#rub the activator spiral

[nomaishuttle]

ppl dont know this abt me bc im shy but i do love gir very much hes my bff.

[noemilivv]

What the…

HAZBIN HOTEL CAST are like as …

PARTNERS !! (and before that!)

Includes: Charlie Morningstar, Vaggie, Angel Dust, Alastor, Sir Pentious, Husker, Niffty, Lucifer Morningstar, Adam, Lute

Warnings: Swearing, S1 spoilers, sexual references, mentions of abuse, mentions of Valentino, messy, barely proofread

Also side note, if this is highly enjoyed, I will do a Part 2 with more characters!

Charlie Morningstar

Crush!Charlie is a bit obvious. Not TOO obvious, but maybe if you squint hard enough…

Crush!Charlie has a tendency to show extra attention to you, especially if you’re a resident at the Hotel who’s trying to go up to Heaven.

Example: You’re the first person she asks if they need help, invite for a group activity, etc

Despite the fact that Crush!Charlie is really eager to confess her feelings, she truly does find value in getting to know you as a friend first.

She believes that it has its perks, which it does.

Crush!Charlie enjoys getting to know your hobbies, interests, past, strengths, all of it.

But as you are going off on your usual yap sesh about your face topic …

Crush!Charlie can’t help but peck you on the cheek, you’re cheeks just look so squishy and cute!

You’re stunned… You would’ve never thought that.. Charlie? Likes you? Pffff… Ain’t no way!

Crush!Charlie scrambles to explain to you her genuine feelings, and how she’s wanted to be with you for a long time, and scrambles again to ask you if you feel the same.

Now it’s your turn to shut someone up with a kiss.

You give her a drawn out peck on the lips, not too short, but not too long. Just enough to satisfy.

And yes, you do feel the same.

Now GF!Charlie is totally stoked! But she’s also a bit scared of the shoes she has to fill.

GF!Charlie decides to give you a little candy bouquet (that she made!)! Honestly it’s the cutest frickin thing, it has little chocolates and lollipops like AAA get me a Charlie!

GF!Charlie decides to introduce you to her dad, sure you guys have crossed paths a few times, but like, formally this time.

At first Lucifer is intimidated by you (not that he’d admit that), similar to the rivalry he had with Alastor.

But after awhile, he warms up to you, at the end of the day he loves his daughter, and he sees that you do to. So long as you treat Charlie good and you like rubber ducks, he’s chill with you :)

GF!Charlie’s love language is gift giving and physical touch!

On one hand, she loves giving gifts, it’s very soothing for her to go out and find something to give you, or coming up with an idea to make something for you, it takes her mind off of things

But at the other end of the scale, she loves receiving physical touch, she kinda freezes when she does because it’s so much to her but at the same time she enjoys it dearly! Even something as simple as rubbing her hand with your thumb while handling hands, long hugs, or hand kisses send her into a spiral haha

At the end of the day, GF!Charlie loves you a ton and honestly is just happy to be there loving you lol

Vaggie

When Crush!Vaggie realizes she has a crush on you, it’s a bit of an ‘Oh Shit’ moment, y’know?

Due to her secret, and the fact that she has a bit of trust issues, they just don’t go hand-in-hand with love.

Crush!Vaggie is a bit dependent on you to make the first move, but that doesn’t mean she won’t, but she needs you to throw a few jabs first.

The more her crush on you stays and the more she doesn’t do about it, the more it starts to bug her

Crush!Vaggie decides one day she doesn’t know how much more of the subtle flirting and eye contact from across the room she can take, cause deep down, she has a gut feeling you like her too.

So, Crush!Vaggie decides she’s going to confess.

When it comes down to it, obviously you feel the same, and she really wants to make an impact right away!

Now GF!Vaggie decides to plan a little surprise for you, a date!

GF!Vaggie decides to just take you out to the back of the hotel and you two lay down and look at the night sky (as I’m not sure if there’s stars in Hell tbh.)

You two sit there and talk, it gets vulnerable for a bit, slowly but surely starting to break down eachothers walls… But not for too long before one of you is like “NOPE, too much emotions for one day!” haha

At the end of the day, GF!Vaggie, isn’t perfect at this whole girlfriend thing, but for you? She’ll sure as hell try.

Angel Dust

Like Vaggie, Crush!Angel is tempted to “NOPE” out, after falling into Val’s trap, he’s hesitant to try again.

But soon enough Charlie shows him that opening up got her an amazing girlfriend, so he decides, hey, might as well right?

Crush!Angel goes out of his way to obnoxiously flirt with you, but you thought this was normal behavior, as he does it with basically everyone at the hotel.

Crush!Angel thinks it’ll take time, but you’ll catch on, and well… not exactly…

One day, Crush!Angel comes back from a long shoot, and he pulls a good, classic flirt on you, and poof! Right over your head!

And he doesn’t know what got in him, maybe the alcohol, maybe Valentino, maybe the buildup stress, who’s knows, but he snaps…

Crush!Angel proceeds to go off about how he’s always flirting with you and how he just doesn’t get how you’re so blind that you just can’t see it!?

And you start to laugh, which at first makes him more mad.

“Well how was I supposed to know if you flirt with everyone here? I thought it was normal!”

And with that, you walk away, leaving him bamboozled.

The night goes on as normal, you head up to your hotel room, and just as you’re about to turn lights out you hear a knock on your door and a voice from the outside.

“So do you wanna fuck me too, or no?”

The next day, you and Crush!Angel have a talk over a drink or two, and decide, not only do you two wanna fuck, you also want to date!

Now BF!Angel is a bit nervous, but don’t fret! He has that feeling in his stomach that makes him want to grin like he’s never grinned before.

BF!Angel’s love languages are quality time and words of affirmations, considering all that Val can do to him in a day, he doesn’t love being touched without consent, but that doesn’t mean touch is off limits by any means! Just ask and he’ll give it to you!

And for quality time, you and BF!Angel don’t really go out for dates, considering how fans (and Val) are, also considering the fact that he just wants a break from life.

Instead, you two usually just spend time in eachothers hotel rooms, binge shows, give eachother makeovers, play dress up, just being the kids you never got the opportunity to be.

And once he sees that Fat Nuggets likes you, he knows you’re the one.

Alastor

When Crush!Alastor first realizes he has feelings for you, he makes a mental note and goes on with his day.

He doesn’t really understand the point in fussing about it like most do, but then again, he’s not most people.

Crush!Alastor does thoroughly enjoy spending time with you though, he likes to just sorta keep you around.

He sticks up for you, if somebody gives you a problem, it will be handled, even if it’s a bit sadistic, he will do it everytime.

Crush!Alastor doesn’t feel the need to confess directly, but if you ask him how he feels about it, he won’t deny his feelings towards you!

So whenever Crush!Alastor becomes BF!Alastor, he does lay down some ground rules, as a relationship with him, will not be the same as a relationship with others.

BF!Alastor is a gentleman, no doubt. He opens any door that you may come across (car, building, whatever), he asks for consent before doing anything — however intimate it may be, and he does buy you flowers.

But, that does not mean BF!Alastor is perfect, he’s not the most physically affectionate, unless he initiates it himself, and he’s not great with feelings.

If you’re upset, he tries to stay away, not because he doesn’t care, but because most of the time he’ll keep his upbeat energy and act like nothings wrong in attempts to cheer you up — but sometimes that’s just not what you need.

But, BF!Alastor kicks in eventually, and turns on some calming music, turns his radio affect down in volume so the sound doesn’t overwhelm you, and give you a nice, long hug as you two sway around the room.

By far, BF!Alastor’s love language is acts of service and quality time.

BF!Alastor honestly adores spending time with you, you’ve made him feel more alive than he has in years, and he follows you around like a puppy, but he makes it look like you following him around rather than the other way.

And he’ll always do things for you, even if he doesn’t understand them. If they make you happy, he might as well get started on doing them, because he can’t go awhile without seeing your darling face and your beautiful smile.

Sir Pentious

Crush!Pentious is… very… obvious.

But you don’t say anything, cause he’s adorkable.

You watch day after day out of pure adoration as Crush!Pentious tumbled over his words and changes his mind as he tried to make a move, and you loved every second of it.

This went on for awhile, and you started to notice his little quirks, which only made you fall for him more.

Eventually, one day after Crush!Pentious had tried to subtly say that he liked you, you decided to do him a favor.

“Pen.”

“I like you too.”

“I- UHM- WELL- YOU’RE- I- UHM-”

Yeah maybe that didn’t go how you thought it would…

Well in more ways than one, cause Crush!Pentious became BF!Pentious that day!

BF!Pentious was really nervous, he finally had you! But he didn’t wanna lose you cause he did something stupid either… He had to make the perfect move!

So he ended up asking Charlie to ask you a bunch of relationship related questions, and ending up deciding on your dream date with your favorite flowers. Basic, but gets the job done right?

BF!Pentious’ love languages are gift giving and physical touch. Like please cuddle him. He’ll get pouty if you don’t notice. So just notice already!!

BF!Pentious, like Charlie, loves making you gifts! He uses his knowledge from war machines to make something homemade and honestly it’s just the sweetest thing!

Is he perfect? Yes. But for this let’s say no. Does he try? Also yes!

Husker

Crush!Husk can’t even remember the last time he had a crush, but he’s chill with it.

Crush!Husk never planned on officially confessing to you, he just was going with the flow, ya know?

You start talking to him and realize maybe you like him too, but it wasn’t thought about much more than that.

It’s not until Angel asks you, “So are ya fucking or no..?”

And it makes you think, no, but you wouldn’t mind if that were arranged.

So one night, while you’re drunk and talking to Crush!Husk, you say… “Y-Ya knOW! We- We should HAHAH get together! HEHEHEH!” “Talk to me when you’re sober, you’re not making a stupid decision, I won’t let ya.”

And somehow, someway, you remembered that in the morning. So with a headache from your hangover, you go up to Husk’s bar and sit down, “What are we?” “Whatever you want us to be.”

From then on, Crush!Husk became BF!Husk!!

BF!Husk always made sure to look out for you. He’s the ‘defend you in public, correct you in private’ kinda guy.

BF!Husk is big on words of affirmation and acts of service.

He won’t hesitate to tell you how much he loves and cares for you whenever you need it, he’s a very honest guy, but he also loves doing little things to show that he cares.

‘Oh, I did the dishes for you.’ or ‘I cleaned your room.’ or ‘I folded your laundry.’ are things you hear daily.

Niffty

Crush!Niffty is another one that’s very obvious, and quite frankly, she doesn’t care.

Crush!Niffty has been open to you about her feelings since day one, and you make sure she knows you feel the same way.

So basically instantly, she becomes GF!Niffty.

GF!Niffty loves physical touch and acts of service.

She loves cleaning for you, and showing you all her accomplishments. But she also loves hugging you, kissing you, just being next to you is enough.

Life isn’t much different versus life with Crush!Niffty but you love it regardless, and you wouldn’t trade either life for anything.

Lucifer Morningstar

Crush!Lucifer doesn’t really have that shock of realizing he likes you, cause he always has and has always known.

You were the one person who was there after Lilith, even if it was only platonic back then, you were still there.

Crush!Lucifer REALLY likes you and considering how long he’s liked you (literal years) he decides to just man up and say it.

Unsurprisingly, you feel the same way and you two start dating.

BF!Lucifer doesn’t want to lose you like how he lost Charlie and Lilith, so he’s very certain that he gives you everything he thinks you derserve.

BF!Lucifer is a big jumble of all the love languages at once because of this. But I think he leans towards physical touch and words of affirmation.

BF!Lucifer is constantly in need of reassurance as he feels like he’s not enough due to his depression, and also hugs, because y’know, hugs help.

If you have a good relationship with Charlie, which you should, like cmon, he’s ecstatic! And sometimes he needs your help with parenting cause he really wants to try his best for you, and her.

Adam

Adam and you started off just fucking for fun, and fucking for fun turned into, friends, friends turned into- woah… it turned into a crush…

Crush!Adam is fucking clueless, he’s not good with this stuff, just guitar solos (FUCK YEAAHH).

During Charlie’s meeting with Heaven, he slips you a note…

Hey hot babe,

wanna do more than just fuck? (date)

And my God, you better accept because THAT is ART.

BF!Adam is far from perfect, but damn close. He really cares. But his main love languages are quality time and physical touch.

I mean cmon, he’s not great with his words, he can’t do much other than fight, he’s ass at giving gifts (he tried to give you a dildo once). So it’s really the only thing he’s good at, he can sit there, and touch you. That’s about all he knows how to do!

At the end of the day, BF!Adam really tries his best, he loves you, after all :)

Lute

Considering the fact you’re Lute’s boss, she spends a lot of time with you.

And because of that, she starts to develop feelings.

Crush!Lute realizes she has a crush on you almost immediately, although she hesitates to tell you, due to how much you guys are together and her job.

But after awhile, she has a bit of a ‘screw it’ moment.

And boom! She turns into GF!Lute.

GF!Lute is a whole new version of the person you had gotten to know. Her wild side comes out, unlike her normal stoic side. (Example: “RIP VAGGIES CUNT MOUTH OUT ‘ER ASS!!!”)

Also side note, GF!Lute is committed as fuckkk. Once she’s there, she’s there for good, cause she loves you!

— END.

Hello! This is my first Hazbin post! I haven’t written for these characters in a solid year so I hope it’s alright! As I said up top, if this gets a lot of love, then I’ll do a part two (Which will include Cherri and the Vees to name a few~) ! Also don’t mind my Lute bias lmao, she’s my fav, she’s so hatable but idgaf and I love her vibe lmao! I’m hyperfixating on Hazbin since the first season just came out lmao! So please send requests! Love ya :)

[noistanaccount]

Ryoko Kui Does Not Believe in Epiphanies (or: why Marcille and Mithrun's endings are great actually)

I have seen a couple of people who are upset about the way that Mithrun and Marcille's stories were resolved so I'm writing this to clear some things up. Ryoko Kui does not believe in epiphanies. An epiphany is a sudden and usually brief realization, an "aha" moment. Epiphanies are emotionally powerful moments. Both Marcille and Mithrun have powerful moments of realization, epiphanies.

Whether or not you like these resolutions, there's something you need to understand, Ryoko Kui does not put that much stock into these moments. Immediately after Marcille has her realization, Tansu responds like this:

While this is mostly his own opinion, what he is pointing out is that epiphanies are brief, they are singular moments that do not define a life. Life is long, and epiphanies do not sustain you. Marcille might feel like this now, but what about tomorrow? what about nex year? ten years, a hundred years, five hundred years from now? How often have you felt a sudden understanding? a burst of inspiration, or perhaps a realization that everything is pointless? It generally passes quickly, and you make dinner, and go to bed.

Think about the best meal you have ever had, it was probably a special occasion, maybe it felt like something magical, in the moment you might have felt like your life was changed. Then, in the morning you were hungry, so you ate breakfast. You cooked, you did the dishes, you went on with your life. What "meaning" did that meal have if you were hungry again the next day? Mithrun has to rebuild everything, every day he has to come up with new desires to do the very basics. None of it comes naturally, he has to find a reason to eat beyond being hungry, a reason to want to do anything when he doesn't want anything. Ryoko Kui tells us outright, that there is no magical solution:

The same thing applies to Ryoko Kui's representation of racism in dungeon meshi. Around when the orcs appeared in the anime I saw people gripeing about the way racism is treated. They seemed to think that Laios's party having dinner with the orcs was presented as them "solving" racism. Once again people misunderstand, they did not solve racism in a single moment. A few people, understood each other a little better, came to an arrangement and then parted. This was merely a moment in their lives. The characters continue to do micro-agressions, hold stereotypes, and have implicit biases. In dungeon meshi, characters don't suddenly stop being racist in the course of an evening. Life is a process, learning about others is a process, it's about the accumulation of experiences through the meat and potatoes of life, the daily activities that we actually fill our lives with, not the sudden realizations. Once you make learning about and living with other people into part of your routine, once it is embodied, then it is part of your life.

This is the real conclusion: life is not lived in a state of epiphany. Life is about chores, cooking, eating, shitting, working, and sleeping, it's everyday. Life is about doing simple things and doing them well. An epiphany is a useful tool for telling the reader that everything is going to be alright, we love to read epiphanies and be swept up in them. They can also be a breaking of a pattern, an escape from a spiral.

This is the other take away, it's about the people you do those things with, the way they rub off on you, the way they help you be human. For Mithrun and Marcille their paths would be impossible without other people pushing them back on the path as they stray. Mithrun literally would starve to death except for the thought that kabru and others don't want him to. Eating is a communal activity, so is living, you can have an epiphany on your own; you can't live on your own.

[fandomxo00]

Finding out your pregnant - Bound To You - Logan Howlett

characters: husband!logan x pregnant!reader

word count: 1.5k

warnings: fluff, a little angst about the past and trying to get pregnant, miscarriage

note: i have never been pregnant before but i'm doing research to try to stay true to reality but sometimes i may deviate on purpose.

Your hands trembled as you stared down at the test in your hands. You set down the test that says 'pregnant' and you grab a different one with a blue plus on it. You were feeling so much all at once that you didn't what you felt as tears trickled down your face. Your heart was racing in your chest, and your hand settle over your stomach. Even though you saw the results it was like you didn't actually realize that you were pregnant until right now. The realization settling over you and making your shoulders shake. You've been trying for so long that you had finally gotten use to the coping that had to happen every time the test came back negative. For a long time you couldn't cope well, something that Logan struggled with, when you'd cry in his arms because you ever wanted was a family of your own. That you'd finally gotten him and now you couldn't even get pregnant. He hated seeing you in pain and for a long time somewhere deep down he blamed himself. 

You were completely on the opposite side, for a long time you couldn't even get pregnant, but a year and half ago you did for the first time. Having a miscarriage is one of the hardest things you'd ever had to go through. It wasn't just the physical pain and emptiness, but you felt like it must've been something you've done. The way your mind had to wrap around the fact that you were pregnant to only be told there was no heartbeat. This sends you down a dark path, eventually getting pregnant again, getting a little further along just to lose the baby. You beat yourself up emotionally and mentally, thinking that if you could whip yourself into shape, it would work. But it only caused you to spiral even more, Logan hadn't known what to do to help, and then he said they needed to do something.

You started with going to therapy again really helped build your confidence again. You started focusing less on the pregnancy and more on yourself, though you still made sure you were always hydrated, took your pre-natal vitamins, you stayed active, checked your iron levels, and you even tracked your ovulation. You didn't have boring 'trying to have a baby' sex anymore, Logan always tried to spice it up for you. Reminding you that the sole purpose was loving each other, that having a baby will make you love each other more. 

You could practically feel the shiver run down your spine as you felt his hand cupping over your heat as his nose rubbed against your ear before he whispered, "Just focus on me, baby."

