#number one red bastard ~ Reno

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Continued from here | @escortingsecrets

A good person, huh? He wouldn't laughed, if he wasn't aware and considerate enough of how sensetive a moment this was. For Shivan, and for him. He smirked, but that was as far as it went, as the smirk simmered down as he looked between them. He'd already been half exposed with his scars, but given the others exposure, and their long history, he saw no reason not to even things out. He let his top fall as well, looking over the memories marking his body.

Tattoos from another life, marking his actions and his 'successes'. Scars marking his successes and his survival and endurance. At least, that's how he saw it. Doesn't always leave confidence brimming, which was only part of the reason he liked to adjust his uniform to accent the parts of his body he did know, with confidence, looked appealing without putting the worst of it on display.

"Dunno about good person, sweet heart," he remarked softly, weak amusement in his voice, though he spoke the pet name he'd had for Shivan with more respect, "but it is what it is. It's reminders for me, too. All of it, marking my body. Most I can be proud of, others I just wear with the necessary shame. That's how it is. That's the life. As for one that didn't deserve so may?" he inclined his head.

His gaze flitted over Shivan, but it didn't linger. He knew enough about his history with Corneo, but unless absolutely necessary for any mission, he'd never pried anything out of him he wasn't willing to give, and he wouldn't start now.

Still...

"You're damn strong, ya know that, right? Stronger than most people I meet, and ya know that's saying something." he told him. His gaze flitted to Shivan's neck then, and he sighed. "Damn bastard. I'll celebrate the day we bring back firing squads for that fat fuck."

He looked over some of his cuts, none deep enough to leave major scars, but enough to have lingered still. He ran a hand over a particularly long one over his bicep, and laughed. "Stupid SOLDIERs went AWOL when I got this one."

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Reno may be trust worthy in the beasts eyes, but at this moment, well...

Reno lacked in instinct and understanding with the behemoth, that was clear enough. He watched his actions, the way his tail pointed. Something with his back or neck, that he was mostly sure of. He was almost sure he'd recognized what he was saying before, but still...what the hell?

He reached out for the creatures neck and....poked. And pet.

"...Does it itch? Do you have, what, some animalistic off switch here...?" thought was doubtful, or it'd be used often, but, still...

"Think we can teach you sign language?" he joked.

Therion growled softly, the sound a low rumble as Reno scratched at the fur. Even going so far as the stick the tip of his tongue out, but hearing the question, his head came up very slightly. The behemoth seemed to seriously consider the question for a moment before starting to move again, rolling back onto it's feet slowly. Lucas knew one of the easy ways to handle Therion was to scruff the behemoth- but how to show that when it wasn't possible to talk? This was something Reno had to learn with the beast, after all.

Lowering it's head towards Reno, Therion's tail came up, pointing towards the back of his head as it stared towards Reno and growled- it didn't like when people tried to get control like that, but Lucas wanted to show Reno ways to help. The behemoth's tail thumped down onto the ground, as the creature's nose pressed into the ground and a second low huff followed the growl, waiting patiently to see if Reno would catch on.

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Continued from here | @ghostofnibelheim

His eyes were a bit too steadily locked on those legs, just the fucking legs--it's not like he'd never seen the mans bare skin, Turks have to keep their eyes peeled as it were and that meant following, that meant reading reports, etc.. But all of it, all at once, and Sephiroth's voice was distant as turqoiuse eyes took in from the ankles, to strong calves, to toned and firm look thighs, then just those abs, that chest, those arms.

But eventually, he did snap back to it, just chuckling at the droll humor. He wasn't going to bother responding to that, they both knew he was far from bad looking.

"Maintenance is on the way, this isn't the only place fuckin' up--but we had this issue months ago, and had to involve som'more in depth investigation when it turned out some shit heads were fooling around an dumping valuable content down the train, clogging crap up. So, big boy," he smirked faintly, his gaze stroking the other up and down, before continuing, "noticed anything extra weird? Strange smells, weird color to the water, anything other than just not having a working shower?"

He paced the locker a bit, lazily, pointlessly, looking around.

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

"Shut Up" Kiss Meme | Open

@escortingsecrets asked: "I don't need to hear it. I just need…" 💋 For Reno

Well maybe he damn well had more to say, Reno usually wasn't one that liked being interrupted, especially when trying to express himself on something he found very important--and the factor of Shivan and his worth and the very reality of how Reno saw the other man was very fucking important right now, but then the bastard was interrupting him and Reno was next to fuming.

But then a hand was reaching out, and Shivan had that look in his eyes, and it seemed their bodies just gravitated. On instinct, he knew what was coming, and met it half way after letting out a sigh to release the frustration pent up from all his ranting and being interrupted multiple times.

Perhaps Shivan was finally seeing. And if he didn't yet, Reno would make sure he'd see now.

The turks fingers reached to dig through long, soft strands, caressing and gripping as his lips pressed and pushed. There was the sparks and the threat of fire, as if his own lips could so easily consume the other if he didn't hold himself back, and yet they moved with a firm, ever present tenderness. His other hand found it's way to the small of Shivan's back, cradling him so carefully as he deepened the kiss, tongue just having to slip out for a brief tease at the breech of the others lips.

