#somebody please teach me how to draw him is URGENT

[teenage-monster]

"They say you lost the ability to even think

That your tiny little brain

Slipped down the kitchen sink!!!"

Soo uh I was feeling kinda sad today and I decided to distract myself by drawing the elf dude. I'm still learning how to draw him... Man how knew drawing a scrunkly silly ginger man could be so hard lmaooo.

[emwritesfootball]

Sensitive | Richarlison

Imagine getting to sit in a boy’s lap that’s just sooo sensitive. Like, all you’re doing is kissing him slowly and playing with his hair but you feel him start to grow underneath you. Opening your eyes, you can see how tinted red his cheeks are and can’t believe he’s hard already so all you can do is go back to kissing him and slowly grind against him as your own body responds involuntarily to it all with Richarlison?

Word Count: 513

Warnings: mentions of Richy’s dick; that’s about it xx

- - -

You loved getting to tease Richarlison. He exuded an air of confidence around others, but you knew the truth. When Richarlison had first admitted to you that he wasn’t very experienced with women, you couldn’t help the rush of excitement that flooded through you. “Don’t worry, baby,” you cooed, leaning down to whisper in his ear, “I’ll teach you.”

Over the next few weeks, you spent your evenings going slow with Richy, teaching him all the ways you liked to be touched and letting him explore your body. He was fun to teach and you reveled in the experience of getting to teach a man so eager to please.

Richarlison was sitting on the sofa and you were straddling him, both of you lost in a lazy makeout session. You loved kissing him: the feel of his lips on yours coupled with the way his nose would brush over your cheeks whenever he moved to get a different angle, one hand tangled in your hair. Your fingers roam over the column of his neck and you can feel his pulse quicken under your thumb, but you keep kissing him, focusing on how good his kisses are.

You could feel him getting hard between your legs, his kisses getting more urgent each time you

“You’re so sensitive,” you murmur in Portuguese as you kiss your way down Richarlison’s neck, loving the way he responds to your touch.

Richarlison draws in a shaky breath and that’s when you open your eyes, smiling down at your boyfriend. He’s flushed, looking like he’s put in a full shift on the pitch and your pride swells knowing that you’re the one to put him in this state. You rut against him once more for good measure, watching as his eyes flutter close because of it. “You make me like this,” he replies in Portuguese, his hands sliding up your thighs to grip your hips as he leans in for another kiss.

You quickly pull back, a smirk on your face as you press your index finger to his lips in a ‘shh’ motion. “Somebody’s eager,” you chastise, watching him get shy. “Don’t worry, baby - I’ll make you feel good.”

“I know.”

You lean in, trailing kisses over his cheeks before lightly kissing his lips. “I can’t believe you’re hard already,” you tease in-between kisses, pleased when you see his Adam’s apple bob as he swallows hard.

“I-It’s not my fault,” he counters, breathless, making you chuckle.

“Oh, baby,” you coo, taking his face in your hands, “It’s okay. I’ll make you cum later, but right now I just wanna continue kissing you.”

It takes every ounce of your willpower not to give in and drag him to the bedroom, but you hold back, letting your body take over and just feeling every inch of him as you resume kissing him. Richarlison moans into your mouth and you swallow the sound, your hips rocking over the bulge in his joggers as you wrap your arms around his neck and deepen the kiss by sliding your tongue in his mouth.

[checkingoutforheroes]

B.A.B.Y PROTOCOL.

Part 1.

Avengers x fem!reader

Pt. 2

Genre: Minor angst, more fluff.

Warning: Language! (cursing here & there)

Words: 1746

Synopsis: This takes place in Avengers: Age of Ultron. When The Avengers were at the rock bottom, Nick Fury and advised by Maria Hill, to initiate the B.A.B.Y Protocol. 

Main MASTERLIST

The Avengers gather in the lab after one of an ugly half made robot command a few of the Legionaries to attack them. Currently they are finding out about what or who attacked them. Some of them cleaning their wounds and Thor going out to track the Legionaries. Bruce the only one who starts first. “All of our work is gone. Ultron cleared out every research that we do. He uses internet as an escape route.” Natasha turns and lean her body to a table to say what she’s found. “He’s been in everything. Fails, surveillances. Probably know about us more than we know about each other.”

Holding his right wounded arm, Rhody said “He’s in the internet, he’s in your files. What if he decides to access to something a little more exciting?” By that, Maria has thought something. “Nuclear code.” Natasha looking at them “Nukes? He said he wanted us dead.” Steve interrupt her “He didn’t say dead. He said extinct.” “He said he killed somebody.” Clint said but Maria ask back. “But no one else in the building.” Their conversations cut by Tony. “Yes there was.” He displays JARVIS damaged simulator form and all went silent except Bruce, he checks on JARVIS.

Thor come in angry and straight to choke Tony. Being choke, Tony try talk to Thor “Come one. Use your words buddy.” Thor lift him up a few inch above the floor. “I have more than enough words with you Stark.” Steve walks closer, breaking them. “Thor. The Legionaries?” Thor update them about the Legionaries have the scepter and they have to retrieve it again. For the first time after the attack, Dr. Chow speaks. “You build this program. Why he’s trying to kill us?” Tony just laugh at that question and Bruce disagree. “Tony, this might not be the time to-“ Tony cut his sentences. “Really?! Bruce. We didn’t create a murder bot. Remember New York?” Everyone move their head down facing the floor remembering that event and Tony continue. “A hostile army of aliens charging through a hole in space. We’re standing 300 feet below it. We’re The Avengers. We can bust arms dealer all day but that up there, that’s, that’s the endgame. How do you guys planning on beating that?” Steve looking at him “Together.” “We’ll lose.” Tony say and Steve still with his answer “And we’ll do that together too.” He looks at everyone and gives the order. “Thor’s right. Ultron trying to draw us out. We start tonight. Do whatever you can to find him. The world is a big place, make it smaller.” Maria stand from her chair. “I’ll escort Dr. Chow to airport. I’ll see you guys in the afternoon.” They all nods and both of them walks out of the lab.

 Next morning.

A young girl wearing her café’s uniform walking with a headphone on her head. While walking, she notices a guy snatches a bag from a lady. That lady screaming asking for help while her baby crying to see her mother in terror from across the street. You bring down your headphone and chase that guy. Thanks for your training, you almost keep up that guy until he stuck in an ally, nowhere to go.

“You wanna give me the bag or I’ll take it from you?” You said. Looks like he’s stuck.

“Fast legs.” He said.

“I had trained before.”

“I’m not a bad guy.”

             “Well, good guys don’t snatch a bag from people especially in front of their baby! You gave me the wrong impression though. Now, give me the bag and go.”

             “I’d like to see you take it.” “You asked for it dude.” You move forward and fight him hand to hand combat. Actually, you are a bit surprise by his technique. He’s not so bad but you have been train by a professional back in the academy.

