#pinky can’t talk about something without bringing up persona

[pinkelotjeart]

I think one of my media hot takes is that I don’t mind when a story ‘dates’ itself by using modern things in the story. Like yes, using referential humor is usually bad because it’s not particularly funny outside the reference. But I think using modern slang kinda has a charm to it in a way I don’t see other people appreciating.

“But it’ll be dated in a few years,” if the story takes place in a specific year it’s only natural that the story will take to its ‘time period.’ So it’s not as much as dating it, and more just showing off the culture at the time.

I think the persona series is such a good example of this. Like how persona 4 takes place in the 2010’s and the idea of owning a big tv was still a novelty to the point it’s kind of a plot point.

Or how in persona 3 the temperance arcana has this really cringy old internet way of speaking. It’s endearing because these games are so clearly shaped by the time they were made. Yeah it feels old, but the fact these games still have older technology, and the characters act like teenagers from the 2010’s makes sense because that’s when these games take place.

Idk, stories aren’t made in a vacuum and I think you’ll always have remnants of the time that the story was made in, so I like it when a story can embrace it’s time period so openly.

[keilemlucent]

pretty eyes & starshine: iii

(Mostly SFW)

hawks | takami keigo x reader

ao3

part i   ||   part ii   ||   part iii​​ (epilogue)

word count: ~2.2k

Nothing ever really ends. It just grows in different ways with different parts. 

warnings: description of post-injury, reader and hawks being traumatized but coping, a soft epilogue

the ending folks :’^) thank you for reading this far. here is something gentle for all of us, with some future, past, and the present for sweet starshine and keigo :’^)

enjoy loves 💞!!

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Keigo doesn’t break promises. 

He loves white lies, the silly kind where he can rib you for a minute or two before soothing any ruffled feathers with quick kisses. He never leaves big wounds, nothing gaping or jagged, just loving pokes in your sides to get you to laugh and quip back at him.

He never goes back on his words that count.

His journeys out of the house remain short and rarely surprising. He never leaves without a goodbye, whether that’s a sleepy fuck or two, or a hand-written, tooth-rotting note on a scrap of paper next to a steaming cup of coffee on the kitchen island.

Keigo’s used to the open skies, rolling forever. The curve of the horizon is his primordial friend that he never got to say goodbye to, but he still chases it a few times a week. Little drives he takes by himself, hikes, and things that he let him feel a bit of that free wind in his shaggy hair. 

It takes you a while, but you don’t look forlornly at the door anymore.

The awareness that of his absence from your little bastion lingers as you move throughout your day, but you know he’s good for his word. He always returns, bearing a toothy grin, and usually an armload of snacks or takeout. 

It’s better, and you’re both a bit more alive. 

...

Spring in the mountains reminds you of something you can’t place. 

The memory of it is foggy, far-off and untouched. Probably a bit dampened from, you know, a year of trauma, but the feeling of it makes your quirk burst to light without fail.

It comes when you notice the little patches of wildflowers that spring up in new grass that rings around the porch. Heat flares in your eyes when you see the little seedlings you and Keigo planted into the window boxes begin to bud and flower. 

The days get longer, sweeter, and the summer comes easily.

...

The bad days never cease, but you both learn to cope to some degree.

Your scar... cracks one day. You’re doing some half-assed stretches in the living room (mostly arching your back so Keigo gets a good peek of your ass) when it happens. Your right leg bends at the knee, and a resounding ‘crack’ and shatter echo off the walls of the cabin. 

You both panic. 

Keigo instantly urges you on the couch, trying to soothe your own panic with little coos from the back of his throat. You feel numb as Keigo shoves up your pant leg, looking for any damage.

The scar looks relatively unchanged. It hasn’t writhed since your days at the hospital, and its edges have only faded a shade or two with time. It’s long, obtrusive, and something you still avoid looking at.

All the same, Keigo traces the gnarly flesh, nimble fingers searching for the source of the sound. Any bit of pain he can identify and soothe, ideally, remove. The pads of his fingers drift to the crook of your knee, pressing against the shiny, black seam of the scar.

His eyes go wide before awe shines through, without a lick of fear. 

He warns you to take a deep breath, ‘breath with him’, before pinching at the glassy center and pulling. There’s a bit of resistance as he pulls, you’re not sure what he’s doing, and you see ‘it’ before you really put it together.

Keigo holds ‘it’ up for you to see.

The inky glass of the scar.

Literal rock. Inky obsidian pulled from your flesh, about the size of your pinky and painfully jagged. 

“W-what is that?” You asked, grabbing his wrist to examine the bit. “That’s... the scar?”

Keigo nods his head, scrutinizing it with you, pinching at it, “Weirdest scab I’ve ever seen.”

Scab.

You have never thought about calling the ugly root of the scar a ‘scab’ but looking at the way it so easily was pulled away, it makes sense. After a bit of examination and tender prodding, the tissue around it looks healthy, albeit thick and burned. The scar goes deep into your flesh, feels raw to the touch, but the skin that’s beneath it is somewhat alive. Maybe too alive, given how sensitive it is.

Nonetheless, you marvel at the little piece of volcanic glass that Keigo had pulled from you like it’s the most precious stone in the world. 

...

It takes a long time to convince both of you.

Keigo never receives another call from Suits, ‘president’, what the fuck her name is. Thank fucking god. His snap seemed to have scared her and her crumbling organization away. You can only hope that it was for good.

The potential return comes from kindness rather than demands. 

Calls from both Endeavor and Miruko, ‘Enji’ and ‘Rumi’ as they insist you call them. Rumi chatters on the phone for hours with Keigo every few weeks, puts the phone on speaker, and has you give your piece as well. You like her, she’s funny and loud and Keigo smiles when he talks to her.

Enji actually visits. 

Once or twice, maybe more. You stop counting when the extra bodies in the cabin don’t have you breaking into a cold sweat anymore. It had taken a great bit of coaxing, but you opened your cabin up for the former pro and his entourage. 

He brings along his daughter and the ‘Three Musketeers,’ as the media calls them. The boys train in the mountains nearby, never lingering too far based on the shouting from the blond one that echoes against the hills. 

The rest of you settle into the walls of the cabin whenever they come to visit. It feels warmer than normal; it makes sweat gather under your arms and in droplets on your forehead. Even if you wanted to attribute the heat to the old flame hero’s presence, it wouldn’t account entirely for your thumping heart. 

You work through it, slowly. 

You like watching Keigo and Enji. They both look worn. Keigo’s a bit too young for grey hair, but Enji has more than his fair share around his temples. The beard around his jaw glints silver in the lowlight of the cabin whenever he tilts his head to sip at his tea.

They smile like old friends, talk like it too. 

You end up in the kitchen a lot during their talks, distantly cooking and observing. You’re always listening to their stories, the banter. It’s hard to keep up with, a lingering vestige of Keigo’s old persona that clings to him and his mannerisms.

You don’t mind it, even if it feels foreign.

...

“Can you pass me that honey, dear?” Fuyumi asks, voice sweet and close.

You nod, sliding her the jar across the corner top. She carefully spoons a glob of the thick liquid into the four waiting mugs, humming just under her breath. 

The cabin feels warm, and it’s not just the ambient heat Enji gives off. 

The ‘three musketeers’ plan to camp in the mountainside and ‘rough it’. You couldn’t imagine the freshly-greened hills giving them too much trouble. They bicker, you have found, constantly. Blunt jabs from Enji’s son, met by explosive remarks from the blond one (why is his hero name so long? You can never remember it well.) Consider your growing aversion to loud noise, you like Deku the best. He seems like the peacekeeper (and peacemaker) of the trio and compliments your cooking. What a gem.

The guest room has been polished into an actual guest room. Fuyumi takes it, and Enji, bless his heart, takes the creaky fold-out couch. He doesn’t mind, he tells you, something about enjoying tending to the hearth at night.

Keigo calls the nights where they fill the house ‘sleepovers’, and he adores them.

They’re a bit overwhelming for you if you’re being honest. But Enji is far less intimidating now that you’ve seen him nodding off and slack-faced on your couch. Fuyumi has patience you’ll never fully understand, and babies you a bit, which you don’t welcome but don’t refuse either. 

She does just that, scooping up three mugs after pushing your own toward you. You regather and sit next to Keigo at the kotatsu, slipping your legs under the thick blanket and sagging with the heat. You rest your head on his shoulder, and he presses you into his side, pressing a few kisses to the top of your head. It’s an idle action, habitual and welcomed as the conversation flows.

(Something about one of Keigo’s old sidekicks. Another about Endeavor’s agency, still chugging along with him at the helm, albeit not as an active hero. The new hero charts, the new rules established, legislation. Things are getting... safer, a semblance of order being re-established now that much of the League has been apprehended.)

(Things are settling, as horrifying as the change is.) 

The thought of so much makes you sleepy, long-standing exhaustion heavy in your bones. You nod off at some point to the kind, safe voices. 

Keigo coaxes you awake once the conversation dies down.

“Love,” he purrs, rubbing your side, “let’s get up now and get you to bed.”

You follow him, the way he rises and guides you to the bathroom to help you ready for bed. Enji is settling on the couch, tugging a few throws over himself on the futon. You give him a shallow wave with half-lidded eyes, meeting his own.

Eye contact feels hard, but you manage to hold it for a few seconds.

In the bathroom, you pop onto the counter and slowly brush your teeth. Sleep clings to you, and you know it’ll return quickly, but the process of moving and interacting wears you down so easily. Your toothbrush almost slips from your grip.

“Just a little more, and then you can rest, dove,” Keigo urges, reverent as he finishes his own routine in tandem. You watch as he splashes water on his face, wetting the tufts of hair that fall around his face.

The cabin feels warmer. 

You notice it as you enter the bedroom, Keigo already hopping into bed to assemble the ‘nest’ as both affectionately refer to it. The old throw, a few extra soft blankets, and a buttery soft duvet must be arranged just right before he is satisfied. 

 Keigo knows it’s a remnant.

He carries plenty of them, little chunks of him that are old and worn, old and unused. He can shake them, can’t bury them, they just simply are.

The birdish ones are nice, he thinks. He likes that he can preen you. He loves that you can preen him. That you’ll indulge him in that way, running your hands through his overgrown hair. You detangle any knots, soothe the snarls and rub at his neck until he’s liquid in your lap. 

He likes nesting. The cold of the cabin can be almost forgotten in the little nests he makes. The mountains of bedding and pillows that you both can settle in. It’s peaceful, and it's shared, and things are okay. 

It’s all slow, and a bit tedious, things that the remnants of ‘Hawks’ scream and thrash at. But, really? Keigo has no reason to listen to a ghost. He tries not to let himself be haunted. 

He indulges himself for the first time in his life, probably.

As Keigo nestles you into the sheets beside him, he gives you a bit of room to get comfortable. Adjusts your pillows how you like, tangle your legs together in the comfiest way. Your own version of nesting that makes his palms sweat and his words turn to mush.

You settle together, chest to chest, Keigo’s chin hooked over the top of your head. 

“Did you have a good day?” You ask, soft and sleepy.

Keigo nods easily, “I did. Enji doesn’t seem to quite as much of a square as he was a few years ago.”

You snort, muffling a giggle into his chest, “He’s definitely a little bit of a square. But I like him.”

“He offered to host us at the estate if we ever want to go back.”

