#poking the beast here i know but it's getting late and i have thoughts

[fordford]

the thing about the npd ford headcanon is that he doesn't display like half of the symptoms and the other half that he does display are also symptoms of other disorders. so while i don't actually think there's anything wrong with the headcanon i think a lot of people also just either don't understand what npd is or fundamentally misunderstand ford's personality. which is something that's been going on since 2016 lol

[xazse]

okay hear me out…. reverse hybrid au… with tigerhybrid!sukuna bc nobody else can handle him because he’s so aggressive and overbearing .. so reader is their last resort zoo caretaker and they’re is shocked at how it’s like reader has a leash on tigerhybrid!sukuna 😚

I’VE GOT IT?

Synopsis: You’re head of a completely different department so why are you being asked to help with an odd situation?

Warnings: Female!reader + Mean!Sukuna + cringe tropes (sorry) + Hybrid!Sukuna: ears and a tail + heat + cumming inside + doggy + NOTPROOFREAD!!! + obsessed!Sukuna

Pairings: Tigerhybrid!Sukuna x female!Reader

Notes: I’m really working to improve my writing for you guys!! Esp my non-English speakers

“Miss please you know we would never beg like this if it wasn’t urgent.”

“I don’t specialize in that field, how many times must I tell you?”

You were getting sick of these scientists coming to you more often than normal, there’s three right now begging for you to take on a case that you didn’t want to do.

“Sukuna is out of control, he’s already injured five of our best, now they refuse to work with him”

“And I should be the sixth?” You say with a quirk of your brow.

They all stop and stare at one another, you have a good ass point what makes them think that you’ll be the antidote for their beast they decided to keep.

“Like I said, my stance on this won’t change.”

Another voice in the doorway of your office speaks up: “I’ll upgrade your pay and have you transferred up.”

Your ears perk up at this offer, to go even further where you are right now means business and a fuck ton of money. On the flip side it means facing whatever they’re against but you’ve always been a little greedy for money so you oblige.

The scientists made sure to throw you in the thinnest garments: “to let him know you don’t have anything on you.” As they put it.

They also had told you no sudden movements and to talk with him in a calm manner, show him you aren’t afraid and find out what’s been making him so angry lately. Easy peasy except your life is on the line!

You disregard any negative thoughts of death and make your way into the place where they keep their hybrids, it’s like little apartments where they can do as they please in return for information on their biology, as far as you know they love it here. You’ve once met puppy!hybrids Satoru and Suguru they were very sweet men, needy but sweet.

Your first step into the apartment is met with a strong smell, a smell of something primal if that even has a smell. It’s warm.

You start poking around his place, checking his fridge and looking for anything out of the ordinary, nothing seems amiss though. It’s not until you come up to one of the doors and hear slight noises. You press your ear up closer making the noise more clearer: whining it sounds like whining.

Could he perhaps be In pain? You knock three times and announce you’re coming in. The door clicks and you start slowly pulling it open. You see the man in all his glory resting upon his bed, arms wrapped around his pillow and an unreadable expression.

Sukuna is big, he’s a big man compared to all the other hybrids, he’s brimming with pure muscle. Does he workout in here? Your thoughts are interrupted by slight growling: he’s warning you. Step any close r and he will have no choice but to harm you.

You pay him no mind, instead you step fully in and start looking around without a care in the world.

“You’re making trouble- why is that?” You say while looking through his dresser.

“You’re being extremely nosy, leave before I kill you.” He threatens harshly.

“If you harm me I’ll have you sent somewhere else, I know where you come from and I’m assuming you don’t want to go back.”

The room goes eerily silent like he’s making a choice, he opens his mouth to speak but a groan accidentally slips past his lips.

Oh… the big oaf is in heat, and top scientists couldn’t tell or try to track his cycle?

“You in heat big guy?”

“No-“

“Such a liar, I’m not here to make fun of you, I’m here to make sure you get proper help.”

“The only way I’ll get proper help is if I fuck someone.” So damn blunt you think to yourself.

He continues speaking: “I think you know they won’t allow that though.”

“Would you like some toys? I can request that for you.”

“Useless.”

You let out the loudest sigh and plop down on his fluffy bed. Bending your head in his direction you see he’s not looking at your face but your body, eyes fully trained on your pert nipples because of the cold.

You allow the poor suffering hybrid to mount you, putting a good bit of his weight on your back you can feel the outline of his thick meaty cock resting near your cunt and ass.

He’s hard, fully hard and probably has been for a while: you feel almost a little bad.

Sukuna doesn’t waste anytime grinding down against you, it feels so fucking good, his cock is accepting anything even if it’s the bare minimum. Everytime he meets your ass he whines, such a needy tiger you coo.

He’s ignoring all the dirty little comments you send his way too focused on the only good sensation he’s felt for a while, his hand doesn’t compare to your rounded ass. You reach between your legs and pull his shorts down, letting his cock bob free for a minute before he’s pushing up against you again.

He’s producing so much precum that youCan feel it through your silky garments.

“Smells so good… really good.” “Mhhhphmmm-“ he’s now being open with his groans too focused on the feeling of his tip prodding your clothed pussy. His swishing tail is within your eyesight, you grab it and rub it for extra stimulation.

You help him a little bit by bouncing your ass against him. He places his head in the crook of your neck and starts nibbling on your neck, you can feel how sharp his damn teeth are and pray to yourself he isn’t going to bite you: killing you in the process.

He doesn’t do any of that instead he just lightly bites, using no strength at all. While he’s busying tearing up your neck you slip your panties off, grabbing his fat length and teasing your wet hole. Just feeling it in your hand has your body burning up in arousal it’s been a while since you’ve had a cock, especially a cock his size.

You slowly start inching it in, the stretch is so damn unbearable and uncomfortable. When he feels what you’re doing he starts moving his hips already. An impatient thing such as him isn’t gonna wait. He gets about halfway in and you feel a thick liquid fill you, did this beast just cum? Already?

“Nhhhnn.. fuck-..” this doesn’t deter him because he’s sitting fully on his knees and pulling you flush against him, his entire length snuggly inside your pussy. He doesn’t wait to bounce you back on him, you can’t comprehend anything properly so shocked by how he just made you take every inch of him.

Your lashes flutter closed as he ruts into you like you’re the damn sex tox he’s been given, one he wasn’t gonna take care of properly. His hold on you is extremely tight so you can do nothing but take him fully, even when your walls threaten to constrict around him he pushes through it and keeps fucking Into you.

You allow him, allow him to thrust like a wild animal, mercilessly pulling all the way out of you just to slam back in. Drool is seeping down your neck where he’s latched on in droves. He’s far too gone, pussy has never felt this good.

By the end Sukuna is still rutting uselessly, he’s not even hard anymore he just can’t stop leaking cum nor has that good euphoric feeling stopped. He’s made a mess of your pussy, his cum and yours seeping down your thighs and onto his ruined sheets.

Hes licking at your face and you can hear a deep rumbling in his chest, this big hybrid is purring in content. Any attempt to move from under him is completely halted, he won’t let you move even an inch.

He begins sucking on your nipples, they’re definitely gonna be sore later but now it seems he just wants comfort and you fully give that to him. Rubbing his ears and whispering sweet nothings to him.

After that incident Sukuna is completely attached, he constantly whines for you to come see him including the scientists also calling for you to calm him down. He won’t let you have a moments peace.

Even when you tell him you’re extremely busy he’s having none of it, if he wants you to laze around and do nothing but rub him or praise/coddle him he completely expects it!

As his mate you’re meant to be with him all the time you should be grateful he’s even letting you leave the nest.

You were left fully shocked when he first called you his mate but the scientists explained that you were his first and now you are his last, they had all praised you because testing was made easier if you were there.

They’re all surprised to see him completely like mush under you, like one time when it was time for his blood to be drawn he made you come and sit in his lap while he had it taken. The doctors said he seemed to be completely smitten with you, in love and so possessive.

[bunnis-monsters]

Shark Week

Male!Shark Hybrid x Fem!Reader

Bunni’s Monstertober Event

Oct 14th

Oct 13

Oct 15

summary: you decide to visit your boyfriend even while you’re still cramping and on your period… not knowing that he’d turn into a feral beast at the sight and scent of your blood.

warnings: reader is on their period, pussy eating, blood, belly bulge, breeding, two cocks, double penetration

Requests are closed, but my commissions are open!

When you showed up to the beach in a pair of lounge shorts and a tanktop instead of your usual bathing suit, he knew something was up.

He swam up, settling on a rock a few yards from the shoreline, observing you as you scanned the water to find him.

Before you could spot him, he ducked below the waves, only his dorsal fin poking out of the water.

It was the late afternoon, and next to no one was at the beach. If you squinted, you thought you saw a figure a ways down, but you couldn’t be sure.

So that means you and him would most likely be… alone.

You yelped when he popped up a few yards away from you, quickly swimming up and waiting for you to wade in.

“Hey…”

He tilted his head when you stayed on the shore, his dark eyes blinking before he smiled. Those sharp teeth used to terrify you, but now you ended up smiling back.

“Coming in?”

This made you sigh. Truly, you really wanted to go swim with him and spend time together… but you knew how sharks worked.

Mostly,

“Not today… can we just talk from here?”

He paused, his smile fading. “… why? You don’t want to touch me today?”

“No, no sweetheart it isn’t that-“

Your lover sulked, his tail swishing in the water as if he were a disappointed puppy. “No hugs?”

Your lip wobbled before your legs moved on their own. You found yourself waist deep in the water in seconds, your lover letting out a surprised grunt before curling his arms around your waist and pulling you against his chest.

It didn’t take long for him to sense the blood in the water. His eyes went black, his grip tightening on your waist as he buried his face into your neck.

“Blood… were you hurt? Who did this?”

He growled lowly, his vision getting a bit blurry. “You have to get out of the water, I can’t control m-“

“I w-wasn’t hurt…”

Although his mind felt fuzzy, he tried his best to listen to you, noticing you had turned shy and quiet.

“I’m… on my period. I’m uh… bleeding down there…”

He perked up, his black eyes moving down your body to your shorts.

His body went stuff, and he began to rut agaisnt your pathetically, struggling to control himself. All he wanted now was to taste your blood, to feed on you and properly stuff you full of cum.

“N-not here!” you yelped, glancing around the beach.

After whisking you away to a safe spot, he lifted his lower body out of the water, revealing his two cocks has poked out of his slit in excitement. But he didn’t fuck you yet, no, his eyes were on your fat, bloody cunt.

He glanced back up at you. The sight of his sharp teeth so close to your pussy was a bit alarming, and you were unsure what would happen when he went into a feeding frenzy while eating you out… but god, you knew a few orgasms would help with your cramps.

He lapped at your folds, his eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head at the taste of your blood. After that it was history.

His face was buried in your cunt, lewd moans es aping his lips as he slurped and licked up all of the blood he could, and in the process was making you cum like crazy.

When he pulled back to look up at you, most would consider a shark hybrid covered in blood terrifying, but you thought he looked adorable. All blissed out from devouring your blood, a hand pumping at one of his cocks as the other rutted against your leg…

He really wanted to be inside of you.

The hybrid was nearly 4 feet taller than you, easily towering over your chubby frame. It felt nice, feeling his neck nuzzle into you and purrs rumble from his chest as his cocks prodded at your cunt.

You had taken both before, and with all the orgasms, you were able to take both cocks easily. The stretch was always uncomfortable at first, but he did his best to ease you into it.

The sight of your blood staining his lower belly and two cocks had them twitching. After fucking into you like the wild animal he was, he came buckets, making your belly bulge from how full it was of his cum.

Sex with him was always exhausting, but especially now that you were on your period. As you drifted off to sleep, he made sure you were safe and warm before leaving to catch you some fish.

You were his mate after all, and you’d be carrying his shark pups soon… you would need lots of strength to bear his litter~

———————

NSFW TAGLIST: @sunset-214 @strawberrypoundtown @avalordream @icommitwarcrimes @bazpire @im-eating-rn @anglingforlevels @kinshenewa @pasteldaze @unforgettablewhvre @yoongiigolden @peachesdabunny @murder-hobo @leiselotte @misswonderfrojustice @dij-ology @i8kaeya @lollboogurl @h3110-dar1in9 @keikokashi @aliceattheart @mssmil3y @spicyspicyliving @namjoons-t1ddies @izarosf1833 @healanette @lem-hhn @spufflepuff @honey-crypt @karljra @zyettemoon1800 @exodiam @vexillum-moeru @imperfectlyperfectprincess1 @binnieonabike @enchantedsylveon @mysticranger575 @readeryn68 @danielle143 @kittenlover614 @filthybunny420 @annavittoria-mm @makimamybelovedwife @blubearxy @omglovelylaila @toocollectionchaos-universe-blog @fruk-you-usuk-fans @wil10wthetree @hammerhead96-blog @slightlyusedfloormat

[yanderemommabean]

Yandere Choso X Reader fic

(Quick note! This was a com, who ill keep anonymous, but I was told this was A-Okay to post and share! I hope you beans enjoy! The premise is Choso being affected by Hanami's flower in a sex pollen sense, and it goes from there! CW: Dub-con, but con at the end, chasing through woods, random guy gets obliterated for talking to reader, and reader is female/has AFAB language! Its a bit of a read of 3,500 or more words so get cozy!)

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His skin feels like it's incessantly itching. His eyes glean more dilated and red than usual as he looks around his room, pacing the floors like a beast caged. Choso can’t explain it, honestly. He would just feel better if you were here, safe and sound by his side like you should always be-- Especially after how harrowing that fight got when he was slammed into Hanami. Flower buds burst open when Choso’s body  brutally collided into the curse, and thankfully he was able to take the brunt of what followed, but you…

He clutches his hair a bit, not wanting to think of what could happen if you were any closer than you were. To think anything could happen to you at all made him feel shaky and uneasy and he knows that can cascade into a pit of despair if let to simmer for too long. It’s a bad habit of his; he’s had it for as long as he’s been the eldest brother. It’s never really let up, in fact he’d say it’s worse now since he’s been given people to care for again. He can’t be fully blamed for that can he? After coming into this world, you and Yuuji were really all he had to get him by. Loss hurts. He’s so tired of that aching loneliness.

Going from adversaries to allies was the least of what anyone expected though  he wouldn’t have it any other way. You managed to bring to life what he thought was dead and buried. He’d been so sure he’d strangled it with his own hands.

