#oblivious idiots to still oblivious but brave idiots

[rockingrobin69]

Food for thought

“I’m so glad you came,” Potter said with that look on his face. Draco felt himself clam, go small-small-small until his nose barely cleared the line of his shoulders.

“It’s,” he tried through a too-dry mouth, “no problem, really. Happy I could help.”

“I don’t know why it keeps doing that,” scratching the back of his neck with those big Potter-hands. The grandfather clock had been in the Black house for centuries. Now it was showing the right time again, and also, conveniently, no longer throwing darts at bystanders. “I swear it was working this morning.”

“Truly, a mystery.” Draco levelled a scathing glance at Pansy, who was sitting at the counter with a far-too-neutral expression. “Pans, if you wouldn’t mind, a word?”

He dragged her out to the corridor, only barely not by the ear. She had the audacity to smile. “Everything all right, dear?”

“None of that,” in a heated whisper. “That’s the third, Pans. How many times would you break Potter’s things just to have him call me?”

“If you’d bothered calling him yourself, I wouldn’t have to.”

“Pansy Parkinson!”

“Draco Malfoy.” Examining her fingernails with an exaggerated yawn. “Are you suggesting I’m messing with my own colleague? I would never.”

He rolled his eyes so hard his head hurt. “You’re not fooling anyone. Did you forget I actually know you? Potter does too. Soon enough he’ll figure out—”

“That he simply must take you on a date? I’d hoped so, yes.” With a cheeky wink: “Got to go, my show’s about to start. We’ll catch up later, yes? Still on for drinks on Friday?” and she left, the corridor and a flushed, slightly hyperventilating Draco, alone in Potter’s place.

“Erm, Draco?” from the kitchen. “I think I might’ve made too much pasta. Stay for dinner?”

Oh, he’s going to kill that woman.

After dinner, that is.

*

“You’re a life-saver,” Potter murmured, pretty mouth hanging open. On the sofa, Seamus was smiling so smugly, Draco could punch him.

Didn’t. Stood there, made himself small and wished to be not-here, not-now. “It really was no problem. The windows should shut properly now. Have you tried,” but it was useless, he knew why the windows were jammed, and it wasn’t poor maintenance.

His ‘friends’ were just out to get him.

Suppose they thought it was funny? Suppose… Draco didn’t know. Tried to curtail his mortification at being summoned here, again, in another attempt to humiliate him.

That’s what they were doing, right? That’s what this was all about. They knew how he felt about Potter, nothing was more obvious. It was there in pub nights and on their stupid hikes and that time they all went to the beach, it was in Draco’s eyes, in his hands always reaching out, never touching.

“Thanks,” Potter said, for the third time. “You’re so… It’s really fucking kind of you to. Take care of me.”

Startled, “I don’t—it’s just your windows, Potter. There’s no reason to get all sentimental.”

A loud noise: Seamus, snorting. “You boys are such a mess.” Shaking his head. “Anyway, this was fun. See you two Saturday!” and he disappeared, cartoon-quickly.

(Draco’s been watching cartoons recently. Mostly with Potter, late at night after their friends would leave; sometimes by himself, wearing the jumper he’d stolen and feeling rather pathetic).

“Are you by any chance hungry?” Potter asked from a surprisingly-short distance. He was right there, close enough to touch. Tittering on his tip-toes, like he had any reason to be nervous. “It’s only, I’ve ordered far too much food, and Seamus just. Erm. Left.”

Draco folded inwards, made himself as small as possible, so it won’t start leaking out, all this… foolishness. It was stupid. It would break his heart.

He stayed anyway.

*

“Thank you so much,” Potter rubbed his eyes, this half-grin on his awful, handsome face. “I don’t know what’s wrong with this house. I think it hates me.”

“I think someone does,” with a murderous look to Ginevra, who not only smirked, but also made a point of coming to see for herself. The cooker had stopped frying everything to a crisp, and should be safe to use again. Big whoop.

“That’s some quick spellwork,” she hit his shoulder far too hard. “Didn’t know you were so good with these.”

“Really,” incredulous. “You didn’t know.”

“And how lucky, that Malfoy could come over so quickly?” she looked between Potter and him. “Maybe you should move in. Easier for the next time something bends out of shape.”

Draco didn’t splutter, because he was an adult, but he must have looked rather pinched. “There won’t be a next time.”

“I’m so sorry,” Potter sounded miserable, standing there in his too-tight Quidditch top and those joggers that always rode too low, “god, Draco, I’m sorry I—”

“No!” he cleared his throat, had no hope of clearing his face of that awful, telling blush. “No, it’s absolutely fine. I don’t mind! I meant, I hope your things stop breaking all the time for no reason.”

“Oh. Don’t worry about it. I, erm, accidentally made too much curry, so—Gin, you were saying you can’t stay?”

Draco’s belly made a terrible gurgle. Oh, he’s going to kill all of them. Closing his eyes, he missed some of the encounter, and probably an evil grin from Ginevra.

“Draco?” Potter came closer, and he smelled like lemongrass and thyme, and like Potter, and like summer, “Would, erm, would you like to stay for dinner?”

Why were the gods testing him this way? He tried to go small-small-small till he wasn’t noticeable anymore, but Potter was too close and Draco’s heart was crushed open. The weight of his want, which had to be so clear on his face, this absolute agony. And nothing he could say but, “Yes, yes,” and hide behind his fingers, and endure it.

The worst part was, Potter was a great cook.

No: the worst was at the end of the night, when he kissed his cheek so, so gently.

Draco went home, and buried himself in his duvet, and swore to never play the fool in these games anymore.

*

“This is so embarrassing,” Potter announced into his hands, “I don’t know what happened, it just. Won’t quit it.”

His shower curtains were singing. Non-stop.

“I,” Draco swallowed, and his ribs nearly cracked with it, “didn’t k-know you were such a… big Celestina fan.”

Couldn’t hold it in: laughing so hard he was crying, and Potter was laughing too, shoulders heaving, so bright and so wonderful Draco’s teeth ached. They both ended up on the floor, winded and flushed. Draco loved him so much it was frightening.

“I,” he almost said it out loud, covered his mouth with a hand.

“What?” Potter, laughing. He took Draco’s hand with both of his, tried to pull it away, “What, what were you going to say?”

“Nothing!” in a tiny squeak. “Potter!” when he basically climbed in his lap, still laughing, laughing.

“You have to tell me. I made your favourite biscuits, so you have to.”

“You—did?” confused and bright-red in the face, “Why? Was someone supposed to come tonight?”

Potter’s eyes were so big. “No?”

“So why did you…” Potter always had too much food not due to a lack of planning, but his heart, that huge thing. “You cook when someone comes over.”

“Yes,” Potter agreed. He was so close and so warm. Baffling.

“So who did you bake the biscuits for?” who was responsible for this evening’s prank, he meant, for this torment. Whom should he thank or perhaps curse. Potter blinked his pretty eyelashes, then one big hand came to cup Draco’s face.

“You,” he said. This tiny, shy voice. “I made them for you. I was hoping you’d come. Might have… erm… cursed the curtains a bit.”

Draco would have gasped, but Potter’s hand on his cheek. “What?”

“Well… you never come when I invite you, only when something’s broken, and I, I, wanted to see you.”

No, that didn’t clarify anything. “Why?” Draco asked, and his voice was small too.

Potter huffed something warm on his face. “Because I like you, silly. You must have noticed? Everyone else did. They’ve been driving me bonkers and… they were right. I should have just been honest with you.”

His heart was racing, raucous in his chest. “You know they’ve been playing us. The clock, the windows, the cooker, everything that went wrong, it was them.”

“Not this time,” Potter said. His mouth was so close, so red and so stupidly gorgeous. Coming even closer. “Draco, can I…”

Instead of making himself smaller, Draco went big. Chest expanding, arms sending out and reaching, touching. He kissed Potter before the stupid git could even move, and then they were snogging, wet and sloppy on the bathroom floor.

It was stupid. It was perfect. Behind them, the curtain were still humming: a cauldron full of hot, hot love…

Had to stay for biscuits, right?

For my lovely @orange-peony who gave me a brilliant prompt from this list. Hey, you could do it too!

[teaboot]

MY BOY MY BOY MY BABY GUYS I FUCKED UP

SO I woke up at like 2am cause the batteries in my fire alarm died, right? So it was beeping LITERALLY EVERY 30 SECONDS but I don’t have a backup battery so I ignored it

And Ollie was on my legs, right? He was sleeping on my legs but I felt him wake up, flinch through the first two beeps, then get up and leave

And I figured, well, it’s pretty shrill, he probably went to sleep downstairs to get away from it

and I FALL BACK ASLEEP

Now at 7:30, his automatic feeder goes off to give him breakfast. I work a night shift tonight, so I sleep through that

THEN I WAKE UP AT LIKE NOON, and scroll through my phone for a bit, and THEN get my ass up

AND I CAN’T FIND MY BOY

HE ISN’T ANSWERING OR COMING WHEN I CALL

And I think “well the beeper is still going, maybe he doesn’t wanna come near it” so I go downstairs

Where his 7:30 breakfast is still in his bowl

Ollie NEVER MISSES BREAKFAST

So now I’m panicking, searching the house, calling him- the doors and windows are all shut and locked, and my landlord is the only other person with a key, so I think, FUCK, did my landlord find out about him? DID MY LANDLORD STEAL MY BABY?

And I swear to god I’m negative five seconds from going full John wick and hunting that bitch down when I think to check under the bed

Where he is HUDDLED INTO A TINY BALL BEHIND A FALLEN PILLOW

and WILL NOT COME OUT

and I’m trying to coax him out and he isn’t moving and then the beeper goes off and he flinches and I realize

oh shit

OH FUCK

HE DIDN’T GO DOWNSTAIRS

HE’S BEEN WIDE AWAKE HIDING FROM MY FIRE ALARM FOR TEN FUCKING HOURS

THAT’S ONE THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED BEEPS

So I need a new fire alarm now but baby boy is okay, he let me scoop him up and hold him for a few minutes and then when he was feeling better I carried him downstairs so he could have breakfast and he got extra treats for being so brave

but oh my Christ in heaven he was shaking, my poor baby, and I was LAYING IN BED LIKE AN OBLIVIOUS IDIOT

I ABANDONED MY BOY

He was SO SCARED and I was IN BED

MY FUCKING BABY

[logans-whore]

I can't stop thinking of Logan. With a reader who has no/very little experience with dating

I’m talking no relationship other than the one “boyfriend” you have when you’re twelve that you dump in a week because boys are gross. 