You swallow, thick and slow, and try to bury yourself deeper in him, “... Do you want to go back?”

“No.” He pauses. “Maybe. Not yet, and not anytime soon. But the offer is on the table. It’s nice to have, even if we don’t take it.”

It’s insurance, somewhere else to tuck yourselves away if the mountains stop favoring you. 

The thought of the future makes your head spin, as it tends to. The scar aches, but maybe it’s a tad duller than it was a few months ago. The pains only last a few moments, only stab so deeply. The place where the little chunk of obsidian fell out doesn’t feel quite as tender. 

You lay your cheek on Keigo’s chest, your breath coming in time with his. 

“‘M tired,” You murmur into his chest. “Can I sleep?”

“Of course, starshine.” He pushes back your hair, clears your forehead to press his lips to the skin, lightly. Little kisses piling up on top of each other. “Get some rest.”

“You too, pretty eyes.”

You both need it. For more than just a day with the folks who stuck around. You and Keigo need more rest than a being can responsibly accumulate during a human life. There are things to be stitched, worn parts of you that need tending to, and burns that’ll need salve until the day you die. It’s not any less than it was in the month’s past.

But it’s easier to manage. 

You snuggle into Keigo’s chest, drifting off to the thought of fresh coffee and crackling heat.

✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧   ✧

thank you for reading!!💞

ko-fi

[dadzawa-adopt-dabi]

Transbodyswap fic

Keigo had only gotten hit with the quirk because he had shoved Shigaraki out of the way. It was a stupid move on his part, body moving without thinking. Shigaraki had already been attempting to dodge but Keigo hadn’t given him time to finish getting out of the way. He hipchecked Shig out of the way, resulting in him getting smacked with the quirk instead. A beam of light shoots from their palm,hitting one of his wings. Dabi shoots to his side when he wavers, having trouble standing upright. He feels slightly dizzy, like he has a concussion.Him shoving Shigaraki gave him a chance to finally get his protective gloves off and shove himself to his feet. Dabi shot a plume of his blue fire to cover Shig and it melts the asshole’s shoes to the cement, effectively trapping her as he grabs a pair of quirk cuffs hanging off Keigo’s belt.

“You're so goddam lucky I'm not able to incinerate your trashy ass right now.” Dabi hisses as he clacks them around her wrists. Keigo could drop her off at a police station in a few minutes. 

“Save it Dabi, Didn’t do anything but make me lose my balance for maybe 30 seconds.” Keigo huffed from where he was leaning against a wall.

Dabi’s hands flutter with the want to help him but don’t touch him.

“Keigo are you alright?” Dabi reached out and grabbed his shoulder, cupping his face with his other hand. Tilting his face towards him and removing his visor, checking his pupils to see if he had a concussion.

“Aw worried hot stuff? I was just knocked a little off balance. I’m fine.” Keigo still leaned into the hand on his face. He made no move to stand up straight instead letting Dabi sling his arm over Dabi’s thin shoulders. 

“Dizzy? Nauseous? Do we need to try and get you to a hospital or to a vet here birdy?” Dabi was only half joking. He truly was worried and it showed in his eyes as he frowned Keigo seemed to shake it off.

“I go to a commision appointed doctor, you know that.” keigo smirks up at him and flaps his wings to get the others to give him some more room.

“What the fuck were you thinking you peice of roadkill?” Shigaraki snarled at him. Trembling in either anger or fear. He seemed to come to his senses and grabbed the villain who was sitting against the wall. She would be dropped off by Kuroguri since Hawks seemed to be down for the moment. Might have been the quirk or with how Hawks had been working lately it could also just be exhaustion.

 “We don’t even know what their quirk does, it could have been anything and you might have just gotten hit with it because you couldn't stand to what? Couldn't stand to let a villian get hurt?” He furiously messed with his phone in his other hand. Either texting Kuroguri to complain or to get them a portal home.

“I accept that whatever happens is my fault for jumping in front of you. You probably could have dodged. I just didn’t give myself time to think.” shrugging off the last of their concern he grabbed Dabi’s arm. 

“Now I believe we were on a mission for Disney movie night? Snacks are in order and I’m not letting a random vigilante attacking us try to ruin league night!” Keigo’s voice isn't even forced into being chipper, he’s genuinely excited about movie night it seems. A warpgate opened next to them and Shigaraki sighed.

“They still want to get snacks I guess. Can you warp her outside the nearest police station?” He nudged the vigilante towards the portal and pulled back on his gloves. Artist ones Dabi had gotten him that left all but his pinky and thumb exposed.

“Fucking hell, roadkill waiting to happen thats what you are.” shaking his head, Shigaraki pushed the vigilante through the portal the rest of the way and started walking in the direction of the 24hr convience store.

“I’ll let you know I eat roadkill for breakfast and you're being very rude by bringing it up!” Hawks turned his nose high up in the air and arched his wings. Playing up being offended to watch Shigaraki sputter and Dabi threaten Shig with silent dagger eyes. It was cute in a way, making little butterflies flutter in his stomach, the way Dabi thought he needed to be defended. 

He hadn’t felt anything for anyone in what felt like years, not like this at least. Pure attraction tugging a smile onto his face. He still hadn’t made a move to respond to Dabi’s flirting.  He wanted to but just...didn't know how Dabi felt yet he guessed. 

He was a villain but he seemed to be so kind, and Magne was always respected around them. Maybe Dabi just didn’t want to date a trans person? He wasn’t ready to deal with the heartache if he wasn’t. Didn’t want to confess to something so personal quite yet.

Movie night ended up going as just like Keigo hoped it would. Popcorn being thrown everywhere and impromptu sing alongs to a lot of songs. Dabi kept trying to get him to duet with him. He had only ever sung for Rumi before. Well,  Dabi had walked in on him once when he was singing in the kitchen. He had broken in but Dabi had a habit of making himself at home in places he wasn't supposed to be.

Most of the others fell asleep in the living room but when he started nodding off on Dabi's shoulder Dabi had gently shaken him awake to lead him to his room.

“I can’t - i mean. I should- it's better if I just go home Dab’s, what if whoevers room this is wakes up and finds me in their bed?”  He hovered outside the doorway.

“This is your room. For when you're here anyways.” Dabi leaned against the doorframe and smirked at him.

“I'm not here that often though? Are you guys sure, I'm still a Hero you know.” Hawks lips were twisted up in a smile when he said it,but it was his hero persona talking to Dabi, not Keigo. He still had the bad habit of covering anything he was unsure or too emotional about with his Hero persona. It was too easy for him to do so, Dabi had worked hard to see the cracks in the shield and read the person underneath.

“It's alright to leave if you're uncomfortable with it. Shigaraki won’t change his mind about giving you one either way.'' Dabi reassured him. He had no right to be looking as hot as he was. Leaning against a doorframe and smirking at him.

“It's not that I'm that uncomfortable with it, but how will everyone else feel with me sleeping here? A Hero in your home?” He countered. 

“Everyone was pretty excited when we told them we were giving you a room, actually pretty bird” Dabi shrugged. He was tempted to offer Hawks his bed but Hawks rarely responded to his flirting as it was and he would rather not scare him off.

“Pretty bird now huh? Not roadkill or chicken? Careful, I'll think you're getting soft on me hotstuff.“ Keigo smirked and leaned forward jokingly. Like he was going to give Dabi a kiss, puckering his lips cartoonishly.

“I’ll take you up on that kiss in a heartbeat if you're not careful” Dabi smiled and leaned in closer as Keigo regained control of his senses and stepped back into his room.

“Night pretty bird i'll dream of you” Keigo could hear Dabi laughing on the other side of the door not the least bit put off or sour.

“better keep it pg13!” letting out a tired laugh Keigo flopped onto his bed. An entire room without surveillance he could just relax in. A room for him for when he got tired of being a hero 24/7 and wanted to be a person for a little bit. 

The league did a lot for him and they didn't always realize it, things like this room. Reserved for someone who might rarely if ever use it. Like the raw ground turkey meat in the fridge, because Toga drank blood and Shuichi ate raw eggs. So really Keigo’s dietary needs were not that abnormal for someone with a predatory animal quirk. Just about everyone helped him preen his wings.

 He fell asleep almost the instant his head hit the pillow.

When he woke up he didn’t recognize anything. Maybe because this room belongs to him his guard was down lower than usual?

He stretched and felt the lack of wings on his back. Oh, one of those nightmares. Okay, he could deal with this, he didn't usually lucid dream but he had once or twice. He knew the general rules to keep his dream in control.

Then a certain lower body part that did not usually feel like that brushed against the sheets, jolting him fully awake. He shot bolt upright out of bed. Floundering to throw off the covers and take stock of himself.  He saw deeply scarred purple skin held to healthy skin with shiny staples. It caused him to reel back out of shock, he ended up falling completely out of bed with a wince.

 That- that was not his. He would know if that was his. It didn't occur to him to not check it, that this wasn’t his body to look at. He had just looked down and there it was. Jesusu fucki- fuck, it was even pierced. Oh fuck,it hits him like a brick. Slightly harder, because he’s been thrown into bricks with less force than the realization that he is in Dabi’s body hits him with.

Then where was- Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck fuck. Shit god damn it. He starts reading to leave, yanking on a pair of nearby pants with a t-shirt. He hears a curse and a thump from where he guesses his room is and starts to walk quickly down the hall. He hears the start of Dabi waking up in his body, cussing and the sound of his wings throwing Dabi out of bed and picks up the pace to a run.

“What the fu-” is all that meets his ears before he slides around the corner and slams himself into the front door before he can stop and open it.

“Dabi? What’s wro- ” Magne starts to ask in concern before he’s out the door, pushing Dabi’s already burning lungs and aching muscles to go faster.

He hears someone call for Dabi but by the time anyone thinks to call for him, Keigo, He’s already almost out of earshot. Running in Dabi’s body is different, his lungs won’t work and he keeps gasping. He almost falls several times, catching himself at the last moment before his face can meet the pavement. Once or twice he over balances and he has to smack his hand against the ground to shove himself back upright to keep going, still in a panic. He’s pushed Dabi's body too hard, smoke escaping from the seams. His lungs burn and his muscles twitch consistantly.

Keigo stares over at his building from the dirty alleyway, debating how he’s going to get into his apartment while in Dabi’s body.  A loud Hawk screech sounds startling him. Dabi hadn’t, had he? He knows what he sounds like when he’s been startled and a few weeks ago Dabi had startled him badly enough that he had lost control of his vocal cords. Which led to him letting out a startled screech, always so loud due to his quirk. He smacks at the pockets on his pants looking for the phone and finds it in the hoodie pouch. Did he accidently steal Dabi’s phone? Fuck the phone actually, he techniccally stole Dabi’s body by taking off like he had.

He flinches as he thinks about it. He stole Dabi’s body and left him stuck in his. He silently mourns the flirting and discrete courting Dabi had been attempting. The research he had done for nothing, the gifts he had been giving Keigo and the preening he teased him with.

 Dabi’s phone gives another screech in his hand and he opens it. There’s two texts from his number. His number was saved under ‘A pretty bird’.

>I'm going to assume you went home. We’re going to track down the women who hit you with her quirk.

> You need to go in through the back service entrance and use the elevator there. No one should spot you.

