gestures for Cyno to follow him. So, he does, and Candace takes his spot next to you.

“What is it?” Cyno asks as he and Tighnari step off to the side.

Tighnari hands him a box wrapped in some cloth. A large smiley face sticker is on the front. As Cyno starts opening it, Tighnari stops him.

“Don’t open it yet,” he says. Cyno raises a brow. “You said you wanted something to help you relax at night when we’re on the trip, right? This will help. I guarantee it! But open it when you get there.”

What is his friend up to? Well, Cyno doesn’t think much about it and nods.

◆◆◆

A few months pass, and Cyno almost forgets about the trip because of how busy he's been. So, when you remind him, it's like a breath of fresh air. Cyno is just about finished packing for the long weekend trip when he remembers the box Tighnari gave him in your hospital room. Cyno opens his drawer and stares at the large smiley face sticker.

Why does Tighnari want him to wait? Curious, Cyno is about to open it when he hears a knock at his door. He puts the box down, turns, and sees Nahida.

“Have a minute?” she asks.

“Yeah.” Cyno spins around in his chair just as his cousin sits on the edge of his bed.

“Are you… are you really going to go to Liyue?”

“What’s wrong?” Cyno asks.

Nahida looks down. “I… well… I… I don’t want you to go.” Then, she pouts. “I’ll miss you.”

Cyno takes her hand. “I don’t even know if I’m going.”

“Of course you’re going to get in!” Nahida cries.

Well, he hopes so.

“Who will I stay with?” she continues. “It’s always been the two of us!”

Cyno ruffles her hair affectionately. “It’s not like I’m going away forever. I’ll come back to visit, of course.”

“Yeah… but you’ll be spending time with Catnip.” Nahida looks at him. “How is she handling it?”

You've been very supportive, but you've also been busy with your own path. You've been talking to people in the field, doing your own research on what career path you should take. You ultimately decide on a professor. Just a month ago, you secured a research assistant position for the rest of the semester.

“Don’t tell me the two of you haven’t talked about it! Like… really talked about it.” When Cyno says nothing, Nahida stands and gives him a hug. “This isn’t a goodbye hug!” she huffs. “You’ll still be dealing with me for another few months!”

Cyno smiles and says, “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

◆◆◆

“Woo! Three wins in a row!” Candace gives Alhaitham a high five, while Kaveh and Tighnari give them a deadpan look.

The train ride to the hotel is long, so Kaveh eventually takes out a deck of cards to kill everyone's boredom.

“Who knew that Candace and Alhaitham would make a good team?” Kaveh asks.

You laugh. “We need to step it up, prez. They’re tied with us now.”

As the game continues, Cyno can't help but think of the conversation with Nahida yesterday. He somehow feels he will leave Sumeru, and the thought of everything changing hits him all at once. He looks at Candace and Tighnari sitting across from him. He's been with them for so long that it's strange to imagine a life where they aren't a walking distance away. There's also Alhaitham and Kaveh. Cyno never thought he would miss them spontaneously showing up at his door every once in a while.

Then, there's you.

You and Cyno have been so busy that you've never seriously discussed your future together. While Cyno would love to go to Liyue for law, he needs to remain realistic. So, he's also trying at Inazuma and Mondstadt. It's difficult to say where he'll end up, and he obviously isn't going to ask you to plan his future around him. It won't be fair.

“Cyno.”

Cyno looks up. Everyone is looking at him.

“It’s your move,” Alhaitham says.

Cyno puts down a card, and the game continues.

Soon, the quiet and soft rock of the train has everyone asleep. Candace has her head against the window, and Kaveh and Tighnari are leaning against each other, snoring loudly. Alhaitham has his head lowered and arms crossed.

You and Cyno are the only ones awake.

“Hey, prez,” you say softly, putting your hand on his. “Is something wrong? It seems like you’re a little out of it.”

“Nahida came to talk to me yesterday,” Cyno says. “She said she would miss me after I left. And”—he looks at his friends—“I guess it hit me just now that things will change.”

“It’s not always a bad thing,” you say.

“You're right. But…” When he looks into your eyes, it’s as if you read his mind.

"I haven't got a chance to tell you yet," you say. "But the graduate program I want to get into isn't just offered in Sumeru." You glance at Alhaitham. "I was talking to Professor Alhaitham just a few days ago."

So, does this mean…?

“I’m not sacrificing my future if I go with you wherever you decide to go to law school,” you continue. Cyno takes your hand tightly. “But, of course, I also have to get into the program."

"You've been working so hard," Cyno says. "You'll get in wherever you apply."

You chuckle. "I hope so." Then, you gently pinch his nose. "Let’s see if both of us will get to go to Liyue. If not, let’s see what we can do after we get our results.”

You’re right. It’s too early to say what will happen. Maybe you will go to Liyue together. Maybe… there will be a year apart. So…

“Let’s just focus on the now," Cyno says with a small smile.

You nod, and Cyno puts his arm around you as you lean against his shoulder until the train reaches the last stop.

Alhaitham is the first to wake, followed by Candace. You and Cyno have to shake Kaveh and Tighnari awake. It seems like Tighnari is having a dream as he sits up with a start.

“Were you dreaming about food?” Candace asks, smiling.

Tighnari rubs his eyes. “I had a dream about Catnip! She was a cat… I was a fox… Cyno was protecting us from a large white wolf that oddly reminded me of Candace. It was… weird.”

You and Cyno look at each other; you’re holding back a smile.

"But, it must be nice being a shapeshifter, Catnip," Tighnari says. "The things you can get away with…."

Kaveh raises a brow. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, uh, nothing!”

Candace rolls her eyes.

The group doesn't take long to reach the hotel, which has a stunning mountain view just from the lobby. A man comes out and greets Alhaitham and Kaveh, and Cyno assumes he's the friend Candace mentioned.

After wheeling your luggage inside, you immediately flop onto the king-sized bed in the room you'll share with Cyno.

“Ooh, this is nice,” you say. You pat the empty spot next to you. “Come try it out, prez!”

