#so please leave me to my scribblings as a madman

[eriquin]

The Prophetic D&D Game, Part 7

Last bit of the second session. Who's going to get cursed next? I wonder.

(master post)

Part 7

As they argued that this was too many different ways to split the party, Eddie got up to check on the other two. They had come up with a list of things they were investigating, based on Grant’s note. He had them roll some dice for research and talked them through some strange reports from thirty years back. He gave them the name of one suspect. Sir Englund had been accused of the murder of his family but declared insane after saying it was due to a demonic influence. He was still in the asylum, so they decided to catch up with the rest of the group and share their knowledge.

“Let me see what the freshies have come up with first,’” Eddie said. “I’ll see how hard it’ll be getting the band back together.”

“Don’t you hate juggling this many stories?” Grant asked.

“Au contraire, my friend,” Eddie said. “I am a jester at heart. I love juggling.” 

He slunk back to the main table, where the freshmen were talking quietly among themselves about what to do next. They looked up when he arrived. 

“Okay,” Mike said. “We’re going to wait until Natalia’s back to ask her if her friend had symptoms. Meanwhile, Sadie is going to break into Grace Manor to look for a diary or something while Gaten and I play lookout and possibly provide a distraction.”

“Or a quick getaway,” Dustin said. “We have horses, right?”

“I think you might have a pony,” Eddie said, ruffling his hair. “But yes, you have fine steeds for a fast escape, if need be.” 

He walked Lucas through a quick raid on a noble house. Sadie was good at hiding and sneaking through the rooms, and quickly found her way to Lady Grace’s private chambers. They’d been searched by the guards, of course, but Sadie found some clues to bring back to the others. He scribbled down a note for Lucas and passed it over. Then he had him roll some dice to escape unseen. Lucas rolled poorly.

“When Sadie leaves the manor, she hears people shouting that they see someone sneaking over the wall. Gaten and Joe are waiting just around the corner with the horses—”

“And pony,” Mike said, snickering. Dustin grumbled.

“Horses and pony.” Eddie grinned. The intra-party bickering was fun, sometimes. “What do you do?” 

“I run up to them, jump on the extra horse, and yell at them to get the lead out,” Lucas said. 

There was some more dice rolling to be had, and Eddie ruled that they managed to get away without pursuit. They regrouped near the ranger’s station outside the east gate and met up with Maya and Natalia as well. With the party back together, they checked all their notes. 

“So we have a madman who might have information about the last time this happened, which was thirty years ago,” Gareth said. 

“And we have Lady Grace’s medical diary. It looks like she was having trouble sleeping and terrible headaches for some time, and then in her last few days she got some disturbing visions. She was seeing a healer about them,” Lucas said. He frowned as Eddie started writing down a note. 

“Sure sounds like a psychic attack to me,” Dustin said. Eddie kept writing and didn’t acknowledge them. 

Grant finally got his attention. “Natalia might know if Logan had anything like that happen to him, right?” 

Eddie held up his finger. “One second,” he said. It was a very long note, and he finished it and folded it up tight. “Repeat your question, please?” 

“Does my character know if the other murder victim was also under psychic attack?” Grant asked.

Eddie leaned back in his chair and rubbed his chin. “You want to roll for it?” 

“Do I have to? I mean, she’s got pretty high wisdom and obviously she’s very observant.” 

“Yeah, fine,” Eddie said. Grant sometimes hated getting bogged down in the mechanics of rolling dice when role playing, so it was easier to let him present a quick argument for why, in character, he would know these things. “Do you want a note or...”

“You can just tell everyone,” he said, waving at the rest of the table. “I’m not going to keep it secret.”

“Natalia remembers Logan being squirrely and nervous about stuff. He didn’t complain about headaches, but over the past few days he was rubbing his head a lot and getting distracted. He definitely seemed off, but he didn’t talk about it.” The group nodded and started discussing what that meant, and how to figure out if more people would be affected. 

Eddie got up and stretched his shoulders. It was starting to get late. They hadn’t had any real combat this session, but the players seemed satisfied with that. With the note he’d written tucked into his hand, he walked around the edge of the group as they talked through what the psychic attacks meant and how it tied into the past murders. Grant wanted to investigate the asylum, while Dustin said they should talk to Lady Grace’s healer. Eddie stopped behind Lucas and dropped the note into his lap. When Lucas looked up, he grinned and winked at him.

Mike noticed Lucas unfolding it and reading it over and got the rest of the table to quiet down. Lucas looked up at Eddie. “This happens now?” he asked.

“Mmm-hmm,” Eddie said with a nod as he returned to his throne. “Whatcha gonna do about it?” 

Lucas gulped. “Uh, guys. I think I know who the next victim is going to be.” He gingerly tapped his own chest. 

The room exploded in protests and Eddie leaned back in his chair and cackled at the chaos. 

Tagging: @weirdandabsurd42, @10moonymhrivertam

[banannabethchase]

Life is a little easier, somehow, with Jon around. It's weirder, it's pinker, but it's better. Until other people are involved.

~

For reference, Mox's hair is neon pink circa his CZW days. The ponytail and the pink screamed High School AU Mox.

~

This is his first time getting enough sleep his first few weeks of school, probably since sixth grade. Without soccer practice and Baller Club nonsense in the afternoons, he’s able to relax with Jon and get homework done without having to constantly perform or get distracted by Kenny. Nobody is dragging him away from his bed to do unexpected drills in the middle of the night or throwing parties where he’s the only one wishing there was alcohol. Where he pours a bottle of beer or two into a water bottle and drinks it before the night starts, just to survive it.

It's just him, and Jon, and sometimes Eddie, getting homework done in the library or at somebody’s kitchen table. Eddie’s parents are never around, Jon’s flit in and out between jobs, but Adam’s mom has told him she likes “those two boys” and Adam feels. Well, he feels safe.

“Just read it out loud to me,” Adam whines. He’s upside down on the couch, feet up on the wall like his mom hates. “The words get fuzzy after too long.”

“You’re the worst,” Jon says from the floor. He’s sitting at the coffee table, cross legged on the floor. “Your mother has asked you a million times not to do that, and I’ve only been over here four times.”

“Please?” Adam asks. He does his best to turn on the puppy eye pout, but it’s difficult from this angle.

Jon groans. “God, you’re lucky you’re pretty.” He reads aloud from the text, and they work together to answer the questions. The first in class essay is next week, and Adam is determined to get it all right. Adam shifts, rolling back to the floor in a graceless flop, so he can grab his journal and get going. Jon watches him with mild interest as he scribbles across the page. “You got dyslexia, right?”

Adam pauses. “No. What? No.”

Jon scoots closer to him, peering over Adam’s shoulder in a way that is a little too close for Adam to be breathing steady about it. “Your handwriting’s, like, inconsistent in a consistent way. And you slant in a weird way, like that.” He points to the word ‘economical’ which, okay, Adam only knows is economical because he’s the one who wrote it. But bad handwritings normal, right?

“It’s just like Eddie does it,” Jon muses. “Here, wait.” He holds up his hands like two thumbs up. “Which one is a b and which is a d?”

“Both of those are hands and I’ve got the d right here,” Adam says, not quite getting the joke but knowing when to ‘yes and’ when  the moment calls for it.

Jon shakes his head. “Keep it in your pants, Cowboy, stay focused.” He thinks for a moment, leaving Adam intrigued. “Okay, let me try something.” He grabs Adam’s computer and pulls something up. Within a few moments of Jon typing like a madman, the whole screen changes, and the words seem…clearer.

He grabs the computer from Jon, and finds it easier than ever to read the paragraph on the page. “How’d you do that?”

“It’s a font that helps people read when they have issues with it,” Jon says. “A couple years back, Eddie was in my freshman English class when he was a junior, he was having a bunch of issues. I basically bullied him into asking for help and, lo and behold, he’s dyslexic.” Jon shrugs.

“I can’t be dyslexic,” Adam says, feeling his world rock just a little bit. “I’m in AP classes.”

“Dyslexia doesn’t mean, like, you can’t be smart,” Jon says. “It just means that the way your brain processes things visually doesn’t always match the words in front of you. Some people theorize it’s three dimensional thinking forced to view the word in two dimensions, and that’s why reading’s so hard.”

Adam just blinks at him, suddenly very aware that his pants are too tight. “How do you know all that?”

Jon shrugs. “I told you. Cocaine and the library.”

“I thought that was a joke.”

Jon shakes his head. “Not at all. I got an A in Jefferson’s history class because I got stupid high and read every primary source on African colonization, just to spite the asshole.”

Adam fidgets. He doesn’t want Jon to stop talking, and he’s not sure why. “Really.”

Jon grins. “Did I tell you about the time I learned all about medieval –“

He stops talking, because Adam has always been so, so weak for nerds and Jon Moxley, somehow, is a big fucking nerd. Adam gets lost in it, the way they get a little too bold, the way their hands travel with a little more confidence. Adam finds himself swinging legs over to straddle Jon’s hips.

“I want,” Adam breathes, shivering as Jon’s mouth moves down his neck, “I want…”

“Yeah?” Jon asks, hands brushing them of Adam’s shirt, skirting along Adam’s skin, burning along the way. “What do you want, Cowboy?”

Adam doesn’t have the words for it, but the answer is yes and everything and all of you.

That’s when the car door slams.

Flailing, Adam practically launches off of Jon’s lap, loses his balance, and falls backwards into the table, his head landing with a sickening crack.

“Oh, jeez,” he hears from Jon. “Adam, are you okay?”

Adam blinks and sits up. The world is spinning a little, but he can see Jon, and he smiles. “I’m fine. And you’re fine. Because you’re pretty.”

Jon rolls his eyes. “Oh, god, he’s dying.” He adjusts his pants, which makes Adam giggle a little deliriously, then walks to the door.

“Mr. and Mrs. Page, um, Adam hit his head kind of hard, and I think he has a concussion.”

“My brain is fine!” Adam yells, but he sits up and throws up on the floor, so he might be wrong.

“Addy?” It’s his mom’s voice. “Oh, baby, not again.”

“I heard the door close and I jumped,” Adam mumbles. “Not in the same spot as third grade.”

“That’s when he hit his head trying to do a backflip off a slide,” Adam’s dad explains. It takes Adam a second to realize he’s speaking to Jon, because he was so focused on watching his mom get towels from the linen closet and spread it all over what used to be his dinner. “Smacked the top of his head on the underside because he didn’t jump out far enough.” His voice pauses. “Adam, how’d you get on the floor?”

“Kissin’ Jonny,” he mumbles, feeling more dazed than he should. Then he processes what he just said. He opens his eyes and clears them a little bit to see Jon standing there, trying to look less terrified than he clearly feels. “Um,” Jon says, glancing down at Adam. “Mr. Page, I, uh. I swear I did not cause that.”

“He was just being – being – ow.” Adam has to stop talking, because he thinks if he stops talking than the bells in his head will stop slamming. “Oh, kinda like the first one.”

“Jon, bud, will you help me haul this dumbass I call my kid up on the couch?” His dad says. Adam feels arms at his armpits and under his legs.

“Thanks,” Adam mumbles, stomach roiling again. “Oh, god, this is just like third grade.”

“Anything I can do?” Jon asks. His eyes keep darting between Adam and Adam’s dad, looking panicked still.

“He didn’t cause it,” Adam groans, and nothing is funny at all anymore. Not even a little bit. “I got startled and fell backwards.”

“You’ve got a helluva knot in the back of your head,” Adam’s dad says, eyeing it. “Bleeding like a bitch, but that’s head wounds for ya.”

“I’ve got the ice,” says his mother.

The next few hours are blurry, but Jon’s voice is there at the beginning.

“I’ve got to get home,” he says, pressing a kiss to Adam’s forehead. “But you’re the biggest idiot on the planet and I’m glad I get to put my tongue in your mouth.”

“Romantic,” Adam mutters, half asleep. “Kiss me for real?” Adam opens his eyes to see Jon rolling his eyes.

“Fuckin’ fine, you little whiner,” he says, but he kisses Adam like he means it, and that’s worth the pain.

He goes to the doctor a little while after that, his father babbling on about the logistics of solar vs. other methods energy for god knows what reason, and the doctor diagnoses him with -

“Concussion,” Dr. Wimblay says. “Just like the one all those years back, actually. Same spot, too.”

His dad sighs. “I wish I could say that’s unexpected, but our boy here’s never been careful with himself.”

Adam doesn’t want to think about how real that is.

~

He’s stuck at home, doing nothing in a dark room, for Saturday and Sunday, but the doctor allows him to return to school on Monday as long as he wears sunglasses and doesn’t look too much into the light, along with some other specifics his mother had emailed to his teachers.

“And no technology,” his mother says, like he hasn’t heard this a hundred times. “Even if they try to insist, no technology. You have a note.”

“A note on my phone, which may be a bit difficult to get if I’m not allowed to touch technology.”

There’s footsteps, then the light goes off, and his mom lifts up his sunglasses. “No sass, Mr. Concussion.”

He’s able to handle the ride to school, with only a bit of discomfort, but he’s glad he was able to call John and Anna and have them guide him from his mother’s car.

“We could walk you right into traffic,” Anna says, cheerily. “Let you crash into a wall. Push you down the stairs.”

“We would never do that,” John says firmly, his hands tight around Adam’s shoulder and waist.

“We could,” Anna singsongs. “It would be so easy.”

“You’re absolutely terrifying, you know that?” Adam mutters, and he’s glad for the ability to see basic outlines of things around him, because he can’t exactly guarantee Anna isn’t slowly poisoning everyone on campus and doesn’t want to trigger her murder response to a more immediate method.

Anna hums happily. “I do. And I love it.”

They get to AP Human Geography, where Jon is waiting. He thinks. It’s the general, vague, shape of Jon.

“Hey, Mr. Brain Injury, how ya doing?”

“Oh, shut up,” Adam grumbles, but he reaches out and pulls Jon to him for a quick, graceless kiss.

Somebody pulls on the sleeve of his shirt. “You’re aware you just kissed Jon Moxley, right?”

“Yes, John.”

“I thought you said I’m the only John you’d be willing to kiss.” Adam can hear the pout in John’s voice, and also the actual laugh from Jon.

“That was an actual conversation?!” Anna asks. “Oh, you’re on your own, blind cowboy. I’ve got shit to do.”

“If it makes you feel better,” Adam says, patting John on what he thinks is his shoulder, “his name doesn’t have an H, so it’s technically a different name.”

“Acceptable,” John says. He pats Adam on the butt, because John, and Adam feels him walk away.

An arm is thrown around his shoulders. “Your friends are weird.”

“My friends are either weird or bitchy.” He considers it. “Or both, if it’s Anna.”

“Or Matt,” Jon says, but it’s under his breath. “Let’s get you in here,” Jon says, shaking him a bit as they go through the door. “I’ll keep an eye on you, make sure you don’t get your ass flattened by a deadly chair or something.”

Adam berates him for that until Mr. Pham comes over.

“So I got your mother’s email,” he says by way of a greeting. “And, apparently, it’s real.”

Adam nods. “I’d show you the medical note on my end, but I’m not supposed to use technology.”

Mr. Pham tilts his head. “So, the typed essay? The chapter review today?”

“Oh, uh,” says Adam, “I’m not supposed to be looking at lights. Doctor says no because of my brain.”

Jon snort laughs next to him, and pats his arm. Adam rather blindly waves around and slaps Jon in the chest. “Shut up.”

Mr. Pham raises an eyebrow (Adam thinks) and looks between the two of them. “Fine. If you are concussed, I believe you, but you need to get this essay prep done somehow.”

“I can handwrite it,” Adam offers.

“And the reading?” Pham asks. “We don’t have any paper copies or audiotexts of the textbook.”

“That’s ableist,” Jon grumbles.

“Putting a pin in that for now, because you’re right, but we need to figure out the plan for right now.” Mr. Pham eyes the two of them.

Jon’s shoulder moves against Adam’s. “I’ll read it for him.”

Mr. Pham sighs. “Well, I wish I had a reason to tell you no. As long as the two of you get the practice essay and the reading completed, I’m fine with that.” He taps on Adam’s desk. “You. No more concussions this year. We have too much work to get done.”

Adam nods, and tries to look up at Mr. Pham, but the sunglasses make it almost impossible. “Yes, definitely, we can make that happen.”

Technically, it does happen. Adam’s messy handwriting gets even worse than it usually is, and the summary he writes is barely legible even by himself, but it gets done.

“I want to be nice to you,” Pham says when Adam hands him the paper. “But this is around what I get from my four year old on birthday cards.”

Adam smiles apologetically. “I couldn’t really see.”

“Alright,” Pham says, with a sigh. “Talk to me.” Adam decides he might be his favorite teacher ever, because Pham gives him the chance to explain his thought process out loud instead of just failing him on the spot. “I wanted to be nice, but that handwriting was bad enough that I think my brain was dying,” Pham sighs.

Adam rattles off what he and Jon determined to be the most important details of the chapter and its impacts on the greater global stage, and Pham nods, round blob through the sunglasses.

“Jon, I assume you’ll be writing your review, not just taking credit for Adam’s work?” Pham asks.

Jon gives him a piece of paper. “Done.”

Pham exhales. “Damn it. I was hoping to get out of grading two responses. Fine.” He takes it, then claps Adam on the shoulder. “Good work, kid. Please never make me read handwriting that bad outside of my own home again.”

~

Jon walks Adam to his next class, which is almost cute, but the Dark Order takes over from there. At lunch, Eddie makes no fewer than seven jokes about Adam’s concussion, but Adam decides it’s a friendly tease as opposed to actual malice. Based on what he’s seen of Eddie in the past, mockery is kind of his love language. That and punching.

“Seriously, man, Moxie told me all about it. It’s adorable. It’s fuckin’ embarrassing, but it’s adorable.” Eddie claps him on the shoulder, and Adam chokes on the school mac and cheese.

“I’m beginning to regret sitting at this table,” Adam grumbles. He misses the garlic bread when he reaches for it the first time. Figures.

“No, you’re not,” Jon says, and he leans close enough that Adam can see his big grin. “After school me and Eddie’ll drive you home. Sound good?”

Adam nods, doing his best to eat like a normal person. “Just don’t let me get lost.”

~

After Chemistry class, Alex finds John and they insist on going out of their way to walk Adam to French class. Nyla greets him at the door, which seems nice, until she makes fun of him for his sunglasses for three straight minutes.

“Hey, at least you’re not stuck in the barns today,” she says, patting him on the arm. “Imagine how much cow shit you’d step in.”

Adam snorts. “Fair.” The double block is longer than Adam likes, with a headache slowly creeping in that starts pounding halfway through, and begins to scream when the bell goes off.

“You good?” Nyla asks. He can’t see her face, but she sounds less mocking than usual. It’s weird. He must really look rough. “You need me to call somebody?”

Adam shakes his head, immediately regretting it. The bells are screaming again, this time internally. “Actually, yeah.” He fumbles in his pocket, unlocks his phone by muscle memory.

“Ooh, 1234, clever password,” Nyla says as she takes it from him. “Anyway, who do I text?”

“Jon Moxley,” Adam says.

Nyla makes a little impressed sound. “Look at you, rolling with the bad boys.”

“I’m not – they’re – ” Adam splutters, unsure of how to proceed. “They’re not bad.”

“It was a compliment,” Nyla clarifies. “You need a little rough around the edges.” She puts on a weird voice and sings, “Country boy, I love you.”

“Please never do that again,” Adam says.

Nyla sighs. “Not the first time you’ve heard that, huh?”

“No, first time,” he says. “Still annoying.”

“Well, I just texted your boy toy. He’ll be here soon.” She’s quiet. “Wait. I forgot you can’t see. I just winked. And I specifically texted Jon, ‘Hey baby boy I’m all done in French but I can’t leave without help from my big, strong, hunk of man.’ And then I sent about forty peach and eggplant emojis.”

“I may need to reconsider our friendship,” Adam says, snatching his phone back from Nyla.

“I doubt it,” Nyla says. “I bring a little spice to the lives of mayonnaise American cowboys.”

 Adam is saved soon after by Jon swinging by. “Hey, Ny,” he says. “I assume you’re the one who texted me from Adam’s phone.”

“I told you he wouldn’t think it was me,” Adam says.

“Worth a shot.” Nyla grabs Adam’s arm and squeezes it a little. “I smiled at you, but you couldn’t see it, so that’s my attempt at communicating.”

“O – kay?” Adam says.

She flounces off, and Adam is left in the capable – he thinks – arms of Jon, who brings him to the parking lot. “Eddie’s mom was off of work today, so he was able to bring the car. You got lucky.”

“Oh, because that’s the way I want to get lucky,” Adam says, grinning. Mox grabs his waist, pulling him around, making him stumble a little. Adam likes it.

“You wait until your brain gets better and maybe you will.” Mox presses a kiss behind Adam’s ear, and Adam is expecting this to get good, when Mox freezes. “Aw, shit.”

“Page!” shouts an unfortunately familiar voice. “What the fuck are you doing with those glasses? Hungover again?”

Adam wants to crawl inside of himself. “Leave me alone, Matt.”

“Oh, abandoning your friends, again?” Matt asks. He’s a shaded form in front of Adam through the sunglasses, but he’s able to see the absolute fury on Matt’s face. “Nice.”

“You all wouldn’t talk to me all summer,” Adam says. “Sorry for not throwing myself to my knees and begging you to like me.” He would have, though. If he’d known it would work, he would have.

Matt scoffs, twirling around the sidewalk like it’s his own personal stage. “Right. Because Adam Page would never put himself on the line for the team, right?” His stare is venom, and Adam’s headache has increased tenfold.

“You got a problem, Jackson?” Jon asks. “Because Adam here has a concussion, but I’d be happy to second for him if your pretty boy ass wants to go.” He swaggers up to Matt, who, Adam is pleased to see, takes a step back.

“I’m fine,” Matt snaps. “Just keep an eye out, Adam, because you never know when you’re guard dog won’t be around.”

He turns and flips his hair over his shoulder, which feels excessive, but Adam still can’t move.

“Fuckin’ prick,” Jon grumbles. “What the hell did you ever do to him to get that treatment?”

Adam mumbles the response, as quietly as possible.

“Come again?”

“I was drunk for our championship game, missed a pass, got the other team a corner kick, and lost the game,” Adam repeats. He says it as fast as he can, desperate not to let the shame well up in him again.

Jon lets out a low whistle. “That’s a lot of information real fast, Cowboy.”

“Yeah,” Adam says, “can we move on? Which is Eddie’s car?”

“The one he’s leaning against,” Jon says, pointing. After following his finger, Adam sees the form of Eddie fidgeting.

“Mox!” Eddie yells. “Get your Cowboy over here. I wanna go home.”