You wished and prayed for this day since you were a little girl. You were always scared of finding someone and getting pregnant by yourself, or the relationship not working out. You grew up in a broken home and it was the last thing you wanted for your child. But you met Logan, you knew immediately that he was father material and when he wasn't completely open to the idea of kids, it hurt. Then as you went further into the relationship before it got too serious you brought you up what you wanted your future to look like. To this day you don't know why he chose you, but he never forgot to remind you how important you are to him. How he could imagine having a child with anyone but you. That he trusted you something fierce and everyone knew that Logan had finally gotten what he really wanted. To be loved. 

There was this underlining feeling of hope and sadness throughout the whole trying process. Something you felt every day, whenever you thought about being a mother. You were afraid of so many things for so long, things that still scared you. The prospect that you ever treat your daughter the way your mother treated you would rip you apart. You learned that you didn't want to it despite your mom, because she loved you and you felt that for a long time. You just wanted to come at life in a different approach, you didn't want to hide behind your mistakes, you wanted to fix those behaviors so you can further yourself and live a long happy life. So that you give you're a child a long happy life. 

It had been about 40 days into your cycle, you were late on your period, but that also happened when you were stressed out. So, the underlying issues is that you've been stressed for over the past two in a half year. You and Logan were going to therapy together, working on your issues and trying to reduce the stress you both felt about trying for a child. Your breasts were sore, but you were also near the end of your cycle so it could just be your period too. 

You heard the heavy steps of your husband, you weren't surprised that he could hear your crying from downstairs. Logan pushed open the door and his eyebrows dipped as he looked at you. "Baby." He cooed, as he glanced down at the tests in your hand moving back forward towards you. He got on his knees in front of you, his hands coming to thighs, as he looked up at you. You saw the pity in his eyes and you shook your head, reaching towards him to hand him the test. 

"Look." Your voice shook. His green eyes scanned your face, your felt your heart warm as you stared down at him. Logan glanced down at the test, as his eyebrows shot up.

"Fuck, we did it." Logan breathed, looking up at you as teary smile wobbled on your face.

"We're gonna have a baby." You squealed, the excitement taking over as you wrapped your arms around his neck. Logan pulled you up front the toilet seat, squeezing you to his body as his lips came to your face, peppering kisses on your cheeks, nose, forehead, before moving to kiss at your neck. You laughed softly as he started trying to tickle you with his beard, before he moved back to see that smile on your face. His lips landed on yours in a soft kiss and it just felt like the beginning of everything. 

"W-what if it's like last time?" You murmured, changing the mood completely. Tears welling back up in your eyes as Logan set you down. A sigh coming from his chest, as his hand moved your hair away from your face as the other one cupped your cheek.

"If it's like last night..." Logan trailed, his eyes enveloped in yours, his heart aching as he knew he had to stay strong for you right now. It wasn't that he was hiding from you, but you needed hope. "We know we can get through it."

"Together." You whispered, your voice practically trembling, your eyes closing as a tear fell down your cheek, the feeling of his thumb rubbing against your cheek gave you a sense of comfort.

"Yeah baby, together." Logan hummed, leaning down to peck your lips. His hand went over your stomach, briefly, his eyes closing as he longed to get down on his knees and kiss your stomach.

He wanted to talk to the baby, put all of his hope into this bundle of joy. He tried to blink back the tears in his eyes, the bittersweet feeling of this all being spoiled by fate. As you cuddled into his arms, burying your face in your chest, as he cradled you close. You felt the warmness against your forehead as you looked up to see Logan. A single tear had dripped down his face. Your felt your chest ache as you brought your hand up to his face, wiping it away and looking up into his eyes. You didn't have to ask him to see the fear in his eyes as you gave him wobbly smile.

"I rather have hope right now than wait for the shoe to drop." You said, softly, though you weren't sure you completely believed the words. Hopefully if you kept saying it you would manifest it into real life.

"Yeah, brave girl?" Logan said, his voice raspy but soft, his forehead leaning against yours.

"Let's enjoy this, yeah? I-I know how you feel baby, but rather feel this joy over and over again then feel a sense of dread until you get the bad news. It's going to hurt either way, but one is less painful."

"Fucking love you, princess." Logan gruffed, as his arms that were wrapped around you pulling you in closer. That was the thing about you, was you got to know someone you didn't have to ask, you just knew.

"I love you so much, Logan." You grinned, as your hand lands on your lower abdomen, Logan's hand shakily being placed atop yours.

[inkspiredwriting]

The Day of Swapped Powers

Five Hargreeves x Fem!reader

Warnings: none

In the dimly lit basement of the Umbrella Academy, Five Hargreeves and his wife Y/n were elbow-deep in an experimental project. Y/n, with her ability to read minds, and Five, the seasoned time traveler, were working on a device designed to enhance their powers temporarily. It was supposed to be a simple test, but, as with most things involving the Hargreeves family, things quickly spiraled out of control.

"Are you sure this is safe?" Y/n asked, eyeing the array of wires and glowing components skeptically.

Five, ever confident, waved her concern away. "Of course, it’s safe. I’ve triple-checked everything. What could possibly go wrong?"

Those words hung ominously in the air as they activated the device. There was a blinding flash, a strange crackling noise, and then silence.

When the smoke cleared, Y/n and Five blinked at each other in confusion.

"Did it work?" Y/n asked, touching her temples.

Five glanced at his watch, which now displayed an array of random dates and times instead of the usual readings. "I’m not sure. I don’t feel any different."

Just then, Five’s head buzzed with an overwhelming wave of thoughts—Y/n’s thoughts. "Did he forget our anniversary? What if this messes up our abilities permanently? Why does he always have to be so reckless?"

Five’s eyes widened. “Y/n, I can hear your thoughts!”

Y/n stared at him, her eyes widening in shock. “Wait, what? I can’t hear yours anymore!”

Five glanced at the mess of equipment, realization dawning on him. “I think we’ve swapped powers.”

Y/n’s mouth fell open as she processed this. “You mean I can time travel now?”

Five nodded, grimacing. “And I get to hear everyone’s innermost thoughts. Fantastic.”

The next few hours were a comedy of errors as Five and Y/n bumbled through their new abilities.

Y/n stood in the middle of the living room, attempting to blink across the room. She scrunched up her face in concentration, only to find herself standing on top of the coffee table, much to the dismay of Pogo, who was quietly sipping tea.

“Try focusing on where you want to go!” Five shouted from the other side of the room, nursing a headache from the mental chatter of his siblings.

“I’m trying!” Y/n replied, a mix of frustration and determination on her face.

With a deep breath, she managed to blink to the other side of the room—right into a wall. She slid down with a groan, rubbing her nose. “I think I broke something,” she muttered.

Five winced sympathetically, while also struggling to keep Klaus’s incessant mental babble out of his head. "I wonder if I left my sandwich in the fridge or if Luther ate it. Maybe we should have a séance later. Ooh, what’s Five doing?"

Five squeezed his eyes shut. “Klaus, could you please shut up?”

Klaus, lounging on the couch, raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t say anything!”

“I heard you thinking,” Five snapped, pinching the bridge of his nose. “And I don’t care about your sandwich.”

Klaus blinked. “Whoa, you’re reading my mind now? That’s… actually kind of creepy. Cool, but creepy.”

The rest of the day was no less chaotic. Five, now unable to block out people’s thoughts, found himself avoiding crowded rooms and anyone remotely agitated. He fled from Luther’s worries about him being a bad Leader, Diego’s brooding thoughts about his love life, and Allison’s musings about her career.

Y/n, meanwhile, was discovering that time travel was far more complicated than it looked. She tried jumping back to the living room, only to end up in her parents' bedroom. Her Mother's screams could be heard throughout the neighborhood

She reappeared in the living room, panting and wide-eyed. “You didn’t tell me there were so many things to consider when jumping!”

Five, who had taken refuge in the kitchen with a pair of noise-canceling headphones, looked at her sympathetically. “Welcome to my world.”

By evening, they had gathered in the living room with the rest of the family for dinner. Five was trying to block out the cacophony of thoughts, while Y/n was gingerly sipping on a glass of wine, hoping to steady her nerves.

“Are you okay?” Viktor asked, noticing Five’s pained expression.

“Just fine,” Five lied through gritted teeth. "When will this dinner end? If I hear one more thought about mashed potatoes, I’m going to scream."

Y/n shot him a sympathetic look. “We need to figure out how to reverse this,” she murmured.

“Agreed,” Five said, wincing as Klaus’s thoughts about unicorns and rainbows floated into his mind.

After dinner, they returned to the basement to work on the device. Y/n, with a newfound appreciation for the complexities of time travel, meticulously followed Five’s instructions. Five, on the other hand, tried not to get distracted by Y/n’s focused thoughts and their shared determination to fix the mess.

“Okay, try activating it now,” Five instructed, holding his breath.

Y/n flipped the switch, and the device whirred to life. There was another blinding flash, and then everything went silent.

They blinked at each other again. Five tentatively tried to blink across the room and succeeded without ending up in a wall. Y/n reached out with her mind, relieved that she could hear the thoughts of the people she loved.

“We’re back to normal,” Y/n said, exhaling in relief.

“Thank God,” Five muttered, rubbing his temples. “I don’t know how you deal with all that mental noise.”

Y/n laughed, stepping forward to hug him. “It’s not easy, but now I understand how much you handle with time travel. I’m impressed.”

Five returned the hug, a smile tugging at his lips. “I have a newfound respect for your abilities too.”

The next day, as Five and Y/n lounged on the couch recovering from their ordeal, Klaus sauntered in, a mischievous grin on his face.

“So, how was your day in each other’s shoes?” he teased, plopping down next to them.

Five rolled his eyes. “Let’s just say, never again.”

Y/n chuckled, squeezing Five’s hand. “It was definitely an experience.”

Klaus’s grin widened. “Maybe next time you can swap bodies instead. That would be hilarious.”

Five and Y/n exchanged horrified looks before bursting into laughter. No matter how crazy things got, they knew they could always count on each other, even if their powers were temporarily on the fritz.

As they cuddled together on the couch, exhausted but happy, Five realized that their love and partnership could withstand any challenge—even a day of swapped powers.

[laylaplease]

NEFARIOUS SIESTA —

MDNI 「 Anakin Skywalker × Fem!reader, somnophilia, non-con, groping, virgin reader, clit play, brief vaginal penetration, corruption kink 」

Snuggled neatly on top of him in your pretty sundress, Anakin soon became your favorite substitute for a mattress — a safe space to doze off whenever you were hit with a wave of tiredness. Your boyfriend, however, wasn’t quite fond of this activity. Spiraling into the vortex of his own filth, Anakin finds it especially difficult to keep his hands above your hips. Watching his angel’s sleep face with her eyelashes resting on her cheeks, pouty lips begging for a kiss, and the plush of her breasts spilling over his chest sparks a terrible need in his head. A need to get his nasty grip over her body and make sure not a hole is left unrearranged.

Trying to fight the undeniable tightening of his pants, Anakin shifts your body up towards him, moving your thigh off his painful crotch. Feeling safe in the arms of your dearest boy who spoils you rotten and treats you like his own little princess, you don’t even shift and continue your precious siesta in the safety of his embrace. That’s when Anakin realizes.

Trailing his flesh hand down your spine, he brushes his fingers over the hemline of your pretty garment. Eyes locked on your face, he’s reminded of the way you plead Ani, I’m not ready yet whenever his greedy paws wander to the Edens of your body. Can’t fight him this time, can you?

Seeing the lack of alertness on your features, Anakin continues his voyage. Slowly folding the lilac pleats over your ass, he curses the laying position from preventing the sight of your underwear. With a featherlike touch, he traces the material, creating a mental image of your lace boyshorts he itched to tear off. Sadly, that would, with no doubt, have caused your awakening, and he just couldn’t risk such an unfortunate incident.

His caress travels down your thigh, which, hiked all the way up to his torso, allows him a perfect opening to your delicious pint. Oh, how would he worship that little virgin hole, stretching it open and filling it full of love... If only his princess weren’t such a prude brat. Look what you’ve done — turned him into a pervert!

Shaking the doubts from his mind, his digits swiftly slip past the material, fingertips tickling your tightly shut slit. One touch is plenty to make his cock stand up proudly, stretching his sweats into a tent. He touches you slowly, the lack of arousal knotting his eyebrows into an unpleased frown. Knowing your sleepy body is too unaware to answer his brief teasing, his long fingers seek further, searching for the tiny nub buried between your folds.

Rubbing your puffy clit, he’s soon pleased with your juices seeping into his palm. That’s when your limbs start twitching as your tummy floods with a familiar warmth. Anakin can’t help but grin to himself proudly, seeing the blissful expression bloom on your face. The same expression Anakin has seen plenty of times when your inexperienced hand is wandering around your cherry folds, calling his name while he secretly stands in the secret corners of your room. He never could keep to himself, not when you moaned for him so sweetly, so desperately, he just had to send a little tingle, a little flick of the force right at your nipple or poor, neglected clit…

But this.. This was different. He was really touching you, feeling your smooth body under his fingers, tainting the precious virgin fields with his desperate touch. You were his; you needed him, so what if you told him no countless times? You were his for the taking; your cunt was MEANT to stretch around him, and soon he would prove that to you. Prove that your pussy was created to host his seed, to be filled over and over again until your walls bruise and your mind recognizes him as your rightful owner.

I don’t want to, it’ll hurt… You’d pout at him each time he’d offer to 'make love to you’, making him wonder how you could guess his intentions to pound you stupid until you’re sore for days. He was only laughing at those memories now while having you at his mercy.

Slowly moving his hand out of your panties, he brings it to his face, watching it glisten with your nectar. Wanting to savor every moment of claiming you, he slowly licks his palm clean of your stickiness.

Once the flavor of you settles on his taste buds, he can no longer bear the ache of his cock, begging to be enveloped inside your creamy tunnel. Careful not to move you, he tugs his sweatpants down, freeing his throbbing length. For a moment he just stares down at you, imagining the struggle your tiny pussy will have to go through to welcome him inside. The way you’ll start whining and squirming in his arms as he splits you apart, the way your hands will cling to him for comfort, and teary eyes will be boring into his, seeking comfort and approval. And he’d give it to you; Anakin would give you anything. At the snap of your fingers, he’d tear his rib cage open and present his heart to you. Is he not worthy of your chastity?

His aching tip finally probes at your creamed lips, rising you from the meadows of your dreams, tainting the last bits of innocence. With every hazy blink, the sleep slips from under your eyelashes, welcoming every torturous inch. And all you want to say, all you can muster is,

Ani, please…

Layla's note || I hope this was not too dusty after months of not writing, I've missed Anakin dearly. If you enjoyed, please consider helping me take care of my senior puppy here in my Ko-Fi. Vet bills are messy this month so anything makes a difference :) My content and requesting will always be free, this is just me looking for a little help out here too 🤍

[danikamariewrites]

Take It Slow

Bat boys x reader

Note: I wrote this when my latest depressive episode was keeping me in bed and I had no motivation for anything. I honestly think this brought me out of my slump. Honestly I might delete this later I just wanted to post it because I wrote it but we’ll see

Warnings: depression, angst, comfort

You hadn’t bothered to get out of bed. Couldn’t be bothered. There was nothing to do anyway. Your mates seem to be busy these days, leaving you to do the same daily activities that you’ve grown bored of.

You were always tired too. Today you were even more exhausted than usual.

You couldn’t fall back to sleep, your eyes fluttering occasionally as you tried to keep them open, watching the ticking clock above the mantle across from the bed.

The hands showed a little past one o’clock, meaning Cassian and Azriel are back from training and Rhys is either locked up in his office or out at meetings. Leaving you to your own devices again. Just like every day. Curling up in a ball in the middle of the comically large bed you snuggle into your pillow, pulling the sheets around your shoulders.

—

Azriel and Cassian had looked all over the house for you. For the first time in weeks they were free all day and wanted to spend all of their time with you.

While Cass looked in the many rooms on the main floor Azriel wandered upstairs to the bedroom you all share, following that glowing thread attached to your heart. He felt a tug, a wave of sadness, then nothing. Azriel hit an impenetrable wall that only Rhys could teach you to put up.

Lifting a scared fist he lightly wrapped on the door. Not waiting for a response Azriel gently pushed the door open, poking his head into the dark room. Slipping inside on near silent feet, Azriel moves to sit on the edge of the bed, placing a hand on your shoulder.

“Hey love, what are you still doing in bed?” Azriel’s tone was laced with concern, his fingers brushing your hair back from your forehead.

You bury your face deeper into your pillow, letting out a small noise that’s something between a groan and a whine. Azriel pulled back a little, now worried by your reaction to his touch. His mind raced. Are you sick? Is it your cycle?

The sound of the sheets rustling as you turned to face him had Azriel looking down at you again. A small frown on his plush lips. “Az,” you whisper, “I don’t want to be mean, but can you send Cass up. I-I just… I need him.” You swallow the lump in your throat, worried that one of your mates would take offense. But Cassian is the comforting one, he always knows what to say and holds you just right.

They all know this but your lip still trembles as tears start to build in your eyes as Azriel just looks at you unmoving. Closing your eyes you let a tear slide down your cheek. Azriel places a soft kiss on your forehead, murmuring that you didn’t hurt his feelings and he’d send Cass up right away.

Leaving the bedroom Azriel knew exactly what was wrong and would do anything to help you. Reaching out to Rhys in his mind as he walked into the kitchen As informs them what’s going on.

—

As soon as the door closed you let your tears flow. Curling up into a ball again you sobbed. You hoped Azriel wasn’t hurt that you asked for Cassian.

You hoped he knew that you love him and wouldn’t hurt his feelings. Your thoughts spiraled over your mates’s feelings, adding to your never ending worries.

These days your worries ranged from if you were helping your court to wondering if you’re just a burden to your mates. Another never ending cycle you go through daily.

You felt Cassian before you saw him. His love through the bond was breaking through the wall you put up. Before you knew it Cassian was laying next to you, pulling you to his bare chest and wrapping a massive wing around you two.

Cassian’s large, calloused hand comes to rest on your stomach under your shirt. His thumb rubs small circles on your skin, pressing small kisses against your hair.

“I’ve got you sweet pea, I’m right here.” Cassian whispers as a small sob shakes your body. You turn in his arms, burying your face in the crook of his neck.

The two of you stayed in bed all day, safe and sound in Cassian’s embrace. Waking up from a peaceful nap you find Cassian’s soft hazel eyes watching you. His fingers tracing the lines of your face.

“Hey,” he smiles at you.

“Hey.” You whisper, trying to smile back at him.

Your eyes wander to the window, noticing the setting sun casting brilliant shades of pink and orange across Velaris. Your stomach jolts and that heaviness settles in your throat again, the all too familiar feeling of guilt. Guilt for wasting your day moping in bed. Guilt for dragging Cassian into bed with you.

