#now they're confused and out of order and there are blank spots

[samclownchester]

Fucked up that they keep giving Stefan new mental illnesses and then taking them away. They should let them compound. He's an addict. He got amnesia. He's got PTSD (with flashbacks and panic attacks). He has psychosis (auditory and visual hallucinations). These are all canon, but they never seem to be canon at the same time. Let him suffer complexly ✨

[unlovablelover]

End : Mr Chopped 2

(Gah! Me surprise!)

Why couldn't they be together?

Ever since he returned to his shared room with Silvair, that was all he could think of. Did they not enjoy the time they've spent together as much as he did? Sure, he probably ordered them around a lot, but it's not like they can't understand why - he couldn't move on his own, after all!

With every memory that came to mind, his expression changes to match them. Remembering how they rubbed his head to comfort him after a nightmare, his lips curled upwards in a wide, giddy grin. Remembering how they left him without looking back, his grin shifts into an angry scowl. Then, when the possibility that they may never return comes to mind - his expression turns blank, then his eyebrows knotted. It was no possibility. They really weren't coming back. His scowl turned into a sad pout.

"What you do?" Silvair's voice as he emerges from his research room catches him off guard, causing him to let out a noise of shock, mouth agape.

"Me worry they..." He answers truthfully, voice low. His eyes closed as he tried to drift off into sleep, hoping the thoughts would stop on their own. Silvair makes no move to continue the conversation, turning around to enter his research room again, leaving the door halfway closed.

Then, the click of the door to their shared room could be heard.

Heavy, forced steps rang in the silence, alerting the researcher. He remained where he was, watching from the gap, his research tool (or more precisely, axe) secured in his grip, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Mr. Chopped!"

That voice - almost instantly, he awoke from his short moment of slumber, eyes looking up at the figure standing in front of him. Still in a daze with a blurred gaze, he failed to recognize who it was.

"Well, um...." The figure struggled to speak - they struggled in everything, ever since they left his side. Their thoughts, their movements, all limited. Sensing the opportunity, Silvair rushes out to land a hit on them, aiming for their legs to render them immobilized. Surprisingly, they didn't let out any noise, nor did they fight back. They only fell forward with a loud thud.

"...Er...mm..." The chopped head just stares at them, unsure what to say - he doesn't recognize who it was at all. Another monster? He thought, confusion etched on his face. "Mr. Chopped..." They call again, who is it they're calling for? His dazed mind worked hard to bring up any memories that could help him figure out whatever, whoever it was laying limp in front of him. Then, realization hits him. There was only one person who would call him that!

"You...You return come?!" He exclaimed in disbelief, eyes widened. They came back! Relief washes over him but not entirely. They came back, but... "Your look different, me surprise!" Their appearance was a mess, monster-like even. Just what did they go through to come back to him? Nonetheless, they were back and that was all that mattered, he tried to convince himself.

"Me, you, they." He starts, smiling as his mind began to work on thinking up of all the things they could do together. Now that they were back, he'll have someone who can hold him all the time again! Oh, how he loved being in their hold - their soft warm skin pressing securely against his own cold one, hands holding him with utmost care.

"Desire together around."

He repeats his request from earlier, and this time they nod. Unbeknownst to him, they would really remain together with him - until the very end, until their very end.

"You carry me, me grateful."

Their vision started to blur, dark spots filling up their sight. With one last tilt of their head, they look up at him, hoping he would realize their misery - hoping that he could somehow help them like how they helped him. It was useless, it was stupid to depend on a chopped head, but he was the only thing that managed to keep them sane the last time. This time though? Not so much.

"Me desire together."

He didn't stop talking. It was his greatest feat and flaw at the same time. Why? Because whenever he started talking, he'd fail to notice the things happening around him - like how his friend Silvair stood beside him, looking down pitifully at the dying human, or like how the human tried so hard to reach out to him, hand held out shakily.

Their hand lands on his head for one last pat, gentle and weak, and it snaps him out of his rambling spree. His eyes were wide as he stares at them, only now realizing what was happening. He waits until they pull away, but they never did and never will.

"...You?" He calls out in hopes that they'll respond. When they didn't, he begins to fear for the worst. They just came back - they couldn't leave him again! Not now, not ever, not again! There wasn't a thing he could do except repetitively call for them until Silvair took him in his hold, bringing him away from the corpse. Even then, he didn't stop calling. He didn't want to leave them.

Just why couldn't they be together?

[jsouterdust]

Frisk looked up at the text in confusion, people were able to ask them questions now? This distracted Frisk for a moment before they snapped back to reality - they had to proceed quickly or else Sans would get enough LV to beat them.

They approached the large door before grabbing its handle and pushing it open before walking forward, feeling the cold breeze of Stardin brushing against their body.

They walked forth, reaching the bridge in a short time span as Sans obviously wasn’t there to meet them.

They continued their walk before they stumbled across a familiar skeleton, one that’s too great to be forgotten which at first didn’t notice them.

“SANS! SANS? UGH, WHERE’S THAT LAZYBONES?”

Papyrus then turned, seeing Frisk.

“OH, HELLO THERE! WHAT KIND OF MONSTER ARE YOU?”

Frisk did not respond.

“AH, A QUIET ONE I SEE.

WELL, IF YOU NEED ME JUST LET ME KNOW, NYEH HEH HEH HEH!”

Papyrus proceeds to turn around, walking away.

Frisk now continued their walk, spotting a save file as they touched it.

[ * Seeing so many new things happening fills you with DETERMINATION. ]

HP fully restored.

Now that they're fully healed, Frisk proceeded to the next rooms quickly.

It wasn’t that hard to get past the puzzles since they were deactivated for the most part till in one room, they saw a hooded figure running towards the left: they knew who it was and they were going to follow them quickly.

Sans stood in front of a door, his eyes looking down as he frowned, he was looking at Glyde’s dust, he wore the tough gloves this time - he didn’t want this to happen but it wasn’t his fault - the human had pushed him to this.

He heard footsteps behind him as he turned around.

“hu- oh, ahem.”

His expression quickly changed to a more psychotic one, he wasn’t going to be vulnerable in front of the human, he won’t let them mock him.

“looks like you caught up already, huh?

heheheh…

welp, let’s see if i’ve made any progress.”

He now dashed forward, sending a jab straight towards Frisk’s jaw, who countered by catching his arm and twisting it, now kicking him back as he sighed, sending bones flying towards them at rapid speeds.

Frisk now summoned a galactic knife as they attempted to parry some of them, only for them to split in half and avoid this, causing half of the bones to strike them and send them back with the other half changing trajectory and striking them once again, forcing them to stay staggered till Sans appeared in front of them, sending a powerful uppercut in order to make them get sent mid-air before grabbing their leg, slamming them down onto a bone zone, breaking it.

Frisk grunted, now making a shockwave out of thin air, sending Sans back as they would start floating, flying forth as they attempted to punch Sans before 4 stars appeared around him, spinning as they flung them back, also firing some smaller stars towards them rapidly.

Sans then summoned a white hole in front of them, sending them even further back as they would make a whole tunnel with Sans sending the stars point blank at them, creating an explosion large enough to tear off a whole chunk, a large meteor falling to replace it and attempt to crush Frisk underneath, or well, make them get stuck but Sans didn’t want to give up there, no…

He will not let his brother get killed by himself or the human.

“alright kid, it’s time to go.”

His left eye started glowing a bright orange, signifying bravery as Frisk had just lifted the meteor with their own strength, tossing it at Sans as he summoned a star sword in his hands and cut it in half, charging towards Frisk as he thrusted the sword forth, Frisk simply grabbed it before Sans let go of the sword and dashed backwards as it exploded, staggering them as ice magic struck them omnidirectionally, causing them to be frozen before Sans summoned a gaster blaster, charging it with as much power as he can as he fired it, causing a massive explosion to occur, enough to be seen from far away as the human was then grabbed by telekinesis, pulling them close as Sans tries sending an haymaker towards their head, only for them to slash their knife forth and stab Sans’ hand, making him groan in pain as the knife was then horizontally slashed out of his hand, Frisk then kicked Sans in one of his ribs and sent him flying to a wall.

Frisk approached Sans, throwing two knives at his shoulders and pinning him to the wall

“How curious.” They said, kneeling down in front of him, looking at his shocked expression.

“You think you can stop my plans from becoming true?”

“i don’t ‘think’ that i can do it, i MUST end this loop.”

“I don’t think you understand what I’m planning to do after getting LV-20, do you?”

“hu-”

“Let me show you.”

They reached out for Sans’ jaw as they wrapped their hand around it, Sans then saw a vision of their plan: it wasn’t about ending the universe, not even close.

It was total pain, endless suffering, it was worse than everything that had happened in history combined: and this suffering was MULTIVERSAL.

He became even more traumatized and his mind broke before the vision stopped.

“Do you understand now? This suffering is inevitable, if you want to avoid it, well, I could use a descendant.

So, tell me: What do you think? Do you wish to suffer the same fate with your pathetic friends or become something superior?”

Sans would try processing their own words before teleporting away.

“...I’ll give him time to think about it.”

Frisk said, getting back up and walking away.

Sans was severely injured, he had to LV up as soon as possible, he then spotted a group of monsters hanging out with each other - it was the perfect way to LV up quickly.

He started to attack them with his blasters and bones, killing the first one easily as the others started attacking Sans, damaging him a bit in the process but Sans wasn’t close to dying, he quickly surrounded himself with miniature stars as soon as one of the monsters tried to get close, vaporizing it instantly due to the stars’ heat matching one of a large star when made physical contact to.

The other monsters kept their distance, only for the stars to shoot out even smaller stars, catching them off guard and finishing all of them off.

Sans’ wounds healed as his Level Of Violence increased, making him able to take in tougher opponents.

Sans continued his killing spree, the royal guards were a slight difficulty change from normal monsters but they were easy to handle as well.

And then, he reached snowdin town.

He now was close to killing his own brother, but he didn’t want to, yet… It's too late to stop now.

Sans’ face was shadowed by his hood as his left eye started flashing a glowing orange and red: he will make sure that Frisk won’t EVER succeed, and that’s a promise he was going to keep.

Sans now started to kill everybody in snowdin, his bones collapsing multiple buildings as many monsters turned to dust, giving Sans more EXP, he started laughing maniacally as he was entertained by this, he continued till he heard a voice behind him:

“SANS! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?”

Sans stopped laughing and turned around, seeing his brother Papyrus.

“p-paps?”

“IT’S ME! WHY ARE YOU DOING… ALL OF THIS?”

Papyrus' question hung over the air as a bone broke the silence, striking Papyrus in one of his ribs, causing him to groan in pain, barely able to stand up.

“you don’t understand..."

Sans said while more bones struck Papyrus’ chest, sending him stumbling backwards as his back brushed against the tree.

“what i’m doing right now is salvation for all of us, both humans and monsters.”

“NO, IT’S NOT MERCY! YOU’RE JUST HURTING US ALL! PLEASE, BROTHER, STOP.”

“it is, i saw the future and what happens there is worse than this, please let me do this.”

Sans summoned a gaster blaster, firing it at Papyrus, destroying half of his body.

“T-THERE COULD BE… ANOTHER… WAY!...”

Papyrus said weakly, laying on the ground.

Sans’ expression lingered with doubt for a moment before responding.

“papyrus, no… we can’t even hurt the one who’s making this plan, the only way is to become strong enough to kill them.”

Sans fired the blaster once again, destroying the remaining parts of Papyrus except his skull.

“SANS!... I UNDERSTAND… IF THIS IS WHAT YOU MUST DO, I’M HAPPY TO HELP. JUST PROMISE ME ONE THING BEFORE THE GREAT PAPYRUS PERISHES: DON’T BECOME AS BAD AS THEM.”

“i… promise.”

A tear ran down one of Sans’ boney cheeks as he fired the blaster one last time, finally killing Papyrus.

Sans turned around, his pupils went back to his usual ones, he wiped the tear off his face as he looked at the injured surviving monsters. Ending them with a few bones.

“i already spent too much time here. time to go to waterfall.”

With that, Sans started walking towards the end of snowdin, and then waterfall.

[b3ast0fburd3n]

Eden is not a fucking errand boy or a goddamned messenger. There is no reason for her to be sending word from Vaas to Beth. 'Just ask if she'll be done soon.' It's fucking bullshit. But Vaas asked, and she isn't one to refuse a direct order.

Done with what even? He said she'd probably be by the beach. There's no shipments in or out of that specific spot she was sent to. No reason for a lone pirate to be sitting out there. It doesn't matter. She only has to ask the question, get what will probably be a one word answer, and go home.

The journey across the compound is well lit, thanks to the nearly full moon hanging high in the starry sky. Eden looks up as she walks. No need to watch where she's going, the way out of base camp is well ingrained in her muscle memory. Chatter of the pirates and energetic music slowly fade to a dull thumping of bass as Eden steps through sand in search of Beth. She spots the woman sitting in the sand, smoking slowly and pausing to take swigs of her drink. The glare she serves to Eden lacks any real force, earning Beth a reflexed expression.

Eden stares for a moment after the flat tone comes out. Copycat. She walks until there's a leg's length between the two pirates, then crosses her arms to look down at the slumped pirate queen.

"Vaas wants to know if you'll be done soon." She emphasizes if. Like Vaas did. What the fuck is this? She's never seen Beth like this. The woman usually has a spark behind her eyes, now they're just cold. Blank. The sight is too unnerving to bring any envious satisfaction.

"What's wrong with you?" Eden raises a brow, confusion scratched into her face as she questions Beth with an accusatory inflection. "You look terrible." Void of any hidden sympathy. But she did make it nicer than her original thought, 'You look like shit.' Out of respect.

