#panda city cross | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rvp32 · 7 months ago

Text

One Step at a Time

Mina is an idol, a princess, and an enigma. She was a star that burned brightly in the sky but always just out of your reach. She was a beauty like none other, like an angel who had descended onto Earth. She was your best friend, with whom you shared everything—everything except the one secret you kept hidden because you were scared of ruining the friendship you cherished the most.

“Mina, we need to leave soon. The music video shoot will start in a bit,” you reminded her as you finished packing some necessities.

Mina emerged from her room, her radiant smile lighting up the space. “Yes! Just one sec, I need to grab my Switch from the console,” she said, heading to the TV.

You watched her with a mixture of admiration and longing. She was effortlessly graceful, her every movement a dance, every glance a spark of life. Being her manager had its challenges, but the hardest part was hiding your feelings. You admired her from afar, cherishing every moment you spent together, yet always mindful of the line you couldn’t cross.

As Mina gathered her things, you took a deep breath, steadying yourself for another day of keeping your emotions in check. You loved her dearly, more than she could ever know. The way her eyes sparkled with excitement, her laugh that could brighten the darkest day, her unwavering dedication to her craft—every aspect of her drew you in deeper.

Your mind drifted back to the countless nights you’d spent talking about dreams, fears, and everything in between. She was your confidante, your muse, your everything. But you were just her manager, her best friend, the one who was always there but never close enough.

“Got it! Let’s go,” Mina called out, breaking your reverie. She flashed you a smile, and your heart ached with the weight of your unspoken words.

As you made your way to the car, you stole glances at her, committing every detail to memory. The way her hair caught the light, the subtle scent of her perfume, the way her eyes twinkled with anticipation. Each detail was a precious fragment of the person you loved but could never claim.

“How are you feeling today? Are you ready for the shoot?” you asked, occasionally stealing glances at Mina through the rearview mirror.

“Yes! Thanks to you I got some much-needed rest. If you hadn’t taken my Switch, I might have ended up playing the entire night,” Mina said with a playful smile.

You chuckled. “Well, someone has to look out for you. You know how you get with those games.”

“I do, I do. And you’re always there to keep me in check,” she replied, her tone affectionate. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

You felt a pang in your chest but kept your voice light. “Probably pull a few all-nighters and show up to shoots with panda eyes.”

Mina laughed, the sound like music to your ears. “True! And then you’d have to deal with a grumpy, sleep-deprived me. Not a pretty sight.”

“Hey, I’ve seen you at your worst, and you still look like an angel,” you said before you could stop yourself.

She blushed slightly, looking out the window. “You’re too kind. Really.”

There was a comfortable silence for a moment, filled with the hum of the car and the city sounds outside. You took a deep breath, feeling the weight of your unspoken feelings settle back into place.

“So, what’s on the agenda for today’s shoot?” she asked, changing the subject.

“It’s the final scenes for the music video. Lots of choreography, some close-ups. The director wants to capture that ‘ethereal princess’ vibe you do so well,” you explained.

Mina nodded, her excitement palpable. “I love those kinds of shoots. They’re always so magical.”

“And you make it look effortless,” you added, your admiration clear.

She glanced at you through the mirror, her eyes soft. “I have a good team behind me. Especially you.”

Your heart swelled with emotion. “Just doing my job.”

“More than just your job,” she said quietly. “You’re always there for me, in ways I can’t even begin to describe.”

You swallowed hard, the intensity of your feelings threatening to spill over. “That’s what friends are for, right?”

“Right,” she echoed, her voice filled with something you couldn’t quite place.

*****

The shoot went smoothly, finishing no later than late afternoon, much faster than scheduled due to Mina’s professionalism.

“Good work, Mina! You were amazing out there!” you complimented her.

“Thank you! I’m so tired,” Mina said, walking toward you to grab the drink you were holding.

“So, what else is on the schedule for today?” she asked, sipping her drink.

“You have group practice coming up later this evening, and by 8 p.m., you should be done and free to go home,” you informed her.

“Yay! I can’t believe I’m getting out so early today!” Mina cheered.

******

Later, you drove her to the JYP Entertainment building. Mina was in high spirits, humming along to the radio as you navigated through the city traffic. Upon arriving, she waved at a few familiar faces and headed towards the practice rooms.

As you walked down the hallway, Mina spotted Hyunjin from Stray Kids. He was leaning against the wall, scrolling through his phone. When he saw Mina, his face lit up with a warm smile.

“Noona! Great to see you,” Hyunjin greeted, straightening up.

“Hey, Hyunjin! It’s been a while,” Mina replied, returning the smile.

The two of them chatted for a bit, catching up on their busy schedules. You watched them interact, noting the easy camaraderie between them. They laughed and teased each other, the conversation flowing naturally. At one point, Hyunjin playfully ruffled Mina’s hair, and she swatted his hand away, giggling.

“You’re always messing up my hair,” she complained, but her tone was light and affectionate.

“Just keeping you on your toes,” Hyunjin teased back.

The moment was sweet, a reminder of the strong bonds formed within the industry. You felt a pang of jealousy but quickly brushed it aside. Mina’s happiness was what mattered most.

“I’ve got to head to group practice now,” Mina said, glancing at the time. “Catch you later, Hyunjin!”

“Good luck!” Hyunjin called out as she turned to leave.

Mina walked over to you, her smile still lingering from the interaction. “Ready?” she asked.

“Ready,” you replied, leading her to the practice room.

Inside, the other members were already warming up. Mina joined them, her focus shifting seamlessly to the task at hand. You watched from the sidelines, admiring her dedication and skill. She moved with a grace that was both powerful and effortless, her presence commanding the room.

As practice continued, you kept an eye on the time, making sure everything stayed on schedule. Mina’s energy never wavered, her passion for performing evident in every move. You felt a swell of pride, knowing that you played a small part in supporting her journey.

When the clock struck 8 p.m., practice wrapped up. The group exchanged a few words of encouragement before heading out. Mina approached you, her face flushed with exertion but glowing with satisfaction.

“All done for the day,” she said, a hint of relief in her voice.

“Great job today, Mina. You were incredible,” you praised.

“Thanks to you,” she replied softly.

You smiled, your heart full. “Ready to go home?”

“You go on and head home, Hyunjin wanted to grab some food so I am going to meet with him and have him drop me home,” Mina says

Hearing Mina’s gratitude made your heart swell, but it also brought a sharp pang of longing. A part of you wanted to stop her from going, to hold her back and keep her close, but you knew you had no right to do that. Being powerless in this situation, you could do nothing but nod and say, “Okay, good night, be careful!”

She gave you a warm smile. “Good night. See you tomorrow!”

You watched her walk away, every step pulling her further from you. The ache in your chest grew, but you forced a smile, hiding the turmoil within.

After Mina left, you made your way to your office to pack up. The room felt emptier than usual, the silence almost suffocating. You gathered your things, trying to focus on the tasks at hand, but your mind kept drifting back to Mina. The image of her smiling face, and her gentle words, lingered in your thoughts, a bittersweet reminder of what you could never have.

As you headed home, you took a detour through the parking lot. That’s when you saw them—Mina and Hyunjin. They were standing by his car, talking animatedly. Then, to your dismay, Hyunjin pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back, her expression relaxed and happy.

A wave of jealousy crashed over you, raw and intense. You gripped the steering wheel, your knuckles turning white. The helplessness you felt was overwhelming, the realization that you had no place at that moment, no right to feel this way, cutting deep.

Mina and Hyunjin broke apart, and she got into his car. You watched as they drove away, the taillights disappearing into the night. The sense of loss was almost tangible, a hollow ache that settled in your chest.

When you finally arrived home, the emptiness of your apartment felt even more pronounced. You dropped your bag by the door and sank onto the couch, staring at the ceiling. The events of the evening played over and over in your mind, each memory tinged with longing and regret.

You closed your eyes, trying to push away the thoughts, but they persisted. The sight of Mina and Hyunjin together, the easy affection between them—it was a stark reminder of everything you couldn’t have. The love you felt for her, unspoken and unrequited, weighed heavily on your heart.

Reaching for your phone, you scrolled through the photos you had taken during the shoot. Each picture was a testament to Mina’s beauty and talent, but also a painful reminder of the distance between you. You lingered on one photo, in particular, a candid shot of her laughing. It was a moment of pure joy, unguarded and real. You wished you could be the one to make her laugh like that, to share in her happiness in a way that went beyond friendship.

But you knew it was a dream, a fantasy that would never come true. Loving Mina from afar was all you had, and it had to be enough. You had to accept that.

******

This was the last music show Twice would be on for this comeback. The comeback had gone exceptionally well, with the group winning numerous awards. After this final performance, all the members were given some well-deserved free time to relax and enjoy themselves. As everyone waited in the dressing room, the atmosphere was filled with laughter and excitement.

You were busy making sure everything was in order when Hyunjin appeared at the door, carrying bags of food and drinks. He wore a bright smile, his presence immediately lifting the already jubilant mood.

“Hey everyone! I brought some snacks and drinks to celebrate your amazing comeback!” Hyunjin announced, his voice full of enthusiasm.

The members of Twice cheered, grateful for the thoughtful gesture. “Hyunjin! Thank you so much!” they chorused, crowding around him to take the treats.

You watched as Hyunjin handed out the food and drinks, your eyes inevitably drawn to Mina. She accepted a drink with a grateful smile, and then, to your dismay, Hyunjin made a beeline for her. They began chatting animatedly, their laughter filling the room.

You tried to focus on your tasks, but your attention kept drifting back to them. The way Hyunjin leaned in slightly when he spoke, the way Mina’s eyes sparkled with genuine happiness—each detail stoked the fire of jealousy burning in your chest.

From the corner of your eye, you saw Mina gently touch Hyunjin’s arm, her gesture full of warmth and familiarity. It was a small act of affection, but it cut deeply. You felt powerless, standing there with your heart aching and your mind racing.

Trying to shake off the feelings, you busied yourself with organizing the room, making sure everyone had what they needed. But the image of Mina and Hyunjin together was seared into your mind.

Finally, you stepped outside for a moment, needing some air. The hallway was quieter, offering a brief respite from the whirlwind of emotions. You leaned against the wall, closing your eyes and taking deep breaths.

******

It had been two weeks since the holidays started, and as of today, it was the eighth time you were driving Mina to meet with Hyunjin. Each time hurt just as much as the first, and you had finally decided that this would be the last. You had asked to be transferred to a different department, and today you would tell Mina about it.

The drive was quiet, the air filled with unspoken tension. You stole a glance at Mina, who was looking out the window, a small smile playing on her lips. It made your heart ache, knowing this was the last time you’d be doing this.

When you arrived at the café where Hyunjin was waiting, you parked the car and turned to Mina. “Mina, can we talk for a moment before you go in?”

She looked at you, her smile fading slightly. “Sure, what’s up?”

You took a deep breath, trying to steady your nerves. “I’ve asked to be transferred to a different department.”

Mina’s eyes widened in surprise. “What? Why?”

You forced a smile, trying to keep your voice even. “I think it’s time for a change. I’ve been with you and the group for a long time, and I feel like it’s time to explore new opportunities within the company.”

“But… I need you,” Mina said softly, her eyes searching yours. “You’ve always been there for me. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Your heart clenched at her words, but you pushed forward. “You’ll be fine, Mina. You’re strong and talented, and you have a great team to support you. It’s not like I’ll be gone completely; I’ll just be in a different department.”

She looked down, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “I guess… I just didn’t expect this. It feels sudden.”

“I know,” you said gently. “But I’ve been thinking about it for a while. It’s not an easy decision, but I believe it’s the right one for both of us.”

Mina took a deep breath and nodded, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “If this is what you want, then I won’t stop you. But I’ll miss you. A lot.”

You smiled, trying to hide your pain. “I’ll miss you too, Mina. More than you know. But this isn’t goodbye forever. We’ll still see each other around.”

She reached out and took your hand, squeezing it tightly. “Promise me you’ll take care of yourself. And if you ever need anything, you’ll let me know?”

“I promise,” you said, squeezing her hand back. “You take care of yourself too. And keep being the amazing person you are.”

Mina nodded, her grip on your hand lingering for a moment before she let go. “I should go. Hyunjin’s waiting.”

You nodded, watching as she got out of the car and walked towards the café. As she greeted Hyunjin with a warm smile and a hug, you felt the familiar pang of jealousy and heartache. But you knew this was the right decision, for both of you.

******

The next few weeks had been the worst. No matter what you did, you always thought about Mina, missing her laugh and her silly conversations. You knew it was for the best to avoid her because you needed to get over your feelings for her. So you drowned yourself in work, starting a new project on the production team for a new music video. All you did was eat, work, and sleep, not going out or even meeting with any of your friends.

One night, just as you were about to sleep, the doorbell rang. To your surprise, it was Jihyo. She was one of the other members you were close to.

“Hey, what is this I’m hearing? Are you no longer Mina’s manager?” she questioned.

“Yeah, it’s been a few weeks since I was transferred. Did she not tell you?” you replied coldly, not wanting to continue the conversation.

“She did, but the reason you gave her makes absolutely no sense. I know you, and you would never leave Mina, no matter how bored you got with the work. Otherwise, you would have never been her manager. So tell me, what is the real reason you left?” Jihyo asked her tone firm yet concerned.

You sighed, feeling the weight of your emotions pressing down on you. “Jihyo, it’s complicated. I... I have feelings for Mina. And it was getting too hard to be around her, especially when she’s spending so much time with Hyunjin.”

Jihyo’s eyes softened with understanding. “Oh, I see. But from what I can see I don’t think they are dating. He’s been supportive during her comeback, but I don’t think there’s anything more than that.”

You shook your head, the pain still fresh. “It doesn’t matter. I needed to distance myself. It was too painful watching them together, even if they were just friends. I couldn’t keep pretending everything was fine.”

Jihyo looked at you thoughtfully. “I get it. But you know, Mina misses you. She’s been asking about you a lot. She doesn’t understand why you left so suddenly.”

“She’ll be fine, Jihyo. She has you and the rest of the group to support her,” you said, trying to convince yourself as much as her.

Jihyo sighed. “You’re right, but it’s not the same. You were always there for her, more than just a manager. She needs you, even if she doesn’t realize it.”

“I appreciate you coming here, Jihyo, but I’ve made my decision. I can’t go back. It’s too much,” you said, your voice filled with resignation.

Jihyo nodded slowly, seeing the determination in your eyes. “Alright. But if you ever change your mind, know that we’re here for you. And if you need to talk, about anything, I’m here.”

“Thanks, Jihyo. It means a lot,” you replied, feeling a small sense of relief from her understanding.

After Jihyo left, you thought a lot about what she said and how much you missed all the other girls. Realizing how your decision had affected not just Mina but also the rest of the members with whom you were close, you began to reconsider. Though you were busy with work, the occasional messages from them reminded you of the bond you shared.

A few months passed since your conversation with Jihyo. After the shooting of the music video and the comeback schedule finished, you were promoted to the head manager of Twice. It wasn't something you were particularly excited about, but the significant pay rise made it an offer you couldn't refuse. Still, you knew it was going to be challenging.

Not long after your promotion, you found out that Mina was dating Hyunjin. The news hit you hard, but you chose to ignore it and focused on your work. It was painful, but you buried yourself in your new responsibilities, determined to make the best of the situation.

Despite your busy schedule, you found solace in spending time with Jihyo. Whenever the two of you had free time, you would hang out and talk about various things, with golf being a frequent topic of conversation. Jihyo had insisted you try it, and to your surprise, you found it quite enjoyable.

One afternoon, after a particularly long day, Jihyo invited you to the driving range. "Come on, you need a break. Let’s hit some balls and unwind," she said, her tone light and encouraging.

You smiled, grateful for her persistence. "Alright, Jihyo. Lead the way."

As you both practiced your swings, the conversation flowed easily. Jihyo’s laughter and positive energy were infectious, helping you forget your troubles, even if just for a little while.

"So, how are you holding up with all the new responsibilities?" Jihyo asked, adjusting her stance.

"It's been a lot, but I'm managing," you replied, taking a swing. "I just try to stay focused on the work and not think too much about... other things."

Jihyo nodded, understanding. "I know it’s tough, but you’re doing great. We all appreciate everything you do for us."

Her words brought warmth to your heart. "Thanks, Jihyo. That means a lot."

As the sun began to set, you both sat down on a bench, enjoying the peaceful evening. "You know," Jihyo said thoughtfully, "I'm really glad we’ve been spending more time together. It’s nice having someone to talk to about things outside of work."

You nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it’s been good for me too. I’ve needed the distraction."

Jihyo smiled, her eyes twinkling. "Well, anytime you need to vent or just hang out, I’m here. We’re all in this together, right?"

"Right," you agreed, feeling a sense of camaraderie and support that you hadn’t felt in a long time.

*******

Walking through the halls after taking a few printouts, you were suddenly pulled into a room. "Oh my god! What the fuck?" you screamed out of surprise.

It was even more shocking because it was Mina, who you hadn’t spoken to about anything other than work since you came back as the head manager. “Oh Mina, what happened? Is anything wrong?” you asked, trying to be professional despite your racing heart.

Mina’s eyes flashed with a mixture of emotions. “What’s wrong? You tell me! Ever since you came back, you’ve been avoiding me. You spend all your time with Jihyo now. What’s going on?”

You took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. “Mina, it’s not like that. I’m just trying to do my job and—”

“Do your job? You barely even look at me anymore! We used to be so close, and now it’s like I don’t even exist to you unless it’s about work,” she interrupted, her voice rising.

“Mina, please understand. I needed some distance. It’s not personal,” you explained, your voice gentle but firm.

“Not personal? It feels pretty personal to me!” she shot back, her frustration clear. “I see you laughing and talking with Jihyo all the time. Why can’t you be like that with me?”

You sighed, struggling to find the right words. “Mina, it’s complicated. You have Hyunjin now, and I—”

Mina cut you off, her eyes narrowing. “What does Hyunjin have to do with this? This is about us. Our friendship.”

Before you could respond, she stepped closer, her eyes searching yours. “I miss you. I miss us,” she whispered, her voice breaking slightly.

Your heart ached at her words, but you knew you had to stay strong. “Mina, you have no idea how much I’ve missed you too. But things are different now.”

Her eyes filled with a mixture of desperation and determination. “Why can’t we go back to the way things were?”

As you tried to explain, she suddenly leaned in, her lips brushing against yours in a brief, impulsive kiss. Shocked, you gently pushed her away, your heart pounding. “Mina, you can’t do this. You’re with Hyunjin.”

Mina stepped back, her face a mask of confusion and hurt. “I—I don’t know what came over me. I’m sorry.”

You took a deep breath, trying to steady your emotions. “It’s okay, but we can’t do this. You need to figure out what you want.”

Mina nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. “I just… I don’t understand why this is happening. I don’t want to lose you.”

“You’re not losing me, Mina. I’m still here, just in a different way,” you said softly. “But you need to be honest with yourself and with Hyunjin.”