Choso couldn’t ask for a better friend, yet… Lately he’ll admit, he’s been craving more than just  that. When he gets a glimpse of you, he has to force himself to behave and not gather you into his arms, insistent to press his lips to yours and drink in the taste of you. It’s all he’s been wanting these past few days, picturing how your voice would go weak as you beg him for more. 

Dear god, he wants to give you more. He’d give you anything your pretty beating heart would desire, simply as long as you only called his name; only ever allowed his fingers and lips to explore your body. 

Before you, Choso never once considered looking for a lover. He was sure your kindness could only stretch so thin, denying him anyway. Alas, he was contempt in letting you radiate the sunshine in his life as he loved from afar. After that Hanami incident however, he isn't so willing to sit and wait anymore. 

“Cho?” Your voice calls out, poking your head into the room as he paces like an animal being caged. His eyes dart to where you stand, mouth acting before his brain could catch up. “Where the hell have you been?” 

You’re both stunned by the coldness his usually warm voice held. You stay still, eyes rounded as you decide to fully enter the room to ask just what the hell his problem was. He’d been aggressive before, sure. You’ve seen him be rough and ruthless as he fights, spewing venomous words and poisoned blood to pry open curses like pistachios. Though, never has he had that sort of cold and demanding tone with you. 

“I'm sorry…” he utters, delicate and tired as he walks over, embracing you tightly. You hug him back on instinct, pressing your face into his chest as you feel him play with your hair; pressing his face into it as he breathes your scent in to calm his nerves. Oh dear god, it does the exact opposite. That sweet scent only lets his blood rush south and his mouth goes dry; his fingers start to shake as they brush through your hair and do their best not to yank your head back to force his lips on yours. 

You have to be fucking with him. You have to be. Teasing him with every movement you make as his sanity trickles from his ears and he comes closer and closer to just giving in and sinking his teeth into you. Maybe even in a literal sense with how desperate he is to mark you up and keep others away. Or to show you off and to taunt the other, lesser men who thought they could ever get ahold of a gem like you. Pathetic, really. 

Those vermin need to crawl on their knees and beg for his forgiveness when he gets ahold of them. 

“Look, you’ve been cooped up in here for a while, Choso” You say as you begin to pry away from his tight embrace -was he always this hard to pull away from? “I think you should come with me on a little walk. I know you hate the town so the woods should be fine, right? Fresh air, no paranoid thoughts, you’ll get to see that everyone's ok! I mean, I know how you get when you worry too much…” It’s nothing like that. Though, how can he tell you that? How could he shatter this image you have of him etched into your mind’s eye? How could this beast look at such innocent prey and tell them he’s about to devour them? 

He’ll hide that for now. Maybe you’re right. Maybe this is all because he’s gotten sick from Hanami and needs to just let the air and the sunlight heal him. You had never led him astray before.

He trusts you to lead him; guiding him away from the solitude of his living arrangement as he follows dutifully beside you. His body becomes flushed and red as your scent only grows more and more enticing. Do the people walking by not sense it at all? How delectable you smell? How you desperately need to be stuffed to the brim until your voice is broken? 

A deep breath, and the curse composes himself. Breeding you in public wouldn’t be ideal anyway. These sick humans would want to taint you, take you away, try to have a piece for themselves, and he wouldn’t hesitate to level a few buildings to make them scatter like the roaches they are. 

“Hey, is there anything else you’re not telling me? I mean even in messages you seem, I don’t know…Off '' You ask, stopping mid walk to turn and look up at him. His long hair was down from his usual pigtails and in this light his eyes held more of a dark, dare you say hunter-like aura; it only added to the man's beauty. His scowl seemed to grow as he watched more people walk by, getting way too close to you-- way too comfortable with your personal space. 

The woods was just another five minute walk away, and yet it felt like an eternity trying to get there. 

“Well, some troubling thoughts have been arising” He admits, while rather harshly yanking you closer as the sidewalk turns into a path that leads into the trees. 

“These people need to get away from us. I’m about to strike down the next one who gets too close, I swear.” He grits out, teeth showing in a snarl as he looks over his shoulder, watching as the last two people he hoped would be on this trail were leaving. 

You aren’t sure what to even say, you’ve never seen him this high strung before. That’s honestly saying a lot with what you’ve seen Gojo and Yuuji  put him through. But in all seriousness, you were beginning to feel uneasy, like something dark was bubbling beneath the surface. You are starkly reminded that he is in fact, a special grade curse.

“L-let’s just calm down and get to the woods before we vent ok?” You say with a forced laugh, feeling the energy shifting even more as a jogger comes running up the way, and stopping to catch his breath. He hunches over, hands on his knees as he lets his lungs get in whatever air they could.  With a wipe to his brow, he began smiling up at you two with what Choso saw as a flirtatious smile while you only saw a friendly one. “Careful out there” he says between breaths, standing up fully. “It’s getting dark. You know how those trails get when you can’t see as good. Hate for a cutie like you to get lost…” he says, looking like he was moving in to press closer. “Especially with someone like him-” he whispers, gesturing vaguely “-are you safe with him? Do you trust him?”.

After that question, you feel as though a snap of electricity went through the air. 

That’s when it all goes downhill. The warm splash mixed with the thudding of a now headless body hitting the ground, you can’t comprehend what you’re seeing for a few horrifying seconds. It's silent somehow. That’s the worst part. It’s like the world isn’t aware that a man was just beheaded and killed before your very eyes, his lifeless body now bleeding out on the dirt before you and the curse who did the horrible deed. 

“He touched you” Choso spits, eyes holding a viper-like stare as he wipes his cheek, a blood streak following his knuckles as he spits at the man's corpse. You act on instinct. You rush forward, your feet carrying you like your life was about to end, and for all you knew, it was. There wasn’t any semblance of the Choso you knew in those eyes as he struck down the innocent man who wanted to check on you. You can’t even begin to process the words Choso is throwing at you as he chases you through the rocks and trees, the sun beginning to fully set as the hunt begins. 

You feel like a deer trying to sprint away from a predator. Every flicker of your eyes shows his face, still blood speckled as he runs after you. Every twist and turn you take only makes your heart beat faster as you look for any possible hiding spots, anything to shield you from whatever wrath Choso has had buried within him these last few days. Why? Why is he doing this? He seems so evil and terrifying! You almost let out a sob, hunching over behind a large tree so your breath could come back to you. “Don’t you dare show feelings for someone like him” Choso snarls, but it’s far away, his voice sounding strained as he tries to speak. “Don’t you get it? I did that to protect you! All these people, they…They don’t want what's best for you, they want to hurt you!” Hurt you? Telling you to be safe was hurting you? No, Choso’s just lost it, he’s gone completely crazy! 

“Y/N…You know I’d never hurt you” His voice pacifies, coming closer and closer as you fear trying to flee from the tree you’re behind. Oh god please, please don’t let him find you. Don’t let him kill you! “I’d never forgive myself if you were hurt” He continues, stalking closer like a large cat as he follows your scent. “I just want to have you safe. To be pampered. To be mine as I lavish you in my love and adoration” he seemingly purrs, voice dropping an octave as he stalks closer and closer, knowing exactly where you were hiding.

“To have you bear my own children…have you love me as I love you. To taste you. Feel you. Have your body molded to fit mine as we breed like rabbits” he chuckles, dark and sinister as his fantasies seem to take over and spill from his lips. “Tell me, Y/N, are you a gentle lover? Or do you need me to bruise you a little? Rough? Soft? However you need it, you know I’ll give it to you until your pretty little head is empty and only full of thoughts of me.” 

That voice, that sultry purr, was this some sort of sick thrill for him? 

You don’t get much time to dwell on his true intentions. Once you feel his presence behind you, it’s too late. In a blink, your hands are being pinned, and your mouth is covered by his hand. Your eyes meet beautifully dark ones, staring at you like you were a meal he couldn’t wait to devour. 

“Gotcha.” You whimper, shaking your head as Choso simply stares for a moment, soaking in your scent and salivating at the intensity of it. There’s no way he’s not getting a taste of you. He’s even worked up the appetite for it. Once his hand pulls away, you openly sob, shaking and terrified. “Please, please don’t kill me! I-I thought we were-” He clicks his tongue, grabbing your face roughly as he pulls you into an intense kiss. It’s abrupt, unplanned, but he doesn’t care anymore. He’s had enough of these feelings building and building with no release. He’s taking what he wants, and he’s going to be sure you enjoy every bit of what he plans to ensnare. 

You find yourself melting into the kiss. You’re confused, and admittedly turned on at the same time. The panted breaths shared between you are hot and primal. He knows how to suck and bite just right to get your lips to open, allowing his eager tongue to slip inside and taste you, dragging the tip of his tongue over the pad of your mouth while his hand goes to your hair, pressing your face closer so he can kiss you deeper. 

The deep moans Choso makes as his tongue curls around your mouth, they’re deep and hungry, making your thighs clench together even more. Fuck, are you actually into this? You can’t even feel the amount of shame that you think should as the kiss becomes more feverish, both of you panting and moaning into one another's mouths as he tugs and paws at your clothes. He’s so close to just tearing them off if they keep denying him contact with your warm skin. 

He needs you. He needs to feel you pressed against him, bare and naked. He won’t let you get away until his cravings are satiated; your body decorated in his teeth and nail marks. “Choso wait-” You breathe, light headed and confused as you press at his chest, tears still drying on your face. You needed a second to breathe, to think! Everythings happening too fast and too much and- “Say my name again.” he demands, low and carnal as his hands tear off your bottoms. In one fell swoop your wet panties came off with the shorts you wore to make walking easier; showing Choso that at the very least, your body was enjoying this. Who were you kidding? You wanted this to keep going. That fever pitch was only rising and that desperation was filling you too. You wanted to see what he could do to you. Despite being terrified for your life, you knew you were safe. Well, as safe as one could be with a rabid dog like Choso had become. A collared beast isn’t a threat to their owner though, yeah?

“I said-” he barks, pulling you forward to steal another heated kiss, one hand coming to shuck off his own pants. “Say my name again.” 

There was no room for arguing. Decorum had left the moment the chase started. You look up into his eyes, kiss swollen lips parted as you both press forward into an embrace. There was a beat of silence, like you both were caught in admiration of one another. The forest waits on baited breath before you reach your hand up and wrap around his neck, holding yourself up as he wraps your leg around his waist. “Choso.” It sent a visceral shock down his spine hearing you say that in such a way. So needy, begging for him to keep his body against yours as you both find yourself kissing again, his hand coming to cup your ass and hold you up until you’re backed against the same tree you were just trembling and crying behind. Everything blurs after that. There’s clothes coming off completely, possessive phrases being moaned into your mouth or bitten into your skin as he falls apart, greedily taking in whatever he could of you as you two go at it like animals. You swallow, deep and nervous when you feel his cock pulsing against you. Where the hell was that thing hiding? Is that why he wears baggy clothes?! He doesn’t let your mind wander for too long. His fingers grip your face again, tilting your head upwards to meet his lust filled eyes. In this moon light, he looks even more inhuman. A true monster who got what he wanted. A death painting. Part of you feels like you want to see him like this more often. Hopefully with less murder involved. 

“Eyes on me baby. Only me” he commands, holding you still as he guides himself into you, inch by thick inch. Your entire world was on tilt, feeling him enter you while your legs trembled and struggled to hold onto his waist. How was he so strong? Holding you up this easy, it made your mind race and trip over itself with imagining what all he was holding back on, how he could manhandle you as he pleased. 

“Fuck, you’re taking me so good. Just like that.” he praises, and fuck, it goes right to your core, making you pulse and throb with arousal as he begins to pump into you. You feel yourself go taut as he decides to press you into the ground, his cock angling even deeper inside of you as he has you in a damn near mating press. 

“To think I waited for this-” he groans, deep and guttural as he begins to grind into you, over and over, long and languid strokes to drag the pleasure out of both of you. “-Ngh, to think I wouldn’t have you, begging for me and my cock, moaning for me like a good little whore.” “Ch-Choso!” You gasp, choked and stunned as he begins to speed up, the haze only growing as he holds his hand to your throat and buries into you over and over again. “You should have been mine since I fucking laid eyes on you! Fuck-I should make you my pretty little mommy, breed you like your pussy craves until we have more kids than I have brothers.” he rambles, tensing up and manking sure his angles were just right, stroking every bump and ridge inside of you. Your toes are curling at this, being used like some flesh light while Choso babbles away about how he owns you, how he wont let anyone even breathe near you, all while his massive cock carves its place inside of you. It can’t be helped when you scramble for any sort of purchase, grabbing onto his arm and clawing at his skin, drawing blood as you clench your fingers. 

Your mouth falls open, heat flooding your system as you moan louder than you’re sure you ever have when you used toys or had sad experiences with other dates. It was so much, it was too much. You hadn’t known you’d be so turned on by this; how possessive Choso was, never even considered it until now. 

With the way your body tensed, a splash of your cum coating Choso’s cock and dripping down to the forest floor, there was no denying it. You were perfectly ruined for this man. The white hot pleasure came rushing behind your eyes, your back arching off of the ground as you cried out, spasming and writhing as your orgasm wracked your frame. 

Choso watches, enthralled and beyond turned on as he watches you fall apart. His hand comes to press right on your abdomen, feeling how deep he is inside of you as his thrusts refuse to cease. “That’s it. Good fucking girl, Y/N. Feel how deep I'm going to breed you? How full I’m going to make your womb? Fuck, you’re going to be so pretty round and soft with our babies.” He’s lost in his animalistic thoughts, his pace picking up as he sloppily kisses you, chasing your taste with his lips and tongue as his balls slap against your ass, his orgasm coming to its peak. “Going to mark you from the inside, make you mine.” he growls, only getting your weak and worn out whimpers in return as you watch how his cock enters you over and over, knowing he means every word. He steals another desperate kiss, his hips suddenly stilling as warm fluid empties into you, fucked deeper and deeper into your core. You shudder, feeling like an aftershock of pleasure leaves you as his cock slips out and his load begins to follow. You two sit there, panting and catching your breath. Choso seems so much more, how do you say, soothed? Subdued? Pacified? Whatever it is, he seems so much more calm than he had earlier as he admires how his seed leaks from you and lets his fingers play with your soaked and swollen hole. “Hmph. I love how you jerk and twitch from this. Sensitive aren’t you?” he chuckles, crawling on top of you again, admiring every bite mark that was now swelling and welting. “I think this is a good start.” “T…To what?” you ask, head more clear as you try to once again process everything that’s happening. “Our family” he says, like he didn’t just rearrange your guts. “I'm going to make us a family. A big family. A loving one unlike the one I was brought up with.” 