@b3ast0fburd3n - Liked For Sad Queen Hours x2

---

Beth always found the same spot in the sand when she felt like shit; close enough to camp to see the lights and hear the faint music, but far enough to remain unbothered. It was a spot Vaas had taken her to when she first began to be a pirate, and a spot she held dear since.

Things had strung together in a pot of bad luck. Rakyat were intercepting drug deliveries, Hoyt was breathing down her neck about a Pirate and Privateer issue, Vaas was looming over her due to the Rakyat issue, the pirates were starting to blame her for something or other, and she had to somehow hold it all together until the problems passed.

Would things return to normal? Of course they would. They always did. And usually, she'd just get stressed and take it out on rejects or hostages or Rakyat. Maybe the odd pirate, if they wanted a fight. But, no. It happened to coincide with her intense mood dip, when forgotten memories abruptly became known.

Honestly, a lot of it she swore she was imagining — repressed memories didn't even cross her mind as a possibility.

She had a cigarette on the go, held loosely between her fingers as she drunk from a bottle of fancy whiskey Carlos had gifted her. So much for keeping it for a special occasion.

She spotted the approaching figure as soon as the moon lit up the silhouette. Beth knew it wasn't a pirate. No, no. It was one of the only people on the island she'd truly love to tear apart with her bare hands and bathe in their blood.

Admittedly, the stare she gave Eden was harsh, yes, but lacking any force. Truthfully, Beth didn't have the energy to tell Eden to fuck off or say something snarky for a reaction. She no longer found it fun or humorous, and without those things, what was the point? Just saying it for the sake of saying it? To appear normal?

"What's the problem?" Beth asked, her voice UNNERVINGLY steady and void of any emotion ( she sounded like her father ) . She gazed back out to the ocean, pausing to drag her cigarette. "Rakyat? I know."

[terrence-silver]

"You're insane Terry, but I like it..*giggles*" beloved said..Terry's reaction in different eras?

― Twig undoubtedly relayed some war story to beloved that was particularly off the rails and outlandish, not realizing how it comes off to a civilian lacking context. Furthermore, a civilian he loves. A civilian that cares for him back by their own admission, just now. Sure, there's a moment of recognition and relief when beloved isn't weirded out, haunted or estranged by what they're hearing of his life in the military, in fact, they're even charmed by it, and Twig eases up, feeling he can trust them to be open and honest, but there's also a clench in his gut being called insane. He's certain beloved doesn't mean it that way because they cannot possibly know his mental state and the absolutely raw, bleeding psychological fallout he's brought back home, but he also wishes, deep down, he wasn't deemed that, as he hides his slight discontent, down-casting his gaze with a quivering lip, feeling an odd sense of shame and embarrassment on the spot all while yearning to be so sensitive about it.. His father did tell him to get over it and Twig's been trying. Maybe one day, someone will call him something so bad with beloved on his arm and beloved won't be quite so endeared by it then, he figures? He wishes...he could leave all of that behind or at least not be so affected by it.

― Terry in the 80's could give beloved a frenzied, unblinking look and chuckle at them with a smile that's a bit too wide for comfort. Insane? They like it? Is this a backhanded complement he's entertained by or is beloved simply being naively sweet and lacking a filter? Ironically, Terry has been called many things. A tycoon. A shrewd industrialist. The downfall of the American legal system. A man of lose morals. A philanthropist. A playboy. A benefactor with a heart of gold --- which is a riot. He relished in all of these in equal measure for different reasons. But the epithet of 'insanity' often flies over people's head despite the dark state of his own mind, because Terry in effect charms whoever he wants to charm and his own shortcomings are mostly never seen through all the razzle-dazzle he puts up (And it is the 80's, after all. A Yuppie by default has to be a little unhinged), but beloved perceives something and they enjoy it. Terry's reaction is a mixture of amusement, arousal and blankness on the verge of dissociation, just concealing whatever confusion he has with a shark-like rictus grin. He hasn't perceived himself as insane in years. He's left behind all such labels in the past. He was always just Terry Silver with a mind of a diamond --- Advanced Terry. Mega-success Terry to himself, but if beloved likes 'insanity' he'll show them the type of 'insanity' they won't believe.

― Say, old man Terry's been to therapy and how much it failed or succeeded or how much he pushed himself into deliberately repressive boxes in order to ''fix'' everything he felt rendered him volatile and out of control is a complicated topic, but long story short, something about the blatant label of insanity hits him, even if it is just a joke. Not that he isn't self-aware of his state or what it used to be (or what it is now). Heck, he's even oddly casual about it at times around this era (except when he ain't). But thing is, called insane, regardless if it is followed by an adoring giggle internally triggers him and he retreats into his own mind, calculating how he should approach this. Not that he hides his state from beloved. In fact, beloved knows everything, too much even, of his disposition, and if he could go into outright telling them all the nitty-gritties about himself to purposefully shock them and test their undying loyalty in still loving him regardless, he will, so there's this conflict where he's accepted and even loved for everything he is, but labeled as someone unhealthy is still a sign of his own inherent weakness and limitation and he's taken aback for a moment. Is he being insulted or is he being flattered? He wants to get inside of beloved's head and understand how he's perceived by them. Down to the smallest details. He also wants to grab them by the jaw.

[hellowkatey]

I refuse to believe the droid that blew up under tech's ass didn't cause more damage

3.9k words ~ depictions of violence ~ ao3 ~ a little whump for your troubles

"They're using live rounds!" Hunter hisses, and Tech's blood runs cold. Live rounds? The Kaminoans have never resorted to training with live rounds within the simulation chamber. Even at a low power, live rounds have 62% chance of causing extensive damage to the room's durasteel construction, as opposed to the 21% chance with stuns. That does not even account for the monetary loss if a soldier were to lose their life or require medical attention. All in all, it's a horribly irresponsible training tactic. Something has changed. But why? Tech does not have an answer for that.

He looks at Hunter and Echo crouched behind the barrier next to him. "Get Wrecker," Hunter commands, the flurry of bright red blaster shots zooming overhead. "We'll cover you."

Tech offers a single nod in confirmation and eyes the distance to his fallen brother. With cover from both Hunter and Echo, and if he approaches from the opposite side of his barrier, he should have a relatively high chance of success. Assuming he can keep his head down, of course.

Tech makes his way to the barrier closer to Wrecker without issue.

"Wrecker, are you alright?" He asks, his anxiety quelling at the sight of his brother crawling toward him. The shot did not seem to fully penetrate his armor, which is good news. Tech runs out to meet him, grabbing Wrecker by the shoulder to help him get out of the line of fire.

Just in time it seems. One of the trigger-happy droids notices their movement and leaves a trail of carbon scoring in their wake.

Tech and Wrecker collapse against a barrier just as Hunter, Echo, and Crosshair fall back from their previous positions. He can see them approximately eight meters away. Too far to hear any orders without Hunter alerting the droids to their potential plan.

Suddenly their barrier is getting pounded by blasters. The training droids have discovered their hiding place and are firing without mercy. Smoke from the live rounds curl from the other side of the barrier, fogging up Tech's goggles and filling the air with the horrendous scent of burnt plastoid.

Or perhaps that is the smell of Wrecker's melted chest plate. Difficult to tell. Tech is quickly inching toward overstimulation from the deafening shots, heavy footsteps, and smell of smoke assaulting his senses..

He peers around the corner of their hiding space to get an idea of how close the droids are when a shot slams against the corner— far too close to comfort. He recoils just in time, but the heat of the shot still warms the skin between his helmet and blacks. There seems to be no clear break as the line of their attackers moves forward. He and Wrecker are stuck unless the others can help.

A whistle cuts through the sounds of battle. Tech and Wrecker look at their sergeant who waits for their attention before going through a serious of hand signals.

Split up. Cover. Draw fire. Distract and manual take down. Reprogram. Tech nods along, recognizing this particular sequence.

"Oh!" Wrecker exclaims, collapsing dramatically from his crouched position. "I hate hand signals."

"Perhaps if you memorized them," Tech offers, though he knows there is no chance in hell that will ever happen.

"Why don't you memorize them?"

"I have." Tech is more surprised that Wrecker assumed he hadn't. "What we did on Felucia."

Wrecker is on his feet in an instant. "Why didn't you just say that?" He throws a thumbs up to Hunter and the others— the only hand signal they can ever trust Wrecker to remember— and crouches his way to the outskirts of the chamber.

Tech watches as Hunter and Crosshair lay down cover fire, splitting up to spread the attention of the droids. And Echo assumes his ARC trooper role of running head-on into the action. As the droids shoot at his quick run, Wrecker runs up from behind, tackling one of the training droids to the ground with a satisfied laugh.

Also in typical ARC trooper fashion, Echo jumps onto the back of the other droid as though it's an angry rancor he's attempting to ride. And the droid bucks as any rancor would-- until Echo slams his scomp link into its neck, deactivating it all together.

Now it's reprogramming time. Tech runs to meet them, catching Wrecker's eager arm as it moves to punch the fallen droid again.

"Reprogramming this thing will be pointless if you crush it."

Wrecker seems disappointed, but he resists the urge to wreck. "You better be right about this."

Tech ignores the doubt and gets to work in the droid's circuit board. He works as quickly as possible, acutely aware that Hunter and Crosshair are undoubtedly being swarmed by this point.

"Hurry up," Wrecker warns. It is a statement more of worry for their brothers than a critique of Tech's programming speed. With a quick glance at his vambrace monitor, he slams the circuit board shut.

"Done. Let him go."

Wrecker and Echo back off just as the other droids launch a new attack at the site of their droid field surgery. They run for cover. Tech, on the other hand, situates himself on the shoulders of his new pet droid.

If Echo is the rancor rider, then he is the rancor tamer in this analogy.

The droid stands at its full height, nearly throwing Tech off on the way up, but he manages to press his thighs against its head to balance his weight. Shots from the other droids are whizzing past him in growing frequency. He is an easy target at this height and visibility. He needs to work quickly.

Taking control of the droid's weapons, he fires the live rounds back at the combatant droids. While their training blasters were useless against the thick durasteel plated training droids— as they were meant to be in a simulation— the live rounds actually do sufficient damage. He breezes past Echo and Wrecker's battle stations. Instructs his droid to punch the other droids that managed to get past his initial rain of fire. And as he weakens their defenses his brothers move in with vibroblades, perfectly placed stun shots, and raw strength.

A little bit of pride swells in his chest. The tides appear to be turning in their favor. If they can keep up this pace, their outcome will be favorable.

With his vantage point, Tech spots a droid sneaking up on Wrecker, who is otherwise occupied by beating another droid into submission.

"Wrecker, look alive," he warns. Wrecker lets out a sound of confusion before whirring around to find his next victim. It only takes an impressive suplex and Echo jabbing the droid in the neck for the danger to be adverted. But a new danger has begun to emerge.

Warning signs start flashing across Tech's vambrace screen. His rewriting job had to be hasty, which means he did not get the chance to secure every single circuit. His rush may prove to be their downfall as the connection flickers in and out. The droid sways beneath him and he fights to remain on its shoulders.

"I can't sustain the connection," he says through grit teeth. But with two more enemies stalking toward him he has no choice but to hope he can hold on through the end. His droid manages a weak strike against one of the attacking bots, and a few point blank shots in the face of the other. The connection suddenly re-establishes with full strength, and he grins with glee.

But his success is only temporary. His ride jolts backward as a droid from the upper tier manages to shoot right though its chest— right into the main circuitboard, Tech realizes with dismay. He can't do anything but watch as the droid gets hit a few more times and explodes beneath him. The surge of the blast sends Tech flying backward with much more force than would have been a problem had he simply fallen off the droid. His body hits the ground back-first, ripping the air from his lungs. And then he bounces. When he hits it again, the back of his head slams into the durasteel floor and his vision swims with black dots. Tech tries to blink through the cloudiness of his vision, barely aware of somebody yelling his name through the ringing in his ears.

Everything suddenly hurts. The back of his legs are hot and the smell of burnt plastoid is even more putrid than earlier. Considering how long the droid had been engaging in active battle, and the numerous shots straight to the power source... the heat of combustion had to have been fairly significant. Perhaps even sufficient enough to melt his armor, he realizes with a deep groan.

"Tech!" his name reaches him this time. A little clearer. Definitely Wrecker. He tries to lift his head but only succeeds in lobbing it to the side. But it's enough to see Wrecker crouched a few meters away. "Hold tight, buddy."

Tech can see the consistent shower of blaster shots still thick in the air. It is a full-on battlefield tucked within the confines of Kamino's training facility.

"I'm..." he starts to say, attempting to assure Wrecker that he's okay, but even the act of raising his arm and head is enough to send a jolt of pain down his back and limbs. His vision blurs again and he suddenly is whipped by exhaustion. His adrenaline has finally dropped off and it is pulling him down with it. Tech collapses back on to the ground, letting out a shaky sigh. "...not going anywhere."

He wants to help. But he runs the numbers in his head even as the aura of a migraine starts to dance before his eyes. With the number of droids and taking into account their individual firepower abilities paired with handicaps that come from limited programming and movement, Tech calculates that they have a 46% chance of success without his help.

They've won on lesser odds.

And when he takes into consideration the alternate scenario of him pushing through his current injuries and attempting to aid them in completing the simulation, their chance of success actually reduces to 41%. He knows his presence would distract the rest of his squad, or introduce a number of uncertain variables he is too tired to take into account at the moment.

Well, the math does not lie, he thinks, and lets his eyes flutter shut.

