#she only learned how to write after joining the academy

[storiesfromafan]

The Waltz

A/N: yes I am back with Part 3 (Dance Class 101 and Beautiful Swan). I have to say I've enjoyed writing this small series, and have enjoyed the comments.

I also want to thank everyone who has followed this story blog, I cant believe I have got 326 followers!!

Also, don't hesitate to request stories. Sometimes it helps with my writing block lol.

@littlebookbengal @bewitchingbrie @anehkael -unfortunatly I couldnt take a few people :(

The Waltz

The booming voice of Professor Dumbledore in welcoming all to The Yule Ball. Gathering with other couples, you and Lorenzo watched the Professor with everyone else. Dumbledore spoke about the ball and how it was a tradition that is kept up to bring Hogwarts, Beauxbatons Academy and Durmstrang Institute together. And it did bring you all together. Besides most of the males of Hogwarts being intimidated of the male’s students from Drumstrang, the female students from Beauxbatons had taken to the females of Hogwarts.

               Once Dumbledore was finished, he introduced each of the school’s champions. They all entered in a line, before coming to stop in the open space of the dance floor. They opened The Yule Ball with the first dance for the night. You and Lorenzo sniggered at Harry Potter and his date, the only couple to stick out like a sore thumb.

“Looks like old mate has two left feet” commented your friend.

               You snort laughed. “Don’t be so mean Enzo” you hit his arm softly.

               You both went back to watching as your professor’s joined in. Of course, Snape and the female professor, who had been your dancing instructors, paired up and took to the floor. You and Lorenzo held it together as best you could. The female professor still looked like she wanted to run for the hills, while Snape was as rigid as ever. Only now the rest of the students got to bare witness to what the Slytherin students had been privy to for two weeks. You heard the whispers and the sniggers at Snape’s expense.

               Once the dance was over, Snape left the dance floor in a sweep of his cloak, his dance partner moving off in the opposite direction. The champions all took their leave of the floor, while other students braved the dance floor.

               Lorenzo shot you a smirk before taking your hand and dragging you to the floor. All the while you softly protested, which he chose to ignore. Coming to a spot on the floor, Lorenzo stopped and swiftly turned to face you. You on the other hand, staggered for a moment from his motions. But quickly you corrected yourself, standing tall shooting your date a glare.

               The live band started up with the perfect melody for the dance you were all about to partake in, The Foxtrot. It was the second dance Snape taught Slytherin, it was easier to learn then The Waltz. Which made you wonder why he hadn’t started with that dance. Oh well, you had learned the steps in the end.

               “Ready?” Asked Lorenzo.

               You continued to glare. “No”.

               He chuckled. “Well, you better get ready”.

               And with that you both began to move along with the music, Lorenzo leading you around the floor in a medium tempo. At first your steps were unsure and a little sloppy, but after a little bit, you got comfortable and confident in your steps. And before long you and Lorenzo were moving smoothly around the floor. Lorenzo shot you a knowing smile, which you rolled your eyes at but none the less you sported a beaming smile.

               Like the other students, Mattheo and Daphne watched on. Mattheo’s gaze following your every movement. He felt jealousy rise as he watched Lorenzo smile at you, to which you rolled your eyes but gave him a happy smile. That should have been him out there with you. Smiling at each other and laughing. But instead, it was his good friend with you.

               “Who would have thought Enzo would pity (Y/N/N) enough to be her date?” Remarked Theodore as he came to stand next to Mattheo.

               “I don’t think it was pity” retorted Mattheo. “He did it out of friendship. Enzo cared about her to give her a good night”.

               Theodore shot his friend a bored look. “Whatever, he was the idiot to give up a night with any willing girl. What to ditch and hang out somewhere else?”

               Feeling appalled by his mate’s words, Mattheo got serious. “He’s not an idiot. Enzo chose a friend over some conquest. He always cares about a person’s wellbeing”.

               Theodore laughed with a hand up. “Alright, alright. Don’t need to get your knickers in a knot. It’s fine they came together, happy?”

               Mattheo huffed turning back to you on the dance floor. He could see Theodore looking at him, then to you and Lorenzo, and then back to him. A look of recognition flashed on his face before he chuckled.

               “How did I miss it” he mused, “how did I miss your crush on (Y/N/N)?”

               Mattheo looked shock, looking to his date, who was busy chatting with Theodore’s date. He then turned to his friend and said in a lower voice, “you’re wrong. I don’t have a crush on (Y/N/N)”.

               Theodore laughed. “Lie all you like mate, I can see it plain as day now. And quite frankly, it took you long enough”.

               Mattheo shot his friend a confused look.

               Theodore laughed hard. “Wow, come on I’ve known you a long time. I could see how close you and (Y/N/N)’s had gotten. I just thought you’d had worked it out by now. Both Lorenzo and I could see how you both were crushing on each other, even have a bet going on who would confess first”.

               Shock and surprise crossed Mattheo’s face. You, crushing on him? No surely, they were mistaken. Not once had you ever shown any interest in him in that way. You never flirted, never dropped hints, never jealous of other girls. You had always seemed uncaring and uninterested.

               “You’re wrong” Mattheo began, “(Y/N/N) doesn’t have a crush on me. She’s never shown signs of liking me like that”.

               Once more Theodore laughed. “Oh, my friend how wrong you are. That beautiful creature out there” – he pointed in the direction of you on the dance floor – “does have a crush on you. And just because you haven’t seen the signs, I can assure you that Enzo and I have”.

               Mattheo shook his head, not once taking his eyes off you.

               “I can tell you firsthand that the look in her (colour) eyes when you would bring your latest conquest around the group, the evident hurt in those eyes as she watches you together. Or how she would ‘off handedly’ help you study, when really, she wanted to be near you. Probably hoped you would read between the lines of all her help to see that she did like you more than a friend. You my friend have been oblivious to how she show’s her feelings, as you are used to girls throwing themselves at you”.

               If Theodore was right, then Mattheo had made a mistake, a big one. If he had been able to read you better, then he wouldn’t have had a reason to hold back his feelings. It would have been he who had escorted you to The Yule Ball. It would be him out there dancing with you, smiling and laughing.

               Theodore clapped Mattheo on the back. “If I was you, I’d come up with a plan to get to (Y/N/N) and sweep her off her feet. Or else she might fall for Enzo instead”.

               With that Theodore took his date and left Mattheo to his thoughts. Daphne brought him back when she asked when they would dance. He winced at the idea; his poor feet would hate him if he danced with her. Dancing, that was it. With a few words to Daphne that they would dance soon, the cogs in Mattheo’s head were turning, a plan coming together.

               The song came to an end, you and Lorenzo stepped back from each other before bowing and curtsying to the other. Coming to fully stand once more, you both shot the other a warm smile. Lorenzo then took your arm before leading you from the dance floor, and over to a space by the wall. You both took the moment to cool off.

               “I had my reserves about dancing but thank you for dragging me against my will. It was fun”.

               He laughed. “You are welcome, any time I would happily drag you to dance”. Lorenzo winked at you, making you laugh.

               Lorenzo smile at you before his attentions turned elsewhere. “How about I get us some drinks. I’ll be right back”.

               Before you could say a word, your friend walked off, leaving you a little confused but looking forward to some refreshments. You decided to lean against the wall, hands resting behind your back and against the cool stone wall. It was grounding, the coolness against your warm flesh. Your eyes roamed over the room. You noticed couples and groups in conversation. Those on the dance floor that were strong dancers compared to those that were trying their best.

               Finally, you spotted Lorenzo with drinks in hand, but it was the person walking next to him that he was in deep conversation with that made you stand up straight. He was talking with Mattheo, and they looked to be quite serious. But just as quick had you seen them, did Mattheo part from your date. What had they been discussing, you wondered.

               Joining you once more, Lorenzo held out a cup with punch in it, you accepted the cup and took a gracious sip. Once the cup left your lips you turned your gaze back to your date, studying him. You wanted to question him, find out what led to their talking or what Mattheo had to say. So, you decided to just go for it.

               “What did Mattheo want?”

               “Hm?” Lorenzo asked before taking a sip from his cup.

               “I saw you two talking before you came back with my drink. What did he want?” It might have sounded rude, but you were dying to know. Though it went against your not caring mantra for the night.

               “Mattheo? Oh, he was just commenting on the dancing. Thought we looked good” Lorenzo said off handedly turning to watch those on the dance floor, while leaning against the wall.

               “Oh really? Is that so?” You questioned further.

               “Mmhmm, said you looked graceful. And had a glow about you. Which he’s not wrong about” he laughed.

               You nudged his shoulder with your own. You left it that. Your heart swelled at Lorenzo’s words. Mattheo had complimented you. You felt the soft smile form on your lips at the compliment. But then reality set in. You were at the ball with Lorenzo, not Mattheo. He had chosen to take Daphne Greengrass and was probably having a wonderful time. He was probably being nice with his compliment. Possibly a ploy to get back in your good graces. The smile slipped from your face, the hallow feeling returning to your chest in realisation.

               Silence rolled over you both as you continued to watch those around you and on the dance floor. Soon time slowly passed before Lorenzo moved from the wall, taking your empty cups, and setting them down on a table off to the side. He shot you a bright smile before holding out his hand to you.

               “May I have the next dance my lady?”

               You laughed. “Why yes good sir, for this time you did ask me”. And placed your hand in his.

               Lorenzo led you to stand with those spectating the dancing students. You both stood there waiting for the current dance to end, so that you both could join the next dance. With the final notes of the song, the students on the floor stopped, bowed, and curtseyed to each other before vacating the dance floor. Sharing a look, you and your friend took to the floor, along with four other couples. Standing before your partner, it was the movement from the left side that caught your attention.

Making their last-minute appearance on the floor, both Mattheo and Daphne moved over to stand on your right side. You felt your body stiffen at the sight of them, a sight you had done best to stay clear of. But here they were, shoving it front of you. With the first few notes, you placed your left hand on Lorenzo’s right shoulder while his right hand was placed against your side, his left-hand taking hold of your right hand. Now you were ready to begin The Waltz.

Just like in dance class, Lorenzo led while you followed. You both followed the steps, graceful in your movements on the dance floor. Out the corner of your eye you would see Mattheo and Daphne, your heart sinking further from it. Moving to hold your head high you reminded yourself to not care about them. You didn’t need him.

Lorenzo shot you a warm smile, that you returned. “Forgive me or thank me later”.

You shot him a look of confusion before finishing the square, he then proceeded to turn you out before letting go of your hand. You wanted to protest to whatever he was doing, but the feeling of a hand taking hold of your own and spun you in to face the one person you were trying to forget. Mattheo moved you into position, without a thought you moved your left hand to his shoulder. Confusion written all over your face at what was happening.

Your gazed moved back to your original dance partner, who was now dancing with a confused and irritated Daphne Greengrass. Lorenzo looked to be talking to her, possibly an attempt to calm down the girl. You looked back to Mattheo, who wore a mischievous grin on his face. All the while you both moved in time with the music, steps just as graceful as you had been dancing with Lorenzo.

“What is going on?” You questioned with a sharp tone. “Why am I dancing with you?”

Mattheo chuckled. “I thought we should dance, and since you aren’t talking to me. I got Lorenzo to help me get my dance”.

You glared at the boy before you. “You had no right to swap me from my date”.

“Oh? I think Enzo didn’t mind” he retorted.

“Well, I mind. Not that you care”.

The look of hurt in Mattheo’s eyes at your words wounded you. Any time he was upset hurt you, and the need to cheer him up would kick in. But not this time. You were still hurting from what he has done. Mattheo needed to learn a lesson.

He sighed. “I’m sorry for stealing you away. But you have to admit you have avoided me. You aren’t talking to me”.

“And there’s a reason for that” you fired back looking him right in the eyes. “Until you work out what you done and what you need to do to fix it, I will continue to not talk to you”.

Silence rolled over you both after that. You had said what you had too. Mattheo knew exactly what you were talking about. He knew he had to step up and apologise, which is what he wants to do. He just wasn’t sure how to do it. He was worried he wouldn’t say the right words, and it would only make things worse.

You both continued to move in time with the music, fluid movements filling the remaining time with Mattheo. Without talking you took in the boy before you, now that you have a closer opportunity. Since arriving at the ball, his hair was now messy. Mattheo must have absented mindedly ran his hand through his brown curly locks, something he done when in thought. He had also loosened the tie around his neck, and the jacket of his dress robes unbuttoned. You could have laughed at the untidy appearance, but held it in.

As the song started its descent to an end, you both moved in a square one more time. Only the grip Mattheo held tightened, almost drawing you closer. Mattheo moved his left foot forward, as you stepped back on your right. He then moved his right foot forward, while you moved your left foot backwards. Then you both moved those feet to the side, before bringing their partnering feet to meet with them. Mattheo then led you as be moved his right foot back, as you moved your left foot forward. Then he moved his left foot backwards, while you brought your right foot forward, both moving them to the side and then closing with its partnering feet. Thus, completing the square.

Reluctantly Mattheo loosens his hold on you, as he stepped back. You step back from his hold, your hands coming to rest at your sides. Looking each other in the eyes, you see something unfamiliar flash in his eyes. But he bows to you, cutting eye contact. In a daze of mixed emotions, you curtsy back.

With reality coming back, you felt like there was no air in the room. Standing back up you try to take a deep breath but struggled. Feeling a panic rising in you, you gather up your skirt and quickly move from the dance floor and out of The Great Hall. It was all too much. You would rather have kept Mattheo at arm’s length.

That’s funny, as you just did. Your mind taughtened you. For you had just been dancing at arm’s length.

Exiting into a courtyard not far from The Great Hall, you held your head in your hands while taking a deep breath of cold fresh air. Releasing it slowly, you tried to work out what just happened. Your heart ached with a mix of happy and sad. Your mind a mess from all that has happened so far tonight. The one thing ringing in your mind was Mattheo, the one person who hurts you so much. Even if it was unintentionally.

“Bloody hell!” Huffed an all too familiar voice. “Why did you take off (Y/N/N)?!”

Mattheo had been oblivious of your leaving the dance floor till Lorenzo called out to him. Upon seeing your form missing before him, Lorenzo pointed in the direction you had taken off. And he took off in chase, not second guessing the choice to follow you. He heard Daphne call his name, but no doubt Lorenzo stopped her and would entertain her a little longer. All Mattheo worried about was you.

He watched you quickly walk before him; he did call out to you, but you ignored him. Coming to the entrance to the courtyard, he was greeted with the sight of you, standing with your back to him with hands on your head while looking up breathing slowly. Something told him it was some level of anxiety that had you making an escape. But he couldn’t help huffing out what he said to you.

“Matty…” you sighed. “Please, leave me be. Go back to the ball” you practically pleaded. It broke his heart.

“Talk to me” he took a step closer before stopping himself.

You laughed at his words. “There is nothing to talk about…not until you work out what you did”.

“I know what I did…” he said softly. “I’ve known since it happened”.

Your hands dropped from your head, slowly you turned around to face him with a hurt look upon your face. It hurt him to see you like this, it felt like that hurt was more than just from the other week’s hang out. You didn’t say anything, waiting for the boy before you to continue.

Mattheo took a deep breath, readying himself. “What Theodore said to you, how…pathetic” – he struggled to get the word out – “people would think you were if you didn’t have a date. And I am so sorry for agreeing with him”.

“Why did you agree with him then?” You questioned, guarding yourself to try and save yourself.

Mindlessly Mattheo ran a hand through his curls. “I was stupid. I didn’t want Theodore to turn his sights on me, teasing and running me down. But I hurt you instead. The one person who I hold close”.

The one person who I hold close… You felt warmth rise in you, but you told yourself it was because you were friends. That is all.

“Don’t say that” you pleaded, “don’t say you hold me close. It only gets my hopes up” you said softly, tears pricking your eyes.

Without a thought, Mattheo crossed over to stand before you. He wrapped his hands around your upper arms softly, subconsciously making sure you wouldn’t run from him again. Concern washed over his face as he looked you in the eyes. Everything Theodore said coming back to him.

“You are the one person I hold close (Y/N), you are the only person to be there for me. To help me study, to check on my mental state, to kick my ass if I step out of line” he chuckled. “Don’t ever doubt how highly I think of you”.

You shook your head. “I’m not that good a person…”

“Yes, you are” he pulled you closer to him. “Why do you say you aren’t?”

This was it, the moment of make or break.

“My intentions weren’t always innocent…” you started looking him deep in the eyes. “Sure, we are friends but over time things…changed. And I wanted more of your time”.

“Well, all you had to say was you wanted to spend more time with me” Mattheo butted in.

You shook your head. “Not like that…I saw how you were with other girls. Flirting and being your charming self. I was jealous of them. Then you would bring them around the group, lessening my time with you because you were focused on them”.

Mattheo swallowed. Hating to hear how you felt. Knowing he only did it to distract himself from you.

“Then this ball happened. Stupid me hoping, wishing you would ask me. That’s why in the courtyard I hinted at going on my own. Again, hoping you would ask me. But you asked Daphne…I wasn’t going to come tonight, you know?”

Hearing how you hoped for him to ask you was like a punch to the gut, bringing the guilt he felt back full force. “I-I didn’t know…” Mattheo breathed, hands dropping from your arms in thought.

That movement hit you hard, making you think he was pulling back from you. That he didn’t care for you. You felt a tear escape and make its way down your face, feeling rejected. Your shoulders started to shake while you tried to hold back the tears. Mattheo looked to you, only to see you shake. Thinking you were cold; Mattheo quickly removed his jacket before wrapping it around your shoulders. He pulled the jacket tight in front of you, you looked to the boy in confusion. He on the other hand looked at you with worry and care. Silently he was waiting for you to continue.

“Yeah…well I wasn’t going too; Enzo didn’t even know. But when I spoke to him earlier, I couldn’t bring myself to say I was not going. I didn’t expect him to offer to be my date, but I am grateful he did. He has made tonight bearable”.

Jealousy flashed in Mattheo’s eyes. But they softened when he saw a tear escape your eye, your second tear, before bringing his hand up and gently wiped it away. Both of you looked at the other, savouring this moment. Mattheo moved to cup your cheek with his hand, without missing a beat you leant into the warmth, all the while never breaking eye contact. Without missing a beat, Mattheo leant in and tenderly kissed your lips.