He smiles, soft and amused as he plays with a few strands of your hair, like you weren't covered in dirt and sweat. “I’ll give you a few minutes before we get started again”. 

((I hope you beans loved it! -mommabean))

[sorrel-leaf-vespers]

I return with more Sitcom AU writing. I've been studying up, so I'm much more familiar with the AU now! That being said, looks like Alex is a wanted criminal now-

Alex was tired. They’d been staying up late at night lately to monitor and study Clyde when it was most active. Exhausting work, sure, but fascinating and incredibly fruitful. They’d learned so much about it. What they had learned basically boiled down to Clyde being a larger, spikier, more dangerous cat that could talk. Alex wondered if they could teach it to meow like one.

At the moment, Clyde was sleeping on the foot of Alex’s bed. It was nice and dark in Alex’s room with the new blackout curtains they had installed, which made it an ideal sleeping environment for the Veldigun. It was late in the afternoon, so it was bound to wake soon. Alex was in the kitchen making it a sandwich. They’d been trying to sleep for most of the day, too, but keeping Clyde away from the townsfolk of Eastridge County meant sacrificing catching up on sleep to keep it well-fed.

The thing was, Alex was starting to trust Clyde to a degree. Even on days where Alex was away from home for over 12 hours, Clyde would always stay in the house. Ever since that first incident, that first encounter, no one had died. The Smiling Snatcher was, as far as anyone knew, no longer snatching. That wasn’t to say Alex expected it to be perfectly tame. Clyde was still the equivalent of a wild beast. It still had its own thoughts and compulsions. It was still a killer. Heck, it could very well kill Alex at any moment if it wanted to. Alex fully understood that. Still, they couldn’t help but feel like they were starting to bond with the creature. There was still just one rule. Never touch it. That was how you got sick.

Alex heard something hit the floor in their bedroom. A few moments later, Clyde stalked into the room. “Good evening,” said Alex.

Clyde just rubbed its eye. It was still waking up.

“Friendly reminder that the repairman is coming to look at the lock on my back door in a few days. I’ll be home, but you’ll need to hide and keep quiet if you want to hang around.”

“Mhm…”

“Made you a sandwich, if you want one.”

That got its attention. Alex slid the plate across the counter, and only a few moments later, the sandwich was completely gone. “How’d you sleep?” Alex asked.

“Good enough,” said Clyde. “Do you HAVE to work tomorrow?”

“Yeah. It’s the only way I’ll be able to get to the bottom of whatever is going on. Besides, the better I know the asylum, the better we’ll be able to plan getting Winfrey out.”

Clyde nodded, stretching its long limbs. “Alright…”

There was a sudden knock at the door. Alex and Clyde both jumped. What in the world would someone be doing at the house on a Wednesday afternoon? “Get in the closet,” they whispered to Clyde, who quickly complied. They took a step toward the door, but before they could get any closer, they heard whoever it was speak.

“Mx. Alex Williams? This is the Eastridge County Police. We’ve gotten a tip-off that you may have information on the Eastridge Demon. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

Alex froze in their tracks. How did they know that they were harboring Clyde?

“The man who tipped us said that you would recognize his name. Does ‘Herbert Lankmann’ sound familiar at all? Said he’s your boss.”

A second officer began talking. “That must mean you work at the asylum. If anyone’s got information on the Eastridge Demon, it’s you.”

Alex felt their heart begin to race.

“Mx. Williams, Mr. Lankmann informed us that we are under full authority to arrest you for treason if you refuse to comply.”

Oh no.

Alex sprinted to their room and began packing a backpack. Clyde poked its head out of the closet, watching concernedly. “What are you doing?” it whispered.

“Getting out of here. They know you’re here. Help me out.”

The packing frenzy began. Extra clothes, hairbrush, hat.

“Mx. Williams, if you don’t answer the door, we will use force.”

Research notebook, spare notebook, pencils.

“Mx. Williams, this is your last warning.”

Some extra food, first aid kit, as much money as they could grab.

Something slammed into the door, shaking the whole house. Alex quickly zipped up the backpack. “Let’s go.”

They ran for the back door and tried the lock. The lock jammed. Something slammed into the door again. Alex heard cracking wood. Oh, that stupid back door. Stupid broken back door! “We’re stuck,” they said in a shaky voice.

A growl welled up in Clyde’s throat. “Not on my watch.”

Alex yelped in surprise as they felt Clyde grab their wrist and pull them into what could only be described as the most violent hug they’d ever experienced. It smashed through the back window, covering Alex’s head to shelter them from the shattering glass, cleared the fence with one leap, and took off running to the tree line. If Alex wasn’t in panic mode, they definitely would have tried to calculate how fast Clyde was moving. It was nothing short of inhuman.

Within seconds, Clyde was carrying Alex up a tree. Alex looked back at the house. They could see officers in the backyard, investigating the broken window and forcing the back door open. Multiple police cars were out front. It looked like some officers were inside, too. Their heart pounded. Their home…

“We need to go farther away,” said Alex. They didn’t want to look at the scene anymore.

“In case they decide to search the forest? Good plan.”

Clyde began hopping from tree to tree, holding Alex in one arm. Alex held back tears. They were terrified. They were a wanted traitor now. Lankmann would stop at nothing to recover them and Clyde.

Clyde finally hopped down to the ground. “We should be far enough away now,” it said. “Want me to let you go?”

That was when it fully clicked for Alex. Clyde had grabbed them. Clyde was… TOUCHING them. Alex began to panic again as they registered a pain in their hand. “Clyde… please say you’re just touching my clothes and not my skin.”

Clyde sucked in a gasp. “Oh…”

Alex looked down at the back of their hand. One of Clyde’s spikes was digging into it.

The shock and terror set in immediately as Alex wrestled free of Clyde’s grip. They’d touched Clyde. They had TOUCHED it. They knew the symptoms of Veldigun sickness well by now. The thought of having to go through that…

“I’m… sorry…” said Clyde, backing up slowly. “I just wanted to help…”

Alex stared at it for a few seconds before sitting down on the ground. “I know. I can’t be mad at you for trying to help me.”

They sat there for another while with their face in their hands. Their whole life had just been turned upside down. No home, hardly any belongings, an enemy of the state, and doomed to catch Veldigun sickness. There was no hope. Or, at least, there wouldn’t have been, if Clyde hadn’t draped an arm over Alex’s shoulder and said, “I have an idea.”

[vampiretendencies]

request; reminding them how lucky you are to have them, with jj?

pairing; jj x fem!reader

warnings; fluff

authors note; writing blurbs rn to cure my writers block, you may request from the list below or send in your own idea, as well as any other requests for one shots, imagines, etc.

other ways to say i love you prompt list

A jab to the ribcage was no way to rest.

Feeling such pain in the middle of your slumber, has you jolting upward to merely peer at a wide-awake JJ. Hard to make out— the shared room being dimly light, whilst the street lights from outside peeked harshly through the blinds.

As much as JJ could watch you sleep on repeat like it was his favorite movie.

He had something on his mind, that must be released at this very second. So, unfortunately your sleep was a bargain, but he’d be sure to make it up to you.

You were pressed delicately to his chest, legs intertwined symbolically wrapped up in each other, now facing one another. But now you are passively staring into his soul, wondering what could possibly be wrong at 3:30 in the morning.

“What?”

You hissed, such an idiotic shit-eating grin plastered on his face. He’d awoken a beast, being sure to tame it at once.

“What, baby?”

“Did you just fucking poke me?!”

Still he looks onward to you, besot filled eyes— such infatuation for one person.

People have given away pieces of their heart to multiple other people, but not JJ. He beckoned for this moment.

To be transformed and stupidly, insanely infatuated with someone.

You, that is.

That’s why, he’s proding you from exhaustion this late.

He just could never let you go too long without knowing so.

“That I did do but … but for good reason.”

“It’s never a good reason with you.”

Annoyance filled your voice, but he gave you the benefit of the doubt. Eyes awaiting his response, that seemed to take hours, when it was really two minutes.

“Never told you that before we met, I told John B I saw this moment right here … right now … with you.”

“You’re telling me this at almost 4 AM, because …”

“Because m’ a fuckin’ genie baby … shit, or is it psychic?”

He heard a small giggle erupt from your figure; a sign that he needed to continue talking, pulling you in closer if that was even humanly possible. The urge to be inside your skin overwhelming— as it’s filled with warmth and, the closest he’ll ever get to seeing and knowing your heart.

“Seriously though, I think you healed a part of me I never thought could be fixed,” JJ swallowed the lump in his throat, fingers combing through your hair, cooing at you with such remembrance. “I’ve always been searching for this stability … but I knew that once I didn’t want to run from this, you’d be my one … the one person I physically could not breathe without.

“J, you know ‘m not going anywhere-“

“Not finished, pretty girl,” He hushed you softly through pursed lips. “It’s a privilege to even be in your presence … m’ so Goddamn lucky.”

JJ would rather be caught dead than talking about his feelings, not now, anyway. With you, he’s constantly spewing out the most obscene, off-the-wall thoughts. And you wouldn’t have it any other way.

“And I love you, okay ?”

He reassured, as if you asked for it. Speaking his words directly into your lips, hungering for you to know those thoughts, to taste that and swallow them whole. Never having to question his utter devotion for you.

“And I love you, J,”

There was no ‘too’, no that was pathetic. The love shared was equal, no in between.

Just equal.

[knockyasocksoff2022]

Dazai's a jerk when he's sick.

From last year's Sicktember prompts.

Chuuya's Perspective:

Something slams into me and I jolt awake. I sit up and look around but the room is dark and the only other person around is my partner, and he’s fast asleep. Damn brat must’ve kicked me!

The clock says there’s still an hour before I need to be awake, but once I’ve been woken I don’t fall easily asleep again so I might as well get ready, while I can still have my coffee in peace before Osamu wakes up.

Before I can finish it though my stomach starts growling fiercely. Normally as soon as we get up Osamu starts making breakfast, but today he’s still asleep.

Huffing I walk back into our bedroom to wake my husband, I do feel a little bit guilty for waking him early but I need food.

I shake his shoulders, but he stays perfectly still. I do it again, but still nothing. It’s strange, because of his insomnia, he’s always easy to wake up.

Finally, I resort to yanking the covers off. He wakes immediately. 

“WHAT?” His voice positively drips with annoyance and anger, he glares daggers at me. It catches me off guard and I don’t answer. “Oh, so you just woke me up for nothing, is that it?”  He takes the duvet from the floor and begins to lay back down.

At last, I unfreeze, whatever guilt I had before gone, “Hey! Asshole, wake up, I need breakfast, and you owe me because you kicked me out of bed!” The words come out harsh, my tone matching his.

“I don’t care.” is all he says his eyes not even open.

We go back and forth for a while before I end up dragging him out of bed and into the kitchen.

“I can’t cook, it’s too cold in here.”

“It is not! It’s 22 degrees, you’re fine, now please hurry up, I’m starving.”

“I’m not hungry, why should I cook if I’m not going to eat?”

“Osamu, stop being a lazy bastard, we’re going to be late.” The words are exasperated more than angry.

“Hmph!”

With a sigh that sounds suspiciously like the word slug, he starts cooking. Breakfast takes way longer than usual and is a little burnt but I’m hungry so it’ll do. True to his word, Osamu doesn’t eat with me, opting instead to go back to bed. Maybe whatever grumpy monster possessed him this morning will have left his body when I wake him up next.

While he sleeps I dress and ready myself for work, when I look presentable I go to poke the beast.

-

I thought he might be less of a demon after a bit more sleep but, apparently not.

When I shake him this time he wakes immediately.

“Can’t even a dumb Chibi like you see that I’m trying to sleep!”

“What did you just say?” annoyance boils under my skin, I don’t want to do this again.

“I said you’re dumb,” he says curling back up.

I yank away the duvet and extra blanket he added, “Say that again, I dare you?”

“Chibi is dumb, as in stupid, and clearly has hearing problems, now go away and let me sleep!” His voice is cold, it ticks me off.

“You have to wake up. You have a job you know. I mean I don’t know how they haven’t fired you yet, but you at least need to go in.” 

“Leave me alone, Chuuya.” his tone is the same one I use when I’m warning an enemy not to try me. What’s with him today? I mean, he’s always kind of a disrespectful dick but, damn.

I make my tone just as cutting, “Well I can’t leave you here, you’ll probably burn down the house and kill yourself or something. Now get up and get dressed, you’re late.”

“I said LEAVE ME ALONE, CHUUYA!!!” his voice sounds like a roar, so loud it scares me.

“Jesus, Osamu, what’s with you today, it’s unlike you to be this shitty? You know what, don’t answer, it’s fine. I don’t even care, go to sleep and die, that’ll make me really happy. I’m going to go to work like a contributing member of society.” and with that I walk out, locking the door behind me.

—

When I get back the house is completely silent, Osamu must be out in the river or wherever he plans to stage his latest attempt on his life. My words from this morning come back to me, I told him he should just die. . . . No, he wouldn’t, he wouldn’t take that seriously. He knows how much I love him, right? It’s fine, he knows I didn’t mean it. The self-assurance doesn’t work very well.

I start to get up to go look for him when I hear loud coughing and then a thud of something human-sized hitting the floor. I run towards the origin of the sound, our bedroom, and throw open the door.

Osamu lays on the floor, on his back, looking rather disoriented. He must’ve coughed so hard he fell.

“Huh?” he sees me, “Oh, Chuuya, how long have you been here, are you going to help me, or not?” His voice is still bitter but the scratchiness of it cuts down the intimidation factor. . . and then he breaks into a coughing fit, and it doesn’t stop the coughing continues and continues a seemingly endless supply of wet hacking coughs bursting out of him so quickly it even looks painful.

I rub his back, my anger long forgotten.

When the fit finally ends his nose is runny and he scrubs it on his sleeve. I can practically feel the heat from his pale body by just being next to him, but I put my hand on his forehead anyway. He’s burning. 