Cyno lies next to you and brushes your hair out of your face. You slowly inch closer to him, and Cyno is expecting a hug, but you give him a tickle attack that doesn't last very long. Soon, Cyno has you pinned underneath him. His hands hold your wrists as your hands lie on either side of your head.

“What do you think you’re doing, Catnip?”

“I can ask you the same question,” you say teasingly.

"Hey, Cyno, Catnip, your door's op—"

Tighnari opens the hotel door that's already slightly ajar and immediately makes eye contact with you and Cyno in this questionable position.

Cyno gets off of you, and you quickly sit up. “It’s—”

“It’s not like that,” Tighnari finishes. “Yes, yes. Where have I heard that before?” Then, he laughs. “I’ll keep your secret. Don’t worry.” 

“Hey, hey!” Candace peeks into your room. “Let’s go hiking! I heard the view from up top is amazing!”

Tighnari smiles at you as you leave the room and follow Candace down the hall. Then, he steps in front of the door and stops Cyno from leaving.

“Did you bring the box I gave you a few months ago?” Tighnari asks. Cyno raises a brow. “Did you open it?”

“No… not yet,” Cyno says skeptically. “Should I open it now?”

“Well, just remember to check it when you need to relax.”

Right. Relax. Okay.

◆◆◆

Cyno looks over his shoulder at Kaveh and Tighnari, who are clearly dying from the number of stairs they are climbing.

Kaveh stops and breathes heavily. “Why did you pick such a steep trail, Candace?”

Just a few steps behind Alhaitham, Candace turns around and says, "Maybe you should start working out, Kaveh. It'll do wonders."

You’re just a few steps above Cyno when you turn around. “You can do it! We’re almost there!”

“That’s what you said fifteen minutes ago!” Tighnari says loudly. Then, dramatically, “Cyno! Carry me!”

“Pass.”

By the time you reach the top, it’s already late afternoon.

Everyone is enjoying the cool breeze and view when Tighnari says, "Man, when will we be able to do this again?"

Kaveh turns to him. “What do you mean? You’re making it sound like this is our last trip in a while.”

"I mean… isn't it?" Tighnari sighs. "We've been so busy these last few months, and… our graduation is also coming up."

“It’s still a couple of months away,” Cyno says.

“Yeah… but… we’re all going to go our separate ways.”

Candace gently hits him. “Why do you have to talk about such depressing things?”

"So, enjoy the moment," Alhaitham says. "It'll be even more special when we get together again."

Kaveh raises a brow. "That’s the cheesiest thing I’ve ever heard you say."

You laugh. “Well, it’s true, though.”

Alhaitham clears his throat. “Anyway, we shouldn’t stay too long. We don’t want to be hiking back in the dark.”

"Hey, as soon as we get back, let's play a friendly ping-pong match!"

“You still have the energy?” Tighnari asks.

“Of course! We have to make the best of it!” Candace says.

Kaveh makes air quotation marks with his hands as he says, "'Friendly'... so she says."

◆◆◆

That evening, you’re all dressed in a yukata when a fierce ping-pong match breaks out between Candace and Kaveh.

“I guess Candace’s definition of friendly is smashing the ball until it breaks,” Tighnari says.

Cyno sees you rubbing your eyes and says, “Sleepy, Catnip?”

“A little. I guess the hike wore me out.” You stand. “I’m going to go back and take a little nap.”

An hour later, Cyno heads back to check up on you. He quietly opens the door and sees you sleeping soundly on the bed. He closes the door behind him and quietly walks into the room to grab a towel for a quick soak outside when he sees you’re sweating. You’re tightly gripping the sheets and also slightly shaking.

Cyno gently puts a hand on your shoulder. “Catnip?” he asks quietly. When he sees you grip the sheets tighter, he slowly shakes you. “Cat—”

Your eyes open, and you immediately sit upright. Cyno wraps his arm around you and gently pulls you toward him.

“It’s okay,” he says softly, rubbing your arm. “It’s just a bad dream.”

Cyno brushes some hair out of your face as you say, "... It was Scaramouche."

You and Cyno end up cuddling on the bed as he listens to you tell him about your nightmare. You'd transformed into a cat, running to save a bleeding Cyno bound to a chair. But your efforts are always in vain, as Scaramouche kills both of you in cold blood. Cyno also learns this isn't the first time Scaramouche haunts your dreams. It's already been a few weeks.

“I didn’t want you to worry,” you say quietly. “You were already so busy.”

Cyno gives you a tight squeeze. “Still, I wish you could’ve told me.” You look up at him, and he smiles. “Do you want me to make you some tea?”

You nod.

As Cyno gets off the bed, you move to sit on the edge. "Now that Scaramouche is gone, do you think… my curse can be broken?"

Cyno takes out a small pack of chamomile tea he packed for the trip just as the water begins the boil. “Does he have something to do with your curse?”

You sigh. “It’s silly… but do you remember that children’s story Alhaitham told you about?”

“Cupid’s Cat Curse?”

You nod. "I was curious and read about it a few days ago."

Cyno remembers the story. A princess cursed by an evil witch into becoming a cat. While the curse is broken with a kiss once the prince learns and accepts the princess's dark past with the witch's family, it's also the time the princess comes to terms with who she is and who she wants to become.

“When I think about it… Scaramouche and I are similar, but we’re also very different,” you continue. “He wanted love. I… I just wanted to have a family like everyone else, which… I realize now that I pretty much do.” You sigh. “Of course, there’s secrecy, but I guess I was afraid of what other people will think.”

Cyno hands you the hot cup of tea, and you immediately take a sip. "You're not alone," he says, sitting beside you. "Everyone cares about what other people think to some extent. But… it's after a little time that you realize whose opinions really matter."

"You also realize who your real friends are."

Cyno smiles at you. "That too." You're almost finished with your drink when he asks, "Do you think Scaramouche coming back was a good thing?"

“I guess so. I mean… I don’t think I would’ve found out what I did. My family wouldn’t have a reason to tell me. But, maybe I would’ve found out one day.”