Wrecker watches Tech's body go limp and he seriously considers running at that last droid and tearing its head clean off with his bare hands. His youngest brother mutters something he can't really hear— whatever it is, his voice is pinched with pain. Not a good sign.

This needs to end now.

As though Crosshair was reading his mind, the sniper appears out of nowhere with his rifle at the ready. (Sometimes Wrecker wonders if he really can read minds. It wouldn't surprise him.)

"Wrecker, knife!" he yells. He has no idea what Cross is gonna do, but he unsheathes his knife and throws it in the air with a backspin. Crosshair shoots and strikes his knife mid-air, sending it blade first straight between the eyes of the last droid.

"Wow," he says in amazement.

There's a moment of quiet after the droid falls. Wrecker stands at his full height, still in awe that Cross managed to actually get that shot! He knows his brother's aim is impressive but wow— sometimes it's just next level.

Wrecker suddenly remembers Tech still lying next to the burnt leftovers of his pet droid. He and Echo rush to his side. Though Tech has pushed himself to a sitting position, Wrecker has enough experience with explosives and getting too close to them to notice how his brother refuses to let the back of his legs touch anything. On top of if, he saw the way his head bounced against the floor. Wrecker's no medic, but he knows a solid hit to the noggin when he sees one. Tech's usually sharp eyes are unfocused. The smears of carbon scoring across the lenses aren't helping, so he tries to wipe it away with his gloves. He only succeeds in making the smearing worse, but what worries him more is that his younger brother didn't react like he usually does when anyone tries to touch his goggles. Usually he jerks away, insists he can fix them himself. But now he's just... staring at nothing. It sends a spike of worry through Wrecker's large body.

As they attempt to pull him to his feet, he glances down at the state of Tech's armor. A shutter runs up his spine.

It's not good. He can't tell if the red that is dripping down Tech's boots and onto the floor is from his melted armor or blood... neither is a good sigh. And as soon as he and Echo get Tech to his feet, he immediately starts swaying to the side. Wrecker catches him under the arms, hearing a low hiss of pain and wondering if he should let him lie back again.

"Tech, are you okay?" Hunter asks as he and Crosshair make it to their position.

Tech's reply is very not-Tech like. A low groan. Not a single word. But he shifts his weight to his feet and gently pulls out of Wrecker's grasp to stand on his own.

"Techy you don't have to--"

"We're being watched," Crosshair interrupts. Wrecker looks up and realizes that Tarkin guy and Lama Su are still watching from the viewing gallery.

A part of him is glad they can't see the death stare on his face for shooting live rounds— live rounds!— at them.

Another part of him wants to give them a piece of his mind.

But as they disappear from sight, it becomes very obvious that Tech was only standing for their benefit. This time, his knees buckle and he falls forward. Hunter and Crosshair both lunge to catch him.

"He's out," Hunter says as they gently lower him to the ground. Now the overhead lights shine down on Tech's back and all of them freeze.

"Shit," Crosshair curses. The explosion melted his armor for sure. But what concerns them all is the mess of raw skin and melted blacks behind his knees and at his ankles. "Where the hell is medical?"

For some reason, when Tech awoke he expected to be staring at the ceiling of a med tent. It is a natural association to make in his newly conscious state. He suffered an injury due to an explosion, which is usually a scenario that is only possible in an active battlefield situation.

Hence, why seeing the sterile white ceiling of the Kamino ceiling sent him into a momentary panic. Did they cart me straight back to Kamino from the battlefield? Am I that injured? Does this mean I am being decommissioned?

He begins to try and sit up, but strong hands press down on his chest. It takes a few rounds of blinking to clear the tears that have welled up in his eyes. Echo and Crosshair stand on either side of his bed. Still in their armor. Both wide-eyed and looking quite exhausted as they attempt to calm him.

"Breathe, Tech," Echo says, demonstrating by drawing in his own large breath and slowly releasing it through his pursed lips. Tech imitates him until the tightness in his chest subsides. And he remembers.

A simulation. We were doing a training exercise. I was sitting atop the shoulders of a droid and... the droid combusted.

Right. Suddenly the numbness in his legs and the dull bite of a waning migraine make sense.

"Did we win at least?" Tech asks, looking between Crosshair and Echo.

"You don't remember?" The sniper asks carefully.

Tech remembers falling. A white hot pain. And then a lot of yelling and a lot of darkness.

"My current memory of the end of the exercise seems to be a bit... murky."

Echo and Crosshair exchange glances.

"We destroyed all the droids," Echo says finally.

"Wrecker was pleased about that part," the sniper mutters.

"So we won then. That's good." Both of them are silent for a long moment. Long enough that Tech replays their conversation up to that point wondering if he said something incorrect. From his point of view, there has been nothing that would offend either of them. So why they are acting so strange is beyond his understanding, unless they are withholding other context from while he was unconscious. "...isn't it?"

Finally Crosshair clears his throat. "None of us would consider you getting blown up a mission success, Tech."

"Well, technically, I didn't blow up, the droid—"

"Technically, nothing," Crosshair snaps at him. Echo glares at the sniper but doesn't exactly try to correct his outburst. "Either way, you got hurt."

Oh. So they are worried about his condition. For the first time since he's woken up, Tech cranes his head to look down at himself. He's in a thin, medical gown. No wonder he was feeling a bit of a draft. His bare legs are completely wrapped in thick bacta strips. That explains the numbness as well.

"How... bad?"

"Not as bad as it looks," Echo admits. "Mostly second-degree burns on your legs with a few small spots of third degree burns. No concussion and no grafts needed. Doc said after this round of bacta they'll rewrap and we can take you back to the barracks. It'll just feel like you have a bad sunburn for a few days."

That's good news at least. He does feel much better. Not in terrible pain like before, though Tech suspects the IV in his arm might have something to do with that.

"You passed out after the simulation," Crosshair says with a haunted stare.

"From the pain, I assume?"

"Also from the adrenaline dump." Echo shrugs. "We all came out of that with shaky legs."

"Speak for yourself," Crosshair mutters but Echo ignores him.

"None of us expected to fight for our lives today."

All of them can agree on that. Speaking of fighting for their lives, Tech realizes it's just the three of them. He looks to the beds at his left and right and find that they're empty. The memory of watching Wrecker's body crumble after getting shot flashes through Tech's mind and he tries to sit up again. This time Crosshair presses his hand against his back and helps him up.

"Where's Wrecker and Hunter? Are they alright?"

"Wrecker also had a burn on his chest, but they discharged him already. Hunter is with him," Echo smiles. "I think Wrecker said something about being hungry."

"Well, we didn't get much of a meal before this," Crosshair says bitterly.

Tech finally relaxes back into the pillow. His brothers are all safe, he's going to be discharged soon, and they completed their training exercise. It's a much better outcome than he expected from waking up in the med wing.

After his bacta is changed, Echo helps him into a fresh pair of blacks while Crosshair grabs his armor. The shirt is no problem, but the tight-fitting pants prove to be a more difficult feat.

"Maybe we can go get you a looser pair," Echo suggests as Tech has to literally bite down on his own lip to distract himself from the discomfort. Even with the barrier of bandages, the thick material feels scratchy against his sensitive skin. So bad that shivers run up his spine and he begins to feel a little nauseous.

"No," Tech pushes Echo's hand away. Honestly, the very thought of the pants having to peel back down his leg is worse than the idea of keeping them on. "I'll adjust." Echo seems hesitant but he doesn't fight him further. Tech gets his armor on-- sans the pieces that were melted in the explosion, of course. Those will require a trip to the armory to replace. (But he is not exactly jumping at the idea of restraining his swollen legs right now, anyway.)

"Ready?" Crosshair asks, though his facial expression looks as though he won't believe a word that comes out of Tech's mouth no matter what.

"Indeed."

They walk slowly back to the barracks, taking the long route to pick up Hunter and Wrecker from the caf. For the first few corridors, the scratchy feeling is agonizing. He has to walk with stiff legs to avoid bending his knees too much. It earns him his fair share of strange looks from the regs that pass, though they usually look at him like he was some sort of abomination, so it doesn't bother him. (Tech hypothesizes it has something to do with his goggles and how they stick out of his helmet. Makes him look quite different from even his own squad.)

But as they reach the caf, the stinging has begun to fade. His body is adjusting, as he predicted. The pain receptors in his legs are finally recognizing that it isn't a stimulus worth the trouble to continue griping about. He manages to bend his knees just enough that his stiffness isn't so obvious, more of a limp.

Wrecker's joyful tone rings out as soon as they grow near to the cafeteria. The largest of their brothers appears around the corner, his face brightening as he breaks into a run. "Tech!" Echo and Crosshair are quick to jump in and stop him from body slamming Tech.

"Easy, Wrecker, you know better than any of us how it feels to get blown up," Crosshair says before stepping aside for Wrecker to pull Tech into a bear hug. He sees Cross glance at Echo and then smirk. "Well, maybe that's not true. Echo here might have us all beat."

The former ARC trooper rolls his eyes. "Very funny."

Wrecker releases Tech. Somehow without aggravating his burns too badly. He is glad he opted to wear his helmet instead of carrying it. The mask hides his wince as pain shoots up his legs when Wrecker drops him back on the floor.  "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"As am I," he replies sheepishly. They start to make their way back toward their barracks. "Though I hardly blew up, it was merely a droid overheating."

"Did it have smoke and fire?" Wrecker asks.

"Minimal, but yes."

"Did it make a boom sound?"

"Well I'm not sure I would classify--"

"And did you get thrown really hard and burn your butt off?"

Tech sighs. "Perhaps."

Wrecker shrugs with a smug grin, looking around at the others. "You may be the expert on most things, Tech, but I know explosions. And that sounds a lot like an explosion to me."

Crosshair chuckles, his face in its usual sneer as he pats Tech's shoulder pauldron.

"It's alright," Echo whispers to him as Wrecker starts a loud tangent about getting shot at. "Means you get to be a part of the Got Blown Up Club. Meetings are bimonthly."

Not exactly a club Tech expected to be joining at a battle simulation. But then again, when do things ever go right for their squad in normal circumstances? He is curious to see what justification they had for such an irresponsible stunt. Tech has a sinking feeling Tarkin and Echo's claim that he hates clones has something to do with it.

[neverdoingmuch]

Wangxian prompt: They see each other constantly. Like, maybe they're neighbors, or is a "my kid's teacher" situation. Maybe they meet at the bus stop, or work in the same company but different offices. So they're aware of each other and they exchange glances, maybe little inside-joke smiles about things they both notice. They see each other being brave, competent, kind, so so handsome. And when they actually talk to each other months later the first thing they say is "Marry me" and "Yes"

ooh!! this sounds like a lot of fun, i love it so much. i think office workers would be the best bc then we can contrast the banality of the rest of their lives to the quirkiness of their relationship so to speak.

okay so it all started when lwj decided that he wanted to eat breakfast on his apartment balcony

he takes his bowl and goes to sit in the chair outside and he’s prepared to just enjoy the cool morning air but when he looks up he sees a man sitting on the balcony exactly opposite his

wwx, by some strange luck, has the apartment across the street, and always goes outside to try and wake up bc he is not a morning person at all and the 9-5 job is killer for someone who likes to go to sleep at like three in the morning

anyway, lwj looks up and sees this kinda cute guy just sitting on the floor miserably blinking at the rising sun and is like oh weird and tries not to stare too much

but after that first time lwj sees him, he starts seeing mystery balcony dude everywhere, like everywhere and no amount of not staring is gonna save him

he goes down to his favourite cafe to get a cup of tea after breakfast and while he’s enjoying his tea and reading the newspaper he hears someone laugh loudly and glances over to the muffin display to see balcony man chatting with one of the staff as he orders his own coffee 

balcony man must have noticed his attention because he looks over and for a moment he looks confused but then he’s smiling brightly at lwj and it’s this absolutely amazing smile and he’s even hotter when he’s not sitting in a ratty t-shirt across the street and lwj panics, chugs the rest of his tea, and immediately leaves

he ends up arriving at the train station fifteen minutes early and is stuck awkwardly waiting while avoiding the grandma who likes showing men pictures of her granddaughter who is very beautiful and very single apparently

the train arrives and lwj gets on, finds a seat and pulls out his phone to respond to emails. then, just as the doors are about to shut, who should rush in but balcony man

he’s kinda sweaty and red but the guy makes it look good and he ends up sitting down a few metres from lwj, not that lwj notices because he’s very busy responding to his emails about how one of the teams in sales is having difficulties with one of their projects, so busy that he spends the next thirty minutes staring at the email unable to get past the second line

lwj and wwx end up getting off at the same stop and to lwj’s absolute horror they end up going to the same building

lwj tries to do the thing where you speedwalk past the person so they don’t think you’re following them but then wwx did the same thing to him so they end up arriving at the same time

they get in the elevator together, lwj near the door off to the left and balcony man in the far corner, leaning against the wall and looking down at his shoes

it’s kind of awkward but thankfully wwx gets off at the fifteenth floor - software design and tech support or something while lwj gets off at the twentieth floor - sales maybe?

he doesn’t see the man again until the end of the work day when they get into the elevator at the same time and go back down. they’re the only two people in there bc they’re working late or the stars aligned or something

and that’s just the first day. after that, every day the same thing happens and they keep seeing each other as they’re going to and from work. 