And this is absolutely me projecting, but when you go so long without having anyone attracted, or interested in you, it fucks with your brain. You start wondering what’s wrong with you, why no one seems to want you, you try everything but still. And you watch everyone around you have their teenage love stories, and can’t help but feel like you’re missing out on that, and can't help but blame yourself. Because there must be something wrong with you if no one wants you

So when Logan seems to be interested in you, you don’t think it can be real. Don’t think a guy as handsome, and sexy, and brave and strong and wonderful as he is can be interested in you.

(And this next bit is specifically for my chubby readers) You look at the other girls on the team, and yeah you’ve been told multiple times that you’re gorgeous, and stunning and pretty by your friends, but you look at their flat stomachs and thigh gaps and the way they fill out their costumes perfectly, and you wonder why on Earth Logan would ever want someone like you when he could have someone like them. And conclude it's a joke of some kind.

And maybe you talk too much, rambling about something only to stop in the middle when you realize not a single person is listening to you.

Logan on the other hand? Has no fucking clue how someone hasnt snatched you up yet. Because to him you are absolutely fucking incredible. You’re kind, sweet and gentle. You’re clever and talented and absolutely stunning. He loves looking at you, at how soft and beautiful you are, loves listening to you talk, the way your eyes light up when you talk about something you love. 

So when you first whirl on him, telling him to stop flirting with you, it isn’t a funny joke anymore, nearly in tears, he’s genuinely dumbfounded.

And let's get one thing straight. This man is not oblivious. He looks at more than he seems to. Notices the way you stare longingly at Jean and Scott, or Rogue and Gambit, at couples in public. See the way you suck in your tummy when around the team in costume, or the way you crop yourself out of pictures in uniform. Notices the way your face falls when you’re talking (And he’s listening, of course he's listening, he loves hearing you talk), and everyone just ignores and talks over you. He notices, and he hates it. 

So when you explain, pouring out all your doubts and insecurities and fears, he listens patiently, before gently saying. 

“Most people are fuckin idiots. You think I give a shit about if you have a tummy or if you talk too much or if you haven't done this before? You’re fucking stunning to me, prettiest thing in the world. I want you, darlin’. And nothings ever gonna change that”

And how can you not kiss him after that? 

Long story short, Logan might be your first boyfriend, but he's also going to be your first husband.

[yuujispinkhair]

sukuna who's over heels with y/n, but y/n is stupidly in love with yuuji who is falling in love with megumi?!

Omggg I love this!!!! Thank you for sending me this 💗

Modern!Sukuna x Reader (female)

Fluff. Hurt & Comfort. Friends to lovers. 2k words. Unrequited love/pining in the beginning. Sukuna and Reader get their happy end (Yuuji gets his happy end with Megumi). Mentions of cigarettes + alcohol. All characters are of age. Minors don't interact. Divider @/benkeibear

Sukuna can only shake his head at the irony. He is in love. He is fucking in love for the first time in his life, and of course, it has to be someone he cannot have! Out of everyone at this stupid college, it has to be the girl who likes his brother!

If it were any other guy, Sukuna wouldn't give a fuck and just flirt like hell with the girl he wants and give his best to steal her away from that other guy. But the problem is that Itadori Sukuna might be an asshole, but he isn't the type of asshole that would steal his brother's girl.

So Sukuna swallows down his heartbreak and forces himself to hold back, refusing to stand in the way of his baby brother's happiness. Sukuna might only be three minutes older, but he is still the big bro, still the one who sees it as his responsibility to look after his "little" brother. And Yuuji deserves it. He deserves a girl like you. He deserves your love. Sukuna will stay strong. He can do it.

But what Sukuna didn't take into account is how completely oblivious his brother is to your feelings.

You follow Yuuji around like a lost puppy, giving him hearteyes, practically swooning anytime he smiles his sunshine smile, hanging on his lips when he talks about his movie-directing classes and his new favorite TV show. But Yuuji doesn't seem to notice. And it makes Sukuna so mad! It drives him crazy! He almost spits his drink out when his brother gives you a high five and calls you "bro".

Sukuna feels sick to his stomach when he watches you wring your hands and shyly ask Yuuji if he maybe wants to go to the cinema with you to see the newest Human Earthworm movie. That super trashy horror series that Yuuji is always gushing about, which Sukuna is 99% sure you don't really like but only want to endure for the boy you have a big crush on.

But Sukuna's oblivious idiot of a brother just laughs and nods, happy that someone shares his taste, and totally misses the point,

"Yes, that's perfect! Let's also ask Megumi and Nobara to join us! Let's all go together! It will be so much fun!"

Sukuna thinks he can not only feel his own heart ache but also yours as he sees your face fall even while you force yourself to nod bravely and smile a sad smile at Yuuji.

It takes everything in Sukuna not to say something. But his restraint only lasts until he is alone with his brother. The moment the others have left, he shoves Yuuji into the wall, grabs his collar, and growls at him,

"You are so fucking dumb, brat! I would give anything to be in your shoes, but you don't even see that she wants you!"

And Yuuji blinks at him, all big eyes and completely confused,

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Sukuna lets go of Yuuji, slumping against the wall next to him, sighing and explaining the situation to him. How Sukuna likes you, and how you like Yuuji, and how everything is such a mess, and how much he hates it, especially when his little brother is too blind to see what he could have!

"Now you know, brat. Go, get her. Just don't rub it in my face, ok? I'll stay away as much as possible."

Sukuna pushes himself off the wall, about to run away and hide in some dark corner or maybe find someone to fuck and distract him from all this shit. But to his utter surprise, Yuuji's hand darts out and grabs Sukuna's sleeve.

"Wait, Kuna! I don't even have those kinds of feelings for her! There is... um... well, there is actually someone else I like."

He stands there, scratching his neck, looking sheepishly at Sukuna and blushing a bit as Sukuna stares at him with question marks in his eyes.

"Who??"

"Um, he has black hair and likes dogs and... ah shit."

And Sukuna can't help it. He bursts out laughing, doubling over because this is just so fucking dumb and messy and getting more complicated every second, and he probably should have known!

"Damn, brat, that really sounds like you! Falling for your best friend!"

In the end, Sukuna plays matchmaker for Yuuji and Megumi. It's easy, considering the way Fushiguro has been looking at Yuuji since the first day he met him. And yeah, Sukuna is not only doing it because he loves his baby brother but also because of selfish reasons. Because it means you will have to let go of your crush on Yuuji. Not that Sukuna thinks you will turn to him, but at least he won't have to watch you date his brother and pretend he doesn't care!

It feels like someone is stabbing Sukuna's heart when he watches your face twist in pain at the next party when you see Yuuji walking into the room with Megumi's hand in his.

But it will be fine! After all, Sukuna is here to catch you and mend your broken heart again. As a friend, at least.

He quickly follows you when you leave the room and run towards the backyard. You sit down on the slightly damp grass, and Sukuna joins you, sitting silently next to you while tears run down your cheeks. Sukuna offers you his half-smoked cigarette, and when your eyes meet, he can't help but think that surely you must see the pain in his eyes, too.

He quickly takes a sip from the bottle he is holding to hide the emotions threatening to swallow him while silently cursing himself for following you out here. He misjudged how fucking hard it is to look at you when you are crying. If only Sukuna could just close the distance between you and claim you as his, just kiss all your pain and his pain away.

But of course, he knows it would be too soon. For once in his life, Sukuna doesn't just want to be a one-night stand or a rebound or a revenge fuck or whatever. For once in his life, he wants more. He wants everything.

And so Sukuna is patient. Just offers you his silent company, his cigarette, his bottle of vodka, and his leather jacket when it gets chilly, and you start to shiver. He offers you his friendship, his protection, and the kind of comfort he can give without fucking you. He drives you home, makes sure you have something to eat and get some sleep.

He bangs on your door three days later when you still haven't come back to campus, calling you a brat and an idiot because it's the only way he knows how to show his worry. But he hopes he's making it better by shoving a vanilla latte and a bag with muffins from your favorite coffee shop into your hands.

Your eyes look puffy from crying, and you seem confused about what he is doing here, but you take the food and coffee from him. And Sukuna smirks at you and refuses to leave when you tell him you look like hell and don't want him to see you like that.

"I don't care, princess. Eat those damn muffins and drink your latte before it gets cold. I didn't stand in line for half an hour for you to just ignore my treats. And by the way, you always look pretty to me."

He stays until you had breakfast and took a shower, coming back to the living area with a soft,

"Thank you, Sukuna. It was nice of you to bring me muffins and coffee."

Sukuna finally leaves, lifting one tattooed hand to casually wave at you as if his heart isn't about to burst because he wants to pull you against his chest and hold you and tell you he can make you happy again.

He skips some of his classes and instead goes to the gym, working out like a madman and beating up a punching bag until he is too exhausted to think about how sad you looked and how fucking much he wants to kiss it better.

He comes back the next day to pick you up and take you to the coffee shop with him, making sure you leave the house and join the living again! It cannot be that you are crying your eyes out in your room all day!

"Stop complaining and get your bratty ass off the couch! It will be good for you to get some fresh air and shit. I am warning you if you don't put on shoes in the next 30 seconds, I will make you walk to the coffee shop in socks!"

Oh yes, Sukuna is good at this. Acting grumpy and playing the asshole while taking care of you and making sure you are ok. And somehow, you are the only one, apart from his brother, who can see right through him because you roll your eyes and laugh softly and tell him that he is the nicest asshole you have ever met.

The two of you fall into a routine where Sukuna picks you up every morning and has breakfast with you before he walks you to your first class. You constantly grow closer, and Sukuna feels his mask slipping more often around you. His typical arrogant smirk softens into a genuine smile. His snide comments turn into compliments. He isn't sure if he is doing it by accident or intentionally. Maybe he is only reacting to the way you act around him.

Because your gaze doesn't follow his brother anymore. Your face doesn't fall when you see Yuuji with Megumi. Your smile doesn't falter when you spot pink hair and realize it's the bad boy twin with the tattoos and not the good boy twin with the sunshine smile. Sukuna even feels like your smile is growing brighter when you look at him.

Could it be?

And he notices more things. Notices how you always sit so close to him now when he is at your dorm and you play video games against each other. How you always laugh at his jokes, no matter how sarcastic they are. Or how you look at him sometimes when you think he doesn't realize it. How your eyes get that dreamy little sparkle when Sukuna is sleepy, and his voice gets low and a bit raspy. How you get goosebumps on your arms when Sukuna puts his hands on your hips to steer you through a crowded room.

A few weeks later, Sukuna finds himself back at the same spot where all those weeks ago, it all began. Sitting next to you in the grass in the small backyard of your friend's dorm, where you cried when Yuuji broke your heart.

