#please excuse my very pink office hehe

[crowgallery]

hello Gideon Graves nation

[mimikittysblog]

The Princess - Bonus Ending

Full story! ♡

Pairing: Mafia! Husbands! Poly! Ateez x Fem! Wife! Reader

Genre: Fluff, Angst if you squint really hard.

Synopsis: You found the traitor.

Warnings: Death, Violence, very slight MxM, some descriptions of gore. ⚠️MNDI⚠️ If I missed anything then please let me know!

Word Count: 1.8k Words

A/N: Hehe surprise! An extra ending 🤭 I wanted to add this on in the actual fic, but I liked where it ended off too much. So I decided to make this into a bonus ending where you could read it if you want, or just ignore it if you don’t. Hope you enjoy this too!

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

It has been a little over a week since your kidnapping. Things also have finally gone back to normal.

Except…

“Joooooooonggiiiieee!!!!!”

The yell for the captain of ATZ can be heard throughout the entire mansion, along with the sound of stomping pretty pink high heels.

“Oh my.”

“Well aren’t you in trouble”

Soon the door to Hongjoongs office was bursted open revealing the little fireball of which they call ‘Their Princess.’

“Oh princess.. whats the matter??”

That question only made your frown grow and eyebrows furrow even more.

“You promised we’d finally go shopping today! You said you wanted to dress me up! I’ve been waiting in the living room for over an hour!”

“Oooohh good luck with that!”

“See ya later our troubled husband! Hope she goes easy on you!”

The boys in the room quickly scatter, but of course not before giving you a sweet kiss and a compliment to your pretty outfit.

“Oh darling.. I’m so sorry!! I got caught up with work! Things have gotten so hectic princess.. there are these idiots that are always giving us trouble! And just….” As he kept going trying to give you reasons he notices your expression hasn’t changed at all, which makes him sigh.

Ever since your kidnapping, your husbands have become too anxious. So now they can’t even put their trust into any new body guards. Especially since the one that has ratted out your existence is still unknown.

So they took it upon themselves to always be your chaperone when you go out. As much of a hassle you thought it would be, it honestly just gives them an excuse to be around you even more. So in the end you just let them do it.

“I’m sorry our princess.. I mean it I’m very sorry…” he says as he gets up and makes his way over to you, pulling you close.

“Do you still want to go now..?”

“Can you go?”

“I have to make it up to you, don’t I?”

“And those idiots??”

“Hmmm well.. why don’t you tell me what I should do to them sweetheart?”

“Hmmmph. Well if they’re giving you guys so much trouble and they’re idiots, I don’t see why you can’t just kill them off and take what you need. We have the resources and manpower, plus you’ve done it before! You did it literally a week ago. You’re ATZ for goodness sake. No one is above you!” You say like it was nothing.

And you were right.

Hongjoong chuckles as he sits down and brings you into his lap.

“While you are correct my love, unfortunately what we need from them, requires them to still be alive. For now.” He explains.

“Ughh fineee…” You groan.

As you opened your mouth to speak again. That’s when a loud shrill screech disturbed the peacefulness of the moment.

“What now?!” Hongjoong barked.

“Oh! That must be my doing!” You said with what can only be described as a maniacal glint in your eyes.

“Oh?”

“Come Joongie! I’ll show you! Then we’ll go shopping!”

“Whatever you desire Princess.” He says with a kiss to your new diamond ring.

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

“LET GO OF ME!! LET GO!! I DIDN’T DO ANYTHING WRONG?! UNHAND ME AT ONCE!!”

“Then why did you run?”

“H-huh..?”

Here in the middle of your grand foyer, was a girl being held down by two men on her knees. Behind her, every single one of your maids stood their sights straight down.

While in front of her is where you stood. Tall and proud. Wearing a stoic expression however the glint from earlier still in your eyes.

“Princess?? What do we have here?” Seonghwa asks.

Your husbands have all now gathered around you on top of the staircase. Simply enjoying the show.

You spin on your heels to look up at them with a wide cheshire grin. “You’ll see my loves!”

“Sirs..! Sirs please!! Please help me! She’s mistaken!”

SMACK

“Don’t you dare speak to my husbands.” You growl. “Ugh look at what you’ve done! You’ve gotten blood on my new ring!” Your finger now slightly dripping blood from where the diamond cut her cheek.

“Oh no.. No worries sweetheart, we’ll make you a new one.” San tells you.

“Oooh! Alright Sannie Thank you!”

“Please.. why are you doing this?? What did I do wrong?”

Your laugh then rings out throughout the foyer. Echoing beautifully off the walls.

“Stop your pathetic little act.” You say as you crouch down to her eye level.

“I know you were the one that snitched about me.”

At this revelation your husbands became even more interested than before. They all perked up and blood boiling again now that they finally have the culprit.

“What?! Who even are you??!”

They’re so angry they want to just run down and tear her limb from limb. However they know you have something plan. So they just let you have your fun.

You smirk widens at Wooyoungs question. As you know how reality shattering it is to her.

“W-what..? You don’t.. recognize me?? Sir Wooyoung! I’ve worked here for years!! ..None.. of you recognize me?” She asks pitifully.

As she looks up at all of them, she sees nothing but fury and confusion. Not a single one of them having any knowledge on who she is.

SMACK

“I told you. Do not. EVER. Speak. To MY. Husbands.”

You then got up and turn back to your loves above you.

“My darlings. This here. Used to be one of our maids. And she thought that by getting rid of me. She could have all of you.”

“What?!”

“How absurd!”

“How stupid is what that is!”

“No! Its not true! It’s not! It wasn’t me!!! I-I would never betray any of you!” She continues to plea.

“Then why. Did. You. Run?”

“I-I didn’t..”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t notice your absence ever since I was returned home? Hah! It’s what gave you away! And you actually thought they would? and what?! go searching for you?!” You laugh at the ridiculousness of it all.

“The day after I returned home from my kidnapping. I realized we were short staffed. It didn’t take me long to realize it was you. When I asked, Kim said you resigned due to health. I didn’t believe it for a second. So I had them search your room. And look what I found!”

At your signal, The head maid Kim stepped forward and gave you a pile of letters.

Love letters.

“Hmm. I’m sure you can guess what these are. You wrote them. Each and every one of them. You didn’t hide them very well. Not sure why you didn’t even just burn or take them with you.” You scoff.

“They’re quite romantic actually… If. They weren’t addressed to my beloveds.”

Her blood has gone cold. She doesn’t know what to do. She can only kneel there looking up at you as she fears her fate.

Unfortunately her fate was sealed the second she began writing these letters.

“I-it’s not.. no… I-I never even gave it to them! Please!! It’s not what it looks like.”

“You thought once you got rid of me. You could swoop in and take my place. However once I came back alive, you decided to run. Thinking I would never suspect you. You then also believed that any of my husbands would realize you stopped being around and come looking for you! Because somehow you have convinced yourself that they’re in love with you! They don’t even know you!!”

“THEY LOVE ME!!!”

SMACK

“Oh. That was the hardest one yet.” Mingi whispers to Yunho. Who nods in agreement.

While on the other side of the staircase Yeosang whispers to Jongho about how this maid is insane to ever think that.

“100%.”

“They don’t. Why would they?” You start then throwing her letters in her face.

“Why would distinguished men like them ever waste space in their brains for a lowly pathetic slut like you? Let alone space in their hearts.”

“…I just..”

“Enough talking. You’ve said far more than you deserve. And frankly I’m bored already.”

You then extend your hand out. One of the henchmen that was holding her down then hands you a syringe.

The girl then panics at the sight of an unknown syringe.

“Wait no please! Whats in that?! What are you gonna do to me?!”

“You could’ve had anything you wanted in this mansion. Anything. And I promise you. I would’ve happily given them to you. My clothes. My shoes. My jewels. My gold. Anything. I’m just that generous.”

You open the syringe cap.

“However the thing you decided to covet? Were the only things that were forbidden. My. Prized possessions. My husbands. And for that. You must suffer the consequence.”

Before she can even let out another sound of protest you injected her straight in the neck.

You and the men holding her down then stepped back as her screams quickly filled the foyer. Her skin and flesh melting straight off of her bones.

“So thats what she ordered acid for.” Hongjoong then mumbles.

“You knew she ordered acid?” Wooyoung asks

“She used my card.” Hongjoong shrugs.

It was a ghastly sight but none of them were even slightly bothered.

Well.

Of course the other maids were.

Once her screams come to a halt. And she was nothing but a pile of goop on the once spotless marbled floor.

You laughed.

Your husbands then descended the stairs.

Once your laughing fit was over you addressed the other maids who were still standing there. Mortified of what has become of their once friend.

“Now all of you. Remember my words. You are free to ask anything you want from me. I have more than enough for multiple lifetimes so I’ll be happy to give it to you. However. If you ever even for a nanosecond think. You could replace me or take any of my husbands away from me. Well. Ask her how that turned out for her.” Fire resonating deep in your voice.

“Thats all. Now all of you clean this up please!” You then say with a bright smile as if the past 20 minutes or so didn’t just happen.

“Come now darling. I believe I owe you a shopping trip.” Hongjoong then says as he puts his hand on your lower back.

“Ah yes!! Lets go! May all my beloveds come with?? Then we can have dinner?”

“Why not?” Yunho says with a bright smile.

Your husband then all lead you out to the car.

“You know no one could ever take us from you. Right Princess?” San says softly to you.

“Of course! I would never let them.”

“Of course you wouldn’t. We wouldn’t either.” Yeosang says.

“They literally can’t our love. You have us all wrapped around your pretty delicate fingers.” Wooyoung adds as he kisses your ring finger.

“I know.”

.✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ: ✧･ﾟ✧.

© mimikittysblog 2024

Tagging: @faeprincess777 @starygw3n @bee-gremlin @pinkpearlstar @sweetinsaniiity @puppyminnnie @borahae-reads @spenceatiny18 @justconniez @rosydipity @vtyb23 @beccaskz @boredlol914 @ntlmundy @latisthegenderfluidwannabealone @ateezswonderland @peachyy-jooniee @robertsbbygirl @hanniehq @smally97 @pixie0627 @haven-cove @jaerisdiction @btskzfav @bbyunicornbby @tinybada @cecilleasworld @mudent @mortal-advocate @jjcanwrite

Those who are italicized I could not tag for some reason :(

[bowandcurtsey]

When someone else calls their s/o with their last name for the first time

(bc boys version) Haikyuu boys version here

So I decided to do a little quick piece amidst the 1700 event requests, because I miss black clover contents and I personally loved this fic and idea hehe. Here's one for all of you, something sweet and fuzzy.

Yami | Nozel | Fuegoleon | Zenon x F! Reader TW: unchecked You may of may not want to read this before reading yami's fic

Yami Sukehiro

You had to drag you husband’s ass out to the apartment viewing. You knew that low key, he found it hard to leave the bulls HQ. Afterall it was a place he found, built and had for a very long time.

But now that you’re married, it was only right for you two to have some alone and peaceful time without the walls breaking or anything catching fire at home.

Yami compromised to move and you compromised to find a place where the base can be nearby too.

“So, Mr Yami, your wife came the other day and she loved this place, how do you like it?”

“Yeah, whatever she likes.” Yami shrugged, he was okay with whatever, so long as you’re living with him.

“You have a lovely hubby, Mrs Yami. Aren’t you a lucky lady~” the agent smiled at you before her phone rang.

“Oh I have to get this, please excuse me for awhile, feel free to look around!” And she stepped out of the apartment

“So, Mrs Yami,” you were wrapped by his huge frame from the back, “is this our new love nest?”

You blushed and swatted him playfully, “if you like it!”

“I like it so long as the neighbours are okay with loud noises,” he smirked.

Nozel Silva

You were really busy with the wedding preparations , so you sent your fiancé to collect your customised gifts for your bridesmaids.

He stepped into the store and handed the receipt to the shopkeeper.

“Oh Mrs Silva’s gifts~” the lady said as she scurried to the back of the store.

Nozel stood there, stunned by what she said.

“Here you go,” she handed him the gifts awhile later, “you are Mr Silva?”

Nozel blinked, coming back to his senses, “yes.”

“Ah, Mrs Silva speaks a lot of you, I can tell she loves you very much.”

A blush crept up Nozel’s cheeks and painted it a tint of pink.

When he came home, he handed you the gifts.

“Thank you honey,” you smiled as you inspected the meticulous work.

“You’re welcome, Mrs Silva” he whispered in your ears before pressing a peck on your cheek.

Fuegoleon Vermillion

“Is Mrs Vermillion in?” A florist came into the crimson lion HQ one day.

“Mereo!” Fue was walking out from the pantry, “someone’s looking for you”

Mereo came out from the pantry with a cup of coffee in hand, “what?”

“Mrs Vermillion, I was told to come here to meet you,”

Mereo stared at the man for a few seconds, “what did you call me?”

The poor man read out the name on the paper carefully, “Mrs Ver-Mil-Lion, did I get that right?”

“Oi, dumb brother,” Mereo marched into Fue’s office to drag him out.

“Say it louder to his face, you’re looking for who again?”

“Mrs Vermillion, sir.”

Fuegoleon’s face turned bright red as he heard it from someone else for the first time.

