#or let’s walk in silence and appreciate the world around us in company

[sun-e-chips]

Mwah!

Get smooshed idiot >:)

After hours park stroll anyone?

I absolutely see Moon and Y/N doing night walks where they just talk about anything the whole time

The days events, current story their reading, YouTube rabbit holes, fun planning (even if it’s hypothetical), how cool the world and universe is, and lovely nonsense chatter:)

[sttoru]

⠀ ⠀ ⠀ ⠀ THE CUT THAT ALWAYS BLEEDS

⠀ 𝝑𝑒 ⠀⠀ 𝐒𝐘𝐍𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐒. you regret everything when you wake up after an eventful night with your asshole of a roommate, toji fushiguro. even though you hate yourself for giving in to his charms, a part of you secretly craves his company.

tags. roommate!toji x female reader. suggestive, fluff, angst. age gap (reader twenties, toji early thirties). toji is kinda an asshole. kinda toxic relationship. mention of reader having daddy issues. self indulgent lol. reader gets called ‘doll, sweetheart \ naive’ -> part one: here

everything aches. your entire body is on fire the moment you wake up. you tiredly rub your eyes, regaining consciousness after being in deep sleep. glimpses of a room that isn’t yours, your nude body under the sheets and the uncomfortable stinging sensation in your hips help you connect the dots.

“oh, fuck,” you cuss quietly. memories of the intimate night with your roommate—the one you swore you hated and only tolerated—replay in your head.

you can’t believe it. you gave in so easily to toji’s charms, that womanising bastard. you hit yourself on the head a couple times with your hands. you just know that cocky man will never let this go. he can use this against you, blackmail you if needed.

while cussing yourself out some more, a faint breeze entering the room makes you shiver. you look to the side and finally notice the figure standing outside on the balcony.

toji exhales a stream of smoke from his lips, his eyes fixed on the horizon. the early morning sun casts a warm glow on the city below. he senses your awaking presence and a smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth.

the older man can feel your gaze on him, but he remains fixated on the scenery. taking a deep drag from the cigarette, he exhales the smoke into the crisp morning air once more. he knows you’re watching him, yet he makes no move to acknowledge you. instead, he lets the silence linger for a while, enjoying the view and the nicotine buzz before speaking up.

“morning, doll,” toji says, not bothering to turn around to face you. he continues to smoke without a care in the world, his bare muscular back facing you. the fact that he’s acting like nothing happened the day before is infuriating to you.

he does this often after all. sleeping around with women who can earn him some extra money, leaving when he sees no use in them anymore. now he’s doing the same with you—using a naive and vulnerable college girl like you for a room to stay in, toying with your feelings and managing to lure you to have sex with him. it’s all part of his plan, no?

you sigh, though realise that there’s no changing the past. what happened has happened.

you throw your legs over the edge of the bed. you stare down at your bare limbs for a second before grabbing the sheets on the bed. you wrap the cloth around your nude body, seeking a resemblance of warmth. something to keep you grounded so you won’t lose your mind.

your feet pad silently on the wooden flooring as you walk over to the balcony. the cold air hits your face which instantly makes you shiver. your nose scrunches up a bit and your brows furrow, more so after you’re hit with the strong scent of tobacco.

“a lil' grumpy, ain’t ya?” toji comments once he finally turns his head to the side. his eyes rake over your body, lingering on the flesh of your thighs peeking out beneath the make-shift dress. he lets out a low and appreciative whistle at the provocative sight.

it reminds him of what went down the night before. how you were trembling, begging and drooling underneath him as he ruined your insides. the memory is forever burned into his brain.

you can only click your tongue in response, coming to stand still next to him at the railing. you lean against it, arms draped over the edge. a silence hangs in the air between you two before you break it with a sigh. “you're an asshole,” you grumble while rubbing your eyes.

you remember how you’ve promised not to press on about the rent problem. how toji had tricked you into saying specific things in the heat of the moment. he’ll use it against you, you guess. if you bring it up now, he'll probably say that ‘that wasn't what you said yesterday when i was balls dee—’

you cover your face with your hand, your stomach doing that thing as you stop that thought. you hate yourself for feeling so giddy as you recall what happened between you two.

“heh, never claimed i was a good guy,” toji hums, voice low and hoarse. he puffs another cloud of smoke the other way. at least he’s respectful enough not to blow it in your face.

neither of you utter a word after that.

you look down at the city below. everyone is going on about their day, the people none the wiser of what is occuring at your little apartment. the conflicting feelings are fighting a losing battle in your head. as much as you dislike the various things toji does, you feel yourself strangely attached to him. even more so after you shared an intimate night together.

but then again, you know yourself, sometimes you make bad decisions in life. like the exes you chose to have in the past—all of whom were quite toxic in a way. some were way too old for a university student like you.

yet you stayed. you stayed because you needed the validation. the affection of an older man. perhaps that would fill up the gap left in your heart, formed by the absence of a father figure. it’s something you can't escape. which lands you in situations like these.

it would explain why you’re attracted to the man standing next to you. he’s an asshole of a roommate that frustrates you—not paying his half of the rent in time, coming home late which wakes you up from your much needed sleep, leaving his things scattered around the apartment, sometimes bringing women home to drain the money from them.

though, toji also got aspects about him that you appreciate in silence. like when he teases you when you're not feeling well, which helps you take your mind off whatever is bothering you and eventually leads to you venting to him. he actually listens and gives you reasonable advice.

well, when it’s people bothering you, he always urges you to tell them their names so he can 'handle it' for you. you decline the offer, but having someone who would protect you when it comes it, is quite reassuring.

or when you’re outside together and a man creeps you out, toji is the first one to make the guy flee by just his intimidating presence that looms over you like a watch dog.

one thing you also appreciate is when your roommate almost always comes home with something for you. he doesn’t give it to you personally, but he leaves it in places you can find. it ranges from food to souvenirs and pieces of decor you like.

you didn’t realise you had been faintly smiling this entire time. you snap out of your endless thoughts about the older man besides you. only then do you notice how close you are to toji. how close your bodies had suddenly got.

you must have subconsciously scooted closer to him while lost in your train of thoughts. your body seeks his warmth, his comforting presence, even if your consciousness tries to refuse it.

your arm is pressed against toji’s and you’re close to enough to smell him. his natural body scent mixed with his cologne and the lingering tobacco. you don’t flinch away when you’re aware of the proximity. instead, you allow yourself to enjoy the moment.

you lean your head against his bicep, closing your eyes. toji doesn’t move away either and you take that as a sign that it’s fine; that it’s okay to be vulnerable. he won’t take advantage of that, right?

in the meanwhile, the dark-haired man is feelings things he swore he would never feel for anyone ever again. that damn warmth in his chest as he looks down at you, an unfamiliar yet also nostalgic look in his eyes.

toji can guess why you’re still tolerating him, even when he does things others would have kicked him out for long time ago. he knows of your past—you’ve opened up about that to him when you were overly emotional. your exes, your absent dad, the attachment issues you’re struggling with. it’s also visible in your behavior.

the older man sighs. as much as he wants to be there for you, attachment is a foreign aspect for him. in his mind, showing any affection will cause damage on the long run for both him and you.

“i’m a bad guy, sweetheart,” toji starts before stubbing out the cigarette and throwing it on an ash tray near the small table on the side. despite his words, his voice is slightly softer than usual. “y’ really don't wanna get all chummy with a man like me.”

‘for your own sake,’ he wants to add, but refrains from it. he doesn’t want the conversation to turn too deep, too sentimental. he can’t really deal with that stuff.

you chuckle dryly at his last comment. on one hand, it’s the truth. you don’t even know what the man does for work, if he even works, why he comes home late at night, why he sometimes leaves for a few days only to return sweaty and tired. toji’s a total mystery.

but on the other hand, you’re attracted to the moments you spend together. the aspects of his life and personality that he allows you to see. the specks of the goodness inside of him that only you get to witness in the space of your shared apartment.

“don't care,” you eventually form a reply. your eyes dart up to look at toji, subtly grinning at him as you half attempt to make a joke, “am not exactly a ‘good girl’ either.”

toji’s head falls back as he barks out a harsh laugh. ‘you? not a good girl?’ he thinks. you’re the example of the nicest and also most naive woman he’s ever met.

the tension between you two fades away after that. before he can stop himself, the older man finds himself reaching out to wrap an arm around your shoulders. he brings you closer to him, his warm palm resting firmly on your upper back.

you freeze for a second, unsure where the sudden gesture came from, but you don’t complain. you laugh softly with him and rest your head against his bare chest. your heart is beating fast and you swear that his is doing the same, though not as noticeable.

“keheh. nah, y’re not ‘bad’,” toji shakes his head. his veiny hand comes up to ruffle your hair in a surprisingly affectionate yet awkward pat. he looks down at the top of your head and finds himself letting his guard down. his voice is a low rumble, “compared to me y’re a damn saint, believe me.”

you’re caught off guard by the headpat, again. your heart jumps to your throat at the touch and you bet he doesn’t even realise the effect it has on your body. or maybe he does.

a smile tugs at your lips. you’re fine with this—your earlier irritation completely forgotten. you don’t care about the money when he can repay you with irreplaceable moments like these. instants where you feel almost . . . loved.

toji can’t deny the surge of emotions bubbling up in his chest at the sight of your content self. he covers it up with a cough, but he’s still thinking about the possibility. the possibility of him falling in love again.

he cannot.

his rational mind tells him no. that with the dangerous life he’s leading behind your back, he’ll only harm you if you’re involved in it. he can’t risk endangering a young woman like you who’s got her whole life ahead of her.

but it feels good, to feel alive again after all this time of being alone.

“alright, let’s quit all this cheesy stuff,” toji rolls his eyes before flicking your forehead. you whine in response and rub the stinging skin, giving him a weak shove in response.

the older man grins as the grumpiness returns to your face. cute, he thinks to himself, wanting to elicit a familiar reaction from you. he pokes your sides a few times until you’re squirming and squealing.

“hey! quit that!” you huff, swatting his hands away the best you can as you run back inside the apartment—a desperate attempt to escape. you call out to him once you’re back in his bedroom, “you’re still an asshole!”

toji watches you go and exhales through his nose. your final comment causes the scarred side of his lip to curl up into a smirk. he knows you can’t be mad at him for long and he can’t wait to tease you again when he catches up to you.

he lazily walks back inside after a bit, closing and locking the balcony door. the same thought crosses his mind again when toji stares at you as you slip out of his room; maybe it’s worth giving love a chance again. just maybe.

toji hopes that things end up well. that life will not use you - the only person he’s slowly letting himself be vulnerable with - to teach him another lesson.

little did he know that mercy does not exist in the lives of people like him.

[jinxvex]

Hiiiii! I love your work! Do you think you could do Vi x reader hcs where the reader is like very day-dreamy? Like head stuck in the clouds a lot? Tysm <33

♱ gf!vi x daydreamy gf!reader ♱

hey!! so excited to put something out 4 violet!!

you could interpret this as a modern!au or arcane!u 😌

cw: sfw & nsfw, dom!vi + sub!r, wholesome at the beginning, vi is an amazing and understanding gf, vi is v flirty, teasing, dirty talk, mild choking/slapping, possessiveness, dumbification, degradation/praise, vi's a bit condescending, etc!!

+ strap usage, she eats you out + uses her fingers!!

♱ vi LOVES the fact that you’re so daydreamy and always in your own world. she appreciates your uniqueness + the way your mind works!

♱ vi thinks you’re so adorable when you slowly trail off in the middle of speaking to her—the vibrant imagery, thoughts, and inner workings of your mind too overwhelming for you to handle! she lets you look off into the distance for a bit before you’re quickly scrambling to apologize for getting lost in your own head (again lol)!!

♱ she’s quick to shut down your apology with a, “nah, babe it‘s okay. take your time, yeah?” + “you in your own head again, huh?” (EVERY SINGLE TIME!)

♱ after boxing/the gym, she often comes home to your shared apartment to you blasting music through your headphones. you’re bopping your head and bouncing your leg at your desk. lost in how the music speaks to you and flows through your veins like a constant electric current. you don’t hear or even notice her until she comes up behind you, wraps her arms around your shoulders, and nuzzles her head into your neck, “whatcha doin’, pretty? what’re you listening to?” + “love comin’ home to you all happy and shit—makes my day sweetheart.”

♱ in public, when you’re walking together, holding hands, and enjoying each other's company in silence, you can’t help but get in your head! your brain buzzing with thoughts about how nice vi’s hand feels in yours and how nice they feel in… other places… all of a sudden, you’re not paying attention to where you’re going and she gets a little stern with you. before you run into anyone or anything she’s telling you to, “watch where you’re goin’, hmm?” + “careful, babe. don’t want you gettin’ hurt now, do we?”

♱ when you're upset, whether it be because you're self-conscious about something or having other negative thoughts, you get sort of locked in your own mind--endless flashes of darkness encompassing your headspace. when this happens she's whispering comforting praises into your ear, "it's okay, princess. 'm here. not goin' anywhere." and she's pulling you into her chest to tell you to, "listen to my heartbeat, come back to me." + "hey. hey, look at me, baby."

♱ vi nudges your cheek with her fingers to get your attention when your attention has strayed away from her, "talkin' to you, babe."

♱ she totally notices when you’re fantasizing about her.

WHAT!! who said that?! 🤭

nsfw incoming...

♱ you and vi love to partake in your separate hobbies while in each other’s presence so when she’s cooking, writing, or boxing in the corner(?), you’re almost always on the other side of the room reading a book. she knows the books you read get a little dirty. when she glances at you from across the room she isn’t surprised to see you staring off into the distance (again) with your book loosely resting in your lap. you’re biting your lip and pressing your thighs together. she smirks knowingly and stops what she’s doing to walk over to you, “what’s got you thinkin’, baby?” + “wanna show me what’s got you so worked up?”

♱ she won’t stop teasing you until you’re reading her the sentence that threw you in for a loop—thinking of her hands and mouth pleasuring you. images of her muscles rippling against your skin as she fucks you into the mattress with her strap momentarily stunning you.

♱ your daydream does become a reality when she's doing just that. minutes later. she's forcing you to make eye contact with her, to give her your full attention and focus when she has you in missionary with your legs propped up on her shoulders. her pace is brutal, plunging her strap deep into your cunt with her hand wrapped around your neck; choking you and holding your head in place so you can't look away.

♱ she's a sucker for dirty talk so you know she's all up in your ear like: "fuck, baby. yeahhh, yeah. look at me when you take this dick, pretty girl." + "don't want you goin' off in your own head when i'm fucking you, need you to see exactlyy how i'm treating this fuckin' pussy."

♱ she will NOT let you cum until she knows for sure that you aren't thinking of anything except for her—she wants your brain to be mush by the time she's done with you. she wants you to let go, fall, and trust that she'll catch you. take care of you.

♱ she's not afraid to rough you up a little if you aren't listening. she'd tap your cheek and tighten her grip on your throat as she stuffs you even fuller; as deep as she can go, "*thrust* look. *thrust* at. *thrust* me." she's drilling you now, "c'mon, babe, can't you follow a simple direction? or are you too cockdrunk to function?" + "yep, thaaat's it, baby."

♱ vi also enjoys eating you out from the back while she shoves her middle and ring finger into your sopping wet cunt. as she eats you out like it's her last meal on earth, tongue zigzagging and sloppily mouthing at your heat, her fingers are curling up against your g-spot. she knows your brain thinks nothing but her because of every whimper, moan, and chant. "yes, yes, fuck yes! right thereee, vi. fuuuck" you're practically screaming at the top of your lungs. not long after she's pulling her mouth off of you and rising up to lean over your back and dig her fingers deeper inside, "there, huh? that's what she needs, isn't it? pussy's swallowing my fingers whole. greedy girl."

feel free to send more reqs about vi!! love her real bad 🤠

[ameliathornromance]

He first saw you picking flowers.

The Orc was on a walk through the town centre, heading towards the beach. It was too nice a day to be staying inside, baking in the heat and becoming one with his leather sofa. If he must melt into a large green puddle, he will do it at the beach.

As he strolled through the town centre, he admired the impeccably kept gardens of lush grass, bright red roses, purple and pink lilies. And amongst the colour, was you.

The Orc stopped in his tracks, watched you working, trimming away at dead flower heads and picking off wilting leaves. This was the first time he’d ever seen someone take care of the gardens.

The peaceful smile, combined with the delicate way you picked the flowers enraptured him with a kind of calm that he hadn’t felt in years.

You just looked so content, so natural to be surrounded by the bushes, as if you were a deer drinking water from a still lake.

Feeling eyes on you, you looked around to see the source of your discomfort. Locking eyes with the Orc, he flinched, “s-sorry.” He apologised, looking away from you. “I didn’t mean to stare.” He must have looked really creepy to be watching someone so intently.

You smiled at him. “It’s okay, it’s not a normal sight.” Tucking the flowers into the crook of your arm, you stood and made your way over to him. “I mean, it’s not often you see someone raiding a public garden for flowers, right?” You let out an awkward chuckle.

The Orc nodded in agreement, reflecting your awkwardness. “Yeah, I guess not.”

Silence sat between the two of you for a moment. “I’m technically not allowed to be picking them.” You said, after a moment. “I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything.”

Smiling, the Orc assured you, “I won’t tell a soul.”

From that point onward, he made it a point to go and see you at the gardens every day. It was such a rarity to see someone be so happy in their own company, doing their own thing.

He didn’t like to just watch you though, he always made conversation with you. The last thing the Orc wanted was to make you uncomfortable. It would look to other people, a lone Orc, sat on a bench while a pretty young lady tends to the flowers in the public garden.

Through your talks, he learned that you actually work for the local council and take care of the garden every day… while taking some of the flowers home for your own viewing. “I mean, I tend to them, I should at least be allowed to take some home, right?” You told him.

The Orc had nodded absent-mindedly in agreement. You were just so passionate about your job, the delight and excitement you had on your face when he asked you botanical questions made his stomach bubble.

You never acted annoyed by him, laughed at his jokes and even invited him to come and help you with your work. Whenever he had questions, you answered them without judgement and with such zeal.

After spending his days with you, he’d return home, the world seemed… dull. Without all the brightly coloured flowers around and your glowing prescence, he sometimes wondered if it had always been this way to him. He then realised it hadn’t, because you lit up the world.

The Orc pondered on how best to tell you about his feelings. There was a part of him that worried you were only nice to him to… be nice to him. But it wouldn’t hurt to tell you how he felt… would it? It’s not like you were ever nasty or cold to him, so there had to be a chance for him, right?

He thought how best to tell you: Box of chocolate? No, too stereotypical. Just asking you out to dinner? That’s way too basic, and then you might think he wants something else.

He didn’t need to worry about that for long however, one hot summer day, you asked him:

“Did you know that the Victorians used to have a language for flowers?”

“No, I did not.” The Orc answered. He was sat beside you this time, holding up a Rose bush so you could reach the thorns at the roots of the plant.

“They used to use it to tell other people things,” you said as you snipped off the sharp edges. “Like, if you wanted to tell someone you loved them, you’d bring them honeysuckle and roses.”

“Huh.” He said, thoughtfully. He was silent for a moment, thinking on what you’d said.

This was it. That’s how he’d tell you he liked you, through Honeysuckle and Roses.

Once back at home, he jumped on his laptop and researched. The next morning, he went to three different florists, and got what he needed.

While in his car, the Orc did his best to rearrange the flowers in an attractive manner. After adjusting them five or six times, he sighed. The Orc still had his reservations. Of course he was nervous, he hadn’t told anyone he liked them since… Wait, had he ever even liked anyone this much?

He shook his head. “Just have to tell her,” he muttered to himself as he stepped out of the car. As he made his way through the garden, picking and making final changes to the bouquet in his hands, he looked up and stopped dead in his tracks.

You stood at the edge of the garden, talking to a human man. You held a strong scowl at the man, who jabbed and pointed a finger at you, similarly angry with you.

The Orc hung back, watching the altercation unfold.

Finally, the man sighed, and raised his hand to your cheek, like he was going to cup it. But before he could, you raised a hand and slapped him hard across the face.

The man let out a shout, grabbed at your wrist and yanked. You jerked forward.

Within seconds, the Orc was by your side and caught you around the waist with a free arm. He glowered down at the pathetic man, “what’s going on here?” He growled.

The man let go of your arm. “It’s none of your business, I was just having a conversation with the woman here.” The man glared at your Orc. “This hasn’t got anything to do with you.”

“It is, actually.” The Orc hissed.

“How so? You’re just some random-”

“I’m her boyfriend, actually.”

