#soulmates because you CHOSE IT. because you both decided to make your souls the Same. okay???????

[sparky-is-spiders]

Imagine Archivist Jonsasha Compelling as one. The Archivist channeling all its curiosity and terror and desire for knowledge through its two minds. Two bodies. Two mouths.

The force of their Question. The echoing overlap of their voices, rebounding again and again until it sounds as if every archivist who has ever lived is speaking through them. The way it would shatter their victims defenses, tear the whole of their mind open to be Seen and Known and Judged. Just. Just imagine it.

[thesirencult]

Pick A Card Reading : Soulmate/Forever Person/Future Spouse

(Flowers Of Romance Part 1)

Hello beautiful readers,

I decided to start a series of tarot readings that will be based on literature and specifically romance novels, poetry and letters.

Obviously this is copyrighted and if a fellow reader uses the same type of format or reposts my writing I would appreciate it if they tagged and credited me. Karma works both ways and copying someone else's work to gain a few likes and followers has its downside. I'll create a masterpost in a few days so you will be able to find all my readings into one place.

The series kicks of with quotes from "Letters To Milena" by Franz Kafka. A beautiful book that is a perfect read for the fall and winter season.

Novels keep great loves alive in their pages and even if the lovers ascend together to another level of consciousness their loving energy will forever be with us.

If you want a personal reading you can book one through direct messaging. I offer tarot readings and astrology ones (both birth charts and synastry). ONLY 15 SPOTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR TAROT AND 5 FOR ASTROLOGY ! THANK YOU GUYS 💖💖 Enjoy your reading ! It's for entertainment purposes and it's a general one, so feel free to apply everything to your own situation. Don't be shy ! Comment which pile/piles you chose 💞

Pile 1

Death, 10 Of Wands, 8 of wands

My dear,

Your soft voice echoes in the tunnels of my despair, disrupting the silence of loneliness and waking me up from the deathly sleep of emptiness. You are the light that woke me up from the slumber my love. I had lost all hope, letting go of myself into the abyss. I thought that no one would show up for me. That I was created here in this world as a mistake, without a twin soul. You're mine my beloved.

It's time to let me take the burdens off of your shoulders. I would do it all for you baby. I'll be your lover, your father, your brother, your friend. Everything for you. Will you accept me, a man beaten and bruised by fate, that you brought back to life ?

You broke the chains that held me back. When I say that I will do something I mean it. I can not wait to be with you. I'm insatiable.

Pile 2

The Magician, Knight of Cups

Babe,

Have you been good ? Because I'm extra naughty my love !

I know that I can be too aggressive and forward sometimes. My ego gets the best of me and that causes problems in our relationship. I feel it in my soul that I manifested you, like I did with everything in my life. I can be possessive and arrogant, but I swear I'll work on it for our sake.

I know I'm immature, but it's because I can not contain myself around you. You make me feel young again, like a small child in need of his favourite candy. I'm trying to romance you with flowers and chocolate and everything your heart desires but you're playing hard to get. I'll get you, I know I'll do baby. When time comes you'll be mine. I don't back down easily...

Pile 3

The Empress, The Moon, Justice

My Goddess,

Someone would think that you were made from fairy dust. Built by God as the epitome of woman. You're very feminine, kind, sensitive and watery. Your creative powers are immense and you can manifest everything your heart desires. Whatever your hands touch, turns to gold. You make me feel like a Good, because you're a Goddess. I'll worship you as a one, my sacred love.

You're like the moon. Always changeable and fertile with ideas. You have your moments,good and bad, but I still love you and adore you through everything. Your intuition is always on point. Wise yet fresh and innocent. You awoke primal instincts within me. We can not escape time my Goddess. We are bound by it. But I'm beginning to wonder, why does time seem to slow down whenever you caress me and when you let my lips touch yours, the lips of a goddess.

Sometimes I wonder if I deserve you. Do I deserve the love of a Goddess ? Always and forever yours. Yours. Yours and only yours...

Pile 4

Ace Of Swords, 2 Of Wands, Queen Of Wands

Dear Soulmate,

When I saw you, it was the first time I saw clearly. My eyes opened to your beauty and love. The blindfold was lifted and now I see. I see the clear light blue colour of the skies and hear the birds sing. You opened up my eyes to new horizons and unknown magical lands.

I finally made the choice to leap into your fountain of love. I made the choice to anchor my heart into the bottom of your deep wild oceans. I long to live with you by the sea, to honour your beautiful and gentle soul. Because, for all the sights I've seen and all the journeys I've taken around the world, our journey and you, my partner, I'll never grow tired of.

You're warm and vibrant like the sun. You keep my heart warm in the cold winters. You keep me alive my love.

Yet I feel that if I dared to fly too close to you I would get burned. The problem is that I'll be honoured to die by your scorching love.

Pile 5

The Star, Ace Of Pentacles , The Hermit

My little star,

You're so enchanting, like you came out of a fairytale. Your smile, your lips, your hair, your beautiful elegant fingers. I love kissing your petite knuckles and nuzzle my face on top of your head. You're so talented and beautiful. My lucky star. I admire you a lot. I love your magical aura.

I want to offer you the world and even though it seems like I'm promising a lot, I mean it. From the first moment I saw you I tried to hold back my feelings, to calm down and take things slowly so we could build a strong foundation.

You're a mirage. I dream of you and I have visions of those beautiful eyes. My beloved little star, you shine so bright in the darkness of the world. You're so unique.

I know that we have to take some time apart to grow separately. Don't feel lonely, I'm right here looking at the night sky, wishing and dreaming for a love like yours. I'll wrap you up in a blanket made from stardust.

Remember, every single time you look up at the sky, either at the moon and the stars or at the bright sun, I'll be there, under the same sky looking up as you do.

[spamano-fanfiction-recs]

Soulmates

If you're reading this, I'm sure you know as well as I do that Spain and Romano are perfect for each other. In fact, their fates are connected by a red thread. What I'm trying to say, is that this is a post about soulmate AUs. All these stories have their own take on the rules of a soulmate AU, which just makes them that much better.

To note: anything written in green contains content warnings, but not smut. None of these contains smut, actually. Only finished fics are recommended here. Always check the tags and description on the individual fic, don't read anything just to criticise the author, and I hope you have a good reading!

Blank Wrist and Mutism:

Light by annapotterkiku: Lovino was sure he didn't have a soulmate, because he did not have any marks identifying the first thing his soulmate would say to him. But perhaps there's another reason... Content for minor mention of self harm.

No Words by catholicorprotestant: In a utopian society, where people can find their soulmate, Lovino's wrist is blank where the first thing his soulmate would say should've appeared.

I Won't Give Up by kucchi: Lovino was sick of life, until a stranger came barging in. But this stranger isn't speaking, and then, he disappears. Content warning for child abuse and neglect in chapter three.

Spamano oneshot by Cazypup: Yes, another! This one is a bit less angsty than the others.

Soul Mate's First Words-Unspoken by myfivemeters: Lovino was sick of his perfect brother being better than him, and moved to Spain. One day, he meets a mute man. Chapter 3 can be disregarded, as it's just an A/N.

Slowly But Surely In Love by amberauto: It was difficult to decide whether this one should go here, or into the next section, but I chose to put it here. Lovino doesn't want a soulmate and doesn't think he has one either. Antonio is mute. Longer than most soulmate fanfics, and content warning for major character death.

Bad End:

Colours by LimitlessReach (orphan_account): Sometimes, the red string of fate between you and another person snaps. Content warning for character death.

Until Time Starts Again by Ashesofthesoul: Everyone has a countdown timer for when they're destined to meet their soulmate. Lovino's timer breaks. Content warning for character death.

Tick by genuinely maverick: Lovino has decided he doesn't want to be with the person he meets when his countdown timer hits zero. This one says unfinished, but I think it works as a oneshot.

No One Knows Soulmates Are Real:

Testing-Testing I'm Just Suggesting You and I Might Not Be the Best Thing by batoravu (orphan_account): An AI is tasked with finding the soulmate of people. Lovino thinks the AI has to be mistaken.

Tomatoes, Always Tomatoes by Someone_you_do_not_know: What if your food cravings was the only thing telling you who your soulmate was? How do you even find someone based on that? There's a seven year age gap, but they meet each other when they're both in their 20s. This one has sequels that are also Spamano-centric.

They Know Each Other Beforehand:

Spamano Hearts by Kousagi7Yami and Vodka112: This fanfic is in two parts, which is why there are two links. One is Lovino's side, and the other is Antonio's side. In this universe, a person's heart is visible, and it breaks in two once it's matured. You give one half to the one you love, and they will give you their other half in return.

My Soulmate by sctwilightvampwolfgal: Antonio reflects on how his love for Lovina has changed from platonic to romantic. Open ended.

La Cinta Roja by Mediterranean Tomatoes: Antonio has had many partners taken from him as they found the one the red string of fate bound them to, and doesn't really want to find out. Lovino is the same. Until the day their ribbons finally show themselves.

Despite Losing Hope:

The Guilty Heart by Pastaaddict: Lovino blames himself for his brother's blindness, and believes he has taken away his brother's soulmate, since Feliciano will never find the one who makes him able to see in colour, since he can't see at all. Content warning for attempted suicide.

Cross My Heart by lorenzodelcielo: The name of your soulmates appear over your heart once you know – they can be platonic or romantic, and you can have up to four, although some get less, and some get none. Antonio has given up on finding anyone until he went to a certain restaurant.

Twenty-Nine by BlueFlame013: Lovino's countdown timer is broken, and is stuck at 29 years. But perhaps he'll find the one anyway.

Soul Mates by Chaos Ride: Romano yearns to find his soulmate, especially since he's already sixteen, and most other people finds their soulmate when they're younger. His brother convinces him to go to the movie theatre with him – where Antonio, 19, works. Minor content warning for one mention of suicide and some age gaps.

Love by Frostwhisker: Lovino has waited for three long years, and then, he ends up meeting his soulmate early. Now he's not even sure he wants to throw himself into a relationship.

Reincarnation:

I will not be your sometimes by dogmouth: No matter what happens or what life they're born into, Spain and Romano will always find each other.

The One Lifetime We Weren't by sctwilightvampwolfgal: So many lifetimes with a happily ever after, and one without, because Antonio could never date his son, nor Lovino his father. Content warning for a minor student/teacher relationship and mentions of incest – but the latter doesn't happen.

Ten Million Fireflies by Snowdream56: The half nation Romano has died, but two decades later, Antonio meets the human, Lovino. Content warning for character death.

till death do us part by Goth-leaf1: Lovino and Antonio are cursed. In every life, Lovino will have his lover taken from him upon their meeting. Content warning for character death.

[doublebubbletoilnmubble]

getting over somebody you never dated

except you did date them but it was in middle school but they were literally one of the best friends you ever had and even after they clearly couldn't stick to dating one person alone and you had to break up with them you were still each others perfect complement and continue to be so but they're a bad person who cheats and lies and manipulates but they're soft with you but you know it isn't real but kind of wonder if it is because they haven't changed around you since middle school and you're forever a little flirty and in love with each other and every time you talk you're best friends again but because it was middle school nobody lets you count it as a real relationship because you're young adults now and you let it slide because you hate them but you also don't and can't and never will and they're so mean to you but really they aren't they just call you out on your bullshit and you do the same thing but they have a lot more bullshit than you and you just really, really deeply in your soul know that they will never ever be a good person for you and refuse to heal from what hurt them and also kind of enjoy being a bad person who takes from people but when you're with them they're eleven again. And so are you. And you're wearing unicorn leggings and they're complimenting said leggings and they think you're the funniest, prettiest, most enthralling and intelligent and talented person they've ever met and they make sure you always know that and you both secretly always believe you're soulmates but awkwardly dance around that concept just like you did when you were eleven and twelve and awkwardly dancing around like-liking each other and you know they would always come back to you and you'd like to let them but value yourself too much to let them and sometimes, actually most times, you wonder if being with them could possibly hurt as much as being without them. And you know it would and all of your friends would be so mad at you and you'd be so humiliated and the only one who would understand would be your mom who went through the same thing and the only thing that stopped the feeling for her is that he fucking died and they have birthdays two days apart and you wonder if the universe is throwing round two at you and goddammit you wish you were eleven again and sharing a phone with your brothers and frantically saying goodnight while your oldest brother stands in your doorway looking pissed off and you hold their hand in the bleachers the next morning but pretend you aren't into it but you're still holding their hand anyway when you decide you're better of as friends and you still held their hand freshman year in history class because the lecture was boring and they let you color their bracelet in highlighters and told your shitty mean friends about it but they didn't get it and asked why you'd want to date someone you talked so much shit about and you say that you don't but that they haven't changed a bit and you miss how you feel with them and how you understand each other and you still make sly eye contact in sophomore year biology even when you date their best friend that sucked so bad he made you think you only liked girls and you still chose to sit behind them in psychology junior year and talk every day and let them pick your brain and laughed with them at lunch and let them take pictures of you so they could post them on your birthday but they never did because they had another girlfriend that they were cheating on again and you also watched them every day in english that year and were so happy to be in groups with them and you still drew them in your free time and you still watched them in english again your senior year because they looked so beautiful and had grown so much and were so confident now and you still dedicated an entire painting to them in your art class that nobody actually knew the meaning of. But I guess you never dated for real.

[arotechno]

hey so i saw your post about the concept of soul mates being an inherently bad one and i wanted to ask if like... what if a version of it existed but could be about friends?

not qprs, not friends you live with, just friends?

normally i don't answer these questions anymore (which you seemed to realize, so genuinely thank you for that!), but since you asked nicely and i haven't talked about it in a while i think i will, briefly! this topic hasn't shown up on my blog in a long time so it might be worth rehashing a little.

so my issues with the idea of soulmates are partly about the inherent arophobia and amatonormativity embedded within it (which is the aspect i refuse to argue about), and partly about my own philosophical beliefs and the implications of that.

i'll start with the latter, since it's mostly my own opinion: i don't believe in the idea of fate and i don't like the idea of people's place in our lives being predetermined. i do believe that human connection is a very powerful force, but i also believe that those connections are more meaningful when you consider them to be something you chose for yourself, often almost on accident, and deliberately decided to maintain. for other people things like fate and destiny are an important part of their belief system, and while i don't agree, more power to them, so long as they don't force that belief onto me. so on this front, your mileage may vary.

the other side of this is the amatonormativity and arophobia. i don't really like repeating myself on this anymore lol so i will start by pointing you toward this post that i feel sums up my feelings most strongly (i want to note that my tone in that post is kind of terse and exasperated, but i'm not directing that at you. when i wrote that post at the time i was being harassed constantly by people willfully misinterpreting my posts and making me repeat the same points over and over, and then saying i was mean when i inevitably grew tired of it and snapped).

i think the conversation gets muddied when it's unclear whether people are talking about the portrayal of soulmates as a fictional device vs whether they believe soulmates exist in real life. obviously those are different conversations, but i also believe that the prevalence of soulmates as a fictional trope that many people swoon over and fantasize about reflects cultural ideas of amatonormativity that are harmful to everyone. i'm not sure which you're asking about here, so i'll answer in both ways.

in the fictional sense. i don't think there's anything inherently "bad" or evil about portraying friends as soulmates. i especially don't mind aro people doing it in a reclamatory or exploratory way (hello i have done it! on this blog!). the context of the portrayal really matters and i think the reason me and so many other aros have just decided to blanket-statement disavow the concept entirely is because most people don't know how to portray soulmates in a way that doesn't throw some flavor of aro person under the bus. i would really encourage you to seek out aplatonic and/or loveless perspectives on this, as while i think we reach similar conclusions, they are approaching this issue from a different angle than i am.

in the real life sense... well i've already made clear how i feel about soulmates in general lol. if people want to think of their real life friends or whoever as soulmates i don't really mind that, people are entitled to call their relationships whatever they would like. i just don't want that concept pushed onto me, and i think everyone could do with a little healthy examination of the idea of soulmates and ask themselves whether they are holding some ideal of a perfect person or people that will drop into their life by miracle. because that person does not exist. you have to put in the work.

in a broader sense, and this is something i discuss in the post i linked, constantly broadening the definition of soulmates just muddies the waters. like, if you have to stretch the concept so far that it's barely even recognizable as the same idea that you see in like, plato's symposium, then maybe it's because the concept is bad. people are always like "soulmates are bad? what if [fifteen qualifiers and stipulations]?" and it's just like... just relinquish the word! just get over the need to call everything soulmates! you know? like, you may be saying, "what if friends as soulmates aren't predestined, but chosen?" to which i would say "then that's not soulmates." that's not what the word has, historically and literarily, meant. you can just call it something else. or call your friends your soulmates if you really want to, it doesn't matter to me how you live your life. but what aro people mean when we say it's bad is that it's bad to suggest that everyone has or needs some other person or people who completes them in some way or who is a predetermined part of their life. it throws aros on the bus in general, and nonpartnering/nonamorous, aplatonic, and loveless aros especially so in various ways. and a fictional portrayal of soulmates that defines not having a soulmate as a tragedy on par with death (yes i have seen this with my own eyes) or not reciprocating the feelings of one's soulmate as evil is deeply arophobic and i shouldn't have to explain why.

maybe we don't have to keep changing what "soulmate" means. maybe we can just acknowledge that it's an inherently amatonormative concept. maybe aro people are just allowed to be right about this one!

[jordyn-degas]

Once Upon an Us - Chapter One

PREQUEL to The One That Got Away - INDEFINITE HIATUS Special Announcement! I would love to introduce the CO-CREATOR of this story: none other than the amazing @uchihamylove26 - my heart, my soul, my Naruto soulmate 👑 - thank you for always being my partner in crime 🥰 😭

characters: Naruto Uzumaki x fem!reader

warnings: SLOW BURN - therefore quite long; fluff; a bit of angst to make it interesting; heavy petting to make it spicy; depiction of war, death and a dead body;

notes: dear reader, make yourself comfortable because you're in for a long ride 🤭

Harsh, dust imbued wind shuffled across the battlefield carrying droplets of painful tears that ought to be scattered on the lifeless bodies that showered a most gruesome scenery. Scarred cheeks paled under the vermilion gaze of Madara Uchiha, the thorn in your side since this pointless war had started, turning into the bane of your very existence in a split second. His lips curved downwards in disgust, yet eyebrows quickly arched higher from the usual frown in what seemed to be surprise. Or was he impressed? The expression touched by conflicting twists had somehow trapped your focus, Sharingan burning through the blandness of your eyes now wiped off with emptiness. He could have easily placed you under a genjutsu, steal the reality from under your feet but he chose not to. Madara bathed into the pain oozing through your pores, allowing such mere Kunoichi to drown into the harsh reality of war.

You stood tall, brave even in his cold eyes, chin still raised in defiance, muscles tensed to the point of ripping under the pressure, despite the cruel fact that his dirty Ninja sandal was pressing teasingly on the neck of your dear and beloved sister. The last breath she gave was long gone, agonizing minutes passing in between the two of you. You were well aware the taunting game he was playing, knowing you did not stood a chance in killing him, the burn of such desire poisoning the last bit of innocence you preserved. Nevertheless, that did not stop your bleeding heart to beat in unison with the darkness that nibbled at your soul. Knees bent only slightly, upper body following, hands arming themselves with two kunai, you vouched revenge. Madara’s lips curved upwards, teeth showing from under the vicious smile he infected your heart with.

“I’m coming, Kikyo.” you whispered returning the same smile to an adversary you could not defeat, body quickly acting on instinct.

As quickly as your feet left the ground, they hit the dirt again, arms wrapping around your waist and grounding you to safety. The grip was tight, commanding even, as another body collided with yours.

“Don’t.” Naruto spoke quietly, deep notes brushing away the usual softness of his voice.

“Naruto, please.” you begged with a hoarse voice resulted from lack of speaking and the dryness caused by death. “Kikyo ..”

“I can’t have you follow her.” Naruto said unwrapping one of his arms from around you to take the kunai from your hands. “I’m sorry that I failed you.”

“W-what?” you asked, lips parted in surprise.

“I wasn’t here when you needed me.” he replied with sorrow. “When she needed me.”

“It is my fault, not yours.” you replied as fingers ghosted over his wrist. “Not being strong enough caused this.”

Naruto pulled back from you, the security and calmness of his arms leaving space for the coldness of the battlefield to wrap around you. He decided to get Kikyo back, to give you the chance to utter the goodbye you so painfully needed it.

“Don’t worry, Y/N.” Naruto said masking the sadness he held for you with his game face, a smirk playfully taunting Madara. “I am strong enough for the both of you.”

With Kurama’s chakra coursing through his body, its natural glow lighting up the pain in your eyes, Naruto surrounded himself with the clones that saved your life more than once and darted towards the man that ripped you away from a happy life. He was always the boy to have your back, to pick you up from the ground and brush the dust off, to raise you on his shoulders to touch the sun and the moon. There was no need for Naruto to carry your burden, to forsake the need of others for a soul that was no longer there. It is how you ended up wrapping your fingers around the grip of your sister’s sword that was halfway embedded into the ground.

“There is no need.” Sasuke said pulling the sword out of the ground before you could, placing it into the sheath attached to your back.

Head tilting upwards, your gaze met the bright and burning Sharingan, following it to its point of focus that stumbled upon Kakashi carrying Kikyo’s lifeless body while Naruto held the ground in his fight with Madara.

“I have to move you to a safe distance.” Sasuke said flatly, swiftly wrapping his arm around your waist and matching Kakashi’s pace.

Arm resting around his shoulders, Sasuke took the time to watch the emptiness of your eyes focused on the hot tears that rolled on Kakashi’s cheeks, mask soaked with anger and pain, the loss of the one he loved the most encompassing the loss of half of your heart. Sasuke knew you well enough to assess and approximate with the utmost accuracy how deeply Kikyo’s death was going to affect you, its roots already suffocating parts of your heart and soul.

“No matter your feelings and purpose ..” you whispered into his ear as your feet touched the ground. “I cannot lose him. I can't breathe without him.”

Sasuke averted your burning gaze, muscles tensing slightly at the implications of your words before disappearing from your side and back to Naruto. You took a deep breath, heart and mind in complete turmoil as your arms landed on Kakashi’s shoulders. His gloved hand pressed on one of yours, both eyeing a scarred yet beautiful face resting away in its peace.

“It’s just the two of us now.” Kakashi said in such a soft voice it opened the outpouring of the barrage of tears you held back with such bravery.

“Her two very best.” you replied with a pained and bitter smile.

That is how Kikyo regarded the two of you, the love of her life and sister: her two very best.

**

"Besides being a complete neat freak and the Hokage .." you said scrunching up your nose. ".. I do enjoy living with him."

Chuckling lightly, you brushed off a bit of dust from Kikyo's headstone as the sun began to set over the Hidden Leaf. You always made sure that every single Saturday, at the exact time of death, you would update your sister on the latest news. Some viewed it as quite morbid on your part while some understood deeply the pain set in your heart of losing a loved one. You were not the only having conversations with someone that could no longer reply.

"The war ended 7 months ago." you said enjoying some Dango with a small smile on your face. "His nightmares stopped 3 months ago and he does no longer cry."

Shifting on your knees, hands worked on arranging the flowers in a way for the wind to not take them away, her name branded into the headstone burning even deeper into the pits of your soul.