“M-my wife-”

“Oh the florist is here!” You suddenly came in through the doors.

“Ah, Mrs Vermillion, I’ve been looking for you,” he bowed.

Fue stood there smiling with pride, he had to purse his lips a little so his smile wouldn’t get too wide as he listened in on the conversation with you and the florist on how to decor the place for the upcoming Crimson Lion anniversary.

You thanked the florist as he left.

“Mrs Vermillion sounds good on you, honey” he couldn’t contain his wide smiles.

“Oh honey,” you rolled your eyes cheekily at him, “please, your lips are about to reach your ears!”

Zenon Zogratis

He was kinda mad at you for going on a mission without telling him, so he didn't say a single word on the way to the restaurant as you celebrated your monthly date night.

"Do you have a reservation monsieur?" a waiter greeted you both.

"y/n." Zenon gave the waiter your name, since you booked the restaurant for tonight.

"let me see..." he scanned through the list of names, "ahh, Mrs Zogratis, si?"

"yep." you nodded shyly.

"And you must be Mr Zogratis, sir." the waiter beamed at the both of you, "lovely couple we have tonight, welcome in~"

He led you both to a quiet corner where you could oversee the spade kingdom. "Let me know when you're ready to order, Mr and Mrs Zogratis."

"are you still mad, Zen? You weren't back yet and it was a fast mission, so it slipped my mind to leave a note for you," you jutted your lip, pouting at your man.

"how could I stay mad, Mrs Zogratis?" his head rested on one hand, as he looked at you with soft ocean blue eyes.

You smiled shyly, it seemed surreal that now, you were married to this man.

"hmm, I should use this trump card more often~" you joked.

Zenon chuckled as he shook his head, what will he ever do with you.

[raevaelia]

In-experienced hearts | J.Jungkook

Pairing: Tutor!F.Reader x Tutee!Jungkook

Synopsis: The school’s golden boy is falling behind in his chemistry class and the principal decided it would be a good idea to assign him a tutor. Who knew the tutor would end up becoming the love of his life while also causing him heaps of chaos?

Tags: Tooth-rotting fluff, tutor x tutee au (though u kinda forget in the story), reader is a little oblivious and JK is totally whipped for her. Shy, awkward JK who overthinks and naïve, clueless reader. NOT a soulmate au!

Warnings: None! However, you may gain some cavities from this sweet, sweet couple ;)

A/N: hi! this is my first work here on tumblr! i know this isn't very good but i was very eager to write this so i apologise if this looks very rushed hehe. please do not be afraid to tell me if there is any way to improve my work- i would really appreciate it actually. happy reading!

Playlist: Faye Webster - Kingston, MAGIC! - Rude, Jonghyun&Younha - Love Belt, NIKI - urs, keshi - right here, Baekhyun&Suzy - Dream, hanbee - strawberry, GEMINI - mon amour, ABBA - Angel Eyes, Mindy Gledhill - I Do Adore, Jin - The Astronaut.

JK was someone you could never find it in yourself to hate.

Since signing with the school’s football team, he had become the lead star and the school’s prestigious golden boy. He was well known for his good looks, endless heaps of talent and sweet personality to all.

Well…things were going great regarding his football team. His grades? Not so much.

“Jungkook, you are a good man. You are genuinely liked around here, me included, but…unless you bring those chemistry grades up, you may as well be getting kicked off the team.” Principal Song rubbed the area around his nose bridge, glasses resting in his callous hands as Jungkook fell rigid in his seat.

His hands gripped his football jersey, Number 7.

“Sir…i-i can bring my grades u-”

He felt terrified.

Being part of the football team was what got him to be so well-liked. Before that, he was in the backgrounds, hiding in the shadows and in the corners of every classroom with long bangs and unfashionable outfits.

Now that he finally got a name for himself, he doesn’t ever want to lose it. It’s all he’s got, really.

“I know you can, Jungkook. But right now, exam period is approaching fast. And there really is no time for you to revise yourself.”

The air in the office was thickening. A pin drop could be heard.

“So. I have decided to assign you a tutor for this month.”

Jungkook blinked. Then he blinked again.

“Excuse me?”

Principal Song pursed his lips with a kind smile, interlocking his rough hands together and resting them on the desk.

“Yes, you heard me right. I am assigning you a tutor.” Jungkook scrunched up his brows, lips turning downwards into a subtle frown. “With all do respect, sir, i beli-”

“Of course you can refuse if you would like. But just note that you will be permanently kicked off the football team if you do.” The kind smile was still forcibly painted on Principal Song’s lips, sending shivers down Jungkook’s spine as he gulped down any rebuttal that had previously bubbled up.

“No. I will accept this tutor, thank you, sir.” Jungkook stood with wobbly legs, bowing down a perfect 90° while Principal Song merely sent him a proud nod in return. “I know you will make the right decision.” Jungkook smiled tight-lipped as he left the room.

His football jersey, now crumpled up in his tight fist, was shoved into his face to conceal the frustration he felt. He exhaled slowly, turning on his heel to return back to his friends out on the bleachers.

“Ugh.” He groaned, ruffling his hair with one tattooed hand as the other threw his jersey over his shoulder. He took long strides up the steps as he reached the bench his friends sat on.

“Jaykay!” Jung Hoseok cheered, handing the younger a box of fries before ruffling his hair affectionately. “Hey, dude.” Jimin, from below smiled. His bright pink hair standing out from the rest of his crazy friends.

“So~” Taehyung chorused, biting into a churro while Jungkook simply raised a single brow. “So, what?” Taehyung kissed his teeth, leaning forward. “Your visit to the principal? What happened?” Jungkook’s mood instantly turned sour.

Crease lines appeared on his forehead as he remembered the previous discussion. “I’m getting a tutor.” It’s silent for a few milli-seconds before the group erupt in joyous laughter. Jungkook stands still, wallowing in his own self-embarrassment with shy reddened cheeks.

Slowly, Hoseok comes back to reality and wiped away a few stray tears. “That’s embarrassing for the school’s golden boy!” Taehyung laughs along, agreeing with the older boy’s statement. “We saw this coming from miles away!” Jimin adds, only confusing the poor boy further who scrunches his brows together. “Huh? How?” Taehyung lays his cheek on his palm, staring at the boy in pity at his puzzlement.

“‘How’? Because, you’re the school’s golden boy, dummy. Everyone knows.” Jungkook’s face begins falling, turning a sickly pale along with his jaw hanging slack. “HUH?!” His voice grows louder, now anxiousness spreading through his body at the new-found knowledge.

“Are you seriously that slow?” Jimin sighs. “Everybody knows your failing chemistry. Catch up, dude. There are even some people who know more things about you than you do yourself.” Jungkook feels a shiver crawl up his spine, almost imitating a million bugs crawling all over his skin.

“No way.” He whispers. “Yes, way.” Taehyung snorts. “And-”

But the honey-head boy gets cut off by a cherry feminine voice catching all their attention from behind Jungkook’s body.

“Um, excuse me?”

The girl turns her chin upwards and her grin grows even wider, revealing her pearly whites. She has her hands clasped behind her back, presumably holding onto her black book bag Jungkook can see poking from behind her pink pleated skirt.

Jungkook grows still, blood rushing up his body to fill the paleness of his cheeks and ears, eyes fixated on her smile. He can almost see the sun shining brighter and bird-songs in his ear.

And then he hears a bell ring in his ear. The same bell in the film ‘Your Name’.

“Hi! My name is Y/N! Principal Song assigned me as your tutor, Jungkook-ssi!” She dips her head slightly, allowing Jungkook to breathe while she isn’t looking and hypnotising him any longer.

He can hear the snickers of his so-called ‘friends’ from behind him but he pays no mind to them, instead focusing on the Disney princess-like girl standing before him.

Oh, and did i forget to mention? There is one thing Jeon Jungkook is not good at among the many talents he has.

And that is talking to cute girls.

—

Jeon Jungkook had girls after him left and right. The richest, prettiest, kindest and the list goes on. However he would reject every single one of them. Why?

Because Jeon Jungkook is a hopeless romantic.

Hopelessly waiting for his so-called ‘soulmate’ that he could spend the rest of his life with, living a Disney fantasy. Silly, really. His friends would remind him to give up the silly idea and just settle down already.

But who would’ve though he would be meeting her so soon?

And when Y/N shyly asks Jungkook whether they could have a talk in the library, the boy just couldn’t find it in himself to refuse. Especially when she looked as cute as she did trying to avoid his eyes while picking at her perfectly manicured nails.

Jungkook stiffly followed her through the hallways of the school while the girl in-front skipped with every step she took with her hands still clasped behind her back.

He finds the action endearing, especially when he could see the red crescent moon shapes imprinted in the ball of her hand from her nails. He smiled at it before a hard slap on his shoulder interrupts his thoughts.

“Huh?!”

He whips his head around to see a girl with a yellow binder in her hand, raised above her head with an angered look. “Pervert! You’re no golden boy!” Jungkook’s eyes grow wide as he rubs the spot he was hit on. “What?!” He screeches, feeling nervous with the amount of students beginning to take notice of the situation.

Y/N spins on her heel and turns to face the situation with a tilt of her head and a curious look on her pretty features. “Huh? Saeyong? What’s wrong?”

Ah. Y/N knows this crazy lunatic.

Jungkook turns to look at her with a pleading look, begging for her to save him in this situation. Saeyong instead huffs her hair out of her face and lowers her binder, not before sending a nasty glare to Jungkook who just stares at her in absolute confusion.

“This…! Guy…was perving at your butt, Y/Nie!” Gasps are heard from the other students who have circled around the trio. Saeyong crosses her arms triumphantly over her chest. Jungkook is quick to wave his hands in defence with an intense blush over his cheeks.

“HUH?! N-No! Y-You’ve got it all wrong, i swear!” Oh no. Barely 10 minutes of knowing his soulmate and things have already gone wrong. Why did life have to be so cruel to him?

He faces Y/N who seems to be completely and utterly clueless of the situation. She blinks at Jungkook before blinking against Saeyong. “Huh? No he wasn’t.” Saeyong scoffs. “Of course he was! I saw him!”

Jungkook opens his mouth to deny again but before he could, Y/N turns to face him. “Were you staring somewhere you shouldn’t be?” She tilts her head again with her bambi eyes peering at Jungkook’s worry-filled ones.

“No! I swear, i wasn’t!” The girls go quiet, waiting to hear what his reason for staring there actually was. “Liar-” “Let’s hear him out, unnie.” Saeyong huffs again, glaring daggers at Jungkook who fiddles with his fingers absentmindedly. “I-I…”

“I noticed that you pressed your nails too deep in your hands…i-i…i-it’s not good if it’s leaving marks.” He meekly points at Y/N’s hands who turns to look at them. Saeyong immediately gasps and runs towards her, taking her hands into her own.

“I told you to stop doing this, Y/Nie!” Y/N blushes beet red, shuffling on her feet before pulling her hoodie sleeves over her hands to hide them. “It’s a habit, unnie.” She mumbles shyly. Saeyong sighs, ruffling Y/N’s hair affectionately. “A habit you need to get rid of.”

Jungkook stands animatedly, hands glued to his side as he nervously watches the two mumble incoherently to eachother. His eyes eventually find Y/N’s who sends him a comforting smile before nudging Saeyong who huffs and glares at Jungkook.

“Look, i’m sorry for accusing you of whatever…and thanks for pointing out her nails. Or whatever.” She avoids eye-contact picking up her yellow binder to slam into her locker angrily. “Good going, Sayeongie!” Y/N sends two thumbs up to the elder who just waves her off with the tiniest smile evident.

Jungkook blinks at the interaction, facing Y/N who turns back on her heel, hands now in her pockets as she begins walking through the crowd that starts dissipating. “Come on! We still gotta figure out your timetable!” She spins on her heel, walking backwards as she sends Jungkook a harmless wink that sends multiple arrows through his heart.

“Okay…”

-

A week has past.

Though it seems like eons have passed with how close the two have gotten. Jungkook has learned that Y/N bakes in her free time, she even showed up to one of their sessions with 4 fairy cakes. 3 with the traditional rainbow sprinkles and one with purple sprinkles. He had raised his brow at the odd one out, questioning her when she blushed shyly.

“That’s the special one i made for you. The rest are for your friends! Yours has jelly filling, none of the others do.”

Jungkook had smiled so wide that day. And also that day, he had drawn a picture of her owned cat, his name being Pocky and living in her dorm room.

Since then, it had been a friendly competition of who can give the better gifts. The day after that, Y/N had given him a a double layer strawberry and cream cake— his favourite as she had learned.

“It’s made with love. So you can’t top that!” The line send flutters to the poor boy’s heart, refusing to share a single slice or even a single strawberry with any of his whining friends who childishly ignored him for the rest of the day.

That brings us to today where our favourite boy has managed to find a way to top her gift.

Jungkook had walked in the library with a giant 18x24 canvas tucked under his armpit and a box of her favourite donuts— original glazed.

He couldn’t help but feel extremely excited for her reaction seeing her sitting there on their usual table somehow looking prettier every day.

So, yes, whatever. Jungkook have developed a huge crush on the girl. So what? Everyone saw it coming. Jimin had saw it coming from a mile way, as he usually does. He started giving him dating advice such as gifting flowers and chocolates (though Jimin has never had a serious relationship before).