The phone is silent for a few seconds as Keigo ducks into the alley beside his building, he finds the service entrance relatively easy and eases inside, wincing at the creak of the door. Then it screeches again and he yanks it out of his pocket to turn the sound down. Heart pounding he checks what Dabi sent now.

>I'm sorry if I've made you uncomfortable. I'll try and stop by later if I can so we can talk if you want.

He notices as he shuts the service door that a sponge is tucked into the lock. His security really did suck if this was how Dabi was always getting into his building. True to Dabi’s word though he didn't see anyone as he rode the elevator up to his floor.His apartment door is never locked anymore, anyone who would come over already knows how to lockpick. 

< I’m sorry.

He finally responds to Dabi and tucks himself into his nest. Curling up under a blanket and looking through Dabi’s phone games. There’s not much. Collect some goldfish, a couple match 3 and a hidden objects one. Nothing like Keigo’s mix of cafe and gacha games.

>What the fuck are you sorry for? Not your fault the bitch whammied you with her quirk. 

<You know what I mean. I didn’t tell you and you're stuck in my body, so now you know.

>We’re talking about this later when I can see your face.

Keigo’s heart squeezes and he feels like he should be crying but there’s nothing there when he brushes his hands against Dabi’s eyes. Catching on the staples there reminds him that he still has to clean and disinfect Dabi’s staples. He would give anything to slip into a muscle bath soak right now to ease Dabi’s twitching muscles but he doesn't know how the scars would react.

He checks what damage he can see first. Dabi’s staples around his wrists and on his face. Before realizing he can feel something wet dripping down his legs. Glancing down he wonders how he didn’t feel the staples tearing out of Dabi’s skin before. He presses hard on a patch to check and just feels a small bit of pressure instead. He can't, Dabi can’t feel anything on his scars he realizes. Keigo feels like his eyes should be crying again.

He puts the staples back in that he can and presses a peroxide soaked cotton ball to the wounds. Then he takes a roll of cloth bandages and wraps the seams as best as he can. He leaves his bathroom a mess, figuring he can clean that up later. 

He flops back into his nest feeling cleaner and a little less like he’s going to fall apart. He gets a text from Dabi warning him he’s coming in after passing a ridiculous amount of levels in one of his games. A swirl of black and the sounds of a busy house fill his silent apartment. Sako promising not to cut himself if Kuroguri let him help cook breakfast. Jin arguing with himself over if he wants coffee or juice. Toga sleepy and demanding Shigaraki sit next to her. Keigo’s gotten attached and he hadn’t even noticed. He knows what they like to eat in the morning and how they greet him when he stops by for what’s essentially his lunch but everyone else’s breakfast. 

“-and you better fucking kiss him, Don’t come back until he’s been well fucked and well kissed.” Magne's voice cuts above the chaos as one of Keigo’s red wings pokes through the warp gate. Frank and loud as always, bringing him back to the present situation of Dabi coming through a portal to his utterly trashed apartment. For fucks sake he has a half empty bottle of alcohol uncapped and left on his bedside table. Not to mention the trash all over. He plucks a pop tart wrapper out of his blankets before he shrugs and leaves it, nothing he could do about his mess of a personal life now.

“Can you not? I’m fucking trying to eat breakfeast.” Shigaraki hissed at her. 

“Just get his ass back here when this mess is fixed.” Dabi steps through the portal in Keigo’s body and it lacks all of his usual grace. He’s more like falling through it,wings obviously unbalancing him.

“He’ll come back if he wants assface. I ain’t going to force him to do shit either of you.” He gestures to Kuroguri to close the portal as their very loud complaining starts up. Keigo’s wings relax and droop to the floor, as Dabi turns around and looks at Keigo’s sty of a room. He raises an eyebrow but that’s it. Looking at Keigo in the nest however has his wings lifting up into a protective shield.

“Hey Pretty bird.” Dabi sits on the edge of the nest and Keigo’s wings he’s wearing relax again. They seem to be extremely expressive on Dabi, constantly moving themselves wherever they want and getting in his way.

“I’m sorry.” he gulps while curling into himself until he feels a stretch of skin somewhere on his back tug sharply. Fuck, Dabi must have scars on his back too. These didn’t have the lack of feeling around it like the others did. “This isn’t how I wanted to tell you. I promise I was going to before we did anyth-”

Dabi gently tugged on his stapled limbs, interrupting Keigo and making him unwind himself from his little ball. It wasn’t a comfortable position on his scars, he knew from experience.

“I said I would talk to you. About this. It doesn't have to be now either, or really ever.”  Dabi gestured to the body he was currently wearing while he was speaking. It didn’t really matter what body parts Keigo had, not to him at least.

“I care more about your comfort level than what’s in your pants. Have I been making you uncomfortable with all the flirting?” Keigo’s wings rustled and twitched on his back. He had no idea how Keigo kept them from moving all the time. The feathers themselves moved a lot but the appendages themselves were attention grabbing.

“No It’s, It’s not that.” Keigo grabs his own body’s hand, feeling Dabi’s heart skip a beat. “I liked flirting. Didn’t want it to stop actually.”

“It doesn't have to stop then.” Dabi wove their fingers together and squeezed his own hand. Keigo’s wings flared open as wide as they could and he swayed as he fought to not be overbalanced by them. Keigo pulled on their joined hands so he flopped fully into the nest and laid over his own body’s legs.

“I'm more concerned with the way your body aches all over. Why do your wing joints feel like they are on fire? Trust me I know what that feels like.” Dabi propped himself up and noticed small drops of blood on Keigo’s sweatpants. Shit, Keigo must have torn some staples in Dabi’s legs earlier.

 “you can tell me how to fix that after we take care of my staples. You tore a few while you were running off this morning.” Dabi helped Keigo out of his nest, blue eyes locked with his golden brown ones. Keigo’s wings flared again and Dabi smirked, he was starting to get an idea of what the flaring meant.

Keigo gently laughs as he sits on the lid of the toilet and pulls down his borrowed sweats. Keigo’s wings flare wide as he sits down between his own body’s thighs to inspect the damage. It’s not as bad as it could be and he asks about Keigo’s wings to distract them as he carefully straightens and wraps them.

“Um that’s.” Keigo blushes as he tries to find the words to explain courtship displays when he realizes Dabi is the one attracted to him. Dabi is the one fanning himself out and kneeling between his legs. It’s his body displaying the signs but it’s Dabi who’s turned on at the thought of kneeling between Keigo’s legs. “Serious? I can’t believe you're getting turned on right now. I just fucked your staples up and you're having to help patch me up.”

Dabi snorted and gently unwrapped the mess Keigo had slapped on his wounds. “I’ve got a snarky bird in front me who I happen to like very much. Sue me. This quirk should wear off in about two days. We can stay here or we can go home.” He finished wrapping his seams and looked up at Keigo gently smoothing the seams as he focused on trying to fold Keigo’s wings to his back.

Keigo glanced down at Dabi, wings spread and licked his lips at the image.  “I’d like to stay here if it’s alright, I think I want some time with just us.” 

 “I’ll let the League know I won’t be back till later then.” Dabi stands, pulling Keigo gently up with him to avoid stressing his staples again. He goes to turn away and Keigo grabs his own wings and yanks him back in for a kiss. Dabi let’s out a startled moan at the action.

“You can do that after you help me with something else.” Keigo smirks so largely he can feel the staples in Dabi’s face struggling not to tear.

[sclfcare]

♡ + any bbies from our bunCH !

me : does all of them 🥺😩

𝚛𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚘 & 𝚋𝚊𝚋𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎

who is the most affectionate ?

i'm gonna go out on a limb here and say it's romeo . at least at first when they start actually dating bc babette is still trying to break down her stone - cold bitch persona .

who initiates the handholding ?

i feel like they both do ? like one is always reaching for the other .

who worries more for the other ?

babette bc she still doesn't trust him after he fucked her friend . definitely gets sus if he doesn't answer her calls or something , at least in the beginning .

who is more likely to ask for help ?

oh god i think both of them are so stubborn that they won't ask for help unless it's an actual emergency or they really fucked up .

who is the one always losing the keys ?

babette . definitely . she can't keep track of shit .

who leaves little love notes for the other ?

i think this one would go to romeo . like when babette opens her notebook for class he's written something in there all cute n shit .

who can’t sleep unless the other is there ?

babette , which is why she usually never leaves his place .

who is more likely to propose to the other ?

romeo . babette wants that giant fucking ring .

who introduced the other to their family first ?

i feel like he met babette's family first ? and it went really well , like it was a family bbq and everyone drank and laughed and that's probably when babette finally started to relax and place more faith in romeo and their relationship .

who is more likely to play with the other’s hair ?

they both play with each other's hair , especially when they're going down on each other . lmao whores .

who makes sure the other has meals/stays hydrated ?

babette . she goes full wifey mode sometimes and it disgusts me .

who is more likely to stand up to anyone for the other ?

both of them . there's no way they'd let someone else talk shit about them without starting a fight about it .

who is the most likely to prepare a surprise for the other ?

babette . she likes to catch him off guard , especially with sexy lingerie or something ~kinky .

who makes the other pinky promise not to do certain things ?

babette . he def had to pinky promise to never fuck her friends again .

who puts a blanket over the other when they fall asleep on the couch?

neither bc they both fall asleep together with babette on his chest .

𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚎𝚝𝚝𝚎 & 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚛

who is the most affectionate ?

carter . he's practically obsessed with her and is always letting her know it , too . touching is his love language .

who initiates the handholding ?

again , carter . especially when they are out in public since he tends to get mobbed by fans he just feels safer if he has a hold on her in case they need to make a quick get away .

who worries more for the other ?

colette , especially when he's on tour and they have to be a part from each other for extended periods of time .

who is more likely to ask for help ?

carter . the poor dude his 100% helpless and we all know it .

who is the one always losing the keys ?

both of them bc they got too high and never know where the fuck they left the keys .

who leaves little love notes for the other ?

i can see them both doing this . and when he's on tour he always sends her cute good morning and good night texts .

who can’t sleep unless the other is there ?

both of them . it's pathetic .

who is more likely to propose to the other?

carter . he'd be lying if he said that he didn't already have a ring in mind for her .

who introduced the other to their family first ?

colette mainly because carter would never bring her around his meth - head momma .

who is more likely to play with the other’s hair ?

carter actually loves to play with her hair , like he's mastered a french braid and everything .

who makes sure the other has meals/stays hydrated ?

colette bc carter cannot be responsible for his own damn self .

who is more likely to stand up to anyone for the other ?

carter . he'd just throw punches instantly . he goes 0 to 100 real quick when it comes to someone disrespecting her .

who is the most likely to prepare a surprise for the other ?

carter bc he's a big fan of grand romantic gestures like impromptu trips to hawaii or a new cartier bracelet .

who makes the other pinky promise not to do certain things ?

they both do bc they are 12 years old .

who puts a blanket over the other when they fall asleep on the couch ?

colette bc carter constantly falls asleep on the couch during his time off . lil baby boy is exhausted .