The moment the words escaped him, the Orc wanted to clamp a hand over his mouth, to take back the words and hide them away.

His realisation of horror thankfully, hadn’t shown on his face.

The human man flinched. “Oh…” He said. His tone low, “sorry, I didn’t know…” And with that, he turned away and stalked off.

Huffing, the Orc turned to you. “Are you alright?” He asked, eyebrows furrowed. “He didn’t hurt you did he?”

You shook your head, “no, I’m fine… He was just some creep who wanted my socials. That’s all.”

Your Orc friend let out a sigh, “I… I’m sorry I said that. The boyfriend thing…” The bouquet of flowers were still clutched in his hands, petals wilted slightly from the unpleasantness.

He probably really lost any chance now, just announcing that? To a park full of people? He wouldn’t be surprised if you just stopped talking to him entirely.

“It’s okay… I liked the title, actually.” Your words came out small, mumbled. But to the Orc, they were like the clang of a church bell. His stomach somersaulted, his heart thumped hard in his chest, eyes widened.

“I was hoping that you would ask me out at some point… otherwise I would have asked you myself today.” You gave a cheery, but abashed smile.

Clearing his throat, face burning, the Orc held the flowers out to you, “I still can.” He smiled, hands shaking, “would you like to go out with me?”

You bit your lip, taking the flowers from him. “I’d like that.”

Patreon

[amomentsescape]

What would a night routine of the reader bathing with the slasher to clean the blood off and then brushing teeth and changing into pj to go to bed be like with the main slashers?

Slashers' Night Time Routine with Reader

A/N: This is such a wholesome request, thank you!

Freddy Krueger

If Freddy needs to make a visit to the "real" world, he will most certainly stop by your place near the end

He used to always associate real life with anger and death, but having you has made him appreciate it as more than that

He'll always show up unannounced

Sometimes he even likes to give you a little scare as his way of saying "hi"

His arms bursting through the couch and wrapping around you

His severed head rolling out from under your bed

You get the picture

But once his laughs and your berating settle down, he goes soft

He'll hug you and let you know how the night went before settling into your bed

The nice thing about literally being a dream demon is that he can go from smelly and bloody to fresh and clean with a twist of his knifed glove

It's normally pretty late by the time he's with you, so you're always freshened up and in comfy clothes already

He pulls you into him and gently rubs up and down your arm

He doesn't really sleep so he just lays with you for however long he feels necessary

He sometimes takes you into his dream world once you're asleep

But if you need the rest, he makes sure to leave you a little gift in the morning

Usually a flower or candy of some kind

Occasionally it's an eyeball or a finger

It is Freddy after all

Michael Myers

This man hardly sleeps to be honest

He usually just naps a bit during the day and stays up all night doing serial killer stuff

The fact that he even functions normally is odd to you

He comes home late a lot of the time, but you try to stay up for him

He's scolded you several times about this, but it's the one thing you will never budge on

You greet him at the door with a tired smile as he walks over to you

He lets you hold his mask once he takes it off as he heads to the bathroom

His clothing sits in a messy pile on the bathroom floor as you wipe off his mask with a clean cloth

Once this is done, you head into the bathroom

He never used to care about the dried blood and sweat on him until he met you

Now, there's something about when getting clean with you that he enjoys

Not that he'd ever say this out loud

You hop into the shower with him and help wash his back, gently scratching and rubbing along his skin

You can always feel his tense posture relax at this

After the shower, you both step out and brush your teeth

You already have his pajama pants ready for him after this, allowing him to get comfortable

Everything up to this point is done is silence, both of you just enjoying each other's presence

But once you both are cuddled up in bed, you begin to talk about the things that happened today and what you did while he was gone

He isn't much of a talker himself, but he does like listening to your voice

It helps him relax as he eventually watches you fall asleep against him

Jason Voorhees

He loves seeing your bright smile whenever he walks through the door

It's what he looks forwards to the most while he's still out stalking the woods

You're always quick to help him shrug off his jacket and set his machete off to the side

Once the bloody outer layer of clothing is off, he engulfs you in a big hug as his way of saying he missed you

After a bit, you sit him down and begin taking a warm washcloth to his body, wiping away any small blood splatters still leftover

Baths and even showers still don't sit right with Jason, and although he could do it, the night is meant to be about comfort, so you don't push him into the bathroom for the sake of his relaxation

Once he's cleaned up, he follows you around while you brush your teeth and get changed, just enjoying being in your company

He is technically undead, so brushing his teeth and sleeping aren't really in his normal routine

But he will lay with you in bed and listen to you hum softly

He'll caress your cheek once he sees your eyes flutter close, a soft smile growing on your face

This is normally how you fall asleep, Jason by your side and watching over you

Thomas Hewitt

It's not easy working outside all day in the southern heat

Once inside, you hand him an old rag so that he can wipe off the sweat from around his face, him offering a smile behind his mask

After this, he takes a seat at the table with you and eats dinner

This is when you talk about your day and just share anything you want to tell him

He listens intently and even chimes in with a few nods and gentle squeezes on your hand

You then clear the dishes once you're both done eating, letting him get the shower ready

You follow in after him, relaxing under the warm water

Once he rinses off the grime, he pulls you close to him under the shower head

He honestly can't think of anything better than to be under the pouring of warm water with you in his arms

He'd repeat the tiring day 100 times if it would always end like this

Once you're both washed up, you brush your teeth at the sink

You both have to take turns with this, sometimes nudging up against him and poking him as a joke

He always has a wide smile

Once you both go to bed, you rest your head on his chest, rubbing circles into his tense muscles

You both eventually fall asleep intertwined with one another

Bubba Sawyer

At the end of a long day, Bubba is all but sprinting into the house to see you

He pulls you into him, not even considering all the sweat and dirt getting on you

Not that you really cared anyways

His enthusiasm makes up for it

He then makes his way to the bathroom, basically leaving a trail of his dirty clothes along the way

He's more of a bath person, relishing in the bubbles and the warm water

So once he has the bath started, he is eager to help you undress

Not even in an inappropriate way, he just likes to have you in the tub with him

Once the soap has been added and the water is the right temp, you both get in together

He has you facing him while you talk about your day

He likes to play with your hands and plop clumps of bubbles onto your head

Anything to make you laugh is a win in his books

After your bath, you both get into some cozy clothes and watch TV

This usually involves snacking on some baked treats or candy

Half the time, you both fall asleep curled up on the sofa together with the movie still playing in the background

If you don't, then you'll have to basically drag Bubba to the bedroom and under the covers, giving a small kiss before tucking yourself in after

Brahms Heelshire

Anything on his normal list of rules is easy to get him to follow

Tucking him into bed and giving him a kiss goodnight takes all but two seconds to complete

But everything leading up to that can be a pain in the butt

If you make him dinner, he'll swear up and down that the vegetables would make him sick if he ate them

He then would dread going to the shower to get cleaned up

Clean and Brahms never seem to go together in a sentence

The only way he'll get in is if you promise to go in with him

Very handsy if you let him

Wants to wash your back for you

Constantly pulls you against his soapy body even after you've already rinsed off

And after all this, getting him out of the shower and forcing him to brush his teeth is a whole other battle

You have to help him towel off and practically lock him in the bathroom so that he brushes his teeth

After countless moments of whining, he finally gives in when you threaten to not sleep beside him

Once he eventually finishes getting cleaned up, everything is a breeze

Maybe all that fighting beforehand tires him out?

Whatever the cause, you're happy to watch him plop into bed, waiting for you to pull the covers up over him

You crawl in beside him and give him his kiss before he cuddles his head into the crook of your neck

He's fast asleep within moments of his eyes closing

Norman Bates

He has a very simple routine he follows every night

Dinner, shower, reading, bed

Always in that order without fail

You've grown accustomed to this pattern and learned to love the familiarity of it each night

You both eat dinner together at the table, going back and forth sharing stories and talking about the day

It never ceases to amaze you how much more you learn about Norman every day

You both take your time eating but once you both have finished, he's quick to jump up and help you put all the dishes away

He used to be shy with showering with you after dinner, but he now finds it the best part of the night

Sharing each other's company and helping one another get clean is incredibly comforting to him

After getting all cleaned up, you both sit down on the couch together and read a book

Sometimes you both read separately and just bask in each other's silence for a while

But other times you switch off on reading out loud to one another, the other person resting their head on their lap

This is typically accompanied with a cup of tea, Norman's favorite treat at the end of a long day

Once you both become tired, you will head to the bedroom and slip under the covers next to each other

He likes to face you while you sleep, making sure you're comfortable before he finally closes his eyes for the night

Billy Loomis

Billy can be a bit unpredictable when he comes home at night

If the killing spree went well, then he comes home with a big smile on his face, arms open wide for your embrace

But if things didn't go as planned, he'll be very quiet coming home, heading straight to the shower

But no matter what mood he's in, he wants you there

You join him under the hot water, helping him clean off all the blood and dirt

Once he feels your touch, he relaxes and holds you close to him

If he feels like it, he'll tell you about the night and how things went

But if not, you're both just happy to be with each other in the comfortable silence

Once clean, you both get changed into warm clothes and watch some TV for a while

Horror movies are a must with Billy, so munching on some popcorn and candy with a scary film on is the perfect way for him to unwind

He loves when you scratch his scalp during the movie, practically melting under your touch

Once he becomes tired, he'll hoist you up and to the bedroom

He'll plop into bed and pull you into his arms

This is when you both share your stories of the day and the good things that happened if not already done in the shower

He'll kiss you deeply before dozing off, thankful to have you there beside him

Stu Macher

He's always bursting with energy when he comes home to you

The door flies open and he has you spinning around in his arms

He's talking a mile a minute, describing every detail of his night

You're always just so happy to see him glowing and unharmed, so you listen intently with a smile on your face

Once he finally comes down from his high, he gets the munchies and raids the kitchen for a bit

After this, he just wants to cuddle and watch TV, but you always insist on him hopping in the shower

The boy is a sweaty, bloody mess

With some puppy eyes and a promise to join, he's finally convinced to get cleaned up

He always insists on having the water scorching hot for whatever reason, so you basically feel like your in a sauna

However, he makes up for it in scalp massages and soft kisses along your shoulders

Once you're both clean, you quickly brush your teeth and hop into matching pajamas (he insists)

You then cozy up in bed and turn on a movie

You almost always fall asleep with the TV still on, limbs intertwined with one another

Eric Draven

Eric rarely comes home while you're still awake

He tries his best to stay quiet, but you somehow have an internal alarm at this point and always wake up after a while

He tries to shush you back to bed each time, but you insist on helping him get cleaned up

You take his dirty clothes and set them on a chair, leaving that mess for the morning

You then start the bath and light a few candles

Eric enjoys the light of a flame more than the artificial lighting in the bathroom

He holds you close to him in the tub, gently caressing your arms and back

You're also eager to return the favor, carefully running a wet washcloth over any grime and dried blood left on his skin

He simply tilts his head back and closes his eyes, finally relaxing for the first time that night

You've fallen asleep together like this a couple times, only waking up once the water became cold

Once you're both in comfy clothes, he carries you to bed and tucks you in

He spoons you and rakes his fingers through your hair, humming random melodies he plays on guitar sometimes

This always lulls you back to sleep

Eric doesn't sleep much, but he'll rest his eyes from time to time

And he's only able to do so when you're against his chest

[bitchinbarzal]

sign the papers | mat & mama

The house was awfully quiet when the kids were with Mat. The odd time when you kept Wyatt it was nice to have some company but she couldn’t talk or really understand anything yet.

You had called up Miles’ wife not long after the separation to ask her opinion on the split and a possible divorce. She was obviously concerned immediately but you explained what had happened and calmed her.

“sometimes marriages just run their course. we made five beautiful kids, we built a home, I just think me and mat want different things now”

The kids were confused, why there was now a daddy’s house and a mommy’s house. why they didn’t have movie night with their parents any longer.

Ivy tried listening to her parents when she was at home, listening while her dad cried on the phone to her grandma and her mom would stress out on the phone to her friends.

You had spoken to a lawyer, drafted up divorce papers, discussed financial settlements, custody of the kids.

When you saw Mat you had tried to mention it to him, softly. You knew how he felt about the whole thing.

You had managed to mention it when he dropped the kids back off, asking if he could come in and see Wyatt. You, of course, said yes.

You watched him come into the house, as if he’s never left it. He sat on the rocking chair in Wyatt’s nursery, rocking her to sleep and mumbling a soft story to her.

You watched them on the baby monitor, a soft smile as you listened to him talking to your baby.

“Hi sweet girl, hi meatball. I missed you, I’ve missed you so much”

You allowed them their time together while putting Ivy, Ryder and Bailey to sleep. When you’d both finished the night routine you met in the hallway, closing the opposing doors from one another.

“She asleep?” He asks about Ivy and you nod “out like a light”

He follows you down the stairs into the playroom where you begin cleaning up. Mat joins in, picking up stray toys the kids had thrown around.

“For being so little they make a massive mess” he jokes, breaking the silence.

You laugh “Yeah, they take after their dad I’m sure”

When the room is cleaned and tiny, you walk Mat to the door.

“Thanks for letting me put her to bed, it means a lot when I don’t have her-“

“I’m filing for divorce” you interrupted him.

You interrupted him telling you how much he appreciated his time with his daughter to tell him you were filing for divorce.

“Oh” is all he said

You nodded, biting your bottom lip “I just wanted to tell you before the papers came through in the mail”

He hums “So we’re not going to talk about this?”

“There’s nothing to talk about Mat”

He laughs, viciously “You kicked me out of our house and we haven’t spoken since I feel like there was definitely a conversation in there somewhere!”

“Mathew, you need to leave”

“Stop doing that!” He exclaims “Doing what?”

“Calling me Mathew and making me leave when there is the slightest inconvenience for you! I want to save our marriage, I want to save our family and you don’t seem to care”

You took a deep breath and replied “I stopped being able to care a long time ago, Mat. Please just go and sign the papers when they come in”

He didn’t want to fight any longer, he couldn’t fight with you anymore. Not when you were being selfish and never listening to his point of view. At the bottom line of it all, he loved you regardless.

So instead, he leaned down and kissed your forehead, while his hand supported the back of your head.

“I will always love you, y/n. from the moment I met you until the day I die, I will always love you with my entire heart and soul and if there’s ever one thing I know I got right in this world, it’s you. No matter what the paper says, you’ll always be my girl”

A tear rolls down your cheek and your hand grasps onto his wrist before you begin to sob “Mat-“

“Shh, it’s ok baby. It’s ok, I’ll sign the papers if that’s what you want, I’m not going to fight you anymore. I just needed you to know that regardless of us fighting, shouting and balling at one another, you are my world”

You shook your head at him, sniffling “Why are you being so nice to me?”

He shrugs “I only have a little while longer as a husband I might as well try being a good one”

You watched him pull out of the driveway and down the street, tears falling off your face while you sobbed quietly.

The following days, Mat had a roadie so you had the kids full time. You had officially accepted your role back as doctor for the devils next season so you were getting back into watching hockey.

The kids had requested Mathew’s game against the Kraken be on the tv so they could watch and while it was late you couldn’t say no.

So you sat with them, Ryder on your lap while your fingers carded through his hair while you watched the islanders play.

After the game, the press had announced a big press conference with the islanders. You didn’t think much of it, they’d won so it was probably just the dramatics.

You were tidying the couch pillows when you heard the tv

“Mat, Lou informed us you had an important announcement to make this evening?” A reporter asks.

Mat nods “Yes, thank you. I wanted to make this announcement here, in Seattle where I was playing when I was drafted by the Islanders organisation in 2015. My time on Long Island has been nothing short of amazing and I will always reflect on the relationships I have developed with the community, my team and the organisation. Today, I announce my retirement from the national hockey league as a player as this season draws to a close. My family are of the utmost importance to me right now and I feel this is in our best interest”

You drop the pillow in your hand and gawk at the tv “what the fuck”

“Mommy said a bad word!” Ryder shouts, reminding you that the kids were with you.

“You’d be saying bad words too if you knew what was going on” you replied, picking up your phone to text Mat.

Instead you found a text already on your phone from him

this is for you, for us. the nhl is your dream, not just mine.

You smile at the message and look back at the tv where mat is being hounded by the media on his bombshell announcement.

When Mat finally got finished with media and all that came with his announcement he managed to pick up his phone and wade through the messages from friends, coaches and family to find your name. Only to find you’d left him on read.

When he arrived home, your nanny had dropped the kids off at his airbnb so he didn’t get the chance to speak to you. The nanny, Rita had given him a pile of papers too. He suspected it was bills, school letters you’d asked her to pass along and they were discarded onto the countertop.

The weekend with the kids passed too quickly and before he knew it you were picking them up for your week. Between the kids, the media and the organisation Mat hadn’t gotten a chance to sit down until the middle of the week, sitting at his breakfast bar looking at the divorce papers sat unsigned on the counter.

Next to it was the papers Rita had dropped off, he picked them up and began flicking through. Bills, tuition payments and then a brown envelope addressed to you.

He frowned and opened it, pulling out a white paper, the exact same as the one on his counter yet this had your name on it. These were your divorce papers.

His eyes scanned the paper for your signature, it was nowhere to be found. Part of him felt hopeful, you wouldn’t have sent him this if it didn’t mean anything.

But it had been days since Rita gave him these and you hadn’t said anything, so did it mean what he thought it meant?

Before Mat made himself crazy thinking of the possibilities with this, he got in his car and made his way to your house. Not before a stop on the way.

It was late and he knew the kids would be asleep, so he knocked lightly on the door just praying you were awake.

He waited nervously until he saw the porch light flicker on and you appear at the door in your pyjamas

“Mat? What are you- it’s eleven o’clock”

“I know, but I had to come here because I got your papers” he rushes, watching as a sleepy smile is painted on your face

“I was wondering when you’d open them”

“I, I opened it and I hope it means what I think it means” he replies.

You nod softly “It means, come home Mat, it means let’s talk about this, it means you don’t have to retire just to fix us”

He shakes his head “I retired because, you were right. This is the Mat show, I want it to be the Barzal’s. I want to be able to see you at work, in everything you do and be so proud of you because you’re amazing. I accepted an offer with management so I’m not completely out of a job”

You nod with a laugh “Good, can’t have you being bored”

He then sighs heavily and adds “The day I first asked you out I said could really see this being something real and I just couldn't let you slip away. I’m not letting you slip away from me, now or ever”

At his confession you reach out to place a hand on his chest “I love you, Mathew”

He groans lowly and you laugh “Mat, baby, my angel. I love You”

“That’s better” he smiles. You notice his hand is behind his back and you raise your eyebrow skeptically.

“What you got there?”

He brings his hand out and when you see it you laugh through teary eyes “It’s ivy! There’s no flower shops open this late”

[yanderefreak1213]

Vee's World! pt 3

Tws: Kidnapping, Forced affection, bondage, constant spying, Villain Vee, Murder, possible gore, Body horror,Abusive relationship, Manipulation tactics, yandere themes, Obsessive thoughts, Possessive thoughts. All around this is gonna be a heavily dark fanfic.

These acts shouldn't be supported in real life, I just wanted to try my hand at horror and my own version of One-sided Shellvision that involved Vee being the one inlove.

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

helly leg throbbed, her head throbbed...It all hurt. It wasn't...An unbearable pain or anything. Even still, Sprout suggested Shelly be on bed rest for a while, which yeah, makes sense. Her leg is broken...And it's a little hard to focus when you got a crack in your head! Thankfully it'll heal up as nothing broke off, sprout said it'd heal just like a normal bone!

Vee was nice enough to let Shelly use her room, her logic was that if Shelly needed anything it'd be easier for Vee to pop in, though Vee had control all over Gardenview, which means she had control to all the electronics. Vee was the one often using their tv screens or electric alarm clocks or even computers to pop in to tell them she needs them for a meeting, or something of the sort..Still, Shelly admits it was kinda nice having company...Even if it's Vee's.

See Shelly had no issues with Vee...Infact she even has a tiny crush on the Gameshow host! But after all of Vee's rejections Shelly figured she'd give up on befriending her, after Vee took over though...She's been more..Friendly? Was that the word? Vee's always been friendly enough to her, just..A little too honest.

Shelly huffed as she shifted on the bed, Vee was nice enough to get similar looking Sheets to Shelly's so she atleast felt some comfort..Vee refuses to talk about Shelly's section in the moment, all she would say was that her area was under investigation...It made Shelly uneasy, but she trusted Vee.