Of course Jungkook ignored him and instead focused on gifting her what he does best.

Art.

That night, he bought a £30 canvas from his local arts&crafts store with the intention of her smiling face imprinted in his love-corrupted mind.

He drew exactly what had been lulling him to sleep these last few weeks. He drew her straight from memory, her face completely etched in his mind.

And after 4 hours of straight water colour and art (and a few slices of her cake eaten), he had successfully completed his artwork in time for their next tutoring session.

Since their first session, his grades have significantly improved. Even Principal Song acknowledging it— reminding him the month was almost over and that their tutoring sessions was almost over too.

The thought had initially dulled his mind until he remember the project.

He had even added a little surprise on the back of the canvas in the little confidence he had sparked during his project hours.

That, which, i will not mention.

She had sat at their table in a cute baby blue dress that seemed to hug her body exceptionally well, highlighting everything. She had clipped her hair back in a white claw clip and was wearing some Mary Janes on her feet.

Jungkook was 80% nervous and 20% confident. Well, that 20% was slowly decreasing to a 4% with every step he took closer to her and her figure becoming more and more HD in his eyes.

She tilted her head upwards, spotting him and her lips stretching in a wide smile. “Kookie!” Jungkook’s heart melted, as it does every morning when she lurches forward to encase his body in a hug.

She pulled away slowly much to Jungkook’s demise and pointed to the canvas. “What’s that?” She asked, a pout resting on her pink lips.

“It’s my gift, for you. My last one ever.” Y/N’s face dropped at his last words. In all honestly, she loved his gifts. They were always so thoughtful and unique. They were so special to her because they all represented Jungkook. Whether it be through his mannerisms, personality or just him overall.

She masked her disappointment with curiosity instead, leaning forward to try and take a peek.

Jungkook smiled, handing it to her. “Here,” he mumbled, scanning her face for any reaction.

And boy, did she give a reaction.

If a reaction meant immediate tears then sure, she gave one.

Jungkook’s face dropped completely, putting the portrait aside to rush over to her side and hold her gently, letting her cry on his shoulder. A million thoughts ran through his mind.

‘Did she not like it? Was it too much? Am i being too forward? Maybe i should’ve take Jimin’s advice!’

He bit his lip gently, her silky hair tickling the bottom of his chin as her shoulders shook with sobs from her hoarse throat.

Y/N raised her head eventually with red rimmed, puffy eyes and a red tipped nose. “No one has ever done something like this for me before…!” Jungkook smiled behind all of his nervousness now that he knows she likes it. (Though that was an understatement)

He was seriously considering throwing the portrait away afterwards if she didn’t like it.

Hell, if she didn’t like his hairstyle he would change it within an instant. After all, he only wanted to look good for her. Good enough, to be hers.

“I’m going to hang this up in my dorm!” She declared, hugging it close to her body while Jungkook scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. Her once crying face had now disappeared and contorted to that of a child at an amusement park as her grip on the canvas tightened as if it would disappear under her hold.

She just couldn’t stop staring at the artwork.

He had an managed to capture her insecurities and turned them into something she could learn to love. Such as the way a single small strand of hair stuck up at her roots. She had always hated that— thinking it ruined every hairstyle she tried.

He had captured the shine and sparkle in her eyes, the slight dip in her right cheek in the smiling portrait of her as well as the beauty mark on the tip of her nose.

“A-Ah, i’m glad you like it, Y/N” He has thought of so many different ways to reply in his head but opted for the most casual one— somehow while also still sounding like a fool in love.

“Like it? I love it! It’s the best gift i’ve ever received! I can’t possibly top this!”

Seeing her upmost gratitude towards him, Jungkook suddenly felt a surge of confidence swoosh through his awkward body. “Well, you can top it some way.”

Y/N stared at him expectantly, hope flooding through her heart as well as a red hue covering her cheeks at the way his honey eyes searched all over her face. “What? Tell me, how can i possibly top this?”

From the angle of the way she held the canvas, Jungkook can see the special surprise he hid on the underside. And now suddenly his confidence dropped to a whopping 0%.

“A-Ah…w-well…” Suddenly everything felt hot. The air felt compressed and Jungkook felt like his air supply was closing in on him. Why does it feel so tight? He tried to breathe. He really tried, but his throat just wasn’t working. His lips wouldn’t open and no words could leave.

He couldn’t do this. Who was he kidding? He was no confident guy.

“Jungkook?” Her voice rang in his ears, and he finally mustered up the courage to face her worried look with crease brows and a frown adoring her face.

“Huh?”

Y/N smiled. “Do you want to sit down for a while? We can share the donuts.” She nudged her head towards the sealed untouched box that had been long forgotten about.

Jungkook took a deep gust of air into his lungs.

“Um…-”

“Oh? What’s this?” Jungkook felt the air once again get pushed out of his chest when he saw her holding a neon pink post-it that was once stuck on the back of the canvas.

“T-That-!…”

She read it intently, horror evading Jungkook’s features when he couldn’t read her expression. Oh god. He should have never wrote that.

Finally, she lifted her head and turned the post-it to face Jungkook and his horror-struck face. One night he chose to be selfish and pursue the one thing he has ever wanted in his entire life and now, it's going to lead him to rejection. All Jungkook wants to do now is curl up in a ditch and die.

"You misspelt 'Eugene'..." Y/N eventually speaks up, hiding her cheeky smile with a bite of her lower lip. And oh, would you look at that. He really did misspell it.

Jungkook holds the piece of paper between his trembling fingers with a shake in his gaze. No, how did he manage to embarass himself further?!

'Stupid! How could I misspell it to Eugeene?!'

He feels so utterly embarrassed and defeated he can't bring himself to lift his head and apologise to the girl of his dreams. How tired would he have been to misspell it that badly and not notice?! He really should've taken Jimin's advice.

"Jungkook-ah..."

This is it. This is the one thing he saw coming- that he knew was going to come back and bite him in his tensed buttcheeks! His hands sweat as he holds the post-it, clammy and strained. His irises shake unnervingly, re-reading the silly paper over-and-over again wishing this was all just a dream. Stupid, stupid, stupid! He could've chosen a better pick-up line instead of a stupid Disney reference!

'Will you be the Rapunzel to my Eugeene?'

He has the urge to squeeze his eyes shut and pray for his friends to come and save him this very moment- he'll even willingly go through the trouble of hearing Jimin's reprimanding voice of 'you should've taken my advice' as well as Taehyung and Hoseok's consistent mocking of 'the golden boy' for the rest of the school year if it meant escaping this very moment.

And when he finally does lift his head he meets the very overjoyed L/N Y/N with her usual widened grin. What Jungkook does notice, however, is the very pigmented red blush covering her cute cheeks as well as her nails once again creating dent marks in the heels of her hands. The golden boy frowns, with very clammy hands, he grabs hers in his own hold, promptly ignoring the slight shake in them from her warm touch. She slowly retracts her nails from the marks, letting Jungkook run the pad of his thumb over the marks.

'Ohmygod, ohmygod, ohmygod, what am I DOING?! She probably thinks I'm a weirdo, gosh! Why do you keep embarrassing yourself, Jeon Jungkook, huh?! And my hands are so sweaty, how humiliating! I better-'

Jungkook quickly with an audible gulp of saliva, retracts his hands and rubs them vigorously on the fabric of his jeans, failing to notice Y/N's disappointed look. She purses her lips, leaving her arms to hang idly by her sides.

'Why did he let go? Were my hands rough or something? OH GOSH! DID I MAKE HIS HANDS SWEAT TOO MUCH?! How embarrassing! How can I face him now?!'

Y/N shyly turns her gaze to the donuts left on the table before clearing her throat. "What...what did your note mean? And, h-how did you know i love Tangled?!"

Her usual cheery tone returns and Jungkook is thankful she doesn't bring up the awkward moment with his sweating hands. But when the words finally register in his mind, it goes blank.

'What...'

She doesn't understand the note even though her favourite movie is Tangled? Jungkook feels a mix of emotions, crashing down onto him like a large tsunami wave that he still wishes he could drown in.

Well for one, they share the same favourite movie, but then again, he wasn't exactly rejected nor accepted.

"You...don't know what the note means?" Y/N tilts her head with a meek look. "Um...no, sorry. I hope it means you're not going to take me away from my home and help me find out I'm a lost princess for some kingdom." She laughs, hands once again clasped securely behind her back.

Jungkook looks at her with affection and endear in his gaze. 'You're already a princess in my heart.' Jungkook laughs along with her joke, silently thankful that the conversation has taken a light-hearted turn. For a moment there he forgot about the post-it note fiasco and how his whole body had burnt with embarrassment beforehand.

"So...what does the note mean?"

Jungkook freezes, mentally cursing out his past self at 2am that morning. "W-Well..." And lo-and-behold, Park Saeyong has come to ruin Jungkook's chances once again. The boy lowers his gaze and glues his lips together upon seeing the 24/7 angry girl run her way over.

"He's asking you out, girl!" Saeyong cheers, aggressively patting the younger girl's back so hard she splutters out a choke. "H-Huh?!" The poor girl is clueless to almost about everything. Saeyong chuckles, "oh, Y/Nie, my incredibly stupid friend, he wants to know whether you'd be his girlfriend!"

And so hearing this, Jungkook acts quickly without thinking as he usually does. This time, he quickly waves his hands in dismissal as heat creeps up his neck to cover his face in an embarrassing shade of pink. "N-No! T-That's not-!" In the midst of his rambling, Y/N's shoulders sink as does her hopes of becoming his potential lover. Her bottom lip juts out sadly as well as her almond eyed evidently losing their sparkle.

'But I want to be his Rapunzel'

Saeyong acts fast and grabs her handy yellow binder to whack the golden boy on the back of his head. She continues whacking him over-and-over again, even when he tries to get her to stop. Y/N gasps and runs forward to defend him with her hand catching the yellow binder in her friend's hand. "Stop, unnie!" Saeyong's eyebrows dips, putting her hands on her hips as she stares at the younger girl. "Why should I, huh? He hurt your feelings!" Jungkook stands at his full height from behind Y/N and rubs his arm with a pained expression. Y/N mimics Saeyong's pose with her own hands on her hips with her own angry expression. "You still shouldn't hit him!" Saeyong drops her hands, her expression softening at her.

"Y/N. I know how much you like him, and it hurts me knowing that he just did this to you."

Jungkook feels his heart lurch in his throat, eyes blown wide and lips parted. 'Is this a dream? Ohmygod, I think I might just cry and shove my hands in my chest to give my heart to her. For real'

Y/N goes still, taking in a deep breath before spinning on her heel to face the very boy that has been clouding her mind ever since their first meeting. 'Here goes nothing'

"Kookie."

Jungkook meets her gaze, opening his mouth to say the very thing that's been bugging him day-in day-out. "Y/N."

Y/N blinks, a little startled with her seriousness in his tone- though she can hear the slight waver too but she chose to ignore it as her heart was beating far louder. She nods to her name, not trusting herself to speak as her voice may accidentally break- and she can't handle that embarrassment.

"I-I..." Jungkook looks up to meet her eyes but can see his three incredibly dumb friends silently cheering him on from behind one bookcase. He stops his sentence, narrowing his eyes that contain an angry flare in them. 'What the hell are they doing?'

Y/N tilts her head at Jungkook's lack of attention, slowly turning her head around in an attempt to see what the heck was going on. Jungkook sees this and panics- evidently blurting out the rest of his words without thinking as usual. "I like you a lot, Y/N!" The said girl freezes, facing Jungkook again as her mind goes haywire. Words can't seem to formulate. Jungkook can see her apprehension and suddenly all his confidence once again plummets to the ground.

"I-I have for...a long time..." Y/N is silent for a second before she breaks out into an extra wide grin that bunches up her cheeks. "I would very much like you to be my Flynn Rider!" Jungkook smiles big, wrapping his arms around her waist to hug her to his body.

He doesn't think he's ever experienced such joy in his entire life before. Not when he got accepted into the football team, no, not even then. Now? He feels like a million fireworks have gone off in the pits of his stomach, like his heart has burst and everything just seems a whole lot more vibrant.

As their laughs settle down, it is only then when Jungkook becomes aware of the position they are in. Jungkook blushes, quickly putting her down with a clear of his throat. "S-So...is that a yes to being my girlfriend...?" Y/N's laugh sends flutters straight to his poor heart- it has been through a lot recently. "Yes, silly."

Jungkook presses a timid kiss to her knuckles, a smile spreading as he does so. "I'm glad."

Maybe soulmates do exist after all.

[just-whatever-ig]

A comfortable Clone Commanders pile

Dedicated to: TyraCapulet

I was asked to write clone pile things. And I wrote this.

Rex knocked on the door of Fox's office. He had not been there often in his life, the dry and quiet hallways of the senate made him uneasy, his hands drawn to his hips like magnets.

There was laughter behind the door and a strained sound of someone before the door opened and he got greeted with Ponds’ gruff but giggly face. "Rexyyy", he grinned and slumped against the doorway, his breath carried the distinct smell of strong alcohol. "Are you guys getting dunked in there without me?", Rex raised an eyebrow and pushed past Ponds to find his brothers, Cody, Fox, Thorn and Colt - much to his surprise - huddled together on the floor. Most of them had already disposed of their upper armor.