"Oh, me?" you chuckled. "Never better, don't you worry."

Based on the usual beliefs, Kikyo should already know that you were lying through your teeth, the sorrow and pain never truly subsiding after the war ended. Everything felt the exact same, heart's broken pieces all but scattered around wherever you walked, the sound of glass crashing against the floor with every taken step. Your existence in the Hidden Leaf was reduced to a mask of a person you couldn't quite recognize nor accept as much as it was needed. Insides burning with pain, boiling into the merciless hot anger that never seemed to reach a balanced simmer, always chasing the high of your emotions and gnawing at what was left of the one you once knew as yourself. This entire persona built strong bridges in the friendships with the others, unable to fool all but one: Naruto Uzumaki. He was there when the life drained out of your cheeks, eyes bleeding with vengeance, heart stopping to be overtaken by the darkness you so deeply craved as it kept you balanced and unemotional. You clawed and crawled to feel it yet again when he decided to step right on it, to squash it under the heaviness of his brightness, his blatant optimism and kind heart. Kikyo adored the boy with such unreasonable fervor. Or was it reasonable?

"I thought I'd find you here." his voice enveloped the loneliness your eardrums felt at the lack of response from Kikyo. "It's Saturday."

"You were here yesterday." you replied not turning to face him and pointing at two chopsticks. "Dinner with the dead?"

"Lunch." Naruto sighed. "Kikyo was always a good listener."

"Something troubling you that much?" you asked feeling his presence right behind you, a mere inch away.

"Maybe." Naruto replied simply. "She asked me a question when the war started and I had to give her my answer."

Judging by the tonality in his voice, you could easily realize that it was not the time to push further. Kikyo and Naruto used to have this relationship based on conversations neither your or Kakashi were allowed to participate in most of the times, something you have always found quite odd yet brought you a surprising happiness.

"Anyway .." Naruto's voice turned cheerful, hands placed on your shoulders and squeezing lightly. "Do you have any plans for tonight?"

"Hardly." you replied leaning backwards, back hitting his legs and you looked up at him, bright blue melting into yours.

"Great!" Naruto smiled brightly. "Want to come with me to Shikamaru's? He invited some of us over for Choji's birthday."

"With .. you?" you asked, eyebrows shooting up in surprise at how the question was worded.

"I-I .. I mean .." Naruto coughed slightly. "Since he could not find you anywhere to invite you directly, I will take you with me."

"Oh." you said averting his gaze. "Why not?"

"Come on!" he said letting go of your shoulders and offering out his hand. "You could use some fun."

"What gave it away?" you laughed taking his hand as you were pulled up swiftly.

Turning slightly, your eyes trailed over Kikyo's name, squeezing his hand unknowingly and Naruto returned the gesture. Fingers intertwined, settling a bit of the boiling pain, you offered the boy a soft smile, walking out of the resting place of many hand in hand. A small, faint blush pinched yours and Naruto's cheeks, something the both of you failed to notice about the other. Your hand held with such care by him giving you a sense of security, calmness and that bit of hope you never thought you'd be able to finally feel.

**

"Idiot, I can be Hokage as well!" Kiba growled at Naruto as you all laughed at the never-ending argument.

"WHAT!?" Naruto exploded throwing his hands in the air. "I am going to be the Hokage!"

"Naruto's stronger." Sakura added fuel to the fire with a smirk.

"I can take him anytime!" Kiba jumped out of his chair, all of you settled into Shikamaru's garden.

"Kiba, sit your ass down." you rolled your eyes. "At his current level, Naruto will sneeze you into oblivion."

"See?" Naruto grinned, proudly flexing his muscles as he offered you a wink that made your heart flutter. "Y/N always knows best."

"Of course she does." Kiba offered you a smirk and a look that had you frown.

"Huh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow. "You don't believe her. Fine, let's ask someone else. Hinata?"

"Eh?" Hinata jumped slightly into her chair, a bright blush slapping her cheeks and you clenched your jaw.

“Why not me?” Lee pouted with a frown. “I am the most capable of measuring Naruto’s strength!”

“Shut up.” Ten Ten kicked his shin feeding off the exchange as she could feel what was going on, the tension quite palpable.

"Do tell, Hinata." you said leaning into the chair watching her every gesture. "Your opinion of Naruto here."

Her Hyuga eyes met yours in an instant and it was as if time stood still with everyone holding their breath, Sakura and Ino clutching at their seats expectantly. The boys watched the silent exchange, only one completely oblivious to what was truly happening: Naruto. She quickly averted your gaze, always unable to hold it more than a few seconds.

"I'm sorry, Kiba but .." Hinata spoke quietly. "Naruto is stronger."

"Excellent judge of character." you nodded slowly. "As always."

"You two .." Kiba clicked his tongue, a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Of course."

As Naruto bathed into the pointless win, your eyes expertly trailed Hinata's figure, gaze solely trained on the blonde boy, laughing as sweetly as they come, the blush diminishing but still there as he thanked her for the vote of confidence. You have always known about they way Hinata felt for Naruto, choosing to ignore it completely out of sheer selfishness. If you could do a comparison between you two, no matter your own feelings, she was probably the better choice for him. The kindness, the care and the innocence she had were no match for the darkness you possessed, always thinking that you could do Naruto more harm than good. Even with these thoughts hovering in your mind, the way you felt for him was not allowing you to step back. Naruto was the one you wanted and needed for a very long time, not ready to give him up in favor of your broken soul.

“I’ll be back.” you whispered to Ino as stories from the war began surfacing and you stood up.

“Do you want me to shut them up?” she asked a bit worried.

“No, no.” you chuckled. “We did well. They deserve to bask in the glory.”

Ino nodded with a small smile, knowing that you were not yet, or probably never, ready to fully have a conversation about the war without associating it with Kikyo. Everyone knew that it has always been the two of you against the world. Now that she was no longer around, you believed to be alone in everything that you have been doing. Ino, however, completely disagreed with this view, considering herself and your friends the pillar you so truly needed. Sakura tapped her wrist to divert the attention to a certain boy that seemed engaged in the conversation but his eyes were set on the person that left the circle. The girls looked at each other with a purposeful smile as they very well knew what others did: you and Naruto always had something for each other, starting to circle one another as soon as the war ended. Ino already knew that Naruto was going to give you five more minutes before coming after you. He never let you out of his sight more than that.

Sitting on the porch on the other side of the Nara household, your gaze trailed around the form of the moon reflecting into a small pond. It was such a peaceful space, often finding yourself spending time in Shikamaru’s company as his silence and rare words brought calmness, sense and rationale. The series of thumping heartbeats only added fuel to the painful fire residing in your heart, a few tears rolling down your cheeks knowing how you will go home and she won’t be there.

“Y/N?” Naruto asked quietly.

“Naruto, hey.” you quickly wiped off the lost tears and you turned to offer him a smile. “Is dinner ready?”

“Not yet.” he replied taking a step towards you. “Can I sit with you?”

“You don’t have to ask.” you said patting the space next to you before turning your gaze back to the pond. “Has Kiba calmed down?”

“He did.” Naruto laughed. “As if he ever stood a chance.”

“The audacity!” you faked a gasp.

“Right?” his eyebrows shot up in surprise while shaking his head which you found oddly amusing. “Being Hokage has always been my dream.”

“Naruto ..” you shifted slightly as you crossed your legs for more comfort. “Do you have other dreams?”

“What do you mean?” he asked a bit confused while looking at you.

“You will become Hokage, I always knew and believed in it.” you replied turning to meet his gaze. “What about after? Or before? There must be something else you wish for yourself.”

Naruto felt caught off guard by your question, his eyes staring right into yours, the corners of his mouth twitching slightly upwards. Of course he wished for something else besides being a Hokage, a want no one truly knew about. He liked to believe that there were hints, small, subtle ones which you never seem to catch on, always oblivious to the closeness he so easily managed to pull you in.

“There is .. something ..” Naruto swallowed the knot in his throat, body shifting slightly closer to you, his hand settling right next to yours, skins touching having both jolt lightly. “I wanted to ask you something.”

“Yes?” you followed eagerly, heartbeats intensifying.

“What was your Infinite Tsukuyomi?” he asked softly, the instant blush covering your cheeks taking him by surprise.

“M-my dream world?” you stuttered suddenly with flashes of a deceptive reality spinning into your mind. “Why do you ask?”

“We never talked about it.” Naruto replied simply, his eyes never leaving yours as if looking for something.

Biting your inner cheek, the idea of actually telling him what the Infinite Tsukuyomi conjured up for you represented the confession of your feelings towards him, something you were not ready to do just yet. The dream world in which you have been trapped depicted the life you could have with him, emotions balling up into the chest as soon as you remembered such vivid moments. Even to this day, the way the dream felt so incredibly real, every single touch and kiss, every single laugh and promise, every bit of each passing day as you had the boy you fell in love with in your arms for life. Then there were Kikyo and Kakashi, happily married and a complete nuisance to the both of you, somewhat of a life that came full circle under the genjutsu that still crawled into your dreams at night. You ached for that world and you felt as if it could never be real, the laugh of your sister poisoning the reality of what seemed to be achievable along with the fact that you had absolutely no idea if Naruto even felt the same. The nature of his personality tended to overshadow certain hints or gestures most boys would have, sometimes wondering if you interpreted his wrongly.

“Kikyo and Kakashi were married.” you began saying trying to avoid as much as possible to blurt out a confession that had you scared to the bones. “A child on the way. I was pursuing my dream of becoming a teacher in the Academy.”

“Isn’t that what you wanted to do when we were younger?” he asked tilting his head slightly.

“It was.” you nodded with a melancholic smile. “My world was not as different than it is now with the exception that we were all happier and carefree.”

“Was I there?” Naruto asked all of a sudden, quickly picking up on how you so easily tensed. “With you?”

“With me?” you swallowed hard, hand twitching as you felt his moving on top of yours.

“Was I still your best friend?” Naruto pushed, the deep ocean blue of his eyes blocking every single common sense you had.

“Y-yes.” you breathed having absolutely no idea how this conversation took such a turn. “In a way ..”

“In a way?” he asked in what sounded more like a whisper. “What way?”

“Naruto ..” you replied, instinctually hand moving from under his as your fingers intertwined, faintly trembling with emotion. “In a way that you were always there, day and ..”

“A-and?” Naruto asked, swallowing hard the moment you both started slowly leaning in, eyes moving to the lips and back up.

“ .. night.” you whispered, hot breaths clashing as faces inched away from each other, lips yearning to be touched and felt.

Heart thumping into your chest, the pull he was capable of having on you pushing your mind into overdrive, not a single thought in sight, a white canvas to be painted on with the newfound desire of wanting to know how he tasted. There were always moments where your eyes would find Naruto’s lips, brain conjuring up any kind of images that burned even brighter with the desire of how much you wanted too see and feel what it was like. His hand squeezed yours softly, the other finding its way on your thigh, involuntarily his fingers pressing softly into the flesh and a quiet sigh rolled off your wanting lips. Every single bit of your skin was burning under the merciless fire Naruto set under your, your hand trembling as it raised to meet his cheek, yearning as never before to touch him.

“Dinner is ..” Shikamaru announced turning around the corner only to freeze in his spot. “.. ready.”

Both stopping at the same time, lips almost brushing each other, Naruto cursed Shikamaru’s days as there couldn’t have been a worst moment. Immediately pulling away, your hand left his while the other retracted mid-journey as a bright blush slapped your cheeks, gaze averting Shikamaru’s out of fear of being capable of killing him with it. Naruto watched disheartened how you secured the distance in between the two of you, fingers working their way up your own arm and pinching the flesh of the elbow. It was a small thing you always did when nervous.

“We’ll be there in a minute.” Naruto said to his friend with a bit of a bite in his tonality.

“Man ..” Shikamaru muttered turning around and leaving the two, mentally slapping himself for interrupting a moment most of them waited for.

Avoiding Naruto’s gaze, you stood up and took a step back not being able to calm the erratic heartbeats that threatened to break through the rib cage. Without saying another word, you walked right past him and back into the garden to your friends as he stayed back, forehead falling into his palms. Naruto took a deep breath, an annoyed growl erupting from the back of his throat at Shikamaru’s stupidity. However, that did not mean he was not going to try again. Naruto wanted to kiss you so badly, the mere idea of him having you in his arms, lips capturing yours in the moment he longed for, had his mind spinning and plotting at the same time.

"Are you alright?" Sakura asked as you sat back next to her, swiftly picking up on how quickly you zoned out.

"Yes." you turned with a bright smile that was masking the blood boiling into your veins. "Why?"

"You seemed .. out of it." Sakura replied without failing to notice the tinge of a blush that seemed to slowly dissipate.

When walking right past you, Naruto's arm brush against your shoulder and a visible jolt traveled throughout your body. Sakura squinted, eyes darting back and forth before a small smirk tugged at her lips. She has been watching and waiting for things to happen for a while now, both of you moving at an incredibly slow pace. There were always the innocent smiles wrapped up in melting, filled of longing gazes, small touches that seemed friendly but quickly turning into more as they lingered longer than usual. You admitted to Sakura and Ino that you had feelings for Naruto but, as fearless was you could be, the simple thought of confessing scared the life out of you. Both of them watched you and Naruto over the dinner table, the boy’s eyes glued on you while you were trying to play it off as nothing, the corners of your mouth sometimes curving upwards sensing the burning gaze.

“Y/N has it the easiest!” Shikamaru said leaning into his chair as everyone finished eating. “She is living with the 6th.”

“Me?” you laughed. “Come and live with Kakashi for a week and we’ll talk after.”

It was bound for something to tick you off, Kiba always playing a very dangerous game when it came to you, his amusement drawn from setting fires whenever he had the chance. He switched seats with Hinata in what seemed to be an innocent conversation he wanted to have with Choji, therefore resulting in the girl sitting right next to the only person that could get her to faint with a simple smile. Shoulder blades tensing, your back straightened abruptly, avoiding to look at them as Naruto and Hinata delved into a conversation. You didn’t had something in particular with her as you grew up together since diapers if were to count it. Her shyness masking true intentions was what truly pissed you off, the lingering in the shadows waiting for him to see her, remembering clearly how you told her many times along the years to grow a pair, to do something about it even when you were lying to yourself that there were no feelings held for Naruto. You couldn’t be blamed that you didn’t tried.

“He literally lets Naruto sleep over.” Ino slapped everyone with the information, a shit eating grin sprawled all over face as she caught on what Kiba was doing.

“WHAT?!” Choji and Kiba jumped along with Lee that was close to knocking the table over in shock, Sakura and Ten Ten looking at Ino dead in the eyes as they were the only ones allowed with such piece of information while Hinata seemed as if she was about to sink into the ground.

“Is there something I missed?” Lee started pondering various encounters and turning to Ten Ten. “We need to start on reviewing recent events.”

“Lee!” Ten Ten groaned. “It’s none of our business!”

“How long has this been going on?” Kiba asked with a slight frown.

“It’s not what you think.” Naruto chuckled embarrassed seeing your face lacking a single expression. “Kakashi Sensei has me over whenever it’s too late. After all, Y/N and I have been friends since I can remember. It’s nothing.”

“This is great.” Shikamaru whispered to himself, a quiet laugh escaping knowing very well what he saw earlier, Naruto’s choice of words amusing the life out of him.

“Naruto is right.” you said seeing Hinata bright red either from the subtle implications of the conversation or from boiling anger. “We are friends. Why does it have to be weird? We all almost died together. Do you want me to sleep over so I can demonstrate?”

“I wouldn’t mind.” Kiba replied with a smirk gracing his lips and Sakura could see the veins on your neck thickening.

“You wish.” Naruto said under his breath as only you and Hinata could hear, you staring her down until she looked away.

"I’ll head home." you said standing up out all of a sudden and walking up to Choji as he stood up. “Happy birthday again, Choji!”

“Thank you, Y/N.” Choji smiled hugging you back. “I can pack you some cake to go.”

“Not at all.” you shook your head. “Have mine, birthday boy.”

“You’re the best!” Choji jumped excitedly and you laughed with the others.

“Do you want me to walk you home?” Lee asked.

“No, stay and have fun.” you smiled. “I’ll be fine.”

Saying your goodbyes, you avoided Naruto’s intense stare and made your way out of the house. Stopping outside to take a deep breath, your mind kept replaying Naruto’s words on how there was nothing going on between the two of you. Indeed, there wasn’t something spoken but .. he tried to kiss you. Or where you imagining all of it? In this light you couldn’t truly blame Hinata for thinking she had a chance.

“I’ll walk you home.” Kiba said quietly coming from behind.

“You don’t have to.” you replied turning to him.

“Come on.” he smiled offering you his arm. “Stop being so stubborn about everything.”

“Am I that stubborn?” you raised an eyebrow.

“It’s your defense mechanism.” Kiba shrugged. “I don’t mind it.”

“How so?” you asked wrapping your arm around his and walking away from the Nara household.

“Keeps things interesting.” he replied looking ahead with a playful smile.

“I’m not that interesting.” you laughed leaning into him slightly.

“Yes, you are.” Kiba sighed. “Naruto is an idiot.”

“Kiba ..” you whispered eyeing the ground.

“I would never pass up on the opportunity.” Kiba said so bluntly your breath hitched, not truly expecting it from him.

Stopping in your tracks, you turned to face him in hopes of finding the hint of a joke playfully dancing on his face. Kiba immediately faced you, not a single smirk or smile in sight but simple seriousness which was completely out of character. The way he looked into your eyes was the exact same Naruto did two hours ago and you felt out of breath all of a sudden. Arm unwrapping from his, you swallowed hard not having the slightest idea that all of this time Kiba's jokes and teasing were meant with a purpose.

"I-I can't .." you said softly.

"I know." Kiba smiled taking your hand into his. "That does not mean I'll stop trying."

"But .. why?" you asked confused.

"He's bound to slip up." Kiba shrugged. "You can't be Hokage and have the most beautiful girl in the village at the same time."

Against your better judgement, you blushed. A smirk tugged at his lips watching the bright read spread across your plump cheeks. As much as he would have wanted to be bold, seeing a bit of your rare vulnerability, Kiba sighed and simply held your hand without saying another word. Much to your surprise, you didn't pulled back as you both walked in a comfortable silence. Unbeknownst to you, someone watched and listened from the shadows the entire conversation.

**

"What's that about?" Sakura asked Ino while stopping in front of the Yamanaka flower shop that had a direct view into a sweets shop across.

"Apparently they grew closer since Choji's birthday." Ino raised an eyebrow and crossing her arms against the chest. "They've spent a lot of time together."

"That was three weeks ago." Sakura said surprised.

"Is this because she has barely spoken to Naruto?" Ino asked thinking of any of the possibilities. "Y/N said something about stirring clear."

"The idiot acted like there was nothing going on in between them when half an hour earlier tried to kiss her." Sakura explained unbothered.

"What now?" Ino's eyes bulged out of their sockets. "He what?"

"Shikamaru interrupted them." Sakura sighed showing her fingers as if were about to pinch something. "They were this close."

"Do you think that Y/N and Kiba .." Ino trailed off biting her lower lip.

"Absolutely not." Sakura replied shaking her head. "That can't be .."

Both girls were standing there watching in surprise as you laughed at one of Kiba's jokes, twirling in between your fingers the leftover stick from a freshly enjoyed Dango. What happened in between leaving that night and now? It was common knowledge what he exactly wanted from you and it wasn't something to be heard by shy ears.

"Hey!" Hinata smiled as she stopped in front of the girls.

"Hey, Hinata." Sakura said flatly pulling her out of her view.

"W-what's happening?" Hinata asked confused.

"We are witnessing a miracle." Ino muttered with a frown.

"Oh, that?" Hinata chuckled finally noticing. "Y/N knows Kiba likes her."

"What now?" Sakura asked surprised. "She didn't know or what?"

"Apparently not." Hinata replied with a small shrug. "Kiba told her the night of Choji's birthday."

Ino and Sakura looked at each other with raised eyebrows and an expression that screamed "hell, no!". Now there were three girls in front of the flower shop watching conflicted the entire exchange. Well, two were conflicted while the other kept a straight face, wishing that whatever she was witnessing was going to evolve further down the road.

"That's withdrawal." Sakura concluded pinching the bridge of her nose.

"What do you mean?" Hinata asked turning to her.

"Doesn't .." Sakura's eye twitched slightly at the girl. ".. matter."

"Sakura!" Naruto called rushing up the street.

"Oh, no." Sakura sighed.

"Ino, Hinata." Naruto smiled widely. "What are you doing?"

"Buying flowers." Sakura quickly replied.

"Watching Y/N and Kiba." Hinata said at the same time with Sakura as she and Ino almost growled at her.

Under the pressured and feral gazes of the girls, Hinata timidly pointed her finger behind Naruto. When he turned around, that whole bright smile peeled off his face instantly as he simply stood there watching through the glass how you looked absolutely taken with Kiba. How was this even possible after what you told him about your Infinite Tsukuyomi? He was there, not Kiba. Day and night. Mouth drying off in a split second, a hard, deep swallow grazing his throat, Naruto's eyes met yours for a brief moment and his lips parted in surprise. The first reaction he got from you was pulling away and leaning into the chair, creating a more breathable space in between you and Kiba while Naruto clenched his fists.

"I need your help." Naruto said turning to the girls, his eyes mainly centered on Ino and Sakura.

"With what?" Ino raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, it finally hit you, eh?" Sakura chuckled.

"I'm confused." Ino sighed.

"I want to ask Y/N on a date." Naruto blurted out, nerves shooting throughout his body from the tip of his finger to the top of his head.

"Took you a while." Ino grinned.

With Ino teasing Naruto as he was trying to hold in the amount of nervousness gripping at his entire being, Sakura caught Hinata's paralyzed gaze set on him. She did not wanted to be this way but a deep satisfaction found its way into Sakura's heart, trying to act as caring and considerate as she could to the girl that has been chasing Naruto even longer than Y/N. Hinata met Sakura's gaze, took a step back and instantly left their presence without the other two even noticing.

"Let's ease your nerves with some ramen." Sakura rolled her eyes seeing Naruto blushing when Ino started presenting him with various scenarios and options.

**

"Kakashi, do you have a minute?" you asked stepping into the living room where he seemed half-dead while reading a book.

"Sure." he smiled leaving room for you next to him. "How can I help?"

"Well .." you coughed bringing your knees under the chin, arms wrapped around them while facing him. "I kind of like .. someone."

"Alright." Kakashi nodded closing the book and placing it on the table before fully turning to face you. "You're a confident woman. What is the matter?"

"I know that and, usually, it's not a problem." you sighed playing with the shirt's hem. "But this time it's just .. it feels .."

"He is different." Kakashi smiled already well aware who the person in question was.

"Yes." you replied with a small blush. "I don't know how to go about it."

"I can only assume he feels the same." Kakashi followed, slowly pulling the threads and connecting them, your vulnerability and cluelessness absolutely adorable in his eyes.

"I think so, I mean he tried to kiss me." you shrugged and Kakashi slowly tensed at the mere idea of a boy, no matter who he was, this close to you before reminding himself that you were not a child anymore. "We were interrupted. Even so, he made it clear in front of the others that there is nothing going on and I am a bit confused."

"Did you stop to think that he probably said that because you are not actually together and does not want to simply assume your relationship without your confirmation?" Kakashi asked with such ease in his tonality that you held your breath.