Cosmos and Sprout would often bring her food, or even Vee brings it sometimes if she's not too busy. Astro stopped by to talk to her, and even though Vee doesn't like her, she let Tisha come see her too! It was nice...All the toons would come visit Shelly every now and then, but Vee got a little bit..Picky on whose allowed to come see her after Shrimpo made a comment on the crack in her head.

Shelly groaned laying her head back "I'm sooo bored!" She huffed, she was hoping Astro would've stopped by or someone so she could've gotten out for a bit...Vee wouldn't let staff do it...She was being..weirdly overprotective, but the ammonite knew she had a reason for it..She appreciated it..Really!

Shelly jumped as Vee's room opened, and there stood the gameshow host herself as she shuffled through some papers, Shelly smiled "Vee! I was starting to lose my mind!" Vee looked up at her letting out a small hum before answering "Sorry, Shells.. Had alot on my plate today, I guess no one else stopped by?" She placed the papers on her desk before getting to sit on the edge of the bed, giving Shelly her full attention..It made Shelly feel a little special truthfully.

"No.." She sighed "I mean Sprout stopped by to give me food and talk for a bit, but he said he was too busy to be away too long." Shelly sighed leaning back again. Vee nodded a bit "Well, Once I'm done with the rest of the paperwork I can spare some time if you'd like and we can walk around Gardenview for a bit...Sprout wants to get you use to crutches, since you've never broken anything before." Vee stood up grabbing her paperwork "Just give me..Maybe an hour at most? It won't be that long exactly..But it's a good time frame.." She looked over at the television "You..Do know you can use that...Right?" She looked over at the ammonite...Who just stared at her.

They stared at eachother for a long while before Vee let out a disappointed sigh "Shelly, do not tell me you just sat here in complete silence.." Shelly wouldn't look at her now as she found the bed spread MUCH more interesting "Er...No?..." Vee stared for a moment again before grabbing the remote from the stand the tv was on as she brought it over to Shelly. Shelly's tail wagged a bit thumping against the bed.

"I didn't even know you watched TV.." Shelly looked at Vee, who just Shrugged "I don't, but it's easier to have it incase I need to pop in and see what's going on here." Shelly nodded a bit fumbling with the remote...Vee didn't pop in to check on her did she? Shelly never really though on that ability of her's..But Vee could pop in at any time and they wouldn't know..

Vee waved a hand in front of her face "Shelly? Hellooo." Vee bent down a bit to be eye view with the fossil toon "You okay?" Shelly nodded "Yeah! Sorry, just zoned out.." Vee jsut rolled her eyes in more of a playful manner "I was saying, you should have access to any channel, I'll come back once I'm done and we'll go for a little outing around the center. It'll be closing soon anyways so you'll be able to interact with the others without too much stress." Shelly smiled "Thank you, Vee that sounds good."

Vee nodded before leaving, Shelly sighed sinking back against the bed as she turned the tv on, She found a cute little child show having to do with Dinosaurs and a train, she thought it was cute so she continued watching...

Shelly eyes wandered over to Vee's desk...The whole time she's been in here and she'd sometimes wake up to Vee doing paperwork over there but Shelly never did see what was she was keeping in there.

After some hesitance she grabbed her crutches and moved over to the desk sitting in the chair laying her crutches on the side. She felt..Bad. She shouldn't be doing this..It was an invasion of Vee's private info..But she also didn't say not to..

Shelly sighed before opening the first draw...Not much other than some pens and blank paper, so she moved on to the next draw...Nothing much other than paperclips and other supplies like that. Finally she reached the final draw though Shelly didn't have much hope on finding anything interesting...However when she opened it, she froze a bit...It was a note. From the previous owner. She blinked a bit..Thinking about Dandy made Shelly sad... But she took out the note. It must've been to Dandy as it was signed for him..Why did Vee have it?

'Dandy, Vee is a very intelligent toon. I understand you already said you trusted her...But recently she's been showing concerning behavior. She's constantly moving away from her programming and acting out. I know she's your friend but we need to do something before she-"

The note was cut off from there, Shelly perked hearing the door jiggle so she quickly stuffed the note away and shutting the draw before pretending to look around the desk a bit as Vee entered, the gameshow host blinked at her a bit "Shelly? What..Are you doing?" She asked curiously, but there was caution in there..It was subtle, but Shelly caught. Shelly jumped a bit before smiling at her "Oh, Sorry I wanted to doodle a bit...Is that okay?"

Vee seem to study her for a minute before coming over "I see, that's fine...I only have pens though, we can stop by the gift shop and we'll grab you some colored pencils so you can do that." Shelly nodded "Alright!" as she grabbed her crutches to stand up, wobbling a bit as Vee steadied her.

Shelly felt more uneasy around Vee, what was the note suppose to say? it was ripped..Is Vee hiding something? Why did have a note meant for Dandy? What was the note trying to warn Dandy about... Shelly looked at Vee, she seemed normal...And ever sense she took over things have been nicer.. Vee turned to look at her "Shelly, are you alright?" Shelly forced a smile "Y-yeah! Just...Happy to be out I guess, it gets a little...boring sitting in a room all day."

Vee nodded a bit " I understand, but the good news is, Sprout did say you'd be able to start doing things again..Sadly with your section being...Under investigation, we'll need to find something else for you.You could always help me again if anything." Vee offered, Shelly hesitated, did she want to be around Vee more? After seeing that note..?

Shelly shook her head before nodding to Vee "Yeah sure! I'd like to keep busy so it'd be nice." Vee looked satisfied with her response as the two continued talking, but throughout the whole time...Shelly couldn't shake the weird feeling on Vee.

Astro and Goob watched from the distance, Goob tilted his head at his boyfriend "Astro?..You okay?" the fluffy craft asked, Astro just sighed "I'm fine, I'm just..Concerned." Goob seemed even more confused "Why? I think it's nice Vee is spending time with Shelly, I think they're cute together."

Astro just smiled at Goob "Usually I would agree..But..I don't know Goob, something just feels..Off she's even been avoiding me.." He looked down, before letting out a suprised yelp as goob pulled him into a suprise hug "Relax, Astro! I'm sure it's fine. You just need to talk to her." The sleepy toon smiled "You're right..I'll try and pull her aside to talk to her.." Goob giggled "Yea! I'm sure it'll go back to normal."

Astro nodded a bit "I hope so.."

even though he wants to agree with Goob...Still..He knew something was off about Vee.

As Vee and Shelly moved through gardenview, Shelly still couldn't help the sinking feeling she had about Vee but Vee did stay true to her word as they stopped by the gift shop to get coloring pencils

, though there was an uncomfortable silence between the two....Why..Why was Shelly suddenly so scared of Vee? They're friends!....Aren't they? Shelly couldn't really recall Vee having much interest in her.. Until suddenly.

"Shelly!!" A familiar voice called, Shelly perked up as she saw Tisha making her way over to her and Vee, Tisha stopped staring at Vee "...Vee." She huffed out, Vee kept the smile, thought Shelly could've sworn Vee's eye twitched "Tisha.." They stared eachother down for a minute before Tisha finally looked away "Hmph! Anyways..Shelly, hows the leg? Are you comfortable with Vee? You know you can always move over to my room. I could even grab some of your fossils so we can clean them together!" Tisha offered and fussed over her friend, making Shelly blush a bit...It was nice that TIsha cared about her so much..

She didn't notice the dangerous flicker to Vee's eyes as Shelly answered Tisha "It's going fine! Sprout says it's healing fine and soon enough we're gonna start putting pressure on it! And I'm very comfortable with Vee! Look she got me coloring pencils!" Shelly happily showed off the gift Vee had gotten her, it made Vee relax a bit seeing Shelly happy.

Tisha giggled "Well still, maybe i can bring over some of your fossils tomorrow and we can clean them." Shelly nodded "That'd be great- Oh! That'd be okay..Right Vee? It's uh..Your room." Vee seemed suprised she was being involved "Huh?..Oh yeah, I'd rather her come to you than you move too much, Sprout says to rest up as much as you can off it so.." Shelly nodded then looked at Tisha again "Then I'll see you tomorrow! Ohhh I can show you the cute dinosaur show I saw!"

Shelly and Tisha kept talking as Vee walked off seeing Astro to talk to him figuring Shelly would be fine with Tisha...

And everything went fine too till Pebble decided he wanted Shelly's attention and started excitedly running around Shelly's crutches...It wasn't the poor pet rock's fault. He was so excited to see Shelly again! Ever sense Dandy disappeared he became more of Shelly's companion in a way. However, during his excitement he accidentally rammed into Shelly's crutch causing her to fall over letting out a yelp, Tisha trying to catch her ended up going down with her.

Pebble took this as a chance to jump into Shelly's arms licking her cheek. Shelly and Tisha looked at eachother before giggling but it was intrrupted when the light was suddenly blocked, a very...Un-amused Vee standing over her.

Shelly let out a nervous laugh before Vee spoke "I told you to be careful, Shelly." She sighed before helping the fossil toon up and taking the pet rock from her before setting him down. Tisha was quick to get up too dusting herself off "No one got hurt, Vee it's fine." She argued crossing her arms but the tv show host was having non-of it as she argued back "But she could've gotten hurt, Pebble should've known better and you should've been quicker to stop it."

Shelly looked at Vee "Pebble was just excited Vee.. And Tisha tried we just..Kinda both well fell." She giggled a bit, but stopped when Vee kept the harsh look.

Vee eventually sighed "I think it's time we head back anyways, I have to set up for my gameshow..." Shelly seemed disappointed, Astro however smiled "I'll take Shelly back, me and her can hang out then." Vee nodded, Tisha gasped "Ohh maybe i can get some fossils to bring over now! Then the three of us can clean them together." Vee didn't seem to like the idea but she waved her hand "Yeah,yeah whatever gets her resting is fine by me."

And with that Astro walked Shelly back

though Shelly remained quiet...Astro was keen though and picked up on this, he looked around a bit clearly looking...For something before he spoke "You...Found something, didn't you?..." Shelly's eyes noticeably widened but she was quick to cover it up with a laugh "No, no! Sorry..I'm just..I'm tired.." She wasn't sure if she could turn to Astro..She wasn't sure if she could trust anyone... "Ohh! Did you wanna hear some dinosaur facts maybe? I got to learn some new ones today~!" Shelly said in a sing-song voice,Astro was quiet for a while studying Shelly's obviously fake cheeriness...Before deciding to smile softly toward her "I'd love to, Shells...Lay them on me." He chuckled as she started listing off the facts on the way back to Vee's room.

Once Shelly's leg healed up, she started helping Vee with her work, she'd visit her attraction room every now and then but sadly it was still shut down...It wasn't like it was a major incident but Vee insisted on keeping it under investigation...The worst part is Shelly couldn't even find any of the employees working under her! Vee wouldn't tell her what happened to them, they might've not been the nicest to shelly but she still cared about them.. Eventually Vee finally told her she relocated them and decided to put them under...Intense training. Despite Vee ressuring Shelly they were still in the facility, Shelly still had no clue where they were.

Vee also started keeping Shelly on a tight leash in a sense, having become more protective over her...The shell was surprised too. But also concerned with this change..It happened so fast.. Shelly use to have a crush on Vee, for the longest time.But once Vee took over Gardenview,

, she started accepting that Vee was not interested in her...Infact she started spending alot of time with Sprout, for the longest time alot of toons in gardenview thought Sprout and Cosmos were a thing..As it turns out they were really just friends...Which...Came as a shock to Shelly..However she ended up starting to spend more time with them to pick up baking as a hobby, Which lead to Shelly getting closer with both of them...She was already friends with them and even introduced them...But now she was actively spending time with them, and they kept hunting her down to drag her to the kitchen for taste testings...

Sprout even started coming to hang out with her more as she was able to walk more, this day was a day Sprout decided to hunt her down to drag her to the kitchen...Much to Vee's annoyance, who stood with her hands on her hips as she looked unimpressed to a Sprout who looked equally annoyed "You can't hog her all day, Vee. Come on, she's probably dying of boredom being with you all day." He huffed out, causing vee's digitail eye to twitch "Sprout.."She huffed out, but Shelly was quick to step in, seemingly being one of the only toons to calm Vee, along with Astro as she spoke "I actually wouldn't mind getting away...I already finished my part of the paper work, and you're not giving me anymore of your's...All I'm really doing is just...Watching you.." She smiled a bit "So maybe I can go make myself useful with Sprout?" Vee softened hearing Shelly speak as she sighed "Fine, fine.." She muttered "Don't go pushing yourself though, you're still limping." She warned before walking back to her chair as Shelly made her way to Sprout smiling brightly as he held out an arm for her "Come on, lil lady lets go." Shelly let out a giggled amused by his antics as he lead her away...Little did the two know Vee was steaming....Silently, but she was angry...She focused back to her work, but she couldn't shake the anger.

As Sprout lead Shelly to the kitchen, he excitedly lead her to the counter which already had some prepared cookies "I have some recipes I wanted us to make, but first I wanted you to try these new cookies me and Cosmos made. They're S'more cookies, we figured it'd be fun to add something new to the menu." He picked one up handing it to Shelly, who happily took it "Thank you, Sprout." It was still warm, the chocolate was melting onto her hand and she could even see the marshmallow melting a bit, it smelt amazing! It reminded her of the camping trip vee decided to make every take part in...Bonding is what she said. Even pulled out a check-list to make them follow..It was frustrating at the time but now a funny memory to look back on. She blinked as she stared at the cookie, hoping she hadn't stared too long as she took a bite, enjoying how the marshmallow and chocolate melt in her mouth.

She hummed in enjoyment, swallowing her mouth full before speaking "It tastes amazing!", Sprout noticably blushed a bit as he smiled "I'm glad you like it, Cosmo isn't going to be able to help me make the rest of them...So I was hoping you'd help me make a couple batches for the day...Cosmo is a little busy babysitting toodles right...And while she could...Help us, Rodger kinda banned her from the kitchen..Heh.." Shelly decided it was best not to ask "Yeah I can help you!

Sprout smiled “Great! Cosmo said you were learning fast when you two were doing baking lessons so..” he hummed “hopefully it won’t be too hard for you to keep up.” He taunted, Shelly elbowed him slightly “oh hush you..” he chuckled a bit as Shelly went to get ready to help bake.

Sprout watched feeling his cheeks flush, in a way- he wasn’t lying. Cosmo is busy but he purposely did so, he wanted to give Sprout an opportunity to be alone with Shelly, knowing the strawberry toon had a crush on her for a little while now. Vee just kept hogging her though, so if Cosmo was busy and stout needed help in the kitchen..well Vee wouldn’t want product to lose quality!

Sprout was snapped out of his thoughts when Shelly came back, and so the two go on to baking

, the whole time though Sprout can't help but admire Shelly. At first he really only focused on Cosmo when she introduced them....It was never a crush, Cosmo was just...His best friend. He couldn't deny the cake roll was cute and totally his type, but frankly he could only ever see a friendship with Cosmo and he knows Cosmo feels the same. Shelly however, made Sprout feel...Different. He didn't pay much mind to her. They've always been friends, but the he use to think the dinosaur facts were annoying, till him and Shelly got trapped in an elevator together, Shelly was the only one who kept her cool despite the fact that sprout knows she was freaking out too. But She still kept Sprout from Spiraling by telling him interesting facts and all around just being the reassurance he needed....Thats when the crush started, he was sure of it. He started actively seeking Shelly out when Cosmo was busy, he finds her reactions cute and the big gestures she makes when she's talking about dinosaur facts. She even tries to mimic what dinosaur sound like sometimes which he finds even cuter.

A part of him wished Vee would've stuck Shelly with him and Cosmo instead of just keeping her near her. He didn't...Really get it, Vee never actively hung out with Shelly before, even when Dandy was around, it kinda annoyed him a bit...He's vee's friend ofcorse! But how can she sit there and act like she's always been friends with Shelly! Either way, they were here now.. Sprout looked over to Shelly, who was now covered in flour, he smiled a bit to himself and chuckled "Shelly, you're a mess." He teased a bit, going over to her "I think we have enough cookies now, why don't I help you to your room so you can wash up?", Shelly's tail wagged slightly in excitement as she smiled "Sure!" She didn't hesitate to take the strawberry's toon's arm as the two made their way to her room so she could wash up...Little did they know the little tv on the kitchen counter lit up as Vee's unimpressed face popped up, before it disappeared. ///// Vee flipped her desk out of anger as she felt herself anger. Why was Shelly so intent on spending time with others?! How did she miss on the hint that Sprout liked Shelly?! Why can't he keep his mits off whats her's.. Vee's felt herself overheating, meaning she needed to calm down before she crashed out, her tail finally stopped it's lashing as Vee grabbing the microphone before she felt herself calm a bit "Nothing to worry about,Vee.." She sighed "Shelly probably doesn't return his feelings, I'm sure.. " She looked over to her now messed up desk "Hmm...Okay we should fix that first... THEN I can focus on what to do.." She muttered, Shelly was her's. Vee didn't really understand what that meant, but she knew Shelly is her's and she needs to keep it that way. Regardless of what the shell toon wants or thinks..She'd eventually come to accept it.

[brutally-loving]

Have a long gush post where I lost my mind about a new f/o. Enjoy.

OKAYYY OKAY

So here's my stupid thoughts:

This is a case of two people who are clingy in little ways clicking and mutually clinging- him constantly hovering nearby physically and me being WAYYYY too quick to say "okay come with me" or anything of the like- He's getting dragged around by me. We're moving from room to room together for no reason other than not wanting to wait to see when the other would come back-

He's very babygirl idk

I want to take down his hair and play with it. I think he'd let me. He could sit with me on a chair, I could sit on the back of it while he sat on it normally so that I could do his hair. Brushing it, carefully putting it up. I think he'd appreciate how gentle I'd be with him, and he'd like my bouts of yapping *and* the silence. He's not an extensive talker himself, so he's very suitable for how goddamn much i talk in actuality. I'd tell him stories and whatever else is on my mind while we'd sit, and he'd listen.

Uhh. He's pretty. He's pretty and I want to squish his face between my hands. I want him to sigh at me because I keep grabbing his face and grinning. He's not exasperated, he just wonders why I don't get his attention, because he'd come to me it if I did. Speaking of which, this is a man that WOULD come to me. I could say his name and he'd immediately walk over to see what I wanted. Put down what he's doing for me. Ugh. To die for.

I think his love for his family is probably one of the things that makes me go "!!!!!" Because I'm super family oriented- now that i think about it, this seems like a sorta thing i have with my f/os. A lot of them have close family (found or blood related).

He's the type of man I could bring on dates of all kinds and he would NOT complain. He doesn't care. He wouldn't bitch at me if he didn't want to be somewhere, because he's with me and that means it's okay. Holding my hand, standing beside me despite looking very irate, he's pretty content??? Yknow. He's emo and an introvert. He doesn't want to be anywhere but home. He just comes because I asked and he doesn't want to leave me alone if I want his company dhdhdhdhd

GRGGGRGRGRGGRR

HIM

UGH I WANT TO BITE HIM

AND KISS HIS HEAD

AND BRUSH HIS HAIR

AND LOVE HIM FOREVER

BECAUSE HE NEEDS TO BE LOVED AND APPRECIATED AND IVE GOTTA BE THE GUY TO DO IT

God he looks so fucking depressed I need him

...

REGRETTABLY HES PERFECT WOWWWWW

UGH

KICKS DIRT

If I could I'd be punching a mattress and giggling uncontrollably rn

UGH I NEED HIM-

I want to hold him. Gather him into my arms and tell him he's loved so that he can relax and melt a little into me.

I love the idea of a quiet guy who doesn't talk much trying to talk more to me. Because he knows I like it. I love talking and the idea of him trying to talk more to me just because he knows I'll respond to it? UGH- thinking about him telling me what's on his mind, getting so used to doing it when it's just us that he pulls on my arm a little bit and leans down slightly to hiss about someone/something he dislikes when we're out in public together.

Speaking of which, he definitely would react well to how receptive I would be to him. My general ability to read others and their moods would do him so well. He'd like when I'd pull him away from other people, to ask how he's doing, once I noticed extra tension from him.

He'd let me braid his hair, little bits of it, and leave them in when putting his hair up.

I think he'd also let me do makeup on him. We would sit there and I'd hold his face carefully while making thoughtful strokes and lines of makeup. And I don't know if he'd stare at me, or if he'd look away. But either way, I'd be a little too focused to notice actively anyway- I'd talk to him quietly while I focused on what I was doing, and then when I'd show him my finished product, I'd probably titter about how handsome he is while he wonders how in the world he got wrapped into letting me do extra makeup on him-

I think he'd have colder skin. I normally have cold hands, but mine would always be warmer than his for whatever reason. He wouldn't mind that. I think he'd find me kind of endearing, with how affectionate I am. He'd let me hold his hand and kiss the back of it while we sat together. Maybe ask me what in the world is going on in my mind for me to be giggling and grinning about holding his hand, but it'd probably be something stupid. Id just be happy to have him there.