"Reeeex", Fox called, almost throwing a small bottle at him that definitely contained said strong alcohol. Cody grinned, cheeks pink from drinking while Colt still seemed pretty cooled in his place behind Thorn's back. They all somehow already managed to lay on each other with nobody being the lowest. Impresive with only 4 people.

"Mind if I join?", Rex grinned happily as Ponds already helped him take off his armor. It would only get in the way uncomfortably. "Please", Thorn slurred and grabbed the bottle from Fox's hand to take a swig. He pulled a face and passed it on to Cody who screwed the lid back on. "What's the Rancor Commander doing here?", Rex pushed aside their legs to make space for himself and add himself into the pile.

"You know, vacation is a thing", Colt replied with a self-indulgent smirk. "You lucky fucker", Thorn commented with a snort. Rex snaked himself under Cody's legs with his head on Fox's soft belly - a clear sign for the lack of training his fellow brother got around here, forging the chancellor's signature instead of fighting. "Here, Rex'ika", Fox pushed the bottle into Rex's chest and he took his time to look at the tagless bottle. "What even is that?" - "Some super cheap backyard slobbery, it's awful", Ponds explained and pushed himself up to Cody's flank and probably back into his arms judging by the way Cody awaited him.

"Hey, Thorn", Fox uncoordinatedly slapped his brother in guards against the biceps, "When was this ambassador gathering again?" - "The one with La Pee Tou?" - "Yeah." - "Like... noon-ish?" - "Ah. Alright."

"Don't mind if I ask, who's La Pee Tou?", Rex questioned as he unscrewed the bottle and took a sup without even smelling, there was no use, his receptors had been burned to the ground by the last tear gas ambush on Polonio I. The liquor felt like he was swallowing down a rotgut made with gunship fuel. It burned his throat like fire and caused him to clear his throat a few times.

"Tou is an ambassador from the far outside worlds, even beyond the outer rim. They're interested in trading, or something", Fox explained and passed the bottle on to Colt who took a big swig before Ponds reached for it. "Fifth sector worlds? They do realize we're in war, right?", Cody snickered. "The shab do I know?", Fox threw up his hands and snatched the bottle from Ponds waiting hands to have another swig.

"Hehe", Thorn laughed lightly, "You won't believe what happened the other day." - "What?", Rex accepted the bottle once again. "This man, yeah, this man of a chancellor...", his voice was a mixture of exasperation and amusement. Fox burst out laughing. "Oh, riiight, I totally forgot 'bout that." - "Sometimes I think this man just wants to die. Like that one suicidal senator we had, you remember?" - "Lord Oberon?" - "Yeah. But like three times worse."

"Why? What did he do?", Cody chuckled. "You know, he's the chancellor, which means he gets a lot of death threats, most of them are just harmless little jabs but there was this one message that everyone of us said should be taken seriously because we don't want to take any chances. We tell him that, say that he should stay in his damn penthouse until we have clearance and all." Fox's laugh had almost become hysterical at that point, his stomach pushing up against Rex's head like a jackhammer. "What does this bloody idiot do - I'm still not over this stupidity", Thorn rubbed his face, "He legitimately dresses up as one of his body guards and sneaks out of the senate like a stupid little bitch." - "I love how he literally thought we wouldn't notice", Fox laughed, "Like, homie, what did you expect? Your bodyguards are like 5 miles taller than us. Don't you think we notice when they magically shrink?!"

"Did you call him out?", Colt asked. "Nah", Thorn snickered, "We want him to believe that we didn't notice." - "I want to know how often he's going to pull that off", Fox added, smirking into the neck of the bottle.

"Quick check-in, who's still bound to show up?" - "Nobody", Colt waved off, "You were the last." - "Oh yeah? Where's Wolffe and Bly? I mean, I know that Bacara's on Tamba IX." - "Bly is somewhere shagging his girlfriend." - "What?", Rex snorted, and made himself comfortable against the side of Fox's chest. "He'd protest loudly", Cody threw in, "But it's impossible there's not something between them. I mean, just look at her clothes." - "Yeah, she basically asks to be shagged, right?", Ponds added. "Are we speaking about General Secura?" - "Who else?", Cody grinned.

"Well, Commander Tano uses to wear rather.... liberal clothes as well, but we still get along on a very professional base", Rex argued. "Yeah, because she's like 3 standard years old", Ponds rolled his eyes. "She's actually older than us", Cody corrected neutrally. "What?!", was Fox's reply. "Yeah, but I'm still concerned for her most of the times. General Skywalker is so chaotic at times and she's such a teeny weeny little thing, I’m afraid she might get caught in the crossfire at some point", Rex sighed, "You know, she's my superior and older and everything but I just feel.... responsible."

"I totally get what you mean", Cody threw him a brotherly but slightly too strong punch, "Do you remember that few months when you still served under my command and Skywalker was still a commander himself?" Rex laughed. Yes. He did remember that time vividly with all it's craziness. "That must have been the worst time of your lives", Ponds commented. "You bet!", Rex spat out.

Thorn and Colt chuckled. "At least you work together with people who got a clue of what the shab is going on", now it was Colt's turn to throw up his hands in disbelief. "You won't believe what strange excuses some rookies come up with just to not be bound to do anything", he laughed lightly, "I once had a squad who all broke a bone on purpose to avoid being shipped out. You should have heard their stories, one of them said he fell from his cot. And another one 'slipped in the shower'." - "Oh, so they were lying?", Thorn asked. "Well.... one wasn't. One of them stumbled over some stairs and totally wrecked his kneecaps." That drew a round of laughter from the pile.

"Folks, guys, brothers, I have a good story as well", Cody flailed with his arm to get the next turn to speak. "Are you going to complain about General Kenobi again?", Rex predicted with an eyeroll. This was getting out of hand, Cody didn't even realize how lucky he was with the reserved and calm thinking Jedi Council member and not with an airhead called General Skywalker. "How do you even expect him to talk about anyone else?", Fox mumbled around the rim of the rotgut. "Force, you're so right. Cody, your Kenobi-stress-headaches have been replaced with an obsession. This is an unhealthy turn of events", Ponds teased, earning himself a slap against the chest.

"Alright", Colt rolled his eyes, "Tell us, then." Cody opened his mouth to speak but had to take his time to giggle first which immediately infected the whole group. Cody's laugh was rare. But ever the funniest, with a little snort in the beginning and the waving snickering in the end. "It was-", he had to pause again, "I'm wheezing, guys." - "Believe it or not, we noticed", Thorn commented dryly which set Fox off like a rocket for no reason whatsoever. "Impressive story, really", Colt took over from there and Rex had to shift his head because the constant thrashes of Fox's stomach were getting uncomfortable in his neck. "I really liked that middle part", Thorn continued, Fox was officially lost now. "Yeah, never have we heard of such stupidity before", Colt agreed and took another big mouthful.

"You didn't even hear the story yet", Cody whined between sobs and Ponds patted him on the head: "It's alright, Cod'ika, we don't have to if you're not ready yet." Fox let out a pitched, strangled scream and threw his arm over his eyes, his laughing already sounded more like crying in the moment. "Folks, guys, brothers", Rex called, laughing, "Have mercy, he's gonna choke." Fox made a night vision goggles sound before laughing his ass off again. "I think we broke him", Thorn said and received an approving clap on the chest from Colt.

Rex was beginning to feel warm in his skin. The alcohol was taking effect on him now as well but the happiness within the circle of his batchmates was definitely playing a factor in this. He felt like he never wanted to get up again, hearing Fox enjoy himself so much he'd choke on his own spit or Cody now quietly complaining to Ponds about whatever breakneck stunt General Kenobi had pulled off this time or Thorn audibly approving of the way Colt began to card through his thick, paling hair. Rex was happy here surrounded by his brothers in arms. He would never want to trade them for anyone else, not even Torrent Co, and those were a funny and chaotic little pile of ants. He smiled and closed his eyes then pressed his cheek against Fox's warm thigh. This was where he wanted to be right now and nowhere else.

"Rex's enjoying himseeelf", Thorn called out and now suddenly the attention was on Rex. He grinned at them a little sheepishly and tried to hide his blush in Fox's blacks. "Aww, what're ya thinking 'bout, vod'ika?", Colt asked and now even Cody and Ponds rose their heads to look at them. "Ah, nothing", he grinned behind flushed cheeks, "I was just thinking how lucky I am to still have you guys." That erupted a wave of hums and awws from his friends and Fox immediately opened his arms wide. "C'mere lil bro", he slurred and what else could Rex do but comply? He shuffled closer and placed his head on Fox's chest only to get swallowed up by comfortable arms.

He felt the pile tighten around him as the others tried to participate a little in the hug. Rex smiled into Fox's chest and closed his eyes again. "I love you idiots. From deep within my heart", he confessed. "You say that to every batch you've ever been in?", Colt joked and earned himself a slap from Thorn. "Stop killing the fucking mood, Colt", Cody complained. There was a hand between Rex's shoulders that started dragging their nails over his back, which caused comfy goosebumps to trail down his spine. He reached out with his own arm to follow the trail of the comfort bringer to find it was leading back to Thorn. He scratched lightly over his brother's shoulder before resting his hand there which soon was accompanied by Colt's much warmer hand.

A comfortable silence fell around them all and when Rex paid much attention to it he could hear the quiet scritching of Colt's nails on Thorn's scalp or the rub of a hand over blacks. Soon those sounds were drowned out, though, by Fox taking out his feels on Rex's buzzcut.

The even movement of blunt nails on his scalp and the slight fondle on his neck and the regular rise and fall of Fox's ribcage rocked Rex's dreamboat. What if, he thought, it could always be like this? To come home after a long, day of hard work and just lay down and be peaceful with each other. Oh, what wouldn't he give for that?

"I love you, too, brothers", Thorn mumbled after a while. "Mhm", Cody hummed approvingly followed suit by the sound of a kiss. Rex opened his eyes again to see who it had been but they were all laying there comfortably with their eyes closed and arms and legs wrapped around each other. A peaceful picture, laughing into the face of the war. Children, as they were. And he was part of this beautiful, comfortable home.

[koushisatori]

I’m not telling, that I’m hurting

matsukawa x f!reader

genre: a slight bit of angst, and then a slight bit of fluff

warnings: hm, maybe the slightly suggestive last sentence <3

word count: 5.8k

note: pls accept my ugly baby, my brain fried itself writing it  (09.12. finally beta’ed my ugly baby hehe)

remember how I said Kuroo is a chill boyfriend and is quick to show that he dislikes something, openly seething and brooding?

Mattsun is even more laid-back in general, there's probably a picture of him next to the word in the dictionary

BUT he also hides it super well when he doesn’t particularly like something

Like, you're probably not realizing that he’s upset or angry until he decides to be very, very obvious about it

and even if he can't hide it (bc it's not only one thing bothering him but more, extremely rare) he won't talk about it on his own

Which is not only exhausting for you but also straining on your relationship at those times

There are two different kinds of pissed though

It isn’t something he wears openly but he gets jealous pretty fast

you’re beautiful, smart, funny and friendly

you’re everything he wants in his significant other and he’d do anything for you, but he hates how there are truly people out there thinking they could be better for you and ask you out 

ofc they want a piece of your attention, he understands, it doesn't mean he that he can't hate it

Bc..maybe (and he would never admit it) he was a bit more insecure than he let on, hiding it under a perfectly trained appearance, all lazy smile, and sarcastic comments

this is his usual state of being pissed, and it’s exclusively reserved for and directed at others

After you officially became an item, it got better - it’s not hard to see that you two were a package deal match made in heaven

back to the day, you started dating:

you two weren’t yet a couple yet but you both were pretty obvious w your wants

There was that unspoken push and pull battle between you regarding who would give in first and ask the other out officially

That moment, you were standing next to Matsukawa holding his hand  which is amazing come on, his large hands engulfing yours is a blessing

(‘’Mattsunnn, my fingers are so cold, will you warm them up?’’ – ‘’That’s a lame attempt of an excuse, Y/N,’’ he had said while taking your hand anyway ‘’you could have that every day, you know, all you have to do is ask me first’’ – ‘’In your dreams, Issei ~’’ ) 

it didn’t stop that one guy from his class, so arrogant and sure of himself, from coming up to you, completely ignoring Matsukawa, and asking you out?? 

Mattsun did not like that AT ALL

If glares could kill, you’d have to visit your boyfriend in jail every week <3

you just gaped at the other, it was hard to believe that this guy was serious but…he waited for an answer

moments of staring were followed with you both simultaneously - he, hiding his annoyance with sarcasm, you mildly concerned for the others health - letting out a ''What the hell''

Before you could tell the other guy that you're not the slightest interested, Mattsun answered for you

''It's sooo cute of you to ask me, but I think it would be unfair of me to agree and just leave Y/N hanging like that…additionally, I only have one hand holding hand available and…'' he sighed deeply, lifting your still firmly intertwined fingers, his brown eyes boring into the other guys ''I have to hold her hand for her for…probably forever, so you're…a bit late.'' 