But tonight, you aren't crying. Tonight, you are smiling and throwing your head back, laughing at some dry joke Sukuna makes, looking so carefree and happy. Your shoulder is brushing against Sukuna's biceps, and your hand lands on his thigh, giving it a playful smack and staying just a little too long. And Sukuna can't help but say in that low voice, you seem to like so much,

"You are so beautiful."

For a split second, he feels his chest tense up, scared that he fucked everything up. Scared that he got it wrong and you still want his brother. Or maybe some other guy. Scared that you only see Sukuna as a good friend. Or that you only see him the way the whole campus sees him: as that sexy, asshole guy who is only good for casual sex and nothing more.

But then you turn your head to look at him, and Sukuna sees that soft expression in your eyes, the one he used to see on your face when you looked at his brother. But now it is for him, for Sukuna. And he simply knows without you having to spell it out. He knows that things have truly changed.

So, Sukuna decides to do what he wanted to do for a long time.

"I am sorry that you cried the last time we were in this backyard. But I am not sorry for why it happened. My brother is an idiot for not wanting you like that. But I am glad he is an idiot because otherwise, I wouldn't be able to do this..."

And Sukuna puts a hand under your chin, cupping it with a gentleness he didn't know he possessed while looking deeply into your eyes, checking one last time if he really got it right. You look at him with wide eyes, but you smile and nod softly as your gaze travels down to his lips.

And Sukuna sighs and presses his lips gently against yours, kissing you like he never kissed someone before, slow and gentle, as if he is scared you will break or slip through his fingers. A kiss with his eyes closed and his chest filling with a warmth he didn't know until now. A kiss into which Sukuna pours all the secret longing he felt for you for months, all the feelings he tried to hold back for his brother's sake and then for the sake of not fucking things up.

But finally, he doesn't have to hold back anymore. Because you chose him. You chose Sukuna. You are sitting here with him, with your hand in his hair and your lips moving slowly against his, a happy sigh and a soft murmur of his name falling from your lips.

The two of you only stop kissing when Sukuna's head is already spinning from the lack of oxygen. He pulls away only enough to grin at you and stroke your cheek with his thumb. And you smile back at him and whisper,

"I am glad, too, that Yuuji turned me down. Because otherwise I wouldn't have found out that it's his brother who is my perfect match. I wouldn't have found out that you, Itadori Sukuna, are the one I like the most out of everyone."

AAAHHH I LOVE HIM SO MUCH 😭😭 Thank you so much for sending me this ask. I see Sukuna + unrequited love/pining and I lose my mind!! It's my weakness and makes me so so soft for him (even more than usual).

I hope you liked this little hurt/comfort story!! Comments and reblogs would be very sweet 💗

[godricgryffinsnore]

A Universe In Your Smile ♡ : A James Potter Fan Fiction.

pairing : James Potter x female!reader

summary : A fluffy, poetic friends-to-lovers tale where James Potter and a hopelessly smitten reader stumble through longing, laughter, and chaos—too in love to admit it, until they finally do.

warnings : Excessive fluff, Mutual pining / yearning, Jealousy (mild), Idiots in love, Sirius and Remus suffering secondhand embarrassment, Soft romantic tension, Overuse of the word "darling" (sorry, not sorry), May cause uncontrollable smiling and heart-squeezing feelings. Please let me know if I missed any.

author's note : English is not my first language, so please forgive me for any grammatical errors or spelling errors. Re-blogging is completely fine with me, but please don't copy my work. I love you all. Enjoy <3.

word count : 0.8k

main master list <3

banners : @dollywons and @roseschoices

It was widely accepted at Hogwarts that if you found James Potter, you’d find her. And if you found her, James wasn’t far behind—carrying her books, stealing her quill, or whispering something ridiculous in her ear to make her smile when she didn’t want to.

They weren’t dating. Merlin, no. They just did things like feed each other chocolate frogs and wear matching socks and fall asleep on the Gryffindor common room couch, tangled like ivy vines grown too close over too many years.

No, definitely not dating. Just… being ridiculous.

── .✦

The thing was—James Potter had always looked at her like she’d hung the stars, even when they were eleven and she punched him in the arm for hexing her hair blue. And now, at seventeen, he still looked at her like she was the sky itself. A breathless kind of awe in his gaze when she tied her hair up, or laughed too hard at one of Sirius’s jokes, or fell asleep with her nose in a book beside the window seat in the common room.

The world faded a bit when she wasn’t around.

And professors—bless them—caught on quickly. “Potter, where’s your other half?” And James, wide-eyed and traitorous smile on his lips, would answer, “Oh, you mean her? She said she’d meet me here—wait, why do you think I know where she is?”

“Because you always do,” Professor McGonagall deadpanned. “You practically breathe in sync.”

── .✦

Sirius was done. “Oh, for Merlin’s sake, just snog already!” he groaned one night as James and the reader argued over who would get the last of the pumpkin pastries. “It’s not snogging if you’re feeding it to her like a lovesick kneazle,” Remus added, not even looking up from his book.

James blushed crimson. “I’m not a lovesick kneazle.” “You purred when she scratched behind your ear last week,” Sirius muttered. “That’s a reflex!” “She was laughing in your lap,” Remus pointed out. “While you pouted. Like a cat.”

── .✦

But James—brilliant, chaotic, brave-hearted James—was oblivious. Or perhaps too aware. Because sometimes their pinkies would brush beneath the table and he’d freeze like she’d set his skin on fire. Sometimes she’d look at him like he’d handed her the sun, and he’d have to look away before he did something stupid like tell her he loved her. Again.

He did, of course. Loved her. Every version of her. Her morning yawns. Her ink-stained fingers. Her star-gathered eyes. Her laugh when he tripped over his shoelaces. Her fierce way of defending the underdog. Her quiet strength. Her chaotic mind. She was poetry in freckles. A heartbeat he’d memorized.

── .✦

And she? She was wrecked for James Potter. It was humiliating, really. He’d touch her shoulder and she’d forget her own name. He’d grin, and she’d want to bottle it, drink it, wear it like perfume. He’d call her “love” or “darling” in that stupid, careless way and she’d have to resist the urge to scream into her pillow for an hour.

And when he wrapped a scarf around her neck because “It’s bloody freezing, you’re going to get sick again,” she melted. Her friends were no help.

“You two need therapy,” Lily said, not unkindly. “Or a closet and seven minutes.”

── .✦

And then… Then came Amos Diggory.

A charming Hufflepuff. Too smooth. Too clever. Too tall. Too good-looking. Too close.

He was leaning a little too far into her space near the library shelves. His laugh too loud. His hand brushing her wrist. And James—James Potter saw it from across the room.

Something primal clawed in his chest.

He stormed over, heart roaring, fists clenched, wearing jealousy like a second skin. “Hey, mate,” he said, too loudly, too cheerfully, slipping between them with the grace of a bullfrog. “Didn’t know my girl needed help finding Charms.”

Your. Girl.

She blinked, stunned. So did Amos, who looked from James to her with the wary expression of someone who’s realized they’ve stepped into a dragon’s lair.

“She’s not—” she started to say, cheeks flaming.

“Am I not?” she whispered back.

And James—bless him, stupid, sweet boy—froze. Because he’d said it. Finally. The quiet truth soaked in years of almosts and pinky brushes and shared sugar quills.

“You are,” he said softly now, voice low and reverent. “If you’ll let me be yours.”

She stared at him.

Then she laughed. And hit his chest. “You idiot. Of course you’re mine.”

── .✦

Their first kiss was on the Astronomy Tower. She kissed him first. He kissed her second, third, and fifth.

And suddenly, everything made sense.

The world tilted and shifted like it had been waiting for them to stop being stupid and finally admit that their hearts beat for the same ridiculous, poetic kind of love.

── .✦

The next morning, when James wasn’t in class, the professor didn’t even blink.

“Where’s your boyfriend?” She smiled.

“Probably stealing my quill again.” “Tell him to at least show up with you next time.” “Yes, Professor.”

(He did. With her hand in his. Pinkies entwined. Eyes soft. Stupidly in love.)

── .✦

And Sirius? “I’ll pay someone to jinx me into unconsciousness if I have to watch them cuddle again.” “I think it’s sweet,” Remus muttered. “You would.”

But they didn’t mind. Not really. Because James Potter had finally found his home—in her laugh, her smile, her love.

And she?

She’d been his all along.

[wendyyyyyyyy]

OPERATION: Oblivious Idiots

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5

Part 6 Part 7

⚠️ Content Warning : This chapter contains themes of kidnapping, physical violence, blood/injury, psychological distress, bomb threats, panic attacks, and life-threatening situations. Reader discretion is advised.

⸻

Part 8 : Confessions at the Edge

Fifteen minutes. That’s all you had.

You and Chan stood in the storage room, his body still slightly trembling from the adrenaline, yours pressed to his side as you both stared at the small blinking light on the bomb—red, constant, unforgiving.

Another message buzzed on Chan’s phone:

“You only have one try.”

Your heart dropped. One try? One single mistake and it was over. You, him, and maybe even the others.

———

Meanwhile…

Hyunjin, Lee Know, and Seungmin were rushing down the hall toward the staff’s office, but just as they were about to turn the corner—

The power cut again.

And everything else got dark, thick like a nightmare. It was the same blackout as the one at the storage room and room B27.

Hyunjin immediately grabbed his phone and switched on the flashlight, scanning his surroundings—but before he could react, a hand gripped his arm tight.

Another hand yanked him back, a black cloth bag yanked over his head. It was thick, rough—blinding.

Panic kicked in as Hyunjin screamed and thrashed in their grip, voice echoing into the dark hallway.

“LEE KNOW HYUNG! SEUNGMIN!!”

No response. No sound.

Where were they? Why were the kidnappers out here, instead of dealing with the bomb inside?

Did they know the trio was going for help? Were they trying to silence them before they could bring reinforcements?

Hyunjin was dragged, shoved into another room, and the door slammed behind him.

Locked. Alone. Isolated.

Their second victim.

———

Back in the storage room.

You and Chan stared at the bomb.

One try.

Two conversations.

Clue: feelings.

Outside the room, Felix, Jisung, Changbin and Jeongin were panicking.

“You don’t have to do this, hyung!” Changbin shouted through the door. “There has to be another way!”

“We can’t risk both of your lives over a damn guess,” Han cried. “Lee Know hyung, Seungmin, and Hyunjin will come back with help. They have to.”

Jeongin, desperate, “Just hold on! Please, don’t do anything reckless—”

Chan turned to the door, voice loud and firm.

“Get away from the door! I said go! If this goes wrong, I’m not risking your lives too. Just—go!”