He wasn't sure how long they were kissing, but he did find himself catching his breath just a little as he drew back to look at the other man. This beautiful man. With his beautiful tragic scars, and his beautiful tragic heart. The hand in his hair moved to caress over his cheek and he sighed.

"...You get it now, sweetheart?" he implored, voice softer than usual, and aquamarine eyes bore into the other with a fondness few had ever seen.

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Platonic Sentence Starters | Open

@soulsfractured asked: ❛ here’s a spare key so you don’t have to keep coming in through the window. ❜ [Tseng to Reno]

Reno, currently half crouched over the windowsill, stared at Tseng as he offered the key to him. Was he worried about being caught climbing through the window? Not really. Was he surprised by the effort to get a key made? Only a little.

But then he pouted, and reluctantly took the key.

"Aw, com'on boss, that just takes all the fun out of it!!"

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

"We'll do it for a little while then. The moment he has issue, we can fluctuate it. How's that sound?" he reasoned. The idea that nothing could satisfy the Don, and just how men and women had to pay for that depending on his whims, it turned Reno's stomach. Few things could, but the Don was a special case.

A strong curiosity kept flickering the question in his mind, 'How did you end up here?', but he knew better than to ask that sort of question....for the most part.

"Anything else you think you can get under the Don's nose?" he questioned him carefully, fishing for dirt and also simply trying to figure what layers of support and insurance he could throw into this to ensure this assignment could go without a hitch, as well as possible.

Shivan carefully watched Reno, considering the words. He pursed his lips as he carefully considered it. Yes, he could have an uptick- that wasn't uncommon. Some clients would come and play more for a favourite bee, shower them in gifts and when they were done move on to the next or just not return. Having it happen to him, it wouldn't be a surprise, really.

"That could work." He said slowly. It was probably the nerves, telling him to turn it all down and just go back down. But another part of him kept talking. The chance to have a way out- slim as it was, it was too easy for him to try and grab for it. "It wouldn't be the first time that it happened., many people shower the bees like that."

A small sigh left him. "The problem is, I can't say his reaction to it. Sometimes the Don can be happy, that it's bringing in more money, other times..." He hesitated for a moment. "Other times he hates it, that I'm doing so well. It's jealousy, I think, in a sick and twisted way. I make him all this money, barely get enough of it to pay my bills to live, and I still never know if he'll be happy with it." A weak and bitter laughter followed his words, as he said them out loud, the bitter truth of his words being said out loud seeming to echo in his mind.

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Give My Muse A Petname! | Open

@escortingsecrets asked: Shivan is still calling Reno Molasses Cookie- or Gingersnap. He switches between them

NEVER CALL ME THAT AGAIN | meh | idk how to feel about it | i’m ok with it | i like it | i love it | please call me that all the time

~

Reno just stared blankly at Shivan for the longest time, barely a twitch to his features...until finally, there was a twitch to his lip. "I swear on Ifrits BALLSACK, you keep calling me that, I will beat your ass!!"

He wouldn't beat his friend, of course, but he would very passionately make him pay, in whatever way he could think of that would have an impact.

"Would it kill ya to give me something COOL?!"

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Random Asks | Always Open

@sometimesrufus asked: "Reno. Back from your vacation, I see. Did you enjoy yourself?"

He gave the man a level, tested look and tried his best to resist rolling his eyes, but in the end, their roll was inevitable. He stomped forward then carefully but firmly planted his hands on the other mans desk. "What do you think, sir? And I gotta ask--is it more you, or Chief Tseng I gotta think for boring ass days I had to endure? Like, come on! Ya know I would've been good to go sooner, but a damn vacation?"

He stood up straight again, pacing back and forth, exuding all the pent up energy he'd been struggling with. He glanced over Rufus Shinra, up and down, then over his desk, and then ahead as he paced, then turned and paced again.

"You can't imagine how boring it is for a Turk like me, ya know... If I didn't respect you so much, I would've come complaining sooner." he remarked, almost as if it were a threat, but anyone who knew Reno knew...he was just blunt and unfiltered with his boss. That didn't mean he didn't respect and follow him.

And fewer knew that for various reasons, he would have been inclined many times to march here sooner to make his restlessness Rufus' problem, in one way or another. Rufus was lucky he was only arriving one day earlier than he was supposed to. Finally, he faced him, marching back to the desk, leaning forward just a tad.

"So lets stop playin', shall we? What's my orders?"

[leeus-writing]

Where is Home?

Anon asked for: Reno, Cloud and Rufus? Where reader leaves after an argument and ends up getting injured. Just some fluffy angst.

Hope you like this. This one is:

Reno

“Reno I’m not living here. I’m sorry but it’s awful. The people in this stairwell!? My bike got stolen. Then my Shoes when I left them outside the apartment. I’d stepped in Chocobo poo and they STILL GOT TAKEN! It’s my home or not at all!” You snapped fists balled.

“No Way! I’m not living with ya posh lot! Geeze! I’ll just get accused of being your Prozzy!” He snapped back folding his arms.