"So I should somehow tell him that I want a relationship." you said biting your inner cheek. "I gave some hints to be honest .."

"Hints are not the same as direct confirmation." Kakashi said as he could practically hear the wheels turning in your head. "People do not have relationships, marry or have a family based on hints. Somewhere between those lines there is a confession."

"Should I ask him on a date?" you scrunched up your nose.

"Well .. you could." Kakashi shrugged with a nod.

"On the other hand, there is someone else that has a thing for me but I don't." you said pushing your legs flat on the couch until they reached his lap. "Sure, I enjoy spending time with him but that is about it."

"Oh, I know." Kakashi chuckled and you immediately tensed. "You used to kick Kiba's ass at every turn and now you two parade the streets together. With how the village loves to talk, I wouldn't be surprised if even Gaara heard about it."

"Oh, God!" you winced as he laughed. "There is nothing going on or will ever be."

"Y/N." Kakashi smiled softly. "I am well aware of the feelings you always had for Naruto. If they are so strong as they appear to be in my eyes, I suggest you to not waste time. It flies quite fast and life is too short to worry about the results when the journey is what matters, what you make of it. You can't sit around wondering if he will or will not ask you out on a date. To confess your feelings there doesn't have to be a date. Or did you forget that I literally confessed to your sister in this very living room with you in the hallway?"

"As if I could forget." you laughed. "I have never moved with such stealth out of this house in my entire life."

"Let the first move be yours." Kakashi followed. "Then, the ball will be in Naruto's court. No matter the results, you can live without the burden of carrying these heavy feelings around."

"You always make so much sense." you replied taking a deep breath and ruffling your hair. "God, I have waited for so long."

"To be honest, I thought it will happen during the war." he said tilting his head slightly. "There were instances where I said to myself that it was done."

"Oh, sure." you laughed. "Between Obito battling his conscience and Madara's arrogant ass, you could clearly see me saying "By the way Naruto, we might die and I'm in love with you."."

"What?" Kakashi whispered surprised.

"What?" you asked confused before realizing your words, a bright blush covering your cheeks suddenly. "Well .. I-I .. uhm .. it was just an example."

"Y/N." Kakashi's features melted into the softest ones you have ever witnessed since knowing him. "You're in love with Naruto? I thought you simply cared for him."

"I .. fuck, yes." you replied biting again at your inner cheek. "Yes, I have been in love with him for a while now."

"First, language." Kakashi chuckled. "Second, I'm happy for you."

"Really?" you asked with a wide smile. "I thought you'd get overprotective and weird."

"Oh, I am boiling inside." he replied relaxing into the couch. "But I trust Naruto more than anyone can imagine."

"So .." you trailed off. "Should I just go for it?"

"Yes." Kakashi said immediately. "You won't be disappointed."

"How do you know?" you asked with a small frown.

"I simply do." he shrugged patting your leg. "Do you have plans tonight?"

"No." you shook your head. "I actually want to spend time with you. Do you want to have dinner here and watch a movie?"

"I would want nothing more." Kakashi smiled. "Pick the movie while I go out to grab the food. Want something in particular?"

"Surprise me." you replied as he stood up but before he could leave you caught his hand. "Kakashi .. thank you."

"Anytime." he smiled squeezing your hand. "That's why I'm here."

As Kakashi left the living room to change before going out to grab your dinner, you sat back and pondered at the conversation. You always told yourself that you were not going to be the girl that loses herself in the presence of a boy, always capable to dominate them in one way or the other since the Academy. Yet, somehow, when it came to Naruto it felt as if your entire world was crumbling when those bright blue eyes would melt into yours. There was a lot of confidence in the fact that he felt the same as you did due to all the instances in which you both found each other, every touch, every smile, certain and subtle words that always made sense only to you. The memory of Kakashi and Kikyo dancing and laughing into the living room was burning into your heart, how he spilled his feelings all over the place before it was too late, how much happiness he gained from it. That is what you craved. A love and relationship like theirs. Kakashi was right: life was too short to worry about the result as the journey was what mattered.

**

“Naruto?” Iruka asked surprised to see the boy pacing back and forth on the street where he lived.

“Iruka Sensei!” Naruto waved before resuming his erratic pacing.

“What are you doing?” Iruka asked already used with such weird encounters.

“Thinking.” Naruto replied rubbing his chin.

“Can I help?” he followed amused at the sight.

“I am going to ask Y/N out.” Naruto said stopping in his tracks and turning to face him with that signature big, contagious smile.

“Finally.” Iruka sighed deeply. “I knew it will happen some day.”

“You did?” Naruto asked surprised. “How?”

“Do I really have to explain, Naruto?” the man asked with a soft smile. “It is obvious by the way you two are with each other when together. There are these moments as if there is no else around but you.”

“Was I the only one that took too much time to notice her and sort out my feelings?” Naruto’s shoulders dropped, a bit of sadness lacing his tone.

“You had other worries and problems. So did Y/N.” Iruka replied seeing the boy quite tensed. “Is there something going on?”

“Y/N spends a lot of time with Kiba.” Naruto tried explaining avoiding his gaze, a slight embarrassment overcoming him. “She looks .. happy.”

“Have you been around her lately?” Iruka asked raising an eyebrow knowing very well who was he dealing with.

“N-not really ..” Naruto trailed off, hand going through his hair ruffling it slightly before it fell back on his forehead. “I think she is avoiding me.”

“Why would she do that?” Iruka inquired trying to see how he could help the distressed boy before him. “You two are attached to the hip.”

“We almost had a .. moment.” Naruto replied scratching at the back of his head, the amount of emotions and pressure remembering what was about to happen that night tying a knot in his stomach. “From what Sakura told me, I might’ve said something that ticked off Y/N.”

“There had to be a reason for what you said.” Iruka’s eyebrows furrowed seeing Naruto leaning against a wall as a load groan escaped him. “You would never deliberately hurt her.”

“I ..” the boy sighed. “I simply did not wanted to assume in front of our friends that there was something more between us if we didn’t talked about it first.”

“I agree.” Iruka nodded impressed.

“Why are girls so complicated?!” Naruto erupted into another groan.

“Naruto ..” Iruka laughed softly. “At the same time, you cannot ALMOST have a moment and then act as if she doesn’t mean anything to you. All of your friends already know the .. situation.”

“I figured from how Sakura spoke.” Naruto chuckled turning to him. “She needs to hear my explanation because I .. don’t want her avoiding me until we end up never speaking again. I need her .. no, I want Y/N in my life.”

“Then why not do just that?” Iruka smiled. “Explain.”

“As if she wants to see me.” the boy puffed through his nostrils as his mind conjured this stupid idea that Kiba was already taking the sadness away from you.

“When did that ever stop you?” Iruka asked amused as this was a bit out of character for Naruto. “If you keep waiting for things to solve on their own, you might just end up disappointed and her with someone else.”

“W-with someone else ..” Naruto whispered kicking away a pebble on the ground before he tensed. “No, Iruka Sensei. That can’t happen.”

“Then talk to her.” Iruka replied. “I know enough about Y/N to know that she will listen because she would never want to lose you. Especially when it comes to such small feat. You’ve been through worse than this.”

“You’re right.” Naruto said taking a deep breath, pushing himself off the wall. “I am going.”

“Now?” Iruka jumped knowing how late it was.

“Now!” Naruto smiled widely. “If Kiba thinks he can fight me on this .. he’ll have a surprise coming.”

“She is not a prize, Naruto!” Iruka scolded him quickly seeing how this could become some kind of competition.

“I know.” Naruto grinned. “The prize is Kiba’s face when he realizes he lost.”

“Oh, God ..” Iruka whispered pinching the bridge of his nose.

“Thank you, Iruka Sensei!” Naruto said with excitement as he darted past him. “It really helped!”

“I can see ..” Iruka said watching the boy run for dear life. “Oh, Y/N you’ll have your hands full with this one.”

**

“I can do that with my eyes closed!” you yelled at the TV much to Kakashi’s amusement. “How can’t he?”

“It’s for dramatic purposes.” Kakashi replied, both watching how the main protagonist was trying really hard to master the art of kunai and shuriken.

The fit of laughter caused by your complaints was interrupted by loud knocks on the door. Kakashi frowned at the clock: 11:17 PM. Probably was in regards to his Hokage role, Kakashi thought while pushing himself lazily off the couch and walking up to the door, covering his face with the mask. You frowned slightly hearing the knocks but quickly resumed watching the movie while fidgeting with a bag of chips.

"Y/N?" Kakashi asked leaning against the doorframe.

"Mhm." you hummed munching away, eyes set on the TV screen.

"You might want to hear this." the man raised an eyebrow.

Pausing the movie, you placed the bag of chips on the table and turned to face him slightly confused. Lips parted as a question was ready to roll off your lips under what you read to be an amused expression Kakashi adopted. You immediately swallowed every single word seeing Naruto emerging from behind him, head slightly bowed while looking at you with the guiltiest expression one could ever have. Mouth closing and opening as if you were a fish on dry land, Kakashi turned so his eyes could dart in between the two teenagers that acted as if it was the first time seeing each other.

"W-what are you .. doing here?" you asked with a mouth so dry you could hear cracking in its movements.

"Can we talk?" Naruto asked sheepishly, body swinging slightly back and forth.

"I'll be in my room." Kakashi announced.

"No, stay here." you sighed standing up." We'll go outside. I could use the fresh air."

Kakashi suppressed the urge to facepalm himself seeing how rigid you suddenly became, not even welcoming the boy inside for what he thought would be a very illuminating conversation. God, you were definitely Kikyo's sister. Walking right in between him and Naruto, you slid your feet into a random pair of shoes and opened the door with Kakashi offering the boy an apologetic look. He truly hoped you would be at least more malleable than your sister, him remembering quite clearly the hard times sometimes Kikyo gave him.

"So .." you said flatly closing the door behind you and leaning against it, arms crossed against the chest. "What do you wanted to talk about?"

"I owe you an explanation." Naruto began unable to look directly at you, hands deeply shoved into the pockets of his pants. "But .. can I ask something first?"

"Sure." you replied trying to harness that anger that has been bubbling, keeping you sane enough to be able to keep your ground, only for those heavy, desperate feelings to always suppress it when most needed.

"Are you dating Kiba?" Naruto asked swallowing hard, eyes finally set on yours looking for the smallest hesitation, for a tell that he was heading into the right direction as you stood there in surprise.

"I won't even answer that." you replied a bit offended, eyebrows arched in surprise at his question. "If you really felt the need to ask such question, I won't be bothered to offer you a reply."

"Why?" Naruto asked tensing, a faint anger bubbling to the surface paranoically thinking that you avoided to tell him the truth.

"Because you're supposed to know me best." you said pushing yourself off the door and raising your hand, index finger dipping into his chest as you tried to stare him down. "Do you think I go around wanting to kiss you while dating someone else?"

When Naruto's eyes widened in surprise at your words, your lips parted and the annoyed expression faltered instantly. Shit, you thought watching how he took a steps towards you while you took one back hitting the door again, fingers wrapping around your wrist as that mesmerizing bright blue was spilling into your eyes yet again. Heartbeats thumping against the rib cage, a surge of pressure rushed the blood to your head causing the slight dizziness induced by his proximity as your other hand idiotically pressed against his chest. It was the only moment of lucidity determined to stop Naruto at a safe distance before hearing the explanation he came for. He knew you so well it was astonishing sometimes, immediately catching on what you were trying to do even if he was ready to go on an entirely different route. Naruto did not take a step back but chose to stop as he was, close enough to feel the blood rushing through the veins of your wrist under his fingertips and hear the erratic heartbeats booming out of your chest but far enough to desire more.

"Y-you .." you stuttered while swallowing the knot in your throat, his fingers unwrapping from the wrist to slowly intertwine with yours on his chest. ".. came to explain something."

"Yes, I did." Naruto said softly, voice shaking slightly. "Go out with me."

"What?" your breath hitched hearing the words.

"Y/N." he smiled, head tilted to the side. "Would you go on a date with me?"

"Yes." you replied without even thinking, words coming out so quickly it even startled him. "Yes, I would."

"Good." Naruto's beaming with his usual contagious smile, pulling one out of you as well. "Your explanation comes then."

"Not fair!" you gasped pushing him away playfully.

"You should've played your cards better." he said with a shrug and an innocent expression that always caught you off guard.

"Naruto Uzumaki." you smiled shaking your head. "I'll get you for this one way or another."

"You can get me Friday." Naruto smirked pleased with himself at how he managed to get ahead of you for once. "7:30 PM?"

"8 PM?" you proposed. "I have a meeting with Shikamaru, Shizune and Kakashi in his office from which I cannot get out of. Meet me there?"

"Perfect." Naruto replied with a short nod.

"Alright." you said biting into the inner cheek to hold back a smile that threatened to break your jaw.

"Alright." Naruto followed while failing to hide his smile the way you did.

"Well .. then .." you pushed yourself off the door, barely able to stand up straight.

Before you could say anything else, a gasp left your lips as Naruto quickly stole a kiss from your cheek. You froze in your spot, a fire exploding inside as you prayed for the blush that crept up your cheeks to not be as bright as it felt. His quiet laugh had your head snap to the left to see him already running away with that stupid, wide and insanely attractive grin spread all over his face.

"Good night, Y/N!" Naruto waved before darting away.

"Good night .." you whispered feeling as if you were about to implode.

Turning around aimlessly, you almost banged your head against the door which caused a laugh to escape. Walking inside, door closing behind you, your back rested against it and a deep breath left your lungs.

"Well?" Kakashi inquired already knowing how it went judging by how your knees were trembling, hands clasping the hem of your shirt while that bright blush was enough to light the entire house.

Without replying, your darted towards the man, arms wrapping around his neck along with your legs going around the waist, a high pitched yell almost shattering his eardrums. Kakashi brushed it off, laughing at the happiness he wished to see once again in you, the powerful heartbeats able to be felt through the layer of clothes. His eyes darted to the ceiling, a smile spreading across his lips as he thought about the love of his life. She is finally happy, Kikyo, Kakashi said to her while his arms hugged you tightly.

**

"Can you stop that?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow as your kept tapping your foot against the wooden floor.

"Sorry." you replied taking notes from what Shikamaru and Shizune were talking about.

Eyes darting between the clock and the window, you scribbled away until you complete lost focus as the time showed 7:30 PM. Half an hour to go until the date with Naruto and you felt your mind in slight disarray, the knot in your the stomach becoming heavier with each passing second. The nerves weren't tied to the question of what you were going to do because he knew you well enough to know exactly what you liked, not wanting anything else than to spend time with him in an entirely different context than usual. Your nerves came from the actual question of how it was going to go and end at the same time as there were all these small moments you imagined, knowing that if someone was to choose between Naruto and you, you were the boldest one. And, God, that boldness was eating up at your entire being right now.

"Alright, are we boring you?" Shizune raised an eyebrow slightly annoyed as your foot was tapping against the floor yet again.

"No, I'm sorry." you groaned before resuming to bite at your pen. "It's just .."

"She has a date in 20 minutes." Kakashi sighed leaning into the chair.

"Well, open the window." you raised an eyebrow. "Why don't you scream at the top of your lungs?"

"He finally had the courage." Shikamaru said impressed.

"I'm confused." Shizune frowned not knowing if she had the right idea about the who and the what.

"I have a date with Naruto in about 20 minutes." you said standing up and dusting yourself off. "If you don't mind, thank your very much for this meeting, I would like to quickly shower and change."

"That's amazing!" Shizune jumped excitedly.

"Use the residence." Kakashi said hunching over some papers.

"Monday, here, 8 am." Shikamaru yawned.

Waving them off with a smile, you rushed out of the office and to the residence to get ready as fast as you could.

**

Walking outside to meet with Naruto, you stopped in your tracks for a bit to see him leaning against one of the pillars by the entrance and a knot formed into your stomach. There was always something about him that pulled you in. When only children, you were one of the few to actually befriend the boy and get swooped in his shenanigans, in the ability to defy absolutely everyone which instilled the same characteristic into you, both running around without a single care in the world, only giving headaches to Kikyo that was looking over both. Then he left and out of the blue you found questioning yourself as to how he had became the missing piece in your life. When he had returned from his training trip with Jiraiya .. that is when your heart started doing jumping jacks every single time in his presence, questions receiving their answers sooner than anyone could've expected. The way your eyes would find themselves trailing all over his figure, unknown and unexplored feelings bubbling to the surface, how his bright and boyish smile would have your heart skip beat after beat, how his arm around your shoulders would put a stop to your lungs processing air, completely unable to breathe evenly when too close or too far.

In your eyes, despite countless arguments with other girls, Naruto was the most attractive boy in the Leaf by far. You could easily argue that it was because of the feelings you had for him but it was not just as simple as that. Watching how a sudden gust of wind ruffled his hair, that is where your gaze stopped and the fire residing in the pit of your stomach burned brighter. You absolutely adored seeing him without the usual forehead protector wrapped around his head, letting the pile of spiky blonde hair run wild and free, falling lazily on his forehead and framing beautifully the pair of bright blue eyes you could never get enough of.

"Hey." you said approaching him with a smile.

"Hey." Naruto jumped off the pillar as if taken by surprise, almost losing his balance and you both chuckled.

"Sorry for being late." you sighed. "They kept me longer than usual."

"Five minutes is fine." Naruto replied eyeing you from head to toe which you were trying really hard to ignore. "I always thought Kakashi Sensei will teach you how to really be late."

"Oh, no!" you laughed. "That's an art only he can master."

What kind of made you nervous, yet amused, was the simple fact that you both stood in front of each other as if this was the first time spending time alone. If you thought about it, you both did this quite often but without labeling it as a date. That is what changed the entire air surrounding you: the label. You somehow expected for the entire thing to go smoothly but with a tinge of shyness, especially since you knew how nervous he could get. If you were feeling this way, you could only imagine how Naruto was on the inside right now. However, he completely took you by surprise the moment his fingers brushed against yours with a slight tremble and your eyes quickly darted down and back up to him. A faint blush graced you both and you decided to take the pressure off a bit by intertwining your fingers with his. You could literally hear a shallow breath leaving him.

"Come on." Naruto smiled softly pulling you away. "You must be hungry."

"You have no idea!" you groaned squeezing his hand. "They didn't give me anything for 5 hours!"

Naruto laughed knowing how much you loved your food, walking hand in hand towards the spot he picked for the date. He had the chance of learning a lot about your likes and dislikes in time, what were your hopes and dreams, what made you be the person you are today, finding deep comfort and ease in your simplicity. In terms of personality, you were one of the most complex girls he has ever had the chance of meeting so far, taking him quite a while to learn what each button did and how to push them for different results. However, when it came to you as a whole, Naruto found it easier to keep things simple, straightforward and open despite of what his ears were attacked with by other girls. You hated what was too much, over the top and unnecessary. That is why, despite the nervousness, he felt at ease with how this was going to go. When you found yourself suddenly out of the village, there was this feelings as if you already knew where you were going, Naruto trying to distract you with various conversational topics that seemed to not truly work, your smile increasing closer to the destination. Hand twitching into his, Naruto immediately caught on the fact that you knew where he was taking you, heartbeats slamming against his rib cage.

"I can't believe this .." you whispered stopping in your tracks instantly.

Naruto turned to look at you, a soft smile curving his lips as he watched your expression change from surprised to melancholic slowly. This was a particular grove where you used to come with Kikyo to train and spend time just the two of you, in time becoming the place where you would come if sad, angry or happy, your own place of peace. It was also the spot where Naruto and Kikyo talked for the first time about you and his feelings before the war. Tilting your head slightly, heart jumping into your throat seeing the carefully laid out blanket on which you could find what you discerned to be a box from the sweets shop you loved, steaming bowls of ramen and your stomach growled much to Naruto's amusement. Walking slowly towards the spot as the Summer sun started to set, you noticed another blanket folded on the side and smiled. For such a strong Kunoichi, you could get really chilly at night and he did not forget.

"Clones." Naruto grinned seeing how you frowned noticing that the ramen was steaming fresh as if brought a minute ago.

"Smart." you nodded impressed. "I'll give you that."

"Come on." Naruto said holding your hand while you sat down. "You sounded hungry back there."

"Look who's talking." you laughed as his stomach followed yours immediately.

"Now tell me." he said handing you the chopsticks. "What was this long meeting about? Sounds important."

"Oh, oh!" you jumped excitedly as his heart fluttered at the display of that bright and gorgeous smile he could not get enough of. "I want to be a diplomat for the village."

"Really?" Naruto asked quite impressed. "Tell me more."

As childish as that sounded, his simple interest in what you wanted to do with your life made your heart skip a beat, not thinking for a second that he would actually care this much of such details. Yes, Naruto was always interested to hear what you had to say, to listen to your hopes and dreams. However, seeing him so focused, absorbing every single word you uttered about the intricate job, even the smallest details reaching his ears, made you feel proud of yourself, accomplished even. Going through the food and sweets as if you both hadn't had a meal in days, conversation flowing in so easily, so simply and of such comfort it even take the both of you by surprise. As used to each other you two were, the events tonight were under an entire different context that seemed to not matter anymore as time passed by, the moon shining above, its light focused solely on the small world that revolved around you, Naruto and the blanket. You could not remember a time when you wouldn't laugh so hard in his presence, when you would feel as if you did not belonged. One thing leading to the other, you were both laying on your backs staring at the sky full of stars, gracefully dodging anything related to the war and its events.

"Naruto .." you said closing your eyes. "Thank you so much."

"For what?" he asked slightly confused, head moving to the side so he could look at you.

"For this." you smiled, eyes still closed as you took in the peaceful surroundings and him. "For bringing me in this exact spot."

"I knew how much it means to you." Naruto simply replied studying how at peace you looked, a sudden urge to touch your face having his fingers twitch. "You told me you haven't been here since .."

"Since Kikyo." you sighed opening your eyes and turning to him. "If I can say it, so can you."

"This was your place." Naruto said finding it all of a sudden really hard to look at you directly. "It seemed to be the best choice for a first date."

"First date." you grinned. "So there's going to be another?"

"You tell me." he let the words slip out of his mouth in a bold manner he could've only gotten from you.

"I'd like that." you said with a small smile, gaze quickly averting his and you shivered.

"Hold on." Naruto said sitting up abruptly. "You're cold."

The reason you shivered had nothing to do with the fact that the Summer night felt a bit chilly but you were not going to admit that his simple presence was the main reason for your sudden shiver. Being this close to him, alone and under the night sky was fueling a fire inside of you that made itself known only the moment the moon made its appearance. It was something of a magnetic pull that gripped at your entire being every single time his eyes would meet yours. Naruto unfolded the extra blanket and you sat up as he wrapped it around you, his body really close to yours to check that he covered you completely.

"T-thank you." you whispered and cursed yourself for the small stutter that took him by surprise, not used with you being intimidated by such closeness. "You're not cold?"

"Not .. really." Naruto replied still studying your face as he could notice something looking different but couldn't quite place his finger on it just yet.

Laying back on the blanket, both of you instinctually closed the gap that was separating you earlier, bodies glued to each other under the mere excuse of searching for a bit of warmth. Body balled up into the blanket, you tilted your head a bit to look back at the sky, thanking the Gods for him not noticing you purposefully moved closer. There was this oddly comfortable silence as Naruto was trying to control as much as possible his uneven breathing, a blush pinching his cheeks while looking at you, the feeling from earlier returning and his fingers trembled lightly along with his arms. He felt the need to have you closer, to touch you, a need that was not that foreign as he experienced it before when in your presence. Clenching his jaw and checking if you could see his tensed expression, his arm slowly moved upwards and landed easily right under your head, palm flat on your back. You both gulped at the same time, the sound filling up the silence and your gaze moved to meet his in a mix of amusement, shyness and yearning. Gods, he was gorgeous!

"You're the only person which I never feel alone with." you said breaking the silence and moving forward into him until his arm could fully wrap around your shoulders while yours rested on his chest. "Not for a single moment."

"I know the feeling." he sighed unable to turn and look at you as he felt a weird and pushy impatience rushing through his body. "The moment I've met you it was as if all the loneliness slowly went away, closing the gap of something I never had."

"Most people would argue that I have Kakashi but .." you said biting on your inner cheek watching his lips curving upwards into a small smile. ".. it's not exactly the same. You always had this way of making me feel .. uhm .."

"At home." Naruto finished the sentence for you, his arm falling from your shoulders and on your back where his fingers started to gently rub in a fixed spot while you let you head drop on his shoulder, nose dangerously close to the crook of his neck. "I feel the same way with you, always did."

The stirring in your stomach grew in intensity, heartbeats booming as you feared he could hear them, fingers playing with the material of the shirt on his chest to which Naturo shivered lightly. Eyebrows shooting up in surprise, you did the same motion again with the same effect and you could feel your face burning.

"You know .." Naruto chuckled lightly. "I thought this was not going to go this well."

"Why?" you asked confused. "It was .. still is absolutely perfect."

"Because I've never dated anyone before." he replied pushing his palm against your back to draw you even closer and you bent your head slightly for the forehead to meet his jaw instead of your lips to crash against his neck. "No experience when it comes to this. I barely had the courage to ask you out until .."

"Until you saw Kiba and I." you chuckled. "I can't believe you thought I was dating the idiot."

"Yeah, well .." Naruto laughed. "I think I needed the push because I would have been the idiot if I would've let someone like you slip through my fingers."

"Like me?" you swallowed the knot that kept building into your throat for the past half hour.

"Mhm." he nodded with a smile. "You made me feel all these unknown things I have never felt for anyone before. I've heard others talking about these feelings but never experienced them until you."

"Naruto .." you whispered pushing yourself up on his chest to meet his gaze but he looked forward, afraid of losing himself if your eyes would meet.

"It's so easy to talk to you, to be myself entirely around you without any bit of judgement, to feel comfortable and safe." Naruto continued wanting for his eyes to meet yours, to see your reaction to his words but he was already having a hard time focusing with the closeness of your body, almost on top of his. "You have no idea how hard was most of the times to simply stand or sit next to you without being able to hold your hand or hug you."

"I know what it was like." you replied, shaking breath controlling every single spoken word. "That's how all those innocent and playful touches came to be, my need of being closer to you."

"And mine to be closer to you." Naruto sighed closing his eyes briefly as past moments rushed by. "You have no idea how beautiful you truly are, what that bright smile of yours was always doing to me."

Blinded by every single word that came out of Naruto's mouth, your hand left his chest to cup his cheek and his eyes shot wide open at the touch, lips parting slightly in surprise. He slowly relaxed under the touch, leaning into it, you watching every single muscle movement, a tight knot forming into your throat as the need to cry coming out of nowhere, pushing it back as far as possible. Gods, you really were in love with him.

"Look at me, please." you pleaded softly and his eyes met yours, blinking a few time as he adjusted to the closeness. "Thank you."

"F-for what?" Naruto stuttered a bit as he never imagined he would finally get you so close to him.

"For taking away my loneliness, for looking at me the way I was never able to, for always being there even when I didn't need it, for healing that part of me that seemed completely broken, for allowing me in." you blurted out quickly as all the nervousness was washing away much to your surprise. "For .. simply .. being you with me."

"Y/N, no .." Naruto said surprised as he pushed the both of you to sit up to get a better look at you, his hands with a mind of their own traveling up to cup your cheeks and pulling you in slightly. "Thank you for being the person that never gave up on me, for being the family I always wished for."

Lips parted in surprise at his confession, you both stared at each other, noses almost brushing, bright blushes scorching your cheeks when realizing the proximity. Naruto swallowed hard, remembering how Shikamaru interrupted you both the last time he even attempted to kiss you. He wanted to do it so badly, thinking about this exact moment since the night you left the party, his brain completely emptying itself when a sigh left you, warm breath crashing against his burning lips. Both of your gazes kept darting between the eyes and the lips, up, down and back up again, waiting for one of you to make the first move.

"Y/N .." Naruto whispered leaning in further.

"Naruto .." you whispered back, lips brushing against his.

Naruto swallowed all of the fears, the inexperience as mind was flooded only with you, not wanting to lose this moment for anything in the world. An entire explosion of booming heartbeats shocked your eardrums the moment his lips captured yours ever so softly, for a split second freezing at the touch, your upper lip in between his before you regained every single sense Naruto locked away in the moment. His hands trembled ever so slightly on your face as did your entire body, reacting to a wave of emotions none of you had the chance to experience until now. As if instinct dictated every single on of your movements, your tongue slipped along the line of his lips and he openly welcomed you fully. His hand cupped your cheek while the other traveled around your waist, pulling you closer than ever before, your arms wrapping around his neck, the intensity of the kiss growing slowly, both exploring and learning each other more than words could ever explain.

Mind completely empty of any other thoughts, the fire in the pit of your stomach was growing as seconds quickly passed by, wanting to catch a breath and, at the same time, wanting for this to never stop. Leaning in to deepen the kiss, your chest brushed softly against his and Naruto's breath hitched before being released through a breathy sigh. That is when you both pulled back at the same time, muscles tensing at the sound, panting rippling through the silence as your eyes melted into each other's. Flushed cheeks, puffy lips and half-lidded gaze had Naruto admiring you for being even more beautiful than before, if that was even possible. The color in his eyes turned a bit stormy, bright blue succumbing to a darker shade and you bit on your lower lip, averting the look, feeling exposed more than usual. You were quite surprised at how nervous he could make you feel, Naruto quickly taking notice of you closing off a bit. His arm never let go of your waist, squeezing lightly at the side to attract your attention. Blushing even brighter, you turned your head only to find yourself so close to him your noses brushed against each other, out of nowhere both laughing quietly. Having his body so close to yours, a shiver ran down your spine when his free arm joined the other around your waist. That is when the fire that kept burning inside turned into a storm, hand making its way at the back of the neck and up into his hair, stroking gently the thick strands while the other rested in between the shoulder blades. It was Naruto's turn to light up bright red, body tingling from head to toe with a new feeling of want and desire as he saw you brushing your nose against his, slowly closing the gap in between your lips. He could not believe how such emotions had him trembling yet again completely, eyes shutting the moment your lips found their comfort on his, being pulled back into the sweetness he grew so fond of.

However, the second time, the entire tsunami of heavy emotions, of feelings that have been bottled up in time and into the first kiss crashed violently into the both of you. Your timidity was slowly wearing off as Naruto's increased slightly feeling you pressing even deeper against him. Despite it all, his body reacted instinctually, tightening his arms around your waist causing you to shift into a more comfortable position as your knees dug into the blanket. Towering a bit over him, Naruto's chin tilted upwards without breaking the kiss that was becoming even more heated than before. It was as if everything around you disappeared completely, only your souls bound to this exact spot, bodies melting into each other while constant shocks and shivers ran through them, both knowing it was that faithful pleasure you only heard about from others. Fingers delving even deeper into Naruto's hair, your nails grazed softly the scalp and the most lowest, deepest, guttural moan crashed into your mouth. He stilled instantly as your hand relaxed immediately, Kikyo's words rushing through your mind at an alarming speed at to what the sound represented. Every single thing she shared to you when the conversation about intimacy and sex came up, flooded your brain in waves. Simply hearing Naruto moaning from your touch, you realized that you enjoyed it more than one would care to admit, motioning your fingers in the same fashion only to feel him shiver. Pulling back slightly, your eyes met only for Naruto's bright blush to add fuel to the fire burning into your stomach.

"I-I .." Naruto stuttered shyly, his voice causing you to smile softly with a simple flutter of the heart. "I'm sorry .. it's just .."

"I-I know." you whispered against his lips. "I feel it too."

Upon hearing your reply, Naruto's stomach flipped, the wave of pleasure from earlier crashing into him again, mindlessly squeezing at the flesh of your waist and your lips parted in surprise, a choked out breath leaving you. His eyebrows twitched upwards slightly at the reaction and he repeated the gesture only for you to lean even more into him. Memories of past drafts Jiraiya had him read which, at that time, he found them quite boring were now making much more sense. Feeling as if your knees were about to give out under you at how they dug into the blanket, you quickly studied the boy that looked completely drunk with you and decided to do something for which you might curse yourself later. In this exact moment, with every single emotion that coursed through your body, you realized that there was nothing to lose as Naruto was in the same trance as you were. Shifting into his arms, he watched your every movement, the way your left leg swung over his while the other adjusted on its side, palms landing flatly on his chest as you comfortably sat on his thighs. Naruto recognized in an instant what you were doing, his hands landing on your hips, both watching each other for the slightest sign of discomfort or protest. When none of that happened, one of your hands reached for his face, fingers softly tracing his jawline as he watched you being completely mesmerized having him under your touch. Naruto always adored this powerful boldness you possessed, capable of waking it up inside him as well, especially now.

Outside of this, he had absolutely no issue with being bold and thinking out of the box. When it came to you and this particular moment it was as if his brain stopped functioning properly no matter how much he wanted for it to wake up to reality. He desired to be as bold with you now as he was with the others around him, his hands pulling you closer by the hips and immediately the flushness of your cheeks intensified. Naruto felt the hardness in his pants growing even bigger than before and he stopped you at just the right distance out of shame. You frowned slightly at the abrupt stop but before you can have any kind of reaction, he pulled you into another kiss as he grew familiar with the taste of your lips, not afraid anymore to claim them as desired. No matter how he planned to keep you away from a certain area, the kiss became even more heated than before, a newfound hunger chasing the both of you as your hands found their way back into his hair, uneven breaths slipping in between your lips and you moved forward.

The moment you dragged yourself up into his lap, a low groan ruptured from Naruto's lungs and you sighed deeply hearing him. He felt his cheeks completely flushed knowing there was no way you couldn't feel him in all his glory, pleasure and embarrassment fighting each other but he could not stop tasting you again and again only for that. As his mind rummaged through the whole ordeal, you held back a smirk feeling him hard beneath you. So this is what my sister talked about, you thought taking in all the pleasure the feeling was offering you along with the dampness that pooled in between your legs. The simple thought that you were the one having him in such state, brought forward even more of that boldness you were so renowned for and pushed yourself slightly on him as you wanted to feel more. Naruto gasped at the contact, eyes shooting wide open as they met yours and his fingers dug into the fabric of the pants clothing your hips with deep force. At that, your hips jerked forward which caused you to move along Naruto's length and you both moaned at the same time quite loudly. Breaking barrier by barrier, you were growing even bolder while Naruto was discovering his courage in having you moaning again, the foreign sound becoming rapidly music to his ears. You were burning from head to toe, shivers running in waves down your spine, wanting to feel the friction again, for your heart to feel as if it was going to explode any second, wanting to chase this bundle of feelings again and again.

Pulling Naruto back into the feverish kiss that had your body melting completely, you repeated the motion again, hips rolling against him steadily. And again. And again. Quiet groans and moans filled the air, all the innocence that previously tied your hands nowhere to be found into the both of you. Stretching your arms to wrap them even tighter around his neck, Naruto's hands moved higher, fingers coming in direct contact with the skin of your waist, squeezing tightly at the flesh and the most pleasurable moan you let out so far came out. Instinct kicking in, mind completely empty from your ministrations, his hands wandered higher, reaching under the shirt and intertwining on your bare back. When he noticed he didn't bumped into the clasp of a bra, Naruto stilled and pulled back realizing that he went too far. Judging by the expression you had, flushed cheeks and heavy panting, he might've been wrong but did not wanted to push it. As reality set in quicker than ever, the painful tightness in his pants messing with his mind, he averted his gaze from you, red in the face from the shame.

"Are you alright?" you asked softly, fingers rubbing slowly at the back of his neck.

"Yes." Naruto replied biting at his inner cheek. "I'm sorry if I pushed it too far."

"What do you mean?" you followed furrowing your eyebrows. "If there is someone that pushed it too far .. that might be me."

"You didn't." he blushed even brighter knowing he was enjoying greatly feeling you grinding against him. "I should've asked."

"Naruto .." you whispered, finger moving on his cheek and pushing it slowly for your eyes to capture his again.

"Y-yes?" he asked meeting your burning gaze, the same desire and pleasure he had pooling into yours.

"I liked it." you replied taking his hands into yours and moving them back on your waist under the shirt.

"Are you sure?" Naruto asked knowing you were telling the truth but wanting it to hear it loud and clear.

"Yes." you replied brushing your lips against his. "Go for it."

Letting him adjust again with the feeling of your skin, you let your hands travel down his chest, both unable to look away from each other's eyes. You quickly slipped under his shirt and moved for your nails to graze against his abdomen. Naruto gasped at the touch, his hands shooting up on your back and he pulled you into another hungry kiss, so deep, filled with such desire, yet caring and soft, you could feel his fingers clutching at your shoulders. Sensing how he relaxed into the whole ordeal once he heard you accepting it, it gave you free reign on grinding against him with even more fervor, pushing yourself down a bit deeper as the urge of wanting more taking over completely. Naruto was exploring every single inch of your skin, gripping, dipping, grazing as much as he could, forgetting all about embarrassment, shyness and everything in between. He just wanted to feel you as much as possible. Your arms wrapped around his neck, both diving under the shirt as nails dug into the flesh of his back, hips rolling at an even pace and chasing something that called for the both of you. Moaning into each other's mouths, you both felt a deep pressure, the pleasure somehow bubbling into the pits of your stomachs and Naruto pushed his hips upwards into you causing an incredibly load moan to escape you.

"Y/N." Pakkun appeared out of complete thin air.

As if buckets of ice were poured on you, both jumped off each other in fear on each side of the blanket. Pakkun sighed deeply as you rushed to fix your hair and the shirt while Naruto crossed his legs, draping the spare blanket on his lap.

"What .." you panted scared out of your mind. ".. is wrong with you?"

"I'm stealthy." Pakkun replied bored out of his mind. "Oi, Naruto!"

"P-Pa-Pakkun." Naruto grinned while scratching the back of his neck completely mortified.

"This better be a good reason." you growled. "Is he dead?"

"No, you might be." Pakkun said sniffing the air. "It's 1 AM."

"What?" you jumped up straight, stumbling upon Naruto's long legs. "It was 8 PM like two hours ago."

"We spoke for about 3 hours." Naruto chimed in.

"And ate your faces for another two." Pakkun followed amused to which you gasped mortified. "Kakashi said you were supposed to be home by midnight."

Completely losing your mind over how Kakashi would react, you pulled your hair in a ponytail and dropped to your knees next to Naruto.

"I'm sorry." you said blushing faintly.

"Don't worry." he smiled pushing a loose strand behind your ear. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"If I'm still alive." you sighed shaking your head.

"He wouldn't dare." Naruto said playfully before pulling you into another deep and smoldering kiss.

Standing up with a bright smile on your face, you turned around and followed Pakkun through the woods. He constantly kept sniffing while eyeing you and you knew he could smell Naruto all over your body.

"We don't speak of it." you said biting your inner cheek. "Also .. can you .."

"I didn't see anything." Pakkun assured you of the secrecy. "You were two teenagers that got lost in conversation."

"Thank you." you replied with a grin.

Pakkun hummed in response as you quietly walked home, the entire date playing at a slow pace in your mind, keeping that bright smile the entire trip. Glazed eyes glowed into the moonlight, still feeling Naruto's touch on every single inch of skin he discovered.

Two teenagers that got lost in conversation, Pakkun's words rang into your mind.

And what a .. conversation.

[hellacioushag]

The Mating Bond, Choice, and Feminism.

i’ve been seeing a lot of posts lately talking about how the mating bond is anti-feminist. that not being able to choose your own partner, but have it pre-determined by the cauldron/mother is misogynistic. oops! sorry, i should clarify. this argument is not about the feysand bond or the nessian bond. this argument seems to only be limited to elucien because for some reason all the other bonds are perfectly fine, but the elucien bond is problematic. wonder why that is... if you do not support elucien this may not be the post for you. if you continue reading you do so at your own risk of being annoyed by my words. 

the mating bond:

the mating bond is like having a soulmate. the cauldron or mother or sjm decides who would make the best pairings, but we don’t really understand why. rhys theorized that it may be determined by who can produce the most powerful offspring, but considering we have mated same sex couples i don’t think that’s the case. it’s talked about that the bond is chosen for couples who are equal to each other. however, it does not mean you will be in love or happy with your mated pair. the examples we were given for poorly mated pairs were rhysand’s and tamlin’s parents. sadly we do not know what their relationships were like. we were only told they were ill-suited. now i thought a lot about this, why the cauldron/mother would pick two people to be together if they were so poorly matched. i have a theory....

a mating bond, like a marriage, only works if the partners are willing to put in the work. being bonded does not mean suddenly you get your happily ever after. it means you try to be the best version of who you are and to have someone to lean on when you aren’t at your best. we witnessed feysand’s love story. it was not easy and accepting the bond did not make them live happily ever after. they are constantly working to improve themselves and their relationship. they disagree, but support each other and compromise. nessian accepted their bond, but even they argued and said hurtful things to each other afterword. a mating bond is not some idealistic disney ending. it takes time, commitment, and understanding. if you aren’t willing to do the work the bond is just an inconvenience.

power of choice:

having a choice in your life is extremely important and has been a theme of this series since acotar. being mated is destiny, but making your relationship work is your choice. feyre has been in a relationship where her voice, her choices, didn’t matter. but rhys has proven over and over that feyre will always have a choice. and she chose him and their bond. nesta and cassian chose each other. many people on the outside could look at them constantly arguing and think wtf was the mother/sjm thinking pairing them together? but despite the arguing they choose try to be their best selves and choose to support one another when they aren’t at their best. so why would anyone assume that suddenly a mating bond is stripping elain of her choice?

elain has been in the drivers seat when it comes to her bond since the beginning. it is her choice to accept or reject the bond. it is her choice to not discuss the bond when her sisters bring it up. it is her choice to not have a conversation with lucien about the bond when he’s been sitting in limbo for over two years. it is her choice to remain silent when feyre and rhys invite lucien to the night court. it is her choice to not tell lucien stay away. elain has been calling the shots and everyone in her life has been respecting her non-decisions regarding the mating bond. if she chose to reject the bond during solstice feyre and nesta would have held her hand in support and lucien would have walked away broken, but accepting. to infer otherwise makes no sense, especially when we see time and again lucien respecting elain’s boundaries. elain holds all the power here and lucien is just along for the ride. 

elucien and feminism:

i find it a very weak argument to claim that supporting elucien is anti-feminist. no one wants elain to accept the bond for lucien. no one wants elain to accept the bond and be miserable for the rest of her life. elucien shippers want her to get to know lucien, to see who he is and what’s in his heart. we want her to choose to accept the bond because she has fallen in love with him. just like feyre did with rhys. just like nesta and cassian did with each other. we also want lucien to get to know the real elain. we want him to see her beautiful and flawed soul and happily declare he loves his mate. because in case anyone forgot, feminism is about equality. 

this isn’t just about what is best for elain or what is best for lucien. it’s about what’s best for both characters. we want them to consider all their choices. we want them to have a chance. we want them to explore who they are and see how they fit with each other. because elucien shippers believe that they are best for each other. that they will try to be the best version of who they are and have each other to lean on when they aren’t at their best. 

[fisherrprince]

So hear me out, Twine! You asked about Keyblades a while back and I replied with this but I never knew if you saw, so here's my take on Keyblades!

I believe Riku WAS bequeathed a Keyblade. He was given that power by Terra. After he gave into the Darkness, TERRA’S KEYBLADE CHOSE SORA because the original option was being a dick. The Kingdom Key could be the look of Sora’s own Keyblade, although some might argue it’s Ultima, and that it changes with Sora, as he has to grow and work to get it after getting nerfed every game… But that’s beside the point. Terra’s Keyblade skipped Riku and ended up with Sora, but Riku took it back in KH1, when Ansem possessed him. My theory is that when the Kingdom Key disappeared from his hand, Ven’s Keyblade manifested in Sora, and TERRA’S KEYBLADE became Way to the Dawn after Ansem got exorcised from Riku in CoM. As for Ven’s Keyblade it’s now Sora’s Kingdom Key. After this, however, Roxas happens and he gets the Kingdom Key for obvious reasons. Love Xion as I do, she never really manifested her own Keyblade: She replicated the Kingdom Key just as she did Saïx’s Lunatic Club. (Which, by the way, can’t she copy the whole Organization’s weapons like that? LET ME PLAY AS XION NOMURA!) After “Days”, however, we can infer that Roxas DID in fact manifest a Keyblade of his own: Oathkeeper, and Xion’s Oblivion, which she makes him pass to Riku before their fight. (Kinda in the same way as Kairi wielding the Kingdom Key for a while in MoM, soulmates are one thing, but if your S/O can wield YOUR PERSONAL KEYBLADE? That’s just Destiny talking!) As Roxas is a Nobody and thus has both Sora’s heart and his own, he can maintain 2 Keyblades at once (which really makes me think about what would happen if Naminé decided to train… I think she could be the hardest hitter in the Cast, with 2 Keyblades and Memory Powers!) but only Oathkeeper is Roxas’ own. If he were to dual wieald after giving Xion back Oblivion, he’d have Oathkeeper and the Kingdom Key. (Which really means Xion an bootleg dual-wield as well, Oblivion in one hand and whatever weapon she replicates on the other! :D) Then we move on to KH2, where Riku gives Kairi her Keyblade, and how it is VERY possible that this is the first time Riku manifests a Keyblade on his own… While keeping Way to the Dawn, which Terra gives him.

Lastly, looking at KH3, I believe Keyblades reform as a sign of personal growth, like how Ven evolved Missing Ache into Wayward Wind after losing his memories of KHUX (HE’S QUITE LITERALLY MISSING HIS ACHE) and becoming more free-spirited. So when Way to the Dawn shatters, but doesn’t outright dissipate, this could mean one of 2 things: Either Riku made another Keyblade on his own out of personal growth and the other one didn’t break for the sake of still harboring a Lingering Will (heh) OR the fact that Repliku was inside our boy all along meant that

Braveheart was actually HIS Keyblade from the get go

, which Riku got through osmosis, a la Roxas with Sora.

(As a side note: Is it possible for the Darknesses to manifest Keyblades? Because Soul Eater and Void Gear didn’t come from nowhere. Soul Eater even had a second form when Ansem SoD wielded it back in KH1!)

Finally, if we’re looking at how Keyblades each harbor another form inside them, it’s very likely that the will of a person shapes not just their personal Keyblade, but also the effect it will have upon bequeathing it. Like Xion’s Oblivion being given to the only person with memories of her at the time and being SUPER hard hitting, but only occasionally (crits) kinda like Xion herself while she was in the Organization. On that note, Kairi’s Keyblade could represent Riku wanting to be tied to his friends forever… But that’s only speculation at this point. I personally like to think each Keyblade Wielder unlocks the second form of their own personal Keyblade as they themselves hit their stride, kinda like Terra’s Critical Strike in BBS or Aqua’s Spellweaver. But that’s all I’ve got for now! If you wanna talk about it more, @kicktwine PLEASE hit me up in the DMs! I have THOUGHTS!

Sorry for the wall of text!

P.S:

Oh! And let’s be fair: The M.o.M was making Dream Eaters out of dead kids. What’s to say he can’t mass produce Starlights in the same way…? This isn’t the first War he’s fought. 

There must be a lot of spare dead child light from the previous one to salvage…

[angsty-omi]

the friend zone.

levi ackerman x reader

no proofread— i wrote this at 4am

tw: mentions of blood, cursing, and levi being a fucking dick.

out of all the comrades in the survey corps, levi only fancied a few amount. hange, erwin, and you. you couldn’t understand why, it wasn’t like you were any special. honestly if you didn’t dye your hair pink using a mixture of berries and flour, he wouldn’t have even noticed.

it all started when everyone was in an ordered formation, while levi eyed down every single newbie. not necessarily saying anything, just staring into their soul. until, you caught his eye, and immediately he skipped over everyone else to face you. the people before you in line sighed with relief. maybe he was here to compliment my hair or critique my stance. it was none of that. in fact, he blew your knees so you’d fall forward. under your ragged pants, you could feel the skin on your knee starting to bleed. you looked up at him with shock, and he grabbed the back of your hair putting you much closer to his face. you couldn’t help but admire his tired eyes, or his wrinkles from furrowing his eyebrows. aside from that, he’s actually quite handsome. his voice interrupts your thoughts.

“scrub this shit off or else i will feed you to them” levi scolded and shoved your head onto the ground.

them as in the titans? you feared. as you looked over the other commanders, they inadvertently looked away from the two of you. you politely complied, and hoped he and the others ignored the tears running down your face. once you got to your quarters, you went straight to the shower. the color was slowly but surely getting off, showing your brown hair underneath. it’s been a while since you’ve seen your normal hair color. back in your village, you were known as the one with the artsy look, which was basically a polite way of saying the weird one. the shower head was also burning your fresh wounds from that morning and then some. you couldn’t help but think about your experience with levi and how he a complete dick he was. you swore to never get close to him nor acknowledge his presence unless required.

so how did you get here? leaning back on his chair with your feet on the table, waiting for him to come back from training the new fleet. shortly after, your not-so-fun first encounter, levi warmed up to you through back and forth banter and snarky comebacks. you’ve learned his lingo, when he says “i hate you,” it means the opposite— to the extent of “you’re okay.” if he says, “brat,” then he actually likes you. it’s the people he doesn’t remember the names of that should be scared of him. you read him like a book and vice versa.

he knew you, a bit too well. over the past few months, he could tell that you’ve started to like him afar from just friends. while he loved you as a comrade, his heart did not have the capacity to have an actual lover. so, he’s been hinting for you to not confess. scared is a term he never uses, but this was one of the few that did. levi was never scared of titans, literal human-eating monsters, rather, he was scared of you confessing your feelings for him. as the meticulous man that he his, he anticipated that today was the day that you’d express your feelings. how? over the past week, you’ve been trying to pry any sort of response for your unrequited feelings. while you thought you were slick, levi knew. that’s why he stalled the new members by running strenuous amounts of laps, because once he came back, you’d do it.

levi couldn’t hide from you any longer. with his hand on the knob, it slowly turned. there you were, with a bright smile on your face greeting him. it warmed his heart, platonically. your heart, however, was beating a million times faster once you saw him. you understood rejection was a high possibility, but you were at your limit.

“levi?” you fretted.

he nodded in response.

“you should sit down,”

levi took in a deep breath, knowing that this was the talk.

“i think i’m in love with you,” your eyes glossed. talking about your feelings always made you cry.

silence was your answer. even though, you knew this was a high chance, damnit did it hurt. you’ve been wounded by titans, and yet, this hurt the most. seeing levi’s face conflicted, trying to find the words to say to kindly reject you.

“y/n, listen you’re great. i love how you make me smile, your dumb jokes, snarky comments, and shitty roasts. but, i’m not in love with you, nor do i think i will ever.” he expressed, not looking at you in the eye. thinking, you were about to breakdown and cry, he was surprised to you see a stoic face.

“good, because i have other news.” you sighed, with a stressed out hand rubbing your temple.

news, what other news? what has she been keeping from me? levi wondered.

“my parents have found me a husband. at first, i completely shut it down. but then, starting to think of it, it would be nice to just leave and live a normal life. i was truly, truly, considering it but my love for you had to be addressed.”

“and i guess, since we’ve cleared that road... i’m leaving levi,” tears started dripping down your cheeks. looking up at levi, he had the same monotonous face. you couldn’t read what he was thinking.

“say something please” you begged.

“get out.”

“what?”

“i said get out.”

“what? why? you don’t even want to talk about this?”

“what is there to talk about? you’re leaving for some comfy lifestyle and ignoring reality. y/n we are literally dying every day. no one has the opportunity of being able to just leave. and yet, here you are leaving. you’re such a fucking pussy, i can’t believe i ever let you get this close. i was right when i first met you, you’re just some privileged girl who wanted to see a change of scenery.”

the love of your life just ended your whole career. but what was more upsetting? was that he was right. you were afraid. seeing all your friends dying was detrimental to your mental health and you saw this as a way to escape.

“you’re right, i am scared. of everything. but levi think to yourself why have i stuck out this long? why have i allowed myself to continue to serve after seeing all my comrades being ate up like chicken wings? because of you. i’m so fucking in love with you that i could handle all that. but if i don’t even have you what do i have left?” you sobbed.

“you still have me! just not that way and why does it have to be?”

“because seeing you so touchy with petra hurts. it fucking hurts seeing the man you love fall in with others!”

“seriously levi, tell me to my face that you don’t like her.”

again with the silence. something so loud, but so quiet.

you angrily slammed the door closed. your five year friendship, gone just like that. you leaned your back against the wooden door, slowly sliding down not feeling your legs. your sobs were loud, apparent that levi could hear it from the other side. if he could, he would. as soon as you felt your legs, you left.

once you got to your quarters, you grabbed your suitcase trying to pack as many things blindly. only ten minutes in, and you heard a knock at your door.

“leave me alone, i understood your message completely and now am leaving.” you screamed, knowing exactly who it was. the door slammed open with heavy pressure.

“what do you want levi,” you cried.

you felt arms wrap around your back with a head nestled into your neck.

“i think i’m in love with you too.” he whispered so quiet, that if you weren’t listening you’d miss it.

“you’re just saying that,”

“no i mean it. selfish enough, the thought of you being happy with someone other than me physically hurts my heart.”

now you’re silent.

“from the day i first landed my eyes on your ugly pink hair, to now you always had my attention one way or another. but it’s like, if i’ve accepted these feelings it’ll hurt even more if you die. i buried it down. down so far that on the surface it felt platonic. but your dumbass dug it back up.”

you swiftly turned around and pressed your lips against his. his eyes shocked at first, but then slowly melting into your lips. both desperate to show the other how much they mean to one another.

as you slowly pulled away, he instinctively moved forward which made you laugh.

“does this mean we’re something?” you gleamed.

“y/n” he said heavily.

your face dropped once again.

“you’re fucking ridiculous. are you serious levi?! i’m not going to wait for you forever. god knows how long i’ll live, and i won’t be dragged around like a little puppy.” you scolded, furious at yourself for thinking he changed.

you continued to rummage through your clothes and decided that it was enough.

“goodbye levi, i hope when you figure all your shit out you’ll finally be happy. whether it’s with yourself or with petra, but it sure as hell ain’t me.” you tipped your head at him, tears still blinding your eyesight.

if you had looked behind you, you would’ve saw levi crying. it wasn’t dramatic— no, more like tears were slipping that he himself didn’t even notice. this was the life he chose, and he knew he couldn’t get close with anyone. his young self never thought he would’ve found someone to truly care about. and if it meant letting his soulmate go, then so be it.

[burnedbyshoto]

the marriage contract

chapter one: [begin this journey.]

— Just because your soulmate is Bakugou Katsuki doesn’t mean that he’s the one meant for you; in fact, he’s your worst enemy. With trouble brewing across the way, and with no one able to complete this job except you and Bakugou, there’s nothing you can do except go along with the mission. But wait, what?! You’re supposed to be married?!

pairing: pro hero!bakugou katsuki x pro hero fem!reader

chapter warnings: cursing

word count: 4,093

a/n: in this enemies to lovers story, only you get to decide whether you remain enemies, or if you succeed in becoming lovers. the choice to make is at the end of the story, good luck :D also, background on your quirk (sorry, I had to give you a quirk in order for this to work the way i see fit.) I won’t lie, im really nervous about all this... hopefully this is fun and won’t come and bite me in the ass.

Quirk: Water Sprout - using water from your body, you are able to extract and then use the water (that comes from your body or has come in direct contact with your fingertips) freely. Drawbacks include constant dehydration, dizziness, headaches.

bolded choice is the answer. ~ {masterlist}

[Begin this journey.]     [Turn back now.]

relationship status: enemies.

“You’re fucking with me, right?”

Cosmic and gods, there was nothing in this world that proved these existed.

Nothing.

Nothing in this world could show the nonbeliever that there was an outside force in the world that made people suspect that there were otherworldly ties. Not the appearance of quirks, which was proven to be a genetic mutation as part of humans' evolution, and even the sudden and ancient appearance of The Contract did anything to solidify this - well, at least to some.

Quirks were easy to understand.

Powers, drawbacks, uniqueness.

Oh, it was something that was still so new to the world that people enjoyed it so, but for The Contract, oh how that was different.

The Contract was what was the name of the world wide know phenomenon more known merely as soulmates. Everyone had a fated one, and you would know who they were because every once in a while, a simple choice would appear before you.

A this or that situation.

You would pick one of the options, and somewhere out in the world, there was a person who, despite their own free will, would succumb to your choice. It was as simple as choosing to make someone double knot or single knot their shoes, or sometimes as hard as pulling the plug on a stranger, you had no idea existed. But it had been generations since it had first appeared, and people had grown to accept the inevitable. Which, in turn, brought out new problems.

Soulmates, while fundamentally and theoretically excellent and good, seemed to shock people by the work that needed to be put into them to succeed. Two souls that were perfect for each other didn’t guarantee two people were perfect for one another. The blind, false, true love these people bragged and teetered on was ridiculous and often led to horrible breaks within soulmate bonds. People did not understand that soulmates - just as any other relationship - needed time to fester and grow. It wasn’t an over the counter remedy, it was two people trying to find similarities other than the gods and the cosmics wanting this.

It was rather rough, to say the least.

Most people didn’t mind the growth, waiting for their soulmate to become the person meant for them. Others, well, you were the perfect example of it.

Your entire life, you had thought your soulmate was an asshole, well, scratch that, he IS an asshole. Every chance he got, he would always pick the worst of the two options. He chose for you to reject pursuers in your school days, to trip your siblings, to yell at your parents when you were upset. He picked for you to get up early in middle school and train, to study for tests right when you were about to go out with friends. He was obviously picking the worst things for you (not that you were any better), and so by the bitter age of fifteen when you were put into Shiketsu High School, you were glad to pledge to be someone who wouldn’t accept the soulmate shit for anything.

If he was your soulmate, so be it, but he would never be your lover.

Things in high school and your last year of middle school went reasonably well, the choices the two of you had to make were simple enough. The worst one you remember seeing late one night at the beginning of summer break during your last year of middle school, two options illuminating before you.

[Accept his offer.]     [Decline his offer.]

There was no context for your choice.

But there had been a pit in your stomach, something telling you to chose the bottom one, and you did. Nothing consequential came from that, and you forgot about it with time.

High school went on with usual choices; both of you continue to choose the lesser of two options from what you could tell. The worst thing was rejecting your senior who had asked you out on a date (something he had told you to keep a secret from the school officials), and you had really wanted to go on a date with him… but nonetheless, you survived. Fresh out of high school with your official Hero License under your belt, you had been accepted into Rising Agency, a very new agency founded by a class older than you over at Yuuei - Class 1-A.

The prominent faces being hero Deku, Ground Zero, and Shouto.

Somehow you had passed the interview selection and had been accepted, and your first day went horribly. On account of your quirk, Water Sprout, you had woken up with a mouth drier than a desert, and like you always did, you grabbed your liter bottle and went to chug.

Only two options popped before your eyes the moment you moved the water to your parched mouth.

[Spill the water.]     [Safely drink the water.]

You had tried your hardest to get your lip to the opening, but you knew better. During the time The Contract appeared, time literally froze. Your soulmate was given up to fifteen seconds to choose the answer before the first choice was automatically selected. You had tried to suppress the scream at the back of your throat when the cold, cold water came splashing down on your chest. Spraying all over your bed.

The scream you made when you were soaked to the bone no doubt made your soulmate smile wherever he was.

So you were glad when his options appeared before you a few minutes later.

[Break the sink faucet.]      [Turn off the water.]

With a sniff, you held no remorse when your hand jammed out and hit the option he deserved.

You had arrived at the agency's front door within the next hour, your most formal business clothes were worn fresh and sharp. Your hand held your case with your hero costume and nerves at your stomach. This was it, you had thought, your hands sweating profusely, your mouth so dry you felt faint, and with a quick chug of your water, you entered the facility.

The agency smelled like Pine-Sol and sweets, and you found the front desk immediately but were off-put by a man who was already there. His back hunched over, arms crossed, and placed onto the counter as he seemed to be arguing with the receptionist.

Nearer and nearer you drew, and the more you began to recognize just who the man was: Ground Zero.

Calm down, calm down, calm down.

Your heart hammered viciously in your chest as you were finally in earshot of the conversation - it seemed that he was fighting over his new time slots for his routine patrols. But you were no stranger to his… vivacious temperament, and instead of addressing him first, you figured it was in the best interest to simply ask the receptionist what your first steps should be.

But as you opened up your mouth, your internal monologue of what to say blaring on repeat so that you wouldn’t mess up, the world froze, and you panicked.

[Ace the introduction.]      [Fumble the introduction.]

The world was still for five seconds, but never did you ever once experience someone moving within The Contract. So, when Ground Zero’s hand moved and punched in an option that was mirrored right in front of your mouth, you immediately felt the blood in your cheeks from seeing him recoil back to your heart faster than you could blink.

“Hi, I’m Hero, and I’m new? I’m looking for the y/l/n room?”

Horror struck through you immediately at the realization.

Ground Zero was yours...?

He was your…?!

You saw red.

“Hah? What kind of introduction was -- WHAT THE FUCK?!”

Your fist throbbed pathetically still curled near his face, and Ground Zero’s blazing, burning red gaze matched the blood pouring from his busted nose as you panted like a corned animal.

“YOU MADE ME WET MY BED, ASSHOLE!”

So went your first interaction with your soulmate.

Your fist connecting and shattering his nose. Three of his friends holding him back, and three trying to escort you away quickly. It was indeed one for the books.

But that was three years ago, and at the age of twenty-one, you could still not handle the sight, or the presence of your soulmate, and vice versa. The both of you were like oil and water, conflicting and fighting whenever left together for too long, unable to get along. He was not meant for you, and you were not meant for him - it was evident like night and day.

Right decisions were made, however, once knowing who the other one was. The both of you taking track of each other’s patrol schedules to make sure good choices were made at that time, just in case, but as soon as the other was off, payback was a bitch. The entire agency had learned that both of you were soulmates the same day the both of you found out, and there were actual looks of sorrow given to you from his friends?!

Not to mention that his nickname for you was bedwetter now, something that both infuriated and embarrassed you to this day.

Both of you were separated at all times, never once having to work together, that is, until today. A time where we find ourselves back in the beginning.

“You’re fucking with me, right?”

A part of you wanted to roll your eyes at Bakugou’s quip, but in all consideration, you agreed with him ultimately.

“Unfortunately, I’m not,” Yaoyorozu sighed, her mouth pinched and her hands passing both you and Bakugou a small stack of documents for you to read over. You took your file after placing your water bottle down and opened it immediately as Yaoyorozu continued to speak. “Kane, Bryan is an American man who has recently been on Japan’s watchlist. He is highly dangerous, evasive, and a hard man to pin anything on… all we know is that innocent people are going missing when they enter his land, and undercover heroes end up in the sea with no memories, or worse, dead.”

That took you by surprise, and your stomach twisted at that thought.

Heroes have turned up dead?

“I don’t doubt the seriousness that this Kane man brings, but no offense, Creati, why does it have to be a mission for Ground Zero and I?” you asked, your eyes flittering from the blurred photo of the man on your page onto the slightly frowning commandeer of this agency. “We aren’t exactly… a good fighting duo? If what I think you’re asking is correct, why not send in Deku and Ground Zero? They have the best duo track record, I’m sure that they’ll be able to apprehend this man better and faster than we can.”

Yaoyorozu sighed, her teeth tugging at her bottom lip while her fingers drummed on the table, obviously not comfortable telling the full explanation.

“Well, to be honest, he stays on a remote island nearby, and it’s very exclusive.”

You owlishly blinked at Yaoyorozu, who straightened in her chair, a new air of confidence flowing through her that made you almost ask if a choice had been made for her.

“Kane owns a private island that is known for its resort, and to enter the resort, there must be two truths to this,” her eyes were holding yours for a moment, they were deep, so dark that for a second you felt fear tickle at the back of your spine before she turned her attention over to Bakugou. “One: those who may enter must be in a romantic relationship.”

What?

“Two: they must be soulmates.”

“WHAT?!”

You blinked, your head snapping over at Bakugou, who had yelled the same words as you did, obviously not impressed with what they were now enforcing. Oh god, this was not what you were thinking at all!

“Why the hell does it have to check off those two boxes? I’m not going somewhere obviously dangerous and in the middle of nowhere with bed wetter!” Bakugou growled, his feet planted onto the floor as he had his upper lip pulled into a sour face of sorts. “I’ll do it with literally anyone else, ponytail!”

“Unfortunately, that’s not an option,” she sighed, her hand pushing through her bangs with a sad shake of her head. She looked tired, and her exhaustive eyes rose to meet yours, and his, and her voice was weak and oh so pleading. “There is some way they can tell if you’re soulmates, and those we sent out who weren’t already soulmates never made it in. You two are quite literally our only option, without the two of you, we don’t stand a chance.”

“So, can we act as estranged lovers then?” you questioned, your stomach twisting in the thought of having to display any sort of romantic displays with the man sitting right next to you. “We can be a couple trying to work on our relationship?”

Yayorozu gulped.

“W-We actually made profiles for the two of you…”

“And?” came Bakugou’s near whisper.

“Y-You’ll be acting as a, well, a newly married couple. This is your honeymoon… I know you two don’t have a good history, and your on field teamwork has never been tried, but I’m pleading to you two now, please consider. You have until tomorrow to tell me if you accept.”

If there had been a choice that appeared for Bakugou to make you slam your head through the desk, you would have thanked him for choosing it.

[Carry all the bags]     [Take only his bags.]

“Thank you!” you chirped with no pity for the situation you had just placed him in, the glint of a sneer flashing across Bakugou’s face was fierce as he took the bags of luggage the two of you had been given from your agency. This was it, it was starting.

The weight of what was to come of this was now starting to hit heavily, the importance of the diamond ring on your finger - a symbol of the fake marriage contract between you and Bakugou felt like a ton. There was no hiding the discomfort the both of you held when you had to act in love, your hand itching to leave his clammy, abnormally warm hands, and you never realized how he mumbled under his breath until you were forced to sit next to him on the private plane. But as you were given two days to prepare for this mission, it didn’t hit you what was happening until you unloaded from the plane.

From the initial observation of the island, you immediately recognized just why the owner was so elusive and able to keep his agenda hidden. The island's natural barriers were bright as day, the rocky mountains seemed entirely inhabitable, and the entire resort was located where the mountains met the beach. Tropics and natural waterholes existed in those parts before slowly blending into the white sand beaches with water so blue and clean that you genuinely wished you would be having a good time.

You hated having to remind yourself that you were here for the sake of a mission and not to simply lay out, well, it was easy to forget that until Bakugou was beside you, and you fought the instinctive reaction to scowl at him. In fact, with your gaze falling onto the blond-haired hero, you didn’t notice the small woman appearing from nowhere, a bright smile on her face and white linen clothes on

“Welcome to Hibani Island!” she chirped, her eyes closing in well-practiced greetings, she spoke with an accent, and with her appearance, you assumed she was American. “My name is Jane, and I’m here to welcome you to our wonderful island! May I please have your names and the choice you had upon arrival?”

Your greeting smile disappeared at that point, your head tilting in confusion, “I’m sorry, our choice?”

“Mhm!” Jane nodded enthusiastically, the same bright smile plastered on her face. “Our wonderful island works in mysterious ways! As you both know, our beautiful resort is only for those who are soulmates; after all, we would never wish to poison her beautiful nature with impure love! Upon entry, with the help of the island, I am able to procure a choice for you and your soulmate to make! Since I posed the question to you,” her glazed over eyes focused on you, “I would appreciate it if your partner answered!”

There was a silence, and it couldn’t have lasted any more than a few seconds in all reality. But in that still, you could feel the hair on the back of your neck stand straight up, there was obviously something entirely wrong here.

“A choice about who would carry the luggage in,” Bakugou calmly, smoothly answered, his voice somehow not picking up on any suspicion. “Be -- Y/n chose that I would carry them all.”

The way your name passed his lips made your spine stiffen, it felt weird, unnatural, fake.

Well, this entire thing is fake, you reminded yourself, grateful that Jane was at the moment impressed by Bakugou’s correct statement.

“Well, wonderful! I’m so glad that our island can greet two beautiful soulmates today! Your names? So that I may check you both in?”

“Nakamura Katsuki and Y/n.”

“Amazing! Let’s get you to the main lobby, and they’ll set you two love birds up!”

Thankfully, Jane was a woman who didn’t mind talking to herself the entire way over to the resort’s main lobby, she spoke wonders of how the hot springs were especially “magically” at night, and promised that a trip during that time would lead to “the best of fantasies.” The resort itself was oddly busy. Couples were everywhere, each in their own world, yet all orbiting around one another, never once mixing.

The white sundress you wore suddenly felt too simple, especially with the stupid designer wear most people were wearing.

Jane escorted you to the front desk, and with one last overenthusiastic smile, she disappeared.

“Check us in, Joo Dee just about made me fucking lose it,” Bakugou grumbled, his patience hanging on a much thinner thread than yours apparently.

“Glad to know it takes only one super smiley person to ruin your day,” you couldn’t help but snip, the rolling of your eyes only stopped when the front desk clerk began to walk over, a bright smile on his face, and his hand waving in greeting.

You opened your mouth, ready to begin talking when his welcome rang clearly in your ears, but just as it happened all those years ago, the world froze.

[Ace the introduction.]     [Fumble the introduction.]

The prideful, arrogant smirk on his face seemed to burn into your back as he stared from behind you.

“Hi, I would like it.”

Your voice gave out, and with burning cheeks, you and the front desk clerk stared at each other, the awkward silence biting into your throat. The clerks’ smile, breaking slightly in his second-hand embarrassment and wonder as to why you stopped talking, but despite wanting to continue speaking your voice refused to work again.

Bakugou Katsuki was an asshole.

“Are you here to check in?” he asked, his eyes searching yours in hopes that was what you were here for.

With a burning face, you nodded, and the check-in proceeded.

The clerk, who introduced himself as Ryan Locke, quickly checked you and Bakugou into your rooms. He pulled out a simple paper map and circled the small house - yes, small house - that the two of you would be residing in. Just as the package the two of you purchased, both of you would be here in two months, and the entire time everything would be included. Name it, and it would be brought to the room, well, house. You nodded, trying to take everything he was throwing at you in, not at all relying on Bakugou, who was standing by the window staring at the other guests with a frown on his face.

PDA was not something either one of you were comfortable with.

“Well, that’s it from me! Should you need any assistance, please do not hesitate to call!” Ryan smiles, the crinkles by his eyes creasing, even more, washing you over with ease despite the tension in your body. You heard Bakugou approach the two of you, and with him beside you, Ryan seemed to remember something as he rubbed the back of his neck. “And, there is a couples event tonight, should you and your husband want to join! Most couples do, and by the look of it, it may help re-spark things?”

A sour rancid taste crawled at the back of your throat as you awkwardly laughed, your fronts were weaker then you thought, and shook your head, “Oh no! That’s no issue! We’re actually here on our honeymoon,” your fingers pressed to your chest, your eyes trailing to where Bakugou was standing in hopes that it somehow looked romantic. Pet names were a thing, right? But what to call him? “Uh, K-Kacchan is actually super shy with PDA!”

You froze when the only nickname you’ve ever heard used toward Bakugou fumble clumsily from your tongue.

Kacchan?!

KACCHAN?!

WERE YOU SUDDENLY DEKU?!

“Oh! Yes, I understand now!” Ryan laughed, waving off his mistake, the apples of his cheeks dusting in what you could only pray to be embarrassment. “Well, if you want to help your Kacchan here express his love for you without care of the world, tonight’s session is the place to be!”

He turned and walked away with a final smile, most likely retreating to the ringing phone in the back room.

“I swear to god, do not ever call me that shitty nickname ever again, or else I’ll explode your ass,” Bakugou hissed, his hand grabbing you by the elbow as he had you in close.

“I’ll call you whatever I damn please!” you hissed back, ripping your elbow out of his hold.

You watched as his upper lip twitched, and he moved to go grab your luggage, something The Contract still held over him. You stood with the papers that Ryan had given to you, the stack of itineraries and options of what the both of you two could do while at your stay taking far more room in your arm then you thought was acceptable. Your concentration on your fake husband - as you kept vehemently reminding yourself - broke when the door opened and in walked a woman who was alone, and headphones on her ears. You offered her a smile when eye contact was made but did nothing more.

Bakugou leaned down, his hands lifting up the luggage, most definitely annoyed with rolling the large suitcases. But with the woman’s course and the way that Bakugou’s back was towards her, having not noticed her entry at all, you could see that they were going to collide. Essential items were in that suitcase, and you had no idea if they could break if Bakugou managed to drop them after crashing with her. But again, it would be payback for the embarrassing first encounter with Ryan!

But before you could make up your mind on what to do, the world froze.

[Crash into her.]     [Avoid her.]

⋄⋆⊹⋄⋆⋄⋆⊹⋄⋆⋄⋆⊹⋄⋆

(make sure to vote for the choice to be chosen!)  poll closes august 30 8am pst

[caramelcal]

Sparks Fly

Word Count: 1.26k

Ship: Aiden Steiner x Hale!Reader

a/n: So basically, the soulmate au sort of thing I chose for this was the one where when you’re close to your soulmate (you have to be very close) sparks literally fly. It shocks everyone around you but it feels very recharging for you and your soulmate. I hope this is okay and as always, requests are open and enjoy ! :)

Request:  The reader is in the woods but doesn't know that the alpha pack is in the woods as well. The reader bumps into them and the reader is a beta. They don't kill the reader because Aiden finds out that the reader is his soulmate (this isn’t the full request as I asked for a further plot line due to lack of ideas, sorry)

Warning: There is one swear word (sorry!)

Masterlist

You already knew that Derek was going to be seething with anger when you arrived back at the loft but right now, you didn’t care. All he had been doing for days, weeks even, was complain and grumble about the alphas. You could barely breathe in there without being the victim of Derek’s grumbling.

That’s what led you out here. You weren’t annoyed at Derek for being concerned, but you just needed some quiet, and not being constantly riled up by him. However, the Beacon Hills Preserve probably wasn’t the best place to be by yourself at night, but you could hold your own, you had faced enough things in your life so far.

However, the silence you had been enjoying was disrupted when you heard twigs and sticks break from underneath someone’s foot. Your breath got caught in your throat as you hid behind the thick tree you were currently at, claws out and ears listening in to see who it was.

“Patience,” A strong British accented man called out calmly, his voice monotonous. It was the alpha pack. Staying quiet, you tried to figure out how many of them there was behind you by counting heartbeats.

You counted four. However, if you remembered correctly, there were five alphas in the pack. Deucalion, the British man, and Kali, the girl were people that you had unfortunately met before but your brother had told you about Ennis, the extremely muscular man, and the twins. So who was missing?

It was at that moment where you found out, a hand gripping your neck and holding you up, swinging you around the tree and slamming you into the bark. The rough bark pierced your skin as the hand dragged you up the tree. You looked down at whoever it was: Kali. Of course it was her.

The rest of the alpha pack advanced slightly as Kali sneered at you. You would have given it a go, trying to fight off Kali but she was an alpha and you were simply a beta. Plus, she wasn’t alone and clearly had the upper hand here, you’d be surprised if they even spared your soul never mind leaving here unscathed.

“If it isn’t y/n Hale,” Kali scowled, her eyes turning the alpha red color, “I’m seeing the resemblance, honestly. Both you and your brother have the scowl perfected now, don’t you? Did that happen before or after the fire?”

You could feel the anger bubbling in your stomach but your face remained the same, e/c eyes never leaving Kali’s. You wouldn’t tear your eyes away from hers, because that was a sign of submission and there was no way that you were letting this thing have the upper hand over you more than she already does.

Noticing that she wasn’t going to get a response for the deep-rooted childhood trauma you had endured, she continued, “Speaking of your brother, why don’t we get him down here? Let him finish off the initiation to the pack right here right now?”

It was clear that she was just trying to get to you, everyone here knew that Derek wouldn’t kill a member of his pack, let alone his little sister. You struggled to talk due to Kali’s ridiculously long claws digging into your neck, faintly drawing blood.

This time, you decide to reply to the woman. You expect her to get riled up and you know it’s a bad idea but you do it anyway, “Oh Kali you know my brother won’t kill me. He won’t get all jittery and kill his pack because someone asks him like you. He isn’t a little bitch.”

Shortly after you said that, you realized just how bad of an idea that was. You’ve been spending far too much with Stiles and now can’t keep your mouth closed, good job y/n. Kali clenched onto your throat harder and pulls you away from the tree, throwing you like a sack of potatoes onto the grass several feet away from her.

You tumble as you land but ultimately land on your feet, a hand on the grass as you turn, growling. You had briefly contemplated howling but you knew that was exactly what Kali wanted, she wanted your brother involved. But she also knew the deal, that she wasn’t allowed to touch a single member of Derek’s pack until the next full moon and that deal was now null in void.

Deucalion was angry at her; you could feel it and you knew that at the end of the day, even if you were bloody and bruised, she wasn’t going to be left unscathed either. That brought a smirk to your face as she advanced, you doing the same. Pain filled your face as you felt her claws dig deep into your cheek, you subsequently taking yours right down her stomach.

“Kali!” Deucalion shouted but Kali didn’t pay attention as she punched you in the face, making you fall to the ground, but in the split of a second, you were standing above her and she was on the ground; electrocuted.

In fact, most of their pack was now on the ground, but a feeling of rejuvenation filled your body. It was empowering and unlike anything you had ever felt before. It was like you were high, and nothing that anyone would do would affect it. Your eyes didn’t stay on the members of their pack that were on the ground, but instead noticed that there was one that was still standing up; staring at you.

His eyes were turned red, but it wasn’t because he was engaged to attack you and that was when you realized exactly what was going on. Your fangs were protruded with your mouth open, letting out heavy breaths, feeling high on adrenaline. It was one of the twins, they were your soulmate. He made his way towards you and suddenly, you didn’t feel the need to back away, he wouldn’t hurt you, right?

He stood about a foot and a half away from you, looking down at you with his red eyes. Kali stood up with a growl, clutching her side as she spoke, “I’m going to kill you.”

Yet, when she went to lunge at you her arms were caught by Aiden, his grip almost being strong enough to crush her bones as he growled menacingly, “You aren’t going to lay a finger on her.”

Kali stared up at Aiden, growling ever so slightly before realizing that she wouldn’t manage to get him to step down. She might have been a lot older than Aiden and had a lot more experience being an alpha but right now he was a lot strong than her due to the strengthening of his powers and weakening of hers because he found his soulmate.  

Disregarding her, he turned back to you with a grunt to which you nodded your head in reply, a form of gratitude that only you two seemed to pick up on. As the alpha pack retreated, you were left to your thoughts, Hales were not normally big on soulmates, Cora hadn’t found hers and Derek had been forced to kill his, so you hadn’t had much hope to find yours. Yet, when you met him there seemed to be a formidable bond between the two of you like a promise that neither of you would break; he would see you again soon, you just knew it.

But as you began to walk back to the loft you thought, "oh no, how the hell am I supposed to explain this to Derek?"

[elleclairez]

Cassian x reader - Cas is your mate, but he doesn’t know it yet

I finally wrote it! I am so sorry for the wait and thank you so much for your patience. The last month and a half were a bit crazy and I didn’t have much inspiration. I hope you like it! 

Request: Can I request for cassian where the reader knows he’s her mate but cass doesn’t and he goes around flirting with nesta, hurting his mate without knowing and azriel notices that she’s hurting and comforts her, until cassian realizes and makes it up? 💙

The night was quiet. Not a dead quiet but a peaceful one. Which clearly was a nice change after all the horrors that we've been through. The war is over and yet you couldn't feel happy. At least not completely. Yes, you were happy that your friends, no, family, was safe. Happy that the bloodshed and the pain are over. But no matter how much you tried to fight it, the sadness in your heart wouldn't leave.  

You couldn't bear it. Couldn't bear to see your mate flirting and following Nesta like a lost puppy.  Especially tonight.

The Inner Court decided to throw a party to celebrate the end of the war. Everyone wanted to at least for a night forget about the nightmares of the past. You, yourself, wanted to have fun, get drunk with your cousins Mor and Rhys, maybe even annoy Amren to tease her. But all of those plans went down hills the moment you saw Cassian practically beg Nesta to dance with him.

You couldn't bear it, not tonight.

Which is why you found yourself on the huge balcony of the Wind House, staring at the beautiful city of Velaris that you've called home for more than a few centuries now. No matter how sad you were, you couldn't deny the beauty of the city you grew up in.

You considered yourself lucky, you, unlike your friends, grew up in a loving family. Your father, brother of the late High Lord, was very much unlike his family, he was like his sister-in-law (Rhys's mother), a dreamer. Which led him to fall a similar soul, a woman from the Autumn Court. They both fell in love, found out that they were mates, flew to Velaris and had you. They knew the price for their happiness, not everyone understood their way of thinking, and unfortunately, your father paid the price, he gave his life protecting yours and your mother's. You loved her dearly, but since his death, your relationship wasn't what it used to be but you were always by each other's side. And while you chose to live a life full of adventures with the Inner Circle, she chose to live a peaceful life in the Summer Court, something that you respected and even agreed to. She went through way too much and deserved some peace. But no matter how much time has passed you always remembered how in love your parents were and you always dreamed to have that one day. But unfortunately, fate had other plans and while the love of your life, your mate, was clearly having fun with the woman that he adored, you, on the other hand, were silently trying to stop yourself from crying.

The Mother did have a strange sense of humour, you thought. You were in love with a man who was in love with a woman who was in love with... Books maybe?

Your sad thoughts were interrupted by the presence of a not so sneaky shadowsinger. No matter how hard the Illyrian male tried to sneak up on you, he never could.

"I thought sulking in the shadows was my job." Started Azriel. You and Az were always the closest, actually, you already called each other "Platonic soulmates" (even though you were very drunk when it happened). Some people even thought that you were mates, but those rumors were shut down immediately. As was also the only one who knew about your mate's identity, and even though he told thousands of times to admit to Cas everything he still respected your decision and stayed by your side every time you weren't feeling good.

"Sorry, but tonight I'm stealing it." AZ chuckled at your response, but quickly stopped when he saw your longing stare. A stare that was clearly looking at Cassian and Nesta bickering and everyone was laughing at them... Actually, two persons weren't...

"Rhys and Feyre know." Az said as if reading your mind. "Rhys already had doubts, but they were confirmed when the Suriel decided to show up during one of their getaways and tell them everything." Explained Az while trying to decipher your face.

"What a gossiper. Remind me to beat his ass if I see him one day." You weren't sure if shock was good enough to describe how you felt right now. If Rhys suspected then it could mean that anyone else could and you certainly weren't ready for Cas to know about all of this.

"Very well." A comforting silence fell and you stayed like that for a few minutes until Az decided to break it. "I am the last person that you should listen when it comes to love, but I think you should tell him. But then again, it is up to you, I'll be there for you no matter what." He said with a smile and surprisingly hugged you, something quite unusual for Az.

"Thank you Az. I'll think about it." You answered truthfully while hugging back your best friend.

Little did you know that back inside the house, a not so drunk Cas watched you two angrily, Nesta long forgotten. For a few minutes Cassian couldn't quite understand where that anger came from until suddenly, it clicked, you were his mate. And at that moment the Illyrian male couldn't be happier, secretly he always hoped that you two could be mates, but centuries passed and nothing, so he decided to try to move on and keep you out of his mind by distracting himself with other women.

But with happiness came anger. Seeing you in the arms of another man, even his brother (best friend technically, but more like a brother),  made him furious. He knew he had no right to be jealous, especially since he himself was running after Nesta like a puppy, but he couldn't help himself.

A few hours late, you found yourself back in your flat, makeup off, comfy clothes on, a nice book in your hands. Everything felt peaceful and then someone knocked at your door.

You swear if it's a drunk Mor, you will murder her.

Much to your surprise when you opened the door you didn't see a wasted Mor but a very sober Cassian. You couldn't understand what was he doing here and you didn't even try to hide your shock.

Seeing your expression Cas quickly started talking before he could start getting scared of you rejecting him and him being left broken-hearted.

"You are my mate."

You were too shocked to even comprehend what he was saying. You couldn't form words, your brain was literally exploding. Taking all your willpower in your hands in put on a serious face and said.

"I see that Nesta rejected you again. Didn't know that you would get that drunk because of it that you'd start imagining things." You didn't want him to know. Yes, you wanted to be with him, more than anything in the world, but not if another woman was in his heart at the same time.

"What?! No! I am not drunk and no she didn't reject me! I mean, yes she did but it doesn't matter because we're mates!" And before you could object Cassian put his hands on your cheeks so that you would at each other right in the eyes, he was so close that you feel his breathing on your face. It was silent for a few seconds and then Cas took a deep breath and whispered. "Y/N I have loved since the moment I met you. The moment I saw you, walking side by side with Rhys I knew that one day you would mine and I would be yours. Never could I ever imagine that you would love me, let alone be my mate, so I decided to move on, keep you out of my head but it never worked.  No matter who I spent time with, deep i my heart, I would always think of you and tonight seeing you in Az's arms, when the bond clicked I told myself that I will stop being an idiot and that I will finally win you over. And that one day I could call you mine, my mate and you could do just the same. Y/N I am yours like it or not and I hope that one day you will let me call you mine." By the end of his speech both of you had tears running down your cheeks and the only thing that you could think about was how much you loved the man.

A few minutes has passed with him still holding your face and you his arms. Complete silence surrounded you with only your heart beats as sounds.

Then at one moment a wide smile grew on your face and you uttered.

"You are so lucky that I am the only good cook in the Inner Circle. I was thinking of cooking something right now, what do you think?"

At your words Cassian smiled like he never did before and took you in his arms causing him to lit you in the air and the finally kissing you.

The two of you couldn't happier. You have finally found each other. You were finally together and no one to get in between the two of you.

The next morning the whole Velaris could hear Mor's angry shouts at how was she not aware that her friend and cousin were actually mates. Those shouts were then soon followed by Rhys's laugh who quickly became silent when his cousin sent a shoe at his face for keeping that information to himself and his mate. It's a good thing that she doesn't know that Az was the first who knew.

[acertainsomeone]

Surrendered-EdSer OS

Eda did not know what she was doing, or why she was doing it. This was the first time in 25 years of her life that she had felt defeated and helpless. Caught in a series of unfortunate circumstances, and life’s treacherous ploughs, she was once again left alone. Her parent's untimely death had left scars on her soul, she could not escape the demons of her past. When Serkan entered her life, she believed that life would be easier. She will finally have someone, who will help her to breathe in the confines of a dark, closed room.

Little did she know, life does not work according to our beliefs. Destiny had plans for her, thrilling yet gruesome. She had imagined getting graduated, with a degree in landscape architect with hope and happiness in eyes. She did graduate, but there was nothing instead of anguish, and loneliness in her eyes.

Not even in her wildest dreams she had imagined to lose Serkan, her first true love. She was so used to be pampered by his love and affection that for once not being on the receiving end broke her into pieces.

It had been eight months since that fateful day. They heard that his plane went missing, they were supposed to get married. Once she had waited for her parents to come and take her away, but they never came back. This time she waited for Serkan to come and make her his lawful wife but he never.

If this trauma wasn’t enough already, she was met by another volcano that hit her so hard that she couldn’t believe she had managed to survive that pain.

He forgot her.

He didn’t have any memories of her.

He hated her.

Serkan Bolat was no longer her Robot Bolat.

After his arrival to Art Life, Eda had imagined it would be difficult to revive those memories he had forgotten but she hadn’t imagined that it would be nearly impossible to win back his love. It was as if he had returned with a stone instead of heart.

Her numerous attempts, pleadings, actions, could not move him. She wondered what was missing that he could not see her as his soulmate anymore.

She tried and tried and one fine day, Eda gave up, for his sake. It took a great deal of courage for her to accept the fact that he was not in love with her, and he won’t fall for her again. It was useless to torment him with her forceful behavior.

He wanted the holding. Of course

It was exactly why he had borne her existence around him for six months otherwise, he would have kicked her out of his life the moment he back to Art Life that day.

Yes, she was giving up on love. Not because she was a coward but because she was selfless, and she chose his happiness over hers. His happiness lied with his work and Selin.

Selin was his logical decision. She was the one, who fitted his lifestyle.

After the failure of her attempts, Eda decided to accept the job proposal from a renowned architect company in Paris, Alcmea.

She had been disregarding it for his sake but eventually Eda decided that it was meant for her. She was longer meant for Serkan or Istanbul. She had to leave for his peace and her sanity. There was no point of living in Istanbul after selling her shares to Serkan, there was no point of breathing the same air after losing him to Selin.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

One last time

She breathed nervously, wearing her silver earrings gifted by Aydan Bolat herself as a graduation present. Ferit and Ceren had thrown her a part before her farewell party, there was no excuse to avoid for otherwise they all would have thought that she is leaving with a sad heart.

Not that they were believing her otherwise.

She had to wear the mask of a jubilated Eda, who finally got the chance to work abroad, and make her dreams come true. She had a long way to go and Eda had decided that she won’t allow her failed love story to come in the way of her career. That’s something she was assertive of.

Clad in a long black evening gown, she looked breathtaking like always.

Yet he won’t notice. Neither her dress nor the charm bracelet she was wearing tonight. Not as a hope but as a way to get rid of some memories.

If she had decided to move on, and leave everything behind, she had to let go.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Eda arrived late at the party; it was her way to avoid him. She wanted to meet everyone one last time for few minutes and leave as soon as possible.

He was looking for someone, her heart did not skip a beat because it wasn’t her. His eyes immediately caught Selin’s and she could tell his eyes only searched her.

Ferit announced everyone to get on the floor with their respective partners for a dance. Well, she didn’t have one so he offered her his hand immediately. Probably to save her from the embarrassment.

“You don’t have to, I’m fine.” She muttered shyly.

“Oh, come on! By the way, I wasn’t going to invite Selin, Ceren insisted because then it would’ve been odd.”

“That wouldn’t have changed anything! There’s no way he’s coming back even if Selin isn’t around.”

“He’s brainwashed by her Eda-”

Eda cut him off immediately, “Don’t- Ferit please Don’t. Have you brought the ring? Ceren is anticipating the proposal, if you’re late this time she will probably fly to Paris with me.” She joked, hiding the pain behind her eyes.

“All’s set. It will be soon, and you’ll be the first person to hear about it.” He winked and twirled her.

He caught her.

She was in his arms just like old times.

Breathe Eda. Not Anymore.

She held her head high in defiance, acting unaffected by his touch. She didn’t blame him for anything. It did hurt her though that he didn’t keep his promise of falling in love with her hundred times.

He had said that if he was born a hundred times, he will fall for her. He couldn’t live up to his words in the same life. Yet, she had no complaints, she accepted this as destiny’s decision and decided to remain determine in her stance.

She was acting good enough, not even for a second he could feel her nervousness or accelerated heartbeat.

She remained silent, closely following their twirling feet, and entwined hands. Acting as if perfecting this dance was the only thing she was interested.

He broke the silence by clearing his throat. “When is your flight?”

“Tonight” Her reply was simple, devoid of any emotions.

“have a safe flight Eda Yildiz.”

“Sao” She passed an awfully professional smile, avoiding to look at him in the eye. Though she could feel his gaze on her. His eyes hadn’t left her face for a second.

Why does he want now?

He placed his hands on her waist, his masculine hands perfectly fitted her petite waist like always.

Her arms were entwined around his neck securely. One last time, she wished to touch him. There were boundaries by inhaling his wood scent was more than enough.

Gladly, he pulled her closer by himself. She didn’t have to struggle. There was nothing intimate about that gesture. He was just dancing.

‘You look beautiful.’ He uttered silently. Eda knew him enough to tell that his compliment escaped his lips without taking permission from his mind.

It doesn’t matter.

“You too.”

“Beautiful? Me?” He raised his eyebrow in curiosity.

“Pardon if you don’t appreciate to be referred with a feminine adjective.” He was trying to be funny but Eda was beyond exhausted to indulge in a friendly conversation. She was not going to surrender.

‘I- I didn’t mean that.” He attempted to explain himself. “Where would you be staying in Paris?”

Eda wanted to tell him that she had chosen the apartment that he had bought for them few days before their wedding. She wanted to tell him that their apartment in Paris was waiting for them but she decided against it.

“Deniz arranged a place.” Something inside her pushed her to say that.

“His place?” He asked incredulously, tightening his grip around her waist.

“You need not to know.” She denied him simply. A part of her knew that he wasn’t affected by these childish jealousy stunts but yet her impulsive self couldn’t from being so open about it.

“I’m sorry, it wasn’t my place to ask you about it.”

He waited for her to say anything but she remained awfully quiet. He was not used to this. He was not used to her ignoring him.

Eda began to feel suffocated, the tips of his fingers were drumming against her bare back, synching with the music of piano. She had to let go or she would faint in his arms or breakdown into tears immediately.

“Excuse me.”

She distanced herself from his embrace, they hadn’t realized in the darkness of the room that they had been barely inches away from each other.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

This place was special, they had their contract right at this spot, fought, expressed love, he broke up wit her here, and the last beautiful memory was, when he gifted her that charm bracelet.

She was wearing it tonight.. Of course, he hadn’t noticed that too.

Eda was staring at the stars, this was her last night in Istanbul. She didn’t plan to come back ever.

“It must be hard for you eda hanim” Her thought process was disrupted by Erdem. Their bond had strengthened over the course of eight months.

“You know very well that I have seen experienced something even harder than this Erdem.” She replied in misery but both knew that Eda was talking about something. Something that was known by him but not anyone else in that office.

“Don’t you think he should know?” Erdem said, scared of her reaction

“There is nothing he should know, as if what he knows already had made any difference”

“I always wonder if I had told fifi about my feelings in a much serious manner, she might had stayed.” Erdem sighed. This side of Erdem was only known to Eda, even she was amazed that this one existed.

“We can't stop the ones who want to leave”

“But he deserves to know- at least- about the baby” Erdem hesitated, he did not want to bring this up but considering this as her last night in Istanbul he wished she’d listen to him.

“Erdem git.” Eda looked at him surprised. Her eyes brimmed with tears and pain. She wasn’t mad at him but surprised that he chose to remind her of that night.

“I’m stupid, an absolute fool but I do know one thing that no father deserves-” He wasn’t stopping, he mustered the courage to finish his sentence.

“I’ve already burdened him with the forgotten memories of our love. I can’t make him think about a baby who died before coming to this world.” Hiding her pain behind her mask, she took a sip from her wine. Showing as if talking about this wasn’t shattering her soul into a million pieces.

“Erdem, You and leyla are the only ones who know about my miscarriage. You have kept your word till now, I expect that both of you will keep your word and continue to hide this truth from everyone.”

“Till my last breath, Eda hanim.” Erdem’s voice broke, he hugged Eda instantly. She led out a chuckle and hugged him back.

Erdem was indeed annoying but he had been there for her at a very crucial stage of her life. His support helped her through the most difficult phase of her life.

She had kept her pregnancy as a secret. She was not in the condition to come to terms with the fact herself.

It was only leyla and erdem, who knew. They were there, that night when it happened.

“I have to go.” She sniffed.

Erdem bid her goodbye and turned his back to find a stumped figure of none other than Serkan Bolat himself.

They froze.

What do you know about pain?

It never ends

What do you about healing?

It takes time

What do you know about realizations?

They arrive when it’s too late

[airi-p4]

From above the stars - Chapter 6

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Chapter 7 | ...

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This is my fav chapter yet. I hope you enjoy 🥺🥺🥺

Chapter summary:

Marinette keeps visiting Gabriel, but it's getting harder as she's starting to move on. At the same time, she recalls some memories of the past while Luka opens up to her about his feelings.

AO3

_____________________________________________________

CHAPTER 6

Visiting Gabriel Agreste was getting harder as the time went by. Mourning Adrien and his wife was everything Adrien's father seemed to be invested in. No more designing or new collections, his big fashion company was being now leadered by his loyal secretary, even if it was temporarily. Sometimes, they would rely on Marinette’s old designs too, noticing most of them were inspired by her late boyfriend.

Whenever Marinette was at the Agreste Mansion, they would spend most of the time either in silence or listening to Adrien's piano recordings. Sometimes, Gabriel would melancholically recall some of his family memories, from the times they were happy- the time they were alive and together. Other times, they would look at some photos, both recent and old: Adrien's first day at school (the day they first met), Adrien's photoshoots (always looking handsome), his fencing and piano competitions (which Marinette would never failed to attend) or the events the Agrestes would usually attend (recently allowing Marinette to go too after Adrien's insistence). Every single memory brought tears to Marinette's eyes. She missed him.

Every single time she cried, Gabriel would pat her back or squeeze her hand in comfort, thanking her for loving his son, which would lead to more spilled tears from her eyes.

Guilt kept growing inside of her. Her heart was gradually getting farther from her boyfriend and closer to feeling alive again. She was well aware these visits would have to end someday, no matter how Gabriel Agreste tried to keep her close. She was aware how she was being used by him in order to feel his son closer- as a way to keep him alive in his life- a mere substitute.

____________________________________

One day, at the cemetery, she couldn't focus. She left some flowers for Adrien but she soon hurried to the Couffaine's family tombstone. Luka wasn't there. 'Yet', she wished to believe. With both positive and negative thoughts going back and forth, she lost herself in darkness once again.

"You're still here?"

The sudden voice startled her, but she could finally smile and cry in relief: Luka.

Marinette jumped to hug the guitarist as soon as she turned towards him. Her sudden reaction worried him.

"Marinette? Are you ok? What happened?" He asked, holding her.

"I- I was worried… and scared…. You were late and I thought... I don't want... to lose you too..." she whined in her low voice.

"Hey, I'm here. Everything is ok. I would never stop visiting my sisters. I can't always be here, but I try to come as much as I can"

"Can I trust you? Can I believe you won't disappear like Adrien, out of the sudden, without saying goodbye to me?"

"I-” he hesitated, making Marinette’s heart sink lower. Her sad face gave him the courage to sincerize with her. “I would never voluntarily leave without saying goodbye... As long as I can, and unless anything unexpected impedes me to come, I’ll be here. I promise. You're important to me, Marinette." He reassured her. ‘ More than you could ever imagine ’ he kept to himself.

The young woman's grip became stronger, relieved for his words, and they spent some time in that position, Marinette hugging Luka and he holding her back as she cried on his chest.

“Are you free tonight? I want to show you something that may cheer you up”, Luka said, when her tears finally stopped.

“Huh? Yes… I’m free but… where are we going?” She tilted her head back to look up to Luka, her eyes still wet.

“Here. Where we are now”

“But… if we are already here why do we have to come back later?” she blinked in confusion and Luka smiled softly at her.

“You'll see” he whispered to her ear, making her blush in the process. “I have to go now, but do me this favor, Marinette. Meet me here at 10 PM. And don't forget to wear warm clothes. I'll take care of the rest"

“Ok…" she blinked twice, still red. "I'll be here"

"Good," he smiled. "See you later, Marinette"

After he lightly rubbed her back, Marinette finally broke her hold and watched him fade away in the distance. She forgot to ask him for his contact again but, at least, they had promised to meet later: a promise she believed he wouldn't break. ' What would Luka want to show me? ' she wondered when she returned home. Her heart beated faster in anticipation.

_______________________________________________

“Wow” Marinette exclaimed, holding Luka's arm close in front of his family tombstone.

“See? My antecesors chose this spot because it’s perfect to see the stars”

“It’s amazing… so bright… so pretty..."

Marinette's eyes couldn't stop staring at the night sky. It was her first time staring at the firmament properly, and she was stunned by how beautiful it was. She regretted not having properly stargazed earlier.

Pleased with the magic the reflection of the stars on Marinette's shining pupils were offering him, Luka moved his hand to hold hers, taking her by surprise. He smiled fondly at Marinette and she blushed at his touch. “There’s more. Come with me up the hill”

Luka guided her with his hand through the dark, holding a little lantern in his left hand. There was a picnic mat with a pair of blankets, a backpack and a pair of thermos. But that wasn't what Marinette's attention focused on: a wide beautiful starry sky appeared in front of them, nothing invading the majestic view. Luka gently pulled the breath-taken woman to the picnic mat, and gently signaled her to sit down.

“Wow! It’s so beautiful” she finally said, with her twinkling eyes fixated on the stars. "Do you think your sisters are up there, in the starry sky?” she moved her face to look at Luka for a moment.

“I’m sure of it." Luka answered, nostalgic. "Your boyfriend is probably there too...”

“You think so...?”

“Yes. He wasn’t a saint, but he was probably not a bad person either, when you love him that much. Lay down. You’ll get a better vision of the sky”

“This is so beautiful, Luka… No wonder your sisters loved this view… Oh! Did you see that? A shooting star! Do you think a soul is getting reincarnated now?” she exclaimed.

“I don’t know." He shrugged. "But it would be nice if the people we love so much could come back”

Marinette stopped smiling, noticing the sadness in his voice. She felt guilty and remorseful for being part of the reason for his grief. Actions with consequences she could never erase from their hearts.

“I wish I could go back in time and change everything. I’m so sorry… Your sisters are gone because of me… I wish I could erase my wrongdoings so they could still be alive…” She said in regret.

But Luka said nothing, he just squeezed her hand and let her cry a little. “You won’t see the stars if you cry…” he finally said. “Share this view with me, Marinette. For them”

“For them…”

______________________________________________

Marinette didn’t notice when she had fallen asleep. The sun was starting to rise and the sunlight awakened her. She turned her head to see her hand was still locked with Luka’s hand, who was sleeping. She glanced at his face then, and he looked serene, in peace. She could notice some dried traces of tears remained under his eyes. She was grateful to him, even more than remorseful.

“Thank you, Luka” she whispered, kissing his cheek.

“You’re welcome, Marinette”

She didn’t expect him to open his eyes and turn his face to her, merely a few centimeters separating them, eyes locked. She was partly glad he wouldn’t be able to see her flustered cheeks from this close, even if that was exactly the source of her redness.

“You’re awake. Sorry. I didn’t mean to...”

“Yes, I know you didn’t mean anything more than thanks. I understand. You love your boyfriend”

Marinette's heart skipped a beat at his words. She paused for a moment before finding the answer she had been looking for a while, feeling ready to finally put it into words.

“Loved. I think I’m ready to move on now…”

"What about destiny and soulmates?" Luka asked, surprised by her unexpected answer.

"I don't believe in them anymore... How could I?” she sighed. “I've already accepted that Adrien is gone and… I feel ready to find my own destiny now" She said, sincerely, but careful not to spill the secret feelings she had for him.

“Really...?” Luka asked, incredule at first, but immediately convinced by the confidence in her eyes. “You're very brave, Marinette. I'm glad you're feeling better”, he smiled, squeezing her hand in support.

“What about you, Luka?” She changed the topic, meeting an unusually distracted Luka.

"Hm?”

"You helped me feel better. I want to help you too. What would make you happy?"

“Me?" he paused, thinking for his answer. Marinette had been honest with him, and he wanted to do the same. He decided to share the feelings that had bottled up since he got the news of the tragic accident. "I wish I had been the one that died instead of my sisters. I wish I hadn’t let them go. I wish I had driven them to that mountain. With my mother's van, the damage would have been less severe, and they would probably still be alive. My mother is dealing with depression and anxiety now and it’s very hard to see her like that when she used to be so strong and independent... I can’t bear to see how the people I care about keep dying and leaving me behind. I wish I could go back in time… Use a savepoint… You know, like in videogames… Something called 'Second Chance', maybe. That's what I wish for”

Marientte didn’t know what to say. Her heart could almost feel his pain. He may have not lost his soulmate, but he lost his father and his dear sisters. She should have known he would be heartbroken. She should have known his heart was in pain. She should have been helping him more instead of letting him help her. She saw him vulnerable for the first time, and her heart ached for him. How silly she was to expect him to return her growing feelings, when his heart, unlike hers, had yet to heal. Her tears couldn’t be stopped as they joined his.

“Oh, Luka, I’m so sorry… I wish I could do something for you…” she sobbed, pressing her head on his shoulder.

“You are already, Marinette. Don’t feel obligated to do more out of regret. I know my wish is impossible to accomplish. We can’t go back in time. The only thing I can do now is let them go in peace… watch them in the sky...” he caressed her hair. “I wish I was as strong as you are. I wish I could believe in hope too”

“Luka…” ‘ You’re my hope ’ she wanted to say, but his words cut her before she had the chance to finish.

“And what about your memories, Marinette? Are they back?”

“Some of them are, yes. And you were right… It wasn’t all happy moments. I was blinded by my love for Adrien…” Marinette sighed. “He was jealous and manipulative sometimes, and I always ended up doing whatever he wanted. He always put himself first... except during the accident. But he wasn’t a bad person. He was very sweet, kind and attentive too. He just had a difficult and lonely childhood and he was scared of being alone… I loved him very much, still do, in another way... He just had bad luck. With family, with friends, with co-workers, school… Coping with his father stressed him too much… I wish I had taken him to therapy or something… Maybe he wouldn’t have had to rely on risk, fun, alcohol and adrenaline instead… I should have acted by myself more...”

“I can imagine that… You did what you could, Marinette. It wasn’t your fault” he empathized. “Anything else you remember?”

“No… Just this” she answered, trying to recall something she could have missed.

“Ok...” Luka kept his eyes closed, but something in Luka's voice alerted Marinette.

“Luka. Why do you keep asking about my memories? Is there something I’m supposed to remember?” She sounded slightly irritated.

“I don’t know”

“Luka…” she insisted. “Have we met before? Somewhere in the past…"

He finally opened his eyes and looked directly at her. “Why?”

Marinette gulped before speaking, staring at his eyes while looking for an answer. “You... seem familiar. And I have the impression we’ve known each other for a long time… But I can’t recall it no matter how hard I try to...”

“It’s better this way” he mumbled in an almost inaudible voice.

“What did you say?”

“Nothing. Don’t stress over it. Some memories are better forgotten, anyway” he assured,  squeezing her hand. "Let's go home"

"Wait!" she screamed, surprising Luka. "Can I have your contact?"

The guitarist smiled, pretending not to notice the blush on her cheeks. "Of course"

Luka lifted Marinette's hand and gently wrote his number on her wrist, secretively under her watch. Marinette smiled, feeling lighter and relieved. Her heart felt closer to his. She was happy to understand more about him, even if it included his darkest fears. She wanted to help him, and she finally found where to start.

"Luka" she said, and he met her determined eyes. "Don't give up. Live . For the ones that left you behind"

Finally, she had found the courage to tell him the words that had been keeping her alive and hopeful. Now it was her turn to be there for him.

"Thank you, Marinette"

[damn-stark]

I’m sorry for leaving you

Natasha Romanoff x fem!reader

Requested by anon “nice! okay i was thinking reader is number three and has allison’s powers is there instead of her and reader is also an avenger and she tried to rumour natasha back after her death and basically goes crazy cuz it doesn’t work so she leaves and bucky and sam go look for her after endgame? sorry if that���s too much!”

A/N- I made Natasha, readers love interest hope you don’t mind :)

Warning- talks of death, angst and fluff

———-

“Okay what are your thoughts on this house?” Natasha points out as she scrolls down and studies the pictures, “I mean it’s nice, it’s surrounded by a green beautiful forest and has a nice blue lake close by.”

You lean in and scan the file, “it’s nice, but,”

Natasha’s eyes drift to you and follow you as you move forward to be closer beside her, “but what?” She queries.

You meet her gaze and continue cautiously, “do you want to move? I mean are you ready to leave this all behind.”

Natasha sighs and sits back in her chair, she rests her hands on your legs that were resting over hers and runs her fingers through her hair before answering. “It’s been five years, I think it’s time. And I’m not giving up, I can work away from there, but you know I think it’s time to try a peaceful life in a place where I don’t have to worry about fighting.”

The corner of your lips tug into a small smile and you move back to admire her from afar. “It sounds nice, I like that.”

Natasha turns and mirrors your smile, albeit hers soon turned smug. “And if anything, you can end up just rumoring me, number ten.”

You scoff and shoot her a pointed look to correct her, “number three.”

Natasha giggles and shakes her head, “I still don’t get that, how come your father couldn’t bother to give you a real name?”

You shrug, “easier to go by numbers I guess, plus it distinguished us by how powerful we all are.”

“Well,” Natasha clicks her tongue, “I think we both deserve a more peaceful life. With no number three, no need to use powers to protect ourselves….unless someone tries to break in or something, but who would break in a house in the middle of the forest?”

“Someone very dedicated.” You quip.

Natasha narrows her gaze and just scoffs, she shakes her head and keeps going. “Regardless, is that the house?”

You gaze back at the screen and nod, feeling a small smile on your face and feeling pure, utter joy within your heart. “That’s the house.”

~

“I heard rumor,” your voice echoes and tears sting your eyes, “that Natasha Romanoff came back to life.”

The cloaked red figure keeps looking at you with his hallowed eyes, expressing nothing but the same blank, expressionless face. “A soul for a soul,” his voice echoed around the crisp air. “No exchanges. What’s done is done.”

Your bottom lip trembles and tears roll down your cheeks. Angry and sad tears alike. There's a void within you. Even after everyone came back; your best friends, comrades, and family, there was a void because the woman you loved, your soulmate was gone. After all you went through to achieve everyone’s return, she was the one gone. When you were about to live a life she wanted, a life you both chose to finally have, she was gone.

Now with life back to normal, all you wanted was her back. That’s all you wanted. That’s why you were fighting so hard, why you traveled through space—You knew the pain was detectable in your voice, it made your power stronger, but why wasn’t it working?

You drew in a deep, shaky breath and repeat it again, you seeth it out with all the strength and pain laced through your voice and power. “I heard a rumor! That you brought Natasha Romanoff back to life!”

The cloaked red figure floats towards you and bellows, “No!” Before he vanishes like smoke. You stare at the spot where he was and only see grey cracked stone, you see ominous fog and just plainly nothing else but emptiness that matched the feeling in your heart.

However the emptiness in your heart felt painful in every possible way. It made you feel weak, it made you fall to your knees and sob and shout out in a painful cry. “GAAAHH!”

The pain was so raw and mind numbing, the emptiness, the knowledge of failure changed something within you the moment you arrived back to earth. Something that concerned your best friends the moment they saw you.

“Y/N, where the hell have you been?”

You drift your eyes to Sam and stay silent for a while, noticing Bucky come up behind him with a more gentle, concerning gaze. “Y/N…”

“I’m fine guys,” you assure them, “I was just clearing my mind, I was—”

“In space?!” Sam quips. “You were clearing your mind in space?”

You nod, “yeah, what can I say I like seeing the stars up close.”

Sam scoffs and you see his upcoming remark in his eyes, and you stop him before he could utter it outloud. “I’m back now, that’s all that matters,” you pause and show them the best assuring smile you could manage. Even if you hid the pain within, you manage it. “Now, I’m just going to go to my family’s home to just...take a break,” you sigh, “I’ll return soon.”

You pat Sam's shoulder and offer Bucky a warm, assuring smile that didn’t convince him, but he had no choice to take it. Even as he saw you leave, it bugged him.

But he didn’t question it until weeks of you gone turned into months and then a whole year. Sam was more hesitant, and just told Bucky to leave you to mourn your longtime girlfriend. But Bucky was worried and couldn’t just leave you to suffer alone. He knew you had a family, he knew that your siblings and you were close, but he just needed to assure himself that you were really fine.

“This is the spot.” Sam let Bucky know as he parked the car in front of a tall building.

“Are you sure?” Bucky queried as he looked out the window, “she said small house.”

Sam leaned over and studied the huge building. “Well the file said this is her “small house.”

Bucky hums and gets out, tilting his head back to take in the home, and playfully remark to Sam, “your apartment can fit here like a hundred times over.”

Sam scoffs and just continues towards the door, knocking a couple times to then wait until something opens it.

“Hello, this is the Hargreeves residence, how may I help you?”

Bucky blinks in disbelief and looks down at the talking animal. “Is that a monkey?”

Sam narrowed his gaze on the monkey and nodded slowly, “yep. But why should it matter, we’ve met a talking raccoon and talking tree.”

“I’m an ape, but that doesn’t matter, Is there something you need?” The money asked once more.

“Yeah,” Sam answered, “we’re looking for someone. Y/N Hargreeves.”

“Oh, Ms. Hargreeves is not here.”

“No?” Bucky said in worried tone. “She said she was coming here. We’re her friends, we're concerned for her.”

“You and I both,” the monkey shared, “she came here once to reunite with her siblings, but she left soon after and never came back.”

Sam and Bucky both looked at one another and shared a confused look.

“But,” the monkey continued, “her brothers may know where she is. One is here, so if you gentlemen want to wait here while I fetch him that’d be fine.”

Bucky and Sam share another look and this time silently come to an agreement and follow the monkey in the suit inside a long living room with a portrait of your siblings and you over the fireplace.

“What a small house,” Sam remarked sarcastically as he stopped in front of the portrait.

Bucky looked up at the same thing and smiled as he noticed you in a mask and a school uniform. “Cute.”

“Rich.” Sam quipped as he crossed his arms over his chest.

“And also my fathers pride and joy,” a voice said behind Bucky and Sam, earning their immediate attention and making them turn around to face a slim man that looked almost like a misplaced hipster. He waved his hands and they noticed tattoos on the palms and a grin on his face. “Hello. What a surprise and an honor to have two of the best looking Avengers come to my humble home. I’m Klaus Hargreeves, one of y/n’s brothers.”

“Sam,” Bucky introduced the man next to him before introducing himself, “Bucky.”

Klaus smiled wider and had a child-like glow in his eyes before walking to the bar and speaking what he knew. “Pogo says you’re looking for my beloved sister. Drinks?”

Sam nodded and approached the bar, while Bucky only followed behind to decline and say his reason.“Yeah, we’re worried, she said she was going to return and she hasn’t yet. We keep trying to call her, but nothing. We just wanted to know if she’s okay.”

Klaus sighs and puts the alcohol away, he props his hands on the edge of the bar and his face turns more serious. “She only came home once. She left that same day and never came back.”

“Do you know where she is?” Sam probed.

Klaus meets his gaze and nods. “I do.”

“Can you take us to her?”

Klaus gets water and drinks it as he moves away and avoids the question until Bucky asks again. “I’ve been told not to.”

“Do you atleast know how she is?” Bucky insisted.

“No.”

Sam sighs and meets Bucky's gaze to share a weirded out and concerned look.

“And she's blocked me out too. She doesn’t want to speak to anyone, she said to let her grieve in peace and as someone who has also lost their soulmate I understand her.”

Bucky scoffs, “she’s in pain, she needs us, just like she needs all of you. We can’t just leave her to deal with it alone. I understand pain and it can be devastating. We need to check on her. She can’t be alone.”

Klaus hesitates but he decides to give in and give them what they want. “Fine, I’ll take you to the town she’s living in.”

And he does as he says, he drives several hours to a small town where you’re supposed to be in, but stops at the first street and turns back to both Sam and Bucky. “This is far as we go, beyond here we have to ask someone. She just told me which town, not which house.”

Sam groans in annoyance, but he and Bucky begin to follow after Klaus, searching for someone in this town who would give them the time of day, but none of them gave them the time of day. They would simply look at the trio and stare for a few seconds before walking as if nothing. And usually Bucky didn’t like to gloat. Anymore, but he knew that Sam and him were well known around the world. Someone always recognized him.

Not even kids came up to either of them. It’s like they were ghosts. All women ghosts in fact now that he really got to noticing his surroundings.

Until the wrong people came up. A police unit. “You’re not allowed to be here. We have to ask you to leave now.”