but also lwj goes to do the grocery shopping and when he’s paying wwx is in the next line across and when he goes to buy new strings for his guqin wwx is already in the store buying a new mouthpiece for his dizi

this goes on for a few weeks and then one morning, while wwx is trying to shock his system into waking up and lwj is just enjoying breakfast, they hear familiar shouting: the couple downstairs is breaking up again

lwj rolls his eyes, aware that come next week they’ll be dating again, and just blocks it out when the boyfriend comes stumbling out of the building with his shirt half on and the girlfriend still yelling

he looks across the street to see what balcony man thinks of it all and sees that he’s mouthing along to the argument (it really is exactly the same speech every time but it’s incredible that he’s memorised it). lwj snorts. it’s unseemly and rude but balcony man is over there acting out the break up as well as mouthing along and it’s the funniest thing lwj’s seen all week.

wwx notices him laugh and decides to wave at him. lwj tentatively waves back and with that the magic of their relationship sets in

now when lwj goes to the cafe in the morning wwx will look around the store until he spots lwj and wave at him, and lwj will lift his mug up in greeting which always make wwx laugh

then when they get on the train, they always get seats opposite each other and while they never actually say anything, sometimes lwj will glance over to see wwx sneaking a look at him. they both blush and look away but moments later they’re doing it again

when they walk to work, lwj crosses the street so they can walk at the same pace and not have to actually be right next to each other and despite having to cross back over, wwx is always still waiting to catch the elevator with him. 

now when they go up, they still don’t talk to each other but wwx always hums and lwj taps along with whatever tune he’s picked. 

same thing when they go back down in the evening and catch the train back

over time it starts to become more than just staring and smiling, now when the couple downstairs breaks up, wwx will hold up like three fingers and lwj understands that balcony man thinks they’ll get back together within three days

(wwx’s always right btw)

when they go to the cafe lwj will send wwx a thumbs down if the sports mum with eight kids gets in queue first and wwx will always make hearts with his hands whenever the baristas start flirting. 

when they get in the train and hear the angry businessmen argue they’re sitting there making funny faces at each other,, well wwx does and lwj just tries to keep his face blank. he usually succeeds but sometimes he smiles and wwx will always do a little victory wiggle which is honestly so cute lwj is dying

the elevator? they don’t even have to say anything. whenever a coworker they don’t like hops in they just find subtle ways to explain why they don’t like them and how

the best time was when lwj saw su she get in and immediately pulled a face like he sucked a lemon and had to try and mime “he always takes really long lunches and is really bad at sales but we can’t get rid of him because he’d whine too much and no one wants to put up with that” but he’s lwj and doesn’t really do miming. in contrast, when wen chao gets in wwx just holds up his thumb and pointer finger like he’s measuring something, and holds them only a few centimetres apart. 

they both get really good at reading each other like that

when they catch the train back home it’s always really late so lwj ends up reading a book while wwx sketches and, just as lwj always holds up his books so wwx can see the cover, wwx will show lwj whatever he’s drawn

at one point in time lwj comes home and sees a stray kitten hiding in a box near the entrance to his building but he can’t take it in bc of his rabbit so instead he goes out onto his balcony and just points straight down and holds up a cardboard box he has in his own apartment

without even hesitating wwx goes downstairs and crosses the street, still dressed in his pyjamas, and takes the kitten home. 

lwj kinda expected wwx to take the kitten to a shelter or something but within a month their morning routine changes to allow a kitten to climb all over wwx as he tries to wake up and it’s ridiculously adorable but also lwj is sitting there in absolute awe of how good balcony man is to just take in a stray like that 

there’s probably a few other scenes, like wwx and lwj going out to a dinner with their teams and they get seated at nearby tables and end up sending each other commiserating smiles whenever the conversation gets particularly dull and the time when lwj gets caught by the well-meaning grandma who always tries to set people up with her granddaughter on the train and he taps out sos in morse code and wwx just replies rip and stares out the window for the rest of the trip 

anyway this is getting a bit long so im going to say jump forward a year (doesn’t have to be a year i guess). they’re still enjoying this whole thing they’ve got going on and they know each other so well that when lwj sees wwx some mornings he knows to go to the cafe early and order an extra strong coffee for wwx and wwx will sometimes sketch pictures of rabbits when lwj seems a bit annoyed after work

(wwx will fold them into paper aeroplanes and throw them across the train to lwj and lwj always takes them home and flattens them back out and then shows them to his rabbit before before putting them up on the fridge)

one day the trains break down and they’re stuck waiting at the station in the morning and for once lwj feels genuinely sad that he might not get to work on time. like work is whatever but he doesn’t want to miss out on the half an hour on the train with balcony man and the way they speedwalk to see who can get to the office first and the awkward waiting outside the elevators where wwx bounces up and down and lwj taps out a rhythm against his thigh until wwx notices and starts humming along

but then he notices wwx walking over to him. he seems kinda nervous, hesitating at first but he puts on a confident smile and saunters over and lwj is panicking because they haven’t done this before and he doesn’t know what to do

wwx opens his mouth - he’s going to make the first move and ask out his mystery man, but then lwj takes one look at wwx, who’s standing right next to him and it feels different to all the other times they’ve been together, and he panics

wwx barely manages to open his mouth to say good morning when lwj blurts out will you marry me?

wwx blinks, blushes bright red, and immediately goes yes! (it’s a bit too loud and people around them turn to stare but neither of them notice)

lwj immediately whips out his phone and sends in an email saying that he’s taking a sick day and after he sends it off, he slips his phone back into his pocket, takes wwx’s hand in his and asks him what’s your name?

it takes wwx like fifteen minutes to stop laughing by which time they’re back at their cafe and this time, they both sit down at a table after ordering their drinks and it’s the baristas making hearts with their hands at them

[ssamie]

nine. reki?!

oikawa tooru x fem langa!reader

(hq x sk8 the infinity)

warnings: spelling mistakes, swearing, 2k+ words, u have langa’s blue hair sorry

gen masterlist.            “snow” masterlist.

"Y/N I FOUND YOU!" reki exclaimed as he sprinted towards her 

"man, you guys sure were fast" he said "i almost lost you guys in the trail" the redhead tripped way too many times as he struggled to avoid the random bushes and twigs sticking from the forest grounds 

"Y/N!" reki grinned as he finally came to a halt before her 

though she didn't respond and simply blinked as she stared at him wide-eyed as if she was seeing a ghost. "uh- y/n?" reki sweat dropped as he poked her cheek 

the redhead then sighed and flicked her right in the forehead, making her yelp and gently cradle the sore spot. "y/n!" he yelled again, this time with a soft laugh of amusement 

"reki?!" y/n shrieked out as she finally snapped out of whatever daydream she was in. 

reki laughed and pinched her cheeks with his hands, squishing her already heating up face as she gapes up at him in disbelief "took ya long enough" reki mused "did you miss me?" he asked 

"y-yeah! i missed you!" she stammered out as she placed her hands on reki's cheeks and lightly pinched them as well. she and reki chuckled, encaging each other in their arms as the boys watch their interaction. 

"you did so great! i saw you do your trick again!" reki exclaimed as he shook her shoulders excitedly. "thanks! i also did stuff that you taught me!" she smiled as she let reki shake her up as he pleased 

"also how are you here? adam said he didn't invite you" she asked him once he had finally calmed down. reki then scowled and let out a huff "yeah, he didn't. i had to save up for a ticket to fly here with the others" he said 

"and some guy tweeted about it so i was able to find the location" he explained as he showed her the said tweet. she grinned and nodded along "im glad you're here reki" she beamed "i really missed you" 

"me too" reki chuckled. he then eyes the boys behind her and sheepishly waved. "aren't ya gonna introduce me to your friends?" he mused

y/n perked up and looked back at the boys. "right!" she said. she brought up hanamaki and matsukawa first. "this is hanamaki-san and matsukawa-san. we're in the same year and they're in the volleyball team i mentioned." she said 

hanamaki and matsukawa grinned at him and raised their hand to wave "hey, so you're the reki she's always talking about huh?" hanamaki mused 

"she talks about me?" reki asked with a smile 

y/n spluttered and shook her head "that's not true! i don't talk about you at all!" she rebutted 

reki sweat dropped and scratched his head in confusion "oh.. okay then..?" 

y/n then shook her head again and paled from the guilt "i mean of course i do! you're my best friend!" she shrieked out "i talk about you all the time, reki!" she rambled 

reki sweat dropped and comforting patted her back. "so which one is it, really?" he chuckled as watched her distressed state. "let's.. let's move on.." y/n cleared her throat as she gestured to iwaizumi next. 

"this is iwaizumi-san. he's in my class and we're also neighbors." she said. "hey man, nice to meet you" iwaizumi sent him a curt nod, to which reki responded to with a smile 

"nice to meet you too, iwaizumi! im reki!" he introduced himself with a wave 

as the two conversed, she looked back to find oikawa, only to find him sitting by a curb, looking at the passing cars with a bored look on his face. with a hint of confliction, she reluctantly walked away from reki and towards the brunette. 

"oikawa-san?" she called out to him. "yeah?" oikawa replied as he briefly looked back to glance at her "you need something, y/n-chan?" he asked 

"um." she muttered "are you okay?" she asked as she crouched down beside him. "yeah, whyd you ask?" oikawa hummed with a faint smile 

"no reason.." she muttered as she scooted closer to him. "are you tired? you don't seem as lively as usual." she said 

oikawa shrugged and brought his knees up to his chest, "kinda." he said. "aren't you gonna go back to reki?" he asked. he faced her with a smile and chuckled "you were so excited whenever you mentioned him." he mused "so i thought you'd have a more escalating reaction than that" 

y/n raised a brow at his indifferent tone and playfully nudged him with her elbow. "you're so weird, oikawa-san. are you jealous or something?" she jokingly asked with a laugh 

"ahahaha." oikawa laughed along with a staright face. "yes." 

"what?" she blinked with a blank smile as she looked up at him cluelessly. "just kidding!" oikawa exclaimed with a cheeky grin. he ruffled her hair and laughed as she simply looked at him in confusion. "you're so gullible, y/n-chan! but i guess that's what makes you fun" okawa chuckled as he stood up from the ground to stretch his limbs 

"cmon, let's go. i wanna meet your friend too, yaknow?" oikawa mused as he held out his hands for her to grab 

she smiled and took his hands, pulling herself up as she dragged him over to the redhead. "you'll like him a lot, oikawa-san" she said "reki is nice, i swear!" 

"reki!!" she called out with a grin "hey" reki waved back. 

he then perked up as he recognised the brunette she was dragging around. "oh, you're that guy from a while ago!" reki exclaimed "i recognised you, haha" 

oikawa smiled back and nodded. "yup, that's me.." 

"im oikawa tooru. nice to meet you, reki-kun!" oikawa beamed with a charming grin. "you too!" reki grinned as he excitedly shook his hand. "hey, you guys wanna come with us? me and the others wanted to have a late night snack" 

"the others?" y/n hummed in confusion "what do you mean? are they-" 

"Y/N!" a loud shout was heard 

y/n looked behind reki's shoulder and paled as she watched miya propell himself from a random curve and fly through the air towards her direction. "m-miya?! wait! don't jump! you'll hit--" she was cut off by miya's stomach hitting her straight in the face 

"YOU SLIME! I TOLD YOU TO WAIT!" miya hissed at reki as he hugged her head with his arms while he wraps his legs around her torso 

"hey, if i didn't go ahead, we would've lost them!" reki rebutted with a huff "and get off her! you're not a cat! stop it!" reki exclaimed as he tried to pry him off of her 

"you don't know that" miya huffed, "also, back off, slime! we're having a moment." he said as he hugged her even tighter 

"you're killing her, rather" cherry chimed in as he watched y/n clawing desperately for miya to let her head go "she's losing air" he sighed as he plucked miya off of her

y/n heaved as she held miya up by the back of his thighs, holding him as you would with a child as she gasped for air. "i've missed you, miya.." she meekly chuckled as she ruffled his hair 

miya's face exploded into a concerningly bright shade of red as he huffed. "hmp. miss you too or whatever.." he muttered. "he's so stubborn." reki sweat dropped as he watched miya desperately try to keep his nonchalant façade but obviously failing 

"huh? who's this?" miya raised a brow as he looked oikawa up and down "did you find a slime boyfriend while you were gone?!" 

oikawa scowled and gave miya a nasty glare "hah? me? a slime?" he scoffed in offense 

"who else would i be talking about, slime?" miya taunted him 

he then gave him a smug smirk and laughed "well, my bad for that one."he mused "i mean you're a slime, yeah. but you'd never be her boyfriend" he sneered "she's just too good for you" 

oikawa scowled once again and glared down at the boy. "who says i can't be her boyfriend?" he sneered 

"why? are you?" miya gritted his teeth as he glared at oikawa 

"no. but you're definitely not either" oikawa gave him an irked smile "whatever, i won't argue with kids." oikawa mused as he waved him off

miya hissed at him under his breath and reached out to claw at him, only for y/n to stop him by grasping his hands and keeping them in place. "dont argue with people you just met, shittykawa!" iwaizumi scolded the brunette 

"he started it!" oikawa rebutted, earning a smack from iwaizumi. "shut up." iwaizumi scowled "be nice. you're embarrassing me." 

"anyways, wanna join us?" joe asked as he flexed his arms with a grin "i could go for a drink right now" 

"they're underaged!" cherry said as he slapped joe in the head 

"well where else are we supposed to go?!" joe exclaimed with a groan "McDonald's?!" 