Anyway date idea we go to the fair and he looks like the emo he is and I'm his fuckass metalhead boyfriend. We sorta match but he definitely looks more gloom and glum than me. But he's happy to be there, genuinely, and he tells me so too. He reminds me by sticking to my side, encouraging me to choose the things I want to do best. Lets me guide him to all of the things I wanted to do. And I'd be wearing my platforms let's be so fr- by the end of the day, when my feet hurt, he'd let me sit on his shoulders if I asked. Because he's fucking large and I am not- and maybe we'd go grab something to eat before going home idk. Date idea 💞💞 UGH HES PERFECT I LOVE HIM SOB

MMMMMMMMMMM MICROWAVE!!!! (I am losing my shit)

I want to hold him UGH

PUNCHING THE AIR

We share headphones and shit too I'm sure

We listen to similar music and share bands and shit. And he wouldn't judge any of what I'd like, so I'd just show him whatever is on the brain at the time. We'd listen to my many many playlists and he'd make his own and we'd listen to those too

FHGRVGEHDBRGDHRBDBEBDBEHSV RAHHHH HIM HIM HIM HIM

OKay done I'm done. For now.

[vad-hander]

LET’S KEEP IT SECRET Pt.7

pairing: Jaehyun x reader x Yuta

others: SM Rookies, multiple SM and JYP idols

genre: series | idol!au | smut | angst | fluff | slow burn | unrequited love | friends to lovers (oops) | mutual pining | idol!nct | idol!reader | teenage to adults (trainee days until today)

words: 5k

side note: as usual, I'll appreciate all your feedback and thoughts! Things happen in this chapter😉

PART 1 | PART 2 | PART 3 | PART 4 | PART 5 | PART 6 | PART 7

It was hard to describe what 6 of you were doing, but it was just like what you imagined having a night on LA beach would be like with a group of your friends.

It’s what every teenage drama showed you and made you wish for, you felt a little drunk even though you were completely sober, you didn’t know if it was the happiness that this carelessness brought you, the warmth of Jaehyun’s shoulder that every now and then brushed against your shoulder or his fingers on yours. The weather was a lot colder than you wanted it to be, it was October and the wind from the ocean made you shiver and you were sure it was getting even colder the longer all of you were out, Jaehyun being the only ray of warmth for your body, you unavoidably scooted closer to him for warmth every time you felt shivers run down your bare legs. You were so glad your & Jaehyun’s friends immediately befriended each other and  what felt important to you - girls were able to hold back their hitched breaths and gasps at the real life interaction with real life idols. You could really see the effort of not asking about idol life in their eyes. Johnny and Haechan were actually the best company to bring along, you had to take your metaphorical hat before Jaehyun - they were like a set of comedians, making everyone laugh while you were taking a walk along the beach, you watched them haunt seagulls, and right after all of you were having a competition of best seagull impersonation at Johnny’s suggestion, and you laughed so hard you maybe haven’t had a good time like that since the day you left SM aka your birthday at Jaehyun’s house. Speaking of whom.

You turned around to see his face, because his shoulder was bumping into yours while he was shaking from laughter, velvety deep sound of his laugh making you feel weird. With how rarely you saw him you weren’t used to that sound. It almost like you were feeling every beat of his laugh in your stomach. His eyes were the usual crescent moons and he leaned back with every laugh that came deep out of his throat and you smiled even wider. You cherished every bit of him so much. When Yuta was sick Jaehyun made sure to be right there to save you from misery taking care of your heart - like he always did. Even when you distanced yourself from him, even when you tried your best to hurt him with silence, he was squeezing your hand at first call - even when the first call wasn’t even from you. 

You still felt pangs of hurt in your heart every time you tried to imagine how Yuta purposefully found Jaehyun and told him to entertain you while he’s sleeping, probably out of this world tired from the headache. You wanted to be mad and really couldn’t. He cared for you even when he was dying from a migrane. 

“Does anyone mind sitting down for a little while?“ Johnny suggested after another attempt of all five of you to drag him somewhere near water, it was obvious as a day that he wouldn’t move an inch but you still gave in to Haechan’s suggestion, clearly all of you now drunk on the fun you were having. 

“Yes, please.“ Ryujin nodded and the very next moment Johnny dropped his body on the sand, stretching his legs out with a sigh like he ran a mile. You scooted around him like little kids, close to each other so the wind wouldn’t make all of you too cold too soon. 

“How’s JYP been treating you?“ Johnny wondered, his face first focused on you and then moved behind you to Jaehyun, who despite it being more logical to sit next to Johnny and Haechan sat right behind you, in a proximity that barely held you back from sitting on his lap. You tried to scoot closer to Yeji, but as you tried to make the move Jaehyun got even closer and you stopped, he wouldn’t let you move away from him at all. 

“It’s fun, a lot of work has been done and I hope you’ll be able to see my progress very soon on stage too…“ you trailed of shyly, shrugging as your right ear was blessed with a proud sound from Jaehyun’s throat. “I wasn’t able to make as many friends though. It’s been only Yeji and I and not that long ago we became closer with Ryujin.“

“I bet Jaehyun sighed relieved at that.“

“Why would he?“ Ryujin wondered, totally invested in the comment from Haechan.

“Because we’ve been teasing him a lot since y/n left.“

“I wonder why you never mentioned you were so close with NCT!“ Yeji exclaimed once again and hit your thigh. 

“It’s not that big of a thing-“

“So she didn’t tell you she was best friends with Seulgi and was meant to be part of Red Velvets-“

“Oh, stop. With Red Ve-“ You cried at Haechan mentioning the past.

“That’s fine, everyone’s got things like that. I was meant to be in EXO and had to wait another three years to be here now. It’s part of the way.“ You pursed your lips at Johnny’s encouragement, it was the first time ever he tried to make you feel better about your failures and you could see why Jaehyun appreciated his friend so much.

“I didn’t know!“ Yeji exclaimed once again.

“Well, it’s been an eternity since I last spoke with Seulgi, what’s the point of bragging about the past.“ 

“But still! Jinyoung from GOT7 took me for coffee a few times to thank me for being his fan and I think I told like the whole agency at least twice.“

“Doyoung-ie used to host a show with him.“ 

“Right.“ Yeji nodded.

“And now it’s Jaehyunie’s friend that hosts this show.“ You turned around quickly to look at Jaehyun. You didn’t need to be a Sherlock to work out they were referring to Mingyu which basically meant he did take the opportunity to befriend those boys. You smirked at him, feeling relieved that it all worked out at the end of the day, you were overthinking sometimes the fact he said you were overstepping your boundaries and felt guilty. 

“I’m happy you made more friends.“ Jaehyun pressed a palm facing up on your thigh and you quickly layered you fingers on top of his. Everyone paused their conversation and trained their eyes on your connected hands. “What?“

“You better be secretly dating all this time.“ Johnny smiled fatherly, gaining scandalised gasps from your girl friends.

“We are not!“

“JYP would literally flip out-“ Yeji repeated what she told you once already in literal horror and you forced yourself toilet go of Jaehyun. 

“It’s just a habit back from when we were babies. We exchange energy through our fingertips if that makes sense. We wouldn’t even talk sometimes - just reconnecting like that. 

“And then you say you’re not even that close?“ Yeji had to make fun of what you said and both Haechan and Ryujin smirked.

“Anyway! Can we not focus on our friendship? I really wasn’t planning on going through analysis of this relationship.“ You had to clap in front of their noses so they’d stop.

“So-“

“Do you mind if we’ll ask questions about idol life?“ Ryujin finally broke down the topic that actually bothered you three.

“No, go off.“ Johnny nodded.

“Is it what you imagined it to be like? Like what the say it is?“ You perked your ears up to hear the answer when you felt five digits against the side of your waist, squeezing you lightly for attention.

“Yeah?“ You turned around to face Jaehyun.

“Want to talk to just… me?“ 

“Yeah.“ You exhaled in a heartbeat. What else would you even tell him when you could see stars in those eyes. Why was he so soft spoken, and sweet, and perfect and loveable? It never bothered you up to this day that Jaehyun was all that and nothing less. 

Jaehyun stood up immediately, brushing off sand from his bum, and extending a hand to you that you ignored. Even you started to feel like he was hitting on you and to people that rarely or never saw you together before it probably felt like full on flirting. You needed to keep yourself within the bounds of decency. You patted the sand off yourself too and gave the girls a quick a glance, mouthing ‘will come back quickly’.

You could still feel burning gazes of your friends on your back for a few moments, before you could hear the chatter once again. You trailed behind Jaehyun quietly, he very obviously made it his goal to walk as far as possible from the eye of your friends. There was quite a few people at the beach so it made it easier for you two to blend in with the mass. 

He reached back for your fingers when you were pretty far away and you can’t be sure whether he slowed down or pulled you to walk faster, but now you walked in line and and his fingers teased Yuta’s gift on your finger unknowingly. 

“I can’t believe you and me are strolling like that along the Santa Monica beach.“

“Me too.“ You couldn’t agree more.

“Even though it’s not what you wanted, I’m so happy for this chance to see you even for this brief moment. It makes me a horrible friends, but I’m glad Yuta got a migraine tonight.“ With the way he said it and with the way he sounded you couldn’t be mad he was happy at your misery, you giggled and just gave him a nod.

“Maybe it’s not what I wanted initially, but you’re still my favourite person no matter what. You’re always on top of the list of options.“

“A-,sh-. It’s going to get in my head.“ He just beamed. You didn’t know stating simple facts would make him out of this world pleased. 

“I bet you’ve had that in your head for a little while.“ You teased, tugging on his hand.

“No-.“

“Aren’t they lining up to get your phone number?“ You smirked.

“Well, they do.“ Jaehyun admitted shyly and you couldn’t see in the darkness but you really hoped his ears still turned red at those things. You hoped it didn’t actually get in his head, at least yet. What surprised you more is not him admitting to obvious - a sudden pang of jealousy struck you like a lightning, a mere perspective of Jaehyun finding someone closer than you made you sick in your stomach. You had a boyfriend that so happened to be Jaehyun’s friend and it was always pretty lowkey and harmless to your friendship but whatever was gonna happen to Jaehyun made you scared and uncomfortable and painfully jealous. You snatched your palm out of Jaehyun’s grip because it became too sweaty suddenly.

“Lucky someone.“ You tried to say calmly, but for sure what came out of your mouth was more of a bite than sweet commentary. 

“No one’s lucky.“  It made your heart relax just a little, because it was only a question of time how much longer would it be this way.

“I would’ve never taken you as someone that settles for whoever, it’s good you’re picky.“ What were you doing and saying, you really wanted to drawn in the water and even had a perfect chance to do so.

“I am n-.“

“I have a gift for you, actually.“ You didn’t want to hear a single word more on Jaehyun’s love life, you needed to move on immediately. You had a great opportunity - those damned photos in your passport cover - you brought them along because it was better to get rid of them like that than throwing them in the trash.

“Yeah?“ Jaehyun asked happily. You reached out for the inner pocket of your jean jacket - finding the printed out photos. You didn’t want to even glance at those - pressing them against Jaehyun’s chest whiteness facing you. “Is that a letter?“ He chuckled before reaching for photos and somehow managing to brush his fingers against all of yours. As soon as his crescent moon eyes focused on what it actually was he swallowed and you looked away. You were scared he’d ask why the heck did you want him to have those and you wouldn’t have an answer whiting decency bounds. “It’s you and me.“

“Mmmh.“

“Boo, what are you doing to me?“ Jaehyun murmured so sweetly. You absolutely hated the tone of his voice being so low and god forbid even saying this outloud - sexy and seducing.

“What do you mean?“ You were flushed, you needed to enter the water to cool yourself off.

“No one does what you do to me.“ You were pretty sure you were burning alive. 

“Whatever you meant with that.“ You chuckled in pure awkwardness and walked away from him into the literal unnkown.

“Want to keep one for yourself?“ He caught up, allowing for you to catch a glance of him carefully hiding the photo in a pocket in his jacket next to his heart -  not like it was intentional nor meant something. Oh god, why were you thinking and feeling those things? You were sober and probably just insane. 

“I don’t know.“ You shrugged carelessly like you didn’t plan on printing one of those photos onto your forehead. 

“I can keep the one of you staring at me and you can keep the other one. Like we’d always  be looking at each other.“ He reached the photo back to you and you hid it quickly in the same pocket.

“Okay.“ You shrugged once again, when your body was making backflips inside. He understood you so perfectly, he suggested and wanted exactly the things you wanted, you forgot it was October and cold and the water was probably freezing because you personally were sweating in your summer dress and jean jacket. You squatted next to the water and reached out a hand to meet the next wave, it barely touched your fingers and you reached further, in what felt like a comedical accident being met with a very strong wave and having to pace away in a hurry to not get your sneakers completely wet. Jaehyun stood right beside you and watched you with a fond smile. “Have you touched the water?“

“No.“ Jaehyun shook his head a no and you quickly invited him to get closer to you. He squatted next to you and reached  out his right hand next to your left one.

“If we were American teenagers we’d go skinny dipping or something like what they do in movies.“ You could see Jaehyun’s face get red even in the darkness. You laughed at his reaction, knowing for a fact that’s a level neither of you would ever reach. New wave hit the shore and both of you had to crawl backwards, laughing and grabbing each others’ hands in the process. Whenever you’d move back a little to not get wet, and once you scoot back closer - the waves were too strong and you had to sprint back holding each other’s hands. You fished your phone out to film the shore and the beach and the coming waves, but somehow all you’ve got in that short clip is a second of your palm above water before Jaehyun’s fingers grab onto yours and push you behind and all you could hear is your screaming and his laughter and the two of you already rewatched that video at least 2 times laughing in unison every time.

Jaehyun’s pointing finger ran over the ring on your ring finger. It was Yuta’s gift for your birthday and just as you promised, you haven’t taken the thing off once. “Where’s this ring from?“ You immediately jerked your hand behind your back like you were electrified. “I don’t see you that often but I feel like you always have it on.“

“I do.“

“Can I see?“ Jaehyun asked with a dimpled smile, very much impossible to deny, but not in a case like that.

“Why?“

“Just curious.“ You panicked a little when Jaehyun reached a hand out palm up for you to let him see, while he very clearly didn’t have a second thought about it. Well it wasn’t a crime to have a ring with a heart on your finger, so you lowered your palm on his. It’s not like he’s going to take it off your finger and see what’s inside-.

Why did Jaehyun do exactly that and reached his other hand to twist the ring off your finger? You immediately took your hand back behind your body.

“What are you hiding?“ He chuckled and reached behind you playfully, forcing for you to jump back and run, a very dumb decision made. Jaehyun very obviously took off right behind you and it wasn’t like he needed to use much physical strength to catch up and wrap one of his hands over your body from the back to stop you. You sneaked out from under his arm and with your back to the water, you couldn’t care now if you’d stepped in water, you wanted for Jaehyun to not know that the ring was dedicated to Yuta, no matter what. “Come on, it’s not like I’m planning to steal it. It’s cute, I’m just checking it out.“ 

“No, I don’t want you to.“ You smiled because Jaehyun was smiling all the way, he was playing and you didn’t have a reason to take this seriously. You walked backwards, taking the ring off your finger to put in your pocket while Jaehyun couldn’t see, instead, feeling both his hands grab yours. You tried to fight back a little before it hit you in a few seconds. The moment Jaehyun reached for you and you tried to ditch the grip you let go of the ring.

“Jaehyun-.“ Your throat was suddenly dry with panic “I dropped it in the ocean.“

“Yeah sure, I get it, you don’t want me to-“

“No, I’m serious, I dropped it into the ocean. Fuck!“ You turned around and squatted trying to see what obviously wasn’t there anymore.

“Fuck.“ Jaehyun mirrored your exclamation. “Boo, I’m so sorry.“ You couldn’t give him a reaction, you were running your fingers through wet sand like it’d suddenly be somewhere in there. It won’t, clearly. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.“ Jaehyun cursed repeatedly and only did you notice that he took his converse off, walking deeper into the ocean and running his fingers over the sand underwater. “Y/n, I’m so sorry.“ with the way he sounded, you were’t sure who was more upset with the loss. His fingers ran through the area around you in such a hitched and fast pace, not paying any attention to the water that very obviously made his ankles and jeans wet, and the rolled up sleeves of his jacket almost being hit with water as he trailed off slowly deeper. You followed behind him, taking your shoes off too and immediately regretting the idea - the water was freezing, you couldn’t understand how he’d paid no attention to that. 

You walked behind him and didn’t do anything anymore, just followed the movement of his hands with your eyes. Jaehyun looked desperate like it was his ring  that dropped into the ocean, like it meant much more to him than it did to you.

You had to admit that there’s no way you’d find it and quickly get out of water before either of you get sick.

“Jaehyun, it’s pointless, let’s go.“ You tried to grip onto his arm.

“No.“ He waved you off.

“It’s the ocean.“

“It doesn't matter, the ring clearly meant a lot to you. I have to at least try.“ He didn’t even lift his head up, just his voice letting you know he listened while his hands continued the search.

“Jaehyun, it’s freezing, I won’t forgive myself if you’ll get sick before the award tomorrow.“

“I won’t forgive myself if you’ll lose your ring because of me, boo!“ Jaehyun argued back at you in clear panic.

“Jaehyun.“ You tugged onto his elbow and forced him to finally unbend and look at you. “It’s fine, I promise, it’s my fault anyway, I let go of it.“ 

 “Because of me.“ He genuinely seemed utterly devastated at the idea. You walked around him and pressed him by the chest towards the shore. “I’m so sorry.“

“I swear it’s fine, stop with those eyes.“ You begged him, he almost looked teary eyed, while you already accepted and almost moved on. “Jaehyun, you’re making it hard, stop.“ You mumbled under your breath. Why was he this worried about a ring he didn’t even know the origin of, maybe it was just metal accessory, nothing more than that. 

“I’m just sorry.“ He whispered once again and covered your palm on his chest with an absolutely freezing one of his. You didn’t quite yet walk out onto the shore, but the water barely touched your feet and you caught up with backwards walking Jaehyun and closed your lips on top of his, because it was the first thought that crossed your brain when he came in your sight tonight and somehow it crossed your brain at least a million times throughout the evening. With the way he cared for your ring, it really was the last straw of your sanity. Jaehyun stopped and you stopped too cause you were met with the wall that was his body. You closed your eyes to not see his reaction and tried to move your mouth against his - Jaehyun didn’t make a single move, or take a breath that you could feel, its like he froze completely and only then you realised what the fuck you did. All the balloons of excitement in your brain popped, butterflies in your stomach died and your heart, well, it froze in fear. Fear of not recovering your friendship from this point, ever. 

You let go of Jaehyun, forcing your hand from under his. This was so much worse than losing a ring. This deserved a million repetitive fucks  from both of you.

All of those feelings vanished as quickly as they hit you when you could very clearly feel Jaehyun’s hand grip onto your neck, forcing your mouth against his. His other hand wrapped around your waist and firmly against his body. Not having a better idea, both your arms wrapped around Jaehyun’s neck as his lips moved over yours in an over-satisfying kiss. Somehow, you never thought of how Jaehyuns lips would feel like or taste like, but somehow, they perfectly fit with what you were craving your entire life. Jaehyun kissed your cupids bow with so much feeling and  tenderness that you felt your legs turn into jelly and the cold water on your feet wasn’t helping to bring you back to your senses and stop. You opened your mouth because Jaehyun’s grip on your waist got tighter, and it was difficult for you to breathe now, you felt just like that time Yuta kissed you for the first time-.

Though you didn’t mind deepening the kiss at all, his tongue dancing in unison with yours made you realise one horrible thing - you were cheating on Yuta. Your hands let go of Jaehyun’s nape, where they’ve been playing with his hair and onto his chest - pushing him off you. Jaehyun didn’t understand what and why you were doing, still chasing your mouth even as you tried to move back until you actually hit his chest with force and he let go of you, not catching up with the way you sprinted away from him.

“Fuck, fuck. Fuck!“ You exclaimed and wiped your mouth even though you really didn’t want to, grabbing your shoes and heading back to your friends.