He knew where your mind was going and he wouldn’t let you spiral like that. Holding your chin between his thumb and forefinger he forces you to look at him again. “Don’t do that, y/n. You didn’t make me do this. You are having a hard time and need help from your mates, the people who are supposed to take care of you. I stayed with you because I wanted to because you needed me.” You nod your head in understanding.

Silent tears fall down your cheeks, no longer able to hold in your feelings at Cassian’s sweet words. He pulls you to his chest again running his fingers through your hair. “Do you want to talk about it?” He asks softly.

You nod again, swallowing that ever present lump in your throat. So you tell him everything. All your worries and fears. All your anxieties crowding your brain. And you felt so good after, like a weight has been lifted off your shoulder and your brain wasn’t weighing down your skull.

Cassian listened without interrupting you. He helped you and kissed you, whispering reassuring words when talking got too much. When you finished Cassian looked deep into your eyes. “I’m sorry you’ve had all these thoughts weighing you down, sweet pea. We are here for you. Don’t ever worry about being a burden because you are not, understand. You could never in a million years be a burden.”

Cassian always knew how to render you speechless. Fresh tears sprung from your eyes as you nod, wrapping your arms around his shoulders, burying your face in his neck.

The next time you woke up the sun was rising over Velaris, your mates holding you between them. Cassian and Rhys were still fast asleep but you felt that third pair of eyes watching you. Flipping over, you find Azriel’s bright hazel eyes staring at you softly. He rests a hand on your face, running his thumb across the apple of your cheek.

“Good morning, princess.” Azriel murmurs

“Good morning,” you whisper back.

Azriel rests his forehead against yours, pressing a gentle kiss to your nose. You break the comfortable silence, “Are you mad at me? About yesterday.”

“No, y/n. I’m not mad at you. You knew what you needed and you told me.” You snuggle closer to him, finally feeling calm. Az presses a kiss to your head, whispering, “Let’s rest for a little while longer.” You hum in agreement, sleep making your eyelids heavy again.

[ghostlywhiskey]

Dad price doing THIS. I have nothing else to say

best believe i’m announcing another pregnancy three months after teHE

i'm convinced you stalk my pinterest because the way i have this photo saved somewhere.

once the hospital clears you and the baby to head home, he is immediately ready. the day after you gave birth he had the car seat ready in your hospital room along with a onesie, baby blanket, and stuffed teddy in it. he brought you a fresh pair of clothes. but nothing of yours; it was a pair of his joggers and a hoodie you worn one too many times when he would be deployed.

price will get the newborn ready while you get changed and gather any items originally brought so you don't leave them behind. he'll grab your jacket, walking up behind you and helping you put it on.

"can't have you gettin' sick. your body is weak right now," he murmurs into your ear before giving you a quick kiss on the cheek.

the two of you, now turning into the three of you, head out of the room. the nurses congratulating you once more while you thank them again for everything. and as you get to the exit of the hospital, you can't help but giggle as you notice the increase in speed of his walking. the excitement to finally have his wife and son home rushing through him before he slows down again, glancing back at you. his free hand not carrying the handle of the car seat reaches for yours, fingers quickly interlocking with your own.

"did so good, y'know?" his eyes glancing down at you while you head for the parking garage. a small 'hm' in confusion is your response to his words as you up at him.

"givin' birth," his hand squeezes yours, as he looks ahead towards the car. approaching it, he stops by the trunk of it and his hand releases yours to cup the side of your face. "strongest woman i know." he adds, leaning down to give you a soft kiss on the lips. "can't wait for you to give me three more," he mumbles against your lips, his teasing words causing your lips to curve into a smile.

except john price isn't kidding when it comes to making babies with you. once your cleared by the doctor to be sexually active again, price can't keep his hands off you. hands grabbing at your waist from behind as his palms spread against your stomach, rubbing softly.

"think we need to fill you up again," he'll say softly against your ear any chance he gets. and six months later while he's two weeks into a deployment, you're sending him a picture of your son in a onesie that reads 'i'm a big brother'.

dad price will make me spiral

[planetpedri]

The perfect pair — Pedri Gonzalez.

Pairing: Pedri Gonzalez x Fem!Reader

Summary: Since the events of last week, you began to actively avoiding Pedri, but there was a birthday party you couldn’t get out of. Unfortunately, you couldn’t keep your eyes off him, and he finally decides he had enough of your behavior.

Word count: 1.2k+

Disclaimer/s: Part One ! Slight angst to fluff + cussing

A/N: Clearing out my drafts is so relieving oml.

Another group hang out. You’d been avoiding them for three weeks now. The simple thought of being near Pedri had sent you into a spiral. Every time you thought of him, your heart bursted and your stomach ached terribly. But you’d managed to suck it up since it was a birthday party.

The house bustled with friends and you’d found yourself in the corner of the living room, sipping from a cold Dr.Pepper. You watched everyone interact, laughing at a few stories, but your attention was solely focused on Pedri. Every time he laughed, you felt your heart rate pick up, every time he caught your eye, you couldn’t breathe.

Eventually, Pedri seemed to be getting annoyed with the stolen glances and your apparent avoidance. He stood up from the couch and swiftly made his way toward you.

Nerves wracked your body and suddenly you couldn’t sit still. You switched from foot to foot, eyes darting around the room. What the hell was he doing?

“Is there something wrong? With me, specifically?” Pedri asks shortly, at his wits end with you.

“Well, there’s a lot wrong with—“ Your words are cut short when Pedri wraps a hand around your arm, “what are you doing?” Your eyes form silts at his action.

Pedri pulls you to the deserted kitchen, letting his hand drop from your arm. “I’m serious.” He huffs out your name like it was the most frustrating thing in the world. “You’re staring at me all night, but you won’t say a word to me! Not to mention the fact that you haven’t showed up to the last, fuck—the last dozen get togethers. Do you hate me that much?”

You’re a little—no, a lot, surprised at his words. The fact that it wasn’t anger coming from him, it was more like exhaustion. Like you were causing him genuine distress.

“Why do you care?” You scoff, narrowing your eyes at him. Nothing could hide the confusion in your face, though, and that only seemed to rile up the brunette more.

“Jesus!” Pedri’s arms are thrown up in distress. “Tell me what it is that makes you hate me and i’ll change it! I’ll change my fucking personality if that’s what it is. Is it my hair? Would you like me to cut it a different way? Just tell me what to do and i’ll do it.” He finishes, eyebrows pulling up as he breathes heavily.

Your tongue dart out to wet your lips and you rub your face. “I don’t—I don’t hate you. For God’s sake, I don’t hate you, and don’t change. I don’t want you to change.” Your hands drop to your sides, already sick and tired of this conversation. “Why does it bother you so much? We aren’t friends or anything.”

Pedri’s jaw ticks. “Because I—“ He clamps his jaw shut. “I just… I want you to like me.” He finally spits out through gritted teeth.

You almost laugh at that. He wanted you to like him, and all you wanted to do was figure out why you seemed to like him so much.

Your mouth opens and closes half a dozen times before you finally find the courage to speak, though it comes out in a whisper. “I do.”

“What?” Pedri groans, “speak up, please?”

“I do.” You say louder, “I do like you.”

Now he’s quiet for a moment, and it was deafening. “So why are you acting like you hate me?” He pleads with you in his tone of voice, begging for an explanation. A reason as to why he had to chase you for a sliver of.. well, anything.

“I don’t have an answer for that. Sorry. I just don’t know how to be around you without nearly exploding. You made me want to explode and I don’t know why.” You lean back against the counter, resting your head on your own shoulder as you finally get yourself to look at him.

Pedri hadn’t taken his eyes off you, the pure distress in his expression had only deepened the longer he looked at you. “Well you make me want to explode. So, I guess the feeling’s mutual.”

Rubbing your temples, you couldn’t help the laugh that escaped your lips. “I don’t think you understand. Pedri, you make me want to explode in the way that when I see you, I can’t breathe. When i’m near you, I feel like my hearts going to combust.” The confession spewed off your tongue with a heavy sigh, and it felt like a thousand pounds of bricks being lifted off your shoulders.

Pedri’s face contorts, “what the hell. And you made me chase after you for years just for you to decide you like me now? Are you fucking with me?”

Years? He’s wanted you for years?

“Are you fucking with me? Years? Pedri. What even—what are you talking about right now.” Your jaw drops, “you know what? That’s not even important. What is important, is what we’re supposed to do now. Because I can’t keep pretending like I don’t want you.” Pushing yourself off the counter, you made slow, hesitant steps toward the man.

Pedri meets you half way, his hands reaching toward your face. “Neither can I.” His thumbs graze your cheeks tenderly, scared you’d pull away at any second.

“Good.” You swallow thickly, eyes flickering to his lips. “Good.. Good—“ His lips were on yours, kissing you like you were the air he breathed on a daily basis. As if the small act was the only thing he’d needed to keep him grounded forever.

“Oh this is disgusting. Get a room.” The familiar voice of your friend snapped the two of you from the new reality you had created.

Pedri pulls away from you, his hands still cupping your face as you two both glance toward the girl. “Oh, shut up.” You grumble. “What do you want?”

“Well, if your love fest is over, we’re about to open presents.” She smirks, wiggling her eyebrows in a teasing manor.

“We’ll be in there in a second.” Pedri nods his head, motioning for her to leave the two of you alone. She does so, but not before sending you a quick wink.

Once she’s gone, Pedri turns his attention back to you. “We should probably go..”

“Probably.” You nod in agreement, a small red hue passing across your cheeks. “Then what?”

The taller man’s eyebrow twitches, his lip curling into a small smirk. “Then we leave early, and I take you out?”

“A date? Already?” You laugh, “so smooth, always.”

Pedri shrugs unashamedly, “always.” He hums, pressing six soft pecks to your lips, and each time, you giggle into them.

Your friends had been right, you two were certainly going to be the perfect pair.

Likes , comments , and reblog’s are all appreciated. Let me know if you’d like to be tagged in my future posts <3 ps. i tagged the people who asked for pt.2 hope thats okay..

DTS , @halfwayhearted @spidybaby @gadriezmannsgirl @http-isabela @alexis1taylorr @moonlight-176 !

[st4rr-girrl]

Saviors

summary; When you have nowhere to stay- and you're falling tired- you turn to the Crescent Hotel to sleep. You roomed next to four people, and they help you when something traumatic happens in your hotel room.

warnings: Cussing, hella paranormal activity, major? injuries, anxiety attack. (i changed a few things from the video tho)

(a/n this post is kind of ass and yall keep liking it so ilysm but this is so shitty lmaoo i promise my writing had a glow-up)

pairing: colby brock x fem reader

Now playing; see how I circle / labyrinth

Up next; oblivion -grimes

Genesis-grimes

The sky started to darken, mirroring my negative mood. I sighed, feeling fatigue slowly start to take over my body.

Turning my black car's driving wheel, I drove into the 'Crescent Hotel" parking lot. I sighed, stepping out of the car and opening the trunk.

I grabbed an outfit, and shoved it into a bag before grabbing my purse and locking the car up.

I glanced up at the balcony of a room, seeing a dark figure stare at me intensely. My eyes widened and I felt goosebumps form on my skin.

The night was dark and cold, forcing a shiver make its way up my spine. I crossed my arms over my chest, as I shivered in my white dress. I approached the hotel doors, and quickly made my way inside, protecting myself from the cold misty air that surrounded me.

I walked in, feeling a heavy amount of energy fall onto my shoulders. I frowned deeply, before spotting an adorable black cat seated on the couch. I walked up to it and pet its soft fur, feeling my heart become warm. A smile grew on my face as I temporarily forgot about the dark, sad and longing feeling that lingered in the air, before walking up to the front desk.

"Hi, can I get a room for one night, please?" I offered a kind smile to the lady seated behind the counter. She returned the smile, and handed me a room key. 'Room 201'

"You'll be staying at room 201. That'll be 130$." My eyes widened at the price, but I was desperate for sleep. I opened my purse and grabbed my wallet, pulling out 150$.

"Keep the change." I smiled, collecting my stuff before heading up the spiraled stairs.

I was walking down a hallway, when I heard a faint "Damn baby! Back it up on over here, if ya will." In an accent. I turned around, fear gripping onto my chest. There was nobody there. I was completely alone. I frowned deeply, before rushing back to the stairs.

It took me a while, but I finally made it to my hotel room. I sighed happily, despite the feeling of sadness surrounding me.

I noticed a brunette boy leaving hotel room 202 and I smiled kindly at him. He returned the smile, as my eyes wandered to the camera located in his left hand. I tilted my head and raised a brow a little bit.

"Oh. I'm sorry." He laughed. "I'm a youtuber. Me and my friends are recording a video."

I was still confused. "What's so special about this place?" I looked around. I acknowledged the negative and sad energy around me, but shrugged it off.

"You don't know?" He asked me curiously.

"Know what?" I was a lot more confused now.

"This hotel is haunted." My eyes widened. it makes sense now. The figure on the balcony and the sad energy around here. No wonder.

"That makes sense." I shrugged, rubbing my hands up and down my arms.

"Why? Did you see something?" He asked me, concern swirling behind his blue eyes.

"Yeah I saw a figure on a balcony, but i just thought it was a person. Though it was creepy enough to give me goosebumps. It also feels sad. And angry here. Like there some sort of longing feeling. I also got catcalled by something that wasn't there. " I explained, giggling a bit at the end.

"Do you mind if i record you explaining that? If not that's alright. But it would be great to let the fans know."

"Sure, Mr. Popular." I smirked teasingly. He rolled his eyes playfully and turned on the camera and angled it at me.

"Okay so tell us what happened again...?" He trailed, searching for something.

"Y/n." I smiled.

"Okay so tell us what happened, Y/n."

"Soo, when I arrived here, I had no clue it was haunted until this handsome stranger told me." I smiled and winked jokingly. "But before I came in here, I saw a figure standing on a balcony and it was just.... staring at me. It gave me goosebumps. And after that, the second I stepped foot into the hotel the energy surrounding me felt, sad. Like previous people here were longing for something. And a bit of anger was hidden beneath the longing and sadness. I also got catcalled, but when I turned around I was alone. Whatever happened here must've been pretty bad." I explained for a second time but in more detail. "I still don't know what happened here, I just know that it's haunted."

I smiled at the boy behind the camera. "I'm colby, by the way." He mirrored my smile.

"Thanks for letting me know what I was getting myself into, Colby." I giggled as he put the camera down.

"Yeah, Sure." He laughed, his deep voice sending butterflies to my stomach. Heat rises to my cheek before he continued. "If you need anything me and my friend, Sam, will be in here. And maybe our other two friends. You're also welcome to join us, we're gonna be ghost hunting."

"Yeah, I'll consider it." I smiled kindly once more. "Thanks, Colby."

"No problem." he waved, returning the smile before walking down the hall. I opened my hotel room, rushing in and throwing my bag on my bed.

I sighed happily, finally being able to sleep. I couldn't shake the feeling of being watched, and I shivered a bit before trying to push the thought to the back of my mind.

I changed out of my white dress, and replaced it for pajama bottoms and a long sleeve shirt with holes for my thumbs.

I put fresh socks on before turning out the light and quickly hopping into the big bed.

I saw something in the corner, just before fatigue took over my body.

--

'Wake up' A females voice whispered in my ear.

I shot out of bed quickly, my eyes wide. Sweat dripped down the side of my head as I looked around my room. "Hello??" I said out loud. No response.

I shrugged it off as my imagination, and tried to fall back asleep.

—

I rubbed my eyes, tiredly sitting up.

“Why do I keep waking up.” I whispered to myself, picking up a clock that rested on a nightstand to the left of me.

“3:33.” I read out loud. “Isn’t that an Angel number?”

I shrugged it off, before I heard a mumbling. My head shot up and stared into the darkness that lie before me.

I squinted, trying to see into the black fog. I saw a figure. Staring at me. Menacingly. My eyes widened as I froze in fear.

A faint “What do you want?” Tore from my parted lips.

It didn’t respond, to nobody’s surprise, yet still stood there.

I sat in the king sized bed, slowly building up to courage to make a run for it.

When the courage was built, I leapt out of bed and ran for the door, only to be flung away from it.

I hit the wall, with a loud ‘thud,’ before landing on the floor.

Tears welled up in my eyes after I groaned in pain. My back was definitely gonna be bruised.

I crawled for the door as fast as I could, but got violently dragged by an invisible force. I dragged my nails against the carpet.

Once it let me go I quickly rushed to stand up but got aggressively pushed against the wall. The side of my face slammed into the wall, as an unbearable pain shot through my cheek at the violent contact. A Bible flew through the air and hit me in the face. Blood dripped down my nose as I cried in pain. I heard loud knocking on my door and my eyes widened.

“Y/n!? Are you okay?!” A familiar voice shouted.

I tried to get to the door but cried out when a sharp, stinging pain shot through my back.

I sobbed, feeling myself get dragged once more before the entity let go. I jumped up and ran to the door, flinging it open. I was met with four concerned faces, three of them being un-familiar.

I sobbed into my hands, as the traumatic event played over and over in my head.

“What the fuck happened?!” Colby asked.

“Are you okay?!” The blonde boy next to him asked.

“Th-there was something in there!!” I cried out as a blonde girl rubbed my back comfortingly.

“Come to our room for a second. We’ll help you and you can tell us everything.” A black haired girl said, her brows furrowed in worry.

I nodded, following the two girls as the two boys checked my hotel room for anyone.

We entered their hotel room and I sat down on the red sofa.

The blonde girl brought back a tissue and a cold water bottle.

I used the tissue for my nose, after giving a small thanks. I placed the water bottle on the huge bruise on my cheek.

“I’m kris.”

“Celina. And the other boys are Sam and Colby.” Celina said.

“Th-thank you guys.. so much.” You smiled gratefully.

“What happened?” Sam asked.

“I-I don’t know… there was this thing and it-it threw me around like I was a fucking rag doll.” I joked a bit, before wincing from the pain radiating on my back.

“I-I think it scratched my back.” I added. Colby came over to me and asked if he could raise my shirt. I nodded and turned around while he lifted it up.

Though I couldn’t see, they all had wide eyes and opened mouths.

“Holy shit!” Sam exclaimed. “Y/n do you mind if I record this?” He asked kindly, okay with either answer.

“You can, I don’t mind, it just hurts really bad.” I said in a pained voice. “Colby can you take a picture of it and show me?” I asked softly.

He said yes before snapping a picture of it. I stared at the picture in shock, a giant bruise on my side and three, long, bloody scratch marks starting from my upper back and ending right before the waistband of my shorts.

“Holy shit” i mimicked sam just as he started recording my injuries. I turned around and showed the rest.

“Do you wanna stay in our room for the rest of the night?” Colby offered.

“Yes please.” I said, a pleading look lingered in my eyes. “I don’t wanna go back into that room.” Tears welled up in my eyes as Celina and Kris both side-hugged me.

“It’s ok, Y/n you don’t have to.” Kris said, her brows furrowed.