𝚘𝚙𝚑𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚊 & 𝚖𝚞𝚛𝚙𝚑𝚢

who is the most affectionate ?

they both are equally as gross with each other , i feel .

who initiates the handholding ?

murphy . he's protective as fuck over ophelia so it gives him a sense of comfort if he's holding her hand when they are out and about .

who worries more for the other ?

murphy again . i feel like he literally lays there awake at night as she sleeps and thinks through horrible scenarios to be prepared to keep her safe .

who is more likely to ask for help ?

ophelia , mainly bc murphy is too prideful to ask someone for help .

who is the one always losing the keys ?

ophelia bc murphy is always prepared for a quick exit and that includes having his keys nearby .

who leaves little love notes for the other ?

murphy does and it's cute as fuck . he'll leave notes on the pillow beside her if he has to leave before she wakes up .

who can’t sleep unless the other is there ?

i want to say this is mutual , like they both need the other in order to get a sound night's sleep .

who is more likely to propose to the other ?

murphy even though he has a horrible track record with marriage and vowed to never to do it again .

who introduced the other to their family first ?

neither bc she's not associated with her family anymore and neither is he . they are each other's family .

who is more likely to play with the other’s hair ?

murphy loves to play with her hair and does it a lot during sex .

who makes sure the other has meals/stays hydrated ?

lmao murphy bc he's just that damn annoyed / enamored that he wants to make sure she's always healthy .

who is more likely to stand up to anyone for the other ?

murphy . he would kill for her , no questions asked .

who is the most likely to prepare a surprise for the other ?

ophelia . murphy doesn't like surprises but he makes an exception because he is literally heart eyes over everything she does .

who makes the other pinky promise not to do certain things ?

i feel like they wouldn't do pinky promises unless it's something silly like who is going to do the dishes or something

who puts a blanket over the other when they fall asleep on the couch ?

murphy , but he one ups that and carries her into the bedroom .

𝚝𝚘𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚐𝚊 & 𝚛𝚘𝚌𝚌𝚘

who is the most affectionate ?

rocco is , actually . he's always trying to spoil her and is very much obsessed with keeping his hands on her .

who initiates the handholding ?

it depends . i feel like they're both constantly reaching for each other .

who worries more for the other ?

100% topanga . she knows rocco . he's a fucking mess of a human being .

who is more likely to ask for help ?

topanga , bc rocco never asks for help until he's past rock bottom .

who is the one always losing the keys ?

lmao i would say rocco but he rarely drives himself , he has people do that shit for him like the spoiled brat he is .

who leaves little love notes for the other ?

topanga and rocco keeps every one of them .

who can’t sleep unless the other is there ?

rocco . i feel like he's constantly asking her to stay the night which just shifts into her moving in and it all happens v fast but it's them so it works .

who is more likely to propose to the other ?

rocco , and with the biggest , most expensive diamond he could find .

who introduced the other to their family first ?

their families have known each other forever . rocco's parents are dead and topanga's parents think rocco is a druggie loser gkdjrthrth

who is more likely to play with the other’s hair ?

they both pull at / play with each other's hair .

who makes sure the other has meals/stays hydrated ?

topanga bc , again , she knows rocco . he needs someone to remind him to keep himself alive , i actually hate him .

who is more likely to stand up to anyone for the other ?

they both defend each other pretty equally , topanga more so bc people aren't very happy with her being with him .

who is the most likely to prepare a surprise for the other ?

rocco . he's always surprising her with flowers / jewelry / clothes / trips . that's his love language .

who makes the other pinky promise not to do certain things ?

topanga bc they used to do pinky promises when they were kids and it's kind of a sentimental gestures for them .

who puts a blanket over the other when they fall asleep on the couch ?

they both do this for each other i think ? rocco would probably curl up on the couch with her for a nap .

[realfuurikuuri]

Chapters: 11/? Fandom: Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (Cartoon) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Summary: 

MissingArm!AU: When escaping the cave, it wasn't his tail that got crushed. In exchange for his innocence, he gained a sordid past. The Pure Heart Valley seemed like a good place to escape. To start a new life with a new family to forge a new identity. However, when the past rears its ugly head Mao Mao's forced to step up or be put down.

AN:  Finally back at the end of the century. The reason for no uploads on either the MMHOPH Headcanon blog (it's on Tumblr, go check it out) or on fanfics is because Persona 5 Roya came out and I finished that on Monday at 140 hours. Don't expect things to get to active too soon either, cause finals are next week. Regardless, let things get back to the usual. In keeping with Persona 5 Royal let's make today's song recommendation Beneath The Mask - Persona 5. Follow @spookylovesboba on Twitter and Tumblr and I hope you enjoy the chapter.

Direct AO3 Link: XXX

Mao Mao breathed in the fresh morning air. It was good to be outside again. Even if it was just to drop Adorabat off at school. He waved goodbye to her as she went inside, but he didn’t leave right away. He still felt terrible. It hurt to walk, and he couldn't lean too far on either side thanks to the hole. Camillie gave antibiotics and painkillers, alongside an extensive list of their side effects. The painkillers made his insides feel like cold porridge, and the antibiotics made his stomach feel weird. Nausea they caused together was unbelievable.

Nausea made it hard to remember if the school always had three students. He wasn’t sure, but he put aside his suspicion. It was probably another side effect. It was probably amongst Camille’s list of warnings; he couldn't know for sure.  It was way too early for any of this. It was too early for Mao Mao and certainly too early for Badgerclops. He was still asleep, and still drooling on his shoulder.

Mao Mao poked him until he woke up. “Huh, I was paying attention to the movie,” he yawned.

“It’s not movie night. We’re dropping off Adorabat.”

“Oh! Bye,” Badgerclops said waving.

“You’re at nothing, she’s already inside.”

“Oh. Well, that’s good, let's get you back to HQ.”

“No.”

“What? You should stay in bed, off of your feet, doctor’s orders.”

“Yeah, but I want to go out to do something. Let’s get a pizza.”

“Doctor also said no solid foods.”

“Smoothies then.”

Mao Mao revved the engine making Badgerclops tightly grab onto his waist. “You sure you don’t want me to fly,” Badgerclops asked.

“It’ll be fine.”

“A sick man with one arm shouldn’t be driving anything.”

“I said it’ll be fine.”

Mao Mao pulled back the accelerator, letting the Aerocycle fly off. Badgerclops may have had a point, but he wasn’t let anything stop him from enjoying his day.

* * *

Mao Mao was still stubborn as all hell. Not even a trip to the hospital would change that. He and Mao Mao went from one end of town to the other, walking the streets looking for one place that served smoothies. He told Mao Mao more than once that the only food places were Muffin’s Bakery and the convenience store. Watching him Mao Mao hobble around would be funny if he hadn’t nearly died less than a weak ago.

“Hey, Mao Mao!”

“Wha-”

Badgerclops had the small man tucked under like a football before he knew what was happening.

“Badgerclops, I am asking politely, but firmly to put me down before someone -and I mean you- gets hurt.”

“Awww, Is da wittle baby who just got outta the hospital mad.”

Mao Mao didn’t appreciate the humor. He wiggled like a worm and gnawed on his right hand, which probably would’ve hurt if it wasn’t made of metal, so Badgerclops just kind of ignored it. He walked through the narrow alleys towards Muffin’s bakery at the town square. He thought Mao Mao would stop eventually, but if Mao Mao was anything it was stupid. And also stubborn. Chomp! Chomp! Chomp! It was like a toddler using a teething ring. What was kind of funny at first became annoying, and now was just kind of gross to watch.

“You have to stop that before you hurt your teeth, and you and I both know that I don’t know how to schedule a dentist appointment,” Badgerclops said.

“I will when you put me…,” Mao Mao slowly fell silent as they entered the large open plaza of the town square.

“Hey, Badgerclops. What is that?”

“That’s the blob monster.”

“THE WHAT !”

Badgerclops flinched. Mao Mao slipped from his grasp ready to split his head on the pavement, but a cat’s gonna do what a cat's gonna do. He righted himself in the air to land on his feet. A much worse choice. Mao Mao’s eyes went wide from the pain before he fell down on all fours.

“Oh my god! I’m so sorry.”

Badgerclops went to pick him up, but he was waved off. “The blob. The blob. Tell me about the blob.”

“Cool it. Camille  high-blood pressure would give you a stroke.”

Mao Mao took a second to gather himself, clenching his fist before letting it all go. “All. Alright. The blob. What is the blob?”

“You should do that more often. You’re a very tense person,” Badgerclops teased.

“The blob.”

“Right, uh, the blob is a blob. Its big, gooey, kidnaps villagers-”

Mao Mao inhaled sharply and he tapped his foot.

“-it’s not all that bad. They’re unharmed, just a little confined. It hasn’t even taken anyone important.”

“Sheriffs? Is that you?”

Mao Mao and Badgerclops leaned forward, craning their necks and squinting their eyes. It was hard to see at first, Badgerclops had to open his cybernetic eye to actually see that King Snugglemagne was now a hostage. Mao Mao rubbed his temples why Badgerclops cursed fate for always making him look like a fool.

“Sheriff! It's utterly dreadful. Could you hurry and get me out? I’d certainly rather you didn’t forgo saving me like last time.”

“I’ve never done anything like that. I do my job, and I do it very well, thank you very much.”

“You did nothing when I was trapped in a net by that ruffian that looked a lot like you.”

For a second, Mao Mao raised a non-existent eyebrow, but his fur stiffened and he reached for his sword.

Aw shit.

Badgerclops stepped in front of the cat. “Let’s slow down. He didn’t mean to insult your son.”

“Don’t worry. I’m just cutting him out,” he said,” if I take a little off the top, oh well.”

He raised his sword up. Badgerclops quickly grabbed the blade before he could bring it down. “No, I mean they blob fights back if you attack it.”

“How do you know?”

“I kicked the blob once and it fought back. It gave me a nasty bruise.”

Mao Mao looked Badgerclops up and down,” where’s the bruise?”

“It was at the beginning of the week. It healed.”

Mao Mao started Badgerclops in the eye with frigid intensity before he sheathed his sword. Thank fuck he believed it.

“So, what do we do,” Mao Mao asked.

“Get lunch?”

Mao Mao nodded in agreement. “Sure. Let’s go.”

“Excuse me? Still stuck! Help!

He and Mao Mao tuned out the king. They turned around and began to walk away.

* * *

“Jellybeans aren’t lunch.”

“Then do you want a milkshake?”

“You know I’m lactose-intolerant.”

“Then hush-up and eat ya’ beans.”

Mao Mao grumbled, doing as he was told. He and Badgerclops sat on the bench just outside the gas station. Muffin’s Bakery was the first, but considering Muffin’s was trapped in the blob (and the broken storefront) it wasn’t open. The gas station was the second choice. It didn’t really offer food. Just the usual cheap snacks, and milkshakes for some reason. The blob had tagged along for what it was worth. Unfortunately, it had to carry most of the kingdom with it.

“Are you going to save me,” the king asked.

“We’ll get to it eventually,” Badgerclops held the drink in front of Mao Mao,” got you a milkshake.”

“I told you I can’t drink milkshakes.”

“Is it like cobbler? A hero's code thing? I won't tell anyone if you do.”

“No! It's ‘cause I’m not a kitten. Adult cats are all lactose intolerant.”

“Can Jǐngtì still drink milk or has it gone the way of the dodo? Might invite him here some time.”

The last part was said quietly, an absent thought that wandered out, nonetheless, Mao Mao’s ears perked up.

“Why would you invite Jǐngtì?”

Badgerclops awkwardly cleared his throat before speaking. “He helped me fix up HQ a bit.”