But of course, they didn’t move.

Stubborn. Loyal. Stray Kids.

Just then, the lights flickered.

The blackout ended.

And then—

Minho came running back.

His head was bleeding, shirt torn, breath ragged. He stumbled toward them, nearly collapsing.

“Hyung?! What happened?!” Felix rushed to catch him.

“We—got ambushed,” Minho gasped, pressing his hand against the side of his head, blood staining his palm. “They were waiting for us.”

“Where are Hyunjin and Seungmin?!” Jisung asked, frantic.

“I— I don’t know,” Minho choked out. “I woke up alone.”

Inside the room, Chan heard everything. You saw the storm in his eyes—rage, panic, heartbreak.

“For fuck’s sake!” he yelled, slamming a fist against the wall. “Why does this shit keep happening?!”

“We’ll figure this out,” you whispered, trembling. “We have to.”

Chan clenched his jaw, and shouted at the door :

“Take Lee Know and go. Now. Find the others. I’ll handle this.”

The members outside finally listened. They knew they had no choice.

So they left, as much as it hurt. Minho limped alongside them, still reeling.

Eight minutes had passed.

It was do or die now. Help wasn’t coming.

You turned to Chan, heart hammering.

He looked at you—sweaty, dusty, broken and brave—and held your face in his hands.

“Alright,” he said, voice low and steady. “Here goes nothing. We might actually die in here, so I’m not walking out of this without telling you what I’ve kept locked inside.”

He pulled you in closer, both arms around your waist now, his forehead resting against yours.

“I love you, Y/N.”

And your entire world… stopped.

Your mind short-circuited. Did he just—?

Then—beep-beep. The bomb light flickered.

It registered his voice.

That was it. One of the conversations. That was the correct phrase. You gasped, heart skipping.

Chan looked just as stunned.

He hadn’t meant it as a password. He said it because… it was real.

“I love you too, Chan,” you whispered, tears filling your eyes.

Another flicker. The second light lit up.

And then—

the bomb roared to life.

A vibrating growl buzzed from the device, red light flashing violently.

“NO!” Chan turned, immediately wrapping himself around you, his back shielding you from the blast he thought was coming.

His arms were tight, trembling. You could hear his heartbeat pounding through his chest.

You clutched his shirt, your own tears falling now.

So, this was it? The bomb was about to go off and you both clinched into each other, accepted your fate.

And then… the light went green.

Silence.

Defused.

The bomb powered down, lights dying out. The tension shattered like glass.

You collapsed against him, whole body shaking. Tears streamed freely as the wave of shock and relief crashed down on both of you.

And yet, through all of it—you felt safe. Loved. Wanted.

The door behind you clicked open.

Chan’s phone buzzed.

“Congratulations. You have answered the correct answers. You are free to go now.”

But neither of you moved.

You clung to each other like you were still in danger. Like letting go meant losing something sacred.

And then—suddenly—

Seungmin burst into the room, hair wild, clothes caked in mud, his eyes wide with panic.

He looked like he had crawled out of the ground itself.

What the hell just happened to him?

⸻

Part 9

[cryptonymdc]

What you Suspect (You don’t suspect they are the heros, but you hope the heros are something like them.)

Superman | Clark Kent 

It’s hard to think that Clark Kent could be Superman. 

It’s not that they are incomparable. Same hair, same eyes, same build. But there is something that makes Clark Kent so much more real to you than Superman. By no means do you think Superman is a hack, or a fake, but he’s not a hero because you’ve met him. He’s a hero because he saves people, and that’s enough. 

Clark Kent is kind in a tangible way. He holds doors open, not just for you, but everyone. More times than you can count Clark has gotten stuck holding the door open for a train of people rushing in, and he just laughs it off with an understanding smile. His eyes are always sincere whenever you surprise him at work with his lunch or just a friendly visit, his face flushing with bashfulness, but still smiling bright as the sun and giving you a tight hug. 

And speaking of work, Clark is fearless in a way you think most heroes might not be. Heroes go into battle armed, prepared, and ready. They tackle consequences because they know they can take it, at least you hope they can. But Clark… he goes into work armed with his pen and paper, in a suit with no armor, and regardless of consequences. Because he can, wants to, and it’s the right thing. 

He writes article after article exposing organized crime, blue collar crime, and more. He exposes people not in tight costumes, but people with guns and lawyers, people who would come after him for this. But he does it anyway, and perhaps that's braver than Superman, you think. Not better, but braver. There isn’t really a better in a selfless act, and both are. 

Clark does a lot of things like that. In scary moments, when danger is near, he stands in front of you. He stops hunching over, and makes himself the biggest thing in the room, the biggest target, and shields anybody he can even though he knows he could get hurt. He’s brave. 

You don’t think Clark Kent could be Superman, because why would he need to be? He already is kind, and courteous. He already fights crime in his actual job. He already protects people without hesitation. He doesn't need to be Superman, he’s already a hero to you. 

But you think, if Superman is the question, you hope is somebody like Clark. You hope he isn’t some guy who gets off on the fame, and the compliments, and instead is saving people because he can, for the sake of doing the right thing. You hope he’s as kind as Clark, as real as him. 

You don’t think Clark Kent is Superman, but you hope Superman is something like Clark Kent. 

Batman | Bruce Wayne 

It’s difficult to think that Bruce Wayne is Batman. 

The Batman is a local legend, a myth with a few too many pieces of evidence. You’ve never seen the Batman, you’ve never talked to him. The reports of him vary, from wildly terrifying to kinder than god. You don’t know the Batman. 

But you know Bruce Wayne, you like to think you know him more than most. You know him beyond the ‘Brucie’ persona, the bumbling idiot the public sees. 

You know the Bruce Wayne who spends hours at night doing work to make sure his company is doing good, honest work. And you’ve sat with him, either on his couch, in a chair pulled up, or even on his lap, just keeping him company. And he is really working, he’s a hard worker. He’s checking employee complaints and surveys, trying to make it a better workplace. 

And the amount of time you’ve spent on Bruce’s arm at a Gala as he tries to sweet talk the 1% into donating to any charity, not even just his, but any is beyond measure. You maybe get a dance or two out of him, before he is off playing the room to try and guide them to good, to do better. 

He’s not oblivious to the world, either. You watch the news with him in the mornings, listening to radio articles as you two do your morning routine. You two talk about it, you engage with it. Not just platitudes about the way the world fails and falls apart, but things you could do to change it, to do better. You two talk about the events, you debate the morals, the sides, etc. 

Bruce Wayne isn’t just an idiot, but he’s also a hard worker, principled, and present. 

And, he’s so sweet, and adorable, and dorky, all the time. He calls to check in on you, ask you how your day is, if you're staying safe. Gotham is a helluva city to live in. He smiles at you, even when you’re not looking. He just enjoys being with you, even if it’s in silence. You two have fallen asleep on the couch watching the news more times than you can count. 

So why would you think that your sweet, hard working boyfriend is a possibly made up vigilante? 

No, you don’t suspect a thing. But if the Batman is real, if he’s out there, please let him be a man like Bruce Wayne. Someone with principles, who’s willing to work to upkeep them. 

It’s a lot of work, being Batman or Bruce Wayne, hopefully he’s up to the challenge. 

The Flash | Barry Allen 

It feels odd to think that Barry Allen might be the Flash. 

The only thing you can really see that they have in common is a sense of humour. But beyond that, the Flash is far too fast to get a good look at. There's neither enough evidence to support he is the Flash, and not enough evidence to fully disprove it. That’s the trick with speedesters, they’re hard to catch. 

So like any normal person in Central City, unless you’ve been right next to them and saw the Flash at the same time, anyone could be the Flash. It’s normal to let passing thoughts be hypothetical hypotheses on who the red blur could be. So of course you’ve pondered whether or not Barry could be the Flash. 

But it just feels weird, because the Flash seems so unserious. It’s not that Barry doesn’t know how to joke, but he’s so much more serious in dire situations. Sometimes he gets so caught up in work in the lab that you can’t reach him, he’s just so focused on cracking the case and finding the forensic clues. 

Barry laughs all the time, and really does have a familiar sense of humor, but it’s so endearing when he does it. He’s laughing with you, not at you like the Flash does for his villains. But that begs the question doesn’t it. You’re not a villain. Why would Barry treat you like one, if he was the Flash? It’s not really a distinction between their sense of humor when the two situations are so different. 

But you don’t think about it for long. It just feels odd. It’s like you're missing the last key bit of information, that would anchor all your thoughts to one answer. You just can’t seem to catch the whole picture. 

Barry is not shy nor nervous, but he doesn’t exude the smug confidence that the Flash does. But… on a certain level, if you consider it, they do the same thing. They both fight crime, they both solve mysteries, and they both work to make Central City safer. Barry does only have nice things to say about the Flash, save a few existential comments on the terrifying implications of increased metabolism and also getting stuck going full speed, Barry is a fan of the Flash. 

Still. It’s just odd. Barry and the Flash are more alike than they seem at first glance, and that’s an odd thought, isn’t it?

[b4mpyre-k1zz3s]

Hello!! For a fanfic, could you write one about lovestruck! Johnny trying to ask out oblivious! fem reader on a Valentine's date?

Johnny Knoxville X Oblivious!Y/N

Johnny Knoxville X Fem!Y/N

Warnings: Suggestive content, medical settings, flirting, obliviousness

An: Thank you for your request!! I had some trouble figuring out what kind of setup would involve someone Johnny was arround frequently, and given it is one of my most popular serieses, I decided to go with Medic! Reader! Thank you for requesting, and please keep sending more!

“Well, there goes my modeling career…” Johnny murmured, one corner of his mouth curling up as he turned to one side.

Inspecting the cut on his cheek intently, your nitrile-gloved touch felt feather light- angel fingers. This is why Knoxville always loved trips to the medic tent…

“I’m sure you’ll be fine-“ You went to grab a bandaid from the med kit, “Just keep it covered for a bit, alright?”

“Yes, ma’am.” Johnny watched you pivot to scrounge around in a big, slumping bag of Dum Dums.

As the medic, you started handing out out candy because you thought it would be funny to ask a grown man if he wanted a sucker for being so brave

Knoxville saw this as you trying to brighten up the set, and he thought it was just the sweetest thing- no pun intended.

Watching him swagger out the med tent like he’d just won the lottery, Bam was itching to see what was up, “Dude- what’s with the Nelly bandaid?”

Swatting his hand away, Johnny ignored him for the butterscotch flavored hunk of sugar in his mouth- his favorite flavor. You remembered that…

Just like how you started picking up how his injuries gradually became less and less severe, yet more frequent.