“You’re safe with us. Especially the boys cause they’re a lot stronger than us.” Celina joked, attempting to lighten the mood. I laughed a long, wiping my tears.

“Thanks guys.” I said gratefully.

“Anytime.” The group postponed further exploration of the building so they could make sure I was alright.

Celina and Kris called it a night, heading to their own room to sleep or try to contact anything.

I started to get sleepy while Colby was treating my wounds. “I’m tired.” I admitted.

“I’m almost done, just try to stay up for one more minute.” He applied ointment to the scratches and ice to the bruises.

I was definitely gonna tell the hotel about this in the morning. Even though some people wouldn’t believe me, it was worth a shot.

Once Colby was done in informed me of it and I crawled under the sheets and lied in the middle of the bed.

Sam and Colby lied on either side of me, and yet I still unconsciously cuddled closer to Colby.

“Goodnight.” I sighed, feeling safe with the two boys I had only just met.

“Goodnight, Y/n.”

—

The end.

[shycoconutt]

you, more than anyone, know that satoru isn't invincible. as his closest friend, you see what those who call him “the strongest” miss.

they don't see him remove his blindfold at the end of the day, rubbing at his tired eyes. they don't notice how he spends each evening at jujutsu tech, staring out the window, watching the sun dip behind the mountains. they never question why his infinity is always active, even when there's no immediate threat. they don’t feel the tension in his muscles that lingers hours after he meets with the higher-ups. they aren’t aware of his sleep schedule, where he barely gets 1-3 hours of “rest” each night. they can’t imagine the countless scars he'd bear if not for his rct. they don’t realize that the only things he consumes are sweets to dull the constant ache behind his eyes, not food to nourish his body.

but you notice, of course you do.

-

after a late-night doom scroll, your eyes light up when you see an advertisement for a cooling gel eye mask. after purchasing one in a pretty pink color and storing it for 24 hours in the office freezer, you hold it behind you as you stroll casually into his room.

“toooooruuuuuuu,” you sing as you walk up behind his desk.

reclining in his chair, he lets his head lull off the back so you can see his face.

“i know you have something behind your back, weirdo. you can’t hide it from me, remember?” he says as he points to his eyes behind his mask with a goofy smile.

“tsk, just go along with it for a second, will ya?” you scold playfully.

not without a dramatic sigh, satoru folds his arms in front of his torso. suddenly, you feel the air around you still, signaling to you the drop in his infinity as he lets you have your way with whatever you plan on doing.

with one hand, you carefully peel off his mask and toss it on his desk.

“keep your eyes closed, okay?”

“mmmmm”

the short walk from the communal fridge to his office was enough time to freeze your fingertips. bringing the gel mask in front of you, you do your best to stretch it as flat as possible before placing it slowly on his face.

“oh! what the- it’s so, ah, cold!”

you smile, tugging the elastic band around his head to hold the mask in place as he jerks around in his chair. your hands naturally fall to rest on his shoulders to steady him in place.

“toru!” you laugh, “it’s okay, just give it a second to get used to it!”

slowly you feel his tense shoulders begin to relax under your palms. as if on instinct, you start to work at them, kneading the muscles between your fingers. satoru’s face flushes a soft shade of pink, probably a reaction to the harsh temperature on his skin.

“huh,” his voice soft, “this actually feels pretty good.”

“of course it does,” you scold, “things like this exist for a reason. it’s called self-care, toru. it’s this wild and crazy idea where you take care… of yourself.”

“sounds like a gimmick.”

a smile creeps to your lips but quickly falls flat. satoru is always dismissive about his health, putting on a playful tone with his signature smile. but it’s a mask covering the ugly truth–there’s no time for self-care when there’s no sense of self. self does not exist in a world where he is merely a pawn–a very powerful, unforgettable pawn–but one nonetheless. he is an atomic bomb in society’s arsenal, labeled the strongest with the security that there is nothing, no one that rivals his ability. we are all protected while he suffers, out there alone in scenarios absent from our nightmares, as none of it is fathomable.

no one cares.

no one knows.

they are all so ignorant.

we are all so ignorant.

“OW,” satoru gasps, snapping you out of your spiral.

“oh my gods, i’m so sorry! did i hurt you?”

he puts on a show for a few more seconds before relaxing again. “not really, but i can read your thoughts and you were starting to get a little intense there.”

bringing your hands off of him, you fold them in front of you defensively, “you cannot read my mind.”

satoru rolls his head side to side on the chair, teasing you. “yes i can, and i appreciate you worrying about me.”

you huff out the air in your lungs as he peels the mask off his face, gets up, and turns to stand before you. his size makes it difficult to take him all in at once–his proximity to you causes you to crane your head upward to look him in the eyes. the skin around them glistens subtly from the condensation there, making them reflect even more intensely somehow. getting lost in his eyes isn’t just poetry, the blue pools of infinity stare right back at you, so deep and real.

it’s selfish to think you have any ownership, any authority over them. but in this lifetime, you’ll be damned if anyone dares to take them away from you.

“but i’ll be okay.”

his tone is so soft. as you search his face for any sign of fallacy, you see now that there is no mask–no fake smile. his infinity remains down, confirmed by the hand you place above his heart. 

“you promise?” you question in a whisper.

suddenly, but not unexpectedly, his hand is placed above yours. 

“cross my heart,” he swears, lifting your hand with his own to draw an x over his chest.

humming in response, you bring your eyes to your intertwined hands. it’s difficult to not pry more, but, unfortunately, you know this has to be enough.

“in all honesty,” you begin, “i wish i could kidnap you to a remote, faraway island. i would chain you up in bed, feed you warm meals every day, and force you to get a solid eight hours of sleep.”

satoru’s laugh rings throughout the room.

“sounds kinky,” he muses with a wiggle of his brow. 

sighing dramatically, you continue “but, alas, i cannot. so taking you to my place tonight will just have to suffice.”

“huh?”

“fine, fine, i won’t chain you to my bed. but i am making you takoyaki and tucking you in at eleven.” with his hand in yours, you begin to lead him out of his office. quickly, he is in your step by your side, a wide grin on his face. 

“you know,” he tempts, “you can chain me to your bed if you want to.”

“don’t tempt me, boy,” you play along, “you know how i can get carried away.”

somehow, the shiver that escapes satoru’s body is even more intense than the chill of any ice-cold face mask.

a/n: i wrote this sometime after i read the thirty-three questions gege was asked about satoru gojo and was sad to learn more about his daily life. our overworked king deserves a little break, yeah?

[f1byjessie]

A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS ━━ LN4.

sometimes the right words are hard to come across, and sometimes everything you need to say can be captured in an image.

( lando norris x photographer!reader )

━━ part twelve.

The first coherent thing you say the morning after, as you tug your sweatshirt back over your head and resolutely ignore the sculpted planes of Lando’s abdomen while he lounges in bed and watches you, is: “This can never happen again.”

He makes an inquisitive sound. “Can this maybe wait until I’m actually awake?”

You look over your shoulder just in time to catch him yawning into his elbow, and for half a second find the drowsiness to be endearing━ the way his knuckles rub languidly at his half-lidded eyes, his scratchy morning voice, and the wild case of bedhead that’s got his curls sticking up in every direction. It’s only when your gaze finds and latches onto the dark bruise sucked onto his collarbone that you remember you can’t be entertaining this anymore than you already have, adorable sleepy morning habits be damned.

“Lando.”

At his name, he opens his eyes again and meets your stare.

“This━” you gesture between yourself and him, “━can never happen again.”

You do feel sympathetic for trying to have what’s intended to be a serious conversation so early in the morning, especially when he’d really only been woken up by you practically throwing yourself out of bed, but the gravity of the situation had slammed into you the moment you’d opened your eyes to see his peacefully slumbering face across from yours.

There isn’t actually a clause in your contract that forbids you from entering a romantic relationship with anyone else on the team━ technically, there aren’t any mentions at all about anti-fraternization rules━ but just the thought of how badly this could fuck things up for the both of you has you preemptively planning to take an ibuprofen or two the minute you make it back to your own hotel room in preparation for the nasty headache you’re sure to get.

Firable offenses aside, McLaren could just as easily cite some other reason to decide not to renew your contract at the end of the year if they deem the “partnership” between you and Lando to be too detrimental to his performance ability. You might be a good photographer, but Lando’s a great driver and he’s certainly more valuable to the team than you are. He’s a one of a kind, and you’re one of plenty in a market saturated with young talents desperate for a chance to make it big.

On top of that, you’re not even sure how ethical it is to sleep with your coworker, all things considered. It’s your job to follow him around every week and take pictures that you plaster all over social media. You’ve already gotten a glimpse of how difficult things can be in the midst of an argument, but if things turn serious━ assuming, of course, that Lando is after something serious and that this isn’t just a bit of fun meant to keep him entertained with the added convenience that you’ll be traveling with him for the foreseeable future━ what sort of added ramifications would an argument have then? You’re not sure the professionalism the two of you have managed the last few weeks prior to making up would be able to survive a messy breakup.

“You’re spiralling,” he comments, sliding out from beneath the covers of the bed. He’s very nonchalant about his nakedness.

You avert your eyes.

“So maybe it’s morally grey territory,” he continues, leisurely collecting his clothes from where they wound up strewn across the floor after being discarded amidst the night’s activities. “But we’re both consenting adults━” he tugs his sweatpants back on, “━and so long as we both stay consenting adults I don’t see what the problem is. I don’t really have any plans to be magically turned into a baby anytime soon. Unless you did?” 

You stare at him incredulously, ignoring the fact that he’s still shirtless and now that he’s standing and facing you it gives a clear view of all the hickeys painted across his skin. Hickeys that you left there, and that you can remember leaving there despite attempting to shove the memories down and forget them.

He stares right back.

“In case you suddenly forgot, I’m supposed to be in a committed and exclusive relationship with someone else,” you hiss.

“Yeah, but it’s not real. You aren’t actually dating him,” he answers back with a shrug. “It’s a PR stunt, you said.”

You don’t actually care about Garrett Ward or the fake claim of faithfulness between the two of you. If there weren’t guaranteed to be nasty consequences for you, you’d let the staged relationship crash and burn in a blaze of vengeful glory. But that’s exactly what’s stopping you━ the consequences. It isn’t just your reputation on the line like it would be if you were some no-name fan who somehow managed to score lucky. If you go down, your career goes with you and that also means waving goodbye to Lando and Formula One as a whole.

Even if you managed a miracle and didn’t lose your job, the media would not look favorably upon you. At best, there would be a smattering of fans from people like Jack and Lando speaking up on your behalf who would defend you for a month or two, maybe a media outlet with a more present stance on women in sports would try to lessen the blow if the right people said the right thing. But the reality is that you could sit down and regale the whole story about Garrett’s blackmail━ starting from the very first call asking you to dinner and detailing the proof of his threats and manipulation━ and there would still be people out there painting you as the villain in his story.

You’d be designated another “bitch” who ruined the career of a perfectly good athlete, and they’d speculate into your motives, into why you chose to tear him down. It would discredit the actual wrongness of Garrett’s own actions and instead pin the blame on you and your jealousy. Or, whatever else they’d attribute it to.

So no, you don’t care about Garrett Ward or his rotten excuse for a heart. His feelings can go fuck themselves for all you care. But even still…

“The public doesn’t know that, Lando,” you start to explain. “I can’t be seen with you because, fake or not, do you know how horribly it would end for me if I were painted as some adulterous slut? They already tore me to pieces just because I was with him in the first place, can you imagine how bad it would be if it got out that I’d supposedly cheated on him? Do you know how much meaner these people would get if they somehow believed they’d been proven right about me? That the things they were saying were right all along?”

He’s silent now.

“There’s a reason I haven’t tried to get myself out of this situation already,” you continue, beginning to pace the length of the hotel room. “Like I told you yesterday, even if he makes his claims and I manage to prove him wrong, the damage to my reputation would ruin me. I’m lucky that I had McLaren to come back to and that’s what made it easier to push back on his demands, but can you imagine if I didn’t have anything lined up after that City gig? I would’ve been even more desperate to get any sort of work and Garrett absolutely would’ve capitalized on that. And I can’t keep banking on the fact that McLaren will save the day because what if one day they don’t?”

Lando crosses the distance between you and rests his hands on your shoulders, bringing your harried pacing to a stop. He looks like he’s about to give you a pep talk, and the absurdity of the thought is almost enough to make you forget about the seriousness of this entire situation and laugh. Almost. You are, unfortunately, still painfully aware of the line you’re now walking and how terrifyingly thin it is.

“McLaren would never get rid of you, so you don’t have to worry about that,” he says after a moment.

“You don’t know that,” you tell him, shaking your head and pulling free from his grasp to resume your nervous treading in another section of the room. “You can’t know that. Honestly, the backlash this could have would probably be enough to get McLaren to fire me on the spot. If not immediately, then there’d at least be enough harassment from Garrett’s fans for them to eventually decide letting me go would be the best course of action for the sake of their own reputation.”

He crosses the distance between you again, and this time pulls you into his arms entirely. He’s still warm from being beneath the covers and you soak up the comfort as much as he’s allowing you to, burying your face into the crook of his neck and reciprocating his hug by wrapping your own arms around him and grabbing at the back of his shirt.

“Obviously, this is something you’ve thought about a lot,” he starts, running his fingers up and down your back soothingly. “And it clearly stresses you out. But I really like you, Y/N. Honestly, it’s embarrassing. I’ve fancied you since I met you. You walked in and it was like one of those dumb romcoms you’ve made me watch. I just… I just knew. And I wanted you to like me, too.”

You hum in acknowledgement and sag deeper into him, clutching tighter at his shirt. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?”

“Because you hated me,” he answers simply with a tiny shrug. “Or, at least, I thought you did. And then you didn’t, but we were still so new to being friends that I didn’t want to do anything to fuck it up. I got so anxious thinking about what would happen if we broke up. It would ruin the friendship, but it would also potentially ruin your career if we couldn’t both do our job and I didn’t want to fuck that up for you. So, I was content to just have you close, honestly. That was enough.”

“Until it wasn’t?”

He sighs. You feel the rise and fall of his chest more than you actually hear it. “Garrett Ward is a raging prick and I stand by all the things I’ve said about him, but maybe some of it was influenced by me thinking he’d taken you away from me. And, when I called you that night piss drunk at Daniel’s, I was projecting the anger I felt towards myself onto the people around me. I didn’t take any risks, and because of that I was convinced that I’d lost you in every way that mattered.”

He holds you a bit tighter, “And we know how I handled that.” It’s quiet and he sounds miserable. You pull back just enough to see him looking piteously out the window, a pained look painted across his features.

You release your hold on his shirt and trail your hands across his body until you can grab his face and turn his gaze back on you.

When he’s staring into your eyes, you say, “I want this, Lando. You and me. I really do, I promise. But I can’t.”

His face falls. “If you let his influence over you control every aspect of your life, then hasn’t he already won? He’s gotten what he wanted. He doesn’t need you to be desperate for a job, because he has control over you anyway.”

If it were said in any other context or by any other person, you’d bristle at the accusation that you’re letting Garrett take whatever he wants without at least attempting to put up a fight. You’ve pushed back where you can, where it’s safest, but you have to prioritize your livelihood too and if that means asking how high when he says jump, you’ll do what you must. Not that it feels good to bend to the whims of a man who gets what he wants through fear.

“I just mean━” he hurries to correct himself, as if sensing you offense, “━you shouldn’t have to sacrifice everything that brings you joy just because you’re afraid of what he might do or how the media will perceive it due to his presence in your life. You have every reason to be hesitant to fight back against the power he holds over you, you just shouldn’t have to be.”

You pull him back in and sink into his arms again, pressing your face into his chest to hide the shine of tears in your eyes.

“I can’t promise that there won’t be backlash,” he continues. “But I can tell you that McLaren will stand behind you. I’ll make sure of it. And if they don’t, I’ll walk.” He says it likes it’s nothing━ like he isn’t saying he’ll give up everything he’s worked for just for you. “I can get you a really nice lawyer, too. If you’d want one. Or, you know, if you’d want to come out about what all Ward’s done.”

The idea sounds impossible and yet it’s so close━ close enough that Lando is practically offering it to you on a silver platter. The idea of just coming out with it all and exposing the horrible things Garrett has done. You know on top of Lando’s support, Jack and the other Manchester City boys would side with you, too, and the other members of the team behind the scenes who you worked closely with throughout your time at Etihad Campus. It’s a lot of people, and by proxy you’d probably have a large amount of their fanbase as well.

It seems too good to be true.

But Lando’s offering you the chance to make it a reality.

“I’m supposed to still be mad at you right now,” you mumble into his shirt.

He huffs out a laugh, “Being mad at someone and being in love with them aren’t mutually exclusive feelings.”

“Who said anything about being in love with you?” You tease, though you’re practically melted into his arms.

“I mean,” he starts, and just from the sound of his voice you can tell he’s about to say something stupid and cheeky and it’ll make you want to slap him upside the head. “The way you treated me last night kind of implies that you at least like me pretty seriously.”

You groan in feigned annoyance, pulling away from him just in time to catch the dazzling grin splitting his face. It’s a beautiful sight that you don’t think you’ll ever get tired of no matter how many times you see it. You recall the caption of a post made what feels like ages ago, but the words ring just as true now as they did then, and you stand by them. A smiley Lando is the best Lando.

“If we’re really doing this,” you start, somberly after another moment, “we have to be careful. Like, really careful. No PDA in public. No PDA anywhere unless we know for a fact that we’re alone and there aren’t any cameras. And no telling anyone unless we absolutely have to for health or security reasons, or something. We can’t have this blow up on us, because if they catch you you’ll be just as much of a target for the hate and I will not have you get caught in the crossfire with this, Lando.”

He finagles around a bit until your hands are held in his and he’s pressing a gentle kiss to your knuckles. “I promise,” he whispers against your skin.

It feels like the start of something perfect.