Mao Mao didn’t say anything. He pressed his fingers together. Thumb to index, thumb to middle, thumb to ring, thumb to pinky in calming repetition.

“Oh, and while we were cleaning we found this.”

Badgerclops pulled out a golden finger. It took Mao Mao a second to realize what it was. How did that happen? Did he do that? Oh shit, he probably did. He had to stop himself from snatching his father’s finger away.

“You know what this is,” Badgerclops asked.

“Think so.” Why did he say that?

“Are you gonna tell me?”

Mao Mao bit his tongue before he could let the name slip out.

“You want it back," Badgerclops asked.

“Yes, please.” Mao Mao wasted no time tucking the finger in his belt when it was handed back.

“So, do you remember what happened?” Badgerclops started.

“What happened when?”

When I was away.”

“No.”

“You don’t? You don’t remember what happened, how you got those wounds, who visited you? None of that?”

“I was pretty wasted and these drugs aren't helping my head, so what were we talking about before this?”

He could catch Badgerclops grimace at the rough change of subject, but Badgerclops was kind enough to oblige. “Something about Jǐngtì and milkshakes? You think he could drink milk?”

Mao Mao paused to think for a second,”...he might. He’s always had some… issues.”

“I don't mean to pry, but do you mind if I ask why?”

“No it's fine, but uh...what I mean is… well, you know how kittens can’t regulate their body temperature?”

“I did not know that, but continue.”

“Well, that’s supposed to go away by like, age 4, but Jǐngtì still can’t do it. It's fine since it's summer, but I’ll probably give him a coat when it starts getting cold.”

“Seems like a double-edged sword. Can’t stay warm, but can still enjoy cheese.”

“Yeah, the doctor’s say it because he’s a hybrid. Certain genes just don’t mix. He also has an issue with his eyes-”

Mao Mao cut himself short. Why was he being so open about all of this? Was it also the medicine?

“You good,” Badgerclops.

“Yeah, I think I’m fine. Where was I?”

“Something about his eyes.”

“Right, Jǐngtì’s pupils are larger than normal, so he can see really well in the dark, but he squints during the day or in a decently-lit room.”

“That’s one reason to wear sunglasses indoors.”

Mao Mao chuckled. “Yeah, I guess it is.”

“I checked on him while you were away. He’s holding up well. He even helped me fix HQ.”

Mao Mao twiddled his tail through his fingers,”...I’m sorry.”

“What? No, no, it's fine-”

“No, I mean it. I shouldn’t have caused you so much trouble.” Mao Mao choked up.

“I- I shouldn’t’ve-”

Badgerclops placed a supportive hand on his shoulder. ”If you ever feel… down again, just know I’ll be there to help you get back on your feet. Don’t be afraid to ask.”

Mao Mao closed in for a hug. He sniffled but managed to wipe the tear from his eye. “Yeah, thanks…I’m feeling better already.”

“Yes this all very touching,” Snugglemane interjected,” but I still don’t see you trying to help me.”

“Oh be quiet,” Mao Mao said, flicking a pink jelly-bean at the king. The shot missed its mark by a decent margin, helplessly bouncing off the blob.

“Geez, if I was the broad side of a barn that might’ve almost hit me,” the king retorted.

Mao Mao harrumphed and waved the king off. He wasn’t in the mood for jackassery. Even if it was coming from the guy that paid him. He was tired of eating jelly beans, so he began throwing them at the trashcan. It wasn’t too different from flicking a paper football. Although, jelly beans were much harder to aim. Badgerclops nudged him, holding out as his hand as they both began to take aim. Everything was going fine if you ignored Snugglemagne. Eventually, Mao Mao got tired of the nagging and flicked a bean at him.

“Stop that,” Snugglemagne whined.

Instead of stopping Mao and Badgerclops chuckled like Beavis and Butthead. At least they were chuckling until Mao Mao caught something out the corner of his eye. He shoved Badgerclops aside before throwing himself back as something smashed through the bench with comet-like fury.

Badgerclops coughed out,” what the hell was that,” as the dust cleared.

When everything settled, Snugglemane was face down in the dirt. Everything fell silent. Badgerclops inhaled sharply; Mao Mao began to laugh.

Badgerclops shot him a glare. Mao Mao quickly cleared his throat,” must be the medicine,” he mumbled.

Badgerclops was really proving himself because his eyes softened after a second. “Do you have any idea what happened?”

“I threw food at it, so it threw ‘food’ at me?”

“That… actually makes sense.”

“So, what do you want me to keep throwing jelly beans at them? It might get the rest of the kingdom?”

Badgerclops placed two fingers to Snugglemagne’s pulse before giving him a thumbs up. Mao Mao couldn’t lie to himself. It was kind of cathartic to watch the blob chuck Sweetipies a 100 MPH.  With every toss the blog got smaller and smaller. When the last one was free the blob sorta imploded. It bubbled up before shrinking down with a disturbing noise and spreading goo everywhere.

“What the hell just happened?”

“It got too small thus it lost structural stability and collapsed.”

“I don’t know what any of that means, but I do know that everything worked out in the end.”

“Someone’s going to have to clean all this goo.”

“And it won’t be us,” Mao Mao said,” c’mon we have to pick up Adorabat from school.

* * *

They were only slightly late when picking up Adorabat from school. The rest of the children -or maybe they weren’t actually children Mao Mao honestly couldn’t tell- poured out from the school. She hopped down the steps before flying over.

“Mao Mao! Mao Mao!”Adorabat said as she zipped around them.

Badgerclops metal arm extended out and held the child in place. “Woah, there little buddy. What’s gotten you up?”

“The teacher says we’re going to be doing a play!”

“Really? That sounds nice.”

“The teacher says it’ll be next week. You’ll come, right?”

“Sure. Sounds fun.”

Adorabat slipped out of Badgerclops’ grip, flying an inch from Mao Mao’s face. “You promise?”

“I promise,” Mao Mao chuckled, patting her head.

[shadowtarot]

(Thieves in Inaba) I'm screaming right now! Did it actually happen? What about Nanako and Teddie?

Thieves in Inaba Part 53

The air is still, the whole dungeon has fallen deathly silent. Shaking eyes tell more of what has happened then actual words.

Minato.

Yu.

Both, staring at their quivering hands at what has just been dealt… Neither were aware of their actions, until this very moment. Looking up at the person in front of them, they see the blue flames of rebellion fade away…

Teddie’s right ear twitches, something was wrong. Very, very wrong. Nanako pauses, looking up at her friend with confusion. 

“What’s wrong Teddie? Did you hear something?” She asks.

Teddie knows he needs to get her out of there, and fast. Whatever happened…he needed to be with them. And Nanako, far away from it all. Without even speaking, the mascot grabs her hand and starts to run. 

“What’s going on? We were just gonna wait, right? Why are we leaving then?” The child asks. 

“I’m sorry Nana-chan…but I’m taking you home…” Teddie winces. Yu would have probably asked him to do this anyway, so doing it ahead of time would just be right.

They exit the Castle, and Teddie makes a TV appear…urging Nanako to get in. 

“But…what about my Big Bro? Is he…is he gonna come too?” She turns to Teddie, worry in her voice.

But Teddie doesn’t answer, he just simply offers a smile.

“Teddie…promise me!”

“Hm?” The mascot tilts his head.

“Promise that you’ll bring my Big Bro safe when he beats the bad guys!” She holds out her pinky. 

Teddie comes out of his bear suit, and wraps his pinky around hers in a pinky swear. “I promise, Nana-chan. And you better stay safe until then.”

She nods, letting go before going into the TV. Teddie then makes it disappear, getting rid of any chance of her coming back.

Back within the castle….neither Akechi nor Ren has moved. Red liquid drips from the other side, falling off the tips of the katanas. They are still alive…but weak.

Yu and Minato, still can’t find anything to say. It’s as if they wish this all to be a nightmare, or just another part of the spirit duo’s illusion. 

Adachi finally sighs and shakes his head as he starts to direct people in the group he’s stuck in. “Don’t remove the blade. Do that, and he’ll bleed out. How many of you kids can heal?”

Morgana looks at Akechi’s situation. “We need to heal him. But without causing more damage.”

The remaining Persona users find some of the others.

And are frozen at the sights before them.

Ryuji starts to move to Minato, preparing to attack him…but Ann stops him as she points out the look on his face. 

Naoto begins to help with Akechi’s situation..while still stunned at how it happened. 

They work in silence. Yu and Minato lower their heads, not willing to face their friends.

Faint apologies come from them repeatedly…..and they release their blades.

Yosuke goes to comfort Yu, as Junpei goes to Minato. 

“I’m sorry….”

“Why did this have to happen?”

Black shadowy mist creeps from the katana hilts to the victims they are on, yet no one seems to notice. 

Mishima, reading the vibes of the room decides to go into the captives chamber and free the person trapped. Opening it, he finds Ai Ebihara. 

She looks to him, squinting. “You’re rescuing me?” She asks, a bit skeptical. 

“One out of a much larger group, but yes.” Mishima replies. Despite him talking to a girl, the mask granted by his Persona allows for a bit of protection. That and the current air in the area left nothing for a bout of flustering to occur. 

Noticing another door within the room she’s trapped in, Mishima looks to his group and silently gestures that he’s going to use it so she doesn’t have to see what has happened.

Ryuji gives a silent nod in return as he holds Ren steady as the others start to gently remove his coat and t-shirt to better treat his injury.

The two Moon Arcana head though the door, which is in actuality, a staircase…leading right around the corner from where Yu is. Mishima motions Ai to wait as he checks their surroundings…only to find the same scene they were just trying to avoid.

Shocked, but still knowing he had a job to do…Mishima leads Ai down a different hallway. If he can get her to the entrance, he just had to wait for Morgana.

But how long would it take? And could he do it without her ever seeing?

[miraculousmumma]

Designs on You - Chapter Four - Dreams Don’t Hurt

Characters:  Adrien Agreste/Chat Noir, Marinette Dupain-Cheng/Ladybug,  Alya Césaire, Nino Lahiffe, all of the class really, Tom Dupain, Sabine Cheng, Nadja Chamack, Gabriel Agreste, Nathalie Sancoer

Pairings: Adrien/Marinette, Chat Noir/Marinette

Warnings: A little angst, a little fluff, a little swearing, a little kissing, an orchid

Word Count: 25,825 (17 chapters)

Summary:  When Chat Noir comes across Marinette sitting alone in the park sketching late at night, he offers to see her home safely. What starts as a simple conversation between them quickly develops into something more that leaves both sides of their personas confused about their feelings.

Adrien was determined to give Marinette the chance to give him the box privately, so as not to have her feel pressured in front of their classmates, and he came up with the perfect plan.  The bakery opened at seven, school started at eight-thirty.  If he went to the bakery about eight to buy something he could legitimately offer Marinette a ride in.  His driver took his order of a diversion with a grunt, and they were soon at Tom and Sabine Boulangerie Patisserie.  He spoke politely to Sabine while she filled his order, just a couple of cheese croissants he could pass off as a lunchtime treat, that Plagg would happily help him with, and four fruit tarts to share with his friends, Marinette included.  He paid, then checked his watch.

‘Madame Cheng, as I’m heading that way, do you think Marinette would like a ride to school?’

‘I’m sure she won’t say no.’  Sabine smiled.  ‘I’ll just go and get her.’