She wiped her eyes, trying to compose herself. “You’re right. I’m sorry for putting you in this position.”

She left you alone in the room, and you collapsed to the ground. Kissing Mina was something you had always dreamed about, but somehow this wasn’t how you wanted it to be. It was overwhelming because you wanted nothing more than to give in to your desire, kiss her, and enjoy every single second of it. You wanted to hold her close and never let her go, but you knew this was something impulsive. Mina was confused, and at the end of the day, she would go back to her boyfriend.

Sitting there on the cold floor, you buried your face in your hands, trying to calm your racing heart. The weight of the situation bore down on you, and the reality of your feelings hit you harder than ever before.

After a few moments, you managed to pull yourself together and stood up, taking a deep breath. You knew you had to stay focused and professional, even if it felt like your heart was breaking.

As you walked back to your office, your mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The memory of her lips on yours was vivid, but you pushed it aside, knowing that dwelling on it would only make things worse. You had a job to do, and you needed to be strong.

Over the next few days, she kept her distance from you. You coordinated schedules, managed logistics, and ensured everything ran smoothly for Twice’s upcoming projects. The busyness helped to distract you, but it couldn't erase the ache in your chest.

During one of your breaks, you found yourself sitting with Jihyo in the practice room. She noticed the tired look in your eyes and gave you a concerned glance. “You okay? You seem a bit off lately.”

You forced a smile, not wanting to burden her with your troubles. “Just a lot on my mind, that’s all.”

Jihyo raised an eyebrow. “Does this have anything to do with Mina?”

Her perceptiveness caught you off guard, and you sighed, unable to hide the truth from her. “Yeah, we had a bit of a... moment the other day. It’s complicated.”

Jihyo frowned, leaning closer. “What happened?”

You hesitated but then decided to share. “She kissed me. It was impulsive, and I know she’s confused. I had to push her away because she was with Hyunjin. But it’s been eating me up inside.”

Jihyo’s expression softened with understanding. “That’s tough. But you did the right thing. She needs to figure out her feelings, and you can’t let yourself get caught up in that mess.”

“I know,” you said, your voice heavy with resignation. “But it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Jihyo reached out and squeezed your hand. “Hang in there. Focus on the positive things, like our golf sessions. You’ve been improving a lot, you know.”

You chuckled and she hugged you, appreciating her attempt to lighten the mood. “Thanks, Jihyo. It means a lot to me to know that I have

Jihyo smiled warmly. “And remember, you’re not alone. We’re all here for you. Don’t be afraid to lean on us when you need to.”

You didn’t let go of Jihyo for a few minutes because it felt calming, but that wasn’t the best idea. Mina walked into the room and saw it, her face contorting with fury. Not caring about anything else, Mina stormed towards you, grabbing your hand and pulling you toward the door. Her grip was tight, her nails digging into your skin.

“Mina, stop! Where are you taking him?” Jihyo screamed, panic in her voice.

“Jihyo, stay out of this!” Mina screamed back, her voice echoing through the room. It was rare to hear Mina that loud, and Jihyo, shocked, decided to let you both figure it out yourselves.

Mina dragged you into an empty room down the hall, slamming the door shut behind her. She let go of your hand, and you rubbed the red marks left by her nails. "Mina, what the hell? What's going on?" you demanded, trying to keep your anger in check.

"What's going on?" Mina shot back, her eyes blazing. "You tell me! I walk in, and I see you all cozy with Jihyo. What am I supposed to think?"

"Mina, Jihyo was just trying to comfort me," you said, trying to keep your voice calm. "We're friends. That's all."

"Friends? You think I don't see what's going on?" she yelled, her voice breaking. "You’ve been avoiding me, spending all your time with Jihyo. Do you know how that makes me feel?"

"How it makes you feel?" you echoed incredulously. "Mina, you're the one who kissed me and then went back to Hyunjin like nothing happened! How do you think I feel?"

She flinched at your words, tears welling up in her eyes. "I... I don't know. I was confused. I still am. But seeing you with her... it hurts."

You took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "Mina, I’ve been trying to deal with my feelings. It’s hard seeing you with Hyunjin, knowing I can't be with you the way I want to be. But that doesn’t mean I don’t care about you."

She stepped closer, her voice trembling. "I miss you. I miss us. I don't know what to do with these feelings, but I can’t stand seeing you with someone else."

You felt a pang of guilt and longing, but you knew you had to stay strong. "Mina, you need to figure out what you want. You can’t keep doing this to yourself, to Hyunjin, or me. It's not fair to any of us."

She looked down, her shoulders shaking with silent sobs. "I know. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry."

You reached out, gently lifting her chin so she could meet your gaze. "It’s okay to be confused, Mina. But you need to be honest with yourself and with Hyunjin. Only then can we figure out what comes next."

She nodded, tears streaming down her cheeks. "I will. I promise."

It was an improvement because there was some hope for you and Mina, as she was feeling something similar to what you were! But it was still confusing, and you needed time to think, especially after all that had just happened. You called in sick and left the set immediately, deciding to grab a drink to cool down a little.

You found a quiet bar a few blocks away and took a seat in a dimly lit corner. The bartender approached, and you ordered a drink, hoping it would help settle your racing thoughts. As you took your first sip, the events of the past few weeks replayed in your mind. The kiss, Mina’s outburst, the tension, and the hope of something more—it was all too much to process.

The bar was relatively empty, the low hum of conversations and soft music providing a comforting backdrop. You nursed your drink, trying to make sense of your feelings. Mina's confession had given you hope, but her confusion and the reality of her relationship with Hyunjin kept you grounded.

After a couple of drinks, you went home and eventually crashed.

It was the weekend, and you had no plans whatsoever. Planning to drown yourself in alcohol and play games the entire day, you settled into a routine of indulgence and distraction. Eventually, you fell asleep again in front of the TV, watching some stupid videos. You were woken up by a sudden knock on the door. Groggily walking to the door, disheveled, you opened it to find none other than the one woman in this entire world you were trying to avoid.

“Mina.”

She stood there, looking almost as disheveled as you felt, her eyes wide and filled with a mixture of determination and hesitation. "Hey," she said softly, biting her lower lip.

"Hey," you replied, unable to hide your surprise and confusion. "What are you doing here?"

"I needed to see you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can I come in?"

You hesitated for a moment, but then stepped aside, letting her enter. The room was a mess, a testament to your recent attempts at distraction, and Mina took it all in with a concerned glance.

"I didn’t know where else to go," she admitted, standing awkwardly in the middle of the room. "I’ve been thinking a lot about what we talked about. About us."

You ran a hand through your hair, trying to shake off the remnants of sleep and the fog of alcohol. "Mina, I don’t know if this is the best time..."

"I know," she interrupted, her eyes pleading. "But I can't keep avoiding this. Avoiding you. We need to talk."

You sighed, gesturing for her to sit down. "Okay, let’s talk."

Just as you were about to turn around to get her some water, she grabbed you and pulled you into a kiss and yet again you pushed her away.

“MINA!” You screamed.

"I ended things with Hyunjin," she began, her voice steady but her eyes filled with emotion. "It wasn’t fair to him, and it wasn’t fair to you. I needed to be honest with myself and with you."

Your heart raced at her words, a mix of hope and fear swirling inside you. "Mina, that’s a big step. But where does that leave us?"

"I don’t know," she admitted, her voice trembling. "All I know is that I miss you. I miss us. And I can’t stand the thought of losing you."

You looked into her eyes, seeing the sincerity and vulnerability there. "I miss you too, Mina. But this is complicated. We can’t just pretend everything’s okay."

“Fuck complicated! I need you right now. Those kisses are so intoxicating, it's like a drug, and I can’t live without it,” Mina said, already frustrated. You could see she was trying to hold back as much as you were.

You could no longer hold back either and finally gave in, pulling Mina into you and kissing her. The kiss was so passionate, tongues dancing. Her hands freely explored your body while yours did the same, tracing every curve and line, memorizing the feeling of her against you.

"Mina," you murmured against her lips, the word a mix of desire and need.

She responded by pressing closer, deepening the kiss, her fingers tangling in your hair. The world outside seemed to fade away, leaving just the two of you, lost in the intensity of the moment. You could feel her heartbeat, rapid and strong, matching your own.

As your hands roamed, exploring every inch of each other, you felt a surge of emotions. Desire, yes, but also love and longing, things you had tried to suppress for so long. You broke the kiss, both of you panting, eyes locked.

"Mina, are you sure?" you asked, needing to know she wanted this as much as you did, despite the complications.

"Yes," she whispered, her voice breathless but certain. "I've never been more sure of anything."

You pulled her back into another kiss, this one slower, more deliberate, savoring each second. The tension between you, built up over months, finally found release in the shared intimacy. It was like nothing else mattered but the two of you, here and now.

You carried her to the couch, your movements urgent but careful, laying her down gently. She looked up at you, her eyes dark with desire and trust. "I've wanted this for so long," she confessed, her voice soft.

"Me too," you admitted, leaning down to kiss her again, your hands exploring the soft skin beneath her shirt, skin as smooth as silk. She fit so perfectly in your hand.

Your hands sneak underneath her bra, playing with her boobs, her nipples hard as a rock causing her to moan. The bra was a disturbance so you unclasp it and take it off Mina.

“Mina you are so fucking perfect. You don’t know just how happy I am right now,” you say. Not able to contain your excitement, you bite Mina’s neck you knew it would leave a mark but you didn’t care because right now she belonged to you and no one else.

“Ngh! Y/N slow down, it’s going to leave a mark,” Mina says as she tries to push you away.

Pulling away from Mina you look into her eyes and say “That’s what I want. I want everyone to know that you belong to me now.”

Mina’s face turned red, “hey! Don’t say that,” Mina said as she buried her face in her hands.

“Alright, I will do it somewhere no one can see then,” you say before you begin nibbling just above Mina’s right breast. Mina’s breasts must have been a sensitive spot for her because as you nibbled on her breast, you could hear her moan and her grip on your head tighten.

To ensure that Mina’s other breast is equally attended, use your hand to play with the nipple. After giving her boobs the appreciation they deserved, you began to place kisses all over her body, memorizing every inch of her perfect body. She had a few moles on her body and you placed kisses on them multiple times before moving on. Mina’s moans echoed through the room as you worshipped her body. Once you reached her pants you looked up at Mina, asking for permission and she nodded, but before you took off her pants you said, “If we are going to do this then I would rather have my first time with you on a proper bed.”

Grabbing Mina’s hand you pull her with you to the room, once you are inside, you kneel in front of her. Pulling her pants down along with her panties, placing kisses on her thighs near her but not touching it.

The pants now discarded, Mina stood in your room naked, a scene that you never thought would become reality. Taking one of Mina’s legs you place it on your shoulder, her wet pussy on full display for you.

“D-don’t stare,” Mina says, shy from how vulnerable she is.

“Artwork such as this needs to be admired, baby,” you say, not noticing the endearment you had just used. Not wanting to keep her waiting, you dive into her pussy, licking it. Her pussy was delicious, something that you would never get tired of eating.

Mina grabbed your hair, trying to keep her balance and not fall. Her moans get louder every second. The pleasure slowly took over her brain, her pussy throbbed around your fingers every time you flicked her clit.

“CUMMINGG!” Mina screamed before squirting all over your face. Her balance was completely lost, she was leaning completely on your body and was able to stand with some help from the bed frame.

But that balance soon gave in and she ended up falling onto the bed, recovering from her orgasm, still panting and shaking. You joined her on the bed, lying down next to her, waiting for her to come back to reality.

“Fuck, This is the first time, I came that hard,” Mina says, after coming down from the high.

“My turn now,” Mina says before getting up to undo your pants and get rid of them. She slowly pulls down your underwear and your dick pops out and hits Mina in the face.

“Someone’s eager,” Mina says, grabbing your cock she starts to stroke it, slowly using her spit as the lube. After stroking it for a few seconds, she took your cock in her mouth. It was warm and just as perfect as you imagined it would be.

Mina began bobbing her head, trying her best to take more of your cock, she was struggling to take your entire length but you didn’t mind because the way she looked at you made you go feral, her look was that of someone wanting praise.

“Fuck! Mina, I want to fuck your mouth so badly,” you said, doing your best to hold back and not scare her away.

Mina pulls your cock out of her mouth, panting and coughing from how much she was pushing herself. “Do it the, fuck my face please, I want to make you cum the same way that you did to me,” Mina said, looking up at you with those captivating eyes, begging to be used for your pleasure and who were you to say no.

She slowly puts your cock back into her mouth and begins bobbing and pushing herself as deep as she could. Grabbing the back of her head, you push her head further into your body until her nose touches your pelvis bone, Mina gagged a little but she didn’t resist.

You pulled it out a little before you started pounding her face, “Fuck, I’m going to cum!” you groaned before pushing Mina’s head down your dick and releasing all your cum down her throat.

After you stopped cumming, Mina swallowed up all your cum, without any complaints at all.

You watched as Mina walked to the washroom, to clean up a little, her as swaying from one side to the other. With every step her ass cheeks bouncing. This turned you on a lot more than you thought it would.

As soon as Mina came back you pushed her onto the bed and got on top of her, pinning both her hands above her head.

“How are you so fucking gorgeous? It's driving me crazy,” You say to Mina, looking deep into her eyes. They soften at your compliment, it wasn’t just out of lust but out of pure admiration for her and she knew it.

“I could ask you the same thing, how is it possible that you don’t have women dying for you because I would do anything to be with you,” Mina says.

Closing the distance, her breath touching your skin, “Then prove it to me!”

Mina closes the distance between you, lips touching and moving in harmony. “Enough, please fuck me, I have wanted this for so long, I can’t wait anymore,” Mina says, you can hear how desperate she is.

“Nor can I baby,” you say before positioning your cock at Mina’s entrance, slapping and teasing it. Her wet pussy juice sticking to your cock.

“Stop teasing and put it in,” Mina whined and you obliged, slowly pushing your tip into her, god was she tight, she was gripping onto your tip so hard. You continue to push into her slowly but stop all when you hear Mina scream.

You start to pull out a little because you don’t want to hurt Mina, “No!! Keep going please, just slowly,” Mina says as she grips your arms.

“Baby, you need to relax, you are too tense and that's why it’s hurting you,” You say to Mina before leaning in to kiss her.

Mina’s focused on the kiss, tongue in your mouth, taking this opportunity, you push into her again slowly

“HGNH” Mina groaned again but she relaxed, focusing more on the kiss.

Once you were in her completely you stayed still allowing her to adjust and not wanting to hurt her. After a minute or so Mina pulls away from the kiss and says,” You can move now,”

You begin to move slowly in the beginning. You tried different angles to find Mina’s most sensitive spot. Moans filled the room, louder every time you hit a certain spot. Pleasure building up Mina wanted more,

“Harder, you can go harder,” Mina managed to say in between her moans. Obliging with her commands your thrusts get harder. It was truly a sight to take in, Mina’s tits bouncing out of control, her moans loud enough to be heard by your neighbors, and the most erotic expression on her face.

“Ahh fuck! Keep going! Oh my fucking god,” All sorts of obscenities were coming out of Mina’s mouth, her elegant image was being destroyed and you were the reason for it.

You couldn’t hold on much longer but you didn’t want it to end. Without pulling out, you picked Mina up, holding her in your arms as you continued to pound her. Your dick now hitting much deeper.

“Oh fuck! Keep going, I need you so badly!” Mina moaned as her hands gripped onto your back, nails digging in, and her legs on your hands as you thrust into her.

After thrusting into Mina’s tight pussy for many minutes, “CUMMING!” Mina screams as she squirts all over your cock. Your dick slips out of her and is now coated with her liquid.

Soon recovering from her orgasm still in your arms she whispers something that you didn’t expect to hear. “Let me ride you,”

It was a shocking suggestion but one that you welcomed. You set her down on the bed and join her on the bed, She is now sitting on you, her legs on each side of your body. Her pussy lips are right above your cock.

Not wasting much time, Mina pushes your cock into her, it wasn’t that hard as now she was a little more relaxed once it was fully in she began bouncing on it like no tomorrow. She was amazing, it was like nothing you had ever felt, the way she moved was immaculate.

Mina leans down to kiss you as she continues to ride your cock. Given how much her pussy was throbbing it wouldn’t be much longer before she was cumming all over your cock again.

You grab a hold of her ass and push her down harsher, it takes her by surprise causing her to yelp. You were thrusting into Mina’s G-spot causing her to scream in pleasure. The room was filled with nothing but the sound of skin slapping and the profanities that came out of Mina’s mouth.

“Fuck, I’m cumming, I’m cumming,” Mina warned this time before she orgasmed all over your cock again but this time you didn’t stop.

“F-fuck.. I can’t- ‘s too much,” Mina cried, tears staining her pretty cheeks as you continued to thrust into her even though she just came

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” Mina cried, a clear stream of liquid gushing out from her pussy

“There we go, that’s a good fucking girl,” you praised, thrusts getting sloppier as you approached your second orgasm. “God baby, you’re gripping me so hard. Gonna cum in that tight little pussy okay?”

Mina’s head was so empty, nodding absentmindedly as her eyes threatened to close shut. “Fuck” you groaned loudly, bottoming out inside her and allowing your seed to fill you up. Some of it dripped down your thigh as he pulled out.

Mina was panting hard in an attempt to catch your breath, the body still spasming as you let her fall limp against your chest. “you’re a meanie,” Mina pouted tiredly, feeling your pussy flutter at the newfound emptiness.

“I know I am baby, but you did so good, took it so well” you chuckled, gripping the flesh of her ass as you kissed softly down the delicate skin on her neck.

After both of you came down from the high of your orgasms, you finally realized what just happened and how big this was.

“Mina, this means that we are dating, right? Because I don’t think I could ever face you as anything but your boyfriend after what we just did,” you said, your voice trembling slightly with the weight of your words.

Mina looked up at you, her eyes softening as she took in the seriousness of your expression. She reached out, cupping your face in her hands, and smiled. "Yes, it does. I want us to be together. I’ve wanted it for a long time."

Relief and joy flooded through you, and you leaned down to kiss her again, this time with a sense of certainty and commitment. The kiss was tender, full of promises for the future.

The next morning, you woke up with Mina in your arms, her presence a comforting warmth against your side. The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room. Mina stirred, blinking sleepily as she looked up at you.

"Good morning," she whispered, her voice still husky with sleep.

"Good morning," you replied, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "How are you feeling?"

"Happy," she said simply, snuggling closer. "And a little scared, but mostly happy."

You nodded, understanding the mix of emotions. "Me too. But we’ll figure it out, together."

She smiled, her fingers tracing patterns on your chest. "Yes, together."

The weeks that followed were a whirlwind of adjustments. You had to navigate your new relationship while maintaining professionalism at work. There were moments of awkwardness, but also moments of pure bliss as you both found your rhythm.