INSTAGRAM.

liked by user, user, and 561,816 others

footballfansofficial BREAKING: Manchester City Forward Garrett Ward, a victim of infidelity?! Ward and his girlfriend Y/N L/N first revealed their romance to the world on the 5th of January. Since then, they’ve regularly shared photos of one another across the social media platform Instagram, and have been sighted on dates around Manchester and London. Though the couple have not recently shared any new posts of one another, fans believed this was due to schedule differences, as nothing has been said to indicate an end to their relationship. With the Champions League back in full swing, Ward has been constricted to a busy schedule of matches in Europe, and similarly as a photographer for Formula One team McLaren, L/N has been traveling across the globe. However, she’s apparently more than just friends with McLaren driver Lando Norris! Pictures from the 24th of March at the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne reveal L/N and Norris sharing an intimate moment. Check the link in our bio for the full article!

view all 19,815 comments

user oh… that’s not….

user that is NOT garrett ward for sure 🫢🫢

user honestly a cheating scandal was not on my 2024 bingo card

↳ user i mean i’m not surprised but i definitely thought of the two of them it would be ward tbh 👀

user WHAT DID WE FUCKING SAY

↳ user WE ALL SAW THIS FROM A MILE AWAY

user fucking slag 🙄

user ugh!!! us REAL garrett ward fans KNEW this would happen but everyone called us crazy!!! 😠😠 he deserves someone who ACTUALLY cares about him and we knew from the beginning that she wasn’t it!! honestly just the thought that anyone could POSSIBLY do this is SICKENING!!! garrett is such a loving person and he deserves the WORLD!! i hope he doesn’t let this stop him from finding REAL love some day!! 🥺🥺🫶🫶

↳ user ikr?!?! it’s so not fair that he’d choose her when she’d just use and abuse him when he has so many loyal fans that would treat him so much better and would actually love him and all he has to offer. she totally must’ve manipulated him or something!!

user damn… i wasn't l/n’s biggest fan in the beginning but i kinda hoped she’d prove me wrong… yet here we are…

user this is seriously so disappointing to see

user SLUT 🤬 SLUT 🤬 SLUT 🤬

user long distance is not an excuse to cheat and this is such a horrible thing to do to a partner. garrett ward has been exceptionally nice to her, and this is what she gives in return? so many ppl tried to warn him about her closeness to lando norris too. i’m disappointed but not surprised that this was the result. girls like this truly have no shame and no dignity. they don’t know loyalty at all.

↳ user we tried to warn him and this is what happens? like we tried, but you ignored us and called us crazy. make it make sense 😮‍💨

↳ user the fact that he was genuinely so sweet by taking her on dates and posting her on his socials and she turns around and stabs him in the back like this… my heart hurts for how upset he must be right now. and honestly, this lando norris guy is just as much to blame for garrett’s pain too.

↳ user i’m willing to give norris the benefit of the doubt if only because we’ve seen girls like this before who manipulate athletes into giving her what she wants and if they don’t then they move onto the next. obviously ward wasn’t going to just roll over for her every whim, so now she’s moving onto the next guy and is trying to manipulate him the same way she did ward. norris is as much of a victim as ward is.

user WHORE BEHAVIOUR I CALLED IT FROM THE GET GO GUYS

user she really said “hold my beer” and went to go prove us all right about our initial assumptions 👀👀

user knew i should’ve trusted my instincts when they told me she was bad news…

user AINT NO WAY INFAMOUS WOMANIZER GARRETT WARD, AS IN NOTORIOUS CHEATER GARRETT WARD, GOT CHEATED ON BY THE FIRST GIRL HE WAS IN A SERIOUS COMMITTED RELATIONSHIP WITH 😂

user lowkey had high hopes for them bc i gen thought ward garrett was changing his ways and was trying to settle down

↳ user me toooooooo i thought she was gonna be a good influence on him 😔

user can you blame her tho?? you try moaning “garrett” in bed and see how that goes for you

user just because they haven’t said anything about ending their relationship doesn’t mean they haven’t ended it privately! honestly who are we to judge them for not telling the public every detail about their personal lives? this was obviously not a moment intended for us to see and was meant to be shared between l/n and norris, and i honestly find this account in general to be incredibly invasive as most if not all of the photographs the articles are written about are from paparazzi and look as though they were taken without the consent or knowledge of the people in them.

↳ user THANK YOU!! 🙏 i’ve been trying to say that for so long!! speculation is so dangerous and harmful to the very real people that are involved and it can have consequences on them and their careers. these pictures do look very damning, but we’re lacking context into l/n and ward’s lives and we shouldn’t judge anyone involved in this before we have the full story. for all we know, the relationship was ended and this is l/n’s new partner, in which case we should be respectful of her choices to be with someone else and should also respect their privacy and take into consideration the fact that there was probably a reason her and ward didn’t announce a split.

↳ user the only comment of sense on this entire post. istg, some of these ppl just have too much time on their hands and spend it all worrying about the love lives of celebrities that don’t even know they exist. y/n and garrett are both adults and can make decisions for themselves without needing the support or backing of people who don’t actually know anything about them beyond the persona they put on for the public. even if she did cheat, garrett’s a big boy and can take care of himself. he doesn’t need an army of women and girls either half his age or double it coming to his defense. be so fucking for real and maybe go touch some grass while you’re at it.

━━ tags: @maih23 @urfavnoirette @leclercsluv @f1luvur @formulaal @a-disturbing-self-reflection @starlightpierre @chezmardybum @marshmummy @405rry @sideboobrry11 @d3kstar @mcmuppet @happylittlereader @casperlikej @5starl1ght @bellezaycafe @whentheautumnleavesfall @mess-is-my-aesthetic @ssprayberrythings @landosgirlxoxo @lifelessfan @81ja @wcnorris @a-disturbing-self-reflection (CLOSED).

━━ a/n: we are back in business! i am very happy with this part and how it turned out. there's a bit of a time skip between pre-season testing and the australian grand prix obviously, but all questions shall be answered in the next part! thank you for reading, and i hope you enjoyed!

[jermer10]

Yandere Scout with a civilian reader?

TF2 yandere scout x civilian reader

18+ only, gn reader | yandere scout my beloved

tw: yandere themes, stalking, graphic depictions of violence, non-consensual sexual activity

drabbles under the cut :P

Being the 10th class, 'The Civilian', you’re someone different, special in a way that the others aren't

You work behind the scenes, cleaning up the battlefield after each fight, being escorted from point A to B with sensitive information by whichever team had you for that week

Thus, Scout quickly becomes fixated, convinced that he’s the only one who can understand and protect you

His mind is always on you. During missions, downtime, and even in the middle of conversations with the team, you occupy his every thought

He imagines every scenario where he’s the one protecting you, keeping you safe, and, most importantly, keeping you his

Scout makes it a point to always know where you are, even when you think you’re alone he's there, watching from the shadows

You might think you hear footsteps behind you or feel eyes on you, but every time you look, no one's there, you start to spiral into a paranoid mess

Scout steps in as your personal confidant, gaslighting you into believing you're having some sort of stress related psychotic episode

His stalking becomes more brazen over time, but he always plays it off like it’s no big deal

Scout’s obsession with you knows no boundaries - most nights he sneaks into your room and watches you sleep (and yes, he touches himself to you)

He’s careful not to wake you, his eyes scanning every detail, convinced that no one else could ever appreciate you the way he does

Escalated from jerking off behind you, to rubbing his cock on your lips, to using your thighs as a fleshlight

He intentionally cums on pieces of clothing from your closet, he doesn't care if you notice, if you take them to Medic for analysis - the samples always seem to go missing anyway

Some nights he drugs you with the intention of actually fucking you, but he can never work up the courage, wanting to save your first time together for when you're officially his

His biggest fantasy is having you beg for him, he wants you to obsess over him in the way he does to you

He hates when anyone else talks to you, especially if you seem to enjoy their company

If another mercenary spends too much time around you, Scout gets jealous and finds ways to interrupt - whether it’s a poorly timed joke, pretending to need something urgently, or picking a fight with them, he won’t stop until they leave you alone

Scout likes to take little items as trophies or souvenirs, something to remind him of you when you’re not around (often repeatedly cumming on the items - marking his territory)

He feels entitled to your personal space and has no qualms about going through your things when you’re not there, sitting so close to you he's basically on top of you, hugging you and touching you without asking

If you ask for space or mention feeling uncomfortable he stops talking to you for days, making threatening and suicidal comments when you're in earshot

Eventually you apologize to him, and he makes sure you know how happy he is that you've "come to your senses"

"I dunno why you'd even think somethin' as stupid as that in the first place, I don't make ya uncomfortable, you're probably just feelin' totally flattered, babe! It's okay, sometimes I can't tell the difference either."

His obsession escalates into paranoia - he becomes convinced that everyone around you is trying to take you away from him

Even innocent interactions are blown out of proportion in his mind, and he’ll go to great lengths to ensure no one gets too close

He will sabotage others’ efforts to spend time with you, spreading rumors or even manipulating situations so that they’re pushed out of your life

It seems like everyone has picked up on his irrational behaviour except you, and god help the soul who tries to warn you, so they stay away and hope that his "crush" passes

If he feels like you’re pulling away or that someone else is threatening his claim on you, he might snap

In a worst-case scenario, he could take matters into his own hands, kidnapping you and isolating you somewhere he believes no one can hurt you

To Scout, everything he’s doing is out of love - his intense possessiveness, his constant stalking, and even the lengths he’s willing to go to keep you close are all justified in his mind

[thedamselzelda]

So Wake Me Up When It's All Over

Featuring: Chūya Nakahara

Author Chat: Hello everyone! I hope you guys are excited for this "Side B" as I'm calling it. Before you hop in, I want to give a little explanation to this installment of Dream A Little Dream Of Me. I wanted to emphasize the "every side has a story", and the fact that we don't all remember things the same, or interpret them as the same. Therefore, there will be some dialogue differences, but this version will follow similar dialogue as Side A: Dream A Little Dream Of Me in certain places. In summary, it's playing on the unreliable narrator trope slightly. You and Chūya just... saw the story a little differently. :)

wc: 11.8k, fem!reader, sfw with some warnings: mentions of PM activity (this includes but is not limited to human trafficking, manipulation, murder), mild cursing, slightly proofread (but im honestly so braindead rn after reading it over again, I just hope it comes out how it was intended), a little angsty again

Before Mori, you were a shadow - nameless property of the Port Mafia’s human trafficking ring, a tool for their whims. When he uncovered the ability you'd desperately hidden, he molded you into "someone". Yet even now, a part of you longed to simply close your eyes and awaken to a world where the weight on your shoulders felt lighter.

The oddly lit room in Mori's clinic cast strange shadows across your face as you stood, hovering over him while his pen scribbled across documents. You'd only been summoned here once or twice since he ascended to Port Mafia boss, and the unfamiliarity of the space set your nerves on edge. 

You tried to stand silently, but the soft clicking of your teeth betrayed you as you attempted to pull a sliver of skin from your thumb. Your other fingers were already red and raw from this compulsive habit, with scars and fresh blood pricking around them and underneath your nail beds. Behind your back, your nails mindlessly rubbed together, resulting in a similar state of damage. A nagging voice in your head insisted you needed to break this habit, but the compulsion was too strong to ignore. 

"Alright, my dear. I've finished with that business," Mori's voice cut through your spiraling thoughts as he swiveled in his chair to face you. With a weary sigh, he reached up and gently but firmly grasped your hand, pulling it away from your mouth. "My dear," he said, using your full name – a name that felt alien after your long assimilation with the Sheep. "I wish you'd stop this harmful habit." 

You glanced down at his hand clasped around yours, briefly considering biting the hand that interrupted your task. Instead, you settled for a look of pure disdain at the unwelcome contact. You gave a quick nod to move away from the subject, returning your hand to join the other behind your back, restarting the process once again. 

"What whispers do you bring me today?" Mori asked, his soft smile not quite masking his displeasure at the retreat of your hand. 

"One… I hope… you can c-confirm is not true, sir." You swallowed hard, anxiety building as he looked at you with growing curiosity. "Some… mafiosos, sir… they c-claim to have seen the old boss; that he has returned from the dead." 

Mori gave you an understanding nod before rising to his feet. He moved toward you, his hand lightly caressing falling strands of your hair from your face. The touch sent an involuntary shiver down your spine. "And I trust you silenced these whisperers?" 

Your eyes darted to his before quickly looking down, unable to hold his piercing gaze. "Of c-course, sir," you stammered. "Any who claimed that they would seek him out, to those who barely even questioned the rumor; all… silenced." 

Mori hummed contentedly, stroking your cheek with his thumb. The gesture felt possessive, making your skin crawl. "I promise you, my dear. The rumors are just that: rumors. I would never let the old boss return to bring harm to you." 

You forced an appreciative smile, hoping it would be enough to please him. Thankfully it was, as he returned to his chair, crossing his legs and fixing with you an expectant look. 

"In addition to these rumors," you continued, your stutter lessening as you focused on relaying information, "there is also information attached, saying Arahabaki might have something to do with his return. Uh-unfortunately, I have nothing additional to support that claim, sir." 

Mori nodded again, turning to grasp a ledger from the pile on his desk. He opened it, beginning to write down the information you'd shared. 

"About how many men did you kill because of this rumor?" he asked, his tone casual, as if inquiring about the weather. 

Your teeth pulled at a stray, chapped piece of skin before answering, "Tw-twelve, sir. In various positions, no one from the sub-executive or executive level." 

"Very good." He scribbled down your words, closing the book with a snap before turning back to you. "You've done very well; I'm very pleased." 

"Thank you, sir." You gave a slight bow of your head, awaiting his next words. 

"I suppose I'll have Dazai seek out the source of these rumors, see if there is any basis in them." 

You exhaled sharply at the mention of Dazai's name, but you remained silent. Mori gave you an expression of disappointment but continued. "Where are most of the rumors circulating from?" 

You felt a sharp prick within your nail as you spoke, "I traced them back to Suribachi City, sir." 

You brought your hand to the side, quickly examining it to find fresh blood trickling from underneath your nail and down your fingertip. You quickly looked up, sighing quietly in relief that Mori had returned to whatever had been on his desk before. 

"Tricky, that's within the Sheep's territory…" Mori looked around on the papers about his desk, as if looking for a specific document. You waited, teetering back and forth from heel to toe, anxiously awaiting his word of dismissal. He picked up a sheet of paper, pointing to an address. "Persuade the Sheep to go after this shipment of booze I just had imported. I'd much rather keep them busy with things that are easier to replace, wouldn't you say?" 

He gave you a look that left no room for disapproval, so you nodded quickly. You remained rooted to the spot however, mind racing as you processed the orders you'd been given. Slowly, you began to outline potential outcomes, your lips parting as a request formed on your tongue. But you quickly closed your mouth, unsure if you could make such a weighty plea. 

"Speak your mind," Mori said, his tone deceptively gentle as he rose from his chair. He approached you once more with measured steps, his hand finding your chin and tilting it upward. Your name left his lips in a hushed whisper, coaxing you to speak. 

"If... if anything h-happens," you began, your eyes darting between his. "All I ask is that no harm comes to them… throughout whatever you have planned. They're just children." 

Mori hummed, a knowing look in his eyes as he sensed your growing fondness for the children you'd watched over. 

"If it gets to that point, you have my word," Mori said, his thumb moving softly across your chin. The touch made you want to recoil. "However, for now, I need you to play your part, my dear." 

You bobbed your head, praying he'd let go. But Mori's hand stayed put, his eyes drilling into yours like he was trying to see through your mask. "One more thing, my dear," he said, his voice low and measured. "Ensure that our young friend doesn't damage any more of my planes. My patience, like my fleet, has limits."

You had to fight not to smirk, even as a flash of annoyance hit you thinking about the Sheep making calls without you there. "Got it," you mumbled, barely louder than a breath.

The door clicked open behind you, but you didn't move a muscle as Mori's eyes flicked to whoever was coming in.

"Well, if it isn't Dazai. Just who I wanted to see." Mori's gaze swung back to you, dismissive as hell. "You're excused. Do try to avoid further damage to those lovely hands of yours."

His fingers left your chin, and you watched him return to his seat. You seized the opportunity to retreat, exchanging a loaded glance with Dazai as you passed.

As you descended the stairs and exited Mori's clinic, your mind raced. What was Dazai's role in all this? He wasn't even an official Port Mafia member... Dazai “helping” Mori didn’t seem to be in the Mafia’s best interests, since he has on several occasions said ‘No’ to joining as an official member. Yet still, he always comes back…

"Penny for your thoughts, sweetheart?" A gentle tap on your forehead snapped you back to reality. You blinked, realizing you had mindlessly retrieved the spare helmet from Albatross without even acknowledging him.

"Sorry, just... got a lot on my mind," you said, shaking your head as if to dislodge the uneasy feeling settling in your gut about whatever exchange was now taking place between Mori and Dazai.

Albatross squinted at you, worry etched on his face. "You okay? Don’t tell me the boss is givin’ ya a hard time again?"

You forced a weak smile. "It's nothing. Just... you know, same bullshit, different day."

He nodded slowly, clearly unconvinced but knowing better than to press further. "Well, if you need to talk..."

"Thanks," you cut him off, not unkindly. "But right now, I just need to clear my head. Mind if we take the long way back? Same drop off as always."

Albatross grinned, revving the motorcycle's engine. "You got it, doll. Hold on tight."

You swung your leg over the seat, placing the helmet over your head. You leaned, wrapping your arms around him. Albatross barely waited for you to get situated before gunning it. The bike roared to life, lurching forward with enough force to make your stomach drop. The wind whipped past, tearing at your clothes and hair, drowning out the noise in your head. As the city blurred around you, you closed your eyes and leaned into Albatross's back. You tried to focus on the rumble of the engine, the rush of air against your skin, anything to push away the conflicting knot building within your stomach.

You heaved a heavy sigh as you closed the massive metal door behind you, its weight causing a dull thud to echo through the corridor. You knew it was only a matter of moments before the inevitable rush of kids descended upon you.

The newer recruits, some barely older than Chūya was when he first joined, were completely infatuated with you and your ability. Their wide-eyed enthusiasm didn’t bother you – it was the older kids that grated on your nerves a bit more. It was as though some of them felt entitled to your time, puffing up their chests and boasting about how long they've been around, how much they've seen. They insisted on needing a good night's rest and happier dreams over the younger ones, all fabricated thanks to your ability.

As you make your way down the dimly lit passageway, their excited voices begin to reach your ears, bouncing off the concrete walls.

"She's back! Ane-san's back!"

"Finally! We missed you!"

They flooded around you like a tidal wave, some grasping at your jacket with small, eager hands, others clinging to your fingers. You couldn’t help but bask in the feeling of being wanted, even if a part of you knew it wasn’t entirely yours to enjoy. The warmth of their admiration was a double-edged sword, comforting yet tinged with guilt.

Two of the children began to shove one another, their voices rising as they squabbled over who would get your attention tonight.

"I'm next, she promised!"

"No way, it's my turn!"

You rolled your eyes, reaching out to gently push them apart. "Hey, cool it, you two. I'll make time for both of you tonight, alright?" The compromise seemed to appease them, though they still eyed each other suspiciously.

Suddenly, the chatter began to lessen, a hush falling over the group. You followed their gaze to see a familiar figure approaching, his presence commanding attention even from the youngest recruits.

"Well, happy to see me, Nakahara?" you asked, unable to keep the teasing note from your voice as you meet Chūya's scowl. It was amusing to see how he always put on this prickly act when others are around. When you're alone, it's... different.

You watched as he shifted his weight, seemingly uncomfortable with the attention. He gave an irritated huff, crossing his arms defensively before speaking. "Did you come back with anything useful?"

A smirk tugged at the corner of your lips, amused by his attempts at nonchalance. "Of course. I never disappoint, do I?"