Marinette looked at the patterned gift box Chat had chosen for the waistcoat, so many thoughts running through her head.  The first one was that she had promised Chat she would give the gift, he had made her pinky swear as he left her balcony that night, and she wasn’t one to break a promise, but her stomach butterflied with nerves at the thought.  Second to that was what she was going to do about Chat.  He came back, that was three nights in a row she had seen him out of her mask.  She felt like she was leading him on, or lying to him intentionally, something she hated in other people, but what was she to do?  She knew she wasn’t ready to tell him who she was, if he were affected by another akuma it could reveal her identity to Hawkmoth.  It could put her family in danger, she wouldn’t do either of those things deliberately, but…but… she sighed.  As Ladybug she only got to see him in action, when things were dire, either fighting, or running from their Miraculous’ beeping, even if they patrolled together he was flirty rather than friendly, but this, she got to see a side of the man he really was, the generous, encouraging man who loved dessert and didn’t laugh at her inability to talk to a boy, who knew Shakespeare by heart and walked her home because he was genuinely that good a person.  She liked seeing this side of Chat, she loved seeing it, it was like someone had suddenly lit him up, showing him for what he was, for all the things she missed as Ladybug due to duty and time restraints, and she realised that he didn’t know her either.  If only there were some way of repaying him in kind, letting him get to know her civilian side, and then she realised he was.  That was exactly what was happening, only he didn’t know it was Ladybug he was encouraging to give a gift to her long term crush.  He would be devastated.  It wasn’t fair on him, and she didn’t want to hurt him by telling him to stop coming by, not when he evidently enjoyed it so much, but the only other way was to tell him who she was.  She didn’t want to lead him on, but…

‘What’s wrong, Marinette?’  Tikki tilted her head as she flew up close to her chosen’s face.  She had been staring at the gift box in her hand for three full minutes, almost four now.  If she had a reset button, Tikki would have pressed it.

‘I can’t keep lying to him, Tikki.’  She said quietly.

‘Adrien?’

Marinette blinked and focused on her small red companion.  ‘No, Chat.  I’m getting to know him in a way I can’t as Ladybug, and he doesn’t even know he’s letting his guard down to his partner.’

‘Are you thinking of revealing yourself to him?’  Tikki asked gently.

‘Yes, no, I don’t know!’  She said in frustration.  ‘I don’t think it’s safe to do so, but the only other option is to turn him away as Marinette, and I kind of get the idea he needs to be able to come here, that it helps him.  Like he’s lonely.’

Tikki regarded her carefully, realising she had described Adrien perfectly, and yet she still had no idea.  ‘I think you’re right.’  Tikki said softly.  ‘He does seem lonely, and he does seem to enjoy visiting you.  Are they really your only two choices?’

Marinette shrugged.  ‘I think so.  And I don’t want to hurt him because he’s been helping me with my crush on Adrien.’

Tikki’s lip twitched as she tried not to smile, but Marinette didn’t notice, her eyes back on the gift in her hands.  ‘I think he’d be fine with that.’

Her eyes darted to her kwami again.  ‘Really?  Because I don’t.’

‘He wants you to be happy.’  Tikki shrugged, glancing at the hatch.  ‘Someone’s coming.’

Marinette quickly opened her shoulder bag for Tikki to fly inside, turning as there was a soft knock on the hatch before it opened, her mom’s head appearing wearing a knowing smile.

‘Good, you’re ready.  One of your friends stopped in for pastries and has offered you a ride to school.’

‘Oh, okay.’  Marinette grabbed her backpack, still clutching the gift in one hand, holding it against her chest before following her mom downstairs.

‘Grab a croissant so you don’t go hungry.’  Her mom told her as they passed a tray not long out of the oven, passing her daughter a paper bag to slot one in.  ‘And don’t skip lunch either.’

‘No, Maman.’  Marinette dutifully replied, her father helping her bag the croissant with a quick kiss to her cheek.  ‘Merci, Papa.’  She smiled.

‘Have a great day, baby.’  Tom grinned, and it made Marinette frown at him.  He was being…weird.

‘And don’t forget to thank your friend.’  Sabine continued as she walked into the storefront, Marinette behind her.

‘I won’t, Maman.  Adrien?’  She gasped, almost dropping the box in her hand as she saw which classmate was waiting for her.  If she hadn’t had her mind so preoccupied with Chat she might have figured it out, as no one else she was close to got driven to school.

‘Good morning, Marinette.’  Adrien smiled, his eyes flicking to the box just once, glad she had chosen to bring it.  ‘Do you want a ride to school?’

‘She does.’  Sabine pushed her stunned daughter forward and out from behind the counter.  ‘Have a great day, kids.’

‘Merci, we will.’  Adrien nodded to her before turning back to Marinette.  ‘Shall we go?’

‘Uh huh.’  She nodded, just a little too fast, but flashed her mom wide eyes as she went, her mom rewarding her with an encouraging thumbs up.  ‘So, you don’t normally come to the patisserie.’  Marinette asked as soon as they were outside.

‘I had a real craving for cheese pastries this morning, and I figured where best to quell that craving but the best patisserie in the city?’  He indicated to the bag and box in his hands.

‘What did you choose?’  She asked, more for something to say than because she actually wanted to know.

‘Cheese croissants.’

‘They’re really good.’  She agreed with his choice.  ‘Sometimes Papa makes them with bacon too.  They’re the perfect thing for a lazy Sunday brunch.’

‘I might have to try that this weekend.’  He said as they reached the car, Gorilla holding it open for them.  Adrien insisted Marinette get in first, then followed her, both putting on their seatbelts as Gorilla started the engine.  ‘Is it someone’s birthday?’  Adrien asked, gesturing to the gift Marinette didn’t see to want to let go of.

‘Oh, no, not a birthday, not really.  More a whim, definitely a whim.’  She nodded rapidly.  ‘Sometimes I design things, and, and they just need to be made, I have to make them, and they aren’t always something I can wear myself, and,’ she sighed, ‘and a good friend told me not to be afraid to give them to people who might appreciate them, who they would suit, and fit.’  She flushed heavily and looked down at her lap, holding the box out to him.  ‘So, here.  I thought this might fit, and you might get some use out of it.  If not, that’s okay, but it’s not going to do me any good sitting in my closet.’

‘For me?’  Adrien put as much genuine surprise into his words as he could, taking the familiar box from her.

‘Sure.’  She side eyed him, taking in the smile he wore, and it was contagious, leaking onto her own lips as she tried to watch him open it without being too obvious.

‘The box is really pretty too.’  Adrien remarked.

‘My friend chose it.’  She mumbled, watching as he pulled the ribbon away and lifted the lid, placing it on the seat beside him.  The waistcoat was folded carefully, layered in tissue paper so as not to allow wrinkles, and he lifted it out by the shoulders, holding it up before him, grinning more at the fact she had actually done it than the garment itself.

‘Wow!  I love it, you made this?’

She couldn’t talk as his green eyes turned on her, his face split in an excited grin, instead she just nodded.

‘Can I try it on?’

‘Now?’  She said, wondering how he was going to do that, as he already had his shirt on over a Gabriel t-shirt.

‘You don’t mind, do you?’  He asked, and she shook her head, a little wide eyed.  ‘Great.’  He slipped his arm out of the seatbelt, hoping that his enthusiasm would encourage her to be more outspoken with him, as she was with Chat, more comfortable.  He threw the box onto the seat with the lid and laid the waistcoat on top of it, pulling off his shirt and handing it to Marinette.  ‘Could you hold this?’  He asked, not pausing as she clutched the garment which was still warm, and smelled of him and, oh my God he was taking his t-shirt off!

Marinette stared fixedly at the back of the seat in front of her, her cheeks, she was sure, were scarlet.  Adrien Agreste was sitting next to her shirtless.  Breathe.  Yes, breathing was good, and she realised she was holding hers.  That wouldn’t help.  She took in a deep breath, wondering if she was going to die in this moment, knowing she would go happily at this point.

Adrien took the shirt from her hands again and slipped it on, fastening all the buttons before carefully putting on the waistcoat and leaving it open, putting his arm back through the seatbelt before turning to his friend.  ‘What do you think?’

‘I think I died.’  She mumbled, and he noticed she was wide eyed and flushed, staring at the seat in front of her.

‘You’re not dead.’  He laughed, poking her thigh with his finger.  ‘I didn’t mean to embarrass you, I just don’t get given gifts like this very often.  I guess I got kinda excited.  Thank you, it seems to fit perfectly.’  And he quickly leant in and kissed her cheek, much as she had his the night before.

Marinette decided she was dreaming.  Yup.  No way this was real.  She wasn’t dead, he was right, she was still asleep, because Adrien giving her a ride to school, stripping half naked in the car, then kissing her cheek, was something right out of her wildest dreams.  Well, maybe not wildest, but it was up there.  And it was her new favourite, she decided, because it felt so real.  But, as it was a dream, she didn’t need to be as shy, she could talk to him.  It just took one word at a time.

‘You’re honestly welcome.’  She turned finally, seeing the overall finished look, and it was amazing, to see Adrien wearing something she made for him, and it really suited him, fitting his physique perfectly.  ‘I actually wanted to make a jacket but I didn’t have enough material, so it became a waistcoat.’

Adrien blinked at how articulate she suddenly was.  Maybe that was the key to getting her to talk more naturally to him like this, to give her a subject she felt comfortable with.  ‘A jacket would be amazing, but I love this.  It can be smart or casual, just add a tie, and the colours are so bright, really fitting this season.  You’re a great designer.’

‘It was nothing.’  She nudged him with her shoulder.

‘It’s not nothing, you obviously put a lot of work into it.  It’s well made, and trust me, I know quality clothing.’

‘I guess so.’  She replied.  ‘Thanks for not freaking out.’

‘Why would I freak out?’  He asked as the car stopped outside the school, moving the box into the footwell so they could slide across the seats, as Gorilla opened the door for them.  Adrien got out and turned to wait for Marinette, aware that several of his classmates were already outside, including Chloe who called one of her sickly nicknames as she approached, but he simply threw her a wave, waiting for Marinette.

So far, Marinette was enjoying this dream, even Chloe being here had so far not ruined things, but as she stepped out of car, or tried to, she remembered that she was a klutz no matter whether awake or asleep.  One foot caught in the gift box, flipping it up into her other leg and sending her sprawling through the door, her feet still in the car, but Adrien was there as she twisted in the air, arms flailing.

He had never been so happy that his cat-like reflexes sometimes bled over into his real life, as he saw Marinette falling out of the car.  He caught her easily, one arm around her waist, the other cradling her head, as though she were some movie heroine he had just rescued, and he couldn’t help but quirk her a cheeky grin.  ‘Well, I guess I know the exact moment you fell for me.’  He joked, helping her find her feet on the pavement before letting her go, Nino and Alya whooping from the steps in delight.

‘Oh please, that was years ago.’  Marinette laughed, shifting her bag back onto her shoulder where it had slipped down her arm.

‘What?’  Adrien’s mouth fell open at her perhaps inadvertent confession, but she didn’t seem to hear, most likely because Alya and Nino were talking rapidly and loudly as they reached them, leaving Adrien to take his bag out of the car along with his pastries in a state close to shock.  Marinette fell for him years ago?  What?  Suddenly it all became clear.  Her shyness, why she couldn’t give him gifts, why his pictures were on her wall.  Ohhhhhh.