You put your drink on the table, and Cyno opens his arms so you sit on his lap. His arms are around you, and you hold his hands. "Well, I wished he came back a little more quietly," he says, and you chuckle. "But, I'm glad it's all over."

“Me too.”

Both of you lean closer, and you look each other in the eyes before your lips find each other. His hands are in your hair, holding you in place as he nips at your top lip and caresses it with his own. Then, after repeating the gesture on your lower lip, you sigh and murmur his name.

You and Cyno pull away. Your face is a faint shade of pink; he knows his face is, too, if the warmth is anything to go by. He kisses you again, and you lean greedily into the kiss. Then, as you turn to face him fully, your hands find his shoulders, and the kiss turns dark and deep. Soon, Cyno has you underneath him, his body fitting snugly against yours as he takes your lips again… and again.

When he finally breaks away, both of you are breathless and panting softly as if coming down from a high that you can only find in each other.

"You asked me before if I was sure," you say, your hands sliding underneath his shirt. A delicious shiver runs through his body when he feels your fingers dancing along his torso. After he allows you to remove his shirt, you put a hand on his chest and look him in the eyes. "I'm sure."

Cyno’s lips find yours in another heated embrace while his hand travels lower until he finds what he's looking for. You gasp when the pad of his thumb gently circles around your clit. You slowly roll your hips as Cyno plays with the pressure, adjusting as needed upon seeing your reactions.

“Softer…?” Cyno whispers in your ear. “Or harder…?”

“H-harder,” you manage between soft breaths.

Cyno slides another finger inside and starts rubbing your clit between his finger and his thumb. He gradually increases the pressure and moves his hand in tangent with your hips. He uses his other hand to remove your shirt with your help. His lips nip at a hardened nipple, and your body arches off the bed. You wrap your arms around him, keeping him in place as his hand and mouth draw sounds from you that only Cyno has the pleasure of hearing.

“C-Cyno,” you whimper. “I’m…”

That’s when he stops.

He leans upright, and your blush worsens upon seeing the tent in his pants. Finally, you sit up, and Cyno lets you slide off his remaining clothes. Eventually, your clothes lie in a pile with his, and you're on top of him.

His gaze quickly roams your body before landing back on your face. You slowly allow his hardened sex to enter you, but your soft whimpers give it away that it's too much to bear. His hands are on your hips, guiding and letting you slowly sink onto him at your pace. Cyno is doing everything in his power not to pressure you, but the way your walls hug him so tightly, he feels like his body is on fire. Finally, you lean toward him and slowly rock your hips when he's completely inside you. Soon, the mattress underneath shifts and moves along as you ride him faster and harder.

“G-God, Catnip.”

As his hips continuously roll into yours, you lean forward even more, your breasts just inches away from his face. Cyno feels him go even deeper, which sends shockwaves throughout his body. "You feel… so good, prez," he hears you whisper in his ear.

Suddenly, Cyno sweeps you onto your back without pulling out. He raises your legs and thrusts into you, making you cry out. Did he hurt you? Cyno almost pulls out. But, one hand weaves its way into his hair, and you kiss him with a fervent need, and he starts again. Slowly… gradually increasing his pace until…

“Harder, prez,” you gasp as soon as you break apart. You nip his bottom lip. “Fuck me… harder.”

That's when something snaps.

Cyno hooks his knees outside your legs and drives himself deeper… harder… again… and again.

“A-ah… that’s—” A quick scream and then, “that’s… that’s the best.”

Cyno's heart feels like it's going to explode. He can feel his high fast approaching as the bed continues to rock back and forth. You cry out, and soon, Cyno pulls out and feels himself come in a trembling wave.

Cyno is leaning over you; his hands are on either side of your head. Both of you are panting, but then you smile and touch his come on your stomach and lick it off your finger. The action alone is enough to get the blood flowing... again.

You lick your lips and smile. “You taste just as good as you feel, prez.”

He nips your bottom lip. “We should get cleaned up.”

You chuckle. “Will you help me?”

That’s an invitation Cyno will definitely accept.

◆◆◆

The next morning, Cyno wakes up spooning you and smiles against your bare shoulder. Throughout the entire night, you haven’t turned. Does this mean the curse is broken? Careful not to wake you, he quietly slips out of bed for the washroom. Then, when he returns to the bedroom, he remembers the box Tighnari gave him.

Cyno reaches into his bag and pulls it out. He finally opens it and sees…

“What are you looking at?” Cyno hears you ask as your arms snake around him. You look over his shoulder and see a libido drink and a small box of condoms. But it’s the message on top that makes you laugh.

Just lookin’ out for your health (¬‿¬)

Cyno sighs. “It’s Tighnari.”

You kiss his shoulder. “May have come in handy yesterday night.”

Cyno kisses your head. “We can always use it another time.”

You make him turn around, and Cyno sees you're on your knees on the bed. "What about now?"

Cyno falls onto the bed with you underneath him. “Dirty girl,” he whispers.

Your legs go around him as he kisses your jawline. Then, you tilt his head toward you and teasingly ask, "Are you complaining?"

Cyno smirks. “Never.”

It takes you and Cyno a while before you finally head down for breakfast. Cyno thinks Tighnari won't complain after knowing his gift came in handy.

End notes: Is the next chapter really... the last chapter? I'm not ready LOL.

Tag list: @lxry-chxn @suoshiii @lordbugs @seirenspinel @iwishitwas @sketcheeee @sakiimeo @thetwinkims @chaimkko @bennytheghost @whorerificstuff @ch0c0shortiie @ashtree-and-the-cats @riylvx

[greatprotector-if]

I just thought of a scenario for Kallias. So, MC can't really dance in ball's, but say they're ok with that because they claim "I don't really like dancing. I'm not really good at it either"

Then one day when Kallias sneaks out to go to a tavern, MC finds them quicker than they usually do and comes to drag them back to the castle. Kallias complains about not even having a chance to dance, and MC sighs and says "if I dance with you for one song, will you come back with me without complaining?" What is Kallias' reaction?