Guilt sweeps through me, when I shook him and when I yanked him out of bed he’d felt warm but I’d assumed that it was just from the blankets.

“You’re sick.”

“No, really?” he croaks

“Come on, let’s get you something for that cough.”

“No, I don’t wanna move.”

“Fine. What have you taken today? Have you even eaten anything today?”

“You think I’ve been able to get out of bed like this?” his sarcasm remains strong even as his voice slowly crackles out.

I ignore it, knowing an argument is the last thing he needs right now. “Okay, I’ll take it that’s a no. Well, you need medicine as quickly as possible so, I know it isn’t really ‘sick person food’ but can you eat some tonkatsu? It’s all we have in the fridge, and you gotta eat something before I give you medicine. Your stomach’s okay, right?”

He nods, I think his voice must be completely gone now.

He pokes at the breading of the pork, slightly soggy from being in the fridge, and pouts, shoving it away.

“Well, sorry, Your Royal Highness, shopping day is tomorrow and I didn’t have much to work with.” I huff, trying not to get annoyed.

With a scowl, he pulls the plate back towards him and begins to peel the breading off.

-

When he’s finally finished, (I swear he ate so slowly just to annoy me, his hatred for medicine aside) he pouts again.

“You’ve gotta take this. You’re warm as hell, this isn’t just something you can sleep off.”

He shakes his head. His voice is long gone, but I can read his lips: “Nu-uh.”

“Yuh-huh. Open up. And don’t you dare act like this is the most disgusting thing you’ve tasted, I‘ve seen you eat year-old canned crab.”

He narrows his eyes, testing me. At last, he huffs, nodding sharply and holding up a finger. One.

“Yeah, just one big sip. I’ll make coffee after, kay.”

He takes the cup, sniffs it then mock gags. 

“Arse.”

-

Five minutes of convincing later, the cup is empty. I groan, my anklebone sore from sitting on the hardwood floor like that for so long.

“You’re a jerk when you’re sick, you know that.”

He nods again, then waves me off towards the kitchen, muttering, “Coffee.”

-

When I return he’s fast asleep.

I can’t help but laugh. “Jerk,” I whisper to no one.

[positivelybeastly]

Love seeing such nuanced and interesting explorations of the Big Blue! Speaking of big, how would you think Hank would respond to someone more indulgent in his hankering for Twinkies and such? With some of his body dysmorphia, do you think he'd be surprised to find someone appreciative of added bulk to his blue?

Thank you so much for the kind words! Apologies for the late reply, been on hiatus and have just started making a poke at my inbox.

So, I have some thoughts on this, because this has come up in both 616 canon and in alternate universes. Let's start with the alternate universes.

This is Hank McCoy of Earth-32098! He is friend shaped. He comes from a universe where . . . well, things are kinda cushy and moved past the need for conventional X-Men, really. Instead, there's an X-World, a Federation that Hank is a member of (which appears to be a Star Trek reference, given that he's on some kind of five year missions), and a lot of people have gotten old and settled down, hence the curious idea that Hank can go bald despite being furry. Then again, I've long been an advocate for Hank to be able to have facial hair despite being furry, so who am I to judge?

Hank looks relaxed and happy here, honestly! He's a bit rounder, but he is free, and I think that generally speaks to the fact that if Hank is eating well, then he's in a decent state of mind and he's being supported properly - he tends to do that genius thing of getting obsessed with an idea and not eating because must do science, so if he's eating well, he's being taken care of in a way that, generally, he isn't in Earth 616, or he's developed healthier behaviour patterns. There's no mention of him having a partner in this universe, but honestly, he's a jolly, happy fellow and his usual charming self, I expect he'd have no shortage of people interested in him. A partner encouraging of his shape and body would be a welcome surprise, I think.

Then we get into the less . . . positive, depictions of this.

First off, we have the Ultimate Universe, which is always a wellspring of healthy behaviour and kind words.

Like . . . this Hank isn't even fat?

He's just physically large because he's built like a brick shithouse. He has size 42 feet. You see him without a shirt on later and he's got full comic book godlike proportions going on, like, what here is even fat?

It was the early 2000s, so this just feels like braindead bullying, to be honest, but given that this Hank canonically struggles with his self-esteem and body dysmorphia even more than his other selves, to the point where it drives him to destroy his relationship with Ultimate Storm and gets him killed, I feel like he would have definitely benefited from someone being able to help out his headspace and get him to unlearn some of the garbage his parents abused into him. As much as I like his relationship with Ultimate Storm, she was not a version of the character equipped to deal with Ultimate Beast's mental trauma and issues, and he ended up in a bad place as a result.

Then we get to . . . 616 . . .

Where Hank becomes fat when he becomes evil.

I'm gonna link an article here, talking about fatphobia in comic books, but this is the salient part of the article, wrt Beast in particular.

This is me letting you all know that this is something comic book writers are still deploying in comic books in 2019, all the way up to 2024. Fat = evil. Fat = gluttonous = evil. Because, you know, why bother examining the way that we tell stories in an age where we're supposed to be more respectful and tolerant and accepting of people? Why bother examining the tropes we use, in this, allegedly the most welcoming of all X-Men eras?

And, you know, let's make some fat jokes here and there. Just in case you didn't get the message.

It's especially transparent because Percy established on Twitter that Beast was 'stress eating,' because of how much of a toll protecting Krakoa was taking on his person. Except that that's not what was actually happening. You saw Beast eat on panel, twice. Both times, they were while he was explicitly saying he was evil, or doing something transparently evil. He isn't stress eating, he's eating to demonstrate to the audience that he's a gluttonous pig who can't stop what he's doing because he's just so hungry and evil and he'll devour anything and everything and blah blah fuck off.

The stress eating garbage was Percy covering his ass for using shitty, outdated, fatphobic tropes to establish a visual language for Beast turning more and more evil. Because, you know, the fucking James Bond villain scar, the overgrown tusks (pig/boar imagery! Because he's a pig!), the actual visuals of him murdering countries and friends, aren't enough, you need to be shown that he's evil because he's fat, unlike our toned, lean, lithe heroes in X-Force.

It's such a shame because it's a good look for Beast, honestly. I love a blue furred Hercules as much as the next guy, but chunky thighs, love handles, a bit of roundness? It doesn't hurt. It's an attractive body shape.

I wish we didn't have to pretend it wasn't.

It's especially galling because we literally went from a bigger figure Beast in X-Force #48-50 when he became good again, to a lean, skinnier Beast in X-Men #1 coming next week because he's on a full on heroic team again.

Bleh. It frustrates me.

You had a question! And I've gone on a long ass tangent about problematic depictions of body shapes in comic books! My apologies!

I think that Hank would do well with a partner who doesn't mind a bit of a roundness to him. As I mentioned, Hank has a tendency to fall into bad patterns of self-neglect when he's busy, and someone who can not only be there to make sure he's taking care of himself, but assure him that he's a handsome, beautiful Beast whether he be bigger or smaller would be good for him.

I don't necessarily think it would 'fix' his image issues or dysmorphia, because I don't know if that lingering doubt ever goes away for Hank, but it would definitely help. And it probably would surprise him, even more than finding out that people actually really dig the fuzzy blue monster look.

[rain-ghoul-appreciator]

☆ its the cruel beast that you feed ☆

thank you @forlorn-crows for all the lovely prompts <3

mushy may day 2: late night snacks

paring: rain/swiss

under the cut or on AO3

rain for sure thought he was being sneaky. he was almost positive he didn't step on any of the creaky boards or breath to loud when he passed by his pack mates' rooms. and he was certain that no one followed him on his quest to the pantry.

as the pantry door creaked open, he was almost scared shitless because something creaked behind him. key word being almost. because there was nothing there for him to be afraid of. or so he thought.

as he pulled out a sleeve of crackers, two strong arms snaked around his waist. he wanted to scream, scream loud enough to wake the whole ministry, but the familiar scent and comforting scent of pine and something smokey hit his nose before the sound could even come out.

"swiss?" he mumbled, turning his head to meet the tired eyes of said multi ghoul. "why are you up?"

"was gonna ask you the same thing, droplet," swiss replied, nuzzling his nose into the crook of rain's neck. 

"got hungry," rain murmured. his attention went back to the crackers in his hand as he opened the package. before swiss could even hold out his hand, rain handed a cracker over before grabbing his own. 

"haven't seen you all day," swiss spoke, breaking the comfortable silence. "missed you."

"missed you too," rain said through a mouthful of crackers, reaching back to pat swiss's head. swiss purred, snuggling closer to rain. 

"left me alone with dew all day," swiss continued, his breath fanning out over rain's neck. "you know how many times he beat me in mario kart? five times, rainy, five! it boosted his ego to much and now he's insufferable about it." rain hummed quietly.

"sorry," he muttered, leaning back into swiss. he sighed and crunched on another cracker.

"stay with me tonight?" swiss asked, lifting his head to look at rain. rain nodded, leaning his head against swiss's. as swiss leaned in for a kiss, rain shoved another cracker in his face.

"can you not? m'trying to be romantic here," swiss whined, a pout settling over his lips. rain smiled and shook his head.

"hungry," he responded simply. swiss sighed, taking a cracker from rain. 

"can't believe i'm getting cockblocked by some fucking crackers," swiss complained. rain shrugged.

"you'll live."

"but what if i don't? what if i shrivel up and die because you'd rather eat crackers?" rain rolled his eyes and finished off the cracker he was eating before turning in swiss's arms. 

"i'm sure you're fine," he whispered, pressing a kiss to swiss's lips. swiss smiled and leaned in before scrunching his nose up and pulling away.

"you taste like crackers," he mumbled. rain giggled and leaned his forehead against swiss's. 

"does it taste good?" rain teased, wrapping his arms around swiss's neck.

"it definitely tastes like crackers," swiss replied jokingly, earning a playful wack on the chest from rain.

"would you rather i taste like something else?" swiss thought for a moment, a smirk spreading across his lips.

"yeah, me," he teased, poking rain's side. rain squealed and squirmed in swiss's arms.

"what was that for?" rain whined. swiss shrugged and leaned down to kiss the tip of rain's nose.

"just felt like it," swiss mumbled as he planted more kisses all over rain's face. his kisses, however, were interrupted by the loud, whale call-esque sound of rain's stomach growling.

"why does your stomach always have to ruin the mood?" swiss groaned. rain laughed and wiggled out of swiss's arms.

"hungry," he replied simply, grabbing the shredded cheese out of the fridge.

[blackjackkent]

Rakha gropes her way back to her bedroll, feverish, half-blind. The limited confidence with which she convinced Lae'zel not to kill her seems to be bleeding out, moment by moment. She is more acutely aware with each passing second that the worm is, in fact, taking control.

She is no stranger to restless nights, but for once tonight it is not the dreams of blood that have her twitching in her bedroll, but something far worse and more immediate. She drifts into delirious half-sleep, sweating and anxious and lost and infuriatingly helpless.

And she wakes... elsewhere.

She is conscious first of the chill. The air in camp was humid and warm, with a gentle breeze blowing between the tents, but here (wherever here is), there is no wind at all, and the temperature is at least twenty degrees cooler. The half-moon light around the goblin camp has been replaced by a suffusing pale blue glow that presses through Rakha's closed eyelids.

A voice, unfamiliar and soft, speaks almost next to her ear.

"I came just in time. You are transforming."

Rakha jumps, her eyes flashing open. She snaps her head to the side with all of her remaining strength, and looks up into the gentle gaze of a woman she has never seen before.

(A/N: One of the little joys of this game, I have found, is that this scene comes just late enough in Act 1 for you to have likely forgotten exactly what you did with the guardian's face during character creation. XD So then it gets to be a fun surprise! In this case, good job, past Roz. She's pretty!)

She's slender and pale. Pointed ears like Shadowheart's poke from under waves of thick auburn hair. Her face bears tattoos similar to the ones Rakha herself carries on her own face. And she is glowing all over with a power Rakha has never seen before. The air around her is thick with it.

She reaches out and rests the tips of her fingers against Rakha's cheek. And with that touch, the power flows down along her arm and into Rakha's skin, through her face and into her skull. And where the power passes... the pain eases.

Rakha groans softly. For a moment she focuses inward, feeling the fever ebb away, the ache in her hands and her chest starting to fade. The worm, as if lulled by some unheard sound, rests dormant in her temple. The beast, worn by the last few hours' torment, sits quiescent as well.

The sense of unexpected peace is absolute. She is still. She is calm.

She sits up slowly, turning her attention back to the stranger who has - it seems - saved her.

This is a dream, she decides after a moment's thought. The calm is real, but this place is not. It is the first dream she has had that did not smell of blood. The first to bring her face to face with someone living.

Is it possible that this woman is the source of those dreams? The face of the dark urge that has already driven her so many times?

No. The beast still sleeps. This is something else, someone else, a new touch inside her head.

The thought makes her shiver uncomfortably. "Back off," she mutters gruffly. "I have enough crawling around in my head already."

The woman draws back at once; her touch on Rakha's arm pulls away and she stands up. "Combative," she says, with a slow smile and a hint of amusement. "Good. You'll need to be."

She extends a hand. "Don't worry. You will not become a mind flayer. Not while I'm around. I'll protect you."

Rakha feels the dark urge stir drowsily in her head, the automatic instinct to lash out.

Imagine hacking the grabby paw off.

Narrator: Though the thought crosses your mind, it doesn't hold you, doesn't devour you, as your thoughts too often can.

Somehow that realization is more unnerving even than the close brush with ceremorphosis. The beast's everpresent background growl has been a constant since the moment she awoke. Everywhere except here...

The woman looks at her with a slight, sad smile - as if she knows exactly where Rakha's thoughts have gone. "Your compulsions will doom us all, if you do not work to stop them," she says gently. It is the softest, warmest voice Rakha has ever heard. "I can help."

Rakha reaches up cautiously and takes the woman's hand, lets herself be guided up onto her feet.

For the first time she properly looks around and registers the dreamscape she is inhabiting. At first glance, it appears to be some sort of garden courtyard, a stone circle surrounded by tall, grand columns and lined with grass and plants of all sorts.

And beyond it... is an infinite space. They are floating in a sea of stars, among many other smaller floating rocks and some much larger ones. And the Weave...

Gods... it's beautiful...