Letting him pull you away, you giggle ''You know you kind of declared us as offical, a couple, for everyone to hear.'' - ''I absolutely did not do such thing, I'm now simply eternally attached to you and your hand, that's a difference.''

You won that round nonetheless bc him telling the other off was THE gossip for the next week

Your best friend gave you the glorious idea to attend his game at the end of the week in his volleyball shirt but tease him a bit until then about wearing his friend's one 

''You know I should totally ask Tooru if he would lend me his jersey, just to make that jealous bitch in my class shut up and stop pestering me simply for actually knowing him.'', ''Have you seen Iwaizumi's biceps? Please tell me that you wouldn't totally support our strong ace…and maybe open a cult just for his arms. Let me drop all of my life duties real quick, I'm meant to be a good housewife.''; ''Taka-chan said he'd pay for my lunch the whole week if I'd come to your game showcasing his number, you wouldn't mind right?'' 

The thing that had happened and you riling him up all week ended with the other kind of anger which is the silent treatment, completed with a very cold shoulder (which is also, in all honest, his specialty)

him punishing you with silence the whole Thursday as well as Friday morning

He avoids being alone with you, answers messages as short as possible, spends his lunch starring at his food, and not making eye contact

(he's still watching you, just bc he is currently annoyed with you after deviling him so much, doesn't mean he stops wanting to kiss your pretty face until your lips are swollen and your cheeks dusted in pink and red)

The worst is that he KNOWS that you're teasing him but he can't help it okay, you found his achilles heel  </3

Anyways, of course, when the opposing team arrives and they warm-up, you want your…not boyfriend but close enough boy friend to stop moping around (Makki begged you: ''please do something, he won't clown the others or joke around with me, all he does is sulking'')

Even without Takahiro coming up though, you would have gone to him before the game but it just makes it more adorable and hilarious bc he is a bit dumb there, I mean?? The only hand you're holding (and love doing whenever possible) does not belong to either Makki, Iwaizumi, Oikawa, or anyone else for that matter

It wasn't an easy task to discreetly rob him off of his other tricot but you managed

So, while they were doing their warm-up drills you - with Hanamakis help - sneaked into the gym

wearing HIS number on your back and front, together with a pair of jeans that he had complimented on dates before (they make your backside look amazing and you can't tell me that he does not appreciate a nice ass)

After you teased him with the others for so long, he immediately perked up when Hanamaki playfully wolf-whistled at you from across the gym, adding an ''You look amazing, Y/N-chan. Wanna get some food later?'' 

(Makki and you - overdramatically calling each other Taka-chan & Y/N-chan whenever possible to mock Oikawa a bit as well - ended up being best friends. bonus: you both LOVE to irritate Mattsun every now and then since he really only looses some of his composure in relation to you)

glaring at his best friend, Matsukawa strode over to you and dragged you right out of the gym again

then, a few minutes of silence

him checking you out kind of hungrily, longingly (trying not to be obvious about it, too)

before you finally relent and pull him down, standing on your tiptoes

To flick his forehead with all the strength in your fingers :)

‘’The fuck, Y/N.’’

''You are a fucking morron, Issei, and you hopefully know that.'' you sigh, pressing your lips against the point your fingers had hit against to sooth it

Avoiding your gaze - hiding his excited blush - he answered with a noncommitting grunt and a shrug

''you better win this game, and warm up my hands right after, you let them turn to popsicles while not doing your job for nearly two days only bc you were petty''

The smile that now curled his lips while nodding was genuine

not the sarcastic one or the teasing smirk he wore usually for everyone to see

a small, very pleased, and very happy smile, one he offered rarely and only to you

After the game - and having to watch other people ogle your nicely hugged curves even with you wearing his shirt and yelling his name for at least 2/3 of the time - he swept you off of your feet by openly and rather dramatically kissing you all Disney-like (earning some gagging noises from his friends) and asking you out in the same over-the-top kind of way

Don't worry though, he usually only gets frisky 1. when you two are alone

2. when you both decide to annoy the others (but that's more of a show and lots of unnecessary nicknames and sounds - honestly please have some decency children are watching) 

and 3. when he becomes insecure jealous

You know if it's the jealousy burning in him

he's attempting to not show it to you

Yet his grip on your waist is a smidge stronger, his slightly amused expression a bit too tight, too strained to be natural, and he's uncooperative…more than usual

This specific thing happened, just now

 ''Mattsun…'' you murmur, struggling to turn around in his vice-like grip. 

You tried to loosen his arms around your waist a few times while ranting about the mathematical problem and the upcoming test you had, hoping he would offer you his help. To no avail. He probably didn't really realize that he was squeezing you to death or tuning you out. This is why you resorted to wiggling around in his hold until you were finally facing your huffy boyfriend. One of your hands on his biceps and your other playing with the hair in his neck in hopes to calm him down a bit.

''Who spat in your breakfast this morning, you're usually not that grumpy,'' you continue softly, your tone between teasing and worry. Even though you and Hanamaki enjoy riling him up you both always make sure to stay inside a certain limit. Nothing you couldn't solve with an apology, sweet kisses, and genuine assurances that it was nothing more than a joke. In the end, he is the only person that causes your heart to beat faster. The one you like…love. You knew that you loved him for some time now, the desire to have a perfect moment to announce it is the only thing keeping you from saying it out loud.

The shrug you receive wouldn't do it though. Him tending to let it consume him until he snaps is not good. Not for him, and for the relationship of the both of you as well. ''Issei, come on,..'' you gently prod, ''…tell me. Stop living up to your name and talk to me,''

There were a lot of reactions you expected. Another huff maybe, his usual 'Nothing' or even the true reason for his behavior. What you did not expect though was his annoyed groan and him nearly growling at you. ''Y/N, fucking leave it. Stop sticking your nose into my business. Don't you get that I don't want to talk?!''

For a second your breath hitches. The annoyance…slight anger in his voice startling you. ''Jesus fucking Christ, fine,'' you curse - now irritated yourself. It caught him off-guard enough due to its rareness of you cussing out loud. At least enough to push against his chest and free yourself off of his hold, successfully stopping him from just hiding his face away in your neck. ''If that’s what you want, fine. I'm sorry for worrying about you, Matsukawa.'' you say provokingly before you let out a small sigh, ''I'll go to class, maybe Hajime is back from chasing the Captain and can actually help me with math…listens to me, to begin with. Not mope around to the point of ignoring me for some unknown reason.'' with that said you turn around on your heels and leave him standing.

You know he would eventually come around in the next few hours. You hope. Mattsun wasn't or rather isn't angry with you. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been as close to you as he had been but his inability to merely talk with you about what was and is bothering him proves to be one of the few reasons that are able to drive you up the wall.

Mathematics being mathematics, the problem wasn't just simply explained within those ten minutes before class started.

If things were normal, you wouldn't be as bothered as you are right now though. Issei would find a way to get it into your pretty little head. He knew how to explain and what to transcribe for you to get the idea behind all those letters and lines scrawled between the numbers.

The problem is that you usually did this in the calmness of your rooms on the weekend. As it seems though, did most people get the problem from the get to go and the teacher decided to write the topical test in your afternoon class today instead of next week, so she could begin with the new thematic on Monday.

Alas, you're fucked.

Not only would you get the worst grade in your whole mathematical carrier but you also couldn't ask your boyfriend, and listen to his deep gentle yet teasing voice explaining stupid equations to you with him being so infuriatingly upset over whatever.

 To your luck, Iwaizumi offers to be your knight in shining armor in extreme times of need. (He tried to convince you to just go to Mattsun because ''He's head over heels for you, don't tell me a stupid fight holds you both back from being insufferable together, Y/N'' - ''We can't be fighting, when he doesn't talk or listen to me.''.) Sacrificing a free hour and his precious lunchtime sitting on the school's rooftop with you, he explains the procedure over and over again. 

After what felt like a whole notebook full of wrong exercises and another one with their corrected versions, the structure of the problem does finally make sense to you. Now cheerfully humming, you look over older tasks you didn't get before when he decides to speak up.

''Y/N?'' Iwaizumi asks, his voice completely calm and…soothing?

''Hmm…'' you hum letting him know that you're listening while correcting another exercise.

''Mattsun will relax once we won that game, okay? Don't be so hard on him.'' His words caught you off-guard, which leads you to look up, question mark clear on your face. ''It's against Akumahebi? The ones that provoked and insulted him so underhandedly last time? Hit all his nerves spot on?'' he adds questioning.

Lips forming a big 'O'. You remember today's opponents vividly.

Seijoh first played against them at the end of your second year, a few weeks after you and Mattsun had started talking with different intentions than throwing terrible pick up lines at each other. Foremost for shit and giggles but actually starting to have hope that the other might mean it.

They stood at the other side of the net and began with their unsportsmanlike strategy by haunting him. ''Imagine thinking someone so mediocre could be rightfully on the field next to players like your ace, could compete against someone like Iwaizumi Hajime.'' or ''The only reason you're on the field is your height, the first years will take over your spot sooner than you think. You are replaceable after all.''. There was no obvious reason for them to pick out Issei but they did. Hissing different things under their breath. You guessed that it's because he always looked so unbothered. As if nothing could wilt his stupidly attractive lopsided smirk.

Afterward, the four of you had a hard time convincing him that those snakes knew shit. That he was on the team for his skills, his amazing blocking, and strategical thinking ability, not his height. That he would be a regular until he left the volleyball club and that he was respected by all of his kouhais.

''Shit,…them? Really?'' you jut our your lower lip. ''He didn't tell me...but I also didn't ask.'' you admit guiltily. ''Well, then I have to cheer extra loud for Issei, I think.'' A triumphant smile stretches across your face, gripping the collar of your uniform with one and pulling up the collar of the jersey underneath with the other. Enough to see the Seijoh colors to come to light. You had stolen it out of your boyfriend's bag two days ago after he went to the bathroom and had hidden it in your desk drawer until today. You nearly forgot to put it on after you accidentally slept in this morning, so you kind of just threw it over your head while hoping to not fall over trying to get into your tights. ''I'm ready to scream at the top of my lungs for my favorite player,…'' you say before you at least partly bashful add ''…no offense. You are my second favorite star player, Haji.''

At that, Iwaizumi simply laughs and playfully pushes against your shoulder. 

Later that evening you found yourself wearing one of Issei's ridiculously large pullovers and sweatpants, sitting wrapped up in blankets on your couch in the living room. Your chest hurting from swallowed and choked up sobs. Even though your parents weren't home when you arrived and wouldn't be for the next two days, enjoying a long-planned short vacation, you didn't allow yourself to cry. A gory horror movie on-screen meant to distract you from your thoughts ends up being nothing more than background noises while wallowing in self-pity.

At one point, Oikawa and Iwaizumi stood at your door - even though you hoped that it would be a certain boy you loved - worried glances boring into your skull from the first second on, and never ceasing.

You didn't even know if your team won or lost. It wasn't like you asked them either.

All you cared for is Issei. Issei, who seemingly decided that he would stop caring for you.

___________________________________

Iwaizumi-senpai and Y/N-senpai would make an adorable couple, don't you think?

You leaving him to make true on your words intensified the insecurities that had just started to brood underneath the surface a few days ago. He couldn't help it, but he definitely would not share those silly thoughts with you.

Issei knew they were wrong. But that didn't stop them from invading the darkest corners of his brain.

You have to agree that Y/N-san and Iwaizumi-san seem really close.

Overhearing the first years giggling about his girlfriend and one of his best friends being a cute couple amplified all of it. Also…he realized just now…since when do you call Iwaizumi by his name? When did he allow you to call him Hajime?

''Have you seen him smile like that with another girl? I, for my part, haven't seen that smile off the court where he can do the thing he loves the most.'' 

 ''Oh, stop, Y/N-senpai has a boyfriend! Don't you know? I feel uncomfortable speculating about something like that.''

 '' 'Course, I know! I just say that, if I were in a relationship with someone, I'd want my boyfriend to be a bit more…relationship-y about it, you know? Like, yeah, they hold hands and they hug. But all they do besides this is banter meaninglessly…more like friends, not like a couple should behave! Iwaizumi-san, though, even without being as close to her bodily, gives off more intense boyfriend vibes than this other player.''

''His name is Matsuka-'' 

‘'And, Y/N-senpai calls him Hajime, I think she even said Haji once, isn't that cute?!''

''Stop it, stupid! You shouldn't be so loud with your words, you might spread something accidentally. And just because she gives them nicknames doesn't imply anything. I'm also giving you nicknames! And, she looks happy with Matsu-''

‘'Yeah yeah, but you don't like me like that. Anyway, just think about it! Would you really say no to someone like Iwaizumi-san though…? What I'd give for him to at least look at me like that. If I were Y/N-sa-''

''You aren't, can we go now, don’t wanna be late for class because of you again.''

 Iwaizumi did seem to feel extra relaxed around you. And you seemed to like his presence as well. 

What if those first years had a point?

For the second time that day, he growled.

No, there was nothing to doubt or think about. It wasn't unusual of you to use their names. You literally started calling Hanamaki 'Taka-chan' within 10 minutes of knowing each other. Making friends was easy for you, and that you and Iwaizumi were in the same class with Oikawa probably just strengthened your bond with each other to endure the Captain's antics.

