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therealcocoshady · 3 months ago

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Oh my gosh, I never knew em had a mistress 🙊😯

What of reader finds out about this and gets worried that em will cheat on her? Then he finds out and comforts her?

A/N : hey ! Thanks for your request ! 💕 I wrote a little something and I hope you enjoy it ⭐️. If you enjoyed it, you can tip on my Ko-Fi page ! Also, it seems like a good time to announce that I will be posting previews over there 😉. People who support my Ko-Fi have priority when it comes to requests and they get to read my work in advance ! I might also start posting exclusives over there !

My one and only

CW : Mentions of past infidelity and trust issues. Comfort. Little bit of fluff.

You’d been with Marshall for a little over a year and it was safe to say that you’d never had a love like this, before. It was everything you ever wished for. Your boyfriend was kind, funny, respectful… You couldn’t believe your luck. To say you had been disappointed by men in the past would be quite an understatement. It had been a succession of shitty relationship and, before meeting Marshall, you were almost ready to swear off men. After all, why bother when they all turn out to be liars ? But your relationship with Marshall almost made your past heartbreak worth it. Sometimes, you even told yourself that he was too good to be true. It even made you anxious, at the beginning of your relationship, and you had that surge of anxiety that told you to prepare for the worse, but it never came. So, with time, you let your guard down and allowed yourself to enjoy the beautiful moments you shared with him.

One evening, you were at his place, lounging on the couch, curled up on his side, mindlessly scrolling on social media while he was watching some football game on TV. You came across a tweet with a picture of him you had never seen before, posted by some fan account. According to the caption, it dated back to 1999. There he was, baby-faced, with bleached blonde hair, posing for a picture with four other people. You recognized Proof, whom Marshall had told you about countless times, as well as some actor. There were also two ladies in the picture, one of them right above Marshall, who was absolutely stunning. According to the replies to the tweet, her name was Kesia. Another added that she had notably been his side piece for a while, and that there affair was ongoing when he got married to Kim. Some even went to far as to give details, quoting articles. Apparently, it was common knowledge among the fans and, even back then, it was not exactly a secret. That woman even went on tour with him and everyone around him condoned the whole relationship. He was absorbed by the players, but he still felt you tense up. He didn’t even need to look at you to know something was up. He turned to you with concern all over his face. « Are you alright, babe ? ». You stayed silent for a couple of seconds. It felt a little silly, being upset over a random tweet mentioning your boyfriend’s past. But you could hear that voice in your head that told you that she’s been right all along, that all men were trash and that you had been so stupid to think Marshall would be different. « Babe ? » Marshall tried again. You turned to him, unable to hide the frown on your face. His eyebrows furrowed and he pressed pause on the game before cupping your cheek. «What’s wrong ? » he asked. You hesitated and took a deep breath before speaking. « It’s nothing. It’s just… I came across this tweet. People are saying that you had that sidepiece, around the time you first got married to Kim. Kesia or something ? ». You handed him your phone and he looked at the screen for a second before handing it back to you with a small sigh. « That was long ago », he said quietly. « But… That’s true ? » You asked as you felt a sense of unease. « It is. » he simply replied. His tone was calm. As if it were no big deal. As if he lacked the decency to be ashamed. You looked at him with a puzzled look on your face. « That’s all you have to say ? » You asked. « I thought you knew. I told you I’d been unfaithful in the past, when I was with Kim. ». To be fair, he had. Only, you had figured that he meant he’d had one night stands with groupies, that he wasn’t especially proud of and had came to regret after the deed was done. It was still cheating but, for some reason, you found that less appalling than having an actual side piece, with whom he had entertained an actual relationship while being married with his ex.

You couldn’t hide your contempt. As someone who had been cheated on by multiple partners, this thought brought back a ton of insecurities. « There’s being unfaithful. And there’s having a side piece. That’s horrible. ». You absolutely refused to sugarcoat it. He knew of your past, and him being so casual about it didn’t sit right with you either. He sighed and took your hand. You let him, though you remained unresponsive. « I know. Look, I know it doesn’t make it much better, but it was a long time ago. I was a different person, back then.». You scoffed as your eyes filled with worries. «I know it was a different time, but how can I be sure you won’t do the same thing to me? That you haven’t already? ». He squeezed for your hand, holding it firmly as he looked I your eyes. « Y/N, I need you to know that I’m not that guy anymore. I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I’ve hurt people I cared about. But losing them, and almost losing myself, it taught me a lot. I’ve changed. I’ve worked hard to be the kind of man who deserves someone as good as you. ». Your eyes softened, but the doubt still lingered. « I want to believe you, Marshall. I really do. But words… they’re just words. ».

Marshall sighed. You were right and he knew it. Words weren’t enough and, with everything the men that came before him had put you through, you had major trust issues. He took his phone out and scrolled for what seemed like an eternity, while you started sulking. « This, » he said, handing the phone to you «is what I sent to the group chat with the D12 guys a couple of months into a relationship. ». You grabbed his phone and looked at it. It was a selfie of you, the first one you ever took together. You had gone to a Lego exhibit and, on the pic, you were making goofy faces, pointing at a huge Darth Vader sculpture made of Legos. Under it was a caption that read ‘She’s fucking perfect. Mark my words, I’m going to marry this girl!’. You handed him the phone back, not saying a word, and he scrolled again, showing you other texts he’d sent in recent weeks, positively gushing over how perfect you were, and his plans for the future with you, and how he had never thought he’d be so happy in a relationship. His friends were teasing him, asking when he was going to propose, and he replied that he just needed the perfect time and place. As soon as you saw it, you looked at him, mouth open and unable to say a word. Having been together for a year, you had spoken about the future on a couple of occasions, even talked about moving together one day, but you had ever talked about marriage. « I am absolutely serious about us, Y/N, » Marshall said, his voice steady. « You’re my one and only. I’m absolutely crazy about you and everyone in my life know that. You’re a part of every plan I’ve made. This is my way of showing you that I’m serious, that I’m committed to us. I want to spend my life with you. ». Your breath caught in your throat as you looked up at him. « Marshall… ». You were stunned and your heart was racing in a mix of emotions. « You-You want us to get married ? ». You didn’t really need him to answer, though. One look in his eyes told you that he was serious. He simply smiled and cupped your cheek. «Of course. You’re beautiful. You’re perfect for me and not only am I in love with you, I am in love with us. You make me a better man. Someone I ever thought I could be. Of course I want to marry you. ». He pressed his forehead to you before continuing. « I’m not proposing right now, because you deserve a better proposal story than me proposing at home, wearing sweatpants, but just so you know, I plan on marrying you and claiming you as my wife, because you are the love of my life. And I will let the world that I belong to you. I was a liar and a cheat, and I’ve paid the price for it. But I don’t regret it, because this is what allowed me to be worthy of you.»

#eminem #marshall mathers #slim shady #eminem fanfiction #eminem x reader #eminem imagine #eminem fluff #marshall mathers x reader #marshall mathers imagine #eminem request

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cyb-by-lang · 16 days ago

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Cascade (part 2)

How about a bit more?

(Wherein Kei replaces Mineta's party slot again.)

You know, I feel almost like we should thank this League of Villains.

Oh? Why is that?

Because I’ve never fought someone careless enough to drop me in an armory before, and it’s kind of fun.

UA’s budget was the next best thing to unlimited, resulting in a training pool for flood rescue a dozen times the volume of the best-maintained Olympic water feature. And Kei—and therefore Isobu—had just been dumped into it. Sure, Midoriya and Asui were stuck in the water with her, and maybe Midoriya didn’t have a water-adapted Quirk, but the surface was only three meters away. Even if that was too much, and the water-adapted villains in the pool with them tried to strike, it didn’t matter.

Not compared to the power of a jinchūriki in her element.

With Isobu’s chakra following its favorite pathways through her body, Kei clapped her hands together and reached out.

Everything stopped.

The water went thick and almost gelatinous, molecules seizing almost perfectly in place across the entire volume of the pool. Though Kei could hear the villains’ garbled voices even as they shrieked in confused rage, she wrapped her power around herself and the two other students as a shield. At least one villain slammed headfirst into water gone solid and broke his hand.

And then Asui, swimming at top frog speed and making some of the sharkier villains look slow even with Kei’s watery speed debuff, wrapped Midoriya in her tongue and dragged him toward the surface. Perhaps because Kei shot her a thumbs-up, Asui did not feel the need to slow down in the slightest before Kei took control of the local water column and rocketed upward after her.

Once they breached he surface, Asui hurled Midoriya upward onto the deck of the ship serving as the training area’s centerpiece. Kei, landing on the surface of the water, shook out her hair before offering Asui a hand up.

“Water-walking, Gekkō-chan?” From about ankle-height, Asui grabbed Kei’s glove with a hand that dwarfed hers. Must have been a part of the frog mutation Quirk she had going on.

“Yep.” Sure, Kei didn’t really consider it a part of her Water-aligned ninjutsu repertoire, but that was the kind of distinction no one here cared about. “Let’s go.”

They got onto the ship with no further trouble.

Partly because water slowed down basically everyone, and partly because Kei was just barely holding back from crushing all of the villains still flailing around below the surface. She knew how water pressure worked. She didn’t care if they all died.

But someone might, so Kei refrained from preemptively removing child-murdering thugs from the mortal coil.

No one needed to know she considered it, anyway.

“Thanks, Gekkō-san, Asui-san,” was how Midoriya greeted them on the ship’s bow. Despite being waterlogged, he was otherwise fine.

“I told you to call me Tsuyu-chan, Midoriya-chan.”

“R-right, Tsuyu-chan!” There was no need to go around sounding like Asui was threatening him about her given name at knifepoint, but two days of class had already established that Midoriya’s overthinking tendencies and burgeoning anxiety disorder were on the louder side. “Th-thanks!”

Asui nodded, acknowledging her victory. She turned toward the railing, looking down toward the water, then said, “This isn’t looking good.”

“Yeah,” mumbled Midoriya, “and I just can’t get what that villain said out of my head.”

“You mean about All Might?”

“Right.” Midoriya pressed a hand to his mouth, just above the heavy-duty mouthguard that had barely survived the training exercise earlier this week. “They knew our schedule. Looking at the big picture, those guys must have set up the break-in earlier to get information. Like Todoroki said, they were waiting to pounce.”

“That’s alarming,” Asui said. One of the villains maybe dared to swim closer, but notably not in range of her long tongue and perhaps a subsequent lashing.”

“If those guys really think they have a way to defeat All Might,” Midoriya said, squaring his shoulders and clenching his fists, “then we should do everything in our power to stop them. By fighting…and winning!”

“I’m on board with it,” Asui said with a quiet ribbit.

“Same,” Kei muttered, already gathering chakra again for another attack.

“And the fact that they knew where to warp us means they’ve researched the USJ before now…”

“I was thinking the same thing! But while the villains clearly knew about the USJ, I think there’s a big gap in their information. Especially for a group that otherwise operated so meticulously.”

Kei hid a yawn behind her hand, then lifted the other to snap her fingers. All the water clinging to their costumes dispersed into the air as though shaken off by a dog.

“Th-thanks for demonstrating, Gekkō-san,” Midoriya managed, shuddering at the sensation. “But it also goes for Tsuyu-chan. If the villains realized what our Quirks were, they would’ve never sent both of you to the water rescue zone.”

Kei glared down at the water through her goggles. At least a dozen waterborne villains had surface, and her control of the pool indicated another half-dozen lurking underwater to ambush anyone who tried to swim for safety.

Actually, some of them looked like they were equipped for the job. Shark-Face notwithstanding, there weren’t as many obvious aquatic mutant Quirks on display as there could’ve been. One or two of them had spearguns in hand, like their expected opposition was just going to sit there and get shot. Or, rather, go into the water and get shot.

Not for the first time, Kei wanted a complete report of all the shit Catch-These-Hands down in the plaza must have gotten into when he disintegrated his way into the school. Obito hadn’t finished writing it. But since Kei’s chakra was as subtle as a sledgehammer, she could only assume he’d noticed the new problem from Nezu’s office and started to organize a response.

And if he wasn’t, Kei would find time in her schedule to yell at him.

“Our advantage lies in the fact that the villains don’t know what our Quirks are. None of them are trying to climb into the boat, which supports my hypothesis.” Midoriya’s determined look faded for a split second. “Um, Asui-sa—Tsuyu-chan’s Quirk is a given, but I didn’t get to see yours in action, Gekkō-san.”

Mainly because Midoriya’s match with Bakugō had been the first and only training exercise to send someone to Recovery Girl. He’d missed at least three after that. Kei distinctly remembered wondering where all of Midoriya’s compartmentalization ability had gone, given that he’d blown up his entire arm again. Thankfully, the school nurse was able to put this Humpty Dumpty back together after all.