The kiss was gentle, innocent. He noted how soft your lips were, and a tad cold from the night air. Reluctantly, he pulled back and observed your reaction. Shock evident on your adorable face.

“Forgive me (Y/N/N). Forgive me for flirting and entertaining other girls, for parading them around you. Forgive me for spending less time with you, and for agreeing with Theordore’s idiotic notions” Mattheo confessed and pleaded. “And, most of all, forgive me for not being your date tonight. As I would have rather spent my night with you, then anybody else”.

You searched his eyes, looking for any sign that him or his words weren’t genuine. But all you saw was sadness, begging and hope. Not what you would usually see with the Slytherin heart throb. He was baring his all to you, and only you. So, you made your decision.

You raised up on your tippy toes, one hand grasping at Mattheo’s shirt, before you lent in to kiss him. As soon as your lips touched his, he knew you forgave him. No words were needed at this point. He leant down, releasing you from the uncomfortable position of standing on your tippy toes. Mattheo pressed his lips firmer to your own, but not enough it hurt. Soon he slowly pulled back, taking in the tender look upon your face, as you opened your eyes, that you don’t remember closing.

“I have liked you for years now” Mattheo said softly, afraid being too loud would burst this bubble around you both. “But I have been scared you didn’t like me, or it would ruin our friendship”.

You softly smiled at him, understanding how he felt. “I have liked you for years too…”

A bright smile formed on his sinful lips. “Then let us rectify it, what do you say?”

All you could do was nod your head. And once more Mattheo leant in and captured your lips, only this time it was a little more ungraceful. Which made you laugh. And to retaliate to your laughter did the boy before you poke your sides, making you squeal in dislike. Before long he was chasing you around the courtyard, you trying to escape his pokes and tickling. When he finally caught you, Mattheo spun you around before drawing you close.

That was the moment you knew you would have to thank Lorenzo. And it was the start of your personal relationship with Mattheo Riddle.

[binniesbooks]

hi fayebae, imma send these before i go for my hiatus again(im not sure if you alr have smth planned for tyun n hyuka! cos i know u have a yj fic thats coming soon, so ill send these in for them)

was thinking of tyun x reader for this

uk the series “academy reincarnation”!! There was a salsa dance ep! I was thinking that reader decided to sign up to the salsa academy where tyun is one of the instructors?/student! reader wanted to learn salsa for the longest time but has always been afraid to as one would usually need to dance in pairs. afraid of having any physical contact with any stranger(due to a trauma she formed from a relationship), even tho it was difficult, reader eventually let down her walls with tyun as the many practice sessions go by, she finds herself now looking forward to salsa practices as thats the only time she can see tyun! And she craves his touch. During one of the practices, they got so lost in the dance that their faces ended up really close to each other! Tension arises(she wants him, he wants her, dare i say more 🤭smut of course!) [didnt wanna write too much to allow ur creative freedom!!]

i hope this is good gah(just thought i should send smth in for the other members too hehe, pls dont put aside ur wip again!! Do this after ure done w ur yj one gah) love u my soobie fav boobie💗

TENDER TOUCH

TH 002 .F22 2024

wc 5.3k

pairings gentle!Taehyun x abused!reader

warnings physical and sexual abuse, traumatic experience, traumatized reader, protected sex, abusive ex-boyfriend (idk what else did I miss)

faye's note *insert: Taehyun's 어디 있지 (where am I) in boba😳* as promised, here's my second fic for the day! this is my first Taehyun fic and I'm fucking obsessed that it got up to 5.3k words, wth. Anyways, @inkigayocamman I know you requested a Tae fic, but here's another one for u to enjoy I guess while I'm still working on it. 🙂‍↕️ I hope you like this too! And ofc, to my one and only Beomgyu's kitten, I love your brain, it's so sexy omfg. I'm totally sat. Plus yeah, the yj fic is still on the line. 🤣 Anyway, I did a few research(again) for this fic, so I hope it turned out good, fingers crossed!

Edit: Thanks for proofreading the whole ass fic @babymochibeargyu I'm dead now. 😭😂 luv uuuu 😖💓

"Learn how to dance Salsa, we offer multiple dance forms for beginners to professionals. Come join us..." You mumbled reading the flyer your friend handed you.

"Jia, you know I can't do anything like this anymore." You sighed as you handed her back the flyer.

"I know, I know, it's because of your trauma, right? But maybe this is the way that can only help you overcome that trauma," She started, "I'm worried about you taking this class but I'm more worried about you carrying that trauma all throughout your life." Jia gently holds your hand, still careful not to scare you with the skin contact.

You're lost in your thought for a while thinking if you can really let go of your trauma after all this time. It's been so long since you haven't engaged in any relationship after your last one.

"I-I'll think about it." You sighed, you really wanted to be free but you just didn't know how to start. "Please do, I really wanted to help you." Jia's eyes are full of worry, sadness and guilt. Because it's been so long yet she can't do anything to help.

You've always been wanting to learn how to dance Salsa. It's like your little dream ever since, however, your boyfriend from your last relationship did not even want you to be touched nor be grazed by any man's skin. You insisted you could just pair with a girl but he threatened you to hurt anyone who will be around you if you kept on insisting to register for the dance class. You ended up not registering for the class and burying your little dance dream into the depths of your heart.

The following week, you found yourself standing in front of the dance academy building. Breathing slowly, thinking deeply whether you really want to do it or not. You were clutching on the flyer tightly. Your knees fell weak as you stumbled down, retreating all the way to the confinement of your apartment to hide from the world.

It took so much courage for you to do this. Especially when you ended up trying once again a week later. You're standing in the front of the building, staring at the swaying banner of the academy with a "SALSA DANCE ACADEMY" written on it.

You softly knocked on the door before opening it. "Hi! Come in! How may I help you?" You were greeted with s young lady, clad in a salsa dance costume. She looks bright and bubbly.

"I.. Uhm.. wanted to register for the class." You meekly answered as you slid down on the chair. "May I know your name?" The lady picked up the pen on the table and grabbed a file.

"Y/n...y/n s/n." You silently answered.

"What class would you like to be included in?" The lady's smile never faltered. Her bright aura makes you feel comfortable for a bit. "What do you offer?" You asked back.

"Well, we have group sessions and we also have one-on-one lessons," you nodded at her, signaling her to keep going. "In group sessions, there will be 15 pairs -- 30 individuals in a class, plus the 2 dance instructors," you felt pressured with just the thought of being included in the group. "In the one-on-one class, we will find you a pair if you still have none, or you can bring one, and then also a pair of instructors," she explained.

"I'll take the latter."

"Please sign here and we'll wait for another one to sign up." She smiled again at you. You were thinking of bringing your friend to the class.

"By any chance, can I bring a girl for the one-on-one class?" Her expression suddenly turned sad, "I'm afraid we are only taking a man and a woman as a pair for the one-on-one class. Usually, the pairs who sign up for the one-on-one class end up acquiring advanced skills than those who are in the group."

You thought of backing out once again but you shook your head to clear your mind. You're already here, you're already a step closer to the most awaited time of your life: to let go of your trauma.

"We'll call you once we receive another sign-up for a one-on-one class. Thank you for dropping by." The lady waved her hand as you stepped outside.

You shrunk to the corner of the door, people are looking at you but you're too occupied to even give a damn.

It's been a week. You didn't know how to explain how you felt. Half of you felt happy that you hadn't received a call yet, because that would only means you didn't have to do it anymore and there wouldn't be anymore skin contact for you to trigger your trauma. However, the other half of you felt disappointed. You would have been lying if you said that you didn't get your hopes up, thinking that this would be the way to be finally free from your trauma.

"Still haven't received a call?" Your friend placed the pizza she brought on your coffee table. Today was the day she would usually pay you a visit to your apartment. She started doing this from 2 years ago, when you and your ex-boyfriend finally broke up.

You hummed in response as you dug out the box of pizza. Nevertheless, you don't want to bring your thoughts about the dance academy again.

A couple of minutes passed when your phone rang, causing both your heads to look towards your phone

"Hello?"

"Hi! Can I talk to Ms. Y/n s/n?" The voice over the line spoke brightly.

"Y/n speaking." You just answered back, looking at your friend who's anticipating a piece of good news.

"We just want to inform you that someone already signed up for the one-on-one class as your pair. The class will start this Monday, are you fine with it?" Your friend sighed in relief as soon as she heard it.

"O-okay. Sure." You felt a rush of anxiety travel throughout your body, as your fingers trembled hanging up the call.

"Hey, it's okay." Your friend wrapped the thick blanket around your shoulders before hugging you. Afraid that she might trigger your trauma. "You'll be fine." She tries to calm you down by rubbing your back.

2 days passed by quickly. Enough to make you coil up in bed instead of getting up. Your phone vibrates from an incoming message.

Dearest Jia: Take care later, okay? I know you can do it. I won't be able to go because of work, so I hope you understand:< but I'll pick you up when you're done! <3

You: I don't feel like going.

Dearest Jia: Noooo! You've come this far. You should go, I know you can do this!

You: Fine, I'll text you when I'm done with the class.

You tossed your phone on the bed as you grunt into your pillow. You're just glad your dance class starts at 3 in the afternoon. You still had a lot of time to prepare your body and mind.

Quarter to 3, you're already in front of the building, a few people going in at the same time. Probably for the group session. You wanted to go home but the lady called you out.

"Y/n! Please come in. I'll accompany you to the assigned room. I'm Daeun, btw." She extended her hand to you but you froze. You're too afraid. But someone else caught Daeun's hand. "I'm Taehyun, the one who signed up for the pair." A tall guy appeared on your side, shaking her hand. "I-i'm y/n." You meekly introduced yourself without touching any of them. The lady looked confused at first but she shrugged it off.

"Okay, I'll leave you two here, Mr. and Mrs. Hwang are inside already."

Taehyun pushed the door open, you were both greeted with a polished wooden floor and mirror walls in the wide room. Two people were sitting in the corner. They must be your instructors.

"Please come in!" The lady waved at the both of you.

"Do you know each other?" The man asked which the both of you only answered by shaking your head.

"I think we should start our class with an introduction. Don't you think?" The lady nodded.

"I'm Mr. Hwang and this is Mrs. Hwang. She's my wife and we mainly teach one-on-one classes. You are?" They turn their gaze to Taehyun.

"My name is Kang Taehyun. I also dance but not in this genre. So I wanted to learn this." They then looked at you.

"I... I am y/n. I signed up for the class t-to overcome my t-rauma." Your words are slurred, and your reason made your instructors gasp. "I-I used to be in a r-relationship. And t-they're the reason why I can't e-even touch people or let other p- people t-touch me." You bit your lip as you look up at them.

"Honey, but I'm afraid this dance requires a lot of holding and touching, what should we do?" Mrs. Hwang clasped both of her hands on her mouth as she turned a bit emotional.

"By any chance, can you hold someone when there's a barrier between them? Like, there is no direct skin-to-skin contact?" Taehyun spoke up, you nodded lightly at him. "It's been two years so I think I can tolerate it to an extent."

"Then I think we're good Mrs. Hwang. I'm thinking of using a glove or something. If that's what makes her comfortable. I don't mind at all." Taehyun remarked.

Taehyun ended up wearing gloves for your dance class. And as much as possible, he's avoiding any of your exposed body parts. He's also lightly touching you that you feel as though it's just air grazing your body.

So far so good, the 3-hour class ended up okay. Jia picked you up 30 minutes later after you texted her that you were done.

Your dance class went well the next day. And the day after that. And the following days after that. Days became weeks, weeks became months. It's all going well, with Taehyun's careful assistance over you.

Today was the day you decided to step further to your goal.

"Taehyun, I think we can now stop using the gloves. We've been dancing for a month now and I hate it whenever I think about the gloves. It feels like I'm being disgusted by you or something." You stated to Taehyun once the two of you were on a quick break. Within one month, you grew closer to Taehyun. The quick breaks were your time to tell stories to each other.

"Are you sure? You're not making me feel like any of that, by the way. But are you sure you can do it now?" His eyes seek yours. You simply nodded as you removed your jacket leaving you with your t-shirt on.

"Are you two, okay? Shall we continue?" Your dance instructor asked, checking on you, as you and Taehyun stood up. Taehyun discarded the gloves he was using on top of his bag as he folded his long-sleeved t-shirt up to his elbow.

You started off well. Taehyun holding your hand as gently as he could as usual. Letting you turn around with some quick footwork. It was all good actually, until he needed to lean in, holding your waist and your thigh. One more turn, his arms and fingers graze through your arms. His delicate fingers holding your waist once again. A quick turnaround. A step faster. A more closer proximity.

"You fucker! Come back here! I know what you did!"

"S-stop! We're already over Han!" You squealed as you blocked the door with your body.

"You're fucking dead meat when this door opens!"

Your tears wouldn't stop flowing from your cheeks as you kept your body pressed on the banging door. Han has been your boyfriend for 9 months now. At first, he was so good to you, treating you like the princess you deserved to be. But it was too good to be true that you started to feel it was wrong. Just 2 months ago he started hurting you physically and abusing you sexually. He was too obsessed with you too that he sometimes he would start locking you up in your apartment. Even your requests got declined. At first, you let it pass as you thought it was normal. But you started earning bruises and wounds. You barely ate, barely drank, you even barely slept. You would often get fevers too. The slightest noise would make your soul jump out and the slightest movement would make you flinch.

Jia, your friend, was the one who advised you to report him. So you did, that was why he was here banging at your door.

Han's voice can no longer be heard, hence you decided to quickly hide in your closet, as you dug out your spare phone you had hidden to contact your friend.

You quickly called Jia, telling her to call the police or something but you were cut off when the door bursts open. Han was holding a gun and laughing hysterically.

"Fuck you, you bitch! You're really dead!" You quickly covered your mouth.

"Come out, kitten. Come out from wherever the fuck you're hiding!" His voice echoed through the room drowning your quiet sobs.

That's when he forcefully opened the closet you're hiding. "Ohhh, you look so scared kitten, why?" He cooed at you as his lips stretched to form a mocking grin. "Move to the bed!" You shook your head. "Fucking move to the bed!" He fired a warning shot at the mirror, crashing it. You yelped at the noise. With your trembling body, you quickly scrambled your way to the bed covering your bruised-up body.

"Strip." He commanded as he pointed the gun at you. With no choice left, and your life at stake, you did what he ordered.

He crashed his lips on yours harshly. When he noticed you didn't kiss him back, he slapped you. Blood flowed through your lips as you choked on your sobs. With the gun still pointed at your head, he started harassing you again. His hand left a bruised mark on your neck as he tightly squeezes it. You could almost see the white light as your weak body just let him do anything. There was no use thrashing around as if you had accepted your dying fate.

"Freeze!" Was the only thing you heard before everything around you went black.

You opened your eyes inside the hospital, pulled every apparatus attached to your body and started screaming. It made Jia scream out and call for a doctor. They couldn't calm you down so they needed to give you a shot for temporary sleep.

Everything came swirling back to you. Pushing Taehyun away, causing your body to crash on the wooden floor. "Shit!" Taehyun cursed under his breath as he hurriedly pushed back his sleeves and wore the gloves again, picking up your jacket at the same time, before coming back to you. Your instructors let out a shock gasp as they also rushed over to you.

"Please grab a blanket or any thick clothing!" Taehyun shouts as he tries to ease you by covering your shoulder with your jacket.

Mr. Hwang passed Taehyun his padded jacket he always brought with him. Taehyun carefully wrapped the thick jacket around your body. He holds your face as he tries to soothe you.

"Y/n, look at me, please look at me." Sweat started to form on his forehead as tears freely flowed down your cheeks. "Please, look at me, and breathe slowly. Breathe slowly. Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale." Taehyun guided your breathing as his glove-cladded hands rubbed your cheeks.

Mrs. Hwang was panicking but Mr. Hwang tried to calm her down before he went out to grab a glass of water.

Your heartbeat slowed down for at least a bit. Taehyun guiding you helped somehow as you slowly calmed down. Taehyun got the water from Mr. Hwang and held it in front of you as he let you sip on the water slowly.

"Are you feeling okay now?" Taehyun tucked your sweaty hair behind your ears. His eyes were full of worry. "Do you wanna go home and rest?" He's still carefully rubbing your shoulder. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have removed the gloves. That was too risky." Taehyun mumbled as he hesitated to hold your hand.

That same afternoon, he called your friend over. He introduced himself and explained the situation. He let your friend take you home as he bid you two goodbye. You're lucky it was Friday at that time so you don't have to worry about waking up the next morning to go to your dance class. For the next two days, you spent it caving in your room. It helped you calm down.

Monday. You opened the door. You laughed at the scene in front of your eyes.

"What's that?" You chuckled as you placed your bag on the corner. Taehyun looks at himself in the mirror. He's totally covered. He's wearing a thicker glove and a padded jacket. His usual dress pants are now sweats. He's even wearing a mask. He scratched the back of his head.

"Pft. That's too much. Don't worry I'm fine now. Thank you by the way." You smiled at him.

"Are you sure? Because that scared me. I don't know what to do." He removed his jacket along with the face mask and the thick gloves.

"Mhm, I'm sure." You assured him.

"Okay then. We'll try again. Slowly this time." His eyes are full of concern as he looks at you. You smiled at him as you accepted his hand.

For another month, Taehyun tried to connect with you. Stopping whenever needed. Wearing the things he needs to wear whenever he can sense your anxiety rising. For once, you realize how he gently holds you. How he's always careful with you, treating you like a fragile glass that would easily break if you weren't handled correctly. One month passed without much problem. If anything, you're actually growing accustomed to it.

For some reason, you learned to feel comfortable with Taehyun's touch. The graze of his skin, his fingers, and his touch never terrified you anymore, and his existence no longer made you panic.

Now, he's solely the reason why you're still attending your dance class. You're slowly putting your trust in him. You're slowly putting your walls down. He can now hold your hand without fear. He can now dance without thinking that you would startled. He slowly introduced you to the steps that requires your body to be closer. Teaching you how the steps are supposed to be done. You're no longer panicking. Even when your face is just only few inches from him, you were actually smiling at each other. You no longer feared his touch. If anything, he's only leaving you all tingly with his warm skin.

You could feel the warmth radiating off his body. Whenever you leaned on his chest, it made your heart flutter. His breath on your shoulder, your neck, any part of your body makes the knot in your stomach twist tighter.