You laughed, exasperated, the hell was wrong with him! You ran your hands trough your hair and just walked in a circle. This was just… just.

“Well… Maybe if you didn’t dress like you do!”

“WHAT? I’VE ALWAYS DRESSED LIKE THIS!” Reno snapped, his hands spread out before him to emphasize his point.

No at that point you were sick of it. You turned and went to walk out the door. Your living arrangements with Reno had been a point of tension for days now. But now, you were done.

“Where are you going!” Reno shouted after you as you picked up your bag and keys on the way out.

“HOME, to MY home!” You snapped back opening the door and shutting it with a loud slam “bastard” you muttered as you walked down the hallway.

Reno kicked his kitchen table, breaking one of the legs causing it to clatter to the floor before sitting down on his sofa gripping his hair.

| |

Reno stood looking out his window. Midnight had come and gone, and he’d not heard from you. He’d sent a message expecting a reply. Nothing. He’d sent an apology, nothing. He’d called Rude who suggested that you were probably cooling off. Yeah, maybe. But you’d never gone this long without calling or messaging, not even after big fights.

Finally, your phone rang. Not a number you recognised.

“Hello?” Reno’s voice was cracking a little.

“Mr Lincon?”

Reno frowned, no one knew his last name apart, from maybe the bank…. HR and the guy who he rented from… and you! But this voice he didn’t recognise. Why would HR or the Bank be calling him at this time of night?

“My name is Reno… Just Reno,” Reno replied.

“Reno, my name is Dr Jones… Y/N was in a car accident your down as her-”

“WHAT HAPPENED WHERE IS SHE!”

“If you could just come down to Midgar Mercy West Hospital-”

Reno cut the call off before the Doctor could say anything else.

| |

You blinked a few times, confused as you woke up. You tried to sit up but ached to much. Blinking again, you turned your head to look around and saw you were in a hospital room. A heat monitor bleeped a few times, and you spotted a drip hooked up to you. With a moan you reached out for a button to alert someone, maybe they could explain? A nurse came in before you had a chance to press the button.

“Shh, Y/N. You’ve been in an accident. We’ve called your boyfriend and he’ll be here soon. Dr Jones has just had to step away, but he’ll be back to talk to you.”

You nodded before hearing a racket and a blaze of red hair.

“Y/N I’M SO SORRY!” Reno shouted running to your side “Are ya alright. Who hit ya? I’ll fucking kill em!”

A man you could only assume was a doctor walked in, “Mr Reno I assume? And Y/N Its nice to see you’re awake. Right then,” He clicked on a tablet screen and cleared his voice, “So from reports at the scene, it was assumed you’d been hit by a car. Unfortunately, this accident has broken both your left leg and right arm. You also got a good whacking to the head as well, which we are monitoring. Unfortunately, we have had to remove one of your kidneys and repair damage to your heart and liver…”

You swallowed and licked your lips. “How long will I be in the hospital?” You croaked.

“Love, don’t worry about that, I’ll watch ya house. Heck, I’ll move in. You’re right. My area it’s too dangerous,” Reno said stroking your hand.

You shook your head, “No… we’ll find a place together,” you replied.

Reno nodded, “yeah, you’re right that would be great. A home of our own. I’d like that.”

He took your hand and slowly started stroking your knuckles with his thumb. The Doctor smiled just a little, “It will take some time for you to recover. We may also have to perform further surgeries. Recovery may include some rehabilitation. It’ll be hard work, but I see you have a strong support network.”

You nodded and smiled up at Reno before yawning.

“We’ll leave you to rest and come back later,” Doctor Jones stated before leaving.

“I wont leave ya unless ya want me to,” Reno told you getting his phone out.

“I’d like you to stay a little longer,” You replied to reno before falling asleep.

| |

@electric-turks

@broken-kitty1995

@renohasbigtits

@finalsegamangalover

@miss-celeste

@okarawrites

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

"Damn, Tseng, if ya wanted to let me know I was your favorite, you coulda just come right out and said it." he teased as they entered. The first here? He gets first dibs on spare slippers? He's treating him like some damn honored guest, or close to it.

It felt so....weird, to be honet.

He just went with some simple brown slippers, taking his other shoes and putting them away like the raven haired male suggested "I'll take coffee, ain't much for tea."

That actually brought a small laugh out of Tseng as he unlocked his front door. "Is that what makes it more enjoyable? I'll be sure to keep that in mind." He asked as he opened the door and stepped in. "Just watch your shoes- Pagoda likes to play with laces, you can put them in the closet if you'd prefer."

He quickly took his shoes off, tossing his keys onto the table and sliding his slippers on. "I have a few spare pairs of slippers, if you prefer them over your socks. You're the first here, so you get first dibs on which ones you want for yourself." Tseng crouched to pick up Pagoda, scratching under her chin. "Did you want a coffee, tea?"