‘Dude, looking swish.’  Nino offered him his fist to bump, and Adrien did it halfheartedly without really looking.

‘Thanks.’  He mumbled.

‘New waistcoat from your father’s line?’

‘No, it was…it was a gift.’  He murmured, watching Marinette as she chatted to Alya, or more accurately listened to whatever it was Alya had on her mind.  As though sensing his eyes on her, Marinette turned and flashed him a smile, blushing slightly.  ‘Hey, Nino, do you ever look at something for so long you suddenly realise something that was right in front of you the entire time?’

‘Oh man, all the time!’  Nino laughed as they started walking towards the school, falling into step behind the girls as Nino started to relay related stories.

‘You got a ride in with Adrien, how did that happen, girl?’  Alya encouraged her as they walked up the steps.

‘It’s a long story.’  Marinette smiled warmly at her friend…before walking firmly into the door.  ‘Ow!’  She rubbed her shoulder where she jarred it and carried on inside.

‘Well, you can tell me the long story after lunch, okay?  And you have got to watch where you’re walking.  That knock will leave a bruise.’

‘Yeah.’  She muttered, her shoulder throbbing from it, which was when it hit her.  Dreams don’t hurt.

[fiercyy]

Rings

AU where Roy and Riza have been married the whole time. 

Riza makes few concessions to femininity while on duty. She wears no makeup and chooses to wear uniform pants instead of the knee length skirt many of her peers prefer. She has long, shiny hair but ties it back in a severe coil. Her ears are pierced but the studs are utilitarian steel.

She’s terribly mysterious and quiet. There aren’t many people who can claim they know a single personal thing about her.

Riza, though usually well-kept and properly decked out in her dress blues, cannot be a paragon of military excellence at all times. Occasionally she is forced to forgo her jacket, and it is only then that something completely at odds with her persona becomes apparent.

She wears a gold chain around her neck. Its links are thicker than a traditionally feminine aesthetic, but it is intricate and handmade, with care. Like an amulet hangs a ring, small and golden. Its band is wide and etchings can be seen but not identified. Who would dare get close enough?

If one were particularly curious or brave enough to ask, and few are, they might receive a perfunctory answer as to its origins. “I’ve had it for many years,” she’ll say.

It’s a man’s band and there are some who know that Bertoldt Hawkeye has been dead for many years. The obvious assumption is that it’s his.

But bored soldiers make the best gossips.

There have been many outlandish claims and theories: it’s a trophy from her first kill, winnings from a gamble on her sharpshooting, a token from a dead sweetheart—lost to war.

Riza dignifies none of them, but Roy has successfully circulated the theory that she was secretly married once, without it getting back to her. This is widely considered the most farfetched rumor.

. .

Edward and Alphonse do a lot of travelling. It gets a little boring sometimes, especially because they can’t take more than a couple books on the road, certainly not enough to last even a single train trip- even if they swapped!

Luckily, the Elric Brothers are the sort of people who, despite knowing each other all their lives, never run out of things to talk about. They yell jokes, play games and reminisce.

One of their favourite pastimes is finding riddles for each other. Or asking questions, seemingly without answers.

One morning on the way to Central from another repair trip, Ed asks Al, “Have you ever noticed that the Colonel is literally always wearing gloves?”

“I’m sure that’s not true,” Al protests, “No one wears gloves all the time, that’s unhygienic.”

“What would you know about hygiene?”

“Brother! I read!”

“No but really, think about it for a second.”

“My gosh, you’re right!” Al practically quivers. “What do you think he’s hiding?”

“Maybe they’re all wrinkled and spotty, like an old man’s,” Ed practically cackles. “Or maybe they’re actually super tiny baby hands and he stuffs his gloves!”

Ed is too busy with his new Dream Scenario to hear Al’s protests that that doesn’t make any sense.

“Seriously though,” Al brings it up again, a day later, on another train. “What do you think he’s hiding?”

“I dunno Al,” Ed knocks his fist against his brother’s armored chest absently. “Maybe he just doesn’t like being vulnerable.”

. .

Stabbed through both hands, bleeding and desperate to survive, Roy removes his gloves. He carves an array into the back of his hand. The part of him that is ruthlessly practical and unsentimental wonders why he never thought to do this in the first place. He would never be without a weapon, he would be safe, always. He could protect: always.

Later he’ll remember himself. He’ll regret it a little. He has given himself a terrible gift, whereas once he hoped for a day when he would never have to snap his fingers again.

Now he holds his hand above his head and lights a fire over and over again, burning Lust to a crisp; right before his subordinates eyes.

Hours later, it’s all over.

He holds his now scarred hand to his chest, pressed against his heart. A gold band gleams on his pinky.

His lieutenant sits beside him quietly. She lays her hand over his. The clamminess recedes. His hand grows warm.

. .

When he thinks about his past, he thinks about her and the few happy days before. When he thinks about his future, he yearns for her and hopes for happy days still to come.

For now, he spends his life working two feet away from the love of his life, not quite close enough to touch.

And for now, it must be enough.

Nanowrimo wordcount: 5,548

[motorcyclegirlfriends]

Could you possibly write some cute supercorp fluff regarding this post pretty pls? "Relationship goals: being with someone for years and still say goodnight for like 20 minutes cus both of ya so infatuated with each other ya keep bringing shit to talk about after saying goodnight and sweet dreams like 4 times"

This is beyond late, but that’s because It ended up being very long.

Also this may be earlier in the relationship than expected, but you’ll understand why. And there’s a touch of angst in there because I am incapable of Not™.

Lena had learned to be wary of the rain. She had loved it as a child, enjoying any white noise the world could offer to her consciousness, but now that her mind had eased open to experience, slowly, she found herself seeking music. With nothing to drown out, the rain had merely become an unwelcome distraction.

Okay, so, sweeping metaphors aside, it kept Kara away from her.

The rain typically meant decreased visibility, terrible road conditions, a plethora of other unexpected kinds of dangers, and an overall increase in Supergirl’s duties. Which meant her girlfriend was decidedly not by her side.

It shouldn’t bother her as much as it does, Kara’s absence. Afterall, It’d been 4 years. Early in the relationship by many people’s standards (by a lesbian’s standards, they were actually moving rather slowly), but Lena figured seeing her shouldn’t feel so much like an addiction at this stage.

Either way, Lena found herself curled up with a book in their bedroom, trying to only glance at the doorway about once every 5 pages. Kara had texted her that she was wrapping up about half an hour ago, but it really had no bearing on when she’d return. Supergirl could encounter anything from an alien attack to a cat in stuck in a tree and she would have to stop and help.

The downfalls of dating the patron saint of National City.

When a gentle tapping sound surfaced out from under the sound of raindrops, Lena looked up to see Kara, on the balcony, soaked but smiling and waving at her. Lena threw her blanket off her legs and hurried over to the balcony door to unlock it.

“Kara! You must be freezing.”

Lena grabbed her soaked hand to pull her in from the balcony, but stopped short when she realized that the hand was incredibly warm. In fact, looking at her in the cold night’s air, the yellow light from the fixture on the side of the building illuminating Kara, Lena could faintly see heat waves rising from her body. Kryptonian physiology contrasted with a freezing and rainy winter night.

Lena gave a short, breathy laugh and Kara smiled bemusedly.

“I still forget sometimes.”

“Even when I enter from the balcony I accessed with my flying powers, still wearing the super suit, having texted you minutes before about a new alien race I’d encountered?”

Lena swatted the hand she was holding.

“Shut up and take your boots off.”

Kara chuckled and obliged, but not before pulling Lena’s hand up to kiss it. Lena rolled her eyes, but missed the warmth of Kara’s hand when she let go. Lena rubbed her hands along her arms as she made her to the bed. Kara shut the door and stripped on the spot. Lena quickly closed the blinds with a remote by her bedside.

Kara laughed, “So you’re not afraid someone will see me in my supersuit, but god forbid they see me naked.”

“You underestimate me. I can be afraid of both things.”

Kara shook her head as she folded her suit and said, “Well don’t worry, because neither is happening. No one is out there. Seems you forgot my-” She tapped her temple, “trusty x-ray eyes, too.”

So she already checked.

They’d gotten a place on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by trees and far enough away from other houses that Kara could avoid being spotted altogether if she moved quickly. But they both had their fair share of enemies, and Lena still worried about who might be listening in. You don’t leave the Luthor household without a proclivity for making enemies and your fair share of paranoia. And, apparently, you don’t dive into tragedies daily without bringing a portion of that hypervigilance home.

Having Supergirl sleeping next to her every night didn’t exactly hurt Lena’s peace of mind, but she often wondered what kept Kara’s mind from raging against her at night, what helped her feel safe.

Lena picked up her novel and resumed reading as the heroine brushed her teeth, combed her hair, and (unfortunately, in Lena’s humble opinion) put on pajamas. The ones with the little golden retrievers on them. Lena was more of a t-shirt and underwear girl, herself. Especially when sleeping next to Kara Zor-El, Kryptonian furnace.

Kara crawled up the bed and rested her chin on her folded arms, looking at Lena.

“I missed you today.”

“You miss me every day.”

“Yes weeeeell, I thought I should remind you,” Kara inched closer, on her elbows, “In case you forgot.”

She lifted her head up to kiss Lena briefly, then rested it on Lena’s chest.

Kara settled into her, slipping her hand under her t-shirt to wrap her arm around her stomach. Lena wrapped her own free arm around Kara, sighing happily at how comfortably Kara fit to her.

“Well, I don’t think I’ll forget, but feel free to remind me,” Lena said, trailing her fingers up and down Kara’s arm.

“Oh, you won’t? You forgot I was an alien two minutes ago.”

Lena laughed a bit.

“Oh, I’ll get it eventually.”

“Hmm, don’t count on it. I still forget I’m an alien from time to time.”

“Really?” Lena said, pulling back a bit to look down at Kara.

Kara looked up at her and shrugged. She looked exhausted, Lena suddenly noticed.

“How were your rounds?”

Kara shrugged a second time, resting her head back down.

“Mostly just long. Ended up using my powers a surprising amount, but no casualties.”

“Well that’s good.”

“Yeah,” Kara said through a yawn.

Lena looked at where she was in the chapter. Nowhere near the end.

She let her book fall and said, quietly, “You wanna sleep?”

“You can read. I’ll just sleep on you.”

Lena laughed lightly, “Nah, I think I’m ready for bed anyway.”

“Okay,” Kara said, volume decreasing by the minute.

Lena closed her book and took off her glasses, setting them on the bedside table.

Kara stayed loosely wrapped around her as Lena shut off the light, said goodnight, and scooted down to lay beside Kara.

They faced each other, Kara’s eyes already closed. Lena didn’t mind, content to watch her fall asleep. She located Kara’s eyebrow scar, which Lena secretly had deemed her anchor point. If was possible to have a home smaller than the point of a pinky, this was Lena’s.

When she first had discovered that Kara was Supergirl, she taught herself to find the scar whenever the heroine appeared. Now, she found it beyond ridiculous that she had needed even that to recognize Kara. But there was something transformative in spirit to the suit that made it hard to find the sweet girl that Lena had come to know.

So in the beginning, if Supergirl arrived on the scene to save the day (Which was needed more in Lena’s life than she would have originally predicted), Lena would seek that scar out to find familiarity, to feel even safer.