You're slowly craving for his touch. For how he cares for you, for how he tends to you. Whenever you're home, he keeps popping into your head. How his sharky smile appears whenever he's happy. The small noises he made. His cat-like attitude. He's the perfect example of hot, sexy and cute.

Every last week of the month, you would have all the time to yourselves to gather all your skills acquired. Because every once a month, you had to show what you have learnt in class. This now left the two of you alone in the dance studio. Perfecting every step and move you needed to show on evaluation day.

Taehyun's lingering touches left you all tingly. His deep voice sent a shiver down your spine. His breath alone makes your mind go in a twist.

"One step back, two steps to the front... One turn and... Lean you down." He's matching his words on every beat of the step. You thought it only happens in a fantasy world. But it was like the world stopped when his eyes were fixed on yours. His steady breath makes you hold yours. His eyes traveled down to your lips as he gulped. He mumbles a soft "You're pretty," before pulling you back to stand on both your feet.

His hands are both on your face as he slowly backs you to the mirror. His breath is unsteady and warm. The moment he got you pressed on the mirror, he leaned his forehead on yours as he closed his eyes.

"You're really pretty. So pretty I'm afraid I can't control myself." He whispered. Your hands were on his chest, you felt how his heart was thumping so hard.

"S-should we head out early?" You whispered, your hot puffs of breath touching his lips got him reeling as he cursed under his breath.

He quickly pulls away, holds your hand and grabs both of your bags. Both heading outside to his car. "Tell your friend I'm taking you home instead." The air in the car throughout the drive was so thick. His hands were gripping on the wheels, tapping impatiently when the road slowed down.

"Calm down, Tae, I'm not going anywhere." You chuckled as you placed your hand above his when it was resting on the gear shift. He throws a quick glance at you. He bit his lip as a flush crept up on his cheeks.

The drive was short, but Taehyun's action made it look like it was not. He hurriedly got out of his car, running over to your side to open the door for you as he held your hand. His jittery steps were heavy as you both made your way to his humble home.

"Come in." He nervously spoke as he placed his shoe on the rack, switching the light on in the process.

"D-do you want a drink or something?" He was almost running towards the kitchen.

You flop on his couch, making yourself comfortable at some point. "Come here, instead," you chuckled, "You're so anxious for no reason, Taehyun." He sat down beside you, wiping his sweaty palms on his dress pants as he sighed. You scoot over, holding his face, lips just a few inches apart.

"Wait," he pushed you a bit, "a-are you sure about this?" You nodded and smiled at him. "G-give me a minute." He rummaged through his back pocket pulling a handkerchief. You looked at him confused.

He unfolded the handkerchief and gently placed the thin fabric on your lips before crashing his lips on yours. He holds your nape as he climbs up on the couch. He slowly laid you down. Lips unmoving, yet it feels so hot. His lips were just merely pressed on yours with the fabric separating both of your soft skin.

He pulled away, kissing your forehead. "I'm sorry." He whispered as if he was the one who did you wrong. You gently pull the handkerchief away as you tangle your fingers in his hair. Taehyun never failed to take care of you in the most gentle way possible. He's not thinking of his pleasure at this point. He's thinking about you. To the point that he even thought of putting a piece of cloth between your lips just to be able to kiss you.

You wanted to cry at how he's taking care of you. Your eyes welled up with tears as you pulled him back. "I'm good now Tae, thank you for taking care of me. There's no need for the hanky." You whispered before your tears rolled down your cheeks as you kissed him, bare.

He's a gentleman. He's too good to be true. But you let your walls fall down and let him enter. You let him protect you instead. But his hungry kiss spoke thousands of emotions. His kisses travel down to your neck.

"Taehyun..." You whimpered as you gripped his hair.

"A bit more... Just a bit more..." He started sucking and biting your neck and shoulder, leaving splotchy red marks. He pulls away for a while, enough time to tug your shirt off your body.

His fingers slowly traced every scar you have on your body. The marks on your chest from the bottle Han once threw at you. The cigarette burns on your stomach. He also pulled down your skirts only to see stitches from your thighs. You got this when Han pushed you down the stairs. His finger draws back to your lips. The scar from the cut when he slapped you is still visible.

You covered your face out of embarrassment. You no longer look pretty with your all bruised-up body. "We can't do this here." Taehyun got up and carried you all the way to his bedroom. He laid you carefully as ever in his bedroom.

The bed dips down at his weight as he kneels between your legs. His head dips down to kiss every scar you have on your delicate body as if he's kissing your trauma away. He took his precious time. Not wanting to scare or startle you at any point. His actions are being done with all tenderness.

"Do you still want me to continue?" He asks when he hovers above your body, his elbows on both sides of your head. "I want you Taehyun, please do..." You whined biting your lip. "How can I say no when you say it like that, sweetheart." He sighed leaning his forehead on yours again. Your arms crawled under his shirt, feeling his toned body hiding beneath the soft cotton shirt he was wearing. "C-can you take it off? I feel so exposed." You mumbled as you tugged his shirt. "Ah, shit, I'm sorry." He quickly backed up to discard his shirt on the floor.

You stared at him when he was all fours above you. His body is totally toned. You can clearly see the firm muscles on his arms. His buff chest and his perfectly defined abs. "Touch me. I won't stop you. Touch me so you won't feel embarrassed anymore. Touch me so you won't feel as if I'm taking advantage of you. Touch me so you won't feel scared." He grabbed one of your hands and placed it on his chest, slowly dragging it down to his abs.

When he lets go of your hands, you continue to drag them down to the waistband of his dress pants. "C-continue..." His eyes were shut close, his lips trapped between his teeth. You can clearly see his abs tightening as he clenches with the graze of your finger on his waist. He gulps when you hook your finger inside. You unhooked the clip that's binding his pants and pulled the zipper down. His breathing hitched at the lingering touches you're leaving on his lower body.

You gently stroked him as you looked for his eyes. His lips were swollen at how he was biting it. "You won't let it out?" You tried taunting him. "Fuck..." He lets go of his long-held breath, hissing through his teeth. "Y-you're making me crazy, sweetheart... You're totally making me crazy..." He huffed as he tucked your hair behind your ear.

"Condom?" You asked. He reached into the small drawer just beside your head, pulling out a packet of condoms. "D'you wanna p-put it in f'me?" His words were short, and he was catching his breath. You gently rubbed the head of his cock as you rip the packet with your teeth.

"S-sweetheart, you're... Shit... You're k-killing me." He shuddered when you pressed at his slit, his jaw clenched tightly, his hand grasping the sheets.

You slowly drag your fingers on his cock as you wrapped it with the condom. "T-take your time... I w-won't do anything to hurt you or...ahh... or m-make you s-scared of me." He's struggling to hold back but he's doing his best. As soon as you were done, you tangled your fingers on his again, pulling him for a kiss. A kiss full of care. Gentle. Delicate. Sweet.

He pulls away, caressing your face once more. He pulls your underwear in one swift motion as he lines himself up on you, slowly pushing in. He continuously soothes you by rubbing his thumb on your cheek. "Don't be scared, hm? I'm here. It's just me..." He keeps on mumbling, repeating the same phrase as you nod back at him.

Once he has bottomed out inside you, he stays still as he continues to plant soft kisses on your face. You were tearing up not because of the trauma anymore, but because of the love and care he's showing you.

He unhooked your bra as he gently groped your breast, his fingers flicked on your nipple as he suck on the other. "Mmm..." You whimpered underneath his big body squirming at how his tongue danced on your nipple. He didn't take long, afraid that he might hurt or trigger your trauma.

"C-can I move now? I might end up c-cumming now. You've been clenching f-for some time..." He muttered under his breath. You nodded and covered your face again.

He pulled both of your hands and intertwined your fingers with him above your head. "Please don't cover your face. You're beautiful. You're still pretty even with your scars. You're still gorgeous even with your fear and trauma. Please... Just let me take care of you. I know it'll be hard for you, but I promise. I promise to hold you dearly and cherish you." His eyes were looking for answers.

"Taehyun... Please... Please take care of me from now on. Please hold me when I feel scared... Make me feel loved..." Your silent weeps were drowned as he kissed your nose. "I'll be your peace, sweetheart." He wiped your tears as he slowly thrusts in you.

"I... I promise to hold you as gently as I can... But... I think I might end up g-going hard right n-now." He buried his face in the crook of your neck.

Your arms reached over his back as your nails dug and dragged over his bare back. "T-Taehyun..." You moaned out his name as you writhed in pleasure beneath him. The slow thrust becomes a little bit more sloppy. The skin slapping echoed through the solitude of his room.

"Fuck. Please forgive me if e-end up going t-too hard. But I promise to d-do my best to hold b-back." He grunted as his thrust went harder. You shook your head wanting him to go harder.

"I-i can't hurt you... I w-won't..." He steadies the way he thrusts inside you making the knot on your stomach tighten as you feel your high just around the corner.

You held him as if your life depended on him, "Taehyun... I'm close." "D-do it, sweetheart. I'm g-gonna cum any m-minute." He pressed his lips on you to drown your moans as you both came. He rubbed your waist as he soothed you before pulling out. Tying the condom and disposing it in the bin, zipping up his pants at the same time.

He bends down to kiss your forehead as he grabs a pack of wet wipes cleaning you up. He picked up his shirt and made you wear it. He finally laid beside you as he pulled you on his chest, running his fingers through your hair.

"Are you hurt anywhere?" He checks on you, to which you replied by shaking your head and a smile. "Sorry for going too hard, I did my best to hold back," he mumbled as he kissed the top of your head. "I'm okay Taehyun. Thank you so much." Your eyes finally close as his warmth embraces you. He hums while still hugging you close to him.

"Please rest now, sweetheart. When you wake up, you no longer have to suffer anymore. You're safe with me. You're finally safe with me."

@binniesbooks 2024

[the-ninjago-girl]

Ya wanna know what I just realized? The overall theme of scarlet and violet isn't actually about our treasure hunt, or making friends along the way,

It's obsession.(and how it hurts those around us.)

In the base game of pokemon scarlet and violet, we learn that the professor,(sada or turo depending on which version you play.) was absolutely obsessed with the paradox pokemon within the scarlet/violet book. They were so obsessed with these pokemon that they wanted, NEEDED to make them a reality by bringing them into our own. Their obsession was so bad, that they not only lost their significant other, but neglected their son to the point of completely abandoning him, all for the purpose of "paradise". Not realizing they already had one with their son.

The obsession has been with the professor since their childhood. As seen in the secret cutscene at kitakami's crystal pool with terapagos in your party, it brings the professor from iirc 10 years before the events of the game start. When they ask to trade for the book ms. Brair wrote they offer their copy of the s/v book and tell you "this book captured my imagination as a child and never let go." They were obsessed. It costed them their life, completely ruined arvens childhood, and almost caused the destruction of the Paldea region because they were too obsessed with having pokemon of the past/future along side them.

Then we go to kitakami, and meet Kieran. A boy who is obsessed with the ogre, a.k.a ogerpon. Kieran believes the two as kindred spirits, outcasts in kitakami because they were different. Though rightly upset at you and his sister for not telling him about meeting ogerpon, takes it too far when he steals the mask from his grandfather. As a result of winning the battle to get the mask back from him his obsession shifts, not really about befriending ogerpon anymore, but about beating you/being as good as you are. He becomes mean and ruthless to those around him in blueberry academy, becoming champion in order to try to be strong enough to beat you.

In the underdepths of area zero his obsession with beating you causes him to seek out terapagos, and catch it so that he can finally beat you.

And finally ms. Briar, obsessed with terapagos and proving it was real. Her ancestor, the original author of the s/v book, heath, was claimed and told to be nothing more than a liar after writing what he had found in area zero. Briar was obsessed, determined to prove terapagos' existence to clear her ancestors name, and that everything in the s/v book was in fact real. In kitakami she was more concerned with figuring out the terastal phenomenon than helping to guide the students from the 2 schools on their field trip.

And once in blueberry, she asks you, carmine and Kieran to join her in area zero to find terapagos. Once in the underdepths she puts herself in danger because of a strangely terastalized glimmora, of which you battle to protect her and the siblings. In the final chamber of the underdepths, she eggs on Kieran to take terapagos(in crystal form) out of the tera crystals around it to finally see the pokemon she's been trying to get to for so long, and then tells him to terastalize the pokemon, putting everyone in danger. As the amount of Tera energy is too much for the little pokemon to control, and thus it goes out of control, destroying the environment around it, nearly causing a cave in.

Ms. Briars obsession with finding terapagos nearly caused the group to get killed because she was so obsessed with finding terapagos. Obsessed with proving that heath was telling the truth all this time.

Pokemon scarlet and violet showed that obsession can hurt and harm those around you. That an obsession like sada/turo, Kieran and ms Briars', will cause the pain of others and themselves in order to reach their goal.

[mviswidow]

all's well that ends well

Maria Hill x Reader

Word count: 1.8k

Summary: A couple of months after being rejected by Maria, R gets hurt during the Battle of Sokovia and it brings them back together. Pretty angsty with some fluff at the end and plenty of best friend Nat.

Based on this request from a while back but I decided to finish it up. I would love to write for Maria more so if you have any ideas please send them my way <3

“I’m so sorry.”

Maria’s words repeated in your head every day since you bore your heart out to her.

The worst part was probably that she had never told you if she reciprocated your feelings. She’d just insisted it wouldn’t work out; it wasn’t worthwhile. You couldn’t believe what you saw between the two of you was imagined. It couldn’t have been. 

You saw her through the glass door of one of many conference rooms, sitting outside, waiting to speak to Fury while you were in your meeting with him.

You should have been happy. You had just been promoted and were going to be an Avenger, yet all you could think about was a girl who didn’t care about you enough to be honest with you.

You did your best to block Maria out of your mind for the remainder of the meeting, attempting to soak up the moment. This was the kind of thing you’d been working towards since you started at SHIELD Academy. 

You needed this. You needed a win. Having such a huge distraction would be great for you, and the opportunity to learn from a legend such as Natasha Romanoff was incredible.

You moved your belongings into the Avengers Tower during the following week. Your bedroom was right next to Natasha’s.

Per Fury’s request, Natasha trained you multiple times a week and reported back to him on your progress.

The more time you spent training with her, the better you got to know her.

Before you knew it, Natasha had become your closest friend. After feeling crushed about Maria, she was exactly what you needed in your life - someone unwavering.

Natasha knew what it was like to be alone. You did too. Maybe that was why the two of you clicked so well.

She was also very excited to have another woman in the tower. Before you it was her and the rest of the boys.

You spent most of your free time with her. She helped you heal your heart.

With some time, you no longer felt your stomach churn every time you saw Maria at work.

You were starting to feel okay.

-

You knew Natasha and Maria were friends, but it wasn’t something you really ever thought about.

You were reminded of the fact when they hugged to greet each other at Tony’s party a couple nights after you helped the Avengers obtain Loki’s scepter from Strucker. 

You stood awkwardly behind Natasha until the redhead moved on to greet another one of your colleagues and Maria’s eyes landed on you.

Anxiety bubbled up in your chest as you gave her a polite smile and a loose hug.

“Maria,” you nodded.

“Hi,” she smiled, though it didn’t nearly reach her eyes the way it used to when she spoke to you. “I haven’t really gotten a chance to congratulate you since you got promoted.”

You didn’t expect a conversation.

“You’re looking good out there.”

You could feel your cheeks turning red, “Thank you.” 

There was so much you wanted to say to her. You held your tongue, though, you would only hurt yourself.

Before either of you had a chance to say anything more, Natasha returned and began to speak to the brunette. You tuned out their conversation quickly as the only thing you could think about was how terribly you missed everything about Maria. 

After a minute, you excused yourself to the bar, promptly ordering two shots and throwing them back.

You were soon joined by Tony and Thor who you ordered drinks with to celebrate your victory. When Steve joined the three of you, you took another shot with him. It was not long before you became a little too tipsy for a work party faster than you’d realized what you’d done.

Upon noticing you hadn’t seen Natasha since you arrived at the party together, you scanned the room for red hair.

You found her sitting on a chair, listening to a conversation between a couple of people, and clumsily sat yourself on her lap, eliciting a laugh from her.

“Someone’s been busy,” she said with a smirk that turned into a smile.

“Oh yeah, I can’t say no to an open bar.”

“Obviously,” she teased and you saw a glint in her eye that made your heart pick up. “You seeing anyone lately?”

You rolled your eyes with a knowing smile, “Prying while I’m drunk, Nat? I didn’t think that was your style.”

“That’s not a no,” she pressed on.

“You’re very nosy. But no, I haven’t even thought of that since… since I joined.” You thought back to what Maria told you. “Besides, I don’t need a distraction or anything.”

“I dunno,” Natasha shrugged. “doesn’t hurt to have some fun- and seeing someone doesn’t mean you have a distraction in your life. There’s a person behind the big, strong, Avenger everyone sees. Being human doesn’t make you weak.”

Your eyes flitted to Maria who was across the room, engaged in a conversation with Steve, and you rolled your eyes in annoyance, “You should tell that to her.”

Natasha’s face crinkled in confusion and she followed your line of sight, her eyes widening as she turned back to face you, “What is that supposed to mean?”

You groaned and had to stop yourself from facepalming, drinking made you loose lipped, “I’ll tell you about it sober, we’re not getting into this now.”

-

The last thing you thought you would have to do that night was fight sentient fucking robots while intoxicated. You thought you had been holding your own well enough but got knocked to the floor when a bogie hit you in the head.

Your ears rang loudly and you’d been sure the stupid piece of metal was about to kill you as you held your head in agony until you heard gunshots and it never came.

You had Maria to thank for that.

-

The next time you found yourself being thrown to the ground by a bogie was in Sokovia. You weren’t so lucky this time, you landed on a sharp piece of metal that lodged itself in your abdomen as your chin slammed into the concrete ground.

You cried out in pain as you tried to get your bearings, knowing that if you didn’t act quickly you would die. 

Searing pain coursed through your entire body as you reached to unstrap your gun from your thigh. Hot tears ran down your cheeks and mixed with dirt and the fresh blood on your chin. 

You shot the hunk of metal until it collapsed on the floor. You were grateful the lifeboats were taking people from the floating island to the helicarrier every couple of minutes and hobbled over as quickly as your body could go in this state. 

Every breath and step you took was excruciating. The only thing you could think about was how badly you wanted to survive. 