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

Happy #CoverReveal for Bexley’s Biker by Misty Walker, coming October 12th! Amazon: http://mybook.to/BexleysBiker Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/57322458 Enter to #win a signed paperback! Enter: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/5440a3542050/ Bexley: Your secrets are safe with me. It’s been my number one rule since I opened my law firm in Reno, NV. No one knows the reason is because I have my own dark secrets to hide, and a past I wish I could forget. Strategically, I only accept clients who have more to lose than I do. Like the dangerous and deadly, Royal Bastards MC. Not the best company to keep, but the most lucrative.   Over the years, I’ve learned to ignore their toxic masculine energy, and overt sexual advances.   Especially from their VP, Khan. Just like the ancient ruler himself, he’s tall, muscular, and brutal. He’s also the sexiest man I’ve ever laid eyes on. I fell victim to a man like him once before. I’ll never make that mistake again.   His relentless pursuit to get me in bed ends when he finds himself facing five years in prison, leaving me the only one standing between him and a cold, dank cell. The evidence against him is incriminating, but not damning. Not for an exceptional lawyer like me.   That’s when my past comes back at the worst moment with an ultimatum… fulfill my commitment to the RBMC or keep myself alive? Khan: Bexley’s the first woman who ever stood me up to me, and hell if it doesn’t make me feel a certain way.   I don’t know how to handle what she does to me, so I do what any emotionally immature man would do. I pick on her, tease her, and annoy her to no end, like it’s my favorite pastime.   When I catch charges for arson and auto theft, I’m forced to play nice with my playground crush. Never thought I’d say this, but I need her brain more than her body. For now, anyway. I’m one more court date away from being a free man, when everything I thought I knew about the attractive, curvaceous lawyer is proven false. She thought the worst thing that could happen to her is her ex tracking her down, but she’s wrong. She betrayed me and my brothers, and some things are unforgivable. I don’t see hearts in my eyes when I look at her now. Instead, blood-red vengeance fills my vision.   *Bexley's Biker is a dark romance with triggering elements.

[azure-steel]

@onewinged-tragedy​ said: [number one red bastard / Reno] = Always so tense, Soldier boy--think it's about time you play it rough and work out some of that tension. If you're up for the ~fight~ *twirls his baton suggestively* Unprompted Asks - ALWAYS ACCEPTING

There was something oddly evocative about the request Reno just put forward, couple that with the display of that stick in his hand and he could almost swear this guy was flirting with him. 

Not that Cloud knew anything about that, flirting with death maybe, but little else. 

Still, the little smirk that tugs at the corners of his mouth was difficult to ignore while he steps around the crimson-haired suit, slowly and so very carefully sliding his blade from his shoulders, giving the buster a little twirl of his own. 

“Bring it on, Turk. Might be nice to blow off some steam, and I got enough tension for the both of us, yeah~?”

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

10 Asks of Truth | #1 | Open Until I Reach Ten

@dezimaton asked: ✘ to Reno: have you ever been inside of the baldman's club?

He could help but raise a brow at such a specific scenario, but he was obligated the answer anyways, so he shrugged. "Yeah, twice. Once because I was drunk and mistook it for a drag bar, which shoulda been enough of'a sign to me--Junon isn't THAT kinda city to have something so fun up top." he shrugged, lounging back.

Then he grinned and shook his head. "Second time, I was having to drag Rude back for a meeting with the others--never seen him so serious and social at the same time. Almost kicked his ass when he damn near let his bald buddies try and shave me."

He hand a gloved hand through his hair, shaking his head. "Let's just say there were a few shiny and bruised domes before I left. And I am now banned, not that that stops me when it comes to my partner~."

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

Finally making it past most the security walls, he took the chance the skim through the documents. Most were rather basic, but he hit the jackpot that was likely the target--locations for secured weapons and equipment for building more. Perhaps not one of their more high priority weapons, but still in the pool of property the execs won't stomach falling into the hands of others. Some real, unrelenting damage could be done with this shit, with ShinRa's name all over it.

As Sephiroth spoke up, he glanced in his direction, noting the screen, but he focused back on the computer, checking the logs to see what was stored here and how much. Aggravatingly, this would require further inspection. The computer may report that everything is accounted for, but he had to be sure.

He walked over to join Sephiroth, looking over the screens, and sighing. "Not that I've noticed. The logs look clear, information's clear, didn't see any indication that even the data had been damaged or breached. So, technical security is still intact..."

He dropped his head, before rolling his neck and standing straight. "Looks like I gotta make sure about the physical security with one last step." he tapped on the others pauldron.

"Feel free to watch a man at work, eh?" he offered, pointing to the security cameras, then he made his way to one of the panels after logging out of the mainframe he'd been working through before, memorizing the count before doing so. A door in the distance opened, and just to be safe, he took out his EMR before turning on the lights and heading in to inspect.

" 'Go play somewhere else', is it? Very well." He was quite used to this. SOLDIER were not meant to know much beyond the scope of their given orders. It might be dangerous to the company. That was why the Turks served as the President's personal secret agents, after all.

And just like real secret agents, this aspect would be stated nowhere in their job description on a publicly available portal.

He paced silently alongside the perimeter of the large room, silent to allow Reno to focus on his own task. If Sephiroth weren't so focused on doing his own part, he might even have found a moment to enjoy that eerie situation: being able to observe the Turk be serious and put his sharp mind to work, restraining that rebellious tongue of his.