In her waking life, she sees the fabric of magic everywhere, a prismatic ripple underlaying the very skin of the world. But here... it is much stronger, a heavy, undulating texture of hues beyond naming, so thick she could reach out and bury herself within it even in the blank and empty parts of the air. It presses on her skin, not quite solid and not quite liquid, a comforting warmth like a blanket wrapped around her.

"We haven't much time," the strange visitor says, bringing Rakha sharply back to herself. "So listen closely. There is great potential within you. It comes from that parasite. Your instinct is to resist the power it gives, but you must accept it, nurture it. I will keep it from consuming you - but for the sake of both of us, you must learn to wield it."

Rakha listens quietly. Her mind feels sharper, clearer than it has been in days, pulling together all the threads of this strange new development and weaving them together.

The visitor is here for the parasite. She knows about the beast, but that is not her primary concern - the tadpole and its transformation is.

The visitor does not want the worm to consume her - but she agrees that the powers it offers, of control and domination, are valuable.

She knows Rakha, too. That much is clear. She would not know about the compulsions, otherwise. And the tattoos... something connects them. Something reaching back into the abyss of her memory. That much is obvious.

A million questions surge to the forefront of her mind, every answer she has craved since the moment she woke up. But the visitor is not finished.

She gestures out into the starscape, and as Rakha follows the gesture her gaze comes to focus on an even more baffling sight - an enormous, skull-like form drifting among the other stones of that infinite sea. Around it, small forms of different-colored light weave and twist, striking out against each other with bursts of energy.

Gods. What is that?

"A fight for the fate of Faerun," the visitor says calmly, answering the question Rakha did not speak aloud. "A fight we are losing - for now. You can change that, but only if you embrace your potential."

Rakha's eyes narrow. We? She opens her mouth to ask a question - and then is cut off again by a low hum of energy that can be nothing other than a rising explosion.

The woman's face twists in something like a wordless curse. "I have to go," she mutters. "The enemy is closing in." A pause; her hand rests just for a moment on Rakha's shoulder. "I will be back."

Back where? Rakha wants to demand. Where are we? WHO ARE YOU?

But the blast surges up around them, and the woman's hands flash out, shielding them both and knocking Rakha backwards as her vision fades to white.

Wake now. You'll feel better. I promise...

-----

Rakha wakes, sitting bolt upright in her bunk. Her fingers press involuntarily to her face-- there are no tentacles, no changes at all. The fever has broken and her skin is cool. The threat has passed.

It was a dream, certainly - but it was also real. The visitor saved them - for despite her assertions to Lae'zel, they were surely on the edge of transforming. And if the visitor spoke true, she is also fighting some greater war. And she knows something about Rakha, about the compulsions of the dark urge.

"Fuck," she says with deep feeling, leaning her elbows on her knees and groaning. This was hard enough already without another new face in the mix.

And already, back in the waking world, she can feel the beast stirring again in her mind. We should have killed her. Should have ripped her apart when she offered her hand. We do not need her help or her touch or her war.

But she has answers... she must, she reminds herself firmly. We need to know what they are.

[rainy-s-other-corner]

Time for the very first part of this year long project!

Part 0 | Part 2

*The scene is set really late at night in the Ramshackle Dorm. Rosabell is curled up in her bed, sleeping peacefully. All of a sudden, she feels something poking her shoulder repeatedly.*

Rosabell: *groans* Grim. It's late. Go back to bed. We'll get food later.

???: As cuddly as I am, I'm not Grim. But I do need you awake for my master plan. Hehehehe.

*Rosabell's eyes shot open, reached for her bat, and swung. Thankfully, it was caught by Lilia.*

Lilia: Nice swing. The form needs a little work. *smiles* Good job!

Rosabell: ...Seven damn it Lilia!!! I've told you multiple times to knock on the front door like a human!

Lilia: And I will continue to pop in like usual. It's good to keep your heart strong and healthy.

Rosabell: *sits up* What do you want at... *looks at her clock* four-thirty in the morning?

Lilia: Well...*smiles* it's my birthday and I want to do something before my birthday party.

Rosabell: First off, happy birthday. Second, when is the party?

Lilia: *smiles* At noon.

Rosabell: ...

Lilia: ...

Rosabell: *points at the window* Get out.

Lilia: Oh come on Rosie-

Rosabell: *raises bat to his nose*

Lilia: -Rosabell, the stars look very beautiful today and I'm sure you don't have the same stars from your world. Besides, no one else is awake to join me right now.

Rosabell:...And why me?

Lilia: Because it's this or come to the birthday party Diasomnia is hosting as my plus one.

Rosabell: ....I hate that you've figured me out....Alright fine. Just let me get my coat on.

*Ten minutes later, Rosabell and Lilia are sitting outside while looking up at the night sky. Rosabell is shivering while Lilia is just vibing.*

Rosabell: (Can't believe I'm doing this...) So, what are the night skies like here?

Lilia: Well, let's see. We have the Zodiac Signs-

Rosabell: Signs like Cancer, Aries, and ten others? My world has that. Some even be obsess with them.

Lilia: Okay. How about the planets? Venus, Jupiter, Mars,-?

Rosabell: Neptune, Saturn, Uranus, Mercury, and Pluto if you count it too? They can be barely be seen back home, however.

Lilia: I see. Then how about the constellations that look like the Great Seven?

Rosabell: Okay, now that is something my home doesn't have. There are constellations, but nothing that looks like the Great Seven. Unless you count the Leo constellations that match with the King of Beasts.

Lilia: Hmm. Then that's where we'll start. In the Northern part of the sky is-

Rosabell: Before our star constellation lesson, I have one question.

Lilia: Of course. What is it?

Rosabell: Why?

Lilia: Why what?

Rosabell: Why did you want me to do this today? We could do this any other day.

Lilia: I thought you would love to see the beginning of the new year's star cycle. Y'know, the start of anew? And I want you to feel at home here until you go back. You can't ignore my birthday wish.

Rosabell: ...

Lilia: ...

Rosabell: ...

Lilia: ...

Rosabell: Sebek told you about the others trying to figure out my birthday. Didn't he?

Lilia: ...

Rosabell: None of you will ever figure out when it is. Ever.

Lilia: Is that so? You don't want us to know? Not even if we play a game?

Rosabell: What game?

Lilia: Simple. Us boys will take turns on our birthdays to ask you one question about when your birthday is. You answer it any way you want, then we can have the chance to guess or not.

Rosabell: Okay...?

Lilia: And if we don't figure it out or if we figure it out too late, then you can give us a punishment of your choosing.

Rosabella: My choice? Like if I wanted all of you to dress up as butlers and take care of the Ramshackle Dorm for a week, you guys will do it?

Lilia: Hahahaha! That's right! But if we do figure it out before the big day, then you have to let us throw a party for you as well as celebrating the remaining birthdays too. Deal? *Reaching hand out*

*Rosabell looks at his hand for a bit before shaking it.*

Rosabell: Deal. But you only get three tries to figure it out.

Lilia: Oooh! Sounds fun and tricky. I'll pass the message along.

Rosabell: So what is your first question?

Lilia: Hmmm. I want the young ones to have a chance to guess. *Ponders* Okay! Does your birthday fall on an even or odd number?

Rosabell: Even.

Lilia: That's half the year. Best of wishes to the others. Hehehe! Now! On to the lesson! Up North is the star constellation of the Thorn Fairy!

*For the rest of the night, Lilia and Rosabell talk about the constellations, both in this world and Rosabell's world. Towards the end, Lilia noticed a little smile on the non-magical girl's face.*

[yojeongin]

DON’T BLAME THE LOVECATS — PROLOGUE

→neighbor!jaemin x neighbor f!reader

genre: social media au, neighbors au, fluff, angst, enemies to friends to lovers, humor

synopsis: smtown welcomes yn warmly but a horrid encounter between their cats leads to jaemin doing exactly the opposite. even with efforts to mend this, it’s a little too late for it and both parties will have to make due.

word count: 1742

m.list | previous | next

But anger blinded Jaemin. He was past furious that he saw your gentle patting towards his cat as a harsh scolding almost as if you were beating her. Blinking a few times before he snatched her from under your soft petting, careful enough to not grace her wounded area.

“I’m sorry about Mini—“

“I’m sorry about Mini—“

“Just keep your fucking cat away from her! What kind of owner are you letting a cat roam around new areas unattended?!”

His labored breaths clogged up his throat. Jaemin was worried sick about Dooie and her health. In any other occasion he would’ve taken the situation lightly and tried to reason but he couldn’t get the idea of losing her out of his head so anything regarding her made him act irrational.

“I didn’t— he ran out—“ flabbergasted with the way he spoke to you, your sentences came out choppy. You had processed the situation easily but he was making you contemplate that.

The cats had accidentally ran into each other that the impact set off a fight or flight instinct in both of them. You were sure if they had time nothing would’ve escalated past some hisses and arched backs where you could’ve had time to pick up Minino and taken him inside. But this happened so fast that all you did was comfort them both after the separation. You thought you had done a good job on calming both of them but he didn’t.

Letting out a disappointed scoff, “You don’t have to be such an ass, they’re okay. It was a spur of moment and don’t ever curse at him.” You couldn’t believe your first day moving in had already gone horrible. You had imagined that any neighbor rivalry would start months later or maybe never but here you were picking up Minino once again and giving his own cat an apologetic smile.

“Just leave us alone, now I have to take her to the vet again. Who knows where your cat has been.” He lets out in a murmur. His words while not too vile did spark some rage in you. He spoke about your baby as if he was a filthy beast that wasn’t taken care of. As if there was no care and even if he was an uncared for cat his words still sounded horrible.

Turning on your heel, you walked towards him with full determination and no holding back on your words. Whatever was going on with him he shouldn’t take it out on you or anyone else. What fault did Minino have for him to be so cruel?

“Stop treating him like filth, he’s not and even if he was a stray or uncared for cat you sound like such a dick.” Your words left him speechless but his pride made it look like he didn’t care which seemed to make things worse.

Jeno and Sunwoo had rushed down upon hearing some bickering. With heavy breathing both men made their way towards the both of you, hurrying you away from the confrontation point. Both of them were feeling very upset at how this guy had just spoken to you and your cat.

They knew you held Minino very dearly to you and any offense towards him was an offense towards you. It made things worse for Jeno since he had thought Jaemin was a nice tenant all these years he had been living in the building but when a friend of his has been crossed, the offender was dead to him.

“Don’t come near her or I won’t respond.” Sunwoo broke the silence, tongue poking against his cheeks. Jeno nodded in agreement hoping the message was sent but Jaemin furrowed his eyebrows with a dry mocking scoff, leaving both of them behind as he made his way towards the car with the mission of getting Dooie checked in case the scratches and bites had broken the skin barrier.

It wasn’t until hours later that Jaemin had arrived back home completely exhausted. All he wanted to was take his lovely Dooie in and sleep for the remainder of the night, not even caring about his remaining work.

Jaemin’s head turned to his side seeing his sleeping cat look ever so peaceful. He sighed to himself, thankful for another day she was healthy enough. Just like Minino was dear to you, Dooie was to him. His parents had given her to him as company years ago when he decided to move out for work.

They hoped she’d keep him company in his days and minutes of solitude for they knew living on your own and in the city was lonely. Things were worse when Jaemin had a history of horrible coping mechanisms and they feared their golden boy would resort to them again. In a way she’s saved him from many downfalls and for that he was thankful.

“You have to be careful next time. Please…” he begged in a murmur, cradling his darling in his arms as he struggled to unlock the door to his shared apartment. Upon managing to do so, the next door of the once vacant apartment had opened giving him access to those inside and those coming out.

His once calm demeanor had turned into what Dooie and Minino experienced earlier: fight or flight. Tense in his spot and clutching his cat when seeing your face, the both of you looked at each other startled.

“You have to be kidding.” You whine, pinching the bridge of your nose. Just when you thought things could be better, the universe had decided to curse you with the fact that your neighbor was that raging asshole from earlier.

It was left at that. Jaemin had entered the apartment before another argument could start. He was tired and he didn’t want to go to sleep angry and if avoiding you was all it will take then so be it.

“I’m not too thrilled myself.” Jaemin scoffs with the intake of your disgusted tone. He had thought about apologizing while on his way back now that he had cooled down but you still seemed angry that he couldn’t help but reciprocate the feeling.

That would’ve been better than to what had progressed was it not for Mark’s meddling. Minutes after he had arrived, his friend knocked on his bedroom door begging the younger to please bake him some brownies.

During such laborious process, Jaemin had updated Mark on the situation. While he expected his friend to comfort him, Mark remained quiet knowing he didn’t agree much with his friend. Though he knew where he was coming from, he still couldn’t agree with him. After all this didn’t sound like something cat loving Jaemin would say. He’s always been such a lovely foster owner and accepted any cat no matter how sickly.

“Yeah… yeah you did fuck up I won’t lie.” Now both men leaned against the counter, chewing with open mouths to let out the burning vapor of the freshly taken out brownies.

“I know you’re doing it out of love but giving her an apology is the least you could do. She was there in the wrong place at the wrong time and you took it out on her. She didn’t deserve it so how about you give her these left over brownies and you can make more once you’re done.” Palming his back followed by a wink, Mark sends off his friend with a Tupperware full of warm brownies that fogged up the container.

While in it’s time it sounded like a good plan, right now Jaemin’s pride was consuming him. He knew he was wrong and he knew he should do this but a part of him was telling him to fuck it. He couldn’t handle apologizing to someone that rightfully called him a dick, even if he deserved it.

Yet here he was pacing in front of your door, everyone of your friends was gone and you were left alone with your cat. Ignoring the threats from your friends, he finally knocks on your door. His heart beating with the rhythm of each knock but his getting increasingly harsher.

‘Easy. Just apologize, give them to her, and apologize again. That easy…’ he convinced himself. Jaemin was nervous enough that his hand began to sweat and it got worse when the door swung open. Revealing you in your PJs with headphones on.

While you were a smart girl, occasionally you’d have your moments off and lost your precaution. This was one of them that you didn’t look through the peep hole and opened the door in hopes it was one of your friends returning to spend your first night there.

But it wasn’t. It was that aggravating presence that you’ve found was your immediate neighbors with a tupper in hand and a slight nervous look to him.

“Hi, I jus—“

You didn’t let him finish. Slamming the door as harsh as you could in his face, scoffing at his audacity. “I thought you wanted us to stay away from you!” You made sure to let out before returning to your bedroom, leaving him behind that same door once again.