Issei nodded to himself, decidedly ignoring the little whisper of doubt in the back of his mind for now.

''I am not jealous.'' The black-haired student repeated this sentence in his mind over and over again. His best friend wouldn't do such a thing as 'stealing you away', nor would you leave him like that. People should shut their mouths. Mind their own problems. And because of him definitely not being insecure jealous, there was nothing he had to tell you.

Around lunchtime, Matsukawa decided to make good on his words and apologize to you. He would explain that he just felt on edge due to the game against this specific team, you would forgive him and then things would be back to normal…hopefully. The problem was, that he couldn't find you. Not in your classroom nor with your friends, who didn't have any idea regarding your whereabouts as well.

The dark-haired blocker was about to send you a message to ask you to meet him before your last lesson and his volleyball practice when he hears your beautiful laugh coming from the staircase right in front of him. Pressing himself to the wall he watches you coming down from the school roof with Iwaizumi, jumping into his arms with a blinding smile and running off to your class a second later.

''Would you really say no to someone like Iwaizumi?  ~ Imagine thinking you could compete against someone like your ace.''

With the greasy, suffocating feeling of jealousy burning in the pit of his stomach, he storms off in the other direction.

 Right before warming up for the game in the afternoon, he heard you chatting with Hanamaki in front of the locker room while he was changing. And while the door opened - Kyoutani walking in and Oikawa leaving to fullfil his captain duties conscientiously - he looked at his strawberry haired friend and your back. For the split second he could see you, he realized just how much having you around all day means to him. His eyes wandered. Over your softly shining hair. Slowly outlining your in Seijoh-colours clad shoulders, down your arms to your elbow where they are bent to cross in front of your chest to hold your jacket and uniform pullover. Then down your back and-

With an annoyed huff, he found himself throwing his locker door in its lock, bending down to pull up his knee pads more aggressively than necessary. Ignoring the curious looks and whispers from his teammates he simply grunted out an Ok, when Makki came in telling him that you would be waiting for him.

__________________________

Issei 💗👁️👅👁️: go, I'm not coming to see ya', don't need ur encourgmnt or you now You: Mattsun, what's wrong, honestly, you're scaring me Issei 💗👁️👅👁️: sure You: come on, I wanna support and show who's my favorite player Issei 💗👁️👅👁️: hilarious, stay, go home, idc

__________________________

"Hey, Y/N-chan, what I meant to ask you earlier…why were you wearing Iwa-chan's shirt." Oikawa carefully questions, his perfectly shaped eyebrow shooting up to emphasize his words.

"I diD wHAT NOW?" - "She did what?!"

Without wasting a second you jump up from under your blanket mountain and sprint up the stairs to your room to look through your hamper.

There it was, that goddamn tricot. A 4 looking right back at you instead of a 3 or 2. It brought every process of thought to an halt.

"But I- 2 days- what, I got this- I was in-" you stop again, slowly turning your head to Iwaizumi, pointing at him. "Since when were you missing this?"

The ace immediately straightens up under your intense gaze. "Three days? No two? Since our last practice, I guess. Kyoutani and Yahaba had some…problems and fought it out in the locker room. But I…wasn't missing it! I thought that it might be in the laundry by accident.'' he answers hesitantly.

You blink. A few times. Nod. And then a loud laugh starts to bubble out of you, interchanging itself with heavy sobs, forcing you to fold into yourself  and hide your face in your hands.

With a worried expression, Oikawa kneels down beside you. ''Y/N-chan…are you okay?''

"He's so fucking dumb, Tooru, why do I even love him? And I am, too!" You hiccup pitifully. "Makki and he switch numbers from time to time, in case you haven't realized. They say it's because it doesn't really matter in the end, it’s fun to confuse others and the worst that could happen is that they forget to wash it before the other wears it,'' you add, a little laugh escapes your lips before your voice breaks in favor of a hiccup again. ''I guess they were about to do that again but with Mad Dog on the loose, the chaos was enough to mix up all the shirts on the bench completely. And since I stole this one secretly out of Issei's bag when he went to the bathroom and quickly hid it to surprise him today, I accidentally grabbed the wrong one instead of his without realizing it."

You gasp for air, your stuffed nose making it difficult to breathe properly. "And then you have to play against this team, out of all possibilities, it's them! So, of course, he's already fed up, and then I'm wearing Hajimes number who he already kind of feels inferior to on the court, where he's the ace and vice-captain first and not his best friend, due to this stupid fucks picking on his insecurities. Fuck!"

For a second you bury your head in your hands again. "No, you know what, fuck this. I don't need him to bury that shit in himself again, or to have stupid thoughts, or leave me because of it'' you furiously hiccup, standing up. ''I can go over, too, and put that behind us.''

 The first time you actually took a second to breathe and evaluate the situation, you had already rung the bell at the Matsukawa family house. Thrice. For good measure. (And so he knew that there's no way out, that you wouldn't leave.) After waiting for solid 5 minutes - knowing that he'd usually reach the door in under a minute, one if he had napped before, you glare at the window above. A strawberry pink colored patch of hair peek out from underneath.

''Alright, if that's what you want'' you grumble. Going over to the trellis and climbing up on it onto the small canopy before finalizing your unauthorized entry by narrowing your furious eyes at two unbelieving faces. Well…he should never have dared you to try to enter his room like this for a joke in the first place when you first became friends. Now, he would definitely not escape you.

''Open. Now. I will break this dumb window, if that's the only way to get you to talk to me, Issei.''

In the end, minutes of starring later, Hanamaki relents and opens the window. ''Thanks,'' you say sweetly before you chop at the strawberry haired boy's side. ''Y/N-chan, I thought we had something special,'' he wheezes, holding his side.

''We have a talk later, Makki, this was only for not opening the door now'' you say, promptly throwing him out of your boyfriend's room. Your voice seemed to sound scary enough for him to leave rather freely. Or at least it made clear that there was no space for buts. That this was a talk between Mattsun and You. Alone with your boyfriend, you turn around to face Matsukawa. To glare at him.

''What do yo-'' - ''Shut up, Issei. You're going to listen and talk to me right now without filter.'' you hiss. While he tried to keep his cool demeanor, the black-haired boy swung his legs off of the bed to sit properly and not slouch, wanting to listen to you. Wanting you to explain…probably.

''Issei, you morron, you deserve the hardest forehead flick in the history of forehead flicks! What were you thinking?! Why didn't you just tell me that it was them you had to play against today? I would have done everything for you to feel better. I would have been understanding of your mood because I know what they did, but no. You decide to be jealous instead? Of Hajime out of all people? Give me a statement and I will refute it within seconds, whatever you want. Come one, test me. And I dare you to shrug just once,...just once!, and I will - even though I lo-. I will freaking kick your dumb ass to the moon..''

A snort, unfairly attractive and so very Mattsun, leaves him. ''As if you could reach that hig-'' - ''Thin fucking ice, Matsukawa.'' 

With a sigh, he scratches the back of his neck. ''Why were you saying you want to 'support' your favorite player when you were wearing Iwa's shirt? I mean I can’t prescribe who you like, I guess, it’s your decision...but,...hah,...maybe don’t make it sound...I dont know.'' Issei asks straight away, watching the ground between you. 

''Because certain volleyball players I know like to change jersey numbers after practice. And because of Mad Dog-chan being on the hunt for Yahaba's head, a very specific already mentioned player took the wrong shirt with him, which ended with me accidentally stealing said wrong shirt.'' you vaguely answer, watching him tense up. ''Now it's my turn. Why are you so specifically bothered by it being Hajimes?''

 ''I…it's-'' looking up, he met your eyes already narrowing again. You expect him to say 'It's nothing'. No, it was important to say it now, even if it was embarrassing. ''I heard people talking,...saying that he'd be better for you than me. That…that you liking him that way is just a question of time. And while I was sure that that's not true…I asked myself…am I really what Y/N wants? Are you bothered by the way we are in public? Are we couple-y enough for you? I was on my way to apologize when I saw you both coming from the roof. You seemed so happy, so excited. I started to worry…that if he was to ask you out…would you truly choose me? Do I make you look and feel as happy as you seemed to be earlier with Iwa?''

 Him not meeting your eyes bothers you. How could he understand if he's not looking? You slowly walk over, giving him time to say stop or move away from you…but he doesn't. Standing between his legs you gently cup his cheeks and make him look up into your eyes. Make him see.

''Let's start somewhere…thank you for being open and honest with me. Okay, firstly, I was on the roof with him so he could explain math to me. I didn't want to sit in a classroom and let others hear how troubled I was by what seems to be one of the easiest mathematical equations in existence. And since I was occupying his lunch break, Haji at least wanted to have some quiet for eating if he sacrifices his time like that.'' you chuckle slightly before you meet his eyes again.

''Secondly,...Issei,'' you murmur now, caressing his cheeks gently. ''why would you believe things about our relationship coming from people that don't take part in it? Hm? They don't know us. They don't get to spend nap time with us, arcade and ramen dates, or movie nights. They don't see how you treat me away from curious eyes and ears. We aren't any less of a couple just because others have a different opinion on how couples should be to the public eye.'' you say, your undertone loving and warm. ''It's not Iwaizumi who I love. I have chosen you because you are the one. I love you.'' you emphasize the words. You never imagined the moment to be like that, but it feels right to come clean with the depth of your feelings now. His cheeks heating up in between your hands is an extra treat.

''I love you when you smile all lazily at me after sleeping. I love you when your voice drips with sarcasm and mischief. I love you when we argue over who has ultimately won the worst pick-up line contest - which is me by the way.'' you grin, shushing his protest by resting your thumb on his lips. ''I love you even when we fight. When you get jealous and grumpy. I love you even though you regularly tell Taka-chan how you'd sell me to Satan for a corn chip, just to mention this stupid bird meme. I love you to bits, you sweet but silly idiot, and I'd chose you all over again if I was to wake up in another parallel universe. Because I know, that you'll always treat me right. Because I'm sure that you feel this, too.''

While you were speaking, your boyfriend's arms slowly but steadily started to move past the last bit of resistance, wrapping them loosely around you and pulling you tighter with every said word.

''I mean it when I say that I get why you felt so uneasy today. However they do it, they manage to crawl under your skin. And that's human, Issei. To be overwhelmed, anxious, or insecure. But please, don't risk us falling apart by letting it eat away on you silently.'' You whisper.

''Y/N, I'm sorry…and I promise to try and talk when I feel bothered again. And-'' A surprised squeak leaves your lips at the sudden movement of your boyfriend. ‘’I love you, too.’’ Giggling, you look up to the dark-haired blocker, who is now towering over you, caging you in his arms. ''You look so irrestistable in my clothes, you should wear them more often.'' Issei continues, the smirk on his lips finally being close to the one he usually wore, eyeing you still wearing his way to big pants and sweatshirt. Then, Mattsun finally - Finally! - leans down to kiss you thoroughly, seemingly keen on making up for the wasted time. Nibbling on your lip, tasting and teasing you, eliciting sweet little sounds that sound oh so much like heaven. He had missed this the whole day.

Deciding to give the both of you a second to breathe, he leans back enough to study your now glowing expression. You lick your lips, watching a suddenly burning interest flaring up in his eyes due to the breathlessness in your voice. ''I have a proposition, you know.'' You begin, softly tracing his features with your pointer finger, smiling innocently. ''If you don't want people to doubt our closeness in this relationship…maybe you should show them just how good you make me feel when I have you all to myself, hm?'' You murmur with a seducing tone, watching him process your words, his slightly heated gaze not leaving yours.

Him diving right back in and whispering a litany of 'I love yous' was answer enough.

Bonus:

[straymackerel]

Hi Tara, congrats on 500 again!! Could I request no.6 with Dazai?

dazai + backpfeifengesicht (german, n.) a face in need of a fist; literally, “slap face.”

➽─{hi nicole, thank you!!! this was a bit of an... experiment hehe. definitely not the direction i'd normally go ✨}─❥

warning(s): stalking; mild yandere. 

it is worth noting that yandere is a horror trope at its core, not a romance trope.

Dazai was mostly harmless... right?

It would’ve done you some good to question this basic premise when he first crept back into your life. The need for concern, however, seemed scarce; the two of you broke up on what seemed to be good terms. What you failed to account for was Dazai’s acute ability to put on a show. Ironically, this talent of his was the very same reason that you cut him off to begin with.

When you first met Dazai, you could’ve sworn he was the wittiest, cleverest, and most charismatic man you’d ever had the pleasure of talking to─but eventually, you noticed that above all, he was hollow. 

Charming as he was, Dazai’s emptiness became most apparent to you once your relationship outlasted all of his previous ones─a careless mistake on his part. It wasn’t often that he kept a plaything for long. Your declarations of love were met with mirror-like reciprocation; your vulnerabilities were matched by few (if any) of his own. Try as you might, your connection to him remained shallow; even though he pretended there was something more to your companionship, you couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that the home you built for two in your heart was only occupied by one. 