The moment Steve laid his eyes on you, he gestured to Natasha and ran over, picking you off your feet and carrying you the rest of the distance. You let out a sob of relief when you no longer had to rely on your feet carrying you the rest of the way, not knowing how much further you would have been able to make it.

You heard him speaking over comms and vaguely caught Natasha’s response, telling him to take you onto the helicarrier for medical attention while she continued to direct people onto lifeboats.

“You’re going to be alright, okay?” Steve murmured, and you couldn’t tell if he even believed himself. 

Nonetheless, you nodded into his neck and let your eyes close.

-

You woke up in a bed with an IV attached to you. You were grateful that the lights were mostly turned off, besides a lamp in the room, keeping your eyes from hurting too much. 

Your whole body ached, your stomach especially, and you groaned restlessly.

Natasha was sitting in a chair to your right reading a book and Maria was beside her, her eyes closed. When Natasha heard you, her head snapped up from her book and she let out a sigh of relief, taking your hand. “Hey, you’re okay.”

She offered you some water and gave you medication that was left for you in case you woke up, “This should make you feel better, you’ll probably be a little drowsy soon but the pain should go away.”

“Thank you, ‘Tasha,” you smiled gratefully as best you could.

“You scared me, you know - all of us, really,” She said, her voice a little shaky. “I’m glad you’re alright.”

“Me too,” you chuckled.

Natasha smiled softly and cleared her throat, “I’ll come check on you again soon but I know Maria wants to talk to you.” 

She nudged the brunette awake gently, nodding in your direction, “Hey, she just woke up a couple minutes ago.”

Maria muttered a ‘thank you’ to Natasha for waking her up and moved to her previously occupied seat when she left.

“You feel okay?” she asked when the two of you alone, and you figured she was avoiding whatever it was she actually wanted to say.

“No, I was impaled, I feel like shit… Why are you here?”

Maria’s eyebrows raised for a second, caught off guard by how blunt you were being, and took a breath, “I wanted to apologize.”

“For?”

“When I rejected you. I -”

“That’s not necessary, Maria, I really don’t want to rehash this.”

She shook her head and clenched her jaw, “Please. I - I was wrong.”

You quirked a brow. That was new. It wasn’t every day Maria Hill was wrong about something. And it definitely wasn’t every day Maria Hill looked like she was about to cry.

Maria took your silence as permission to continue, “I’m in love with you. And I’m sorry you had to almost die for me to admit it. I was so afraid to let myself love you because I was terrified knowing that something like this could happen to you. But when I got the call I realized that I could die never knowing what it’s like to kiss you.” Her voice broke as she finished her sentence. She let out a breath to steady herself as a tear streaked down her face.

You reached out your hand to the edge of the bed, palm up. Maria put her hand on top of yours and you squeezed lightly.

Her breath hitched and tears welled in your eyes while you watched her lips turn downwards as she tried not to cry. “I’m so sorry,” Those words sounded different this time.

Your heart ached for her. You nodded, understanding. “I know… it’s okay.”

She swallowed and wiped her tears, taking a deep breath. “I’m sorry.”

You shook your head, a soft smile playing on your lips, “Why don’t you find out what it’s like to kiss me already, hm?”

[deathmetalunicorn1]

Yandere Jack, Hercules, Rudra, Poseidon, Hades, Ares, Qin Shi Huang, Hermes, Buddha and Platonic Adam and Zerofuku with Fem!Loid Reader?

During her fight with (God/Human) she wins and for her wish, wants her Daughter to be accepted in the prestigious Valhalla Academy where Deity Children go (Daughter isn’t hers biologically, but she took her in as her kid because she’s an orphan, similar to Reader, and even took Zerofuku in as her kid too) she’s still is a spy, but she mainly keeps an eye on those that look like they’ll cause trouble in Valhalla (Zeus agrees, trusting her to be his eyes and ears for this kind of stuff)

However, the only problem is the School needs the children to have both parents come in, cue Reader screaming/panicking in front of (Human/God) how is she supposed to find a man that would marry her in 48 hours?! Which he tells her he’ll do it (He refuses to miss this opportunity of a lifetime to marry the woman that stole his heart) causing Reader to fall face first to the floor in shock (As they’re running away from some of Reader’s ‘Patients’) and she uses a Grenade‘s Safety Pin to give (Love) as an Engagement Ring (He can’t decide if he should be impressed by her creativity or amazed by Reader’s ‘boldness’ to do a role-reversal on asking him the marriage proposal) Girl Boss Reader

Cue Boss Music as Adam isn’t very happy with what (Love) just said (And proceeds to chase him around yelling how a relationship is supposed to go, with dates and getting to know each other, not immediate marriage)

-You did it, you had won your fight! Mission accomplished, and now you would get your wish from Zeus!

-You had become eyes and ears for Zeus, after he learned that you were a spy on earth, and a damn good one at that, and you had the job of keeping an eye on those who would cause problems around Valhalla.

-Your reports were always thorough and detailed, proving that you were very diligent at your job, but recently, you had an additional job, becoming a parent! You had recently adopted two children, one god and one human child, Zerofuku and Eri (I’m feeling lazy and she’s an easy character to write).

-Eri was an orphan, much like you were, and she was just a little girl, needing someone to protect her in this world, and as Zerofuku had been the one to first find Eri, he came along but was happy to join a family like yours, as you were warm feeling, being a good parent.

-You had heard both Zerofuku and Eri cheering for you in your fight, showing your combat skills, even Zeus was surprised by your skills, you could be quite dangerous if you really wanted to be!

-Ragnarok was now a yearly tournament, no longer a fight to the death, and the winner of each round would get one wish granted, which is the reason you joined.

-You wanted nothing more than for Eri to get a good education, as you didn’t get one, having grown up in a time of war, and your wish was for her to be able to go to the very prestigious Valhalla Academy, a school for both gods and humans, but it was notoriously difficult to get in.

-So that was your wish, for Eri to be able to go to school, something that made her beam, as she wanted to go to school, having not been allowed when she was alive on earth and Zerofuku was elated as well, seeing his little sister and mama so happy!

-You went to the school to get the application, but when you exited, you were surrounded by gloom, your whole body pure white in shock as you sunk into a park bench, burying your face in your hands.

-You knew this was a prestigious school, but you hadn’t realized all the requirements, all students had to have both parents come in for the interview, no single parents allowed!! How were you going to do this in less than 48 hours?!?!

-(Love) saw you lamenting on the bench, as the gloomy aura you were projecting wasn’t easily ignored. You had proven yourself a worthy opponent in this years Ragnarok, beating him of all people, and you had gotten your wish, so why did you look so gloomy now?

-He sat next to you, “Y/N?” you looked up and immediately your eyes went huge, and you grabbed his hands, “Marry me (Love)!!” he froze in shock at your sudden and very bold proposal.

-He could see the fire in your eyes, there was some reason behind it, and while elated at your proposal, as you had managed to steal his heart in your fight, kicking his ass while still looking so prim and beautiful, he spoke, “Before I say yes, I need to know why first.”

-You explained that your wish was for Eri to go to this school, but for the interview process that was in less than 48 hours, every child needed both parents, as single parents weren’t permitted, something that he grew angry at as there were lots of single parents out there.

-He fell for you even harder, seeing the lengths you were willing to go for your daughter, as he had seen you out and about with Eri and Zerofuku, the two of them holding your hands, you were a perfect mother!

-He instantly smiled and went to accept when you heard a voice shout out, “Oh no you don’t!!” you both turned, seeing your adopted father Adam there, surrounded by flames of rage, “That’s not how marriage works! You’re supposed to court each other and go on dates! Not jump right into marriage!!”

-You tried to explain your reasoning, and while honorable, Papa Adam wasn’t happy about it, chasing the two of you around.

-(Love) swept you up princess style and leapt down off a bridge onto another path, running away as he beamed at you, “I’ll marry you Y/N!” you beamed brightly up at him, showing your own joy, your arms around his neck, “I’m so happy!”

-You managed to lose Adam, but he called you later, still fuming and you told him that your plan was to do things the old-fashioned way, once Eri was accepted into the school, which placated him for the moment, but threatened (Love) to not hut or upset you, Eri, or Zerofuku.

-Eri and Zerofuku were elated to see that you now had a husband, and they had a father figure now. Zerofuku was instantly getting along with (Love) which made you happy, while Eri clung to you, a big shy with this new man.

-You watched him kneel down, getting down to her level, a gentle smile on his face, greeting her kindly. You explained to your children the reasoning behind the sudden marriage and Zerofuku grew upset, changing into his Envy mode, which caused you to pull him into your arms, trying to calm him down.

-Eri looked up at (Love), “So we’re playing pretend family so I can get into school?” He nodded softly, before giving you a small smile, “At first yes we are playing pretend, but I want us to become a real family, Eri, Zerofuku, Y/N- I want to be a part of this family.”

-Your bright red face was rather cute to see, holding your cheeks, which immediately brought Zerofuku back to normal, as both of your children cuddled you, thinking you were adorable!

-Eri got in with no issues, something you all cheered for, taking her out to her favorite bakery to celebrate, and you hugged (Love), overwhelmed with joy.

-When you tried to pull back, he embraced you back, hugging you close, a smile on his own face, making a silent vow that he was going to be a part of this family, no matter what.

-Became the best father possible to your children, he would read to them, help Eri with her homework, and always made time to take them out to parks to go and play. Your kids were easily won over by his devotion, making good on his promise that he was going to become a perfect father for them. He doted on your just as much, helping you around the house, cuddling you close like you were his real wife, and even taking you out on dates, proving to you that he was a good husband for you. It was hard not to fall for him, especially when he would accompany you and Eri to school, proving to everyone that he was indeed a good father and would defend you against others who didn’t believe you were a good mother. Both he and Zerofuku were very protective of you and Eri, and they wouldn’t hesitate to put anyone in their place to defend both of you.

-Jack, Poseidon, Hades, Hermes, and Qin Shi Huang.

-Took to being a father naturally, would cry when Eri would cry, would hug Zerofuku close when he would get upset and go into his Envy form, doting on him. You were impressed with his skills, and he showed you what a good father and husband he was for you, showering you with love while out and about, something other mothers grew a bit jealous of when you would drop Eri off at school, seeing how attentive your husband was to both you and Eri. If she would tear him, not wanting to leave, he would kneel and hug her close, giving her a pinkie promise that you both would be there to pick her up at the end of the day. Then he would peck your cheek, beaming brightly, “C’mon Y/N- let’s go on a date!” he loved seeing the envious glares on others, he was the one who had your heart, who had such a lovely family, not them, and he was going to keep it that way.

-Hercules, Ares, Rudra and Buddha

[girlactionfigure]

THURSDAY HERO: Herbert Zipper

Herbert Zipper was a conductor and composer who founded a secret orchestra at Dachau, and wrote a song that became an anthem for death camp inmates.

Born in 1904 to an affluent Jewish family in Vienna, Herbert was a musical prodigy who studied at the prestigious Vienna Music Academy with the great composer Richard Strauss. He found employment as a conductor and composer for cabaret shows.

Germany annexed Austria in 1938 and immediately started persecuting Jewish citizens. Herbert was arrested that year and sent by the SS to Dachau, where he became a “horse,” pushing a wheelbarrow loaded with heavy rocks for 12 hours a day. One of the most talented composers in Europe was doing the work of an animal.

Herbert was not the only music man in Dachau. All the Jewish members of the Munich Philharmonic – comprising most of the orchestra – were also incarcerated there. Herbert enlisted the other musicians in an audacious, even insane, plan. They would make instruments and create an orchestra, right there at Dachau.

How could anybody create musical instruments in a concentration camp? They combed the camp for discarded pieces of wood and metal and fashioned eleven primitive yet functional instruments. At least one guard helped the musicians; Herbert requested a piece of wire for a string instrument, and later found it under his pillow.

Herbert’s Dachau orchestra performed concerts for the other inmates every Sunday, in an outhouse. It’s hard to imagine the experience of listening to sublime music in a filthy environment, while knowing they could be all killed for their participation. Herbert said that the concerts were not for entertainment, but rather to bring purpose and even a bit of normalcy back to their lives.

Noted playwright Jura Soyfer, an old friend of Herbert’s from his cabaret days, was also at Dachau. Together they wrote “Dachaulied” (Dachau song), with Herbert composing the haunting music in his head and Jura penning the sad, sardonic lyrics inspired by the concentration camp motto “Work will make you free.” They thought that writing the song would help them maintain some dignity in an atmosphere of constant humiliation and demonization. Herbert deliberately made the song difficult to learn, so that his fellow inmates would have to use all of their concentration and thereby mentally escape from their horrific surroundings. Amazingly, the Nazis never discovered the secret orchestra.

At the end of 1938, Herbert and Jura were transferred to Buchenwald where they taught other inmates the Dachau song. Soon after, Jura died of typhus at age 26, and Herbert lovingly prepared his body for burial. At this time Hitler hadn’t yet began to implement his “Final Solution” to kill all the Jews, which started in 1941. Herbert’s father Emil was in London, desperately trying to get a visa for Herbert and his two brothers to escape Austria. Miraculously, Emil was able to secure his sons’ release from Buchenwald, and they joined him in Paris on March 16, 1939.

During all this time, Herbert’s fiancee, dancer Trudl Dubsky, was working in Manila, in the Philippines. She recommended him for the job of conductor of the Manila Symphony Orchestra, and he was hired, traveling there in September, 1939. Herbert and Trudl were married on October 1. Although it wasn’t a world-class orchestra at the time, Herbert enjoyed working with the Manila Orchestra and under his leadership it improved dramatically. Life was good for Herbert and Trudl until January 1942, when the Japanese army invaded the Philippines and occupied Manila. It was a brutal occupation and once again Herbert was arrested, this time for refusing to conduct the orchestra for Japanese military officers. He was incarcerated and harshly interrogated for four months before being released. For the next three years Herbert and Trudl survived hand-to-mouth, owning no belongings and traveling frequently in search of safe haven in a country at war.

The most difficult period was the Battle of Manila in early 1945. More than once the building where they took shelter was bombed by the Japanese artillery and they escaped with only seconds to spare. In the end of February they were living with hundreds of other displaced people in a seven-story building in Manila that had neither electricity or water. Herbert volunteered to get water every day, a dangerous and difficult undertaking.  On the early morning of February 26, 1945, Herbert was on his water run when he saw an opportunity to reach the American front line, and he rushed across a battle field to do it. While there he received a crucial piece of information: the apartment building where he was staying was due to be bombed by the Allies within fifteen minutes! Herbert desperately explained that 800-1000 civilians were inside the building! Due to his pleas, the bombardment was delayed for 45 minutes, giving him just enough time to get back to the building and rescue everyone inside including Trudl.

Until Japan was defeated on September 2, 1945, Herbert worked secretly for the American army under the command of General Douglas MacArthur, transmitting valuable information about Japanese shipping schedules by shortwave radio. When Japan finally surrendered, Herbert organized and conducted a concert of Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony, a goal he’d set during the darkest hours at Dachau. The concert was performed in a bombed-out church.

Herbert and Trudl immigrated to America in 1946, joining the rest of his family. He co-founded and conducted the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, and organized another orchestra especially to give free concerts for public school children. Students called Herbert, who had no children of his own, “Papa Z.” For the rest of his life he volunteered and supported arts education for young people.

Herbert was close friends with poet Langston Hughes and they collaborated on an opera together, “Barrier.” Trudl worked as a ballet tacher. They moved to Chicago in 1953, where Herbert founded the Music Center of the North Shore, and then to Los Angeles, where Herbert directed the School of Performing Arts at USC.

Interviewed by a Los Angeles Times reporter at the end of his life, Herbert said “We have to see the world as it is, but we have to think about what the world could be. That’s what the arts are about.”

Herbert is the subject of a biography, “Dachau Song: The Twentieth Century Odyssey of Herbert Zipper,” and a documentary that was nominated for an Academy Award. His beloved wife Trudl died of lung cancer in 1976. He continued his music for two more decades, conducting his last concert in 1996. Herbert Zipper died in Santa Monica in 1997.

For inspiring concentration camp inmates and inner-city schoolchildren with his music, and for saving hundreds of lives during the Japanese occupation of the Philippines, we honor Herbert Zipper as this week’s Thursday Hero.

Lyrics of Dachau Song:

Barbed wire fraught with death surrounds our world

On which a merciless heaven visits frost and sunburn.

Far from us are all joys, far our home, far the women

When mute we march to work, thousands in the gray dawn.

But we learned the Dachau motto and it made us hard as steel.

Be a man, comrade, remain human comrade

Do good work, pitch in, comrade

Because work, work will make you free!

[m0nsterqzzz]

The Real Victory

pairing: Clove Kentwell x fem!reader

summary: when you return from the hunger games as a victor, the only thing you really want is your girlfriend

warnings: slapping (?), mentions of killing (not described, just mentioned), the games?

a/n: can you tag someone who asked anonymously? no idea. if so, somebody teach me. whoever asked for this, it's kinda sucky sorry :/ also, wtf is that title? no idea how to write titles lmao

You didn’t want to leave.

You like your home, you like your family, you like your friends, and most of all, you love your girlfriend.

Growing up, it was trained into your heart, soul, and mind that all you were there for was to volunteer as a tribute for the games. You didn't want to, and as a kid it never made sense why the people surrounding you were so eager to give their lives up just so the capitol could have some special edition entertainment.

“Respect. We want people to respect us.” Your best friend Clove had told you when you were just kids. She had this look in her eyes, one that everyone in district two has as they await the time to get their so-called respect.

Still, it didn't make that much sense to you. The capitol would never respect anyone other than themselves, so why would you even try?

Clove became your girlfriend when you were fourteen- though everyone says they knew you two were in love since you were kids. Not everyone understood why you would fall for her though, her unmatched anger towards anything and everything, her ability to kill anyone who looks at her wrong that comes along with her ruthlessness, and her cold, emotionless personality seemed pretty hard to love.

But that's not how you see it. She has a fiery look in her eyes, but it melts everytime she catches sight of you. She has the ability to ruthlessly kill, but you know she'd give her life to protect you.  She's cold and emotionless, but it just gives you reason to spend more and more time with her and in hopes of learning more about her.