The conversation fades to Eddie’s math class, and Adam lets himself close his eyes until he gets home, desperate to sleep.

When he gets home, he waves to his parents and uses a headache as an excuse to be quiet. He sneaks a beer from the fridge and chugs it in the shower. It must be the concussion, because it works, and he’s out when his head hits the pillow.

~

Mini Playlist: Promise - Eve 6 Haven't Had Enough - Marianas Trench Afterglow - All Time Low Good to You - Marianas Trench

Bonus, because I'm a dick: Don't Lose Your Heart - Six the Musical Soundtrack

[inkybirdy]

stimky (tm)

the other reason ganon wears simpler clothes when they meet up is because link is a fucking gremlin.

[quinncupine]

Obscured Chapter One: A New Day

Part Two of Taken Series

Chapter Word Count: 1,200

Relationship: Izuku Midoriya X Reader

Link: AO3

Previously: Taken Chapter Ten

Next Chapter: Two

MASTERLIST

Notes: So here we are at part two of my Taken Series! Thank you so much for all the support and love you’ve shown me and this series, seriously, you people are the best!

...

Izuku stared at the door, his feet stayed rooted to the floor. He never felt so conflicted before. This was the first time in his entire pro career that he actually dreaded going back to work. It wasn't because he didn't want to, he absolutely loved his job. This was a more personal matter. He didn't want to leave you.

It had been two weeks since the incident. You'd tried your best to move forward, but it seemed the world still wanted to know what happened. The journalists were relentless, apparently not satisfied with the police reports and press conference Izuku was forced to hold due to increased public demand. Being the number one hero meant that everything in Izuku's life was open to scrutiny and dissection.

Even now, you were sure there was some journalist camped out in front of the house, well Inko's house, waiting for someone to come out to harass. They had never been quite this enthusiastic at any other point in your relationship with Izuku, not even for your wedding (although he wasn't the number one hero then). He usually tried to keep his personal life under lock and key so you usually never had to deal with so much attention, aside from a few unfortunate moments. This, on the other hand, changed everything.

You felt guilty enough as it was that he had to come to your rescue, but then the media started dragging him through the mud. The story of your kidnapping had spread like wildfire and people were coming out of the woodwork to berate him. It wouldn't surprise you if this would knock him out of the number one spot on the hero charts. That was a lot of guilt to shoulder and it only added to your stress and own self frustrations.

Today was the day Izuku was going back to work, after two weeks he'd taken off to help you recover and to ease his own nerves. Well, he sort of took them off. He took patrols off at least, but you saw him up at all hours of the night making calls, scribbling notes like a madman, and working on case files. He couldn't, or wouldn't just stop being a hero, it just wasn't in his genes.

But even taking those two weeks seemed to rock the hero world and all sorts of criticism had come his way. It was, by no means, a small matter when it came to Deku. He was the number one hero after all, he had a reputation and status to upkeep. Of course, Izuku had never been the conventional hero, so he ignored the critics, even went against some advice the others heroes had given him. All so he could stay with you and make sure something like that could never happen again.

"You know, I can stay another day...if you want." Izuku turned from the door. "Shoto can handle things for one more day."

Shoto. That was another issue that you'd put on the backburner. The last time you two spoke was in the hospital two whole weeks ago and it didn't exactly end well. He still blamed himself for what happened. There was no permanent damage from his attack and you'd forgiven him. It wasn't his fault, but he clearly saw things a different way. Whatever was going through his head, you had no idea how to read it. So it was Momo who'd been given the task of breaking through that thick skull of his. She was his fiancée so if anyone could do it, it was her.

"No Izu, I am fine. I promise." You grabbed his shoulders and turned him back to the door. "I've got Inko here to keep me company and the girls are coming over later."

Izuku grabbed your hand, pulling you in front of him. "Alright, but please keep your phone charged and don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."

"Okay, mom." You rolled your eyes.

He sighed. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to demean, it's just-"

You pulled him for a quick kiss. "I know and I appreciate that, I really do. But if you're distracted thinking about me all day, is that really fair to the rest of the world?"

"But I already think about you all day." He pouted, pulling your hands up to his lips. "So what's a little more?"

You smiled and wrapped your arms around his neck, leaning against him. "You think you're sooo cute, huh?"

He chuckled and engulfed you in his arms, leaning his forehead on yours. "I don't know what you're talking about."

You stared into his emerald eyes for a while, they were such an intense green that sometimes you found yourself falling into them. You opened your mouth to say something, but whatever it was died on your lips as a gushy awe interrupted you.

"You're too cute!" Inko exclaimed, her head poking out of the kitchen.

Izuku started, whipping his head around to see his mom leaning against the wall, her hands on her cheeks and hearts in her eyes.

"Morning mom." His face was dusted red as he turned back to you.

Inko jumped off the wall, suddenly aware she just interrupted something. "Oh, sorry, sorry! I'll just give you two a moment then." She retreated back into the kitchen.

Izuku blew out a laugh and leaned his forehead back on yours. He squeezed you into a tight hug.

"I'm serious." He whispered. "I'll have my phone on me all day. It doesn't matter the reason, just call."

You pecked his nose. "I'm serious too, I'll be fine."

He found your gaze and brought out his ultimate move; the puppy dog eyes. You'd been married to this man for almost three years, worked intense shifts in the E.R., and very recently faced down with an obsessive villain, yet you'd never found an effective defense against his puppy dog eyes.

"Yes, I promise to call." You raised a three-fingered salute. "Scouts honor."

He finally smiled again and leaned in for a proper kiss. You melted into him and felt his lips curve into a smile. You broke with a slight giggle and placed your hands on his cheeks, moving back to look at him one more time.

"I love you."

He stole another kiss. "I love you too."

He took a moment to compose himself before glancing back into the kitchen where Inko was peeking out from behind the wall.

"Bye, mom."

She rushed out from her hiding place and gave Izuku her signature mama bear hug, pulling him down to her level. "You remember to stay safe out there young man."

He patted her back. "Aren't I always?"

She didn't find that as funny as he did. She crossed her arms and glared until he relented, promising to stay safe.

Izuku kissed your cheek once more before grabbing his bag and headed out the door. It was still pretty dark outside, but he wanted to leave early enough to sneak past any sly journalists trying to get an exclusive.

He took a deep breath. Today was going to be a busy day.

...

Tag List! @miriobaby @thecindy @hmm-cats @awilddreamerwrites @in-this-house-we-stan-izuku @sailorstupidsblog @kehlaniwwe

If you wanna be tagged, let me know! Thank you Loves!!

[durmstrange]

Not Serious - George Weasley

Wwelcome to my Georgie blurb!  I love him so much, you don’t even know.  

Enjoy!

Word count: 1,168

You sat diagonal from Fred and George, writing down an essay that was due later that day.  You were trying to finish quickly, so you could run off towards the Quidditch stands in order to get a good seat in the front.  The essay was so close to being finished, and you simply could not wait until it was completely done and over with, mostly because Potions was your worst subject and you hated it with a burning passion, to say the least.  Every so often, you took a bite of the egg sandwich you had next to you for breakfast, but it was long passed cold.

Fred and George watched you with a mirrored amused look on their faces as you scribbled words down furiously.  “Having trouble, love?”  Fred asked you as you huffed in response.

“You could say so,” you mumbled as you retired your quill to the ink and crossed your arms over your chest.  “I am going to need the longest nap after this.”  Fred and George chuckled as you looked stressed beyond belief and moved to resting your face in your hands.  “Is it too late to decide to be a muggle?”  You asked them in moderate despair.  

George chuckled, and pulled the essay across the table so he could read it.  As Fred talked quietly with you, he read through your far too long essay.  After so long, he looked up to you and interrupted the conversation.  “We wrote this essay last year.  Would you like to use mine?”  George asked you with a small smile playing on his lips.

You looked at him, surprised and happy, and nodded.  “Please!”  You said quickly and jumped up to your feet and began gathering all your belongings into your arms.  

Fred looked up, surprised as well.  “You have all your work, still?”  He questioned his brother both incredulously and teasingly.  The look on his face was pure confusion, as he could not determine why anyone would ever hold onto their work. 

George nodded.  “’Course.  You’re supposed to keep your work until we graduate,” George told Fred and the both of you physically watched his face drain of color.  “We will catch up with you later, Freddie,” George told him as he placed his hand on his twins’ head, ruffling the matching red hair.  

You giggled as you began walking towards the door of the Great Hall, joining George at the end of the table.  “You don’t mind me using your work, right?”  You asked him as the two of you walked in sync through the corridors.  

With a loud laugh, George shook his head.  “I’ve done much worse to disobey the rules, love.  A little help won’t kill either of us,” eh told you with a wink and you smiled gently, giving him a small nod.  

You waked happily, with a pep in your step you truly lacked prior to George offering to share his work.  You were overly happy about this, and you realized that, but what you failed to realize was the loving and watchful eyes examining your every move.  He adored you in every way that he could.  You knew this, but only really took it in a loving, brotherly way due to a constant rude, nagging thought in your head that convinced you that George would never truly love someone like you.  You were sure that he just saw you like another little sister. 

George, however, had devised a strategic and convoluted plan to learn your feelings for him.  He loved you with every fiber of his being, and knew you felt something as well, but he was unsure what.  

You talked and joked as you walked, discussing the Quidditch game going on this afternoon and who you speculated was going to win.  Once in the common room, you sat at one of the tables, leaving a seat across for George, and waited patiently.  After a moment or so, George returned, holding his essay in the air.  “Got it,” he said happily. 

“Oh, George, you never fail to make me so happy,” you sighed happily to him and got to work, quickly revising your essay.  

George smiled widely.  “Making you happy is my favorite pastime,” he boasted proudly. He paused for a moment as you wrote quickly.  “So, I hear you’ve got an admirer.”  

Glancing up, you shrugged.  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.  Have you heard something I haven’t?”  You asked as you continued to write.  

George hummed.  “Perhaps.  Rumor is that there is some bloke who is madly in love with you.  What do you say about that?”  He put his head in his hands and his elbows on the table in front of you, watching your every movement carefully.  

“Not interested,” you answered quietly without looking up.  George’s heart sunk to the floor and he felt like he had been punched in the chest.  “There is only one person I am interested in, and I am highly certain it is not the same person as this bloke who is supposedly in love with me.”  There was a bitter tone in your voice that George detected.  He felt so deflated at your words, and so oddly betrayed.

You were so focused that as you finished your essay, you had failed to notice George staring at you.  “George?  What’s the matter?”  You asked as you watched him have an inner conflict with himself.  His eyebrows drew together and he frowned gently.  

He pressed his lips together for a moment as he pulled you to the side of the corridor, hidden behind a column.  “I love you,” he finally told you quickly.

For a moment, you were stunned as you stared at him, confused.  Then, you laughed quietly.  “That is a rather ugly prank, George.  It is never nice to feign love,,” you said half-heartedly and patted his arm, obviously disappointed.  With that, you stood an began walking off towards your dormitory with your essay.  

George furrowed his eyebrow and shook his head, grabbing your arm as you walked by and stood.  “I am being serious,” George insisted and you tilted your head to the side.  “I love you.  So much.  And it took me so long to tell you and I am sorry.  I can only hope and pray that I am the one person you are interested in, but I am highly certain I am not,” he explained to you quietly and sadly, and a small smile formed on your face.

“This is not a prank, right?”  You asked again, still unsure.  George shook his head, becoming more visibly upset by the second.  “I love you too, George.” 

George fell silent as he took in your unbelievable words.   Without waiting another moment, George took your face in his hands and kissed your hurriedly and hungrily.  You wasted no time in responding, kissing him back as vigorously.  Once you finally pulled away, you were breathing deeply and smiling like a madman.  “What took you so long, Georgie?”

[il0veyoujk]

Apologizes

Summary: Nefeli (20) pulls a mini prank on Yoongi whilst he is playing basketball

Warning: none

Notes: This is a mini fic I wrote before I start publishing my series. It’s still under edit so it will take some time till it gets published

This is a tickle related ff, if you are not interested in it, please keep scrolling

Lots of love Nef 💕

Nefeli was sitting on a sunbed in the backyard of her apartment, drinking a cola. The weather was a little cloudy and chilly as the 20-year-old girl, was watching her roommate and best friend playing basketball in front of her. It was currently Saturday, during Spring Day and as they couldn’t do something else due to lockdown, they decided to stay home.

“Ah, are you planning on staying here all day long?” the young adult complained to her roommate, who wasn’t paying attention to her at all. Everyone knew that her best friend is hot and all but she was truly bored.

“Yeah yeah, gimme 10” the young lad kept bouncing the ball, staring at the basket in front of him, not paying attention to Nef.

Nef groaned loudly and threw her head back in frustration, rubbing her eyes “You literally said the same thing an hour ago Yoongz, I’m bored out here doing nothing!”

“Yeah yeah, gimme 10” Yoongi repeated, focused on his target.

The girl glared at her roommate, trying her best not to chock him. She had to do something not to die of boredom. Plus she was in a playful mood again and she wanted to mess with someone. So her victim would be poor Yoongi.

She looked around her, tryna find the perfect thing to annoy him with, when her eye fell on a glass of freezing water, making her smirk widely.

She grabbed it and on the tip of her toes walked up to Yoongi, who was standing in from of the basket with bend knees. His eyes were fixed to the basket and he was bouncing the ball, while his mouth was a little open while his back was turned to Nefeli.

Nef smirked widely and before Yoongi could shoot the ball, she poured the freezing water on her best friend.

Yoongi gasped and before he could turn around, the 20-year-old had already ran for her own life inside, running away from her best friend who was chasing her with the most mischievous smirk someone had ever seen.

“Come back here right now Nef! Y’know you cannot hide!” Yoongi growled playfully as he bolted towards the giggling girl who had a red face from all the running and giggling.

Nefeli squealed when she turned around and saw her best friend almost catching her and she sped up, not really knowing what to do.

It was known that Yoongi could be really merciless when you are messing with him. Once Nef had painted his favorite shirt hot pink, Yoongi has slept on her the whole night and before she could wake up, he had poured a whole bucket of iced water on her. Who knows what he would do now?

“Gah no!” she squeaked and turned a corner, running faster to find a hiding spot, leaving Yoongi some meters behind her chasing her and laughing along with her.

What she hadn’t understood tho was that she had entered his room... and she had to hide in there... ‘Ahhh good job Nef, good job!’ she mentally sighed and rushed under the bed.

I know I know, not the best place for someone to hide... But you cannot blame her, she wasn’t controlling her actions and she was doing whatever was crashing her mind at that point.

She thought she was safe, until she saw her roommate’s white, purple, and green basketball shoes entering the room, making her gulp quietly.

“Y’know hiding won’t get ya anywhere Nef!” Yoongi sing-sang with a teasing tone, wandering around the room “This is my room, and I’m not gonna let you go like that...” he opened fastly the door of his wardrobe, looking for her.

Butterflies erupted in her stomach from anticipation whilst she was trying her best to swallow the nervous giggles with were bubbling up in her throat. She always cannot help but feel flustered every time someone throws at her even the tiniest tease. And oh, Yoongi knew that too well... They were neighbors and friends since forever, even if Yoongi is older for 7 years, it would be ridiculous if he didn’t know how to get her to do what he wants to.

“Y’know you cannot hide...” he looked behind the door, still looking for her.

What Nefeli didn’t know tho, was that her tiny fingers were wrapped around the foot of the bed. And the young lad had seen that...

“If you come out right now, I may go easier on you...” he threatened, opening the bathroom door.

She squealed.

And it was loud.

Loud enough for Yoongi to-

“Was that a squealed I heard?”

She knew she was screwed. She had no chance against him and she knew that too well, even if he was a shorty. Well, she was shorter than him but still shorty.

“Well then, if that made you squeal, I wonder what sound you’d make if I do this!” Yoongi pulled Nefeli by her foot, getting her to scream a little, and in a shift move, he threw her on the bed, straddling her “Well hey there”

“Nonononono! I’m so sohohohorry Yoongz, I’m sorry! Please don’t smahahahash me again!” Nef shook her head furiously side to side, giggling her poor heart out.

Yoongi on the other hand tho was only staring at her, with a smug grin on his face, not moving at all.

“What-What are you looking at?” Nefeli stopped moving and stared back at her best friend confused.

“I haven’t even touched you yet and you are already laughing” he raised her blouse high enough to expose her hypersensitive sides and ribs, placing his hands on her sides.

And then it hit her.

He was gonna do it...

Again!

He was gonna tickle her!

As soon as his wet hands touched her warm skin, Nefeli flinched so hard she almost fell off of the bed, making Yoongi chuckle loudly “Please not that! Anything but that! Please please please nohohoho!”

“I’m not doing anything!” he exclaimed, not moving his hands at all on her sides. They were only resting there, driving the poor girl crazy. She didn’t know when he was gonna strike and the only thing she could do was dying of anticipation.

“Yoongi I’m so sorry! Please no!” Nefeli kept giggling, as she grabbed his wrists, trying to get them off of her, but Yoongi wasn’t moving an inch. He was just staring at her, with a tiny smirk on his face.

Nef’s cheeks were burning and her stomach was formed in a tight knot of shyness and embarrassment mixed with butterflies. To be honest, she loved those moments with Yoongi, they were so fun and they were destroying his badboy and cold image he wanted to show everyone. And a part of her loves being tickled anyway. But shh! You didn’t hear that from me.

“Well I think you should have thought about it before you splash me...” and with that his fingers started squeezing her sides, speeding up with each squeeze.

The poor girl let out an inhumanly loud scream and fell in loud fits of laughter, thrashing around furiously as one of her worst spots was being attacked mercilessly. And lemme tell you Yoongi knew that too well.

“GAH AHAHAHAHAHAHA YOONGZ NAHAHAHAHAHA!” Nefeli was laughing uncontrollably, shaking her head from side to side like a madman. She couldn’t stand that, it was like billions of pencils were poking her at the same time.

“Oh, laughing already?” the boy’s smirk grew bigger as he kept kneading faster and faster, knowing that would drive her crazy.

“PLEAHAHAHAHAHASE NAHAHAHAHA!” Nefeli was squirming around so much that Yoongi was looking like he was riding a wild horse, ready to fall off of her.

“C’mon it’s only revenge, I thought you were tougher than that” Yoongi simply shrugged like he wasn’t currently attacking a screaming girl.

If you didn’t know those two knew each other for years, you’d think he had randomly made her go mad since the beginning, right? Well, wrong! Yoongi knew exactly what he was doing and knew from the start that this would get her for good. She just wanted to make her apologize. But this was gonna take him longer than he thought.

Yoongi moved his hands behind her back, scribbling on her lower back. This only made Nefeli arch her back, wiggling her torso side to side, trying to get rid of the devilish feelings, but nothing was working at all.

 “AHAHAHAHAHA MEAHAHAHAHAN AHAHAHAHA!” Nefeli was trying with all her might to push him away, even if she never meant that she wanted him to stop. Just a reflex.

What she hadn’t realized tho was that the more she was tryna push him away, the more she was reaching the edge of the bed.

“Nah I’m not mean yet...” he sang, bringing one of his hands on her hips, drilling his thumb there, while the other hand kept scribbling her lower back.

Nefeli’s laughter rose at least 3 octaves and she started kicking her legs furiously. She tried many times to bring her knees to her chest, but Yoongi’s tiny body wasn’t letting her do that. Oh well, it wouldn’t help anyway.

Yoongi’s thumb on her hip was moving in a fast, circling motion, touching all her nerves, and getting as reactions loud laughs and screams. The boy was only grinning like Cheshire Cat at his friend, clearly enjoying that. And to be honest, so was Nef.

“AHAHAHAHA NAHAHAHAHA LEMME GAHAHAHAHAHA!” Nefeli was thrashing around like no end, trying to get rid of her roommate and the feeling. She was kicking her feet and legs furiously, not doing much at all tho.

“Ah, you want me to get your feet, little one? Sure!” Yoongi happily exclaimed and turned around, and sat on her ankles. He pulled the poor girl’s tiny toes behind and scribbled all over her hypersensitive feet, making her howl in loud hysterical laughter.

“GAHAHAHAHAHA NAHAHAHAHA PLEAHAHAHAHASE!” Nefeli was punching the mattress hard, thrashing around and shaking her feet and legs manically, trying to stop the sensations as much as she could, but she wasn’t doing much anyway. Yoongi was way stronger to even move from his place.

His fingers were dancing torturously fast up and down her soles, focusing on the very middle of her foot, knowing from experience this would drive her mad.

Nef was pushing his back, punching and kicking hard, screaming and shrieking like her life was depending on it, but nothing was helping the matter. The feeling of fingers on her hypersensitive feet was remaining the same and never change. It remained the same torturous feeling she ever knew.

“Coochie coochie coo Neffie!” that’s it, Yoongi had killed Nef with three simple words. One thing she cannot take is those three words, everyone knows that! And of course, Yoongi just HAD to do that.

Nefeli’s face turned a new shade of red and immediately her laughter went up an octave “NAHAHAHAHAT THE WAHAHAHARDS AHAHAHA!”

“Aw, what happened? Can’t take three innocent words?” ah teases were an extremely weak spot of her, and her best friend knew that and was fully taking advantage of it.

However, when the fingers touched her toes and their base, the scream she let out could wake up even dead people.

“Jackpot” Yoongi smirked widely and focused on that spot, squeezing the toes of one of her feet and scribbling on the base of them on the other, while cooing and teasing her nonstop “Look how cute and tiny your feet are”

Nefeli’s face was all red and sweat was all over her face along with the widest smile someone has ever seen. Hysterical laughter was coming out of her mouth. Mixed with hiccups and loud squeals every now and then.

She was pushing herself more and more to the edge of the bed, by pushing his back to set her feet and legs free. However, when she finally did, she hadn’t realized how close to the edge of the bed was, till she fell off of it. Well not completely. Yoongi sat on her thighs before she could fall, so only her midsection and head were off of the bed.

Uh huh... All her spots weak spots were fully exposed...

Yoongi’s smirk grew bigger as he looked down at his roommate hanging there upside down, fully exposed and nervousness in her eyes. Nefeli on the other hand was trying to keep her blouse in place, but it was useless since she couldn’t even keep her arms to her torso. Thankfully, she was wearing a sports bra under the shirt and nothing was revealed. And now you’ll ask me, why don’t her arms touch the ground? Well, lemme tell you that Yoongi may be short, but Nef is way shorter. And the bed is too tall for her, especially in the position she is in.

“Well well well... What do we have here?” Yoongi placed his hands on Nef’s sides once again. Only this time making her flinch harshly. “A too sensitive Nefeli... She better apologize soon”

“N-NEVER!” as stubborn and confident as that reaction was, so nervous and panicked Nef was inside. She knew she wasn’t helping herself at all...