What are their reaction and thoughts if MC is actually pretty decent at dancing? (They're dancing to a slow and romantic song, of course 😉)

KALLIAS WOULD LIGHT UP AT THE OFFER. MIGHT EVEN GET A LITTLE SHY IF THEY'RE DEEP IN THE CRUSHING PHASE... but either way they'd drag mc out into the dance floor before they get the chance to change their mind.

a slow romantic song and mc is doing well? kallias is surprised because mc you lied you're good at dancing!!!! and also. what the fuck they're being swept off their feet so effortlessly. mc isn't lifting a finger to charm kallias during the dance like they're used to at the balls they frequent, and yet? it's happening? They're being charmed? they've been charmed for a while now at this point but wow there really isn't a limit to how amazing they can find mc huh. The bar will just keep on climbing. and these are dangerous thoughts, they'd be dead if their mother ever found out, but kallias has never been the type to run from danger... 👀

[hiraeth-witch-11]

Bond To Happen Part 11

Part 11: What if I'm a Mistake?

Warnings: the reader has passive suicidal ideation, lots of big feelings from trauma, mention of SA, canon typical content

Word Count: 3500ish

“You slept in the same bed as Billy Russo and nothing happened?” Karen asks in blatant disbelief, fingers stilling in your hair. You roll your eyes at her from your spot on the couch, head resting in her lap.

“That is what I said, Kare, 3 times now, I think. He’s a good guy, he’s never made me uncomfortable and he respects my boundaries.” Your tone is a little defensive.

“I know, sweetie. Honestly, he’s surprised both me and Frank with how he is around you. I just meant you both obviously have some sort of connection and I thought being that close might be what changes things up a bit.”

You relax at her words. “I was so tired, I passed out pretty quickly. I was just grateful the thunder wasn’t as loud after I fell asleep.”

“And if you both had been more awake?” Her words make you think.

“I don’t know if I’m there yet, Kare,” you say softly. “It’s not like he’s even actually said anything to show he’s interested either. There would have to be so much talking to even start anything romantic or physical and I haven’t told him everything about my magic. It would be too complicated and I don’t even know where I would begin…”

“Do you want me to just listen or do you want my thoughts?”

“Thoughts,” you mumble, focusing on the show the two of you have on in the background.

“I think you’re focusing on the obstacles instead of deciding whether or not you want to try,” Karen says kindly.

“What would I do if I did decide?” You ask earnestly.

“I think you gotta pick first, babe,” she answers with a smile.

“Ughhh, why can’t things just be simple. It would be so much easier if I actually got a real amount of energy from you and the rest of the gang,” you groan.

“Me too, but at least it’s been helping a bit, right?”

You nod, unable to voice the lie. You did feel better around your friends, especially when touching them, but it didn’t last. Even when you had tried opening your connection to their auras and actively feeding from them, the results had been disappointing. The moment they left the room, your fatigue would come crashing back down on you. You still spent as much time with your found family as you could, but it was about as effective as taking ibuprofen for a stab wound. You didn’t want them to worry, though, so you didn’t say anything. You kept yourself from truly putting words to it, but you had pretty much resigned yourself to your eventual death. Anything you tried now felt like it would be useless. A flailing of limbs as you ran out of air. You didn’t want that. You just wanted to be with your friends until you couldn’t anymore.

Billy was a fantasy, a white knight you were starting to daydream about swooping in and fixing all your problems. But you don’t think even he can help you at this stage. You’d probably have to be attached at the hip 24/7 to make a difference in your health. To be honest, you’d lost pieces of your will to live steadily over the last few years. The first when your parents disowned you. Another when a blonde man slipped something into your drink, a choice that led to his death. You think the biggest part of you gave up that night in the rain, surrounded by the bodies of men who saw you as less than an animal.

******

The days following you and Russo’s rainstorm adventure, he made a point to check on you twice daily. Often through a text in the morning and evening, but it quickly evolved into more. Billy stopping by your office to chat or share food became a regular thing. If he came into the office with a coffee, he always had an extra for you. Frank complained about being left out anytime he noticed. Turns out, you were right, Russo had a sweet tooth, so you would frequently find a tart or donut or some obscure miniature dessert on your desk during the week. 

Russo asked about your life, your family. A sore topic, it turns out, for both of you.

“They disowned me when I told them about all this,” You say, waving a hand and allowing a bit of your icy blue magic to be visible around the room.

“Shit, I’m sorry,” Russo says earnestly.

“It is what it is. They told me I was as good as dead to them. They weren’t bad parents, though, so it was tough to accept they meant it. Up until they brought out the shotgun to make sure I moved all my shit out of their house. At least they waited until after undergrad to decide they hated ‘my kind’.” You leave out some details. Mainly that they called you a whore because of the details of your magic. At the time you thought you were some sort of succubus related witch. But you’d only ever had sex twice with a friend in college so you don’t think you can really claim either title.

“I grew up in foster care. Frank was the first family I ever had.” Billy admits after a few beats. His aura darkens at the memory, you can tell it’s painful for him, but the change in aura doesn’t feel uncomfortable for you like it should.

“Frank’s good people,” you say finally. “He’s a grumpy bastard, but he’s a real softie on the inside, I think, at least.”

“Don’t let him hear you say that,” Billy laughs. “He’d pout for a week.”

“That is such a strange visual. Frank Castle pouting,” you snort, imagining it. “It’s weird to think that about this time 2 years ago, I didn’t have a single friend in the city and now I’ve got a whole little group. Never had that many people in my life before.”

“Surely you had friends in college?” Billy asks incredulously.

“Never more than two at a time, and most of them didn’t last long.” You shake your head. “It was okay though, I’ve always preferred the quiet.”

“I’m sorry to interrupt it then,” Billy says, jokingly moving to get up.

“No, no. You are a rare exception. Especially as talkative as you are,” you tease.

“Glad to hear you like me, sweetheart,” Billy says, smirking as he settles back into the chair. 

“I didn’t say that.” You feel your cheeks warming and rush to turn the subject back to him. “What about you? I bet you had a bunch of friends through school. You seem like a popular guy.”