Truly a multi-faceted jewel.

But this was no time to be impressed. Sephiroth hadn't forgotten how desperately those people had been trying to access this area, even when they knew he was hot on their heels. This meant that somewhere in there, there had to be something they'd hoped would help them survive. There were equal chances this could be an escape route, as much as a weapon to be used against SOLDIER.

And as he walked past a series of screens on CCTV duty, a particular image on one of the cameras caught his eyes. Behind the green fuzz of poor quality night-vision camera recording, a noteworthy number of ShinRa warmachines were lined next to each other, row after row. The screen was quite blurry, but Sephiroth had enough experience to discern that they were older models, of the type to be stored in secondary facilities out of the city, rather than be at Headquarters.

"Any missing toys reported from Advanced Weaponry?" He asked, rising his voice just enough to be heard by the Turk across the room.

[turnabouttoothbrush]

Reckoning, Chapter Twelve

Today’s sporkers: Chill, Kiri, and Anna.

Anna: I just realized that in the last sporking, we said we were going to update @askprincessmyshkin in the next week.

Chill: Boy, that sure ended up happening, didn’t it?

Kiri: We literally don’t have an excuse anymore. All we’ve done for the past couple weeks is just lay in bed and slowly starve ourselves.

Anna: Shhh.

Chill: Roll fic!!

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Just thinking," he said. I smiled, but felt a little bitter.

"Just thinking…" I said, "about Luxord?" He didn't answer me and I knew I was right. "Did he injure your heart or your mind?" I asked, sliding my fingers along his chest. I was surprised when he shivered as I touched him. When he still didn't answer, I pushed him down gently.

"What are you doing Roxas?" He asked, clearly surprised as I kissed first his chest then his forehead, both deliberately slowly and lovingly.

"Whenever my dad would get angry and hit me when I was little, before my mother passed, she'd kiss me where I was hurt like that and I'd feel better," I said, running my fingers along the tattoos on his cheeks. "Was I wrong?" I asked, widening my eyes a little.

Axel smiled at me warmly. "No," he said, "I feel much better."

Kiri: *yawn*

I smiled down at the red-head, glad that I'd made him feel better.

Chill: I don’t know if anyone’s brought this up before-

Kiri: Probably, this sporking’s running on a bit long and we’re not rereading previous chapters before doing a new one.

Anna: When are we doing another intermission, again?

Chill: Anyway, this fic has a tendency of just kind of ending the chapter randomly in the middle of a scene and then picking up again literally half a second later in the next chapter. It’s really annoying, like, why end the chapter there? There’s no reason to.

Anna: Yeah, ending a chapter mid-scene should only happen if it’s a cliffhanger.

Chill: The way this fic is, it’s like the chapters just ended wherever the author decided they didn’t feel like writing anymore that day.

Kiri: Considering how short the chapters are, I believe that actually is the case.

"So are you gonna tell me about yourself?" I asked, still draped over him.

Axel laughed. "That's a lot of information. What do you want to know?" I pursed my lips, looking upward in thought. What to ask, what to ask… I ended up with going with the first thing off of the top of my head.

"Have you always worn boxers?" I asked.

Chill: Ah, I see we’re getting into the deepest facets of his characterization here. *nodnod*

I could tell he hadn't expected that, and saw amusement flash across his face before he laughed lightly.

"Yeah," he said, "have you? Or have you only ever worn mine?" he asked, fingering the black fabric he was referring to. I flushed a little before nodding, making him laugh again. I thought some more then asked more questions that came to mind.

"How did you become the leader of this gang?

Anna: Why does he have to stop and ponder twice before thinking to ask such an obvious question?

Kiri: Because he’s dumb. Next question.

Tell me about your family. Do you have any?" I asked, hoping I wasn't asking too much at once.

Axel looked at the ceiling searchingly for a few moments as if wondering where to begin. "I never knew my parents," Axel finally said. "My grandfather, who was the original head of my gang,

Kiri: Is this a street gang or the fucking mafia?

Chill: I don’t think the author knows the difference.

Anna: I think the only research the author did was watch West Side Story once or twice.

Chill: With The Godfather in between...?

didn't like my mother, so when my father died soon after we were born he took us away from her. He was very… influential."

"Us?" I asked.

Axel nodded, "Yeah, my twin brother Reno and I." Ahh, Reno. The person Axel'd killed Vexen for.

Anna: *as Roxas* He’d seemed unimportant, so I’d forgotten about him.

Axel paused, looking up at the ceiling again as he thought. "For some reason, the old man always liked me more, so when he passed on, he made me the leader of his gang about five years ago, not leaving Reno anything. Reno wasn't too happy about it. We ended up having a falling out and he left. I didn't hear any news of him until he joined Vexen's gang about a year ago just to spite me, since he knew that I hated the man and we were huge rivals."

Kiri: This is organized crime we’re talking about. He wouldn’t join a rival gang out of spite. He’d join a rival gang for a means to kill members of your gang, i.e. you, considering the jerk grandfather is dead. Yet you phrase it like he decided to go to a college whose sports team is at odds with grandpappy’s alum.

Anna: Again, West Side Story.