Jaemin knew he deserved this but his pride would always get in the way and this only hurt his ego. He couldn’t believe he had felt horrible for his earlier actions. That he had thought about welcoming you warmly like he and Mark had for past tenants, some of them being your own friends but he could forget about that.

If war is what you wanted, then war is what you would get.

taglist: @bbymatz @dandelionxgal @multieonnie @johnniverse @lunaryoongie

let me know if you’d like to join the taglist!

[arianna-irwynarn]

Part seven.

Sorry for the wait guys, I've been dealing with work and pain from my fractured knee. But here it is and I hope you like it.

Rei

Sfw

“Might need to get shadow heart to fix that though.” Karlach poked lily's cheek. A pain shot through her face. An arrow had brushed her face but managed to split her cheek open, she hadn't noticed due to the adrenaline.

“Oh!” Now she was aware of it, the pain started up. Raising a hand to her cheek she could feel blood running slowly down the side of her face from karlach’s poke.

Thankfully everyone else was unscathed. She quickly pulled out a potion, chugging the contents of the small bottle she felt her skin knitting back together.

“I thought we’d killed all those bastards already?” Karlach mused.

“It's just like goblins to hide when they see they are at a disadvantage.They couldn't run back to the goblin camp.” Wyll commented as he placed a pair of daggers into his haversack.

Lily made her way over to Astarion.

“Oh, hello and what can I do for you?”

“Uh, thank you, for rugby tackling me out of danger back there.”

A charming smile graced his face.

“Well I couldn't let our shy little leader get an arrow through the chest now, could I?”

Lily tried to keep her composure as she looked up into his ruby coloured eyes.

“Also for bringing me back to camp last night.”

“Well someone has to keep an eye on you and the others said I had to. As punishment for not revealing my true nature.”

He said it so flippantly, waving his arms around in a dramatic fashion.

Lily felt anger surging inside.

“Well I'm so sorry for being such a punishment for you. I guess you didn't like that ‘gift’ after all.”

With that lily turned on her heels and stormed off in the direction they were going, tears stung her eyes, another thing that had followed her from her human life. Did they all see her like that? Someone to make a mockery of? If that was the case then why even follow her? She would prove them all wrong.

The shadows were beginning to stretch like tendrils of darkness across the forest path. It was then that she saw something truly beautiful and horrifying. A shadow shaped like a nightmare passed through her, her silver eyes tracked the shadow upwards and her mouth fell open. A dragon, a real life dragon! It was a majestic beast the colour of blood, the wingspan was like that of an aeroplane. Sat atop was a Githyanki, his armour glinting in the late afternoon sun.

It told her that a big fight was on the cards if they continued that way.

The camp was set up quickly and as discreetly as they could make it. Everyone was inside their tents, except for lily who sat next to the camp fire reading a large book.

Monsterous creatures of Fae’run

An A-Z of most documented species.

V is for vampire.

“Darling, if you wanted to know about vampires you could have come to me.”

Lily snapped the book shut and placed it on the bedroll. Astarion looked down at her, a look of mock offence on his face. A laugh escaped lily's lips.

“My, have I offended you? My most humble apologies.”

She stood placing her hands on her hips. Wondering what he wanted.

“Well, actually, I wanted to… apologse for what I said. You aren't a punishment.”

His pale cheeks showed the slightest hint of colour. He was blushing! Apologising clearly wasn't an easy thing for him.

She couldn't help the soft smile that graced her face.

“Thank you.”

She wanted to hug him but something held her back. The memories of Cazador. That monster who turned him then sent him out to seduce people. She needed to respect his personal space.

“Why are you still up? The others went to bed ages ago.”

Astarion pretended to flick something off of his billowy cream shirt.

“Oh, well we were all so busy today and time positively flew by. Next thing I know everyone has gone to bed and I never got the chance to feed.”

His crimson eyes lingered on lily's pale throat as he spoke.

“Astarion, you can’t go hunting. Not here, there’s a red dragon and gods knows how many Githyanki roaming around.”

“Darling I didn't know you cared,”

‘of course I do.”

She lightly grabbed the sleeve of his shirt, careful not to touch him as she gently pulled him down to sit beside her.

Astarion had never really paid any attention to lily's tent before. It was cramped with two candles creating small circles of light. An old bedroll was laid out and the books they had found in the blighted village were in a pile. It bothered him, their leader sleeping in such conditions. She could have taken over any of the group's tents for herself. But she didn't. In fact she never complained once.

Lily weighed up her options silently. Astarion broke the silence

“You never complain do you, you're in this crappy tent with the rattiest bedroll I've ever seen and yet you could make it much better. I couldn't dream of living in such…” His voice trailed off, memories of that palace of pain and suffering, of Cazador beating him mercilessly. The feel of his blade as he carved into his flesh. The taste of bile reached the back of his throat, he swallowed it back down. He almost jumped when he felt the warmth of lily's touch on his hand.

“I'm going to go with you. If you have to go hunt, I'll be your uh, hunting wingman.”

Lily quickly released Astarions hand not really even meaning to touch him at all.

“You want to do what? Darling you are hardly the stealthiest warlock. I'll stand no chance of hunting anything with you following me.”

Her cheeks flushed but her face held a look of determination and stubbornness that was almost cute.

“This is not up for discussion. I am coming with you and that's final.”

A sly grin appeared as he looked down at her.

“All right but if I should come up empty” he leans down to whisper in her ear “you'll have to pay the price.”

[mayajadewrites]

Moth to a Flame: Levi Ackerman x Reader

C H A P T E R S I X : T R O U B L E

chapter summary: You're discharged from the infirmary and Jean is by your side through it all. However, your feelings for Levi are at an all time high. You also have to deal with your conflict with Mikasa. Did you want to lose a friend during a war?

ao3

You were discharged from the infirmary shortly after you woke up. Jean helped you back to your room, where Mikasa and Sasha were waiting for you.

Seeing Mikasa only brought feelings of anger. "Tsk." You couldn't help but suck your teeth.

"I'm so glad you're okay!" Sasha hugged you tightly.

"Potato girl, go easy on her." Jean pushed her off.

Mikasa's eyes were on the floor.

"Nothing to say?" You tilt your head, looking into her eyes. "Or should I get Eren in here so you can give a fuck?"

"I don't know what happened, I saw Eren was in trouble and –"

"And you forgot about me. Your comrade. I risked my life for you and Eren, and you didn't even bother to say shit to me."

"I'm sorry, I –"

"It's a little too late for that, Mikasa. You showed who your loyalty is to. It's not to your squad, it's only to Eren." You didn't truly mean the words that you were spewing, but you wanted to hurt her emotionally the way you're hurting physically. "From now on, we're roommates. You don't need to speak to me. I certainly won't speak to you."

You struggle to get to your bed where Jean helps you get under the covers. No one in the room said a word.

"I'm sorry." Jean pressed his lips to your forehead.

"What are you sorry for? You didn't do anything wrong." You poked his nose with your index finger. "Unless you want to be sorry for being such a gentleman."

Jean smiled and planted a kiss on your lips. You opened your mouth to let his tongue in, while pulling his body under the covers with you.

"You need to rest." Jean smirked against your lips, not breaking the kiss.

"I can rest after I kiss you." Your hands make their way to his face, rubbing your fingers along his jawline. "Thank you for everything." You kiss him again, pressing your chest onto his.

Jean returned your kiss then pulled away gently, leaving kisses all over your face. "Goodnight."

-

You couldn't fall asleep. You tossed, and you turned. Your mind was filled with thoughts of the battle with the beast titan, and your anger at the tip of your tongue.

You decide to take a slow walk. Or maybe just sit outside your room. Being in that room would do no help right now - you'd probably stay up until Sasha and Mikasa wake up.

Your watch reads: 3:33 AM.

Walking with a leg injury isn't the best idea. You realize that when you throw yourself on a chair in the hallway, leaning your head back.

"Oi."

You look up and see Levi sipping tea, his large hand over the top of the cup. "What are you doing awake at this hour?"

"I could ask you the same thing." You wince as you move your leg to your chest.

"You know I don't sleep."

"You slept when I was there."

"That's different." Levi took a sip of his tea. "Anyway, you're not there anymore. So again, I don't sleep."

"Have you tried... dating?" You look up at Levi, hoping his answer is no.

"You act like you've never met me. No, I don't date. Why didn't you go and find your boyfriend if you couldn't sleep?"

Good question.

"I just couldn't be in that room. I'm so angry with Mikasa."

"Listen, you need to put that behind you." Levi sat on the armrest of the chair. "I understand you feel like your trust with her is ruined. But we are in a war. It's a waste to be angry for more than 5 minutes. Especially with someone who's not the enemy."

"She would throw my life away so easily for Eren's."

"You have to remember, Eren's been in her life since she was a kid. Eren is the only family she knows, so it's obvious she's going to do anything to protect him."

You let out a sigh, pressing your right cheek to your knee. "I guess you're right."

"I know I'm right." Levi took another sip, watching you as you ponder your thoughts. "I won't tell Kirstein about our little meet up." He smirked.

"You just so happened to be out here when I was trying to escape my room." You shot a glare at him.

"Mhm." Levi patted your head with his hand, bringing his fingers to your cheek, caressing it gently. "Goodnight, princess."

-

2 weeks later

Your leg is almost back to normal, and so is your life. After your talk with Levi, you decide to put the battle behind you and make up with Mikasa. She hugged you tightly, regretting not thinking of you as well as Eren.

Jean was coming over every day to see you. Playing games, talking, or just kissing. It was nice. It was sweet.

But it's not Levi.

Another night of tossing and turning lead you to leave your room again, this time with a destination in mind. You're wearing a baggy sweater with shorts, your hair long and wavy.

As you tip-toed through the hallways of headquarters, you saw Levi's office. His door was closed, per usual, but you knew he was awake.

You knocked lightly so no one could hear.

"Why aren't you asleep?" Levi said before even opening the door.

"How did you know it was me?"

"You're the only person that comes to see me at 3 AM." Levi was wearing a grey long sleeve shirt, his collarbone showing. His undercut looked freshly done and he was wearing his usual black pants. "Kirstein asleep or something?"

"I-I came to see you." You close Levi's door behind you gently.

"Mm." He nodded, sorting his papers on his desk. "About what?"

"I just couldn't sleep is all."

"And you knew I'd be awake."

"When did you get so smart?"

"I've always been smart, princess." Levi looked into your eyes, sending goosebumps across your skin. "You just can't stay away from me, hm?"

"I can. You said we could be friends, well more specifically you said we could go back to what we were before we..."

"Fell in love?"

You've never heard Levi admit that you two had fallen in love. You never even said I love you to each other.

"I just wanted to talk long enough for me to get tired and fall asleep."

"Again, why didn't you go to Kirstein. He's your boyfriend."

"Can you just..." You shake your head with frustration. "Never mind. Coming here was a mistake, obviously."

Levi didn't say a word, he only raised his eyebrow. "He seems like a good guy." He finally says.

"He is,"

"But." Levi finished your sentence.

You didn't want to give him the satisfaction of telling him he's been on your mind lately, that all you can think about is him even when you're with Jean.

"Nothing." You wave your hand, pretending to yawn. "Looks like you did the trick. I'll see you later, Levi."

"Sweet dreams, princess."

[tworoadsandapenny]

What You Wish For: Chapter 18. Before the Dawn

It's taken three years to finally figure out this ending. Three years. Not out of a loss of muse or life getting too busy or forgetting about the story, no! But due to rewrite after rewrite after rewrite after rewrite! Ugh.

I warned you all in my first story, I’m terrible at endings. But at last, I think I’ve finally managed to stumble into a proper finale for this angsty beast.

To those who are still reading, I appreciate you more than I can say. And I apologize for the wait. Just know you weren’t forgotten, I’ve been working on this story the whole time. But I needed to find a resolution these poor brothers deserved that didn’t feel forced or overly “neat” (because nothing about grief is neat).

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

The walls of the lair were eerily quiet. And there were a lot more shadows and random squeaks and squeals in the sewer at this hour. Perfect setting for a horror movie, Raph couldn’t help but think as he wandered through the empty lair. He wasn’t used to being awake so late. Normally when they got home from patrol he’d cool off with a quick work out, maybe a small snack, then put head to pillow and pass out immediately.

His routine had changed lately.

He had to do the rounds. Inform Splinter about events on patrol, check in on Mikey (he’d come home with a bad cold the other day and was taking full advantage of the pampering his illness allowed), and make sure Don actually slept for at least a few hours every night. All chores that had become his responsibility since Leo left three months ago to go on a mission with the Ancient One.

Three months without Leo.

It had been more of an adjustment than Raph expected. The first few days were no different than any of the other times he’d been away, and it was nice being the “responsible” sibling for a change. Made Raph feel important. Needed. But by the end of the second week, responsibility had become a hefty burden. Almost too much. Like weight training; the first few lifts are easy, but as you keep going, it gets heavier and heavier. And the weight of Leo’s absence was one he didn’t think he could carry for much longer.

Though, it wasn’t just the chores. If Raph was being honest with himself—only here, in the confines of his mind where no one else could hear—he would admit, he missed his brother’s presence. Didn’t miss getting bossed around or being coddled, but it was comforting having Leo nearby. On missions and at home. Having that sense of someone always being at your back was reassuring. Especially when it was someone like Leo who always seemed to have a solution for when things went wrong. Not to mention he was more entertaining to poke fun at than Mikey. And he certainly made for a good sparring partner.

Yeah, Raph liked having big brother around. Even if he was a pain in the ass.

He'd never say any of that out loud. But he would quietly think it the next time he saw their fearless leader.

Whenever that was.

Shaking the thought away, Raph continued on his rounds for the evening. He had one more chore for the night: make sure Donnie actually got some sleep. The egghead had been getting lost in another invention of his and ignoring his bed for several weeks. Raph had to force him to sleep for the past three days now. How Fearless ever dealt with this with any amount of patience was beyond him, but he channeled his best Leo impression and walked to Don’s door.

Low and behold, the tall turtle was still sitting at his desk.

Raph couldn’t help a quick roll of his eyes as he entered. “Don, how many times I gotta tell ya—” He cut himself off as soon as he got close enough to hear the light snore whistling through the room. A grin split his lips as he rounded his brother’s shell to see him passed out in his chair, arms pillowed under his head, a half-drained cup of coffee beside the keyboard, a pencil precariously balancing on his slack fingers, his purple mask half raised on his face so it only covered one eye, and a small trail of spit drooling down his chin. Probably fell asleep mid equation.