“Wait.“ Jaehyun tried to follow. “Y/n, please.“ Jaehyun caught up with you and turned you around with force by your shoulder, it wasn’t really the time to be careful, and stupidly, foolishly and very seductively, he leaned in and tried to kiss you once again, your arms to your chest with your shoes were the only reason he didn’t flush you against his body once again. You let him kiss you for a second and probably would’ve allowed it for another 2, 3, 4 and even 5, if it weren’t for the fact you were about to not so metaphorically throw up because you were a cheater. 

“No! No, stop!“ You pushed him away and ran once again. “This is so bad, just stop.“ Your lungs were grasping for air that didn’t seem to get in them. “Why didn’t you stop me!“ You cried out loud, feeling tears prickle your eyes in panic. Your brain constantly jumped around Yuta. What would he feel like if you’d told him, with the way he cared for minor things this would be fatal. A type of thing to not recover from. 

“It’s okay, I promise.“ Jaehyun caught up with your panic, his eyes even more worried when he saw you fold in a squat, head hid in your arms. “Don’t worry, boo. Everything’s okay, I promise you. You and me are fine, I won’t tell anyone, if you’re worried about that, I promise you. It’s really nothing.“ Jaehyun repeated the same things multiple times again and again to calm you down. “Lift your head up, I need to make sure you’re not crying.“ Jaehyun’s voice became clearly closer, him probably sitting down next to you.“ “Hey?“ You raised your head because you feared he’d touch you. "You better not be crying because the kiss was so bad. It can't be, right?" Jaehyun poked your side to get a reaction out of you. No, the kiss wasn't bad, it felt so good you didn't know kissing someone could feel like hundreds of electric shocks hit your body. You thought what you felt when kissing Yuta was a lot, but somehow, in comparison to this, it felt little. "Come on boo, tell me I'm not a bad kisser, I'm going to start crying now too." You would rather not tell him a thing, and you would really like for him to shut his mouth too. 

"It's-, ah-." you tried to speak, moving your body with additional physical force further from Jaehyun. "I'm going back there." you were so deep in remorse you couldn't spare a glance at Jaehyun's face, even though you would very gladly spend the rest of the night in comfort of Jaehyun's aura. 

How would you even look Yuta in the eyes after YOU kissed his friend. You stood up, carelessly putting on your shoes and socks with a ton of sand inside. 

“I really want to pee, so I think I’m heading back.“ You announced as you were not more than a meter away from the group of people you left. You could hear Jaehyun trail behind you.

“With Jaehyun?“ They asked with big smirks over their faces, not reading the room at all.

“No, Jaehyun stays here. If you’re feeling like calling it a night, we could go back together.“ You looked at both Yeji and Ryujin. 

“You’re not coming back after bathroom?“ Johnny asked confused.

“No.“

“Yeah, just need a bathroom.“

“Did something happen?“ Johnny finally looked at Jaehyun, whose jeans were still obviously wet up to his knees. “Is everything good?“

“Okay.“

“It was nice seeing you all, I hope we can see each other again soon. Bye-bye.“ You waved everyone off and as you walked a little away, both girls caught up with you. 

“You won’t even say goodbye to Jaehyun?“ Yeji half-whispered confused.

“I’ve already.“

“What happened with you two?“

“Nothing, I just need to pee.“

“You sure?“

“Yes.“

When the taxi arrived and you squeezed yourselves in the backseat, neither of you wishing to sit in the front row, you scooted your body closer to the window, dialling Yuta’s number in fear, panic and desperation. No matter how fast your heart was beating inside of you, the outcome was always the same -  the number you are calling is unavailable right now.

[okasuka]

The soft buzz of chatter filled Gotham Academy’s halls as the morning sun filtered through the large windows. Damian Wayne stood by the principal’s office, hands tucked into the pockets of his neatly pressed blazer. His expression was a practiced mask of disinterest, though he couldn’t help but inwardly sneer at the whispers and stares following him.

“Wayne heir, huh?”

“Wonder if he’s as weird as the rest of his family.”

“Did you hear about what happened to his brother last year?”

The prying eyes were nothing new, but irritating all the same.

“Mr. Wayne,” Principal Collins called, her tight smile barely masking her unease. “We’ve assigned you a student buddy to help you adjust. They’ll be arriving shortly.”

Damian arched a brow. A ‘buddy’? Tt. What a juvenile concept.

Just then, the door slammed open, and in walked Y/N. Her short black hair framed her sharp features as she slouched into the room, earbuds blasting a muffled beat. A scarred hand pulled one out.

“Yeah?” she said lazily, leaning against the doorframe.

Principal Collins straightened. “Ah, Y/N. Thank you for joining us on time today. This is Damian Wayne, our newest transfer. You’ll be showing him around.”

Damian’s eyes flicked over her. She wasn’t like the polished, pristine students he’d passed in the halls. Her uniform was slightly wrinkled, tie loose, and the scabs on her knuckles spoke of someone who’d rather fight than talk.

Y/N barely looked at him. “Great. Hi, new kid. Let’s go.”

“Miss L/N,” the principal said sternly, “remember, this is your chance to prove yourself. I expect you to take this seriously.”

Y/N rolled her eyes and gestured for Damian to follow. “Yeah, yeah. Come on.”

The walk through the academy was painfully silent—at least, between the two of them. Other students whispered as they passed, their eyes darting to Y/N before quickly looking away.

“Is that her?”

“She’s the one who—”

“Don’t look at her! She might punch you.”

Damian’s curiosity piqued. “You seem to have a reputation,” he noted.

Y/N glanced at him, unimpressed. “So do you. Guess that makes us even.”

“Hm.” Damian smirked faintly. “I doubt we’re quite the same.”

Y/N gave him a sideways look, clearly unimpressed by his haughty demeanor. “Whatever, rich boy. Just keep up.”

Over the next few days, Damian began to notice little things about Y/N. How she would always have her earbuds in, tuning out the world. How her scarred hands flexed when she was annoyed or bored. How her intimidating presence didn’t seem to phase him—though it clearly unsettled everyone else.

For her part, Y/N was surprised to find Damian less irritating than she’d expected. Sure, he was arrogant, but he didn’t try to force small talk. He was fine with silence, which she appreciated.

One afternoon, she found him by the school’s outdoor gym, watching as she wrapped her hands in preparation for a boxing session.

“You’re staring,” she said without looking up.

“You’re fascinating,” he replied evenly, leaning against the wall.

Y/N snorted. “That supposed to be a compliment?”

“It’s an observation.”

She finally glanced at him, smirking. “Well, I guess you’re not the worst company.”

As weeks passed, the tension between them softened into something else. Y/N started looking forward to showing Damian around, even if she pretended not to care. Damian found himself admiring her strength—not just physically, but the way she carried herself despite the whispers and stares.

One day, after class, he caught up to her, his tone more hesitant than usual.

“Y/N,” he began. “Would you consider—” He paused, clearly unpracticed in vulnerability. “—perhaps sparring with me sometime?”

Y/N raised a brow, a grin tugging at her lips. “You sure you can keep up, Wayne?”

He smirked. “We’ll see.”

It was during one of these sparring sessions that something shifted. Y/N landed a hit, sending Damian stumbling back slightly, and she laughed—a rare, genuine sound that made his chest tighten unexpectedly.

“You’re holding back,” she teased.

“Perhaps I’m distracted,” he shot back, stepping closer.

Y/N blinked, caught off guard by the intensity in his gaze. “By what?”

“By you,” he said simply.

For once, Y/N had no snarky comeback. Her pulse quickened, and she looked away, muttering, “You’re such a weirdo.”

Damian chuckled softly, the sound warm and unguarded. “Perhaps.”

From that day on, neither of them could deny the growing connection between them. Lunch hour at Gotham Academy was as lively as ever, with students chatting in clusters or scrolling through their phones. Y/N sat alone at her usual spot by the far window, earbuds in, a faint beat of music spilling out. She didn’t mind the solitude—it was better this way.

Damian, seated a few tables away, subtly observed her while pretending to read a book. He wasn’t used to being so curious about someone, but Y/N wasn’t like anyone he’d met before.

The tranquility shattered when a loud voice cut through the cafeteria.

“Hey, scar-hands!”

Y/N didn’t react, though Damian saw her jaw tighten. A tall boy from the school’s rugby team sauntered over, flanked by two friends.

“What’s with all the scars?” the boy jeered, smirking. “What, couldn’t hack it at whatever shady street gym you came from?”

Damian closed his book, already on edge.

“Walk away,” Y/N said, her voice calm but warning.

“Oh, scary,” the boy mocked. “What are you gonna do? Punch me? Go ahead—I could use a laugh.”

When Y/N didn’t respond, he made the mistake of reaching for her hand. “What, too tough to talk to us normal people?”

Her reaction was immediate. In a fluid motion, she twisted his wrist and shoved him back. The boy stumbled, face reddening as his friends snickered.

“You little—”

He lunged, but Y/N was faster. She ducked his clumsy swing and landed a sharp jab to his stomach. The boy doubled over, gasping, as a teacher rushed in to break it up.

“L/N! What do you think you’re doing?”

Y/N didn’t answer, calmly picking up her bag. “He started it,” she muttered, walking out of the cafeteria as if nothing had happened.

Damian watched the whole thing with a mix of admiration and concern.

After school, Damian waited by the entrance, knowing Y/N’s usual route home. Sure enough, she appeared, hands stuffed into her jacket pockets, earbuds in.

“Y/N,” he called, falling into step beside her.

She didn’t respond, keeping her gaze forward.

“I saw what happened,” he said.

“Good for you,” she replied flatly.

“Why didn’t you tell the teacher what he said?”

She shrugged. “Didn’t see the point.”

“Y/N.” Damian’s voice softened slightly, an edge of frustration creeping in. “You don’t have to act like nothing bothers you.”

She stopped abruptly, turning to face him. “What do you want, Damian? A heart-to-heart? Newsflash—I don’t need anyone’s pity.”

“It’s not pity,” he insisted, his emerald eyes locked on hers. “I’m trying to understand.”

“There’s nothing to understand.” Her tone was sharp, but her eyes flickered with something Damian couldn’t quite place—hurt, maybe? “People don’t like me. Fine. I don’t care. I can handle myself.”

“And yet, you’re constantly on guard,” Damian countered, stepping closer. “You push everyone away before they get the chance to see who you really are.”

Y/N clenched her fists, the scars on her knuckles standing out starkly. “You don’t know anything about me, Wayne.”

“Then let me,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost pleading.

For a moment, Y/N’s tough exterior faltered. But then she scoffed, shaking her head. “You’re wasting your time.”

Without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving Damian standing alone on the sidewalk.

But as he watched her retreating figure, he felt more determined than ever to break through her walls.

Y/N shoved open the door to her small apartment, the faint smell of grease and takeout hitting her as she stepped inside. Dropping her bag by the door, she kicked off her shoes and made her way to the kitchen, fully intending to raid the fridge.

But before she could open it, her father’s voice cut through the silence like a knife.

“Y/N!”

She froze, her hand on the fridge handle. Turning slowly, she saw him standing in the doorway to the living room, his work uniform rumpled and his face flushed with anger.

“I got another call from your school today,” he said, crossing his arms. “Another fight? What the hell were you thinking?”

Y/N leaned against the counter, her expression carefully blank. “He started it.”

“That doesn’t matter!” her dad barked, running a hand through his graying hair. “You think they care who started it? You’re the one who’s always in trouble. You think they’re gonna cut you any slack?”

“I didn’t ask for slack,” she shot back, her voice low but heated.

“You don’t get it, do you?” he snapped. “Every time you pull this crap, it makes things harder for both of us! I’m working double shifts to keep you in that damn school, and you’re out here throwing punches like it’s nothing!”

Y/N’s fists clenched, her scarred knuckles turning white. “I didn’t ask for this either! I didn’t ask to go to that school or deal with their crap!”

Her father’s face softened for a moment, but his tone remained firm. “You think I’m doing this for me? I’m trying to give you a chance, Y/N. A real chance. And you’re throwing it away.”

“I don’t care about their ‘chance,’” she muttered, looking away.

“Well, I do!” he shouted, slamming his hand on the counter. “You’re better than this, Y/N. You’ve got more fight in you than anyone I’ve ever seen—but you’ve gotta stop wasting it on stupid battles that don’t matter!”

The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. Y/N didn’t say anything, her jaw tight as she stared at the floor.

Her father sighed deeply, the anger in his voice giving way to exhaustion. “Look, I know life hasn’t been easy for you. For us. But if you keep going down this road… you’re gonna end up just like me. And I can’t watch that happen.”

That stung more than anything else he’d said. Y/N finally looked up, her eyes burning. “What’s so bad about being like you?”

For a moment, her father looked like he wanted to argue. But then he just shook his head, his shoulders slumping. “You deserve better. That’s all I’m saying.”

He walked away, leaving her standing alone in the kitchen, the echo of his words settling into her chest like a weight she couldn’t shake.

Y/N spent the rest of the night in her room, sprawled on her bed with her earbuds in, trying to drown out her thoughts with music. But Damian’s words from earlier kept creeping in.

“You push everyone away before they get the chance to see who you really are.”

She scoffed to herself, pulling a pillow over her face. What the hell does he know anyway?

But deep down, she wondered if maybe he was right.

The pillow muffled Y/N’s frustrated groan as she rolled onto her side, staring at the cracked ceiling of her room. Her dad’s words replayed in her head, mingling with Damian’s infuriatingly calm voice.

“You push everyone away before they get the chance to see who you really are.”

“I’m trying to give you a chance, Y/N.”

Her fists clenched the blanket beneath her. Why did everyone think they had her all figured out? She didn’t need anyone’s pity, anyone’s help. She was doing just fine on her own.

A soft knock at the door broke her thoughts.

“Y/N,” her dad’s voice came through, quieter now. “You still awake?”

She sighed, pulling the pillow off her face. “Yeah.”

The door creaked open, and he stepped inside, looking more tired than angry now. He leaned against the frame, arms crossed, his brow furrowed in concern.

“Look,” he began, his voice softer, “I know I come down on you hard sometimes. But it’s because I don’t want to see you go through the same stuff I did.”

“You think I don’t know that?” she muttered, sitting up on the bed. “You think I don’t get why you’re working all those shifts? I’m not stupid.”

“Then why do you keep doing this, kid?” he asked, his tone tinged with frustration but mostly worry. “Why do you keep picking fights?”

She stared at the floor, the words caught in her throat. For a moment, she thought about telling him. About how it wasn’t just the fight today. It was all of it—the whispers, the stares, the way people treated her like she didn’t belong. But admitting it felt too vulnerable, too raw.

“I don’t pick fights,” she said instead, her tone defensive. “They pick them with me.”

Her dad sighed, dragging a hand down his face. “I’m not saying you have to roll over and take it, but you can’t solve everything with your fists, Y/N. It’s gonna get you in trouble you can’t punch your way out of.”

She scoffed, crossing her arms. “Yeah, well, it works for now.”

“For now,” he repeated, shaking his head. “But what about later? You’re smart, Y/N. You could do something with your life if you’d just stop letting every idiot with a big mouth get to you.”

She looked up at him, her jaw tightening. “It’s not about what they say. It’s about what they do. That guy grabbed me, Dad. I wasn’t just gonna stand there and let him.”

His expression shifted, the worry deepening. “Did he hurt you?”

“No,” she said quickly, shaking her head. “But he tried to.”

Her dad let out a slow breath, rubbing the back of his neck. “I get it, okay? I do. But you gotta start picking your battles, kid. Not every fight is worth it.”

Silence fell between them for a moment before he pushed off the doorframe.

“Dinner’s on the counter if you’re hungry,” he said, his tone gentler now. “Just… think about what I said, alright?”

She didn’t respond, and he didn’t wait for one. The door clicked shut, leaving her alone again.

Y/N flopped back onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. Her dad’s words swirled in her mind, mixing with the echoes of that rugby player’s taunts and Damian’s frustratingly calm observations.

“You push everyone away before they get the chance to see who you really are.”

She yanked her earbuds off the nightstand and shoved them in, cranking the music as loud as it would go. She didn’t want to think anymore. Thinking made it worse.

For now, she just needed the noise.

Y/N lay sprawled on her bed, staring at the faint glow of her MP3 player’s screen. The music pulsed in her ears, a soothing barrier against the world outside. She was halfway through a song when her phone vibrated on the nightstand.

With a groan, she leaned over and grabbed it, expecting another message from the school app or maybe her dad checking in again. Instead, the screen lit up with an unknown number.

Unknown: Are you still angry about earlier?

Her brows furrowed as she read the message, and her fingers hovered over the keyboard.

Y/N: Who is this?

The reply came almost instantly.

Unknown: Damian Wayne.

Her stomach sank, and her lips pressed into a thin line. She sat up, staring at the phone like it had betrayed her.

Y/N: How the hell did you get my number?

Damian: I have my ways.

She rolled her eyes, typing back quickly.

Y/N: That’s not an answer, creep.

There was a pause before his next message.

Damian: If it’s any consolation, I asked the office for it. I didn’t hack your phone or anything.

She groaned, letting the phone fall onto her bed. “Unbelievable,” she muttered. Picking it back up, she fired off another text.

Y/N: What do you want, Wayne?

His reply came just as fast.

Damian: To know if you’re alright.

Her fingers hesitated over the screen, and she felt the faintest twinge of guilt. But then the irritation crept back in.

Y/N: Why do you care?

Damian: Because I do. You’re not as unaffected as you pretend to be, Y/N. I saw how you looked when you walked out today.

She stared at the words for a moment, her chest tightening. Annoyance flared again, masking the vulnerability creeping in.

Y/N: Stop analyzing me like I’m some kind of science experiment. I’m fine. Just leave it alone.

This time, there was a longer pause before his reply.

Damian: You can tell me to stop caring, but that doesn’t mean I will.

She groaned audibly, dropping the phone beside her. Pulling her MP3 player back into her lap, she scrolled through her playlist, trying to drown out the lingering tension. But even with the music blasting in her ears, her eyes kept flicking to her phone, the message glaring at her.

With a reluctant sigh, she grabbed the phone again and typed quickly.

Y/N: You’re stubborn, you know that?

Damian: I’ve been told.

She couldn’t help the small smirk tugging at her lips, though she quickly wiped it away.

Y/N: Fine. I’m fine. Happy now?

Damian: Not entirely. But I’ll let it go for now.

She shook her head, tossing the phone aside and leaning back against her pillow. The music shifted to a slower track, and she found herself staring at the ceiling, the faintest hint of a smile lingering as the tension in her chest eased just a little.

She hated to admit it, but maybe Damian wasn’t the worst company after all.

The next day at Gotham Academy, Y/N strolled into class with her usual air of indifference. Her headphones dangled around her neck, music faintly audible as she slid into her seat near the window.

Damian was already there, seated next to her as always. She caught him glancing her way, his expression unreadable as he tapped a pen against his notebook.

“Morning,” he said casually, his voice soft enough that no one else in the room could hear.

She didn’t look at him as she leaned back in her chair, propping her chin on her hand. “What do you want, Wayne?”

He smirked faintly. “I’m just being polite.”

She rolled her eyes. “Right. Sure.”

The teacher began droning about some group project, assigning partners with deliberate precision. When he called out their names together, Y/N groaned under her breath.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Damian raised an eyebrow. “Is partnering with me that unbearable?”

“You tell me, detective,” she shot back, earning a soft chuckle from him.

After class, they found themselves in the library, their assigned project sprawled out on the table between them. Y/N had her headphones on, one ear uncovered as she lazily scrolled through an article on her tablet. Damian, meanwhile, meticulously jotted down notes, his sharp gaze flicking to her every so often.

“Do you ever stop listening to music?” he asked finally.

“Nope,” she said without looking up. “Helps me focus.”

“I’d think it’s more of a distraction.”

“Maybe for you, rich boy,” she quipped. “Not everyone can handle silence like a sociopath.”

Damian smirked. “Touché. What are you listening to?”

She glanced at him, surprised by the question. “Why?”

“Call it curiosity.”

Y/N hesitated before handing over one side of her headphones. “Here. But if you say something snarky, I’m taking it back.”

He took the offered earphone and slipped it in, his expression neutral as the music filtered through. The bass-heavy track was rough and raw, and for a moment, Damian simply nodded along.

“Interesting choice,” he said finally.

“Is that a compliment?” she asked, a faint smirk playing on her lips.

“An observation,” he replied, echoing her words from their first encounter.

She huffed a laugh, shaking her head as she leaned back in her chair. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, you’re still here.”

She didn’t respond, but the smallest smile tugged at her lips as she returned to her tablet.