You’ve been caught one day and some guy wear uniform took you somewhere. You thought it was a juvenile school because you are just 15 that time. Turns out it was S.H.I.E.L.D. They gave you test by test and found out that you good at combat and a little bit good at common sense. After you graduated, work job by job. Gang to gang. Mob to mob. You can’t do that kind of job anymore. You want to be good and yes, you did stop working with the dark. You washed your hands and works at Donut Do It. It’s not your vibe but it is fine for your fresh start. After you slap that guy, you hear a woman voice call your name that has been long unspoken by anyone including you.

 “Baby.” A woman called.

             “Normal people doesn’t know that name.” You said while choking that guy.

She said “Maybe because you’re not a normal girl.”

             “What do you want Maria?” You ask that woman.

You immediately know who he is. Fury. “Oh God, not you too. Okay, for the record, honestly, I haven’t commit any crime that violated the laws.”

“You.” A deep voice man said.

You can hear Maria smirk when she asks you “Are you sure about that?” “…today. You didn’t let me finish. I didn’t commit any crime, today.” You said. Fury tell you to let that guy go and you look at that guy “You’re with them?” He tries to answer even you’re still choking him. “Y.. YE.. Yes!” You release him and slap him real hard right across his face. “That’s for wasting my time. Fuck off.”

Fury look disbelievingly at you. “Was that necessary?” You look back at him “What? Caressing lightly on his soft cheek?” Maria interject “That’s the opposite of what you did.” You try again just to tease her. “Okay. I, tap his soft cheek?” Maria raise an eyebrow at you “Try again.” You surrender. “Fine. I just 180-degree angle slapped him. He’s a trained agent for God sake. He’ll be fine.” You turn around about to walk back to your work place and Fury stop you.

“And where do you think you’re going young lady?” He asks you.

             You turning back. “ Work. Turns out I have a job now papa bear. Thanks for the recommendation letter though. Now, will you excuse me, I have go to work. Hope to never see you two again. Babai.” Again, Fury stops you. “You are not going to that Donut Do It.” You tilt your head to him. “I told you I work there and I’m going. If you two want donut, you know where to find it. Mention my name and you’ll get 30% discounts.” Maria’s face changes when she talks this time. “This is serious and urgent, Baby.”

“We are gathering as many as best agents that we have, and you are one of the best, Baby. Come with us and we’ll brief you.” Fury said and you stop him from saying any further. “Look, I’m gonna stop you right here papa Bear. That is where you are wrong. Aren’t you guys seen my record? I know what good is but I’m far away from good. There is still red blood stain painted on my hands that I could never leave. Even if I wash it thousands time, it won’t come off. What makes you think I’ll do it?” You feel your left chest aching but you ignore it.

Maria answers you. “Because everyone deserves a chance to be and do good. To start over. Yes, you can’t wash that much blood on our hands but this is the chance for you to do something good in your life. A do-over. You actually do something good after the academy. Take out those mobsters down, those gangs. You went inside to get the intel and you burn them to the ground and made those cities safe. Then, you just proof us again just now by caught that robber.”

             You huff and look down on your feet. “You set that up.”

Maria look at you. “But you didn’t know that. Yes, Baby. We’ve seen your record. Detail. You are far away from where you are before the academy. Or after. I mean you did killed people.” You crunch your eyebrows at her “Hey!” Fury turn to talk. “Help us this time. After that, it’s all up to you. We are no longer bugging you. You are no longer in our record. I’m not wasting my time coming here if we don’t need you.” “I thought you miss me.” Fury huff and talk to Maria “I’ll wait in the car.”

             “He never begging. That kind of begging, what he did. Is it that bad?” I ask Maria and she nod with worry face. “Earth level threat. That’s all I can say right now. Come with us to tower and we tell you more.” You let out a long sigh. “Me? Out of all agents, me?” Maria walk closer to you. “Please Baby.” You’re now messing with her. “It Earth level threat and you want a baby to involve? What kind of adult are you? Put a cute baby in danger like that. Unbelievable.” She smiles more than earlier. “The kind of person that will make sure there will be chicken drumets and spaghetti carbonara every day for your meal.”  You silently look at her and playfully sigh and she knows you better. “Caramel pudding and fluffy pillow too.” The ache in your chest getting hard to ignore now. You ask Maria some time and turn back from her. You bending, breathing like your doctor teach you and massage your chest a little. Must be from running earlier.

“Hey, are you okay?” Maria ask, worry if you are sick, but yes you are sick.

             “Yeah. Just shock. Did you say fluffy pillow? You ask her, not wanting to let her know first. They need your help, that’s what you are going to do. Help as much as you can. She let out a giggles and wrap her arm around your neck. “Yeah, you are coming with us, like it or not.” You both walk toward their car where Fury is waiting. “How many pillow though?”

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for spending your time reading this. Feel free to reblog or ask me anything, thank you in advance!

Part 2 is coming!!

[pettyprocrastination]

for the love of god please give us some austin powers!whiskey headcanons o queen of au's 😔we're just sluts for ur content

My mf babe boo lee validating this dumb au that i love so fucking much aksksks i have like two hours before all the thanksgiving stuff happens so if anybody wants to send me whiskey shit for this au DO IT!!!

warnings: uhh talk of sex and porn, foul language. theres zero organization or skill put into these i just threw ‘em out there lmao

So the general consensus of this au for those who dont know, is an austin powers au. Yes i said that. 

Jack “whiskey” Daniels is an statesmen from the 70’s who is hailed as a legend for all the lives hes saved and ploys for global terrorism he’d stopped. In his prime, he was cryogenically frozen until the statesmen would need him at a later date (reasoning behind this is vague, even whiskey himself doesnt remember why. He get flashes of distant memories and emotions around it all, but they're gone as soon as they come.)

Cut to modern time, you’re scotch. One of the best agents who’s known for getting the job done with little to no issues, but not known to be a socializer. You are tasked as agent whiskey’s new partner as he is unfrozen and helping him adapt to the new world. 

Now lets get into the fun stuff

With adapting to the new world, you had to teach whiskey about the internet and my god was that tiring. 

He still doesn't get the point of dating apps. “I don’t need a little device to help me get laid, i do just fine with my charms and southern hospitality.” you're pretty sure he only says that because he cant figure out how the fuck to use tinder but you let it go. 

Whiskey hates porn. Like DESPISES it. This is something he decided to tell you with an “urgent” phone call at three in the fucking morning. 

“She’s faking! Thayer all faking!! What’s the point if she doesn’t enjoy it? It’s all a lie! This poor woman looks like she’s in pain!! They’ve made sex a production!! What has this world come to!?!”

You hang up and go back to sleep. 

But yeah whiskey hates it. It’s all fake and over the top and just...not what he thinks sex should be. 

To him sex isn’t a production or a race. It’s a celebration of attraction between consenting adults.  

He enjoys the ametur made stuff, where there’s legitimate attraction between those involved

This doesn't mean he’s vanilla in anyway, he just hates that porn isnt really...sex. Its not mutual pleasure, its all jarring categories, fake moaning and very sexist foundation. 

Once he finds the animal video part of the internet? Oh he’s as good as gone. He thin begins to send you links to videos' showcasing friendships between unlikely pairs, such as a sea lion and a horse, or a monkey and a ferret. You don’t tell him that you watch them all late at night when you cant sleep.

He fucking loves nature documentaries. Especially deep sea ones, focusing on fish that light up or are see-through and shit like that. 

If you watch them with him you admit its...kind of adorable. Like seeing a kid all wide-eyed at the aquarium. 

“You know what’d make this really interesting??”

“We aren’t doing lsd while watching blue planet, stop asking me that.”

He’s done drugs, like, a lot back in the day. Statesmen is stricter now, with regular mandatory drug tests so whiskey cant go out, partying like a madman and taking whatever he pleases. 

Whiskey is bisexual . As is basically everybody i write so when you tell him same sex marriage is legal in all 50 states he legit tears up. 

“Never thought I’d live to see the day.” hes so overjoyed at the news. He knows there's still a long way to go but seeing that, something he’d only dreamed and fantasize about while drawing shapes on the chest of his lover? Oh it makes his heart soar. 

Whiskey is a man with brazen sexuality but of course aware of boundaries. First day you met him you turned down his advances, he accepted this and then decided to latch on as your best friend AND wingman! :D

You cannot escape this fate you're stuck with him now. 

Anytime you go out to a bar he scouts for potential suitors. “How about the blonde at the counter, they're your style!” and before you can tell him NO he’s already swaggering over and chatting you up to them. 

Whiskey, although you hate to say it, is a charming man. Hes kind and suave and will sing the praises of somebody hed only just met and have them melting in a puddle right in front of him. It’s annoying really. You have to listen to all the women at work swoon over him and talk about how youre soooo lucky to be working with him. He must be such a dream in the field. What's it like?

You plainly tell them that the other day you saw him get stuck in a revolving door and he asked for your help.

To get out

Of a door. 

You will NEVER admit this to him but when you were a green agent?? Just starting out?? You had a major crush on the legendary agent whiskey. You’d only seen the photos and heard the stories but god you thought he was amazing. 

Then you became a skilled agent yourself (perhaps also talented with a whip and lasso) and finally met the man himself when he was unfrozen. 

Whiskey calls you “little filly” and will make jokes about how you need to respect your elders. You know since he’s technically like 89 years old lmao. 

Whiskey hates that women gotta shave, he thinks you should do it if you want but the societal pressure of it? He hates it. 

And lets be real, he’s a man of the 70’s so he fucking worships bush. (the pussy not the president) (i have a lot of thoughts on this)

He can and will go down for hours on end, almost selfish with it because he gets as much pleasure from it as you. Pressing kisses and nips on your thighs, mumbling praise against you, homeboy gets straight up pussy drunk and doesn’t know how to speak coherent sentences anymore. 

He’s a cuddler. Even before you started dating he was just very affectionate and touchy. You once had to sleep together for warmth on a mission where you were stuck in the middle of nowhere during winter and he nuzzled and cuddled you all night long with a dazed smile. (he’s also your own personal space heater so that’s nice)

You thought you were over the hype and worship of agent whiskey,and you are, but when you get to know him as a friend and not an agent. As Jack, the fool who cuddles and tries to pair you up and sings out of key while cooking? God help you, your heart starts beating when you see his dimples and big goofy smile and all you can think is. “Oh fuck.”

anyways i reall y love this au and have many thoughts please sedn requests or hcs or anything you want me to expand on <3

[bichlordstories]

6: Early release

Today was the day class 1A would head off to the USJ. Not class 1B.

You could feel envy crawling up your spine as you saw that Midoriya brat in a ridiculous looking costume waiting with some other unimportant kids for the buses to arrive.

As if he could feel your eyes, the boy turned to look at you before flinching in surprise and looking away.

“Heh? They get to go?” A voice beside you spoke.

You didn’t have to turn to know that it was Monoma, the class sadist. You let out a ‘tch’ and turned from class 1A and stared at the entrance of the Highschool.

“We don’t go until next week. A waste of our time if you ask me.” You said.

“Something we can both agree on.” Monoma said.

“It seems as though class 1A is getting more attention for some good heroes, like All Might. It’s crazy! We only got a visit, but he’s been around class 1A the most! What is it that they have that we don’t?” He asked mostly himself.

For once he wasn’t sadistically joyful, he was bothered. Almost as though he has some sort of anxiety.

‘So he’s not a complete psychopath.’ You thought.

“A favorite.” You answered his rhetorical question.

That favorite being the shrimp the teachers pitied enough to let in the school.

Midoriya Izuku.

Monoma turned his head and raised an eyebrow to you.

“Oh? Who would that be?” He asked, mildly interested.

“One of those kids have to be something promising to him. Or maybe a lot of them. Maybe it’s their quirks or their lack of personality. Whatever it is, it’s got him invested in this school, and it ain’t any of us.” You said.

“So... you think he visited us during the battle trials because he wanted to see what we had?” Monoma said before his eyes widened.

“But... after the trials, he just didn’t pay us much attention... (L/n), as much as I hate to admit this, you are the best out of all of us in terms of strength and speed. Was that not enough for him?” Monoma’s fist clenched at this.

You said nothing, instead closing your eyes and exhaling slowly.

“Hm. There’s nothing we can do but do better than them. While they have it easier with All Might giving them his attention and teaching them, we have to figure it out on our own. Think of this as earning something through hard work instead of being given things on a silver platter.” You said.

The blonde turned away from the class, still bothered by the fact that 1A was getting more than him and his class despite working hard on the first few days.

For once, you were both on the same page.

Entering the classroom, you both sat in your respective spots. Immediately, the foreign exchange student, pony, waved at you enthusiastically.

You glanced at her, hesitating, before nodding your head in acknowledgment.

Apparently, you came in on time, as Sekijiro came in a minute after you and Monoma. The man placed a stack of paper down and began telling the class about a pop quiz they were about to do, earning groans from the class.

“Hey, (L/n)-san!” Somebody whispered next to you.

You and a few students were done with the quiz, and your teacher wasn’t in the room at the moment. You turned your head slightly to stare at the silver-haired guy next to you.

“What do you want, Tetsutetsu?” You muttered into your fist.

“I wanted to...” he grumbled under his breathe.

“What?” You furrowed you’re eyebrows.

“...sorry about what I did.” He said with an embarrassed blush.

“For what?” You asked genuinely confused by what he meant.

“You know what I mean, when I yelled at you on the first day of school?” He whispered while covering his head with his arms and slouched over his desk.

“The first day of school.” You muttered incredulously.

That was days ago, and it made no sense to you that he apologized now. You didn’t even remember how your interactions went down.

“...It’s whatever.” You waved him off, dismissing his apology.

“H-hey! I’m trying to apologize! I know I may not be in the right but what I did wasn’t horrible!” He shot up from his desk and pointed at you.

Your eyebrows rose halfway to your hairline at this.

Did this brute not understand the meaning of an apology? And did he not hear you say that what he did didn’t matter? How this eccentric guy got into UA, you had no idea and you didn’t have enough of an imagination to think of a scenario where he got in.

“-I ain’t taking your shitty attitude, thinking your better than me-“

“Tetsutetsu, stop, you’re being loud and an idiot-“ Ibara started but was too late.

You shot your hand forward and grabbed his pointed finger before pushing it back. He immediately kneeled on the floor while letting out a surprised squeal.

“Ah, please! No please!!!!” His voice went into a high pitch while he grasped your wrist with his free hand. You gave him an irritated and disappointed look while pushing his finger back a bit more, making him press his head against his arms.

“No more, ple-“

Just then, the door opened, revealing a stone faced Sekijiro. You immediately released Tetsutetsu, believing to be in trouble, but the man didn’t acknowledge you.

“Class, follow me.” He said sternly.

The students looked at each other with concern. Kendo raised her hand before asking him what was going on. As the students got their stuff, the man stood there silently before answering her (and everyone’s) question.

“There’s been an attack.”

While you didn’t know what happened to class 1A exactly, as the details haven’t been released yet, you silently sent your regards to the class as a villain attack wasn’t something anyone would ask for or wish upon others.

You were met with greetings from the hospital staff and was led to the room where you usually pump out blood. It had windows, revealing the beautiful sky and buildings outside and was usually reserved for dying, mentally unstable and in very special cases, you. The doctors and nurses were hesitant about bringing you there, but you insisted on the room. Why? You liked feeling not trapped in a small room.

It was oddly empty save for a woman and a nurse, but that was it. You sat down at the far end away from the woman and the nurse and stared out the large window, waiting for your nurse to set up the objects used to withdraw your precious blood.

After the nurse placed the needle in your arm, she attached a bag to the other end and began the process. Time was passing by quickly for you, and you got done filling 3 bags before someone came rushing in.

“Doctor Joy needs you, Hannah. Bring one of those blood bags, now!” The male nurse said in an urgent tone and rushed out.

Hannah quickly grabbed a bag and rushed out, but not before quickly apologizing.

You didn’t bat an eye as this had happened before. This was a hospital after all, those don’t sit in cities for nothing.

You could hear hushed tones from the woman and the nurse before the nurse nodded her head and quickly walked away as if to grab something.

The whole room fell silent after the door opened and shut, leaving just you and the woman.

The said woman scanned the room and caught your eye and smiled warmly.

You felt the hair on the back of your neck raise in embarrassment and you quickly turned your head away, scowling to yourself.

“Donating blood again?” A soft voice chimed.

You side glanced the woman, who wasn’t looking at you anymore but was instead staring out the window.

“...Yeah...?” You said with caution.

You never met this woman in your life, but you were well-known in the hospital.

The woman smiled brighter at this.

“I’ve seen you a few times, even heard of how your blood saved lives. You’re quite the celebrity here.” She chuckled out the last sentence.

You grunted in response, having nothing important to say.

“You know, you remind me of my husband.” She said as an unreadable look glazed over her eyes.

“He’s not a very kind man, and I didn’t love him-“

Your eyebrows raised at this.

“-and while I still don’t love him, he has tried. Unlike him, however, you show your selflessness more through your actions. You’re even more in touch with your emotions, too.” She said before turning to you with a smile.

“I’ve seen the way you treat people here. Not like victims, weak burdens, or anything of the sort, but as people. My husband could learn a thing or two from you if I’m completely honest...” she said with amusement.

You didn’t really know what to say, just exhaled in exasperation and hit your head against the back of the plush leather seat.

“Sorry, that must have been weird to hear out of nowhere.” She said apologetically.

“...eh... not the craziest thing I heard today... my school got attacked by villains, so...”

Why did you mention that? You didn’t know, maybe to get it off your chest?

“Oh dear! I’m so sorry to hear! It must have been terrifying! Which school was it?” She asked in concern.

“It’s UA.”

“...what.” Her tone turned cold, grey eyes locked onto your (e/c) ones.

“Yeah, apparently class 1A got attacked during a school field trip.”

You didn’t think it was possible for the pale woman to get any paler. Her eyes almost seemed to bulge as tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

“...Shoto!” She cried, leaping from her chair and running to the door.

On cue, the door burst open and a bicolored kid ran in, eyes wide.

“Mother, what is it!? I heard screaming-“ the teen was embraced in a tight hug by the dainty woman, who weeped into his shoulder.

You felt awkward hearing the woman cry, having a near mental breakdown and just sat stiffly in the chair.

This was why you never talked to people.

As the two walked back to her original spot, completely forgetting you, nurse Hannah came in with an exhausted look as if she had an adrenaline rush.

“You wouldn’t believe how scared I was when this scruffy looking man came in with a smashed up face! I mean, it looked almost caved in!” She said before sitting by you and continuing to draw blood.

“That blood of yours sure does give people a boost! The man practically shot out of his bed when we managed to clean off his face. It was a good thing you came by today.”

You were mildly aware that the scarred teen and the pale woman could hear what was being said, but you didn’t care all that much.

All you wanted was to head home, sleep, eat, and train in that order.

It was 3 days after the USJ incident and it was Monday. It was as if the villain attack never happened.

You held onto the egg sandwich with your mouth while holding your backpack and checking your watch, noting that you had 5 minutes left before Sekijiro would start class.

You flinched when something hard and big thumped onto your shoulder, making you drop your egg sandwich.

You turned to yell at whoever whacked you on the shoulder before a you let out a sound no human could ever make.

The mummy-er man before you raised his eyebrows at your reaction but winced when his injured face reminded him that it was at one point fractured.

“H-Heh? Who are you???” You said while regaining your composure.

“I’m Aizawa Shouta, I’m class 1A’s teacher.” He said simply.

“Why are you covered in- oh. USJ.” You said, feeling utterly stupid.

The man sighed, closed his eyes, and smoothed his hair back with his least injured arm before opening his arms.

“I wanted to thank you.”

“Huh.”

You blinked at him and then narrowed your eyes at the strange man.

“Nani?”

“If you hadn’t donated any blood last week, I wouldn’t have gotten out of that hospital, which would have been a pain in the neck.” He said and bowed the best he could.