“Well, this is gonna tickle” Yoongi threw her a wide grin and started squeezing her sides up and down with no mercy at all, watching Nef as she started cackling.

Well, lemme tell you when you are being tickled in that position, everything is 69474055892600 times worse.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA NAHAHAHAHAT THAHAHAT HAHAHA!” the young girl threw her head back in laughter, trying to keep her arms pressed on her torso, but she just couldn’t, it was impossible!

“Tickletickletickletickle Neffie~ I’m sure you love it!” Yoongi kept going and going, squeezing faster and faster and faster, while the poor girl could only hang there and laugh uncontrollably.

Nefeli felt electric shots hitting her body while her face was heating up more. Her arms were hanging above her head, only able to cover her already blushed face, and howl in loud laughter.

“PLEAHAHAHAHASE LEMME GAHAHAHAHA!” she was thrashing around in the air, careful not to fall down, but it was really hard to stay still. Thankfully, Yoongi was sitting well on her and she couldn’t fall down or escape at all.

“What is it Nef? Why are you laughing? Ah, sometimes, you are so weird!” Yoongi teased with his sing-song voice, making everything way worse for Nef.

And if you thought things couldn’t get any worse, I’ll tell you that Yoongi moved to her ribs... He kept scribbling, pinching, kneading, and squeezing her poor ribs, bringing to the surface hysterical laughter.

“Ahh, I think I don’t feel all your ribs... Lemme check” if Nefeli’s eyes go wide they would. Rib counting was probably one of the most sensitive things she could ever experience, along with toe playing “Oneeee...” he clawed her bare lowest set of ribs, sending her in a new round of cackling.

“AHAHAHAHAHA MERCY NAHAHAHAHAHA!” she managed to grab his wrists weakly.

“Twooooo...” Yoongi poked all over her second set of rib, making her loosen her grip a lot around his wrists.

“PLEAHAHAHAHAHASE NAHAHAHAHAT THEAHAHAHAHARE!” Nef started kicking hard again, shaking her head worse than before. She even tried to arch her back, but every time, she would fall back again from how much she was laughing.

“Threeee...” he squeezed fastly her third set of ribs, making her buck her hips in the air again.

“COUNT FAHAHAHAHASTER AHAHAHAHA!” Nefeli was screaming louder than she had ever screamed at this point from how much it tickled. Her ribs had always been one of her worst spots, and being attacked there was really heaven and hell for her.

“You want me to count faster? Alright then. Onetwothreefourfive...” Yoongi evilly started poking fastly all around Nef’s ribs, focusing more on the spaced between the bones and her middle ribs, making hers cream again and thrash around like a fish out of the water, laughing uncontrollably.

“Ah, I’m wondering what this noise is, it sounds like laughter...” his eyes never met the spot he was attacking, looking everywhere but her, pretending to try and listen to something more carefully.

If one thing was working on Nef, that was teases. They were driving her crazy and were making her look like she was an alive tomato.

However, the time stopped for her the moment Yoongi stopped and bent down, almost touching her stomach, whispering “I’m gonna do it...”

Nefeli widened, her eyes, knowing full well what he meant. Something Yoongi clearly knew she couldn’t stand.

“No... Nononono Yoongz please no! Have mercy!” the young girl was panicking, giggling like a maniac before he could even touch her. She knew what was coming. And it was never good...

“Aw, what do we have here? Such a sweet tummy...” Yoongi was alternating his eyes between Nefeli and her belly, making him look like he was ready to attack anytime soon. Well... He was anyway.

She covered her face with her hands, already feeling tingles “Nohohoho! Please don-”

“Lemme eat it!” and with that, he made a diving motion and started nibbling all over her sides... NIBBLING! HER! SIDES! He couldn’t have chosen something else, no... He simply HAD to nibble her! He just had to do that...

Nef was thrown into hysterics as soon as his teeth touched her skin. Nibbles had always been her hugest weakness ever since she was a baby and everyone knew that.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA NAHAHAHAH YOONGAHAHAHAHA!” at this point he actions could not be described. She was kicking the mattress, punching and throwing her arms in the air, and wiggling her torso around, like a wild animal.

It tickled so much she was thinking she would explode anytime soon. Thankfully, she didn’t of course!

“Agh! Stop shouting and lemme eat you!” Yoongi chuckled as her shrieks became louder, every time he was talking on her skin, messing and playing with her every so often.

One of his hands started kneading her hip while the other one was furiously digging in her armpit as he kept nibbling all around her midsection with no mercy.

“AHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHATE YAHAHAHA AHAHAHA!” obviously Nefeli never meant it every time she was throwing that at her friends, especially Yoongi. But it was the only thing she could say at that moment.

“You are hurting my feelings Neffie... I think I wanna cry!” and with that, Yoongi blew numerous abnormally sensitive raspberries all over her torso, sending her in a new round of manic laughter. “And you even splashed me some minutes ago, what did I ever do to you?!” his teases weren’t helping the matter, of course, only adding to the feeling, mentally.

“PLEAHAHAHAHASE MERCAHAHAHAHA!” Nefeli didn’t know what to do to even stop him. She had started moving, only screaming and laughing. Mostly screaming, to be honest...

Tears were rolling down her rosy cheeks, as her laughter suddenly turned silent. Her stomach was aching from how much she was laughing and her cheeks and throat were burning

“I’M SAHAHAHAHAHARRY!” Nefeli managed to scream, and immediately Yoongi helped her sit up.

He pulled her into a tight hug, stroking her messy hair away from her face, giving her a glass of water “Are you alright?”

Nefeli only managed to nod, panting hard as she was gulping down the water.

“Heheh, it was fun” Yoongi smirked as Nefeli glared at him playfully, too tired to even react “You have to admit it was fun!”

“Okay okay! It was!” she rolled her eyes, drinking the rest of the water.

A loud thud made both of them flinch hard and then giggle loudly at each other “It’s raining” Nefeli looked outside, watching as people were running with newspapers and umbrellas to get into their house or cars to go home.

“Avengers marathon it is?”

“Yes!”

Lemme tell you they both fell asleep on each corner of the couch under the duvet, while Steve was dancing with Paige on the screen in front of them...

[yakuzacasual]

How would Daigo and Kashiwagi make it up to their S/Os for being busy/away a lot? Your writings are so sweet btw!!

PREFACE

Hello there, Non. Makes me awfully happy to know you find them sweet and here I go with more of that, so please be aware that overdosing sugar is bad for your health and such. Read at your own risk! Thank you so much for leaving me this one, it’s always nice to scribble something for our lovely man Kashiwagi and it is incredibly lovely of you to also include Daigo who is totally not my love and it’s not like it felt good to be writing for him for the first time or anything. No, but for realz now, stan our overworked kings. They deserve all the appreciation and so do you, Non. Hope you enjoy and have a delightful day!

MAKING UP FOR LONG ABSENCES WITH Daigo, Kashiwagi

DAIGO DOJIMA

As much as he’d like it to be different, Daigo Dojima is bigger than life as the long-standing Tojo clan chairman and will never belong solely to you. He knows it and so do you if you have decided to pursue a relationship with this man in the first place. There is always something to be done - a decision to be made, a problem to be solved, asses to get beaten - and he is the one pulling strings behind every single little thing Tojo does, or so he would like to believe. Truth be told, he is very much aware of the fact that barely anything is actually in his control with bigger families running rampant as times rapidly change. In a dangerous environment like that with high stakes and multiple human lives riding on his decisions, he feels like there is no time to rest his soul when he is always required to stay on top of his game. Always one step before everyone else. Thank god he’s got his closest advisor, Kashiwagi, to keep him rooted to reality whenever he lets responsibilities burden him too much. He always makes sure to arrange some quality time for the chairman to spend away with his partner. 

He gets both very excited to see them again and extremely guilty for leaving everything to Kashiwagi and his closest supporters like that. Even when he promises to just just disappear, Daigo still tries to leave at least one contact route open in case of emergencies. And will end up checking it every fifteen minutes like a madman despite the fact that everyone knows not to use it, Not even if everything is on fire. It will be up to his partner to pry the phone from his nervous hands but surprisingly enough it doesn’t take too much coaxing to make him forget and relax. You’ve been apart for so long, that he melts under the tiniest bits of your touch. Soon he realizes just how much he has been aching for it and hopefully enough so have you, because this touch starved man is not letting you off the hook easily now!

Get ready to spend entire days at home with him doing typical home things including all kinds of chores, cooking together or having fights over who’s going for takeout and movie nights with the crappiest CDs snatched from the sale basket. That is, if he even lets you get out of the bed for the day. Daigo has at one point discovered that nothing can really beat not having any obligations, no need for a stuffy suit and oiled hair, just you and him under the warmth of your shared blanket as he cling onto your body like a lifeline. He will even volunteer to make breakfast if it means he gets you to stay there for a longer while with him! If sleeping in is not your thing and you would rather still do something more productive, Daigo will go all kinds of lengths from getting you a personal computer that would be comfortable to work in bed with, having a bed with hidden bookshelves containing anything you’d like to read or maybe just a TV to keep you both entertained with your favourite show, as he snuggles into you. It does feel a tad selfish for him, but if you’ll indulge him for a little while, he will definitely make sure that the next time he’s free you are the one calling shots.

OSAMU KASHIWAGI

No matter how much everyone nag him to finally take a well-deserved break, Daigo more than anyone else despite the fact that Kashiwagi is probably the closest thing he has to an ally in the family these days, this man does not bend. While the idea of retiring and finally getting all the time in the world to spend with his partner is incredibly tempting, he knows there is still much to be done and way more that he can offer for the family falling apart at the seams. This in turns means that Kashiwagi is often absent, absorbed in his work for weeks at a time. Sometimes he finds leeways, little tricks or people to get the job done quick and sneak out to his beloved. Other times they will be left communicating through mails and nothing else for months.

Being a higher up yakuza is just like that, but his conscientious character certainly does not help. At the end of the day he is very much used to this state of things and there is not much he feels like he can do about it without agreeing to retire. However he does realize that it must be very taxing for his partner and is eager to make it up to them on any occasion when both of them are free. Everyone in the family knows that whenever he makes these kinds of plans, there is simply no getting through to him. His phone is turned off, hours and days are crossed out in the calendar hanging in his office with the thickest red marker money could buy. Whenever Kashiwagi is spending time with his partner, he is there for them and them only. Even his eyes dare not wander too far, as there is simply nothing worth his attention more, than them. He belongs solely to you for however long their peace can last.

While spending time alone with them is certainly a nice change of pace, he is not an enthusiast of staying in. He’d rather be taking them out on dates to fancy restaurants and bars, watch movies in drive-in cinemas or, when feeling more spontaneous, go for a road trip to wherever with nothing but the car, the partner and himself. It usually ends up in an absolute disaster because this man is anything but good at dealing with the unexpected. What a beautiful disaster it is, though! Whatever comes their way, both of you end up making the best of it, laughing like there is no tomorrow and having a lot of fun together. There is nothing that Kashiwagi can’t face when he has his beloved beside him after all. You end up discovering some pretty amazing places and gorgeous views just outside of Kamurocho. Ones that quickly become special to him, as he finds himself coming back again and again together with you. Through these travels, he has discovered his particular fondness towards organizing cozy little picnicks on the more serene outskirts of the town, which have definitely slithered their ways into his future date routine. Do try to surprise him with some ideas of your own on how to spice up your outings, he’ll be more than happy to oblige and let you surprise him.

[hermit-pistol]

stubborn (oldseph x reader)

anonymous asked:  why hello there! i'd like to request a part 3 joseph x reader where the reader is a crusader and joseph's always trying to protect her, but she's always trying to prove herself to him and then they fall in love! thank you so much my joseph fan friend!

Oldseph is literally the light of my life, okay. I don’t usually write super long stuff like this but I was so moved because Oldseph. Here ya go! 

You had never guessed that you would find yourself in this situation: traveling the middle east with a few grown men and a couple of high school students thrown in for good measure.

The dynamic was a bit awkward at first, to say the least. While you were in your mid-twenties and were capable of handling yourself, being surrounded by men always had its downsides.

They always thought that you needed protection, which wasn't true in the slightest. You knew what you were getting into when accepting the offer of defeating DIO once and for all. You even had a stand of your own. Yet, it was always "You should stay out of this, Y/N." or "It's dangerous to go there alone. Let me come with you."

It drove you insane, to say the least.

You've told the other crusaders countless times that you were okay and they left you to your own devices. Except for one. Joeseph Joestar.

He had to be the most stubborn man that you've met in your entire life. After your pleading and constant requests to leave you be, he would still watch you like a hawk all day every day.

Although you had to admit that you found his dedication to you quite flattering. Or...maybe you just craved the attention. You couldn't be sure.

Today was another hectic day, with the gang chasing after another enemy stand user that went by the name of Hol Horse. Just a few short moments ago he had shot your beloved comrade Avdol point-blank. After cornering him; however, the slippery cowboy had evaded their grasp. Luckily they wasted no time chasing him down, and they were quickly closing the distance.

"Get back here! I'll kill you for what you did to Avdol!" Polnareff shouted, Silver Chariot attempting to stab at his heels. Hol Horse had now begun shooting with Emporer at the sand, creating a cloud of dust that had made it hard enough to see just about anything. "Shit!" It was later discovered that Chariot's rapier was stabbing at nothing.

"You'll never take me alive!" Hol Horse had begun shooting like a madman now in a desperate attempt at escape. You had kept up with the rest of the bunch this whole time, but Joseph wasn't having any of it.

"Y/N. You have to stay behind me." He glanced back at you to see that you were following his careful orders. You could feel your blood beginning to boil.

"Excuse you? I can take care of myself, thank you very much." Your stand expertly deflected the stray bullets that were flying here and there. Joseph used his Hermit Purple to create a net around you, lifting you off of the ground.

"Hey, what the- you've got to be kidding me right now..." you were now suspended above the sandy terrain, your stand trying to free you from the vine's grasp. It was no use, as Joseph used a spark of Hamon to keep your quest for freedom at bay.

"Sorry Y/N, I know that you're mad. But Hol Horse isn't taking any chances. He's gone crazy, and we can't risk losing you."

You slumped to the bottom of the makeshift net, the sounds of gunfire still ringing in your ears. The statement really should have been: 'I can't risk losing you' at this point. All of the other crusaders have respected your wishes, but Joseph always went that extra mile to make sure that you were protected and safe. Maybe it wasn't all bad, but you figured that another talk with the old man would just do more harm than good at this point.

A couple of minutes had gone by, with you still trapped in your makeshift prison. It was only when you heard the screams of a certain cowboy that you stood up and leaned lightly against the thorny wall.

Hol Horse had finally been caught. Kakyoin was interrogating him about DIO's whereabouts while Jotaro's Star Platinum had him in a chokehold. "Please, please lemme go! I'll tell ya where Mr. DIO is!" He cried, and Joseph let out a low rumble of a laugh. It was strangely...attractive?

"You really think that we're gonna let you go, huh?" He removed his hat to scratch his head. You watched him run his hands through his salt and pepper locks, and from your practically-aerial view, it looked particularly soft?

No....you were not getting feelings for Joseph Joestar. 69-year-old Joseph Joestar. This can't be happening.

Hol Horse was having none of Joseph's teasing. "Please, I'll do anything!" He pleaded. Joseph looked over to Kakyoin, who looked to Jotaro and so on and so forth. No one looked at you, still trapped in vines. You couldn't help but roll your eyes at the idiotic display.

While everyone was exchanging glances to decide what to do, you were the only one who had noticed Hol Horse reaching into his boot. He had something up his sleeve. "Guys, he's got a-!" you tried to shout out to reach the others, but it was no use.

There was an extra gun stashed away that had been neglected in the patdown after his capture. He shot at the sand once more and then ran as if his life depended on it...which it certainly did.

Jotaro pointed in his direction, ready to send Star Platinum into a frenzy. Kakyoin stopped him before he could begin his assault. "It's not worth it, Y/N was the only one who could have possibly prevented that escape from happening." Joseph began to turn around and walk back to where they had thrown their supplies before Kakyoin could call him out. "Now where do you think you're going?"

"Ah, me?" He instinctively put his hand on the back of his neck. "I was just getting a drink! Was probably gonna grab something for Y/N too." He gave a thumbs up.

"Why am I still trapped in his hellhole?" You yelled down to the group. Joseph quickly released his Hermit Purple and you were safely brought back to the ground. "You are so thick. What makes you think that I can't take care of myself, huh?" Out of frustration, your hand had rested itself upon your hip.

"I was just trying to protect you!" He threw up his hands in defense. "That Hol Horse guy is crazy-"

"You wanna know what's crazy? Taking me out of the chase and lifting me into the sky so I wouldn't be in harm's way." You bit your lip in order to avoid saying something that you would later regret.

Before things could get more heated, Polnareff was the one who finally decided to break the tension. "I think that everyone is just tired since we've been out in the sun all day. Tensions are still high from the loss of Avdol, agreed?" Everyone gave a solemn nod. Losing their friend that day had taken a toll on all of them, Polnareff especially.

"He does have a point," Jotaro spoke, folding his arms. "Today's been a rough day for us all. And to top it all off...I'm starving..."

"Me too..." You couldn't deny the sounds that your stomach was making. All of that rage and aggressive towards Joseph had made you work up quite the appetite.

"I've got a great idea! Let's go somewhere special for dinner tonight. To make up for what I did to Y/N." Joseph gave a grin. It made your anger dissipate almost immediately, but you would never let him have the satisfaction of knowing that. "Even better, I'll pay!"

"Fine, but only because you're paying..." You grumbled as you gathered the rest of your earlier confiscated belongings from the heap of supplies on the ground. At least you were being treated to a good meal. ---- After arguing for a solid 30 minutes about where to eat for the night, you all had finally decided on a steakhouse. Even though they were in India, Joseph had insisted on sampling a classic "American" burger because he was feeling homesick.

The waitress that ushered you in was very polite, and soon the 5 of you were settled into a booth, with you and Joseph sitting on one side, and Kakyoin, Polnareff, and Jotaro sitting on the other.

"Can I get you guys something to drink?" The uncomfortably jovial waitress asked around the table and just wrote down a little scribble here and there.

When it was finally your turn, you asked for an iced tea. But not before being cut off by Joseph who insisted that water was the better choice. Thankfully, the booth was so cramped that you could dig your elbow into his side, making him howl with pain. "I'm so sorry about that. If I could get an iced tea that would be great!"

When the woman was out of earshot. Joseph turned to you, still rubbing his side with his prosthetic hand. It accidentally brushed against you, and the chill of the cool metal sent shivers down your spine. "Now, what was that about!"

"I can order a damn beverage for myself, Joseph."

"Someone could have poisoned the iced tea and we don't even know!" He raised his eyebrows along with his voice.

"I'm done fighting. Let's just finish this dinner and find a hotel...I'm exhausted." You sighed, resting your read on the table. Even though you couldn't see it, you could practically feel Joseph's eyes on you.

The rest of the dinner continued in silence. Everyone stared at their plates when the food came out, and so far the only interaction that had occurred during their outing besides the outbursts from Joseph was when Polnareff started choking on his burger.

"This is what I get for eating American food..." He managed between coughs.

"A rather silent bunch tonight, aren't we-" Kakyoin eventually broke the silence, reaching across the table for the ketchup bottle.

"I just don't really feel like talking, that's all." You answered, just pushing around the leftover food on your plate. In reality, you were just trying to process these newly-surfaced feelings for Joseph. You must have been so spaced out that he noticed.

"Hey, space cadet!" He waved his hand in front of your face, causing you to snap out of it. "You okay, Y/N? You've been acting awfully strange."

You could feel a blush creeping up on your features, so you attempted to cover your face. "I-it's nothing, really. I just- haven't eaten beef in a while and it's upsetting my stomach, that's all!" Really? Like he would believe that.

"I've got some medicine in my bag I can give to ya when we're back at the hotel. I don't want you to be in pain." Curse him for caring about you!

"I'll be okay, let's just get out of here." Joseph shrugs and calls the waitress over to bring the check. The rest of the restaurant outing goes smoothly, you guys even got the fancy mints! You each pitched in for the tip, despite protests from Joseph, and made your way back into the stifling desert air.

The hotel check-in was a relatively painless process as well, Jotaro and Kakyoin had decided to room together, and Polnareff offered to share a room with Joseph. That left you with your own room for the night.

Since you usually traveled in even numbers, finally having a room to yourself for once was pretty nice. Although, you wished that it could have been under different circumstances. When you entered your single suite you all but ran to the bed, throwing your bags on the ground. The soft sheets welcomed you and lulled you into a deep sleep.

That was until you were woken up from your precious slumber by a sharp knock at the door.  

You checked your phone, seeing that only a couple hours had passed since you had checked in and bid the rest of the group goodnight. Looking out the window, you could tell that the sun had already set, giving way to a night sky accompanied by a slight breeze. Nights in the desert could be pleasant sometimes.

"Coming!" You shouted, looking in the mirror quickly to make sure that you didn't look like a complete and utter mess. After giving yourself the once over you peered into the peephole to see Joseph. He was clutching a bag and some water. 'Oh yeah, the medicine.'

You opened the door, and he gave you a wide smile. "Good evening! I came to bring you that medicine. And I got some water too!" He playfully shook the bottle in his hand. What a goofball.

"That's very sweet of you, Joseph." You felt the corners of your lips tug upward, threatening to form a smile. God, you couldn't deny how charming he was. "Why don't you come inside."

"Okay, if you insist!" He stepped across the threshold and shut the door carefully behind him. He handed you the medicine and water and walked across the room to sit on your bed. "I see that you already broke this bad boy in." He gestured to the sheets, which had still been rustled from your nap.

"Yeah, I was exhausted after everything that happened today." You decided to be bold and sit down on the bed next to him. He almost flinched a little when he felt the bed covers dip beside him. Was Joseph Joestar getting a little flustered?

"Y/N, now that we're here. I actually have something else to tell you." The grip on your water bottle tightened, and you took a shaky swig.

"Oh yeah, what's that? You finally want to apologize for all those times that you got in my way?" You tried to avoid eye contact as much as possible.

"No, actually. I find myself doing those things because I can't stand to live in a world without you. I really you Y/N-" The last sentence came out a little rushed, but your eyes went wide.

You were holding the water bottle so tightly at this point that it was a bit uncomfortable. Being taken aback by the confession, you just sat in silence for a bit. Finally, after a few seconds of unbearable quiet, you spoke up. "Well, that explains a lot actually."

"It does, doesn't it." Joseph moved a little closer to you, now gently holding your free hand. "I don't mean to sound like a bother to you, but I just can't stand to see you hurt. I know that you are probably more than a little uncomfortable with the age difference, anybody would be but-" You cut off his rambling with a quick kiss.