“I know it’s water-based, too…”

“It’s called Tsunami,” Kei replied. She pressed her hands together again into the Dog seal. As her chakra surged, so did Isobu’s. “Which means I can create, control, and destroy all water around me.”

There was another brief pause. Midoriya looked like he couldn’t decide to laugh or cry. If Kei had just been told her job was to fight a bear and then informed her that the day’s allowed arsenal included a main battle tank, she figured she’d feel the same way.

“That simplifies the plan a lot, Gekkō-chan,” said Asui, blunt and sincere at once. “Thank you for telling us.”

“No problem.”

About a second later, one of the villains finally lost patience and created a giant hand made out of water to go on the offensive. It rose tall as though to chop the ship in half and drag everyone to a watery grave. Some of the villains even started giggling in anticipation.

Kei slid down the length of the bow until she was directly beneath the attack, raised one hand, and caught the blow with her fingertips as well as Isobu’s strength. The water construct felt solid enough as it made contact, but it bowed under their combined control and started to reshape itself into something blunter, scalier, and wonderfully familiar.

Best high-five I’ve ever pulled off.

The best so far.

Kei shook hands with her shoulder devil made manifest—hand to fingertip, at any rate—and sent their power wildly down through that point of contact like a dam collapse. Soon, more and more of Isobu’s hundred-meter body took shape in semitransparent form, dotted occasionally with screaming, terrified villains who suddenly realized they’d lost control of the plot. While there wasn’t enough water to manifest Isobu’s full size, what was there could fold the enemy’s aquatic fighters into its belly and keep them there for as long as needed.

And all the while, the demo ship sank lower and lower in the pool, away from the possibility of drowning or reaching the plaza without some help.

“How do you feel about surfing, Midoriya-chan?” Asui asked.

“I-I-I think positively?!” Midoriya grabbed the railing of the tossing ship hard enough to leave fingerprints in steel. It didn’t seem like he noticed.

“Then we’ll go with that. Hang on tight, please,” Kei said, and channeled still more energy into her grasp on the water.

#cascade #shell game #keisuke gekko #midoriya izuku #asui tsuyu #isobu #my hero academia #catch your breath fanfic #crossover

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somerandomdudelmao · 2 years ago

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I hope this kills you and makes your day at the exact same time. I'm winging this btw and it's all improv in mah brain so it might be longer than expected, idfk, we'll see.

Thanks so much for existing and giving us this comic in the first place now suffer-

-{###}-

Leo watched as Donnie continued talking, his movements exaggerated and his words ecstatic. The holograhic screen lit up every surface within a 2-foot radius, the words big and bright against the darkened atmosphere. Beside himself, Mikey and Raph shivered on each side, looking anywhere but at Donnie's face. And even though Leo understood why they couldn't bare to look their brother in the eye right now, something deep inside of him still burned with annoyance. Because despite everything, it was still Donnie! They just couldn't see it yet!

Not like Leo could see very well past the hard, stable shell that his twin had built around himself. Not like he could tell how Donnie was really feeling. Not like his tireless efforts to reach out and help did anything noteworthy.

All it got him was...

"...Oh! And how could I forget the infirmary machinery as well!" Donnie continued, his voice raised in a professional manner that would make anyone else think he was just giving a regular presentation. "The infirmary duties will obviously be passed onto you, Leo, since aside from Casey, you're the most medically knowledgeable. Plus, I know you won't disappoint."

Of course, Leo wasn't anyone else. He could hear the manic cry for life and freedom and pain in his twin's voice, no matter how quiet. It was there, faint and far away, somewhere that not even Donnie could find it, but it was still there and it needed answering.

Donnie just kept refusing to look in the right direction.

---

It was well after midnight when Donnie pulled Leo aside for a chat about the affairs of taking on three positions at once. The leader of the resistance could barely piece together what Donnie was saying though, his words muffled by the bigger picture.

In the dead of night, as expected, Donnie's demeanor took a complete 180 shift, his expression barely masking the exhaustion and weakness he undoubtedly felt. His eyes were half-lidded and cloudy, a look that Leo's only ever seen thrice in those yellow and red irises. His shoulders, despite getting bonier and bonier by the day, were slouched in a lazy way that made the soft-shell look like a corpse. The purple hoodie he so much adored nearly reached his knees, the lost fat and muscle making the article of clothing seem bigger than it actually was.

But one of the worst aspects about Donnie's appearance didn't have anything to do with any signs of death or sickness. No... The thing that made Leo really want to throw up...?

Donatello was now shorter than Leonardo.

"C-come on, Donnie... Why would I need to learn any of this... Nerd... Stuff, if I already have you?"

A stupid question. Idiotic, dumb, foolish, stupid, demeaning, disgusting, stupid, gross, stupid stupid stupidstupidstupidstupid-

"Riiiiiight... Anyway, you'll need to remove that panel right there to get to the inner-workings of..."

But even though it was a stupid question, Donnie would've usually gone out of his way to answer it.

Why wouldn't he answer?

---

Two weeks.

It had only been two weeks.

But it felt like a lifetime.

Donnie wasn't dead yet, thank whatever god that's still out there that he wasn't, but Leo still felt like he was. Donnie was literally just there, he was just right in front of him, talking about the schematics of something or other, running his mouth like he's been doing for the past few days. Nothing truly notable about Donnie's health had really changed, no weakening brain cells or crippling disabilities. The only things that had changed were Donnie's height again and his now inability to walk.

His inability to walk. Just two weeks ago he was bouncing off the walls and biting people's noses off.

However, despite all of the physical evidence that Donnie was very clearly still here and alive, Leo couldn't help but feel like a part of him was gone. Dead, deceased, whisked away by the winds of time... It was hard to explain, even for him, how something inside of him just kind of... Faded away.

The Death, as Leo pessimistically liked to call it, was a slow and agonizing process, beginning all the way back when Donnie first revealed his worsening condition and then continuing on until now. It began with just a little click, a little pinprick of emptiness and loss and HURT that Leo didn't know how to fix. Then that pinprick slowly grew into a scab, then a paper cut, then a scratch, then a hole, and then finally evolved to a gaping wound that would take years to fix. It was just this... This agonizing feeling of emptiness and loneliness that Leo hadn't even felt when Raph first died. (Haha, funny. He's already died twice by now. Hilarious.) And no matter how hard Leo tried to heal it with potions and bandages and medicine and melatonin, it never went away.

Not even when Donnie stood directly in front of him.

And isn't that just hilarious? Isn't that great? Isn't that just Splendid? Isn't that just the coolest Revelation That LEO'S EVER FELT?? ISN'T THAT SO INTERESTING????

Isn't it funny?

---

Leo watched as Donnie continued talking, his movements exaggerated and his words ecstatic.

He watched the ghost wave goodbye with a dramatic flair and a little giddiness in his step, the small soft-shell turtle barely able to show his hand from inside the giant sleeve of his favorite hoodie.

Leonardo waved back, a sad, forced smile and a train track of dried tears gracing his face.

Red enveloped Leo's vision one final time, and soon enough...

The half of himself that somehow still remained...

Faded away.

-{###}-

Haha get Disaster Twin'd idiot-

DLFNRJRIFJJTG3OFOFJEVDKDOSGDEKEBSIFJEIBDJDJDNFBFKFBFKRBRJRJRJRJD

I mean. Thank you. This is amazing and I love it with all my heart💜💙

#What horrible person would put characters through such trauma???#looks in a mirror #ah.#right.#dies casually #collapses #*$&=(@₩#heekoeiejdbxno #fic tag

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pen-and-umbra · 6 months ago

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Ever Crisis's intriguing development could have far-reaching consequences for the Remake's finale. With it, the circulating theory about Sephiroth assuming a new role just got a boost.

I had suspicions that Ever Crisis was being clever with its storytelling. This was the first scene that caught my attention.

Glenn's team briefly touches upon how secrets as well as childhood memories end up in the Lifestream. The focus on Sephiroth's adolescence in the title makes this detail quite telling.

In later chapters, Sephiroth's cherished necklace, holding a picture of his mother, is also cast into the Lifestream. In a possibly related context, Lifestream Black indicates that OG Jenovaroth discarded his human memories, including those of childhood and friends, to retain independence in the Lifestream and prevent assimilation by the Planet. By discarding these additional memories and linking himself to Cloud, he furthered his agenda in Advent Children. These memories also make their way into the Lifestream.

Previously, the relationship between these tidbits and EoC!Sephiroth was speculative.

Players have observed stark contrast in Sephiroth at the Edge of Creation: his livelier expressions and defensive fighting style against Cloud, reminiscent of past battles with Angeal and Genesis in the VR simulator. Notably, the distinction in pronoun usage was emphasized: masculine 'ore' instead of Jenovaroth's gender-neutral 'watashi,' reflecting the symbiotic relationship between post-Nibelheim Sephiroth's body and Jenova cells that Jenovaroth fixes his lower body with. Drawing from these observations, some fans have theorized that EoC!Sephiroth showed a stronger connection to his human side. With Ever Crisis' latest chapter, that inference is no longer theoretical. Sephiroth at the Edge of Creation mysteriously possesses human memories.

Now, Edge of Creation can be thought of as a smaller-scale pocket dimension, akin to Destiny's Crossroads. Fascinatingly enough, its emergence is accompanied by colorful glow effects, not too unlike the effects of branching universes introduced in FFVII Rebirth.

It appears to be stranded between two universes, as represented by the two separate nebulae in the backdrop. According to developers (courtesy to aitaikimochi translated Ultimania bits), one of them alludes to Sephiroth's winged appearance and was intended to evoke imagery of his menacing presence. I can only imagine it referred to his Safer Sephiroth form.

The red one, on the other hand, displays some parallels to Jenova's monstrous appearance (courtesy to u/nzivvo pointing that out). Thus, EoC! Sephiroth is stuck between “Sephiroth's menacing presence” and “Jenova” figuratively.

And yet, EoC!Sephiroth indicates a desire NOT to vanish/end [presumably as a result of worlds merging?]. As he does so, he glances at "Sephiroth's menacing presence" nebula

So who is EoC!Sephiroth? Various interpretations align with the newly introduced lore. It could be Sephiroth who regained his human senses sometime down the line — a singularity-like dimension appears to exist beyond time-space and is connected to all points in time, just like Destiny's Crossroads. It could be a fragment of his spirit—his human memories, hopes and dreams creating an 'alternate world' within the Lifestream. It could be Sephiroth from some other “world”—perhaps, a timeline where he never went insane and never took a dive at Nibelheim. At any rate, he seems to be trapped in that bubble dimension, which is also destined to disappear [become part of another world] one day, a fate he seemingly opposes. Interestingly, in Aerith's "dream world," it is revealed that she was hiding in one of the worlds that was purportedly "ending" or "embracing its fate [to be merged/vanish]”.

Such circumstances share uncanny similarity to the ones EoC!Sephiroth is facing. Therefore, it's possible that EoC! Sephiroth isn't sealed/trapped by external force per se, but is concealing his presence. For what purpose? That remains to be seen. Peculiarly, FFVII Remake Ultimania provides different entries for Sephiroth we encounter at the end of Midgar’s highway and Sephiroth we talk to at the Edge of Creation.

Moving on. From a storytelling standpoint, it's deliberate that at the Edge of Creation he contemplates his journey to becoming who he is, what values he held and at what cost. His monologue about the cycle of hatred is particularly memorable.

Not only does the scene emphasize his caution when it comes to violence that he ostensibly came to develop after being part of Glenn's team, but also his lack of enthusiasm for it. Notably, he offers the enemy soldiers to stand down, not resorting to combat from the get-go. The monologue further conveys the desire to end the cycle of hatred.

So maybe asking Cloud to lend him strength wasn't a ploy or a trick after all, if EoC!Sephiroth is a being entirely distinct from Jenovaroth, one that remembers that once upon a time he strove to end the cycle of hatred and vengeance.

👋 @pen-and-umbra

#sephiroth #edge of creation #ff7 ever crisis #ffvii ever crisis #ff7 first soldier #final fantasy vii #ff7 remake #ff7 rebirth #ffvii@luv fandoms

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wrenwinchester · 9 months ago

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Bear with me here. Because I have. Some thoughts.

First things first, visit here for another in depth analysis of the table carvings that doesn’t really have anything to do with my commentary, but I found it while looking for the picture for the table and liked their analysis. So….

Anyway, the table. We watch as Sam and Dean carve their own initials, and we know Mary’s initials get added after her death in season 14. That’s all fine and dandy. And we know Cas and Jack’s names get added sometime after Cas’s death, and presumably after Jack leaves, but we don’t really know when, or even by who. We also don’t really know who carved Mary’s initials, not really.

However, we see Sam and Dean’s different styles of carving into things twice. (Sorry about the gore it was the cleanest picture I could find of the car initials completely.)