“Viper?” Steve showed you the smattering of bite marks across his forearm. A hiss slipped through his teeth as you gently dabbed it with alcohol, “Nah- cobra…”

With a flutter, the med tent flaps flew open! Pitifully, Knoxville limped in on one floppy, Conversed ankle, groaning, pain wrinkling his brow.

“Alright, just-“ Looking between the two, you put your hands on Steve’s shoulders and hoisted him up with a flustered huff, “come back in a few minutes, alright?”

Examining that ‘sprained’ ankle that hung limp in your grasp, you wondered what he was doing that was so dangerous that somehow, standards and practices had nothing to say about…

Glancing up, you completely missed the dreaminess in his eyes, “I mean…if you wanna lollipop, you could just ask. I-I gotta big bag of em!”

Cue confusion painting Knoxville’s features before he put two and two together. “Ah- don’t worry about it!” He lied through those perfect teeth…

Coincidentally, the next week, you came to hear the story of how Johnny got his ass bit doing that ‘Bad Dog’ stunt.

Working alongside his PT, you made sure he had all the care he needed on set! And Knoxville wasn’t complaining about having your hands on his waist, guiding him through his stretches…

And, of course, your boobs were squished up against his back. Through your little sessions, he kept laying on the charm,

“You smell really nice, Y/N…” Knoxville gave you those soft, half-dead eyes that melted most women. But it seemed you were still ignoring his obvious flirting in the name of professionalism,

“Thats my deodorant!” “Ah, my favorite.”

One one of your last days filming, he stoped you on your way to craft services with a gentle hand on your shoulder, “Hey, hey- Y’gotta sec?”

Johnny’s voice dropped with uncharacteristic earnestness as you slowed down to talk. “I, uh- just wanted’t thank you for putting up with us idiots. I was thinkin’, maybe I could…take you out to dinner sometime?”

“Oh, sure!” You chirped with a smile.

Now, given the nice, personable guy he was, you went into this expecting that Knoxville invited you and the rest of the cast and crew- you were essentially one big, dysfunctional family,

However, when you showed up to that fancy, LA restaurant, you were greeted by a dim dining room full of couples at intimate, little tables…

Part of the blame could’ve been placed on you not checking the date, but hell- you assumed the place was just popular!

Smiling, you walked over to where Johnny was sitting in the only nice clothes you’d ever seen him wear, glancing around the room, “So, where’s everyone else?”

“Everyone else…?” It took Knoxville a second. Leaning against the table to be closer to you, he dropped his voice, “I was asking you on a date, Y/N.”

Finally, the pieces came together!

Admittedly, you caught your gaze lingering on him from time to time on set, but you would’ve never thought to pursue anything with him- unless he reciprocated, of course…

“Wow! I, uh- I had no idea!” Yeah, awkward… after a blushing, tense silence, you added, fiddling with your hands, “I mean…I’d still like t’have dinner with you.”

Smirking, Johnny stood up and pulled out the chair for you.

[sukunas-wife]

YOU NEED TO MAKE MORE DAD!SUKUNA😭 It’s just soo good!!!, I’m literally obsessed with Dad!sukuna🫶🏻

lol here’s a little snippet to start the day, in other words I had a domestic dream 🥺🤍

Jujutsu Teacher Sukuna AU

Somewhere in another time line Sukuna became a not so dedicated teacher at Jujutsu high school still after having turned himself into a curse, even 1000 years he landed a spot on the higher up’s board it hilarious when they try to execute someone and he completely disagrees.

They learned quickly is Sukuna disapproves of their actions agree with arrimen Sukuna. Don’t go behind his back and try to do it either. He’s not afraid to kill everyone and replace the entire board of Higher Ups

Then one year he met you, you came in from the sister school to be teacher. Usually he tried not to mess with staff they only last so long anyways. But maybe it was that time he saw you banging your head in the drink machine because you used your last bills to buy a drink and it got stuck. Or maybe it was that time Gojo and Toji surprisingly decided to team up against you and you managed to hold your own.

It was when YOU started to pursUE HIM he became really intrigued. At first he became annoyed because not to far behind the corner he could hear the snickering and “Oh she’s really doing it!” “She’s a brave woman to try and flirt with him…” “What are you idiots do- oh, this could be interesting.” “shhh, I can’t hear what he’s saying!”

You didn’t notice when he flicked his wrist, but you did hear your coworkers panic and the rushed steps. Looking back confused you were more confused when you looked back at Sukuna and he was leaning forward getting face to face with you before squishing your face in one of his hands. “You do understand you proud Jujutsu Sorcerers don’t live very long, so give me one good reason you want my attention.”

You wanted to badly to look away from those demanding red eyes, to pull away and breath the God given air, instead here you were getting dazed off his musk and cologne. Feeling his warm hand squish your face, nails lightly pressing against your skin. Smash- swallowing you had one chance to do this right. Don’t stutter, don’t fear, breath, don’t rush, don’t show him WEAKNESS.

“I J- ahem” ah.. I messed up already, “Wait let me restart- Okay I’m ready, I’m not gonna stand here and promise happiness smiles and endless love, praise and worship. I’m not gonna lie to your face and tell you everything you want to hear and pretend it’s all sunshine and rainbows. When I go on a mission I’m not gonna say I promise to always come back that would be a fools move. But at least in my last moments I’d have to privilege to remember you and all those wise words you used to tell me like. “Dumbass that’s why you keep more than two dollars in your wallet.” Or “Living to please others and dying with regrets if no helping everyone is vain, Live to please yourself at least in your final moments you’ll have some sense of fulfillment.” So like it or not I’m here to please myself if you say No and tell me to fuck off and send me on my way. I won’t regret having asking. If you say yes, well I won’t lie I wouldn’t really know what to do or say I came in expected to be rejected and humbled.” Finally your eyes left his, you were oblivious to stare he had. He wasn’t completely amused but he wasn’t bored of your words either. “Look at me.” You did, “you didn’t bore me entirely with your little … speech so I’ll give you one opportunity. Sunday, I have an early mission, meet me here at 4 in the morning and I’ll tell you with me. After I finish you can have the rest of my day or until I get bored.”

He didn’t get bored… it turned out you amused him so much more when you weren’t surrounded be suits.

And that’s how you ended up here.

“Yuji don’t say something stupid love can’t protect anyone.” Nobara rolled her eyes, “Yuh huh, your words can’t hurt me because my mom and dad’s love protects me.” He puffed his chest out crossing his arms and smiling with closed eyes, missing the book Nobara was throwing at him. A solid sound was made, Yuji was wide eyed, the all to familiar wrist holding the heavy book just in front of his face, “Careful Miss.Kugisaki it’d be a shame if you caught extra missions for disabling another student from completing his own.” Yuji smiled proudly, “See, protected.”

Sukuna rolled his eyes, “Get to class Fushiguro was on your ass last time for being late to class.” He nodded his head at Yuji who just smiled sheepishly rubbing the back of his head, “Alright.” Of course the Trio ran past you greeting you with “Hi Mrs.Sukuna!” Good morning Mom!” “Morning Y/n Senpai.” You watched them all keep running until your husband stood next to you offering you the Coffee Cup he had been drinking. You were distracted by one thing “Why do you have our photo album?” Sukuna felt his eye twitch, “Damn brat.” Was all he mumbled tucking it under his shoulder, “Your son believes your love protects him.”

You laughed, “OUR son believes OUR love for him protects him. Considering your holding that book Im assuming Kugisaki tried to throw it at him or you were reminiscing on that time you had to save them from a Special Grade ambush and when you had to carry them all out Yuji was sniffling how he knew he could count on you to be there for him.”

He looked away, “Higher ups are lucky I only wiped out half of them.” You rested your head on his shoulder pulling the album from him. “Aaww this is Yuji’s baby album” you cooed seeing the picture of Sukuna holding Yuji next to a bouquet of “It’s a Boy!” Balloons. In the background you could see the blur of Geto smacking Gojo on the back of the head.

Sukuna is secure as a man and father 🥹

So it’s not a surprise to you when you come home late from the school and find true form Sukuna threatening to break the sofa under his weight coddling 15yo Yuji 🥹

As much of a brute people have him to be, Yuji might be his only son, and he might call him brat and roll his eyes a lot. But he’d be damned if he were truly a bad dad. In a whispered conversation he told you about everything that happened on Yuji’s mission. How the mission was purposely miss graded and they basically walked into a special grade curses domain. Sukuna had no doubt in his mind that if wouldn’t have been the one over seeing their mission the first years wouldn’t have walked back out alive.

Yuji was alright the entire ride but when he got home he broke down crying, speechless gasping for air. That’s when Sukuna pick him up carrying him over the sofa, coddling Yuji wasn’t as easy now that they were almost the same height, so he turned to his true form. And let Yuji cry, scream and hold onto him. Rubbing his back, holding his head against his shoulder, just talking to him to comfort him. “Do you remember that time we went to the park, and you wondered off to far chasing a duck.” Yuji nodded still sniffling, “Your mom was scared shitless when she couldn’t find you.” He laughed and Yuji laughed lightly, “y.. yeah I remember I jumped into the pond and then you and mom started screaming and then jumped in…” sukuna laughed louder, “Y/n was so mad but she couldn’t stay mad when she saw you with that little duck.” He patted Yuji’s back resting his chin on his head. Soon Yuji fell asleep.

It led you to find him this state. You asked him to go lay him in his bed, he did. He came to help you make some comfort food, it was hilarious when you asked if he could use dismantle on vegetables and it turned out he could. Now over the table in the wall is a sign that says “Malevolent Kitchen.”

The house that night was filled with the soft sounds of cooking, you and your husband talking about whatever came to mind. The Golden pot boiling with whatever broth you made. Sukuna was fighting the rice cooker while you tempura fried some shrimp and rolled some noodles to cook

It was well past 9 when you heard Yuji coming, both of you turning to see him walking yawning and rubbing his eyes. Bare feet padding along the kitchen floor. “Come sit down Yu you gotta be hungry.” you fixed him a large bowl of noodles with Tempura shrimp. On the side were the massive Onigiri Sukuna had made, he even tried to use the nori stamp to put little faces on them. More often than not they have 4 little crooked eyes that looked mad but it squeezed your heart how he laughed to himself saying “Yuji’s going to love these.”