You caught the faintest hint of color creeping across his cheeks before he turned away quickly, hiding his face. "Whatever. Let's just get this over with," he grumbles, "so you can get back to filling their heads with your usual nonsense."

You couldn’t help but laugh, trying to muffle it behind your hand. Looking down at the sea of expectant faces, you started walking as you speak. "Sorry, kiddos. Gotta go for now. I'll catch up with you all later, promise."

A chorus of disappointed groans followed as you began to walk backwards toward Chūya. You waved them off with a playful grin, spinning around to fall into step beside him. You walked in silence for a moment, studying Chūya's profile.

The tension in his shoulders was evident, his jaw set in a tight line. Despite his stern demeanor, you couldn’t help but smile at his familiar presence. Your heart quickened slightly as you took in his features - his striking red hair, his intense bi-colored eyes.

"If you're that envious, I can give you a dream to see what they're so excited about." You reached out, placing your hand gently on his shoulder. Unexpectedly, he stopped, spinning around to face you, though your hand remained in place.

"I'm not jealous, alright?!" His voice cracked slightly. You offered him a soft, understanding look. His eyes meet yours, showing you a swirl of emotions swimming in their depths. You feel a familiar pull, as if you could lose yourself in that gaze if you're not careful.

You remembered his confession about not being able to dream, how he only experienced darkness. It explained his defensiveness, the vulnerability hiding beneath. "It's alright, Chūya. I remember you once told me you couldn't dream. I could at least try, that way we could find out if it's really true, you know?" You keep your voice gentle, hoping he doesn't interpret your words as mockery.

Chūya's eyes searched yours, seeming to weigh your sincerity. Instead of accepting, he clicked his tongue. You hear him saying your name in a hushed whisper as his hand wrapped around yours, slowly removing it from his shoulder. The brief contact caused your breath to hitch, and you fought off the unrealistic urge to intertwine your fingers with his.

"Whatever. This isn't the time for that right now, 'kay? We've got more important things to deal with."

"Oh, yeah," you responded, trying to maintain your composure despite wishing the moment of connection could have lasted longer. You forced yourself to refocus on the matters at hand. "I heard about your little show today. Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you supposed to have approval from all council members to do something of that magnitude?"

You brushed past him, feeling his gaze following you as you continued down the corridor.

"We simply took a vote since you weren't here." The defensive edge in his voice was back, a clear sign you'd touched a nerve.

You sighed, waving your hand dismissively above your head. "I would've voted no, would've told the others to as well. You attacking a Mori Corp airplane has put a big target on us." You exhaled softly, muttering under your breath, "But what's done is done."

You smirked when you heard him scoff as he trailed behind you. A moment passed before his rebuttal came, "I was sendin' a message; had to show we aren't to be fucked with."

You turned quickly on your heel, and he stopped mere inches from your face. Your breath caught in your throat at his sudden accidental proximity. "Now, now, Chūya." You chided him, trying to give him a smooth smile. You hoped he couldn’t see how much you were having to keep yourself together. You didn't realize he was following you so closely. "Our time to act would've come, but now, because of you, we have to act. If you only patiently waited for my return, you'd know the rumors swirling about the Port Mafia now. Then, you'd know the time to strike would've been any time after yesterday."

He gave a small chuckle, as if you’d just told him a silly, pathetic joke. But you couldn’t help but notice that he didn’t step back. He simply smirked and leaned forward, to where you can feel the heat of his breath. Your pulse quickened, and you were suddenly acutely aware of every inch of space between you.

"Oh yeah? And why's that?" he asked, his voice low and challenging.

You trained your eyes on Chūya as you spoke, your gaze tracing the familiar contours of his face. No matter how many times you did this, it was still nerve-wracking. You weren't lying, merely directing the Sheep toward another path. Still, keeping your focus on him was the only thing that calmed your nerves, but you could see your lingering eye was having a different effect on him. A faint flush crept up his neck, though under different circumstances it would be barely noticeable.

Even when you tried to break eye contact, you caught Shirase giving you a small, knowing smile from the corner of your vision. It wasn't that he made you uncomfortable, but you understood the intentions behind it. You weren't oblivious to his advances. So, you always brought your gaze back to Chūya when you spoke, finding an inexplicable comfort in his bi-colored eyes.

"They'll be distracted for a while," you started, shifting your weight and placing a hand on your waist. You watched as Chūya's eyes darted to the map before him on the makeshift table. A tinge of something you couldn't quite place tugged at your chest. Had you done something wrong? You pushed the thought aside, telling yourself to focus on the task at hand.

"There are rumors circulating about the current boss and his predecessor. I guess the depths of hell couldn't hold him after all." Your voice carried a hint of bitterness you couldn't entirely mask.

You gritted your teeth as Mori's words echoed in your mind. I would never let the old boss come back to harm you. You blinked harshly, shaking off the thought. You weren't someone important to him; just Mori's messenger as the old boss lay dying. You didn't cause what happened to him... besides, Mori saved you for a purpose, for a reason.

Your finger landed on the exact location Mori had shown you earlier, shifting it between two spots close together on the worn map. "So, it's the perfect time to strike. Two cases of newly imported liquor, with four or five men each guarding them. The Port Mafia will be too preoccupied with handling the rumors to properly defend them."

You had barely finished speaking when a familiar groan left Chūya's lips. Here he went again. "No. No way."

You scoffed, straightening up to rest your hand once more on your hip. "Something wrong, your majesty? We can handle it, even if you don't wanna join. It's a quick in and out."

He shook his head, walking around the table and other council members to stand before you. The sudden proximity made your heart skip a beat. There was no need for this; he had already been directly across from you. Why the sudden move?

"That's too dangerous regardless, and for some booze?" He gave you a look of uncertainty, his brow furrowed as if trying to decipher your reasoning. "You want to send barely armed, non-ability users into Port Mafia territory? Are you tryin' to get 'em killed?"

You raised an eyebrow in question, meeting his intense gaze. "Who said I wasn't gonna go with them?"

You studied him for a moment as his eyes darted between yours. You could see he was debating the possibility of it going wrong, something that was always smart to consider. However, you knew there was nothing to worry about. It would be no issue since Mori had directed you to the cache.

His face shifted in frustration, settling for questioning you further. "And what if somethin' goes wrong?" His voice sounded gruffer than usual, a hint of concern lacing his words. "We can't just throw the Sheep into danger on a whim, a rumor."

You stood straighter and thinned your lips at the assumption, feeling a pang of hurt that he doubted your judgment. You had never led the Sheep astray with your suggestions. But you kept quiet, clasping your hands behind your back and began picking at your nails again, not wanting to argue further with him. "We could vote, if that would make the decision easier?"

You swept your gaze across the room, observing as the others exchanged whispers and uncertain glances. Chūya's exasperated sigh from beside you broke the hushed murmurs. "Obviously my vote's 'no'."

Your eyes locked with Shirase's, and he gave you a subtle nod, signaling his agreement. You returned a simple nod of acknowledgment, hoping he wouldn't misinterpret it as anything more than gratitude. The rest of the group seemed indecisive. They had agreed with you plenty of times before, but with Chūya disagreeing, they appeared conflicted about going against their "king".

Another huff of irritation escaped Chūya's lips. "Fine, but I'm not savin' your asses if you get caught."

"No." You looked among the others in the room, noting the tension in their postures and the uncertainty in their eyes. It dawned on you that a true decision couldn't be made with you present; your mere presence was swaying the votes. 

"I'll leave the room, allowing everyone the opportunity for an anonymous vote, that way no one feels pressured. Chūya has doubts." You turned to meet his eyes again, confusion painted across his face. "You should at least state your case. I have the others to tend to anyway now that my job's done."

Your eyebrows furrowed as you turned to leave, a mix of emotions churning within you. Mori wanted them distracted by the easy grab for a reason, but you couldn't force the decision upon them. It was too risky to push so hard. Instead, you'd let them come to their own conclusion. And if that conclusion was to not go... well, you'd just have to find another way.

As you reached for the door handle, you cast one last glance over your shoulder. The dim light cast long shadows across the room, highlighting the tension in Chūya's shoulders and the uncertainty on the faces of the other Sheep members. With a quiet sigh, you stepped out into the corridor, leaving them to make their decision without your influence.

You tiptoed out of the small room, your footsteps barely audible on the cold concrete floor. Even if you had made a sound, you knew the children wouldn't stir from the sleep you'd induced - not until well into the morning. As soon as you closed the door, a voice piped up, your name spoken with giddy anticipation. You turned to see two teens standing before you, their eyes bright with excitement despite the late hour.

"Please, can it be our turn now?" one asked eagerly.

"Yeah, we'd like a good night's rest with fun dreams too," the other chimed in.

You sighed, already feeling somewhat drained from soothing the other two to sleep. You were wary about using your ability again in such quick succession. That was the downside of your power; utilizing it too much and too quickly rendered you susceptible to its effects. You didn't say 'no', however, preferring the physical exhaustion over the nagging that would ensue well into your next return.

You followed them up to the warehouse attached to the Sheep's underground base. The metal stairs creaked under your feet as you ascended. Some preferred the silence of the city instead of the eerie echoing of the tunnels. You wouldn't know what either felt like, as you hardly slept anywhere that wasn't your apartment.

You watched as they settled into their tattered futons with eagerness, though exhaustion was etched across their young faces. The dim light cast long shadows across the warehouse, emphasizing the wear and tear of their makeshift beds.

You knelt down, sitting on the back of your heels with your hands in your lap. "So, what's the dream you two want to experience?" you asked softly.

"Ooh! I wanna have a dream where I take charge of a mission and it's super successful!" the first teen exclaimed.

"And I wanna dream about killing some of those Port Mafia executives! They—" the second began, but you cut him off.

"No. I'm not giving you that," you said firmly, pressing your lips into a thin line and giving him a stern look.

"But—" he tried to protest.

You closed your eyes and shook your head, "That's not the purpose of the Sheep. Our purpose is to defend territory, not kill mercilessly."

The boy huffed in disappointment, crossing his arms over his chest. He mumbled something, but it was too incoherent for you to understand.

You sighed, "I'll just give you the same dream if you don't speak up now."

"Fine," he grumbled.

You grabbed his shoulder, your touch gentle but firm. "Hey, if you go to sleep angry, it'll modify the dream. Cut that out."

You motioned your hands in front of your chest, encouraging him to breathe in and out to soothe himself. The cool night air filled your lungs as you demonstrated, hoping he'd follow suit.

"Hey, you're still gonna kick ass in this dream, so it's the next best thing," you assured him with a small smile.

He gave a small smirk in return, still slightly unsatisfied but noticeably calmer.

They both proceeded to bundle into their futons, taking deep breaths and closing their eyes. The warehouse fell silent save for their steady breathing and the distant sounds of the city beyond.

You motioned your hands above their heads, reciting once more within your head: Ability: Exhaustion. A faint blue and purple hue emitted from your hands, trickling down upon their heads. You watched as their breathing deepened; the tense looks on their faces dissipating before your eyes. Peace overtook them as you placed them within the beginning phases of sleep, tucking away the dream within their mind for REM sleep.

A soft whisper of your name came from behind. Your hands instinctively closed into fists, recognizing the voice immediately. He always seemed to find you, no matter where you were. Taking a deep breath, you turned to face him.

Your heart skipped a beat as your eyes met Chūya's. He looked... tired. Deep shadows lurked under his mismatched eyes, and there was a slight slump to his usually confident posture. Despite this, he still exuded an aura of strength that had always drawn you to him, though you wished you could help alleviate the struggles that must’ve come with being called ‘king’.

Without a word, you stood and walked towards him, casting a glance back at the sleeping forms of your fellow Sheep members. Chūya's voice was low, tinged with curiosity as he whispered to you.

"I thought your ability was just making dreams?"

A small smile tugged at your lips, finding his interest in your ability both amusing and endearing. Not many in the Sheep understood the complexities of your power; you rarely spoke about it in detail.

"Dreams are just one part of it," you explained softly, your voice barely above a whisper. "I can manipulate the entire sleep cycle, pushing someone through the stages to fit the situation. However, I'd say the real power in my ability is controlling sleep's restorative effects."

You watched as Chūya nodded, his brow furrowing in concentration as he tried to grasp the concept. The sight was... cute, for lack of a better word. The fierce fighter of the Sheep, looking like a puzzled schoolboy.

"So, you're what? Giving them super-sleep?" His eyes met yours as he spoke, a hint of amusement dancing in their depths.

You couldn't help but let out a small laugh, quickly stifling it to avoid disturbing the sleepers. "Sure, something like that, I guess. They'll wake up from the best sleep they've probably had in years."

As you studied his face, illuminated by the soft moonlight filtering through the abandoned building's dirty windows, you realized now was the time. You hadn't mentioned Arahabaki; that information wasn’t quite for the Sheep. With a quiet huff and a nervous laugh, you snaked your arm around his, feeling the warmth of his body through his worn jacket.

"Let's go," you said, your voice barely above a whisper. "I have one more piece of info to give."

Chūya instantly began to protest, pulling you back slightly. "What? Where are we going?"

You leaned in close, your lips nearly brushing his ear as you cupped your hand around your mouth. Your whisper was so soft it was barely audible, even to him. "Somewhere the walls can't listen."

You linked your arm around Chūya's once again, gently tugging him along as you began to lead him down the dimly lit corridors of the warehouse. The contact felt oddly intimate, even though you hadn't intended it to be. Gradually, you felt him relax against you, even pushing his arm closer, your arm now flush with his side. The warmth of his body seeped through the thin fabric of your clothes, and you tried not to dwell on the sensation, instead focusing on the roof access door just ahead.

Unfortunately, a voice called your name from behind, shattering the moment. You internally groaned, your face twisting into a mask of irritation. Why was Shirase always appearing at the most inopportune times?

You spun around quickly, pulling Chūya with you. Your lips thinned as you saw Shirase's eyes darting between you and Chūya as he approached.

"Shirase," you said, your tone leaving no doubt about your displeasure at the interruption.

His hand ran through his unkempt hair as he spoke, "Hey, so... I was wondering if you'd mind, maybe... you know." He raised his hands, wiggling his fingers in a poor imitation of your ability. "Doing that thing... your ability.. on me? I wanna see what all the others have been talkin' about."

You knew his true intentions - he only wanted to be alone with you, to try and get to know you better. But he would never get the chance. You'd never let anyone in the Sheep know the real you. They liked this persona, this façade you played. Some days, you preferred this role more than who you were in the Mafia.

"I'm honestly super tired, Shirase," you lied smoothly. "I already put four kids to sleep. I'm also leaving early in the morning for the next assignment, since I'm guessing we aren't going for the booze." Your eyes darted beside you to Chūya, then back to Shirase. "You know how it is."

Shirase's face fell before you, his attempted charm crumbling as you rejected him.

"Oh... yeah, sure. I totally understand. It's no big deal. Maybe some other time." You watched as Shirase gave Chūya a look, his eyes lingering on your linked arms.

You cleared your throat, hating that Chūya was receiving more of Shirase's anger than you, who was actively denying his request. "Look, Shirase. I appreciate the thought, but my ability isn't something that I can just use whenever I wish. It takes a lot out of me, and right now, I want to conserve my energy for tomorrow. You get it, right?"

His eyes fell to the floor as he mumbled a reply, "Yeah, of course. The mission always comes first."

"But hey, like you said, maybe some other time." Instinctively, you tensed your arm against Chūya's, wishing this awkward moment would quickly end. "We should all get some good rest."

Shirase mumbled a disheartened goodbye, shuffling off back down the corridor, allowing you to finally relax your arm.

"Well... that was..." Chūya broke the silence once Shirase's form had disappeared into the shadows.

"Yeah," you sighed out, trying to laugh it off. "It was. Come on, I still have something I've gotta tell you."

You finished the short walk to the door, pushing it open to welcome the cool night air. Grasping a rung of the ladder, you began to hoist yourself up, climbing at a steady pace. As you ascended, your eyes fixed on the star-studded sky above, an uneasy feeling settled in your gut. Telling Chūya about the possibility of Arahabaki was one thing but informing him of Dazai's incursion into Suribachi City to search for leads... you debated whether to even mention it.

Reaching the top, you pulled yourself onto the roof with a triumphant sigh. Glancing down, you saw Chūya looking up at you, and a playful smirk spread across your face. "Couldn't you have used your ability to get up here quicker?"

A laugh bubbled up from below as he reached the top of the ladder. "Where would've been the fun in that? Besides, I was just followin' your lead. Chivalry isn't dead, you know."

You chuckled, offering a playful, albeit pathetic, curtsy. "Oh, how very valiant of you, King Chūya."

Turning on your heel, you walked to the edge of the roof and settled down. Chūya soon joined you, the warmth of his leg brushing against yours. Your eyes, however, remained trained on the vast expanse of stars above.

Knowing that you'd likely be absent from the Sheep for some time, depending on what Dazai discovered tomorrow, you decided to start there. "I'll... I'll probably be gone for a while."

"Oh? You plannin' a vacation or somethin'?" Chūya's tone was light, almost teasing.

You huffed out a laugh, grateful for his attempt to keep things casual. "Wouldn't you want to stay out longer after an awkward encounter like that? I think I heard Siberia's lovely this time of year."

Glancing over, you caught the smirk playing on his lips. "I haven't really been on the receivin' end of attention like that."

You shifted to face him, feigning exasperation. "Are you kidding me? Yuan literally has hearts over her eyes whenever you so much as breathe in her direction."

Chūya's eyebrows shot up, genuine surprise evident in his mismatched eyes. It stirred an odd feeling in your stomach, but it lessened when he shook his head dismissively. "Nah, I don't really notice her like that. She just probably wants to see my ability or somethin'."

Your lips curved downward as you looked away, pondering if that was the only reason any of them showed interest in either of you. "That's the thing though, isn't it?"

Pulling your legs to your chest, you rested your chin upon your knees. The city lights sparkled below, a pale comparison of the view from your apartment. "It's like... to them, we're these larger-than-life beings. Not quite gods, but not quite human either. In the Sheep's eyes, we can do anything. We are the kings and queens because they believe we are."

Silence fell between you. You glanced at Chūya, who sat staring out at the bright cityscape. Your gaze dropped to your fingers, absentmindedly picking at the skin you hadn't quite finished earlier in Mori's office.

"But we're not," Chūya's voice drew your attention back to him. "I'm no king, not a leader... even though they keep callin' me one. We're just... us, right?"

You turned and his eyes were already on you, piercing in a way that seemed to glow in the dim light. A soft smile graced your lips, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken connection between you. But beneath that smile lay the weight of your true identity - not just a girl, but a watcher, a listener, a member of the Port Mafia. The looming specter of your inevitable departure from the Sheep hung heavy in the air, an unspoken truth you couldn't bring yourself to share with Chūya.