With that, he left you without another word, leaving you with your dirty egg sandwich and a lot of confusion.

~~~~~~~~~

(Y/n) finally meets Aizawa!!!! And there will be some more in the future with these two!

Boy, do I have lots to do! Next chapter will kinda be (SPOILERS) a bonding chapter between Mc and Sekijiro.

What? They both have blood related quirks, and Mc really needs a father figure! Like, bad.

[ladyhallen]

Prompt: “Marry me?”

Tsuna to Kyouya: “Marry me?”

.

.

If Kyouya were a lesser man, the expression on his face would be described as flabbergasted. But Kyouya was not a lesser man. He glared instead.

"Herbivore, start making sense," he snapped.

Tsunayoshi, the bane of his existence ever since the Herbivore noticed his weakness for cute and fluffy things, blinked his large doe eyes and snuffled.

“Marry me,” Tsunayoshi repeated. “Please?”

Not even a blink. He was secretly impressed by the Herbivores nerves.

“Nevermind that we are not of age yet,” he said dismissively. “Why?”

Tsuna's eyes gleamed with unshed tears. It stuck on his eyelashes like diamonds. Kyouya's breath caught in his throat.

“Please?” he asked with a wobbly voice.

Damn.

.

.

Tsuna absolutely did not want to be a man.

Ever since his father’s last visit, it’s the only thing he can think about.

If being a man meant being an unreliable person like his dad, he most certainly did not want to be a man. Women were nicer. They wore nice dresses, cooked amazing food and people wanted to protect them.

When he explained this to Hana and Kyoko, they both giggled but didn’t disagree, which meant he was right. Technically, he was only half right. Hana told him that women weren’t that protected. If you wanted to have a constant protector, you’d have a husband.

A husband, Kyoko explained, had to be strong. It wasn’t really Tsuna’s Mama’s fault that she chose an unreliable husband. So Tsuna had to choose someone better than his father.

This sort of logic leads him to try finding one, but all men he would meet as he grew up weren’t strong.

Then, he met Kyouya in Middle School.

 (“Tsuna, NO”, Hana hissed under her breath

“Tsuna, YES,” Kyoko laughed.)

.

.

Kyouya had relatives. He had a lot of relatives. If the world really knew how many Hibari's there were in the world, they would be a lot more nervous. A lot of those Hibari's dabbled in both sides of the law.

That’s why it’s very easy to get married illegally. A single phone call to one uncle, another to a distant cousin and the paperwork is faxed to them within the day.

Meanwhile, Kyouya’s Mother found out and there is a wedding.

There’s even no mention at all of the courting period. Nobody mentions that at all. Just going, “Aww, what a lovely couple.”

This was why Kyouya has lost faith in humanity. UGH.

Still, it’s not a hardship to marry the Little Animal.

Marriage meant someone cooking for him, and cleaning the house and taking care of the garden so he didn’t have to ask Kusakabe to do it.

 (“Kyouya, do you really think that’s all I do?” his mother asked with a smile full of teeth.

His father, tellingly, does not answer.)

.

.

Weirdly enough, there were no overt signs to point out that both of them were married.

Kyouya found that wearing rings impeded with his ability to punch people if he lost his tonfas. Tsuna was too clumsy and was smart enough to realize that if he did wear his ring for longer than an hour, he would likely lose it somewhere.

Still, there were perks to being married.

Nobody could bully Tsuna anymore. There were always eyes watching him now. Always. Anyone else would have filed for a divorce already and moved to another country (which wouldn’t have done them any good, there were Hibari’s everywhere), but Tsuna just nodded and smiled.

And Kyouya had someone soft to cuddle to. He could grab Tsuna anytime during lunch breaks and have somebody warm to sleep with who didn’t make any noise. Tsuna was a very soothing presence.

Though neither of them really noticed it, Kyouya had an overwhelming amount of Cloud Flames. He used it to unconsciously propagate his strength, but the Cloud Flames felt the smothered Sky Flames and worked away at it with every opportunity.

With every cuddle, Tsuna woke up better and more refreshed.

That’s why, when Reborn finally arrived in Namimori, Tsuna’s eyes gleamed Amber.

.

.

“The seal is gone,” came the report.

“…what?”

“It’s gone,” was repeated. “It’s like it was never there in the first place.”

“How can that be? And how has he not been found if that’s the case? He was leaking all over the place when I arrived!”

“…I’ll investigate.”

.

.

Kyouya took one look at the baby on the doorstep, narrowed his eyes and said, “No.”

He closed the door. He did not worry, the guards always took care of unwanted guests.

Because you see, long time ago, the Hibari’s had an uncle.

That’s it. The Hibari’s still do have an uncle. Except, he doesn’t come anymore to family reunions and the glimpses they do catch of him mark him as diminished. Cursed.

The Hibari’s had an uncle who turned his back on them. On Family.

Any of their cursed ilk was not welcome.

.

.

Reborn approached Tsuna in the street, because anywhere else was too well-guarded.

Then he told him, “You’re going to be a mafia boss,”

Tsuna, having grown up with only Kyoko and Hana as friends, smiled. “A mafia wife!” he said with a smile. “How lovely. My husband will be very pleased.”

Actually no, Kyouya will not.

Reborn doesn’t splutter, because he’s too dignified for that, but, “I said a boss. Are you deaf as well as stupid, Dame-Tsuna?”

There’s a gleam of Amber, a satisfied smirk, before Tsuna started crying. Within seconds, Hibari guards descend on Reborn.

.

.

Reborn has to call back-up.

He called Fon.

That was a mistake.

.

.

“You didn’t tell me you had family,” Reborn said accusingly.

Fon shrugged, patting the smoldering remains of his shirt. “They’re…complicated. You simply don’t leave the Hibari. They’re everywhere. You can’t avoid them. But they love strength. My form is much changed. They would have hunted down the Man in the Iron Hat and burned down the world. My family is a bit excessive when they don’t care of the collateral damage.”

Reborn blinked. And he thought he had a complicated family.

“Have they forgiven you, do you think? I really don’t like to break contract and Tsunayoshi is living with them,” Reborn muttered.

Fon stumbled. “What?” he asked. People don’t just live with the Hibari.

“Tsunayoshi?” Reborn clarified. “Sawada’s son. I’m supposed to teach him to become a mafia boss.”

Fon sat down in a hurry. “Reborn,” he said urgently. “Tsunayoshi? Yay high, fluffy hair, big smile? Reborn, he’s married to my many-times grand nephew. On record, he’s officially Hibari Tsuna.”

The implications finally hit Reborn.

“..He said he would be a mafia wife,” he muttered. “He’d…put his husband in power?”

Fon wanted to crawl away and die, but that would be beneath his dignity. He just smiled vacantly, imagining his cute little Kyouya with all the feral strength that marked Hibari’s and backed by the monstrous reach of the Vongola and the Hibari Clan. His eyes glazed over.

“I’m going to take a vacation,” Fon said faintly. “I’m fairly certain I’ll be fine in the Sahara.”

.

.

“My Tsuna-fishie is married??” Iemitsu wailed.

Nonno blinked. “Oh. Is the girl a suitable wife.”

Reborn twitched. He had gone to Italy himself to deliver the news, mostly because there were some news people should hear in person. Honestly though, he just wanted to watch the chaos happen.

“You misunderstand me,” Reborn said. “Tsunayoshi married into the Hibari Clan. He did not marry a girl. In fact, from my surveillance, I’m pretty sure he’s the girl in this equation.”

Iemitsu’s wailing reached a crescendo. Reborn’s eyelid throbbed. A beat, then he finally draws his gun.

Nonno’s mouth hung open in shock. Ganauche behind him choked on hysterical laughter, offset by a background of gunshots.

.

.

In the Hibari house, Tsuna snuggled into his affectionate husband.

“Is it really alright not to welcome your Uncle home?” he asked. “It’s the first time he’s been seen in years, right?”

Kyouya pouted. He did not want to talk about other men in his bed.

“He’s not yet apologized,” Kyouya sulked. “Or groveled enough. Mother worried.”

Tsuna conceded the point. “It was nice of Reborn to drag your uncle here though. And to give you guys exercise!”

Between the two Arcobaleno and the Hibari, it had indeed been an exercise. An exercise in restraint. If they hadn’t, more than an acre of forest would have been destroyed.

Kyouya huffed and cuddled his Tsuna into submission.

It was a cute domestic scene. Both of them were utterly oblivious to the chaos happening outside their house.

.

.

I...I’ve run out of ideas. It was supposed to be a simple prompt fill!

[desdemonafictional]

The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea (pt 5)

continuation of Choko’s October People

pt. 1

The sounds of the calliope are the first sign that the carnival is waking up for the night, the lazy reel of the starlight song drifting over the sleeping ferris and down between the trailers, until it crawls beneath Edgar’s door and startles him into wakefulness. He gives his misty reflection a long, thoughtful look. Today is going to be different. Today, he’s going to make this place yield for him.

Sharktooth appears in the doorway as Edgar is pulling on his jacket. He doesn’t know what it is about this place, but it clearly does not want him to have shirts. Twice now he has had to hunt down and coax the shirt he came here in out of the mouths of carnival beasts. He doesn’t wear the clothes he arrived in anymore, but he doesn’t feel right if he doesn’t know precisely where they are, tucked underneath his thin mattress like the pelt of a selkie.

“I’ve got an idea for the box,” Sharktooth says.

He is not quite in the doorway, not quite outside of it, shadowed by the glow of the rolling blue fog. His buttons gleam.

“Oh do you?” Edgar says. When he turns, it takes a moment for the showman’s eyes to disengage from his chest.

“Yeah—” his gaze finally snaps up. “I wanna do the three magic breaths routine. I need somebody to practice with.”

Edgar points to a chain of pearls hanging from the vanity beside Sharktooth, who is helpful enough to pass them over. Bits and bobs of jewelry are still appearing in his room, and he knows that Johnny is leaving them here, although why he pretends like he isn’t… isn’t entirely clear. Edgar loops this one around his throat and turns back to his guest, who seems to swallow dryly.

He was right. Today is going to be different.

“Okay,” Edgar says, and holds out his hand. “Show me.”

.

Edgar is up in the Black Ferris, shouting answers down to Tenna  as she grills him about the mechanics of its enormous spider heart, when he spots Sharktooth climbing the platform up towards them.

“Hey!” he shouts. “Tenna! Let me borrow the canary for a minute.”

Edgar leans out over the edge and peers down at them.

“Aww,” Tenna says, “come on, I’m not done with him. Wait your turn.”

“Fuck that,” Sharktooth says, “he wants to come with me. Isn’t that right, Vargas?”

Edgar looks from one to the other. He cannot help but be amused by the poorly concealed eagerness on Sharktooth’s face, and by the visible sulk on Tenna’s.

“Just give us five minutes,” Edgar says. “I’ll be right with you.”

.

In the doorway, breathless and almost glowing with excitement— “I had an idea,” Sharktooth says. “Come practice with me.”

.

In a clatter of chain, Sharktooth pushes back the curtain to the changing room, catching Edgar by the wrist before he can protest, tugging him out half dressed into the night—

.

A chill hand, an urgent pace, the glow and whirl of the carnival all around them as they duck beneath banners and through alleys—

.

“I gotta admit,” Sharktooth says, almost wistfully, “you’re a natural.”

Edgar holds out his wrists for the clasp of silver manacles, trying not to let the stutter of his breathing show as those cool, restless fingers grip his skin.

.

Edgar pauses, as he notices the crowd of carnies gathered in a mill around the turnstiles. It’s unusual to see so many of them in one place, let alone up at the front. He catches Cleo’s eye, and ducks closer.

“What’s going on?” he asks her.

“Bossman’s due back any time now,” she tells him, in her exhausted monotone, blowing and popping an enormous bubble.

Nny? It’s true Edgar hasn’t seen him in a few days, but that’s not entirely unusual. He is an inscrutable creature, coming and going at his own pleasure.

Because it seems to be the thing to do today, Edgar waits by the ticket booth until at last the crowd starts to churn with excitement, pushing each other out of the way to lean over the turnstiles.

“Shoo!” the familiar voice comes, barely audible over the ruckus. “Get back, you animals.”

As the crowd skitters back, Edgar catches sight at last of Johnny pushing through, chin sunk into the lapels of his coat. With a scowl, he reels back a knee and kicks the backside of a slower moving body. At his heels, there is a little red wagon loaded up with a teetering stack of odds and ends, plastic and glass.

“Can you greedy little monsters at least attempt to do this with some class?” he demands, reaching into the lining of his coat and removing a long sheet of what appears to be a shopping list. “Okay,” he calls out, “who asked for the sea monkeys?”

Edgar watches as item by item, Nny parcels out his hoard of modern luxuries to dozens of delighted hands. As the crowd clears out, Nny looks up from his work and lights on Edgar.

“Oh!” he says, and breaks into a smile. “Of course, for our precious Edgar-Edgar-Vargas. I have a little something for you too.”

From inside of his heavy coat, Nny draws out and spreads several paperback books like a deck of oversized cards. Edgar literally does not understand where he was keeping them. Nny trots over to him, flashing one cover after another, and then pushing them into his hands in one messy stack.

“These were out on the display shelf,” he says, “I figure that must mean they’re popular.”

Edgar gives him a tentative smile. “I’m afraid I’m at a bit of a disadvantage here,” he says. “I haven’t got anything to trade you.”

Nny scoffs and flicks his wrist. “You’re one of us now,” he says, “you just do what the others do. A button or something.”

Edgar blinks as Nny reaches into his deep pockets and draws up a handful of pale stones and chipped buttons, one or two yellow teeth. He pushes his open hand out at Edgar, who—helplessly—pats down the sheer clothing that the trunk in his tent has provided him, in search of something useful. At his wrist he finds the tiny white button and pops it free with his teeth, gently laying it on top of Nny’s peculiar hoard.  

“There we go,” Nny says. He grins, and Edgar can’t help but return the smile. He looks down again, at the stack of paperbacks.

“Wait,” he says, “is this a library barcode—?”

.

“Magic words,” Edgar repeats, doubtful.

“Magic words!” Tenna says, leaning in towards him.

They are helping the strongmen move the coffin of the woman who sleeps like the dead, an ice block in which the flutter of her dreaming eyelids is visible to the delight of the crowds. Edgar is in charge of holding doors open for them.

“If magic is that easy,” Edgar says, thinking of the chains and the deep, of prestidigitation, “then why do any of you walk anywhere? Why do you use that wrench on the ferris?”

Tenna rubs her hands together. “I’m ready for this one,” she says. “You know how it costs more money to send something rush through the postal service than to send it regular?”

“Yes?”

“It’s like that.”

Edgar considers it for a moment. “How do you know what the postal service is?”

“Oh,” Tenna says, “and I bet you think I don’t know what a telegram is either. Or a range stove. Get a load of mister modern over here, thinks he invented the talkies.”

“I literally can’t tell if you’re saying old things to make fun of me, or if you actually think it’s 1930,” Edgar says.

“Please,” Tenna says. “Like I’ve ever known what number year it is.”

One by one the pall-bearers leap over a wooded post fallen across the pathway, causing Tenna’s feet to swing merrily against the side of the ice.

“So… what kind of magic words are we talking?” Edgar asks her.

“Let’s say you want to put people to sleep in an instant,” Tenna says, tapping the icy coffin upon which she is currently seated. “There’s a word for that. Want me to teach you?”

Edgar gives the crew a surreptitious glance. “Alright,” he says.

Tenna leans down and taps her lips with her finger. “Trrdigl’yaie,” Tenna says, slowly, somehow pronouncing several letters that should not ever sit next to each other on the tongue.

“…Teriggly,” Edgar says.

Tenna laughs so hard that she topples right off the top of the ice coffin, landing on her back in the sawdust with her legs kicking in delight, as the strongmen bear their cargo away into the night.

.

“What is Nny to you?” Edgar asks.

He is suspended by his wrists above the swirling tank, trying his best to hook his foot under the rope floating across its surface without having his ankle bitten off by Rahab, who is as fond of him as Tenna and nearly as intent on taking a sampling for taste. Below him, Sharktooth’s marker squeaks off the glass in a distressed scribble.

“What’s he to you?”

The rope bobs under the pressure of Edgar’s toe. “Well,” he says. “Sometimes I think of him as my friend, and sometimes I think of him as my captor, and sometimes I think of him as a…”

Sharktooth leans his whole weight onto his forearm, scrubbing off the stray marking with his sleeve. His face is bare today, the first time Edgar has seen it for more than a moment at a time. Without the camouflage of skeletal paint his face is strikingly open, with bright, expressive eyes—something he seems to compensate for by squinting a lot.

“A what?” he says.

“Let’s leave it at ‘keeper’,” Edgar answers, flushing a bit.

Sharktooth pulls back and squints at him, his disconcertingly pale lids low over his bright eyes.

“You’re close with him, aren’t you?” Edgar says. “I mean, as much as anyone can be.” The loop of rope slides at last over his foot, and he kicks it over the edge of the tank, down to Sharktooth, who catches it in his hand.

“Not a single non shitty thing ever happened to me,” Sharktooth says, “not one, until I met him.”

“Did he try to eat you too?”

Sharktooth digs the heel of his palm into his clavicle, just above his heart. His expression flickers, bare brows creasing. “What’s up with the interrogation?” he asks.

Edgar swings, trying to get enough momentum to touch the ledge of the tank. Long term, he’s hoping to get fit enough that he can curl up and hook his legs around the chain, he thinks that would be kind of cool, especially if Sharktooth will actually teach him how to pick these locks. He thinks he’s like…. Four more passive aggressive hints away from getting there.

“I guess—” Edgar says, straining and missing the ledge, “—I never know what it means when he like… gives me things? Touches me?”

“He touches you?” Sharktooth demands.

“Uh—” This swing brings him a little closer. He touches down and strains to keep his footing, one heel over the side. “Yeah—in my bedroom mostly, when he comes to visit—shit, Jesus, I misjudged this—actually he’s very sweet, I wasn’t expecting him to be so—oh god damn it.”

As his toes splash back down into the water, Rahab gives the surface an interested look.

Edgar blows out a puff of air. “Like I said,” he finishes, using his arm to push his hair off his forehead, “I just don’t know how serious it is. Can you let me down from here?”

The strain on his shoulders disappears, and for a half second he is stunned by the feeling of free fall, the shock of his feet hitting water—and then he is on the ground, disoriented, breathing hard. “You could have just lowered me down with the pulley,” he says, a hand squeezed over his pumping heart.

“It’s serious,” Sharktooth says.

Edgar looks up, a cold feeling coming over him as surely as if he’d been dropped in altogether. Sharktooth is watching him with the grimmest expression Edgar has ever seen on him, all the more for being twisted into his naked features.

“Oh,” Edgar says. “Should I be—should I be worried?”

Shartooth’s lip twitches down. “If anyone should be worried, it’s probably him. You’re about as inevitable as quicksand.”

Edgar makes a face. “Thanks? I think?”

“Ain’t my fuckin call to make,” Sharktooth mutters, more to himself than Edgar it seems like. He turns and uncaps the marker again, picking up where he left off on the intricate pattern of the incantation circle.

“I gotta set up for the show,” he says. “You better go.”

Feeling wrongfooted and uneasy, Edgar says, “I could help?”

Without turning, Sharktooth says, “You’ll help yourself, I’m sure.”

[ritebeforeyoureyes]

Bleeding Love

I thought I would take a stab at writing a new multi-chapter fic. I was thinking of continuing all my other unfinished ones but honestly, after so long, I can’t draw inspiration for most of them. Therefore, I decided to start this new little piece. Be warned, it will get rather dark and angsty at some points.

Materlist - Plot: Val and Zendaya have been together for years but they’re relationship becomes strained once Val discovers Zendaya has been living a double life.

Bleeding Love (Chapter One) 

Zendaya had never wanted this life, this lifestyle had simply found her. And now, it was all she knew. After sixteen years of roughing it up, bouncing from care home to care home, she could finally say she was happy. Zendaya had met the notorious Bruce Hough at the police station one night. She was a quivering mess – a troubled teen - with no place to go, no family to go home to. And, in that moment, the Hough’s had made the spontaneous decision to take her in. Bruce didn’t know what it was about Zendaya that drew him to her. She had just looked so stunningly sad, he knew he couldn’t have left her to her own devices out in the big bad world. Since that dreaded night, Bruce and Marianne Hough had become Zendaya’s adoptive parents. She finally had the family that she had spent years dreaming off. But, that wasn’t the only thing that made Zendaya feel a sense of temporary contentment.