"i want a happy meal.." y/n said as she and miya looked at the toys displayed by the counter

"i want that toy.." miya said as he stared longingly at the cat toy

"i want fries!" reki exclaimed as he faced cherry with an expectant look

cherry raised a brow and glared down at them "why are you looking at me like that?" he asked "im not gonna pay for you." he narrowed his eyes at them

"but we're broke!" reki exclaimed. "you have some pocket money, just use that" shadow said as he ordered himself a burger. "but its too expensive!!" reki whined dramatically as he slumped on the seat

"what're you guys gonna get?" he asked the boys. iwaizumi shrugged "just a drink that's all." he said "we'll share fries!" hanamaki said as he pointed to matsukawa beside him

"i got a happy meal too!" oikawa grinned as he laid the box on the table with a grin, chuckling as y/n and miya 'ooh'ed in amazement

"can we share?" y/n asked with sparkling eyes as she sat down beside the brunette

"are you gonna keep that? im taking it." miya said as he snatched the cat toy and pocketed it with a cat-like smirk

"hey! don't take too much!" oikawa exclaimed as he slapped her hand away "and you! cat boy! paws off my toy!" oikawa hissed as he playfully fought miya 

"BACK OFF, SLIME!" miya hissed back 

"well, at least they're getting along quite well" joe mused with a laugh. "and those two are having their long awaited reunion" shadow sneered as he nodded towards y/n and reki 

y/n smiled as reki rambled to her about the moments she's missed in okinawa. she really couldn't understand anything with how fast he was talking but it was nice to hear his voice. 

"you still make those same faces" she muttered 

("reki my love🥰🏳️‍🌈... of skateboarding 😝😃💔♀️" do u guys remember that from the dub 😭) 

"what? what's wrong with my face?" reki abruptly stopped rambling as he blinked at her with a confused smile. "nothing.." she smiled at him. she turned to miya and whispered, "reki's face always makes weird expressions.." to which miya agreed to with a nod 

"eh?! did you just say my face is weird?!" reki shrieked out in offense 

"no.. it said your face is.." she trailed off with a sheepish expression "unique." she finished off with a smile "so unique." she praised him with a smile as she petted his hair 

"somehow, i feel very judged at the moment" reki sweat dropped 

"no no, you're very beautiful!" she beamed at him. "i like your cute expressions" 

"awe you think im cute?" reki smiled at her with a faint blush tinting his cheeks 

"NO! I TAKE THAT BACK!" she panicked "you're normal." she said 

reki sweat dropped and nervously rubbed the back of his neck from the sudden change of heart. "oh.. okay..?" he muttered in confusion 

"never mind! reki, you're not normal!" she exclaimed in a state of distress and flusteredness. 

"that's even worse!" reki exclaimed with a gasp of shock

"i meant you're perfect and amazing!" she shrieked as she covered her face which was heating up from embarrassment 

the rest of the group sweat dropped as they watched the interaction play out. they knew she was bad with flirting but they didn't expect it to be to this extent. "ah, young love" joe chuckled "i was like that once too" he mused 

"really?" miya raised a brow at his statement 

"no. im not a loser" joe laughed "im a ladies man, girls just come to me, ya know?" he grinned as he flexed his biceps 

beside him, cherry grimaced and scrunched his face in distaste. "you're getting too confident, you gorilla." he scoffed "you were like that to me back then." cherry taunted 

everyone at the table's eyes widened as they eyed joe suspiciously, whistling under their breaths as they eagerly listen in on the conversation. 

"i- that's not-" joe gritted his teeth and groaned in aggravation "i thought you were a girl, okay?!" he defended 

"i was so clearly wearing a male uniform like you and everyone else." cherry deadpanned 

"its just the hair, i swear!" 

"joe.." y/n muttered "it's okay. we accept you." she smiled at him 

"yeah. gay rights i guess" miya shrugged as he sipped on his coke 

"i- this isn't funny anymore, i get that you wanna joke around-" joe deadpanned 

"hey!" reki exclaimed, startling everyone in the table as he points an accusing finger to joe's face. "gender identity is not a joke!" he exclaimed "yeah!!" y/n cheered him on 

joe sweat dropped and glared at them with dread. "im leaving you behind so you can stay and rot with your goddamn girlfriend" he said to reki 

"and i'm not gay!!" 

this is short and idk why gender identity suddenly came up ?? i was writing an essay for it on our health exam a while ago so maybe that's why ?? I'M NOT QUEERBAITING I SWEAR! ALSO THIS WHOLE SHOW IS FRUITY ANYWAYS ?? 

sorry for the spelling /grammar mistakes if there are any :<

ALSO APPARENTLY JOE LIKED ADAM AND NOT CHERRY?? IS THAT TRUE?? 

[booksandlewks]

Intensity in Insmire | A Jurdan AU

Happy Holidays to my wonderful knife wife @starborn-faerie-queen!! I’m so lucky to have you as my friend and now snusband (we’re def married now) <3 I was so excited to see that I got to try and write something for you. I also have to thank everybody in the @jurdannet discord for helping me with my writer’s anxiety throughout, and @jurdannetrevels for hosting this secret santa event! 

So this was a prompt you didn’t ask for, but that I hope you will like. I thought of this right when I saw your name and have had a blast making it a reality. One of our first conversations in the discord was about none other than Lauren Layne, so I thought I’d give it my best go at making it Jurdan. I picked what I think of as the iconic scene in Passion on Park Avenue because Jude and Cardan literally define passion. You also put Nicaryn, so in my head when I wrote this they’re already dating and Jude just hasn’t noticed. 

"Be careful, you're going to drop that!" Jude said watching her twin throw down yet another box full of her merchandise.

 It was times like these that Jude wondered about her choice in friends. Not that she had so many choices in friends to begin with, something about her being "abrasive". People may not always appreciate her edges, but that edge is what landed her on the 30 under 30 list. She was grateful, if not confused, about her new-found friendships. While the ladies made for excellent company, and fellow schemers in action, a moving company they were not. Not that Jude would say a word against their help out loud. She was still so grateful to have her twin back in her life.

Jude would thank Locke for bringing them together, if she'd thought it was even remotely a part of his plan. Maybe she could thank him for dying, so that they could find each other in the park that fateful day. Not likely, she had better people to think on.

Nicasia kicked a box into the corner with the toe of her Louboutin heels, "You worry too much, they're not going to break because I didn't gingerly place every single one of your hundreds of boxes down."

"I'm not worried about you breaking an accessory," Jude said huffing as she moved to open the box Nicasia had kicked to prove a point. She held up the lipstick tube, twisting to expose the blade to prove her point. "I'm worried about one of my accessories breaking you."

"Oh, I like that," Taryn laughed, her eyes widening, "Can I borrow that for my next date?"

"Well, it is just a sample," Jude nodded her head to the truck parked outside her new building, "You can keep it if you help me unload the rest of the truck." 

"You drive a tough bargain, a days labor in exchange for one accessory?" Nicasia teased.

Jude put one hand to her heart and the other to her forehead dramatically, "Oh you're truly suffering going up and down the elevator while carrying small boxes."

"These boots were not exactly made for walking Jude," Nicasia said flicking her hair over her shoulder, and punctuating it with an all too casual check of her nails. Why she wouldn't just concede to putting her hair up was beyond frustrating to Jude. She wasn't sure if she hated or respected Nicasia's commitment to always looking perfect.

 "I mean I didn't get to where I was by giving things away for free, but I may have also ordered us pizza and tiramisu from the Italian place on Lexington Ave."

 "Ahh I knew you were my favorite twin!" Taryn said wrapping her arms around Jude and kissing her cheek with an exaggerated smack.

 "I'm your only twin, and you definitely did not know it."

 "The real question isn't why I can't move things in these heels, it's why you think I should be doing this in the first place," Nicasia said glancing speculatively.

 "Wait, yeah, aren't you meant to be rich now Jude?"

"Well, according to my accountant, approximately I am," Jude tilted her head and pretended to tally with her free hand, "filthy rich." She moved the box that had been hoisted on her hip onto the floor of what would be the main living area.

Jude wasn't insane, the larger items like the couch and industrial garment racks would be delivered by a moving company later. She just knew that she could handle the smaller boxes herself. She'd always survived by being self-sufficient, so she wasn't going to start changing what was working now. She'd moved herself into her first shoe box apartment, all her belongings compact and loaded into the back of her ancient little two door.

 "Then why on earth are we moving all of this by hand?" Taryn said turning to her sister, exasperated to see the determination gracing her twin's face. She hated that look, especially when it was on the face that was practically her own under all that stubbornness. "Nic, I need backup here, we're entering dangerously uncharted areas in stupidity. "

 "Jude, love, remember when we agreed to stop each other from entering another toxic relationship?" Nicasia said gently, her hands up as if coaxing a small animal.

 "No, I've blocked out the entirety of Locke's funeral out of a sense of self-preservation," she said voice and face purposefully blank.

 "Why stop there, why not erase him from your entire mind?" Taryn said a bitter edge to her words.  

 Jude laughed, "Me and my therapist are hard at work doing just that."

 "Well while you're working on that, have her work on the toxic relationship you've got with your stupid pride," Nicasia said checking her already perfect nails.

 "Wait, was all of that just the set up for the punchline to your dumb joke?"

 "Woah Tar, harsh words from the woman who asked for my backup in the first place." Nicasia pursed her lips clearly displeased that Taryn had not enjoyed her attempts at humor. "Maybe you should try being nicer to me considering that I have the power to save you from Jude's torture."

 Jude laughed as Taryn started to pester Nicasia to tell her what she meant. While they'd all become fast friends on the fateful day of the funeral, Jude couldn't help but feel that Nicasia and her twin had gotten closer over the summer. She supposed it had to do with the fact that they both had to worry about their reputations and what the fallout from Locke's infidelity would do to it.

That old wound started niggling at Jude again. She may not have been in an official New York society relationship with the man, but she'd had to mourn the loss too. She supposed it hadn't affected her societal standing, being Locke's dirty secret, but she hadn't gotten out unscathed. The bastard had known about her fears. She'd confided in him, about her mother's cheating and how she'd grown up not wanting to get attached for fear of ending up in a similarly messed up situation.

 He'd comforted her, talking about how cheating on somebody wasn't in her character. He'd spelled out what their story could be instead, spinning a story of comfort, safety in his arms, and safety in that future. It made Jude's skin crawl to think about now. How he could say all of this while cheating on her with Nicasia and Taryn, and using her to cheat on them. Some nights it actually made her physically ill. She was such a careful woman, and yet she'd never suspected.

 She wondered if lying to her was part of the game to him, it had to be. Jude thought about how she'd considered bridging the gap and calling Taryn to tell her that she'd met somebody. She'd been too scared to reopen that wound. At eighteen Jude walked away from the stifling role of being Madoc's daughter. She hadn't thought about what leaving Taryn behind to deal Madoc's only other eligible daughter would do. She left her behind for him to put all of his stupid high society rules and dreams into. She'd wondered about her twin over the years, but could never pick up the phone and just dial. What would things be like if she had? Thinking about it wouldn't change anything.

 During Jude's musings Taryn had moved into Nicasia's lap and was switching between pleading and apologizing. Her groveling was so over the top that a warm spot bloomed in Jude's chest while watching her. She had no idea how much she'd missed Taryn, and yet having her take up space in her apartment just felt right.

 "Okay, okay, fine!" Nicasia said standing up and taking Taryn with her. "I happen to have a friend through the New York royalty network, as you call it, and he lives in this very apartment complex."

 "Oh thank god, I love you Judie Bee Jones, but this is the worst."

 "Woah no, I never agreed to having anybody over," Jude said walking over to lock her door, "and wasn't the point of having you ladies around to avoid the assholes."

 "How can you call them an asshole when you don’t even know who it is?" Nicasia asked unlocking the door. Jude went to stop her, but Taryn simply took her face in her hands and pointed it towards the window where the open moving truck stood idle.

 "I promise he's good people, we grew up together," Nicasia said clearly forgetting that her and Jude had not exactly grown up as friends.

Jude did not have much of a chance to consider who might be coming to the rescue she did not need, as there was a knocking at the door.

The warmth she felt from being with her friends left her the second she opened the door and saw Cardan Greenbriar standing there. She'd never seen Cardan look anything less than impeccable, so she was even more furious to see him standing there looking like a Saks Fifth Avenue model from the catalog to help her move. A cable knit sweater, really, to move boxes. With an overcoat no less. No, no, this couldn't possibly be happening. Jude would rather move every single box one by one, than have Cardan Greenbriar help her.

What on earth could have even possessed him to try. She thought she'd made it clear when she'd damn near bitten his head off in her "entry interview" to the apartment complex. It wasn't her fault. Cardan had a particular way of getting under her skin, and the fact that he'd known her from her twin and had not even bothered to look at the application resting in his hand the entire interview had gotten her blood boiling. She'd never actually wanted to live in Elfhame.

The stupid application had been filled out for her and sent in by her mother ages ago. Eva Duarte had been so proud of Jude's success, it had never occurred to her that her mother had plans to use it as a statement. She'd miss her mother's mean streak, and wished she'd been around longer so Jude could understand this plan. Jude had been shocked to be called in for the interview to move into The Palace, and caught completely off guard to see Cardan on the day of the interview.  

 She must've released an actual snarl at seeing him darkening her new doorstep because Taryn and Nicasia pried her away from the door and invited him to come in. This was ridiculous ; she was not a rabid dog to be put in the corner. Although, she was considering biting Cardan.

 "And hello to you too Jude," Cardan said laughing as she struggled to break free of the grip of her friends, "Lovely as ever to see you."

"Why am I seeing you?" 

Cardan raised an eyebrow at that, "Not a very friendly greeting neighbor."

"I read over the paperwork your father sent over and it said that the building takes care of pests in the apartments."

 "Ha ha, very funny Jude," Cardan said stalking closer, "I do hope that's true, as I'd love to see them take you out of here."

 "Really, we're going to resort to I know you are but what am I?" Jude intoned, "On day one?"

 “Is this really our first day together, Judiebeet?"

 "Don't call me that!"