Raph shook his head. Why is it smart people never take their own advice; how many times had Don lectured them about the importance of sleep for both body and mind?

Taking a moment to snap a quick photo (for future blackmailing purposes of course) Raph debated whether it was worth waking the night owl to get him to a proper bed. He’d probably just start working again, and Raph was too tired for an argument tonight.

Don coughed lightly, shifting his head on his arm as his brow furrowed in his sleep. Was he getting sick, too? All these late nights with nothing but coffee and pizza to sustain him, it wouldn’t really be surprising. And it’s not like Mikey was careful about not spreading germs. Chancing a brush of his brother’s forehead, Raph felt a definitive heat radiating under his hand.

“Dammit, Donnie.” He mumbled to himself.

Deciding it was too risky to wake him, Raph stomped over to the bed and yanked the blanket away to drape it over Don in his chair. Guess he wasn’t going to sleep much tonight, he’d be up checking on his idiot-genius brother every few hours. Maybe he should go get the thermometer to make sure the fever wasn’t—

“Leo…” Don was mumbling in his sleep. His frown suddenly deepened, his face twisting into a pained grimace before his eyes shot open and his body spiked upright quick as a lightning strike. “LEO!”

“Whoa, whoa, easy Don.” Raph calmed, waiting until his brother’s eyes focused a little more before continuing. “You alright?”

“Yeah…” Don puffed a few rapid breaths as his mind finished separating reality from specter. “Just a bad dream.” He took a final long exhale, releasing the rest of the fear from his eyes. Almost. There were still a few remnants that Raph could see.

“’Bout Leo?” When Don looked at him with surprise he explained. “You were talkin’ in your sleep.” He looked almost embarrassed, especially as he wiped the drool from his face, but Raph was still curious. “Why are you havin’ nightmares about Leo? You know something I don’t?”

“No, no, it’s nothing like that.” Don waved off. “I just… you know…” At Raph’s curious cock of his brow, Don sighed. “It’s been a long time since he’s been away like this. I’m not used to not having him around. My mind keeps concocting new ways that his mission could be going wrong and the terrible things that could be happening to him. I know—” He cut Raph off before he could interject. “—it’s not likely. I know he’s probably fine. I guess… I guess I just miss him.”

Raph couldn’t object to that. Though a few things were starting to add up now. “Is that why you’ve been staying up and working on projects?”

Don nodded timidly. “It’s easier to ignore the irrational fears when I’m focused on a project. And it has the added benefit of keeping me from sleep and therefore keeping me from dreaming. But I guess even my body has it’s limits when it comes to sleep deprivation.” He looked at his half-filled cup of coffee. “I must have fallen asleep while working on—” He paused, turning to eye Raph curiously. “Wait… I know why I’m up, but what are you doing awake? And in my room? And—?” He finally took note of the blanket around his shoulders that certainly hadn’t been there when he fell asleep. A coy, affectionate, smile crawled across his lips as he turned to his brother. “Were you checking up on me?”

Raph folded his arms to hide the embarrassment of being caught being protective. “I was just making sure you and your bed were still on speaking terms.”

“Wow. That’s… That’s so—”

“If you say ‘sweet’ I’m gonna put you to sleep the old fashioned way.”

Don chuckled lightly, raising a hand in surrender when his brother cracked his knuckles. “I was going to say that’s very Leo of you.”

Huh. Raph wasn’t sure whether to take that as a compliment or an insult. Before he had a chance to make up his mind, Don started coughing again. It was worse than when he’d been asleep, it sounded wet and heavy. “That’s it Egg-Head, time for you to rest that big brain of yours.”

Don gave no protest, rubbing his temples as his eyes started to ache. “Yeah, maybe you’re right.”

Raph waited for his brother to actually get in bed and under the covers. “If I come back here in a few hours and find you at your desk again—”

Don raised his hand in surrender once more. “I know, I know. I’ll sleep, I promise.”

True to his word, when Raph returned ten minutes later to check in, he found Don fast asleep in his bed, no lights on or books nearby to indicate he’d tried to continue working. Good. Raph nodded his approval before heading for the kitchen. Staying up this late made him hungry.

Quietly as possible—so as not to wake the endless food-pit that was his youngest brother—he heated up some leftover pizza and headed for the couch in the living room. If he was going to be up checking on Donnie in a few hours, may as well stay awake with a movie or something instead of trying to sleep. And wouldn’t you know it, there was a Rocky marathon on TV. Perfect.

But it didn’t take long before exhaustion set in. Despite his many demands that his eyes remain open, he passed out before the end of the first movie.

His senses slowly came back to him as his eyes opened before he told them to. How long had he been out? Groggy as he was, it took a minute to realize he’d been covered with a blanket and the television had been turned off. Who had—

A noise come from the med bay. Raph looked at the clock and sighed heavily. Don must be up and about again. How many times did he have to be told that four hours a night wasn’t enough sleep?

Cursing aloud, Raph rubbed the lethargy from his eyes and forced himself to stand, sluggishly stomping toward the med bay. “Dammit Don, I swear I will smother you with a pillow if you don’t get your shell back in—” He stopped short as he entered the room and was greeted by a different sibling.

“You’re up early.”

“Leo!?” His excitement caught him off guard and he wasn’t able to catch the smile that split his lips. “When did you get home!?”

“About half an hour ago.”

“Well why didn’t you say any—” As he stepped closer, Raph noticed the needle and thread in his brother’s hand. His arm was bleeding.

Leo was quick to reassure. “It’s just a scratch.”

But his words fell on deaf ears. ‘Just a scratch’ with Leo could mean anything from an actual scratch to a fatal stab wound. The blood was coming from the back of his left arm, right near the shoulder. Twist as he may, the older turtle was clearly having trouble reaching it. Raph huffed and walked over, grabbing the needle and thread and sitting on the stool behind his brother. “I got it.”

First making sure the cut wasn’t actually life threatening, Raph cleaned it and began sewing small stitches as he’d seen Donnie do many a time. “So who’s the lucky SOB that actually managed to cut ya?”

“A giant lizard creature with a heavy battle axe and a real bad temper.”

Raph snorted a quick laugh. “You get to have all the fun.”

Leo quirked a smile. “How have things been here? The other two felt like they had fevers, are they sick?”

So big brother had already done the rounds and checked on everyone. That explained the blanket. “Mike’s on the mend, but I think Don’s caught it now. He’s been workin’ himself too hard.” With only a hint of accusation, Raph added. “He was worried about you. They both were.” From behind Raph couldn’t see his brother’s face, but the slight bow of his head meant the guilt was settling in. Good. He should feel bad. “You could have called.”

“Sorry.” Leo shrugged and reached behind his back to pull out his shell-cell, busted in at least three different places. “The Ancient One is great at many things, but fixing cell phones isn’t one of them.” He paused, glancing back at his brother over his shoulder. “Seems like you had everything under control though.”

“I don’t think you can use the word ‘control’ when Mikey’s involved.”

“I’m serious. I’m glad you were here. It’s…” He paused like he wasn’t sure he wanted to finish his thought, and when he spoke again his voice was much more somber. “It’s comforting to know you can handle things if something ever happened to me.”

That halted Raph in his tracks, his hands pausing as his eyes snapped up to his brother’s. “You in some kinda trouble that I should know about?”

“No.”

“Then what the shell is that kind of talk for?” It was putting Raph on edge and he didn’t like it.

Leo shook his head—humorously or in annoyance Raph couldn’t tell—and waved his brother off. “Just had a lot of time to think lately. That’s all. I was trying to pay you a compliment.”

“Well you suck at it.” But there was something his brother wasn’t saying, and Raph wasn’t sure he wanted to know what. With two more quick stitches, he cut the thread and placed a bandage over the wound. “Done.”

“Thanks.” Leo gave an experimental roll of his shoulder, testing the feel of it with stitches now in place. He gathered his weapons and headed for the door.

“Hey.” Raph waited till his brother’s shell was to him before speaking. “I got them.” Leo turned, eyeing Raph curiously as he continued. “Not that it’ll ever be necessary because we all know you’re harder to kill than a cockroach on steroids, but if it ever did—I mean if something ever happened—" He paused awkwardly, rolling his eyes at himself and this whole ridiculous conversation. “I got them.”

There was a long moment of silence, like Leo wasn’t sure how to reply, which only made Raph feel like more of an idiot. But his brother suddenly stretched his hand out expectantly, his eyes intensely serious. “Promise?”

Raph returned the look with one of his own, taking his brother’s hand with a good firm grip. “Yeah.”

And then Leo smiled and Raph had no idea why but it made him feel instantly proud of himself. How did he do that?

That was big brother for you.

A whine from down the hall snaked it’s way into the room, and both siblings easily recognized Mikey’s voice crying out for Raph. The red-banded turtle shrugged his shoulders emphatically and began walking away. “He’s your problem now, Fearless. Welcome home.”

Leo chuckled lightly. “No place like it.”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

It's been a year now since we buried him. A year since he was placed in that peaceful spot by the trees. A year since that rock became the last marker of his life.

Feels like decades. Feels like yesterday.

Being that this is our first "vacation" up here without him, we're all a little wary as we step out of the truck. It's not as heavy as it was when we came up to burry him, or when we visited six months ago after my run-in with Hun. But it still feels wrong.

Everything feels wrong without him.

I'm doing my best nowadays to not cause trouble, so I wait by the trailer and see what the others do. Mikey doesn't even hesitate, bounding over to the grave, shouting something about "saying hello" and pulling Don along with him. Splinter and April only smile as they follow, and Case shoots me a knowing shrug as he walks along with them.

I tell my legs to follow, but they suddenly feel like led.

It's not a big deal, it's just a grave. Ain't no different than talking to his picture back in the dojo.

But I... I can't move toward it.

Maybe it's talking to him around other people. Or talking to that cold stone instead of a picture. Or maybe it's knowing that his body is here, six feet under, decomposing and covered in worms and dirt and--STOP. I'm gonna make myself hurl if I don't change the subject.

A long, heavy sigh escapes me as I stare at the ground a moment longer.

Just a grave.

I force my legs to move.

By the time I'm finally able to meander over, Mikey is already yammering on about the drive up and everything that's been happening since that nightmare of a night. He says something about me, but I don't quite catch it. My focus is drawn elsewhere. One look at that stone, at the name etched in it, and I can feel old instincts returning. Old instincts to run from the pain. From the guilt. From everything.

Breathe through it. Splinter says to breathe and ground myself by remembering what I have to stay for.

I glance around at my family in front of me, eyeing each of them in turn and trying not to be distracted by the sadness that's sprinkled into their demeanor.

Running didn't solve anything. I ain't going down that road again. I couldn't do that to my family again. My eyes clock the name once—

A chill runs down my spine as I freeze in place, staring at the watery puddle of red that’s slowly crawling towards me.

Leo’s staring at his stomach. There’s blood dripping down his fingers.

“Leo—!"

“…M’Sorry.”

Suddenly I'm back on that roof, with the rain on my shell, the blood on my hands, and Leo's cold body laying still in my arms.

Panic rises with the instant intensity of an erupting volcano. My fingers curl into my palms and dig into my skin, my eyes snap shut--as if closing them will take away memory--and it's all I can do to hold my breath so I don't scream.

No. No, breathe. Sensei says breathe through it. Don't block it out, but don't let it take over. Just breathe.

"Raph?"

Damn. Mikey noticed. I open my eyes to see everyone staring at me with the same concern on their faces they've been suffocating me with all year. I'm glad they're here, I don't want to block them out like I did before, but damn what I wouldn't give to go a day—just one day!—without making them all look at me like that.

"You okay?" Mikey finally asks. "Was it something I said?"

"Just enjoying the fresh air." I breathe deep again, a little more dramatically to really sell my next quip. "Six hours in a windowless trailer with your B.O was making me dizzy."

That seems to abate their worry. When in doubt, insult Mikey. Works every time.

"Why don't I go make us some dinner?" Casey changes the subject abruptly. "I've been itchin' to use the barbecue out here, it makes the best hot dogs you ever ate!"

"No pizza?"

"There are other foods, Mikey." April adds with a twinge of a giggle.

The conversation drifts off as they all head back to the cabin, leaving only me and Don at the grave.

I cast a glance at my younger brother, watching closely as he kneels before the stone. There’s a somberness in his movements that goes beyond grief, stretching to something dangerously close to guilt. I should know.

"Leo..." He kneels down and looks at the stone, running his hand along the carved katakana.

He's still grieving. I mean, we all are, but Don most of all. He's been so busy worrying about everyone else--about me, mostly--I think he's forgotten to deal with his own pain.

Sounds like another brother I know.

"You okay?" He asks as he stands up, looking me over like he's trying to get a bead on where my head is at.

I fold my arms in front of me and meet his eyes with a stern look of my own. "Yeah. You?"

"Just tired from the trip." He's a terrible liar. "Are you coming inside?"

"Not yet."

He pauses, worry jumping into his features faster than a lightning strike. "You want some company? I don't mind staying out a bit longer."

"Nah." I try to sound as casual as I can. "You better go inside and make sure Case doesn't set the joint on fire." He remains still, flitting between looking at me and the grave, clearly unconvinced I'm as chill as I say. So I make eye contact and add emphatically, "I'm fine, Don. Just got a few things I want to say. Alone."

That was what he needed. "Okay." He's still reluctant, but he heads towards the house.

Shit, I should say--"Don," He stops far too quickly, like he was hoping for me to ask him to stay. I don't turn to look at him, but I make sure he can hear me. "I'm... I'm here for you too, you know. If you need to talk... or something... I'm here."

I can almost hear the smile that creeps across his face at my bumbling attempt to comfort, but before he walks away I hear a surprisingly sincere "thanks Raph" roll over his shoulder.

Well, I said something. No idea if he'll actually follow through, but I guess so long as he knows... that's enough, right?

I sigh heavily again.

I’ll check in with him later.

~*~*~*~*~*~

“Slowly. Take it slowly. One step at a time.”

I breathe deep, tapping down the annoyance flaring in my chest as I focus on my slow and pitiful walk up the stairs. I know Don’s just worried I’ll push too hard and tear my stiches open, but he’s got to realize how condescending he’s being.