You giggled as you watched his face turned red. He was completely speechless for once. "You really need to learn when to shut up sometimes. I've been denying my feelings for too long as well. It's about time that I was completely honest with myself."

"You- you really feel the same way?" Joseph was absolutely bewildered at this point, for he was not expecting this response. You nodded your head in response.

"But, from now on if this is gonna work out, you gotta let me off the leash a little. Or else I'll have to... tickle you or something." You set your water bottle on the nearby nightstand and stood up.

"Empty threats, empty threats I say." Joseph blew a raspberry. He also stood up, and you noticed the size difference between the two of you. His tallness was insanely attractive, to the point where it wasn't fair. "Well, I better get going."

"You don't have to if you don't want to, it gets lonely here at night." You shot him a pleading look, slapping the covers where he once sat.

He walked over to you and picked you up, your legs were now wrapped around his giant torso. "You would like that, wouldn't you." Your lips were dangerously close to touching, but he decided not to close the distance, much to your dismay.

"Well, it sounds like a good idea to me." Your arms were draped around the back of his neck. They reached up to play with his hair, and you cherished the feeling of his soft strands. 'His hair really is that soft...'

"You're gonna have to let me grab my clothes then, I'm not sleeping in these." He was still wearing his daily attire.

You slid off of him reluctantly. 'I guess I'll let you go then. Don't take too long."

"No promises!" He teased, exiting your room, leaving you to shut the door behind him. You leaned against the door before closing it, admiring his retreating assets. 

After shutting the door, you leaned against it and smiled. That was quite the unexpected turn of events. At least you found out the reason behind Joseph's constant nagging, and quite honestly you wouldn't have it any other way.

[mrs-i-have-too-many-biases]

Bang Chan// Sun and Moon (-light)// Chapter three

Summary: Sun and Moon, different from another, but both unmissable in the world. The sun is warm, it provides daylight. It represents life, strength and growth. The moon, the brightest and largest object in our night sky. It makes the earth more livable and represents admiration, change, mystery and feelings. The sun is untouchable and unreachable, but what if his ,independent, sun(-shine) becomes his world? Tropes: Enemies to Lovers Season: Spring Pairing: Bang Chan X Reader AU: | Delinquent!Female Reader | Vice President!Bang Chan | School!AU | Non!Idol AU | Genre: Fluff/ Angst Word Count: 7,5K Warnings: Themes of bullying, Themes of Abuse, swearing, insults, Requested: Yes (Reference) A/n: For the sake of the fiction, Chan is a twat in the story, but only for imagines purposes only. We all know better than that.

Y/n huffed impatiently as she waited for Chan to arrive finally. She laid her head on the table as the morning sun shined on her face through the windows. He had told her that he would’ve been a little later due to his training sessions, which obviously came with being the star athlete of the school.

She was munching away at the table she and Chan kept claiming every session. She had secretly sneaked some food into the library. The librarian, who knew Y/n by now quite well, let her however, without letting anyone else know of course. Y/n would’ve stayed at the 24-hour library to take a nap, away from home before she was close with Changbin. The librarian, better known as Adelaide. She was an elder lady who was very modernised. She had tattoos of her own that she would love to talk about with Y/n. She would often act like a grandmother to Y/n, something and someone Y/n never had. This was she got to experience that a little.

When Y/n heard a gasp she knew Chan had arrived, the smell of chlorine that filled her senses also giving it away. “Y/n! You can’t eat in the library!” Chan whisper yelled as he was about to snatch it away from her. “I can.” Y/n smirked as she kept on eating whilst looking Chan deadly in the eyes. “Don’t worry, Adelaide doesn’t care, when it comes to me at least.” “Why did she gave up on you already?” Chan joked, making Y/n roll her eyes.

“I came here to study, I also waited for you for an hour and I brought you snacks. So, instead of being a little twat, sit down and let’s do this. I could’ve been done already.” She sighed slightly in annoyance. “Alright, alright. But still I think it’s a little odd to eat here.” Chan mutters, yet still taking the pack of snacks form Y/n’s hands. “Adelaide will be find with it, unless it’s a complete dinner, that she doesn’t appreciate.”

After an hour, Y/n still couldn’t understand the exercise they had been discussing. “How can you still not get it! We’ve been over this already for the umpteenth time!” Chan cried out tiredly. He ran his hands through his now fuzzy hair. He looked like a madman and he blamed Y/n for it, because that what she did, she drove him mad. Especially right now.

“C’mon Y/n, we have class in ten minutes.” “You expect me to get this magically in the next ten minutes, even though we just spent an hour on this one thing.” “Alright, let’s continue this after school then. Because we have a test in a few days and you need to get a good grade.” Chan yawned. “Fine.” Y/n sighed as well as she started to pack up her stuff.

“When are you free?” Chan asked her. Y/n looked at him surprised whilst raising an eyebrow. “I thought I was the one who needed to adjust to your schedule?” She smirked turning his words against him, making him cringe in process. “Y/n I-“ “It doesn’t matter. Just tell me a date and a place.” “Tonight, your house-“ “Uh, rather not my house-“ “Then why did you-“ “Let’s just meet up here again, so that people will restrain me from ending myself, because this shit is getting on my nerves.” She said before walking out to her class.

Chan sighed to himself as the stupid words repeated themselves through his head. He regretted snarling those words to her the other day, but he tried to shake them off as he as well made his way to his class.

“I’m telling you Binnie, this next tattoo will be amazing! I already drew new designs for you!” Y/n said happily as she was on the phone with her best friend. Y/n was set outside once again, on the usual spot. The sun was warm and she was scribbling away in her notebook. “If you could actually tattoo than I would be fighting for my job right now, even Hyunjin talked about teaching you the ways of tattooing.” Bin chuckles. “I mean, I am an amazing artist, you should be quaking.” She laughed brightly.

What Y/n didn’t know was that Chan had been watching her, like a little creep. Well, not really, but he had been staring at her ever since she took place at the table outside. Chan saw how bright she was and how the sunlight complimented her skin. He felt his heart jump a little when he saw he smile again. He suddenly was overwhelmed with his feelings, especially when his friends dropped another joke of him having a crush on her. “No, I’m just wondering how she can lazy around when she should worry about her life.” Chan shot back. The words weren’t aimed towards him, but they stung into his chest.

Why did something inside tell him that he was ‘too good’ for her, that she was ‘below him’ and that he shouldn’t fall for someone like her. He started to argue with himself that he wouldn’t fall for her, but when he looked up to Y/n’s figure once again and saw her smile, his jumping heart tried to prove him otherwise.

In the meantime Y/n was still on the phone with Changbin. “Hey, Binnie, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out later? You could be my knight and safe me from my tutoring sessions.” “I mean you could go and use your new knowledge on your tutor-“ “I’m going to stop you right there for the sake of my sanity.” She groans as her friend laughed at his dirty joke. “No, but I guess I can be your rescuer and hang out with you.” Changbin said before he was cut off by her gasping. “I’m sorry Binnie! I forgot that he wanted to study some more in our free time.” She could hear her best friend pout through the phone. “Why do you play with my feelings like that? My producer buddy’s also gone, so you’re telling me that you’re leaving me behind to hang out all night with Hyunjin?” He cried out dramatically. “You would be working anyway. I’ll send you the drawings I made so you can redesign them.” “Fine, fine. But you owe me a complete date. Which means activities, you pay for dinner thank you for offering and cuddles, because I need your attention.” He muttered cutely. “Fine fine, except we’re probably splitting the bill, oh how smart of you Binnie!” She joked, using his tactics against him.

She heard him huff once again before they exchanged their goodbyes and hung up the phone.

Hours passed and Y/n was back at it again with Chan. She magically got her to understand the exercise, they had trouble with before, within fifteen minutes.

“Thank God, because I was going to lose my last braincells due to your stupidity.” Chan joked before getting a notebook thrown to his head.

The two decided after having some banter and studying the session for the next morning in advance, so they could sleep in before school for once after a long time.

It would be nine o’clock when the two started to lose motivation and focus. “Someone’s hungry.” She joked when she heard Chan’s stomach grumble. “No shit, we’ve been in here for hours and your crisps aren’t that filling you know.” “You twat, be glad I brought you some food or I would’ve left you here to starve.” Chan chuckled at her grumpy state and shook his head in amusement.

“Alright Gym Rat, let’s go get something to eat. I’m starving as well.”

“Gym rat?” He asked while laughing, taken aback by the sudden nickname. “Yeah, you’re buff as fuck. Now pack up so we can go and eat, or else I’m leaving you here.” Chan was shocked by her words as she stood up and left to wait outside for him.

He was surprised that she noticed and almost complimented his body, but he just told himself that she must’ve assumed what his body looked like through others’ whispers. Or did she actually watch his competitions? So many questions, yet so little answers.

“So, where do you want to go.” Expecting a name of a restaurant being spilled from Y/n’s lips, Chan was yet again to be surprised. “There’s a convenience store not far from here, let’s go there.” Chan was used to girls picking out expensive restaurants whenever they were with him, expecting him to pay since they knew he was too nice and rather wealthy.

When they walked into the store, it wasn’t very crowded. Y/n told him that she liked to come here since people usually liked to go to convenience stores near the river. This store was particularly cute and aesthetically pleasing, it would be a great place for Instagram photos, yet no one seemed to know of it, since it was hidden behind the tall and modern buildings of Seoul.

Y/n would grab a basket and throw many kinds of food in. Two packs of instant noodles, two fried chicken breasts, some 떡볶이 (‘Tteokkbokki’: Spicy rice cakes) that the two of them could share and lastly some beverages. She surprised him even more when she paid for all of it. She went to prepare the food as Chan went to look for a spot and to keep an eye on all their stuff.

He looked around and took the scenery in. It was quite pleasing to the eye and he had to admit that he almost never came into a convenience store. He usually got all his food from at home. Or there would be someone who would get the food for him and his family. He was quite spoiled, but he was aware of it, so it wasn’t that bad, right?

Within ten minutes Chan had devoured the food and was left with only the delicious aftertaste on his tongue and a filled belly. He sat back in his chair as he munched on the rice cakes as he watched Y/n eat elegantly. Compared to Chan, she actually looked like she was enjoying the food, doing little dances after each bite or sip from her drink. He thought it was cute and smiled a little to himself.

The nice lady who owned the store came up to the two and smiled kindly as she gave them ‘service’, which basically mean they get free food ‘on the house’. “It’s nice to see you again Y/n.” She added before walking off again. Chan stared at her, making Y/n burst out in laughter. “I basically live here.” She explained playfully, but shortly before eating again. “It seems like you live everywhere else but at home.” Chan joked, making Y/n stop for a split second to process the comment. She knew he was right, but she didn’t wanted to admit it. So she just forced out a chuckle before eating again, this time avoiding his gaze.

Chan felt the air thickening as soon as the joke slipped out and he felt and physically saw that she got uncomfortable. He felt a pang in his chest, which was guilt that spread through his veins. Y/n noticed Chan tensing up as well. She contemplated if she wanted to tell him about her home situation, but she didn’t. She didn’t tell Changbin until they had known each other for months. Yes, she knew Chan for ages, but did she though? They never spend time together until these past weeks and those meet ups were forced.

She didn’t notice Chan standing up, but jumped in shock when he suddenly sat back down. He held two ice creams in his hand and handed one to her. It was his turn to jump in shock when he heard Y/n gasp and squeal in excitement as she took the ice cream from his hands. She stared at it for a good ten seconds with big sparkly eyes before ripping the paper off it and eating it.

“You must really love ice cream.” Chan laughed in disbelief at her sudden change of behaviour, which relieved him. “This is my absolute favourite ice cream.” She said in between licks. “Really?” “Yes! I thought they stopped selling these, because I haven’t seen them in ages! Thank you, by the way.” She said in a whisper. “Shouldn’t I be thanking you? You literally paid for everything.” “I mean, you’re the one helping me out. Even though I know you don’t really want to and this is all forced onto you, it’s really the least I could do. I would love to treat you in a real restaurant, but I simply don’t have the money for that.” She admitted in embarrassment. She really wanted to show her gratitude, but if only she had a little more money. The money she made at Tattoo Parlour.

“No, no! It’s okay, really. Please don’t feel bad. I really enjoyed the food. It was honestly one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. It’s simply but very tasty.” Chan assured her quickly. “Oh please-“ “No, really! I mean, noodles, everyone loves them. Caviar, please.” Chan scoffed making her smile. “Thanks.”

There was a short period of silence as the two avoided each other’s gazes. “Chan?” “Yes?” “Do you find me intimidating?” She suddenly asks. “Why are you asking?” “Why are you avoiding answering my ask?” She smirked slightly, but then soon sighed, because she was already aware of the answer that was about to come out of his mouth, which was ‘yes’.

“Am I actually that intimidating?” “Well, you usually show up in bruises, cuts and other types of wounds. You wear black all the time, you don’t really interact with people and you’re quite mysterious.” “Well, seems like I did caught your eye.” She joked, but she had no idea how hard Chan’s heart was pounding.

“I don’t feel like I’m intimidating though. I’m just, I don’t know, protecting myself.” She admitted as she rested her head on her hand, whilst looking at the guy in front of her. “Protecting yourself from what?” Chan asks, genuinely worried. “I don’t know, people, I guess. It’s the way I look, dress, apparently behave and have behaved in the past that makes people think certain things of you. People assume I’m a bad kid, because I have scars and wounds all over my body, that doesn’t necessarily mean that I’ve beaten up a random kid.” She huffed in slight frustration.

“What are the bruises from then?” Chan asked carefully. “I kickbox and practice Taekwondo in my free time. I don’t really like using harnesses or gloves for kickboxing.” Which wasn’t half of a lie. “That honestly explains quite a lot.” Chan mutters as he felt guilty for prejudicing her. “It’s one of the simple reasons why teacher don’t like me, my appearance I mean. And the shit I did in my pass apparently is permanently burned into their mind, since it’s in my ‘permanent record’. I guess I can’t change their view and thoughts on me.” “Yes, you can and you will with the upcoming test. You’re going to show them that you got this, which you actually do. You understand almost everything perfectly. At some exercises you didn’t even needed me.” Chan encourages, softening Y/n’s heart for him.

Only Changbin, plus his parents, have been encouraging towards her for the past years. It was nice to have someone else to add to that list.

“I just wish some people took some courage or something to get to know me, you know? I really am not that bad, or well I at least hope I’m not.” She sighs and Chan pitied her.

“Then I would like to get to know you, or at least better.” Chan’s words surprised himself as they had the same effect on Y/n. “What-“ “Let’s get to know each other, in the mean time I can change your mind that I’m not a snobby rich kid.” “I never-“ “I know, but that’s what most people think of me when they hear my name: rich, athletic and probably handsome.” He joked smugly as she scoffed out a laughter. “No one says that pretty boy.” “Yet here you are!” He laughed along.

“Well, if you want to get to know me better, then meet me at third period at the ‘Stray Café, tomorrow.” She leaned forward to set the seriousness in her tone, as he gulped loudly at her sudden confidence that she gained out of nowhere. “I have class third period.” He mutters. “If you really want to get to know me, then I’ll see you tomorrow third period Channie.” She winked before standing up to leave.

Chan didn’t know what messed him up more. The fact that she asked him to skip tomorrow, her confidence, the wink or the nickname he used to be annoyed at.

He turned around to see her looking at him one last time, sending him a smile and yet another wink, before stepping out the store.

She sighed whilst shaking her head in amusement, she wanted to see how true Chan was to his words.

The next morning, after the both of them had their test first period, Y/n went straight to the café to clear her mind. The cup of tea in her hand spread warmth from her fingertips to the rest of her body as she enjoyed the spring scenery that was laid in front of her eyes behind the other side of the window.

Third period almost began and she wasn’t anticipating that Chan would actually show up to the café. But to her surprise she heard the bell indicated that a customer had walked into the store, in reflex she turned her head to see what was going on to see a familiar figure walking in.

Chan had changed out of his ‘school’ clothes and wore a leather jacket, a sweater and ripped jeans. Y/n was speechless to see him like that, being used to see him in plane shirts and black hoodies. She kept staring at him as he sat down in front of her, not bothering to exchange the greeting Chan just said to her.

“Earth to Y/n-“ Chan had waved his hand in front of her face, making her snap out of her trance before she cut him off. “You’re actually here?” She stuttered in utter shock. “Yes, I meant what I said. So let’s get to know each other.” He smiled brightly. When she did this trick with Changbin, he showed up as well and she was overjoyed, because she felt like he really wanted to give her a shot at getting to know each other. Yet, all she could feel right now was worrisome.

“Are you sure you want to be here? What about your reputation? You will get thrown off as vice president and I will get the blame-“ “Don’t worry. That’s my responsibility. Besides, you said you wanted to talk, so let’s talk.” He smirked at her flustered state.

“How was your day?” Chan asks, trying to make the girl across him make herself feel at ease with him. But she was still too in shock of his presence and only manages to squeak out a ‘hngg’, making Chan laugh. “So the test went bad?” “No, I aced that- thanks to you though.” She giggled, slowly feeling more comfortable around him. Usually, skipping wasn’t that big of a deal for her, but skipping with her vice president, hit her a little different.  

The two would be chatting away, Chan told Y/n about his childhood in Australia and how he used to fly back and fort a lot to keep in touch with his friends and family. He told her about his dog, Berry, who he loved very much. He ranted about a crazy story where he and his dog would go on adventures as young kids, they would go swimming together in a lake near by his house in Australia and play together.

“…I sure do miss it there. It’s a lot warmer over there.” He chuckled. “I bet, but I think that the summers here in Korea are more pleasant.” “They definitely are, here I’m not worried that my eyebrows will scorch any second.” He joked, making her burst out in laughter, picturing an eyebrow-less Chan in her mind.

Their banter was interrupted by a young-looking waitress who Y/n had noticed staring at them. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t help but wonder if you were that famous swimmer? Chan was his name?” She asked whilst twirling her hair around her finger, causing Y/n to force her throw up back down her throat. “N-no, I think you’ve got me mixed up with someone else.” Chan tried to convince her, but she was still suspicious about him.

“We should go.” Y/n whispers, they set down a generous amount of money on the table before they left the café. Y/n looked down her arm as Chan dragged her around town, to wherever he was going. His hand had a secure grasp on her wrist.

‘I thought I was the one who asked him to come here, if only people could see him dragging me around like this, they would lose their minds.’ Y/n thought to herself and snickered slightly.

“Okay, so what would you like to do?” Chan asks. “What, you’re not going back to school?” She asked him, thinking he would return for fourth period. “Well, are you?” “No, but-“ “Then let’s go!” Chan cheered.

“What are places you love to go to?” Chan asks her as they sat in the park together, playing twenty-one questions.

“I love going to the park, so props to you, you chose a great spot as well. But I think one of my favourite places to be at all times would be at the beach in Busan.” “Really?” Chan asks. “I used to live there. We also owned this small beach house at the end of the beach where it was pretty much abandoned. My mother used to take me there all the time.” “She doesn’t do it anymore?” Chan asks her without thinking too much of it.” “No, she passed away about two years ago.” Y/n whispers sadly whilst looking down at her feet, resting her head on her knees, that were pressed to her chest in process as well.

Chan felt like an idiot for asking her such dumb questions lately and started to apologise rapidly. “It’s okay, you couldn’t have known.” She assured him with a soft smile, making his heart do weird things in his chest.

“I hate to do this right now, but I have an meeting in thirty minutes which I really need to attend as vice president.” Chan mutters convicted. “That’s fine, I can go back with you to school. I’ll hang out at misses Yu’s music room, since my classes are over anyway.” Y/n offers as she got up. “What do you mean?” “My classes ended after third period.” Y/n smirked. “You’re saying that-“ “I only skipped one period, yes. Yes I did.” She giggled before she started to walk ahead.

When the two had sneaked back into the school, Y/n had disappeared to the empty music room and Chan made his way to his meeting. “Chan! Where’ve you been? We’ve been looking all over for you!” Jisung pants as he came towards him running with Felix on his side. “I wasn’t feeling too well, so I went away for a bit.” Chan lied. “Without saying anything?” Felix asked in confusion. “Yeah, sorry about that but I really didn’t feel too good, I went to the hospital.” Chan added to the lie. “Was it that bad?” Chan would only hum in respond this time. “What did the doctor say?” Jisung asks. “That I was overworked-“ “Doesn’t surprise me.” Jisung laughed, but in the meantime, Felix was a little suspicious of his friend.

“Dumpling!” Changbin exclaimed happily when Y/n walked through the door of his apartment. He tackled her in a hug and the both ended up falling to the ground. “Well hello to you too Binnie.” She giggled whilst hugging him back.

The two would talk about their day, Y/n didn’t wanted Changbin to know about her little skipping-date with Chan just yet, because she wanted to see first from Chan’s side how committed her was to getting to know her. And besides that, she knew her best friend would become whiny and jealous whenever she talked about someone other than him.

“I have some good news!” Changbin chirped as the two fell down on the big sofa in the living area. “What is it?” She asked with big eye of expectation whilst drinking her tea. “My cousin is getting married!” “Your cousin from Japan?” She asked him excitedly and started to squeal happily when her best friend nodded in responds.

The two had bet since his cousin started to date this beautiful Japanese woman, who he was too scared of confessing his love to. The two would watch and listen to the whole journey as if it was a tv soap, feeling very involved into the journey as they heard his mother talk to her sister on the phone about Changbin’s cousin. And now finally after years of him going after this girl, and dating her for two years, they finally are getting married.

“When is the wedding?” Y/n asks with still ecstatic and glister to be found in her eyes, whilst Changbin’s dropped. “It’s in two weeks.” Changbin states, making Y/n sit back in shock. “Wow, he got that wedding arranged fast.” “He’s rich and he couldn’t wait to be married to the love of his life, those things can make a lot happen.” Changbin chuckled, still in disbelief of his cousin’s actions. “Well, when are you leaving to Japan?” She asks him, not feeling the tension surrounding them. “That’s the thing, because my cousin is rich and because he hasn’t seen us, and the rest of the family in a long time, he had invited us over to stay there for a month in Japan-“ “A month!” Y/n exclaimed. “I know, it’s a long time.” “When are you leaving?” She asked carefully, thinking that she could maybe book a cheap hotel to stay away from home, but she might need to safe up for it. “In two days.” He whispers, making Y/n’s world turn upside down.

She could feel herself panic a little. She had no money to stay somewhere else. Changbin wouldn’t be there by her side to comfort her, he wouldn’t be there to take care of her and he was used to his presents after two years of being best friends together, she didn’t know how to miss him.

“I know what you’re thinking and don’t worry. First take a deep breath, I don’t want you hyperventilating.” He chuckled slightly as he scooted a little closer to bring her into his muscular arms.