Now, neither of the boys are identical, however, we can see a distinct difference between Sam and Dean’s style. Dean carves deep, so it will stay a long time, despite wear and tear. Sam however carves wide. He carves out his initials instead of making a hole. It’s much more surface level, almost as if he’s scared of getting in trouble and wants it to be easier to get rid of. But that’s something we can get into later.

When they add Mary’s initials there are a couple things that tip us off that it was Dean who actually carved them in, A) they’re from that direction, which is the side/seat Dean almost always sits in when both brothers are up and about. And B) it has that same depth to it as his initials, and the same style of how the lines meet. Therefore Dean carved Mary’s initials.

However, this brings us back to Jack and Cas.

Both Cas and Jack’s names have that same width over depth, more surface level carving as Sam’s initials. Especially when compared to Dean and Mary’s. The S in Castiel has very similar strokes to the S for Sam’s initials, and the A’s and C’s in their names are similar if not the same (or as same as they can be considering they were carved into wood and sometimes the grain of the wood disrupts flow a little bit).

This, to me, means that Sam was the one to carve Castiel and Jack’s names into the table. And I’d even bet, that he didn’t do it until after Dean died.

Now I could be wrong about this last part, but if I’m remembering correctly, we don’t see all five names/initials until after Dean’s death. While Sam is sitting at the table (notably in Dean’s spot, and wearing dean’s sweatshirt.) with Miracle, so it’s plausible, and even probable.

And I’d bet he did it when he decided he couldn’t live in the bunker anymore without Dean because every little thing reminded him of his brother. And I’ll bet he did it because they are a part of his family and they deserved to be remembered too.

Castiel, the angel of Thursday, the angel who betrayed heaven for the sake of humanity. Who chose over and over again to take the Winchester’s side over any other supernatural being because he trusted their sense of right versus wrong. Castiel, one of the Winchester’s only friends who stuck around, who made sure that they took care of themselves, and made sure to save them while they were saving the world. Castiel, the Winchester’s best friend.

And Jack, their kid. Sure, he was the spawn of Lucifer, but he was Castiel’s kid. He was Sam’s kid, and he was Dean’s kid. (I’ll get to a rant about Dean and Jack’s relationship at a different point because I have thoughts.) Jack saved the world, and he turned out good because of Castiel, because of Sam, and because of Dean. Jack took the mantle of God to protect the world, so he could protect his family, and keep the angels from interfering with human affairs.

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skylarsblue · 2 months ago

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»zenless zone zero«

Small details in Wise's room. I'll admit I struggled a little on this one. (No offense to Wise lovers, he's just not super interesting to me. But I did my best!)

[Desc: Next to Wise's bed is a brown shelf beside an industrial style shelf, made of wood & metal. Like Belle's room, the standing shelf holds record sleeves. The first one is white with art of a black record that is broken in thirds, with large box letters that say 'ZERO'. The art is vague which makes it hard to speculate what style of music it might be. I guess...Jazz? That's a guess purely on vibes, really. The second record sleeve is black, white, and grey. On a white background there is a grey (traditional style) dragon wrapping around the studio's logo, EZ or 3Z, I'm not sure which. There's text that says 'ZENLESS', and underneath that, some descriptive text. The descriptive text is more legible than others. It says - "SAN-Z Studios is a general arts and design studio that aims to create fun experiences. We have a broad range of talents, involved in fashion design, accessories, music...and more." The third record sleeve is black with art of three eyes, each with a 'Z' in the iris. It's far too vague for me to guess what style of music it is. On the industrial shelf is a cardboard box with a red polaroid camera on top, and some VHS tapes leaned against it. These VHS tapes have no branding, which once again makes me think these are the tapes one would buy for personal recordings. On the shelf above it are three non-descript cases. They seem too thin for VHS tapes, and too big for a walkman tape. This makes me think they're CD cases.]

[Desc: On the coffee table(that is a trunk style coffee table) is a tray with an open package of 'Royal Baking' chips/crackers. Based on coloring, I'd guess they're cheesy. Beside the open cracker package is a bag of Coff Coffee, made by the Tin Master. There's a cup with Tin Master's logo beside it, with coffee inside. The coffee has foam in a design. On the table is also a newspaper. The only legible writing is in kanji I cannot read, but the picture on it is of Box Galaxy, the gadget store on Sixth Street. Also, I took note that there is a little Bangboo reading a newspaper on it. Lastly, there is a remote. Despite the vintage style TVs, this remote looks akin to a modern Roku remote. Black, with rounded corners, fairly slim and small, with a simple set of buttons. On, record (potentially, the symbol is vague), a central d pad, a menu button, undo, home, a pair of volume buttons & up/down decision buttons, a settings button, a button with a red heart (to favorite things I presume), and a last button with a symbol so vague I couldn't begin to guess what it does.]

[Desc: Like Belle, Wise has movie posters on the wall beside his bed. Unlike Belle, his posters don't overlap, and seem meticulously placed. There are a total of six movie posters. Though before I describe those, I'll point out that he has a green & yellow ukulele hanging on his wall. A notable difference from Belle's electric guitar. 1) Now, the first poster features art of an old computer (think big white box computers from the 80s) in a blue & yellow ocean landscape, with dark blue fish shapes around it. The title says Under The Sea in yellow text. What this could be about, I have no clue. But Wise has been said to enjoy documentaries and artsy films. Completely based on my own headcanon and no evidence? My guess is a documentary about technology developed to explore the ocean. 2) The one underneath has a title in kanji, but the art is pretty clear. It features a shiba inu dog front and center with a "saddle" on it's back, of which has two bags on either side. The only item I can tell that is in the bag is the left one, which has the top of a leek sticking out. Behind the dog is a young woman with a long skirt, as well as some trees. I can't read the title so I'm not sure, but I'd like to think this is a documentary about a very special dog. Like Balto! 3) The third poster features art of a young girl in a space suit, sat on a swing (a wooden board with rope that goes up out of frame), over a shadowy moon that is covered in children's crayon drawings. The title is one again in Kanji, but the tagline says "She's a Starchild". Once again, the art is vague, but my guess would be an artsy kind of film with an underlying message about a young girl with a struggle of some kind. Probably a movie with a lot of metaphors and symbolism. 4) Poster number four is a horizontal kind of poster. On a blue background, there is an old film camera on the left. (A vintage one, 1930s-1950s, which used large film reels.) On the right are three figures. The one furthest to the back is Godzilla, the second is a woman in a red dress, and the third appears to be a non-descript hero character in a blue & yellow uniform. In white block text, it says "DREAM WEAVER". My guess is that this is a documentary about film making. 5) Five has art of a semi-humanoid creature standing in a red lit doorway, but at the bottom are various winding tentacles. The title says "The Obelisk". My guess is that this is a sci-fi horror movie of some sort. 6) The last poster, number six, features an animal skull (a bear skull based on my limited knowledge) on top of a white background. There is black and red kanji in a "messy" style. The English text are the words "Before The Story Begins", so it's probably a prequel of some kind. There's a vague shape in the bottom corner that looks like an award symbol.]

[Desc: Wise's memory board. (If you don't pick him as your MC). The back is the basic wooden style that Belle also has, and it has five pictures. The first one is a selfie taken by Belle, featuring her and Eous standing over Wise, who is sleeping, after having given him a pair of pigtails. The second picture features various cats, with one opening it's mouth for a big yawn as Wise pets it. The third picture is a picture taken by one of the Random Play Bangboo; but not Eous. Eous is in the picture, cleaning one of the screens in the H.D.D, while Belle reclines in a chair and holds up a stack of papers that has red writing - "Complete!" with a circle around it. Wise stands beside Eous with his jacket slung over his shoulder, drinking a soda. (It doesn't match the LENMAN soda in Belle's room, but I've seen vending machines in Lumina square with a drink that is orange; with oranges on it. So...Orange soda? The fourth picture is of the Hollow in the Scott Outpost area. I can tell because there are pillars that match that area. The last picture is a childhood drawing of Wise & Belle. Stood in a field, in front of an orange house. Based on the style difference, it's possible that this was a group effort. Belle's figure and various background elements seem more...uh, artistically inclined. While Wise's figure, some trees, and the flower/grass details seem more simplistic and sloppy. Which would make sense given all the artist details in Belle's room. Wise probably didn't get the artist gene.]

[Desc: On the cabinet beside Wise's TV (once again an old style tube television) are some knickknacks. In front of three stacked small boxes is a stature, the same one in Belle's room that she used to hold her snowboarding goggles. I guessed rabbit based on her room, but it also looks like a fox. Beside that is an orange desk fan that's always on. Further to the right is a game console, which I mention was visually similar to a Super Nintendo. There are no visible cartridges out excluding the singular one in the slot of the console, with a vague logo on the front. An orange smiley face; which could mean it's part of a series, since Belle had a game with a blue smiley face in her console. The sticker for this game is ripped at the top. Maybe it's old, or maybe he and Belle swapped games for a bit. Belle seems like she'd accidentally rip a sticker. He also has a VHS player, there's a small screen on top of it. It's tiny, like a monitor, but I'm not sure it's purpose exactly. Maybe one of those old CCTV monitors? There's some more non-descript VHS tapes leaned against it. There's a shelf as well that holds some more VHS sleeves and a blue & white box. While I've seen the box in the 141 Convenience Store, which tells me the box's branding has the word "CLICK" on it, the rest is in kanji and there's no pictures on it to hint at a product of some sort. Game? Console? ...Wireless mouse? I have no clue.]

[Desc: Wise owns the same CD/Record/Tape player that Belle does. It's situated on a little table by the door. I can see now that the branding on the gadget is the same as the studio on the second record sleeve he owns, SAN-Z studio. The table has a divot to hold records. The only one with a visible front has art of a girl with vibrant green hair, in front of a black background that has bright pink, blue, and orange detailing. The girl has a hearing aid/ear bud in her ear, and an...accessory? On the side of her head. On a separate cabinet beside this is a blue & white box with a pair of black & white sneakers, which I think I've seen on one of the commercials that the game-start loading screen features.]

[Desc: (With a bonus Wise in frame), there is an L shaped cabinet in front of his door. On this cabinet is a plain black cap with a blue brim, and a skateboard with blue & white art on the back. I didn't seen any snowboarding gear in his room, but it doesn't mean he doesn't own it. He's neat, so it could just be put away. On the wall is a yellow bike. The back wheel is black, while the front is white. They don't match, but the front one matches the seat color of the bike, so my guess is he had to replace the back one. Also, based on the shape of the handlebars and the seat positioning, the seat is raised in a way that would make riding while sat upright hard/impossible. This seems like a bike someone must lean forward on, which means it'd be for things like trails and marathons, rather than transportation or leisure rides.]

[Desc: A bit boring, but his roof is the only one with a sun roof. Belle's room doesn't have one. By his bed is also, the only window that is visibly open on the front of Random Play. Somehow, this pale boy gets more sunlight in his room than Belle. But maybe she picked that. Also, though I picked Belle (which means Eous charges in her room), Wise also has an Eous charger, just unused.]

[Desc: A set of lockers with some posted notes. These seem to be reused assets from Belle's room. There is also a book case. None of the books really have any branding that allows for speculation of what they're about, but there are some colors with tiny (non-descript) details that remind me of textbooks and books about specific subject, like for learning.]

[Desc: Wise's desk. It features a standard PC screen, one of those vertical screens, and a laptop on a holder. All of which are on, glowing with blue symbols and unreadable text. There's a wireless mouse too. On the shelves over the desk are post it notes, one that seems like a list, and another that might be about code? There are also more books. Most are in kanji, but I can read one. "Hollow Raiders & Their Proxies." Beside his computers are three journals. Unlike Belle's, there are no stickers, stamps, or tabs poking out of the pages. These are note journals, each with a button latch to close them. One yellow, one red, one blue. To the right is a...radio? It looks vaguely like a call radio to me, and there's a set of headphones on top. But I'll be honest and admit I'm not sure what it is. There's also a yellow license plate on the wall - "NOV 715". There's another Tin Master mug, and while in the photo it's blocked by his aerodynamic chair, there's a metal coffee percolator. Which makes me think this dude has a caffeine addiction.]

#zzzero #zzz #zenless zone zero #zenless zone zero wise #zzz wise #zzzero wise #analysis #hoyoverse

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catboybiologist · 1 year ago

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Hey, transfem who has only started to like her body about half a year ago here

As someone who takes a lot of pictures of themselves, do you have any resources/tips for angles or something that accentuates feminine features?

Also in regards to having a somewhat normal facial expression, like my eyes look so weird in every picture I take bc I don't know where to look

This response ended up WAY longer than I expected, and I think Imma add it to my pinned post- thanks for pushing me to talk about this! I don't think I'm really an expert here, but if people want to leave more advice in reblogs and comments, please do.

So when I say "I had two years of femboy experience before transferring to the related (and potentially overlapping) but separate field of trans womanhood" I'm only like... half joking. Selfie angles took a fucking wild amount of time for me to figure out, and guess what? The pictures I post are usually 1-3 in a set of about 20 that I take at any given time. I'm still unhappy with most pictures I take, you just gotta take a lot of them, and figure out for yourself.