Russo shakes his head non committedly. “I was just another pretty face in highschool. Same for the Marines, at the beginning at least.”

You can sense a little bitterness around that word. Pretty. He didn’t like it. His whole aura tenses as he says it. It was something you’d suspected before, but his aura had never confirmed your suspicions until now.

“Well, you started your own company from the ground up and you do a lot of good with it. I would say you have progressed past being just a pretty face.”

“Thanks, sweetheart.” 

******

“Hey, Blue. Any plans for the weekend?” Billy asks, leaning against your doorframe.

“I was planning to get drinks with Karen tonight, but she has to work late so I’m deciding whether or not I still want to go.” You rest backwards in your chair and interlace your fingers over your abdomen, twiddling your thumbs as you think.

“Alone?” Billy arches an eyebrow.

“Well, yeah. Unless you want to come?”

“I’d love to.” Billy smiles at your offer.

Looking back, you probably should have just gone alone. With Billy next to you, you don’t really want to feed. Or you want to feed from him too much and have decided it wouldn’t be fair to do that to a friend without them knowing about it. Instead of feeding, you enjoy a strawberry daiquiri and tease Billy over his choice in beer.

“I don’t need to try it to know it’s gross, Bill.”

“So you’re judgin’ me without having anythin’ to back yourself up?”

“Objectively, I know my drink tastes better.”

“That’s ‘cause it’s sweet, can you even call it a real drink, sweetheart?”

“It has twice as much alcohol as yours does, and it actually tastes good. I swear you and Frank drink that shit just because you’re ‘too manly’ for anything else.” You use air quotes around the words and take another sip. “Try it and tell me you still think yours is better.” You offer him your drink. He raises an eyebrow and swaps drinks with you.

“Only if you try mine.”

You make a face, “Fine.”

The two of you drink at the same time and you grimace. “Yup, I stand by my statement. All beer is gross.”

“Yours is better,” Billy nods, taking another sip.

“I told you so.”

He hums and goes in for a third sip.

“Hey, get your own,” you say as you swipe your drink back before he can drink anymore.

“Why would I do that when I can just steal yours?” Billy grins.

“Absolutely not, William. I will fight you for it.” You finish your drink and the two of you talk for another few minutes before you are ready to call it a night.

An obnoxiously loud chorus of laughter comes from a group across the room and you wince at the noise.

“If you don’t like crowds so much, why do you go out for drinks instead of stayin’ in?” Billy asks curiously as the two of you get up to walk home.

You shrug, “I can’t become a hermit, Bill.” And you have to at least try to feed sometimes.

“Well I’m happy to come with you anytime you want company.” He eyes the room with disdain. “Or a buffer.”

He holds the door open for you and the cool night air hits you as you laugh in response to his words, “A buffer from what?”

“You haven’t noticed all the guys starin’ at you that whole time?”

“Like in a ‘thinking of harvesting my organs for the black market’ way or a ‘there’s something on my face’ way?”

“In a ‘jealous that you have company already’ way.” Billy moves to the outer side of the sidewalk.

You give Billy an incredulous look of disbelief. “In that case, it was probably meant for you, not me.”

“Most of them aren’t my type, sweetheart.”

“Most of them aren’t my type either.”

“What is your type then?” Billy asks.

You are my type, your mind supplies unhelpfully. “I’m not even sure if I know anymore. Most often, it’s women.”

“‘Women’ is a pretty broad category.” Billy grins.

“There are a lot of gorgeous women in the world and they all look different, I happen to appreciate different types of beauty.”

“I hear that. And when it comes to men?”

“My type gets more specific with men. Not that I’ve even dated one in years.”

“That specific, huh?”

“Yup. They have to respect boundaries for one, which feels damn near impossible to find sometimes. I can’t date anyone who’s sexist or racist or homophobic or threatened by me.They gotta be able to communicate their feelings effectively. They have to understand my whole weirdness with touch. And that’s not even adding in if I find them physically attractive. What about you?”

“I thought my type was anything on two legs,” Billy jokes.

“Come on, it’s not fair if I’m the only one revealing all my secrets.”

“So your type is a secret.”

“It might be.”

“In that case,” Billy chuckles. “I like fiery women- and men occasionally.”

You try not to let your surprise show at the admission. Sure, he had hinted, but he’d never outright said anything.

“If we’re talkin’ more than just a passin’ thing, I guess I gotta lot of the more specific descriptions too. I’ve just never really gotten around to a real relationship and figurin’ all that out. Frank keeps tellin’ me ‘quality over quantity.’”

“If it makes you feel any better, I’ve never had a real relationship either. The closest I got was pseudo-dating someone for a month in college. It ended when I started flinching anytime they touched me. That was when this whole thing really got started,” you explain gesturing to your temple. “It sucked ‘cause I really liked them.”

“I don’t really like touch all that much either,” Billy starts softly. “There was this guy at the group home. I must have been ten, eleven at the time. When a grown man tells you that you're pretty, you know nothing good is coming. Let's just say, I wasn't interested in the kind of games that he had in mind. So I went after him with the stickball bat. Caught him good a couple times, too. Then he broke my arm. Got pissed off, ripped my rotator cuff in three places.”

You don’t know what to say, don’t know what you can say. 

Billy continues, “And the older I got, the prettier I got, and the more people wanted a piece of me in one way or another. When people want somethin��, they find a reason to grab it. Shit, you probably know what I mean better than most.”

You nod and look up at him as the two of you keep walking. “You didn’t deserve it, any of it, Billy.”

“Neither did you,” Billy insists, surprising you. You’d never told him what happened, never told anyone. Frank was the only one who you had even mentioned it to. You preferred to keep it buried. Maybe you’ve misread and he meant something else, but instinct tells you he knows, he sees you, he understands.

******

“It’s okay, Frank, it’s just a migraine. People get them all the time and still work,” you insist.

“How many days this month have you had a migraine this bad and still came in?” Frank asks, sounding pretty pissed at you. The lights in your office were as low as they could go and you had had an ice pack over your forehead when Frank came in unannounced as he had a bad habit of doing.