“What?” Klaus squeaked, making the policewoman look to him and stare at him for a long time, not saying anything, like if she was searching her own mind for a response.

“Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes are not allowed within the perimeters of this town.”

Klaus sighs in relief and grabs his chest once the woman looks away. “Oof, thank god, I am allowed here. Now lovely ladies do you happen to know where my sister is? You see it’s an emergency. Our mother has died! She needs to know, please.” He begged dramatically.

The policewoman calls something in her radio and then tells them to wait but they point their guns at Sam and Bucky, insisting they get out. Just as a fight was going to break out, someone’s voice came out of the shadows of a nearby alleyway. “Klaus, brother, why did you bring them here?”

Klaus shrugs, “because we want to talk.”

You scoff and slowly walk out and maneuver through the crowd of policewoman. “About our robot mother dying? What happened?” You play along

“A heart attack, because she was devastated about your disappearance.”

You shake four head and glance at Bucky and Sam before looking back at Klaus. “Well it’s a good thing she doesn’t have an actual heart. So she’s fine. Now why are they here?”

“Why are you?” Bucky quipped, stepping up towards you.

“Running a town.”

“Full of woman?” Sam snapped. “That look like they’re all mind controlled?”

You sigh and shove your hands in your coat pockets. “They’re blackwidows, like Natasha was. I’m just helping them.”

“Helping them by controlling them?”

You simply shrug and frown as you look at the floor. “I’m helping them.”

“By taking them hostage?” Bucky rebutted. “Natasha wouldn’t want that. Let them go to live their lives, come back home with us, they’re not going to fill the void you have inside you. Don’t be that person.”

You clench your jaw and ball your hand. “That person? I’m just helping them, they’re the closest thing I have to Natasha. They’re going to help me bring her back.”

“Oh, I see,” Sam sighs, “so they’re your army? Your perfectly trained soldiers. What are you going to do? What’s your plan? Invade the planet where she died? Natasha is gone! She wouldn’t want this for you.”

You step back and feel your eyes sting. But you don’t let yourself cry, instead you glare at them and just as you were going to rumor them both, Klaus stepped in front of them and quickly blurted out. “Don’t. She’s here.”

“What?” You snapped as you snap your attention towards him. “What do you mean? Don’t mess with me Klaus.”

“I’m not,” Klaus quickly explained himself, raising his hands and looking to an empty spot beside him. “I got to connect with her.”

“What?” Bucky questioned too.

Your eyes widen and you leave your lips parted as Klaus begins to talk for her. “She says that she loves you, that she watches over you every second of every single day.” Your bottom lip trembles and tears once again fill your eyes. “She says you’re acting stupid right now and that if she were here she’d punch you.” You cover your mouth and sob softly. “She says that she doesn’t want this for you and she’s sorry for leaving you.”

You fall to your knees and keep looking at the space where Klaus was looking at, Bucky and Sam listen in disbelief, but Bucky manages to come to your side to try and comfort you.

“She wants you to go back home, be with people you love and just live life. Either being a hero or just simply living a life. All she wants is you to be happy, knowing she’s also going to be by your side. She loves you.”

“I’m sorry,” you cry, “I’m so sorry. I never wanted this, I just wanted you back, please..forgive me.”

“She does.”

“I love you,” you mutter, “and I miss you every single day.”

Klaus walks towards you and crouch’s down in front of you, cupping your cheek and offering you a kind smile. “She loves you too.”

A wobbly smile grows on your lips and you know by the look on Klaus’s face she was gone again. However you didn’t hesitate to do as she had said, you did the right thing with the Black Widows. Even if it was painful to think of Natasha dying, you let them go.

“So what now? You mumble as you look at the three men in front of you, swaying back and forth on your heels.

“Depends on you,” Bucky tells you, “we can use you out there, but if you want to go home, you can. We were worried for you, we just wanted you to be okay.”

“I will be,” you sigh as you hook your arm around Klaus’s. “Soon.”

“Well we can go back to your huge house,” Sam suggested, “I saw some expensive alcohol in that bar and I’m down to go there.”

You chuckle softly, “fine. Let’s go home. For a while, but after, I’m getting back to work. I know you boys can’t be without me.”

Sam snorts. “Sure whatever you say Number Twenty.”

“It’s Number Three!”

[soulmate-game]

Part 2 of the Marinette x Peter soulmate oneshot

Part 1 

—*—*—*—*—*

“And here,” the grouchy man in front of her held out a ring, making his daughter raise an eyebrow. His grey-blue eyes rolled almost to the back of his skull at the silent communication. “Using Kaalki for all your traveling is extremely inefficient. He’s eating all my sugar cubes.”

“You can just conjure up more,” Marinette countered, smirking in amusement as she took the sling ring from him. She was seventeen now, and had been visiting her father about once a month for the past few months, almost a year, since she first met him after he made a deal with Dormammu and essentially saved their entire reality.

“Relying on another living being for your teleportation is stupid,” her father argued, crossing his arms. “It delays you. You might not be the best at using a sling ring, but I made sure you can operate it reliably. This way, you always have an option for a near instantaneous escape.”

Marinette just snorted and slipped on the ring, right next to the silver one that sat on her right thumb. Her father didn’t approve of her wielding both Creation and Destruction at once, especially considering the fact that he knew firsthand how much energy it took to wield something with the power of an Infinity Stone, but she still did it regardless.

Adrien needed a break from the Miraculous after his father was arrested, and Marinette was only making sure that the two most sought after Miraculous were as safe as possible until she could find someone to trust as a new Cat. She wasn’t about to give up being Ladybug anytime soon just so she could retire the ring.

“Whatever you say, Dad,” she said cheerfully, ignoring his huff of annoyance at her dismissive response. Quickly leaning in, she pecked him on the cheek and jogged backwards. “See you next month!” She waved happily. Seeing the slight blush on her father’s cheeks and the way he stubbornly tried to pretend like he didn’t like the familial affection at all and was not at all a doting father figure who spoiled his daughter rotten (he was), made Marinette burst into laughter even as she waved goodbye to Wong and left out of the front door of the New York Sanctum.

She would get some shopping in the fashion district done first, and then use the sling ring to get back to Paris. Kaalki could use the rest, not that she would ever admit it to her dad.

She was browsing a high-end tailor, looking at the suits they had on display, when the door opened. She didn’t bother looking back to see who had entered, hoping that whatever rich client just came in would not question the little Asian teenager critically analyzing the merchandise. She had to be up to date on both male and female fashion, after all, and her suit construction could always use improvement. She was inspecting the way that a certain collar was stitched when the voices of the two people who had entered finally caught her attention.

“But I don’t need it,” a younger voice argued, sounding as if the owner of said voice was pouting. “And you shouldn’t spend that kind of money on me.”

“You should know by now that money doesn’t matter to me, kid. Besides, this is more efficient. Instead of wasting energy punching a guy in the face and possibly getting hurt, you just press this button and run. Help will be on the way, and if your aim is good then the guy’ll be tazed. Everyone wins.”

“Mister Staaaarrrrkkkk,” the younger voice, a boy Marinette realized once she looked up, whined. “You’re already getting me a probably super expensive suit because you won’t let me wear my old one to your party—“

“Your old one is a mess, no offense, and the pants are too short.”

“—That’s not the point, Mister Stark.”

“And anyone coming with me to my own party is gonna look fantastic.”

“You went to a party last year in an Iron Man t-shirt under a suit jacket and sneakers, Mister Stark.”

“Okay, but I look fantastic in anything. Have you seen me? I’m gorgeous.”

“Are you saying he doesn’t look good in anything?” Marinette chose to finally speak up, her mouth already curled up into a wide smile. They reminded her of how she acted with her father. Not even the fact that she was talking to Tony goddamned Stark could make her back down now that she had seen him acting so paternal and soft.

The famous engineer gaped at her for a second, and the boy next to him crossed his arms and smiled wickedly.

“Yeah, Mister Stark. Are you saying I’m not gorgeous?”

“What—I—this is betrayal. Ganging up on a guy is not fair play,” the billionaire protested childishly, pointing to each of them as if he expected that to be intimidating. It just came off fatherly. “You know what? Fine. Go to my gala in one of your science pun t-shirts, it’s not like I care anyway since I’ll be doing the same thing. We can even wear the exact same shirt if you want. But when Pepper kills us both, it’s your fault.”

Both teenagers laughed at the poor guy’s dramatics. The teenaged designer decided to introduce herself, walking over and holding out her hand to the boy. “I’m Marinette. I didn’t know Tony Stark had a son.”

The boy instantly went beet red, and started stammering. Marinette winced, feeling bad since she knew exactly how that felt. She was usually on the opposite end of an interaction like this, after all.

“Dad’s not my Stark. I mean Mister Dad isn’t— I mean—“

“He’s my intern,” Tony saved him, clapping a firm hand on the boy’s upper arm to try and ground him. Marinette furrowed her brows, noticing how Stark had carefully avoided touching his “intern’s” (she wasn’t buying that story for a second) shoulder. But the boy had instantly relaxed, so Marinette tried not to think too hard about it.

Finally, he took Marinette’s hand and shook it. “I’m Peter. Peter Parker. The intern.”

Marinette was about to reply, but she felt her shoulders start to tingle. Then a flash of bright light erupted, and almost blinded them. Peter and Marinette just stared at each other for a moment before movement caught their eyes, and made both of them stumble back in shock.

“You have two mini-me’s on your shoulders!” Peter cried, pointing to Marinette.

“No, you have two mini-ME’s on YOUR shoulders!” She shot back, pointing to him. Sure enough, he had a disturbingly Kwami-looking mini-Marinette hovering over one of his shoulders dressed in all blue. Over his other shoulder was an equally chibi, Kwami-looking version of Ladybug. Domino mask and all.

Marinette stumbled back a few extra steps when her own floating… things… flew in front of her face. One was clearly a mini Peter, also dressed in all blue just like the miniature version of herself that Peter had. But the other one was a mini—

“Oh my god,” she whispered, looking straight at Peter—no, at her soulmate— as her floating versions of him returned back to float over her shoulders. “You’re—“

“Shh!” He held a finger over his lips. Marinette shut her mouth, realizing a little too late that she had just been about to expose his secret identity. Big no-no, and she knew it.

“I’m sorry, but what the fuck?” Tony suddenly spoke up, looking at the both of them like they had grown second heads. “You guys just started freaking out after Peter introduced himself, and I’m confused.”

“Wait, you didn’t see that?” Peter demanded, staring at his mentor in disbelief. “The bright flash of light, the floating anime-fairy versions of ourselves floating over each other’s shoulders, you didn’t see ANY of that?”

Confusion melted away into realization, which transformed into mischief on Tony’s face. “Ohh, I see what’s going on. You’re soulmates.”

“Oh my god we’re soulmates,” Peter breathed, looking over to a still-shell shocked and frozen Marinette. “I just met my soulmate. Oh my god.”

“Mon Dieu,” Marinette couldn’t help slipping back into French. She began to ramble in her native language; “I can’t believe this. What are the floating things supposed to be anyway? I thought the marks on our shoulders were our Marks, that we could just feel extreme pain from one another. This doesn’t make sense. What does this mean? Did our Bond evolve once we met? What can we do now? Why can’t soul bonds respect secret identities? Oh Kwami I have to tell my parents and that is going to be a nightmare and—“

“Oh my god, she’s just as bad as you,” Tony remarked, impressed as he watched the little Asian girl ramble on in rapid French. Luckily, his title was Genius billionaire playboy philanthropist, emphasis on Genius, and he was fluent enough to keep up with what she said.

“Relax,” he interrupted gently in the same language, shocking her into paying attention and stopping her rambling. “We can always get Peter’s suit another day, this is more important. So how about we go back to the Tower—“

Wrong thing to say.

“Avenger’s Tower? The home to all of the primary active Avengers, the headquarters for the New York branch of Stark Industries? The single most intimidating building in the whole city, THAT tower?” Marinette rambled, still in French, with absolute horror written all over her face. “I would pass out before we got inside.”

Tony glanced over at a very confused but worried Peter, who didn’t understand a word of what was being said but could clearly read the distress on his soulmate’s face. “She’s your other half, alright,” he told him in English before looking back to the girl. “Where do you want to go, then?”

Marinette opened her mouth, but the mini-Peter flew in front of her face and gave her cheek a hug. She blinked, feeling bracing coolness coming from where the pixie-creature touched her skin. It brought her back to the present, and allowed her to take a deep breath and calm down. “Thanks,” she said to the little thing, cupping her hand around it gently to try and simulate a hug of her own before looking back at the boys in front of her (because let’s be real, Stark was only a “man” half the time and a “man-child” the rest).

Finally lucid enough to switch back to English, Marinette answered Tony. “I actually came here to visit my dad. My biological father, technically. We can go to his place.”

Sure, he’d be annoyed at her at first, but once Marinette explained he would calm down. Probably.

Tony agreed, and led her out to the sports car they had taken to get over here.

“Good thing Peter talked me out of bringing a two-seater, huh?”

—*—*—*—*—*

“Don’t touch that,” Marinette warmed, leaping forward to keep Peter’s hands off of a potentially dangerous magical artifact. She would be more annoyed if Peter didn’t look suitably guilty, or have a near permanent sparkle of wonder and awe on his face from seeing everything in the Sanctum.

“This is like being in Harry Potter! I’m Hufflepuff by the way, what about you?” The hyper boy asked her, his excitement at all the magic surrounding him overruling his natural shyness. “But for real, the special effects you guys have is ridiculous. And actually putting up a three-dimensional projector outside to hide the true appearance of the building? How much money do you have?”

“For the last time, Peter,” Marinette said slowly, crossing her arms with barely disguised amusement. “No projectors. No technology. This is all legitimate magic.”

“Legitimate magic doesn’t exist,” he shot back with an eye roll. Marinette just raised her eyebrows.

“You regularly visit a tower and mentor with a guy who works with a Norse god, a literal witch, a large green buff guy, and an Android brought to life by magic.”

“...Okay, But…”

Marinette would also be a lot more annoyed at how hard Peter was to convince, if she didn’t know full well that she got the better end of the deal. Her father was the one in charge of Stark, which was undoubtedly the shorter end of the stick. Already the billionaire had activated five ancient artifacts, gotten bodily pulled away by Strange from another four, and her father had finally decided to just teleport the mechanic away when Peter wasn’t looking. Marinette didn’t want to know what her dad decided was necessary to convince Stark that magic was real and he should shut up and stop acting superior.

Her dad was a hypocrite, she knew it. She also knew he was probably having the time of his life doing to Stark what was probably done to him when he was first introduced to Sorcery.

By the time Strange had returned with a shaken up and very annoyed Tony Stark (looking like a very smug cat as even the Cloak preened on his shoulders), Marinette had already introduced Peter to the Kwami and teleported him to all of the seven wonders of the world.

For some reason, it was her ladybug transformation, of all things, that finally proved to Peter that magic was real. Something about magical girls and anime..? Marinette couldn’t completely follow his rapid rambling. She was good at English, and had mastered more vocabulary than most native speakers because of her constant reading of medical and scientific journals, but she still wasn’t great at deciphering when people spoke too quickly.

“All done, Dad?” She asked cheerfully, earning a half-hearted glare from the billionaire next to him. Her father just smirked.

“Indeed. Now, what was the reason you came back to the Sanctum without warning with two outsiders, one of which is most definitely going to give me recurring migraines?” He asked, eyes trailing over as the mechanic huffed and joined his mentee (son). Then, the sorcerer’s eyes landed on the four floating miniatures of the two teens in the room. “Oh. You have awakened your Bond.”

“Yeah,” Marinette agreed, looking over at Peter. Seeing a mini-her and mini-Ladybug just swinging their legs happily as they sat on his shoulders was surreal. Then again, his mini-selves were attracting his own, much more exasperated, attention. His mini-him was just sleeping on his stomach on Marinette’s right shoulder, while his mini-Spider-Man was doing a two-finger handstand and trying to impress the Cloak.

The Cloak clapped two of its corners in support, to which Strange pretended not to notice.

“We were, well I was anyway, hoping you could explain,” Marinette told her father. “My magic doesn’t really help with analyzing non-Miraculous things, and soulbonds are completely out of my expertise. With how I’m supposed to be back in Paris already, I figured getting a crash course from you as to what to expect would be better. Peter and I probably won’t be able to hang out in person very much until school let’s out,” she explained.

“Wait, you have magic too?” Tony asked, nose scrunched up. Meanwhile, Peter’s eyes were wide.

“You’re from Paris? What are you doing her—oh my god did you teleport? Like how you took me to see the Sphinx?!” He asked, bouncing up and down on his feet. Marinette smiled at his enthusiasm, liking how he wasn’t as opposed to magic as his father figure certainly was.

“Yes, I teleported. I visit my father every month, not that my parents know.”

“Her mother and step father only know that she calls me, and they believe that I occasionally fly over to visit her,” Stephen filled in casually as he flattened parts of his uniform and just generally moved his hands around to disguise the trembling in them as subtly as possible. They had gotten better over time, with him performing simple physical therapy exercises every day and his magic helping, but he no longer desired to get rid of the damage entirely. He knew he no longer needed to. “But they know nothing about magic, or the fact that she occasionally parades across Paris as a spotted heroine.”

“I’m sorry, what?” Tony asked, turning to his son— mentee’s— Bonded with his eyebrows raised high on his head. “Why did I never hear about a hero in Paris? Trust me, I look.”

“And I am very good at hiding,” Marinette retorted, her eye roll showing very clearly who she was related to. “The magic of the Miraculous helped. The super villain that used to plague Paris, Gabriel Agreste, used to wield the Miraculous of Transmission. The butterfly,” she told the boys easily. “His powers allowed him to control the transmission of information outside of Paris, though it was more of a… how do you say…” Marinette paused, allowing her father to chime in;

“Passive ability,” The older magic user offered up. “He didn’t want the Avengers or anyone else to interfere, so his abilities passively controlled transmission of Paris news so that it didn’t reach anyone that might bright that to pass. It helps that Marinette’s own powers include completely reversing the damage caused by a Miraculous. Every time the Eiffel Tower was knocked over or turned to ash, she brought it back as if nothing had happened,” he explained. His daughter nodded.

“So any rumors of Paris having a villain would probably have been seen as jokes,” Marinette told him gently, her smile lopsided. “Even the Ladyblog, a now defunct website that used to cover all the attacks, has received a lot of comments from international viewers about how good the special effects were or how intrigued they were by the ‘show’s premise,’” she admitted, using finger quotations for emphasis.

“But you got him, right? The bad guy?” Peter asked, looking straight into Marinette’s eyes. She giggled and nodded.

“Oh yeah. Turns out he was the father of the guy I had a crush on, so,” she made a face. “Not the best situation ever. But his son was also secretly my superhero partner the whole time, which made the situation both better and worse in several ways.”

“Oh hey, me too!” Peter said excitedly, his face also squishing into something uncomfortable. “Minus the superhero partner part. But a while back, I took down this guy, the Vulture, who turned out to be the father of this girl I liked.”

“It’s the worst, isn’t it?”

“Oh yeah.” He agreed.

“Okay, back to the topic at hand,” Strange interrupted, earning a sigh of relief from the only other adult in the room.

“Thank Science, I did not want to hear another word about teenage romance,” Tony clapped his hands together. “So, what’s up with their Connection, Doc?”

After briefly closing his eyes for patience, Doctor Strange raised one slightly shaking hand and summoned up a few glowing symbols. Muttering under his breath, he walked a loose circle around the two teenagers and bathed them in the shining orange light. After about a minute of this he stepped back with a hum of thought and a single raised eyebrow. His lips quirking into a disturbingly amused smirk did not help Marinette or Peter’s nerves.

Both naturally nervous teens squirmed impatiently.

“What few people know is that the Universe actually has a name for each type of essence link, or what most people know colloquially as a soul bond,” he explained, purposefully sounding pompous to annoy Tony, who scoffed. “The name for your bond is ‘Shoulder Angels’ and I believe it is supposed to mimic the classic devil and angel on the shoulder trope,” he crossed his arms with far too much joy in his eyes. “The blue one is your civilian self, which embodies everything normal and relatively healthy. It keeps you grounded in reality and helps you through healthy pain and emotions. The red one is your hero alter ego, which represents whimsy, encourages creativity, and will help you through toxic situations. You can call it your personal hero, really. Whenever you are experiencing toxic emotions, a dangerous situation, or anything similar, it will contact your Linked partner and allow them to comfort you by astral projecting them to you or, in an extreme situation, actually teleporting them to you. Other than that and their base characteristics, they have simplified versions of your own personalities.”

“So, the drawings on our shoulders,” Marinette said slowly. “Are they still there, or did they turn into these…” she looked at the little things again. “Fairy things?”

Stephen smiled proudly. “Always asking the right questions. Yes, the symbols were just a placeholder and altogether weaker version since you had not met in person. They are gone now, and only the two of you or experienced magic users can see your essence sprites. Although, once you practice with them you will be able to show them to people you trust. But that will take time.”

“I see…” Marinette looked over at Peter. “So, uh. Hi. I’m Marinette Dupain-Cheng, and sometimes Paris’s superhero Ladybug. Want my phone number?”

—*—*—*—*—*

“Oh come on, a Churro is totally a real pastry,” Peter, currently Spider-Man, argued with the Marinette-sprite on his shoulder. The little chibi puffed out it’s cheeks and tapped it’s toe on the open air before pointing to a bakery that had good looking cookies and cupcakes in its store window. “Oh no, those are expensive and I’m broke. This might be cheap street-churro, but it’s good and I’m eating it. See?” He crunched a giant bite of his fried snack. “Mmmm.”

Mini-Bug on his other shoulder just sighed heavily in defeat.

“Wow, I didn’t know you spoke to yourself Spidey. Did ya go crazy over the weekend?” A familiar voice asked from behind him, making Spider-Man groan and shove the rest of his churro into his mouth. After he swallowed, he stood and turned to the new figure on the roof behind him.

“No, Wade. I met my soulmate, and now we have little mini-us-es on our shoulders. I have mini-hers and she has mini-me’s. Mini-her number one is trying to convince me that churros are not real pastries,” he jabbed his thumb at the one he was talking about. “Mini-her number two is just trying to get me to eat more healthy, which is not working either.”

“Oh wow, I have mini-me’s too! But they are just me, not my soulmate.”

“Do you have two bonds?” Spidey asked, tilting his head. Wade Wilson, also known as Deadpool, shook his head.

“Nah. My soulmate and I had a wound sharing bond.”

Peter opened and closed his mouth, deciding to just pull his mask back down over his mouth and ignore that statement to the best of his ability. He had seen Wade literally torn in half and shot in the head way more times than he could count, and he doubted Wade’s soulmate could heal like he could.

“So what you’re telling me,” Spidey said slowly, defaulting to his usual way of handling heavy topics. “Is that you’re just crazy.”

Wade pulled out a gun, and Spider-Man just laughed as he jumped off the side of the building to swing away. Mini-Marinette glared at him, but Mini-Ladybug was laughing right alongside him. He grinned at both of them behind his mask. Yeah, they couldn’t talk and weren’t replacements for the real thing, but it was nice having their company.

—*—*—*—*—*

That’s all I got for now. I might add a couple scenes here and there if I get inspiration, but for now this is it. Hope it’s okay.