 "As much as I do love seeing you upset my sweet villain," he said trailing a finger over her cheeks, "I didn't come to pick a fight." Jude knew her cheeks had to be bright red, she always got flushed when she was mad. She hated that he had command over her, more than she appeared to have over her own body. Which only made her more upset when he called her that stupid name.

"Why did you come, I had demon summoning scheduled for later in the day," Jude said ignoring the looks Nicasia and Taryn were shooting her.

 "I was informed of a damsel in distress, and princely duties demanded that I come to your aid."

"Oh no, that's it," Jude turned on her friends glaring, and pointing at the door while practically shoving Cardan out, "Everybody out, I'll move them all myself."

 "Wait, but I brought champagne," Cardan said materializing a bottle from the inside of his coat. 

"Jude you can't kick the man out, he brought Dom," Taryn said pulling Cardan back into the apartment by his arm. Jude watched as he re-entered what was meant to be her space, unwilling to fight with Taryn.

"Fine, but if he's here he works," Jude said looking at Cardan as if to say 'unless you've got a problem with that.' The Cardan she knew would never deign to do a day's labor on his own. Always calling somebody his father employed to do things for him instead. So Jude was shocked when all he did was set the actually quite nice bottle on the counter, and gesture his hand towards the door with a look that said 'after you'.

Jude was not sure if she was pleased or pissed off when Cardan actually matched her for work ethic for the rest of moving. He eventually took off the coat, and the sweater, tossing them on the counter with his welcome gift. Jude wished he had not, as she'd been determined to carry more than him before that. She would have managed it too, if he had not rolled up his white dress shirt to the direct center of his forearm. Where it hugged just below his elbow as he worked.

She dropped one of her merchandise boxes when his arm brushed hers while reaching for another, shocked by the contact of his skin hot against her own. Furious with herself for the look that graced his face when she cursed and picked up the box, she decided to be less ambitious with how much she carried.

They had not actually had all that many boxes left. Which made it all the more traitorous that Nicasia had called in for help. As the work dwindled Nicasia and Taryn gave up the pretense of pretending to want to help move the boxes, and sat on the benches that were near the building's entrance. They sat close talking and laughing quietly at each others jokes. Jude could be funny too, but her humor was more dry and wicked. Just as Jude was sprinting to get the very last box, the pizza delivery driver had pulled up to the curb. 

Taryn had gone from commiserating with Nicasia, to giving Jude puppy eyes in 10 seconds flat. Jude laughed softly as she went to go pay the man. Her path was blocked by Cardan who'd made a beeline for the car as it pulled in, while she'd been distracted. If she hadn't been so focused on his damn arms she might have missed how he went to get his wallet from his back pocket. Hell no.

Jude stood one shot at having Taryn and Nicasia not mention her attitude since Cardan walked in, and that was to buy their silence. Nothing says be on my side like hot pizza and good dessert. Which is why she was going to pay for it. Cardan was already handing the man a crisp bill when Jude went to shift the box she'd been holding to under one arm. God, she hated him so much. She'd already missed out on getting to bond with her friends over how annoying moving was because of him, and now he was going to ruin their meal too?

He'd already ruined Jude's childhood, but she was an adult now, and he would not even get a single day from her. She grabbed the boxes of her food and walked to the elevator clicking the button for her floor and slamming on the door close button before he could follow. She walked into her apartment, and she would've locked Cardan out if it not for the fact she had to wait on Taryn and Nicasia to follow. If she had to face him again today, it was going to be on her terms and her rules.

 Jude moved to the boxes now all neatly lined up in what would be her living room. She scanned the barcode stickers on the top of the boxes, each item had been carefully cataloged so that she could be sure that she didn't lose anything important in the move. Downsides to owning and running a successful companies that sold accessories with a dangerous edge? There was so much inventory to keep track of.

 She found what she was looking for and swapped her sneakers for stilettos. She'd love to see Cardan try to look down on her when they were eye level. She'd give a new meaning to the term glaring daggers. She was perfectly capable of paying for a damn pizza.

The door of her apartment opened and Cardan strolled in, his arm around each of her friends. Jude let out a breath that his shirt had been set back to normal, although she was not sure if she was relieved.

 "Really, my own twin?" she said putting a hand on her hip and looking at Taryn who moved, hands up, to sit on the counter top.

"Jude, he got us pizza, please be reasonable," Taryn said in a placatory tone.

 "I got you pizza, this interloper just stole it because pizza is joy, and he can't let me have it."

"You need to stop, you're hangry and turning into rude Jude," Nicasia teased using the family nickname she knew Jude hated. That was just low, she'd revealed that in a 2 A.M. group chat. Which every woman knows means it’s classified information.

 She was being rude, she knew, but well...frankly he started it. Years ago, but she was a petty elephant and would not forget.

 "Fine, have a slice of pizza and then get the fuck out."

When Nicasia and Taryn turned their looks at her, Jude just blinked her eyes slowly a few times. She had never claimed to be a saint. 

"Can I at least get a drink before you kick me out on my ass?" Cardan asked the corner of his mouth upturned.

"Nope, sorry," Jude started and feeling her friends angry stares added, "I just moved in, and I haven't stocked the fridge yet."

"Well, then it's lucky for us my friend was kind enough to drop in to christen the home with champagne," Nicasia said as she made remove the muselet. Jude watched her carefully grip the wire as she twisted it off with effortless ease, and admired her friends grace. Jude would've likely embarrassed herself biting at it. She'd been served champagne at events, but it always came in a glass if she was honest.

 With the sound of the popping cork her control of the apartment got further away from her. She watched as the three of them opened cupboards and looked at an empty counter top as if expecting glassware to simply appear. Jude knew she could easily scan the boxes and find her glassware, but business had taught her to spot an opportunity.  

 "Oh darn, it seems like we can't get you that drink after all."

 "Yes, you seem very forlorn about it," Cardan said shaking his head at her, amusement in those dark eyes. 

Jude gave him a mock apologetic shrug of her shoulders, lips pulled to one side of her mouth. The amusement in his eyes turned to challenge. Unbeknownst to Jude, Cardan's newest hobby was complicated jigsaw puzzles. He had needed something to do while being able to keep an eye on his father, and he found that once he started he just couldn't resist figuring out how the pieces fit together. She'd just presented him with his newest game, and he was going to figure out her pieces.

"Don't worry my darling, like I said we're neighbors now," smiling when Jude scowled at the pet name, "I can just head to my place, and get us some glasses."

It was clear that he'd gotten under Jude's skin when she stalked towards Nicasia and took the bottle from her, and into her own hands. Nicasia just looked at Taryn, and whatever that look meant Taryn must have understood. She moved to the edge of the counter top and invited Nicasia into the circle of her legs, resting her chin on her the top of the other woman’s head.

"How very unfortunate for high-born little princes like you, that you can only sip champagne from the finest of glasses."

She looked right into his eyes as she began glugging the expensive bubbly from the bottle and drinking it like watered down beer. She raised an eyebrow at him as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"I do hope I haven't offended you Cardan," she said snarling out his name as if it was foul, "I'd hate to scare you off from ever visiting again."

"Not at all, I'm quite charmed by your lovely manners," he said walking over to where she stood by Nicasia. "Do not expect others to share my depraved tastes," he said taking the bottle from Jude's firm grip and drinking directly while their gazes stayed locked in a battle of wills.

 "Nic, you feel like we're interrupting something here?" Taryn said from where she sat inches away. It shocked Jude out of her stupor, and her sister hopped off the counter as Jude made to reach for her. She was suddenly stricken, it was all fine and well to hurt Cardan, but she wouldn't lose Taryn again. Not when she just got her back.

"Ugh I thought you'd never ask, this is all too straight for me," Nicasia said taking Taryn's hand and making for the door.

"Wait guys, don't go--"

 "Nope, text us when you're ready to act like a person again," Nicasia said laughing as the door shut behind their quickly retreating figures.  

 "Way to go, you scared them off with your stupid smoldering thing."

 "Jude, I think you'll find I'm not the one in the wrong here, although I am delighted to hear you think I smolder," Cardan said backing away from her.

"I meant that stupid staring," she started but trailed off when she noted his smug face.

 "Jude, all I've done today is bring you a housewarming gift and offer help at my friends request."

Jude opened her mouth to protest about the pizza slight, but stopped as she'd realized she'd just dig herself into a deeper hole. All he'd really done was cover her food for her and her friends. Was it possible that her childhood tormentor really had come here without the intent of torturing her. She'd been too caught up in trying to catch his next move, that it hadn't occurred to her. He’d clearly taken her silence to mean something else, because he went to gather his coat and sweater.

"Look, it's clear you don't want me here and I'm not actually trying to hold you hostage in your own apartment."

Jude's pride stopped her from correcting him. She'd been working so hard to get him to leave, that she couldn't exactly walk back her position now. She wanted to though, she wanted to grab him by those rather toned arms and hold him in place. To explain herself or make him explain himself, she wasn't sure. Instead she nodded her agreement, and silently watched him leave. She watched as he walked down the hall, opening and then closing his door. Only then did she finally unfreeze from her doorway and shut her own door.

She sat for about 30 minutes just trying to process all that had just happened. She was not sure when she'd become the villain in this story, but she didn't enjoy the feeling. He was the bully, not her. If his actions today were to be trusted, maybe not even him any longer. Jude stood up suddenly confident in her movements as she scanned the boxes searching for her glasses. She hadn't actually moved everything today, so all she was able to find was some coffee mugs. She looked down at her "I Rule" coffee cup, it'd have to do.

Jude went to where the remains of the bottle was left on the counter, and poured it into the cup. She wouldn't apologize, as she was not truly sorry. Even if he was not the menace he used to be, one day of rudeness was the least of what he'd deserved. She did however write what she'd call her concession. She'd apologized for the coffee mug. The note told him that while her fine Waterford Crystals were still in storage, it should taste just as good coming out of a mug. Jude left the note under the cup, and knocked on his door before leaving.

[howtodisassembleyourdeviant]

[ Comfort ] "For one muse (reader) to stay the night with the other (Connor) after a hard day." But... It's BEFORE they're a couple. You know, for romantic tension 👀

I hope you enjoy this one!

You knew you should have just stayed in bed today.

Nothing had gone right, between stubbing your toe this morning, wearing your coffee, accidentally breaking your datapad, and your computer crashing, deleting the paperwork you had been working on for over an hour, you should have known that it was going to get worse.

"Shit! Grab him!" You hear a voice yell as you walk out of your office. Turning towards the sound, a handcuffed man came barreling towards you, shoving you to the ground. Without thinking, you grabbed his leg, making him fall. Trying to get out of your grasp, he kicked at you, a particularly hard blow to your shoulder making you shout.

Connor, having just come back from lunch with Hank, noticed the commotion. Moving to get a better look, he heard you cry out. His mind went blank, replaced with a blinding rage. The android grabbed the man, easily picking him up from the ground and slamming him into the nearest wall. How dare this filth hurt his... Hurt Y/n?

"I would highly advise you to go to your cell quietly, " the RK800 spoke in a terrifyingly calm voice, "or I will have to use force, and you wouldn't want that, would you?"

The man, clearly scared, only nodded. Officer Miller came up beside Connor, taking hold of the suspect, but he didn't let go immediately. It wasn't until he heard your whimper in the distance that he backed off. In the commotion, you snuck back into your office and closed the door. Connor knocked, but you didn't answer. Worried you might be hurt, he slowly opened the door. You weren't sitting at your desk. He glanced around, until he heard your sniffling, the sound causing a pain to bloom in his chest. Moving to the other side of your desk, he crouches down, finding you curled up, rubbing your shoulder. For a brief second, he could see the large tears rolling down your cheeks before you turned away.

"I'm fine, it just hurt. Thanks for the help. You can go now, " you didn't want him to see you like this, so gross and pathetic. That would just be the topping on your shitshow of a day, to have your crush disgusted by you.

Connor didn't see it that way. He sees that you are hurt, and it's causing him great distress. He doesn't want you to simply dismiss him. You are his... friend. He wants to help, so why won't you let him?

"I'm not going anywhere until I'm sure you're alright, " he spoke quietly. You turned at that, and something about the sincerity in his eyes and the gentleness of his voice cracked your resolve. You propel yourself into him, his arms instantly wrapping around you, pulling you close as you sobbed against his jacket.

Connor wishes you could remain here, in his arms, forever. Here, where he would do everything in his power to keep you safe and happy. He will settle with being your choice of comfort, stroking your back, trying to be soothing. It must be working as you were starting to calm down.

You pulled back, feeling embarrassed, rubbing at your cheeks.

"Sorry. It's just been a terrible day. I'm gonna go wash my face, " you quickly stood, just wanting to escape the situation, but Connor had other plans. He was much faster than you, standing and rounding the desk so he would block your exit.

"Wait. I would like to check your shoulder, " he stated. Your stress was still too high for his liking and he can't leave you like this.

If your cheeks weren't already flushed, you were certain you'd be a tomato now. The shirt you were wearing had a narrow neckline, and you didn't have a shirt underneath.

"It's fine, really, " you tried to reassure by moving your arm, but it did hurt like a bitch and Connor noticed immediately.

"Please, stop lying to me. I just want to help. We are friends, aren't we?" He knew how to make you cave, giving you the 'puppy-dog eyes'.

While the word "friends" bothered you, reminded you that was all he saw you as, you couldn't say "no" to that face. Hesitantly, you worked your arm out of the sleeve and pulled the shirt up.