The anger she has towards the world was only once directed towards you. The day you raised your hand and volunteered as a tribute for the games. You'd scored well on your final training test at the academy, as did Clove, so no one really batted an eye when thinking of one of your becoming a tribute. The moment you saw her arm twitch in a way that signaled she was going to give her life, you jumped in.

You’d only seen her once after that, a quick three minute visit in the justice hall where she didn't utter a word to you despite your begging before you were ushered onto the train and sent to the capitol. You wondered if she’d ever speak to you again, or if she really just hated you for taking what could have been her chance to prove herself to the capitol and everyone in your district.

Long story short, it fucking sucked.

You spent most of the games hiding in caves, attacking anyone that game along and by the end of it, you had more than enough blood on your hands for the capitols liking. You were sent home with the promise of a nice house and luxury items, but it wasn't much as in your district it wasn't that hard to get them before.

The train speeds through the forest surrounding district two, and you sit in a seat closest to the exit doors, knee bouncing up and down as the large buildings and factories of your home come into view. Almost everyone is outside the justice hall waiting to greet you, but you only want to see one person.

The transportation slowly comes to a stop, your stomach churning as you hear the cheers from outside the closed doors that only get louder when the doors slide open. Your mentor gets off the train, smiling brightly with pride as if it was here that survived. She rolls her eyes, motioning for you to join her on the platform so the train can leave and you can greet everyone.

Grudgingly, you do. With the knife that’s been strapped to your thigh since the moment you woke up in a hospital in the capitol placed snugly under your dress, you follow after her, the noise only growing louder as they catch sight of you. It’s not surprising for someone in district two to win, but they still think it’s amazing every time it happens.

You recognize some people; some friends from the academy, the nice old man who used to sell you and your girlfriend fruit every weekend, the trainer that graded your final test in school to make you eligible to be a tribute. But your gaze doesn’t linger on them for too long. It falls to the part of the group that's parting for something- or someone.

She’s kinda short, but her height doesn’t matter as she practically steps on anyone that won’t get out of her way as she sprints towards the platform you’re on. Clove.

Much to your mentors dismay, you bunch your dress in your hands to lift it up a little higher than the floor so you don’t trip as you run down the stairs and meet her in the middle. You open your arms for a hug, desperate to feel her comfort right now, but she doesn’t hug you. She lifts her hand, swinging it towards your face. It’s all you see before your cheek begins to sting and your head flies sideways, gasps leaving the people around you.

“Why the fuck would you do that?! You’re so stupid!” Clove yells. You’ve been dreaming of her and her voice for weeks, and that wasn’t exactly the first thing you’d think she’d say if you got to come home.

“I know. I’m sorry.” You mumble, and her eyes soften as she pulls you into a tight hug. Her eyes squeeze shut, one hand cradling the back of your head and the other squeezing the back of your shirt like you’re going to disappear if she lets go. Her knees seem to go slack, so you gently fall with her until you're both on your knees, still hugging like it’s the last time.

The crowd surrounding you guys finally starts to disburse, going back to their activities as you and Clove sit there in silence.

“I had to…I had to watch you get hurt. You got hurt and for the first time ever, I couldn’t save you.” She mumbles into your hair, tears wetting your shirt and you can hear the sadness in her voice. It’s not the first time she’s cried around you, but it is the first time she’s cried with the risk of anyone seeing her in such a vulnerable state.

You nod, no words coming out as you go limp in her arms, finally feeling safe enough in her embrace to just calm down.

She pulls a few inches away, just enough so she can look at your face. Her blue eyes scan your face, as if noting every detail that's changed in the time you’ve been apart. Right on your hairline is a small cut that will scar which capitol didn’t bother hiding as you’d never really notice it unless you looked closely- the way Clove is doing right now.

The dark haired girl leans forward, gently pressing her lips against the cut and letting them linger for a second. Her tears wet your face, but you know she’s never felt happier. She kisses your lips after that with a passion that could bring even the most powerful gods to their knees. You taste the sweet taste of the strawberries she loves eating on her lips for the first time in weeks and you feel like crying even harder.

“I love you. I love you.” She whispers the phrase over and and over again against your lips, not daring to let you go once again as she holds you as close as possible without hurting you.

She’s still pissed, definitely, and you know she’s going to make snide comments about your dumb decision for years to come, but that doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is that you’re here, not in the arena. You’re with her, not killing a district six boy. You’re here with her, not reliving your trauma for the first time in days.

She’s here.

[erandri]

Steve glances at his arm again, the fifth time in as many minutes, and is dismayed to see that the only thing written there is his own scrawling 'Hi'. It's not the most elegant way to introduce yourself to your soulmate but 'Do you prefer spring or summer weddings?' seemed like a bit much. His friends suggestions hadn't been much better, all of them younger than him and not able to communicate through their soul connection yet.

It had taken him weeks to muster up the courage to do it and still after an hour there was no response, but Steve wasn't going to let it get to him. His soulmate could live on the other side of the world and be asleep. Or maybe they just didn't know what to say. Or maybe they don't speak English.

Or maybe they were ignoring him.

There were a lot of people who ignored their connection, buying arm bands or getting tattoos to cover any writing from their soulmate. There was a small, but growing, movement of people who believed that the idea of soulmates was an antiquated idea. That some mysterious, cosmic link between two people should not automatically mean that they are the only ones for each other.

Steve had always been the opposite. When he was young and they were first learning about connection in school he had gone home and asked him mom question after question about soulmates. He loved the idea that somewhere out there in the world there was one person that would be perfect for him. He wants that, to have someone that he could know so intimately, to have someone he could share every part of himself with. Soulmates always seemed to happy together that even at his young age he envied their connection.

It seems that his soulmate doesn’t feel the same way. At the end of the day, after waiting seven hours and still no response from his soulmate, Steve washes the ink off of his arm.

---

It was another month before he dared to write to his soulmate again. He had thought about doing it dozens of times, making up reasons as to why his soulmate didn't reply last time and why they would have to respond this time, until finally he mustered up the courage to do it again.

Steve left the message on his arm for two days. Still, there was no response.

---

Despite the fact that his soulmate doesn't want to talk with him, it doesn't stop Steve from writing. It's just little things, like the fact that he made captain of the football team, or what movie he happened to be watching. Sometimes he just draws pictures of what he's looking at. There's never a response but by now he's accepted that there never will be. He still likes the possibility that somewhere out there in the world, his soulmate is reading what he writes.

---

A few days after his mother dies Steve can't stop writing. He writes a novel on his arm of everything that he can't say out loud. Memories of his mother, things that she used to say, how they don't seem like a family with her gone. He writes until his pen runs out of ink, until there's so much of it on him that it will take weeks for it all to wash off of his skin. When he's done he sits on his bedroom floor exhausted.

He's almost fallen asleep when there's a warmth on his arm, like the sun is shining on it even though it's past 9pm. The warmth disappears almost as soon as it starts and he immediately misses the sensation. When he looks down, for the first time there's writing on his arm that isn't his own. Scrawled messily in blue ink is 'I'm sorry' and for the first time since the funeral he cries for what’s he’s lost.

---

When he joins the Naval Academy they give him a standard issue arm band and tell him, as a security measure for both him and his soulmate, that he needs to cease all contact. That if he's in contact with his soulmate that this is his last chance to say goodbye because as soon as he walks out of the room he is officially a naval cadet.

He doesn't write anything.

---

Years go by and Steve almost forgets about his soulmate. The black sleeve around his arm becomes so familiar to him that he no longer sees it, just like he no longer sees the matching sleeves on the twenty-four men that he's stationed with. They're in the middle of the desert, sweating their ass off for weeks on end waiting for intelligence to come through on a terrorist cell hiding out in the mountains somewhere, and the only thing reminding him that the sleeve is there is the pesky sand that always seems to find a way underneath it.

He’s on the night watch, hunkered down behind a rock outcrop for cover and watching the moon slowly rise above the sand dunes. It’s nearing midnight and he’s waiting for Martinez to relieve him when he feels it. His arm feels warm under the band, like someone’s holding onto him and he knows that if he looks down he’ll see words appearing on his skin. He knows that it’s against regulation, but he’s all alone in the middle of the desert and the temptation is too much.

Slowly, he peels of the band, revealing pale skin and three words written in blue pen. He holds his arm in the moonlight and his stomach drops when he reads I’m getting married. He should have followed protocol.

He slides the band back into place, covering his skin once again, but the words feel like a brand on his arm. His soulmate is getting married. His stomach twists, an acidic feeling churning in him quickly before he tamps it down, shoves that feeling into a neat little box. He had assumed that whoever was on the other end of his soul connection didn’t want to be soulmates. That they were one of the ones who wanted to find a love connection regardless of the universe or some higher power had is mind. The idea still hurts though. The person that the universe selected as perfect for him doesn’t want him.

---

His fathers house is unnaturally quiet. It had never been a lively home, at least not since his mothers death, but to see if so utterly devoid of life feels wrong. the remains of the crime scene don’t do anything to help lighten the atmosphere. Still, he has a job to focus on and he can’t do anything mourning over the emptiness of his fathers- his- home. Every moment he wastes is another opportunity for Victor Hesse to get away.

He treats the house like he would any other op, detaching himself from the personal aspect of the case as he examines the spot where his father was shot. It’s easy to tell that Victor didn’t work alone, the foot print, the space for the laptop start to tell him what happened here before he got that phone call.

There’s no evidence of Victor going upstairs so the next place for him to inspect is the garage. It looks the same as it did the last time he was here. Cluttered, smelling of motor oil and must. His fathers old Marquis is still stored under the tarp, looking exactly the same as it did the last time Steve saw it. Then the toolbox catches his eye.

It looks innocuous, which is exactly what Steve would want if he were looking to hide something. When he sees the end of the label is destroyed, leaving just Champ, he knows that this is important. His father calling him Champ probably wasn’t enough to alert Hesse but it set off alarm bells in his head. Sure enough, it’s not just tools inside the toolbox. The photos and pieces inside don’t mean anything to him, another mystery for him to solve.

“Freeze,“ a voice calls out and Steve pulls his gun without thinking, turning to stare down a blond cop with a gun pointed at him.

---

There’s something about Danny that Steve can’t put his finger on. He’s only known him a couple of hours now but he can tell that Danny is a competent detective. He can also tell that Danny is a giant pain in the ass. Still, there’s something else there, something that Steve finds himself drawn to, and the more time that they spend together the more Danny feels like a puzzle that Steve wants to solve.

There’s the obvious things that Steve could find in Danny’s file. He’s a main-lander from New Jersey, he rose quickly through the ranks there until he became a detective, and then he moved to Hawaii where his career has been stagnating. Steve is not overly familiar with the inner workings of HPD, or any police department, but with Danny's record and accolades it seems like he should be doing more than babysitting cases the HPD could never solve.

Then there’s the less obvious things like his love for his daughter, his determination to do the right thing, and his arm band. When they first met Steve has just assumed Danny was wearing the arm band as part of his uniform, but as they spend more and more time together outside of work Steve realizes that he never sees Danny take the band off.

The question starts to burn in him, why? Does Danny not believe in soulmates? Was Rachel his soulmate? Does Danny know who his soulmate is? For some reason the last question feels important. It runs through his mind on the nights that he can’t sleep. Who is Danny’s soulmate?

---

It doesn’t take long for Steve to realize what his feelings towards Danny are. It’s an unfamiliar feeling to know that he likes Danny but can’t do anything about it. He’d only ever felt this way before about Freddie but even that had been different. Freddie has already been in a relationship so there would have no point in telling him how he felt.

Danny though, is different. On paper there’s nothing holding Steve back from telling him how he feels but still he can’t bring himself to actually say anything.

A voice in the back of him mind tells him that the issue is the arm bands. It’s been a long time since Steve has thought about his soulmate, but he does still believe in them. Still wants to have that perfect love that so many soulmates talk about. The understanding an acceptance for every facet of himself. When he was younger it felt like a craving, desperately gnawing away at his insides. Now it’s just an ache, a pang of hurt inside him knowing that something is missing. Something he can’t quite put his finger on. Something that he’s never been able to find with anyone else.

But when he’s with Danny that pang dulls.

He’s gotten used to Danny’s touches, the taps on his chest to get his attention, the steady hand on his shoulder as they head into combat, the hugs that last just a moment too long. He savors every one, promising himself that he won’t ask for more but still he wonders, what if he did ask?

The band around his arm starts to feel like a weight he’s dragging around as the months go on. Instead of a means of protection, it starts to feel like a barrier. What is Danny is his soulmate? What if he’ll never know because of these damned sleeves? 

---

Breaking into the governors mansion, his arrest, and escape, all feel like a background noise as Danny tells him about his relationship with Rachel. That they’ve been having an affair for weeks, that she’s pregnant again and it’s Danny’s, that they were going to run away together. Blood rushes through Steve’s head as he tries to shut it all down, the emotions bubbling up within him at the news. Anger, confusion, doubt. Jealousy.

He knows he says something to Danny, hopefully something comforting, but he doesn’t know what. His body is working on autopilot while his mind tries to seal shut all of the compartments inside of him that are threatening to burst open. It feels like too much. Too much to know all of this and know, finally, that Danny is not his. Danny has never been his.

---

Weeks later, Danny is knocking on his door saying Rachel has gone back to Stan, her soulmate, and that the baby isn’t his. Rachel got her math wrong and they’re going to fix their relationship for the sake of the baby.

“I’m so sorry Danny,“ he says because what else can he say? He knew exactly how excited Danny was to have Rachel back, to have his family back, and a baby on the way. Now he has none of that.

“Don’t be,“ Danny says, his voice raw, and Steve pauses, “the entire time, from the moment the affair started. No, from the moment i met Rachel, i always felt like there was something missing.“

Danny’s gaze is piercing, holding him to the spot he stands.

“I never believed in soulmates. My parents aren’t soulmates, i know that it can work. I always told myself that I was going to marry someone that i chose to love, not someone that the universe told me to love. But,“ Danny pauses and takes a deep, bracing breath before continuing, “but there was always something that felt off. I told myself that it was okay, that it wasn’t a big deal. Then i met you, and every time that i’m with you things just feel right.“

Steve can’t breathe. He’s pretty sure he hasn’t breathed since Danny first started talking. The air fills filled with anticipation, his skin feel tight, like he’s bracing on a knife’s edge wondering which way he’s going to fall.

“I just need to try something,“ Danny says when Steve fails to fill the silence.

Danny raises his arm and it’s only now that he realizes that Danny is not wearing his arm band. Seeing the exposed skin of Danny’s arm almost feels wrong, wicked even, to look at this part of Danny that he’s kept hidden for so long. In his other hand Danny hold a pen and Steve watches Danny writes something on his arm.

No sooner has Danny finished than Steve’s arm starts to feel warm under his band. The same kind of warmth like when Danny touches him. His eyes shoot down to his covered arm and finally, he remembers to breathe. It’s been so long since he felt that warmth that he had forgotten how it felt.

“Take your band off,“ Danny says and it almost sounds pleading.

Steve does what Danny says, hooking his thumb under the fabric and pushing it down to his wrist. On the exposed skin ‘Is it you?’ is written in Danny’s handwriting.

“I knew it had to be you,“ Danny says, holding out his own arm with the exact same writing on it. Steve can see tears in his eyes, he knows that his own eyes are misty, but he doesn’t know what to do next. He’d thought about this moment a thousand times, wondering how it would go, but now that it’s here. Now that it’s Danny standing in front of him. He doesn’t know what to do.

Danny reads him like a book, he’s always been able to read Steve so well, and he takes the first step forward instead. “Come here,“ Danny tells him and they fall into each other, lips crashing together in a kiss. It’s not perfect but Steve never wants it to end.

He’s found his soulmate. He’s found Danny. And finally everything feels right.

[wenclairfamily]

"The Passion of a Moment" - A Wenclair Family Digital Novel - Now Available!

Click HERE to get a FREE copy of my Wenclair Novel!

Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair. They were a duo that shouldn't have worked, but they did… and one night after Wednesday let go of years of discipline and logic that had kept her heart hardened, and finally gave into passion with Enid… it began a journey that would eventually lead to marriage, two twin children, and many incredibly unexpected adventures for their new family.

You can also click "KEEP READING" below to read Chapter 1 now!

Main Artwork by: @annietheartsyartist

From the Diary of Wednesday Addams:

"I was never really insane except upon occasions when my heart was touched". It is a quote by Edgar Allan Poe that I have never forgotten. While the specifics of his death have been shrouded in mystery for lifetimes now, it takes only a focused mind to realize it was love that drove him to take his own life. For a mind can no longer remain sane when it opens itself to the maddening desires of the flesh. For logic, rational thinking, tactical planning, and unclouded judgment have no place in the presence of romantic entanglement. I have seen how it clouds my parents' judgment at all times, and makes them behave like fools. Unlike them however, I have learned to keep my mind far more disciplined; always able to be far more prepared and focused on any task at hand. However one night... years of discipline and logic had been forgot... in the passion of a moment..."

Wednesday Addams was walking down the hallway of her dormitory at Nevermore Academy wearing a black bath robe. As Wednesday was headed towards the communal showers, suddenly her room-mate Enid appeared wearing a pink robe, and ran over to Wednesday as she said, "Oh, hey roomie. You taking a shower too? Mind if I join you? We have so much to catch up on." Wednesday barely made eye contact with Enid as she said, "Then you may save my time by writing it down and allowing me to look upon it later. I can read over 200 words a minute, and am experienced at knowing how to skim past trivial information." Enid giggled and said, "Girl, you actually are funny. But come on. We have so many details to spill." Wednesday sighed as she looked at Enid and said, "Enid... your constant need to act like a loyal puppy that shoots out streams of nonsensical words of affection maddened me upon first arrival here at Nevermore Academy. However..." Enid with optimism in her voice, interrupted Wednesday as she said, "However now we're total besties. I know. I mean the other day when I complained about those crows being too noisy, you shot them down with that rifle you stole. I mean you almost got expelled for bringing a firearm into school, but it was knowing you were just trying to help that made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside." Wednesday looked slightly nervous for a second, and then said, "The ravens weren't native to this area. They would've disrupted the fragile ecosystem. But with all that being said, my daily half hour of taking a shower is one I prefer to do in peace." Enid smiled as she said, "Got it... So I'll make sure to lock the door after we both go in there so no one will bother us." Wednesday had a look of anger on her face as she continued to walk forward.