“I talked to my parents and they also didn’t wanted you to be back ‘home’, so we decided to let you stay here. We’ll give you a spare key and since you know the area and the passcode to the apartment it would be fine-“ “I can’t do that, that’s too much.” “Y/n, please take the offer. I would feel horrible at the fact that we couldn’t have let you stay here where it is safe. I don’t want you to be hurt, okay? This way I can sleep soundly when I’m away from you.” Changbin explained as he brushed his hand through Y/n’s hair. “I-“ “When you’re coming here, take a different route to it every day. Just to be safe. We both know what your father is capable of. If you have to be ‘home’, only do it in the morning. When you leave that place it would be in daylight and I feel like people do less fucked up thing when people could actually see them happening.” Changbin sighed as he hugged her a little tighter.

“Thank you, Binnie.” She softly sobbed into his shoulder, feeling very grateful and blessed to have such a great friend like him in her life. It gave her the feeling that life was worth living for just a little bit, because people like Changbin restored her faith in humanity inside of her.

Later that afternoon the two went out for dinner, that the both argued to pay for, which Changbin shot the ‘with what money’ whenever she stated to pay for all of it. He would, as usual, burst into laughter and receive a pouty sulk from his best friend, who then would take a sad bite of the pizza.

The pair would laugh and have a great time together. They would talk about new tattoo projects, music lyrics and melody inspiration ideas. “I swear! Crunch up some old leaves this fall and make a remix of it! It could become a hit!” She said in a serious tone, but Changbin could only laugh at her wild and creative ideas. “I don’t know where you get them from, but I surely do love them.” He said as he tried to catch his breath after his fit of laughter.

Later they would walk back to Changbin’s apartment, chatting and laughing away as usual, until Changbin received a phone call from someone named ‘Yongbokkie’. Y/n had never heard of him, but shrugged if off since it was none of her business anyway.

“…no I’m already out. Yeah, I’m with someone already. Maybe next time I’m around. I’ll be gone for a while since we’re going to Japan. I’ll see you then when I’m back. Bye!” She heard her best friend say before hung up and made the device disappear into his pocket.

“Do you have to be somewhere?” She asked him. “Nope, you have all my attention.” He grinned before entering the apartment complex to play some video games in is room.

“Binnie?” Y/n later that evening asked. “Yes?” He responds, whilst his eyes are still glued on the game they were playing together, or well he was at least. Y/n died in the first ten minutes.

“Do you feel like I keep you away from others?” The sadness in her tone got his attention and deliberately let his character die, so he could talk with his best friend. “Where is that question suddenly coming from?” He asked her, now facing her. “I don’t know, you always make time for me. It makes me wonder if you think that I’m clingy or something. That I keep you busy or away from other people who you want to hang out with.” “Let me tell you something. That’s not true at all. I want to be around you. You’re my best friend! I love being around you. You haven’t heard this from me, but I think I am a little whipped for you.” He whispered with a smug smile, making her burst out in laughter.

“I love being around you too.” She mutters whilst hugging him tiredly. “Good, because now. Stop sucking at this game and let’s kick someone’s ass!”

Days passed by quicker than Y/n wanted them to.

Right now she was at the airport to send her best friend off to Japan. They had been clinging onto each other like koalas, making his parents and his sister chuckle at their cuteness.

Y/n wanted to be around him as much as she could, before she had to survive a whole month without Changbin, in Changbin’s apartment. How crazy is that?

“I’m going to miss you.” She sighed sadly as she hugged him, it almost being time for him to board his plane. “I’m just a sea away. You can call me whenever. Especially since Hyunjin is probably going to hire temporary staff. You need to keep me updated on those, there’s always some kind of tea to spill when it comes to those.” Changbin laughed to lift the mood.

As they hugged their goodbyes for the last time, Changbin would disappear with his family in the crowd and Y/n would make her way back to the apartment, riding a cab home.

When she walked in, she felt weird of not having some kind of living presence in her best friend’s place she was so used to. Y/n decided to clean up a little before she made herself at home. She was going to live there for a month after all. She still couldn’t thank his parents, and Changbin himself of course, for entrusting her to stay at their home.

Two and a half hours later she received a videocall from Changbin, to tell that they had arrived safely. “I was sat next to this older man and he smelled so bad. I wanted to throw myself out of the plane.” Changbin whined, making his best friend laugh. “Are you laughing at my agony?” He asked ‘hurt’. “Always.” She joked, making him gasp dramatically.

“What are you doing later?” “I have another tutoring session.” Y/n sighed. “Well shit, that guy really has you busy every day, huh?” “Tell me about it.” “And besides that? Or don’t you know yet?” Changbin asked. “Probably, playing around on your keyboard, but that’s it. I cleaned up a little already.” “You know we already did that earlier, right?” “I know, but I usually am already a mess so I got to clean that shit up.” She joked making Changbin burst out in laughter.

“I got to go for now. I will call you later tonight, okay?” “That’s fine. Have fun there! By the way, say hi to your cousin for me!” “Will do! Bye Dumpling!” “Bye Binnie!”

To say that Y/n was bored out of her mind without Changbin was an understatement. She could die from boresome right now. She wondered how she used to survive without Changbin in her life. She missed his stupid dad jokes and his teasing insults.

She played around on his keyboard for a while, but failed to be motivated at it, so she decided to clean up the little mess Changbin had left behind on his desk.

There were papers laying everywhere and she thought it would be nice of her to organise them for when he comes back. Most of them being music sheets and lyrics scrabbles randomly on multiple papers, were probably needed and used in the future.

“’Wow’?” Y/n muttered to herself as she came across a paper with lyrics written on it. She chuckled to herself at the text and quickly put it away before she lost more braincells to the madness she called Changbin’s mess that turned out to be a lot more work than she anticipated it to be.

It did help her to pass time though. Before she knew it, she was back at it again in the library, waiting for Chan to arrive. When he did, he smelled like chlorine again, indicating that he just came back from the pool. “Sorry, I’m late again.” He mutters tiredly. “It’s okay, did you had to dodge your little fans again?” She joked, he only shot her a fake smile before diving into the books with her.

The two were both tired and the motivation was faint. Y/n was throwing little paper balls to his head to amuse herself. When he sighed and went to play the game along with her, they started to laugh together and forget about their tutoring session. As they played, they tried to catch each other’s crumbled papers in the air and Y/n had to keep in mind that her arms were badly bruised and that her hoodie, which was actually Changbin’s, had to stay in place.

Chan had a feeling that he knew the hoodie, as Y/n fumbled with the fabric.

‘It’s from a store smartass, multiple people could have bought it.’ He said to himself, before brushing the subject of his mind.

In the end, the two got hungry again during their tutoring session and decided to skip it for today and go out to eat again at the convenience store. This time, Chan was the one to grab a basket and told Y/n to pick out a spot. This time she went outside, since it was nice and warm and she wanted to watch the sunset.

When Chan returned with a tray full of food, the two started to eat. Whilst doing so, Y/n had noticed the change in Chan’s behaviour. 

‘Maybe he wasn’t so bad after all.’

It started Monday at school. The two would cross each other in the hallways smiling, waving and even greeting each other whenever they saw the other. Chan had noticed as well that Y/n seemed to have gotten less into trouble. Which he honestly was glad about, he was tired of scolding her.

Little did Chan know it was because Y/n didn’t had to face her father all day and got to stay at Changbin’s luxurious apartment.

The teachers were praising Chan for his ‘accomplishments’ on toning her down and how he was such a great helper. Y/n seemed to be slowly passing her classes thanks to him. Which he of course was glad about, but he wasn’t listening at all when the adults were talking to him. He was trying to figure out with himself how he could spend extra time with her. He had to admit to himself that he liked being around her. She was very easy going and nice to talk to. She also has a lovely appearance to look at, so Chan wasn’t complaining about his tutoring sessions, anymore.

It was now Wednesday and Chan had sneaked out of his classroom, claiming he had to be somewhere, before he made his way to Y/n’s classroom, which was packed. When he stepped into the room, all eyes were on his. Including Y/n’s, who looked at him confused. “Can I steal Y/n for a moment?” Chan asked the teacher politely, which was an older woman who was smitten for Chan to be honest. And she of course let him. “What’s up?” Y/n asks him when she stood with him alone in the hallways. “Can we meet up after my swim session?” Chan asks, which got her bamboozled.

Was that why he picked her out of class? Couldn’t he had texted her- no he couldn’t they hadn’t exchanged numbers yet, somehow.

“Yeah sure.” She said unsure of his weirdly behaviour. She had her hand rested on the doorknob, the door slightly open as Chan said: “I’ll see you later then.” A slight smirk laid on his lips before he walked off again.

Little did the two know that the whole class heard Chan say that he will see her later. Everyone started to suspect the relationship between the two, which wasn’t in existent, except a platonic one. Sooyun, who was also in Y/n’s current class was fuming with anger.

‘Why would her Channie see her later?’ 

She didn’t think that they would become that close, since she heard the ‘rumour’, which eventually turned out to be the truth, that Chan was tutoring Y/n in her free time. She felt jealous that Chan made more time for that ‘tramp’ instead of her.

‘That’s why he hasn’t come for dinner.’ Sooyun mutters to herself before she huffs once again and started to glare at Y/n, whilst thinking of a plan to win her man back. When the school bell rang, she got it.

She walked up to the teacher with big eyes and a pout on her lips. “Miss, I’m having a lot of trouble with these past chapters lately…”

Y/n fumbled with her fingers as she made her way to the school’s public pool. The smell of chlorine filled her senses, making her eyes water a little as she entered the pool area. There were multiple people swimming swiftly, racing against each other.

She could spot Chan almost immediately. His shoulders were broader than the other’s and his skin was the palest out of all of them. She decided to watch them as they finished edge near her feet. Chan took his goggles off and looked up to her with a bright smile. “You came!” Chan chirped before pushing himself up on the edge of the pool. Her eyes couldn’t help but wander off his figure. His muscular figure caught a lot of eyes, they always said. And now Y/n knew why. His toned chest and abs were almost in her face, making it hard for her not to look down at just shamelessly stare at them.

Chan knew what he was doing and what kind of affect it, usually, had on people, most of them being girls. Y/n played it cool and acted unbothered, which surprised Chan. Most people would flirt a little or at least be flustered, yet here she was, acting like it was nothing to her.

“You wanted to talk about something?” She asks.

He was yet again surprised by her reaction. He started to stutter like he did many times before at her confidence. Felix oversaw the whole thing. He saw how his friend got flustered and started to act like a fool. When Chan had walked away from Y/n, Felix asked him what that was all about.

“I’m hanging out with her.” Was all that Chan would say to his friend before quickly hopping into the showers.

“You suck!” Y/n yelled in victory as she smashed Chan’s ass at the game, they were playing in the Internet café where they were sat. “You’re so good at this what the hell.” Chan exclaimed in shock, whilst Y/n proudly flipped her hair off her shoulder, making Chan laugh along. “My bestie taught would be proud.” “Did she teach you?” “Yes, he taught me well.” She giggled when Chan’s face stiffened in embarrassment. “Sorry I assumed-“ “It’s okay. Do you dare to go for another round?” “Oh! Watch me!” Chan said confident before picking up the controller again.

“Oh stop sulking.” Y/n teases as Chan paid for their food. “I can’t believe you beat me. I’m usually a pro when I play with my friends.” Chan whined. “Well, that just means they suck more at the game than you already do.” She giggled whilst sticking her tongue playfully out to him.

The two would sit across each other in silence for a while as they ate their ice cream.

“You know, I don’t know about you, but this kind of felt like a date to me. And I know that it probably isn’t, I just wanted to say that it does feel like one, or at least I think so.” Y/n chuckled. “You think so? Or you know so?” “What?” “If this feels like a date or not?” Chan explained. “Oh, I think so. I honestly have never been on a date before.” She admitted softly in embarrassment.

“Really?” Chan asked genuinely surprised. Y/n only shook her head in responds to confirm her own statement. “Well, then I will take the responsibly to take you out on an official date. Just as friends though, but I will give you the ‘real’ experience.” Chan’s mouth spoke for him before his brain could process it. He felt his heart speed up and his hands sweat.

“I beg your pardon?” “Let me take you out, so you can have the actual experience. What do you have to lose?” Chan grinned as he looked at the flustered girl in front of him. “Alight, but under one condition.” “Which is?” “No kissing.” “Fine by me.” Chan winked whilst still grinning.

The night ended happy and Y/n made her way home with a grin stuck on her face. She walked an extra long route so she could enjoy the fresh air and the lingering feeling of happiness a little longer, but that soon was to be spoiled when a heavy familiar voice boomed through the streets and called out her name.

She sighed and grasped herself to get ready for what was coming next. Which she sadly knew all too well.

Gif Isn’t mine.

[charlemange1]

Ask of the Lesser (Frankenstein/Lovecraft Works): 6 Gods and Monsters

Darkness enveloped my little cell as I waited for my last sunrise. A cruel ending it was, to be hung in the square and have the name Frankenstein permanently branded with unhallowed deeds. The shadow of Victor’s legacy would trap me till the end, and I had only myself to blame. My selfish desires to revive my family had blinded me to Curwen’s dark work. A mistake I realized had likely cost many lives, judging from the number of crates I had delivered over the past few months. Human blood! Oh, if only I had known! How could I hate Victor when in my own obsession I had enabled such atrocities? What right had I to judge him when I was enslaved to the same master?

My head thumped against the wall in defeat. Victor. My mind drifted back to our final conversation in the villa, when we were all that remained of our family and a trembling husk was all that remained of him.

“That daemon has struck down everyone but you, and he is coming, Ernest! I have failed to stop him, and he shall claim you too, if you stand idle!”

“Calm yourself, Victor. You are unwell,” I soothed, watching him pace the floor. “Elizabeth’s death has shaken you.”

“Murder. She was murdered by him, Ernest! You must believe me!” Victor clutched my shoulders with boney fingers. He shoved his journal against my chest, and I saw his nails were gnawed to bloodied stubs. “Here is my journal, dated years ago! Could madness be so precise? So detail-oriented?”

Grief had settled into every line of his exhausted face. His manic eyes pleaded with me through the strands of unkempt hair that floated rather than fell around his head. I ignored the lice crawling in the knotted curls and gently shut the journal.

“Victor, you know I stumble with such fancy words. These are scribbles to me.” I patted his trembling hand. “How about we get some sleep, huh? The servants are pouring some Laudanum to calm your nerves.”

“I do not need calm, we must act,” Victor’s voice rose to the rafters in desperation. My hand discreetly waved forward the servants positioned in the hall. “I have wrought terrible mayhem upon our house, but I will not let my curse consume you too! You are all I have left, Ernest. I beg of you to believe me! Not these mad claims, but me. As my brother, you must heed this threat!”

“Yes, yes, Victor,” I smiled gently and fought back tears. Elizabeth and Papas’ deaths had broken him. My poor, hysteric brother! He had always been the strong one. The one with all the talent pushing my miserable frame to be better. Where had that trailblazer gone? My brother may have been clutching me, but he had abandoned me in spirit. The Victor I had known was gone. The servants filed in to take his imposter away.

“Do not let them do this, Ernest,” Victor fought the hands that restrained him, though he had lost the strength to fight long ago. “Please, believe me! I cannot lose you too!”

“You are mad with grief, Victor,” I soothed. “Rest will restore you.”

You are the strong one! How can you fall apart and leave me alone?

Victor opened his mouth, but my mind was set. Something like defeat settled in his eyes. Victor’s body went limp as the servants’ drug him to his room. His eyes never left me, two watery pits silently pleading to be heard.

Wanting to save a thick-skulled wretch like me.

My hands pressed against my eyes and I wept for words left unspoken. He had cared! Victor had done wrong by turning from God, but I had turned my back on my own brother who so desperately wanted to keep me safe.

Was that why his creature had spared me? Not because I was to insignificant for my death to hurt Victor, but because me living and reducing his suffering to the rambles of a madman was the ultimate punishment? Victor could find strength in those murdered by destroying his monster and avenging them. The misery I had to live with in their absence would not end by Victor putting a bullet through the creature’s heart. My murdered family’s thoughts were at peace, but my ongoing misery was Victor’s shame to carry to the grave knowing he was responsible. His fond letter crinkled in my pocket, and I knew I could not hate him. I knew then too, that the unhallowed work that had withered his spirit and decimated our family could not continue, no matter the intent.  

The prison door swung open and a streak of light cut back the shadows. I covered my eyes from the haggard silhouette outlined against the intense brightness.

“Ernest, what in heavens name are you doing here?”

“Walton?” Blinking rapidly, I focused on the captain’s battered frame. “Have you come to take me to the gallows?”

Silence settled between us.

“I want to know why?”

“Why an invalid like me would play with a fire that scorched my brother?” I laughed bitterly. “I thought I could resurrect my family and we could be happy again, but not if their life comes from the death of others. I have seen death, Walton, and felt the void created in its wake. I would never subject anyone to that grief, even if it meant restoring my only source of happiness. I know what such work did to Victor and saw how it tore our family apart. I was a fool to think any good could come of its continuation.” I turned from the captain. “So write your sequel. Tell the world what a fool I am!”

“You are a fool,” Walton nodded. He bent beside me and rested his hand across mine. “But you are not a bad man. You clearly did not know the contents of your wicked cargo. It seems your destiny to be caught up in the madness of others, a lonely ship tossed about in a storm it could never hope to understand. You know better now, though.” Walton’s voice cracked. “Tell me who tricked you? What are they planning with Victor’s work?”

My repressed misgivings of Curwen resonated with Walton’s trembling voice. I had been too focused on my family to consider how Curwen would utilize the spark of life after they were brought back. What had he meant about merging raised souls with new flesh to be unstoppable?

“I do not know the details, but if the end justifies the mean, and that mean is human blood, it is a wicked thing,” I frowned. “Is this an interrogation?”

“A rescue,” Walton corrected, stepping aside to give me a clear path to the door. Seeing the confusion on my face, he pulled out an empty sack and smiled. “Your father was a magistrate. You should know how a few gold coins can sway a verdict. Yet not everyone has deep pockets, if you want the night on our side, we must quit this place and put an end to whatever is brewing on the edges of Ingolstadt.”

Gripping the wall, I pulled myself to a standing position, longing for my cane left by the river. “I will do whatever I can to stop Mr. Curwen from following in my brother’s steps.”

“We will stop,” Walton placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Captain, this is my sin to mend,” I said. “You must not jeopardize your life to let mine be at peace.”

“I fear all life will be in jeopardy if I stand idle,” Walton frowned. “I am more than just the historian of great men’s exploits, and you are not your brother. You do not have to do this alone.”

A roach darted in and out of the shaft of floor light. What chance had I of talking down Curwen alone? Walton knew the thrill of discovery, he could speak a language to Curwen that I had never known and Victor knew all too well. And, despite the pain Walton’s biography had caused me, I realized that Victor’s legacy overshadowed us both, but while I was tied to Victor by blood, Walton merely happened upon him by chance and was unknowingly thrust into this world of gods and monsters. I was shunned for the deeds of my brother, but as I looked at the frail captain, I knew he had suffered too. My hostility was unwarranted, and I extended my hand to relate as much to Walton.

“Shall we destroy that feind, then?” Walton asked, eagerly returning the handshake.

I thought of the morning after the servants had drug Victor away. I had stood in his empty room torn apart by a hasty deserter rushing to an Arctic death.

I shook my head beside Walton. I had ignored Victor for the last time.

“Walton, my brother held this man to the highest regard. I will not underplay the depravity of Mr. Curwen’s work, but perhaps his delusions of grandeur have incapacitated his ability to reason, a crime which I cannot judge, nor you, Arctic explorer. When we enter the university, let me speak with him before any rash action is taken.”

“And if speech fails?”

“You know what Mr. Curwen will do, and that cannot be.”

Walton looked reluctant, but having nearly died in his own quest for glory, he could not protest.

Outside, we were met by a horrid wind that sent overturned barrels bouncing across the streets. Walton found me a broom to replace my cane as we hurried past window shutters slamming open and shut. It seemed nature itself was sick of this wicked business.

“Does this Curwen character work with human flesh?” Walton shouted above the wind as we cleared the courtyard.

“Initially, though his process for reanimation differs greatly from Victors. He boils the body down to salt and relies on black magic for completion.”

Walton nodded with a frown. “By any chance, did you ever inspect Victor’s casket after I delivered him to you?”

“There was no reason to after I saw his face,” I said, confused by this question. A chorus of barks and howls rose up throughout the city. Were they following us?

“I see,” Walton said, eyes darting around in search of bloodhounds. “Given your former disbelief of Victor’s accomplishment, I refrained from sharing certain requests he relayed to me. Requests I felt best to omit from my biography.”

“Do tell?” I said as a man leaned out his window to wrangle the collar of his howling dog in a vain attempt to silence it.

“Victor said he did not wish to be brought back and asked for me to dismember and discard him after death,” Walton admitted, side stepping a bouncing barrel. “An odd request, considering he alone knew the secret of reanimation. Or so I thought.”

“Right,” I said absently. The unnamable smell from Curwen’s lab hung heavy in the air. “Did you do it?”

“I could only bring myself to throw his left hand overboard, I am no butcherer!” Walton shivered from more than the wind. “I did not know if that means anything to you now?”

“It appears straightforward enough,” I breathed as the gates of Ingolstadt University came into view. “Victor cannot be revived.”

[therainroguefanfiction]

❉ 139 Dreams (Haechan/Donghyuck Lee) Sports

📑 Table of Contents

Genre: Fluff, School AU, Friendship ☁

Word Count: 1,949 ☁

Pairing: Reader x Haechan ☁

World: Kpop, NCT Dream ☁

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ: *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

When you first entered high school, you told yourself that you would keep a low profile and live out your high school career in peace. For the year, it went as you had planned, but it didn’t last long.

It all began one lunch period. You were sitting outside for the latter half of the period, enjoying the cool spring air and the gorgeous cherry blossom trees that were in mid-bloom. This was the peaceful life you wanted.

“Y/N!” Haechan was running towards you, waving his arms in the air like a madman. The other students were staring at him, some laughing at his behavior. He was the one thing you had overlooked in your plans.

You and Haechan grew up together, neighbors since birth. You were forced to play with one another as children, which led to a tight bond between you. You had been inseparable up until your last year of middle school when you started to grow apart. It was understandable – you were getting older and you both liked different things, but you remained friends and spoke nearly every night. More often, he would be at your house instead of his own.

“You know I love you, right?” He questioned, plopping onto the grass in front of you.

“What do you want?” You sighed, not bothering to open your eyes.

He pouted at you. “Can’t a guy let his bestie know that he loves them?”

“You only tell me that when you want something. So what’s up?”

“We’re going to join the basketball team.”