Connor was sure he started malfunctioning. He was frozen to the spot, watching with rapt attention as it was brought over your body, inch by inch. The only thing that snapped him out of it was the red and purple splotches on your shoulder. He could see the individual marks left by the tread of the man's boot. The bones weren't broken, but it was swollen and likely to be very painful. The sight of it made his anger flare again, both towards the man who caused you harm and to himself, for being unable to protect you. Connor carefully scanned the wound, adding assaulting an officer onto the man's file.

"We should put ice on this, to decrease the swelling, " he speaks. You slip your arm back into the sleeve with a wince and quickly pull your shirt down.

"It's fine. I just want to get through the rest of this day, " you don't want to be fighting with an ice pack while trying to do your job. Giving a wary smile, you move around him and make your way to the restroom.

Connor hates to see you like this, pretending nothing is wrong. Even more so when you neglect your health. He knows better than to try and force you to use an ice pack, you'll just take it off the moment he leaves you alone. He makes his way to Hank's desk.

"Lieutenant, can I ask you a personal question?" Hank looks from his computer screen to Connor.

"Shoot."

"It's about Y/n, " Connor started but paused when the older man leaned back in his chair with a smirk. Of course, he knew how Connor felt. He knew before the android did, and Hank found it to be the perfect way to screw with his boy. Connor sighed. Helping you was more important than the minor embarrassment he will have to endure. "Her stress level is very high today, yet she's trying to play off that everything is fine, even ignoring her injury. I just want to help, but I don't know how." Hank contemplated his words for a moment.

"That is a tough one. She's been puttin' in a lot of hours lately. Maybe try takin' 'er mind off things. You two like watchin' those old movies, why not have a movie night?"

That sounded like a good idea. It had been a while since they had done so, and you do love showing him movies you think he'd like.

"I think that could work, " Connor agrees.

"If not, I'm sure you can come up with some other way of takin' 'er mind off things, " Hank insinuated, confusing the android before it clicked, cheeks flushing a light blue.

"I'll be back in seven minutes, " Connor deadpanned, getting up from Hank's desk and heading to the front door.

You made it back to your desk, cheeks still a little flushed, despite splashing your face with cold water. Your shoulder was throbbing at this point, radiating throughout your entire arm. There should be some ibuprofen in your drawer, but, of course, the bottle was empty. You were so done with this day. As soon as you finished re-filling out your reports, you were going home. If they need you, they can call.

Just as you started back on your last report, a knock came from your door.

"Come in."

Connor opened the door, holding a grocery bag. He sets it on your desk and begins pulling them out one by one. The first one was a medicated adhesive pad, followed by a bottle of pain-relievers. He then pulled out your favorite drink and chocolate. The thoughtfulness of it was enough to make you start tearing up again.

"I care too much about you to allow you to continue to neglect your wellbeing, " he opens the bottle of ibuprofen for you, handing you the pills and watching you take it before handing you your drink. Afterward, he grabs the medicated pads and takes one out, "would you mind showing me your shoulder again?" Once again, you blushed.

"That's okay, I can do it, " you said a little too loudly. Seeing you without a shirt on once today is embarrassing enough.

Connor was a little disappointed, but he supposes he was being a little self-indulgent, even if he really did only want to help you. He laid the pad down and smiled.

"I also wanted to ask if you would like to come to my apartment for a movie night, " you looked hesitant, "we can order whatever you want, and I stocked up on snacks for such an occasion, " he added quickly. He's never felt so desperate for anything, refusing to fail his mission to keep you happy.

"Um, okay... Sure! That actually sounds like fun, " the more you thought about it, the better it sounded than lying in bed by yourself until you eventually cry yourself to sleep.

The RK800 was delighted, "Y-yes, great! I'll be back in half an hour, " he stuttered, suddenly a little anxious. It had been so long since you had come over, he had forgotten how nervous he gets when you do. He left, a goofy smile on his face as he counted down the seconds until he can be with you once more.

...............

Connor has only had his own apartment for a few months, wanting a sense of independence. In spite of this, he still spends most of his time at Hank's, even staying over on his couch from time to time. As much as he values his freedom, he doesn't care much to be alone.

Right now, he wouldn't want to be anywhere else, watching you laugh at the movie playing. Connor doesn't even know what the plot of the movie was, content watching you. Your stress level had been dropping since he guided you out of the department.

Something he noticed, however, is how... Clingy you were tonight. You liked to be close, sitting shoulder to shoulder, sometimes even laying your head on his shoulder. It was something he secretly enjoyed. Tonight, you kept him close, sitting next to him as you ate, holding his arm against your chest while selecting a movie, and partway through, you guided him to lay down, lying down right in front of him and pulling his arm over you.

"Is this okay?" You ask softly.

"Y-yes, " he manages to choke out. As much as he was enjoying the closeness, he was so anxious, certain you could feel his thirium pump vibrating in his chest. This was so intimate. It made his mind wander. Would it always be like this if he was dating you? He hopes so. The buzzing of his nerves was worth the warmth of your body.

Normally, you would be far too apprehensive and embarrassed to make such bold moves, but you were tired. Perhaps you were being selfish, but you just wanted to be held and comforted. You wouldn't do this with anyone else.

You were starting to doze off. Connor checked the time, and he wasn't comfortable sending you home so late.

"Hey, why don't you stay the night?" He speaks softly against you.

"Hmm?" You yawn, stretching until you were reminded of the pain in your shoulder, "Okay." You didn't make any moves to get up, instead, snuggling closer to him. As much as he'd rather stay like this, you would wake up sore if you slept here.

"Come on, you can take my bed, " he sits up, helping you off the couch.

"What? No. I can't take your bed, " you said, but Connor was already pulling you to his room.

"I don't require sleep, " he countered, but you pouted. It was absolutely adorable.

"But it's yours."

"Yes, and I'm choosing to let you use it, " he smiled down at you. You were quiet for a moment.

"Why don't we share?" Your voice was small as you avoided his gaze. While you laid together on the couch, you might be pushing your luck. It just felt so nice to be cared for, to be loved, even if it wasn't the kind of love you felt towards him.

His eyes were wide, looking down at you. Was... Was this a test? Could he say yes? Would it be too self-indulgent? You looked nervous, but it didn't seem like you were joking.

"If... If you don't mind, " he finally answered. You nodded, smiling.

"Do you have a pair of sweats or something I can borrow? These jeans are a little tight, " you asked, fingers pulling at your waistband. Connor's eyes were drawn to it, turning around to his dresser as a heat built in his cheeks. While he knows his clothes would be large on you, he pulls out a black pair of sweatpants with a drawstring and one of his sweaters. You took them and headed for the bathroom.

You came out a few moments later, and Connor couldn't help but stare. His clothes looked so much better on you. The collar of the sweater dipped down, and it was suddenly his favorite.

You weren't faring any better. He had changed into pajama pants and a tank top. It just wasn't fair. Your best friend was eye-candy and you will never know how sweet he tastes.

After a moment, you tore your eyes away, feeling bashful. Your fingers barely poked through the sleeves as you played with your hair. You really know how to distract him. He gestured to the bed, letting you pick a side before joining you. At first, he thought you were going to lay side by side, but instead, you rolled onto your good shoulder, draping your arm over his shoulders. He took a risk, rolling onto his side and holding you closer. You didn't seem to mind, snuggling closer.

"Hey, Connor, " you murmured, "thank you for today."

"Of course, " you were already falling asleep, softly snoozing against his chest.

"I'd do anything for you."

[ongaku-ato-kakikomi]

Ooh, can I get Kevin knifeplay where he breaks into reader's house to do some fear play along with it? Like of course on some level they know it's just Kevin, but holy shit they're being chased through their house w a knife?

(A/N): Here you go <3 I hope you’ll like this :) And I can already guarantee you that you’ll get fourth part since someone else requested more knife play with Kevin, so hopefully you’ll like it too!

Masterlist

Tonight was one of the first nights your parents weren’t home, having left earlier for a romantic night out in the town. It has been a while since they’ve done this since they’re always busy with work or house problems, but tonight was a special night for them and so they’ve decided to leave you alone for one night. They didn’t leave you without any fun though, having given you money to order some pizza and getting you a few movies so you could have a nice night yourself. And honestly, you couldn’t be more thankful, because it has been a long time since you’ve been craving some alone time like this, and you couldn’t be asking for anything more.

You had just ordered the pizza and sat down on the couch with the intention of starting your movie when the window opened…

… and someone wearing a blank white mask and holding a knife climbed in.

Your first instinct was to freeze right there and then, just like a deer that is about to get hit by a car. You didn’t quite know what you were supposed to aside from running and getting help. But how the hell are you supposed to get help in time? Calling the police would take too much time, and you’re pretty sure you won’t be able to get out of the house easily. You were doomed and you knew-

You spot his bright red shoes just as he jumps on the floor upon entering, the shoes you could recognize anywhere.

Kevin.

It’s Kevin.

Holy shit, Kevin’s in my house with a knife.

You felt the adrenaline explode inside your veins, giving you the kick you needed to get off the couch and start running into your hallways. The excitement from hearing his footsteps on your trail makes your lips stretch out in a smile that is wider than ever before, and you almost trip a few times as you climb up the stairs. You feel his fingers almost gripping the back of your shirt, you feet making you escape his grasp just in time. You can’t help but let out a giggle as you burst inside your own room, his own throat letting out a low chuckle just as he catches you and falls on top of you right on your bed.

His brown eyes stare at you from the two holes in his mask and you stare back, his knife gently trailing the marks of your smile on your cheek. You grab the side of his white mask with your hand, taking it off to reveal his usual smirk, his eyes glistening with a dark glow.

“Were you scared?”

His voice makes shivers swim under your skin, the knife that is slowly moving down to the old cut on your neck giving you trembles of euphoria.

“Maybe…”

His smirk widens at your answer, and he slowly approaches his face to yours. “Well I better give you something to be scared of.”

You slightly bring your head up from your bed so your lips can almost touch, feeling his breath against your face.

“Bring it.”

He crashes his lips against yours, both of you already groaning for more as your tongues keep fighting for dominance. You yelp when he slowly enters the tip of the knife inside your shoulder, the warm liquid already spreading down unto your sheets. A line of saliva still connects your mouths when he parts away for a moment, the boy licking it off as he observes your red cheeks and your heavy breathing. His eyes darken when he re-puts the knife in your wound, you giving out a scream as he does so.

But you don’t mind.

You love to suffer.

He gets the now bloody knife how of your wound and uses it cut off your shirt, revealing your skin full of the marks he left there the two last times you played this game. His mouth goes to your neck, then he slowly moves down over your chest with his lips, feeling your body tremble under his touch. He ends up kissing your tummy gently, his fingers caressing your almost flawless skin before he approaches the knife to it… and start carving words into it.

He puts his free hand over your mouth to muffle your moans and your screams as he does his work, using the rest of his body to stop yours from moving so much. Once he’s done, it takes a moment to observe the masterpiece he just put on your body, the bleeding red words staring proudly back at him:

  K E V I N ‘ S  

P R O P E R T Y

He can’t help but smirk at the sight, his eyes moving back up to your face as he finally frees your mouth, his fingers putting away a few strands of your hair before gently caressing your cheek.

“Gosh, you’re so beautiful when you cry.”

His mouth goes back to yours to give you a much more passionate kiss than a bestial one this time, your own arms wrapping around his neck while your fingers slightly pull his long black hair. You part away to wince when he puts pressure on the wound in your shoulder, Kevin only giving you time to take a small breath before he captures your lips with his again, more needing and demanding as the time goes back.

The time stop when the bell rings.

“What’s that?”

He waits for your response, observing the confusion settling in your eyes for a second before they widen in shock.

“Oh shoot, the pizza!”

You get off from under him and he groans in annoyance, letting himself fall down unto your bloody bed just as you put on a hoodie to hide your scars. You give him one small look before you leave the room, rushing down the stairs and grabbing the money on the kitchen’s counter before opening the front door.

“Hi!” You give the pizza delivery guy a smile. “Sorry for the wait.”

He just stares blankly at you, almost lifeless. “It’ll be 19 dollars.”

You just give him the money your parents gave you and take the pizza from his hands, closing the door and putting the food on the counter right after. It doesn’t take you long to get back upstairs, walking fast towards your bedroom to join Kevin.

Only when you enter your room, Kevin is gone… and the only thing that’s left on your bed is the bloody knife with a note next to it. You pick the stained note in your hands, reading it with confusion.

See you in class :)

And you already can’t wait.

[yconic]

Guess who was bored and decided to make a Stonytasha pirate AU sjsj

Alright so!! What I had in mind: Th name of infamous pirate captain Tony Stark , stretched across all land for being the skilled and more than ruthless bandit that Steve Rogers, son of a navy/military general, finds himself to be too infatuated with.

Like, proper and posh Steve, with just a whisk of innocence and fragility falling for charming and flirty sea bandit that is Tony , who stops mid battle with his dad's crew to kiss his cheek while evading getting hurt?? Cuteness, I have no self control sksksk

When Black Sabbath ambushes the town of Brooks, Joseph Rogers is crimson to the hairline at being caught so unprepared. Due to celebrating his son's birthday the day prior.

Half his force stood ditzy on their feet, still so drowned into the debauchery they failed to realize the pirate ship they were supposed to guard was floating carelessly at the docks has been there for two hours.

In their surprise, Tony and his crew aren't spreading chaos or destruction. They carry the calmness of a silent storm, not thunder but raindrops as they collect what they can carry. From bare necessities such as food to a random jewelry that caught their eye.

Steve knows retaliation wouldn't result in a victory. At least 10 men against one aren't odds that favour him. Not only is he outnumbered, but he is also undertrained. Despite being a soldier in name, his father had been adamant about actually introducing him to the practice. Steve is tore between being grateful or regretful about his incliation to arts now.