Soon Wednesday and Enid walked into the communal bathroom and shower room still wearing their bath robes. As they approached the sink, the two girls got out their toothbrushes and bottles of toothpaste they had in their pockets while Enid said, "So me and him decided to just be friends, and well... now I'm single again. I'm okay with it, but... it is kind of sad." As Wednesday put toothpaste on her toothbrush, she said, "It is sad... considering whenever you went out on dates, it allowed me to have more time to myself in the dorm." Then as Enid put toothpaste on her toothbrush she said, "Oh yeah. You're single too. Sorry things didn't work out for you recently. Still, I'm sure you'll find happiness one day Wednesday. Think you'll find that special man to settle down with one day?" After Wednesday finished brushing her teeth she said, "My mind and soul is not one to be trifled with. For my heart is filled of a darkness infected by cruelty; because it was my crime to have no man on Earth who cared for me, or loved me." As Enid finished brushing her teeth she said, "Oh, so you're not into guys then? Messaged received." An annoyed looking Wednesday then said, "No. I am what the eclectic youth of today would refer to as: asexual."

Enid chuckled and said, "Hey. We're all teenagers at this school. Each one of us is a sexual beast deep inside. I may not want to be a werewolf, but when I lost my virginity to my next door neighbor when I was 13, I was a beast in his bed." A suddenly curious Wednesday then said, "You... have consummated your affections with another individual before?" Enid then casually said, "Yeah. I mean... our relationship didn't last. We were young and didn't know what we were doing. But I can't change the past. What was meant to be is what happened. I have no regrets." A still curious Wednesday then said, "So... you opened yourself up completely to another individual... your emotions led you down a path that did not result in fulfillment... and yet you are still not disturbed by that?" Enid then casually said, "I choose instead to just focus on the future. When me and the boy I lost my virginity to broke up, I was hurt at first. But eventually I had to move on. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Then Wednesday calmly said, "Well... on that philosophy I wholeheartedly agree."

Then Enid stepped towards one of the showers as she said, "Well... time to get clean." Then Enid slowly slipped off her pink bath robe. As she did, Wednesday felt her eyes drawn to Enid's body, which she had never seen naked before. For a moment, Wednesday found her mind feeling drawn to Enid's nude form... but then snapped back to reality, and then slowly took off her bath robe and joined Enid in the shower. As Wednesday put shampoo in her hands, Enid checked out Wednesday's body and said, "Dang girl. You have like... the most perfect naked body I have ever seen." Wednesday felt a loss for words for a moment, and then said, "And you as well... considering you are the first naked underage female I have seen in my entire life." A curious Enid then said, "Wait. You mean you've never looked at porn or like Playboy magazines before?" As Wednesday began to wash her hair, she said, "I choose to use my time more productively. However I can understand why men in many cultures of our world have grown obsessed with the image that is of a beautiful and objectified naked woman, and the fantasy of being their lover. For man always values that which is fleeting, and what is more fleeting than a woman's beauty and her life. The death then of a beautiful woman is unquestionably the most poetical topic in the world, and equally is it beyond doubt that the lips best suited for such topic are those of a bereaved lover."

Then a slightly confused Enid said, "So... you're saying if I died, there would be a bunch of guys out there that would be totally depressed?" As Wednesday glanced at Enid's naked body again she said, "Undoubtedly some men would mourn the loss of their fantasy involving you never coming to pass." Then a sympathetic sounding Enid said, "Well... if you were ever gone Wednesday... I'd feel really bad. Because you never got a chance to open yourself up to love, along with... making love." Wednesday began to wash her naked body under the shower as she turned away and said, "I'd prefer not cloud my judgment with emotional entanglements." Enid then stepped towards Wednesday and said, "But Wednesday, you're so super smart and skilled. Also, you're like one of the strongest girls I know. Stronger beyond measure. If things didn't work out with someone you slept with... I know you would be okay and come out still the strong independent women you are. I mean... come on. You're still a teenager. There's gotta be someone you're attracted to here at this school."

Wednesday then looked down with a troubled look on her face. Enid for a moment thought Wednesday was looking away from her. Then Enid noticed Wednesday's eyes were checking out her wet naked body, and then Enid's eyes widened as she said, "Oh... oh my. You... Wednesday... I'm flattered. But... how long have you had a crush on me?" Wednesday keeping her usual serious tone said, "I... have never experienced a crush on anyone. When I first moved into our dorm, your personality and life preferences made me want to consider actions of homicide. However as I stood over your defenseless sleeping body the first night I moved in, I... found myself feeling... pity for you... and eventually... a form of... special respect. However... I do not wish to go steady or put a ring on it as you may say." Enid then waved her hands briefly and said, "No, no. That's okay. Look Wednesday... we don't have to put on a label on what you are or how you feel. I mean... I've felt something for you since you moved in. But it's hard for me to put it into words too. So... how about we just explore how we feel tonight. And when morning comes, if you want to keep exploring our feelings, we will. And if you don't want to keep exploring it, that's fine. We can act like it never happened. No strings attached with me. You can do whatever you want with me. Is that okay?" Wednesday was still for a moment, and then she silently nodded her head.

Both Wednesday and Enid stood still in the showers for a moment as they starred at each other's naked bodies, while also waiting for the other to make the first move. Then Enid noticed despite the room being warm, Wednesday's hands were slightly shaking. Enid then made a little smile, and decided to make the first move. She moved towards Wednesday and then kissed her on the lips. It was a three second short kiss, as Wednesday remained completely still, while only Enid leaned her upper body and head forward. Wednesday and Enid looked into each other's eyes again, waiting to see what would happen next. This time however Wednesday leaned her head forward slightly. Enid leaned her head forward more, and then the two teenage girls kissed again. Enid then wrapped her arms around Wednesday's back. Enid then broke her kiss with Wednesday and smiled, while Wednesday looked confused. Enid giggled and said, "It's okay. Just go at your own pace, and explore how you feel. Whatever you wanna do, we'll do."

Then Wednesday suddenly and quickly shoved Enid hard into the shower wall with her shoulders pinned. Wednesday immediately kissed Enid more aggressively now as Enid looked shocked at first, but soon began to look pleased and responded by moving her fingers through Wednesday's long hair. Wednesday meanwhile ran her hands down Enid's wet backside, and soon found herself grabbing her roommate's firm smooth buttocks. Wednesday squeezed Enid's butt cheeks, causing Enid to moan. Suddenly though the two girls found themselves almost slipping on the wet shower floor. Enid caught Wednesday from falling down, and then said, "Umm... maybe we should switch this to another location?" Wednesday then to Enid's surprise: made a grin.

In less than a minute, Wednesday and Enid were on Enid's bed in their dorm room completely naked while kissing. However soon the kissing moved from each other's lips to all over their bodies. Then in a private moment only the two young women would ever remember... they made love. For hours, Enid and Wednesday pleasured the other in the most intimate way possible; causing the other to moan in pleasure and even call out the others' name. After hours passed though, soon the love making between the two young women ended. Exhausted, both Enid and Wednesday began to fall asleep. The last thing Wednesday saw before she drifted to sleep was Enid smiling at her, and the last thing Enid saw before she drifted to sleep was Wednesday's face full of many mixed emotions...

The next morning Enid slowly woke up, and saw a blanket was covering most of her naked body. Enid then turned her head and saw a fully dressed Wednesday was sitting in a chair nearby finishing her breakfast. Enid smiled and said, "Hey beautiful. So... did you have as good time as I did last night?" As Wednesday began to prepare to clean the breakfast table, she said, "It was... very pleasurable." Then a curious Enid said, "But... how do you feel? I mean... emotionally and mentally? I mean for me... I feel so alive and happy right now. I mean... you literally made me hit my climax six times in one night, and I made you hit your climax seven times. I mean... you were doing some crazy stuff I never know you were capable of. I mean... that whole experience had to have affected you in some way, or caused something to change in your mind." As Wednesday cleaned the table, she said, "Well... the experience did cause me to think about us... in another life." A confused Enid then said, "You mean... you think we could only be together in a different life?"

Wednesday turned her head and said, "No. I mean in a past one. You see, I have visions of the past sometimes, and... as I experienced my orgasm last night, I saw a vision of us in a past life. The two of us were lovers. In my vision, we were two women that looked just like us in the 1800's in a small English village. We had deep romantic feelings for one another, but upon our sexual activities being discovered by the terrible village elders, we were sentenced to a private execution. And that execution as it happened, felt as real as I've felt anything. Bullets after bullets penetrated my flesh, my muscles, my face, my heart. In my vision I felt the cold release of death take over me... and the feeling came to me just as I felt myself hit my final climax. It truly was the most wonderful sensation I've ever felt in my life."

A confused Enid then said, "Wait. What was the most wonderful sensation? The sex or the shooting in your... You know what, it's all good. So do you like... wanna do that again some time? Or we could dial things back, and just take a walk in the woods together and talk some more." Wednesday made a little smile and said, "A nice idea... but your chains do not extend as far as the woods. I shall see you later." Wednesday then left the room and closed the door behind her. A confused Enid then tried to get up, but felt something strange. Enid then took the blanket off her naked body, and saw she was chained to the bed by her ankles. Enid looked very freaked out for a moment... but then calmed down... smiled... and said, "I think we're definitely gonna do it again."

THE END

LINKS BELOW TO READ ENTIRE SERIES:

-Download Link to Read All my Past Wenclair Stories in One PDF

-https://www.fanfiction.net/s/14168842/1/The-Passion-of-a-Moment-Enid-and-Wednesday-s-Family-and-Legacy (Web Link for M-rated version of my stories)

-https://archiveofourown.org/works/43420609 (alternate Web Link for M-rated version of my stories)

-https://www.wattpad.com/user/WenclairFamily (Web link for T-rated version of my stories)

[andromedaexile]

Are They a Stoner? DS9 Edition:

Captain Sisko: Being raised in the south means he has most definitely lit up, and I refuse to believe otherwise. However, after his father caught him smoking and he got stuck on clam duty for a month, he learned his lesson.

Jadzia Dax: Let’s be so real, if she played Tongo with a bunch of Ferengi why would she not own a Betazed bong??? She definitely begged Worf to try it but after his experience with Deanna he only fucks with Blood Wine.

Kira Nerys: OH 100% she was a stoner during the occupation. How would you even attempt to relax in that situation WITHOUT weed? Once the occupation ended Kira stopped messing with weed, but Kira would often hangout with Jadzia, who no doubt brought something to share with Nerys on multiple occasions.

Worf: Blood wine and prune juice.

Dr. Bashir: Before knowledge of him being an augment was made public he never touched anything that could potentially make him not in full control of himself (he did drink a little though). After the knowledge was made public Dr. Bashir and O’Brien definitely were lighting up in the holosuites. That’s why they don’t remember the Alamo.

Erzi Dax: She was straight edge through and through before she was joined with Dax. However afterward…Let’s just say Dax would never turn down an edible.

Odo:

Elim Garak: After the wire was removed Garak decided to stay relatively sober. However, for harm reduction reasons, and to help him cope with his headaches Dr. Bashir prescribed him some medical gummies. He eventually waned off of them completely once Erzi started helping him (he still some times smokes and sews which is why sometimes your trousers don’t always fit right).

Miles O’ Brien: He swore off the “devils lettuce” when he first came aboard the Enterprise. But once stationed at DS9 he quickly realized he would need some of Keiko’s supply of Cannabis-infused tea to remain sane.

Quark: Being a bar owner (best bar on the promenade btw) he is not a big supporter of weed because his main source of profit is alcohol. However, Nog explained to him what a cart is and how you can make a profit from selling them to hoo-mans so he is looking into that as a possible new business opportunity.

Rom: You can’t be a leftist and not have at least tried weed. Also an engineer, so yeah.

Leeta: Oh 10000%. In fact, she’s the plug for the other dabo girls. She even bags her “merchandise” in handmade baggies she makes from recycled textile/fabrics from Garak’s (he owes her because she gave him boy advice).

Nog: No. He follows the rules of StarFleet academy to a T.

Jake Sisko: Hes going to school for writing so yeah. Definitely an edibles kinda guy. His dad has yet to find out despite how many times Jake has come home and slammed an entire pot of jambalaya in 10 minutes.

Keiko O’Brien: Who do you think on DS9 is growing it in the first place?

Gul Dukat: No, he is a snitch who hates fun.

Weyoun: Yes, he is a snitch who loves fun.

Kai Winn: She gives me cop vibes more than Odo does so I’m saying she is a snitch who also hates fun. She also unironically calls weed the Pah-Wraiths Herb or something like that.

Kasidy Yates: Yes, but stopped after jail.

Ziyal: Art school attendee/ art school drop-out. You tell me.

Damar: He’s only a fiend for Kanar (someone help that dude).

[goldsrc-hl1]

RWBY Writing Analysis Number One - Roman Torchwick's death and why it's so good

Hello all.

Roman Torchwick, the glorious bastard of RWBY, is by far my favorite villain in the entire show.

A smooth talking criminal with a sense of humor, a perfect foil to Ruby, and a character who's impact lasts all the way to the present volume. He's got humor, consistent writing, and one hell of a sense of style.

But one thing I've seen many people complain about is his death scene. Many have claimed that it's unsatisfying. I disagree wholeheartedly, as there is a LOT of nuance and messaging behind the way Roman Torchwick dies.

Let's talk about it!

Roman's motivation

First thing's first, let's establish Roman's modus operandi. We can identify his main goal and his motive from a few lines in Volume 3 Episode 11, Heroes and Monsters.

Roman: You're asking the wrong questions, Red! It's not what I have to gain, it's that I can't afford to lose!

Roman: I may be a gambling man, but even I know that there are some bets you just don't take.

Roman: Like it or not, the people that hired me are going to change the world! You can't stop 'em, I can't stop 'em!

Roman: You know the old saying, "If you can't beat 'em-"

He gets cut off, but the "old saying" he's referring to is "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em"

Roman's goal is to survive. He'll do whatever it takes to survive, no matter how morally black. Nothing is off limits as long as it keeps him alive.

The writers want to prove his modus operandi / philosophy (being that he'll do whatever it takes to survive) wrong.

Roman's death

Throughout the first 3 volumes of RWBY, Roman aids Cinder Fall in her plan to take down Beacon Academy. This involves hijacking an Atlesian airship and shooting down two other airships, the whole train bomb stuff at the end of Volume 2, providing the White Fang with Atlesian military technology, and stealing dust en masse.

Ultimately, it's him working with Cinder Fall that gets him killed. He helps Cinder with her plan, helps her wreak havoc in Vale all in the name of survival, and how does it end up for him? He is killed by the very Grimm that Cinder herself had unleashed on Vale.

He did everything it took to survive, no matter the cost, and it ended up getting him killed. All that talk about "if you can't beat them, join them" ended up being the very thing that gets him killed. It's ironic, really, and it proves his philosophy wrong.

The Real World

Another facet of Roman's final moments is his last monologue to Ruby.

Roman: You got spirit, Red. But this is the real world!

Roman: The real world is cold!

Roman: The real world doesn't care about spirit!

Roman: You wanna be a hero!? Then play the part and die like every other Huntsman in history!

Roman: As for me, I'll do what I do best: lie, steal, cheat, and SURVIVE!

Although the writers wanted to prove his philosophy of doing whatever it takes to survive wrong, they want to prove him right in this respect - the real world is cold, and the real world doesn't care about spirit.

Despite what he says about spirit, he also has spirit himself. That spirit isn't spent on making the world a better place, however, it's spent on his own survival. And, despite all that effort to survive, he dies a pitiful death at the hands of the very Grimm he helped unleash on Vale.

The world didn't give him a satisfying death. The real world doesn't care that he's a major villain. The real world is cold, and doesn't care about spirit. Roman's death proves him right.

However, that shouldn't stop you from doing the right thing. Roman knows the world is cold, and doesn't care about it. He only cares about himself and Neo's survival.

Ruby, on the other hand, learns that the real world is cold after the Fall of Beacon, in no small part due to Roman Torchwick. However, unlike Roman, she doesn't let this stop her from still doing the right thing.

"that's why we're here, to make it better"

So yeah. To all who say Roman's death is unsatisfying, take a read.

[pinievsev]

Hi ~✨ its luck that I found you (or you found me, I have seen your repost to my post) and can you, please make one-shot with Kent, where the reader, being an alien, comes to the Academy and everyone is interested in her (I mean in them) (because there were no aliens at the academy before) and attracts the attention of Kent, after which they begin to be friends and fall in love with each other?

Aye I just woke up but just because it's you my friend I'll get to writing :]

And here we are with another Kent oneshot! Woo! Iove this idea! I won't use the stereotypical description of aliens, I'll give them antennas and black eyes tho(the pupils). And heightened sense :]

NEW STUDENT!

.......................................

GIF by me again:]

.......................................

Pairing: Kent (last name unknown) X!alien!new student reader.

Warnings: swearing maybe, kissing at the end, kinda slow burn? (Might do a part two)

Synopsis: when a student of new species joins Nevermore Academy, it peaks the interest of a certain long haired siren.

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You'd be lying if you said you weren't nervous, principle Weems had told you you were the first ever alien in the academy, which didn't really help, now you may be wondering how you are there? Well let's see.

Some thousand years ago, your planet was attacked by another alien species, so your what you thought were called "ancestors" had to leave, and they ended up here. Your species has changed over the years, their funny colored skin Changing into that of beige or dark brown, their fully black eyes now matching the ones of the humans the black only staying in the middle surrounded by white, their antennas however, stayed. They allowed you to catch sounwaves, hear things further than you should be able to, and move things around.

They had made you a special uniform, lined with very dark green instead of the traditional purple, psh, stereotypes again. You had however also learned that, you wouldn't be the only one joining Nevermore late, there was this girl, Wednesday her name was?, Her uniform was black, and so seemed to be the rest of her. You liked it, she was different like you, but in her own way. Weems led you to your dorm room, your roommate was a vampire by the name of Yoko Tanaka.

Weems knocked on the door and it opened almost immediately, "hello, ms. Tanaka, I'd like to introduce you to someone" she moved aside "this is Y/n L/n, the first alien of the academy, and your new roommate" she said taking a breath "would be kind a give them a tour?" Yoko stared at you and her smile widened revealing her fangs, "omg! Of course I will!" She pulled you inside the room closing the door on Weems face.