He did, you watched as he bit into it rice sticking to his face. “These are good dad what did you fill them with?” “Nitamago we forgot to pack em for lunch so.. improvise I guess.” You both sat down with Yuji talking and eating. Just enjoying the free time you had together before Sukuna would go commit another crime against the higher ups 🤍🤍

Yeah 🥹

Im here 10-1 in the morning 🤍 It took all day to type this out 😭😭

Also a lot of my co workers walked out today 🥹 it was rough

Tag List: @sad-darksoul @cyder-puff @satorisgirl @bontensbabygirl @lupita97lm @queen-luna-007 @sakuxxi @mercymccann @simpforyoubitch @certainduckanchor @domainofmarie @najiiix @bakugou-katsukis-wife @amitiel-truth @souyasplushie @mylovelessnightmare

[idkfitememate]

Hello!! I've been here since your first creation, Boar! Creator. And I'm thinking about something.

What about Squirrel! Creator 🐿️

Like, squirrels in Genshin really have no fear, all they think about are pinecones. Many times I approached them, but they didn't run away like other animals, they just stood there, near their pinecones.

So I imagine a character who has a hat, like Mona or Venti walking in the forest and a pinecone gets stuck in their hat. Then a squirrel followed them all day, leaving them confused, not knowing why the squirrel was following them. And what the worse was that the squirrel had no fear, they even followed them into the city!

Mona Encounter

૮꒰˶ᵔ ᗜ ᵔ˶꒱ა Pairings : Gn! Squirrel Reader x Mona

૮꒰ྀི∩´ ᵕ `∩꒱ྀིა W.K. : 649

໒꒰ྀིᵔ ᵕ ᵔ ꒱ྀི১ Tags/CW&TW : fluff & crack

໒꒰ྀི˶˙Ⱉ˙˶꒱ྀིა Author’s note : Mmmmm big bushy tails the floofa :3

Future note: Mona has a house… not right now she don’t-

Mona was a woman of business.

Booming business?.. Admittedly no, but business nonetheless.

Spending her nights charting the stars and giving out fortunes to those brave enough to handle her sharp tongue, she was more than busy in her life, even if she was just barely getting by.

… Where does she keep all her astrology books, tools and otherwise when she has nowhere to stay? Up your ass that’s where.

One busy night of watching the stars in a forest had worn the poor girl down, and the grass was so soft, and the gently breeze that rustled the leaves was so nice and oh… she’s asleep.

So deep in sleep, she didn’t notice the pinecone that fell into her hat.

Nor did she notice the you who was perched on a branch above, salivating at the mere thought of that now slightly forbidden cone because it fell on a human, and you told yourself not to go near them, if not for self preservation than just to not interact with them.

It wasn’t as if you didn’t ever want to interact with them, it was an inane fear that something might happen so on so forth, especially since you found out that you were in SAGAU. Fuck that chance. Trees, apples and pinecones is enough for you.

But this… this chance… fuck it it was to much to bear. You jumped right on into the hat, curling around the beloved pinecone. Nothing else mattered now except the piney scent and the cold comforting darkness of this idiot’s hat.

Fuck yeah.

૮꒰づ˶• ༝ •˶꒱づ ˚ʚ ꒰⁐⁐⁐⁐୨🎂🍩🍰୧⁐⁐⁐⁐꒱ ɞ˚

When morning came, Mona opened her eyes with a groan and popped her back considering the awful position she slept in. She blinked blearily as she took in the morning air. Feeling around, she grabbed her hat that had fallen off her head, not even noticing the extra weight, and plopped that sucker right on her head, somehow not even feeling your tiny little shivering feet.

Oh shit you fell asleep in her hat and now she was standing up. You sat as physically still as you could as you felt the somehow oblivious woman rose and begin walking.

The swaying motions wasn’t very nice on your stomach, ears twitching and eyes constantly moving around the space to try and find any kind of exit.

For a moment everything stopped, and your tail hitched and breath stilled. Suddenly, a hand reached up into the hat and in a panic you lightly jumped onto the fabric of the back of the hat, staring as the hand scratched the spot you once were and reach around a bit, finding the pinecone you once held and threw it out the hat, muttering some random stuff that was muffled to your ears.

After a few moments of stillness the astronomer was on the move again. And you were in her hat. Trapped. Alone.

૮꒰づ˶• ༝ •˶꒱づ ˚ʚ ꒰⁐⁐⁐⁐୨🍡🍮🍪୧⁐⁐⁐⁐꒱ ɞ˚

City noises were weird when you’re hearing them from inside a hat.

That was your deduction as Mona walked through what you could only assume to be Mondstadt. The hustle and bustle and overall joyfulness permeated even the fabric of the hat you were currently trapped in and made life just the slightest bit brighter, shocker.

Mona was just walking around as far as you could tell, no real destination in mind. But, you were hoping for her to stop soon, your paws hurt a little bit from their harsh grip on her hat and wanted a rest. Issue being, of course, you couldn’t rest on her because then she’d find out you were on her head for Archons knows how long.

The space you inhabited was just barely lit from the sun. The back of the hat behind you moving around due to a slight wind.

As the woman you were riding on continued further into the city, the only thing you could think was:

“Oh Fuck.”

໒꒰ྀི˶˙Ⱉ˙˶꒱ྀིა Author’s note : I was writing this years old when I found out Genshin has squirrels-

Also yes I purposely left off like that for requests/future stuff to pick up on lmao I’m sorry-

[inkspiredwriting]

Clueless

Five Hargreeves x Fem!reader

Warnings: none

Y/n sat on the couch, nervously biting her lip as she watched Five Hargreeves meticulously go over his latest plans on the coffee table. She had been in love with Five for a while now, but he seemed completely unaware of her feelings. She decided to be brave and make her interest a bit more obvious.

“Hey, Five,” Y/n said, trying to sound casual. “Need a break? I was thinking of making some coffee. I know how much you love it.”

Five looked up from his maps, his expression serious. “Coffee? Sure, that sounds good. Thanks, Y/n.”

Y/n smiled, though she couldn’t help but feel a little deflated. Is he really this dense, or is he just pretending? She sighed, getting up to head to the kitchen.

As Y/n brewed the coffee, she mentally prepared herself for another attempt. This time, she’d be more direct. She carefully arranged two cups on a tray and brought them back to the living room, where Five was still engrossed in his work.

She set the tray down and sat beside him, leaning in a bit closer than usual. “So, Five,” she said, her voice soft and hopefully enticing, “what’s your favorite way to relax after a long day of saving the world?”

Five glanced at her, his brow furrowed in thought. “I guess I like to read a book or have a drink. Why do you ask?”

Y/n blinked, feeling her cheeks flush. “Oh, just curious. Maybe we could... read together sometime?”

Five nodded absently, already turning back to his papers. “Sounds good, Y/n.”

Across the room, Klaus watched the exchange with growing amusement. He had a sixth sense for these things, and it was clear as day that Y/n was head over heels for Five. What was also clear was that Five, brilliant as he was, had the emotional awareness of a brick.

Klaus decided it was time to intervene. He sauntered over, plopping down next to Five and flashing Y/n a conspiratorial grin.

“Hey, Five,” Klaus began, his tone light and teasing, “have you noticed how Y/n is looking at you? You know, like she’s... interested?”

Five looked up, puzzled. “Interested? In what?”

Y/n’s eyes widened in horror as she tried to signal Klaus to shut up, but he ignored her.

“In you, you dummy!” Klaus said, giving Five a light shove. “She’s been flirting with you for the past week, and you haven’t noticed?”

Five stared at Klaus, then at Y/n, then back at Klaus. “Flirting? With me?”

Y/n wanted to crawl under the couch and disappear. “Klaus!” she hissed. “Maybe you could be a little less obvious?”

Klaus shrugged, unrepentant. “Hey, someone had to spell it out for him. He’s not exactly Mr. Romantic.”

Five, now looking at Y/n with a mixture of confusion and dawning realization, finally put the pieces together. “Wait, you’re saying Y/n... you like me? Like, likes me likes me?”

Y/n’s face was crimson. She stared down at her hands, feeling like she might burst from embarrassment. “Well, yeah,” she mumbled. “I’ve been trying to show you, but you’re kind of... oblivious.”

Five blinked, his mind racing. He replayed all their recent interactions in his head and finally saw what had been right in front of him. Y/n’s subtle touches, her lingering looks, the way she tried to be close to him. It all made sense now.

A slow smile spread across his face. “I’m an idiot, aren’t I?”

Klaus snorted. “You think?”

Y/n finally dared to look up, her heart pounding. “So... now that you know, what do you think?”

Five leaned in closer, his eyes warm and a little mischievous. “I think,” he said softly, “that I’ve been incredibly blind. And that I’d like to spend a lot more time with you, if you’ll let me.”

Y/n’s breath caught in her throat. “Really?”

“Really,” Five said, reaching out to take her hand. “I might need some help, though. Klaus is right; I’m not exactly a romantic.”

Klaus beamed, clearly pleased with himself. “Don’t worry, I’ve got plenty of tips. Step one: stop being so dense.”

Y/n laughed, squeezing Five’s hand. “I think I can manage that.”

Five smiled, his gaze locked on Y/n’s. “I’m sure we’ll figure it out together.”

Over the next few days, Five made a concerted effort to be more aware of his feelings and how to express them. He and Y/n went on a few dates—awkward at first but sweet and full of potential. Klaus, true to his word, offered unsolicited advice, most of which involved more flair than either Five or Y/n could handle.

One evening, as they sat on the couch in the living room, Y/n snuggled up against Five, feeling content and happy. Five wrapped an arm around her, looking more relaxed than she’d ever seen him.

“You know,” Five said, his voice thoughtful, “I’m really glad Klaus decided to butt in.”

Y/n chuckled, nuzzling closer. “Yeah, me too. Who would have thought?”

Five leaned down, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. “Here’s to figuring out this whole romance thing. Together.”

Y/n smiled, closing her eyes as she savored the moment. “Together,” she echoed, feeling a warmth in her heart that she knew would be there for a long, long time.

[ikarusriver]

IM Not dead I SWEAR

★★★

I am realizing however that I am afraid of answering people now (I have been off meds for awhile) and I will try to answer soon. I’m so sorry to everyone who has been potentially ghosted or left unaddressed I don’t know why I was feeling brave before but I’m Not now and am TRYING TO BE I PROMISE!

I don’t have anything canon but I have stupid amount of tf2 ocs. I’m sorry for this as well. But slightly less. Because I like these characters (and they are completely irrelevant to anyone else in this case)

<Oc artdump beams you>

★｜BLU sniper Murray Snowden [aka Muh-rae]. He’s weird and he’s fun and he is a direct inverse (mostly) to canon / red sniper! I have been fixated on him the most so I will likely share doodles of him most often. If I remember to post again soon.

I have two snipers actually so meet Cosmo as well

☆｜YLW sniper Cosmo Madrazo [unknowingly Panganiban]. Cosmo is a skittish and young man that spends more time in matches hiding than he does actually participating. With the team circumstances however, I don’t blame him.

! The happiest guy! (Not Cosmo. The next fella)

★｜YLW Spy Ángel Rivera-Soto! A retired ship third mate with a heart of gold. He is inverted in every way besides the smoking problem. He smokes like his life depends on it! So silly! Sure hope there’s no correlation there to anything. (Also this guy has a blog heehueheee:^ winks and nudges it over as if i've remembered to use it at all @sly-daffodils)

And of COURSE my IDIOT CUSTOM CLASS GUYS.

☆｜[ left ] Gómez Isgró, + [ right ] Jovane De Lima. A RED First officer and a BLU, (technically YLW, but BLU on canon teams) First Officer [ aka FO ] respectfully. Their references are kind of scuffed so I need to make something consistent + proper and upload it later at a future date. I love these guys regardless though. (Jovane has a YLW account i've yet to boot up for narrative purposes and Gómes is simply ... Gómez).

Gómez (28 yrso) is oblivious and thinks they are best friends. Jovane (50 yrso) sees Gómez as immature and dislikes his lack of dignity, does not see him as a friend--let alone a BEST friend.

These are all the characters I think I have. I'll need to go through and introduce some more thoroughly, but hey! One step at a time. I've been swamped out irl and I'm still trying to get back up to speed. Hopefully spring break will bring some normalcy back to my activity here.

[bruciemilf]

Peter B needs a Harry, so have some Parksborn headcanons:

Dumbass bi men who never realized they were dating

Harry had a crush since they met and Peter was so oblivious

They had a "fallout" (break-up) after Peter and MJ divorced, but Harry secretly paid Peter's rent and bought the DB so Peter could keep his job

Harry has a spare key to Peter's apartment (and they were ROOMATES) and cleans up for him sometimes. Peter cries when he finds out

Harry totally knows Peter is Spider-Man. "I mean, he's heroic, brave, kind, funny, and the world's biggest idiot. Who else would it be?"

Miles, Gwen, and Pav meet Harry for the first time and almost lose it. " Uh, all due respect, that's the most beautiful man I've ever seen in my life how are you friends. Can he adopt us?

Parent the hell out of the spiderlings. "Okay fine, but don't tell Harry" "Just wait till I tell Peter about this"

Harry: well, you know, he didn't invite me to his wedding, so--

Peter calls Harry 'angel' 1000% thanks bye. Harry calls him Petey ofc. (Peter hates it. He secretly loves it)

Harry still has hoodies that hang off his shoulders most of the time, that smell of pepperoni pizza and tears

Peter is the embodiment of the "saw my roommate kiss guys, am I homophobic?" Reddit Guy

Harry crocheted Mayday's little hat

Ik the classic formula is that Norman wants Peter as a son while constantly undermining Harry, and I want to keep that tension, but

Peter and Norman hating the fuck out of eachother is so goddamn funny to me. Especially if the childhood best friend aspects comes in

Norman is out here beefing with Peter B's 6 year old self and Harry is planning their lego wedding

Probably tried adopting Peter just so he won't be able to marry Harry. "Here's 300$ to stop being friends with my son." "Save that money for our wedding."

Peter has a photo album with just Harry. From age 4 to 30. A collection of polaroids he sleeps with under the pillow like the sap he is

[theheartofone]

Steel in Her Veins, Chapter: One

Table of Contents | Next Chapter

Characters: Fem!Reader x Roronoa Zoro

Chapter One: What Happens When a Swordsman Meets a Swordsmith? 

GIF by gildedmuse

Behind the Wall

Zoro notes that the trek up into the forest with Gramps is oddly silent, as his boots clumsily crush against the leafy meadow. Between the two, no words of small talk are being shared or expressed – which is surprising and also a breath of fresh air to Zoro, since it seems he can’t get away from people who love to yap. 

He was also secretly thankful that he was being guided to the swordsmith rather than having to put his listening comprehension skills to the test, with how – and he wholeheartedly believes this - villagers always give him the most confusing roundabout directions (really, it’s just them telling him to turn left). 

So, as he lags behind the dagger-swinging Gramps, he realises that this has been the first time in months that he’s felt at peace without having to sleep for it. 

After what seems like an hour of silent ambling, Gramps looks behind himself at the samurai and childishly beams. 

“We’re almost there, celery-boy.”

“Gotcha, dusty puffball,” Zoro retorts.

“I must warn you… you should be prepared for the swordsmith. She does not like to sugar-coat things.” 

Zoro remains silent; at first, he mulls over his words before deciding to shrug it off. It’s not like any of the swordsmiths he’s met are legendary, so really, why would her opinion matter?

As they near a mountainous cliffy terrain, Gramps stands ahead of a narrow gap between two rumbling boulders. His hands deftly stroke across a specific gap with obnoxious hand movements, which Zoro thinks he’s undoubtedly making up on the spot. Still, as the old man moves away from the caress, the rocks begin to shuffle and grumble lowly. The boulders twist and turn, jagged and crumbling, into forming an irregular cave-like hole. 

When the cave stops echoing its aroused yawn against its walls, the merchant turns around to stick his tongue at Zoro.

“You thought I was an insane old senile for a second, didn’t you?” 

Slowly, Zoro’s ears turn red.

“You did, didn’t you? You followed me here because you felt bad for me, didn’t you?” 

“Leave it alone,” Zoro sighs, feeling the heat continue to rush over the rest of his face. 

He quickly shuffles through the entrance before he can give the geezer another chance to holler at his idiocy. It didn’t stop the dusty puffball, though – as they both continue their journey within the dimly lit cave, Zoro can hear the old cackles that echoed off the jagged walls.

“Wait until you meet her, you’ll be lit up in flames!” He giggles deviously, pleased with his successful torment with the bull-head.

“I don’t give a shit about what anyone thinks,” Zoro mutters, remaining tight-lipped for the rest of the journey. 

Over the Wall

“Go find a transponder snail right bloody now - I’m not dealing with him,” you hiss at your Gramps, who stares at you almost as dumbly as the green sword wielder standing beside him.

“What are you talking about?” Gramps Suki splutters, acting oblivious as he’s always been with you. “Give him a chance, he’s a good kid!”

“No,” you hiss, ignoring the green-head standing stoically in front of your anvil, putting your palm up at Gramps. “Call the Navy Protection Services right now, he’s a disgrace to his swords.”

“Do you want a fight with me, woman?!” The idiot swordsman yells, clawing clumsily for the weapons at his hip.

Unprovoked, you hit him with a deadpan look to the side. God, how many careless swordsmen have you dealt with who all act the bloody same?

“That’s brave, asking to fight the one person who knows how to make and break a blade.” 

In an instant, green-head starts shouting out a string of insults like a moron. 

Although small and frail in appearance, you know Gramps Suki is more than what he chooses to show to people. In a swift manoeuvre, his knobbly hands grip the guy by the collar, making the samurai look like a wretched cat dragged by its neck.

“Get your hands off me, dumbass!” The swordsman chokes, squirming and struggling against the strength of your Gramps. Ignoring him entirely, Gramps stares at you with bewilderment and slight humour.

“What?” You ask him, casually heading to the back of the room to wash your hands. 

“We aren’t pro-Navy, Raya, or have you hit your head on the anvil again?”

“You’ve hit your head on the anvil before?” A gruff voice snickers in Gramps’ vice grip, making you grit your teeth hard.

“Someone needs to call child protection services on those poor swords,” you loudly announce, shutting the green-head up from his evil grin. 

You turn around to rest against the sink, drying your hands with a blackened rag. 

“I can quite literally feel how broken they are in their sheaths, and I’m stood all the way here. Don’t you respect your blades, Mr. Samurai, or do you like to use them as big tooth-picks instead?”

And the dude, still squirming a few centimetres in the air, absolutely loses it. You can’t help but crack a laugh over how furious he’s getting as he begins to continue with his insults. You swear you hear him call you an anvil-indented-head in his string of lovely compliments.

Even Gramps can’t help but guffaw at the entire interaction between you two, completely folding over in on himself. Although still holding onto the green-head’s shirt in an abnormally strong grasp, he heartily laughs on, as if he’s holding a cloth in the air.  

Tsk. Maybe Gramps really is going senile - you think, while you dust off your blackened hammer. Out of any person in the world, you didn’t know why Sukiyaki decided to bring in this idea of a swordsman as a potential client.

You and Gramps have only worked for the best and scarcely have any, if at all, clients – simply because, for you and Gramps, swordsmithing is incredibly dangerous and quite literally life-threatening. Your whole cover can be blown up in an instant if the wrong person fucks around and finds out who you both are.

As underground swordsmiths, you intentionally work away from the hubbub of the central market to gain only the attention of the right clients. To you, this cabbage patch of a man shows absolutely no promise, evidence, or indication of worthiness to bear your craftsmanship by his side. 

This dude comes in with a crumbling sword, the sword who’s barely holding herself together in the shambled state she’s in, as well as bearing two other wobbly blades on his hip. The first time you sensed their three auras, as he and Gramps made their way towards you, your whole stomach dropped. 

Of course, you see broken swords all the time; in your profession, it’s called for – but the way that the green-head’s metals were humming – no, moaning - made you want to writhe in your own skin. You’ve never heard this level of sadness before. It completely pained you to know what the blades were thinking.  

How unfeeling he is to the forces who defend his life, time and time again. Frankly, it’s insulting. 

“Who do you think you are, anvil-head? You’re just the village’s swordsmith - a nobody,” the guy spits out, wholly absorbed in his anger. He finally manages to push himself away from Gramps’ hands and land on his feet.

“Oh, God.. not again,” Gramps mutters, shaking his head in mild displeasure. He knows what’s about to happen.

Your hands pause in the middle of buffing your hammer. 

A nobody, huh?

Your fingertips grow warm. You gaze up at the man – the first time you’ve actually acknowledged him with a look - who’s now stomping towards you, his hands balled in fists. 

As you shake your head, you feel tendrils of smoke and heat frame around your face. What a bull-head. 

“Fix my swords, woman,” he demands through gritted teeth, standing between you and your workbench. 

You sigh, unimpressed, staring straight into his eye. 

“It can’t be done.”

“Are you telling me you’re so unskilled that you can’t mend my swords?”

A smile unfurls across your lips, fire emanating from your fingertips and across the stray curls of your hair. 

You shake your head. 

“No, I’m telling you that I'm melting them. Look down.”

Gramps Suki and Bull-Head slowly tilt their vision to the floor, plainly staring at the liquid metal dripping out of all three of his sheaths. 

[nanomooselet]

My Brother's Keeper (II)

As in every version of the story, Vash only plays the fool. He is not one. Oblivious, hapless and harmless are always masks he wears. From beneath them, he susses out what Wolfwood is pretty much immediately.