They're not hurting anyone. That's what confuses him.

He would love to paint the Captain, however. Even a quick sketch would have sufficed, even if it wouldn't do justice to the undeniable beauty in front of him. Tony was a rarity he couldn't pry his eyes off of. Hair dark and soft looking curling at the nape of his neck, Skin kissed by sun, complimenting the gold beam smile that's too enchanting for it's own good.

The pools of brown lock with him for a moment, but it was enough to make his legs buckle slightly. Those were the Deadeyes, he told himself, that put fright in monsters and men alike. Except the cruelty, coldness, and blankness from the tales he's heard was missing. Tony was alive, and he was laughing.

The smile grew bigger as he advanced in his direction, dropping the sack of goods he's been carrying not even a moment ago. Steve made the effort of keeping his eyes past the pirate's shoulder instead of the sight of his bare chest, provided by the low cut red blouse.

Steve felt his face burning, which only seemed to amuse the Captain further if the chuckle sending shivers down his spine was any clue worth following.

"You're Rogers blood, " Tony commented easily, tone full of glee. Even if he was taller between them, Steve never felt so small. His form turned to wood when calloused fingers rested on his jawline, touch gentle.

Almost too loving for what they probably done. Steve wanted to melt into it. "Pretty fella, aren't you, sweetling?"

Steve's dry throat was, at once, workable again. "And you, the pirate sacking my town, " he responded, voice silkier than he intended. The darkness of Tony's eyes intensified with just a shade, but it was enough to make him swallow a whine. "You'd have better luck in Quinz. From what I hear they've been recently restocked. Why us?"

A rich laugh boomed from Tony. "Darling, " he started, grin crooked and voice dripping in honey. "You don't KNOW what a sacking done by me looks like." Steve was positive he never wanted to find out.

Silence washed over them for a moment before the pirate spoke again.

"We're just taking what we need, not want. We're housing a few extra guests and we regrettably ran out of food, which is terribly embarrassing for me. I've been told I hold the title of the best host over all 50 seas. My people shouldn't expect less than the best, as I'm sure you understand."

"If you wish, we can also provide you with an appron, " Steve said, waiting for the thin ice to crack. Tony's lips quirked upwards and somehow the nobleborn knew he won't sink just yet. The blonde's hand extended in invitation. "I'm not certain what the manner pirates use to introduce themselves, but here we shake hands. I am Steve Rogers."

"It may shock you, but some of us swap spit. I suppose however, since we're on your land I'll comply to your rules, " a wink and a tongue leaking with sarcasm, accompanied with a firm handshake enough to make Steve's skin raise upwards. "You know who I am."

Steve nodded. "Deadeyes. Parents and eldery tell the children about you."

"Jesus, " Tony swore. "I'm not sure if I should be proud of by my everlasting popularity or offended that so many consider me an ancient ghost ship. Why parents think I'm an appropriate subject for discussion escapes me."

"They do it so the children won't grow up like you."

"Grow up? Oh no darling I'm afraid I only grew old, " Tony chuckled, eyes dancing on the blonde's body, making Steve feel warm. "But only in certain fields."

"You could have tried to buy something if you were in need. Like all people do."

"I would love to, but not only are my pockets in great mourning, I must say your system makes it very difficult for people like me to make ends meet."

"The criminals?"

"The poors."

Before either men could say more, a fire was shot in the open. Tony reacted in a blink move, pushing the blonde to the ground with a shocking force. He heard someone shout Tony's name, but the ringing in his sensitive ears dafted all sound trying to stab in.

"Stay down until the fire dims, then find shelter!" The pirate's order came in form of a yell, but to Steve's ears it was more of a soft instruction. He could spot familiar boots with the glittering royal emblem shining blindly through the dust blinding his vision

The force is chasing the crew, more drunk than awake, shooting at whatever they can aim. The blonde's heart slammed against his ribcage, adrenaline and fear for his people coursing through his blood at an alarming speed as the men flooded the market place.

Steve was quick on his feet, body becoming it's own host as he helped the two men, -- whom by the looks of it were apart of Tony's crew, -- lead the people to the town's church where they would be safest. The tail of his eye spied a flash of red darting above them on the roofs, but before he had the chance of getting a better look, he was knocked aside by the crowd.

The gates were locked shut.

Steve resigned behind the closest beer barrels, placing his hand on the pistol harness tucked safetly on his hip, ignoring the slight tremble of his digits. He leaned over to peek through the tangle of soldiers and bandits huddled up together like fight dogs in a ring, at the violent scenery Tony painted with a mindnumbing grace.

The footing was almost too hard to follow with the bare eyes. The pirate seemed to barely touch the ground, blade cutting through the air with a force that temporality privated Steve from air. He was accustomed to battle, twin swords in each hand seeming at home and comfortable.

He trapped the wrist of one soldier between the edges of his weapon, head moving just in time before the bullet shot could crave his skull. The military man received a kick in the gut, sending him straight to the floor.

Tony was swift on his toes, predicting the sloppy moves of his adversaries and dodging them with ease, smirk sharp and lethal as the men around him hit the ground like rain. By gun shot, he realized, put to the ground by a shower of lead. His eyes hunted every direction in hope of finding the gunslinger but with no such luck.

The soldiers groaned from their spot on the ground, each holding onto their bleeding legs. Most of the damage was done to either their hands or inferior limbs area. The coin dropped. Whoever it was, their objective was not to dig graves, but a weeksworth of bed rest, if that. The symphony of battle got quieter and quieter for Steve, who failed to register Tony making his way to him.

"Love, we have to stop meeting like this, for the sake of your heart. " He thought he heard. Steve couldn't make out the words properly, sentences becoming incoherent .

Everything became white noise and unclear, blurry dark silhouettes. The nerves in his body all numbed, lost of feeling until a rough hand curled around the nape of his neck. The firm but tender touch provided him some much-needed grounding.

His senses awakened again, his being coming back slowly. His mind was sober enough to hear the pleasant graveness of Tony's voice whispering sweetly against his ear as he raised him from the soil that tainted the fine cloth.

"It's over now, " he soothed as a child does a spooked animal, thumb rubbing circles into the sweat coated skin. Tony did not hesitate to brush his lips across. "Please, sweetling, return to me, will you? You were brave, doing exactly as I told you. I have you. You're safe now."

"I was a coward, " he retorted, mouth bitter and eyes burning. "I HID from battle, from the danger, while my people were attacked. What kind of soldier does that?"

"So what? Better a dead hero than a living man?" Tony asked sternly. "Your people are safe, are they not? You lead them to the church, Steve. You protected them, and--" the cock of a pistol made them both pause.

A tiny gasp slipped past Steve's lisp as the soldier who they both missed sneaked behind them, firearm aimed at Tony's back. The smaller man planted between him and the attacker, not letting him be exposed to danger.

"You don't want to do this. Trust me." Tony warned mildly. "I am trying to give you a way out, you'd be smart to take it." The soldier was stilled, and the gun wasn't lowered. His finger caressed the trigger.

"I see, " strangely, he could hear a hint of smile in Tony's voice. "So. Is this the end of me?"

Steve's eyes were clamped tight, fingers clenched around the thin material of Tony's dress shirt as the bang of fire lingered in the air. After a passing minute, he felt something fast and hot shredding the oxygen right beside his left ear.

When the black faded away, Steve was not expecting to see Tony still standing, and the soldier shot down clutching at his injured soldier. The shot hasn't came from him, but from behind him. Whipping around, Steve paused in mild shock. A small woman, not tall enough to reach his shoulder without raising on her tips, had her slandered arm extended and wileding a pistol.

Her looks was deceivingly innocent, features soft yet sculpted pleasantly resting in a mask of winter were captivating. Her hair was red and her most eye catching asset, warm auburn and planted in a bun, reminding Steve of autum leaves painted in rusty undertoned he loved to collect when the season was of middle.

Fierce green eyes melted as they landed on Tony, the stone in them cracked. A glimpse of adoration washed over them, clearly exposing the nature of their connection. Steve felt his heart clench.

For some reason, her voice decreased some of the burn his chest scorched with. "Not today, Captain."

[2phetalia-imagines]

Anon: Imagine where the reader is always really exited when they pass the pet store in order to meet their Boyfriend 2p Russia at the park across from the shop, but they has no time with work / school and can't afford it. One day their favorite puppy is gone and they're really bummed. Russia invites them back to his apartment for lunch and she's greeted with her favorite puppy .When the reader asks, he's like well, I needed company and you're always welcome to visit :) ( just wants to see them more)

I wanted to try a little different way of writing, but let’s see how it goes! Enjoy this experimental writing sweeties :)

There is a building across from the park.

An unassuming building with its grey cover and printed company title hanging just above the double window doors. There are many windows that allow others to peer in, too see the big eyed and adorable faces of baby animals. Or the more exotic creatures (compared to the fluffy puppies and cats and small little mice) that are to be cared for with great responsibility, such as the hedgehog, porcupine, or the reptiles with their unblinking eyes and scales.

There are also animals that have been rescued, wary eyes peering at the people who stared back at them, hearts beating fast but eagerly for another chance.

You always stopped to look at the animals, but nothing more so than a specific puppy. It was a fluffy thing with a grayish sort of coat mixed with browns and blacks, the fur practically enveloping the small body until it looked like nothing more but a large chocolate marshmallow. It often bounced around with no end in sight, dark eyes glimmering and muzzle opening into a wide beaming smile as it leaned against the window, the stubby paintbrush tail flapping side to side with its happiness. It was a little ball of sunshine and you wanted this puppy.

And you would HAVE HIM.

Even if you had to steal him.

Well, okay, maybe you wouldn't steal him, even as you despaired at the long hours of work as you stalked up on cash, you wanted the accomplishment of having earned the right for this puppy. To know you had worked hard and that your heart, tears, and sweat were given to have this beautiful, adorable little marshmallow. That didn't mean you stopped cursing over how expensive animals could be, wishing it wouldn't take so long to have this happy puppy for your own.

I can ask Ion for some help.

But you weren't entirely certain he would want to have a puppy.

The two of you were often busy with school and work (and honestly you were putting a dollar every other week into the savings, not much with all the rent and food and tuition) and what little time you both did have was for each other. Neither of you had the time or space to care for a puppy, especially one that would grow even bigger than the couch in the living room.

You shouldn't even be contemplating on buying the puppy.

Truly you were just a little too eager for an animal you couldn’t afford.

But it's such a cute puppy.

But do you really need a puppy?

I want that puppy.

BUT DO YOU NEED HIM?

HE'S SO ADORABLE THOUGH.

You groaned in dismay as you realized it was a battle. A battle you would lose with yourself. An ever losing battle every time you walked the small sidewalk towards the park (which just had to have a pet store right in front of the entrance where all the kiddies could spot them and beg their parents for a pet while their parents despaired over the injustice of listening to their children cry all the way home). You could see the building even from here, it's oddly tame structure compared to the other buildings around this area. You would see the puppy again and think: Soon. I shall have you and pet you, adorable marshmallow.

Yet as you neared the window, all you could see were the smaller puppies, golden and white furred and grey, but not that meshed brown, overgrown puppy.

Your heart dropped.

"No..."

The puppy is gone.

You almost cried.

Instead you sniffled a little, tugged the collar of your coat up to your cheeks, and walked stiffly across the road towards the park. It was the walk of shame mingled in with the heavy ache of a battle lost before it could ever start.  

Someone had bought the puppy. Someone had bought the puppy and now you will never see it again.

But maybe they live somewhere around here? Maybe they'll walk the puppy in the park and you'll be able to watch from afar like a betrayed lover as the puppy happily pranced around with its new owner, and then you'll weep at home and think of what could have been.

Everything that could have been.

Ion spotted you before you spotted him, too torn by the idea of never seeing the puppy or seeing the puppy and crying while eating ice cream, that you never noticed his call and the confusion when all you did was stand there thinking of all the What If's.

The betrayal is already real.

One would think a person would feel more like this if the boyfriend had cheated or something similar, but sorry not sorry Ion. The heart has already been given to The Puppy.

Ion was an absolute sweetheart though.

He already could see the sadness, even if he didn’t truly understand what had caused it. Instead of trying to pry immediately he instead, calmly asked if you wished to visit his house, to have lunch, to speak together. In all honesty all you wanted was to run home and ask God why he couldn't let you have the puppy.

IT WAS SUCH A FLUFFY PUPPY!

"Yeah... okay."

Ion smiled and for a moment you wanted to climb a small tree and smack him.

How dare he be happy when you were filled with sadness!

You refrained in the name of love.

It absolutely had nothing to do with the marshmallow puppy. Of course not.

(Lies.)

¤ Ω ¤

"Do you mind grabbing the remote from my room? I left it in there by accident."

Ion, you fool, only an idiot would leave the remote in a room where there isn't a TV.

You trudged through the small hallway, listening to Ion in the kitchen, his entire being seemingly puffed up more proudly than he should be.

His room wasn't that large, so it would only take just moments to find the remote, especially with his strange, and almost blank neatness of his room. It might even just be on the dresser, sitting innocently next to a picture of Ion and his family.

The door creaked open and without warning a barreling monster of fur tackled you. You shrieked as it began to lick and bark and pad all over your sprawled form. Your hands quickly cupped over the mouth of the creature, feeling the wet nose and the small barely grown teeth poking out from the gums of an open mouth.

You stared into glimmering dark eyes, blinked, and then shrieked.

"MY MARSHMALLOW!"

Ion peeked from around the corner of the kitchen, spotted a happy puppy and an even happier girlfriend. He slowly returned to the food, listening as you shrieked, “FLUFFY MARSHMALLOW, I LOVE YOU.”