Truthfully, Dazai fell short of valuing your relationship until he realized he’d fallen out of your favor. He swept you up in the exact same manner he’d done to many others, countless others. You were a commodity to him, but a replaceable one at that─just another mind to pick, another body to ravish. But Dazai was used to having his toys at his very fingertips; he grew a certain fondness of playing his lovers like marionettes. Your desertion made his head spin. Just how did you manage to make your escape? None of his string puppets have ever had their way with him before. And most certainly none of them had been the one to leave.

The first incident took place at your local grocery store. It was when you turned to the checkout line that you saw him, a vestige of your past wandering the linoleum aisles. You blinked once, then twice… still there. 

“Dazai, long time no see! What are you doing in these parts?” 

“Oh hey there! I’m just running some errands,” he said, his lips curled into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

“Just running some errands?” you echoed back. “…But Dazai, you live on the other side of the city.”

“Yeah, I know, right? Get this: I couldn’t find crab meat anywhere else in Yokohama today!” the bandaged detective held up the package, all styrofoam and plastic wrap. “I can’t believe I ended up in your backyard looking for this!”

“Oh my goodness, no way!” You were tickled by his silly excuse, so you hardly thought twice about his roundabout explanation.

The second incident happened outside of your home. Dazai led a sulking Atsushi through your neighborhood, stopping right at your front door, apparently on the job. The silver-haired boy stayed back as Dazai made his inquiries.

“Fancy seeing you again! We were asking around for information regarding our latest case. There were some strange sightings on this street,” he said, rather cheerful for someone who consistently avoided his work. You helped the duo as best as you could, which was no help at all; you were unfamiliar with their client’s claims. They left presumably empty-handed.

When you went to check your mailbox that night, it was empty. In and of itself, it wasn’t much cause for alarm, until you realized the weekly newspaper was supposed to come that day. Maybe it’ll turn up late? You tried to brush it off as a coincidence, wanting nothing more than for Dazai’s cover story to bring you some relief.

It did, but not for long.

The third incident occurred at your workplace. Under other circumstances, it might have been a pleasant surprise; a beautiful, oversized bouquet of flowers exchanged hands between the delivery guy, your boss, and finally you. 

“You might want to keep your personal affairs out of the office in the future,” your boss joked at the time, winking. Much to your dismay, your nosy coworkers showered you with whistles and congratulations.

“Who’s the lucky guy?” they asked. You shook your head, shooting all of them a tight-lipped smile. Unease set into your stomach; you hadn’t dated anyone since Dazai. If it was from a friend, they could’ve given it to you in person. If it was from family, there would have been an occasion to celebrate. You waited for your coworkers to walk away before so much as touching the unexpected gift.

Turning the flowers over in your clammy hands, you looked for any indication of who the sender might be. There was no such thing hidden inside of the crinkly pink paper. You untied the satin ribbon, twirling it around your little finger. Your heart dropped when you saw the strip of paper that had fallen from its binding. 

The name “Osamu” was scrawled onto it.

“Dazai, what the fuck?” you spoke into the phone, voice rising and faltering, hands shaking ever so slightly.

“Whoa, whoa, what’s the matter?” he asked, his calm composure contrasting your very obvious distress.

“I’m talking about the flowers, Dazai. What the hell?” He paused as if trying to remember something.

“Oh, shoot. I forgot to give you the heads up,” he said slowly.

“What is that supposed to mean?” you asked.

“I won this giveaway thing out of nowhere.”

“And?” You twisted the ribbon, stretching the threads in the fabric apart.

“Look, I don’t even remember signing up for it, but this cute little flower shop was offering me a free arrangement, and I thought you’d appreciate it the most,” he explained. “They're your favorite flowers, aren’t they? Sorry, I forgot to tell you in advance.”

“…Oh.” You took one of the petals and stroked it between your index finger and thumb. He was right, these really are your favorite─part of the reason why you got so upset. “Well, that’s very sweet of you, but don’t send any more weird gifts in the future.” 

As much as you’d like to give him the benefit of the doubt, it was impossible to overlook his tactlessness. Something wasn’t quite right about his popping into and out of your life. You trashed the bouquet at your earliest convenience; if he tried anything funny again, you’d be sure to shut it down immediately.

Dazai made contact with you again less than a week later.

There was no ambiguity left in his intentions when you found him dining at your favorite restaurant, one you ordered takeout from often. The place was so packed that you didn’t see him until you were inside, allowing him to pounce on you immediately.

“You’ll never believe it: when I was trying to make a reservation for myself, they misheard me and booked a table for two! Care to join?” he offered, standing up from his seat. You looked at him, then at the large bottle of sake on the table, then at the curious waiter who eyed you from his post, then back at Dazai. His eyes shone with the flickering of candlelights, face slightly flushed from drinking alone.

“You’re right, Dazai, I don’t believe it,” you said, making a mental note to get delivery next time. “This is crazy, leave me alone already.” You turned on your heel at once, but as you tried to make your exit, you felt a cold hand wrap around your wrist. Your heart began to thump.

“Hands off,” you snapped at him, stride stunted. You tried to jerk your arm away, but he stared at you with an iron hold and an iron gaze, unrelenting. 

"It's all your fault," he said with mock tenderness. "I can't stop thinking about you."

"That's not my problem," you said, still struggling against his grasp.

“Don’t make me do this the hard way,” he said, voice lowering to a growl. His warning filled you with a mix of fear and annoyance. On one hand, he could easily snap your wrist in this position. On the other hand, did he really think he could get away with that in public?

“Here? Now?” you asked, gesturing towards the other customers. You gasped when he held on impossibly tighter, threatening to crush through flesh and bone. Raising your hand, you had half a mind to smack him across the head when he suddenly let go, the thudding of footsteps breaking his attention.

Saved by the waiter. 

A swarm of employees came to your aid, eager to diffuse the situation. They started to usher you out, clamoring over you: "Are you okay?" "Do you need a cab?" Dazai's features darkened as they took you away, but a twisted smile crossed his face when he noticed you clutching your swollen arm. His last words would ring in your ears that night:

“Oh, darling. I didn’t specify where or when, now, did I?”

--

If you believe you are in an abusive or unsafe relationship, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), or try their live chat: https://www.thehotline.org/what-is-live-chat/

--

source(s):

link i: stalking behavior checklist

link ii

link iii

[angst-king]

Dr Suneater

(this is a special needs AU, No Mirio, Tamaki, and Nejire were placed in 1-R they’d gotten in before 1-R had been made they were accepted by pure luck and faith from the school...)

 Both Nejire and Mirio were so patient with their boyfriend Tamaki who lacked self confidence. He had anxiety in talking to people, being in large crowded places, even in his hero training but. He always managed to pull through. To many people Tamaki presented as a scared, fragile elfling who trembled at his own shadow but. To his boyfriend and girlfriend they saw how strong he was for not only dealing with anxiety and low self esteem but. For being strong enough to help the other two when they need him the most. There had been very few incidents where it was displayed in a public setting but one of the times was with Nejire.

 They were walking through the cafeteria, lunch trays in hand, Mirio was talking about a video game they had all been playing. They took their seats at their favorite table. When Nejire noticed she’d forgotten her milk carton. “Hey guys I’ll be right back, I forgot to get my milk.” “Alright Nej” She gets up from her seat and is on her way to the lunch line to get her milk. 

Smiling, she grabs her milk and heads back to go and pay for it before heading back to her table. As she walked back the feeling of dizziness washed over her. Her head began to blank and filled with a staticy sensation. She froze, her eyes couldn’t focus and she tried to stumble and regain sensation but she fell face forwards. Her body tensed up and started to shake and spasm around. The people she’d fallen around shrieked, jumping at this.

It had only been a minute and Tamaki was worried when Nejire hadn’t come back yet. He peered over and didn’t see her in the lunch line. He brought this up to Mirio who looked over and then seemed just as confused. “Huh? Where is she?” Then Tamaki saw a crowd of people  around in a circle in the middle of the room, he’d had a bad feeling about this and got up from his seat. “Mirio I have a bad feeling about this.” 

He puts down whatever he was doing and goes towards the large mob. Mirio followed the elf boy, as they grew closer to the crowd all that could be heard was. “Oh my god” “Should we do something?” “is she faking?” “let's get this on video” “This is kinda funny lets put it on tiktok” When the crowd gave Tamaki an opening, his blood began to boil. There she was lying on the cold tile floor convulsing and these people are just doing nothing but spectating and taking pictures! Something in tamaki changed his demeanor, he looked to Mirio with a serious look that sent chills his way. “Go grab Nejire’s spare bag Mirio” With nothing but a nod the blond hurried the other way.

 Tamaki pushed his way through the crowd taking no prisoners. He made it to Nejire and started to push her on her side. She was warm to the touch as well as ridgid, she was frothing at the mouth as her eyes went back into her head. Students continued to crowd, narrowing the space some were trying to find a way to take a video, that made Tamaki growl.

“Back away now!” This shocked his peers as they’d known him as this timid thing who shook under their gaze but. This Tamaki was different. He was trying to control the situation the best he could. He felt this overwhelming need to protect his girlfriend who was in her most vulnerable moments. This was when she needed him the most, when she needed Tamaki to take charge. Someone tried to get down and get a close up picture, that was what made Tamaki snap. He did a spider man stance over top of Nejire  which would block anyone’s view of her. Sprawling over top of her in a somewhat push up like position he yelled. “Get back now!”

 Luckily Mirio phased his way over with Nejire’s bag. While this was going on Nejire’s seizure began to slow to a stop. Sighing in relief Tamaki sat beside her on Nejire’s right. Using the book bag to keep Nejire on her side. Tamaki began to loosen her tie and overcoat she wore then switching sides to get behind Nejire. “Mirio I need you to get me a hair tie or something to keep her hair back please.” Mirio quickly searched through the bag and got out a ribbon. Hands working swiftly, Nejire’s hair was tied into a medium height ponytail. Still leaving her bangs where they were as he moved on to examining the girl for any injuries. He swore under his breath seeing the right side of her face was a bit bruised. He sees her lip is busted and asked. 

“Mirio, can you grab the bandaid pads please?” “already on it Sun” He’s handed a box of bandage pads and pulls out one and patches up the bleed. At the feeling of touch and voices Nejire starts to stir she’s struggling to get up but Tamaki gently pulls her down. “Shhh no Nej I need you to stay down for now.” She silently complied though made soft whimpers and whines as her body was slowly becoming limp. When Tamaki had finished his assessment he then asked Nejire. “Would you like to go to recovery girl, or your dorm?” “d-dorm please”  Tamaki adjusted himself so he could help Nejire up while Mirio packed up the spare bag. “We’ll get our stuff, an excuse for the teachers and then it's off to your dorm.” Tamaki spoke softly, keeping his arm around Nejire’s waist to steady her. The crowd had dispersed a little which facilitated the walking to get their book bags. 

Book bags over shoulder they went to the office to fill out an excuse to skip class which went smoothly. Now it was off to Nejire’s dorm. Nejire was starting to feel a little better but was still struggling to let their system rebalance itself. Making it to the dorm, Nejire began to feel sick to her stomach while her head was really hurting. “G-guys I f-feel sick” She warned them, Tamaki nodded and guided her to the large kitchen sink, they could rinse and clean it out. They were just in time a sharp gag caused the blue haired girl to lean over the sink and get sick.

Tamaki and Mirio frowned and stayed close, pushing her bangs back and rubbing smooth circles. It wasn’t a long round this time which made Mirio and Tamaki feel better, with a paper towel she cleaned up her face.

 “Hey Nej, want some water?” Mirio inquired, earning a slow nod while she held her head. “Nejire, do you  think you can stomach your medicine?” “y-yeah” With that Tamaki lets her lean her back against the sink and fishes in Nejire’s extra bag and finds a few bottles of pills. Looking at Mirio he says. “Give her these I’ll clean up the sink” Mirio takes Nejire away from the sink while Tamaki cleans out the sink. It didn’t take long to scrub it down and wash his hands. Nejire had swallowed down the pills with the water, she was ready to go lie down.

 “Alright Nejire lets go get you to bed” Nejire tried to walk away from the counter she was leaning on but her knees buckled. Tamaki caught her “I’ve got you” He lifted her bridal style so she was leaning into his chest. Blushing a little bit as she noticed the look on Tamaki’s face, It was so serious yet gentle at the same time. Kind of like a doctor treating a patient. Very few people got to see this face and deemed it a rare occasion but. Those who were around Tamaki like Mirio and Nejire knew this was a decent recurrence. Mirio had a fainting disorder which could be triggered by his hypoglycemia, sudden weather change, or standing up too fast. Tamaki had grown used to taking care of his lovers and even his Kohai Kirishima Eijirou who also had epilepsy. 

Tamaki’s serious side would always trump his social anxiety in certain situations like these. He didn’t know why but it gave him a shred of confidence that he never brought up on his own. Usually it would be a teacher, his friends, or his lovers who brought on the acknowledgement of his ability to turn from cowering anxiously, to brave and able to take on the problem. 

Carrying Nejire up to her room, Tamaki let Mirio handle the elevator buttons as well as the girl’s bedroom door. Entering her room, Tamaki sets Nejire down and says. “I’m gonna go change ok”  Mirio follows suit leaving Nejire to change into more casual clothes in private.