Kiri: People died in West Side Story!

He paused again to look at me. "I'd finally worked things out with him though about a month before I saw you for the first time," He said. "We'd just gotten on good terms again when got killed by Vexen."

"Your gang was started by your grandfather?" I asked,

Chill: *as Roxas* Your grandfather lived long enough to meet his grandchildren? And knew who his bastard children were well enough to know when they had bastards of their own?!

Kiri: I’d say the author has a romanticized view of gang life, but that would imply that it’s on some level based on reality.

thinking about the first thing he'd said and wanting to wipe the look of regret off of his face. I'd raised a question in my mind, even more so when he nodded. "But when we were at the hospital, a doctor said that the gang was new."

"Well," said Axel, "Most people confuse it for being new, since I implemented a lot of drastic changes and changed more or less everything.

Kiri: Of course, how he changed things will never be addressed.

Chill: But we know it involves more burning people alive! :D

Although my grandfather liked me, I wasn't so fond of him," Axel said a little bitterly. "I suppose it is newer than most of the gangs in town. Most've been around for far longer." I blinked, remembering what Zexion had said about using fire, wondering if that was new, but didn't press about it at all. I didn't want Axel to be mad at Zexion.

Anna: Considering it’s obviously part of the gang’s reputation, you could just say you heard it somewhere else.

Chill: Nah. Axel knows that Roxas doesn’t go anywhere or do anything without him and/or his cronies. Hearing it somewhere else implies Roxas has been somewhere else.

Anna: Oof.

"Why did you try to get to know me? What about me caught your attention?" I asked. The question had been brought on by the mention of Vexen.

Kiri: And totally not a desire to flatter your own ego.

Axel smiled, staring into my eyes once again.

"At first," he said, looking away as though he felt guilty, "I just wanted to steal you away from Vexen because we were rivals. Call it childish of me, but it's true."

Chill: Wow, literally admitting you see your partner as property/an object to be stolen and showboated. What number red flag is this by now?

Anna: It could be worse. It could be HIEQ2.

Chill: Hmmm.

I was about to scoff at him but then he opened his mouth to continue. "Even from a distance, I could tell that you were really pretty," he said, looking at me again, "but when I saw you up close, I thought you were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen," he added, making me flush a little.

Kiri: *as Axel* So since you’re so hot and all, I figured that’d make for even better showboating, and the rest is history.

He smiled suddenly, at the remembrance our first encounter. "When you wouldn't look at me, even when we were alone, up until you rejected me, I became even more interested in you," he said

Anna: Telegraphing a lack of interest makes him more interested? What kinda creepy rapist shit is this?

Chill: +1 to the red flag count!

"What about after I rejected you?" I asked. "How did you feel about me then?"

"I wasn't resentful about it," he said, sighing, "Just… confused and a little upset. You were the first person to ever reject me in my entire life.

Kiri: Well, that explains the creepy rapist shit.

Chill: Haha, he’s just like the “One way or another, you will be mine!” villain from some bodice-ripping Mary Sue romance. They’re so used to having women ukes swooning at their feet that when the Strong and Independent™ Don’t Need No Man©️ lead rejects him, he gets obsessed and starts twirling his mustache and stuff.

Kiri: The main difference here is that Axel is not a villain and is, in fact, the love interest.

Anna: Didn’t Vexen have the exact same attitude, though?

I honestly was wondering if there was something wrong with me," He said. The statement made me feel guilty and angry at Vexen. "I almost didn't kill Vexen because I thought that you were happy," he said, recapturing my attention.

Anna: Seriously? He was gonna abandon his revenge quest just because the object of his vengeance had a hot boyfriend who might get sad?

"What made you change your mind?" I asked, shocked.

"Xaldin assured me that you were far from being even remotely happy," Axel said staring angrily at the ceiling. I made a mental note to thank Xaldin later. "He wouldn't say why, just that you weren't," Axel continued. "It was most likely to stop me from doing anything stupid, like going after the bastard all by myself."

Kiri: I don’t understand how these two concepts are related.

I nodded, remembering how he'd saved me from my dad all on his own. Not the wisest choice he'd made. He'd almost died for it.

"You would've forgone your plans for revenge for Reno, stood off to the side and watched me be happy with somebody else, just so that I could be happy? Even after I'd rejected you and even though you didn't know me?" I asked. I'd still been subconsciously tracing the tattoos on Axel's cheeks, but stopped as soon as I'd asked.

Axel looked at me. "Yes,"

Anna:

he said. "Perhaps I was just being irrational because I liked you a lot, call it love at first sight if you will, and I didn't want to hurt you."

I felt myself flush a little deeper at the confession. "Axel…" I whispered when a hand found its way to my face, caressing my cheek.

"I'm glad that I didn't have to though," he said. I smiled down at him.

"Me too," I whispered back.

Chill: This is corny. I thought I was corny.

Kiri: This scene exceeded WAFF and went to, I dunno, food poisoning.

Anna: Is it really WAFF if it’s got rape in it, though?

Kiri: There isn’t any in this chapter...

"Thanks for today," I said, after a long pause. "The funeral, the drive, the fissure; thank you so much for everything."