In the middle, when Lena was thoroughly in love and Supergirl was on television, being pummeled into the ground by the latest worldwide threat, Lena sought the scar out. She wasn’t sure why, it only made herself feel worse when she spotted it, but she couldn’t help but look for it anyway.

And now, whenever Kara Danvers was Kara Zor-El, the lost child of Krypton, unrecognizable amongst her grief and the stars, Lena looked for the sun in her features and somehow always landed on that scar.

Lena kissed it gently.

When she leaned back, Kara was smiling sleepily, eyes open again. Her voice was surprisingly awake when she said, “Did you have a good day today?”

“Probably.”

Kara’s eyebrows crinkled together, “Probably?”

“Now that you’re here, every second you weren’t has just dimmed in my mind. I can’t recall. You eclipse everything.”

Kara looked a little stunned for a second, but then she just chuckled and threw her pillow at Lena’s face.

“You’re so corny.”

Lena just shook her head and gave her her pillow back.

“Only a little.”

Kara put her pillow back under her head as she said, “You’re a lot corny, but it’s okay. I like it.”

“But that’s not true! I am the opposite of corny. People have been know to call me edgy, in fact.”

Kara’s eyebrows shot up.

“People?”

“…The internet.”

“Ha! I knew it! They don’t count.”

Lena frowned, “They absolutely count! They represent the masses. They are the ones who see my outward persona. What doesn’t count is how you see me when we’re thoroughly into a relationship.”

“Nah, I knew you were cheesey right away.”

“Bullshit.”

Kara laughed. For some reason, she always laughed when Lena cursed, and Lena would shamelessly use that to her advantage whenever she wanted to hear it.

“No, seriously! I knew. Maybe not right away, but before we were dating. You would say stuff like, um… Oh, ‘Kara Danvers, you are my hero’.”

“…When? Wait. I said that as a joke!”

“No, you played it off as a joke. That’s entirely different.”

Lena shook her head vehemently as Kara continued, “Oh! And the flowers? Oh my god.”

Lena mock-glared at Kara, making her laugh more.

“That stuff doesn’t count. I had a crush on you.��

“Aw, babe. You had a crush on me?”

“Don’t-”

“That’s embarrassing.”

“I’m cancelling our Netflix tomorrow.”

“Doesn’t matter, I have all of the Parks and Rec dvds.”

“Ugh, well…. Good! Because you need to watch them more, because the quote doesn’t fit. We’re not married.”

Their stunned eyes locked. It was like the air had been electrified, and yet everything had slowed. The topic of marriage had hardly been broached.

After a moment, Lena could hear Kara breathe out a bit and say, “No, we’re not… Not yet.”

Lena smiled at her, and reached out to rub her thumb against Kara’s cheek. Kara very quickly turned her head and kissed Lena’s hand.

Suddenly, Lena’s eyebrows furrowed.

“Weren’t you tired?”

“Hmm…” Kara took Lena’s hand from her cheek and began playing with her fingers,  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re going to be tired tomorrow.”

“I’ll just fly into the sun or something.”

Lena gave her a withering look, “It’s not the same. And then you’ll be tired when you start using your powers anyway.”

“Weeeell, I’ll just ask you to send me risque texts, get my blood pumping.”

“As if you could get through reading them without blushing in front of everyone.”

“Nuh-uh.”

“…Kara, are you… you are. You’re blushing right now.”

“Yeah! Well! Your lies are embarrassing.”

Lena just kissed her, smiling into it.

“I love you blushing.”

“And I love you… you.”

“You’re so smooth.”

“I am. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Now go to sleep.”

“Interesting concept. But nah.”

“Then what? Gonna go for a fly? Find another lost dog? You were tired a minute ago!”

“I’m still tired. But talk to me.”

“I am.”

“No, tell me about your day. Everything you can remember.”

“…Uh, I got up,”

“I was there!” Kara said, beaming.

Lena laughed, “You were there. Aaand, I got ready for work. But then someone decided to get me un-ready.”

“Hey, I offered to super-speed your clothes back on after we were done.”

“I think I should dress myself, probably. But thank you, I guess.”

“Any time.” Kara tried to wink (and failed- she closed both of her eyes).

“But wouldn’t the traditional offering be something closer to super-speeding my clothes off?” Lena said, after thinking a moment.

“Kara Danvers is never traditional.”

“You know, it’s funny because you’re not really traditional by human standards, but that usually means something else.”

“See? Even my twists and turns have twists and turns.”

“More like- you’re so unconventional that you come back around and are, in fact, conventional.”

“Well that’s less interesting sounding.”

“Kara, you’re a reporter by day and a superhero- well, also by day- you’re from space-”

“Well, I’m not from space, I’m from a planet-”

“The point is, you’re already too interesting for your own good, with just that stuff. And then you add your personality to it, and then ask me to go to work and think about other things all day? If you got any more interesting I’d quit my job and pursue a phd in Karaology.”

Kara gave her the recognizable small smile of when something means more to her than she’s letting on.

“Well, the feeling is very mutual.”

Lena’s yawn took her by surprise.

“Oh, you’re tired. That’s why you want us to sleep.”

“Well no. I want you to sleep because you should sleep. I just also happen to be tired.”

“Ha. Okay, then,” Kara said as she rolled onto her stomach. “Sleep time.”

“Sleep time.” Lena said, adjusting her position a bit, “Goodnight, Darling.”

“Nighty night, babe.”

Lena looked at Kara one last time, then closed her eyes.

Then they shot promptly open again.

“I saw Maggie today.”

Kara’s eyes were open in an instant.

“You did? How come?”

“She came by with a request for stronger containment units for Powered People.”

“Oh, well that’s good. You’ve been wanting to go further with security measures to protect The Unpowered.”

Recently, as the true range of alien diversity came to light, and as a few humans also had come to have abilities, terms had been created to discuss the treatment of these people.

“And you’re okay with that? Even though the powered are mostly aliens so far?”

“Yeah, as long as they don’t have those alien dna defenses your one guy pitched- the automatic ones. The offense as a defense stuff is what bothers me most.”

“Nah. I fired Rick, actually.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he kept suggesting more and more violent measures, figured out he was xenophobic. Should have known not to hire Lord’s rejects.”

“Yeah, probably not. If he didn’t even meet Lord’s standards…” Kara trailed off.

They were supposed to be sleeping, but now that the subject had been brought up, it was probably the best time for Lena to mention, “I’ve actually been thinking. Maybe we should get something here.”

“Unpowered Person protection? Actually that’s good. ‘U.P.P.’ Pronounced ‘up.’ But wait. Uh, really? I mean, you are aware there is a Powered Person here, right?”

“Yeah, well you’re not always here.”

Kara tilted her head.

“Are you worried?”

“No, not really. It’s actually, well, it’s more for you than anything.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. I sleep next to Supergirl every night. Where do you sleep?”

“I am her. I don’t need to sleep in a fortress. Besides, you haven’t come up with anything that is stronger than I am yet.”

“Yeah, but, I guess I just worry about it. I know when I go to sleep, that if anything ever came in here, even if it was stronger than you, I could trust you to get us to safety. I thought maybe having an extra line of defense could make you feel a little closer to that. Otherwise, what makes you feel safe at night?”

“You.”

“It’s not the same. I can’t protect you physically. Not like you could for me.”

“That’s not how it works… You asked me what makes me feel safe at night.”

“How could I make you feel safe when the monsters under the bed are real, powerful beings that could swallow me whole if I tried to help?”

“But I don’t worry about some Powered Person of ill-intent surprising us at night. That’s like… my job. I trust that I know how to handle that stuff. The stuff I do worry about, you’re perfectly capable of defending me against. You’ve proven that.”

“I hardly think staving off bad dreams is on par with being made of steel.”

“To me, it is.”

Lena didn’t look convinced. Kara smiled, sighed and pulled Lena’s hand over to rest on the skin above her heart.

“Can you feel my heart beating?”

Lena nodded.

“There’s not much on this earth that can stop it. There are a couple things that can get through my skin, but most of the time, it’s impenetrable. Unaffected.

“So I don’t need to protect it?”

“That’s not what I said.”

When Lena raised her eyebrow, Kara placed her own hand on top of Lena’s, to keep it feeling her heart beat. Then, suddenly, she leaned it and kissed Lena, hard and still, breathing her in.

When Kara pulled away from her and when Lena’s head cleared, she noticed Kara’s heart beating against the palm of her hand. Racing. Lena looked up at Kara’s eyes.

“Still?”

“Eternally.“

Kara pulled Lena’s hand down from her chest, laced her fingers through them, and spoke quietly.

“There are few things that can get to my heart physically, and yet there are so many that can hurt it, that do hurt it. It even seems to tear at itself, sometimes.”

Kara Zor-El was speaking, bearing, as always, the weight of many worlds. This time, though, as Lena and Kara’s eyes locked together, Lena couldn’t spare a glance at the scar to ground herself in it. Just for tonight, perhaps, she found she didn’t want to.

“But you, Lena- you fill it. Fuel it. Stitch it up after it’s battles. I just… I don’t need any more impenetrable walls. I need someone who makes my heart, makes me, stronger. And you do. Every day, you do.”

Lena’s eye found the need to water, just then, but Lena blinked the intrusive tears away. Kara was searching her face, eyebrows crinkling, but smiling softly. Lena let out a ‘whoosh’ of air.

“You give a good speech, Kara. I’ll give you that.”

Kara laughed and said, “Well you can take some credit for that.”

Lena’s head cocked in confusion.

“All the articles I wrote about you helped me perfect my word skills.”

“There were so many articles about me-”

“-So many.”

Kara covered her face and shook her head, as if embarrassed at her past self. Lena checked her phone for the time.

3 am.

“Oh, man. Goodnight.”

“No.” Kara pouted, “We don’t need sleep. I haven’t heard your voice all day.”

Lena tried to stare the pout down, but proceeded to give in embarrassingly quickly, “Fine. What do you want to talk about?”

“Tell me about the powered people containment units.”

“But you don’t like Earth science. It’s like ages behind Krypton and you said you don’t know the English terms.”

“I like anything that makes you excited, and you love science.”

“But the terms-”

“Just describe the words before you use them.”

“Okay. Well, do you know quarks?”

“Uh, you mean the building blocks of the universe that you discovered after you’d already called Atoms the building blocks of the universe?”

“Well. Yes… Are they, at least, the building blocks of the universe?”

“I’d probably have to see a picture of them to know their Kryptonese equivalent.”

“We actually don’t have a photo yet, just theories.”

“…Oh.”

Lena rolled her eyes, “You manage to make cutting edge science sound elementary.”

“Well, it kind of is.”

“Yeah, yeah. You learned it all as a kid, I know. Anyway, I was thinking-”

Lena described the science behind the latest L-Corp invention, while Kara listened to the sound of her voice, eyelids gradually lowering. By the time Lena came to the end of her description, expecting a response, Kara appeared to have left the waking world.

“Kara?” Lena whispered, suppressing a slight laugh.

Kara just breathed steadily, a smile lightly gracing her features as she slumbered. Watching her there, fingers tangled limply but rightly in her own, Lena was struck by it all. Her chest swelled, then, and expelled words of their own volition.

“Kara Zor-El Danvers, I think I could marry you.”