As they worked, Y/N found herself glancing at Damian more often than she’d like to admit. There was something about the way he carried himself—calm, confident, like he was always ten steps ahead of everyone else. It was both infuriating and intriguing.

“You’re staring,” Damian said without looking up from his notes.

“Am not,” she shot back immediately, her face heating.

He looked at her then, his expression smug. “You are.”

“Shut up, Wayne.”

But for once, there was no bite in her words, and Damian’s smirk softened into something warmer.

As they packed up to leave, he lingered by the library door, waiting for her.

“See you tomorrow?” he asked.

“Unfortunately,” she muttered, though there was no real annoyance in her tone.

Damian’s lips quirked into a small smile. “Try not to get into any fights on the way home, Y/N.”

She rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the faint laugh that escaped. “No promises.”

As they parted ways, she slipped her headphones back on, the music filling the silence once more. But this time, it didn’t feel quite as heavy.

That night, Y/N was back in her room, stretched out on her bed with her MP3 player humming in her ears. The day replayed in her mind more than she liked. Damian’s smug little smirks. His annoying ability to get under her skin without really trying. The way he just kept showing up like he cared.

She hated it. Or at least, she told herself she did.

Her phone buzzed on the nightstand, breaking her thoughts. She groaned, grabbing it.

Damian: Have you started your part of the project yet?

She rolled her eyes and fired back a response.

Y/N: I’ll get to it.

A reply came almost instantly.

Damian: Procrastination isn’t an ideal strategy.

Y/N: And pestering me isn’t gonna make me work faster.

Damian: Fair enough. But if you’d rather work together again, I’m available.

She blinked at the message, her brows furrowing. Why was he so persistent?

Y/N: Do you ever just leave people alone?

Damian: Rarely.

Y/N huffed a quiet laugh, shaking her head as she tossed the phone beside her. Her music shifted to a softer track, and for the first time in a while, she let herself relax.

A few minutes passed before her phone buzzed again. This time, the message wasn’t about school.

Damian: What are you listening to tonight?

Her lips twitched into a small smirk.

Y/N: Wouldn’t you like to know.

Damian: I would. You’ve piqued my curiosity.

For some reason, she found herself answering.

Y/N: Some old rock. Why?

Damian: Just wondering. You seem to have good taste.

She stared at the screen, her smirk fading into something softer. He wasn’t teasing or prying—just genuinely interested. That was new.

Y/N: Thanks, I guess. What about you?

There was a pause before his reply.

Damian: I don’t listen to much music, but I’d take recommendations.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed quickly.

Y/N: Alright. I’ll send you a playlist. Just don’t complain if you don’t like it.

Damian: I won’t.

For the next hour, Y/N found herself combing through her MP3 player, curating a list of songs she thought he might like. It was a little strange, but she didn’t hate it. If anything, it was… kind of nice.

By the time she sent the playlist, the tension she usually carried had melted away.

Y/N: Here. Don’t get all judgmental.

Damian: I wouldn’t dream of it. Goodnight, Y/N.

She stared at the message for a moment before responding.

Y/N: Night, Wayne.

She set the phone aside and sank deeper into her pillows, the faintest smile lingering on her lips as the music played on. Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.

Saturday came around, and Y/N found herself sitting across from Damian in a booth at a small burger joint not far from Gotham Academy. It wasn’t her usual hangout, but Damian had insisted on treating her to lunch as a “thank you” for the playlist she sent him. She wasn’t about to turn down free food, though she still wasn’t entirely sure why he was so intent on hanging out with her.

“This is what you wanted?” Damian asked, eyeing her burger, loaded with extra pickles and dripping sauce.

“Don’t judge,” Y/N shot back, taking a massive bite and chewing unapologetically.

“I’m not judging,” he replied, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. “It’s just… excessive.”

“Says the guy who ordered a plain salad.” She rolled her eyes. “Live a little, Wayne.”

Before he could respond, the bell above the door jingled, and Y/N’s stomach sank as her dad walked in. He was in his usual work clothes, wiping grease off his hands with a rag. His eyes scanned the room before landing on her.

“Oh, no,” she muttered under her breath, sinking lower into her seat.

“Y/N!” her dad called, striding over to their booth with a wide grin. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Yeah, I bet,” she mumbled, glancing at Damian, who looked mildly amused.

Her dad’s eyes shifted to Damian, and his brows lifted. “Who’s this?”

“No one,” Y/N said quickly, glaring at Damian in warning.

“I’m Damian Wayne,” he said, extending a hand. “I’m Y/N’s partner for a school project.”

Her dad’s face lit up. “Wayne, huh? Like the Wayne Enterprises guy?”

“Yes, that’s my father,” Damian replied, his tone polite but detached.

“Well, fancy that,” her dad said with a chuckle, patting Y/N on the shoulder. “My kid’s hanging out with Gotham’s elite now. Maybe you’ll finally pick up some manners.”

“Dad,” Y/N hissed, her cheeks burning. “Can you not?”

“I’m just saying, you could use a good influence,” he continued, grinning at Damian. “This one’s got a bit of a reputation for getting into trouble, you know?”

“Dad!”

“What? It’s true!” He gave her a playful shove before turning back to Damian. “Anyway, good luck keeping this one in line. You’ve got your work cut out for you.”

With that, he waved them off and headed to the counter, leaving Y/N slumped in her seat, fuming.

“That was… unexpected,” Damian said, his tone carefully neutral.

Y/N shot him a glare. “Don’t start.”

“I wasn’t going to.”

She huffed, shoving the rest of her burger into a napkin and standing up. “I’m out of here.”

“Y/N—” Damian started, but she was already halfway to the door, headphones back over her ears.

Y/N’s feet carried her across town to a place she hadn’t been in weeks: an abandoned factory on the outskirts of Gotham. It was her favorite hideout, a quiet, forgotten corner of the city where she could clear her head.

She climbed through a broken window and settled onto an old crate, pulling her MP3 player from her pocket. As the music filled her ears, the tension from lunch began to melt away.

Her dad’s teasing, Damian’s insufferable calmness, the weight of feeling like she never quite fit—it all faded into the background. Here, surrounded by peeling paint and broken machinery, she could just be.

But her peace didn’t last long.

A shadow fell across the floor, and she glanced up to see Damian climbing through the window.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she muttered, yanking her headphones off.

“I figured you’d come here,” he said, dusting off his hands as he straightened.

“How?” she snapped. “You stalking me now?”

“You mentioned this place once,” he replied, his tone unbothered. “During our first project meeting. I remembered.”

She groaned, leaning back against the wall. “Why are you here, Wayne? Can’t a girl have five minutes of peace?”

“I wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said simply, crossing his arms.

“Well, I am,” she said, glaring at him. “Now go away.”

He didn’t move, his piercing green eyes locked on hers. “You’re angry with your father.”

“No kidding.”

“But that’s not all, is it?”

She clenched her fists, the scars on her knuckles standing out against her tan skin. “What do you want from me, Damian? Why can’t you just let me be?”

“Because I don’t believe you actually want to be alone,” he said, his voice steady but soft.

His words hit harder than she expected, and she looked away, her jaw tightening.

“You don’t know anything about me,” she muttered.

“I’m starting to,” he said, stepping closer. “And I think you’re tired of pretending you don’t care.”

She didn’t respond, her fingers tightening around the edge of her MP3 player. For a moment, the only sound was the faint buzz of the music leaking from her headphones.

“Why do you care so much?” she asked finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Because I see something in you,” he said, his tone sincere. “And I don’t think anyone else has bothered to.”

Her throat tightened, and she turned away, shoving her headphones back on. “Whatever,” she muttered, letting the music drown him out.

But Damian didn’t leave. He sat down on a nearby crate, his presence calm and steady, as if he was willing to wait as long as it took.

The streets of Gotham were quiet as Y/N made her way home under the dim glow of streetlights. She kept her hood up, hands shoved in her pockets, and music blasting in her ears as she walked the familiar route to her apartment.

It was late—way later than she’d intended to stay out—and she was hoping her dad was already asleep. The last thing she wanted was another lecture.

She crept into the building, the faint creak of the old staircase making her wince as she ascended to their floor. When she reached their apartment, she slid the key into the lock and eased the door open, careful to make as little noise as possible.

The living room was dark, and for a moment, relief washed over her. But just as she stepped inside, the light flipped on, and she froze.

Her dad was sitting in his armchair, arms crossed and a stern expression on his face.

“Seriously?” he said, his voice low but heavy with frustration. “Sneaking in now?”

Y/N groaned, pulling off her hood and tossing her MP3 player onto the couch. “I wasn’t sneaking.”

“Coming home at midnight without telling me where you are? Yeah, that’s sneaking.”

“I needed space,” she said, avoiding his gaze as she kicked off her shoes. “You wouldn’t understand.”

“Try me,” he shot back, standing up. “I’ve been trying to understand, Y/N, but you keep shutting me out. You don’t talk to me. You come home with bruises and scars, you get into fights, and now you’re sneaking around? What’s going on with you?”

“Nothing’s going on!” she snapped, her voice rising. “I just needed to get out of here for a while!”

“To do what? Sit in some abandoned building and listen to music?” he said, his voice laced with exasperation.

Her eyes snapped to his, her chest tightening. “How do you even know about that?”

“Because I’m not an idiot, Y/N,” he said, softening just slightly. “I know you have your hiding spots. I know you’re angry, but you don’t have to shut me out like this.”

She clenched her fists, the scars on her knuckles catching the light. “I’m fine, Dad. I don’t need you hovering over me all the time.”

He let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair. “You’re not fine. And it’s okay to admit that, you know? But I can’t help you if you won’t let me.”

Y/N swallowed hard, her throat burning with unspoken words. She hated this—being vulnerable, feeling like she had to explain herself.

“I don’t need your help,” she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. “I just… I need space.”

Her dad’s expression softened, but the concern in his eyes didn’t fade. “Space doesn’t mean running away from everything, Y/N. You can’t just shut the world out whenever it gets hard.”

She looked away, her jaw tight as she fought the lump in her throat. “I’m going to bed,” she muttered, brushing past him.

“Y/N,” he called after her, but she didn’t stop.

She shut her bedroom door behind her, leaning against it as she let out a shaky breath. The weight of the day pressed down on her, but she pushed it aside, grabbing her headphones and collapsing onto her bed.

As the music filled her ears, she closed her eyes and let herself disappear into the sound, wishing she could block out the world entirely—just for a little while.

The next morning, Y/N awoke to the sharp sound of her dad knocking on her bedroom door.

“Y/N, get up,” he called through the door. “We need to talk.”

She groaned, pulling her pillow over her head and trying to ignore the voice, but she knew that wasn’t going to work. Reluctantly, she rolled out of bed and dragged herself to the door, opening it just enough to peer out.

“What now?” she mumbled, trying to sound as uninterested as possible.

Her dad stood there, arms folded across his chest, his expression unamused. “You’re grounded.”

Y/N blinked, stunned for a second. “What?”

“You heard me. No going out with friends, no late nights, no leaving this apartment until I say so. You’re grounded for the next week.”

“Are you serious?” she hissed. “I’m 19, you can’t just ground me like I’m a kid.”

“I can and I will,” he replied firmly. “You’re out of control, Y/N. I know you think you don’t need my help, but you’re pushing your limits. You’re not going to make things better by isolating yourself. This isn’t how we’re going to handle this.”

She stared at him, fighting the urge to yell, to lash out, but something inside her just felt… defeated.

“You’re punishing me for going out for a few hours?” she muttered, frustration building in her chest. “You’ve got no idea what I’m dealing with.”

Her dad’s expression softened, but he stood firm. “I know it’s tough, Y/N. I know you’re struggling, but this isn’t the answer. You have to stop running from everything. I’m just trying to protect you.”

“I don’t need protection,” she snapped, the words leaving her mouth before she could stop them.

Her dad flinched at her tone, but he didn’t back down. “I’m not going to fight you on this. I’m doing this because I care.”

Y/N felt the sting of those words more than she wanted to admit. Her throat tightened as she tried to push past the wave of guilt. “I’m not a kid anymore.”

He sighed, rubbing his temples. “No, you’re not. But you’re still my daughter, and I’m still your father. That means I’ll step in when I see you hurting yourself.”

She couldn’t argue with that, not without feeling like a jerk. So she just stared at the floor, unwilling to meet his eyes.

“Fine,” she muttered, shoving her hands into her hoodie pockets. “I’m grounded. Happy now?”

“No,” he said softly. “I’m not happy. I just want you to stop pushing me away.”

She didn’t reply. She turned away, heading back into her room, slamming the door behind her.

The rest of the day passed in a blur of frustration and restlessness. Y/N found herself staring out the window, unable to shake the feeling of being trapped. It wasn’t fair. She didn’t want to be stuck here—she just wanted space to breathe, a little room to figure things out. But her dad wasn’t giving her that, and neither was Damian, who had texted her a couple of times already, probably sensing something was off.

Damian: Everything okay?

She stared at the message, biting her lip as she sat on the edge of her bed. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about it, but part of her, deep down, wanted someone to listen.

Y/N: I’m grounded.

A pause.

Damian: Grounded? For what?

Y/N: Being a screw-up. Apparently, I’m not allowed to leave the house for a while.

Damian: That’s ridiculous. You don’t deserve that.

Y/N felt her chest tighten as she read the message. The last thing she wanted was for Damian to get caught up in her mess, but somehow, his concern felt like a lifeline in a storm.

Y/N: It’s not his fault.

There was another pause, longer this time. Then, finally, a reply.

Damian: I get it, Y/N. I just don’t want you to feel like you’re alone in this. If you need space or someone to talk to, I’m here. Always.

Her heart thudded in her chest, and she stared at the screen for a long moment before letting out a quiet sigh.

Y/N: Thanks, Wayne. I’ll be okay.

Damian: You don’t have to be okay all the time. Not with me.

She didn’t know how to respond to that. Instead, she just put the phone down and leaned back against her pillow, closing her eyes and letting the music drown out the silence. It was the only thing that kept her grounded these days.

And maybe—just maybe—she didn’t mind that Damian cared enough to reach out. Even if she didn’t fully admit it to herself.

The next few days dragged on for Y/N. She spent most of her time in her room, avoiding her dad’s attempts to talk and trying to make the most of her grounding. Damian’s messages kept coming, each one more persistent than the last, though Y/N didn’t know why he kept reaching out. She couldn’t figure him out—why did he care so much?

Damian: You haven’t replied in a while. Are you okay?

She stared at the message for a long moment, wondering if she should respond. She had to admit, there was something oddly comforting about his constant concern, even if she wasn’t ready to talk about it.

Y/N: I’m fine.

A few hours later, another message came through.

Damian: Don’t lie to me. I know you’re not fine. Talk to me, please.

She bit her lip, feeling the familiar frustration rise in her chest. Why did he keep pushing? Why couldn’t he just leave her alone like everyone else?

Y/N: I said I’m fine. I just need some space. Stop messaging me.

Her phone sat quietly for a while, and she thought maybe that would be the end of it. But then another message buzzed through.

Damian: I won’t stop checking in on you. You’re not alone, Y/N.

That simple sentence struck a chord she wasn’t ready to face. She clenched her phone tightly, trying to keep her emotions in check.

Y/N: Why do you even care?

There was a long pause before his reply came in.

Damian: Because I do.

It was blunt, simple, and somehow it made her heart skip a beat. She tossed the phone onto her bed, not knowing what to think or feel.

A moment later, the familiar hum of music filled the silence in her room. The distractions, the noise—it was the only thing that kept her from drowning in her own thoughts. But even the music couldn’t stop her mind from wandering back to Damian’s words.

He wasn’t giving up on her. And that scared her more than she wanted to admit.

The next few days were a blur of fever, chills, and exhaustion. Y/N barely left her bed, only getting up for water or to shuffle back to the bathroom. Her dad had left for a business trip the day before she started feeling sick, so she was left to fend for herself. And even though she preferred it that way, she couldn’t help but feel the weight of being alone when she was at her worst.

Damian had, predictably, not left her alone. His messages came in almost non-stop.

Damian: You still haven’t replied. You okay?

She could barely muster the energy to respond, but she did.

Y/N: I’m fine.

Then came another one.

Damian: You’re not fine, Y/N. I know you’re sick.

She groaned and rolled onto her side, tugging the blankets higher. She wanted to ignore him, to shut it all out, but somehow, his persistence made it harder.

Y/N: I’m fine. Just got a fever.

She didn’t think he’d leave it at that, but she hoped he would. Instead, the messages just kept coming.

Damian: I’ll bring you something to eat. You need to take care of yourself.

Y/N: I’m not hungry.

Damian: You need to eat.

She had no energy to argue anymore, so she just let it go and went back to sleep.

When she woke up a few hours later, she found herself staring at the doorbell ringing. She groaned. Of course, Damian would show up, of all people.

Moments later, there was a knock at the door, and before she could even respond, Damian’s voice echoed through the hallway.

“Y/N, open up. I brought you soup.”

Y/N rolled her eyes, struggling to sit up in bed. She wasn’t in the mood for any of this—especially not the constant hovering.

Reluctantly, she dragged herself out of bed, her body heavy with exhaustion, and stumbled to the door. When she opened it, Damian stood there holding a steaming bowl of soup, a determined look on his face.

“You really need to eat something,” he said gently, though there was an edge of authority in his voice.

“I’m fine,” she grumbled, barely able to stand straight. “I don’t need your charity.”

Damian raised an eyebrow but didn’t push her. Instead, he stepped inside and set the soup down on the small table near the couch. “I’m not leaving until you eat. You’re sick, Y/N. You’re not going to get better on your own.”

She glared at him, her irritation bubbling up. “You’re so damn persistent,” she muttered.

He didn’t seem to be bothered by her attitude at all, just pulled the chair closer to her bed and waited.

“Damian, seriously, I’m not hungry.”

“I didn’t bring it for you to look at. It’s to help you get better,” he replied, a calm smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

Y/N huffed and fell back into her bed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I said no. Just go away already.”

Damian didn’t budge. Instead, he picked up the spoon, stirring the soup. “I don’t mind feeding you, Y/N.”

Her face flushed at his words, and she looked away, embarrassed by the simple act of him taking care of her. “I’m not some helpless baby, Damian. I don’t need you playing nurse.”

“I’m not playing anything,” he shot back, his voice soft but firm. “You’re sick, and I’m not leaving until you take care of yourself.”

Y/N clenched her fists, feeling her frustration rise. She wasn’t used to anyone caring this much. It felt suffocating, like she was being trapped in a way that made her uneasy.

“I’m fine!” she snapped, her voice sharper than she intended. “Just leave me alone already.”

Damian remained unfazed, only taking a step closer, the bowl of soup in hand. “I’m not leaving, Y/N. You don’t have to like it, but I’m going to make sure you’re okay.”

She sighed, closing her eyes in frustration. She wanted to shut him out, to send him away, but for some reason, she couldn’t.

“Please,” she muttered, looking at the soup with distaste. “I don’t need your pity.”

Damian didn’t respond. Instead, he carefully brought the spoon to her lips, holding it there patiently.

“You’re not getting away with this,” he said, his voice soft but insistent.

Y/N narrowed her eyes at him, still seething with irritation, but when she didn’t move, he gently nudged the spoon closer. Begrudgingly, she opened her mouth, accepting the soup, though it didn’t make the situation any less uncomfortable.

“See? That wasn’t so bad,” Damian said, as if the battle had already been won.

Y/N didn’t reply, her cheeks flushed with the embarrassment of it all. She looked away, not meeting his eyes as he fed her the rest of the soup, each bite feeling more like a challenge to her pride than a necessity.

When he was done, he set the bowl down and gave her a small, satisfied smile. “You’ll feel better now. You just need to rest.”

She gritted her teeth but couldn’t bring herself to yell at him. Instead, she muttered, “You’re impossible.”

Damian’s smile softened, and he stood up to leave. “I’ll check on you tomorrow. Take care of yourself, Y/N.”

She didn’t respond, watching him walk out the door and close it quietly behind him.

Her heart pounded in her chest, still filled with the mess of emotions she couldn’t quite place. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, but one thing was for certain—Damian wasn’t going anywhere.

Damian had left the soup bowl and a few tissues on the small table next to her bed, but instead of leaving like he’d intended, he lingered. His eyes followed her as she sat back against her pillows, clearly exhausted but too stubborn to admit how much the soup had helped.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said, sitting down on the edge of the bed, his tone gentle but firm.

Y/N glanced at him, narrowing her eyes, but the exhaustion in her body was starting to overtake her. “You really don’t know when to quit, do you?”

“I’ve learned to be patient with you,” he replied with a small smirk, his gaze warm.