You thought he was joking, so you didn’t respond, but when you opened your eyes, you realized he was serious. “What’s with the sudden interest? And why do I have to be involved?”

“You remember Renjun, right?”

“No, how could I possibly remember the guy that’s been in the same class as us every year since grade school?” You rolled your eyes, making him scoff at the attitude.

“His cousin graduated last year and asked him to keep the basketball team going, but there are only two members currently and if they don’t get at least six more members, the club will be shut down.”

You scrunched your nose. “No thanks,”

“Good thing it wasn’t a request.” He grinned, pulling himself to his feet as the bell rung.

“Oi, what does that mean? Haechan!” But he didn’t respond, winking as he ran towards the building. With a sense of dread, you pulled yourself to your feet and followed suit.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ: *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

The final bell rang, signaling the end of the school day. You stretched your arms above your head before putting away your books into your bag. As soon as you stood, arms wrapped tight around your body.

“Y/N! Thank you for joining the basketball team!” Renjun smiled at you gratefully; it was obvious that it meant a lot to him.

You glanced over his shoulder to see a smirking Haechan, shaking a slip of paper back and forth in the air. It was the club registration form, filled out with your information. ‘Son of a…’

“We just need one more member and the club won’t be shut down!” Renjun cheered, clapping his hands.

Seeing how happy he was, you couldn’t bring yourself to tell him the truth. You were so going to kill Haechan.

“I wonder if Jeno had any luck.” Haechan murmured. “He said he was gonna try a few underclassmen.”

You plopped back down in your chair. “I know an underclassman that likes basketball. He only plays for fun, though.”

“Who?” Haechan demanded, placing a hand on his hip. He had no idea who you were talking about – since when did you have friends that he didn’t know about?

“His name is Jisung,” you weren’t bothered by the change in attitude. He had always been a bit overprotective and even a little possessive at times. You blamed it on the fact that you were his only friend for most of his childhood. “I met him my first year. He got lost bringing his brother the lunch he forgot. We talk occasionally.”

“Would you be willing to ask him?” Renjun sent you the cutest look you’ve ever seen – His lip jutting out, eyes wide and pleading with his hands laced under his chin.

‘Damn you for being so adorable!’ “Yeah, I guess.” You muttered, standing up and slinging your bag over your shoulder. You didn’t wait around for a response, quickly exiting the room. ‘So much for a peaceful school life…’

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ: *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

The next morning, you stopped by Jisung’s classroom. Most of the students had arrived, but the blonde was nowhere in sight.

You approached the first student you saw. “Hey, have you seen Jisung?”

The girl shook her head. “He’s usually late.”

A boy approached you, tilting his head to the side. “What do you want with Jisung?”

You glanced at the clock and groaned. If you didn’t leave now, you were gonna be late for class. Pulling out your notebook, you quickly scribbled down the info on a piece of paper, sloppily folding it and handing it to the blonde. “Can you please give this to him?”

“Sure!” He smiled brightly, accepting the paper.

You turned tail and ran out of the room just as the bell rung. Thankfully, your teacher was also running late, so you were able to slip into the classroom without being scolded.

“Where were you?” Haechan asked, brows furrowed. “And don’t say you slept in late because we walked to school together!”

You rolled your eyes as you fell into your seat. “I was looking for Jisung.”

He folded his arms with a frown but didn’t say anything about it. “Jeno found someone. Same year, class 5. His name is Jaemin.”

“Hmm, really? He’s really popular with the girls. Didn’t know he was into sports.”

“Hey, you better not fall in love with our teammates.”

“Jealous?” You teased, making him scowl and look away. You didn’t miss the blush on his cheeks. “Don’t worry, idiot. I promised I’d marry you when we got older, remember?”

His eyes softened as he looked at you. “You remember that?”

You nodded, twirling your pencil absentmindedly. The promise had been made when you were seven and he was six. Your parents had forced you to attend your cousin’s wedding, and Haechan served as your ‘date’. You’re not sure what caused it, but when your cousin kissed her new husband, Haechan leaned over and pecked your cheek, declaring that he would be your husband one day. You made a pinky promise on it.

Haechan smiled at the memory, his heart fluttering. The relationship between you was quite a strange one. Family, yet more than that. The feelings you both shared were well known to each of you, but neither of you spoke a word on it. They just weren’t needed.

He hummed, lowering his voice. “So, that makes five members. We still need three more before next Friday.”

You caught the teacher’s eye and decided to keep your mouth shut, sending him a look telling him to zip it. He put a hand over his heart dramatically but did as he was told.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ: *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

“Haechan, dear?”

He paused, looking at the teacher curiously. “Yes, ma’am?”

“Would you mind taking these to the office for me?” The teacher patted a small stack of folders on the desk.

“Sure,” He picked up the stack before turning to you. “I’ll meet you in the gym.”

With a nod, you went in separate ways, making your way to the gym. There was only one person inside – You recognized him as the blonde from Jisung’s class. He was dribbling the ball, eyes focused on the hoop. With one quick leap, the ball was sent soaring through the air and into the hoop.

“Hmm, not bad.” You commented, throwing your bag onto the bench.

He whipped around in surprise before smiling brightly. “Hello again!”

“Did Jisung show up?”

“He’s getting changed.” He reached into his bag, producing two slips of paper. “Here, we’re officially joining the basketball club!”

“More new members?” Renjun nearly squealed as he entered, his smile so wide he reminded you of the Cheshire cat. “I’m Renjun, the captain.”

“I’m Chenle!” He pointed to the other blonde that had just exited the locker room. “That’s Jisung!”

Jisung’s cheeks turned red at the sudden attention and he bowed politely. “Thank you for inviting me.”

Jeno entered the gym, followed closely by Jaemin and three girls that never took their eyes off of him.

“Where’s Haechan?” Renjun asked you, tilting his head slightly.

“He had to run an errand for our teacher. He should be here soon.”

“Are we still short?” Jaemin inquired, glancing between the group.

“By one member… if we can’t find someone soon – ”

“Don’t worry!” Haechan threw the doors open and rushed inside, nearly dragging a boy behind him. “I got our last member!”

You recognized the boy instantly. His name was Mark and while you hadn’t ever interacted with him, he lived in the same neighborhood. Not only that, but he was popular with everyone. “Are you sure you have the time? You’ve got a pretty full plate.”

Haechan scowled at you. “Stop trying to get rid of our teammate.”

“I’m not trying to get rid of him, but I know you. I want to make sure he’s doing this because he wants to and not because you guilted him.”

“I’m hurt that you would imply I would do such a thing.”

“Have you already forgotten that you forged my club form?”

“So? We’re in this together!”

You were standing face to face now, glaring each other down. You couldn’t decide if you wanted to kiss him or smack him in the head with the ball.

Mark cleared his throat, “He explained the situation, but he didn’t guilt me. I enjoyed basketball when I was younger, so I’m happy to join!”

“Told you,” Haechan stuck his tongue out at you, pulling away when you tried to grab it.

Renjun giggled, holding the forms to his chest. “Hyung is going to be so happy to know that the basketball club is going to continue.”

You patted his shoulder with a smile. “We better work hard to make the underclassmen interested so it can continue after we graduate.”

“Stop thinking about the future!” Haechan scolded, throwing his arm around your shoulders and pulling you to his side. “We can worry about that later. For now, let’s have fun!”

“Yeah!” Chenle started to dribble the ball again, running away from Haechan tried to grab it. The group divided into two teams and began to play. You were clear and Jaemin passed the ball to you. As soon as it touched your hand, you took off, dribbling it against the court. Haechan rushed in front of you, blocking your way to the hoop. You could attempt to throw it, but you had never been very good with free throws. Your eyes darted around, but every member of your team was being covered.

Just as you were about to take the shot, Chenle’s cheerful voice broke the tense air. “Haechan hyung, are you dating Y/N?”

Haechan stumbled back, his face turning red as his butt hit the ground. “W-What?”

You took your chance, rushing past the stunned boy and dunking the ball.

“That’s cheating!” Jeno cried, despite the cheeky grin on his face.

Chenle let out a loud laugh, high pitched and contagious. It wasn’t long before the rest of the team were laughing along with him. You approached Haechan, holding out your hand.

He was pouting as he slid his hand into yours. Even after you pulled him up, he didn’t release your hand.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ: *⋆.*:･ﾟ .: ⋆*･ﾟ: . ☁

📜 Read more by checking out my masterlist 📜

[ravenloon]

Smitten: I Was Made For Lovin’ You

I know this is short but I really need to get stories crankin' out again. Enjoy Darlings

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Two days later Mick and Vince still hadn't made up. It was so...strange to see the two in the same room but refusing to even look at one another.

Nikki seemed to notice this as he plucked away at a shitty acoustic, papers scattered around him. He sat on the floor, mindlessly flicking the instrument as he studied his bandmates.

Tommy walks out spinning his drumsticks and downing a bottle of jack looking tired as fuck.

Nikki grabs his notebook,'How's your throat?'

Tommy rubs his neck rasping,"Still a bit sore, but I'll just swallow a shit ton of honey or something."

The raven bassist nods. He had expected his new friend to be angry at him for not cutting Vince's rage off at the neck. He bites his lip, chewing anxiously as he places the cheap guitar back in its case.

Tommy settles down next to Nikki,"Can I watch you work?"

Nikki looks hesitant. He relished in the sanctuary his songwriting created for him. The thought of someone changing that made him feel uneasy.

But...what harm could one time do?

Sixx nods, scooting closer as he continues writing.

Tommy had to note his bandmate's supremely unique handwriting: jagged and sharp like the scribbles of a madman, yet still perfectly legible.

The song taking shape between the lines was masterful, as were many of Nikki's lyrics. Tommy was amazed by the bassist's artistic abilities and his eloquent way with words.

Nikki's head finds it's way to Tommy's shoulder, fluffy raven hair tickling the tips of his nose.

Tommy lets out a little sneeze and Nikki jumps before smiling signing,'You sneeze like a kitten! Cute!'

The drummer blushes after he takes some time to translate in his head. He'd never fucking been called cute by a dude before!

"I-I'm not cute!" Tommy protests, pouting adorably.

Vince snickers,"T, you're the definition of cute!"

Mick bites his lip, tears filling his eyes as he continues to pluck away at his unplugged strat. That phrase was something Vince would always say about him and seeing him use it so casually towards Tommy cracked his heart even further.

Nikki frowns placing his notebook under the TV stand, green eyes shining with empathy for his elder friend.

The guitarist sniffles, wiping his eyes. But, Vince, being the moody fucking ass that he was, paid no attention, brushing his obnoxiously blonde hair with a broken brush.

Nikki sighs and looks to Tommy.

Tommy sighs back. He knew whole thing was his fault. If he hadn't overreacted and slapped Mick the way he did none of this would be happening.

Vince stops brushing his hair, an awkward silence filling the air.

The blonde sets the brush down swallowing thickly,"Mick...I-I..."

He presses his lips together tightly. His brown eyes glitter with regret,"I'm so sorry, baby...I-I didn't mean a fuckin' letter of what I said..."

Tommy fiddles with the cuffs of his sweatpants," And I'm sorry I hit you..."

Mick wipes his eyes smearing his makeup,"D-Do you guys really mean it?"

Tommy nods as Nikki hugs Mick.

Mick smiles,"Th-Thanks, Sixx..."

Vince's voice quivers, like he's about to cry," Mick...do you...do you forgive me? I-I...I'm actually so fuckin' sorry. Please, I-I don't know what I'd do without you-"

Mick takes Vince's hands, stopping his rant in its tracks. He smiles softly,"Of course I forgive you, my love. Why would I ever want to leave you?"

The singer sniffles,"God, I love you so much..."

"I love you too, darling," Mick throws his arms around Vince's neck pressing their mouths together in a heated, french kiss.

Nikki claps his hands, eyes sparkling with joy at his friends making up (and out) with each other.

Tommy lights a cigarette from the coffee table,"Well...now that all that's been solved...wanna look through my record collection, Sixxer?"

Nikki gasps and nods eagerly darting off into his and Tommy's room like an excited child. The drummer chuckles as he walks after his friend.

The effeminate bassist is scrambling on the floor, struggling to drag a heavy box out of the bottom of the closet. Tommy dives down on the floor,"Whoa! Dude you have KISS?! I fucking love KISS!"

He starts leafing through the records eyes sparkling. Nikki claps his hands, smiling adorably to show his delight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Also I have never actually listened to KISS but I remember hearing the Terror Twins love it so...

[boopie-balloon-lover-com]

Pink Letter - Deku x reader

“HOW ABOUT YOU LEAVE HIM ALONE?”

"SHUT UP YOU EXTRA!”

Bakugou Katsuki, age 16, a man with many talents but being quiet isn’t one of them. (Y/n) (L/N), age 16, a lady who doesn’t take crap from nobody including Bakugou. Currently they’re in a screaming match because Bakugou tried to assault Deku, again.

"DEKU’S FINE WITH IT.”

(Y/n) rolled her eyes before turning away from the fiery blonde and to a nervous green haired cutie. “(Y/n) it’s o-okay.” Deku scratched his neck awkwardly, the embarrassed flush on his face growing. “You can’t let him push you around! You’re strong Izuku.” She raised her hands for emphasis and pulled him in close by the shoulders. “Plus you could literally kill him if you wanted to, keep that in mind.” Deku started sputtering at her comment, waving his hands erratically. Bakugou had already walked away by then, grumbling nonsense. She just put a finger to her lips to hush him before smiling. “Try to stand your ground Izu, please. If you can’t then call me and I’ll beat his ass for you.”

(Y/n) hugged him tight and Deku never wanted her to let go. He nodded his head softly, hugging her back just as tight. The hug was short lived as (y/n) had to get going. “I’ll see you later. Stay sweet!” She kissed his cheek so fast he didn’t even have time to register it before she was out of sight. What he didn’t know was that her face was just as red as his in that moment. Deku stood still like a deer in headlights because the love of his life just kissed him.

He slapped a hand on his mouth, smiling like an idiot. His smile grew as he replayed the moment over and over again. Sighing happily, Deku made his way to his locker to get his things. Opening up the locker caused a pink letter to fall out. Scribbled on the front in cursive was (y/n)’s name. He picked it up and carefully opened the envelope, making sure not to tear it too badly. Inside was a neatly written letter.

Dear Izuku,

This is cheesy but writing is the best way to explain how I feel about you. Knowing you for the past four years has been the best thing to ever happen to me. Everytime I walk into class and see your smile, my heart leaps. The way your eyes sparkle when you talk all about your favorite heroes is a gift to see. Spending time with you is my favorite pastime and I can never get enough of you. What I’m trying to say is this, I love you Izuku. I love you more than anything.  I’ve been trying to brush off my feelings for you because I know you like Uraraka but I can’t hide it anymore. I’m sorry if it makes you feel uncomfortable. I’ll still stay by your side if you’ll let me. 

Love, 

(Y/n)

Deku exploded, his face turned a scarlet red and steam came out his ears. He stopped breathing for just a moment and realized this wasn’t a dream. The girl of his dreams confessed to him. His head whipped around to see if she would suddenly appear instead, there was Iida waving at him. “S-SORRY I GOT GO TO!” Deku slammed his locker shut and raced out of the school looking like a madman. Iida was left in the dust absolutely confused. He raced around the school grounds in search of (y/n) when she was watching him from behind a wall.

Her face was flushed and she had a feeling he had read the letter. She would have stepped out normally but embarrassment caged her like a bird. Her mind was racing with questions but the biggest one was what he would say? She watched him fail his arms at Kirishima, most likely yelling. Kiri looked around for a moment, his eyes squinted, until he locked eyes with her. (Y/n) shook her head violently and prayed he understood not to tell Deku she was there. Her little heart wasn’t ready to hear what he would say.

Unfortunately, Kirishima being the rock head he is, pointed right towards her hiding spot. Deku spun around immediately before (y/n) had the chance to escape. She squeaked and stood still, watching him run over as if his life depended on it. He made it and bent down with his hands on his knees. He was panting and flushed red, trying to catch his breath desperately. “Izu, hurry up and get it over with please.” Her eyes shut tightly and she waited to hear him say he only liked her as a friend.

“(Y/n) I love you too.” She opened her eyes to stare at him for a moment as if she didn’t hear a word he said. “I l-love you a lot! Uraraka is nice but I like you (y/n). I’ve liked you for a long time..” He took a deep breath before continuing. “You’re really amazing and everytime I see you I just freeze up. You’re so p-pretty and wonderful. I thought you would never like me back..” Her lips perked up into a big smile. She took his hands and stepped closer. “I guess we were both wrong, huh?”

Before he could answer, she pressed her pink lips against his. Her hands let go of his and went around his neck while his went to her waist. The kiss only lasted a few seconds but it felt like an eternity. He rested his forehead against hers with the biggest smile on his face. “Will you be my girlfriend (y/n)..?” Deku blushed and leaned back. “I thought you’d never ask!” (Y/n) laughed and put her hand in his. “Now let’s go on our first date!” She pulled him along and if anyone saw them they would say they looked like the happiest couple on Earth.

[patchwork-panda]

If A Moment Is All We Are (3/?)

TW (3): This chapter contains a mention of:

1) intrusive thoughts and suicidal ideation (Dazai dialogue). 2) fair amount of blood and physical violence in the form of guns, explosions and slashing injuries, as a "fight" chapter. 3) some descriptions of physical injury including broken bones and slash wounds. I tried not to let it be too graphic. Please proceed with caution.

For those who prefer AO3 format: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24121633/chapters/58072957

“Excuse me!”

The woman who now sat at the table, the one the old balding cop had vacated, looked up at me with a friendly, questioning gaze.

“Yes?”

I slammed my hands down on the counter, startling her into dropping her pen, and pushed my sketch of the green snake tattoo towards her.

“I need to make a report!”

“W-what sort of report?” she asked unsteadily, looking me up and down.

I could tell she was already evaluating my credibility but I had to listen to Detective Dazai. It was my only shot at saving Mrs. Yamazaki. I sat down in the same chair I had been in earlier and looked her right in the eye, my voice barely shaking as I gave her a slightly less nonsensical version of the story I had told her colleague earlier. When I finished, I got to my feet and bowed as low as I could.

“I’m not making any of this up and this is not a prank!” I exclaimed, head still bowed. “I, as a concerned citizen, am asking you, a member of the Yokohama Military Police for help. I’m begging you, ma’am: please, listen to me!”

“Okay, okay!” she exclaimed, waving her hands in the air as her colleagues turned to look at us. “I’ll listen to you! Please, sit down.”

Relieved, I sat. My legs were still shaking as I watched her get out a pen and a piece of paper and only when she started asking me for more details and slowly filling out her form was I finally able to breathe freely again.

It worked. I couldn’t believe it. That crazy detective’s advice had worked.

I was elated. I half-thought I was going to start crying with relief when the officer suddenly looked up and shot an anxious look out the window. Curious, I turned behind me and to my surprise, I saw Detectives Dazai (looking miraculously unhurt) and Kunikida passing by the station and going back across the street from whence they came. Seeing the recognition on my face, she turned to me with an odd look in her eye.

“Kusunoki-san,” she said, reading off her form. “Do you... know those two men? I thought I saw you talking to them earlier when I started my shift.”

“Not really?” I said, thinking back. “I mean, kind of? Armed Detective Agency, right? I actually talked to them about this earlier. Oh, but don’t worry! They insisted I talk to the police first before they got involved. They said that would be best.”

The officer looked contemplative.

“Yes, I would have to agree.” She frowned. “If they manage to solve your case before we do, again, my whole department would be completely humiliated. No, we can’t have that...”

She tapped her pen on the table as she thought to herself.

“Honestly, I have a few more questions I’d like to ask you, but I can’t ask them here.”

Once again, she looked behind her before motioning me forward, her expression grim. I scooted towards her in my chair, feeling slightly unsettled by the look on her face.

“W-why not?” I asked quietly.

“I know the man you’re looking for,” she whispered. “I believe he is a member of the Port Mafia.”

Not knowing who the Port Mafia was, I shrugged and her jaw hit the floor.

“You don’t know who the Port Mafia is?” I shook my head and she started laughing. “Wait, are you serious? What are you, some kind of shut-in? You don’t read the news?!”

As she sat there, laughing uproariously at her own joke, I twitched, trying to force a smile on my face as I waited for her to settle down.

“Oh, that’s a good one,” she sighed, wiping a tear from her eye. “Alright, let me tell you something about them since you don’t seem to know. The Port Mafia has been operating in Yokohama for decades. Decades. They have eyes and ears everywhere, perhaps even in this very police station. I want to ask you more but it’s not safe to do it here.”

She scribbled something down on a piece of paper and pushed it towards me.

“Meet me on the top floor of the South Pier Art Gallery in two hours. We’ll talk then.”

***

The rest had been a blur. I’d gone home, celebrated my win with a steaming hot bowl of ramen (topped with some of the veggies Mrs. Yamazaki had foisted on me) and watched some new seasonal shoujo anime titles to pass the time. Then, I took the train to the edge of town, found the gallery and blithely took the spiral staircase up to the top floor where they housed the stained glass window collection, not knowing what lay ahead. Not five minutes after I’d arrived, the young man named Akutagawa had appeared, killed the two curators lying on the far side of the room and blocked the way into the main entrance. When I ran for the fire escape instead, I found myself face-to-face with none other than Detective Dazai, who pointed a gun at me and instructed me to turn back around to face Akutagawa.

As I stood with my hands in the air, cold sweat running down my neck and my pathetic life hanging in the balance, I heard Dazai say something to me in a low, hushed voice.

“Sorry... this isn’t what I meant when I asked if you were doing anything later.”

As the memory of our encounter on the street floated back to me, something stirred to life deep inside my chest, something stronger than the panic that had been choking me since the start of this whole thing... It felt like anger.

“Is that right?” I asked. My voice was shaking but the words kept coming out. “You mean dates with you don’t usually end with somebody getting shot? What exactly did you have in mind then?”

“Oh? Are you interested after all?”

His tone was still light-hearted and flirtatious but I could sense his hesitancy; the gun against my skull pulled back just a fraction and for a second, there was hope. What if the gun fell away from my head entirely? Would I be able to make a run for it, make it back to my apartment in one piece? Akutagawa might try to rip my limbs off and I might still get shot at but what if I tried...?

Dazai didn’t say anything else; he was clearly waiting for my answer. I should tell him yes, maybe then he would feel less tempted to shoot me (why hadn’t he done so already?). However, something about the idea of spending more time in the company of this madman (that is, if I did manage to leave the gallery alive) was more nauseating than the smell of blood permeating the room.

“Not at all,” I replied coolly, “I don’t date guys who are two seconds away from blowing my head off.”

This time, it was Dazai’s turn to laugh.

“Well then,” Dazai mused, “Would it make you feel better to know I’d be joining you right after?”