"…Roxas," Axel said, hesitantly.

"Yeah, Axel?" I asked.

"First, any more questions?" he asked. I shook my head no.

Kiri: Yo. Why was there a linebreak between this section of text and the last? It’s the same scene.

Chill: Not like we’d changed POV either or anything like that...

Anna: The author got bored mid-scene and ended it there for the day, then continued the chapter tomorrow. And failed to realize that just because you took a break writing there doesn’t actually mean you should put in a linebreak.

Kiri: It’s literally the same scene!

"Can I kiss you then?" he asked quickly after that, searching my face to see how I was taking his question. I was honestly surprised he'd asked. I'd never been asked for permission before.

I stared down at him, wide-eyed until he looked away. "Never mind," he said, sighing lightly and looking away. I scoffed at him for giving up before I'd even given him an answer. I wasn't sure if I wanted him to kiss me or not right at that moment, but the action had made me a little angry.

Chill: lol calm down

Gripping his chin I made him look at me. "Roxa-" was all he managed to say before I pressed my lips to his. I pushed my tongue inside his mouth in a forceful manner, briefly brushing it against his own tongue before pulling away. It'd only been a brief kiss, but I'd managed to turn his cheeks a light shade of pink.

Anna: Maybe the ‘change’ that the linebreak indicated was actually Roxas changing from a uke to a seme.

Kiri: Every time we use one of those terms I get instantaneously transported back to 2009.

Chill: This fic’s from 2009. Well, 2008-2011 anyway.

Kiri: Writing a fic for three years? Wild.

Chill: Aren’t you writing a fic longer than War and Peace?

Kiri: What’s your point? I started work on it June 2017 and if work continues at its average pace so far I’ll be done by this time next year. This fic’s only 89k words - counting author’s notes - while FeetGround’s at about 267k as of the time of this publishing.

Anna: Uh huh. And LAL was posted in April 2014 and the Janaverse still isn’t completed.

Kiri: I...! That...!! That’s different!!

"Did I say no?" I asked, looking down at him. He shook his head no, obviously surprised by my assertiveness.

Chill: *as Axel* Hey, that’s not how things are supposed to go!

"Then why did you give up?" I asked, bending back down, allowing him to slide his hand to the back of my neck.

"The look on your face… I thought…" he said, gripping the back of my neck lightly, stopping when I smiled at him.

"I was shocked," I said in an attempt to explain. "That's the first time anybody's ever asked for my permission to kiss me." I waited until a look of understanding came across his face before continuing. "The answer's yes, by the way," I whispered, just above his lips.

Anna: No shit?

Chill: *as Roxas now* Sure, I kissed you, but I just decided that the answer was actually no, so the campus rape police’ll be along shortly.

"If you get scared," Axel said before doing anything, "call my name to remember it's me.

Kiri: Okay, I kinda like that.

Chill: Why am I not surprised?

Kiri: Shut up.

Anna: How’s he supposed to call his name if he’s got his tongue down his throat?

If that doesn't work, tell me to stop, okay?" he asked, probably not wanting to scare me or make me cry again. I nodded. As soon as I did, Axel immediately raised his head just enough to capture my lips. I trembled against him as he ran his fingers along my neck, patiently waiting for me to open my mouth.

Anna: Haha, what? You were being all dominant a second ago, why are you shivering like a terrified virgin bride on her wedding night now?

Kiri: The seme-uke switch was a fluke and therefore very temporary.

I relaxed my jaw, allowing his warm, wet tongue to slip past my lips and part my teeth. My eyes fluttered shut as he began to explore my mouth slowly, as if memorizing it. I started to kiss him back but ended up gasping into his mouth when he pulled me closer and rolled so that he was on top. Axel tilted his head slightly before delving deeper into my mouth, urging me to participate again, which I did. By the time he pulled away I was breathless.

Chill: Why do I get the feeling that when Axel and Roxas finally smash it won’t be described as... sensually... as this kiss?

Anna: They’re still kissing?

"Can I continue?" he asked giving my lips a quick peck. I stared up into his emeralds,

Chill: wondering how much they were worth,

uncertainly, wondering what else he wanted to do… how far he wanted to go… before nodding in consent. It's not like I still had my virginity, so I wasn't nervous about going all the way,

Kiri:

Anna and Chill:

no, but every time I'd been raped, going all the way hadn't been a pleasant experience. It'd hurt like hell because I fought it.

Kiri: No, fucking really?!

Chill: I can’t decide if I like the implication that being raped is comparable to getting rained out at the beach, or that it wouldn’t have necessarily been an unpleasant experience if he hadn’t fought it.

Anna: I would have thought that being raped (RECENTLY) would make you way more nervous about going all the way than being a virgin would, but what do I know?

It didn't take long for Axel to kiss me again, then work his way down to my neck. I shivered, grasping his shoulders when teeth grazed my neck but shook violently, when he bit my neck, immediately reminded of Vexen. I shakily called his name twice, trying to keep myself from panicking. It wasn't working very well. I was just about to call his name for the third time when he pulled away from my neck and kissed me on the lips again, instantly calming me.