That said, I think I have gotten a lot better over time. Behold, the first selfie I posted on reddit (warning for kinda cringe but I know y'all fuck with that):

(Damn, my thighs look good when I properly shave, gotta do that sometime)

(btw I'm 23 in this pic so feel free to simp if you so desire)

And another early one:

This was still selected from a bunch that were horrible, but you can really tell that my face is basically just covered in fabric entirely. My eyes look very dead in both. Compare that to:

^this one is still pre-transition, so don't blame the estrogen.

So what are my specific tips? Well, the classic "selfie angle" is from above. This angle certainly helps, but why? Personally I've found that its far less about angles are far more about lighting. Since most lighting is overhead, taking selfies from above means that you'll have a well lit face in those standard lighting conditions. Notice that in both the early selfies and the later one, the camera is actually positioned below my height level, and there's still a noticeable facial difference between them. The reason this is possible is good, forward lighting. Generally, you want a soft light source to be vaguely behind the camera, shining onto your face- but make sure its not too close, or too bright. This will ensure that harsh shadows don't artificially make your features look much different than they actually are.

Another thing that cannot be understated: DISTANCE between yourself and the camera, especially if you're using a phone camera. There are several reasons for this- notably, it'll help make the background be framed more pleasantly, as well as prevent the camera/phone itself from shadowing your face. But there's also a massive, insidious reason this happens- all phone cameras have some degree of fisheye to their lens to increase the field of view while still using compact optics. Multiple lens have helped a bit, but its still a problem on all of them. Higher end phones will algorithmically correct for this, but they also add a TON of other postprocessing "beautification" in ways that are sometimes completely invisible (insert entire rant here about how this is a deceptive marketing tactic to make a brands phone cameras seem better than they actually are). Sometimes, these edits are way off base. But I digress. The fisheye is killer because it takes any slightly more prominent feature and bulges them out, including the nose and chin. Conversely, recessed features, like eyes and the sides of your cheeks, are going to be less emphasized. Moving further away from the camera significantly reduces this. If you can get a small phone tripod and take selfies that way, it'll alleviate this. Unfortunately my living space is not large atm, and I have less motivation to bother my roommates in the common areas and use their hallways for picture taking, so this has been a little lacking in more recent selfies. It's also just a lot of work for a couple quick selfies, so its hard to do right- but it genuinely makes a world of difference.

Otherwise, my advice about eyes would be that your eyes show your overall facial expression, even if you're covering your mouth. Most of my pictures are taken while smiling slightly under the mask, and it shows in the eyes. If I want a scarier looking picture, I'm stone faced or deliberately make my entire face angrier, and you end up with the "glaring directly down the camera wanting to kill you" face. Referring to the pictures I just posted- the first two are both dead faced under the mask, whereas in the last one, I'm doing a smug, sultry smirk. The eyes then reflect that.

Don't focus on specifically trying to open your eyes wider. Change your facial expression and just let them be how they want to be in relation to that. Eye position should fully commit to looking straight into the camera, or be fully distracted with something else, imo (including the screen of your phone, if you're doing something like a mirror selfie). If you're taking a mirror selfie, look at the camera lens as it's reflected in the mirror. A HUGE takeaway is that cameras, especially phone cameras, straight up lie to you. They don't work the same way as the human eye, and have to compensate for that- but they'll never be a completely faithful representation of what you look like. Don't let your ego be affected by how you look in pictures, when all is said and done.

And of course, experiment, experiment, experiment! Figure out the lighting you can get in the space you have available, and the angles that work for you! Don't be afraid to delete selfies you don't like! Show off your style and your features in the way you want to! There are no rules for what's attractive, this is just what I do and you should develop your own style!

I guess I'll take this with both femboy and trans tags bc the selfies are pre-HRT

#trans #trans advice #transgender #selfie #selfie advice #femboy #femboy advice #femboy fashion #crossdressing tutorial

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genericpuff · 1 year ago

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Rachel "Retcon" Smythe Strikes Again!

Okay, so I've been seeing pictures of Volume 4 of Lore Olympus floating around, and people are ALREADY FINDING RETCONS.

Most notably so far, some added panels in the Hades and Apollo confrontation that happens outside Artemis' house (when Persephone steals Apollo's lyre) in Episode 81.

This is the original scene, for anyone who needs a refresher:

Aaaand here are the panels that were added.

(all pictures of Volume 4 are courtesy @iwannagutyou on IG!!! thank you for giving me permission to use these! <3)

First of all, the art. It's so noticeably bad. You can tell Rachel has completely lost her ability to draw these characters in the S1 style, I'm fairly certain she took the panel of Hades from the old version and just copy pasted it to try and get around it (look at the posing) but it's incredibly obvious looking at that third panel that LO is not and can never be what it was back in 2017-2019. Those first two panels seem like they were copy pasted from the previous ones, which is just sad if those are the lengths she has to go to to come even close to replicating the older style.

Now, this just might be due to camera translation, it could very well look better IRL, but the colors just look so incredibly desaturated and the lines blurred out, to the point that people are doing double takes over whether or not panels have been directly changed - they haven't been, they've just been so sucked dry of their colors that they look off enough to cast suspicion.

If anything it's a harsh reminder that LO has kinda always had art problems, especially with its lazy humor and stupid meme faces.

Of course, to be fair, color loss can happen in print, but seeing how slapped together these books tend to be, I wouldn't be surprised if they just didn't put in the effort to convert the page art to CMYK or at least tinker with the saturation in editing some more to ensure it would come out more vibrant in print.

Now. Excuse me while I go on a bit of a crackpot rant here. Newbie puff pals beware, because this is gonna get dicey and you're about to learn where my tinfoil-hat rep comes from but I just have to talk about it.

Back to the added Apollo panels, where Persephone asks Hades not to hurt him and he looks nervous before she says "I just want him to leave".

Maybe it's just me, but it's a little weird that THESE are the panels they decided they needed to add. It's weird that she's asking Hades not to hurt Apollo when she's about to break into his car and steal his lyre just a few moments later. It's weird that the implication seems to be that she's referring to Hades' act of violence towards Tori... but Persephone doesn't know that's happened yet. So this feels like an unnecessary retcon that's doing more harm than good.

But I feel like the timing of this is kinda messed up as well, as this book released just days after the release of the last FP episode in which Apollo has his 'side' of the assault story told through his perspective, which is often considered a HUGE no-no in writing assault stories because it often comes with the implication that it's asking for empathy from the audience. We already know Apollo is delusional, we already know he thinks him and Persephone are meant to be despite her constant rejection of him, we didn't need a flashback from his own warped perspective explaining that very thing, the only purpose to do such a thing this late in the game would be to try and get the audience to 'connect' with him (it's giving S3 Bryce from 13 Reasons Why vibes). Now we have this scene of Persephone asking Hades not to hurt him (despite the structure of the episode being literally fine before, this change wasn't needed) getting snuck into the physical book release just a couple days after the newest FP tried to present Apollo in an empathetic light (and let me tell you, that's a whole essay and a half that I'll be getting into eventually).

Shit, if I wanted to get REAL Pepe Sylvia with it, I might say that hypothetically, the whole point of the random Leuce abuse episode - despite Persephone having no way of knowing what she attempted as Hades hadn't told her and she wasn't there to see it and we weren't shown her overhearing them in any way - and the following episode that was mostly padding of Hades and Persephone having sex - no consequences or follow-up whatsoever to the Leuce scene - was just to pad out the episode release schedule and buy time until the book came out so that Rachel could release that Apollo POV episode right before the book came out and revealed those new added scenes of Persephone asking Hades not to hurt Apollo, in what could be a sly artificial attempt at minimizing the SA plot so Rachel can finally just brush aside the one major plot point she regretted writing the most. After all, it wouldn't be the first time Rachel's controlled the pace of her comic to release certain moments at certain times that line up with IRL events.

But, y'know. I'm gonna quit on that thought while I'm ahead because it's probably making my credibility meter drop into the red. My ADHD has been real bad lately and it's really starting to show LMAO All ima say is that IDK who Rachel thinks she's fooling here, this kind of shit is stupid easy to fact check when the digital version of the comic is available online to read.

To end on a much funnier and lighter note, remember how Rachel tried to retcon the Demeter/Hera/Hestia relationship by changing the line "I miss my sisters" to "I miss my friends"? Well, there was one panel that had been missed in the webtoons version that still refers to them as sisters. You can still find this unedited line in Episode 78.

And uh. They forgot to fix it again for the book.

It's permanent now. That's permanent marker. It would have cost them nothing to find this in the webtoon version and fix it before it got sent to the book editors. Now it's gonna cost them thousands because the book editors didn't bother (or know) to check.

There's also this... weird shit going on with the speech bubbles. Like, they're REALLY FUCKING OVERDOING IT with the speech bubble outlines. I don't know who made this choice but it was a bad one. Gross. Don't do that. It looks so cheap.

But let's be real, at this point I feel like the book editors are just outright sabotaging Rachel because who the fuck calls themselves a professional when they do this shit-

Oh, and there's no bonus episode, just sketches. Which is fine. But it makes me chuckle to think that Rachel just didn't have time in her already razor-thin buffer to draw up a new episode to pass off as "cut content".

#i'm fired for that whole conspiracy bit aren't i #can you blame me when the wedding was lined up with valentine's day and dio's birth was lined up with mother's day #i swear to christ rachel does this on purpose it's so unhinged #just write a story #it doesn't make your comic 'deep' to line it up with real world dates that aren't gonna matter in 3 weeks anyways when they go up for free #it's just so unnecessary and pointless to do #lore olympus critical #lo critical #antiloreolympus #anti lore olympus

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turtleduckscribbles · 22 days ago

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Close to Home

“No matter where I go to offer aid, Link remains at my side…”

~A brief exploration of Zelda’s personal journey toward home, and how she finds it in Link.

Read on AO3 or continue below.

<< Chap 7 <<

~o~o~o~o~o~

Chapter 8: "It Takes a Village"

Zelda stuffed the broom in the corner of the storeroom where it wouldn’t pose a tripping hazard. After their fun little fling making honeyed candies in the kitchen, Link had insisted he would take care of clean-up. Naturally, that was unsatisfactory to Zelda, so she retaliated by sweeping the entire house. Task done. She gave the place a once-over.

Cozy as a broom closet indeed, she thought with a pout.

A collapsible cot and blanket roll were shoved against the wall with other bits and bobs, as if they hadn’t seen use in a while, but Zelda knew better. Ever since their arrival in his home, Link had been bedding down in this tiny space night after night, granting her the entire upstairs landing. This too proved unsatisfactory to Zelda, so night after night, she implored him to see reason, attesting that it only made sense for them to take it in turns. Her attempts at compromise quickly morphed into outright protestations, however, when her plan was respectfully brushed off, earning her a shake of his head and an infuriatingly kind smile. Really, his goodness was enough to drive her mad sometimes.

She returned to the main room, bent on finding another way to lend her assistance. Link was elbow-deep in the pot they’d used to caramelize the honey, scrubbing away at the sticky residue. She turned her attention to the bookshelf by the front door. Perhaps it needed dusting?

Grabbing a rag, she began wiping down every reachable surface, if for no other reason than to occupy her hands, when something about the books caught her eye. They weren’t uniform; they ranged from newly minted to worn beyond recognition—a snooze to anyone else, but a point of interest to her inquiring mind. A few notable titles jumped out at her. Frowning, she plucked a crisp hardback from the line-up, thumbing through the pages.

She stood engrossed until she felt Link peering over her shoulder. She angled the spread so he could see. “I wasn’t aware you were so interested in this topic.”

He craned his neck to get a better look: The Art of Buns: How to Perfect Your Sticky Bun and Impress Your Honey-Bun. He blinked. “Bolson. I commissioned him to furnish the house. Almost everything here came complimentary.”

Ah. She supposed that made sense. Cookbooks like these weren’t too out of place as a housewarming gift. But since when was Link interested in The Science of Rupee Reinvestment? Or The Rise and Fall of Hyrule’s Most Influential Green Fairy Men? She lingered over Outwitting Chuchus: 101 Clever Stratagems for the Everyday Traveler So You Can Get the Jump on These Jellies Before They Get the Jump on You! A sudden image of her esteemed knight curled up by the fire with this in hand flashed in her mind, and she choked down a scoff. As if.