"So you're an alien?!" She asked eyes wide "yup, that's me" you said "ooo cool! From which planet?" That you didn't know "oh, my species has been on earth for thousands of years, I don't really know." She nodded "okay okay! Let's start the tour!" She said excitedly pulling you along.

Around the end of the tour she pulled you to a small courtyard "this is the quad!" (Did I spell that right? Idk! :Sobbing in greek:) she started pointing to random people introducing them, eh, for them.. "and those are the scales, they're the sirens, that's Bianca their so called leader, that right there is Divina and next to her is her twin brother Kent" you stared at Kent, a little longer than you should've and he saw you, the second he did his eyes widened and he turned to tell his sister. Yoko however, pulled you away.

"don't mind them, they're a little, straight forward some times" she said "it's alright, I'm kind of used to it" you admitted "right... That's basically all you need to know for the school and if you need something just ask me" she smiled and you nodded "alright! Thanks Yoko!" "No problem!" She waved running off to her friends.

'lets see, what could I do?' you thought walking to the side sitting down you rested your back against the wall and closed your eyes. This all was hard to take in, you were scared you might not fit in. Suddenly, you heard footsteps followed by a female voice "hi!" You looked up to see too girls, Wednesday and a girl with blonde hair dyed with pink and blue at the ends. You got up and dusted yourself off "hey!" You replied and she looked at you excitedly "you look so cool! I love your eyes!" You smiled "thanks! Your hair looks nice!" You complimented back. "I'm Enid and this is Wednesday! She's also new here!" You nodded "nice to meet you Enid, and Wednesday!" Wednesday just gave you a nod. You and Enid became friends quickly, and maybe a little with wednesday.. you weren't sure. Even tho Enid was alot more outgoing than you, she was a great friend.

You'd been at Nevermore for a month already, you mainly hang out with Enid, Wednesday and Ajax. Xavier too sometimes. You've been trying to help Wednesday with the whole "monster in the woods" thing but, unlike her you focused on your friendships aswell. Lately you've been noticing a certain siren looking at you, even tho you doubt it's for any good.

Right now you were in your dorm room when you heard a knock "coming!" You yelled getting up to open a door, to your surprise Kent was standing outside "hi?" You asked "hey, look before you close the door in my face, listen!" You nodded "go on" "alright, the thing Is I think you're cool, okay? And I was wondering if you'd want to be friends?" This surprised you even more "you... Want to be friends?" He nodded "I mean, sure" you smiled starting to warm up to him already.

You and Kent started spending more time together, making sure no one knew, considering Bianca didn't like you. It was a three days before the rave'n now, everyone was talking about it. Wednesday wasn't going, and Enid was trying to make Ajax jealous after he stood her up. You had just finished your last class of the day with Ms. Thornhill and were on your way to the quad when someone pulled you behind a pillar "wha-!" You stopped talking when you saw Kent "oh god you scared me" you breathed and he laughed "sorry, I just wanted to ask you something" you nodded signaling for him to ask the question "do you uh, maybe want to go to the rave'n with me?.." you smiled "of course I do!" "Really?!" You nodded "yup!" "Great! I'll pick you up right before it starts sounds good?" "Yeah sounds great".

"okay!" Enid screamed "we have to get you something to wear!!" You gulped "alright...".

It took sometime but you actually liked what Enid found for you (up to you <3) "it's not half bad!" You smiled up at her "thanks! Enid!" She smiled "of course! It looks really good on ya!".

You paced up and down your dorm, Yoko had already left to find her 'date' what Id he doesn't show up??.. just then you heard a knock on the door and ran to open it. "Hi! Sorry if I took too long- wow you look- great!" he apologized "it's okay! Really and thanks, you don't look too bad yourself" "right let's go!" You nodded and left your room closing the door behind you. You walked with Kent to the rave'n, he seemed nervous the whole time. You were dancing around drinking what they called a 'yeti-tini' and overall had fun. You were standing in the crowd talking when something started to pour from the fire sprinklers. Weems started screaming and everyone followed, panicked you grabbed Kent's hand and pulled him out as fast as you could. "Phew" you breathed out, panting, "what the fuck-" he said catching his breath "I don't know..." He nodded and then seemed to realise something.

His head snapped up and he looked at you "are you okay?? Did you get hurt or something-?" You cut him off "I'm fine, are you-?" He nodded "yeah, yeah I'm okay" you nodded back, well this just got akward. Out of nowhere you burst out laughing "what?-" he said chuckling along "what is it?" "We are standing outside covered in red paint like idiots, that's what" he started laughing along yet suddenly got quiet "hey uhm..." You looked up "yeah?" "I don't know if this is the right time but.." he took a step forward looking straight into your eyes "can i- you know.." you understood immediately "yeah... Yeah of course" hearing that he wasted no time to bring you closer and kiss you, you of course kissed back, pulling away he chuckled "I wanted to do that for some time" "you should've"

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Siren man least goo! I actually really like this one tysm for the request, anything for a fellow Kent lover <3

Tag list: @day-dream1231 , @georgi-salva , @arson-the-royal , @falleni0-hq , @mindflay3r , @rottenstyx , @alice0blog , @nova-lov3su , @elduster , @countsmoon , @biggestsimponhere , @andreeasancheez , @justmanu , @whitewingsh , @hwrtsiren

[dragonflight203]

Mass Effect 3 replay, Ex-Cerberus Scientists:

-The hide out is a turian world that’s levo. Gellix. Pretty good hiding spot – everyone forgets it exists.

-Jacob gets quite the heroic opening, putting himself in danger.

Except for the part where all the scientists die anyway. They couldn’t have let him save even one?

-Jacob and Liara greet each other like they know the other well, which is odd. They barely met in Mass Effect 2.

Jack, by comparison, commented on barely knowing Liara in the Grissom Academy mission and saved all her students.

Poor Jacob is getting the short end of the stick. As usual.

-Brynn casually mentions that she was researching technology from the Collector Base.

Shepard says nothing about this despite the fact that they destroyed the base. You’d think that would at least warrant a question on what the hell Brynn is studying.

-Cerberus killing scientists after they make a breakthrough is peak stupidity. Did they not expect the scientists to put two and two together?

Also, it’s just dumb in general. It’s not like there’s a limit on how much one scientist can accomplish. They could have had the scientists achieve more breakthroughs.

The indoctrination is starting to get to TIM.

-If you go renegade, Archer says David was all he had left.

From what? We never did get their backstory or why David was with Archer.

I think the implication is that their parents are dead, but it’d be nice to learn some details.

-I do think Archer is sincere in his regrets.

The part where if you go renegade he kills himself on the spot helps clarify it.

There’s not even an option for a paragon interrupt to save him!

-If you go paragon, you learn TIM insisted on replacing David with someone else with his abilities.

This is the problem with those “rogue cells”. They’re still doing what TIM wants. He just prefers not needing to explicitly order it.

-Archer claims he destroyed all his research so Project Overlord is over.

Were there no backups? TIM seriously lets his scientists work without requiring them to upload documents to a system he controls?

That’s terrible document management. He deserves to lose all the research he paid for.

-Brynn says there are 43 scientists.

I’d like to remind everyone that in Mass Effect 2 Cerberus was a small organization. Now there are 43 rogue scientists, some scientists have already been killed, and there’s an endless horde of troops and ships.

Cerberus in Mass Effect 3 is ridiculous. They’re less believable than the Reapers.

-I read somewhere that in Mass Effect 3 the original intention was that you would have a mission with each of your prior companions.

If so, Jacob was obviously the intended companion for this mission. The writing builds up like he’ll join you, then out of nowhere he decides he’s too injured to do so after all.

-It was sensible for the scientists to take their loved ones when they ran. Cerberus could easily have used them as hostages.

-It’s implied that the research the scientists were working on were the implants that indoctrinate Cerberus troops.

A bit ironic that the troops they’re responsible for indoctrinating are now out to kill them. You reap what you sow.

-Speaking of, someone here worked on a poison tailored to turians. I’d like to have some words with them about what they thought that would be used for.

-One scientists says they should have gone to Sanctuary.

Hmm. So even within Cerberus the truth about Sanctuary is restricted.

Logical enough – Cerberus is supposed to operate in cells. Sanctuary should be strictly need to know.

You’d think ex-Cerberus scientists would be more skeptical about a place that sounds too good to be true, though.

Apparently only Volus can recognize scams in the Mass Effect universe.

-I think the Jacob/Brynn relationship would be treated more warmly if it couldn’t result in Jacob cheating on Shepard. It’s rather sweet.

(Jacob’s known Brynn for a year. It’s been about six months since ME2. If Jacob hooked up with Shepard in ME2, he could already have been emotionally involved with Brynn. Is the exact timeline ever clarified…?)

-If you ask about his father, all Jacob says it haunts him.

Brynn deserves a reward for making this man open up. An entire game later, and Jacob still provides barely enough personal informtation to Shepard.

Meanwhile, Jack’s stabilized and adopted a bunch of children.

Figures Jack hordes the character development and Jacob gets barely any. He didn’t have a mission to force him to grow.

-Jacob says Tim became obsessed with indoctrination.

Who else was obsessed with indoctrination? Saren. He had a whole facility dedicated to researching it.

Is TIM having the same creeping doubts that he may be indoctrinated as well?

Even if he won’t admit it, that may be why he’s so focused on learning how indoctrination works.

-Jacob gets another heroic moment at that end. He even gets to save people this time.

Did the writers forget he’s biotic? All he uses is his gun.

-Jacob keeps promising drinks but never delivers.

Even on the Citadel, you just meet him in the hospital.

They animated a whole ass bar. Let Jacob buy me a drink!

Normandy

-Kaidan has better content than Ashley in ME3.

It makes me feel bad for Ashley - in ME3 she mostly just drinks and stays in Starboard Observation.

Kaidan has conversations with other characters and struggles with philosophical questions.

Ashley deserved better.

-Of course Kaidan wonders about what other good people may be trying to break away from Cerberus and what can be done for them. Paragon of paragons who wants to help everyone.

-He also asks if TIM was ever a good person and if Shepard every saw this coming.

Shepard says no, they did not.

Also, if you go paragon Shepard says he got progressively worse.

Shepard, Kaidan, have you both blanked on everything you learned in ME1? Cerberus murdered a colony. If TIM was ever good, it was long before the games started.

-The Garrus – James shit talk is excellent. You can tell the writers had fun with it.

Citadel

-Brynn wants to name the baby after Shepard. As in, Shepard’s last name – not their first.

Obvious reasons are obvious, but it is funny to see the writers poking at no one using Shepard’s first name for them.

-I never get an email for Miranda’s third meeting. I just see her name on the map and go find her.

-Why can’t Miranda tell Shepard why she needs Alliance resources?

Giving her resources without an explanation is pushing it. She was a formerly high ranking Cerberus agent and Cerberus just attempted a coup on the Citadel. It’s a lot of trust to give her anything.

Even if you trust her change of heart - what if Cerberus was blackmailing her? Oriana’s safety for Alliance resources? Which would Miranda choose?

I’m not sure she wouldn’t give the resources to Cerberus. For Oriana, there’s very little Miranda wouldn’t do.

-I dislike that the game doesn’t let you choose how to respond to Miranda wanting to install a control chip in you.

Even if you go renegade, you reassure her it’s okay.

You should be able to be angry or agree at Miranda’s hypocrisy.

It’s just another example of ME3’s railroading of Shepard.

-The timing here is also interesting. This is the start of the Rannoch arc.

In ME2, Admiral Xen wanted to regain control over the geth.

Here, Miranda speaks about how she rebelled against her father’s control over her and how she regrets attempting to control Shepard with a control chip.

Unfortunately, Xen’s whole “control the geth” agenda is dropped in ME3 so the potential parallels are lost. The comparison of controlling synthetics by rewriting them and organics via a chip could have created some compelling contrasts. Hell, throw the indoctrinated Cerberus troops in there too.

Shepard says they would rather be dead than the controlled. How do the geth feel?

They choose the Reapers over death. Then they choose to rebel against the Reapers control and fight them too – assuming they survive.

I think something interesting could have been done with all this, and it’s a shame we never got it.

[maxiel01]

Top Gun Maverick - New Blood

Pairing: eventually Bradley Bradshaw x female reader, Pete Mitchell x female redader (parental figure)

Summary: When Lieutenant Y/N Y/LN is called for a special mission to Top Gun, she doesn´t hesitate a second. After her last deployment, she is longing for friendship and finding a family. Will it happen? Or will she be alone again?

TW: not much yet, potentionally mental health issues, anxiety, panic attacks, angst, inaccurately described military environment

Lenght of this chapter: 1552 words

AN: Hi, this is my first attempt at writing a fic based on a movie. English isn´t my first language, so be aware that there might be some mistakes. Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick are movies that have helped me a lot in the past and I have formed a deep connection with them. I hope that you will like this fic, and of course, any form of constructive criticism is welcome. Happy reading!

Prologue

You were sitting in your small apartment, reading your favorite book. After your last deployment, you finally had some time for yourself. While everyone else went back to their families and loved ones, you were stuck in a small apartment in a quiet neighborhood in California. You weren´t even from the US. Born and raised in a small city and village in Central Europe.

Becoming a fighter pilot was your lifelong dream. When the other girls were playing with dolls, you were rather out playing with cars or running around with your friends playing soldiers. The problem came when you wanted to join a military college. Because you have glasses, the army in your home country didn´t take you into their program. Well, they would take you, but not for a pilot, only for leadership, which wasn´t something you saw yourself doing in the long run. So, you started googling and googling. You spent a few weeks just on the internet, searching for information of other armies and their requirements. And then you finally found something. The US army would take you even with your glasses, if you, of course, would become the US citizen. You contacted a few of the US colleges that could provide you some assistance in that matter and after some more dialogs you found the best solution for you. You immediately moved to the US. The university helped you with everything, and before you put in your application to naval academy, you were ready to take that citizenship test. You graduated from university and took the test. Fortunately, you made it, so you became the US citizen and were able to fill your application to the naval academy. There you were met with another problem, they wouldn´t let you pilot the jets. Because of your glasses, even when you´ve been told beforehand that it would not be a problem. They then changed your course to the weapons system officer one. So, you spend the two years learning how to be the best WSO in the world. It wasn´t easy, you were a girl in a male dominated environment, and you were a foreigner, which some of your fellow students didn´t take very well, but you were finally in the plane. When you were finishing the course, one of the Captains called you into their office. There you´ve been told, that they made some changes in their naval aviators program and that with those changes, you were now fit to complete the fighter pilot course as well. You´ve been thinking about it for a while. It was your dream, but you were already behind your colleagues. After some more thinking, you made your choice. You could become the fighter pilot and after your graduation, you could switch back to the WSO and so forth. So, after your graduation, you immediately enrolled into the other course. You were able to complete it quicker than the others because some of the subjects and courses where the same as the WSO program had, so they let you pass it immediately. After that you graduated your fighter pilot program and now you´ve been able to fly as a pilot and WSO.

A week after your graduation, you were called on a deployment to Iraq. It was your chance to prove yourself. You were flying beside much older and much experienced colleagues which helped you a lot in your growth. You even managed one air kill, but it was mainly because the other guy let you take the shot. It was a success nonetheless. You were switching from WSO and fighter pilot for the whole 6 months you´ve been there. After that you´ve been transferred to Mali. It was much worse than the Iraq mission, you´ve been there for 3 months, but it was definitely the longest three months of your life. They managed to shoot you down once when you were flying as the WSO. It was a scary experience, and you were fortunate enough to not sustain any serious long-lasting injuries. Just a concussion, broken arm, bruised ribs and a lot of bruises. Your pilot had just a concussion which was a miracle. After that, you´ve been bed bound for a month, but you had to stay in Mali nonetheless. You were then helping with strategy and other things. Then after 2 more months you were finally called back home.

You didn´t know what was waiting for you there. As you were looking forward to a little bit of relaxation with your favorite book in hand, a call came. It was an unknown number so you hesitated a bit, if you should pick it up, but after two more rings you picked up the call.

"Hello?" you said uncertainly.

"Am I speaking to Lt. Y/N Y/LN?" came a male voice from inside of the phone.

"Yes, this is she. Can I help you?" you asked.

"This is Adm. Bates, I need to talk to you about your next mission, Lieutenant." came the voice again.

"I´m sorry sir, yes of course, what do you have for me sir?" you asked immediately, feeling embarrassed that you weren´t more polite before.

"You´ve been called to Top Gun for a special mission. I´m not able to tell you more now, you will get all the information when you make your way here. A base house is ready for you near the base in Miramar. You are to report to the base in the next three days. You´ve been requested by non-other than Admiral Kazansky. Do you have any questions?" he said quickly.

"No, sir, I don´t have any questions." you said with a straight voice.

"Okay, that´s all for now, I will see you, when you make your way to Miramar. Goodbye." he said, and you just returned the farewell.

"What the hell." You said to yourself and sat on the bed. You were thinking about the call. What kind of mission is that? You were supposed to have a month or two off, so this was something you definitely didn’t see coming, but it was probably important, because you had only three days to get to Miramar. “Thank god, I didn’t take upon the offer of the vacation in Italy.” You said to yourself with a sight. Oh yes, you and another girl from your squadron in Iraq made plans to go on a vacation together after your deployment, unfortunately she has been transferred to another one before the first ended, so she wouldn’t make it, and you weren’t really looking forward to go back to Europe alone.

Of course, you could probably visit your family back home, but you haven’t spoken to them in a long time. They weren’t very happy with your move to the US in the first place, and the contact since then was very brief. You didn’t blame them though, it must have been rough, the only daughter leaving country to become a fighter pilot. They would rather have you home and be a teacher or a doctor or something.

Since you basically didn’t have anywhere to go, you decided that you will just spend the time off in your apartment and maybe do some local trips. Well, that was all out of the window now, wasn’t it. As you were still thinking about everything, you started to pack your things. You took the two military bags you had from Mali, which still weren’t properly washed as you arrived just two days ago, and put all the clothes and boots in the washing machine. Then it hit you. You didn’t have the proper clothes for the mission. Your flight suit and helmet were out of question after they shot you down, and you didn’t receive the formal clothes since starting your deployment in Iraq. They said something about how in desert you wouldn’t need them and that they will sort it out later. But then came Mali, and now you were supposed to come to the base in Miramar and you didn’t have anything to wear. You considered calling back Admiral Bates but then decided against it, it would be weird calling an admiral about clothes, right? But before you could think about it more, a notification from your phone distracted you. You took your phone out of the pocket and read the message.