“I didn’t keep track. I don’t know why you’re upset, Frank, I’m getting my work done. This hasn’t affected the quality of my readings or reports.”

“Be straight with me, Blue. Are these migraines ‘cause of your magic?” He refuses to let you get out of this conversation with your excuses. The day or so after you’d returned from your trip with Billy, you had felt better than you had in months but that feeling quickly devolved into feeling worse. You’d had a taste of how good it could be and your magic was protesting. Even going out with him the other night was only a brief escape from the pain.

“Yes.”

“Shit, kid, I didn’t know things had gotten this bad. Does Bill know?”

“No and you won’t tell him. There’s nothing to be done and my job keeps me focused. I’ll tell him if it becomes a problem.” You keep your voice firm, trying to match Castle’s classic stubbornness. You didn’t want to bring Billy into all this, you don’t want him to worry.

“If you get any other symptoms. So much as a sniffle, you will tell one of us immediately. Tell me you understand,” he orders.

“I understand, Frank. I will, I promise.” You aren’t sure if it’s the truth.

Frank eyes you, as if he doesn’t quite believe you either. He eventually nods and leaves your office. Once he’s gone, you remove the ice pack from your face and sit up, reaching for your water bottle. Warmth trickles from your nose and you reach up to wipe it away absentmindedly, as if it’s an itch. You look down at your hand and assess the scarlet coating your skin.

“Fuck.”

******

You had a theory that Matt knew something more than he let on about your health. Sometimes he’d ask if you were okay, a deeper meaning in the words. Or he’d make a point to ask if you wanted to talk, if you needed any help. You didn’t realize how much his enhanced senses were picking up until he confronted you one night in the kitchen of his apartment while you helped clean up after game night.

“You aren’t okay, are you?” He states more than asks.

“I don’t want to talk about it, Matthew,” you reply coolly as you dry a dish.

“You’ve been brushing this off for too long, Blue, talk to me.”

“There’s no point, nothing is going to change this.” You gesture to your head, aura flashing.

“Bullshit. Have you even been trying? Have you looked for anything more concrete about your magic or your species?” Matt is struggling to keep from raising his voice in frustration.

“What is the point? I tried, but it didn't work. I gave up. There is no point in fighting anymore.” You aren’t as good at controlling your volume.

“The point,” he’s practically spitting in anger, “is that you have people who love you. You could have a good life. You just have to want it.”

“A life without real sleep? Without being able to sit in only my thoughts? Without any real chance of a life partner? In a country that’s would sooner collar me, or fucking burn me, than help me? What is the point, Matt?” You’re yelling now, tears slipping down your cheeks as you feel that quiet, ever present rage fill you. The rage of a queer person used to hearing slurs in hallways, bars, and family dinners. Of a woman who has been threatened and belittled and hurt by men who think they are owed something they choose to take. Of a witch who lost her family, her home, her dreams of the future, who was forced into becoming a survivor. 

And with this, you begin to face some of the pain you have forced so deep down into your mind. Everything you were, everything you loved, has been taken from you piece by piece. Your family was your only constant growing up, you’d always struggled to make friends. Your parents took that from you in an instant. You thought you would find freedom in your travels, but all you received was hurt and hate from the strangers you encountered. You finally finally settle in a city where you begin to feel safe, and then your rights are slowly stripped away. You hadn’t wanted to be alive in a long time. Even with your friends, your pain still festered within you like an infection you refused to treat. Sometimes you think death would be easier than this. Anything would be easier than this.

“You deserve to live, Blue,” Matt says softly, voice thick with emotion.

“You don’t know that, Matt. You don’t know what I’ve done to stay alive this long,” you shake your head furiously.

“Have you ever purposely hurt someone innocent?”

“No, but I-”

“Then it doesn’t matter. Do you think Frank deserves to die for what he’s done?”

“No, but-”

“Then why would you?”

“What if I’m a mistake?” You voice a fear that has followed you for so long, you can’t remember a life without it. Something that started small, when no one wanted to play with you as a little kid and grew as disaster seemed to follow you everywhere. “What if I’m wrong and that’s why this happened? Maybe this is nature’s way of self correcting.”

“Someone as good as you, could never be wrong, Blue.”

You break down at that. Full, heaving sobs as you lean over the sink, face in your hands.

“Can I?” Matt asks and you nod, feeling his arms wrap around you.You turn and cry into his shoulder, venting emotion that you’ve tried so hard to avoid, and he lets you. Rubs your back gently and murmurs kind words into your hair. “It’s going to be okay. You’re going to be okay.”

After a while, your sobs taper off, turning to heavy breathing interrupted with sniffles. You try to apologize for ruining Matt’s shirt, but he won’t let you.

“How long has that been building up?”

“A while,” you admit.

“I know I'm not one to talk about the whole, you know, sharing things and talking about feelings, but you know we’re here for you. Right?”

“I know, Matt.”

“I found some older stories and documents, Karen helped but I told her it was a surprise for you. They look promising, Can I send the info to you? Maybe you can look it over and see if anything clicks?” He explains once you’ve calmed down.

“Okay, I’ll give them a look,” you agree. You aren’t sure if your feelings about dying have changed much, but for Matt, for Karen and the rest of the people you’ve become so close with, for Billy, you can try.

Series List

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[triviareads]

I finished 'Mercy' after you recommended it and loved it! Do you have any more FemDom recs for me?

I'm glad you enjoyed it!! It's such a novel book to me in the way Sara redeems Beau and writes him as a brat, and I really loved the taboo "best friend's son" thing. Here are some more femdom recs

Contemporary

Beg For It by Megan Hart: A second chance femdom romance! They met when they were in their early 20s they just naturally figure out their dynamic and he's very service oriented (at one point she's crying while she remembers how he would meticulously paint her nails and tbh I felt that) and likes punishment. Fast forward and they're both middle aged and she's divorced, and he ends up buying(?) the company she works which is how they meet again and they resume their relationship. Also, the DEFIANCE in this middle aged man when he's like "I'm not your boy anymore!!" is very funny and patently untrue. Plus, there's pegging that isn't relegated to a bonus scene.