“Hmm. Curious.” She replaced The Art of Buns and selected The Beginner’s Guide to Interior Design. “This one might serve you well. See, I’ve been doing some thinking lately, and while the place is lovely—really it is, it’s darling and you’ve worked so hard on it—except, well, it’s just that having all these weapons on the walls might be a bit intimidating to guests, don’t you think? Not that they aren’t wonderful, I’m very glad you have them! It’s just… It makes a strong statement…”

She flicked to the section on living rooms. “As for this bookcase, it’s probably better suited on the opposite wall over there. Oh! Wouldn’t it look smart alongside a floating shelf or two? And pictures… Yes, I believe more pictures would really liven up the space…”

Phlegmatic as ever, Link took her comment in stride, shrugging good-naturedly as if he’d never considered it. Her message seemed to go in one ear and out the other, though, for his eyes had drifted back to the shelved Art of Buns. Well, she thought, to each their own.

Book in hand, Zelda spent the next several minutes reimagining the layout of Link’s home—another cabinet here, a splash of color there—engaged so fully in the process that she felt excitement bubble up at the possibilities. Link had never struck her as the avid reader type—but so what? There was never any harm in adding more books to spruce up a place, was there? Or perhaps some plants? At any rate, Link didn’t seem to give two rupees about the decor, so she allowed this excitement to carry her over to the next day, when she sat upstairs rearranging her meager possessions. She had just finished organizing her stationery when she heard a small knock come from the foot of the stairs. She paused; was that the front door? But then his soft voice crept up to her:

“Princess?”

She tried not to wince as the usual twinge shot through her upon hearing her given title on his tongue. Determined to stay in good spirits, she continued her task, gathering her hair accessories into a container. “Yes, I’m here. You may come up.”

The stairs creaked under each of his tentative steps. She swiveled around from her seated position on the floor, a light jest already half-formed on her lips—until she saw the look on his face.

Immediately she was put on high alert. She knew that look; it had haunted her during the most trying times of her life. It was hard and impenetrable, the one she’d always associated with him in the days preceding the Calamity. The cold-blooded knight. The reminiscence sent an icy wave of anxiety through her, and her spine automatically straightened with anticipation.

But no… That was wrong. Things were different now. They were both different: a team, knitted as one, through and through. They had joined hands and jumped into the deep end long ago. This wasn’t a look of steely indifference; rather, it was a mask he wore by compulsion. An all-too-familiar burden.

She watched him take the chair by the writing desk, hands resting listlessly on his knees, his sightless eyes on the rug. Silent. Zelda mimicked him, setting her hands in her lap, waiting patiently for him to make the first move. Waiting for him to break through the mental block he’d fought against all his life.

The minutes dragged on with no change. Zelda could feel her agitation rearing its head, her thoughts running wild with all the things this could possibly be about—because clearly something was on his mind. Something weighty. Antsy, she yearned to egg him on, to start the dialogue and help him get the ball rolling; but this wouldn’t do. This was a crucial waiting period, and he deserved this time to recover himself. She would wait for him. Just as he’d always waited for her.

After what felt like an eternity, Link gave a slight shudder, as if physically pulling himself together. Drawing in a deep breath, he said, “Reede asked for my help clearing out a monster camp.”

The banality of his statement was so unexpected that she nearly sighed in relief. Was that all? She was about to say as much when he quickly forged on:

“It’s not just me. He and some other villagers are joining forces, but they’re short on hands. The camp’s blocking the main path to the village. Same one we traveled on. Shouldn’t take long to clear out. Two, three days tops.” He took another full breath in. “They start tomorrow.”

Oh. He was leaving. A host of possible responses flitted across her mind before she settled on “Link, that’s wonderful you’re going to—”

“I said I’d get back to him about it.”

Again, not what she expected. Zelda studied him with new eyes. He still wasn’t looking at her, hadn’t looked over once, but she could feel the concern radiating from him. Concern for her. The heart of the matter: always her. Her stomach squirmed with guilt.

“You said you’d… But—oh, Link, you mustn’t worry about me. I’m alright, really… Actually, this is rather favorable. I’ve been meaning to spend more time at the laboratory anyway. Purah’s already on my case about how I’m not over there enough, and I’d prefer not to poke the bear anymore—she intends to enhance the Slate, make improvements to the runes—they’re still only prototypes, you see—so this shakes out well. An opportunity, if anything.” She hesitated. “Yes, an opportunity.”

“Will you stay with her?”

“I…” Zelda trailed off. Should she stay with Purah? It was probably her best option, all things considered. She had reservations about how she’d fare without him, truth be told… but then the memory of her first overnight stay in Kakariko came rushing back, and that wretched image of herself, clinging and pitiful in every respect, was enough to snap her into a decision.

“No. I’ll be fine. Purah and Symin are just up the road, and everything I need is here. Really, you needn’t worry… I’m quite comfortable here, I assure you.”

Link continued staring at the rug. The need to convince him spiked within her, and she spilled out: “I think it’s lovely you’re helping the villagers. The way you selflessly serve others with your talents has always touched me deeply. I know others see that in you as well. What a blessing you are to us all. It’s…”

It’s what magnetized me to you from the beginning.

“It’s the greatest kindness. And—and besides, you’ll only be away a few days, like you said. I can manage a few days. I will manage.”

At last, his eyes found hers. His face was still set like stone, but a softness had reentered his eyes: the same softness that had wriggled its way inside her heart from day one. She could never hide from those eyes. Not ever. They saw right through her, peeling back the layers she’d meticulously crafted for herself years ago, her safeguards from the brutal demands of the world. But not from him. Shrinking slightly, Zelda held his gaze, fiddling with the compartment of her hair accessories.

In the end, he nodded, his trust in her winning out, and she breathed again. He, Link, trusted her, just as she unconditionally trusted him—and nothing, not the heavens nor the earth, meant more to her than that.

He was scheduled to depart the following morning, leaving them the rest of the day to prepare. Link was hard at work all evening, assembling meal kits, restocking supplies, making last-minute calls to town for this and that. Zelda contributed as best she could, but pitted against his boundless stamina, her efforts were woefully abysmal. With all these arrangements, it was almost as if she were the one embarking on a multi-day journey, not him—in fact, she hadn’t seen him pack a single bag for himself, no, not one. And so, holding fast to this one small act, she took it upon herself to do just that for him. By the time the next day dawned, everything was set, and Zelda rose early to see him off.

“I packed the icebox to last you several days,” he said, slinging the bag she’d prepared for him over his shoulder. He wore a simple traveler’s cloak over his Champion’s tunic, the Master Sword strapped to his back. “There’s a wallet of rupees in the downstairs cabinet—”

“Yes, Link.”

“Bolson will be close by at the construction site. If you need anything, ask him or Ivee at the general store.” He turned to face her at the door. It was before sunup and the shadows clung to him, but she could still see the bite of the chill air on his cheeks. “They will help you.”

Zelda fastened his hood snugly over his ears. “Yes, thank you, Link. I feel very cared for. You’ve stocked me with plenty of provisions, much more than necessary, and really, you have my sincere gratitude. You do so much. But don’t you worry—I’ll be at Purah’s for the day, and tomorrow too, and she’ll take good care of me.”

Link nodded. He was quiet for a moment before he said, “I’ll be back soon.”

“I know.”

They looked at each other. The house was hushed and the air settled heavily on their shoulders.

“Please be safe,” she whispered.

Then, Link stepped close, and in a gesture that had become second nature, he took both her hands in his, holding them gently. A promise. Zelda stared down at them, feeling his coarse gloves beneath her fingertips, his forehead tipping toward hers, and together they breathed in the predawn peace of the house, wishing it could last.

But, inevitably, the time came. With one last squeeze of her hands, Link reshouldered his pack, turned toward the door, and walked out.

He was gone.

From then on, Zelda was a flurry of motion. Shrugging back her shoulders, she dressed for the day and busied herself with her toilet: washing her face, plaiting back her hair, creating a routine for herself. Steady and unchanging. She wasn’t due to arrive at the laboratory until that afternoon, so she made good use of the morning by attending to simple chores around the house. After another round of sweeping, she stripped the bedsheets and, adding them to the laundry, she took her haul to the side yard to be washed. The sun had long been up by now, and she welcomed its warming touch. As she rounded the corner, a friendly nicker greeted her ears, and her eyes lit up.

“Why, hello to you, too!” she said brightly. Setting down the laundry, she trotted over to her loyal steed, grateful for the company. Like an impatient toddler, he nuzzled her eagerly, and she giggled as his whiskers tickled her cheek. “Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten you. Although it seems you’ve been well taken care of already…” She stroked his sleek coat, eyeing the empty stall next to him. “I suppose you’re missing your companion as well.”

As per usual, Link had already seen to her horse that morning before taking his own with him. Another act of charity added to the list. Sighing, she returned to the laundry, committing the next hour to the washing and drying of linens.

Once the clotheslines had been appeased, she resumed her doting on her animal companion, biding her time until noon. The sustained back-and-forth of her strokes allayed her spirit as much as it did his, if not more, as though she were the one being consoled. She was so lost in her head, caressing his broad neck, daydreaming over the benefits of having a well in the backyard instead of a pond, that she belatedly noticed the stallion’s tense posture.

“What is it, my friend?” she asked. He stood very still, his ears perked toward an unseen presence at the front of the house. Zelda heard it too: the rough grating of rock. Puzzled, she followed the source of the noise… Surely he wasn’t back already…? She emerged into the front yard and froze in her tracks.

“...Karson?”

The construction worker whirled around. Zelda scanned the scene: He wielded a shovel in one hand and a soiled handkerchief in the other, his face beaded with perspiration. A freshly shoveled patch of dirt was at his feet by the veranda. His eyes went comically large as he took her in; then, a wide smile of recognition broke out on his face.

“Yeah! That’s me! And you’re Link’s girl—Zelda, right?”

Blood rushed to Zelda’s face. Her lips parted but nothing came forth. Karson must have misconstrued her reticence, for he quickly added, “Uh, yeah, sorry for the scare. Didn’t seem like anyone was home. Link put in a request to have some extra work done, but we’ve been spread pretty thin lately at the company, you know? So I only just got around to it.” Huffing, he scrubbed his handkerchief down his face. “Anyway, I’ve been meaning to ask! I’ve got work off this weekend, so does my girlfriend Sophie. Would you and Link be up for a picnic with us? We were thinking of heading down to the beach for a day—group-date style, you know—there’s this spot near the water Sophie really likes, but she hasn’t been in forever because of all the monsters. They’re gone now though, so it’s free game! Well, weather permitting, anyhow.”

Zelda had been surreptitiously side-eyeing the mound of dirt while he talked—there was something different about the space, but she couldn’t put her finger on it—when suddenly the terms picnic and group date smacked her across the face. She reeled back at the sight of Karson’s hopeful expression, powerless to prevent another round of furious blushing.

“Oh! Well, I—why, what a delightful invitation. That is very thoughtful, thank you kindly. I…” She wrung her hands, scrambling for something to say. “It’s just that—well, Link isn’t here at the moment, see. He left town for some business, and… I’m not quite sure how long he’ll be…”

Karson, ever the optimist, nodded cordially. “Ah, gotcha. No sweat! Maybe some other time then.”

Zelda returned his nod, her gaze dropping to her clasped hands. The ambient wildlife blared at top volume in her ears.

“Actually, now I think about it, not much of a shocker, is it?” Karson laughed. She glanced up in surprise. “I mean, what was I thinking? Of course Link is away! No way he’d stay put for so long—the guy’s bouncier than a spring-loaded hammer. All those weapons of his kinda speak for themselves, am I right?” He rested his weight on his shovel, chuckling to himself. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m all about the active life myself. ‘A working life is life’s work’ and all that. But Link—he’s more of the active active type, you get me? Always on the hunt for what’s next. He was never around all that much anyway, even after he bought the house. Never struck me as much of a homebody. Too much to see, too many people to help, you know? Really makes ya wonder why he bought it in the first place…”

A deliberative look came over him. He paused, scratching at his chin.

“By the way, not many people know this… Link’s pretty modest about it, but I’m sure he won’t mind my telling you. You know Hudson, my business associate? Forget if we’ve mentioned him or not. He left for Akkala to clear some land for a big project a while back. Made a killing off it, too—helped found an entire settlement out there! Tarrey Town, it’s called. But here’s the kicker: Link’s co-founder! Crazy, right?!” Smirking, he broke off for dramatic effect. “He and Hudson worked together and built it all from the ground up. Must have taken them ages. It’s been a refuge for people the world over, a real melting pot. All this, and nobody even knows of Link’s involvement. I mean, we at the company do, but he wasn’t hired on. Just a volunteer. Won’t accept credit for it or anything. And to top it all, his name doesn’t even end in ‘son’!” He barked out a laugh, shaking his head. “The guy’s a mystery, that’s for sure.”

Zelda stared out into the middle distance, only partially absorbing his words. A sort of hazy slideshow had started up in her mind, one that was indelibly printed onto her memory. She was back in the castle, an amorphous mass, devoid of identity… fighting the eternal fight… nothing waning, nothing growing… But wait, yes, finally, a change in the wind, that turn of the tide she’d been yearning for, that she desperately seized upon. She could see it all playing out from afar: watching him wake, relearn, remake… watching his struggles and triumphs… his selfless labors to accumulate wood, gather people… creating a sanctuary for the displaced…

Tarrey Town…

“Anyway, sorry to blab your ears off,” continued Karson. “Didn’t mean to keep ya. I should be getting back to the grind myself. Before I go, though—you doing alright? House fixtures still up to par and everything?”