“Don’t worry about your clothes. We’ve been told and are working on it. It should be ready just for your start on the mission.” Came from another unknown number.

That at least put you more at ease, they knew about the clothes and were fixing it. After the washing was done, you took it out to dry. Meanwhile, you started googling any buses that would take you from LA, where you were currently living, to Miramar. It would take you about 5 hours, so you made a plan on leaving the next day. After all, better to be safe than sorry, right? With that in mind, you packed everything that you would need for the foreseeable future. They didn’t tell you for how long this mission is gonna be, and you are not taking any chances. You completed your packing around 11PM. Then you quickly showered and made your way to bed. After a lot of tossing and turning, you finally managed to fall asleep.

[accidentally-in-fictional-love]

The Simon fic with the prompt hit me like a brick.

It was SOO GOOD, i really bow before you, you’re very good at what you do. The Hotel was such a nice little unique detail, really feels like you’ve given Simon more depth which i appreciate. Overall it’s such a nice change of pace from what i normally see written for him. Thank you for “fixing him” <3

ohmygosh thank you so much 💗😭💗 like I said in the notes I have a lot of feelings about him, and when I was thinking up how to tie the prompt to his canon I was wondering how to get the reader close enough to him to say it when we don't really see a ton of him outside of his villain plot, and what we do see is everyone just beating him down the whole time because they think he sucks.

It's good for short things where you can make him into whoever you need him to be for your plot and use those brief moments to still keep him in character however you interpret him, but since the prompt is intimate that made it a little harder for me to work up to, so I decided to go a little deeper and add him to my Deep Dive List of Characters I Really Enjoy and Need to Fully Interpret My Way.

More under the cut, it's finally deep dive time and I ended up writing a ton, here we goooooo

Okay so to start, here's what we do know about him from on screen things and context clues, things mentioned in passing:

He really is good with building things. Obviously the bomb collars weren't bought online, his credit card statements mention 'electronic equipment' and they have to figure out on the fly how to disarm them, they're something they haven't seen before. He also owns a giant satellite so he more than likely figured out how to hook it up to his minicam system so he could get the feed no matter how far they travelled, as well as keep his stream from being properly locked onto. He was only training in the Academy so he never actually made the bomb squad before he was kicked out, and it all just tells me he's gotta be smart, handy, his memory must be damn good to remember what he learned before his removal, and he for sure knows how to work with tech well enough that he didn't blow himself up while building the things.

He has a temper. It's seen the most when Jeannie is saved, that entire end of the stream did him no favours with him broadcasting how she felt towards him while everyone was on her side. When he hears her call him creepy he looks hurt, but to have everyone agree switches it to anger, panic, how dare she do this to him when he was finally getting the attention he deserves. When she's saved it's just insult to injury, she gets to bring him down this time to his face pretty much, have 5000 people join in on that, and when she not only lives he becomes the target of their hate before leaving him. It's no surprise he breaks his screen after this, he's just been insulted to high hell, and he's just learned that the man who did it got a second chance after doing way worse things than he did. I believe his temper stems from other emotions first, like sadness and panic, he only gets mad after everyone leaves, when the cops show up to save Kennex and them being on site could mean his arrest or worse, and when he's already emotionally vulnerable about venting about his black marks. He's never mad right out the gate, annoyed or frustrated yes but never truly angry, so I'll bet a lot has to build up first before his temper turns vocal or physical. I don't doubt a bit of this showed itself during the loan meeting, which got him the title of unstable if he started getting overwhelmed and worked up when things started going south.

He's desperate for attention and getting it makes him emotional. This one doesn't fully show until the end, but the entire episode is nothing but him vying for attention and approval and even respect. He's been nothing but rejected leading up to this, 'unstable,' 'unqualified,' 'creepy,' 'gives a bad feeling,' he had a bad psych evaluation, so when he finally gets that approval when he tries his killing game something clicks, this is it, this is what he's been yearning for. No more doubt, the viewers love it, he gets to enjoy seeing the people who hurt him get hurt, and having those two things overlap fills him with actual joy to the point that it makes him cry. It genuinely makes me wonder just how lonely he had to be and how bad his mental health had gotten for it to build up to this point, get this bad all around, and I truly believe that having someone there for him while all the bad things were happening could've avoided his turn to villainy entirely.

He truly believes that this is justice. They hurt him, insulted him, they deserve to pay. He really is a villain here, there is no denying that, but I also think he's probably completely isolated outside of work, and all that loneliness and isolation and pain can convince you to do anything, that what you're doing is right, and this time it convinced him that revenge was the best medicine. He thinks that using them to get him the attention he believes he deserves will also help his pain, no more reminders of being rejected, it'll be cathartic, and when people start cheering him on it only solidifies that thought. This is what they want to see, now he can deliver and feel better at the same time, two birds with one stone, no more villains out there to hurt him and others while he's finally respected.

He might work from home. When he sees Kennex during the stream he appears to look him up immediately, so he might have access to the trashed data from home, or he's made it so he can access it away from work, which again ties into how smart he is. This one isn't as big, but working from home would only isolate him more and send his mental health straight into the garbage with how much I already doubt he gets out, which would make his desire for positive attention even stronger; this is something I can relate to since my only means of social interaction is through my family and work seeing as I don't have any local friends, I know how your mental health can tank when it's just you alone in your room for days with no one to talk to, think pandemic times only it never ends, so I just know if this one is true then this is probably why he latched on so hard to every other point.

He's 'creepy'. This one I cannot fathom, since we don't get to see him outside of villainy stuff, but I will also fully admit that my DD bias also doesn't believe he was creepy enough to ditch before the date even started, that is legitimately so cold. I mean, he brought roses and packed a picnic, he was clearly trying, and he did want to meet someone enough to make a dating profile, even left it up after he was dumped, although I do bet he abandoned it after that since oh my god my heart would be so broken if that happened to me, writing that part of the fic nearly made me cry. Since she did leave before the date started he must've said or done something to give her that vibe, but like in the fic I bet it was something probably along the lines of not knowing how to talk to people and having it come off wrong; maybe he was overly affectionate right away and asked for hugs or a cheek kiss that first meeting, gave off the impression of needy/clingy right away and like she'd have no choice but to leave early? Like if she said something he would put her in danger and/or not let her leave? If something like this had happened before there would probably be more warnings in the forums for people to stay away, not just hers, so my guess is that a bunch of things happened that made her too wary, and that mixed in with the callout that he may or may not have seen hurt him bad enough to make sure she was on his list. She was probably the first match he made on the site as well, or really was his first date, so finally feeling wanted and then getting burned so bad did not help his already bad mental health.

Despite his knack for tech, he wanted to open a bar. This one is so interesting to me because why of all things would he want to open a bar? He was training to be on the bomb squad, he works part-time in Data Waste Handling, and he's smart enough to build things and quite possibly code and/or hack, so why a bar? This is another thing I really had to think about while writing since it stands out to me so much, and I think I might've been onto something with his desire to connect with people; they could've given him any reason to want that loan, it could've been to help get a better place or at least expand his trailer (my aunt and uncle did that and goddamn it turned into such a beautiful two-story house, no joke you can't even tell unless you already know), it could've even been to start a different business entirely based around the previous things they built up for him, and instead he wants to open such a social thing in a future where tech is already super advanced. I truly believe he was really trying to connect with people via this desire, his attempts to date, but thanks to his black marks haunting him as well as his social and personality problems it only pushed him further into his isolation.

I don't think he ever realized that not everything was terrible because of his black marks. As mentioned above I think his isolation and poor mental health convinced him that hurting people was the right thing to do, but I also think that he genuinely could not see that not everything was because of that bad psych eval. I think that he started rationalizing things away, blamed everything on the eval, and refused to acknowledge when something was actually his fault, creating a terrible personality that did not help his cause at all. I don't think he knew how bad he himself had gotten, and as such saw no need to work on himself, since it all went back to that black mark, so all that rationalizing warped his personality and made him bitter, stubborn, and cruel.

He really did kill someone. I had forgotten about this since it's only shown on screen so you have to pause, this one will be talked about more below.

Now, here's some things that the reader's presence and I changed based on canon:

He has a second job. We don't know how long ago the loan was, but I'm guessing it had to be recent and stacked on top of the heartbreak, which was only a couple months ago according to Jeannie. I don't think he'd have been a pretty good bartender with that little social interaction, so having him work in another bar to learn the ropes and teach him first would've been very good for him while he saved up. In my fic I never had it mentioned on his dating profile since DWH seemed more professional, and since he didn't actually get the bartending job he wanted he might not have wanted to add in Waiter to that section to make himself look a little better.

He doesn't drive, or at least doesn't currently own a car. It's a small detail, and Jeannie does mention that she bailed when he went to the car to get the picnic basket, but I wanted to give the reader an excuse to drive him around. This one was a purely plot-related choice but it works so well with how much things aren't going for him. Maybe when he got evicted he lived in his car for a while, it's how he was able to keep his computer and remaining things safe, and when he was buying his trailer he had to sell it to get the money? I can see that, I should've written that in the fic itself OTL

Jeannie asked him out, not the other way around. Since the reader was there to tell him to wait, he didn't rush into things, which he might've in canon, but he still did ask her to meet him at the park. I also chose to go the tech route instead of clingy route for their date because yeah it's such a bad start to tell someone you know where they work within five minutes of meeting them. Still creepy, but in a consistent-with-my-narrative misunderstood way since the reader knows him and how that wasn't his intention, in fact he probably thought it was okay because he was blinded by excitement and the fact that the reader already gave him permission to look them up, so he figured it'd be fine to do it again in case he did want to surprise her. Dumb of ass and clueless, not malicious or dangerous.

He needed encouragement to go through with his canon choices. He still would've done them, but having the reader there to cheer him on has him go into both situations with hope and more confidence than he probably had in canon, which only makes the fact that he still had to fail hurt so much more. He also probably went in with less volatile reactions, especially with the loan, since my version of him has him actively talking with people and has his emotions more under control, so I wanted to blame his rejection entirely on the psych eval instead of what had to be a mix of both.

His self-worth is directly tied to his canon situations. It isn't mentioned at all straight out in either canon nor fic but I dialed this one down; in canon he believes that people should've respected him, which screams delusions of grandeur based on too many times getting rejected mixed in with being unable to see the problems in his own life caused by himself, and blatantly ignoring them while blaming them on his black marks. In my fic the highest it gets is him believe that he deserved basic human decency after he keeps getting shot down over and over due to misunderstandings. This isn't a man who's about to become a vigilante for the views, this is someone who just needs anybody to be there for him, tell him it's okay, help him work through where he went wrong and adjust what he did so he doesn't fail in the future. Maybe one canon presence in his life could've led to this path and the episode could've gone entirely different with someone else while he lived a normal life, but sadly it isn't which is the entire reason I'm doing this deep dive in the first place.

He was able to open the bar with the reader's help. This one is only implied, as well as the fact that he now lives with them, but I feel like if he did have someone like that on his side then he'd have had a better chance at getting that loan, and he would be so much happier and social and mentally well thanks to it. Running the place would take up a lot of his time but it would also get him outta his own head a lot more, and having so many other people around directly interacting with him as the boss instead of sometimes ordering him around as an employee would really help him fix any remaining personality issues all around as well since he'd be more aware of how he was acting and treating others.

He killed someone in self-defense, not to actually hurt them. This was a big one, since it happened before the episode and he obviously was released prior to this, and I feel like if this was an actual homicide he kinda would still be in prison, right? His mugshot looks recent (only because of filming which I get but I'm rolling with it), so it couldn't be too long ago, but it's more than likely closer to present in canon than the five years ago I timed his eviction around, since I think if that happened too close then he would just be a mess. I can't see him getting his DWH job immediately after either thing happened, going for a loan after either is so out of the question as well, and killing someone and then going on a date is just ridiculous. For canon, my guess is that an argument escalated and that temper of his as well as the unstableness and reasons for his bad psych eval all came out at once, or maybe this was a test to see if he actually could kill someone, and it either had to happen before or while he was in the Academy like in my fic, or it happened in the two months leading up to the episode, even though I can't for the life of me explain him getting out so soon if he did do it on purpose. And that's fine, it does make sense if either of those are close, they needed something dramatic to put on his rap sheet and make him terrible so he's not just randomly jumping straight to murder, but I personally like the idea of him being broken down so much that this is just the icing on the cake, another black mark on his life that'll follow him forever, and it's only through him being acquitted and a miracle that he gets his two jobs a year or two later.

Things I'd love to explore in future fics:

He might actually enjoy streaming. This one is obvious but I wanna do my own take on it! I don't know if he would be the type to stick to only games, but there is someone I watch who does whatever makes him happy now as well as games, and I think Simon might mesh with that a lot. He would obviously put a lot of weight on the numbers aspect of it (again, very me-coded, it doesn't matter how much I do things for myself, having that approval makes all the difference in the world and I know he's the same), but the reader would help him try and get over that in time. When he's able to hire more staff and spend more time at home I think he would do random weekend streams, and if he got AH's version of the youtube play buttons he would definitely cry and put it on display with pride. He would treasure all his viewers, and make his streams very personal because of that, learning frequent viewers' names, doing stuff like giveaways and shoutouts, give all the appreciation back to them.

He would need to realize he needs to work on himself, no more excuses. While he is miles better in my fic, he still very obviously has depression, emotional issues, and relies too much on what others think of him, so him working on that and finding happiness in what he does have will do him wonders. Of course having the reader there every step of the way will also help him heal that much faster as he goes through it all.

I think that's everything! I did not wake up this morning expecting to write my first deep dive on Simon of all people lol but I'm glad I did, I relate a lot to parts of him, this is how I personally see him and how I wrote my fic based around all this, and I mean no harm if any of my thoughts conflict with anyone else's who checks this out 💗

Also as a bonus, I said it in the tags but the Hotel is real :D it's an ooooold restaurant in my small town directly across from where I live, and back when I was either in or just out of highschool they rebranded from the Hotel to what it is now, had to shut down and everything as they changed everything up inside and added in a bunch of new décor to fit the theme. Everyone calls it by the new name of course, but my family never really started, so whenever we talk about ordering from there we'll say something like, 'wanna get Hotel tonight?' I too have to correct myself whenever I accidentally say it around people who don't know about the old name lol

I always add in stuff from my personal life into my fics in some way, and since Simon wanted to open the bar I thought it'd be sweet if he and the reader bonded over something food related like I did with Joshua, instead of say meeting up for drinks instead and just getting afternoon drunk every Friday since it directly went with him wanting to be a bartender.

Maybe in the future I can do a drabble about a bar date before he and the reader get together, tie in that he also started to take lessons in preparation for applying for the bar he works for at the start of the fic, something sweet like that as they get closer 🥰

[ryuto12]

RWBY Headcanon's Maybe Part Thirteen?

I'm still not sure what part it is, but here we go. Literacy headcanon's cause I've seen like five of those so here are my thoughts.

Also no hate for any of these, I have really messy handwriting and despite being forced to learn cursive in elementary have a lot of difficulty with it and it makes my writing almost unreadable.

All of RWBY can read but Ruby is dyslexic. Weiss writes in perfect cursive, Yang and Ruby's is average for kids their age, and Blake has that nine-year-old messy handwriting, but Blake is the only one to know sign language.

JP can read and write fine. NR? Not so much. Ren's handwriting is super messy, and Nora struggles with reading.

Oscar writes super fast so it looks messy, but if he slows down you'd think he was addressing a letter to a king.

CVY are all fine with reading and writing. Fox learned some brail while at Beacon so he'd figure out the correct restroom. Not a lot of learning in Vacuo tho, so he knows only the bare minimum.

Tai was taught to read and write at school, Raven taught herself as a kid, Summer faked her way through Beacon unable to write with minimal reading, and Qrow forced himself to learn after the Teams split so he could go on his own missions. They're all dyslexic.

Ivori is the only member of FNKI who can do cursive. Neon and Kobalt can't read or write but Ivori's a good teacher. Flynt is alright.

May learned to write in super neat cursive but spites her family with messy four-year-old handwriting. Fiona learned as a kid in the mines, but Joanna and Robyn had to get a crash course at the Academy.

Sun can't read or write, but SSN is helping him learn, which he thinks is entirely unessecary for his career choice, but he knows Blake loves to read so it's all for the pretty lady.

Neo can't drop the old habit of writing in beautiful cursive. Roman learned to read from Neo.

Emerald learned to read when she was little before she ended up on the streets and still loves to read. Despises cursive, can't do it.

Mercury was forced by his dad to be ambidextrous with his writing so he'd more "unpredictable", but he couldn't learn much with his dad smacking him over the head and calling him an idiot despite never actually teaching him the letters. To spite the bastard he has Em teach him in return for hand-to-hand lessons after their V6 argument.

Rhodes couldn't read so teaching Cinder was out of the question. Salem taught the young Cinder in a surprisingly quick and efficient way, with a kindness you shouldn't think an immortal witch conquering the world would be capable of.

Watts' cursive could replace the dictionary definition of neat.

Tyrian can't read, but if you ask him how to spell something he pops off with perfect spelling. Physically can't write with how many times he's broken his fingers.

Hazel the kinda guy to start his morning with a cup of warm coffee and a newspaper. Excellent reader, amazing cursive.

Salem has practiced her writing for thousands of years, it's beyond perfect. Knows so many languages, and secretly has been collecting literature for a few hundred years.

Adam didn't like reading, and quite honestly saw it as a waste of time. Couldn't read or write.

Ilia learned cause she wanted to connect better with Blake.

Ozma has the same collection hidden away somewhere, and just as elegant handwriting as Salem.

Goodwitch writes like she's sending a letter to her grandmother, with perfect grammar in the most amazing cursive.

Winter, the highly dyslexic child who didn't get diagnosed until she joined the military. Struggles with spelling, but was forced to seem perfect as a kid, a habit that stays with her even now. Only Penny knows the truth, and it dies with her.

Whitley can write in perfect cursive, he prefers the writing of elegantly turning every letter into a perfectly drawn dick to piss his dad off.

Penny can hypothetically write perfect cursive, but she gets really excited while writing and it ends up so messy. Re-written multiple times before being sent.

Alright this is enough for now, my wrists are starting to hurt. Carpal tunnel go brrrrrrrrr.