Preferential Treatment by Heather Guerre: One of my favorite Fated Mates recs; he's a billionaire and she's his employee he pays to domme him. There are a lot of sexually charged chess games (with sex toys...?) and there's a financial domination aspect, the most hysterical part being that she has him donating to PACs dedicated to overthrowing Citizens United

What Was Meant to By by Heather Guerre: Marriage of convenience set in a small town except this small town blue collar man likes to be called a good boy in bed and loves it when his wife takes charge.

Also sidenote, I've seen multiple reviews complaining about how they were "surprised" Rain was the dominant one and "it didn't make sense considering she'd been isolated a lot of her adult life" and "there was no backstory" to which I'd say, why does there need to be a backstory? Why does there need to be an explanation about why Rain likes what she likes when I doubt any of these people would require one if it turned out the hero was the more dominant one in the bedroom. Especially in a book that isn't mainly about exploring kink and the mcs just kind of have kinks that fit together, there's little need, and I'd love to see more of that in romance novels.

Rules We Break by Dana Isaly: This is a novella; She's older and his boss, and they rekindle their relationship for a night in Nashville. There's service stuff, there's punishment, there's a lot of toys.

Historical:

The Duke I Tempted by Scarlett Peckham: Marriage of convenience between a powerful duke and a gardener— the bargain is an heir for money for her gardening business except they fall in love ofc, all while he's hiding that he's a masochist and frequents whipping houses. The reveal (to Poppy) happens fairly late in the book from what I remember, but she does ask him to teach her how to please him.

Would I Lie to the Duke by Eva Leigh: She's in the soapmaking business and he's a duke but also v business oriented; I remember him being kind of an.... alpha sub? If that makes any sense whatsoever, but he's into submission/service-oriented but he's still kind of calling the shots with Jessica especially in the beginning.

Scandalous Passions by Nicola Davidson: an MFF romance set in the 1600s in Scotland between an ex-royal mistress, a naive ingenue type, and a strong but silent soldier; the ex-mistress, Janet, definitely takes charge of her earlier encounters with Marjorie and Lachlan and kind of controlled the proceedings from what I remember. Also, solid dirty talk as is standard for this author.

Nicola Davidson has a handful of other femdom books from what I remember, but I've yet to read them. I'm also told The Perfect Crimes of Marian Hayes by Cat Sebastian qualifies

[mx-piggy]

Time for my weekly Futurama review. It's odd watching an Xmas episode two days after my birthday but it was definitely worth it. Spoilers ahead!!

I didn't think it would happen, but I Know What You Did Next Xmas has topped Children of a Lesser Bog for me. So far, this is my favourite episode of the revival. Johnny 2 Cellos said in his podcast with Toonirific Tariq (Cartoons That Curse) that this was his favourite episode of the first six. Considering how much I adored Children of a Lesser Bog (despite its expositional issues), I hadn't expected this to beat that episode quite like it did.

Just a head's up, this review is going to be a lot of 'I thought this thing was very neat', because I smiled for pretty much the whole duration of the episode.

I Know What You Did Next Xmas did pretty much everything right, especially considering this isn't from the show's original run. It's not up there with revival episodes like the Late Philip J. Fry (which comes to mind because of the very fun inclusion of the Professor's time machine), but it's certainly not far off. It has a really cool sci-fi concept in terms of the time travel elements, with the Professor going back in time to 'fix' Robot Santa, and with Bender and Zoidberg abducting Robot Santa and being the ones to save the day as a result. I'm not intelligent enough to figure out if any of this 'works', but I think it was cool. The humour was also very strong; I don't think it's the funniest episode of the revival so far, but it's definitely up there for me. And, the episode was really wholesome, which is surprising since the episode's A plot is Bender and Zoidberg kidnapping and trying to dispose of the body of Robot Santa.

Speaking of which, my favourite aspect of the episode was how incredibly sweet it was. Seeing the different families gathering together for the holidays was so lovely to see, even if we only got a couple of scenes with each of them individually. It was nice to see Fry spending the holidays with the Farnsworths because of how often he feels like he has no family seeing as he left his old one behind him in the past. The same goes for Leela; it's so lovely to see her finally get the family life she missed out on as a kid. The Kroker-Wong family gathering was really nice; it was fun to see them further explore the family dynamic with the kids. And, it was fun to see Hermes with his family, of course with them limboing. I also really love how the episode took the direction of everyone realising they'd forgotten to invite Bender and Zoidberg to their holiday celebrations, and actually wanting to spend time with them. The revival's been really good at presenting the characters like people who genuinely enjoy one another's company, definitely better than a lot of the Comedy Central episodes, which would sacrifice these heartwarming character interactions.

This revival's also been really good with continuity, in my opinion! It was a joy to see Kif and Amy's kids again, especially in the cosy setting that holiday episodes provide. The time machine was implemented really well. And, I really enjoyed the references to previous episodes, such as when the Professor was going back in time and it showed moments from (I believe) the Day the Earth Stood Stupid and Put Your Head on My Shoulders. I haven't seen Disenchantment yet beyond the first episode (I'll probably check it out once it's finished) but I still thought the cameo was neat. I also really liked the joke of the Professor saying he was going alone so no one would end up becoming their own grandfather (God, Roswell That Ends Well is such a good episode). I've seen people on here complaining that the revival is lazy in referencing or continuing from previous episodes of the show so frequently, but I really don't see the problem? Like, don't you want there to be a sense of continuity? It bothers me that a handful of fans have been thinking so uncritically about how the show implements topical elements and references to itself, but I digress.