Zelda shook herself back to the present. “Oh, yes. Just fine, thank you. Everything’s fine. More than fine, really, I—” She drew in an even breath, settling into an appreciative smile. “The cottage is an absolute delight. Thank you for working so hard on it for Link. You are clearly a credit to your community. And also… thank you for all your efforts to restore Hyrule. Please know they do not go unnoticed.”

Whatever he’d expected from her, it wasn’t that. Karson gaped in amazement, his freckles popping against his sun-flushed skin. He burst into a broad grin. “Right! Of course! Always happy to help. I’m, uh, glad to hear it.”

Discombobulated, he twisted the handle of his shovel. The spotlight of his wide-eyed gaze froze Zelda in place, sharp and exposing, as if he were seeing her in a new light. With a stilted nod, he stuffed his handkerchief in his back pocket and made to turn away. But then:

“You know, if you’re ever in a bind and Link isn’t around, don’t be afraid to reach out, alright? To me, Bolson, anyone at the company. Anyone in town, really. Any friend of Link’s is a friend of ours. Truth is, Link’s done a lot for us all, and we like to return the favor, however we can. It’s one crazy world out there, and we’re all in it together, you get me? And Link’s got a way of reminding us of that. He’s inspiring in that way. He’s a good guy. A good man.” He gave her a parting salute. “Well. No time like the present!”

As she waved him off, a dawning realization took shape inside of her, gathering on the horizon. “Yes,” she whispered to his receding back, the nebulous mass solidifying into a cloud. “He is."

~o~o~o~o~o~

>> Chap 9 >>

#turtle scribbles #legend of zelda #zelink #zelink fanfiction #zelda #link #botw #post-calamity #totk #romance #slow build #grief and mourning #hateno house bequeathing #close to home chapter 8

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aliveinacoffin · 1 year ago

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Deja ya de llorar

Shoto x GN! Reader

You've had a very bad day, and you're very tired, and you have a very cute husband.

little angst/very comfort, mostly fluff ^*^

The front door swung open harshly before it was more gently clicked into place. The decoration hung on the outside knocking back in protest.

You violently kicked your shoes off, not bothering to put them neatly back in their place in the shoe cubby that rested against the wall. Trying to get on with the settling down process, you went through the motions of hanging up your jacket, not noticing that you missed your mark and instead, it fell miserably to the floor.

"I'm hooome." You sighed, barely loud enough to be heard from the front door to the kitchen. You then limply tripped over the side, flopping down hard on the couch, squishing your face on the plush cushions.

There was silence in the house, no sounds of music or the TV playing. Most notably, no sound of your husband. Usually, he was out in the dining room doing papers or just otherwise bumbling around the house. Sometimes he'd meal prep or work out or even just be doing some D.I.Y project. But today, there seemed to be an absence of him. Which, wasn't a big deal, both of you were heroes, having met each other in class 1-A. Ever since you two had just been inseparable, clung together like magnets. Still, he made no mention that he would be working late.

You sighed and flipped over to your back, and took your phone out of your pocket. Lazily, you dialed his work phone and waited for him to pick up.

"This is Icy-Hot. I'm not available right now, reach either my assistant, partner, or me at a later time. I apologize for the inconvenience." The familiar one-toned voice you had gotten used to bleated back to you, and the phone beeped to leave a message. You made a confused noise before moving over to his personal phone number, the one that not many people had.

Just as the call was going to send you to voice mail, he picked up. "Hello? Is everything alright?" Shoto's voice called out to you, concern lacing his voice.

"No," You sighed, exhaustion taking over you slowly, unable for you to fight it much longer, "You weren't home and I was just making sure you were alive."

He chuckled, "Well I am don't worry. I'm on my way home soon, just another big battle in Tokyo, and you know how traffic can be." He sounded happy and content, and jealousy filled you at his ease.

"I hope it went well, and I'm glad you're safe. I love you, get home soon."

"It did, I'll tell you more at home. I love you, I'll see you soon."

The call disconnected, leaving the house in silence again. Suddenly, without even prompt or major reason, tilled filled your eyes and you were left breathless.

You were so tired, your body and mind so worn down that everything was moving too fast for you to keep up. Your eyes stung all the time, and your joints ached, body screaming in protest for running on fumes for so long.

You also had so many hard cases this month, a tsunami had hit the east, and because of the shortest of pros, you had been sent down there to mitigate the damage. The things you saw only added to the pile of horrors that kept you up at night. Lost little girls, old men torn apart, and young men crying in the middle of the street would haunt you for years to come. The paperwork and reconstruction that took weeks to finish, on top of commission work and public work, you were left beaten and bruised.

You cried yourself to sleep on the couch, too tired to change out of your civilian clothes or even move yourself to a comfortable position to find even a restful sleep.

___________________________________________

When you woke up, crusty, thirsty, and hungry, you found yourself in your shared room. Pictures of you and Shoto decorated the space, along with your different families and friends. Books, papers, and other small trinkets littered the room. When you came home after being away from a work trip, it always made your heart warm and fuzzy at your cozy living space, knowing you shared it with the person you loved the most.

You heard soft music from the downstairs, and slowly you drifted out of your bedroom. (You were also pleasantly surprised to find yourself in soft pjs.) Peeking out, a smiled crawled on your face at the sight you were blessed with.

Shoto, still in his hero outfit, was swaying softly to a soft song that you recognized, Hijo del corazón. While doing so he was making your favorite comfort meal. Both of you always had each other's comfort meals prepped and ready to go in case the others needed it.

"Have I ever told you how much I love you?" You said sleepily, hooded bagged eyes looking at him with ease.

Shoto turned to you, jumping a little in surprise before he completely melted under your gaze.

"Yeah, you tell me every day you love me, plus, I get a daily reminder you do every time I wash my hands." He tapped to the ring on his finger, the pale moon gem that was the centerpiece. The weight of your sun ring reminded you of both your vows, in sickness and in health.

"True, but I super love you." You walked closer to him, nuzzling against him while he kept busy.

"I love you, hard day?" He asked, and even though his eyes were on the food, you knew you had his full undivided attention.

"Hard month more like it. I'm just glad we're almost done though." You sighed, dragging your feet to grab a glass of water. Your heart filled with warmth when you saw your respective bachelor party cups.

"I'm glad, I miss you at home." Shoto said almost pouting.

"Just a little bit more recon, and a smidge more paperwork and I'm back to a normal work schedule. What about you though?" You asked, eyeing him up and down with a raised eyebrow.

"What do you mean?" He turned to you, looking at you with his own raised eyebrows while he carried the food to the table.

"You're still in your hero suit, you didn't change back at the agency." You said that the answer was the simplest thing in the work. In truth, it kinda was.

"Oh," He looked down at himself, embracement suddenly flooding his cheeks. "I was just in such a rush to get home, I guess I didn't change." He started to eat with you.

"Why the rush? I'll always make it home." Or try to, at least.

"I missed you, plus, I have a surprise." Shoto suddenly got up, walking over to the kitchen to grab a fancy-looking velvet box.

"Sho' I don't mean to break your heart, but we've already gotten married." You laughed quietly at your own joke, turning in your spot to follow him.

"No not that. I know you don't really like jewelry, but I saw it and I just had to give it to you." He had you the box gently, placing it in your awaiting hands.

You looked at him before tenderly peeling open the box, and a gasp escaped your lips when you saw what was inside.

It was a beautiful golden heart-shaped locket. The design it had was stunning, on the front was an open sort of caged design, and you could see the inside of the locket through it. Around the mini heart-shaped window was a winged sort of design with small bridges on the side. On the back were two interlocked hearts surrounded by leaves and little tiny snowflakes.

When you peeled it open, it was your guy's wedding pictures. But it wasn't one where either of you were fake smiling. Instead, it was you ugly laughing with your eyes closed and leaning toward Shoto. While he had the widest grin ever looking at you so tenderly it made tears spring to your eyes.

"Oh Sho', it's beautiful. Thank you so much, I love it." You stood up to bring him into a tight hug. He hugged you twice as hard, resting his head on your shoulder.

"Of course, I hoped you'd like it." He whispered.

"I love it, thank you so much for being here for me." You sighed into his arms, the warm embrace he protected you into would always bring you inner peace.

God you loved this man, and you knew he loved you ten times as much.

#x reader #my hero academia #todoroki shoto #shoto todoroki #shoto torodoki x reader #shoto x you #mha #mha x reader #shoto x reader #fluff #hes so cute #todoroki x reader

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caramel1mochi · 1 year ago

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ぐちゃ ! (Splat!) [Yoru x F! Reader] [4.5]

Heya!!

Guess what? I managed to write a short one between chores! I would've made it longer, but I'm terrible at hiding things and my dad would've been pissed if he found out haha

Promise when I'm 100% free, the next one won't be under 10k words!! Dare I say, pinky promise.

❤ฺ·。

Yoru x F! Reader

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 4.5 / Part 5 / Part 6

Genre: Fluff, angst

TW: Heavy mentions of anxiety. Like really really heavy haha

Words: 4.9k

Synopsis: Hapless doesn't even begin to describe you. With your life flipped upside down within the span of a day; you're left to rely on your best friend Tala to help you pick up the pieces and build the new one forced upon you. And this 'luck' seems to have caught the attention of one of her friends.

。+❤ฺ·。❤ฺ·。+❤ฺ· +❤·。❤ฺ·。+❤ฺ·

It’s been a long time since that debacle took place. And you never knew how fun it would be to spend a few hours with Omen looking up on how to make candles, but here you were, in the cafeteria, with a few dozen candles in the counter.

You’d taken a short break to shower and, in that time, you had discovered that Neon snuck in that spiked choker you saw that day at the store. But since she was gone today, you decided to wear it and save the scolding for later.

Luckily, though you haven’t seen Neon today, it started off well with you being called to Viper’s office. It seems like, after that catastrophe and everyone had their rest, the break was now officially over. And you were deemed ready to be sent off on your first mission.

Simple, just a mission where you’d be playing a passive role whilst your partner took care of most of the work.

Viper tapped on her laptop and rapidly switched to different folders. But given that you stood on the other side, the back of the device facing you, you had no idea what she was doing.

“So, I’ve singled out the best candidates for this mission, but you can only pick one.”

You nodded with a smile, and she began listing out their names.

“You can either choose Chamber, Astra, Fade, or Sova.”

She flipped the laptop and allowed you to look over their pictures. And yeah, sure, seeing their faces helped, but you still had one tiny issue.

“I don't know any of them. I don’t think I’ve even talked to them once. Can’t you pick like, Jett, or Neon?”

Viper straightened her back, arms crossed.

“This isn’t a scouting mission, those two can’t anchor the area I want them to.” She crossed her arms. “You’ve been here for almost two weeks, have you really not talked to everyone here?”

You nervously shook your head, and she flipped the laptop back towards her.

On your first mission, you hoped you’d get someone close so that you wouldn’t let your anxiety get the best of you. You wanted to explain, but the words just wouldn’t come out. Guilty couldn’t even describe how you felt. Was she feeling annoyed? Did she think you were hopeless? Maybe you should’ve strayed from your comfort zone for once and talked to everyone here! Maybe you–

“I can manage to fit in Yoru, instead. Omen told me you talked to him often. Is that true?”

Your face turned white, and you awkwardly laughed.

“Why not, uh, you know, Skye, at least? She’s probably a better candidate, and stuff.”

It just felt so awkward when he’d just healed up only a day before.

“Yoru’s the best I can do. He’s also the best when it comes to novice agents. I guarantee things will go smoothly with him.”

“Uh, what? How can you be so sure?”

“I’ve seen him with Neon. Her performance was notable around him, and it’s not just because they’re friends.” She straightened her back once more, sighing. “Look, I’ll talk to him. If he says no, I’ll see if I can squeeze Neon in.”

You almost wanted to laugh at the thought. Yoru, and best when it comes to novice agents? Please. He’s probably only reliable because he uses physical force to keep things in order.

If anyone would fulfil that role, it would definitely be Omen. you remembered how he calmed you down that day, how much more gentle he was compared to Yoru. The same guy who called you spineless and dubbed it ‘honesty’, or whatever mental gymnastics that was.

“Okay, great! I’ll go get ready, then.”

Just as you turned to the door, Viper called out and forced you to halt.

“Hold it.”

You turned and met her gaze nervously.

“Just in case things don’t go well, promise me you’ll cooperate. I tolerate enough squabbles as is, and I'm not in the mood for more. You won’t be arguing with Yoru. Is that clear?”