You and Mina kept your relationship private, sharing it only with those closest to you. Jihyo was ecstatic when she found out, giving you both a knowing smile and a heartfelt hug. The other members were equally supportive, happy to see Mina truly happy.

One evening, after a particularly long day, you and Mina found yourselves on the company rooftop, a favorite spot for a quiet escape. The city lights twinkled below, and the cool breeze provided a perfect backdrop for a heart-to-heart conversation.

"Can you believe how far we’ve come?" Mina mused, leaning against you.

"It feels surreal," you admitted, wrapping an arm around her. "But I wouldn’t change a thing."

She turned to face you, her expression serious. "I know this won’t always be easy. There will be challenges, both personal and professional. But I want to face them with you."

"We will," you assured her, kissing her forehead. "One step at a time."

As the night grew darker, you both sat there, comfortable in the silence and each other's company, knowing that no matter what came next, you were in it together.

#mina smut #twice x reader #twice smut #kpop smut #twice jihyo #twice #twice mina

970 notes · View notes

mushlector · 6 months ago

Text

games (and apps)

FOR BABIES ... Satisdom Bunny Haven Super Slime Simulator Toca Boca World Baby Panda's Supermarket Dragon Story Fantasy Forest Story Fancy Cats Slime Evolution Vlogger Go Viral CatRoom Neko Atsume Rakko Ukabe My Dolphin Show Flying squirrel kindergarten Disney Princess Palace Pets Tunnel Town Dragon city Toca boca JR

FOR OLDER KIDS Animal Crossing Pocket Camp Cookie Run - ovenbreak Cookie run - Kingdom Lovely cat dream party Tanghulu Master Campfire Cat Cafe Cat snack bar Minecraft (Costs money) Animal Jam - Play Wild Idle Toy Factory Tycoon Home Garden Lulu & terrarium Pokemon Cafe Remix Tap Tap fish- abyssirum Resonance of the ocean Kuma sushi bar Healing pocket Sumikkogurashi Farm Pokemon Masters EX Gacha Life Two Dragon Village Collection Splash: My Fish Sanctuary My Dear Farm Terraria (Costs Money) Bunnybuns Cats & Soup My Little pony: Magical Princess Hello Kitty World 2

FOR TEENS (OR PEOPLE WHO LIKE HIGHER-FUNCTIONING GAMES) Genshin Impact Honkai star rail Zen Koi Sky: Children Of The light FNAF (any of the games. they all cost money, though) Rec room Duolingo

The amazing frog? (Costs money i think)

GAMES ON COMPUTER (not chromebook) Cat goes fishing Warrior cats: Untold tales Animal Jam Zoo Tycoon 2 (Costs money)

#Games #agere games #sfw age regression #agere community #agere blog #sfw agere #age regression #age regressor #agere post #agereg #sfw agereg #sfw little stuff #age regressive #agere #agere game #Apps

479 notes · View notes

bridgetotheskyyy · 1 year ago

Text

Slip of The Tongue - Toge

Kinktober Masterlist

Warnings: 18+, dubcon, smut,

A/n: back to make up for Kinktober day 6! Dubcon.

Word count: 1.5k

Read on ao3.

It had been a simple slip of the tongue, a mere faux pas, but the consequences had been explosive.

“Fuck me,” Toge had said ― groaned more like, in frustration, promoted from his third loss at Mario kart against you.

You turned toward him just in time to see his eyes widen, the realization of what he had done living there.

Toge’s watery voice washed away all reason in your mind as you flung yourself at him, arms around his shoulders, and planted your lips over his.

Toge had dipped under your weight, falling to the floor by his side as your hands plucked feverishly at his clothes. Toge had opened his mouth to gasp only to invite the aggressive wet of your tongue to brush and lap against his cursed one ―

Your hands traveled south, curled around his belt ―

Toge had torn his head away from you ―

“NO!”

The word, imbued with cursed energy, rippled over the room like a sonic wave. At his mercy, you froze. Toge's eyes darted across your face. His hands angled you back to your knees and off of him.

The clouds obscuring your eyes waned. You blinked.

“What?” Your brows creased. “What... What happened?”

Toge's answer came only in the hanging of his head as his hands shrunk away from your shoulders. You studied his face as realization came over yours.

The last few seconds relayed in your mind. “Oh, god ― Toge, it’s okay ― I'm ―”

"Salmon." Toge scrambled to his feet and passed the door before you could halt him.

You hadn't seen Toge since that fateful night, surely avoiding you.

You sighed as your fingers dragged fog from your mirror. You knew he would blame himself. It was his fault; typically he knew better, the severity of the damage he could cause with a simple word always at the back of his mind. But three nights ago, he had

You didn't care. You just wanted your friend back.

“Does anyone know where he is?” You asked in the Jujutsu University lounge.

Yuuta and Panda froze. Yuuta swallowed, toying with the hilt of his sword.

“I ― um ― I don't know, (Y/n),” he said.

You crossed your arms. “You're a bad liar, Yuuta.”

“He's not lying,” Panda said. “Truth is, we haven't seen Toge in a few days. Not even a single text.”

You straightened your back. That was strange. Toge was a chatterbox in texts, what with it being the only safe way he could truly express himself. “What? Not even a meme?”

“Not one.” Panda shrugged. “He’s fine. I’m sure of it! You know how he can be sometimes.”

You would not be fooled, especially when you had an idea of where Toge had gone.

It was a place he and you had discovered and claimed for yourselves, one fateful evening exploring the city.

The weight of Toge’s disappearance weighed on you as you approached the warehouse. Doubt and worry held your stomach taut. What if you were wrong? Maybe Toge hadn’t come here after all?

You had to check. You walked inside, caution slowing every step.

“Toge?”

Quiet.

BANG

You startled; it was muffled, and most likely had come from several rooms over. You swallowed. You didn’t sense a curse ― not yet, anyway.

You followed the source of the sound, trembling down a series of stairs until you came to a lower, darker area of the abandoned warehouse.

Sitting on the ground, faced away from you.

“... Toge?” You murmured. You hardly had to ask; you knew.

Toge spun. His eyes were wide, bloodshot, as though sleep had eluded him for days.

“It’s okay …” You walked toward him. “Please, just tell me what happened ―”

He shot his arm out as he stumbled away from you.

“Toge, please ―”

He turned away. Vaguely, you wondered why he did not voice to stop you. Silence was all you were met with as you approached.

You reached out. Just the slightest bit of skin between your finger and his neck touched ―

He grabbed your offered arm and you fell against his lips.

Shock overcame you as Toge’s hands cradled your face. You opened your mouth to speak only for his tongue to bridge the gap and find yours. He opportunized your shock to part your mouth with his tongue. Your eyes widened as he sucked your tongue, rutting into you. You had done all it took to ignore the thought of Toge’s lips on yours since that, and now your diligence was forfeit as his lips moved against yours with a fervor you struggled to match. Before you knew it you were against the wall, Toge’s greedy, frantic hands venturing your body, desperate for a slight of naked skin.

“Toge ―” Something’s wrong with him. “Toge!”

No use; his mouth won over your words. He earned himself a gasp from you as his hips jutted into you, hands kneading into your breasts. You were so overwhelmed you did not feel the straps of your top come down nor the way your panties now hung past your skirt, hooked over your wobbling knees.

You understood now; he had kept himself away to protect you.

But no one could do that now.

It didn’t matter how your cunt throbbed with every touch, how saliva ran your mouth to taste him, have him splitting you open. You had to stop him.

“Toge, I ―” You trembled as he nibbled the skin. Already, you could sense the darkening of the bruises that would be left there. The hand on the small of your back held you in place as you squirmed. “I ― I don’t know if I want this ―”

“Yes, you do.” Toge licked the shell of your ear, heated breath on your lobe. “Of course you do.” A hand slipped in between your legs without ceremony, his fingers finding evidence of his truth. He met your eye, his collar low enough to showcase his smirk. His expression challenged you: See how wet you are?

You understood as his will lay over yours. Your cunt throbbed with gratitude as Toge played with your wet folds. You bit yourself as two fingers slid with ease into your heat. Pretty violet eyes remained glued to yours, dared you to deny, to lie.

You couldn’t lie to yourself.

Again and again, you had dreamed of this since Toge’s slip up had allowed you to taste him for the first time. The night you had gotten just a taste. Why couldn’t he have put his morals aside for one night? Why couldn’t he have just let you finish the job ―?

Now, Toge scissored you from within, palm rocking into your clit as you whined into his shoulder. Your arms came around him to keep him close. He panted beside you. A third finger tickled your folds before letting itself in to be eaten by your cunt. You reddened; juices leaked down your inner thigh. You rocked shamelessly against his fingers, hungry for the length of them along with his palm brushing your sensitive clit. You drew blood on your lip as a tightening behind your abdomen ―

Toge withdrew his fingers and you whined against the cold emptiness. He brought his fingers to his mouth to lick and suck your juices from them, a moan stuck in his throat as he savored your taste.

Another blink and you were on the ground. Shafts of sunlight from the poorly-boarded up roof warmed your skin as Toge toppled you. You shivered as the trails his tongue made left cool tracks over your heated skin. How long would he be like this? Panic jolted you, arched you into Toge’s frenzied hold. No one knew the two of you were here. And he wouldn’t let you go. How long would the effects of whatever Toge faced last? How long would he use you? The fearful thrill went straight to your aching cunt.

“Don’t move.”

Your body obeyed. Toge knuckled your panties and slid them down to bunch at your ankles. Toge faced you as he settled himself between your legs, beautiful violet eyes dilated by madness. Already, his hips rutted against you, erection probing you ― alleviated only by Toge freeing his cock and with a growl fixing to enter you.

Toge slipped a thumb into your mouth as he sank into you. “Suck,” he ordered, voice watery and reverbed ― and hoarse from the squeeze of your walls. He whined as you suckled his thumb. Your body bounced with his quick, unfiltered pace. Toge kissed down your jaw, pants huffing against your skin.

“Aah …” His face strained. Slap, slap, slap went his hips into you. He forced your hands over your head to possess you fully. “So good …!”

You were too worked up to withstand his bestial pace. Toge licked the shell of your ear before slipping his tongue into your canal ―

“Cum.”

He ordered it, but he didn’t need to; you were already convulsing around him, his voice command adding another layer of chaos to your climax, doubling it, tripling it. Your eyes rolled back as your screams were muffled with Toge’s mouth. Your cunt overran with warmth but, as one command overcame the other, you wrapped arms and legs around Toge to prevent him from leaving.

When you were too weak to hold Toge to you, he pulled out. He stared at you from above, flushed face, spittle ran down his cheek. You watched him through heavy-lidded eyes.He surveyed the damage he had done.

And, apparently, felt nothing as he dragged you by your legs toward him to ruin you again.

#jjk smut #toge smut #toge x reader #toge x you #toge inumaki x reader #toge inumaki x you #jjk x reader #jjk x you #jjk x y/n #kinktober

1K notes · View notes

avatarloverfrfr · 8 months ago

Text

DREAMWALKER SIBLINGS

Chapter III: Memories -> previous[II] Masterlist Summary: Y/n and Jake Sully. Siblings, shipped off into the depths of space to explore the mysterious world of Pandora. Warnings: N/A Word count: 1020

Jake wheeled himself out of the small shack we called home, not bothering to turn back around. "I'm going out." he announced, his voice flat, tired.

"Jake—" Tommy called out, but his words were cut off by the sound of the door slamming closed.

"He's off to the pub, again." I said staring at the holographic images of tigers on the wall. My eyes following their every move, a constant reminder of the wild freedom we could never taste. This was no way to live, trapped in our own home, scraping by on the bearest of means.

"We can't live like this anymore Tommy. This house is the same fucking size as a jail cell." I say turning to him, hoping he would see my desperation, the need for change.

Tommy sighed, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "Once I get into the avatar—"

"We'll be dead by the time you come back from your alien excursion, Tommy! We can't wait for you..." I snapped, anger and frustration boiling over. I paced up and down the thin strip of walkway of our cramped home, my thoughts racing.

"I can't do with you today." Tommy said, grabbing his coat, clearly preparing to leave.

"Do what Tommy? Talk about our planet and not some planet light years away?" Could he not see the urgency of our situation? Choosing to be shipped off to another planet like shit is sweet.

He turned to me, eyes hard. "Me going on this "alien excursion" is what is going to make you and Jake rich."

"How would we even know if you're alive Tommy? For all I know you could die as soon as you step out these doors," I shouted, my voice echoing in the small space.

"I guess we won't know Y/n, but at least I'm trying to do something instead of sitting on my ass sulking. Grow up Y/n." he retorted before slamming the door behind him.

I sank into the worn out couch, the weight of his words pressing down on me. Maybe he was right. All I ever did was sulk and think about a past that I barely remembered. After a while, I decided to take a walk around the city, maybe even have a drink or two.

The city is a maze of metal and neon, a contrast to the tiny shack we called home. People bustling about, faces all covered in masks of different sorts, the most popular being animals long extinct, tigers crossing the streets, panda bears walking the side walks, all animals we never stood a chance seeing thanks to those before us. Everyone was trying to escape something, it seemed.

I wandered aimlessly, my thoughts a chaotic mix of anger and sorrow. Eventually I found myself at the end of a alley outside of a dimly lit club. The sign above the exit door flickering intermittently, a barely readable 'exit' shown.

The sound of commotion in the alleyway catches my attention. I look down and see a group of people throwing someone out a building. My heart skips a beat as I squint to see better and recognize the figure—the man they're throwing out, is Jake. Panic surges through me as I realize they've thrown his wheelchair out of his reach, leaving him on the wet floor.

"Candy-ass bitch!" Jake yells, his voice thick with anger and frustration. Without hesitation, I dash into the alley, my pulse pounding in my ears.

As I reach him, Jake makes eye contact with me from the ground, his eyes filled with defiance and resignation. "Punk-ass bitches needed two people to handle one cripple," he says with a bitter laugh.

"Jake you could be seriously injured." I say, kneeling down in the rain beside him. I wrap my coat around the top half of hid body, trying to shield him from the cold downpour.

"They just lost themselves a customer," he mumbles, clearly drunk and rambling.

"Hey Y/n," he continues, his voice softer now, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. Sorry for being such a pain in the ass to you and Tommy. I know you're just trying to help me out."

I feel a lump form in my throat as I listen to his apology. "Jake, you don't need to apologize. We're Sully's, and Sully's stick together." I say sitting down next to him, squeezing his shoulder gently.

We sit there in the rain, the world around us fading into the background. The rain continues to pour, soaking us to the bone, but we don't care. This moment of connection and understanding is worth every drop.

"Remember when we used to switch classes with Tommy during maths class cause he's the only one who understood anything." Jake chuckles, looking at me

"No, I don't, we might be triplets but only you and Tommy could pull that off," I say rolling my eyes " I had to sit there and take the tests like a champ." I say feeling a tang of nostalgia hit.

"I miss those days. Everything seemed simpler." Jake sighs, the weight of his earlier anger and frustration melting away with the breath.

"We were kids," I say softly. "The world was smaller, and our biggest worry was picking out which animal mask we would wear for the day."

Jake nods, his expression suggesting he isn't truly focused on the present. "Sully's stick together..." he lowly mutters to himself.

As we sit in the rain, the world around us quiets. The shared silence is comforting, a reminder that we're not alone in our grief.

The sound of footsteps echoes down the alley. I turn to find two men dressed in black suits staring down at us. "Y/n and Jake Sully? It's about your brother," one of them says, his voice cutting through the rain.

Jake tenses behind me, and I feel a knot of dread in my stomach. "What about him?" I ask, my voice steady despite a feeling of dread gnawing at me.

The man in the suit steps forward, his expression unreadable. "Come with us."

[previous part] [next part 4]

Tag list: @pinkvrydag @neytirismissingtoe @youskawng @tsuteyssyulang @lylalaminated @nonamevenus @ikeyniofthetayrangi @fatimatabintou @pink-sunrise-56

Note: I'm so sorry for the long wait. And for the short chapter mb:(

#avatar 2009 #avatar #avatar x reader #neytiri #jake sully #omatikaya #avatar2022 #awotw #angst #avatar angst #tsu’tey te rangloa ateyitan #tsu’tey fluff #tsu’tey fanfic #tsutey x reader #tsu’tey avatar

196 notes · View notes

psylocke142 · 7 months ago

Text

Night of fireworks

Jihyo x fem!reader

synopsis: Colorful lights began to erupt into the night sky. You felt as if your heart burst along with each explosion in the sky. Dreading the end of the festival. This is the last summer you will spend with Jihyo before you part ways.

w/c: 1.8k

warnings: none(?); maybe some angst; goodbyes; definitely some angst

a/n: i was surprised with the results of my first fic(?), not sure what to call it. thank you if you read that and left a like or reblog <3. i was expecting nothing tbh so i was so happy to see it do better than i expected.

i was listening to Night of Fireworks by Xdinary Heroes and was inspired to write this work. i chose jihyo because i've been missing her zone & one spark era lately. DMs and asks are open. i’m still new to writing so any suggestions or comments are appreciated. apologies for any errors.

------------------------------------------------------

Jihyo looked beautiful today. She always did, but today you felt mesmerized by her. Even with the lack of light outside, as the sun had already set, Jihyo seemed to glow in your eyes.

“Come on y/n, don’t get lost.”

Your hand was grasped by Jihyo’s, pulling you along to make sure you didn’t get lost in the crowd. Jihyo looked back towards you. Blinding smile crossing her features, making her glow even more.

Your mushy thoughts and gazing were suddenly interrupted.

“There you guys are, we’ve been looking for you two everywhere.” Nayeon huffed.

“These two have been running my pockets wanting to play every festival game.” She continued. The culprits, Momo and Sana, happily ate away at a huge bucket of cotton candy. Which was also bought with Nayeon’s money. No remorse in their eyes.

Mina just silently greeted you two with a smile and waved as Nayeon clung to her arm in defeat.

“Please tell them that these games are rigged for you to lose money trying to win stupid stuffed toys!” the eldest whined.

It was the end of summer, which meant that the city’s annual summer festival was in place. The six of you had decided to come to this year’s festival. You were all still adjusting to the adult world; the youngest of your group just finishing university, others securing new jobs, and the rest of you were piled with work. This left little room for your friends to hang out like before. There were still a few of you missing tonight.

Jeongyeon and Tzuyu couldn’t make it, the vet center they’re working at had them stay for the night shift. They explained that some of the animals get jumpy with fireworks, so they were quick to oblige. Chaeyoung and Dahyun volunteered to stay behind with them to help, expressing concern over their friends being left out. Really they just wanted to play with the puppies and kittens all night.

Your group of friends sought a night of enjoyment and unwinding. The girls were all glad to be able to have found time to gather and spend together. Jihyo was particularly delighted that majority of your group could make it. Wanting to see your girlfriend even more happy you had a plan. Tonight every wish Jihyo had was your command.

Jihyo wanted funnel cake?