"Yeah," you answered, your voice barely above a whisper. "We are. But sometimes, I wonder if anyone else sees that anymore." Your gaze drifted back to the night sky, legs stretching out before you. Your hands resumed their nervous habit, picking and rubbing at your skin with increasing intensity. The familiar sting of raw flesh signaled you were digging deeper than usual, a physical manifestation of your inner turmoil.

Suddenly, warmth enveloped your hand as Chūya's fingers intertwined with yours. You looked up, meeting his concerned gaze, and felt an immediate sense of grounding. It was as if his touch alone could anchor you in the present, pushing away the storm of thoughts threatening to overwhelm you.

"There's something else..." you began hesitantly, "about the old Port Mafia boss. Something I can't say with everyone else around." Your grip on Chūya's hand tightened involuntarily.

"Yeah? What about him?" Chūya's voice was low, encouraging.

You swallowed hard, steeling yourself. This man - the former boss - was the reason you had endured the horrors of human trafficking. The whispers of his worsening illness were just the tip of the iceberg compared to the darker secrets you had shared with Mori.

"The rumors... his return is tied with Arahabaki somehow." The words felt heavy on your tongue, laden with implications you didn't fully understand.

Chūya shifted, leaning in close until his face was mere inches from yours. His eyes widened, a mix of disbelief and intense curiosity. "What? What do you mean? How?"

You shook your head, frustration evident in your furrowed brow. "That's all I know. Just that they were somehow mixed together. I really did try to find out more for you, I really did. I'm sorry." The apology tumbled out, unbidden.

Chūya's shoulders sagged slightly, but his gaze remained sympathetic. "Hey, nothin' to be sorry about. I mean, I know getting' that information must already be hard enough to get."

You hummed in agreement. He wasn't wrong. The process of tracking down rumors and coercing men to loosen their tongues was far from pleasant. It often led to situations that left you feeling hollow and used, a reminder of your past you'd rather forget.

A forced smile tugged at your lips. "Anything to do with the Port Mafia is always exhausting. Even if I'm... even after being their property..." You trailed off, realizing you had nearly revealed too much. A fleeting thought of Dazai crossed your mind - he would be near Suribachi soon. If Chūya found him, he might uncover more about the Arahabaki connection.

"Oh, but there's something else." You squeezed his hand, drawing his attention back to you. For a moment, you hesitated, your gaze flickering between his eyes and his lips. The weight of the information you possessed felt suffocating. "I also heard that a Port Mafia member would be searching around Suribachi tomorrow, looking for more leads."

The words rushed out, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth. As soon as they left your lips, you felt a twinge of regret, as if you had set something irreversible in motion.

Chūya's reaction was immediate. "Dammit. Of course they're gonna fuck around in our territory." He groaned, his gaze sweeping across the cityscape as if he could spot the intruders already. Then, a spark of realization lit his eyes. "But, it could be an opportunity."

You reached out to grip Chūya's jacket with your free hand, a sudden feeling of dread washing over you. "Just... just promise me, nothing reckless. Not like you did today." Your voice trembled slightly, betraying the depth of your concern.

A playful smile spread across Chūya's face, his teeth glinting slightly in the dim light. The sight of it eased your worry, if only a little. "Shouldn't I be tellin' you that? You're the one constantly puttin' yourself in bad situations. Always in the Port Mafia's business. I'm sure you're like, number one enemy on their list."

You wanted to laugh, but you kept yourself composed, playing the part you had been forced to adopt all these years. Even though the emotions were genuine, you had to maintain your facade. "I have my ways. Men are easily persuaded with a good dream and restful sleep." The words tasted bitter on your tongue, a reminder of the methods you sometimes had to employ.

Chūya huffed out a laugh, causing you to join in despite yourself. You were surprised when he asked, "Speaking of, if you were to give me a dream, what it'd be?"

Your eyes drifted back to the cityscape, noticing how some lights were beginning to go out as the night wore on. Yet the brightness of the city never truly dimmed, not until the break of day. You gave his question some thought, wanting to craft a dream he'd be excited about, something he'd strive toward. You always gave dreams with purpose.

"Well, I'd have to say a good life... one where... you didn't constantly worry about us, the Sheep, or even if it wasn't us, just whoever you lead. Where being seen as a 'king' had the simple meaning of being strong and respected; where you didn't constantly worry about the weight on your shoulders." You turned back to him, seeing genuine surprise in his eyes. "I'd make that true for you."

He nodded, looking away with a smile playing on his lips. You could see he liked the idea, though you knew you wouldn't have enough time or energy to give him a dream like that tonight.

"Sounds like a good dream." He waited a moment before nudging your shoulder with his, his voice taking on a lighter tone. "But hey, who needs dreams when we've got this?"

His hand swept out to encompass the surroundings, but your eyes remained fixed on him. You couldn't help but smile at the way he refused to stay serious for long, not when it was just the two of you.

You exhaled, rolling your eyes playfully, "For sure, we're living our best lives here in our luxury penthouse."

"Exactly!" His grin widened as he began to elaborate, "What with these five-star accommodations, breathtaking view, and excellent company..."

You pressed your lips together, trying to suppress a wide smile as heat crept up your face.

"I mean, what more could a guy ask for?"

You couldn't contain yourself any longer, laughter bubbling up from your chest. It was partly because of the irony of it all. In your other life, you had everything he described – luxury at your beck and call. You weren't an executive yet, but you still had everything you could want, even while, in reality, having quite nothing at all.

As your laughter subsided, you spoke softly, "You know, whatever happens with all this Port Mafia business, whatever you learn about Arahabaki during all this... I think it's gonna be all okay, 'cause we've got this, right? You, me, the Sheep... we're gonna figure it all out."

"Yeah, for sure. We've got this." Chūya's voice was warm, reassuring.

An idea suddenly struck you as you sat in thought some more. You let go of his hand, noting his quizzical look as you unzipped your jacket. "Here."

He hummed questioningly as you balled up your jacket, fashioning a makeshift pillow. You patted it gently, encouraging him to lay his head down.

"I'm gonna give you a dream. A quick one, twenty minutes tops."

He hesitated for a moment, so you nudged his shoulder. "Oh yeah? I'm pretty sure that dream of yours would take a little longer than twenty minutes."

You chuckled, watching as he finally rested his head against your jacket. You brought your hand up, hovering over his forehead. "No, I just had another idea. This dream is gonna be where you'd actually win when we play an arcade game for once."

His hand shot up, grasping your wrist. His grip wasn't tight, but he moved it away from his face to look at you. "Hey! That was one time."

You smirked, leaning down until your faces were inches apart. "Oh yeah? Then how come you keep losing?"

A scoff escaped his lips as he released your wrist. You shook your head as you straightened up, scooting closer as he mumbled, "Whatever, let's just try and see if you can get me this dream."

Your hand darted away from his face, lightly tapping his chest. "Hey, knock that off. Even if you act like you're angry, you might affect the dream and lose again, so stop it."

His lips curved up slightly as he closed his eyes, exhaling deeply.

You did the same, before reciting aloud, "Ability: Exhaustion."

You watched as Chūya's face softened, his breathing becoming steady as he succumbed to the effects of your ability. You hoped a dream would manifest, wishing for it with all your might. You wanted to prove him wrong, not for the sake of being right, but for him to feel slightly more human. Even if it was just as simple as a dream.

Within the early hours of the morning, you gave an exhausted sigh as you climbed down the ladder into the dark caverns of the Sheep's underground tunnels. The metal rungs were cold against your palms as you descended, your muscles aching with fatigue. Running around on orders from Mori for the past couple of days while also keeping up with the demanding concerns for the Sheep were beginning to weigh on you. You hadn't been back since you returned Akira and Shougo to the base, quickly scolding them about going on missions without you or Chūya, quickly adding you wanted to stay far from Port Mafia activity, which everyone understood. 

Despite hoping for peace in these early hours, shouting amongst the members reached your ears, with Shirase's voice rising above the rest. As you neared the commotion, your concern grew. Your fingers began to rub together in anxious anticipation. 

"He's one of them now!” 

“He knows everything!" 

"He'll rat us out!” 

“What if he's been a spy this whole time?!" Yuan’s voice spoke up with concern. 

Dread pooled in your stomach as you neared the source of the commotion. You approached the cracked open makeshift door, giving it a slight push as you entered. The hinges groaned in protest, and everyone in the room immediately looked at you, whispering your name under their breaths.  

Shirase approached you, a look of anger upon his face. His usually boyish features were twisted into something ugly and unfamiliar. "Did your boyfriend tell you what he was doing? Joining the Port Mafia?" 

Your expression twisted from concern to anger, the emotions genuine despite your act. "He's not my boyfriend, Shirase. And I have no idea what you're talking about." 

You tried your best to keep your voice steady, staying focused on the act you had been forced to play for so long, hoping this moment it wouldn't crumble as you were being verbally attacked. 

"Well, Chūya seems to have joined the Port Mafia," Shirase spat. "Ever since you went up to the roof alone with him, something's been off." 

You took a step forward, getting in his face, your anxiety fueling your aggression. "I only went up to the roof to talk with him. I haven't even seen him since." 

He leaned in slightly, his eyes narrowing. "Oh yeah? Then why did you two go up there alone, huh?" 

"Well, honestly, I don't see how that's any information for you," you retorted. "But since you're so ready to point fingers, I gave him a dream with my ability. That was it." 

His expression darkened as he looked at you, as if you had finally shattered that last bit of boyish affection he held for you. 

You gave a slight smirk in satisfaction, even though it was probably out of character. You were beginning to see the point of Mori and Dazai's plan now. It was never about watching the Sheep. 

Your voice lowered to a hushed tone, so only Shirase could hear. "When you don't ask, my willingness to do things out of my own volition means more." 

His jaw clenched as he backed away from you. A vein throbbed at his temple, his eyes flashing with a mixture of anger and betrayal. "Fuck this, I'm done with your games," Shirase spat, his voice laced with venom. He spun on his heel, striding back to the makeshift table – a weathered piece of plywood balanced precariously on cinder blocks. Leaning against it, he addressed the group, his tone cold and final. "Chūya's out. No debate. We're here to decide what that means for us." 

"Hold on a damn minute!" You surged forward. Your gaze swept across the crowd of teens – faces you'd known for years, now twisted with suspicion and hurt. "You all named him king! And now what? What do you guys plan to do?" 

Silence fell like a heavy blanket. Eyes darted between faces, but no one dared speak. The only sound was the distant drip of water echoing through the tunnels. 

Shirase's voice cut through the quiet, devoid of emotion. "We're allying with GSS. Chūya knows too much." The words hung in the air, and you realized with dawning horror that this decision had been made long before you'd arrived. 

Your lips parted, shock coursing through your body. They meant to kill Chūya. This wasn't just faction politics – this was murder. You'd planted seeds of doubt in Shirase's mind through his dream, true, but you never imagined it would lead to this brutal conclusion. 

"You can't – you can't seriously be considering killing him," you hissed, your voice raw with disbelief. "He's—" 

"He's Port Mafia now!" Shirase roared your name, slamming his fist on the table. "Protecting the Sheep comes first. Always." 

You took an involuntary step back, shaking your head. "This isn't us. This isn't who we are. I won't be part of this." 

As you turned to leave, two Sheep members stepped into your path, their faces grim. One spoke, his voice tinged with regret, "We can't let you go. You might warn him." 

You stared at them incredulously. "I don't even know where he is!" 

"Maybe not," another voice chimed in from behind, "but who's to say you won't join him? Betray us like he did?" 

The realization hit you like a physical blow. You spun around to find the entire group had encircled you, closing ranks. Panic fluttered in your chest as you felt hands grip your shoulders. 

Instinct took over. You activated your ability, feeling the familiar rush of power course through you. The hands on your shoulders went slack as their owners crumpled to the floor. 

Ability: Exhaustion, you intoned within your head. A shimmering, lavender aura radiated from your body, filling the cramped space. One by one, the Sheep members began to sway on their feet. Eyes drooped, limbs grew heavy. Bodies slumped against the rough-hewn walls or collapsed onto the concrete floor. 

You turned quickly, grasping the edge of the makeshift door, its rusted hinges groaning in protest as you pushed it beyond its limit to steady yourself. Carefully, you stepped over the fallen forms of your former comrades, pushing back your own exhaustion beginning to overwhelm you. A mumbled version of your name made you pause. 

Turning, you saw Shirase upon the floor, struggling against the effects of your ability. His eyelids fluttered as he fought to stay conscious, his jaw set with determination even now. 

You met his gaze, your voice low and filled with a mixture of sadness and resolve. "A good leader doesn’t act upon assumptions. Chūya… he did everything right… I made you feel like this… Wherever you end up, Shirase… you’ll regret what you’ve done, just as I am. And long after… you’ll still remember how you were leader for a day." 

You pushed open the doors of Mori’s office with vigor. 

“Mori! Mori! The Sheep… t-they mean to kill him! They—they… they’ve allied with GSS!” 

Your eyes dart frantically between Dazai and Mori as tears begin to cloud your vision. Mori quickly arose as your breathing as it became more erratic. 

“You—you can’t let them kill him! Please! He did nothing wrong!” Tears began to stream down your face as you cried. Mori grasped your forearms firmly. 

Mori's grip on your forearms tightened, his fingers digging into your flesh. His voice was smooth, a calculated attempt at reassurance. "Compose yourself. I assure you, Chūya's life is not at risk." 

You struggled to breathe, your chest heaving with panicked gasps. Mori's grip remained firm, anchoring you. "Breathe deeply. No harm will come to the boy." 

“It’s all going how it should,” Dazai spoke from behind him, saying your name as though you should’ve known this was coming.  

Your breathing hitched as you listened to him, processing his words. Anger quickly took over your anxiety as you bolted from Mori’s grip, grasping onto the fabric of Dazai’s shirt and jacket as you slammed him against the bookshelf. Heavy books rattled with the impact, and Dazai's breath left him in a rush. 

"This was your doing?!" You snarled, your face inches from his. "You planned all of it?! You knew I would tell him about you investigating around Suribachi!" Angry tears threatened to spill over as you glared into Dazai's exposed eye, dark and fathomless as the abyss. "You heartless bastard! We're not just pawns in your game, Dazai! We're people – kids! Do you even care?" 

Mori spoke your name from behind you, “That’s enough.” 

You released Dazai, his heels hitting the floor with a soft click. Your gaze remained fixed on him; fists clenched at your sides as you fought the urge to strike him. Thoughts flooded through your mind – the arcade, the capture and release of Akira and Shougo, your instructions to sway the Sheep against Chūya. It had all been Dazai's means. 

"What makes you so certain he'll join?" You spat. "One successful mission together and you think that's enough to win him over?" 

A cold smile played at the corners of Dazai's mouth. "My plans don't rely on dreams or chance. They come to fruition through careful design." He gave you a pointed look before turning to leave. "I'll handle the rest, Mori. My team needs briefing." 

You whirled to face Mori, who had returned to his seat behind the imposing desk. "You gave me your word. No harm would come to them." 

Mori didn't look up as he spoke, his voice eerily calm. "The order stands. No child will be harmed. Our target is GSS alone." 

A small measure of relief washed over you as you watched Dazai's retreating form. At least that directive would be followed. 

"Now," Mori's voice drew your attention back. "Your Sheep assignment has concluded. I have a new task for you." 

You looked down, fingers fidgeting restlessly as you braced yourself for Mori's words. A simmering anger burned within you - you had unwittingly played into Dazai's hand, following orders blindly as you always had. The realization of your own stupidity bit at you, promising to haunt your thoughts for a long time.

Mori's voice cut through the tense silence. "A troublesome syndicate in Tokyo requires... attention. Infiltrate and dismantle from within."

You shifted your weight, eyes still fixed on the intricate patterns of the carpet beneath you. "Departure time?" Your voice was steady, betraying none of the chaos stirring inside.

"Soon. You'll have time to... conclude matters here." A note of cruel amusement crept into Mori's voice, sending a chill down your spine. "I imagine our newest recruit will be quite interested in learning where your true allegiances lie."

You refused to give him the satisfaction of a reaction, your face a carefully crafted mask of indifference. "Understood, sir. But... but please, if I can make one request?" The words tumbled out before you could stop them, a rare moment of vulnerability in Mori's presence.

Mori's head bowed slightly, a wordless allowance for you to continue.

You swallowed hard, gathering your courage. "I-I don't want him to know. I want... I want to just let him be here... in peace. If he knew, I fear it would... just make things harder for him." Your voice trembled slightly, the weight of your deception heavy on your shoulders.

To your surprise, Mori nodded, a flicker understanding passing across his features.

"Despite your emotional outburst," Mori's voice halted you as you turned to leave, "your performance was commendable. I am interested to see where your time with the Onikai takes you."

A short hum of acknowledgment escaped your lips as you resumed your exit. The gravity of the situation settled over you, knowing it would be a long time before you returned to this room. The thought bothered you, your mind racing with questions about the life Chūya would lead in your absence, wondering if this twisted path was truly the life you had dreamed for him after all.

You stood before the full-length mirror, hands gliding over the luxurious maroon silk of your floor-length gown, smoothing out imaginary wrinkles. Your fingers drifted upwards, fidgeting with the delicate gold chains artfully woven through your hair. A soft sigh escaped your lips as you lowered your arms, steeling yourself for the evening ahead. Even with the special security clearance expediting your journey, the drive to the venue would take a solid hour.

Your gaze locked with your reflection, a stranger staring back. After everything that had happened, you wondered if you even recognized yourself anymore. What would Mori say when he saw you tonight? No doubt he was eager for your return, especially now that his right-hand had abruptly departed. But the thought of facing him sent a shiver down your spine. How could you confront him when you barely knew the woman in the mirror?

"My lady?"

The gentle call snapped you from your reverie. You turned to see Yue, your ever-loyal assistant, standing in the doorway. Her eyes, filled with a mix of respect and concern, swept over your form.

"The cars are ready for departure, ma'am," she said softly. Noting your hesitation, she added, "Unless... you'd like for me to tell them to hold off?"

"No," you replied, pressing your glossed lips together. Better to arrive early and have the option to leave early, you reasoned. "I'm ready. We can go now."

Your heels clicked a steady rhythm against the hardwood floors as you strode past Yue, hearing her fall into step behind you. Without breaking stride, you scooped up the elegant peacoat draped over the back of your couch, making your way to the elevator.

As the doors slid open, you stepped inside, Yue close on your heels. She flipped through her ever-present clipboard, ever efficient.

"Did you want to go over the guest list that Mister Mori sent over?" she inquired. "It might help—"

"In the car," you cut her off, your attention fixed on your phone as you scrolled through a flood of emails and reports that had arrived in the last hour. "Did you inform Daisuke that I would be out? That he would have to keep watch for a bit?"

"O-of course, ma'am." Yue's eager response barely registered as you mentally braced yourself for the onslaught of faces – familiar and new – all gathered under the pretense of corporate camaraderie.