…

You forced a smile and nodded. With how stern her tone was, her rigid posture and those piercing green eyes, how could you not be alarmed?

“I’ll– uh, you– you have my word.”

“Do I?”

You nodded once more. And this time, it was only a tiny bit more convincing than the previous one.

“Good. Well then. Chop chop.”

You were finally allowed to leave, and this chance was immediately taken before she’d say anything else. With a loud slam, you left her office and immediately made your way down the halls towards the more familiar sections of the HQ.

And on the way, sure you intended on keeping your no-argument promise, you were also desperately hoping that he’d say no.

❤ฺ·。

With Yoru by your side, it felt like the very grim reaper decided to accompany you, despite the fact that his skin beamed like that of a newborn baby’s. Cute, admittedly, but you still had to work with someone who probably hates your guts and you didn’t know why he even said yes.

Fun.

Nevertheless, unable to go back, you were forced to exit the vehicle and make your way towards a deserted part of town. Guns in hand, you were nearly ready until you took in the sight that befell you.

Sure, it was just an alley, but the rows of buildings that towered over you on each side were stunning, especially when combined with the gentle touch of the morning sun’s rays. Built with unfathomable meticulousness, their baroque architecture rendered your mind blank for a few seconds. It felt like you were staring at a renaissance painting in real time.

Yoru immediately noticed your silence.

“What’s up with you?”

You were ripped away from your hypnotic state, anxiously cradling your Bulldog like a baby.

“Nothing, I–” you turned your gaze to the path, “just surprised.”

Though you were angry at him in every sense of the word, you couldn’t help but note the tone of that question. What the hell?

You met his gaze.

“Are you okay?”

Yoru cleared his throat and kept his eyes on the exit way in front of you.

“Tell me you read the brief.”

“I– uh, what? Duh, why wouldn’t I?”

“Great. So that means I won't have to baby you.”

You rolled your eyes and moved past an abandoned bicycle, strapped to a withered tree growing through the flooring, somehow. Surprisingly enough, Yoru took a sharp turn towards said bike.

“Wait, wait, where are we going?”

“The Radianite reserves, lady.”

He explained. And only when you followed him did you see a black gate, obscured by the tree. You held your weapon and followed him in silence in an attempt to shield your embarrassment.

The mission sounded easy enough, though. Go in, delete some files, and get out. Boom, done.

Both of you climbed up the stairs, and you were unable to voice a question that randomly popped up earlier. Were the mirrors really just them, but from another earth? It sounded so surreal, not when you haven’t even caught a glimpse–

“Locked.”

Yoru said, attempting to force the doors to one of the buildings open. You stepped up, looking around for any other entrances. Aside from windows waiting to be shot, there was naught, and Viper specifically stated that nothing be damaged unless it’s an emergency.

And the feeling that Yoru would constitute this as an emergency popped up. He’s going to punch or shoot the glass, isn’t he?

“Well, we can always just find another door.”

“Tch, what are we, delivery boys?”

Or girl scouts. He pulled back his arm.

“Yoru, wait–”

A loud contorting sound took over your ears. But instead of breaking the window, you watched his fingers somehow disappear like they were being cut off. Then, he moved his arm, and a massive rip formed in front of him, various shades of blue merging together each second that counted by. It dwarfed you in height, considering that it worked to match his.

It was as if he tore the very air to reveal… whatever that was. And to say you were baffled would be an understatement.

“Uh–”

“Stay here.”

He ordered, and slipped into the dimension, the storm of blue surrounding him like some form of ethereal being. However, amidst your shock, you noticed the opening close.

“Yoru, wait, don’t–”

With one swift motion, it sewed itself shut, and he was gone.

“...leave me here…”

You brought the bulldog close to your chest and hugged it, rapidly looking around. You were jumpy. So much so, the sounds of the very leaves touching the ground made you react, even the pebbles that were crushed under you with each step.

Where the hell did he go? The least he could’ve done was provide a demonstration for his abilities!

But then again, you just argued… Gah, that idiot. Does he ever think logically?! What if one of the mirrors already arrived and could see you out in the streets like this?

You jumped and aimed at the door once the doorknob twisted. With each second the person behind it spent fumbling with it, you backed up, doing your best to keep your aim steady. And with one more click, it swung open, revealing…

Yoru.

“How–”

“Hurry up.”

He ushered you inside, giving you only a picosecond to comprehend what the hell he just did.

You huffed and walked behind him, using the lingering glowing shards of blue that surrounded him as a guide amidst the darkness of the building. Whatever was inside, you weren’t sure, but you knew the colours were stunning.

You suddenly felt a burst of confidence, especially since he willingly came along.

"Couldn't help yourself, huh?"

And you immediately regretted saying that.

"Tch, as if. Viper forced me here because you'd freak out working with people you don't know."

"Oh… really?"

"I would've expected you to at least talk to Sova or Astra. But if I were you, I'd stay away from the Chamber and Fade."

You stared at the elevator you both neared for a moment, the metal doors glimmering in the darkness almost like a guide built especially for you.

"Why?"

"I just don't trust either of them. Unless you're into animals, Chamber's good with those, I guess."

"Isn't that Gekko's thing?"

"Gekko has asthma, genius."

He promptly pressed the button on the elevator. Surprisingly enough, it still functioned, and a green ring encircled the button alongside the distant rumbling. Against the eerie silence around you, it stood out, like a distant titan taking slow steps towards the city.

How the hell did Yoru of all people keep track of everyone’s ailments? Even you forgot he had asthma. The silent screech of the elevator doors sliding open promptly snatched your attention.

“You know, for a loner, you know a lot about everyone."

"Someone has to babysit when Sage isn't around."

You giggled, entering alongside him.

"Really? Who's the hardest to babysit?"

"All of them."

Yoru slipped out a disc from his pocket and attached it to the screen of the elevator’s keypad. With a press of the button proudly displayed on the front, it glowed and immediately began working at the elevator, moving you towards the reserves.

You weren’t sure whether or not he was just bragging or being truthful about this babysitting thing, but it was funny to imagine. Yoru completely lacked the patience Sage was endowed with. Maybe one day you’d walk in on him tossing someone to a rift.

❤ฺ·。

The moment the elevator opened, Yoru immediately walked out and marched across the massive room you weren’t given a moment to process, moving in between the stacks upon stacks of glowing cyan boxes. This sight, though normal to him, was completely arcane to you. Said boxes were the only sources of light in the area. Combined with the dust and the intimidating darkness, it was hard to tell what’s what, despite their insistence on how simple the mission is.

“A/N. That wall next to the cables,” he pointed at the far left corner of the area, “find a way to break it down without too much damage.”

You looked over at where he pointed.

It matched up with the words on the brief, there was a room on the other side that was so well-hidden it was nearly impossible to get in traditionally.

“Didn’t Viper say that there shouldn’t be any damage?”

He took out a flash drive, inserting it into the computer and turning it on. It allowed Cypher access to exactly what he wanted, and you could tell he immediately got to deleting by the command prompt that popped up.

“That was a recommendation.”

Right.

You turned and stopped in front of the wall, held out your hand and worked on only emerging a small part of your hand. Most importantly, your pinky finger, so that it doesn’t take much room. Your eyes were stuck on the ground and you watched it diligently, waiting to detect any shadow that was out of place.

And as you worked, a tiny portion of your mind wandered elsewhere.

You could see why Viper picked this mission for you. All you had to do was take away any proof that radianite exists in this area, and you’re gone. Nothing too heavy, and perfect enough for you to comprehend what was to come. Even Yoru looked bored out of his mind as he worked.

Clearly, what he was used to was so much worse. Duh. He proudly showcased his previously mangled neck to you a few days ago.

But unlike him, you felt excited. This was the perfect way to ease you into things.

The air then stopped.

With a loud bang, an invisible force smashed against a portion of the concrete wall, breaking down an entrance. It was barely wide and tall enough to fit you. Without words, you knew Yoru would give you a dirty look, wouldn’t he? But then again, you also thought he’d be savagely breaking his way in, so.

You gently twisted your hand, and more of the wall came tumbling down, large chunks of it piling on to the ground alongside the debris that scattered like scared fish. You successfully formed an ‘elegant’ entrance enough to fit either of you, but not too big to break down the roof on top of you.

Perfect.

“Hoy, I’m going in!”

You called out, earning a hum from him. And with that, you entered, taking in the more crowded area.

Boxes were scattered everywhere, and so were the cables. Blueprints, paperwork, drawers upon drawers, all of it added on to the messy look of the room. Clearly, this area carried the most confidential data. You observed the contents for a few seconds, perking up at the sight of another computer.

Bingo.

Taking out your own gadget, you plugged it in and turned it on, watching as the flash drive worked to infiltrate whatever was within. Scanning, taking in the information, isolating what was important, then swiping it. Judging by the fact it took three minutes to even get to one percent, you were sure it would take a while.

You took a step back with a sigh, setting down your weapon on the massive mouse pad and looking around.

A thump from above made you jump, and on instinct, you immediately looked up. Your vision proved to be useless, but your other senses weren’t. Your palpitations increased exponentially once another thump echoed throughout. Then, a set of noises that you could make out as footsteps.

Multiple.

“Yoru, I– uh, I think there’s people here.”

“There aren’t. They don’t have any data about this place.”

You snatched your gun and took a step back, sweat dripping down your chin.

“I don’t think it’s the mirrors– I don’t know, but there’s someone here! Don’t you hear them?”

You could barely hear a distant sigh. Then, loud contortion, and a tinge of blue that softly illuminated the ground.

Crap.

“Hide. Make sure nobody sees you. I’ll take care of it.”

“Don’t leave me again!”

The blue grew stronger, and even his voice was slightly altered as he stepped into the rift.

“Relax, you can hold out until the files are wiped.”

You couldn’t. That’s what you wanted to say. But the blue was promptly swallowed up and thus, it finalised Yoru’s journey into the other dimension.

You jumped and moved away further, your back pressing up against the wall with the Bulldog in your hand. Instead of holding it like a weapon, you resorted to hugging it for comfort. With every drop of adrenaline that filled your veins, everything Harbour taught you further dissipated. Hot flashes on your neck, your eyes darting to every section of the roof with each noise; you weren’t ready.

Nobody was supposed to be here.

You took a deep breath, muttering a few repetitive phrases in Tagalog in an attempt to reassure yourself. You’ll be fine, right? You will be. Even the brief stated that your partner will take care of everything over your head. All you have to do is wait. Besides, how couldn’t you trust Yoru? His actions spoke louder than anything else, and you knew that he’d protect–

You jumped once the elevators let out a loud ding, the doors sliding open and allowing the light to accentuate two looming silhouettes. Neither of them sported any features that reminded you of Yoru. Not their hair, not the spikes, nothing.

You’ll be fine, you thought, desperate for any hint of reassurance.

You silently moved towards a pitch black area, everything obscured by the shadows, only interrupted by a single radianite crate that sat inconspicuously right across from the computer. Then, you hid behind it.

“Look, look, there’s a hole here!”

A feminine voice called out. And just from the accent, the slight gruffness of it, you knew it was Raze. Her partner said something else, but your mind hyper focused on the nearing footsteps, your clammy hand tightly clutching your weapon.

Then, she stopped, taking a deep breath.

“Do you… Do you smell that?”

Their partner walked in, their tall silhouette growing more visible from where you hid with each step.

“Guns up.”

Your breathing hitched, and you pushed yourself further onto the wall, relying on the crate to protect you. You hadn’t noticed it, but your right hand was seeping a dangerous amount of poison.

“The computer, it’s on! Wait, let me get a closer look.”

“Raze, be careful. I’ll cover you.”

She rushed up to the computer and immediately set down her Vandal, reading what was on the screen. After almost twenty minutes, it had only gotten up to ten percent. Then she tugged on her colourful hat in irritation.

“Bah, eu não posso trabalhar com esse cheiro estúpido,” <Bah, I can't work with this stupid smell,>‎

God, you couldn’t focus.

There was this horrible stinging in your chest, and you couldn’t breathe properly no matter how much you tried. Thoughts of your incoming death warped your frame of mind, and with each passing second, you were more and more convinced that this is it.

You were going to die.

Despite the anguish, you worked to fix your posture and aim at Raze’s head, struggling to keep a steady hold with how horrible you felt. Finger on the trigger, just one push, and she’d die before you could.

“GET DOWN!”

One called out, before loud gunfire rang out from far away, coupled with a deafening string of vivid distortion. Though you pulled the trigger, Raze already had her gun in her hand and rushed across the room, unable to hear or see you from the ruckus outside.

Then, the radio cracked in your ear, wincing under the loud gunshots that whizzed by Yoru’s cheek.

“A/N, hide until the transfer’s done, I have this under control.”

You wanted to speak. You wanted to respond. You wanted to say something, anything. But you couldn’t bring yourself to move. Under the command of your primal instincts, you pushed yourself against the wall once more, staring at the ground in shock.