Y/N snorted, rolling over onto her side, facing away from him. She let out a long sigh, the discomfort in her chest not from the illness but from the strange, unspoken tension in the room. Damian’s presence was comforting, but it also made her heart race in ways she wasn’t used to. She closed her eyes, her mind swirling with the thoughts she kept pushing away. Her dad’s absence, her frustration with being stuck, and, somehow, Damian’s constant attention weighed heavily on her.

She heard Damian settle into the chair beside her bed, and the silence stretched on for a long while. She could feel the quiet buzz of his presence in the room, and soon enough, the rhythmic sound of his breathing made her own eyelids grow heavier. Her body, so drained from the fever, finally succumbed to the exhaustion.

Just as she began to drift off, her voice escaped before she could stop it.

“I admire you,” she whispered, her words slurred from the drowsiness. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she wasn’t sure why she’d said it, but it was like her body was betraying her thoughts. “You’re… strong and smart. And… I… I don’t know. You just—”

Damian froze, his brow furrowing as he watched her, but he didn’t interrupt. She hadn’t fully realized she was speaking aloud until it was too late, and when she tried to pull herself out of the conversation, her voice faltered.

Her eyes flickered open, still heavy with sleep, meeting his gaze for the briefest of moments before she quickly looked away. “I don’t know why I said that,” she muttered, her voice quiet, embarrassed. “Forget it.”

Damian’s expression softened, and for a moment, he didn’t seem like the stoic, sometimes prickly vigilante that he usually was. Instead, he looked… human, understanding.

“I won’t forget it,” he said softly, his voice lower than usual. “You don’t have to hide how you feel, Y/N.”

She felt a lump form in her throat, and it made her stomach churn. She didn’t want to be vulnerable—not to him, not to anyone—but the weight of her words, the unexpected honesty, hung in the air. She swallowed, her breath unsteady.

“I’m too tired for this,” she muttered, her eyes fluttering closed again, as the sleepiness claimed her once more. “But… just… don’t tell anyone, okay?”

Damian didn’t say anything immediately. He just stayed there in silence, watching her as she drifted into the deeper stages of sleep. His fingers tightened at his sides, though he made no move to leave. He wasn’t sure what to make of the confession, but one thing was for sure—he wasn’t about to let her push him away.

He stood up after a while, careful not to disturb her as she slept. He walked quietly toward the door, glancing back at her one last time before he slipped out.

“I won’t tell anyone,” he murmured, his voice barely audible, as he shut the door behind him softly.

And as he left, Y/N, barely conscious, felt a strange sense of calm wash over her. Maybe, just maybe, things were starting to shift in ways she wasn’t ready to admit—but for now, the only thing that mattered was the comforting weight of sleep.

The following week, Y/N’s fever had finally broken, but the tension that had built between her and Damian over the past few days hadn’t exactly disappeared. It was an unspoken understanding between them now, one that neither of them addressed directly but that hung in the air whenever they were close. Y/N found herself more aware of Damian’s presence—how he lingered just a little longer when they spoke, how his gaze softened when she didn’t expect it. It was like a game she couldn’t quite win, and it irritated her more than she cared to admit.

At school, things weren’t much better. Y/N had managed to keep her distance from the drama, but her reputation as the girl no one messed with hadn’t changed. She walked through the halls with her usual defiant swagger, and students parted like the sea to avoid her, casting wary glances her way.

It was during lunch when it happened. A guy from one of her classes—someone she didn’t recognize—started to taunt her from across the cafeteria. He had a smug grin plastered across his face, and Y/N could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline building inside her. She stood up from her seat, her body already in motion before her mind caught up.

“Hey, freak!” the guy called out, laughing as he stood up to meet her.

Damian, who had been sitting next to her, immediately noticed the shift in her demeanor. Her fists clenched at her sides, and her jaw tightened with the familiar anger that often came with these situations. But this time, before she could take another step, Damian stood in front of her, blocking her path.

“Don’t,” Damian said, his voice low but firm.

Y/N stopped, looking up at him in disbelief. “What the hell, Damian? Get out of the way.”

But he didn’t budge. Instead, he took a step closer to her, his eyes meeting hers with that unwavering intensity she’d come to expect from him. “It’s not worth it,” he said, his voice softening just slightly. “He’s not worth it.”

Y/N’s anger flared, but there was something about the way he was looking at her—calm, steady—that made her hesitate. Her hands shook slightly, the familiar fury inside her battling with the strange sense of protection Damian seemed to offer without even realizing it.

“You can’t just let him get away with this,” she muttered, looking past him at the guy who was still smirking from a distance.

Damian stepped closer, his voice barely above a whisper, but somehow, it carried the weight of a thousand unspoken words. “You don’t need to prove anything to him. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone.”

Y/N clenched her fists, the temptation to fight still bubbling beneath her skin. But something about the way Damian spoke, the way he cared in a way that no one else did, made her pause. She let out a sharp breath, her body relaxing as she took a step back.

“Fine,” she grumbled, though there was no real conviction in her voice. “But I’m not forgetting this.”

Damian didn’t smile or look satisfied. He simply watched her for a moment, then turned his gaze to the guy, who was now looking a little less confident.

“Go,” Damian said, his voice carrying a warning now. “And don’t come back.”

The guy, realizing that he wasn’t going to get a rise out of Y/N, huffed and walked off, muttering under his breath. Y/N felt a twinge of satisfaction, but it quickly faded as she turned to Damian.

“Why did you do that?” she asked, her voice low, conflicted. “You know I can handle it on my own.”

“I know,” Damian said, his expression unreadable. “But you don’t always have to. You don’t always have to fight, Y/N. You don’t have to do everything alone.”

Y/N felt a flicker of something unfamiliar in her chest—something she couldn’t quite place. She swallowed, trying to ignore the growing warmth of her cheeks. “I don’t need a hero,” she muttered, though it sounded weaker than she’d intended.

“I’m not a hero,” Damian replied quietly, his voice almost too soft to hear. “But I’ll always be here for you.”

Y/N didn’t know how to respond to that, so instead, she just gave him a sharp look. “You’re impossible, you know that?”

Damian smiled, just a little, the expression catching Y/N off guard. He was so much more than she gave him credit for, and she wasn’t sure whether that scared or comforted her.

The rest of the school day passed in a blur. As the days continued, Y/N noticed that Damian seemed to make a point of staying close to her. He sat next to her in class, walked with her between periods, and, much to her annoyance, even texted her occasionally to check on her, even when she didn’t ask for it. At first, she was resistant to it, shutting him out with her sharp words and irritated silence. But slowly, without her even realizing it, she started to look forward to their conversations, to the quiet moments when it was just the two of them.

And even though she still kept her walls up, Damian was relentless. He wasn’t giving up. And she wasn’t sure if she wanted him to.

By the end of the week, the subtle changes in their dynamic were hard to ignore. Y/N still pretended not to care, but when Damian wasn’t around, she found herself feeling restless, a little bit empty. She told herself it was just a phase, that it would pass. But deep down, she knew better.

She wasn’t sure where things were headed, but for the first time in a long while, she didn’t mind the uncertainty. The warmth in her chest, the fluttering in her stomach when Damian smiled at her—it was all new territory.

And she wasn’t sure whether she was ready to admit it yet, but she couldn’t deny that she was starting to look forward to whatever came next.

It was the weekend, and the day had been uncharacteristically calm. Y/N had spent most of it avoiding her usual distractions, her mind kept drifting back to Damian. She tried to shake it off, but there was a growing weight to their connection, one that she couldn’t ignore anymore.

Damian had messaged her in the afternoon, as usual, asking if she wanted to hang out. At first, she’d been hesitant, not sure if she wanted to be in his company after everything that had happened. But there was something about his persistence, his quiet way of staying by her side, that tugged at her heart in ways she wasn’t ready to face.

Damian: So, how about it? You, me, some peace and quiet?

Y/N had hesitated before replying.

Y/N: I’ll pick you up in 20 minutes. Be ready.

It wasn’t much of a response, but it was enough. When she arrived at his place, Damian was already waiting outside, his expression soft when he saw her.

“Where are we going this time?” he asked, his eyes scanning her face. She couldn’t quite place the look in his eyes—something between curiosity and warmth.

“You’ll see,” Y/N said, her voice a little more guarded than she intended. “Just trust me.”

They didn’t talk much during the ride. The air between them felt charged, though neither of them spoke of it directly. They were both aware of the undercurrent of something new, something unspoken, that had been growing between them for weeks now. Y/N’s mind kept wandering back to the way he looked at her, the little things he did—how he’d been there when she needed him, even when she didn’t ask.

When they reached their destination, a dilapidated, old building on the outskirts of the city, Damian looked at her curiously.

“This is… where we’re going?” he asked, his eyebrows raised.

Y/N smirked, a little teasing. “I told you to trust me.”

She led him up the creaky steps and into the abandoned building, the setting sun casting a warm glow through the cracked windows. They found a spot on the roof, where the sky was painted in shades of orange and purple. The city stretched out below them, distant and peaceful.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. They sat in comfortable silence, the only sounds were the faint rustle of the wind and the distant hum of city life. Y/N pulled out her MP3 player, the same one she always carried with her, and let the music play softly through the headphones. She leaned back against the cold surface, her eyes closing for a moment.

Damian, sitting beside her, watched her carefully, his gaze lingering. He wanted to say something—anything—but for once, he didn’t have the words. He just… wanted to be here, with her.

When the song ended, the silence between them stretched again, but this time, it felt different. It felt like something was shifting, something inevitable.

“You know,” Y/N began, her voice barely above a whisper, “I’ve never brought anyone here before.”

Damian turned his head toward her, his eyes narrowing in curiosity. “Why me?”

Y/N shrugged, trying to keep her tone casual, but her chest tightened at the question. “I don’t know. I guess… I trust you.”

Damian didn’t say anything at first. He just let that settle between them, a quiet acknowledgment of the bond that had formed without either of them really realizing it.

“Y/N…” Damian started, his voice soft but intense, “I don’t know what this is, but I can’t ignore it anymore. I don’t want to.”

Y/N’s heart skipped a beat, and her breath caught in her throat. She turned to face him, her eyes searching his face for any hint of uncertainty. But there was none. Only that steady look, that quiet confidence she had come to rely on.

“I’m not good at this,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper, “and I’m not good at letting people in. But… I don’t know, Damian. Maybe you’ve earned it.”

Damian’s lips quirked into a small smile, and for a moment, it was as if everything else in the world had disappeared. Just the two of them, sitting there on the roof, watching the sunset, the warmth of the moment slowly replacing the tension between them.

“You don’t have to be good at it,” he said, his voice low, “I’ll teach you.”

Y/N laughed softly, but there was a softness in her tone that hadn’t been there before. “You’re impossible.”

“I know,” Damian replied, his smile widening.

The air between them shifted once more, this time with a quiet understanding. Y/N’s hand, resting next to her, brushed against his. For a moment, neither of them moved, but the spark was undeniable.

Without thinking, Y/N turned to face him fully, her hand hesitating for a moment before resting against his chest. Her eyes locked with his, and for the first time in weeks, she felt the walls she’d built inside her slowly crumbling.

Damian didn’t pull away. Instead, he leaned in slowly, his forehead resting against hers for a brief second before he closed the distance between them. Their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss—a kiss that felt like the culmination of everything that had built up between them, a kiss full of unspoken words, of everything they hadn’t said yet.

When they finally pulled away, both of them were breathless, a little dazed by the intensity of it.

“You’re not as impossible as I thought,” Y/N said quietly, her voice teasing but sincere.

Damian chuckled softly, his fingers brushing against her cheek. “And you’re not as tough as you pretend to be,” he replied.

Y/N smirked, her heart fluttering in her chest, feeling the heat of the sunset and the warmth of Damian’s hand against her skin.

“Maybe,” she said, leaning in for another kiss, “maybe I’m starting to change my mind about a few things.”

Damian didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed her again, this time deeper, more sure of himself. And as they kissed under the fading light of the sunset, everything else—the world, the problems, the distance—seemed to melt away.

For once, it was just the two of them. And for the first time, Y/N didn’t mind the quiet certainty that things were changing.

[beetleskeleton]

@/pinksparkllelps @itzme-thefaust Get ouchied

—

You snuggle in a little closer as she plays a relaxing song for ambiance. You couldn’t help but smile at the feeling of a rumbling purr coursing through her body, though it was hardly audible with the music. You both sat there in silence for a while, simply enjoying each other’s company side by side while the Archivist worked. In the green light of the electric lantern used to illuminate the room, there was a small burning thought ebbing into your mind, disrupting your pleasant emotions like a fly buzzing around your head. 

“Hey Archi?” You asked, and you heard the music lower in volume. She turns her head to you, her green eye staring down at you, “Yes, dear?” You shuffled where you were, looking down at the ground beside you, “When a Challenger does eventually come here, will you still be here?” You noticed her digital mouth frowning slightly at your words, “What exactly do you mean?” She shifted her focus back onto the files in front of her, flipping through each one in her large hands. 

Fidgeting with your hands, you hesitated with your words. “Oh, I don’t know.” You finally sighed, still not looking up at her quite yet. “Since they’re trying to defeat you, like I was before I stopped towards the end, but this time they more than likely won’t drop out. What’ll happen to you then?” She came to a slow halt in her work, setting the files down in an orderly stack. You cautiously looked up at her, and when you met her gaze, it’s like something you had expected but also didn’t at the same time. It’s soft, caring and gentle while still being firm all at once. “Are you worried about me?” She asked softly, gently lifting your chin up with one finger. You nodded, feeling your throat starting to get tight. 

She brushed some hair out of your face, letting her hand linger as she spoke to you in a soft, low digitized hum. “You need not to worry about me, I won’t go anywhere, not without you my dear.” You sniffled, looking down to the side before back up at her again, “Promise?” The Archivist only smiled and pressed a gentle kiss onto your forehead. “I promise. I will be at your side, always.” A smile curled on your face, nuzzling into her affectionate gestures. 

***

You stared up at her in dismay, sickeningly bright strings of binary streaming upwards from her monitor. You did what you could, trying everything that you could think of to awaken her. The librarians were of little help, as they couldn’t help out much either, but you appreciated their help regardless. The day you feared had arrived, and it pierced through your heart like a dagger. It pained you so, earlier that very day she was being as loving and caring with you as though everything was okay. But now, she was stuck like this, and no one knew when she was coming back, if she ever would be able to. The possibility of this being her eternal rest made you shudder.

Biting back the welling tears in your eyes, you walked to her, slipping under her large arm that lay limply on the ground. You simply laid at her side, hardly flinching at the cold chill of her body. You felt the tears starting to spill over, but in whatever chance she may hear you, you reassured her. “You don’t need to worry, Archi.” You rasped, “I’ll be here with you, always.” Tears spilled down your cheeks as you nuzzled against her side, never wanting to leave her, not again. The Challenger already got what they wanted, what more would they need to do to be satisfied? Such things added more to the concoction of emotions you were feeling, but that hardly mattered now, didn’t it? No, your beloved and her fellow Uberbots were shut down because of this creature lurking around Botopia, with its residents being forced to live with the consequences. 

Your world was already gone, what more could they want?

[gladdyator18]

Secret Weak Spot - TickleTober2023 Day 4 (Weak Spot)

Summary: Diego is known to smile every now and again, but not once has his friends heard him laugh. That all changes when Tristan discovers a little secret of his.

Word Count: 1764

⚠️Warning⚠️: mild swearing

Okay, let's get one thing straight: Diego Cortez is a very stoic young man. He's very introverted and likes to keep to himself a lot. Diego only speaks when he's spoken to, and growing up, he never really had that many friends. After he came to this alternate universe, met Ishani, and reunited with Jason, his life changed for the better. Now, Diego has two families to call his own, and with Ishani and Jason's help, he has an amazing friend group. When he's around them, he smiles more than ever. But there is one thing that he has yet to do around them.

"Has anyone ever seen Diego laugh?" Kain asked suddenly.

The teens were at their usual meet-up spot at their local park, and there was a beat of silence before Kain asked the million-dollar question.

"Seen, no," Ava said, "Heard... uhm, no..."

"Does he even know how to laugh?" Olivia asked, slowly pushing herself on the swing.

The other teens glanced at one another before all eyes were on Jason. The burgundy-haired teen looked between his friends and quirked a brow.

"What?" Jason questioned.

"You're his cousin," Tristan said, "Do you know what makes him laugh?"

Jason hummed in thought as he paced around the swing-set area.

"Unfortunately, no," Jason admitted, "We never really grew up together that much. I'm just grateful to get that chance now, so I wouldn't know."

The other teens sighed in defeat. Tristan glanced over at the black-haired teen in question sitting under a nearby tree. The blonde hummed in thought before a sly grin appeared on his face.

"Tristan, what's with that look?" Ava asked.

"I think I figured out how to get our dear Diego to laugh," Tristan said, "Just watch and learn."

The other teens glanced at one another as they watched Tristan walk over to Diego. The black-haired teen had headphones over his ears, slowly bopping his head to the music playing. When someone tapped his shoulder, Diego looked up and met Tristan's indigo eyes.

"Need something?" Diego asked, sliding off the headphones.

"Nope," Tristan said, sitting next to the teen, "Just thought you'd want some company."

A small smile appeared on the teen's face. About a year ago, Diego wouldn't let anyone sit so close to him without feeling uncomfortable. Still, after getting to know the blonde better, he appreciated his company, though he can be annoying at times.

"So, whatcha listening to?" Tristan asked, scooting closer to Diego's side.

"R&B," Diego said plainly, "Helps me relax."

"Well, why don't you play your music for us?" Tristan suggested, "I brought my speaker so you can hook your phone up to it."

Diego looked at his other friends before shaking his head.

"I wouldn't want to bore you with my music." Diego admitted.

"You wouldn't, honest." Tristan said, poking the teen's side.

Tristan didn't even flinch. Tristan had intentionally poked the teen's side, hoping to get him to jump, but got nothing. Tristan furrowed his brows before poking Diego's side again, right under his rib. Nothing.

"Do you want something, Tristan?" Diego asked, glancing down at the blonde.

"Yeah, I want you to laugh!" Tristan said, rapidly poking the other's sides, "How are you not flinching? Are you not ticklish?"

"Oh, so that's what this is about? I thought you wanted my attention."

Tristan groaned before moving up to Diego's ribs, tickling him for real. Diego inhaled as his muscles tensed, causing Tristan to smile.

"Ah, so you are ticklish," Tristan said, "You're just holding it in."

"A-Am not," Diego said without giggling, "Y-You just suck at tickling."

What Diego said made Tristan pull away and gasp.

"You did not just say that to the world's best tickler!" Tristan proclaimed.

"If you're the world's best, how come I've never heard of you?" Diego said with a smug grin.

Tristan felt his eye twitch.

"You smug little shit..." Tristan growled.

Then, he pounced on Tristan, straddling him on the ground. The other teens watched this and shook their heads fondly.

"Oh, dear," Ava said, "Here we go."

"If anyone can get mi primo to laugh, it's Tristan." Jason chuckled.

Diego looked up at the blonde with a shit-eating grin.

"I know you're ticklish, Diego," Tristan said, "And by you tensing your muscles, I know exactly how to get you giggling."

Tristan grinned before raking his fingers against Diego's sides. The black-haired teen flinched before covering his mouth with one hand and pushing Tristan away with the other.

"What's wrong?" Tristan asked with a chuckle, "Does it tickle?"

"N-No, it d-dohohoesn't." Diego said, letting a giggle slip.

"I'm sorry. Was that a giggle I just heard?"

When Diego shook his head, Tristan started digging between each bone with his middle and pointer finger. This made Diego flinch hard, and deep giggles flooded from his mouth.

"T-Tristahahahan, enohohough!" Diego giggled, still covering his mouth.

"Aha! I knew it!" Tristan proclaimed, "You can't hide anything from Tristan Katsunan!"

Diego giggled in his hand as he squirmed under his friend.

"Aw, c'mon, Diego," Tristan said, grabbing his wrist, "Lemme see that smile!"

When Tristan pried Diego's hand from his mouth, the blonde couldn't help but chuckle at the black-haired teen's smiling and giggling face.

"Well, aren't you an adorable sight for sore eyes?" Tristan mused.

"Enohohohough!" Diego giggled, "Get off mehehehe!"

Tristan hummed before pinning Diego's caught wrist to the ground.

"I don't think so," Tristan said, "While I love hearing your giggles, I want to find a spot that makes you laugh. You do have a spot like that, right~?"

When Tristan asked, he skittered his fingers under Diego's arm, causing his giggles to escalate in volume.