Not that I’ll say anything about it. I ain’t got no right. Not after what I put him through. All of ‘em.

“You sure you don’t want someone to carry you? Casey’d probably do it if you asked.”

I might have actually cracked a smile at that one if Mike’s voice didn’t sound so forcefully happy. He’s afraid he’ll say something that’ll make me run off again. Can’t blame him.

My side burns as I make the third step, but my grimace isn’t from the pain.

I hate this. They’re so worried about losing me, they don’t see it anymore. Don’t see my guilt. Don’t see my shame. Too worried about keeping me healthy or making me smile.

And I don’t deserve any of it.

I keep trying to tell them. For five days now I’ve spent every waking minute trying to work up the courage to tell ‘em the truth. Tell ‘em what really happened.

Tell ‘em why our brother is dead.

But I can’t do it. The thought of Mikey’s eyes filled with hurt and hatred, the memory of Don screaming at me in pained anger… I just can’t do it. I can’t hurt them anymore.

I can’t lose them. They deserve to know but—

“Dee, he’s bleeding!”

I don’t even get the chance to register Mike’s words before Don is examining my side and stopping my march up the stairs.

“He popped a stitch. See, I told you it was too soon to be moving! It’s only been five days, you should be bed-ridden for at least another nine! Come on, let’s get you back in—”

“Donatello, calm.”

Sensei mercifully steps in.

“It is only one stitch. Your brother will be more comfortable—and therefore more likely to rest—in his own bed. It is not much farther.”

“But—”

“We’re basically half way there, Dee. It’d take just as long to go back.”

I wait as patiently as I can as the three talk, keeping my mouth shut on the matter. I’d prefer my own bed, sure. But I ain’t gonna kick up a fuss about it.

“Fine. Just—”

“Slow. He’s got it, Dee.”

I see Don shoot Mikey an annoyed glare, which makes him grin. A real grin.

It’s almost like it’s possible for things to get back to normal around here.

By the time we finally make it up the stairs, I’m already exhausted. Donnie was right, my body ain’t ready for movement yet. I only make it a few more feet before I need to take a break and catch my breath. Don doesn’t miss a beat.

“See, he’s already tired. He shouldn’t be up and moving yet!”

“Dude, we’re like five feet from his room. I think he can make it five feet.”

They continue to squabble and I’m losing patience by the second. But just as I’m about to butt in, my eye catches sight of the door we’re stopped in front of. Perfectly made bed, books alphabetized and orderly, and the smell of incense drifting through the air.

Leo’s room. Exactly as he left it. They haven’t touched a thing…

“Raphael.”

Sensei’s gentle voice catches the attention of my brothers, and I assume they notice the room too because everyone is suddenly silent. Solemn. Still.

Leo…

“Come on.” Don clears his throat as he touches my shell. “Almost there.”

No one says another word.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Alone in the grass at last, I take a moment to look at the sunset. It ain't no New York skyline, but it sure ain't ugly either. I suppose I can see the merit in watching a good sunset across the trees.

Leo always preferred sunrises, I think. He liked the fresh start of a new day.

I close my eyes and enjoy the fresh air around me, but it isn’t long before my gaze is pulled back to that grave. To that name that I’ll probably never be able to say without a sharp twinge in my chest.

“Leo...”

I breathe out the pain like stretching a sore muscle and try again to settle myself. I shouldn’t just stand here, they’ll worry.

“There’s… there’s some stuff I want to say. Stuff I… I probably should’ve said when you were…”

The past tense pulls me up short. I hate talking about him like he’s gone. It makes it all too real.

But it is real. And I need to start accepting that.

Just gotta say it and get it over with. “Look… I just want you to know that… that I don’t hate you. I could never. You pissed me off sometimes—a lot of the time—but it’s only because I hated that you never trusted me to take care of myself. I hated that you felt I wasn’t enough on my own. And more than anything I hated…” I don’t know who this is harder to admit to, him or me. “I hated that I could never be like you. I was never gonna be Sensei’s perfect student, or the ancient one’s protégé, or even the guy that Mikey and Donnie look up to. It made me feel inadequate. Like I wasn’t good enough. But it never meant that I hated you. I shouldn’t have—"

“I don’t need anything! I don’t need your orders! I don’t need your leadership! I DON’T NEED YOU!”

I shake my head and try to let the memory roll off my shell. This moment isn’t about my guilt, I got the rest of my life to wrestle with that. This is about saying what I never did. About telling him the truth.

“I love you, Leo. You were… are… a good leader. And an even better brother. And I…” Tears are stinging the edge of my eyes as an ache sits on my chest and makes it difficult to breathe. “I miss you. A lot. I—”

“Tell them…”

No. No, we ain’t doin’ this now! “Leo—!”

“…M’Sorry.” He whispers something haltingly with the last of his breath but I’m panicking too much to really let it sink it.

Dammit, dammit, dammit!

“Don’t you—” But his eyes close and his hand falls to the ground and I realize it wasn’t his hand that was shaking, it was mine. The rain seems to freeze in it’s downpour as suddenly everything goes completely silent. Still.

Empty.

I feel the last of his breath escape through my hands on his stomach and the ache in my chest turns to intense pain. I close my eyes to it, focusing on calming the quake of my legs, but the memory floods my every sense without warrant.

A chill runs down my spine as I freeze in place, staring at the watery puddle of red that’s slowly crawling towards me. For a minute, my vision blurs. Everything seems to shut down as I slowly look up, tracking the blood to it’s source.

Leo’s staring down at his hand by his stomach, eyes wide.

There’s blood dripping down his fingers.

It can’t be… there’s no way… “Leo?”

“Leonardo!”

Dammit! Breathe. Just breathe through it. Don’t stop the pain but don’t let it take over.

I give in to the shaking of my legs and fall to a knee, clenching my fists tighter and sucking in a deep gulp of air to steady myself. When I finally find any measure of control, I reach forward and touch the stone as reverently as I know how, my face intensely serious. I want him to know I mean this. “I know I’m the one who caused this, but I ain’t gonna be selfish anymore. I made you a promise, and I ain’t gonna break it. Ever.”

The conversation bubbles to the surface, mercifully pushing aside all other memories for the moment. I cling to the reprieve as I swear my oath. “I got them. Mikey, Don, Sensei, all of them. I got them.”

And then Leo smiled and Raph had no idea why but it made him feel instantly proud of himself. How did he do that?

That was big brother for you.

The memory of his smile brings one to my face, albeit sad and full of regret. But it gives me the strength to speak again. To say something I’m not sure I feel yet, but I want him to know. “Thanks… for saving my ass back there. I owe you one.”

I choke on the last words and give in to the tears, letting myself grieve openly for the first time in a while. My hand stays on the grave, finding a small measure of connection to my brother that I cling to with fervor.

Damn, I miss him.

I wish he was—

“I wish you were here, Leo. I wish I hadn’t run off that night. I wish I’d seen the sniper or noticed the trap or stopped the bleeding. I wish you were—”

“Still here...”

The voice floats around me, nothing but a whisper outside my peripheral. It always will be from now on. A piece of my brother that’ll always remain just out of sight. Out of reach.

But still there. Always.

I close my eyes and let his voice surround me, let his presence—faint as it is—comfort the way only Leo knows how. The way only big brother can. He lends me his strength and I accept hungrily.  

Then I square my shoulders, wipe my eyes of any trace of tears, and stand. Time to step up.

“Thanks Fearless.”

The wind kicks up and blows leaves against my shoulder and I swear it feels like Leo’s signature shoulder-pat.

I smile.

I take one more long look at that name in the stone, let myself feel the weight of it on my shoulders, and then turn back to the house. Just in time too. Mikey comes boundin’ out the door shoutin’ something about turtle speed stereotypes that gets a humorous head shake from Don who emerges behind him.

We’ll be okay. For the first time in a year, I’m positive we’re gonna be okay. Not the same. Not ever. But okay. And that’s enough for me.

“Raph! Come ooooooooon!”

I sigh, hiding the smirk that tugs at my lips from hearing Mikey whine like a child. “Keep yer shell on, I’m comin’.”

I take a moment, looking at my family as they gather around the BBQ with smiles on their faces, and feel my oath etch itself into my very soul.

“Raph, don’t… shut them out. They’ll need…”

I got them, Leo. I swear.

I got them.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Previous < - > Epilogue 1

And at last, it is done. Holy cheeseballs.

This story has consumed me for years now. I don’t think I’ve ever had this much trouble and this much excitement in equal measure while writing.

Technically there’s still an epilogue (or two) of sorts to come, but they’re more connected tangentially than a continuation of the story.

I hope this short ending was worth the wait (even if half of it was a random flashback). Let me know what you think.

End of Line.

-TRAaP

*Katakana is a type of lettering in Japanese. They have Hiragana, Katakana (used mainly for foreign words) and kanji. Leo's name, being foreign, would be written in Katakana like this:レオナルド

[drrealityslenderverse]

Something's Different

Jay comes out of a coma post-fight against Alex and finds himself in a new location. While looking for Tim, he stumbles across something much different.

Extra note: the entity is my OC, Rook. They just didn't give Jay their name

Back to main Contents || Back to One-shot Contents

Jay hadn’t been out of his comatose state long. His head was still foggy as he’d made his way out of some… house? “Where am I? Last thing I remember…”

He’d died right? In Tim’s arms… yeah. That was right. He was dead, bleeding out in that college after Alex shot him. Tim had stopped the man too late. But he remembered something after that. A spike of energy had returned to him but the cold hadn’t dissipated. 

“It isn’t cold here… Where’s Tim? Or anyone?” The sunlight felt real enough. He was certain he wouldn’t dream about waking up on a couch with an IV attached to a near-empty blood packet in his arm. 

The trees surrounding him didn’t hold the same feeling as Rosswood but something about them seemed strange. Too peaceful, he decided. Without his camera, Jay was in the dark about the events leading up to this. Without Tim he couldn’t ask either. His eyes drifted back to the strange house that had been built up and around a tree like a large, functional tree house. It might have answers—maybe Tim was somewhere in there in another room—but something moving in the trees caught his eye. 

“Tim?” 

After one last look around, he hurried to follow. It didn’t take long for exhaustion to set in. Jay didn’t know how long he’d been comatose but his endurance had suffered for it. Still, he continued on his path, using trees to lean his weight against. 

…That was how he found the corpse. A scream scratched his neglected vocal chords and he fell backward. The body didn’t look bloodied or overly decayed but the skin held a sickly tone to it that said the person it had belonged to was gone. A burned and melted mask was trapped on their face by black tendrils that poked through the eye holes and around the edges while tattered clothes suggested a rough life. Black feathers adorned their hair, though he couldn’t tell if they were decoration or somehow growing through the scalp. 

“Is Alex here?” His mind went to the last person he’d known that might do this as he sat up. “I thought Tim killed him.” 

And if that hadn’t been Tim he saw… then who was it? 

So engrossed in the body leaning all too peacefully against the trunk, as if it were just resting, Jay didn’t notice the large beast leaving its sunning position to blend into the shadows and stalk closer. His eyes only darted to the creature when it was standing over him, white glowing eyes staring down with… friendliness?

“You’re awake.” The voice brushed his conscious mind with caution, almost like this creature was afraid of hurting him.

“I…” Jay’s instinct to run was overridden by the shaking in his limbs. Even if he had the energy to, his whole body was shaking like it had been turned into jello. 

The beast laid down, lowering their head to be closer to eye level. Despite the attempt to minimize the intimidating stance, they were still large and Jay’s eyes shifted down to the claws hidden beneath the tail that now curled around the entity’s body. 

“Does Timothy know? Your aura is weak. You should be back at the nest.” 

“You know Tim?” His shock went unhidden. Jay couldn’t ever see Tim seeing something like this and getting to know it. “It isn’t like the thing in the suit… Or, I don’t feel sick. And it’s so close to me!” 

Awe and curiosity began to take over. 

“He asked for my aid… I was feeling nice and agreed. The other entities aren’t friends of mine.” Their head shifted to look at the body propped against the tree as they seemingly read his mind. “Your boyfriend only knows me in my vessel. You’re the only human to see me in my real form.”

“Tim would freak…” He was freaking out! 

Everything was feeling like it was too much. Waking up here, running through strange woods, finding this. He felt lightheaded. Jay swayed, registering soft black fur and feathers under his back as the entity cushioned his fall with a swish of their tail. 

“It’s time to go back. Humans are… fragile and you are weak enough already.” 

His heart clenched as the creature rose, stretching like a cat and revealing sharp teeth as they bent their head down toward him. Jay inhaled sharply and began an attempt to flee before feeling his body leave the ground and the entity picked him up by the back of his jacket like it was the scruff of his neck. His heart hammered in his chest as he was still half-convinced he was about to be eaten until he was nestled into—nearly smothered by—the feathery mane.

Jay laid there for a moment, stunned and feeling as though he was on the verge of a heart attack. “This can’t be real. Nope… Not possible. What’s going on? Where am I!? I have to be dead… Or maybe I’m still in that coma.”

He could feel the beast’s muscles moving fluidly beneath him as they ran through the trees. Despite the quick movements, his ride was smooth. Almost as if the entity was gliding just over the surface. Jay trembled as he shifted and sat upright so he could see over the feathers; they were already nearing the tree line around the house. 

They slowed and laid back down in the shadows before turning their head to face him. “I can’t get closer. He may see me and I do not want him to… ‘freak’ as you put it.”

Jay understood that was his cue to get off. Doing so however was another challenge and he half fell, half climbed down. If his legs hadn’t felt like gelatin before, they certainly did now. He leaned against a tree, recovering his strength so he could walk the rest of the way.

“I will return shortly in my vessel.” 

They rose again and ran off with Jay staring after them. Questions were overflowing his mind. Conflicting thoughts warred with each other over getting the hell out of here and away from what was probably a dangerous creature, while the others urged him to study them and learn more about the entity that helped Tim, and subsequently him, out. 

“They said the others weren’t friends… Maybe they can keep it at bay.” He tried to sort and sift through the chaos as he stumbled back up to the house, gradually making it inside.

His relieved boyfriend nearly crushed him upon his entrance, arms tight around his scrawny body before jerking back and trying to hide the left side of his face as he apologized. But Jay had caught a glimpse. The large scar and eye patch told him enough to know there was a lot he needed to catch up on.