All you could hear were your palpitations, and your other senses were clogged up by way more than you could possibly process.

Yoru, on the other hand, was aggravated by the situation.

They ensured that the mirrors had no idea about this place’s existence. Hell, the entire reason you even came here was to take away anything that they could go off of. Yet, here they were, and he knew you couldn’t do anything. In this situation, you were useless, he thought, shoving his hand into the rift and taking out a flash.

With Sova blinded, he peeked just enough to be able to gun him down, yet remained concealed from Raze’s shots. Fatuous, they only dug through the pillar he hid behind.

They were to be killed under Brimstone’s orders.

Then, with another flash, he peeked, eyes widening once he saw her rush towards the area you were hiding in. Damn it.

Yoru stepped out, gun in hand, rapidly thinking of a way to get her out and keep you concealed. But Raze had a different idea. It didn’t matter if she was going to die, all she needed to do was stop the files from being deleted.

He stopped the moment he heard a number of familiar beeping, ones you didn’t recognise. All without exposing herself, her bright orange bomb was promptly rolled towards the computer, ticking down. Yoru’s eyes widened.

Then, the air stopped.

❤ฺ·。

The process was interrupted. But it wasn’t yours, it was the computer he had been working on, now completely destroyed. Now, they relied on knowing where your progress had stopped. It’s not like it was an easy thing to find out either, not when the entire area you were hiding in had been completely engulfed in piles upon piles of concrete.

Yoru coughed and waved the debris away, taking a few steps back to breathe properly. And there, he could see that the floor above had tumbled down on where you were.

For the first time, he panicked.

“A/N– A/N, where are you?!”

He immediately called out, tucking away his Sheriff and approaching the dilapidated section you were in. Yoru prayed that you weren’t dead. But your lack of response made that contingency highly possible.

“A/N!”

No response. No time to waste, either. He quickly got to work on getting to where he knew you were. Forced to follow the strong unpleasant scent he really wanted to get away from, he had to find you.

Yoru couldn’t find a way to get through the stacks of concrete. The idea to simply go to the floor above you and jump down popped up in his mind, but then, how would he make it back out? He couldn’t get you through the teleporter.

Then, he found a small opening around the constricted corner, immediately slipping a teleport through and allowing it to make its way inside.

He promptly tore through the rift and stepped back just in case anything would fall through. But thankfully, nothing did, and from what he could see, it was safe enough for him to step through.

And step through he did, the entrance sewing itself shut from behind as he observed the area from the other side. To his left was a pool of blood that increased by the second. He was surprised, but…

“A/N, where the hell are you?!”

He exclaimed and took out his gun, immediately looking around just in case it was Raze who made it. Stepping through the boxes, he found the computer sitting just across from him, the screen glowing a blinding shade of white. And next to it was…

You.

Curled up into a ball, hugging your knees, eyes wide open and locked on the ground.

He hid his weapon and approached you, taking a deep breath. Yoru made no attempt to hide his annoyance as he looked down on you, waiting for you to stand up at the sight of him.

“Let’s go, they’re both dead. Are the files gone?”

Then, he looked back at the screen, noticing that the percentage had jumped up to ninety percent in forty minutes. But there was naught of an answer from you. Yoru, concerned, met your gaze. But you still didn’t look back at him.

“Hey, you there?”

…

Nothing.

He moved in front of you and got on one knee. But even then, your eyes were locked on the ground, as if you didn’t acknowledge he was there. Only now did he notice that you were shaking violently, coupled with your extremely inconsistent breathing. It bordered on hyperventilation, but you’d suddenly hold your breath for way too long. No, it’s not that you didn’t acknowledge his presence, you just didn’t see him.

Yoru’s gaze softened, and so did his posture. He could feel your alarmingly high palpitations just from getting near you.

“Can you hear me?”

It took you a second to even notice what looked like a massive lump of blue in front of you, the various shades and intricate details of it too overwhelming to comprehend.

You stared at him for a few seconds, liquid dripping down your right hand. Being so close to you, the poison’s effects on him made him both dizzy and despondent, but he knew he couldn’t leave you like this.

“I– I think I’m-” you gasped, “I’m dying, I’m dying– I, I think–”

“Hey, it’s fine, they’re gone. You’re safe.”

“I’m dying, I’m dying, Yoru, I’m–” you shook your head, struggling to breathe, “I’m going to die,”

“I’m with you. It’s okay.”

It’s not like it’s anything new. Yoru saw you panic before. Multiple times. But this wasn’t you mumbling while clutching your temples like you usually did, no. This was different.

You met his gaze, taking note of his tone. You didn’t know what it was, but there was an unfamiliar air of benevolence that threatened to extinguish your panic.

“A– are we– are we going to die? Are we going to die?”

He shook his head, slow enough for you to grasp what he meant.

“No, we’re safe.”

“Are we going to die?”

“No.”

You huffed, taking in a sudden gust of air. So sudden, it felt like an ice cold knife plunged your lungs.

“I, I can’t, I can’t– my arms, I– I can’t feel the– I can’t feel my arms.”

Yoru stared at you for a few seconds. Then, your hands, the clear poison allowing it to glimmer as it dripped down to the already soaked ground. He hesitated.

“If you want, I can hold them.”

…

You nodded repetitively, even after his fingers slowly intertwined with yours. Now, with his touch, you could finally feel the hands that were attached to you, and it helped ground you back to reality. Of course, it still wasn’t enough to take the horrifying sense of doom away. That, and the terrible heaviness in your chest.

It felt like you were having a heart attack. But for some reason, you just couldn’t muster up the words to tell him what was happening, not when your mind repeated only a select few phrases and focused on death so much.

“Are we going to die?”

“No, no. We’re fine.”

You stared at him for a few seconds, before turning your gaze back to the coarse ground. It felt like your eyes were about to pop out of your skull with how wide you had your lids open.

“Take a deep breath, okay? I’ll help you.”

You nodded and met his gaze, sweat dripping down your chin. Yoru, seeing this, wasted no time. He took a deep, slow breath, and you watched him diligently, like an oncoming explosion.

“One,”

Then, Yoru exhaled slowly,

“Two. Like that. Now, follow me,”

Just as Yoru repeated the first step, you followed along, taking a deep and shaky breath, one that stopped halfway through.

“One,”

He then exhaled. But this time, your breathing was only slightly more consistent, but the panic that stabbed at you like demons made it all the more difficult to focus on him.

“Two. Again, okay?”

You nodded, tightly clutching his hand in an effort to distract yourself from the situation. Though he winced at the strength of your hold, he didn’t let it derail from what the main objective was. Not the firm embrace, not the harrowing scent that sent a painful sensation across his head.

Coupled with how close he was, the discomfort only grew.

Both of you repeated the process. And since you were incredibly focused on getting your breathing back in order, with his help, you managed to gain a small amount of your rationality back; enough to remember that you were on a mission. You remembered panicking at the sight of Raze’s bomb. And with one swipe, it all came tumbling down.

“Yoru, I–”

You turned your gaze elsewhere, dread still bleeding into your voice.

“Can we… Can we leave? I– I can’t stay here anymore.”

He stared at you for a moment. Then, the computer, noting the progress. Ninety five percent.

…

“Sure. Let’s go.”

He helped you stand up and turned to the pile of cement, already forming a plan on how to clear a way for you.

#valorant #x reader #fanfiction #yoru x reader #valorant fanfiction #yoru #female reader #yoru x f reader #yoru x female reader #valorant yoru #valorant x reader #valorant yoru x reader #valorant yoru x f reader #valorant viper

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loopy777 · 10 months ago

Note

The new “I Am Zuko” book implied that him and Mai met at Ember Island as kids and soon after became childhood sweethearts. What are your thoughts on this new canon Maiko crumb?

For easy reference, I found the page in question. And for posterity, here's the quote:

Something else I learned about was love. Azula's friend Mai and I had known each other as kids when my family vacationed at a beach house on Ember Island. My journey took me back to that island, and back to Mai.

It might be adding a few complications to the history we had before. Not that complications are bad!

The previous uncomplicated lore, as referenced directly in this quote, was that Mai had always been Azula's friend, and so we had all assumed that either Mai was a designated playmate for Azula or else they met at school. Either way, Zuko had to meet Mai through Azula, usually assumed to be a playdate visit of some kind. It's notable, though, that Mai was always said to be roughly a year older than Azula and Ty Lee both, so either Mai was one of the older kids in that class, or there were other circumstances that put Mai into their orbit.

Now, we could still keep that aspect prioritized if we want; Zuko could have met Mai because Azula brought her friend(s) along on an Ember Island vacation. However, I don't think that's what's being implied by this quote. "[We] had known each other as kids" doesn't seem to suggest a first meeting; it sounds more like an ongoing relationship. And if Mai is already Azula's friend, then Zuko's and Mai's interactions surely aren't going to just be limited to Ember Island. So the implication is that Zuko knew Mai this way before Azula got involved.

'The Beach' gives us flashbacks to Zuko's fond memories of the place (and here's where it gets awkward with this new info, as I'd expect Mai to be part of those flashbacks, despite the focus on his family), but the only ones we can confirm as taking place on Ember Island itself seem to show Zuko as a baby:

The others, showing an older Zuko, take place in some kind of thick grassy area that doesn't look like any parts of the island we were shown. So, maybe baby!Zuko and baby!Mai were tots when they met. Zuko is 1-2 years older than Mai, so we are talking babies babies, not fan-speak for someone younger than 17. Yet Zuko at least remembers these moments (if we take the flashbacks as his literal memories), so maybe we can't go by the art on that. Maybe it's metaphorical and his baby-ness is just to show his youth and innocence. But I doubt Mai would be old enough to remember such a thing. And maybe that's okay, since the "I Am Zuko" book is very obviously from his POV, so his memories are the only ones we can go by, anyway.

But, again, if we go by what's implied in the language of "[we] had known each other," they weren't just babies playing next to each other in the sand while barely old enough to comprehend each other's existence. They must have been older. But if that's the case, then where was Azula in all this? Well, Zuko is 2-3 years older than her and Mai is roughly a year older than her, so perhaps Azula was too young to be concerned about other kids at that point or otherwise not interested in being social.

So the implication of those 22 words I have spent six paragraphs and two pictures (so far) analyzing is that Zuko and Mai had a real childhood friendship which predates Azula's involvement. Zuko has 'priority' in the matter of Mai over his sister, which ties neatly to who Mai eventually sides with his over Azula.

But does that undermine the existing narrative? That Mai, at the Boiling Rock, performed this great romantic act of courage and defied her dangerous master for this boy who taught her the power of hope again? If she was always truly Zuko's friend, does that make her act weaker?

I don't think so, myself.

I think it fits neatly with the idea of Azula competing with Zuko at every available opportunity, as influenced by their father and Fire Nation culture. Azula eventually saw something Zuko had -- a friend -- and decided to take it from him. Either Zuko didn't put up a fight or lost that battle. And Azula proceeded to lord her victory over him by having his former friend trailing behind her like a servant. Even when Mai and Zuko started a romance, Azula continued to maintain control, as shown off by the picnic scene where she orders Mai away with a veiled command and gets secret side-eye from Mai in return.

It's a handy little way to explain Zuko's own lack of visible friends. Maybe he didn't bother trying to make such connections with other people after Azula stole one of his first friends. It's also a convenient little excuse for how Azula pulled in a girl about a year older into her friend circle; they don't need to be in the same classes at the academy because Azula already knew Mai through Zuko.

And Mai clearly gave in to this little conflict between Zuko and Azula, so her later showing the courage to stand with Zuko at the critical moment still has the power of a good character arc. I don't think it makes her arc stronger, but neither do I think it weakens it. It just adds a little more texture, which of course is always welcome to shippers and fanfic-writers.

It does raise the question, though, of why Zuko had to meet Mai on Ember Island when she lives across the street from him. But it's not anything insurmountable, as her family is clearly depicted as on the rise when we're first introduced to them in 'Return to Omashu,' so perhaps they were rich enough to visit Ember Island but didn't yet live near the palace or even in the Caldera. Perhaps their arrival in the capital, and Mai entering the Academy, is what prompted Azula to make her move and steal Zuko's friend. If Mai spent the formative years of her childhood elsewhere, it would explain a little more why she was so bored that she taught herself throw knives. Azula tends to make lives interesting, I would think.

So there we go. One page in a Little Golden Book gave us all those thoughts. Not a bad investment.

However, I doubt we'll see any further explanation or acknowledgement of any of this in official fiction. From the quotes we've gotten, the Avatar Studios folk and especially The Mike and The Bryan seem to favor a loose continuity that isn't getting hung up on the details.

But this is certainly something us fans can run with. I'm already brainstorming ideas for some way to make use of this in a comedic fanfic. ;)

#zumai #maiko #zuko #mai #mai avatar #mai and zuko

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