I actually scoffed.

“What are you proposing, a double suicide?!”

“If you’d like.”

“You have a terrible sense of humor, Detective.”

I wasn’t sure if he could hear me over the deep growls coming from across the room. The monster coming out of Akutagawa’s cloak swayed slowly from side to side, clearly looking for an opening. Akutagawa hadn’t moved a muscle in some time but somehow this didn’t make me feel more comfortable. The sun was starting to set, the colors of the stained glass windows around us gradually darkening, making that cold, calculating gaze and quiet anger coming from the entrance more menacing than ever. Fruitlessly, I weighed my options again, looking around to see if there were any routes, any at all, that I could take to leave the gallery with my life. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find even one. I sighed, my shoulders dropping, that spark of hope fading with the last light of the sun.

“It was Dazai-san, right? Can I ask you a question?”

He didn’t answer, so I continued anyway.

“You talk about suicide so casually... You’re not afraid of dying?”

“Not really. It’s pain and suffering I’m afraid of, but dying?”

Dazai was quiet for a moment. When he spoke again, he sounded peaceful, hopeful even.

“No. I think about Death so often that it’s as familiar as an old friend to me now. Finally getting to die... It would be comforting, almost like coming home.”

“Huh...”

Flashes of my previous life appeared before my eyes, from more recent to further back... Mrs. Yamazaki bleeding out, alone in her own darkened living room room. A young man’s body flying high into the air after an untimely collision with a speeding black car. The shadow of a burning building on the water’s edge, down by the pier, windows shattering as it was rocked by a sudden explosion...

And finally, an image of a ghoul, staring back at me from just outside my own darkened windows, with long, black hair cut in the same style as my own, drops of blood instead of tears falling down her cheeks, staining the fingertips she touched to them, the blackness of her pupils deep like bottomless wells... As I stared into my own haunted reflection that night, the night before I stopped going to class, I heard it—the darkness within calling out to me, the intrusive thoughts that tempted me to jump when I looked out through the windows of tall buildings...

I heard a distant roar. The shadow monster commanded by Akutagawa surged forward, jaws stretched wide and at the last moment, I turned my head to look Detective Dazai in the face. I smiled.

“I understand.”

Dazai stared at me.

“You do...?”

Without warning, an explosive force shook the gallery, enveloping me in clouds of thick, acrid smoke. I heard a crack and coughing violently, I looked down just in time to see the patterned floor below me give way, the cheap carpeting disintegrating beneath my very feet. There was no time for me to scream or think. I fell into the void below, my watering eyes catching one final glimpse of Akutagawa’s pale face, twisted in anger, as the darkness claimed me.

Wind rushed past my ears. I could feel myself picking up speed and I covered my head, wondering if tucking myself into a ball might mean less broken bones when I finally hit the bottom floor.

But I had stopped falling.

I was caught on something sturdy, with long, dense, wiry limbs. A tree? No, trees weren’t this warm... and they didn’t smell like gun smoke, books and ink...

“Got you,” someone grunted from just above me and I realized I’d fallen not onto a tree, but right into a man’s arms. I pushed my tangled bangs out of my face and looked up.

“Kunikida-san?!”

“I’ll explain later,” he gruffly, crouching down and setting my feet on the ground as the lights around us snapped back on. “We have to go, now! Can you run?”

No sooner had I nodded than he grabbed my wrist, his fingers closing over the fabric of my jacket, and tugged me after him, wasting no time in tearing off down the nearest corridor as soon as he was sure I could stand. Paintings whizzed by as we ran, abstract portraits blurring into colorful landscapes as we raced down the hall, my wrist locked in the detective’s iron grip. I could hear gunfire and yells, occasionally an otherworldly roar echoing from the top floor and I shuddered and pushed myself to run faster, to put more distance between myself and the beast making those horrible shrieks. As we ran past the spiral staircase to the corner of the central gallery, I abruptly realized the explosion had taken me from the top floor to the second—that much closer to safety...

Just when I thought my legs were going to give out, Kunikida abruptly stopped at the end of the corridor and I almost crashed right into him. His head jerked up and I caught a flash of green from the exit sign reflected on his glasses as he barked his next command.

“This way!”

I was brusquely yanked forward again, Kunikida’s long ponytail nearly smacking me in the face as he dragged me into a stairwell, the walls and steps narrow and lined with cement.

“We’re going down. Hurry!” he ordered, finally letting go of my aching wrist.

Ignoring the burning in my legs, I bolted down the stairs as quickly as I could, the tall detective hot on my heels as a crack echoed above us, like fireworks exploding in our confined chamber. Instinct took over and I ducked, throwing a hand over my head as I felt projectiles whiz past my shoulder.

“Get up!” Kunikida shouted and I obeyed, the sight of freshly gouged bullet holes on the wall ahead of me spurring me on. I was almost at the ground floor when I heard gunshots from very close behind. At once, I realized Kunikida was not with me and I whirled to see him several meters away at the turn, firing a small handgun up the stairs.

“Kunikida-san?” I called up, dashing back to him.

“Don’t come any closer!” he cried.

A sharp pain ripped into my cheek, tearing off bits of my hair and splattering my clothes with hot blood. I could feel the blood dripping down my neck in rivulets as I squeezed myself back into the corner and out of the way, a fresh hail of bullets raining down on us from above. I heard excited shouting; someone had followed us, their heavy footsteps pounding down the stairs—

“It’s the Port Mafia. You have to go!” Kunikida hollered, the echo of his voice nearly overwhelmed by the cacophony of more bullets firing into the stairwell. The impact scattered rubble everywhere and forcing me to guard my eyes.

“What about you?!” I cried.

“I’ll be fine!” he shouted. “Just get to the lobby, now!”

Red bloomed in the shoulder of his beige vest. He stumbled and pushed himself further back into the corner of the alcove, his bloodied hand reaching into his shirt vest and pulling out a small, lightly-bound olive green notebook. There was a determined look in his eye.

“What are you waiting for? Go!”

He ripped a page out of the notebook and I was suddenly blinded by a flash of green light. An enormous explosion rocked the stairwell and I stumbled to the ground as smoke flooded the air.

“Kunikida-san?!”

There was no answer. I pushed myself to my feet, staring in horror at the spot where he’d been.

“Kunikida-san...”

Was he dead? Had he died defending me?!

Frozen, I stood there, utter shock pulsing through me as my cheek continued to drip blood onto my blouse. But all too soon, the sound of footsteps began to pound down the stairs, snapping me out of my daze and I uprooted my feet, following Kunikida’s last order and made for the door to the lobby.

I had to live. If Kunikida was really dead, living was the only way to make sure his sacrifice was not in vain. Living meant I was saved.

Throwing my shoulder against the heavy door, I burst into the lobby. To my relief, a quick glance around the ground floor assured me that the lobby was deserted, with no security guards and no trench-coat-clad figures with guns anywhere in sight. Taking one last, regretful look behind me at the stairs, I immediately sprinted for the front doors.

“Hold it, Prophet.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a ribbon of black and red streak towards me. Before I knew what had hit me, something slashed deeply into my left leg and I hit the floor with a sharp cry of pain, the back of my thigh burning like it was on fire. I could feel the warmth of my own blood pouring out of the wound, pooling on the ground and soaking wetly into my ripped jeans. As I struggled to get up, I heard Akutagawa’s voice again.

“Surrender.”

Somehow, he’d gotten past Dazai and Kunikida. Or maybe the Port Mafia had already finished both of them off, giving Akutagawa a clear path to me... Gritting my teeth, I got up, staggering a little as I stood, my eyes meeting with Akutagawa’s cold gray ones. My legs felt weak. I could tell that I’d been cut very deeply but I continued running for the doors, adrenaline pumping through my veins as I made a bee-line for the dim light of the setting sun outside.

“Don’t ignore me.”

There was an unearthly roar and something hit the ground where my right foot had been barely a millisecond before, sending small chunks of flooring flying into the air as I dodged Akutagawa’s attacks. For one brilliant, shining second, I thought I was going to make it—my fingers brushed against the glass and metal front doors—

“Rashoumon! Higanzakura!”

Black and red wires tightened around my throat, wrenching me away from the exit before I could push open the doors and lifting me high into the air. I could barely breathe and I scrabbled against my bonds in vain, the skin of my palms and fingers stinging and bleeding with every attempt to pry the coils off of me.

What was this thing made of?!

Through watering and narrowed eyes, I watched as Akutagawa approached in measured steps, his hands in his pockets, that cold, impassive face coming closer with every passing moment.

“You run pretty fast for an injured girl, I’ll admit. Unfortunately for you, I was ordered to capture you. And I don’t intend to fail.”

The weight around my throat suddenly became crushing. Spots appeared before my eyes and I fought to stay conscious as the last gasp of air was squeezed out of me. Akutagawa’s ragged, darkened form faded in and out of sight.

No! I can’t die here...!

I clawed harder at the thing holding me, desperation setting in. I’d escaped him once before, I had to do it again...! Kunikida might have died for me and if I died now, Mrs. Yamazaki didn’t have a prayer. I needed to make sure she was really saved...! I needed to live!

I watched helplessly, my arms losing strength as another tendril of darkness grew out of Akutagawa’s black coat. Crackling with energy, its shape twisted to become flat and angular until I realized I was staring at an enormous scythe.

“Dazai-san guessed correctly. My orders were to capture you alive. However, whether or not you need to be completely whole was not discussed. I don’t think the boss will care if I cut off your legs. If I do that, you’ll never be able to run away from us ever again.”

“No...”

My voice came out as nothing more than a weak gasp. Unable to hear me, he drew the scythe back in preparation.

“Don’t!”

There were several loud bangs and the vise around my neck abruptly loosened. I felt a rush of wind above me as I fell through the air, shuddering as I landed on my injured leg, which buckled sickeningly beneath me, leaving me in a bloody heap on the floor. Rubbing my throat as I coughed, trying to bring fresh air back into my lungs, I looked up to see Kunikida, bloodied but alive and well, firing a small handgun from behind a large metal sculpture at Akutagawa. He had been forced to retract the demon and was instead raising it as a shield to defend himself against the blonde detective’s onslaught. His pale hand was spattered with red as he clutched at his shoulder, blood coursing down the back of his black robe and dripping at his feet.

I could barely believe it; Kunikida had saved me once again.

I watched him dive out of the way as Akutagawa sliced up the sculpture with his black sickle and duck behind another statue, firing constantly out of his small hand gun. Sparks flew as he traded blows with Akutagawa and he shot at Akutagawa until I heard the hollow clicking of his gun; he was out of bullets. Gritting his teeth, he flung it out of the way. There was another flash of green light and within moments, he was firing at Akutagawa again.

As they fought, I scanned my surroundings again, trying not to think about the amount of blood I was losing, wondering if any backup was coming. Kunikida was holding his own but with no one on the way, he couldn’t last long. I tried to pull myself to my feet and almost immediately slipped back down.

There on the floor, amidst the splatters of blood, was a soft layer of long black hair. It was all over the faux-marble tiles and as I brought my hand to my head, I realized that it was my hair—Akutagawa must’ve clipped most of it from my head when he tried to cut me in half. Looking back up to the main doors, I tried to stand on my injured leg and immediately regretted it.

“Shit.”

My leg was in bad shape; I could barely feel it and everything from the knee down was soaked in blood. Even worse than that, my breaths felt shallow and my head was spinning from anemia; I had to be close to going into shock and judging from the small pinpricks of pain, there were probably micro fractures in my bones. In spite of Kunikida’s best efforts to keep me alive, I had no clue how I was going to make it out of the gallery.

And then a flash of a different shade of red caught my eye.

Rolling towards me from the far side of the room, where the battle raged, was a bright red fire extinguisher. Parts of it looked damaged, and as I stared at it, I was struck by a dangerous idea. If I had no chance of survival, I could at least use my last moments well.

I scooped up the fire extinguisher into my arms and headed back into the fray.

“Kunikida-san!”

They turned to me just as I flung the pressurized device at Akutagawa.

“Heads up!”

All eyes in the lobby lifted towards the extinguisher as it flew through the air, seemingly moving in slow motion as it arced towards Akutagawa. Wordlessly, Kunikida raised his gun and fired once.

The atrium shook. Glass shattered and plumes of white powder filled the air, blanketing the statues in the lobby like snow. My ears rang; something was dripping out of them. The force of the blast must have knocked out my eardrums and I could feel myself flying backwards through the air. Without warning, I was propelled through the doors of the gallery entrance and I was awarded one glorious view of the outside, of the building bathed in a twilight glow, the very streets illuminated in flashing red and blue lights. I saw uniformed police officers swarming out of their vehicles, towards me, towards the wrecked building behind me...

And then I hit the sidewalk with a horrible crunch.

The last thing I saw before the darkness took me was a woman in black and white racing towards me where I fell, a golden butterfly glinting brightly in her hair.

[stories-mostly]

Stark's Bug

Tony Stark x son!reader

=Masterlist=

And we're back baby. Sorry for the long wait but it had to be done. I was stressed to the brim lol. Anyway this chapter is a little cute and domestic cutouts of what Tony has to deal with every day lol. Happy Pride and have fun reading.

Warnings: zero to none

Words: 2079

Chapter 16

After the trip everything, and everyone, was busy. Happy had taken a week long vacation. Pepper and Natalie were having to call and answer calls from all kinds of government people. And Tony was in his lab researching about the dude who attacked him. Ivan something something if you remember correctly.

The news weren't above it either.

What was worse for you though was the stress hanging in the air. It seemed like nobody would be happy about you interrupting their work. But you also didn't know what to do with yourself. So you sat there on the ground looking off into space thinking about anything and nothing at the same time.

Then you decided to just walk around the house for a bit. Maybe you'll find something to do. As you turned the corner you saw a familiar and loved face appear not far away.

"UNCLE RHODEY!" You screeched and jumped into his arms.

"Hey there, champ. What's new?"

"Everybody is suuuuper busy and boring right now," you complained.

"Well, yeah. The attack yesterday was pretty shocking for a lot of people."

You shrugged and were put back onto the ground.

"I guess. What are you doing here?"

"I have to have a word with your dad about what happened."

"Ugh, you too?" You groaned and threw your head back.

"Yeah. Many important people are mad about what happened. They think Tony can't protect them so they want to take the suits away."

"Like the government?"

"Yes and the military and so on."

"But you're in the military?" You questioned as you were walking into the living room.

"Don't worry. I'm trying to protect him." He smiled at you and asked the room where your dad was right now.

You followed behind him but he turned around and stopped you.

"Sorry, bud. But I'm gonna have to talk with him alone, okay?"

"Why!?" You crossed your arms.

"Because I'll say some choice words you aren't allowed to use yet."

You huffed and sat down on the couch still pouting. You were allowed to go anywhere you want! This was your house!

Still angry your stomach growled loudly. So you left for the kitchen, took some food and sulked off into your room.

The next morning you woke up to a quiet and empty house. Which got you into a chipper mood.

For Tony Stark it was time to let off some off that pent up energy from sitting in the lab all day and night since he got back.

But inside the gym awaited a peculiar scene. There were you, pushing weights with all your might onto a mat layed out on the floor.

"Hey Buddy, what are you doing?" He asked both curious and amused.

You turned away from the task at hand to explain.

"I want to test how much I can lift!"

"With your hands or force?"

"The force!"

"Okay. Don't hurt yourself, alright?"

"I won't" and with that you turned back around to the task at hand. Tony watched you after changing into his gym clothes. You were so focused on scribbling into your notebook that you didn't know he was watching.

He looked on as you picked up one after another weight, putting them down inbetween to write something. He cheered you on inwardly as you struggled to lift another one and add it to the ones already floating about in the room. You added some more until it all finally came tumbling down with a loud thud that made the floor vibrate. Quickly moving to your notebook you wrote down the final amount you had lifted.

"Look how much I can lift, daddy!" You ran up to him holding up your little notebook proudly.

Tony grabbed it to stop it from moving and his eyes almost fell out of his head as he read the number with three lines under it.

"212lbs!? Wow, that's a lot," he exclaimed engulfing you in a big hug.

"That's more than 4 times my weight!" You talked on and showed him the math you had done in your book.

"No way. Wow." He paused thinking about all the documentaries on animals he had watched that talked about this kind of thing.

"That's just like an eagle!" He finally said remembering the documentary he watched with you just recently.

You frowned but shrugged. You'll take that.

"I guess your superhero name should be Eagle from now on." He joked but you shook your head.

"There is already someone named Eagle in Captain Magics team. I can't steal his name." You said matter of factly and walked off to begin cleaning up after yourself.

Meanwhile Tony wondered where Happy was for their sparring match today.

He pulled out his phone to call but then something made an elevator sound in his brain. Happy was on vacation for the next two weeks so... yeah.

He totally hadn't forgotten about that at all. Instead of dwelling on it he turned to you and helped to put away the weights.

"Iron man I need your help!" Tony jumped at the sudden appearance of his son Captain Storm behind him.

"What? Oh, what is it Captain Storm?" He asked in a serious tone.

"The evil Madman is trying to take over Brickville and I need your help defeating him and his evil goons!" You explained in a lower voice than usual, which he found adorable.

"Oh no that's terrible! How can I help?"

"We need to find his headquarters and destroy him once and for all!"

"Let's go then. We can't waste any time!" He jumped up and put on his helmet before sneaking away behind his you.

The city was a mess and located in the living room. Brickvilles Bricks were all over the place and half the city had been ravaged. No one who resisted had been left alive. As Captain Storm explained.

Nearing the headquarters Cap instructed Iron man to quieten down so they wouldn't be discovered by the very vigilant guards hired by Madman.

He had the entire city under his brutal paw.

Evading the goons outside both heroes got inside the headquarter undetected.

"We have to find Madmans office. Follow me!" Captain Storm walked forward leading the taller hero through the corridors towards what was discovered to be Madmans office just a few minutes prior.

"Stop," Storm said holding out a hand behind him before turning around. "Look, there's guards."

"That must be it then. How do you propose we get inside?"

"I sneak around to the other side and on three we take them down together."

Iron man nodded in agreement and the plan unfolded as said.

Captain Storm snuck around to the other guard further away from Iron man. He held up three fingers and lowered them one at the time indicating the countdown.

Once the last finger went down both heroes took the guards down quickly  and left their bodies in the same spot they had been standing.

Bursting through the door there he was. Madman. Sitting on his office chair and looking as though he had awaited their arrival.

"Ah. Captain Storm and Iron man what a pleasure," spoke the Bear.

"Shut up stupid! We're not here to talk. Leave the city alone and I wont punch you in the face." The Captain said. Very aggressively. Iron man was sort of taken back.

"Yeah. You heard the man Madman." He supported non the less.

Madman said no and with that Storm tackled him out of his chair and started throwing punches.

"Leave. The. City. Alone."

You really beat the crap out of that Bear.

In the end Iron man dragged Madman out of his hideout and held him in place as Storm told the citizens that they were now safe and left Madman in the hands of the public.

"Good work Stormy. I will go now I hope you can handle the cleaning up?"

Captain Storm nodded dutifully and began cleaning. First dragging the stuffed supervillain by his blanket cape into his room while several Lego houses followed.

Tony Stark always thought of himself as a rather messy and unorganized person. But he didn't think he was this unorganized. After you had nagged him about being hungry he went into the kitchen to see what was available.

Nothing apparently. Nothing for him rather. You had spotted something that peaked your interest. A full bag of frozen peas.

"What about this?" You asked holding out the peas infront of you.

"What about it?"

"Can I have it?"

"The peas?"

You nodded.

Tony frowned. This wasnt what he imagined his son wanted for dinner.

"You want a plate of...peas?"

"Yes."

"With what?"

"Just peas."

"Are you sure?" Again you nodded this time more insistent.

What the hell. What kind of child wants peas for dinner.

"But these won't fill you up."

"Not if I eat lots."

The older Stark sighed and went on to prepare you a plate of pure peas. Just peas and nothing but peas. It felt wrong to put peas in a pot all by themselves. And it felt even worse putting all of them in an empty bowl again all by themselves.

He placed the bowl of peas infront of you and gave you a spoon. You, being the semi independent little man you are, went and got yourself a fork. Meanwhile your poor father didn't understand any of the actions you were currently taking. He wondered if he ever confused his parents like you were currently doing to him.

But you seemed to be delighted by the food. Kicking your legs back and forth while chewing the peas.

Tony opted to bite into his apple and keep his mouth shut.

In the end you ate two and a half bowls of peas and was satisfied with your meal.

Pressing down random keys on the piano you were slowly getting frustrated with the bad tunes that came out of it. Nothing even resembling the melodies your father could produce.

Said man walked in just as you were dragging your fingers over the keys angrily. He was planning on telling you to get ready for bed but seeing you sitting there, trying your darnest to produce music warmed his heart with fondness.

"Playing the piano, Bug? What song?" He teased and sat down next to you.

You glared at him.

"Oh if looks could kill," He chuckled and pressed down on one of the keys.

"Want me to teach you?"

You eyes lit up. "Yes! Can you, please?!"

"Alright, come here!" He patted the spot right next to him and you slid closer. He took your smaller hands and placed them where you should press, adjusting each finger that was needed.

"What song is it?"

"I think you'll know once we play it," you weren't really satisfied with that answer.

He placed his own hands right over yours and pulled you on his lap rather than reaching around you awkwardly.

Tony pressed down and the first two notes rung through the quiet room. You groaned.

"What?"

"Thats a childs song!" You exclaimed offended.

"Yeah and what are you?"

"Too old for Twinkle Twinkle little star."

Tony laughed a little. "Bug. This is one of the easiest things to play as a beginner. You don't start with the hardest thing first," he explained and played on with your hands still being guided along.

"Twinkle twinkle little Star. How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high. Like a diamond in the sky. Twinkle twinkle little Star. How I wonder what you are." Tony sang along teasingly.

"This song is stupid." You pouted.

"You rather have me sing the ABC's alongside it?" He poked you side and you moved away.

"Come on this was composed by Mozart. So I don't think it's all that stupid. Come on let's play some more,"

"Only if you play the Star Wars song!" You grinned up at him.

"Okay? I'll see what I can do," he said and placed you back onto his lap.

"This time you sing along too. Make sure I'm doing it right," he put your hands back in position and you nodded dutifully.

At first you just mumbled the words but your dad pushed you a slight bit and joined in.

You grinned and sang the last lyrics together. Giggling you pressed the last keys on your own.

"Great!" Tony praised and placed his own hands over different keys.

"What Star Wars song would the gentleman like to hear?"

"The one that goes: dun dun dun duhn dahdan duhn dahdan," you tried to describe it to the best of your abilities.

Tony nodded and thought for a second before pressing down on the first few notes of The Imperial March. You smiled brightly. He missed a few notes but that didn't bother you too much. It was sensational and you liked having your own musician in the house.