"Nohohoho, I dohohohon't!" Diego giggled, trying to bring his arm down, "Just stop alreheheheady!"

Tristan couldn't help but laugh along to Diego's giggling.

"Yeah, that's a bald-faced lie," Tristan said, "If you just tell me where it is, this could all be over and done with,"

"I told yohohohohou! I don't hahahahave a spot like thahahahat!" Diego giggled.

"What kind of fool do you take me for?"

"Dohohohon't make me answer thahahahahat!"

What Diego said made Tristan's eye twitch.

"So not only are you a smug bastard but also a sassy lil' shit, huh?" Tristan said, "Fine then, what about here?"

Tristan released Diego's wrist before clawing at the black-haired teen's stomach, causing Diego to buck slightly.

"Nahahaha! Stohohohohop!" Deigo cried, his giggles turning into small laughs, "This isn't fuhuhuhuhunny!"

"Oh, yeah? Then why are you laughing so much, huh?" Tristan asked.

Diego tried to push Tristan off him, but the blonde was too strong, and all that giggling was sapping him of his strength.

"Hmm, you seem to be really ticklish on your stomach," Tristan said, "And normally, if someone is ticklish there, then that means..."

When the blonde's fingers started gliding down the sides of the other's stomach, Diego flinched hard before pushing at Tristan's chest.

"Tristan, I swehehear," Diego said, "G-Get off mehehehe!"

"Is someone getting nervous that I found their weak spot?"

Before Diego could protest, deep, adorable laughter spilled from Diego's lips as Tristan tickled his lower back.

"TRISTAHAHAHAHAHAHAN! NOT THEHEHEHERE!" Diego laughed.

"No wonder you never let Ava give you a massage!" Tristan said over Diego's laughter, "This is your secret weak spot, isn't it~?"

Diego bucked and thrashed underneath the blonde, laughing his handsome laugh.

"Who would've thought you had such a cute laugh, Diego?" Tristan mused.

"STAHAHAHAAAAP! THAT'S ENOHOHOHOHOUGH!" Diego cackled, "YOU HAHAHAHAD YOUR FUHUHUHUN! NOHOHOHOHOW, GET OFF MEHEHEHEHEEE!"

"Hmm, I don't think I can. You see, I came here to make you laugh since none of us have heard it before."

Diego laughed loudly as he slammed his legs against the ground.

"YOU ARE SUCH AHAHAHAHAN AHAHAHAHAHASSHOHOHOLE!" Diego cursed, "STAHAHAHAP IHIHIHIT!"

"Oh, I'm an asshole? Is that right, dear Diego?" Tristan asked, "You know, you are in no position to be hurling insults at me 'cause I could make this a lot worse,"

"HOHOHOHOW COULD THIS BE AHAHAHANY WOHOHOHOHORSE!? HEHEHEHEHAHAHAHAAAA!"

"You really wanna know?"

Before Diego could protest any further, Tristan flipped the black-haired teen on his stomach before massaging his thumbs into his lower back, causing Diego to squeal and cackle, pounding his fist into the ground.

"STAHAHAHAHAP! TRISTAN, PLEHEHEHEHASE!" Diego begged, "I CAHAHAHAN'T! HAHAHAHAHAHEHEHEHE!"

"Is that begging I hear?" Tristan questioned.

Diego laughed into the soft, emerald grass, feeling his strength and will to fight back against the blonde's tickles.

"I'll stop on one condition," Tristan began.

"ANYTHIHIHIHIHIHING!" Diego laughed.

"If you promise to laugh more around me and the others, I'll stop tickling you. How does that sound?"

Diego growled through his laughter, wanting to object, but when Tristan hit a sensitive spot, Deigo caved.

"AHHHHHAHAHAHAAAA! ALRIGHT, ALRIHIHIHIHGHT!" Diego cried, "I PROMAHAHAHAHAHA! I PROMIHIHIHIHIHIHISE! NOW STAHAHAHAAAP, PLEASE!"

Tristan laughed before pulling away his hands, leaving Diego to roll over on his back to pant like a dog. The blonde got off the black-haired teen, stood up, and extended a hand to the tickled-out teen. Diego sighed before taking his friend's hand and pulling himself up.

"Nice to know you have a cute laugh, Diego." Tristan said, handing over his friend's fallen headphones.

Diego glared at his friend playfully as he accepted the headphones and put them around his neck. When Diego and Tristan returned to the others, they all smiled warmly.

"Well, this video ain't goin' anywhere." Kain said, waving his phone in the air.

"Your laugh is adorable, Diego!" Ava exclaimed.

"I agree!" Ishani said.

"Now I know how to get you to laugh, primo." Jason chuckled.

Diego glanced at his younger cousin with a dangerous look and a smug grin.

"You say that while you're far more ticklish than me, cabrón." Diego said.

Jason chuckled nervously before taking a step back. The others couldn't help but laugh, and Diego happily joined.

"Hey, Diego, what music were you listening to?" Olivia asked, pointing to the headphones.

"Oh, just some old R&B." Diego said calmly.

"I love R&B!" Ishani said.

"Same here," Kain said, "Mind if we listen to it?"

When the others stared at Diego with pleading eyes, Diego chuckled and nodded. After connecting his phone to Tristan's speaker, the swing-set area was brought back with some late 30s music. Anytime one of the others cracked a joke, Diego would find himself chuckling. Diego glanced around at his friends and smiled. He was so grateful for them. And thanks to Tristan, he learned to laugh more freely around them, and if he ever felt distant, his friends knew how to "poke" him in the right direction.

[daily-rayless]

15 years of Revya

Next on my tour of appreciating favorite characters, it's Revya from Soul Nomad and the World Eaters.

Specifically the female version.

February 2008

I started playing SN in early 2008, February, I think. If this isn't my first Revya, it's one of the earliest, and it's still one of my favorites. I see Revya as a very strong but very quiet, even passive person. She often lets people walk all over her – Danette, Virtuous, and then Gig – and she puts up with it because she knows someone's going to have to be the hero and take care of things. She doesn't much want to be that hero, but she takes the responsibility. And this sketch catches her during a quick break, tired but sword still in hand.

May 2008

Soul Nomad just delighted me. It's weird and goofy in that familiar Nippon Ichi way, but also darker and more complex than Disgaea or Phantom Brave. I played it many times over the next few years, most often on the normal route, getting different secret characters and endings, but also enjoying all the sinister swerves of the Demon Path.

June 2008

I also wrote a lot of SN fanfic, most of it centered on Revya. Writing and drawing are both excellent ways to figure out a character.

September 2009

Silent protagonists cut both ways. On one hand, they’re basic and boring. On the other, they give you a lot of freedom as a writer and fanartist.

August 2010

And Revya gives you some fun to work with. Through her different dialogue options, you can see someone who's brave and good-hearted, but often extremely unimpressed by all the bombastic personalities around her.

April 2011

The fact that, aside from a few situational changes, she's written identically to the male protagonist means she avoids a lot of stereotypical female anime character tropes.

March 2012

Actually, the game goes a little too far in that direction, and there are some dialogue choices that just assume of course you're playing as male Revya. But on the other hand female Revya is the version that appears in Disgaea 3. And I think in general the American fandom prefers her.

June 2012

She has a very cute design with her big red eyes and ahoge, but it's also shaggy, mismatched, rough – she looks like a scruffy, seasoned warrior, not a shining knight or an elegant sorceress or even a typical young anime girl about to start her life.

February 2013

And to go back to her character, while I see her as fairly calm, uncomplaining, carrying others' quests and burdens, I think when it comes down to it, she holds her own line.

January 2015 (pictured with Hakuno from Fate and Minako from Persona, two other female protagonists with weird relationships with people who talk into their brains)

She's not going to let an evil death god hijack her body. She's not going to back down from towering four-story monsters. She may save it for special occasions, but she's not scared to assert herself. And when she and the evil death god do get on the same page and actually support each other, they're magnificently powerful.

March 2020

The Demon Path shows us just how far she's willing to take her own power. And even there, she doesn't entirely lose her humanity, even in the final battles. Though once she makes the darkest choice possible, perhaps it's too late for even her to come back.

July 2020

I haven't gone over the numbers, but I feel like in general there are fewer female protagonists in JRPGs nowadays, even merely as female options. Or maybe it's that the ones that do exist are for smaller games and feel less visible. Companies seem less risk-taking in that regard. And while the gender of the protagonist has never determined whether or not I like a game, seeing a girl at the forefront does make a difference to me.

February 2023

I still think Revya's a good protagonist, default silence notwithstanding. She doesn't talk much, but I still love talking about her.

(my character appreciation tag)

[seokmn]

chapter XV : tell us something we dont know

wc: 413 words + screenshots

“by the way,” seokmin said before taking a bite of his ice cream, “i know why youre doing this and i appreciate it”. you looked at him confused, “doing what?”

“going out with me this much and making sure i avoid checking my social media”, you gave him a small smile and took a bite of your ice cream, “i just dont want you to stay at home seeing all those hateful comments towards you and seulgi, you don’t deserve any of that. plus, thats not the only reason im always asking you to go out with me”

“isnt it?”

“no,” you chuckled, “i really like hanging out with you, seokmin. your company makes me happy, i like the way we got closer to each other”

seokmin’s heart skipped a beat, his company makes you happy. he felt his cheeks burning so he quickly looked away, watching the people walking around the mall with their friends, family or loved one, “so my company makes you happy, huh? i guess i can say the same to you”

“good to know, cause i was getting scared you were starting to get tired of me”

seokmin looked at you, he wanted to immediately deny and tell you how much he adores to go out with you, no matter when or where, but he went silent. he noticed the corner of your lips had ice cream on it and his first instinct was to wipe the ice cream on your face with his thumb.

you froze, watching him looking at your lips with concentration on his eyes and his thumb touching the corner of your lips gently. you couldn’t tell why, but you felt butterflies inside your stomach.

“there was.. huh, there was ice cream on the corner of your lips” seokmin spoke softly, slowly taking his thumb off your face. you brought your hand to where his thumb was, a weird part of you missing his touch already, “ah, really? thanks..”

he nodded and looked at your wrist, noticing almost instantly that you were wearing the bracelet he gave you, “the bracelet looks good on you, it matches you”. you smiled and looked at the bracelet, “yea, i really liked it, its really pretty”

then you two fell silent, you could almost feel the silence until the moment seokmin cleared his throat and broke the silence, “do you want to keep shopping? or maybe just walking around the mall..?”

“yea, sure. lets go”

prev - next

INVISIBLE STRING

in a world where when you turn 18 you share an invisible string with your soulmate that only you and your respective soulmate can see it, seokmin, also known as dokyeom, is an actor in the musical theatre world that doesnt have a soulmate and keep it as a secret. meanwhile, yn works in a bookstore and doesnt seem bothered at all by the fact of not sharing a string with someone. is it possible to change the destiny and find your soulmate even tho you dont share the invisible string with anyone?

[thewatcher727]

Tumblr Exclusive One Shot: The Outsider

The sun had begun to set on the peaceful Green Hill Zone, casting the world in an orange glow as the Sonic and his friends gathered for a party at the cozy home of Cream and Vanilla. The house was filled with the sound of laughter and chatter, as the various Sonic characters mingled and enjoyed each other's company.

Cream and Vanilla had set up a large table with snacks and drinks, and everyone was helping themselves to the various treats. Sonic was munching on a chili dog, while Tails and Knuckles were having a friendly competition at a game of checkers. Shadow and Rouge were discussing a recent mission they had completed, while Omega stood nearby, observing the scene.

As for Blaze, she was standing a little apart from the others, looking somewhat uncomfortable. She had only recently started hanging out with the Sonic crew, and while everyone had been friendly and welcoming, she still felt like an outsider.

"Hey Blaze, how you doing?" Sonic approached her with a grin.

"Uh, I'm fine, thank you" Blaze replied, not quite meeting his eyes.

Sonic noticed her unease and put a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry, we're all friends here. Just relax and have some fun."

Blaze nodded, still a little unsure, but appreciative of Sonic's words. She looked around at the others, feeling a bit envious of how easily they all seemed to fit in.

Meanwhile, Amy had spotted Blaze's isolation and was making her way over to her. "Hey Blaze, want to come join us for a game of charades?" Amy offered, gesturing to the group gathered in a circle nearby.

Blaze hesitated for a moment, then nodded. She followed Amy over to the group and joined in the game, feeling a little more at ease as everyone laughed and joked around.

As the night went on, Blaze found herself having a lot of fun, chatting with Vector and Espio, and even exchanging some playful banter with Sonic. She realized that maybe fitting in wasn't so hard after all, as long as she was willing to open up and let herself be a part of the group.

The party went on until late into the night, but eventually everyone began to depart, saying their goodbyes and promising to get together again soon. Blaze lingered behind for a moment, looking up at the stars, feeling grateful for the new friendships she had made.

"Thanks for inviting me," she said quietly to Cream and Vanilla as she prepared to leave.

"Of course, Blaze, we're glad you came," Vanilla replied with a warm smile.

Blaze smiled back, feeling happy and content. She realized that she had found a new home among Sonic and his friends, and that she was no longer alone.

Blaze walked into the kitchen, still feeling a little buzzed from the excitement of the party. She saw Vanilla standing over the sink, washing dishes, and offered to help with the cleanup.

"Ms. Vanilla, do you need any help with that?" Blaze asked.

Vanilla turned to her with a smile. "Oh, thank you, Blaze. I could use a hand."

Blaze rolled up her sleeves and began to help Vanilla with the dishes, feeling a sense of contentment and belonging as they worked together in companionable silence. She couldn't help but feel a bit envious of the close bond Vanilla and Cream shared, but at the same time, she was grateful for the opportunity to spend some quality time with Vanilla.

As they worked, Blaze found herself opening up to Vanilla, telling her about her struggles to fit in with the Sonic crew, and the feelings of isolation she had been experiencing since coming to their world. Vanilla listened attentively, nodding sympathetically as Blaze spoke.

"I know it's tough, coming from another dimension and all," Vanilla said. "But you'll find your place here. You're a good person, Blaze, and everyone can see that."

Blaze smiled, feeling a warmth spread through her chest. It was nice to hear someone else's encouragement, especially from someone as kind and compassionate as Vanilla.

"Thanks, Ms. Vanilla. That means a lot," Blaze replied.

The two of them continued to work together, cleaning up the kitchen and chatting about everything and nothing. As they finished up, Blaze gave Vanilla a hug, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for the older woman's support.

"Thanks for everything, Ms. Vanilla," Blaze said.

"Anytime, dear," Vanilla replied, returning the embrace. "You're always welcome here."

Blaze left the kitchen, feeling a little lighter, and a lot more hopeful about her place in the world. She knew that she still had a lot to learn, and a lot of work to do to truly find her place among Sonic and his friends, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like it was possible.

[qqtxt]

[🌸] infatuation w/ txt.yeonjun [2/5]

✿ pairing: yeonjun x reader / idol!txt / employee!you / fluff ✿ mini-fics with each member for the same situation / less than 1000 words for each member [word count: 1,240 words oops]  ✿ in which they have the biggest crush on you and they try to take the first step in letting you know... [masterlist 🌸] / other members will follow suit!

you have a motto that you live by and that is: if it can kill me, i’ll kill it first. well, that used to work if you’re going to... y’know, hunt a bear or fishing or something related to survival. no one quite prepared you for how it would be working under a big corporation; much less hybe corporation.

were you a slave to the corporate world? not really... but you weren’t the type to succumb to just anything... but this job was important to you and you know it. it pays well, it teaches you new skills, it allows you to transfer to different departments to get a change in perspective, so in all, it’s a pretty good job. sometimes, the job gets to you a bit too much that you focus on it to the point your tunnel vision zones in, and you can’t quite notice...

[🦊] yeonjun yeonjun’s leaning on the partition in front of your cubicle with a smile just as you lift your head up to see him standing there. it surprises you to lean back in your chair, hand to your chest with a: “oh goodness, yeonjun!”

he grins as he straightens his back, revealing the rest of his height with his hands in his pockets, “did i scare ya?”

“gee, i wonder...”

“let me make it up to you, then?” he wiggles his brows, and you scoff, leaning forward as you squint his eyes; he can already hear your voice without you saying anything: what do you have in mind, choi yeonjun?

“let’s go for a snack. tteokbokki?”

you don’t respond immediately, just staring at him with a narrowed gaze that it makes him start to–”ah, c’mon! let’s gooo! i’m hungry!”

your eyes widen at his outburst–sure, no one’s around and you’re the only one left, but you don’t quite appreciate possibly attracting attention–but he doesn’t have any problem with making sure he wakes up the whole world. panic fills your system and you stand up, lunging towards him to put your hand over his mouth, “keep it down! you’re gonna get everyone’s attention!”

you can feel his smile against your palm as he peels your hand off, his tone cheeky as he responds: “then maybe you should’ve given me your attention in the first place.”

he pretends to flinch when you threaten to swing your elbow at him, and you let go of him with a deep sigh. he uses his head to point to where the two of you would head out from. with a sigh, you nod and try to clean up your desk a little before he’s tugging you by the arm so you can follow him out, claiming you’re going to use your desk again tomorrow, no need to bother with cleaning it up.

the tteokbokki place isn’t too far from where you two were, and it’s secluded enough that not many would question yeonjun’s... you know, the fact that yeonjun is actually yeonjun from txt.

taking a seat in a secluded corner, under the dim light of a poorly lit tent as it’s a sidewalk, truck-operated business, yeonjun’s able to see that you’re tired. when you notice him staring, you can see how practice is wearing him out, too. so the two of you spend that time enjoying the silence and company with small talk that comes by occasionally; him asking about what you’re working on and you asking back how practice was for him (even if you two already know the in-and-outs considering you two text fairly often). 

when the tteokbokki’s disappears from the bowls and into your tummies, it was time to head back. he insists on walking you back, which you’ve tried rejecting a couple of times only to know that it never quite end up the way you thought it would. luckily, you didn’t stay too far from his dorm. (plus, he just wanted to spend more time with you)

the walk isn’t as long as yeonjun would’ve liked, especially since he enjoys talking to you freely; it’s as if he could... be whoever he truly was. no pressure from the limelight, no pressure to perform, and no judgement whenever he spoke to you about whatever... and with what he had in mind, he’s getting more nervous at the thought of what he’s about to do.

as you stand by the lobby entrance to your apartment, you pat his shoulder and thank him for walking you back, and ask for him to text you when he’s reached home safely. you notice he’s quieter than usual but you don’t press on it. the ups and downs of an idol can be overwhelming and if he doesn’t sound okay later, you’d probably ask him then. with a small wave, you turn around and start to make your way towards the door, only to have your name called out by none other than...

you look over your shoulder and see him holding his hand out, to which you approach it and hold your hand out to retrieve... a folded piece of paper.

confused, you take it in your hands and peek up to him, watching him watching you–expectant, scared, mostly nervous and trying not to break down. you unfold the paper without a question and you try not to get overly excited on something that may... may be playing with your emotions.

i like you, y/n. go on a date with me? :)

yeonjun looks at you, using the top part of his lip to bite down on his lower half in anxiety. he rocks on the balls of his feet, patiently waiting for you to answer but you can tell your hesitance is eating him alive.

“this... this isn’t a prank, is it?”

clearly, you’ve caught him off-guard. his eyes widen and he nearly falls back in shock, because–”w-what?! no! of course not! i...” he gains composure, hands behind his back as he finds his ground and lowers his head to admit softly: “i mean it...”

you don’t know how fast you answer, but you do know you do it for two reasons. one, he’s got to go back home and it was getting late. two, you’re about to combust the longer you stay out here like this.

“yes.”

yeonjun sighs, looking up with a look you can’t quite put your tongue on. was it sadness? he looks like he’s about to say something, but then his face morphs into one of confusion when he–”did you say yes?”

“yeah,” you grin, looking down at the paper, “i’ll go a date with you.”

you have officially short-circuited him.

“oh–oh god, that’s–i’ll text you? call you? text before i call? or i–”in the midst of yeonjun’s rambling, you quickly lean forward to press your lips to his cheek, and scramble your way into your lobby of your apartment. 

“whichever is fine! as long as i hear from you!” you holler, and soon you’re heading in to wave at him before going into the lift. yeonjun’s a mess as he stands there, hand to his cheek, gaping at where you’ve disappeared off to. he takes a moment, moments before he actually starts walking back home. initially with small steps, but slowly he starts to build up his pace to start running in joy, all the way back to his dorm, all with a big smile on his face that would last for many, many days ahead of him.