You swept into the lobby as the elevator doors parted, your purposeful stride never faltering. Employees bowed respectfully as you passed. The doorman of the Mori Corp Tokyo Satellite campus held the door, allowing you to glide effortlessly towards the sleek black car waiting outside.

As you reached for the handle, Yue swiftly intercepted, opening the door for you. A flicker of irritation crossed your face - you were more than capable of such a simple task. Yet, you couldn't stay annoyed. You were their boss, their Mori; you commanded their attention and respect. You had more than earned it after four years.

Settling into the plush leather of the back seat, you crossed your legs and propped your chin upon your hand. Yue took her place beside you, and the car pulled away, the city's bustling daytime activity beginning to blur past the tinted windows.

You squeezed your eyes shut, silently willing Yue not to bring up the guest list again. The last thing you wanted was to hear his name spoken aloud if executives would be present. You had told him to forget, yet here you were, still drowning in memories.

Your mind drifted to that day on the beach. You stood shrouded in black, a hood shadowing your eyes from the harsh midday sun. Dazai's men surrounded you, but every fiber of your being yearned to rush forward, to slow the wound that Shirase's knife had undoubtedly inflicted. Your hands fidgeted restlessly as you listened to Dazai's exchange with Chūya, still toying with him even as he sat in obvious pain.

"Got that, everyone? As we discussed earlier, no hurting the kids." Dazai's voice cut through the salty air as he leapt from his perch. The men parted, leaving you standing alone. Dazai's amused expression as he approached caused a churning feeling in your stomach. His voice dropped to a whisper meant only for you, "Pathetic ‘king’. He'll make a much better dog."

You scowled as Dazai darted past, heading towards the cliffside where GSS and the Sheep awaited. Then it was just you and Chūya on the sun-drenched edge of the beach. He hadn't noticed you yet, which you understood. You doubted he even suspected your presence.

Your feet carried you through the lazy push and pull of the tide, oblivious of the growing weight of your soaked jacket. It wasn't until you crouched before him, guilt overwhelming you at the sight of his pained grimace, that he finally realized your presence. His lips parted, but you spoke first.

"Heard some rumors about you, Chūya," the words tasted bitter on your tongue. "And about the Sheep."

You pulled a handkerchief from your jacket, eyes scanning his injuries. "The Sheep... the Port Mafia is going to split them up, that way... something like this doesn't happen again."

His hazel and azure eyes darted frantically between yours. "What about you?"

You offered a soft, sad smile, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. Reaching out, you gently swept the stray hairs from his face, damp with sweat from the heat and pain. You longed to stay with him, to wait by his side, but that wasn't why Dazai had brought you here.

"I'm not really a member of the Sheep though, am I? Once property... always... property." You dabbed the sweat from his brow, unable to meet his gaze as you continued, "So... it's best you forget about me."

Your voice cracked, betraying the truth - you didn't want him to forget. But it would be easier this way. "But... I have a feeling that dream I thought of for you... it'll be true; the Port Mafia will take good care of you, Chūya."

His eyes narrowed, struggling to focus on you, as if you were a mirage shimmering in the heat.

"You'll be a 'king'. Just... don't let people get too into that head of yours." You tried to smile but felt on the verge of shattering. Cupping his cheek, you felt him lean into your touch, as if trying to memorize its warmth. Leaning forward, you closed your eyes and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Your lips hovered over his skin as you whispered, "Even though we always differed, through the bickering and fighting... of all the dreams I've had, you were always in my favorite ones."

Your eyes fluttered open, the familiar streets of your hometown coming into view as you neared your destination. A wave of dread washed over you anew.

Yue spoke your name in a clear tone, indicating she wanted to begin listing the guests for tonight's event.

"Go ahead. Just state the affiliate groups," you said, more to appease her than out of genuine interest. Your mind wandered as she spoke.

She was a watcher, a 'gift' from Mori upon your ascension as the Onikai's leader. His way of keeping tabs on you, ensuring you upheld Port Mafia standards after Dazai's defection. Everything always circled back to Dazai...

"Mister Kimura Daichi of the Nagano Shirubā Sanzu group will be in attendance. Their branch deals with machinery and electronics, largely for supplying the Port Mafia's casinos and even the machines that verify smuggled gems."

You rolled your eyes in disgust. The one time you tuned in, it would be someone you'd hoped not to hear about. No doubt he'd seek you out, vying for your attention.

Yue continued rattling off names as the car wound through streets you once walked as a Sheep member and other times as a Port Mafia grunt. How far you'd come in such a short time…

"Miss?" You glanced at Yue for the first time during the hour-long ride. She held out a mirror, allowing you a final check of your appearance.

You brushed under your eyes, though there was no real flaw to fix. You fluffed your hair, fiddling with the golden strands once more.

The car door opened, a suited man extending a gloved hand. You slid out carefully, mindful of your dress. The opulence of Mori's chosen venue was grander than expected, and you smirked at the ridiculousness of it all as you ascended the stairs.

Inside, the high ceiling and sparkling chandeliers almost made you laugh at the facade Mori insisted on maintaining.

You scanned the room for Mori, hoping to avoid locking eyes with anyone.

"Drink, miss?" Yue offered a flute of champagne, which you accepted and downed instantly.

She gave a slightly concerned look, glancing around to see if anyone had noticed.

"Calm down, Yue. It's a party, isn't it?" You offered her a soft smile and a light laugh, moving further into the room.

Polite bows and smiles greeted you, but an emptiness persisted as you glided through the crowds. Once, you would've been laughing with Albatross and Doc in the corner at events like these. Now, the room felt less familiar, and Yokohama less like home.

"Suddenly missing Yokohama, my dear?"

You turned at the sound of that familiar, silky voice, coming face to face with the man of the hour. Mori stood before you, standing with radiance in a perfectly tailored black suit. His enigmatic smile, as always, held secrets behind it.

You offered Mori a fond, if slightly guarded, smile of your own. "I'm always missing the town I once called 'home', Mori."

He returned your smile, his eyes twinkling with a mix of affection and calculation. Mori took a step closer, deftly plucking two champagne flutes from a passing waiter's tray. He offered one to you, which you accepted with a nod of thanks.

"And yet, you've made quite a name for yourself in Tokyo," Mori mused, taking a small sip of his drink. "The Onikai's influence has grown impressively under your leadership."

You inclined your head slightly at the compliment, even as you felt the familiar pang of homesickness. "Tokyo has its charms, but there's something about Yokohama that can't be replicated."

Mori hummed in agreement, his gaze sweeping across the opulent room before settling back on you. "Indeed. The city has a way of getting under one's skin, doesn't it?" He paused, swirling the champagne in his glass. "You know, there's always a place for you here, should you ever wish to return."

Your heart skipped a beat at his words, but you kept your expression neutral. Mori was leading up to something; you could feel it.

"Is that so?" you replied, your tone light but cautious. "And what place might that be?"

Mori's smile widened a fraction. "Oh, I think we both know you're far beyond the rank and file now. Perhaps..." he leaned in slightly, his voice lowering, "an executive position might be more fitting for someone of your caliber."

The offer hung in the air between you, laden with implications. You took a measured sip of your champagne, buying yourself a moment to process. Returning to Yokohama as an executive of the Port Mafia - it was a tantalizing prospect, but one that came with its own set of... complications.

Another waiter wandered by, and you placed the glass upon the tray, moving your hands behind your back in nervous consideration. You couldn’t… not when Chūya was an executive… not when he didn’t know and would undoubtedly be livid.

Mori's enigmatic smile softened slightly, a hint of nostalgia creeping into his eyes. "I just wish you would return, my dear. I could instate someone else for you to come back. It's just too nice to finally see you in person again." He paused, his gaze becoming distant for a moment. "Ah, it makes me remember your youth."

The unexpected sentimentality in his tone caught you off guard. For a brief instant, you saw not the calculating leader of the Port Mafia, but the man who visited you in the depths of the Port Mafia’s trafficking ring, plucking you out and shaping into the woman before him. However, you quickly regained your composure, your lips curving into a knowing smile.

"And let my hard work go to waste?" you countered, your voice a mix of amusement and determination. "Come now, Mori, you know better than I that this has been the best venture for me, for us." You emphasized the last word, reminding him of the mutual benefits your position in Tokyo had brought.

Mori chuckled, opening his mouth to respond, but before he could, a familiar voice uttering your name cut through the ambient chatter of the party.

You watched as Mori turned first. The sound of your name, spoken in that unmistakable tone, sent a jolt through your system. You forced yourself to turn, swearing your eyes were betraying you.

Chūya stood a few meters away, his mismatched eyes wide with surprise. He was impeccably dressed in a tailored suit, a hat perched atop his fire-red hair. The sight of him stirred a whirlwind of emotions you had long tried to suppress.

Mori chuckled, but you hardly registered it as you and Chūya remained looking at one another, as if he was deciding whether or not you were real.

“I’ll let you handle this one, dear.” Mori patted your shoulder, and leaned toward your ear, “Seems like it’s finally time for you to clean up your mess.”

Your eyes fell to the floor as you figured out what you were going to say. This day was coming, you’d practiced what you wanted to say thousands of times. But that didn’t compare to the horrible feeling in your chest. You wanted nothing more to hug him, act like everything hadn’t happened…

A sharp exhale escaped your pursed lips, and you felt the muscles in your shoulders tense as you harshly swallowed. You had to look up, there was no running. 

Your eyes met his once again, and you bit your bottom lip. You furrowed your eyebrows as you looked at him, hoping he could see the apprehension within your eyes. “Chūya… I—I can explain.”

[mccnstruck]

like LIKE you

characters: kazuha x gn!reader

tags: fluff, misunderstanding, more crack, reader is DENSE af, proofread, op was writing this while their crush was right behind them so they apologize if this is incoherent

a/n: @soleillunne ALY !1!!! HIIIII i had so so much fun writing this for kazuha and i hope you have much fun reading it as i did writing it!! this is for @ecrin-de-litterature's kiss don't tell event !! pls reblog and enjoy <3

- When you almost lost yourself in his eyes and hurriedly snapped your head away from him, you knew you were so screwed.  - Your racing heart knew.  - He’s cute. And he most likely knows that you think he’s cute. - You first saw Kazuha in your literature class when you had to sit next to him. He smiled at you before going back to his own work, thus leaving you both to do your respective duties.  - But as the weeks passed and class discussions were more frequent, you found yourself enjoying listening to Kazuha’s discussions on the text presented, sometimes bringing in your own input.  - His voice soothed your mind, and your heart clung onto every syllable he had spoken. His eyes sparkled everytime you listened to his thoughts-  - Ahem.

You were, inevitably, starting to crush on him. 

You walked into class and whispered a quiet prayer to yourself in hopes that you wouldn't reveal anything to him right now. 

And plus, Valentine's Day is such a cheesy day to confess! Besides the couples giggling and buying the really good chocolates, and seeing people talk to Kazuha, and noticing how cute he is when he laughs…

You internally smacked your head and chided yourself for the spiraling thoughts and sat in your seat. 

Kazuha smiled at you, before he resumed talking with with his friends. His friends snickered and patted his shoulder, before he covered his smile with the back of his hand. 

Huh. He never really gets flustered. Did he…

The bell rang, and his friends left the class, yelling out “Good luck!” before closing the door. 

Kazuha sat down and smiled at you once more, yet it was filled with excitement. “I’m sorry I didn’t greet you properly.”

You shook your head and smiled back. “It’s fine. Are you doing anything today?”

“For Valentine’s?”

You shook your head. 

“I was thinking of confessing to someone today. I’m meeting them by my locker after school.”

“You have a crush?!” 

Damnit, you thought.  

He laughed, and a soft red tinted his cheeks. “Mhm. I was thinking of sending them a poem with some sweets today.”

He showed you the gift and you internally recoiled. The gift was so unbelievably throughout, with your favorite sweets inside, along with a poem so sweetened the other person would become dizzy with love. It was beautiful, just like the grin on his face. 

Your heart shattered, and you wondered what you would do after school if you still had time after crying. 

“Kazuha…you put this together so nicely…” 

His grin widened, and he put the gift down. “I’m really glad you like it. It gives me a little bit of reassurance.” 

The teacher walked into the room, and both of you straighted your chairs to start the class. 

“So, because it’s Valentine's Day, we will do an activity…” 

Well, thank the teacher for rubbing it into your face.

Class went on for a begrudgingly long time, and the ache in your heart began to grow. Kazuha noticed your solemn expression and brushed your hands together. When you straightened yourself in a panic, you saw his face of concern. 

“Are you alright? You look stressed right now.”

“Uh.. yeah. Sorry, I have a project for another class that’s really stressful right now.”

He nodded, and you both resumed your work. The teacher droned on about the analysis of the text and the context of the author’s work, yet you couldn’t really get yourself to focus, not with this heartache that remains.

A thought rushed past your mind. What if this was for you?

You? That’s funny, if it didn’t hurt so much. There’s no point thinking about it anyways.

After some more time, class finally ended, and you packed your bag while Kazuha stood up. 

“Ah, I have to head out, I have something urgent to do for a class.” 

He put his hand on your shoulder and smiled. 

“I hope you finished this project of yours. Just let me know if you need anything, alright?”

You snapped your head back and felt your face burn. “Oh, thank you. I’ll see you later.” 

Kazuha left the room and you almost felt yourself succumb to the hot flare that passed your body. Your shoulder, where his hand was, almost felt weak to the touch, and you barely packed up your bag without having a heart attack. 

You looked to the floor and saw Kazuha’s gift underneath his desk. Quickly picking it up, you grabbed your bag and said your greeting to the teacher, before leaving the classroom. 

It was your free period, and you would finally decide on what to do with Kazuha’s gift. You wouldn’t want him to show up to his confession empty handed, or worse, his crush not show up at all. So, you would wait by his locker and make sure you run out before then. Alright. 

Well… it would be alright if it didn’t hurt so much.

And so, classes went on, droning about formulas and equations, and the minutes wouldn’t stop ticking, and your mind wouldn’t stop thinking of who would be the receiver of his gift. When the final bell rang for the day, you took the gift and rushed down the hallways to find his locker.

Except… there’s no one there waiting for him. 

A little concerned, you decided to wait to either give it to Kazuha or whoever was waiting for him.

But the minutes had steadily gone by, and you started to worry whether the person even got a message from him. 

“Ah…There you are.”

Kazuha’s face beamed as he got closer, and you laughed at the sight of him. 

“Here's your gift that you left behind.” You extend your hand to him, and his eyebrows furrowed.

“Hm?”

Surprised by his reaction, you were silent as your own eyebrows furrowed. 

“This…this isn't yours? Kazuha, are you sure you're in the right mind?” 

“That's yours.” 

“But, you left it there?! Kazuha, what are you on?” 

“Why do you think I left it there?” 

Your mind blanked, and you looked at him with panic. 

“Kazuha, you left it there. I am here to give it to you.” 

Kazuha started laughing and covered his face with his hands. 

“You are so… I left it there for you.” 

You stayed silent for a second. Then another.

“What?!”

Now that you think of it, Kazuha is never forgetful. And the way he looked at the gift multiple times, and the way he knew of your favorite sweets, and the way he looked at you… 

You covered your face in embarrassment, yet your smile grew into a grin. 

“You could've told me, Kazuha…”

He took your hands and clasped them in own.

“Well, you are aware now, and I am sure you are aware of what I want to ask, dove.” 

Your jaw dropped, and your eyes flickered between him and the gift. 

“Hm? Dove?”

You failed to response, as your body was still in shock and in complete utter denial. 

You finally spoke. 

“Why?”

Kazuha smiled at you and took your intertwined hands to his chest, right where his heart was. 

“Well, ask my beating heart. I assure you it beats the syllables of your name every time I see you.”

You swore to every archon that this man right in front of you would somehow be the cause of your death as well. 

“So, dove, will you be my valentine?”

mccnstruck

[avengers--assembly]

Sleep deprived results

Summary: Peter basically calls Tony dad for the first time and Tony? He is too sleep deprived to actually realise. The end

Word count: 602

Warnings: none

●◇●◇●◇●◇●◇

Peter yawned hugely as the equations blurred together under his tired gaze. He and Mr. Stark had been working for what felt like forever. They’d started after dinner with Miss Potts, who had promptly chased them away to do their "science stuff." Neither had complained initially, but now that the clock was creeping past two in the morning, Peter knew they both desperately needed sleep. Maybe a snack too, he thought, just as his stomach let out a loud growl. Stifling one last yawn, Peter decided to address his own needs.

“Dad?”

No, no, no. Peter couldn’t believe he’d just said that. He couldn’t have called his mentor, Iron Man, "Dad." Peter's mind raced, conjuring up every mortifying scenario possible. Was Mr. Stark going to disown him or even cancel the adoption?

Before he could spiral further, Mr. Stark replied,“Yes, Petey?”

Was Peter breathing more heavily than usual? It certainly felt that way. Deep breaths. Mr. Stark remained fixated on him, offering no additional input, his half-lidded eyes glazed over. Maybe he didn’t hear me? Should I answer? Yes, yes, of course!

“I was, uh, wondering if you wanted to, uh, have a snack?” Peter finished lamely. If Mr. Stark noticed anything amiss, he didn’t mention it. Instead, he rubbed a hand across his forehead. “Sure kiddo, let’s go. I didn’t even realize we’d been down here so long.” Mr. Stark ended with a sparing glance at the clock.

Peter nodded mutely, following the man and eventually plopping down on one of the island’s bar stools. Mr. Stark started making hot cocoa on the stove, and Peter adjusted his legs nervously. Pepper would definitely deem their current activity unsafe, considering their half-asleep states and the extremely warm milk and open flame.

Peter leveled his gaze with Mr. Stark’s and said the first random thing he could come up with. He had to double-check if Tony’s distant look meant he’d missed the whole "dad" slip.

“Can we make a real cutting-edge, neon pink lightsaber?”

Tony tried to concentrate on the boy’s words but didn’t catch them completely. Peter was staring at him with an analyzing and hopeful expression. Tony was almost certain he’d heard the word "can," so maybe the kid wanted something?

“Sure kid, whatever you want.”

Peter gasped dramatically, and Tony’s half-dead mind tried to grasp a good explanation but found none. Maybe the kid was just excited about whatever he’d agreed to? Tony shrugged and poured the warm, chocolaty drink into two cups before guiding Peter to the couch. Snagging a few cookies on the way, they started a movie that Tony really wasn’t paying attention to.

******

The next morning, Pepper found them both still fast asleep, snuggled up together. Feeling a streak of mischief, she left each of them a personal note. She had things to say after Friday had played some footage from the previous night, things she deemed cute and others not so much. If anybody asked, there were no early morning photos taken.

Peter's note, in neat handwriting, read: "Tony would be honored if you called him Dad, as he already refers to you as his kid."

Tony’s note read: "I swear Tony, if you build a functional lightsaber, no matter what weird color, I will harm you.

P.S. with love from Pepper."