Not that it was hard. The man's barely trying. And really, three days into the trip to July and a guy carrying a cross from Nai's freaky book suddenly shows up, walks off the trailer slamming into him, tries to separate Vash from the reporters, lectures him about killing to survive, makes just-kidding-or-am-I remarks about being an assassin, then finally reveals he's actually carrying an absurdly overpowered laser-cross-gun before inviting himself along for their quote-unquote "protection". Nevertheless he sticks almost exclusively by Vash, who is by a very, very, very wide margin the least in need of protection among them.

Just in this scene his lighter has the Eye of Michael sigil on it and judging by the heap of butts, after picking tunnels for everyone to search (including one for him) he stayed right where he was and chain-smoked until Vash returned. Not too long afterwards Roberto abruptly and mysteriously vanishes, and Wolfwood tries to convince Vash the reporters must be dead. …Yeah, I guess that counts as subtle for someone who named himself Millions Knives, but c'mon. Knives thinks his stupid brother won't come to his party unless he's dragged there. Vash has a chaperone now whether he wants one or not.

If I were in Vash's situation I'd be quite annoyed. For fuck's sake, he's an adult. He's been one for over a century. He doesn't need a damn babysitter. And what kind of idiot sends an assassin to do that job?

Except... Knives somehow made the perfect choice in Nick.

Wolfwood's cynical rhetoric has no effect whatsoever on Vash's ideals and he's hardly any more effective at keeping Vash safe. Simply because Wolfwood's there, Zazie and Legato between them find excuses to endanger Vash, which is par for the course when Knives tries to "protect" him. No, what makes Wolfwood the best man for the job is something that may well have happened in spite of Knives, and it's this.

Regardless of his real age, at heart Nick is a kind but wounded boy who's only trying to protect his beloved family, especially his crybaby brother. He kills because he doesn't think there's any choice - he's ultimately a victim of indifferent circumstance. In a way, an innocent.

In Wolfwood Knives gave Vash everything Vash wants to believe is true of Knives himself. With all his heart, Vash wants his brother's cruelty and manipulation to be just... just some wildly misguided but sincere attempt to save the Plants, because he doesn't believe there can be any other way - but he'd be open to an alternative. Nai really does love Vash, just like Vash truly does love Nai, and Rem loved them both. His brother can't be a monster.

If he's smart and kind and strong and brave enough, if he can just overcome his fear, Vash is sure that he can help. He'd convince Nai that humanity doesn't have to die, it's just ignorance and crashing on this barren planet that made everyone's hearts so barren while they struggled to survive. They, the twins, can take responsibility for what they did and help Plants and humans to help each other. If they could do it together...

He could love his brother without it being so fucking painful. They could love each other without every encounter they have leaving more helpless people dead, more scars on Vash. From all that he's lost, he could salvage this one thing. He'd be so content with that. He's survived on much less. He ran before, but he'd stay this time, and for good. Neither of them would be alone. They'd have time.

On top of that, Vash needs to help people - it's what keeps him alive, and it makes him happy. Wolfwood needs someone who'll treat him like he's a person rather than a weapon, to remember that he doesn't have to be the Punisher. That's what keeps him alive. There's still a place for him in the world, even for what he's become.

If Vash can convince Wolfwood, his brother's agent, to accept that place... if he can help him... maybe he could do the same for his brother. Just as Luida did for Vash himself.

And Wolfwood does a damn good job playing the part without even knowing that's what he's doing. Well, he knows he's protecting Vash, but all it's in how he does it.

JPN: You only get one life. You have to fight for it, no matter who you hurt in the process. There's no other way to survive.

ENG: You only get one life, y'know? Self-sacrifice might satisfy the ego, but don't throw your life away. Survival's everything.

This is advice you'd get from a brother. If one must die so another can live, I'd rather you live - so make sure of it. Dumbass. (It's also the final request Rem made of the twins: I want you two to survive./Try your very best to survive for me.) Maybe phrased bluntly and a bit abrasive, but not… insane. No weird sermons about crusades and fire from the sky, no verbal abuse or put-downs, no blame, no hurt. What's more, while Wolfwood does try to convince Vash to leave the reporters for dead, when Vash goes back for them Wolfwood bitches all the way but goes with him. He slices open the Grand Worm for them (though I think also to annoy Zazie). And after that, he clinches it by, of all things, trying to get Meryl to eat bugs.

You're not going so survive like that. Come on!/Are any of you freaks interested in survival? Come on! Open wide!

(This is totally irrelevant, but their stupid bickering in the background in the English dub is hilarious. Nick straight up says "I'm helping!" and adds something about how short Meryl is. Meryl starts protesting that she's a "perfectly average-sized woman." I bet they were unbearable in the truck.)

Nai was always dismissive of, if not outright nasty about, Vash enjoying food he doesn't need. Nick gets it. Consuming food gives physical nourishment, and Plants don't need that to survive. But it's also togetherness, shared joy. Those are things both Plants and humans need, so it's not a 'waste'. We're more than merely serving a material purpose or function, even one that's self-declared. Even as Plants.

No matter how heavy a cross you carry, you still deserve to eat. You still deserve to laugh./Heh, no matter how heavy the cross is you carry, you deserve food. And to laugh.

Vash needed to hear that, or something like it. It's the kind of thing Rem used to say, the kind of thing Luida told him. (It's about everyone getting a share.) Meryl, though she cares for him, doesn't yet know how to break through Vash's rumination.

Nick's being a jackass older brother by happenstance, because he's letting down his guard. It's who he really is: kind of a silly kid who cares deeply about people and shows it by goofing off and pushing their buttons until they want to fucking kill him. But Vash would so relieved to have a brother who's just annoying about how much he cares. Who still cares enough to listen to his opinions, and to compromise when they disagree; who doesn't loathe the person Vash is because it's not what he thinks Vash should be. So Vash eats what Wolfwood offers, despite Roberto's warnings, extending his trust. Wolfwoof takes that in the spirit it was intended, a little shocked. Despite himself (and despite Zazie), he and Vash are genuine friends from this moment onward.

Also Nick is having a ball bugging the shit out of Meryl. She's like three feet tall and so easy to piss off! Maybe if he tries hard enough he can make her head explode. Irritating the little sister mode: activate.

That doesn't mean everything's love and peace, though.

Wolfwood's work isn't over yet. I think he's relieved Vash extended his trust both because, despite himself, Nick likes this dude (and that must have been an interesting realisation to come to about his sadistic boss's fluffy wuffy cotton ball of a twin brother) and because it makes his job easier. But now he's emotionally invested. He shouldn't be. He can't be. Zazie reminded him why, can see it in [his] eyes. The last person who cared like this was Livio.

Again, Vash isn't stupid. He does care about Nick as a person, not a surrogate Nai, just as he cares about everyone; it's why he's so easy to love and so, so many people have come to love him. (Precious darling boy.) Nevertheless, there are gaps between what Vash needs from Nick and what Nick is capable of giving. And there's one huge glaring difference between Wolfwood and Knives.

That difference meant the hope Vash came to have about confronting Knives in July was misplaced. He just couldn't have known until it was too late.

Part I

Part III

Part IV

Part V

Part VI

Part VII

[tootoomanycats]

I'm so happy to be working on this short story (10 chapters)

Just Desserts is an idea I had a while back (post here), and honestly, it grew into something really beautiful. As much as I avoid it, I genuinely do enjoy writing angsty scenes. So please enjoy this teaser that I wrote while listening to this on repeat. (hits play again) K thanks I love you buh bye!

Levi forced himself up the steps to your apartment, pushing through excruciating pain in his knee as his heart pounded so violently it rattled deep in his ear drums. You wouldn't have left without saying anything. You wouldn't do that to him… unless…

Dread set in, and vision began to tunnel, darkness dancing on the edges as he started skipping steps. The cane fell out of his hands, clattering down before skirting across the ground below; it didn't matter. He had to get to your apartment; you had to be there still, and he had to apologize. Had to tell you the truth.

“FUCK!” He cried out when his left leg refused to lift, unable to clear the top step, body crumbling like a marionette on the small landing that led to the apartment door. He crawled, dragging as he gritted through the sharp pain that ricocheted each vertebra before knocking on the door from where he lay—listening for a moment, hoping to hear the shuffle of footsteps that never came.

He called your name.

No response.

“No.” He pulled himself to stand on shaking limbs, hands gripping the door for balance as he called out your name, knocking louder this time.

Silence.

“No, no, no, no.” The words came out in a hushed panic as he turned the doorknob; it was unlocked.

Just as he went to limp into the doorway, a white envelope caught his eye. Laying on the ground, staring back up at him, his name written in the delicate cursive he knew to be your handwriting. Dryness wrapped around his throat like barbed wire. Slowly sliding down against the door, he grasped the envelope and broke its wax seal. Hands shaking as the contents within were pulled out and unfolded. There were so many, many pages. Each with a different date.

“Are these…diary pages?”

October 12th.

I have never been so embarrassed. I mistook him for a child when he had been so kind to help me with my keys. To add insult to injury, he is the tea shop owner across the way. I don’t know how I’ll ever live this down.

That was the first day you met. He flipped through the more recent pages until he found a freshly torn page with no date, only his name. The ink was still fresh and smugged in certain places—small wet spots littered across, making a few letters hard to understand.

Levi,

You're right.

I’m a coward.

I’m sorry.

“Idiot,” He murmured as he held the torn pages in his hands, looking up to see that the apartment had been cleaned and what little you did have was gone. The tea plant he gifted you that once sat in the window was missing; only an imprint of where the terracotta bottom sat proved that it was once there. The cat toys that usually litter the floor were gone, as was Louie. With how little you had, it was difficult to tell if leaving was preplanned or done in haste.

Turning back to the pages in hand, he read through each entry. Dates skipped, and with the pages torn, it wasn't hard to put together that you had ripped out every entry that had to do with him.

November 11th.

He wanted to kiss me.

Fear grabbed my stomach, and like a coward, I fiend to be oblivious and went home. I wish I had been brave; why can’t I be brave? When I told Martha, I expected her to joke about it, but she just looked sad and hugged me. She told me it was okay. I didn't even know I had started crying until I was struggling to breathe.

He could hear his teeth grinding as he clenched his jaw. Every page spelled out in black and white how much you cared and how scared you were. And he had goaded you for it, shouted at you angrily when you were finally brave enough to try and tell him, as awkward as it was. "What have I done?"

Let me know in the comments if you'd like to be tagged as updates and chapters are posted! Tag List:

@l1zk4 @angelofthorr