He made her happy, Val. And, it killed her, every time she looked at him. His green piercing eyes were so innocent, so naïve and it hurt because Zendaya knew, once he found out the truth, he would never love her the same. They’d been together for two years now; her and Val. They had stumbled into one another whilst Zendaya was on her way to an evening class at the local university. They’d gone for coffee that night, gone on their second date just a mere three days later. To an overlooking bystander, they were the perfect, picturesque couple. Yes, they fought and yes, they sometimes couldn’t stand each other but, Val made Zendaya a better person and vice versa. They were like a match made in heaven.

However, Zendaya’s siblings, Derek and Julianne, would argue otherwise. They knew Zendaya would have to tell Val the truth one day and they knew that day was impending. Val was a good guy, an honest man who made a living through teaching children. His family were the same, kind and welcoming. They had become like another home to Zendaya and Derek and Julianne knew that this wholesome image was going to shatter soon.

No relationship could be built on the foundation of lies.

“Zendaya,” Derek was sat next to her in his SUV, his hand resting against her back. They were parked a block down from the Chmerkovskiy’s’ dance studio. “I love you but this thing with Val needs to end. It’s dangerous and when Dad finds out he’s going lose his shit.”

Zendaya sighed audibly. She’d been having this same conversation with Derek and Julianne for years now. Her and her family didn’t live the lifestyle of ordinary Americans and dragging civilians such as the Chmerkovskiy’s into their crazy dynamic wasn’t going to end well. She’d been told that since day one of being a part of the Hough family – family meant everything, all else was irrelevant.

“I don’t know what to do anymore.” Zendaya let her head drop back against the car seat.

She loved Val, more than anything, and as time went on it just grew harder and harder to tell him the truth. Because, it was hard … it was hard to say, “Hey Val, I want to spend the rest of my life with you but I’m a criminal and my family own half of the black market!”

Val didn’t grow up like Zendaya. He and his brother, Maks, were raised in a nuclear upper-class family. The two were enrolled in the finest schools and all the extra-curriculars. They attended social events and galas; it was a world away from Zendaya’s rough childhood. Zendaya knew that once Val discovered the truth about Zendaya’s family, he’d leave. She knew, deep down, that she was being selfish and that he deserved better but she loved him. She truly did and it was what made being with him so hard. He made her smile and yet, at times like these, she couldn’t help but feel exceptionally guilty.

“Look, I know it’s tough but you’ve been a part of this life for years now. You know how it ends, we all settle down with somebody in the business. It’s just easier for everybody.”

“That’s it though, I can’t picture myself with anybody else!” The thought alone made Zendaya’s blood run cold. “I feel like he’s it for me, Derek but I’m scared he’s going to run.”

“If he runs, then it wasn’t meant to be.” Derek stated in a blasé manner. “Just know, if you decide to tell him the truth, you have to be careful.” That was another thing that had been grilled into Zendaya’s brain as soon as she joined the family. Not getting caught was essential in her field of work. It had also been necessary when she was out living on the streets. Zendaya had gone her whole life looking over her shoulders and stealthily creeping about town.

“I know.” Zendaya smiled weakly at her brother before heading to see Val. And just like that, Zendaya’s sombre mood shifted to one of excitement. It was this type of feeling that always deterred her from being wholly honest with Val. Just being carefree with him was the greatest feeling in the world.

“Baby!” Val’s face lit up as Zendaya walked into the building. He was stood beside his best friend, Alex in the reception of the building. The two were going over location ideas for their new studio. “Come ‘ere.” Within a few quick strides the two were in each other’s embrace.

“I missed you.” Zendaya didn’t care that she’d spoken to Val for hours on the phone the night before or that she’d last seen him two days ago. His touch was addictive and any fraction of time apart felt longer than necessary.

“Missed you more, beautiful.” Val whispered against her lips before taking them captive. One of his hands cupped her face whilst the other rested comfortably against her hip. His mouth massaged hers softly before his tongue made its way through her surprised lips. A little moan of acceptance resonated at the back of her throat and Val tried not to pull away to smile. He loved having such impact on her. Their tongues moved together rhythmically until Zendaya grew out of breath. She moved away from Val to rest her forehead against hers, her chest heaving aggressively.

“Okay, can you guys just get a room, please?” Alex made a few fake gagging noises before enveloping Zendaya into a quick hug. “Hey, Queen Z.” Val simply frowned when Zendaya was taken from his arms but within seconds, she was back and wrapping her arms around his torso. Her head was resting against his shoulder, her nose deeply taking in his masculine scent.

“So, you guys made any decisions about a location yet?” Talks of a new Dance With Me studio had been going on for a few months now but the past week or so had consisted of some big decisions. They were looking at spaces, going over contracts.

“We were thinking about some space in Salt House.” At the mention of Salt House, Val felt Zendaya’s body stiffen significantly. He looked down at her curiously, his eyes boring through the crown of her head. “It’s a nice spot: out by the water, right near transport links. We were going to check it out now actually“

“I don’t think Salt House is a good location.” Zendaya’s voice was stern and serious, unlike her tone just a few minutes prior.

“Why?” Val used his fingers to tilt her chin upwards.  

Zendaya wanted to be vague with her answer. Val knew nothing of her upbringing so she had to be careful where she treaded. One thing was for sure, Zendaya couldn’t let Val buy property in Salt House. She had spent a portion of her teens in the area, a time which she would rather not think back to. It had been traumatic and Zendaya hadn’t been back since. If Val opened a studio there, Zendaya knew she’d do everything in her power to avoid it, him. Not only that, there was word that the Ballas drug ring was moving to Salt House within the next few months. A town plagued by drug addicts and dealers was not going to be good for Chmerkovskiy business.

“I’ve just heard it’s not a good area.”

“Well, there’s no harm in looking at it, right? We can just check it out and see how we feel.” Alex was gathering paper work in his hands, stacking the multiple sheets together. “Z, you coming?”

“Er … I … I,” Zendaya stuttered, pulling away from Val suddenly. She couldn’t go back to Salt House, she just couldn’t. It was a time she’d spent years trying to desperately forget, there was no way she could stomach being back in the area again. “Forgot I had to do something … I’ll see you guys later.”

“Babe, you just got here.”

“I know but, it’s urgent. I’ll call you later.” Zendaya speedily made an exit, her heart beat hammering violently within her. She hadn’t even bothered to give Val a kiss goodbye, something she always did. Val watched her leave, his eyebrows burrowing together in both worry and confusion.

“That was weird, right?” Val turned back to his best friend who looked as exactly as confused.

“Yep, definitely, weird.”