You bought her some.

Jihyo wanted to go on the bumper carts?

You teamed up to annoy Nayeon by cornering her and continuously crashed into her cart.

Jihyo wanted a ‘stupid stuffed toy’?

You played the festival games until you won her a cute stuffed elephant.

Much to Nayeon’s dismay. Momo and Sana gave her puppy eyes and promised to treat her to dinner if she won them something. She relented of course. Surprisingly, or not, Mina won a medium-sized panda on her second attempt of the ring toss.

Despite being able to enjoy the festival and being with your friends, there was a gnawing feeling eating away at you. It would creep up on you throughout the night. Not letting you stray too far from the reality of tonight. A reminder of the ticking timer in your chest.

This summer festival would be the last you get to spend with Jihyo.

Jihyo had gotten a promotion. Said promotion was a significant milestone in her career, as she was still a rookie in her office, only having worked for her company for two years. This was a chance she couldn’t turn down, it would be unwise to do so.

However, there was a major downside to this promising opportunity. It required her to relocate. Jihyo had to move to the company’s prestigious headquarters — in Paris. She would be moving to a beautiful and alluring city while gaining valuable experience for her work, but it also meant she had to leave her current life behind. Her friends, family, and you.

Jihyo didn’t mind the idea of starting fresh in a new country. Her ambitiousness and work ethic would make that a smooth process. What weighed heavily in both her heart and mind, was what it meant for the two of you.

Despite your willingness to move to Paris and follow your girlfriend, she protested. You had just secured a job with your dream company a couple months ago. Following Jihyo meant giving up the job you dedicated your blood, sweat, and tears for. That was something Jihyo couldn’t allow. The memory of you jumping in joy when you landed the job fresh in mind. She couldn’t take that away from you by asking you to leave with her. Hesitantly you obeyed Jihyo, not wanting to further upset her or cause any more turmoil.

Uncertainty filled your hearts. Fear of what the distance, different time zones, and unforeseeable changes would make of your relationship. So you both reluctantly agreed to not let it reach to a point of no return. Not wanting to taint the beautiful relationship you cultivated throughout the years.

To set aside the worries and stress, Jihyo invited the group to the summer festival. Afterall, this would probably be the last time she gets to hang out with everyone for a while.

Jihyo’s main reason for coming to the summer festival was to see the firework show with you. She wanted to spend a memorable night with you before the end.

As you prepared to leave to watch the show, Jihyo said her goodbyes to your friends. Both sides making promises of keeping in touch.

The conversations between Jihyo and the girls made your heart clench, knowing that you were going to have a similar talk later that night. Taking in the fact that you would have a different goodbye than your friends. One more permanent.

Once again Jihyo was leading you, hand in hers, to a vacant park that would have a nice view of the firework show. Once again, you just cherished the sight of her.

As you sat down on the grass, waiting for the firework show to start, you realized that the night was ending. Without thinking you held onto Jihyo’s hand tighter. In response, the shorter girl placed herself between your legs. She wrapped your arms around her as she leaned herself into your front.

The distant crowd began to applaud and cheer as the countdown for the show began.

Colorful lights began to erupt into the night sky. You felt your chest constrict tightly with each explosion that fired into the sky. Dreading the end of the festival.

You looked up into the sky, at the fireworks.

Then you looked at Jihyo.

Her face was tilted upwards looking at the sky. Big round eyes reflecting the colorful lights. Soft black hair cascading down her profile in slight waves. Mouth slightly agape and forming a bright smile. Face expressing momentary awe and joy. You couldn’t help but feel an immense amount of love for the girl in your arms — the girl who held your heart.

Fireworks were nowhere close to shooting stars that you could wish upon. Still, you hoped that they could grant you just one wish. You gazed at the fireworks and you prayed to the explosive colors in the sky. To let you stay here forever, with Jihyo.

As the build up for the grand finale of the firework show began, you felt your heart’s timer begin to run out. The night was over. You held Jihyo tighter. Buried your head onto her shoulder. Trying to ingrain this moment into your brain.

Before the final fireworks went off Jihyo stood up unraveling herself from your warm embrace. Her back towards you.

“y/n…”

“it’s time.”

You hesitated to stand up. Not quite ready for what was to come.

You thought that maybe it was just you who felt devastated to have to say goodbye. Until Jihyo turned around and lifted her head to look at you. There were tears that had already fallen from her eyes and new ones that threatened to fall. She ignored her tears and just smiled at you.

Jihyo grabbed both of your hands to hold in hers. She observed your face intently. Slowly nearing towards you. She closed the small distance between you. Lips meeting in a gentle but desperate need to be together.

Her hands came up to caress your face but stopped when she felt the tears that ran down your cheeks. Tears that you hadn’t realized had fallen. Jihyo pulled back and wiped away your tears.

“This is what’s best, right Jihyo?” you muttered. Suddenly unsure of what you had both agreed upon. Not quite set on letting each other go. Not set on saying goodbye.

“Yes,” Jihyo quietly replied as her hands roamed your shoulders. Her body pushing against your front to be as close as possible. To savor your touch for these last few moments.

“I love you Ji,”

“I always will.” you whispered as you moved a strand of Jihyo’s hair to tuck behind her ear. Your other hand finding her waist to hold.

“So will I, y/n/n. I love you too.”

Jihyo pushed herself even deeper into your hold, enveloping you in a hug. You reciprocated her actions. Filling as many gaps between your bodies as you could.

The remaining fireworks shot upwards into a final explosion. Finally the ticking timer in your heart went off. Heart bursting alongside the lights in the sky.

Without hesitating you brought your lips to your lover’s. You emitted all the love you felt for Jihyo into the kiss. Your last kiss.

As the fireworks began to fade, you both pulled away. Jihyo brought her hands to yours. You stared down at the connected limbs. Tears brimmed at the corner of your eyes. You willed yourself not to cry as you looked up. You wanted these last moments with Jihyo to be as clear as crystal.

The girl before you still glowed in the dark night. She looked stunning, angelic even, despite the tears in her eyes. Those round mesmerizing eyes held something scenic, a view filled with sadness and love. Far more captivating than any shooting star or firework show.

Thousands of unspoken thoughts were behind both of your eyes. Thoughts that you were able to comprehend without either of you having to voice them.

Jihyo gently let go of your hand, her fingers softly lingering for a moment longer than necessary. The inevitable end of the festival has come and so has the conclusion of your time.

You felt yourself wanting to reach out, to hold her hand tighter as her fingers began to slip away, a last attempt at grasping this fleeting moment that you wished could last forever. The look in her eyes pleaded for you to not make this any more difficult than it already was. A mixture of sadness and adoration. Your own gaze reflected Jihyo’s. A shared understanding; this parting, though painful, was necessary.

Jihyo was the first to speak.

“Goodbye, baby” she solemnly drawled.

“Goodbye, love” you returned.

Still rooted in the same spot, you watched the love of your life walk away. Tears now freely falling. Heart in ashes.

The night of fireworks is over.

120 notes · View notes

xx-sketchy-xx · 2 years ago

Text

I couldn’t say Turing blue.. it sounds bad lol

As a teenager he lived a simple life in the city, until he turned 15. Of course this is when his hair turned from black to blue, and he’d transform into a giant ravaging panda. His panda is unique, changing size based on ferocity of his emotion at the time. (I actually got this from what Turning Red originally planned on doing)

Wally had little to no control over his panda, and immediately did the ritual to hide away his panda when a full lunar eclipse arised. His panda is hidden in his two crosses, which he puts on his sleeves. Wally was still afraid of the chaos and harm he caused as a panda, and ran away, vowing to always keep his emotion in check.

which leads us to our little neighborhood, and Wally has made lots of friends! He is known for being monotonous, though he’s actually quite emotional, he’s just very good at keeping his emotion under raps. That is, until he brakes his crosses and his hair turns blue-

#wally darling #welcome home art #welcome home wally #wally #welcome home home #Turning red #welcome home au #turning red au #Turning cerulean #Panda wally #Ohmy #This is happening #ive made plot #No going back #Blue red panda #Lol

464 notes · View notes

midnighmoonligh · 10 months ago

Text

Agere CoD Animal Crossing Head Canon's

(this is just for fun)

Item list; Denim Overalls (white), Kerokerokeroppi Pin, Pacifier (baby grey), Simple-accent Socks (white), Rubber-toe Sneakers (black), Dreamy Backpack (mint), & Panda Umbrella.

Big on-island design

Plays religiously when little

He will harass anyone he can to play with him

Ghost has to aggressively avoid Kyle when playing, he makes him regress

Has a Dark Academia theme

Favorite holiday is a mix of Halloween (favorite character is ofc Jack) and Turkey Day

Aggressively collects amiibo cards, has two binders full of them

The villagers he has are; Apollo, Wolfgang, Skye, Dobie, Chief, Kyle, Fang, Freya, and Vivian.

His starters had been Apollo, Daisy, and Pecan

Ghost's favorite villager is Kyle (looks like Riley & has Gaz's name)

Item list; Annyeong Tee, Baggy Shirt (gray), Dreamy Pants (blue), Jogging Shorts (black), Diaper (light blue), Mohawk Wig, Punk Hair Wig (orange), Pacifier (baby gray, Pacifier (baby mint), Holey Socks (blue), Knee Bandages, Knee Brace (black & blue), Basketball Shoes (light blue), Crossbody Boston Bag (blue), and Blue Umbrella.

All his villagers are jocks

His first animal crossing game was New Leaf

Prefers new leaf, but doesn't mind new horizons

The villagers he has are; Kid Cat, Samson, Stinky, Tank, Teddy, ED, Tad, Moose, Mac, and Lyman.

He collected the amiibo cards for a small time to get jock villagers, but he gave his collection to Ghost.

Soap's favorite villager is Tad

His favorite holiday is Bunny Day

His favorite character is Zipper

His original villagers were Teddy, Deirdre, and Poncho

Soap's Island is a cross between city-theme and kidcore

Obnoxiously into animal crossing conspiracies

He has loads of theories about Zipper

Item's list; Anorak Jacket (red), Colorful Striped Sweater (white, yellow, & red), Diaper (cream), Formal Shorts (white), Track Pants (gray), Crown, Colorful Striped Knit Cap (red), Pacifier (baby gray), Pacifier (baby pink), Color-blocked Socks (brown), Kerokerokeroppi socks, Pompompurin boots, Rubber-toe High TOps (berry red), Bug Cage, Butterfly Backpack, and Rainbow umbrella.

Big on bug collection

Maxed out the bug half of the museum

Gets so excited when seeing Flick

Casual player & often hangs out with ghost

Has had the same villagers since he started

Only really plays if he can play with someone

Got the crown from Ghost (both Ghost & Soap worked to get it for him)

The villagers he has are; Molly, Fauna, Beau, Erik, Deirdre, Pecan, Poppy, Kiki, Mapple, and Ike.

His starter villagers were; Fauna, Deirdre, and Pecan.

His favorite holiday is Festivale and Bug-off

Will take a day off just to sit and play the Festivale event

He'll spend an entire day running around collecting flowers because shiny

His favorite characters are Nat, Flick, & Kiki

The island theme he picked is a sort of glow forest

Item list; Colorful Striped Sweater (navy, light blue, & pink), Oilskin Coat (red), Explorer Shorts (beige), Pineapple Aloha Shorts (red), Outdoor Hat (red), Pacifier (baby yellow) Pacifier (baby orange), Pacifier (baby pink), Rounded Beard, Frilly Knee-high Socks (black), Knee Bandages, Rubber-toe Sneakers (yellow), Rain Boots (red), Fish Pochette, and Fish Umbrella.

The museum is fully maxed out

Shares an island with Gaz, doesn't decorate

He will get super anxious when things are suddenly different

Fishes ALL THE TIME

Only plays to fish for hours

Rich from the fish he catches

Gets lost on the island a lot

Will excitedly shake Gaz if he finds out CJ is roaming around

Is a pro at the fishing tourneys

He has all the special items you can get from CJ

Has the same villagers as Gaz

His favorite characters are CJ and Chip

Gets upset when things block the view of where he's fishing

Will complain about how clapped the villagers look

His favorite holidays are Fishing Tourney and International Museum Day.

Item list; Energetic Sweater (purple), Konnichiwa Tee, Mod Parka (green), Cargo Pants (avocado), Chino Pants (gray), Labelle Cap (midnight), OK Motors Cap, Pacifier (baby gray), Pacifier (baby green), Color-blocked Socks (green), Pom-pom Socks (green), Kerokerokeroppi Boots, Rubber-toe High Tops (olive), Nook Inc. Pochette, and Frog Umbrella.

Loves when it rains

Decorates like crazy

Super pretty and aesthetic island

Specifically created places where Price and fish

He's on fashion and his storage is full of clothes

Doesn't have enough space for his clothes and gets really upset about it

Island aesthetic is neutral neighborhood

He borrows Ghost's cards. He thinks they're really cool

His villagers are; Pietro, Julian, Elmer, Papi, Victoria, Roscoe, Winnie, Savannah, Reneigh, and Annalise.

The original villagers he had were; Julian, Alice, and Elise.

Gaz specifically picks the most obnoxious villagers to annoy Price

He forgets to warn Price when making changes to their island

Favorite holiday is Toy Day

Favorite character is Isabelle

Item list; Chick Tee, Culottes (white), Diaper (light blue), Boa Parka (gray), Denim Overalls (avocado), Kiki & Lala Pin, Pacifier (baby gray), Pacifier (baby mint), Color-blocked Socks (white), Nordic Socks (gray), Tube Socks (navy blue), Cinnamoroll Sneakers, Cute Sneakers (blue), Rubber-toe High Tops (blue), Bear Backpack (brown), and Pineapple Umbrella.

Only plays with Logan and/or Hesh

Shares an island with Logan & Hesh

Hesh's wife plays with them too!

Loves collecting shooting stars & their crafting recipes

Doesn't do anything in particular, mostly just follows Logan & Hesh around

Often watches Logan & Hesh fight over decorating (sometimes antagonizes it & finds it funny)

Logan enjoys having a fall scene, always skipping time to stay in it. Hesh prefers winter. So to compromise they split the island into three parts

Keegan went for a dark cottage-core on his side

Their villagers are; Phoebe, Charlise, Katt, Tybalt, Claudia, Filbert, Kitty, Tammy, Graham, and Vesta.

Their original villagers were; Phoebe, Kitt, and Charlise

His favorite holiday is New Years and Christmas

He always makes sure to play on holidays!

Favorite characters are Timmy and Tommy

Item list; Dreamy Sweater (blue), Garden Tank (blue), Kids' Smock (cherry blossom), Culottes (white), Diaper (light blue), Dreamy Pants (blue), Cinnamoroll hat, Prom Crown (silver), Pacifier (baby gray), Pacifier (baby mint), Pacifier (baby blue), Kiki & Lala Socks, Lace Socks (white), Cinnamoroll sneakers, Mary Janes (blue), Dreamy Backpack (mint), and Blue shiny-bows parasol.

Doesn't share an island with anyone, but is always having shadows play with him on his island

Half the island is worked on the other half isn't. It's been this way for two years

Has a fairy-tale aesthetic (mostly greyscale)

His favorite villager type is dogs

His favorite villager is Cookie

Favorite event is New Years (for the fireworks) and Fireworks show

Favorite character is Redd

His current villagers are; Goldie, Cookie, Portia, Shep, Bea, Butch, Maddie, Daisy, Lucky, Bones, and Boom.

His original villagers were; Lucky, Sparro, and Bam

He has a small collection of cards. He only bought them to collect the dogs more easily but ended up giving up

Plays more than anything when he's injured

Item list; bone Tee, Cardigan School Uniform Top (beige), Two-tone Pants (yellow), Worn-out Jeans (light blue), Paper-bag Hood, Ski Mask (black), Halo, Cosmos Crown, Pacifier (baby gray), Pacifier (baby yellow), Aran-knit Socks (white), Cute Sneakers (yellow), Mary Janes (red), Vivid Socks (yellow), Nook Inc. Knapsack, and Eggy Parasol.

Shares an island with Horangi

Horangi plays way more than he does

Plays New Leaf more than New Horizons

Only really plays when regressed

Absolutely terrified of the bugs and will run away from them or yell until Horangi catches them

Their villagers are; Bangle, Bianca, Claudia, Leonardo, Rolf, Rown, Tynalt, Patricia, Spike, and Merengue.

Their original villagers were; Bianca, Dozer, and Shari.

He really likes talking about animal crossing

He loves playing with people online

His favorite characters are Isabelle and Digby

Horangi conned him into having all the tigers

Island Aesthic is kid core (he begged Horangi)

He has ALL the fruits

114 notes · View notes

system-to-the-madness · 1 year ago

Text

A Promise Kept - Itadori Yūji x Reader

Pairing: Itadori Yūji x Reader (can be read as any gender, no pronouns used) Genre: angst (a tiny speck of fluff in the end) Word Count: 3 951 Warnings: suicidal Yūji, self-harm (Yūji), panic attack(?), throwing up(both Yūji and Reader), death, canon typical violence, description of sever wounds and pain, lots of crying, SPOILERs for up to chapter 137 / episode 47 Summary: Following the Shibuya incident, you try to talk to Yūji, who has locked himself away A/N: Inspired by an ask @delzinrowe sent to @just-jordie-things and I got the permission to write it. This is probably not what you guys had in mind, but I had this idea as soon as I read this ask and stuck with it. Also: I usually don’t write angst unless it ends in a lot of fluff, so this is a first for me.

Masterlist

“He’s hidden himself away.” Panda’s voice was heavy with concern. Not unjustified concern, considering ever cheerful Yūji had distanced himself from everyone following the events of the Halloween night.

It was the morning of the first of November. Dust still hung in the air like fog, the first sunbeams of a warm autumn morning shining their light on the destroyed Shibuya. You had not slept at all in the past 24 hours, nor eaten anything in the past 12. Instead, you had thrown up even the little stomach contents you had had left. You had tried drinking something, but none of it was any good, you just couldn’t keep anything down. Not the water the half-curse Chōsō had offered you, not the green tea Yaga had handed you, not the broth Ieiri-sensei had convinced you to drink. You had thrown everything back up.

The pictures of the night kept haunting you, of the curses you had exorcised, of the transfigured humans you had been forced to kill, of Gojō-sensei’s eyes looking back at you from that prison realm in Kenjaku’s hands, of Megumi’s lifeless body leaning against a wall, of Nanami-san’s body being torn apart, of Nobara clutching her face before dying. Now of the four first-years, only Yūji and you were left standing. But you were doubtlessly in way better shape than he was. Sure, you were so exhausted that your hands were shaking and your legs quivering, you had cuts across your arms and face, and bruises all over your body, but Yūji was of way worse than that. He had a huge cut right over his nose, was missing a part of his cheek so his teeth were showing. According to Chōsō, Ieiri-sensei had already healed him, but the scars were red and angry, and you knew it still had to hurt. Not to mention what he had gone through, watching his friends die, just like you had. But you were not possessed by an ancient, evil sorcerer who had used your body to wreak havoc to the city, burn it to ashes. And you knew he blamed himself for all of it.

Now, as you stood where once the famous Shibuya Scramble Crossing had been, legs weak from exhaustion and morning sunlight reflecting in the broken glass of the skyscrapers around you, you wondered how you were even still alive. Sweat had dried on your skin, blood crusting your clothes, smears of dust painted your face. The shock of the news you had received about the outcome of the night had not quite settled in, instead it was a slowly creeping terror, that you knew would close its fingers around your heart once you stopped to rest. So it was better not to rest, not yet, not while Yūji was still in distress.

“Where is he,” you asked, turning to Panda, who was climbing over the debris. Somewhere beneath all that rubble the famous statue of that dog, Hachikō, was buried. Along with humans, all of them probably long dead.

“He hid in one of the bathrooms,” another voice answered.

Shielding your eyes from the sunlight, you were met with the sight of Chōsō. Dark circles were painted under his brown eyes, the black tattoo over the bridge of his nose seeming to split his face in two.

“Which one?”

You ignored how strange it was asking the half-curse – whose brothers you had killed – for directions to help your friend… who he also considered his brother. But Yūji was your friend and if Panda’s words were to be believed – why shouldn’t they? – then Yūji needed you. He was your friend. Right? Nothing more than that. And nothing less.

Chōsō looked around for a moment, trying to orientate himself in the rubble, then pointed to the stairwell closest to Shibuya 109.

“Down the stairs, the first bathroom.”

Instead of acknowledging either Chōsō or Panda any further, you began making your way to the entrance of the subway. In the backpack on your bag, bottles of water and bags with food shifted against one another, as you climbed over a piece of a building.

The stairs were almost entirely destroyed, but you made your way down anyway, trying to sort your thoughts out. This was not the time to contemplate your feelings for Yūji, you told yourself. What mattered now was to help him, not because you liked him, but because he needed help. He needed to drink something, something with minerals to avoid cramps later, so Ieiri-sensei had packed sports-drinks in the backpack you were carrying. He needed nutrients and vitamins, also packed in your bag. He needed words of assurance, so you had already thought about what you needed to tell him. That it wasn’t his fault. That without him, many more would have died. That you were glad he was still there. He probably needed a hug or two, and you were prepared to hold him for as long as he needed you to make him realize that you would always be by his side. Because you were his friend. Because you would always stick together.

Now was not the time to think about how you had always felt connected to him, from the first moment on. It was not the time to think about how tight he always hugged you, how close he sat to you during movie nights, how he pretended to serenade you during karaoke or make your favourite ramen for you when you felt down. Nor was it the time to think about how he always made you explain the homework to him, as if he had to force you to do it when really you were thankful for each moment you got to spend with him, especially when it allowed you to gaze at him for minutes on end without him noticing. And whenever he noticed, he would grin at you, as if he were proud of something, and your face would grow warm. One time he had even told you he liked it when you looked at him like this, and you had been unable to meet his eyes for the rest of the day.

And then there were those little touches, the hand on the small of your back whenever he guided you to walk on the inside of the pavement so he was walking at the side of the street. The touches that lingered a little longer than with anyone else. But now was not the time to think about any of that.

The lights in the subway station were flickering, making it hard to see through the dust in the air. On a wall the lit-up advertisement for some sports anime sent flashes of white light into the dark. What you’d give to be the stupid love interest in one of these harmless anime now.

And there was the bathroom.

Stepping through the dark, careful not to fall over any of the debris, you slowly approached the door, your dominant hand at the handle of the cursed katana you had spent the past six months learning how to wield. Listening for any suspicious sounds, you stopped for a moment, before you pushed against the closed door to the men’s bathroom.

It didn’t budge.

Furrowing your brows, your tried again, but the metal of the door refused to swing open.

“Yūji-kun,” you called into the silence.

Something moved behind the door.

“Yūji-kun, it’s me,” you called again, knocking against the door. “Are you in there?”

“Go away!”

Yūji’s voice sounded chocked up and raw when he answered from behind the door, making you exhale in relief. You had found him. And he was conscious.

“Yūji, you need to eat and drink something,” you told him, knocking again.

“Leave me alone, go away!”

“You know I can’t do that,” you refused, trying to suppress the shaking in your voice. He sounded so hurt and lost. All you wanted to do was wrap him in an embrace and protect him from the memories of the night’s events.

“I don’t wanna see anyone right now! Go away.”

“You don’t have to see me, we can keep the door closed if you like. Just-” you sighed, crouching down in front of the door. “Just talk to me. I want to help.”

“You can’t help! You can’t- unless you kill me, you can’t help!”

It felt like your heart stopped beating in your chest, and tears shot into your eyes. You knew Yūji would feel terrible, but bad enough to want to die? You had not expected that.

“Yūji-“

“They’re dead because of me! Because of me Nanamin and Kugisaki-” Yūji’s voice broke off in a sob. “They died because of me! Shibuya is burnt to the ground because of me! So many people died because of me! And Fushiguro- Ijichi-san, Maki-san, Inumaki-san- they all-”

This voice broke off again, and you heard choking from the other side, as if he was throwing up. Or at least trying to throw up. After tonight you were familiar enough with the sound of trying to throw up with an empty stomach.

“Yūji, it’s not your fault. You couldn’t have prevented-”

“Of course, it’s my fault. It’s all my fault, all of it is!”

“No, it’s not! If it had been your fault-”

“Stop saying it isn’t! Because it is! All of it is! Those were my hands who killed all these people! My hands who destroyed Shibuya! All of this only started because I’m a vessel for Sukuna! If I weren’t, they wouldn’t have tried getting to me, and all these people were still alive! It’s all burned into my memory! Every time I close my eyes I see them die, over and over and over again-”

He chocked and gagged again, making your own stomach clench, and you squeezed your eyes shut. You wanted to help him so badly, hold him, comfort him. But the door kept you at a distance.

“If I weren’t possessed by Sukuna, they’d still be alive! Gojō-sensei should’ve just killed me! He should’ve just executed me!” From behind the door, you heard a bang, as if he had punched the wall… no, he had hit his head against it.

“Yūji!” You banged against the door, before placing your flat hand against it. Your fingers curled against the smooth, cool metal, your nails scraping against it in a desperate attempt to get to him. Of course, you could have just kicked down the door, but a part of you knew Yūji wouldn’t forgive you if you were to intrude on this space, he had created for himself, away from everyone. “Yūji, stop it! Stop!”

But another dull bang followed your plea, accompanied by his sobs and more retching.

“He should’ve executed me the moment the order came in! I should be dead!” Yūji’s voice was soar from screaming and crying and throwing up. “I should be dead! Then none of this would have happened! I should be dead! They should’ve just killed me! The world would be better off if I were dead! I should be dead! I should just die! I should-”

“Stop it! Stop it, Yūji! Stop it!” Tears were running down your cheeks as you banged against the locked door again, your voice shrill in your own ears. “Stop saying that! Stop saying you should be dead! Stop it, please stop!” You chocked on your own sobs, weakly trying to bang your firsts against the door. “I need you, you hear? I can’t lose you, too!”

For a moment there was silence on the other side of the door, no more screaming, no more head-against-the-wall-banging, no more retching. Only some heavy breathing.

“You’re only in danger around me,” Yūji eventually answered, his voice quiet. “Sukuna could take over any moment and he’d kill you without hesitation. The only way to ensure everyone’s safety would be to kill-“

“Nobody’s killing you! And those who try will have to go through me first! And the same goes for you! If you try to hurt yourself, Itadori Yūji, I swear by my life I will do everything in my power to stop you!”

Again silence spread between you. Long and heavy silence, interrupted only by your sobs and occasional gagging from Yūji’s side. It spread for so long, that you were almost tempted to ask if he was still conscious, when he spoke up again.

“I want to go home.” It was only a whimper, small and pained in the vast destruction of the night, and it made you want to tear down that stupid bathroom door and pull Yūji into the tightest hug you had ever given anyone. “I want to go home. Not to Jujutsu High. I want to go back to my grandpa’s place. And I want to eat his Naporitan Pasta. And sleep in my old bed. And just forget everything. I just want to feel safe. Just once more. I can’t take this anymore. I just-“

“Yūji, I-“

What were you supposed to say? His grandfather had died over six months ago. The apartment that had belonged to him was empty. Even if Yūji went back to Sendai, there would be nothing left of his old life, there was no way he could ever eat his grandfather’s homecooked meals again. What could you do to help him fill this hole, this loss that was so overwhelming? You had lost family too, but you still had a home to return to, some place to feel entirely safe. The thought, that no matter where Yūji went, he would never feel quite safe suddenly hit you. Not as long as he was possessed by Sukuna.

Suddenly anger bubbled in your chest, pushing aside the grief and fear of the night, and the pain you felt for your friend. As long as Sukuna possessed Yūji, he could never be happy. So you had to find a way to get rid of him.

“Yūji,” you repeated, your voice calmer this time, now that you had finally found a proper thought to express. “I promise you we’ll find a way to exorcise Sukuna. And we’ll free Gojō-sensei and deal with Kenjaku. And when all that is over, we’ll sit down with Megumi and Gojō-sensei and we’ll all make Naporitan Pasta together, in honour of your grandfather. I promise you. So please. Don’t give up. Don’t stop fighting. We need you. I need you. Please.”

Your declaration was followed by more silence, but at least he didn’t seem to throw up anymore.

“Do you promise?” His voice was weak and sounded like he was far away with his thoughts.

“Yes, I do. I promise.”

“Can we have pancakes with strawberries and cream for dessert?”

“As many as you like. I know a really good recipe,” you answered, the weight in your heart lifting a little.

“Okay,” Yūji agreed. “Uhm… can I ask you something?”

“Yes, anything,” you quickly replied, perking up.

“When I open the door… can you- would it be okay if we wouldn’t hug or anything?”

Confused you blinked, but nodded your head before you remembered that he couldn’t see you.

“Oh, ahm, sure. Of course.”

“It’s just-”

“You don’t have to explain-”

“But I want to explain,” Yūji interrupted you. “I just feel like, if someone were to touch me now, I’d have another…” he hesitated for a moment, “another panic attack. Because after all that… how could I allow anyone to touch me, when I’m the one who’s responsible for-”

“You’re not the one responsible! Yūji, please, you need to understand-”

“It doesn’t matter right now, okay? It doesn’t matter,” he interrupted you, sounding impatient. “I just- I just don’t want anyone to touch me, alright? I can’t have anyone touch me. Promise me?”

You took a shaky breath closing your eyes before you answered.

“Okay, I understand,” you assured him. “I won’t touch you unless you want me to, I promise. But I’m here for whatever you need, okay? I also got water and something to eat if you want, alright?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Yūji answered from behind the closed door. “Uhm, one more thing…”

Quietly you listened to what he had to say, blinking your eyes open again.

“I’ve taken quite a beating through the night and Ieiri-sensei couldn’t heal all of it at once so… don’t be alarmed, okay?”

You swallowed, trying to get rid of the painful lump in your throat. You had seen Yūji earlier, before Ieiri-sensei had treated him; you knew what state he had been in. If he warned you now about his appearance…

“I’m not looking exactly fresh either,” you told him, trying to sound cheerful, “I’m sure both of us have looked better than today.”

A small hum sounded from the other side of the door, before you heard shuffling of clothes, the clinking of porcelain against stone tiles and the sound of shoes on dusty ground.

Quickly you scrambled away from the door, but it swung open before you had gotten to your feet. Yūji was right, he still looked quite beaten up. The two worst wounds in his face were healed to fresh, pink scars, but smaller cuts and bruises still littered his skin, not to mention the blood and dust that stuck to his hair and clothes. A red spot was forming on his forehead, slightly swollen with a few scratches in the centre, where he had hit his head against the wall. Underneath his eyes dark circles, quite similar to those of his self-declared older brother, seemed to have taken up permanent residence. Your eyes dropped to his right hand, fresh blood running down his fingers from cuts on the knuckles and dripping to the ground.

“Your hand-!”

Almost you would’ve forgotten what he had requested of you, but your stopped yourself just in time before you reached out, staring up at him from where you were sitting on the ground instead.

“I punched a mirror,” he admitted, his beautiful eyes looking away from you in shame. “I saw those marks under my eyes and I- I got so angry.”

You swallowed again thickly but nodded.

“Let’s get you to Ieiri-sensei,” you decided, scrambling to your feet.

Up closer to his face, you could see the tear streaks on his dusty cheeks. The longer you looked at him the more your heart ached, and the harder it got to stick to your word of not touching him, when all you wanted to do was pull him into a long hug. He sure looked like he needed it. But he had explicitly asked you not to touch him, so you wouldn’t.

“I’m sure she can do something for your hand and those cuts on your arms and stomach.” You gestured to where his uniform had been ripped apart, showing shallow cuts on his pale skin.

“Thank you,” Yūji mumbled, but when you gestured for him to walk ahead, he didn’t move.

“Don’t thank me, thank her,” you tried smiling, knowing you were failing terribly.

“No, I mean… thank you for coming looking for me. And respecting that I don’t want to be touched right now. I know you want to hug me, or want me to hug you… you deserve it so much after this night but I just can’t right now and-“

“And that’s okay. If I want a hug, I’ll ask Panda. He’s cuddly,” you assured Yūji. “I know you feel like the weight of the world is resting on your shoulders. And maybe it is. And while you carry a lot of responsibility, you don’t carry the responsibility of giving me hugs whenever I want them, yeah?”

A small smile tucked at Yūji’s lips, and he nodded. “Thanks for understanding.”

“Sure thing,” you nodded.

“Hey, you said you had something to drink-”

Quickly you dropped the bag to the floor, and pulled out a bottle of the sports drinks, Ieiri-sensei had packed for Yūji and you, handing it to him. He unscrewed it and emptied it in one go.

“Need more,” you offered, holding a second bottle out to him.

“You first,” he demanded, signalling you to drink first.

Obediently you unscrewed the cap and took a few long gulps, the sweetened liquid running down your throat and washing away the salty taste of tears in your mouth.

“How are you,” he suddenly asked, his dark eyes watching carefully as you drank.

After a few sips, you put the bottle down and handed it to Yūji, who eyed it for a moment but waited for your reply.

“Been better,” you admitted. “Tonight was… a lot. But I’m not as badly injured as you – or possessed – so I can’t really complain.”

“Just because others are off worse than you, doesn’t mean you don’t have a right to feel terrible,” Yūji mumbled, chewing on his lower lip. “I know what you’ve seen. Even if it had just been a stupid tv show, or anime or something… the things we saw tonight are enough to give me nightmares for a lifetime. So, I understand how you feel. Don’t down-play it for my sake.” He lifted the bottle to his lips, finishing it as well, before looking back to you again. “I’m asking again. How are you?”

Trying to keep the tears at bay the shot into your eyes, knowing this time you’d have to confront these feeling inside your chest, pursed your lips before answering.

“Horrible,” you pressed out, sniffing.

Yūji nodded. “If you ever need anything, someone to talk to, someone to wake you up from a nightmare… I’ll always be there for you, you know that, right?”

“Yeah, yeah, I know. And I’ll be there for you.”

“You already are,” he answered.

Neither of you mentioned when you handed him some cereal bar and he hesitantly brushed the tips of his fingers against yours as he took if from you, or how he grabbed your arm to pull you off the floor.

As you made your way back to the staircase that would lead you to the surface, you couldn’t shake the feeling that it was important that it had been you, who had come looking for Yūji. You weren’t sure why, but then the backs of his fingers brushed against yours while walking. Instinctively you wanted to draw your hand away, after all you had agreed not to touch him. But then his pinkie brushed yours again, this time linking with it, and you relaxed. For the first time in hours a part of the tension fell away, and you dropped your shoulders, only focusing on the sensation of Yūji’s warm and rough skin against yours. Maybe he wasn’t ready for a hug, but this little bit of contact, contact initiated by him, was more than enough comfort.

At the foot of the staircase he stopped, bringing you to a stop as well.

“I need you, too,” he admitted, his huge, brown, with pain filled eyes glancing over at you for a moment. Confused you furrowed your brows, but then you understood he was referring to what you had said earlier. That you needed him.

You nodded in acknowledgement, taking a shaky breath when you realized that he was not only referring to the war with the curses you were about to face, but to himself generally. The same way you had meant it earlier.

Yūji gently squeezed your pinkie, and nodded back, before you both faced forward again. It would be a long way, to sitting down with Gojō-sensei and Megumi, eating food together, but you would get there, you knew it. And the first step you had to take was up this dusty flight of stairs, Yūji’s pinkie safely intertwined with yours.

132 notes · View notes

undertale-fic-librarby · 6 months ago

Note

Hi do you have anymore swapfell sans x reader?I don’t mind if it’s a one shot or multi chapter.Fluff preferably smut is acceptable no angst please.

Howdy, thanks for asking! Here are some fics that might fit what you're looking for!

WeirdTober 2020 (Because My Therapist Seems To Think Writing is Good For Me) by PineconeTrinklebriar (Teen And Up, Complete)

Your love of the macabre has served you well for most of your life. Well, maybe ‘served you well’ was a strong statement, but it had landed you a rewarding job that you got to work side-by-side with the love of your life, your best friend, and your other best friend, so you weren’t about to start complaining now. Sure, it made for a tough middle school experience, back when people were still burning witches, but you survived and had very few physical scars to show for it.

Black as Pitch by YinYanChan (Mature, Incomplete)

During a time that bitties have been bred with even human killing abilities in illegal kennels for bitty fights. Bitties are still not considered people or even regular monsters...just things or pets in the eyes of the law. One night you managed to save the life of a helpless edgy bitty from a blackberry bitty named Pitch and his gang. By saving the poor Edgy and finding out just how many problems he had to cause him to be in such a situation to begin with led you to the life you have now. You've become a licensed bitty therapist in hopes of reaching out to the abused, the neglected, and street worn bitties and giving them a chance at a better life. With your supportive and loving edgy bitty by your side years later down the road you should have know that eventually the past would come back to claim you after all your life no longer belongs to you.

Play with Me by grimrester (Explicit, Incomplete)

When you decide to pursue your childhood dream of running an arcade, the developing monster city at the top of Mount Ebott seems like an obvious choice to set up shop. The community is growing quickly, you'd have very little competition, and commercial renting space is dirt cheap. The only problem is you've never run a business by yourself before, and you're not very good with numbers. When you find a monster accountant advertising his services online, you jump at the chance to work with him. The skeleton seems formal, professional, and detached, which is just fine by you. Who needs the distractions of friendships and relationships when you've got a business to run?

Skeletons Like Honey Buns by YinYanChan (Not Rated, Incomplete)

Monsters have always lived on the surface. Just not with humans. Keeping to themselves and living up the hype they are dangerous and wild creatures. Sans and Papyrus are just as guilty. Yet both have been intrigued on how humans have grown... they know better than getting mixed up too much with humans... however... they end up crossing a line and getting severely injured. As a last ditch effort to get away, Rus shortcuts him and his brother away from the aftermath. So wounded they almost end up feral and eating out of a nearby house's trash to try and heal... enter Amelia, your kind hearted daughter, to find it's not trash pandas but spooky scary skeletons... and instead of running to you... she offers them a honey bun.

Nox X Reader Oneshot: Ducks, Glue Sticks, and Sleep Deprivation by Chance36 (Mature, Complete)

Nox helps the reader with their uni assignments. Nox belongs to @bonelyheartsclub and @owl-bones.

#fic rec #fic recommendation #ao3 fic recs #utmv #swapfell #swapfell sans #sans x reader #x reader #not suitable for minors #ask #mod sleepy

22 notes · View notes

aquakat-draws · 10 days ago

Text

Some underrated creatures you can use for character design inspo (with no specific order)

Earwigs

Crayfishes

Centipedes

Chameleons

Gharials

Dholes

Wolverines

Nautili (nautilus)

Pangolins

Fossas

Frilled sharks

Okapi

Platypuses

Vaquitas

Komodo dragons

Thrips

Whip spiders (AKA tailless whip scorpion)

Barn owls

Ostriches

Star nosed moles

Coral snakes

Anacondas

Red bellied black snakes

City doves (common pigeons)

Angler fishes

Mole crickets

Cobalt blue tarantulas

Arabian sand boa (look this one up, it's funny i promise)

Weasels/stoats

Cross fox

Termites (I'm for real, yes)

Falcons

Sparrowhawk (qarghi)

Antlions

Moray eels

Lancetfishes

Prawns/shrimps

Ethiopian wolves

Hyena

Honey badgers

Hornets

Bumblebees

Lice

True crabs

Tarantula wasps

Dumbo octopuses

Seals

Otters

Vampire squids

Jellyfishes

Sea cucumbers

Red eyed tree frogs

Common toads

Silverfishes

Common grasshopper

Cicadas

Bristletails

Botflies

Phasmids

Aphids

Red pandas

Lobsters

Yeti crabs

Damselflies

Death moths

Fenec foxes

Capybaras

Arctic hares

Pygmy shrew

Stag beetle

Aye-aye

Chimps

Gibbons

Mantis

Rats

Red wolves

Tasmanian tiger-wolves (it went extinct long ago but it counts)

Tasmanian devils

Dingos

Ravens

Azawakh

So many animals to choose from, leave grey wolves and domestic cats alone a bit please/hj

#animals #character design #character design inspiration #writing inspiration #design tips #art #oc #oc art #oc maker #i might add more later

6 notes · View notes

gaybananabread · 1 year ago

Note

On the off chance you've still got spots left, I want to offer some SpiderVerse numbers. >w<

Definitely 29 (Wake Up!) with Hobie getting tickled awake one too many times by Gwen, Pavitr, and/or Miles. I admit I wouldn't be able to pick just one.

I think it'd just be cute to see 7 (Flustered) with Miles and Gwen. Probably with her teasing and riling him up playfully, only for him to turn the tables when he finds out she's ticklish.

17 (Interrogation) with Pavitr trying and probably failing to keep a secret--probably the candy stash--from at least one of the others. I think it'd most likely be Hobie.

I'm tempted to say 10 (Ghost) with Lee Gwen, but I admit I don't have anything more specific than Ghost-Spider jokes. >w<

I hope you like them! I admit I'm tempted to write a couple of them myself if you can't use them. Have fun!

~Panda/Black Feathers

TickleTober Day 7 - Flustered

YOU'RE AMAZING ACK! I have been DYING to write some Spiderverse fics, and these are such fun ideas! I've had a helluva time coming up with ideas. I'm gonna post links for the event on my masterpost when I'm done, so if you want I can tag on each one, but they'll all be on there at the end of the month. Once again, thank you, and Enjoy!

Lee: Gwen

Ler: Miles

Summary: Miles and Gwen step away for a peaceful moment to themselves. At least, that's what he thought before Gwen pokes fun and teases him. Lucky for him, he finds the perfect way to retaliate.

Warnings: none! This is a tickle fic, so if you don't like that, scroll away!

Things across the Spiderverse had been…well, interesting. Since they’d sorted out the canon event fiascos, Miles had been brought into the new Society. They had obviously worked out some serious issues, and Miguel was forced into Anger Management with Dr. Spidey. Two broken fainting couches later, progress was pretty much on the rise. Overall, things were getting better. Better, and pretty chaotic.

Miles was going on at least two missions a day, both in and out of his dimension. The dimension he visited most, of course, was Gwen’s. He was in her dimension almost every day, either helping out with a villain or just grabbing some pizza or coffee. She had helped him get his grades up, even though his Spanish was kinda lacking. These visits were squeezed in between missions, homework, lectures, chores, and just general life stuff. Needless to say, he was relieved to have a day both off from Society work, school and home chores.

Miles swung through the water-color streets of Earth-65, heading for Gwen’s place. Things had gotten easier with seeing her as well. Now that her dad knows, he can show up in his suit without issue. Finding her window open, he used his webs to sling-shot himself through the opening. Luckily, he went right through, skillfully landing on her bed. Good thing, too; she was right there, that would’ve been embarrassing. The blonde sat nearby in front of her drumset, rolling her eyes at nis entrance.

“Okay then, showoff. Gimme a sec to grab my bag; coffee as usual?” She set her sticks down, adjusting her beanie as she rooted through one of her doom-boxes for a specific bracelet. She found it, snapping the sunflower cord bracelet on and pulling off her hoodie, revealing her spider suit. Gwen had been dressed and pretty much ready to go before he even got there. Slinging her cross-body backpack on, she pulled her mask over her face and was good to go.

“Yeah, that’s cool. Was thinking of going somewhere quiet afterwards, if you wanna.” She hummed at the thought, nodding. “Sounds good to me. City’s actually been peaceful today, it’s kinda unsettling.” Miles just chuckled and gripped the window sill. He was glad her day had been as calm as his; they would have no problems getting some alone time together.

Miles leaned back, letting himself fall a few feet out her window before shooting out a web to catch himself. Gwen copied the action, adding a bit of flair with a twist and flip. He laughed, feeling the wind whip through the breathable fabric of his suit as he swung.

They eventually reached the cafe, the kind barista more than used to seeing the two heroes suited-up and craving a caffeine fix. He knew their orders by heart, always whipping up their favorite pick-me-ups whenever he saw them enter. The man grabbed their drinks, bidding them goodbye as they swung away from the shop.

Finally, the pair made it to their quiet spot, resting atop a tower overlooking one of Gwen’s favorite parks. Just out of the way enough for them to safely unmask. They both pulled off their masks, taking long sips of their coffees. Miles hummed happily, feeling the heat warm him and the caffeine wake him up. “Mmm, I love that cafe. The guy’s so nice, ya know?”

Gwen just chuckled, loving the smile that graced his lips. The drummer scooted closer, just about touching shoulders with her “friend”. “Yeah, think we’re his favorites. I’ll have to bring a nicer tip next time, he deserves it.” She sipped her own, loving the sweeter taste of her iced coffee. She watched as his cheeks warmed a bit, both from the heat of the coffee and her proximity. “You’re cute, you know that?”

That only made his blush darken, the reddish-pink now visible on his dark cheeks. “Shut it, you’ve got no room to talk.” He had meant for it to sound confident, though his voice was a bit higher than he would’ve liked. Stupid feelings…

No way was she stopping there. It was way too fun to tease the boy, getting the blushy reactions and shaky huffs from her words. “But it’s true, flower. Look, you’re blushing right now!” Her tone was playful and sweet, just the right mix of the two so she didn’t sound too flirty. Gwen brought her hand close to his face, playfully poking his cheeks.

He almost choked on his sip of coffee, swatting at her hand and trying to keep his thoughts in check. Flower? He hadn’t heard that one yet, though he definitely didn’t mind it. Still, he had an image to protect, however tattered and damaged it may have been. “Ugh, stop it!”

The growing blush on his face was possibly the cutest thing she’d seen all day. It was so easy to get to him, she had to abuse that fact every chance she got. “Neh, that’s just a you problem. Get less cute and I won’t have to call you out on it.”

Okay, now she’s trying to get me to blush… Miles shoved at her face, his palm pressing into her nose as he tried to put a little space between his blushing face and hers. Gwen just snickered, loving the reactions she was getting. “Wow, I finally have you tongue-tied, huh? Never thought the day would come, I’m kinda scared.”

He laughed a bit at that, finding her teases just a little funny. She yelped as he shoved her face away, lightly biting his hand just to be a gremlin. He definitely didn’t yelp, and he had absolutely no increase of any red coloring on his cheeks. His tone was a sad attempt at a tease, sounding more whiny than anything. “S-seriously, Gwanda?”

Gwen snorted at the silly name, once again reminded that Miles’s calling was definitely visual arts, not writing. “You’re so good at drawing, yet so bad at coming up with decent excuse stuff. How does that even work, blossom?” Her hand moved up, flicking his thick hair.

“Hey, watch the ‘do!” He grabbed her wrist, poking her now-exposed side. He had expected a grunt or groan, but not the strangled yelp the action received. His memories wandered to a few days prior, where Pavitr had been goofing around with Gwen. And, Pav being Pav, had decided to start something he couldn’t finish. The two had gotten into a tickle fight, which Miles definitely didn’t stick around to watch. Nevertheless, he had a perfect idea on how to retaliate to her teasing.

Smirking, Miles tugged her arm up further, cupping the back of her head with his hand as he pinned her to the concrete rooftop. Once he was sure she wouldn’t hurt herself, he gathered both her wrists above her head, webbing them in place. Gwen wasn’t going anywhere.

“Mihiles- Miles wait!” The blonde squirmed and wriggled, trying to break the webs. Her efforts were fruitless, the silky material seemingly rooted in place. Gwen would apologize, but she wasn’t really sorry for anything. He was cute, it was her job to call him on it.

Miles smirked down at her, his cheeks still bearing a small amount of the rosy hue. “Yeah, don’t think so. Time for a taste of your own medicine!"

His fingers dug into her stomach, poking and pinching the tiny bit of pudge below her belly button. She squealed, not expecting the immediate attack on such a ticklish spot. “GYAA- MIHIHILES! NOHOHO!”

Her laughter was honestly adorable, wild and happy as she squirmed around. Miles couldn’t help the way his cheeks heated back up, the red color once again burning his rich complexion. Gwen was too lost in laughter to notice, her eyes scrunched tight in mirth. “COHOME OHOHON! IHI- I DIHIDN’T DOHO THIHIHIS!”

That was true, though she did tease him. Her words snapped him out of his little trance, a smirk gracing his lips. “Hmm. Sounds like a you problem, Gwen.” She groaned through her laughter, hearing him quote her earlier sass. “DOHON’T USE MY WOHOHORDS AGAINST MEHEHEEE!” The end was a bit whinier than she would’ve liked, but it got the point across.

“You deserve it. But fiiiine, I’ll move.” Miles moved up to her ribs, scratching between each bone. Her form-fitting spider suit offered little to no protection, and she had a good hour before the webs naturally dissolved. Miles would obviously stop way before then. Still, she knew that the only way out of this was through him.

The ribs were, thankfully, not as bad as her stomach. Gwen’s loud laughter dwindled down to bubbly giggles, her arms straining as she tugged at the webs. “M-Mihihiles! Thihis is soho nohohot fahahahair!”

Damn, why did her laugh have to be so cute? It didn’t matter if it was loud or squeaky, her happy sounds always put a smile on his face and a blush on his cheeks. Gwen would’ve teased him, but she was a bit busy giggling her head off at the moment. Maybe he could use his flustered dilemma to his advantage. “And you said I was cute. Look’it you, you’re giggling as much as Mayday.”

Gwen felt her own cheeks getting pink, the silly teases, tickles, and Miles’s smile was flustering her a bit more than she’d like to admit. She completely deserved it, but still. The tickling wasn’t inherently unbearable, though it definitely got to her. Mainly, it was Miles. His warm yet mischievous smile, dumb teases, nimble fingers and rosy cheeks were melting her brain to a giddy soup. “Shuhut ihihit!”

The park was quiet, Gwen’s silly sounds filling the otherwise peaceful air. From the rooftop, nobody could really hear them, save for a few loud squeals or squeaks. It was just the birds, Miles, Gwen and her lively giggling.

Soon enough, Gwen’s cheeks grew sore, her eyes slightly watering at the edges. Her bright red face was telling enough, a clear signal that it was time to stop. Miles stilled his fingers, only a bit dissapointed he didn’t get to try many spots. He’d have plenty of time later. “You alive down there?”

She grumbled some choice words, burying her blushing face in her shoulder. Miles was a bit better off, his own blush now a faint glow. “That’s a solid maybe.” He chuckled, tearing the webbing and freeing his fellow spider person’s hands. Gwen immediately hugged herself, rubbing at her tingling ribs. “You’re free, giggles~”

That earned him a foot to the hip. His spider sense had warned him in advance, though he let her get the small hit in. Miles raised his hands in defeat, struggling not to laugh. “Ohokay, okay! I’m done, promise.”

“Youhu suck, Morales!” Gwen finally sat back up, fully recovered from his attack. A small blush still tinted her cheeks, though neither of them dared mention it. He did, however, want to joke around a bit. “Only when you need it.”

Another foot to the hip, though he dodged it that time. The other hero got to her feet, wobbling slightly before she found her footing. Experimentally shooting out a web, she swung a few feet, giving herself permission to swing around the city again. Her next web shot was aimed at Miles, nailing him in the chest and pulling him closer. “You’re lucky you didn’t kill me! Could’ve left the whole city in shambles.”

He just laughed, feeling the butterflies swarm in his stomach at the sudden closeness. Another joke was attempted, though it sounded more bashful than anything. “At least you’re pretty when you giggle. Hell’uva way to go out, all adorable blushes and cute smilin’.”

Gwen bit her lip, his words echoing through his head. Adorable, cute, pretty... Her eyes darted to his full lips, imagining a common scenario that played through her head more times than she was willing to admit around the boy. It was then when she noticed just how close she’d tugged Miles in. Awkwardly chuckling, she looked away, releasing the web tethered to his chest and pulling her mussed up hair back. “Whatever, smiles. You’re worse than I am, a stoplight could get jealous of your blushes.”

He rolled his eyes, tugging the black fabirc of his mask snugly over his face. It did little to hide his emotions though, the expressive bug-eyes conveying his feelings just fine. They had brushed off the small moment, as they had hundreds of times before. Mutual pining would only take them so far, but neither was feeling bold enough to take any action right then. “Zip it. You should’a seen your face a few minutes ago, those cheeks were red as Peter’s suit.”

An empty coffee cup was chucked at his head, though he easily dodged and sent it soaring for the nearby park’s recycling bin. The playful banter continued, even as they left the park and started their patrol. Neither one of the spiderlings could get the happy, warm smiles off their faces as they spoke. Best slow day ever…

#atsv tickles #lee!miles #ler!gwen #ticklish!miles #tickle fic #sfw tickling community #tickle #spiderverse tickles #across the spiderverse tickles #across the spiderverse #atsv #atsv miles #atsv gwen #gwiles

61 notes · View notes

sheriffslop · 2 years ago

Text

Stupidest though that has crossed my mind ; The Agency ( + Kurumi ) playing Minecraft together. 🤠✨🥂

So like, I feel like Halara would be running the server, not because they’re super into video games or anything, but because they get tired of Desuhiko abusing admin privileges, so in order to keep relative peace in the server, they’re running it. Probably the main builder of the group, makes the main base, keeps everything organized, probably really good at redstone circuits.

Fubuki is normally the one prettying up the base and taking care of the animals, getting flowers, planting gardens, farming. Kurumi is probably helping her sometimes, but for the most part, Fubuki is the one doing the decorating and farming, probably has a fuck ton of dogs and cats.

Desuhiko is so cringefail, he enjoys playing, he really does, but he just has shit luck and is the type to get killed on spawn, forget to place his bed, not bring food with him on adventures. He’s definitely rage quit before. Absolutely flexes when he gets Diamond tools and armor though, but c’mon, you gotta be a little proud of him.

Vivia is definitely the type to know everything about the Nether, and would spend most of his time in there. He marks where bastions are and nether fortresses, spends a lot of time looking for those spawns and looking for netherite. Probably knows a lot about enchanting too.

Yuma is the only one with a plan, he’s the one who focuses on the objective of the game, so he’s constantly trying to speedrun getting to The End, but doesn’t take much time to explore really. He knows the best speedrun seeds, and really tries to stock up on everything so he’s ready to fight the Ender Dragon and the Wither when the time comes. Shinigami is complaining that he’s not “playing the game right” because he’s not exploring enough.

Kurumi is the adventurer, she likes to search for desert temples, ocean temples, ice spikes, lush caves. She always invites Yuma and Fubuki to come along with her, has accidentally hit polar bears before, has definitely tried to bring every mob back to their base, lured a panda over with bamboo before. Can absolutely land a water bucket.

Yakou is the only one getting actually jumpscared by the game, totally hates caves, acts like it doesn’t bother him at all though. He is so stressed when playing, especially because everyone’s so busy with their own tasks, he’s normally the only one in the mines. Definitely has dumb luck though, probably the first one to find the strong hold, badlands, and Ancient City, but lost his cool when the Warden came out.

#master detective archives: rain code #rain code #raincode #yuma kokohead #vivia twilight #halara nightmare #fubuki clockford #desuhiko thunderbolt #kurumi wendy #yakou furio #lop rambles !!#minecraft #headcannons

60 notes · View notes

newtthetranswriter · 1 year ago

Text

"Umbrellas are for pussies."

Pairing: Yuta Okkotsu x American Reader

Word count: 1418

Summary: A day out with Yuta leads to playful bickering about umbrellas.

Warnings: The use of the word pussies once making fun of people.

A/N: Just a random idea I had while watching the rain today. Reader is from the state of Oregon because that’s where I’m from originally and I personally think umbrellas are for wimps, and transplants(People not from Oregon originally). I’m also thinking of making this like a mini cross fandom series about different characters in the rain. Also requests are still open and I’m working on the one I have. It just may take a bit as my new job is finally giving me hours, and Vegas (where I live right now) Is facing some heavy rain this week with possible flooding and power outages.

It was a relaxing day at Jujutsu tech, which was rare but welcome. Taking advantage of the few off days we received as sorcerers, me and Yuta decided it would be nice to go out and just have fun in Tokyo together. It would be our first date in a while with the number of missions Yuta gets being a Special grade sorcerer, and we just wanted to go shopping and get lunch without the worries of curses and Panda teasing us. Don’t get me wrong I love hanging out with our friends but it can be a bit much having the bear cracking jokes at our expense every five seconds.

We decided that we would meet each other at the entrance to the school and leave from there together. It was a few minutes past when we agreed to leave when I watched Yuta run towards me out of breath. I just chuckled at the ravenet as he approached. “What took so long and why are you running?” I asked as he took a moment to catch his breath.

“Oh, I was looking for an umbrella, It looks like it might rain so I figured it’s better to come prepared. I lost track of time searching and when I realized I was late, I rushed out so you wouldn’t think I forgot our date.” He said standing back up and smiling at me. It was then that I noticed the cause of his tardiness in his hand.

I rolled my eyes at him. “It probably won’t rain, especially if it’s in the forecast.” I said this from experience. “Also using an umbrella is for pussies.” I joked as we made our way from the school.

You see I’m from the U.S.A, more specifically Oregon. I learned growing up that when they say it’s going to rain it probably won’t, and if they predict a sunny day expect a thunderstorm. I also grew up with the mentality that umbrellas were pointless, if it’s gonna rain oh well a little water won’t hurt. I came to Japan because opportunities for Jujutsu sorcerers are limited as they don’t cause too much problem there, so I went where I could learn about the strange things only I could see. That is how we get to where we are now.

My boyfriend looked at me like I was crazy for a second before just brushing off my comment, favoring enjoying our day out rather than bickering about rain. He grabbed my hand as we started our walk towards the bustling city enjoying the cool weather. We talked about little things that didn’t really matter, things like Inumaki ‘accidentally’ cursing Panda to stay silent for a whole day, or how Gojo spends way too much money on candy. It was just light hearted talk, forgetting that we work such a dangerous job that could take everything away at any second. It always felt great to just be people.

After a half hour walk we were finally in Tokyo. We decided that the best course of action was to get a quick breakfast before heading to a mall for the day. Yuta and I agreed on a little bakery that had coffee as well and sat down to enjoy it. Again just idle chatter about some dumb meme I had seen or a stupid video Yuta saw. We finished breakfast and headed to the mall.

When we got to the mall we immediately went to Hot Topic, and got some MCR shirts, a few buttons, and a few Funko pops. I also got a new set of gauges for my ears before we headed to the next store. Yuta decided that we had to go into Box Lunch and nearly begged to get a squishmellow that looked like a piece of Onigiri for our friend with limited vocabulary. He also got a marvel mug and I picked out some My Hero Academia ramen bowls.

This went on for a few hours just us going from store to store buying random things, for ourselves, or the occasional thing that made us think of one of our friends. Around noon we decided to grab lunch in the food court before heading home because we already both had a few bags we had to carry back. Luckily one of the things I bought was a backpack that looked like Finn’s bag from Adventure Time and was able to put quite a bit of our stuff in it, shrinking the number of bags needed to carry everything. We both still had like three bags of stuff to carry but it wasn’t too bad.

Leaving the mall, I realized Yuta had been right about it raining. It wasn’t raining too bad, I’d say only sprinkling, nothing to worry too much about. I didn’t even pause before stepping out into the rain and walking away from the mall, I only stopped when I realized Yuta wasn’t next to me. I turned to see my boyfriend struggling with the bags he was carrying, trying to set them down for a moment while also trying not to drop the umbrella he had in his hand. Walking up I grabbed the bags from him before asking. “What are you doing? It’s not that bad, you don’t need that.” I pointed at the umbrella he was opening.

“Just because you were raised like an animal, doesn’t mean I have to get soaked in the rain.” Yuta responded by taking the bags back from my hand, after positioning the umbrella over his head. “Also I never said you had to use it. If you want to catch a cold in this weather, have fun but don’t come crying to me.”

I just rolled my eyes, returning my attention back to making the trek back to Jujutsu tech. “I won’t catch a cold, I’m just saying you look dumb with it.” I could hear him scoff as he caught up with me.

The walk back towards the school was fine until the rain went from a sprinkle to a downpour and Yuta made us step under the cover of a bus stop for a moment to make sure none of our stuff was getting wet. After making sure anything that could be damaged by the rain was covered and out of harm's way I moved back into the rain. “What are you doing? It's raining too hard for you to just be walking around in a t-shirt and no umbrella.” The voice of my worry wort said.

I just kept walking listening to the sound of him rushing to catch up with me. “I said before that I'm fine. I’ve walked further in worse rain.” I said as he was walking next to me. It was silent for a moment before he moved so the umbrella was covering the both of us. “I said I don’t use umbrellas. People who do are weird, it’s just water, it can't hurt me.” I responded as I stepped away from the offending object.

The special grade just rolled his eyes at me. “Look I know that you don’t want to use the umbrella but please. For me just this once. I don’t want you getting sick. ANd I know you said you won’t catch a cold, but I don’t like the idea of you risking it. Plus soaking wet clothes are not fun.” He said, trying to move closer to get me under the umbrella. “Plus I can see you shivering, no matter how used to the rain you are, admit that you’re just a little cold.

My shoulders slumped, he was right about me shivering and wet clothes sucking. “Fine, but this is the only time I will do this. And if you tell anyone I will inform everyone that you unironically listen to Taylor swift.” I responded, making up something random to make him agree, finally letting him close enough to shield me from the rain.

He froze for a moment before responding. “I do not listen to Taylor Swift, but fine I won’t tell anyone that you walked under an umbrella.” He paused before continuing, “You Americans are weird about really dumb things.” I just nodded in agreement and kept walking.

Today was great, even though I went against my people by using an umbrella, I had fun. It’s always nice to just talk and spend time with the one you love. I can’t wait for the next time we can do this together.

#jjk x reader #jujutsu kaisen #x reader #yuta okkotsu x reader #jujutsu yuta #jujustsu kaisen x reader #yuta okkotsu #yutta okkotsu x reader #okkotsu yuuta #jjk yuta #jjk yuuta #yuuta x reader

47 notes · View notes

the-invisible-queer · 10 months ago

Text

Final Goodbyes - Joella fic opening scene

Author's Note: feedback is welcome since this is an early draft!

Words: 1,440

Senior year, Joe and Stella discussed their plans for the future. She was going to attend college in New York City to pursue a fashion degree. Joe had considered moving to New York to be closer to her, but his tune changed when the label Jonas released under asked him if he wanted to release a solo album. So he decided to move to Los Angeles long-term and work on his solo career since Jonas was taking a planned hiatus for Nick's senior year. Being that their plans left them on opposite sides of the country, they both ageed long distance wouldn't work. Not for them. So they broke up and agreed to stay friends.

The day had come. Kevin and Nick were going to accompany Joe on a roadtrip for his cross-country move and then fly back before the end of the summer. Nick did have one more year of high school after all. Kevin was still trying to figure out what he wanted to do, but was considering college. Joe had invited him to move to LA with him to help work on music, but Kevin decided to stay home because "mom and dad are going to need an extra pair of eyes on Frankie" who was close to entering his teens.

Standing outside the firehouse, Joe getting ready to go. All his boxes had been loaded into the car, but Stella had one final one. Joe looked at her and smiled.

"What's what?" He asked.

"Everything that belongs to you that I've stolen over the years," she told him, looking down at the contents of the box. Years worth of memories. Their memories. She'd also dropped in a few gifts.

"Stella-"

"It's okay. I'll just steal it all back. Maybe if I decide to move to LA after college." She tried her best not to cry, but Joe had been her best friend since they were kids. She'd even argue he was her soulmate. That's why she was trusting the universe that despite the distance and them wanting different things right now, they'd find their way back to each other inevitably. "This isn't a good bye. It's an I'll see you later. Right?"

"Right." He nodded, taking the box from her. Looking at the contents, there were some things that he'd long forgotten about. "Wait." Reaching in, he grabbed the blue Panda pencil. His blue Panda pencil that he'd let her borrow towards the end of their senior year. "This is yours."

"What? No. That's yours. I didn't even realize I still had it til yesterday."

"Yeah, well you're still in school so it might come in handy." He handed the pencil to her.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah." He smiled. "It's yours now."

"Thank you." She took it. There was something so final about him giving her his favorite pencil. As lame as that seemed to anyone else. After loading the box into the backseat - the only place that had room left - Joe said his final goodbyes. Sandy, already in tears, hugged him.

"You know if you need anything I am a phone call away. And we're always here if you change your mind and want to come home. And you're more than welcome to visit. You better come home for holidays. Right?" She asked.

"Yes, mom. I'll be okay." He assured her.

"My little boy is growing up, going off on his own." She grabbed his face and smiled. "If you ever ignore any of my calls I will be on the first flight. Do you understand me?"

"Loud and clear." He nodded, hugging her.

"I love you." She kissed his cheek. "Be good. Don't get into any trouble, or I'm sending Kevin and your father to bring you home."

"No trouble. Scouts honor." He saluted.

"We were never scouts." Kevin looked at Nick confused, getting an eye roll in response.

"Like your mother said, if you ignore a call, I cannot stop her from flying in unannounced." Tom told Joe, making him chuckle. "Good luck. Try not to trash the summer house before you find your own place. The last thing you want is to have me and Kevin showing up like she said. But why are we worried? You're going to do great." Tom held out his fist for a fist bump.

"Thanks, dad." Joe smiled, fistbumping his dad. While he was excited to be on his own, he was going to miss his parents. And his brothers. But at least he'd have Kevin and Nick for the summer. Frankie was occupied with his phone. "Guess I'm not important enough for a goodbye?"

"Hm?" Frankie looked up. "Oh. You're leaving? I didn't notice." He laughed. "Maybe I can visit for spring break?"

"We'll talk about it." Joe chuckled.

"Why do you have to move? You're going to leave me with those two-" He motioned to Nick and Kevin. "-to go to with my-" Frankie looked at Sandy. "-girl problems?" He lowered his voice, making Joe laugh. Nick looked almost offended.

"I'm only a text away."

"I guess." Frankie shrugged.

"You'll be okay. Nick's not completely helpless in that area."

"I can hear you." Nick replied.

"You'll be fine." Joe promised, playfully pushing him. "Try not to give mom and dad a hard time."

"No promises." Frankie laughed.

"I know we already discussed it, but I wanted to remind you-" Macy began.

"To send any photos we take on the roadtrip to you for the fan club site. Don't worry. I won't forget." Joe assured her. Jonas had agreed to share the roadtrip with the fans on the site. They had invited Macy to just join them on the roadtrip and she would have, but she was going to start college herself. "You will be the first person to know before I release anything."

"Really? I'll have exclusive solo Joe rights?" Despite becoming dear friends, she was still Jonas' number one fan.

"Something like that." He laughed. "Take care." He hugged her.

"You too! Keep us updated on everything LA."

"I will." He nodded, before turning to Stella. Saving her for last because he knew it was going to be the hardest goodbye. They'd spent the past two weeks together, but neither was ready. They'd been inseperable for as long as they could remember. Childhood best friends. High school sweethearts. "Not a goodbye. An I'll see you later." He repeated her words from earlier.

"Exactly." She smiled. Despite trying her hardest not to cry, tears welled in her eyes. Wrapping his arms around her tightly, he pulled her into a hug. She couldn't hold back anymore, not caring if her makeup would get ruined or stain his t-shirt. "I will-" His voice cracked, forcing him to clear his throat. "I'll come visit whenever I can." It was a promise meant to be broken.

"I know." If she could have it her way, she'd stay there in his arms, but she couldn't.

"We should get going." Nick announced, checking his watch. Kevin looked at him. "What? If we're gonna make it to-" Kevin shoved Nick into the car. If anyone deserved a long final goodbye, it was Joe and Stella. She was the first to pull back from the hug.

"You guys have to go."

"Yeah, but we'll talk everyday, right?" Joe took his glasses off to wipe them on his shirt.

"Every single day." She assured him, wiping a tear from his cheek with her thumb. The dread of getting into the car and leaving everything behind was killing him. He was almost regretting the decision, but he knew the move was going to be good for him.

"I love you." He told her. She smiled.

"I love you too." Sighing, she looked at him. "Have fun, but not too much fun."

"I'll try not to." He chuckled. "Can't wait to hear all about New York."

"Oh, you will hear everything about New York." She promised. "Nick's getting impatient." She nodded towards the car.

"I bet. I guess it's time."

"Maybe me and Macy will do our own roadtrip over the summer."

"I'd love that." He was just stalling at this point. He wanted to kiss her, but not in front of everyone. And he didn't know if that was allowed since they decided to be friends. "So I'll see you around, then."

"Yeah. You know where to find me." She replied. He nodded, taking a deep breath. He couldn't stall anymore. Walking to the car, he turned back one more time, one last look at the firehouse and the people he loved most.

#joella #joe and stella

7 notes · View notes

whisker-biscuit · 1 year ago

Text

The Lines We Cross: Chapter 23

Inside the Stronghold

--------------------------------------------------

Since we cannot change reality, let us change the eyes which see reality.

--------------------------------------------------

It was a long, shameful walk back to the ruined village.

Carmelita trudged through snow and wreckage, only aware enough of her surroundings to avoid the lights of guards and the occasional patch of ice. She was covered in dust, powder, and rubble that together created a grimy film to her clothing and her hair and her pistol. Everything she touched was left dirtied, marked by her presence as well as her failure.

She barely noticed any of it; her mind was still dead-set focused on the encounter she had just had with Cooper. Frustration over him slipping away warred against the discrepancies she had seen that made her analyze every second of their interaction. The way he had acted towards her at first, so unaffected by their falling out, had been an obvious diversion that had nevertheless gotten her blood boiling and falling right into it. His legitimate anger over her assumption that he’d had anything to do with the avalanche was not nearly as surprising, but what had convinced her he wasn’t involved – begrudging as she was to admit it – was the legitimate hurt in his eyes that she knew from experience he could not truly fake. And his last words to her…

A distant flash of light caught her attention. She squinted into the dark and realized it was a Morse Code signal from one of her officers, telling her where it was safe to return to. Well, telling her and her team, but guilt sunk in deep as it struck her that she had no idea where they were or if they were safe. She hadn’t seen any sign of them since she’d abandoned them on top of that temple to rush after Cooper.

Already-swirling emotions suddenly had a heaping dose of dread in the mix as the fox headed for the blinking light. When she was close enough to start making out buried buildings, she took her own flashlight out and began turning it on and off in a return signal, waiting until the other light changed to affirmation before continuing any further.

The last thing she needed in this shitty night was for one of her own to accidentally shoot her because they thought she was an enemy. That would really just be the cherry on top.

“Inspector Fox!” Three officers approached her with speed, all looking relieved to see her. The one who had called out paused a moment to take in her haggard, dusty appearance. “Are you injured?”

“I’m fine,” she managed to say without any bitterness. The same could not be said for exhaustion. “I just got caught up in the outskirts of a collapsing statue. It – I got separated from the team I went in with. Have any of them come back this way?”

They all shook their heads, but the leading officer clarified before her heart could drop into her stomach. “We’ve been maintaining radio updates from them since your separation. Everyone is accounted for, and they’re still working through the Panda King’s territory. It’s been slow-going success, though, and we were debating whether to send more people in.”

Carmelita could hear the fishing in the tone; now that she was back, they were hoping she would make the decision for them. She stalled for time by brushing stone powder off her coat sleeves and peered past them towards the truck where town refuges were still being tended to.

“What’s the status here?”

“All injuries have been stabilized, but there’s only so much we can do with limited resources. Some of the civilians have started asking if we’ll take them down the mountain to a hospital, or at least into the nearest city that isn’t under King’s direct hold.”

She started doing the math in her head. There was enough room for about twenty people in the truck if they were packed shoulder to shoulder, which meant several trips. “How long would it take to ferry everyone down?”

“The driver estimated at least three or four hours with the return trips, but that will depend on road conditions.”

Everyone reflexively glanced up at the sky. It was already starting to snow again. Inspector Fox rubbed her gloved hands together to stave off the chill in her stiff fingers.

“Let me go see for myself how they’re all doing,” she announced after a moment. “Our priority is to get these people to safety. Has anyone called the nearest police department, Interpol or local or otherwise?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Someone get on that right away, then.” It was easier to walk with less shame when she was giving simple orders. The fox could almost ignore it entirely. “Ask for more manpower to come up the mountain with first responders, but don’t mention anything about the Panda King. Just a natural disaster with survivors that need tending to.”

“Yes, ma’am!” Two of her subordinates branched off to do as instructed without any hesitation. It made her terrible spirits lift just the tiniest amount. The one who remained stayed at her side as she approached the truck and the makeshift refugee camp surrounding it.

As reported, none of the survivors seemed at immediate risk of death anymore, but they huddled together against the chill of the deepening night and there was not a single face that didn’t look absolutely miserable. Carmelita recalculated travel time against the growing snowfall. The conclusion she came to was what her instincts had been leaning towards since the beginning – the lost time searching for King was a loss they were just going to have to take for the sake of these civilians.

“I need someone who can translate for me,” she called to the remainder of her team. “Tell everyone here that we’ll start taking people down the mountain. Start filling the truck with those that are most injured.”

As the decision was relayed and the villagers started doing as instructed, directed by officers, there was a sudden flash of light in the sky. Everyone turned at once to see a giant mass of fireworks speeding through the air, and immediately the survivors began crying out, understandably terrified that the crime lord was aware of their presence and had decided to finish what he’d started.

Carmelita believed it too for a single heart-stopping moment, right up until she realized that instead of coming towards the buried town, the rockets were heading towards the Panda King’s distant fortress instead. As it arced upwards to avoid hitting the head of the statue and exploded harmlessly in a flash of uncoordinated color, she saw a dark shape illuminated by the blaze careen through one of the statue’s eyes.

This far away, there was no way to see the same ringed tail that had tipped her off the last time, but she knew it could be no one else. The fireworks strapped to his back had been part of a plan after all, and not just for the sake of stealing from King.

Sly had made it inside the fortress. She was running out of time to catch up before he disappeared again.

Before she could do a single thing about her heart now beating rapidly in her chest, an officer appeared in her line of vision with a confused expression.

“There’s a call for you from Interpol HQ, Inspector.”

The fox looked over, blinking in surprise at the radio being offered to her. Suddenly afraid that Barkley was waiting on the other end to chew her out for doing something wrong – or for somehow finding out about Sly Cooper – she took it gingerly and held it up to her ear with trepidation.

“This is Inspector Fox.”

“Hi Inspector, it’s Winthorp!”

Never in her life did she think she’d feel relief at hearing that voice, but here she was. “Winthorp. What time is it over in Paris right now?”

“Not important,” he dismissed, sounding excited and impatient. “What’s important is that case you asked me to work on – the one about Conner Cooper?”

Carmelita’s breath caught in her throat. She turned around to face the destroyed town as if to ward off anyone who might be eavesdropping even though her entire team was busy.

“Uh, yeah. Did you find out what happened to that missing report?”

“No, but I have better news! I got in contact with Inspector Pennington, and she still had her own copy of it! Turns out she always kept records for herself and never tossed anything, even after she’d retired from the force. Crazy, right?”

“With that woman? I can believe it.” She pressed the transmitter a little closer against her ear. “What was on it?”

“You’re not going to believe this.” Winthorp paused, probably for dramatic effect, but all it did was make her want to reach through the radio and strangle him until he finally continued. “Conner Cooper had a kid!”

It took a lot more acting talent than she probably possessed to act shocked. Thank goodness the otter couldn’t see her face. “Oh – wow. What happened to hi – to them?”

“According to Inspector Pennington’s notes, her team found a birth certificate and a bunch of homeschooling records, as well as several framed pictures. It was a son who had just turned eight when the murder happened. Apparently his legal name was ‘Sly’, which is just nuts. Who names their kid that?”

(“It’s just – an unusual name. Unique. ‘Sly’. Do you have a last name just as unique to go with it?”

“Nope. And I’m not telling it to you, so don’t bother asking.”

“Why not?”

“Names have power. Truth be told…I’m not the biggest fan of mine.”)

Carmelita bit her lip. “Yeah. Crazy. Was there anything else? Do we know what happened to him?”

“I asked the retired inspector about that, cause nothing was mentioned in the report. She told me she theorized that Cooper’s son either escaped the night his parents were killed and ended up on the streets somewhere, or that the intruders found him and killed him too. She said it’s always puzzled her why they never found his body, though.”

“That’s…a lot to process.”

“I know, right? Could you imagine if there was another Cooper out there, continuing the family’s thieving legacy, and we didn’t even know?”

The fox looked back up towards the Panda King’s fortress. Then she looked towards the truck, where other officers were pulling infiltration equipment out to make room for more civilians to sit inside.

One of the things that was set out and aside was her jetpack – still fully stocked with fuel.

“Hey, Winthorp? Thanks for the update, but I have to go.”

“It’s my pleasure! Good luck taking down another Fiendish Five member!”

She hung up and made a beeline for the jetpack. The officers who had put it down in the snow looked up at her approach.

“Ma’am?”

“I have an idea,” she said, already picking the jetpack up to strap it against her back. “But I need you all to trust me, and I need to know I can trust you.”

The rest of her team grouped around her, hearing the no-nonsense tone to her voice. They all waited patiently for her to elaborate without ever asking their own questions, and she was grateful for it.

“I think I know exactly where the Panda King is, and I want to go after him while we still have the element of surprise.” The lie came easily, and with less guilt this time. Carmelita refused to think about why. “If I can trust you all to take care of the survivors here, then I’m going to infiltrate that giant stone statue by myself.”

A few glances were shared, but none looked dubious or worried. Just Interpol officers processing their superior’s plan.

“You can trust us, Inspector Fox. We can handle things on this end.” Someone finally spoke up, sounding confident both in themselves and in her. The nods of agreement to that statement almost made her teary-eyed. “What should we tell the team that’s still in the criminal’s territory?”

“Tell them to head towards the fortress at its base,” the fox answered without hesitation. “If they come in from there and I come in from the top, we’ll cut off all of King’s escape routes at once.”

“Roger.”

“Thank you for your belief in me, men. I’m proud to work with you all.”

A radio was tossed her way. She caught it with ease and clipped it to her belt beside her holster. Then she lifted her head high, surveying the officers who had finally come to respect her.

“I swear to you: one way or another, this ends tonight.”

--------------------------------------------------

After successfully losing Inspector Fox, Sly had doubled back three times just to be sure there was no chance for her to pick up his trail again. It had been a tedious but necessary process, and by the time he was certain he was safe from being tailed, he had already started searching for the best place to put his plan into action.

The spot he chose was a tall, secluded bluff that was as close to the stone statue as he could manage without risking a guard’s flashlight swinging his way. Snow was falling at a rapid pace, but he paid it no mind as he pulled all seven fireworks off his back. One by one he stacked them on top of each other, binding the fuses together in a tightly-woven knot. Once he was certain all of them were secure, he began carefully positioning the amalgamation of firepower in the direction of the fortress.

It took nearly ten minutes for him to be satisfied with his aim; he wasn’t an engineer or even very good at math, but this stunt couldn’t afford any cut corners or he’d be dead before he ever reached his target. When the rockets had been pointed as accurately as he could possibly eyeball them, the raccoon took the matchbox out of his pocket and lit the knotted fuse. Then he wrapped his hands around the body of the biggest firework, held it above his head, and sprinted towards the sheer side of the bluff.

He had timed it perfectly – just as the hiss of every fuse disappearing simultaneously into the rockets’ bases made his ears perk, he jumped off the edge. There was a single second of freefall before his arms were jerked into the air above him so harshly that it nearly dislocated them. He held onto the homemade jetpack for dear life as it flew in a beautiful, deadly arc straight for the stone head.

And went higher. And higher. And higher.

Sly swung his dangling legs forward and let go of the fireworks, falling in an arc towards the left eye window of the statue. It was barely in time as there was a sudden explosion of noise and heat at his back, propelling him even faster than he’d estimated as the rocket bundle finally blew itself apart in a blinding light display. He was headed towards the window – the closed window – like he himself was a rocket, and he had just enough time to throw his arms over his face as his body shot straight through it. Glass pelted his fur and ripped at his clothes, and he tumbled head-over-heels onto hard, cold ground, skidding to a stop on his side while curled into a ball.

It was with a painful sense of déjà vu that he uncurled and began to stand, reminded of his rough jump into Mz. Ruby’s lair as his body immediately protested all movement. Shallow cuts lined the skin of his head that he hadn’t been able to shield from the violent entry, evident both in pain and the feeling of wetness in his fur, and he could see tears in his hoodie sleeves when he glanced down to make sure his hands hadn’t suffered similar injuries. A pang of remorse ran through him at the sight of the yellow fabric ruined by the broken window. This had been a gift, and here he was destroying it.

Then he forcefully reminded himself that it didn’t matter what happened to it; not when the gifter no longer mattered to him.

The room he had landed in was devoid of people or alarms when he finally had the sense to look around. The raccoon counted his blessings for the sudden turn of luck as he did a quick three-sixty spin and saw a large, bulky safe on an opposite wall. Immediately he rushed over, ready to repeat the process of cracking it like he had all the others, but his fingers froze a centimeter from metal as he stared at a keypad instead of a dial. Even worse, the keypad wasn’t made up of numbers but of an unusual set of symbols. They nagged at the back of his brain, familiar yet undecipherable, and the raccoon let out a quiet curse as he realized that he’d seen something like them before in the Thievius Raccoonus.

Notes from his ancestors of an ancient language that was just as incomprehensible to them as it was now to him. Speculation of it being some kind of bird dialect that was lost to time and lack of speakers. Rioichi and a few other intellectual-type Coopers had tried to interpret it, but they hadn’t gotten very far without basic sentences or even a full alphabet to go off of.

There was no doubt in Sly’s mind who this language benefited, or why he was seeing it on the massive safe here and now, and it made that cold fear creep up his spine again. He stuffed it down before it could paralyze him for a second time.

Frustrated but not deterred, his eyes landed on the single door leading to the rest of the fortress, and he checked it without any hesitation. When it proved unlocked, he quietly slipped through with his cane in-hand, choosing a direction at random to search for the Panda King’s private chambers. If there was ever a place that held the code to open that safe, it would be there, and if he were really lucky then the panda’s own stolen pages would be right next to that code.

King’s, and Clockwerk’s. Only two left and then this would all be over. It would be worth the heartache, and the pain, and the constant terror of being caught. Sly clung to that sentiment as tightly as he did his weapon as he crept through the heart of his enemy’s lair.

There were no guards to be found in the fortress. Even the staff had been reduced to a skeleton crew, making it all too easy to avoid them while the raccoon picked locks and searched rooms and overturned every conceivable hiding place. There was no rhyme or reason to the layout of the place, and his memory of everything was foggy, but he consoled himself with the reminder that he didn’t have a timer on his back like when he’d been with the Inspector. Sure, she was already traipsing about King’s territory, but the chances of her knowing he was inside the statue – and finding a way up herself without getting caught, to boot – were slim to none. It was better that he’d shed the dead weight of her presence for this last stretch. It made things so much less complicated.

He clung to that sentiment, too.

Another turn or two, and Sly was finally in familiar territory. He nearly stumbled as he halted in place, staring at the wallpaper and hanging portraits and Chinese décor that hadn’t changed since the last time he’d been here five years ago. Entranced, he pressed his left hand to the wall and traced the groove there where a ten-year-old him had punched it in a fit of anger. No one had been there to witness it, and apparently no one had noticed the dent it had left. It was probably one of the only remaining reminders of his life here. No doubt King had removed everything else after the raccoon had gone to officially work for the Five.

A few meters down, he could see the door to his old room. Sly shuffled over to gape at it with a pit in his stomach that he couldn’t identify. The door was devoid of the heavy-duty lock that had kept him trapped inside at night to prevent escape; more evidence to his theory that the panda hadn’t wanted Sly’s past presence to linger in his precious stronghold.

Against his better judgement, he began to quietly slide the door open – and then stopped immediately as his keen eyes caught the dark interior.

Jing was in his room.

Sly stilled halfway through the doorway, but she had not noticed him. She was facing away from him, kneeling in front of a small shrine she had placed on his old dresser to which she seemed to be praying to by the clasp of her hands and the bowing of her head. Her eyes were closed, but he could see clearly the troubled pinch of her face as her lips moved rapidly in a silent request.

For a long moment, he simply watched the panda while she prayed with his foot still hovering where he had been about to place it in his old room. It wasn’t fear of disrupting her actions that kept him from getting her attention, nor was it why he remained perfectly still as he studied every centimeter of her body language, committing it to memory as best he could.

When he finally did move, it was only to slip carefully back out into the hall and silently slide the door closed behind him again so that she would be none the wiser to his presence. The raccoon stared at the shadow cast by her silhouette through the thin wall. Then he turned on his heel and continued onward, fighting every fiber in his body to go back.

It was better this way. For both of them.

--------------------------------------------------

When Carmelita touched down on the other side of the shattered window and powered down her jetpack, she was a little surprised to find a completely-intact safe sitting in the room with her. Sly Cooper had definitely come through this way, so why had he left such an enticing prize alone when it was in such easy reach?

She shook her head and refused to examine the bulky thing. There was no use trying to rationalize the irrational mind of a criminal. Finding the answer to that question could come after she had apprehended both him and the Panda King, and they had too much of a head start for her to stop and scrutinize every discrepancy in the environment. Instead, she left the empty room to begin prowling the grounds in search of the ringtail.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before she found herself hopelessly lost. Inspector Fox didn’t know whether the long hallway she turned a corner into was one she’d already been in before, or if the layout was simply identical to the last four she’d passed, but it was doing nothing to help her nerves or her confidence as she continued to find the exact same décor over and over again while encountering not a soul. Not a hide nor hair of Cooper, or King, or any of the latter’s employees. It was eerie, like she’d stepped into a nightmare or the setting of a ghost story.

Just as she was starting to wonder whether there was any merit to backtracking to the room with the safe to regain her bearings, the sudden heavy arrival of multiple footsteps somewhere nearby had her tensing up. She had forgotten to reload her shock pistol before running off for the statue, blinded by her determination to stay on the raccoon’s trail while it was fresh, and while she wasn’t at risk of running out of bullets any time soon, it still meant she had to be frugal with her shots until at least the Panda King was incapacitated.

A large group of guards, or staff, or whoever was coming this way would only deplete her resources and cause enough of a ruckus to bring even more along. Carmelita quickly found the nearest unlocked door and slipped past it, closing it behind her and holding her breath as she listened to the unknown gang travel by unaware on the other side of the wall.

The fur on the back of her neck prickled. Someone else was in this room.

The fox whirled around with her weapon at the ready, prepared to bark orders for surrender at whoever she came face to face with. Then the words died abruptly on her tongue as she stared at who had startled her.

A teenage girl stared back.

“Who are you?” The young panda asked in a quiet voice with the same accent that Sly had, albeit much stronger. She clutched her hands to her chest as if to protect herself from the weapon pointed at her.

“I’m – I –” Carmelita lowered her pistol, dumbfounded by the turn of events and struggling to figure out the best course of action. Of all the things she’d expected to find in King’s personal hideout, it wasn’t anything close to this. “I’m an Inspector from Interpol.”

The girl tilted her head at the title but otherwise didn’t seem surprised. She looked Inspector Fox up and down as though she were staring directly into her heart. “You’re the woman from Sly’s pictures.”

That statement jolted her so badly that her weapon came right back up, on full alert again. Amazingly, the panda didn’t even flinch.

“What the hell does that mean? How do you know him?” Carmelita growled, unable to help herself. She was sick of getting more questions than answers when it came to that damn raccoon. “Who are you?”

The teen stared at the gun before her eyes slowly lifted to meet Carmelita’s. “My name is Jing King. I assume you are here to arrest my father.”

Father bounced around inside the fox’s skull like a lit firework. For some reason, it didn’t stun her as badly as the knowledge that this girl – the Panda King’s daughter, apparently – knew Sly.

“Okay. Jing. Yes, I’m here to arrest your f-father.” The word was strange to say. Never in her life would she have pictured the homicidal, pyro-loving criminal to have a child. “But you still haven’t answered my other question; how do you know Sly Cooper?”

There was a long pause, and the inspector could practically see the calculations running through the panda’s head – determining how much information to reveal about herself that wouldn’t put her at risk. It was a hesitancy Carmelita knew all too well from a very different source.

“…He is my brother,” she finally said. “In a manner of speaking.”

Inspector Fox blanched. “What?”

“It was not by his choice, however.” Despite her shock, Carmelita caught the hard, protective edge to the younger girl’s voice. “Sly was brought here against his will and raised by my father for a time. If he had been allowed to choose his own path, he never would have gone down this one.”

Jing was speaking rapidly, sounding almost desperate to say her piece before the fox could recover from being blindsided. The inspector registered her words on a level separate from the rest of her mind; a mind that was currently spinning so badly she was amazed it hadn’t flown right off.

“– actually in his old room,” the teenager continued, unaware that she had been almost completely tuned out. “You are welcome to look around to confirm my words if that would help you believe his innocence.”

Innocence. It was like a magic password had been spoken – Carmelita blinked back to herself, face setting into a pinched frown as she finally glanced around the room for the first time. There was no believing in any innocence when it came to Sly Cooper. He had already shown his true colors.

But still, she humored the girl, if only to lower the risk of her alerting her father to the inspector’s presence.

They were in a bedroom, almost completely cleared of anything except for a stripped futon on the floor and an old dresser covered in photo frames. She could feel the panda’s eyes on her as she carefully padded over to see what was in those frames, curiosity momentarily overriding her callousness, and picked up one to wipe away the dust obscuring the picture inside.

She nearly dropped the thing.

It was Sly – the young Sly she had seen in that single cracked photo frame from the crime scene of the Cooper home, but that was where the similarities ended. Instead of smiling with a balloon in his hand and his parents on either side, this Sly – around the same age, as far as she could tell – was standing straight-backed with bags under his eyes and a scowl on his face. He seemed to not have realized the picture was being taken, as his gaze was off to the left side towards something out of frame. One arm was curled around his middle, and the other was wrapped protectively around a much younger Jing King, who was peering over his shoulder at whatever had caught his attention. She looked tired but not unhappy; a stark contrast to the raccoon beside her.

Carmelita was so engrossed by the details in the photo that she didn’t even hear the teenager come up next to her, and almost dropped the frame again when she spoke.

“That picture was taken about a year after he came to live with us.” Jing’s voice was mournful and tinged with wistfulness. “I had just recovered from being very sick, and that was the first time I was allowed out of my room in weeks. Sly refused to leave my side the whole day.”

The fox looked down at the photo again. The anger in the young raccoon’s eyes was visible; just as potent back then as it was in the brief glimpses that she’d seen from him in the present.

A missing body at a crime scene. Missing records from a secure case file. An entire missing existence that should have been documented as soon as it was known. A few things clicked into place all at once.

“…You said something about him being here against his will,” Carmelita began slowly, not because she was having trouble putting the pieces together but because she could already see the picture it was forming, and it was starting to make her sick. “How old was – how long ago did that happen?”

“It was eleven years ago that he was brought here. He was eight.”

She wanted to scream. She wanted to shoot something. She wanted to march right back to Interpol and demand to know how they had lost the knowledge of the continuation of Cooper’s bloodline. Why they hadn’t worked harder to find him all those years ago.

How deep did this go? Who had removed confidential reports just to ensure Sly remained off the radar? How many people did the Fiendish Five have on the inside? Why had they gone out of their way to keep a child alive for all these years when it had never, ever aligned with their modus operandi?

How much did Sly know? Why did he risk getting caught by his kidnappers with every step he took back into their domain? What exactly was it –

“They all took something from me. And with you, I knew there was a chance to get it back.”

– that he was so desperate to get back?

Inspector Fox whirled on Jing King so fast it made the teenager flinch, but there wasn’t enough time to care. She grabbed the girl by the shoulders, staring up at wide, startled eyes that reflected her own wide, manic ones.

“Whatever you know, tell me.” She demanded. “About Sly and your father and his cohorts and anything else.”

Jing was frozen, gaze darting back and forth across the older woman’s face in a desperate attempt to read it. “What…what would you do with such knowledge?”

“Everything I can to see that justice is done.” The fox lifted her chin, deadly serious in every line of her body. She had never been so sure of anything in her life as she was in what she was promising now. “To right every wrong that has been done by the Panda King, and the Fiendish Five, and even beyond that. I will not rest until they can never harm anyone ever again, but to do that, I need to know exactly what is going on. I need to know about Sly Cooper.”

The girl still looked uncertain. Carmelita closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and finally let out what she had not dared to since the confession that had shattered her heart.

“Please, Jing.” When she opened her eyes again, the wetness there was as real as her conviction. “You mentioned his innocence. I want to believe that, but I’m not – I can’t – I’m an officer of the law, and I’ve seen him break it several times over. I need to be convinced that there’s a good enough reason he’s done all of that. You have to convince me, or else I can’t help either of you. Please convince me.”

Her fingers tightened against Jing’s shoulders.

“Please.”

There was a sharp intake of breath from the panda as they stared at each other; one who deeply loved Sly Cooper because of her upbringing, and one who wanted to in spite of it.

“…Okay.”

Giant hands reached up to grasp her own. The look in Jing’s eyes was haunted, and yet there was an iron will hiding behind it; the same unyielding spirit that Sly had held in all the time Carmelita had known him.

“Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”

--------------------------------------------------

A/N: The alternate title of this chapter is "The Author Struggles with Time-Blindness at the Best of Times and the Holidays Ruined Her Routine Entirely". I'm just glad I was able to get it done and posted before Christmas double-whammied me. Fingers crossed I can get back into my original weekly rhythm, cause next chapter is going to be a doozy and a half.

Anywho, thanks for your patience, and hope you enjoyed!

#sly cooper #carmelita fox #fanfiction #the lines we cross

10 notes · View notes