Chill: Is this the part where we make fun of them for using a safeword during vanilla sex?

Kiri: That’s enough.

Anna: At least they are using a safeword. Though if either one of them had a single brain cell to share it might have occured to them to get a rough idea of what Roxas is comfortable with beforehand.

Kiri: ...isn’t Roxas underage?

Chill: Haha, yeah.

"I'm tired," Axel said, probably not wanting me to feel bad for getting scared when he pulled away. "Wanna go to sleep?" I looked up at him gratefully for being so understanding before nodding.

Axel moved off of me, going to turn off the light as I got under the covers. When he came back he got under the sheets as well. I didn't protest when his arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me closer to him until my back was pressed against his chest. He murmured something into my hair that I didn't quite catch. "What?" I whispered, turning my face toward his.

Anna: *as Axel* I said I was gonna collect that ass eventually and I meant it.

"Nothing," he whispered, just before a feather soft kiss brushed against my cheek. "Goodnight, Roxas," he whispered, settling his head against his pillow.

"Goodnight, Axel," I whispered back before doing the same.

--

I woke the next morning, opening my eyes wide when I felt arms wrapped around me loosely. I was just about to elbow whoever it was in the stomach to cause them pain

Kiri: As opposed to all the other reasons you might elbow someone in the stomach.

while I made for the door, 

Kiri: Oh.

Chill: Well now it just sounds like he’s simultaneously elbowing someone on the bed and getting out the door on the other side of the room.

Anna: That’s a loooong elbow.

but froze when I looked over my shoulder first and saw that it was Axel. Maybe tomorrow I should face him before falling asleep, I thought, glad that I'd looked first. I turned around in his loose grip, trying to be careful so I wouldn't wake him up. My movements, no matter how small, however, must've woken him anyway. His brilliant green eyes fluttered open almost immediately.

Anna: He’s a light sleeper, because if he wasn’t then it’d be too easy for his bitch to escape. :)

"Roxas," he said, tiredly, "good morning."

"Good morning," I said, smiling at him apologetically as he yawned. "Sorry for waking you."

Axel just shook his head. "Don't worry about it," he said, looking distracted when he fully woke up.

"Is there something on your mind?" I asked, immediately getting pulled closer.

Kiri: Cliché morning wood setup?

Chill: *as Axel* You have to take care of it. Blue balls hurt, you know.

"Roxas," he said, seriously and tense. He relaxed a little when I raised my hand and ran my thumb along his cheek, "I know that you probably won't like what I'm about to say," he said, refusing to meet the intense gaze I was giving him, "but I want you to quit the gang."

I stilled my hand.

"What?" I whispered in disbelief.

Anna: I’m going to assume he’s in disbelief because that’s probably the first time in this whole fic that someone’s said something that reasonable.

Kiri: Yeah. We’ve already gone over ad infinitum why a street gang is a totally inappropriate environment for someone of Roxas’ background.

Chill: Even besides that, he kinda just got kidnapped and raped and stuff because of gang business on his literal first outing for them, so like... what the hell was he expecting here? Obviously he’d get kicked over that, he’s a danger to himself. And others. Demyx got shot because of him, right?

Anna: Though if Axel didn’t try to kick him out and the entire incident just kinda passed without further comment... I don’t think we would’ve noticed...

Kiri: Well, it’s not like it’s really occured to anyone else all fic that Roxas shouldn’t be in a bloody street gang.

Anna: It’s just gonna get milked for drama anyway. Even if Roxas isn’t technically part of the gang anymore he’s still gonna be hanging out with them foreverrrrr.

Chill: Because staying with the SO you had at age sixteen for the rest of your life is a good idea, right?!

Kiri: Urk.

Anna: Anyway, tune in next time for... drama milking...!!

To be continued!

[umbral-stigmata-unbound]

"Hell no, you just get comfy back there." he retorted back to her, and with that, he proceeded to ignore her for the rest of the ride unless she had anything important to say or update with. His PHS was out occasionally, sending necessary updates to who needed it, before stowing it away.

It was nearly fifteen minutes later before they arrived and began piling out of the company garage. The other vehicle had taking the other civilian victims to a different location to be questioned, but the rest took all the items recovered off towards the #60 levels. Reno, however, turned to Thera with a smirk.

"Follow me. One of your Supervisors, and Tseng are waiting for us." he told her, nodding off towards the elevator. "We'll have a good, fun chat, then back to business as usual." he remarked, turning to lead the way then.

Jerk.

Jerk, a contrary inner voice reminded her, who just saved your ... there was a pause before she settled on, arse.

She wasn't going to credit Reno with saving her life, not completely; it would have been a real bitch and weighed down by protecting the other prisoners, but Thera was sure that when opportunity offered she could have gotten out of there by herself. The Turk showing up had just saved her the trouble.

But he had done that, and she had landed herself in the situation in the first place. She was just going to have to put up his being smug about it.

Her eyes rolled at the crack about paperwork, followed the infantrymen over to the truck, "Aw, what? I don't get shotgun?" She loaded into the back, worked on automatic to find and secure her seat belt before leaning back with eyes closed, waiting for them to be on their way.