If I had to nitpick, I guess I don't feel like Robot Santa had as much of a presence in this episode compared to previous episodes. It's a complaint I've had about characters like Mom or Zapp, where they don't feel nearly as much as scene-stealing as they used to. It could just be because of the overall different vibe of episodes from the original run compared to the show's various revivals. It's something I can't quite articulate or explain, but the Simpsons has the same problem. With the Simpsons seasons 2-8 and Futurama seasons 1-5, the episodes feel a lot sharper in their humour, if that makes sense? But, with episodes past a certain point, the humour just feels kind of dull and like it doesn't land as well; like Homer or Fry will say a half-funny line and then there will be some dead space that kills any humour. That's sort of how it feels, anyway. If you want me to elaborate on that, please feel free to ask me in the comments, a reblog or an ask. But, yeah, I thought the 'cookie' joke was funny considering how menacing Robot Santa normally is.

I'd love to see this revival focus on some more underexplored dynamics like Bender and Zoidberg because it was really fun seeing them together in this episode. They have such good chemistry due to their surface-level differences and inherent similarity. They're both incredibly sensitive and lonely individuals who crave friendship (which has some irony to it because robots are seen as being emotionless and Decapodians die when they reproduce, so in a way it's almost as if they're not made to have connections with others), but where Zoidberg is incredibly kind and openly tries to build connections with people, Bender is kind of a total jerk who tries to seem tougher than he actually is. Zoidberg's such a precious character and I'm hoping we get some more Zoidberg-centric stories in this revival. I'm also waiting for a Hermes episode, and possibly a Professor episode.

The song at the end was fun, in my opinion anyway. Definitely a good send off for Kwanzaa-Bot (I presume so, anyway).

I'm wondering if I missed something in the original run or the CC run, because they've made a surprising number of references to Leela drinking in this revival. Does anyone know what that's about? Maybe Leela's always been a drinker and I just don't remember it for some reason.

If I have any more thoughts about this episode because it was really that good, I'll make a follow-up to this post. As always, feel free to reblog, comment or send me an ask if you have anything you want me to elaborate on, or if there's anything you want to add!

[blossom-tonic]

I missed you...

A Thoma x Gn Reader

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

You are quite known in Inazuma as a hardworking Adventurer. It became a routine for you to visit Kathryn and accept any kind of commission she throws at you. It doesn't matter if they are just delivery or giving advice or fighting Hilichurls in one of the Islands, you do all of them.

But with the amount of commissions you take it became quite hard balancing your free time with them. And in the past you didn't mind one bit, it was your childhood dream to become an Adventurer and when you were blessed with Vision, you took it as a sign to pursue this dream.

But since you have Partner, things seems different now. Now you find yourself longing to see the beautiful face of your lover. To see his beautiful emerald green eyes glancing at you with happiness. To feel his arms around you as he tells you about his day at the Kamisato estate.

At first it didn't seem to bother you that much. You were both hardworking people who took they assignments seriously and you guys understood that each of you weren't available at times so it wasn't a Problem. But it became a brother not seeing your liver frequently.

And Thoma felt the same. It was a known fact that he was absolutely smitten by you. Not one day passed without him thinking about you and worrying about your health when you went away for your commissions.

Of course his work as the housekeeper of the Kamisato family took his mind of these things and he often found himself thinking about how happy he will be, having you in his arms. But it has been days since he saw you.

He made sure to go see you when he was done with his work but often he came to see you already sleeping somewhere in the forest or at your home, exhausted from your commissions. And of course being a good lover he let you rest. But he can seem to shake away the feeling of missing you.

Today was again one of those days where you guys didn't see each other for the whole day. You were going your way home, or to explain it better, your were forcing your legs to keep your body up and drag you to your home. Of course it would've been better if you would make your way to Thoma but you didn't have the energy to go through the Chinju Forest, all the way to the estate.

So with the last strength you had you made it to your little house in the city only to see the strawberry blonde hair of your lover waiting by the door. You were surprised to see him but at the same time also so damn happy which is why you screamed his name to get his attention.

"Thoma!"

With the sound of your angelic voice in his ear he turned to where he heard it and smiled his adorable and charming smile when he saw you. Concern flashed quickly in his eyes once he saw how slow you were walking and jogged to you to help you.

And by helping you, he picked you with the result you gasping a bit and holding onto his shoulders a surprised look on your face.

"Thoma, what are you doing? Put me down?" You complained, even tho you missed being in his arm you still could walk properly on your own.

"Nope, not happening, you are clearly exhausted and as your partner it my duty to take care of you!" He exclaimed with a smile and started to walk to your door. He knew where you hid your spare keys so just took them and opened your door and carries you to your bed and laid you done gentle.

You were just smiling softly at Thoma as he removed your shoes and then said beside you. You can't still believe that this attentive man was your boyfriend. How did you get so lucky?

"Can i help you with something else? Do you need something to eat or drink? Do you want me to run a bath for you? I can get started right away!" He exclaimed quickly and started to stand up but before he could go somewhere you grabbed his hand stopping him. A little chuckle left your lips as you listen to him ramble.

"Thoma, I'm fine. All i want is being with you and listen to you talking about your day." You replied softly looking at him with your big eyes that, he always found himself dreaming about. With a content smile he started to lay down beside you and wrapped his arms around you and pulling you closer to his side.

God how he missed holding you. You limps entangling with his, having your head rest on his chest listening to his heart beat was all that he wished for the last few days.

"I missed this... I missed you." He said sighing in content as he left a small little kiss on the your head. You just laughed snuggled yourself closer to him.

"I missed you too." You said happily and looked up to him. He couldn't help himself and cupped one your cheeks in his hand, stroking the soft but also a bit dusty flesh. He pecked your lips quickly and pulled his hand away to let your head rest in his head.

"Start telling me about your day Thoma, i wanna hear everything." You asked and started to move your head so you can listen to his heartbeat. He began talking, he talked about his task, about the Kamisato siblings, how they asked when you come visit them again, how he thought every single second of you and how he couldn't wait to see you again.

You just sighed softly and slowly started to close your eyes. The exhaustion creeping up on you which resulted to you falling asleep on Thomas chest, listing to his heartbeat.

--------------------------------------------------

So this fic was heavily inspired by this Foto i took of my genshin game. Thb i didn't know how this happened Thoma just started talking and i turned lumine to him and then thus pose happend. Anyways i found it cute and sent a pic to my friend so yea that explains the quality. But still i will never ever delete this :)