Grouping up in Nejire’s room in their casual wear, Nejire had the boys sitting on the bed. She was curled up between them and just relaxed. “Tamaki, I have a question for you.” Tamaki looked down “hm?” Nejire continued. “So how come you’re so anxious around people until something like me seizing or Mirio faint. You get all serious, not that I don’t like it. Its just amusing seeing you change demeanors.” Tamaki blushes deeply at this question and shrank. “I-I don’t know honestly. I gu-guess something in me j-just clicks because I know how vulnerable you are in that state.” Tamaki was trying to put thought into his words, it was truly his own mini anecdote. “I was used to being in those situations. So I guess a part of me is reflecting that I want to do something. So I do the things I couldn’t do for myself for you guys.” He shrugged at the end, it felt as if he’d just been rambling nonsense. He then received a hug, four strong arms embraced him lovingly with kisses on both cheeks. He’d been pulled by both Nejire and Mirio who nuzzled him caringly. “Well we appreciate it so much” Mirio states with a smile “thanks for taking care of me, Dr suneater.” Doctor suneater was a nickname Nejire had given the indigo haired male when she was so out of it after a seizure. It stuck and sometimes Mirio would even call him that too. “Y-you’re welcome Nejire, I’m just glad y-you’re okay.” 

“We love you Sun” Nejire and Mirio say together. A pink hue made it all the way to the tips of Tamaki’s ears. “I love you both too” “Hehe Dr Suneater” Nejire giggles tiredly with a small yawn.

[boarix]

Wraith in the Ruins: Meanwhile, Back in Goodneighbor IV

Mac and John

Takes place just before Wraith wakes up.

Trigger warnings: canon violence/ language/drug, alcohol and gun use

GAME SPOILERS!

Please enjoy!

 “Grrrroooonnnnppp pop pop pop!” MacCready’s stomach was on empty and he was positive it had begun digesting itself. His overhead was too high and he’d been skimping on food. In an effort to live off the land, he had set some snares near a mole rat colony, but had returned to find someone had helped themselves to his catch as well as his equipment.

Daisy was in the back looking for his special order and so her shop essentially unguarded… and those Fancy Lads snack cakes looked awfully tempting…

MacCready would normally have no compunctions about swiping something he might need, or want, but Daisy trusted him and he genuinely liked her…

“NNNNNnneeeerrrroooooo poooooop!” His stomach made his decision for him and he deftly swiped the pink package off the shelf and stuck it in his coat.

As he was removing his hand a vise-like grip closed around his wrist. Twisting his arm back behind his back, someone strait-armed him into the wall. He felt the smooth coolness of a very large knife laid against his cheek even as the smell of mint was harbinger to a voice like honey poured over gravel,  “Well now, what exactly were you thinking there boyo? I’m pretty sure those cakes weren’t yours for the taken’. And I don’t take too kindly to folks stealing from my people, you feel me? Might be you need to lose a digit or two, learn you a hard lesson.”

MacCready tried to push himself off the wall, but the ghoul was like iron. Frantically trying to come up with excuses he was relieved to hear Daisy’s voice, “No! Wait Hancock!” She was waving her arms over her head as if the mayor was across town, “Don’t go slicing him up just yet; this is that sniper kid I was telling y’all about.”

Hancock gave one extra little push to emphasize his ire then released him, “They say ‘first impressions are important’. I’ve gotta say, I’m not impressed.”

Daisy wasn’t exactly sure why Hancock was angry until MacCready rather sullenly slapped the cake box on her counter. She took one look at his gaunt frame and decided to give him a break, “Oh honestly John, the cakes were part of his order! You shouldn’t jump to conclusions Mr. Mayor.”

Hancock’s eyes narrowed, unconvinced. MacCready was rubbing his wrist and arm with a mutinous expression and he flinched when Hancock suddenly spread his arms out wide, “Welcome to Goodneighbor. Now I guess I need to consider my own first impression. Heh!”

“Oh you made one alright.” MacCready was practically chewing his tongue in half to avoid saying anything to make the volatile mayor gut him. He had never met Hancock, but he had heard things… things that made sure everyone knew that this was not a ghoul to fuck with.

“Finish up your business then come up to my office.” Tipping his hat to Daisy he sauntered away.

MacCready watched Hancock’s smooth swagger for a second before turning to face the ghoulette. Looking at her from the top of his eyes, he did his best to look winsome and forlorn, “I’m sorry Daisy.”

“You’re sorry cause you’re caught you mean!” She had her arms folded and was clearly pissed, “I recommended you to Hancock based on Carol and Greta’s word. ‘He’s a good kid, even if he’s rough around the edges’ they said. Ha!” Unfolding her arms, she stabbed MacCready in the chest with a finger, “That ghoul there,” She pointed the other hand after Hancock, “has a heart of gold. But don’t y’all think for two seconds he won’t end you if he thinks you’re hurting anyone of us.” She tapped him on the chest, “And don’t y’all think you could take him in a fight when I don’t think even KL-E-O can take him!”

“I’ll take him to paradise, baby!”

MacCready laughed, “I’m sure you would KL-E-O.”

 Hancock was seated on his favorite couch, arms across the back to either side, looking all the world like a king on his throne. MacCready knew that the striking redhead standing just behind him was Fahrenheit and that she was reputed to be almost as dangerous as the mayor. All in all, MacCready’s self-preservation alarms were going off like gangbusters in his head.

Stay cool. Just, don’t say anything dumb. Be cool.

“Stray cat indeed...” Fahrenheit gave him an obviously unimpressed toe-to-crown look, as she stepped from behind the couch and moved to the door.

“And you are even more beautiful than they say!” MacCready tried his best blue-eyed smolder out on her as she passed.

“And you have frosting in your goatee.”

“You wanna to lick it off?”

She gave him the finger as she passed through the doorway.

“That’s not a ‘no’.”  As MacCready turned back to Hancock he found the ghoul to be almost on top of him, his face less than an inch from his own.  Back-peddling awkwardly he couldn’t help the small yelp that escaped him.

Oh! Not cool! You idiot! NOT COOL!

Hancock stood motionless for several seconds before taking an impressively long drag from his cigarette and then blowing a few equally impressively large smoke rings, growling softly all the while. Then to his surprise he saw MacCready’s face light-up at the display. The young man watched the smoke rings as they made their way to the celling with a large smile on his face. Something more or less clicked in Hancock’s brain and he took another, more calculating look, at the merc: he was young, he was way too skinny, even for his slight frame and he had a slight tremor in his hands. He needed help, just like Daisy said he did. Stray cat indeed…

“Follow me.” Hancock turned and walked through the back of his office to the roof access. Once outside he moved to the edge and pulling a gold colored telescope from one of his many pockets, he set it to his eye.

MacCready couldn’t contain his giggle, “Hehe! Are you kidding? You know you look like a pirate, right?”

The set of balls on this kid!

Spreading his arms out wide, Hancock paced elegantly toward him. Executing a full turn that would make any model on the catwalk green with envy, he stopped inches from the merc, “Sexy pirate was always going to be my fallback if ‘sexy mayor’ didn’t pan out.” MacCready gulped as Hancock once again invaded his personal space. Locking eyes the mayor’s voice dropped to a purring growl, “I brought you up here to see how good you are,” Hancock pointed across the rooftops of Goodneighbor to the ruins beyond, “now, take a gander through that scope of yours and tell me what you see.”

Hancock made note that as soon as MacCready raised his rifle and his focus shifted to “work”, the tremor in his hands vanished.

Interesting.

“Super mutants. A few of em. They’re… just kinda… milling around.”

“Yeah, they do that. So here’s the game: I call the shots, you make the shots and I am impressed. You want me impressed, you feel me?” He had his telescope to his eye and was already picking his targets, “I used to come up here all the time, back when my eyes were better. Heh; damn brutes never could figure out where all the death was coming from.”

“And yet they still hang out on the same roof…”

“Greenskins ain’t exactly known for their quick wit.”

“Oh, I’ve known of one or two who could keep a conversation going… but yeah, like maybe two.”

Then with no preamble Hancock called his first shot, “Twelve o’clock helmet.”  

Not missing a beat, MacCready took aim and shot with impressive speed, hitting the target with apparent ease.

“Mr. Laughing and Pointing; get his finger.” MacCready made the shot, cleanly severing just the mutant’s digit. “Now end his confusion.”

Shot after shot, MacCready’s aim was true. It didn’t matter how quickly Hancock called them out or how unique his descriptions of the super mutants were.

“Ammo out! Reloading!”

“No, that won’t be necessary.” Hancock stood, tapping his telescope against his shoulder, staring hard at the younger man. His eyes contained a look of such open covetousness that it bordered on lust. “Color me impressed. Pick up your brass and meet me back inside.”

 The first thing MacCready noticed when he walked back into the office was the two items Hancock had left on the coffee table for him: a tumbler of whiskey and an addictol inhaler. Hancock had his back to him and was preparing himself a drink.

Is this another test? The hell? Were my hands shaking that bad?! Fuck it!

MacCready picked up the whiskey and proceeded to gulp the entire glass in one breath. Setting the tumbler back down gently, he appeared nonchalant as he then picked up the inhaler and breathed in the addictol.

Hancock’s laugh rang out through the State House, making several members of the Watch jump, “HA! You are fulla piss ain’t cha? You know that whiskey is actually pretty good. I’ll pour you another if you’d actually like to taste it this time.” Laughing again at MacCready’s confused look, Hancock explained, “Who am I to judge the vices of another man? I offered two different solutions to your problem with not a string attached to either. That wasn’t a test Little Brother, but I’ll give you an ‘A’ all the same. Shit! You get a goddamn gold star for that one!”

“Okay… then yes I would like another… please.”

As MacCready sipped his second glass Hancock presented him with a contract. “This is my standard mercenary contract, with a few addendums. What this simply states is that my jobs get priority and while you may accept any bodyguard, caravan guard, pest removal and escort services that you are offered, assassinations must be ran past Fahrenheit or me first. No sense picking fruit before it’s ripe, you feel me?”

“I actually don’t plan on taking… head hunting jobs anymore.” MacCready’s eyes held a hard look and his jaw was set. “Shooting armed super mutants is one thing…”

“That so? Hmmm, too bad cause I have a very lucrative job of just that nature, couple of bad apples past due for pickn’.”

MacCready’s resolve softened at the mention of a higher pay-out, “Who are they? What did they do?”

“Leftovers from Vic; guy used to run Goodneighbor. He was a thunderous asshole and these three were some of his worst thugs. All the nasty shit you could think of, that was their MO. I have files on all three but I can’t act directly against ‘em. They know all my people and that Railroad ass-hat sez he’s not for ‘cleaning up my garbage’. HA! How’s that for gratitude?”

MacCready wasn’t sure who the “ass-hat” in question was but the rest was pretty clear, “Because they won’t know me I can personally verify their location and then take them out.” At war with himself, MacCready really wanted, no, needed the money but felt he had to stay true to his convictions. Standing up, he prepared to leave before he weakened further, “I’m sorry but I’ve made some promises and I can’t accept…”

“The contract wasn’t contingent on you accepting the assassination job,” Hancock waved him back onto the couch, “if you can’t accept this one job it doesn’t blow the whole thing. Let’s go over the rest of the contract and job list, and see what you can do for me.”

MacCready was genuinely confused, “You would change it for me?”

“I think you’re worth it, yes. Now, let’s have Charlie send us up some grub and break this down!”

 Over the next several weeks MacCready began to see a dent in his money problems. Although Goodneighbor could be rough, he found that the more jobs he did for Hancock, the less he was hassled by anyone. MacCready was often employed and he found that he truly liked the mayor and enjoyed being a “favorite”.  And yet he still felt the pressure of his son’s illness; he need more money and faster. Tightening his belt would only get him so far…

 “Well, look who it is! What’s in the sack?”

“It’s Christmas come early,” Setting the duffle bag on Hancock’s desk, MacCready backed away, “and since you’ve been a good little mayor, I got you your favorite.”        

There were three heads in the duffle bag.

Clasping his hands and placing them along the side of his face, Hancock adopted a falsetto, “Oh Robert! You really shouldn’t have!”

Hancock’s broad smile and use of his first name caused a slight flutter in his stomach and he felt an uncharacteristic blush overtake him.  Clearly flustered, he coughed into his hand before he suddenly remembered why he had done the job, “It was nothing really. You had mentioned a… I think you said, ‘a very lucrative’ pay-out.”

“So I did. I also think we should revise your contract: increase your general payout, increase your drink budget at the Rail… Oh yeah, speaking of which; there is a room available just off of the VIP lounge. It’s on the small side but I figure you could set-up shop there and save yourself some caps on rent.”

MacCready could hardly believe it, “Why? Why do this for me? For the assho… idiot who you caught red-handed, stealing, the first time you met him…”

“Ah, so the truth finally comes out!” Hancock’s eyes danced merrily.

“No, I’m serious! What… else…”

“Nothing you’re not comfortable with.” Hancock was suddenly serious, “Don’t ever feel like you ‘have to’ do anything for me Little Brother…” He placed his hands on MacCready’s shoulders, “save for one thing: promise me you’ll never steal from me or my people ever again!”

“I promise.”

  Thank you so much for reading! Like what you read? Looking for more? Please see my Wraith in the Ruins master-link in my bio. =^..^=