You clapped when he finished. "Whoooo. This was great!"

"Well, thank you kindly. But now is really time for bed,"

He shooed you along and into your bathroom and with that your day was over and another would soon arrive.

And then another, and another, and so on.

Tags: @shannonr2003 @art-estrange @nicholasbich @tater-thotties @tonystanktheirondad @gaylemonshark @emilaa2001 @kindahadeschild @actualcringetm

[get-your-fics]

Violent Ends - Chapter Thirteen

Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend

Summary: Bruce Wayne is addicted to a lot of things to distract from his dark urges, but his addiction to you might only increase them.

Pairing: dark!Bruce Wayne x reader

Series warnings: Violence, language, smut, rape/non-con, stalking, kidnapping, underage drinking, drug use, torture, abuse

CHAPTER TWELVE

I leaned in the doorway of the greenhouse. It was attached to the very back of the manor and had a view of the garden and the high, brick wall surrounding it through the floor to ceiling windows making up the walls. During the day, sunshine shone down through the slanted roof, and the exotic plants upturned their luscious, green leaves or unfurled their fuchsia-colored petals to soak up the rays. But now, it was dark outside, and the room seemed almost overcrowded with all of the shadowed plants taking up space.

One of the sun lamps in the corner was turned on and cast shadows over your face. You sat on a lounge chair facing the window and ran your finger through the condensation gathering there. I smiled; I knew I would have found you here. The greenhouse had become your safe haven in the past couple of days, the place you always went when I was too busy doing something else to pay attention to you. It was as close to outside as you could get; I guessed you were too afraid of my reaction to try to go out into the real thing.

My gaze raked over your form. You were wearing a red, satin babydoll dress I had picked out for you that morning with a bow cinching the waist tied in the back. You hugged your legs to your chest, a peek of the red, lacy thong I had chosen for you visible between your legs. There was a reason I had picked such an outfit for you, and soon that reason would be clear.

You were so focused on what your finger was doing you didn’t even register my presence until I spoke up. “Hello, gorgeous.” I smirked at you.

Your head snapped to look at me, but you said nothing, your finger stilling on the window pane. I pushed off of the doorway and stepped inside. The humidity of the greenhouse hit me like a train, and the leaves of some plants brushed against my arms as I moved towards you. My jaw ticked as I came closer, and I stopped right at the foot of your lounge chair and leaned down.

“Are you taking your chances and signaling for help from the outside world?” I peered at what you had been drawing, expecting to see ‘SOS’ or ‘HELP ME’ scribbled over and over again like the workings of a madman. But in its place were random spirals and swirls like mosaic inscribed on the cool, wet glass.

My expression softened, and you noticed it, because you asked, “Do you really think I’m that dumb?” There was an edge of accusation to your tone, but it was mainly just curiosity.

I looked at you and ran my fingers through your hair. “Of course not, gorgeous, but I do think you’re that desperate.” I pressed a kiss to your forehead and felt you flinch at the contact. “It is good to see you coming out of your funk, though. You ought to be rewarded.”

Your eyes widened, and you pressed your thighs closer together. I pulled away and stood up straight, a chuckle rumbling through my chest. “I didn’t mean it like that, although that does give me some ideas.” I shot you a wink, and your face grew hot. “I have a surprise for you. I got you something.”

I reached in the pocket of my slacks and wrapped my fingers around a black, crush velvet box. I pulled it out and presented it to you. You bit your bottom lip, and your whole body tensed. “Is that...” you trailed off, too afraid to finish the sentence.

“An engagement ring? Oh, no.” I laughed. “I did say I wanted to take this slow, didn’t I, gorgeous? No, one day, but not yet.” I smiled and held the box out to you. “Here, take it.”

You looked at me wearily before hesitantly taking it from me, your fingers brushing against mine. Your touch still sent sparks throughout me. You held the box in the palm of your hand and slowly opened it like it was going to bite you if you weren’t careful. Your eyes grew to the size of saucers when you stared at its contents.

Two red diamond earrings sat on top of a plush pillow inside. The round surface caught the light of the sun lamp behind you and shimmered like Dorothy’s red slippers. The vibrant, crimson hue was just so definite, so absolute. They reminded me of candy apples, or two perfect drops of ruby red blood. Your blood.

I kneeled down beside you. “They’re red diamonds, the rarest type of diamond known to man. Less than thirty in the world have been found. I know how fond you were of your diamond earrings, so I just had to get these for you.” You didn’t tear your gaze away from the box, the expression on your face unreadable. I tilted my head to the side. “Well? Do you like them?”

You finally looked up at me. “Do you really think you’ll win me over with expensive gifts?”

I furrowed my thick brows. “No, of course not. This isn’t about winning you over. This is about giving you what you deserve.” I snatched the box from your hand. “Here, let me help you.”

I tucked your hair behind your ears and took the earrings from the box. You stayed absolutely rigid as I put one earring in. Then, I move to the other side and did the same with the other. I sat back on my heels and admired you. The color perfectly accentuated the rich tone of the dress and complimented your skin. You reached up and fiddled with the backs of the earrings.

“They might be a little heavy,” I warned. I grabbed you by your wrists, and your eyes went wide for a second. I lowered your hands away from your face and took you in again. I could still see the raised scars from where I had cut you standing out on your skin, red and irritated. A dreamy look came over my face. “Gorgeous,” I whispered.

The chime of the doorbell echoed throughout the house, the sound clear and cutting through the atmosphere of peace and serenity that had settled over the greenhouse. The noise rang in my ears, and I perked up. Who would be ringing my doorbell, especially at an hour as late as this?

Your ears pricked up, and panic rushed through my veins as I saw a glimmer of hope in your eyes. “Help!” You hopped off of the lounge chair and tried to dodge around me. “Somebody help me, please!”

I grabbed you by the collar around your neck and yanked you back. I kept you close to my side as I dragged you out of the greenhouse, practically lifting you off of your feet. You flailed your limbs frantically, kicking and thrashing. You reached out for any nearby plants to stop yourself from going with me, branches and thorns scratching your smooth skin. I pulled on you harder, and your hands shot up to the collar around your throat. You made a strangled breathing noise, the leather constricting your airway with the way I was holding it.

I finally got you out of the greenhouse and stomped down the hall, you in tow behind me. I spotted an airing cupboard and went for it, wrenching the doors open. I shoved you inside, and you collapsed in a heap on the cement floor, scraping your knees. You coughed and sputtered as you gasped for breath.

My whole form took up the frame of the doorway, blocking any escape. “Stay here. If I don’t find you here when I get back, I’ll do a lot more than just cut you.”

With that, I closed the doors on you. I could hear you scramble to your knees on the other side as you started to push on the doors. I pressed my knee against them to keep them in place. I tugged at the knot on my tie around my neck until it came loose. I slipped it off and wrapped it around handles instead, securing the doors. I stepped away and watched as the doors shook from your banging fists. They rattled, but they didn’t budge. I turned away and listened to your muffled screams of despair bounce off of the walls. They faded away with the more distance put in between us as I retreated away from the cupboard.

By the time I made it to the foyer, I knew you could no longer be heard, even if your shrieks were still echoing in my ears. I stopped just in front of the front door and smoothed out the wrinkles in my button up with my hands. I made sure there wasn’t a hair out of place on my head and plastered a wide smile on my face before gripping the doorknob. I twisted it and swung the door open to reveal none other than Tommy Elliot standing on my doorstep, his lips pulled back to reveal two rows of bleached white teeth in a patronizing smile.

“Took you long enough. I was starting to think no one was home,” he teased. “How’s not having a butler working out for you now?”

The corners of my lips twitched. “What do you want, Tommy?”

“I wanted to see if you wanted to go to the Towers with us. It’s been weeks since we’ve hung out.” He jabbed a thumb behind him, and I followed his gesture to look over his shoulder.

His black, stretch limousine was parked in my circular driveway, blending in with the night. I could hear giggling and laughter from within, and the horn blared a couple of times. I saw another group of girls I didn’t know who looked like they were fresh off of the pages of Teen Vogue smiling and waving at us through the tinted windows. They were stunning, but they were no where close to you. No one was.

“No, thanks, Tommy. That’s not really my thing anymore.” I sighed.

He drew his brows together. “Not really your thing anymore? What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean that my days of getting drunk and high with girls I don’t know at clubs until five in the morning are over.” I rolled my eyes.

He quirked a brow. “This doesn’t have anything to do with (Y/N), does it?”

I crossed my arms over my chest, bristling at the mention of your name. “What do you mean?”

“We all heard that she ran off to Paris, but come on, Bruce! I didn’t think you’d be that hung up on her.” He clapped a hand on my shoulder. “I mean, yeah, she was kind of hot, but she had a major stick up her ass. I’d get it if you just wanted to hump her and dump her, but settle down with her? I’d sooner date Grace than commit to a relationship with her.” He chuckled.

I clenched my jaw so hard, my muscles started to ache. I didn’t like the way he was talking about you, not at all. It made me think about smacking his head against the cobblestone and watching the blood trickle out of his skull and down the front steps. “Don’t talk about her like that.” I shook his hand off of me.

The smile on his face faltered. “What happened to you, Bruce? You’re distant, you’re aggressive, you’re secretive. The last time I saw you, you stopped by for like five seconds, and then disappeared on us for weeks. You’re nothing like the Bruce I know now.”

“Maybe you don’t know me as well as you think,” I snapped.

“And now Grace is telling us you were a total dickhead to her and she saw (Y/N) running out of the Sirens Club crying that night,” he continued. “What’s going on?”

“What’s going on is that Grace is a nosy, little bitch who doesn’t know how to keep her mouth shut, or her legs shut either, for that matter.” I poked him in the chest, causing him to stumble back a little. “And you’re just a bottom feeder who’s been leeching off of me and riding my coattails the moment I started hanging out with you guys. Do I have to remind you who bought the Towers so you could use it as your little hunting ground? Who paid the tab every time we went out together? Who got you laid because one of your pickup lines was ‘Bruce Wayne, billionaire playboy and heir to the biggest corporation in Gotham, is my best friend?’” I mocked him. “Face it, Tommy. What are you without me? A sad, little trust fund baby who doesn’t get enough attention from his parents, so he drinks and snorts coke and assaults girls?” I scoffed. “Pretty pathetic, don’t you think?”

His face had turned beet red by now, and smoke was practically fuming out of his ears. “And who are you? The poor, little orphan boy who wants everyone to feel sorry for him, who uses his parents’ death as an excuse to sulk and wail and moan and treat everyone like shit, like the rest of us don’t have problems of our own?” he spat. “You want to think you’re so better than us, that you’re so superior, that we have no clue what we’re doing in our little, meaningless lives and you have control over everything. You want to think you’re the only one who knows what you’re doing, what’s up from down and left from right and right from wrong.” He lifted his chin, looking down his nose at me. “But the truth is you’re nothing, just like the rest of us.”

In an instant, my fingers wrapped around the collar of his shirt and lifted him off of his feet. His jaw went slack as he was taken aback, and his hands raised to grip mine. I brought him close so his face was mere inches from mine. “Believe me. I am not at all like the rest of you, not in the slightest,” I seethed through gritted teeth.

His eyes were wide and he clawed at the hands on my collar. His mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water, but all that came out were helpless squeaks. I smiled. Part of me wanted to keep him there, watch the light drain from his eyes as his lungs ran out of air and folded in on themselves like a house of cards, but I also knew better than to murder someone right in front of a limousine full of people, already wasted or not.

I harshly let him go, and he fell to the ground on all fours. He scrambled to his feet and dusted himself off. He lifted his head to make eye contact with me, and I could see his eyes glistening with fear. “You’re fucked up, man. I knew you were a sick freak back at Anders Prep. I should’ve kicked your sorry ass out of our group when I had the chance.”

I stepped closer to him and stood at my full height until I was towering over him. “Get off my doorstep and into your little limousine this instant before I beat the shit out of you worse than I did back in Anders Prep,” I threatened.

He stared straight at me, his lip twitching, before he backed down. “Whatever.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and sauntered down the steps. The door to the back of the limousine slid open for him, and he climbed inside. It slammed shut behind him, and the car tore out of the driveway with a screech, leaving tire tracks in its wake. That should keep him away for a while.

I waited until it was all the way past the gate before going back inside. My heavy footsteps echoed off of the walls as I drew closer and closer to the airing cupboard I had trapped you in. It was quiet, almost too much so. I picked up the speed and spotted the doors to the airing cupboard. I stopped right in front of them. Not so much as a peep came from inside, and the sound of blood rushing filled my ears.

I undid my tie around the handles and practically ripped the doors off of their hinges as I opened them, revealing you sitting inside. You hugged your knees to your chest, your whole body trembling. When you saw me, you scooted away until your back hit the furthest wall. “Please don’t hurt me,” you begged. Tears streamed down your blotchy cheeks. “I didn’t go anywhere, just please don’t hurt me.”

Usually, I would’ve loved to see you in such a frazzled state, but for some reason, it tugged on my heart strings. I sighed and reached towards you. You jerked away until you realized I was just extending a hand to you. “Come on, gorgeous. It’s getting late. Let’s go to bed.”

You inspected my hand like it was boobytrapped before lifting a shaky hand. You rested your palm against mine, and I pulled you off of the ground and out of the cupboard. I led you into my room and onto the bed. You got under the covers as I stripped until I was only in my black, silk boxers. I crawled towards you, and your breath hitched in your throat. I got in the bed beside you and laid on my side, my hand under my head. I stared at you until you hid your head under the duvet.

I placed my hand on your shoulder, and you stiffened at my touch. Then, I pulled you flush against me and looped my arm around your waist. “Goodnight, gorgeous.” I buried my face in your hair, breathing in your scent. You smelled like the green apple shampoo I had bought for you, and I could already feel sleep slipping over me. “Sweet dreams.”

-

The nightmares didn’t come for me anymore. They had stopped ever since I had you in my bed, sleeping soundly next to me every night. I had been able to get a good night’s rest, but this night, I was being dragged out of unconsciousness by a pair of hands running up my chest.

I wiggled and turned my head to the other side of my pillow. The hands stilled for a second before continuing their ascent. They moved over my skin very slowly, almost like they were caressing me. I felt hips straddling my waist, and a lazy smile came over my face. I bucked my hips against theirs subconsciously, and their thighs tensed around me. Finally, my eyes fluttered open, and I blinked away the dots obscuring my gaze to see blue moonlight streaming through the window illuminating your form on top of me. I tilted my head to the side and furrowed my thick brows. Could you at last be returning my affections? And if so, why were you doing so in the middle of the night?

You gasped when you noticed my eyes were open, and then I realized what your wandering hands had been searching for. Your fist closed over the magnet dangling from the chain around my neck.

The wistful look in my eyes was replaced with one of pure anger. I moved to stop you, but you leaned over and grabbed the lamp on the nightstand. You tugged on it roughly, pulling the plug out of the outlet, and hit me smack dab in the head with the heavy base.

A sharp, piercing ring filled my ears as I fell back down on the bed. Through the overwhelming ache in my brain, I could feel you rip the chain off of my neck and hop off of me. You started for the door, unlocking it and pulling it open. You ran through the doorway as I finally gathered enough of my senses together to sit up. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, touching my hand to my head to see if I was bleeding. I peered at my fingertips; no blood, but I was sure to have a nasty bruise blooming where you had attacked me.

I pushed myself to stand and sprinted out of the room. “All right, (Y/N)! I’ve given you long enough of a head start!” I stopped in the hallway and listened. I could hear quiet yet rushed footsteps echoing down the hall leading to the back of the manor. “But now I’m coming after you!”

I chased after you, using the telltale sound of your footsteps as my guide. The halls weaved and twisted like a labyrinth, and I lost track of you when I came across an intersection between four hallways. But then I spotted something lying on the hardwood haphazardly down one of the halls as if it had been thrown there. The closer I got to it, I realized it was two things: the first, your shock collar, and the second, the magnet on the chain I had been wearing close to my heart since I first had taken you. I picked them up. So you had managed to get it off; it didn't matter. I had worked too hard to lose you now, and when I did get my hands on you, you would be in deep trouble.

The back door opening onto the garden was wide open. A gust of wind hit it as I stormed through the doorway, causing it to creak on its hinges. I could see you halfway across the garden in the dark, darting towards the brick wall like your life depended on it. It kind of did. Your legs were covered in mud and scratches from brambles, and the hem of your dress was dipped in grime. The satin fabric itself was torn in places from offending trees, and the skirt blew up around you as you ran, exposing your lacy panties. I would’ve enjoyed the sight if it didn’t mean you were running away from me.

“(Y/N)!” I called before hurtling towards you, my voice cutting through the otherwise tranquil noises of the garden at night. You glanced over your shoulder at me, and your eyes widened. You quickened your speed, though it was no use. I had to admit, you ran fast, but I was faster. You were starting to realize that as I began to close the distance between us, the cool night air rushing around my half-naked body and twigs and thorns scraping at my bare feet.

You skidded to a halt at the wall and looked up. It was about ten feet tall and made of evenly laid brick. There was no way around it except for over, and even then, you’d have to have a rope to climb it. No chinks, no cracks, no crevices, no weeds splitting the seams between the bricks or winding ivy to grab onto. But still, you took your chances. You scratched your nails down it like a cat and a scratching post. You finally found some purchase and managed to get your feet off the ground, but you still had a good ways to go before you were on the other side. It was a rather pathetic display that filled my gut with repulsion and disgust.

I stopped a yard or two away from you, the adrenaline easing in my veins. I had hardly broken a sweat and was barely panting. “Come on, gorgeous. Get down from there. You’ll never make it.” I put my hands on my hips. “Tell you what, if you get back here right now, I promise not to punish you, and you know I make good on my promises.” You didn’t respond, continuing to stretch your arm as much as you could in order to reach the top of the wall. “So how ‘bout it?”

You grunted and groaned. “Never,” came the strangled reply. You raised your foot to search for another foothold but found none. Your shoulders slumped, and I could tell you knew that was as far as you were getting. “Help me!” You resorted to screaming your head off. “Please, somebody, help!”

Rage surged through my veins once more. “Suit yourself,” I huffed.

I stomped towards you and reached up, threading my fingers through your hair. You shrieked as I yanked you off of the wall, causing you to fall. I hauled you a good ways away from the wall, and your hands flew up to the one tangled in your hair. I tugged on your mangled locks and pulled you close to me. You yelped, and I held you still against me as I fastened the collar back around your neck.

“No!” You sniffled and moved your hands down to your neck, clawing at the black leather circling your throat. “No!”

I snaked an arm around your waist and pulled you flush against me. You yipped before going silent, your body seizing with fear. I could practically smell it coming off of you in waves. I leaned down so my lips were right against your ear and whispered, “You should’ve finished the job when you had the chance.”

Then, I hurled you towards the brick wall.

As your body collided with the bricks, a shock entered you from the collar. It wasn’t anything big. Not a bolt of lightning, not a burst of sparks. It was just a small jolt of electricity that looked like flint striking against stone, a flash of white. But your eyes bulged as your legs locked up and your shoulders hunched. Your back went rigid, and your limbs froze. You convulsed as you teetered to the side and fell to the ground. Then, all the energy left you, leaving you limp and lifeless like a cold, dead corpse in the dirt.

I walked towards you. “I did warn you about this, didn’t I? What would happen if you came near the wall with the collar on?”

I stopped right by your side and loomed over you. You were so still, for a second I thought the shock had actually killed you, but then I saw the single tear leak from the corner of your eye and roll down your cheek. The rest of you may have been listless, but your glossy eyes were still full of life, and passion, and hatred. They told me everything you weren’t able to say.

“I know you thought you could escape me, but I already told you there is no escape. There is no exit, no way out. There’s only me now. I can’t believe how long it’s taking you to get that.” I laughed. Your eyes followed me as I paced back and forth, the only part of you able to move now. “But now I suppose we can have some fun, make up for you interrupting my sleep.”

I leaned down and grabbed your arm. I made my way back towards the manor, dragging you along behind me. Your head lolled to the side, mud splattering across your skin and grass brushing against your legs. When I got to the door, I wrapped my arms around your middle and hoisted you up. You were debilitated and malleable in my grasp, like a rag doll I could do what I pleased with. I carried you through the halls and into the living room, tracking mud across the wooden floors.

“Look what a mess you’ve made. Now I’m going to have to clean it all up,” I scolded you like a little child.

I brought you over to the desk and swept one arm across the top, knocking all my possessions and belongings off. They crashed to the floor with a loud clatter. I draped your limp body over the desk and lifted your skirt over your hips. I found myself missing the way your voice cracked with emotion when you protested against me. I was sure if you could, you would’ve been kicking up quite the fight right now. All well. Might as well make the best of it. I hooked my thumbs under the elastic band of your underwear and pulled them down your ankles.

“It’s too bad I can’t see your reaction to this gorgeous.” I pushed a mud-caked strand of hair out of your face. You had all sorts of leaves and twigs stuck in the strands. “This is going to hurt.”

I placed one hand on your back to steady myself. I rested the other one on your bare ass, rubbing gentle, soothing circles on your soft skin. I pulled it back before bringing it down on you, slapping your flesh with a sharp snap. Your body jolted on the desk, but the only sign that you had felt something at all was the alarm in your eyes. I looked down at the mark I had made on you. A bright red handprint bloomed across your skin, and I grinned from ear to ear. It was beautiful.

I spanked you again and again, the sound of my hand hitting your ass reverberating off of the walls and filling my ears. I didn’t stop until your entire ass was red and raw from being abused so much. There was no way you were going to be able to sit down tomorrow. I stepped back and stared at what I had done. I pursed my lips. It wasn’t enough; something just wasn’t right.

Something in the corner of my eye caught my attention. I turned my head to see what it was. A silver letter opener laid discarded on the ground amongst a scattering of ballpoint pens and sharpies. It was sharp, the warm yellow light in the room glinting off of the edge. Perfect.

I leaned down and wrapped my fingers around it. I stood up and positioned myself behind you, the point of the letter opener poking your ass cheek. I dragged it across the expanse of skin, creating just a deep enough cut for ruby red blood to seep out. I tossed the soiled letter opener aside and dipped a finger in the blood dripping out. I brought it to my lips and licked, savoring the taste of you. It was sweet and spicy like cinnamon, but had a metallic tang to it like iron and carbon and stardust. I licked my lips. You never failed to disappoint me.

I leaned to the side and stared at your face. Your head was lying on the desk, your cheek smushed against the oak wood. Your eyes were half open, and inside them burned a fire brighter and hotter than the sun or any of the stars in the sky. You could burn down all of Gotham with that fire, set the world alight and watch it reduce to ash and smoldering embers. But the fury there wasn’t for the world; it wasn’t for anyone else but me.

And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN