#strangers make weird comments to me all the time and I see a noticable difference between how I am treated and how gc ppl are treated

[trans-yllz]

I think we gotta start recognizing that "things accepted online/in leftist spaces" and "things accepted by the general public in the real world" are two very different things. like no actually gnc men are Not suddenly seen as okay because there are drag queens on tiktok. men are still beaten and harassed and ostracized and Killed for being feminine. in the us. in my very liberal city full of ppl with blue hair and pronouns I am made to feel uncomfortable and unwelcome for being a gnc guy. the tiktok comments on videos of men wearing make up are not indicative of the beliefs of most people

[keepingitformyself]

there’s been no way for me to say (that i felt a certain way)

Synopsis: natasha romanoff has loved you for ages and she could never seem to get it right.

pairings: natasha romanoff x reader

genre: college AU, fluff and angst.

warnings: angst?

please do not repost my work anywhere for any reason at all. if you do see this happen to any of my stories, please let me know. thank you x.

natasha met you in a very peculiar way.

it started at a friends of a friends party, in some internet starlet’s brooklyn loft.

drinks were going around, the music was loud, the smell of marijuana was very strong. she doesn’t quite remember it— after having been to a bunch of parties they all seem to blur into one— but she knows it was enough to leave a lasting impression on her.

she’d heard your piercing laugh from across the room. you, in a tight tank top and some black slacks. she could see the shine of sweat against your skin, the colorful lighting of the room making you seem so beautifully human.

everything sort of froze in the coming moments. she watched as you took your top off without a second thought. you were about to shotgun a beer and you stood tall as you did it atop the kitchen island. you didn’t need the attention, nor did you want it, but you had it.

it was a simple behavior. but it stayed with natasha long after you had crushed the beer can and tossed it on the floor somewhere.

natasha thinks you never notice her staring for the rest of the night but you do.

weeks later she sees you again at another party.

clint, wanda, tony and everyone else joins her this time. she isn’t surprised when she sees you. it was the same crowd, similar friend groups. but this time you made it easy for her to approach you.

somehow you end standing next to eachother near where all the drinks had been laid out.

"hey," you said, voice casual but warm. "didn’t expect to see you here again."

natasha smiled, though she hadn’t expected to talk to you at all. nor did she think you noticed her. "i guess we have similar taste in parties."

you laughed lightly. “guess so."

there was a beat of silence before you added, “you know, you were kinda staring at me last time.”

natasha froze for a second, unsure how to respond. she hadn’t thought you’d noticed. but before she could stammer out an excuse, you were already grinning.

“i’m just messing with you. it was funny. i didn’t think anyone would care enough to notice me.”

natasha was relieved, yet still unsure if you were actually joking. either way she felt this was going better than she planned.

the night wore on and you guys carried easy conversation. natasha was still unsure how to even approach talking to you. she felt kind of shy. so she improvised by making references to things she didn’t think you’d get, but you almost always did.

you dropped a reference to something obscure, a movie natasha had once obsessed over, and natasha stared at you for a moment longer than was socially acceptable. she couldn’t stop herself.

“you’re really into that, huh?” she said, and just like that, the bond started to form. it wasn’t immediate or instant, not the kind of connection that screams “best friends forever.” no, it was something stranger, something subtler, like two different puzzle pieces that had almost fit, only to get pushed back together by sheer happenstance.

“your references are spot on.” you laughed. natasha smiled at how easy you made it for her to be around you.

you and natasha started seeing each other more, slowly building this weird, unspoken routine. she’d text you at random, making some kind of sarcastic comment or joke only you would get, and you’d shoot back a meme that only someone with your specific sense of humor would understand. over time, you both ended up in the same circles, passing each other in the hallways of the university, at class, at parties—always just a little bit more than acquaintances, but never quite crossing into the territory of “best friends.”

there was something comfortable about it. easy, even. but for natasha, it was also strange. the more she saw you, the more she felt like there was something else there, something neither of you wanted to acknowledge. maybe it was a crush. maybe it was more than that.

it wasn’t as though either of you had been completely oblivious to the passing of time, to the fact that you were both growing older, moving through college with the same bittersweetness that everyone else felt. and yet, there was still this distance between you, an unspoken barrier that neither of you had broken down.

natasha thought about you a lot more than she’d like to admit. how she so badly wanted to cross the line between friendship and something more.

by senior year, natasha couldn’t ignore it anymore. her feelings for you weren’t just fleeting glances or passing thoughts. they were there, constant, sitting beneath her skin, running through her mind like a song she couldn’t shake. but it wasn’t just a crush. it was more. she could feel it. she knew it.

the desperation kept getting worse.

it was a slow burn.

you were months set from graduating, natasha felt it was time she’d try to test her luck.

it was late into the evening at yet another party—music blaring, laughter echoing through the crowded living room, and cups of cheap beer littering the tables. one last semester before graduation, before the "real world" set in. natasha was sitting on the couch, leaning against the back with her legs stretched out in front of her. her eyes roamed the room, scanning for someone to talk to. and then she saw you.

you were in the middle of a conversation with clint and wanda, your hands animatedly gesturing as you told some wild story about a disastrous trip to the beach, the kind of tale that had everyone in stitches. natasha couldn’t help but smile from across the room. there was something magnetic about you—how you lived so fully, how you pulled everyone into your orbit without even trying. natasha had been watching you for months now, always on the edge of your space, always wishing she could be more than just a silent observer.

she didn’t know when it started—when the simple admiration had turned into something else. but now, as she watched you laugh with your friends, something in her chest tightened. this wasn’t a crush she could just ignore.

it wasn’t the first time natasha had thought about asking you out. but tonight felt different. maybe it was the proximity of graduation, the sudden realization that this was it—that you both were on the brink of leaving behind this chaotic, unmoored time in your lives. she could either stay on the sidelines or take the chance.

she stood up, smoothing out her jacket and walking across the room. her friends—clint, wanda, and sam—noticed her approaching and exchanged knowing glances, all but daring her to make a move. natasha could feel the weight of their stares, but she ignored them. she focused only on you.

"hey," she said, stepping into the conversation, a little breathless from the nerves she’d kept hidden.

you turned, giving her that warm smile you always did. "hey, nat! what’s up?"

"not much, just wanted to, uh, ask you something," natasha began, her usual confidence faltering just a little.

“i was thinking about heading to this bar later, just to get away from all… this,” she gestured vaguely to the party around them, “and i was wondering if you wanted to join me? for drinks. just us. you know, before we all get caught up in the whole graduation mess.”

it was casual, maybe too casual. but natasha didn’t want to make it seem like a big deal. not with everyone watching.

there was a pause, just a beat too long, before you looked at her, a faint frown pulling at your brow. you were processing. “uh,” you hesitated, glancing at your friends.

clint, wanda, and sam all turned their heads at the same time, giving you the slightest raise of their brows. you bit your lip, clearly unsure, and natasha’s heart sank a little at the hesitation.

"i mean," you said slowly, looking back at natasha. "we’re friends, nat. i just… i’m not sure."

it was a gentle rejection, but it stung all the same. natasha swallowed, masking her disappointment with a shrug. "no, yeah, of course. no pressure." she let out a quiet laugh, her hand rubbing the back of her neck, trying to laugh it off. "i was just messing with you. don't worry about it."

you nodded, a small, apologetic smile on your lips. "i mean, i’d love to hang out more, just—"

"totally fine," natasha interrupted, her voice light but edged with something that made her own heart ache. she smiled, keeping it neutral. "maybe some other time."

she turned away quickly, but she felt your eyes on her as she walked back to the couch, her friends watching the entire scene unfold. clint raised his brows, and natasha just shook her head, not wanting to give them the satisfaction of knowing how deeply that small exchange had affected her.

but inside, it stung. it stung more than she cared to admit. it wasn’t just a small rejection. it was the fear that maybe you had noticed her feelings all along and were just too scared to say anything about it.

that night, natasha tried to sleep, but her thoughts wouldn’t stop racing. you were everything she had wanted, but in this strange, liminal space, neither of you had been brave enough to admit it.

weeks passed, the semester came to an end, and graduation day loomed on the horizon. natasha and you both moved on in your own ways, starting to make plans for life after college. but something lingered. something unsaid. life became a little more faster, and faces got a little older.

you reached out to her a few times. it was never the same as before. it was different now, with this strange tension lingering between you both. but you kept in touch, as if you both were afraid of letting go of something that might have been, something that might have still been.

and maybe it was ridiculous, natasha thought, but she was okay with it. she had loved you for years, and maybe that was the most honest thing she could admit to herself.

because even if you two had never been the closest of people, you’d always been there. always in the background, always in between. and somehow, that was enough for natasha. enough for her to hold on to the hope that maybe, one day, you’d both be able to finally figure it out.

it had been two years since you both left the university. two years where natasha had started a career in marketing, constantly moving up, climbing the corporate ladder while trying (and failing) to suppress the things she didn’t want to feel about you. she had dated, of course. a couple of short-term relationships, nothing serious. but nothing had ever lasted, and she had never quite understood why until now. the answer had always been there, hovering just out of reach, in the form of a text, a call, a passing thought about you.

as for you, you’d moved across the country for a job in graphic design. you didn’t think much about natasha at first. life had been busy—new city, new friends, new routine—but every now and then, you'd wonder if she'd thought of you. if she remembered how everything had felt when you were both on the brink of something, but never quite dared to cross the line.

and then it happened.

it wasn’t planned. it wasn’t expected. but one saturday evening, natasha found herself sitting at a bar in brooklyn after a long week at work. she’d had a rough day. one of those days where everything felt like too much. and then, as she nursed her gin and tonic, she heard someone call her name.

it was a voice she hadn’t heard in what felt like forever.

“natasha?”

she turned, already recognizing the voice before she even saw your face. and there you were, standing in the doorway of the bar like a memory coming to life. your hair had grown a little longer, and you looked different, older in a way that made Natasha’s heart skip a beat. but you were still you—the same you who had been in those parties, those late-night study sessions, the one who had always made her laugh with a look or a passing reference.

for a moment, neither of you said anything. just stood there, eyes locking, as if trying to figure out whether this was real.

“i didn’t know you were in new york,” natasha said, her voice betraying the sudden weight in her chest. she couldn’t keep the smile from forming, even though she tried.

“i wasn’t planning on being,” you said, grinning. “work sent me here for a few weeks. i was meeting some friends, but it’s been a while, so i thought i’d just see if you were around.”

it wasn’t exactly casual. but you both knew it wasn’t entirely random, either. it felt like fate had decided that you two were finally going to do this.

you sat down, and the conversation flowed as naturally as it always had. the awkwardness of the past melted away. you didn’t need to pretend anymore. there were no more games, no more hesitations.

just you and natasha, picking up where you left off, though this time, the space between you felt a little different. there was an understanding now, a quiet knowing in the way you both spoke, a recognition that time had done its job.

“so…how’s life?” natasha asked, pushing her drink aside and leaning in a little closer.

you shrugged, but there was something different about you too, something less guarded. “it’s been alright. busy. but you know how that goes. i’ve been thinking about home, though. about—” you paused, then looked directly at natasha. “about people i should have kept in touch with.”

natasha’s heart was thudding in her chest, but she kept it together. she was a master of hiding emotions, after all. “yeah?” she asked, her voice softer now.

“yeah,” you said, with a smile that made natasha’s stomach flutter. “it’s funny how things work out. you don’t realize what you miss until you’re standing in front of it again.”

time had always been a strange thing between natasha and you—something both distant and close at the same time, like a thread that wound its way through your lives, never quite snapping, always lingering. you’d known each other for years, seen each other at parties, shared quiet moments, and laughed at the same jokes. but all that time, there had always been a hesitation. a space between the two of you, filled with something—something both of you had been aware of but had never dared to name.

it was the kind of thing that was easier to ignore in college, easier to pretend it wasn’t there while you were both busy with classes, with your lives, with the thrill of being young and not yet knowing what you wanted out of the world.

but that something between you had always been there, pulling at both of you, quiet but undeniable. the way you caught each other’s eyes a little too long. the way your conversations turned into something more meaningful without either of you intending it. the way natasha would see you at parties and catch her breath for just a moment. the way you’d smile, as if you both knew, but neither of you was brave enough to act on it.

you’d both dated people. tried relationships. but it had never lasted, had it? there was always that nagging feeling in the back of your mind—something missing, something not quite right. as if your lives couldn’t fit together because they weren’t ready to yet. you didn’t have the words for it, and neither did natasha. but you both knew. you always knew.

the things that had once seemed complicated—life, timing, fear—suddenly didn’t feel as big as they once had. there was a quiet honesty between you now, as if you both had grown enough to stop pretending you didn’t feel it. the awkwardness, the hesitation, the “maybe” that had been there before was gone.

it was you. it had always been you. and you knew it too.

“so,” natasha said after a beat, her voice softer now, quieter than before. “what are we doing here, really? we’re not strangers. we’ve known each other for, what, almost four years now?”

you looked at her, your lips curling into a smile that didn’t hide the tension in your gaze. “we’ve known each other longer than that,” you said. “we’ve always known.”

“i think i’ve always been afraid of this,” natasha admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “afraid that i’d say the wrong thing, or that it would mess things up between us. that maybe the timing was never going to be right.”

you nodded slowly. “i’ve been afraid of that too.” you paused, then added with a wry smile, “i was never good with timing.”

“maybe we don’t need perfect timing,” natasha said softly, her gaze meeting yours with something she hadn’t let herself feel before—a quiet certainty. “maybe it’s just the right time now. after all this time.”

you didn’t answer right away. you didn’t have to. instead, you reached across the bar, your hand brushing gently against hers, and just like that, it all clicked. there was no more hesitation. no more waiting. you both knew what this was, what it always had been.

“yeah,” you said, your voice low and certain. “i think you’re right.”

and that was it.

[miriamladyvoid]

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Always an Angel, Never a God

"Sometimes, she felt as if her heart were a dying star, flickering weakly in the vast darkness of the sky. Always present, but barely noticeable among so many other, brighter lights, beautiful in its light, but always seeming to be just a heartbeat away from going out".

✧I will no longer write something so ambitious again; it was so complicated to cohere all of this because I didn't want to discard any character from each dorm. So I hope the pace of the reading doesn't feel weird. The tone was supposed to be more hopeful, but I started to feel a little sad at the end.

✧Fem Prefect, the reader is the Ramshackle prefect.

The nights in Twisted Wonderland had always been a refuge; from the window of the Ramshackle Dorm, the prefect watched the firmament with a mixture of longing and melancholy. It was in those moments of stillness, under the immense night sky, that she could allow herself to breathe. The stars always seemed to offer her a companionship her friends could never fully provide. Not because they didn't love her, but because, at the end of the day, she was different. Twisted Wonderland, with all its magic and twisted wonders, was a fascinating place, but it was not her home. Her days passed in silent repetition.

First there was Ace, always quick with a joke, but his words sometimes hurt her more than he knew. "Prefect, what would we do without you?" he said half-jokingly and half-seriously. But those words, they hurt. What would they do without me? But what am I beyond solving their problems? Riddle, with his severe look and devotion to order, came to her when Heartslabyul fell apart under the weight of his own rules. "You're reasonable; I'd rather trust you," he said, like it was a compliment. However, in his eyes, she was only another piece in his perfect order, a resource to use when the rules were not enough to maintain the order.

Trey, always kind and calm, offered her small comforts in the form of candy and kind words. “Don’t worry so much,” he would say as he handed her a freshly baked cookie, as if sugar could sweeten the bitterness she felt. It was as if Trey treated her with the same kindness one gives to a stranger, someone you want to please but not let get too close to. Cater, always smiling and with the phone ready, seemed to see her in a brighter light, at least on the surface. “This is going straight to Magicam, but make sure you give your best smile, okay?” he exclaimed while making sure she was well framed in his selfies. But once the photo is taken, she becomes a memory that faded away among filters and irrelevant comments.

Deuce was different, and maybe that's why it hurt her more. "Prefect, I'll do better next time," he'd say after some disaster, his eyes filled with determination and guilt. In his clumsy way, he always wanted to prove to her that he could be better, that he could be up to it. But in those desperate attempts to prove himself, she couldn't help but feel responsible for the insecurity he carried. It was as if, instead of supporting each other, he was running after a difficult goal, looking for validation in a place where she herself couldn't find it.

The moments with Leona were like shooting stars: brief flashes of connection that illuminated the darkness, only to quickly fade away. He was a dying star, exhausted and unwilling to shine for anyone else. Sometimes, it seemed she managed to truly see him, glimpsing something beyond his usual indifference. His distant gaze made her feel like a powerless spectator, unable to stop his inevitable collapse. "Don't try so hard," he would tell her, yawning with squinted eyes. "You don't belong here anyway." His carefree words always cut deeper than intended. Jack, despite his loyal and protective nature, saw her as someone he always had to take care of. "You're strong, but sometimes you get into too dangerous situations," he would say, his tone full of concern. His protection was comforting, but also a chain that kept her anchored to a dependency she didn't want. By his side, she felt like a star whose shine depended on the protection of others, trapped in an orbit that eclipsed her independence.

Ruggie, on the other hand, viewed her through a more pragmatic lens. "If you ever need anything, you know, just ask," he would tell her with a mischievous grin. But there was always a transaction behind his words, as if she was just one more on his list of favors, something he could cash in when it was convenient. To him, she was like a distant star, useful insofar as she could offer something, but always interchangeable. "Don't take things so personally, Prefect. We're all looking out for ourselves here." That raw truth, stripped of sentimentality, was a brutal reminder that, in this world, no one shone without a price to pay.

Azul saw her as an opportunity. He always had a deal or contract at hand, waiting for her to fall. “You can always count on me for a fair price,” he would say, with that calculating smile that never revealed his true interest. Like the ocean that reflects the stars but never touches them, she never felt like more than a surface he turned to when he needed something. She was not an equal. And though she knew his words were double-edged, there was a strange comfort in being valued, even if it was for her usefulness. Floyd was a fickle tide; he was unpredictable, and his light always seemed to flicker between whim and disdain. “Shrimpy, you’re fun! You don’t bore me as easily as the others!” he would say with a smile that failed to disguise his capricious nature. Sometimes he would smother her with his attention, with brusque hugs and laughter that lashed like a violent tide, but his effervescence had an edge; when he grew bored of her company, he would abandon her without hesitation.

Jade, always his brother’s elegant shadow, would approach with his serpentine calm and eyes that seemed to unravel secrets. “It’s always a pleasure having you around, Prefect,” he would comment with that polite smile that never reached his eyes. His tone was always wrapped in impeccable politeness; she felt like his words were more of an assessment than a compliment. At his side, she felt like a star trapped in a jar, admired only as long as it served to feed his curiosity.

Kalim, with his bright optimism, was perhaps the one who treated her with overflowing kindness, but even warmth could be blinding. "You're a great friend," he would say sincerely, but something in those words made her hesitate. He would seek her out when he wanted to share her joy, but he could never quite grasp her sadness. Sometimes, being by his side was like floating in a sky lit by fireworks, dazzling and joyful but a light that fades when the sun makes its appearance. With Jamil, the connection was more complicated, a precarious balance like that of a star orbiting dangerously close to a black hole. Always trapped in Kalim's shadow, his own struggles overshadowed any support she might need. “It is better that you do not get too involved,” he warned her with his cold tone, his gaze fixed on a point beyond her, as if she weren't even there. Despite that, she sometimes lent him a hand in his duties with Kalim. But she knew that, for him, it was nothing more than a satellite, a secondary star without its own brightness, destined to revolve around something bigger and more important than itself.

Vil was a supernova, bright and blinding, consuming himself in his quest for perfection. “Beauty takes effort, Prefect,” he told her with brutal frankness, his critical eyes seeing each of her imperfections as something that needed to be corrected. His words, wrapped in the confidence of someone who had always been admired, only reminded her how imperfect she felt around him; his words, though well-intentioned, left her feeling more dulled than enlightened. Rook, the hunter whose love for beauty was as great as life itself, saw the prefect as a masterpiece. “You are so fascinating, my dear Trickster,” he exclaimed, his poetry as intoxicating as it was confusing. His words were a hymn to her uniqueness, but behind his admiration was a disturbing curiosity, as if he wanted to decipher her and reduce her to a simple piece of his endless collection of discoveries and beauties.

Epel, determined to prove his strength, kept her at a distance. “I don’t need you to babysit me like a child,” he insisted. She admired his determination, but she couldn’t ignore the pain his words left behind. His distance was a reminder that even among the lost, vulnerability was a burden few were willing to share.

Idia kept to himself, always hidden behind the screen of his tablet. “I like having you around,” he had once told her. They shared the strangeness of not fitting in, but even in that shared solitude, she felt a distance. “We’re like NPCs, you know? The ones on the outside, the ones who don’t count,” he had once joked. Despite his isolation, Idia shone, albeit in a dim, reserved way. He took refuge in his solitude; she desperately sought to be seen, to be understood. Ortho, on the other hand, was always an unwavering warmth. His innocence and curiosity radiated a light reminiscent of a young star: bright, pure, and free of the shadows of a life that never came to be. “You’re my brother’s friend, so you’re my friend too!” he would say enthusiastically, in that tone that made his every word seem like a gift. She knew that, in Ortho’s eyes, she was someone special. Yet she couldn’t help but wonder if her worth depended solely on the connection she shared with Idia. Would he still view her with the same affection if her bond with his brother disappeared? Would she still matter if that thread unraveled?

Lilia was like a dying star, its light still shining brightly, but hiding the imminence of its extinction. "Ah, Prefect, you still have much to learn," he would say with a soft smile, as if he knew something she could not understand. To him, she was a curious flicker in time, something to cherish while it lasted, but without the depth to leave a real mark on his long-lived existence. Like a reminder of what is fleeting, an echo of the lights he had seen go out countless times. Sebek, with his fiery passion, treated her as if she were a star that had strayed from its course, something that needed to be guided back into place. “Though you are a human without magic, you have some worth!” Though his words often carried reproach, beneath was a misplaced devotion that she could not ignore. To Sebek, she was a lesser star, one that existed only to reflect the greatness of her lord. Even his attempts to protect her felt like an extension of his own obsession, leaving her trapped in his shadow.

Silver was the stillness of a dawn before the sun rose, a soft glow that always seemed on the verge of fully awakening. “Prefect, your presence always brings peace,” he said in a sleepy tone, as if he saw her more as a whisper in the background of his reality than as a clear voice. Yet his perpetual drowsiness created a barrier between them, as if he were trapped in a dream from which he could not wake. To him, she was a star that illuminated his path, but whose light barely managed to penetrate his own lethargy.

Finally, on one of her darkest nights, when the weight of her isolation was almost unbearable, she found Malleus on the outskirts of Ramshackle. He was there, like a majestic shadow under the starry sky, the king of the firmament, an imposing force that always seemed on the verge of consuming everything.

“Why do you think the stars stay there, so distant, instead of falling and disappearing?” he asked, his gaze fixed on the infinite. His voice was quiet, with an echo of melancholy that resonated in the cold night air.

She hesitated before answering. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because… they have nowhere else to go.”

For an instant, he wanted to say something, anything, to fill the void her words had left. But he didn’t. Because, although Malleus would never say it directly, there was something in his voice that seemed like an invitation. As if, in the midst of that immensity that always separated them, he was telling her that her light was enough, too, even if she didn’t see it yet. But there was always a chasm between them, a constant reminder that her light would never be as eternal as his.

The weight of all those glances, of all those words, was building up in her chest as if an invisible hand was squeezing her heart. It had been a long journey, one filled with unforgettable moments, but also marked by a loneliness that no one seemed to notice. Memories of each interaction passed through her mind like a cruel parade. She forced herself to breathe deeply, her trembling hands touching the window glass as her eyes sought solace in the stars again. Yet her mind, treacherous, found one last wound to open. One sentence, cold and implacable, echoed in her memory like a definitive sentence:

“There is no place in this world where this soul belongs. NONE.”

The words of the Mirror echoed in her mind, an irrevocable sentence that pierced her heart with the precision of a dagger. She had wanted to prove him wrong. She had tried to fit in, tried to find a place among the people she had come to love and admire, even as each interaction reinforced the truth she so feared. The thought cut through her like a knife, and with it came a single certainty: her presence here had never been wanted. She was no heroine, no savior. She was just a nobody who had fallen into this world at the whim of a mirror.

The sentence continued to echo in her head, stealing the air from her lungs. Her chest tightened, her throat closed, and before she could stop herself, tears began to flow from her eyes. The crying began as a silent tremor, a muffled gasp as she buried her face in her hands. She covered her mouth, desperate not to wake Grim, her little companion, who slept peacefully in the bed. Cruel irony that he, her faithful friend, was not there to notice the sadness of his henchman. The same sadness that she had always hidden behind a smile and an ill-timed joke. Her breathing was irregular, ragged by the effort to contain the sobs that threatened to break the silence of the night. The world seemed to have shrunk to that small corner of her bedroom, where only the stars were witnesses to her vulnerability.

Sometimes, she felt as if her heart were a dying star, flickering weakly in the vast darkness of the sky. Always present, but barely noticeable among so many other, brighter lights, beautiful in its light, but always seeming to be just a heartbeat away from going out.

The crying continued, each tear falling in a desperate, muffled silence. For once, she couldn't even find solace in the stars. Only curses. She cursed her weakness, her loneliness, but most of all, she cursed the day that damn mirror had made her fall into Twisted Wonderland.

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Language of the flowers of each Banner:

First Banner: Cyclamen: Resignation. Second Banner: Bramble, Rose: Envy. Third Banner: Lobelia: Splendid Misery.

[adoreeenina]

Our Future Awaits | Part 1

Relationship: Piccolo x Cat Hybrid! Reader

WC: 2.6k

Warning: None.

Summary: when two teens come out of nowhere, making the Z fighters wait for the arrival of Goku, Piccolo notices one of the two teens keep staring at him and his girlfriend. How strange. (Reader is Goku’s adopted sister)

“She’s staring again.”

“Hmm?” You stop mid sip of your orange soda that you’ve gotten from the two mystery strangers, as you turn to look at Bulma who is sitting beside you on a rock. “Who?”

“The girl.” Bulma whispers. With a raised brow, you face the girl who sits next to the lavander haired man. Making eye contact, the girl blush at being caught and turns to look away.

“Weird.” You comment.

“She keeps staring at Piccolo too.”

“I’ve noticed that too. She probably hasn’t seen a Namekian before.” You shrug before sipping the last bit of your soda and crush it with your hand.

You lean forward and rub at your thighs, trying to soothe your soreness. You grimace at the discomfort between your legs and thighs.

Bulma notices and gets worried, “What’s wrong?”

“Just sore.”

“Sore? You never get sore. Last time I checked you haven’t been training much since planet Namek.”

“I’m not sore because of training, Bulma.” You grumble.

“If you’re not sore from training than how else would you be sore fro—“ Bulma cuts herself off when you glance at Piccolo who is a couple feet away from the both of you.

Piccolo is sitting on a different boulder with his legs crossed and his eye closed, most likely meditating to pass the time.

Bulma mouth drops to the floor at the new revelation she had just discovered, seeing the look on her face, you start to shake your head frantically. She does have the tendency to be over dramatic with things like this.

“Oh my-“

“Bulma no-“ you attempt to stop her. Ofcourse it didn’t work.

“You slut!” You wince at her high pitched voice so close to your ear.

“Bulma shut up!” You shove her shoulder, but that’s doesn’t seem to falter her reaction at the slightest.

“You didn’t.”

“…”

“You did!” Bulma’s mouth drop as you try to ignore her by playing with your ring, “You have to tell me everything!”

“No, I don’t!” Your ear flick downwards in annoyance.

“Yes, you do. How was it? Was it big? Piccolo is tall so he has to be packing too.”

“I’m not having this conversation with you, Bulma.” You turn your head to avoid looking at Bulma as your cheeks flush with color.

“Aww why not!”

“First of all,” you hold up a finger up when you look at Bulma, “I’m pretty sure, Piccolo could hear you. Poor man is blushing. Look at him.” You point at your boyfriend, who clearly overheard your conversation, the blush on his cheeks proves enough. “Secondly, my sex life in none of your business.”

“Fine.” Bulma pouts before looking at you with grin, “But at least tell me one thing.”

“What?” You groan.

“Was it good?”

You sigh, your tail swaying side to side behind you as you think of a good response without revealing too much and to not embarrass Piccolo more than you’ve already planned to.

“Honestly,” you start with a smirk when you notice Piccolo is now looking at you, “Piccolo is a fantastic lover.”

The look on Piccolo’s face is a look you would never forget.

Piccolo’s eyes dodged around anxiously. His hands became sweaty as well as his heart rapidly beating. 

A soft sigh left your lips as you shifted slightly in Piccolo's lap, his grip around your waist tightened in response before relaxing as he opened his eyes to look down at you. Your head rested on his shoulder and your hands were settled on his forearms which are circled around your hips.

“You alright?”

“Yeah, I’m just a little sore and tired.” You groan.

“Was I too rough last night?”

“Not like I didn’t enjoy it.” You tease.

“Fucking tease.” Piccolo grins.

His hand started wandering a bit, rubbing over your stomach and gently kneading your belly before running further.

His large hands went to massage over your outer hip and thigh, down your upper leg to your knee and back up, repeating the same motions a few times, accompanied by soft squeezes whenever he felt it fit.

“Better?” Piccolo gruff voice whispers next to your ear.

“Much better.” You sigh blissfully.

After short silence between the two of you, Piccolo decided to speak up.

“What do you think about the new couple?”

“What do you mean?”

“I’ve noticed the girl keep side eyeing us. I find it strange and it’s annoying.”

“I also find it strange. The boy keeps looking at Vegeta too. If I didn’t know any better I’d think he has a little crush on the “Prince”.”you laugh as you did air quotes.

Piccolo shakes his head amusedly.

“She looks familiar.”

“How? You’ve seen her before?” You ask with a raised brow. Both you and Piccolo face the girl.

She does kinda look like someone you know, but it’s hard to pinpoint her face. She does have a sharp jawline and nose. Her face does resemble a lot of Piccolo now as you pay attention, but that’s could just be a coincidence. From what you’ve been told Namekian’s can’t produce the same way as humans.

Feeling eyes on her, the girl turns her head to see you and Piccolo shamelessly staring at her. Her eyes widen with her ears turning red from embarrassment. She leans closer to the lavander haired boy and uses his broader frame to cover her from your sight.

"What are you looking at?!" Vegeta hissed, glaring at the younger Saiyan as he sat on a rock not too far away.

It seems like the girl wasn’t the only one with a staring problem.

"Oh, uh... Nothing! It's just that I, uh... Like your shirt..." He replied nervously, cursing himself internally for not thinking of a better excuse.

"You would..." Vegeta mumbled in annoyance before sending a glare towards Tien and Yamcha who were trying their hardest to keep their laughter under control.

“C’mon Vegeta, leave the kid alone. He’s not harming anyone!” You shout at Vegeta.

“Stay out of this, woman!” Vegeta glares harshly at you.

You feel Piccolo’s body stiffen behind you, he bristles at the way Vegeta raised his voice at you but try to remain composed.

“Watch how you speak to her, Vegeta! I’m not afraid to go for another rematch!” He growls, flashing his canine’s at Vegeta.

“Piccolo.” You try to calm him by rubbing your palms up and down against his forearms. He only managed to relax slightly but he was still on guard.

Vegeta brows scrunched together in distaste as he watch the sight just a few yards from him. His lips curving up into a sneer before he looked away with a scoff.

A few feet away, Bulma and Krillin were seated on a large flat rock, sitting in silence until the blue haired scientist thought of something interesting.

"Hey! Now check this out..." Bulma whispered, talking behind her hand to Krillin as he leaned closer. “Is it me? Or do those two kind of... Look alike?"

"Well, now that you mention it... I can kind of see a resemblance..." Krillin answered, looking at Vegeta and the purple haired boy a bit closer. "Well I mean, just in looks... That other guy seems pretty nice... But Vegeta has the personality of a stump."

"Well, he's a prince..." Bulma went on, making Luna go silent as she continued to listen in.

"So what?"

"Prince's have to act bored, like the world's not good enough for them..." Bulma explained, staring towards the Saiyan as Krillin looked confused.

"Vegeta seems more agitated than bored..." Krillin admitted, scratching his head as he looked towards the angry prince as well. "I just hope he decides to Stay on our side..."

"Why do you keep looking over here?! Haven't you ever seen a pink shirt before?" Vegeta shouted suddenly, causing everyone around them to fall silent. "If you like it that much you can have it!"

"No... No thank you..."

"Then knock it off, kid!" Vegeta growled, looking away again as you noticed the tiniest smile creep across the strange fighter's face. The girl next to him shoves her shoulder against his, and gives him a look.

“The girl kinda looks like Y/n, don’t you think?” Krillin folds his arms across his chest.

“I do. But it’s weird. She kinda looks like Piccolo too. They have the same sharp jawline and nose.”

“But that doesn’t make sense, Namekian’s can’t produce like humans.”

“That’s the part I don’t get.”

Both Krillin and Bulma looks between the girl and to the couple. You were falling asleep against Piccolo’s chest when a small beep from the lavender haired man's watch got everyone's attention as he stood up, pressing the button on the side before speaking. "Hey, uh... That's it! Two hours have passed! Goku should be arriving any second now..."

Everyone looked around, waiting for whatever was about to happen as Bulma jumped up excitedly.

"Really?!"

"Okay..." Gohan mumbled, sensing for his father's energy but finding nothing. A few moments later Piccolo's eyes widened, sensing a familiar ki as everyone else instantly felt the same thing.

"Oh my gosh Tien!" Chiaotzu said happily, looking towards the source of the energy as he tried to see him approaching.

"I know! I feel it too Chiaotzu!"

"He's coming!" You said in surprise as you jump off of Piccolo’s lap, overjoyed that your brother was finally returning home.

"Man, that guy was right after all..." Yamcha admitted, staring towards the sky as Bulma scanned the horizon for any sign of a ship.

"You're all nuts... My woman's intuition isn't picking up anything right now..." She said seriously, continuing to look around.

"No, it's true! He's finally home! My dad's back! Hahaha!" Gohan cheered happily.

"Look, up there!" You said, pointing up at the tiny ship that had just broken through the atmosphere. It was heading towards them all incredibly fast, soaring over their heads loudly before slamming into the ground not too far away. Clouds of dust filled the air as everyone looked on in shock, unable to move for a moment as the smoke began to clear.

"Woah... Cool..."

"Last one there's a rotten egg!"

"Hey! Wait for me!"

All of them dashed forward, Piccolo, Vegeta and you flying over head, as they all made their way towards the edge of a giant crater.

"Wow... What a crater!" Gohan said excitedly, unable to take his eyes off of the ship at the bottom.

"Yeah, no kidding... Boom! What a landing!" Krillin laughed, staring towards the ship below as well. "I hope he has some air bags in that baby..."

"Why? To protect the ship from Goku's head?" Yamcha chuckled as Tien agreed with a laugh.

"Yeah, really!"

Everyone watched in anticipation as the door to the ship opened before a familiar figure stepped out, looking at them all in shock before speaking.

"Hey guys.." Goku said slowly, clearly surprised to see all his friends waiting for him.

“Goku?” Tears starts falling down your cheeks, happy seeing your brother alive and well, “Goku!” You jump into the giant crater to his arms, wrapping yours around his neck.

He picks you up happily and twirls you around, happy to see you.

“I missed you so much.” You say once he puts you down, Goku smiles down at you and wipes away any fallen tears with his thumb.

"What took you so long dad?!" Gohan cheered, a few happy tears gathering in the corners of his eyes as he realized his father was finally home.

"Hi Goku!" Bulma said happily, waving a hand over her head as he hesitantly waved back.

"How in the world did you know I was going to be here?" Goku asked in confusion, floating up from the bottom of the giant crater while holding you against his side, still wondering how they all knew when and where he would arrive.

"These two told us!" You said cheerfully as you pointed at the couple, stepping away from Goku once he lands in front of the other Z fighters. "I think they might be a fan of yours..." you teased, giggling as the lavander haired man actually sent you a tiny glare while the girl blushes sheepishly.

You grin at the two couple. Behind you, Piccolo reaches for you by grabbing your wrist and pulls you back towards his front.

Goku frowned, looking at the strange couple for a minute as he tried his hardest to remember who they were. "Ah right..." He said uncertainly, fidgeting nervously as he spoke. "If it ain't you, you old so and So... It's been so long since I uh, I... Uh... I mean, you..."

"We've never met before." The girl explained quickly, knowing she had to find some way for them to speak in private.

"Oh thank God! Or Kami... Or King Kai... I dunno, that whole thing is screwy..." Goku laughed, letting out a relieved sigh.

"Yeah... That's what he said..." Bulma frowned, crossing her arms as she glanced between the three. “Then they must have been tracking your ship in outer space..."

"Really? I don't know.." Goku said, putting his hand under his chin as he thought about it. "Frieza tried to do that... But I could sense his energy level as he passed me... He sure was in a hurry to beat me home.. But my gosh, what in the world happened here you guys?!" He finished excitedly, eager to hear about what was no doubt a thrilling battle.

"Who defeated Frieza?" The Saiyan asked as everyone continued to stare at him. "Was it you Piccolo? Or was it you Vegeta?" He paused for a moment, glancing at them both before his eyes settled on you.

"Hmm... Or maybe Y/n!"

"None of us did..." Piccolo said calmly as he wraps an arm around your hips protectively, his usual frown ever present on his face as he directed his gaze towards the mysterious fighter. "It was this guy... He did it with ease."

"Huh?!"

"He turned into a Super Saiyan and picked him apart..." Piccolo finished as Goku stood there shocked.

"A Super Saiyan?! I can't believe it!" He said in surprise before smiling. "That's outstanding! Can you imagine? A Super Saiyan at his age... Fantastic!"

"Hey! Aren't you forgetting something?" Vegeta hissed, getting the man's attention as he looked his way. "You, your son and I are the only Saiyans still alive!"

You roll your eyes at Vegeta’s little pitty party. He’s obviously just jealous someone else managed to turn super saiyan before he did. Fucking dick. That’s called Karma. Asshole.

"Well, if he says he's a Super Saiyan then that's good enough for me." Goku said simply, nodding his head once as he grinned at the purple haired stranger.

"Oh honestly Goku! You take things way too lightly sometimes!" Bulma chastised, frowning at her friend as he stared back at her with a blank expression.

"No I don't..."

The lavender haired man actually cracked a smile, choosing to take the opportunity to accomplish what he and his companion came here to do. "Goku... Can we have a word with you?" He asked seriously as everyone grew quiet.

"With me?"

"Yes... Just the three of us..." The mysterious girl continued, pointing to the area on the other side of the massive crater.

"Alright then." Goku said seriously, the three of them turning to leave as everyone looked on in shock.

"Hey! What exactly is these guys trying to say?!" Yamcha growled, frowning as he glared at the other fighter.

"It's okay guys... I'll be right back!" Goku smiled, sending them all a small wave before they both flew a good distance away. Yamcha huffed, crossing his arms as you lean against Piccolo, wondering what all this was about...

[inej-ruination-ghafa]

mastermind - d.m

sweet nothing | the great war | masterlist

Warnings: none

Summary: the one where derek morgan realises that you had fallen for him

Wordcount: 1.8k

Derek Morgan was everything that every girl wanted. He was tall, dark, handsome. That was what every woman wanted. Not only that, but he had the best personality. He was so kind, and charming, good with kids, funny. What list didn’t he check? There was so much that you could say about your co-worker of 18 months and yet that in itself would take thousands of words.

It was November and there was a chill in the air, one you had gotten used to in your 18 months working at quantico. You remembered your first day there, locking eyes with the federal agent who was now walking alongside you. He had made you feel so welcome the moment and eased all of your nerves on the first day. It was like the planets and the stars had aligned, bringing you both together.

From that first day, the two of you had clicked instantly and it was like you had known each other for forever. There was nobody else in your life that you had ever bonded with so quickly.

The only issue with him is that he was a bit of a playboy. He had so many women that he would talk to and they would all love him and have sex with him and that was all you had ever wanted from him. Knowing that you would never get to have that side of him made your chest ache.

You looked up at him to see that he was already looking down at you, his deep brown eyes staring at you so intently in a different way than normal; or at least, you had never noticed this gaze before.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” You asked.

“Like what?” He quirked an eyebrow up, like he knew exactly how he was looking at you but was not ready to explain it yet.

“Like there’s something on your mind,” you were both profilers, there was no way of avoiding the questions. You could read each other well enough by now.

“You know there’s not usually anything on my mind,” he teased, a slight pull of his lips.

You snorted at his comment, he never failed to make you smile. Derek smiled at the way that you laughed shortly at his comment, the way your head tipped back, the crinkle by your eyes. He would never get bored of the sight.

You shook your head, dropping the subject, “Whatever,”

“Whatever?” He repeated your comment with the same inflection.

You shrugged your shoulder before looking right in front of you, avoiding eye contact. If he wasn’t going to tell you, you weren’t going to bug him, ”You don't have to tell me,”

“I know,”

You hummed in response. There was something going on here that you weren’t sure of. You would figure it out soon enough, you promised yourself, you always did. He couldnt hide anything major from you.

You had been close ever since your first case, where you had sat next to him nervously on the plane, explains your irrational fear of planes. Reid told you that it wasn’t irrational, spewing facts about the amount of Americans afraid of flying. Morgan just promised you that he would sit by your side the whole time. And as the plane came down to land, he held onto your hand as you squeezed your eyes shut.

That was the kind of man Derek was, one who would sit and hold a complete strangers hand just to make sure they were comforted. The touch of his hand had lit a fuse inside of you and you were still reeling from his touch.

So why was he being weird?

as a profiler, your mind started to race a hundred miles a minute as you wondered what you could have done to make him act this way. Maybe you had gone too far with a joke, made him uncomfortable somehow. God, had you flirted with him?

“You cold?” He asked and you looked up at him, his voice breaking you out of your destructive thoughts.

You hadn’t even noticed the way that your arms were wrapping around your body in an attempt to warm up, the cold was bothering you but you would never admit it to him, not after he had annoyed you.

You shook your head, “I’m a big girl,”

He left it there, muttering something under his breath about how you should just accept it before the two of you started walking in silence again along the tree lined street.

It was peaceful with him, it always was. He could never bother you for long, but as you walked along the trees, orange leaves falling off the trees and landing on the ground beneath your boots, there was something off.

As you walked along, you couldn’t help the way your eyes lingered on a couple across the street. They were holding hands and after a few moments, the guy took off his coat and draped it over the girls shoulders. She smiled at him bashfully, cheeks warming up before they kept watching. You tilted your head back to look at them for a moment longer.

You could feel your face warming. That was all you wanted, someone to love you like that, to the point of carelessness for themselves. There was that all consuming loneliness that had been bothering you ever since you realised your fruitless crush on SSA Derek Morgan.

Derek noticed that your eyes had lingered on the couple a little longer than most people’s would and he wondered what was going on with you.

“Take my jacket,” he demanded after a few steps, pulling off the leather jacket that he had been wearing all afternoon. His arms were covered in goosebumps within seconds but he couldn’t care less.

“No thanks,” you shook your head, folding your arms across your chest.

He scoffed, “No thanks?”

“I didnt realise I was walking with a parrot,” you spat back at him, speeding up your walking to get away from him.

He did the same thing in response, jogging slightly to catch up with you. He shook his head, confused as to why you were acting like such a brat today.

“Why can’t you accept my kind gesture?” He questioned.

“I am fine,”

“You want it, I know you do! So what’s your problem?” He reached over, a hand coming down on your shoulder and he felt how cold you were.

You stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and his shoes skidded to a halt to stop alongside you and that is when he saw how angry you were, brows pulled together, “My problem is that if I wear it into that building I am going to get the same spiel that I normally get behind my back!”

the admission made your cheeks heat up. Nobody had ever liked you as a kid and you had schemed and begged to make friends. Everyone was always talking behind your back about you and although you had friends here, you always worried they were still talking about you

“What are you talking about?” He questioned. This was it, he had finally cracked why you were being so pissy towards him.

Your chest heaved at the thought of admitting everything to him and you pondered for a second on the consequences of your actions, on how you would have to go back to the office feeling like shit. And before you could even stop yourself, all the words were spilling out of your mouth, “Everyone in the office can see that I have feelings for you! It is so painfully obvious and I can see them whisper every time we talk and-“

Derek cut you off with the sound of your name and you froze, letting the word wash over you. there was something about the way he said it that calmed you in an instant.

He was looking at you with a face that you had never seen on him before. That’s a lie you had seen it before, it was a face that was reserved for the family members of victims at work. It was pity. The face made you sick.

You furrowed your brows together, anger boiling in your veins again, “No. They think I follow after you like some lovesick puppy, like I am always dragging you around places and they think it’s just me being delusional and I know that so-”

Derek shook his head. The face he was pulling wasn’t one of pity, it was of adoration, that kind of love that poured out of every pore in your body as the person you loved made themselves look stupid.

He took a step towards you, his hands coming to your face and you froze, the crease between your brow deepening as you tried to figure out what was going on but before you could say anything, he was leaning in.

“Shut up pretty girl,” his voice was low and there was a look in his eyes you had seen directed at you hundreds of times before but you had never known what it meant. It was love.

He leaned in slowly, watching as your eyes fluttered closed in anticipation. The first kiss shared between the two of you was the definition of perfect. His head tilted to the side slightly as he pressed his lips against yours, pressing with just the right amount of pressure to make your head dizzy with desire.

he pulled away after a second and your head fell down to his shoulder, a giggle escaping your lips as you realised what had just happened. Your hands came up to his shoulders, grounding yourself.

there was a heat spreading through your body and you weren’t cold anymore. This explains why he had been so weird earlier, because he was waiting to admit this to you.

“Does that seem delusional to you?” He asked when you pulled your head away from his shoulder.

You shook your head, hoping he couldn’t tell how flustered you were at the whole experience.

He looked down at the jacket that he had been holding onto in his free hand the whole time and lifted it up so you could see it, “Take my jacket,”

You nodded your head this time, not trying to fight him this time. Derek slung it over your shoulders, it smells like him.

You smiled up at him like this was the best day of your life and he only made it better with the words that slipped from his mouth afterwards at the sight of your joy, “I’m taking you to dinner tonight, you tell them all that, let ‘em whisper,”

You always thought that you had been the one in control but maybe he was the mastermind the whole time, and now you were his and he was yours.

[moonlit-imagines]

Broken Curse

Peter Parker x reader

warnings:

a/n: idk this was supposed to be an entirely different fic when i started but now its very different

prompt:

Peter always held himself back. Everyone could see it. Everyone except him.

All those wasted opportunities because of those powers, but that’s all he thought he was good for now. He could have been so much more if he didn’t dedicate himself to Spider-Man. Right now he could be in college or working a job ehere he could make a real difference. But instead, he was living all on his lonesome in some run-down apartment, a ghost of his former self.

So now no one saw him. No one saw how much he held himself back because no one ever noticed him. In his new life, he kept to himself. No people to disappoint with his lost potential, no one noticed him anymore and maybe that was for the best.

You were in his thoughts, though. Mourned daily and nightly in regret of his mistakes. He sat there connecting all those things that went wrong. From becoming Spider-Man to an Avenger, trusting people he shouldn’t have, taking shortcuts and wasting precious time. He lost you and everyone he ever loved.

What hurt him most was seeing you from time to time, but as luck would have it, you’d managed to move into his building. A fate worse than death for Peter.

“Y/N?” He asked in the hallway without realizing. A stranger had just called to you.

“I…I’m sorry, do I know you?” You chuckled, which Peter knew was a nervous habit and you were a bit uncomfortable.

“N-No. Sorry.” He paused. “I was guessing. Not guessing your name, that’d be weird. The landlord told me about a new neighbor, I haven’t seen you yet so I was assuming that was you. Y/N, right?” Peter rambled out a reasonable lie to convince you he wasn’t a stalker. Maybe he was, he didn’t know if it counted when magic spells were involved.

“Oh. I guess that makes more sense.” You shrugged. “Yes, I’m y/n…and you are..?”

“Peter. Peter Parker.” He gave an awkward introduction. “Apartment 20.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Peter.” You told him. “I hate to cut this short, but I have to do some unpacking.” You began to walk away, but Peter was desperate to keep this going. He hadn’t spoken to you in months, and although you may not know who he is in this moment, he was the boy you fell in love with and he still loved you with all his heart.

“If, uh, you need some help moving anything, I’ll be here.” He timidly offered. You stopped in your tracks and took a moment to think.

“Actually, I could use some help with some furniture. The movers just left everything in my living room.” You explained and he smiled. “What?”

“You have a living room?” He laughed and you joined in, catching that his apartment was probably a bit smaller than your own. “I can definitely help you with all that, lead the way.” He was a bit disappointed you’d accept help from a stranger so easily, but he didn’t know that something felt familiar about him. You just felt he was trustworthy and genuine. That was it.

You’d initiated some small talk while moving the couch to the correct wall, the bed frame and mattress to the bedroom, and some shelves and tables wherever they might go, maneuvering around heaps of boxes labeled with all sorts of goofy writing. He liked the “BEDROOM BULLSHIT” box the most. But as he moved around your relatively nicer apartment, he noticed a stuffed animal that had fallen on the floor. A stuffed animal he had actually gotten for you several years ago. “Hey,” he picked the little bear up, “this was just laying on the floor. Cute.” Peter commented in some unsuspecting way.

“Oh, yeah, I can’t even remember where I got that thing. I’ve had it forever, can’t bring myself to get rid of it. It’s too cute to get rid of anyways, look at him.” You reached for the bear in his hand and when your hand connected with its soft fur, you felt an overwhelming sensation, this sickness inside as your head began spinning.

“Are you okay? Y/N?” Peter urgently asked, hesitant to make any startling movements. Your gaze jolted back to him and there was a much different look in your eyes than in the moments before. Softer.

“This can’t be real.” You mumbled. “It was you all along.”

“What?” He had no idea how to respond.

“Peter Benjamin Parker.” You spoke his full name. “I love you.”

taglist: @alwaysananglophile // @locke-writes // @sweetheartlizzie07 // @queen-destenie // @johnmurphyisqueer // @captainshazamerica // @ravenmoore14 // @canarypoint // @procrastinatingsapphictrash // @swanimagines // @randomfandomimagine // @petersgroupie // @summersimmerus // @scarthefangirl // @bad4amficideas // @sheridans-dynamos // @simsrecs // @prettysbliss // @skdkdkckfk // @simp-legend // @wild-rose-35 // @nekoannie-chan // @evilcr0ne // @v0idl1nq // @ruvaakke // @thedarkqueenofavalon // @amirahiddleston // @beth-gallagher22 // @brutal-out-here // @rqmanoff // @elenavampire21 // @mymelodymia // @pheonixfire777 // @deanzboyfriend //

[edenalieth]

A FUZZY FEELING

Pairing: Minho x Y/N

Genre: strangers to lovers, fluff fluff fluff (ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

You found a small kitten during a rainy day, little did you know it would be the bond to your next romance…

Words: 5K 

A.N: hi guys! im still trying to write more often huhu so here is a minho fluff! im not really used to write full fluff so your opinion truly matters to me (reblog and comments are very much appreciated). english not being my first language, i apologize for the possible mistakes… a big thank you to my friend maria and enjoy ;) — 230831

The rain was pouring outside. Why didn’t you bring a damn umbrella ? It’s not like you didn’t check the weather forecast on your phone before going out. Apparently, the 40% chances of downpour didn’t convince you and you didn’t want to clutter your small hand bag with such a big object… Now, you were looking awfully foolish. 

Your clothes were getting wet, your hair were a mess, all of this only because of that stupid guy you met on an app and didn’t show up. Yes. It was a shitty day. 

You were grumbling, each steps you took on the sidewalks soaking your sneakers. You needed to find a place to hide, at least for a bit. You would have preferred to go home quick, not wanting to show yourself to anyone looking like this, but you could feel your hands and feet getting cold. 

The place you were at was thankfully crowded with different shops and one especially caught your eyes. It was a pretty small café, a little bit hidden behind some trees. Warm light was coming from it and you could see people happily seeping on their drinks, eating some delicacies and chatting. This would be perfect ! Hastily walking towards it, already thinking about the hot drink you would order, you put a halt to your run when you heard some muffled noises. They sounded familiar to you and you were wondering where they were coming from. Checking your surroundings, you couldn’t see anything. You were about to give up when you heard them again. Small meows. Following them, you almost stumbled over a little dirty plushie. At least, this is what you thought it was until you saw it trembling, small pointy ears dressed on its head, its tail enclosing its frail body. It was a kitten. 

Its orange and white fur was sticking and it was crying out for help, probably looking for its mom, shivering against the pavement. Apparently, someone was having a rough day too… Moved by the small creature, you crouched down to analyze the situation. 

« Hi little thing » you softly said. « Why are you here ? » you talked to the cat as if it was about to answer you any time. You scoffed at the thought of it. It didn’t seem to be hurt, there wasn’t any blood or weird swelling. However, rain wasn’t giving you a break and was getting heavier. Your muscles were getting stiff, you had to make a decision quickly. You weren’t sure if it was okay for you to pick it up like this. Its mom was probably going to be disturbed by the unknown scent on her baby, on the other hand, leaving it near the road wasn’t an option either. 

Stretching the fabric of your jacket, you carefully grabbed the kitten, who didn’t show an ounce of resistance, too weak and cold to do so. It was literally fitting in the palm of your hand, the sight of it making your heart break a bit… You noticed a space between two shops which seemed to be dry enough for the little guy. It would be safe under those bushes until its mom would find it. You put it down delicately, dirt already staining its fur and gave a little pat between its ears to reassure it. « Here you go! I’m sure your mom will come back soon. Good luck little one ». 

Saying you were feeling guilty was an understatement, even more after hearing it meowing again… You had to pull yourself together, you had made the best choice. You couldn’t just pick it up and bring it home in case its mom would come back. It was better to wait for few days. You just hoped that, if it was left alone, a kind soul would find it again and help. Giving it one last glanced, you waved at him and went back towards you first destination: the café. 

As you opened the door, you were welcomed by the sound of small bells and warm brown eyes. The man behind the bar was cleaning some cups with a towel, the sleeves of his black shirt rolled up, staring right at you. He put down his stuff and came to greet you. 

«  Welcome. For one person ? », he asked, a soft smile on his face. « Yes please », you answered. The barista gestured you to follow him to a table and handed you the menu for you to choose. You thanked him as he walked away to take care of the other customers. Unzipping your jacket, you put it on the back rest, hoping it would dry fast. Bringing your attention back to the menu, you were absent-mindedly looking at it. Your brain was fuzzing with questions and worries about the stray cat. Was it really ok to leave it like that ? Maybe you should go back and take it to the vet… But, if its mom was close it would be cruel to take her baby away. 

Biting your nails and lost into your thoughts, you didn’t even notice that the auburn haired boy was back. 

« Did you make your choice ? », he was holding a pen, unconsciously taping on a notebook, his cat like eyes questioning you, his head slightly tilted to the side. He was curiously looking at you, his brows slightly furrowed. Taken aback by his question, you vaguely answered. «  Hmm… I will take a hot chocolate and… hmm… whatever cake you think would go along with it. Thank you. » 

« Then I would recommend the pistachio and raspberry tart » he offered, waiting for your approval. « Perfect ! ». He nodded and grabbed the menu you were handing him before going back to the bar, not without a last glance to your table. After several minutes, the brown haired man came back with your order. You gladly took it and tried to enjoy it, however, your stomach was kind of tied with a knot at the memory of the frail wet cat. Despite your reluctance, the hot chocolate going down your throat felt like a relief. You could feel your entire system getting its energy back sip after sip and you thanked the heavens for putting this place on your path. You would have to come back in a less miserable state and not with a mind full of worries. 

Time went by and you had to go home. You were still thinking of what you could do. Maybe you could come back the next day to check on the animal ? With your job schedules it might be a bit difficult but that would be better than nothing. 

Looking out the window, the rain hadn’t stop at all… Never mind. One last run towards the bus stop wouldn’t be so bad. A soft voice startled you « Was everything fine ? », he asked while clearing your table and the fact that you barely touched the pie didn’t go unnoticed. « Oh! You didn’t like it ? I’m sorry, I should have recommended something more simple maybe… » You stopped him « No! Not at all! It was delicious! » 

Visibly relieved by your statement, he continued « Then, would you like me to pack it for you to bring at home ? ». You accepted, thankful on how thoughtful the man was. Following him to the countertop to pay the bill, you thought about this word again: thoughtful. Maybe you could ask him to keep an eye on the cat ? It was a bit inappropriate to do so, after all, he had his job and probably a ton of things to do after that… Yet, the way he was patiently gazing at you, clumsily looking for your credit card, made you think it would be fine. 

« Can I ask you something ? You, obviously can say no, I wouldn’t mind » you said sheepishly. The man was visibly curious. Were you going to ask for his number ? Was it why you seemed a bit embarrassed around him ? He was full of expectations but probably not that one. « Of course ! » 

You were kind of fidgeting while paying the bill. « Well, I have came across a small kitten earlier and I’m really worried about it… Its mom wasn’t around and it was trembling. Do you mind looking for it ? I let it near your store, under the bushes so it could dry. » Visibly surprised by your request, he quickly tried to keep his composure and hide the slight deception. « Where exactly did you let it ? » he asked smiling as an even brighter smile was forming on your face. You started to describe the exact spot you let it and thanked the man a hundred times for his help. « No worries, I have three cats myself » he laughed. 

You were about to leave when he noticed that he forgot to give you the tart. « Miss, wait! » he stopped you, gently grabbing your wrist. « You forgot this and please take this as well ». In his hand was the food bag and an umbrella. You tried to politely decline the offer but he insisted, saying the pie would go to waste otherwise. You blushed a little, profusely thanked him and went to catch the bus. 

The umbrella was a blessing and you thought that, maybe, he was an angel who helped to make your day better. You would have to return it to him as soon as possible and ask him about the stray kitten. You didn’t even know his name… 

Finally, the bus appeared and you jumped inside it. Sitting comfortably, you put your hands inside your jacket’s pockets when your fingers came across a paper that wasn’t there before. Intrigued, you pulled it out to see what it was. Handwritten on it was a phone number with a message: « Please call me so I can give you news of your furry friend — Minho Lee ». A weird little drawing was next to it, it looked like a strange face. You giggled. Lee Minho. Here was the name of your helper. Your heart felt warm at the idea of him taking care of the cat and got you happy the whole ride. 

✧✧✧

« Where the hell are you running to ? » asked your coworker. « I have an appointment! » You half screamed while heading to the exit. It was the end of your schedule and one thing kept you going the whole day: you were going to see the kitten. You waved them goodbye, your bag in one hand, Minho’s umbrella in the other. 

Last night, you did call him. It was kind of awkward at first and very polite, until you heard his cats meowing, asking for their food. Minho seemed a bit overwhelmed and couldn’t keep up with your small talk. He apologized and hang up. Few days passed and you had exchanged some messages with the café worker. He sent you a picture of a cardboard shelter he made, where you could see some old blankets, milk and food, then some messages to plan your meeting. He also reassured you saying that your friend wasn’t cold anymore but its mom hadn’t showed up. You were worriedly looking at your screen when you received another text from Minho. 

| minho lee: fluffy boy is waiting for you! 

A picture was attached to it. It was kinda blurry, the kitten was probably moving around, but you could see the orange and white fur of it which looked like a cotton ball. Asking for the man’s help had been the best idea. After 40 minutes, you finally arrived to destination. A panel with the word « closed » was hanging on the front door. Getting closer of the glass you used your hands as a shield to look inside. Minho was actively sweeping the floor but as soon as he turned around he gestured for you to come. You entered the café, once again welcomed by the bells’ symphony. 

« Give me a second, I’m almost done » he asked, one finger up to emphasize his sentence. 

« No problem, I’m sorry to bother at this moment of the day… » 

« Yea, you’re right. You’ve been a bother from the start » he jokingly said. You looked at him and sticked your tongue out. He shook his head and rolled his eyes at your childish behavior but, deep inside, he could feel his heart beating a bit faster. It only had been less than a week since you met each other, however, he wanted to talk to you every day and felt strangely close to you. Things were still pretty formal but he could see that you were slowly opening up. 

« Ok! I think everything is done! We can go. » he stated, both of his hands on his hips, looking around as a last check. 

« Where are we going already ? » you gently asked, following him as you were leaving the place. « To Sondonri association. It’s where I let the kitten. Its mom didn’t show up and it was visibly loosing weight… » he closed the door and went to the parking behind the shop. « I would have kept it with me if I wasn’t so busy with work… » this last sentence was more of a murmur and you could see a wrinkle on his forehead. He had been worried.  

You took place on the passenger seat while the brown haired boy was starting the car to drive you to destination. During the trip, you talked about your day and he also told you that the association you were going to was the same one where he adopted his three cats (or his sons as he liked to call them). Soon enough, you were in front of the association… which was closed. 

« Wait ? What time is… Oh… », his mouth was forming a small cercle, letting his bunny teeth slightly showing. Minho was clearly dumbfounded as he looked at the hour on his watch. It was passed 7:30pm. 

« Don’t tell me you didn’t check the opening hours ? » you looked at him, half laughing, half sarcastic but the man was remaining silent. 

« It happens to the best of us, ok ? I was s-sure it was closing at 8! » he stuttered, hopelessly trying to defend himself. He frowned and his ears were turning red, embarrassed by the situation and you couldn’t help but laugh. You put a compassionate hand on his shoulder. 

« Yea sure. » you rolled your eyes. « But I owe you one, so why don’t we go eat somewhere ? ». Your offer seemed to surprise him and the redness of his ears was spreading through his cheeks. You couldn’t really tell tho, the dusky light distorting his real skin tone. « Exactly, so be more respectful. » Minho scoffed and you gently pushed him with your shoulder. He flashed you a mischievous grin and you realized how handsome he was. Of course, you noticed that since day one. Still, the more you learnt to know him, the more you found him beautiful inside and out. You especially liked his funny and devoted personality, as well as his cat like eyes, his manly hands (they seemed really soft!) and his li-… Wait a minute. Your thoughts were running a bit too wild and your friend was looking at you, confused by your sudden change of emotion. You made him turn over to go back to the car, which he followed not without a hint of hesitation and asking on where you were going to have a diner. But honestly, you had no idea… You ended up going to the closest konbini, eating ramyeon at the store, drinking and enjoying the evening. You discovered that he had a sweet spot for pudding. 

« Pudding ? Really ? » 

« What ? Is it that weird for a man to like sweet things ? » he side eyed you, still eating his desert with a pout. 

« I don’t know, you work at a café. I was expecting something else, I guess ». 

« Maybe but sometimes simple things are the best » Minho stated with a proud face. And he was right. This evening was pretty simple. You both here, eating and talking about your lives, learning to know each other, talking about your furry friend. It truly was the best. 

« Are you sure you don’t want me to drive you home ? » he offered for the nth time. 

« Yes, don’t worry. I’m not really far. » you reassured him even if he wasn’t completely ok with it. 

« Mmh… Fine. But send me a text, you know, just to be sure you didn’t get into a weird situation or something. ». The brown haired man was intensely staring at you, as a warning. « I promise ».

As soon as you arrived, you kept your words. 

| you: im still alive! 

| minho: ugh, guess I will have to bear with you a bit longer then

| you: meanie…

| minho: :p

Removing, your jacket and putting your bag on the coffee table, you realized that you totally forgot to return his umbrella. Thankfully, you were seeing each other at the association tomorrow and, this time, you would be able to see the rescued cat. 

| you: at which hour tomorrow ? and, please, dont mess it up this time

| minho: tch! you loved spending time with me! 

His words made your heart flutter, it was true. You really enjoyed your time together.

| minho: let’s say around 11am, sounds good for you ? 

| you: perfect! see you tomorrow then, good night! 

| minho: g’night y/n 

This night, you could barely sleep. Your head was filled with his face, his smile, his voice calling your name… Holding your pillow tight, you tossed it aside while facing the feeling, a sweet feeling blooming in your heart. 

✧✧✧

You were awake at 7 this morning, too excited to keep sleeping. What was happening to you ? Getting over excited like a teenager. You were impatient to see the kitten, you hoped it was in a better shape than the last time you saw it. You were also impatient to see Minho. Where you having a crush ?… Uh. Definitely. The ringtone of your phone startled you. 

| minho: yo y/n ! you up ? 

You hastily took the phone and answered. 

| you: yup! Slept well ? 

| minho: woaaa, you answered faster than usual. can’t wait to see kitty cat ? 

His comment made you blush a little. Thank god he wasn’t there or he would have teased you for that. 

| you: yes :( it’s like my baby 

| minho: i understand, felt the same for my sons. ok, let’s meet at the association then, see you 

At 10am, you were more than ready to go and arrived even a bit in advance. Now that it was broad daylight, you could see many dogs behind the fences, enjoying their time outside. Some people were there to adopt some of the animals, others were probably caretakers. You were absorbed by the scenery, when you felt that weird feeling telling you someone was watching you. When you turned around, a smily Minho was there. 

« You truly are impatient to see the cat » he said while walking up to you. 

« What about it ? Are you jealous I don’t give you the same attention ? » you teased. « Hmm, maybe ». He passed next to you as you were stunned by his words. Quickly coming back to your senses you followed him inside. 

You were welcomed by two women and one of them seemed to know the brown haired man pretty well. 

« Minho! It’s good to see you! How is the café going ? Are your parents fine ? And your cats ? » she asked with a soothing voice. She was middle-aged and exhaled literal kindness, the type of perfect mom you see in series. « Everything is going great, thank you so much. I came with my friend to see the kitten I brought early this week ». He stepped aside so he could properly introduce you to the women. « Oh my! You’re the lady who saved this baby. Thank you for your help, I can’t imagine what would have happened to it if you didn’t help it… » she shook her head, picturing the worst. « Come, I will bring you to it » the woman gestured for you to go with her, which you did. 

You entered a room which probably was a nursery. Lots of kitten were sleeping or playing together but, as soon as your eyes landed on its white and orange fur, you could tell that it was your cat. You gasped and repeatedly tapped on Minho’s arm. He sighed at your behavior but he was truly amused by it. 

« Can I go see it ? » you politely ask to the worker. « Of course! Be careful of the other ones, they might want to climb on you » she prevented. And she was right. As soon as you crouched down, some of the cats hide behind the cat trees or boxes, while some others were really curious. They were sniffing your clothes, trying to climb on your legs and you decided to sit down so you could be more stable. Unfortunately, the rescued kitten seemed too scared to come close. 

Your friend joined you and tried to lure the cat with a toy. Moving it close to it, the colored feathers of the stick seemed to catch its attention. You could see its pupils getting rounder, its small body ready to jump and lightly wiggling. It attacked the toy and did it again.

« What are you doing ? » you asked when Minho started to move the feathers closer to you. « Shh, just trust me ». You weren’t so sure of his tactics until it paid off. The cotton ball was happily playing with the toy on your legs, biting its feathers and trying to catch it with its claws. You heart melted at the view of it. It had gained weight since the last time you saw it, you could tell that it was happy and healthy. « It truly worked! ». Your friend looked at you with a smug face and leaned towards you. You felt his fingers brushing over yours, chill going down your spine and it created an eye contact. You were both staring at each other, Minho’s gaze trailing along your face features until he quickly removed his hand. « S-sorry, I didn’t realize we were that closed » he apologized with a sheepish look. « It’s fine! » you almost squeaked that sentence and swore in your mind for being so easy to read. The brown haired boy acted as if nothing happened, still playing with the kitten. However, his ears betrayed him once again because of their bright red color. 

You kept playing a bit more with the cats before you had to go back home. 

You both thanked the workers and told them you would come back soon. 

Once outside, you stretched and sighed in content. « Fuzzy seems happy ! Did you see how playful it is ? It was adorable ! » you were toddling gently and humming. 

« Fuzzy ? » you friend raised an eyebrow. « Yes, the kitten. » you replied. « That’s plain as fuck. » he deadpanned. « Did I ask ? » you turned around to face him with challenging eyes. « Maybe you should have ». 

Your faces were now so close that you could feel his breath on your cheeks. Heart racing, palms getting moist and you still couldn’t look away, totally captivated by his gaze. Oh, you looked gorgeous to him and the contact you made earlier this day made his stomach tingle in the most delicious way. Too busy looking at Fuzzy, you didn’t even notice how Minho gave you all his attention, how he loved seeing all your facial expressions, how he loved your laugh, your face, your curves. He was getting greedy. Greedy to be part of your life and be able to be just as close as you were right now or even more. 

You gulped and created a diversion. « Here. Your umbrella ! I forgot to give it back to you last time ». 

Minho looked at it and took it, brushing your hand in the process. The shivers were back. « Thanks Y/N, glad it helped you. But you still owe me. » 

« What ? I paid for last time dinner ! » you protested, crossing your arms in front of your chest. A mischievous smile was adorning the man’s face. « A bit weak for someone who saved your kitten and gave you his umbrella. ». He was expecting and, gullible, you fell into his trap. 

« Hmph. What do you want from me Lee Minho ? » you asked, suspicious. « I’m going to think about it. » he then headed towards the bus stop you previously used. Running after him, you called his name but he wasn’t answering. He didn’t want to break the game he was putting in place.

✧✧✧

Days went by and you still didn’t know what he wanted. He teased you a lot about it, saying you had to be kind and obedient until he would find out. Except, that you weren’t. 

You grew to know each other more deeply, you crush for him getting stronger and often came to visit him to spend time together such as: visiting your furry friend or just wondering around the city after work. This evening was no exception to the rule as you were walking along the river. 

« I’m still waiting for my penalty ».

« A penalty ? » he sneered « You mean the price of your debt, right ? ». You sticked your tongue out and nudged him. « Come on. There must be something. » 

Minho stopped and you bumped into him. « What the… » 

« There is something. » he announced. You rubbed your lightly bruised nose and asked « Spill it! Why are you being so secretive ? ». 

« You would grant me anything ? » his face was totally serious and you didn’t know if you had to laugh or be scared right now. « If by granting, you mean being your servant for the rest of my life, that’s an absolute no ». He broke into a smile before answering « No, silly. It’s something else. » 

« Just say it, Minho ! » you sighed. « Is a kiss too much ? », his voice was soft and he tried to keep his composure despite his heart beating so hard he was afraid you could hear it. You felt your blood rushing to your cheeks. Did you hear that well ? You were used to his jokes and you could tell when he wasn’t playing. And he wasn’t. Too startled to speak, you simply nodded, holding your breath in anticipation. Minho stepped closer, a brand new glow shining in his beautiful eyes. His hand traveled to cup your face, his gaze glued to your lips. « I need an answer, Y/N. Is a kiss too much ? ». You whined. Why was he like this ? «��Kiss me already, Lee Minho. » He tenderly smirked and closed the gap between you. He first kissed your cheeks as you were putting your arms around his waist. He then went to the corner of your mouth, teasing you till the last second before you could fully feel his lips on yours. It felt warm and soft, just like taking a nap in a sunny room or savoring the sweetest delicacy. 

You pushed your body against his and deepened your kiss. You would never get tired of this and you could feel the emotions, that you diligently took care of, were fully blooming into your stomach. You both stopped to catch your breath, Minho still cupping your face, his forehead resting against yours. You felt at peace with him. « You’re a good kisser Y/N Y/L/N» he stated, brushing his nose with yours. « What made you even doubt of it ? ». He laughed and laced his fingers with yours. « Let’s head home ». 

During the way back, you both couldn’t stop looking at each other, smiling like idiots and kissing from time to time. You loved it, feeling like you were falling in love for the first time again. 

« Here we are », Minho had walked you home and was about to part way when you held him back, grabbing his jacket. « Do you want to s-sleep here ? » you offered. His eyes widened a bit but his actions spoke for himself when he entered your apartment, a tender smile on his face. 

✧✧✧

The next day, your eyes were welcomed by a sleepy Minho next to you. You caressed his bare back before preparing breakfast. You didn’t have much at your house and tried to make it as good as possible. When he woke up, his hair were all messy and he was walking with his eyes half-closed. « Morning » he said with a raspy voice. « Hi ». Wow. How did you manage to pull a man like him and be able to call him yours ? Wait. Was he even yours ? You didn’t clearly talk about your feelings or what you wanted to do next. Realization made you a bit gloomy but it was soon soothed by Minho’s kiss on the top of your head.

« Are we going to see Fuzzy today ? » he asked. 

« Yes and… You know what ? I’m going to adopt it. » you were determined. After all, you had created a special bond with this cat since day one and it was thank to that very same cat that you met this amazing boy. « It’s about time ! » he sarcastically answered. 

« But, before we go, I will have to go home and change. » the brown haired man stood up and started to pack his things. « I can accompany you, if you want » you were about to follow him when he stopped you. « No take your time and meet me to Sondonri when you’re ready » another kiss, « Thank you for the breakfast. » and he left. 

Two hours later, you were in front of the association and your boyfriend (?) was nowhere to be seen. 

| you: where r u ?

| minho ♡: come inside

When you entered, Minho was talking to one of the worker at the front desk. He gently grabbed your hand before inviting you to tell your request. 

« Good morning, I would like to adopt a kitten. »

« I guess it’s for the little male you kept visiting ? » the man asked, « One second please ». He was looking through the files of his computer when he started to frown. « I’m so sorry miss but it seems that it has been adopted earlier… ». You felt your heart sinking. « What ? Are you su-… ». You couldn’t finish your sentence that Minho let go your hand to join the middle-aged women you had seen multiple times. She was handing him a little ball of white and orange fur. Fuzzy ! You almost ran up to him, your vision getting blurry because of your tears. « Is… Is it the right cat ? » your throat was tight, waiting. « Yes and it’s all yours. I made the necessary steps before you arrived » he said, visibly satisfied by your reaction. Happy tears were rolling down your cheeks as you were patting the kitten’s head. Minho bowed a little and whispered « I like you, Y/N ». Half giggling, half crying, all you could say was « I thought you would never say it. ». He chuckled and softly hugged you, not to crush the small fluffy boy. 

You could tell the the kitten had found his new home, just as you found one in Minho. 

[convexicalcrow]

"How's that big salmon stuff going these days?" Cub asked. He had stopped by the farm to ask him about custom fireworks, and noticed the wide, deep river that now separated his farm from xB's place.

"Oh, it's going wonderfully, Cub. See this river? They're very happy with it, I can assure you," Beef said.

"Salmon wanting a river, that's hardly a surprise," Cub said.

Beef chuckled to himself. "Well, no, though I still don't really know why they wanted it, though. Maybe it was just to look pretty. And they are fish, after all."

Cub shrugged. "Yeah, I know that feeling."

"Did I heard you'd started covering your base with skulk? How's that working out for you?" Beef said. "Not possessed again, are we?"

"Pfft, nah, it just looks better than the grass, that's all. Makes all the bright colours stand out," Cub said.

"Sure, sure," Beef said.

"Just like you're not taking orders from a fish, hey?" Cub said.

Beef laughed this time. "I guess we both know what that kind of thing's like. Not that there's anything weird going on with the salmon. I just do what I'm told, and they wanted a river, so. I got False to make me one."

"No, of course not. Nothing weird going on here," Cub said. "We just do as we're told. The rewards make it worth it."

"Yeah, something like that," Beef said.

"Anyway, about those fireworks..."

-

Beef crouched by the river once Cub was gone, thinking. The salmon filled the river, the only fish he could see in the water. Something about them memerised him, watching their glistening bodies move effortlessly through the water.

Who'd have thought an offhand comment would lead to this? Not Beef. But stranger things had happened, so whatever. And if it helped him and Skizz go up against Doc and his sand nonsense, well. The solidarity was nice.

This wasn't...

Something about Cub had got him thinking, though. He wasn't- possessed, was he? No, that can't be it. Possessed was what Cub was, with the skulk. Not- no, you definitely couldn't be possessed by Big Salmon. Definitely not.

And yet, the question remained at the tip of his tongue, almost daring him to ask it. Perhaps he was in too deep. But what did it matter now? Big Salmon would take care of him.

-

Cub felt the echoes of something in the water as he swam across. He saw the salmon and smiled, thinking nothing more of them. If Beef wanted to serve some fish, well. That was his decision to make. He wasn't any different, right? He wasn't possessed by the skulk this time. It was different. There'd be no need to call on Pix and False to splash him with every potion known to the world to cure him.

But the skulk still whispered. Cub was scared of it at first. Wardens were dangerous creatures, and he'd decided to mine straight into an ancient city. He felt that was not a random act. The skulk had drawn him in, for reasons unknown, and now he was in their thrall again.

He'd been afraid of that, to be honest. Knew all along they were lurking, waiting, lying dormant until the right moment. Perhaps now was the right moment, he thought, as he continued to spread skulk across the grass, watching it shrivel and die as the skulk took over. It spread a silent darkness across his base, one that made the base feel much more ominous.

Why was that important? Cub didn't know. Didn't question it. Continued to simply harvest all the skulk from the ancient city and spread it up here instead. As if he was bringing it to life out here. And, sure, placing it seemed fine, but he'd felt the sheer joy when he'd spread it by killing Scar. Scar had felt it too. They didn't mind killing each other for sport anyway, so it was fine. It was fun to see how far it spread.

-

Cub thought about Beef's river. Beef thought about the salmon. False cradled her rivers safely in her briefcase. Gem did her best to hide the horrors that lay under the water in her base. Grian had never been the same since the fishing took hold. Maybe....

Beef stared at the river. Reached down to touch the water, felt one of the salmon nip at his fingers as if it was expecting food. He offered it some meat from his farm, numb to the sight of it feeding from his hands, tearing the flesh apart.

Maybe- Maybe Cleo was right. Maybe there's something about the water this season. Or-

-

Cub sunk his fingers into the skulk, sighing in relief as the skulk brought him radiant calm. Yes. Yes. The skulk whispered. Cub closed his eyes. Gasped at the vision the skulk sent him of how his base will look. Smiled as Scar killed him, his life sacrificed to the skulk as it snaked out around him, spreading further and further. All would be skulk. All will be skulk. He would make sure of that.

[ask-a-rare-person]

My xeno gender + Neo pronoun manifesto

Ok so, a lot of people(understandably) don’t really get neos/xenos. It’s super complicated, different for everyone, and there’s not a lot of us around anyways. It feels like most people’s (including mine) first exposure to the community is usually phramed in a “woah look at how wirrd this is!” Type setting that doesn’t explore why we do what we do. Also this is an ask based blog, questions are extremely welcome!

I first should define what xeno genders and Neo pronouns even are.

Xeno genders: genders that fall outside of how we traditionally think of gender. It’s a way of thinking that rejects femininity and masculinity in its traditional forms, and is often neglected all together.

Neo pronouns: pronouns that are not she, he, or they. It pronouns are kinda on the cusp simply because they are not typically affirm in to most people and are therefore unconventional in their own right.

I got involved in xenogenders after i accepted myself as trans. It took me a long time, and a lot of that was due to my very self-distructive veiw of lables.

See, the last time I’d had to do lable searching was when I was 12 years old and trying to figure out if I was lesbain, bi, pan, etc.

I had an extremely restrictive veiw of sexuality labels, and I agonized if I was really attracted to boys or not. Same with nonbinary people. I, being 12 and stupid, thoight that bi and pan were extremely districtive lables and that if I was attracted to NBs I couldn’t be bi. Not to mention, I thought that nonbinary even had a “look” in the first place.

Somehow, i concluded I was bi. And I still use that label to this day. Even though I’m attracted to NBs. lol. But it wasn’t easy to get to that point. I had daily meltdowns where I destroyed my room and would then do the humiliating work of picking everything up while sniffling. It wasn’t healthy.

But I was 16 at the point I was finally ready to question my gender. I felt myself slipping into old habits almsot immediately. But I thankfully had the self awarness at this point to stop and think clearly about what I was doing.

With someone who has enough negitive momentum surrounding lable searching like I do, I can’t exactly expect all of this to go painlessly. But I also don’t have to activly make it worse for myself. I realzied that I believed I needed to find my “lable soulmate” and that I should not allow myself to rest until I find the one true lable.

So instead I decided to passivly watch my gender as neutirally as I possibly could. Without trying to name it anything, just watching.

I learned that I felt very masculine at that point, but alos that I noticed fluidity in both my gender and gender presentation. But what suprized(and scared) me was how it was fluid. It coincided with the barometric pressure. I didn’t want to believe it. I knew what it would mean for me if it was true. I knew I’d be lonly, misunderstood, and might never find a word to describe how I feel. So I kept watching my gender “move.” Sometiems I wouldn’t even notice the pressure would change, just that my gender did. And my dad(has seasonal depression) would casually comment on the shift. Fuck.

I should probably mention now that I have quite a few conditions that are affected by the pressure too. And my others are of course impacted by my other disorders acting up so…I’m no stranger to feeling majorly off kilter when it rains or something. It also made sense how I never noticed my fluidity, I was always caught up with my symptoms. And dysphoria, I mean, it just felt like a miscellaneous symptom that could be from anything.

I’d been admiring xenogenders from afar for a couple years at that point…and I decided to take a look. I mean, my gender is already weird , right? It might as well be weird in a good way. On my terms. In any case, I felt so disconnected from the trans community at large due to my disabilities and odd gender and felt much more at home with the xeno gender ppl I saw online. That’s typical for me. I never really got along with normal people, and I’m ok with taht. Mostly.

I flourished. For the first time, lable searching wasn’t toruture. I was crying. I was throwing things. I wasn’t hating myself. For the first time I felt JOY doing this. It became a fun pass time looking at different flags, noticing the Latin roots tin lable names(I love Latin), it was like window shopping but I could have everything I wanted. There is no limit. No consept of “soul labels,” in fact its commen hoard even hundreds of genders.

I felt true freedom in my identity for the first time. I got to have whatever happened to speak to me in that moment and it hardly even felt like the choise. Or at least enough of a choice to trigger my terrible decision paralysis. It was truly amazing to experience. No lable had all the power in my identity, in fact power wasn’t even the point. Just words that feel good. Flags too, they were the biggest deciding factor. Suddenly it felt like my dyslexia was accommodated in a conversation I had never realized it wasn’t.

Suddenly I veiwed genders not as attempting to articulate consepts in ways I’d never otherwise articulate them, and were put into MY language. Metaphor. Colors. Tastes. Feelings. Memories. Ideals. All the abstract goings ons in my mind no longer needed to be translated. They could simply just “be.”

Metaphor is probably my favorite aspect of xenogenders. It’s how I best express myself. Ever sense I was 3 I had to explain medically impossible symptoms to docters who had no idea what I was talking about. So i used metaphor. Over and over and over. And now, I can’t imagine not using metaphor. About anything. I struggle not to use them. And now I had a place to use them.

The genders I chose to hoard can be found here but they mostly boil down to:

Sun + light themed

Fairy + pagen + nature themed

The endless combinations of boy, girl, and nonbinary that may incidentally fit me due to my fluidity

For reason #1, this is segnifigant because both my birth first and middle name are light/sun related and I always strongly identified with them before I stopped repressing my dysphoria.

Also, the sun is often used as a symbol of divine masculine. I really like that because it is masculinity without the consepts of physical bodies or my current gender identity getting in the way. It’s just…masculine. In complete, beautiful isolation.

I would also like to say that, after coming out as transgender to my fellow spirtual cirlce, a commen response is that we are all beings of light. And, to be honest, when someoen asks my gender I wish I could just say “I am a being of light.”

For reason #2, it is of course related to my faith as well. Turns out, when you tell a bunch of tree hugging hippies that your gender changes based on one of the Earth cycles, they will treat you as if you were graced with a rare gift. I have also been told that it brings me closer to the faries and nature. I mean thsi genuinely when i say that the spiritual ppl in my neck of the woods are more accepting than the LGBTQ community. No discorce, no need to justify anything, etc. just love, man.

And, well, I think reaosn #3 is pretty self explanatory. My fluidity is much less of a light swtich between “boy” and “girl” but more like a constantly changing gender blob that lazily makes its way across multiple gender territories at a time to various extremes.

Now on to the Neo pronouns!

So I use one set of Neo pronouns, jusr fae/faer. I won’t reiterate my connection to fae, but I do have another reason I connect with fae/faer.

It was actually the reason I started using them in the first place. See, when I was in fourth grade, I discovered the wonderful world of gay ships. As in, male x male. Me, convinced I was just a girl, had no idea why I was drawn to them. But I was completely obsessed. It turns out that attraction hits the same as hyperfixation. So I jsut assumed it was hyperfixaiton, not a budding attraction to men that was inherently queer. As well as a strong connection to the effeminate, shy, characters that were always swept off their feet by strong masculine ones.

My intrest in twinks and effeminate men was always sort of curious to me. Because I had no…intentions? I was drawn to them but not because I wanted to kiss them or date them or anything like that. When I was finally exploring my gender I realized that I wanted to BE them. I saw my pre hrt self in those fem guys and I was floored by how sought after they were by the other male love interest. Their gender nonconformity was not seen as weird but as an inherent plus. And their awkwardness was seen as cute, not weird either. Yes, I was the wierd kid. Moving on.

So, anyways. I found that I was drawn to fae/faer because I felt that it honored my gender’s inharent connection to being a queer man without necessarily needing my current gender to line up with it. Because, at the end of the day, gay romance shaped my gender development in a huge way. And that influence on my life won’t vanish the second I stop being a boy.

Before I go, I want to dispel a commen misconception. People often assume that we demand others use our Neopronouns. And I want to come out and say we don’t. Because you know what? Most of us are mentally disabled. And if there is anyone who understands just who difficult learning a new skill is, it’s us. We don’t expect others to use them at all. And any small effort is seen as a miricle to us. So please, if you feel like being extra nice, go for it! But you don’t have to. 99% of us will have at least one set of conventional pronouns you can use instead.

Hope this cleared some things up! And as I said questions are incouraged!

[k-fangirledits]

APPRECIATION POST ヾ(＠⌒ー⌒＠)ノ(*/ω＼*)

Special Shout Out To My DOAK aka Diary of a Wimpy Kid PEOPLE

I appreciate all of you so much! Thank you again for noticing the posts and just interacting with my blog in general. It's been a few years since I've made gifs and have been active here and the fact that y'all still use my gifs in your RP's or your fanfictions or your headcannons etc. that just absolutely blows my mind that you still interact with my blog somehow even though I hadn't posted in a couple to a few years!

I am so so so grateful to see how many stories my gifs have been chosen to be put into and I will actually take the time to go back and read them once I find them and book mark them! I am just mind-blown that y'all are still able to search gifs and mine still pop up!

It seems silly but I really have such bad imposter syndrome with anything and everything I do and it takes me a while to process everything and to be able to do posts like this.

Also yes I went through my activity list within the passed couple of weeks for this year (2024) to be able to make sure I got everyone tagged. In a different post I will be going through all the gif sets and making another appreciation post to those of you that have supported and interacted all of the DOAK gif sets and posts that I have made over the years. You guys are all so flipping awesome and I can't believe I still get interactions on gif sets I made YEARS AGO to this very day! It's so crazy how active this fandom still is but I am so proud that it's still active!

If you guys want more gifs or want to be included in taglists for future gif sets of anyone in DOAK as the characters (or cast) or anyone else (in general) let me know. I do take requests for fanfictions, role plays, etc. whatever you need gif images for I'll do it. It might just take me a bit of time but I will always make sure I get to it.

You all have made my absolute year just for interacting with my small little blog so it does make me absolutely sentimental. You are appreciated even if you think it was just a small or automatic thing to like or reblog or comment etc. I just wanted to show y'all how much I appreciate every single one of you.

Now before I go, I gotta get through all the other fandoms as well that have been interacting with my blog since I decided that this week is gonna be my appreciation week for everyone that has interacted with my blog since I began to become more regularly active again.

Thank you again loves... and I hope you have a wonderful time of day or night that you see this post. Also please never be a stranger, I am always willing to make new friends online. It's kinda hard in young adulthood to figure out how to make friends ngl... but yeah, comment, dm, like, reblog, etc. I would like to interact with y'all too only if you're comfortable with that though, and if you're not that's okay and hope you aren't too weirded out by my extremely sentimental appreciation post towards y'all.

Taglist from 2024 Activity Notes as early as March

Likes & Interactions Taglist:

@luluartpop | @studiotriggerfan397 | @elevatorkissesxoxo | @loadeddiperdrummer | @crystical33 | @shaybot12 | @some-good-juju | @alexkorn | @slayerfxx | @rejectedbat | @chillbaby666 | @1h3yad0r3m8m8 | @rodrickruleslmao | @riddlbot | @avvidarkfem | @heffleyzzn

Reblogs Taglist:

@loadeddiperdrummer | @heffleyzzn

Added to Blogs Taglist:

@ch9rm thanks for adding my gif to your headcannon blog post! I'm happy that out of all the gifs on tumblr you decided mine was like good enough to add into the post. it seems silly and small but it does mean a lot. also oof, the NSFW part... I DIED. NGL, agh! definitely seems on brand for Rodrick!

@myobsessionishockstetter thanks for adding my gif of rodrick to your post from a few months back! I know there's a lot of gif creators out there that honestly can probably make better quality images- anyways, just wanted to say that I appreciate the fact you were able to find use for my image in your blog post! love the meme images you have there lol because it's so true. How did he never pull any of the hottest girls or anyone in general in the movies. The world may never know. like he is too attractive to not have pulled anyone but I guess movie writers needed to keep those things outta the storyline since it is all about Greg and not Rodrick... but still! other family/kids movies have an attractive older brother that was able to pull a lot of people in general and somehow still make it family/kid friendly.

@solaceofacube thanks for adding my gif of Rodrick to your blog post a while back ago. I haven't played the game, but from the image of the character that was added to the post that you reblogged a while back ago I mean it's an uncanny resemblance in my opinion. DOAK Devon Bostick/Rodrick Heffley definitely would be a great Andrew Graves! I can't unsee it!

@takenbypeter I commented on your story but honestly, since I am doing an appreciation post for everyone that has actively somehow interacted with my gif images and blog in general this year, I just wanted to thank you again for adding my gif to your prompt story/imagine! It's so flippin' good every time I read it! Also, yes I tend to go back and re-read it at times, it's just a masterpiece. SO CUTE AND THE FEELS! AGH I LOVE IT!

@lydiaxdd thanks for adding the drummer gif to your blog post that I made! ahaha I don't blame you for wanting to date anyone that looks like Devon Bostick/Rodrick Heffley. He is extremely attractive!

@cxsmiclore Thanks for adding my gif of Rodrick to your fanfics taglist! it's just really cool to see which images people tend to prefer of Rodrick for certain blogs and things of that sort.

@minawritesfanfic I know I commented on your story already as well but just wanted to say thanks again for adding my gif into your fanfic! I am in the middle of reading part 1 since things got a bit hectic while trying to read up on everything, and when I left the app it refreshed on me. But I really am excited to see what all leads up to Part 5 of Backyard Boy.

BONUS: Here is the masterlist to all of my TMR Gif Sets if y'all want to request any of the 3 movies for me to add, let me know and I will scrape some time to do that. Thank you again so much for all the support on the blog and these gifs. Y'all are awesome!

[vixxiu]

March 1815

What a delightful night!

It was an honor being invited to one of the famous Jane Austen balls, and Aziraphale wanted to take advantage of every minute he could spend in the presence of the great writer and her friends. He was in such a good mood, he was ready to perform some miracles if he got the chance to catch some humans pining for each other. He could feel love in the air.

Everyone was wearing their best attire and the whole mansion was decorated in the most exquisitely, and don’t even make Aziraphale start about the buffet! The canapés had been provided by a very talented chef that sometimes cooked even for the Queen of England herself.

Jane was an awesome host and Aziraphale was glad they managed to become good friends, as she walked with him in the big ballroom, whispering rumors in his ear about people Aziraphale never heard about before.

Everything was perfect and no one thing was weird or out of place.

At least until he noticed that his friend got distracted by someone on the other side of the room. He followed her gaze as Jane and a man exchanged a brief nod. One second later, the man had already disappeared, but not fast enough for Aziraphale to miss his yellow eyes.

The angel excused himself and moved quickly, walking in the direction where the man disappeared. Of course, there was no trace of the other, at least until he reached the door that led to the garden.

“Angel…”

Crowley was leaning against the wall. He was wearing a black elegant dress that complimented his slim figure, his eyes were twinkling with mischief and his lips were stretched in a smirk.

“You!” Aziraphale commented, while lightly punching the demon on his shoulder “What the hell are you doing here? I forbid you to tempt my friend Jane in any way”

Crowley laughed “Angel, dear, she needs no tempting…”

It was already weird that Jane and Crowley knew each other, but this reply was even stranger.

Aziraphale was so lost in his thoughts, wondering why two beings that seemed so different from each other could be close (seriously a demon and a writer who was considered the queen of romance and parties) that he didn’t realize Crowley had moved.

The demon was bowing with one of his arms extended, as if he was asking Aziraphale to hold his hands.

“I know you love silly dances, so would you like to give me a dance?”

Aziraphale felt his cheeks getting warmer and redder, and he couldn’t understand if it was for embarrassment or delight. He turned his head around, and only when he was sure all the guests were inside, he took Crowley’s hand and moved closer.

The music could be clearly heard from the inside and soon the angel started performing the right moves without missing a bit, while Crowley, well… Aziraphale didn’t know why he asked him to dance when it was so obvious, he had no idea what he was doing and probably it was the first time attempting at cotillon dancing. At least they didn’t have to be too close and therefore no feet got hurt.

Still, the air of the beginning of spring was chilly and it would have been nice, standing close to someone else…

When the song ended, they were standing one in front of the other, their faces just a few centimeters apart.

Damn it, sure those yellow eyes were nice and expressive. They would have looked strange to every human, but after so many centuries, Aziraphale grow fond of them. They were so representative of Crowley.

Weirdly, when the demon took a step forward, Aziraphale didn’t move. He didn’t want to move. As their faces got even closer, the angel felt his breath stopping, anticipating something that he couldn’t even name.

Crowley moved even nearer, his face almost buried in the other’s neck.

Aziraphale closed his eyes, ready for some kind of contact; any kind of contact was going to be welcomed at that point. But nothing came.

“See you soon, angel” Crowley whispered in his ear, before retreating rapidly and crossing the garden with quick steps.

Aziraphale was left there alone, feeling incredibly silly as his heart beat way too fast for this encounter not to mean anything.  

He let his hand cover his throbbing chest, before letting his finger slide down his waistcoat.

Wait a minute, there was something inside of his pocket. He didn’t put anything there, he was sure.                                                                                                                                                           

He reached inside with curiosity.

A diamond. The biggest diamond he had ever seen.

Damn it, he didn’t want anything stolen!

He knew the other was aware of that. He had to meet Crowley as soon as possible to give it back.

He didn’t even pretend he wasn’t excited about their future encounter.

[orange-ghost]

I think I'm the only New Yorker who doesn't hate the subway.

Don't get me wrong-- the people on here can be nuts. The delays suck. And it can be dangerous. But at the same time, they're a great spot for people-watching? And I think growing up on them taught me a lot.

When I was 13, I noticed that a lot of my peers didn't like who they saw in the mirror. They'd always talk about how social media made them feel ugly, or bad about this, that or the third. I never understood. The way I saw it, people just... looked how they looked. Pictures didn't mean we all had to be that way, too. Not to me, at least.

I was also attending a visual arts high school at the time, and I noticed a lot of students' artwork on the walls. Some of them I really liked. Others, I didn't really lock them into my memory.

So I made up a game for my one-hour commute: every day, I have to look at everybody I see around me, and just notice something them that I thought looked nice or unique. No judgments, no oogling or negative comments, that's against the rules. Just... notice. And I always found something. Didn't even have to force it; it was easy.

Pretty black hair. Hooked noses. Smile-lines. Nicely-trimmed beards. A cane with stickers on them. Intimidating leather jackets. Glasses I wanted. Stretch marks. Deep brown eyes. Cool dreads.

It made me actually notice how diverse we all were. Like, damn, we really are built different, huh.

While I was doing this, I'd also take brief notes on what they were doing. Most just sat around thinking about whatever, but sometimes I saw friend groups talking. Married couples with kids. Solo riders holding poles with an engagement-ringed hand.

Strangers who I found especially beautiful often rode the rails alone? Like this 20-30-something guy with a short black ponytail & a leather jacket that I never saw again. Or this chubby light-skinned girl who was about my age-- had long, unkempt curls, glasses, and a bunch of Studio Ghibli pins on her bag. (I saw her all the time and always thought she was really cute, but never chatted her up because I'm a coward.)

And the strangers who didn't stick out to me, they often had people who loved them. Some were married, or at least engaged, or there with a girlfriend. Some had biiiig groups of friends who I could tell in that moment probably knew & cared about them deeply. And a bunch of them were alone here, but easily could've had somebody waiting for them at home, yk? Or friends & family they were on their way to see.

And why wouldn't they? Beauty is skin-deep and subjective, in the eye of the beholder. And to see that, all I had to do was just... look around. These people probably weren't models. Or social media influencers. And other people still liked 'em.

We're not supposed to be the same. That's part of the fun of living. And we're not supposed to all fit in some weird standard box. Especially one that can't even make up its mind. I remember as a toddler & a small kid, the TV would drone on and on about needing to be thin.. But now that it was 2017, I was seeing and hearing people drool over BBWs or whatever the word was. And I figured there were more important things in life than trying to fit a swaying box that's just gonna drop you in ten years, anyway.

All subjective. Kinda like the artwork that I would see on the walls.

Some of it fascinated me. Some of it didn't. And I wasn't the only one-- my other friends found themselves captivated by different pieces, ones that I didn't think much about. They probably saw things that I didn't. And none of us had a say over how much they're worth, or how much they meant to somebody.

I'm really glad I made up that game back in the day. I think it helped it helped me maintain a good body image, and deconstruct some biases I'd been taught. It also showed me that it's really easy to just... not judge people. Closemindedness is a choice. And it's a pretty easy one to persist past & overcome.

Man. I miss those train people now. I hope that they're all doing well. Wherever they may have gone.

[detectiveichijouji]

Case 13 - A Cat and Rat game

[AO3 version]

Maybe because of that night, things sounded weird to the group. Ken was the kind to be skeptical and way more rational than Daisuke (who’s skeptical but pretty emotional) so he sat on his desktop chair and thought about what was said.

“Arsenemon told me. Really, he just let us do it because… He didn’t want to see that Bakumon suffer like that.”

Despite everything, Ichijouji Ken wasn’t the type to get fired up with a ‘criminal’ as Daisuke and he would rather have some rivalry with Arsenemon in the same way as a detective and phantom thief have. But… This was still intriguing to him…

Yet he had witnessed this happening before -- The time Kitagawa Kentarou was stealing armor and equipment from other digimon… And the time a Meicoomon was trying to follow in his footsteps. The fact he managed to have a talk with Daisuke, who’s so determined and passionate about trying to catch him… Is no surprise.

The surprise was why Daisuke himself. Ok, Ken is aware Daisuke is the kind to give others a second chance when there’s room for improvement and redemption, but… So far all Daisuke had babbled about Arsenemon was actually assumptions and weird theories…

“Why would he suddenly… Ask directly a question to Arsenemon out of a sudden?”

Ken was sure sooner or later they would end up asking the right questions to Arsenemon, but Daisuke did it first and without their presence… Also why would Arsenemon let them have a piece…? Wouldn't it be more logical to make a trade, help the Bakumon and in return take the piece from Daisuke?

“... Something is off,” Ken concluded.

“Ken-chan?” Wormmon looked at him from the bed. The digimon was reading an old manga about phantom thieves up there, “Do you think that Daisuke-san was the real one?”

“... What do you mean?” Ken looked back at Wormmon, “V-mon would’ve suspected that as well, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, but… Arsenemon had pretended to be you once and Daisuke-san and V-mon didn’t notice…”

“... Ok, you got me there. But he was with us until we left to take the train back home. Hikari-san lives in the same apartment complex as Daisuke, and Tailmon is smart enough to know the difference between Daisuke and someone pretending to be him.”

“But you deceived them when you met them in this world when you were the Kaiser, right?”

“Yes, but they didn’t realize it was me this whole time, even when I was… Dropping all the hints…”

“I… I also name dropped you once when fighting Tailmon…”

“But we were complete strangers back in time” he sighed, “I do think we talked to the real Daisuke and V-mon, though they weren’t… Too invested in capturing Arsenemon now.”

“True…”

“I’ll make some tea, can I offer a cup for your reading?”

“Yes, I’d like my favorite if possible.”

Ken laughed innocently, “Yes, sir.”

“So uhh… I think I have to thank Noel for the tip.”

Hikari and Takeru were leaving the class with Daisuke the next day, heading to their usual spot to check if more people or digimon needed their help. But this made both kids and their digimon curious.

“What tip?” Takeru asked for them all.

“Noel said that it’s odd that a bad digimon wouldn’t want world domination,” V-mon commented, “We only know that Arsenemon is after those fragments, but not his real objective.”

“Hmm…?” Tailmon raised an eyebrow.

“I… I don’t know anymore” Daisuke sighed, “The stuff Arsenemon stole and were mistaken with the fragments were sent back to their owners later, And he helped us to deal with the fake Arsenemon-cat and now with a rampaging Bakumon…”

“You mean… You don’t feel the motivation to keep chasing him like before?” Hikari frowned.

“Of course I want to catch him!” Daisuke snorted, “But, I don’t understand what he meant by not believing him if he told us what he planned to do with the Digimental pieces…”

“... Do you want to investigate that? I mean, Arsenemon’s motives?” Patamon asked.

“That’s impossible… we know he only appears at night and when he sends a calling card…” 

“That’s a phantom thief etiquette” V-mon shrugged.

“... That’s it!”

“???” They all looked at Daisuke, clueless.

“I mean, we don’t catch a phantom thief by thinking like a detective! You catch a phantom thief by thinking like a phantom thief!”

“Does it even make sense?” V-mon and Patamon looked at each other.

“You’re not pretending to turn into one, right?” Tailmon said with an annoying voice, “You would get in real trouble if you do that.”

“O-of course I’m not doing it! I mean, we just imagine what we would do if we were.”

“Ah! The ‘imagining scenarios’ thing??” V-mon gasped, “But Daisuke, you’re bad at this game. You don’t think.”

“H-hey of COURSE I think!!” he grabbed V-mon and put it under his arm, “I’ll meet y’all later, go without me!!” and he ran down the street.

“W-wait where are you going--” Hikari asked, but he was too far away from them at this point.

“Sometimes I worry how Daisuke-kun would be if it weren't for us…” Takeru blinked, and the other three sighed.

An hour later…

“...” Miyako, Hawkmon, Iori and Armadimon were staring at whatever Daisuke and V-mon were wearing. Yes. he went this far.

Armadimon glanced at Takeru, Patamon, Hikari and Tailmon: “What are they doing, dagya?” There was a certain annoyance in his tone though…

“They’re trying to think like phantom thieves,” the four said, awkwardly and shrugging.

Daisuke and V-mon were wearing tuxedos, those carnival masks and top hats, with Daisuke having the goggles on the hat, and capes. The others had no idea what would the outfits help them with the imagination, but maybe that’s because Daisuke comes from a family where being overly dramatic is in their lineage (after all both Daisuke and his sister Jun have inherited their mother’s dramatic fangirl genes) -- But none of the four (and their mons) would dare to interfere, unless they put themselves in danger.

“... Daisuke I think this is not useful” Ken, however, had no problem in calling him out.

“There’s no Daisuke here! Just… Uhh…”

“Goggle Kid and Saint V!” V-mon shouted, doing a swirl with his cape.

“Yeah!! That! I’m Goggle Kid now!”

“Is this a ripoff of Kaitou K--/Saint T--” Armadimon and Hawkmon had their mouth/beak covered by Iori and Miyako.

“I think you don’t need to go this far” Ken shook his head, “Nevertheless, what comes next?”

“We uh… Would send a calling card about a piece,” then he just handed Ken a fake card made by V-mon, with a ‘V’ mark on the back, “Now you know mr. Detective what we’re up to!”

“It says ‘30% discount steak bowl coupon’ here” Wormmon read the paper and squinted his eyes at the ‘phantom thieves’ in front of them.

“That’s it, we’re stealing a steak bowl,” Daisuke nodded sagely, “Now try to catch us.”

“Ok then…” Wormmon used Sticky Net on both Daisuke and V-mon, but they dodged.

“YOU DIDN’T LET US TRY TO ESCAPE FIRST!! 💢💢💢” Both shouted.

“... You two didn’t say to wai--”They ran away. The rest of the group sighed, “This won’t end well… 💧”

Daisuke Armor evolved V-mon into Lighdramon outside the karaoke bar’s building, and fled. The others came after him, possibly expecting things to get bad. Maybe his encounter with Arsenemon messed up his head??

But then… Ken remembered of an important detail:

“So, Arsenemon casted a spell on you?” “Yeah sorta, but it didn’t last for much time…”

He gulped, maybe Daisuke was still under Arsenemon’s control…!!?

“Ok we have to stop those idiots before they get in real trouble,” Miyako growled, "Let's see this steak bowl ticket again.”

“It’s at the end of the street,” Takeru read the ticket, “The shop belongs to a schoolmate’s family…”

“Tominaga-kun’s family, right?” Hikari looked at the coupon.

“We must go after them,” Iori said and everyone nodded.

On their way to catch Daisuke and V-mon, Amardimon bumped into Noel and both sat falling on the floor.

“Ouch…” / ”O-ow…”

“A I’m sorry!!” Hikari and the others stopped behind Armadimon, and she gasped, “Huh, Noel-kun?”

“A-ah…?” Noel blushed, ashamed, “I’m sorry!! I… I didn’t want to bump into y-you…”

“No no, I’m the one who’s sorry, dagya!” Armadimon babbled, “I didn’t look where I was going…!!”

“Noel-kun,” Takeru helped him to get up, and then asked, “Have you seen Daisuke-kun and V-mon?”

“M-Motomiya-san…?” He took a moment to think, then he pointed behind him with his opposite hand, “I saw him… riding on Lighdramon this way.”

“Thank you!” Miyako smiled, and then the group went in that direction.

“... What is happening here?” Noel tilted his head.

Soleil and Lune were passing by when they saw Daisuke on Lighdramon running through the street. With some annoyance, Soleil commented with her and their digimon:

“What is that buffoon doing this time…”

“I sense something strange coming from him,” Lune sighed, “Well, it’s none of our business. His friends can handle it.”

“Should we do something, Youta?” Coronamon asked.

“Nah, it’s what Lune said… We let the famous group handle it themselves.”

Then they see the rest of the 02 group coming and passing by them as well.

“You sure we shouldn’t do something?” Lunamon asked this time.

“Absolutely” the two kids replied in unison.

Lighdramon suddenly stopped and turned back; he and Daisuke saw the group coming in their direction. They seemed bored already?!

“Y’know you could have caught us already if you had used your digimon evolution, right?”

“I think using the digimon in the crowd would’ve been a bad idea,” Iori replied, gesturing to the people around them.

“... Ah, true true…”

“Can you simply give up on this ridiculous idea!?” Miyako hissed, “Or do you want us to use brute force instead!?”

“Yeah! So I can find a way to catch Arsenemon with no mistakes!!”

“You just gave him ideas,” Patamon said with a shrug.

“I know why you’re acting like this Daisuke,” Ken glanced at the other, and with a serious tone he continued, “You’re still under Arsenemon’s control.”

“Eh?!” they all (Daisuke and Lighdramon included) exclaimed and looked at Ken.

“How-- How can that BE possible!?” Daisuke babbled, “I’m not! I just--”

“Is this like a vampire or werewolf bite, dagya?” Armadimon asked.

“He didn’t even bite me!!”

“Not literally, dagya… 💧”

Someone approached them and hid behind in an alley nearby their discussion. It was… Noel?

“Why do ya think I’m being controlled by Arsenemon, man!? I’m not! I’m doing it to learn how to think like him and then catch him all at once!!”

He can’t be kidding…!! -- Noel thought; he had a grimace on his face. Has he made things worse?? By trying to make Daisuke not assume things about Arsenemon without solid proof??

“That’s the only logical explanation for your actions” Ken kept his serious tone, “So…”

“So…??” The rest of the 02 group repeated.

“Pucchiemon, NOW!”

Suddenly Pucchiemon appeared behind Lighdramon, out of the blue. None of them knew how it happened, or when Ken Armor evolved Wormmon before. Daisuke and Lighdramon had no chance to escape now!!

“HEARTNER BEAM!!”

“WH-- ACK!!”

Pucchiemon’s soft light hit Daisuke and Lighdramon for a moment… And then the fairy-like digimon just hit them in the head with his hands. Lighdramon devolved into V-mon by the hit -- K.O.!!

“Case closed,” Ken smirked, triumphantly. Until a black card with a golden cat paw flew on his face. He took it off and looked at it, “Huh??”

“A Calling Card!?” They all (minus Dai-Vee, they’re dizzy) exclaimed.

The fancy card said…

No, I’m not controlling your friend. He’s doing it of his own free will 😐

“W-WHAT!?” the group gasped “ARSENEMON WASN’T CONTROLLING THEM!?”

“... Makes sense,” Tailmon nodded sagely, “He had done strange things before, like that idea of turning into a villain named Daisuke Kaiser.”

“True/Fair/Alright” they agreed.

“Motomiya-san…!!” They heard Noel’s voice and the boy approaching. He was a little breathless, maybe he ran after them this whole time??

“Noel?” Daisuke and V-mon blinked, and then Noel stood in front of them.

“I’m… I don’t know what you were doing, but…I’m sorry!” and he bowed his head.

“Huh?” they all didn’t get it.

“A-ah, that’s right!” Daisuke blinked, “You helped me to understand Arsenemon a little better, Noel.”

“D-did I…?/Did he??” Noel and the group exclaimed.

“Yeah! When you said villains usually want world domination and power hunger… I was able to notice Arsenemon wasn’t after the pieces because of himself. He’s after something else with those!”

“Is he??” They also said it together.

“He helped the digimon before, so it doesn’t mean he’s evil right? And he helped us before, so… Thank you, Noel.”

“Well” Ken started, “It makes sense, and the stuff he stole and weren’t real Digimental pieces he returned them back, didn’t he?”

“Hmm… Right,” Takeru nodded.

“But we still have to catch him first and discover what his goal’s purpose is,” Miyako added, “So you shouldn’t let your guard down.”

“Yeah we won’t give up here” Daisuke smirked, “We gotta get faster and smarter to catch a sneaky cat-like digimon!”

They all laughed, but then Hikari looked around and… Noel wasn’t there anymore.

“Huh? Where’s Noel-kun?”

“Maybe he felt we were ignoring him and he left” V-mon frowned, “I didn’t mean to…”

Steps away from them, Noel walked into an alley… Where Espimon was, waiting for someone. What business would Espimon have with him??

[fedorahead]

bras suck and are evil and not wearing one is totally acceptable and it makes me sad how many people have handy replies to that like "but my boobs are too large" or "but people will get mad at me" because i also have very large boobs but the only person who ever got mad at me for even suggesting not wearing a bra only did so when he was harassing me about heing able to see my bra straps and when i said i'd take it off he said that would be inappropriate, even though i had already been coming to work braless many times; he just hadn't noticed. he also called me letting my curly hair stay curly instead of straightening it was a neglectful look to wear to work, so his opinion can be discarded for the trash it is.

you gotta shed those societal expectation programmings that make your life worse. i'm in the process of getting a reduction after my pregnancy because i have large tits and they are large enough that removing them is considered medically necessary (though don't get me started on the criteria for that having your bra straps dig in 🙄) so when someone says they can't go braless because they're DD or whatever i just feel bad for whatever situation made them think that.

you don't have to not wear bras all the time, you don't have to wear only thin shirts with no support or whatever and have your nips show through, you can modify and flex your wardrobe around your needs rather than contoeting your body into a shape that isn't suiting you and makes you physically miserable. physerable

i've found 100% cotton tank tops help me feel more comfortable, but since getting pregnant and summer being heatwace after heatwave, i'm just not bothering at all and you know how many people have treated me worse for it?

zero, because nobody gives a fuck; it isn't the 1970s or even the 2000s, people wear their pjs to the mall and cosplay to work stop thing yourself to the values of a dead world.

i also don't get any pushback whatsoever for not shaving, because again, it's been more than a decade since anyone gave a shit about those things.

i live in a very liberal area now but i also go to texas and nevada every year and even in the less liberal areas around the west, nobody has ever had the gall to comment on the weird stranger's weird not wearing a bra habit. and anyone who would is already breaking the social contract of leaving people the hell alone.

i also almost never wear makeup, and have gotten people telling me they couldn't be employed without makeup......... meanwhile that has definitely never been a barrier for me.

i get that experiences vary, so the rant here really may only apply to the west/west coast, southwest, and travis county, but since the people who've given me those arguments also lived in all these places i can't really be like "oh they were in a different situation" all i can say is if your body is in pain because of something society is forcing you to do, that you can fix easily, fuck society and do the thing, take the bra off or skip the makeup or whatever. and just stand behind it until the fear dies down.

anyone can "live like this" you just have to accept that "this" is a perfectly reasonable way to live first, and that anyone putting pressure onnyou to do otherwise is being unreasonable and therefore isn't worth heeding.

i don't want to talk too much about the intersection of privilige and confidence but i know i would bring it up if i felt like this post was overlooking me, so i will say one thing: the majority of one's freedom comes from not being bothered by things that cannot effect one's material needs, and fighting like hell for things that can. societal privileges can tip the scales to make that fight easier or harder, but the fight itself is universal. if what you are battling is harder because of an axis of oppression, you still have a power inside you stronger than any passionless societal pressure. you might have different strength, your well of will might be suppoeted by different sources, maybe community or maybe rage or maybe sheer audacity, but there is always hope and a way to turn your life in the direction of making yourself happier and your needs more fulfilled. even if it's not dropping markers of femininity because they really are the edge between being treated as human and being treated as a freak. though, i know a lot of studs who have just incorporated that danger into their lives because they'd rather be masculine and in some degree of danger or struggle than feminine and accepted. we all have our different values to measure.

follow the path that makes you feel the most comfortable and fulfilled, and fuck the programming that lies to you. wear a pretty bra if you want, not because the man says you gotta.

[jkpfr]

It’s fairly rare for Jan and I to be on break at the same time. With our differing programs, when it’s not all four of us, it’s often Jan and Adele or Damien and myself.

“- Is that everything?

- Let me check…”

He came with me to the craft shop, and we’re about done looking for stuff I’ll need to make the invitations I want for my birthday. It feels a little dumb to have him help me gather the items I’ll use for an invitation I’m going to give to him… But it’s not like he doesn’t know that he’s invited anyway.

“- Where’s the…

- Bottom right.

- Bottom right?”

Ah, he’s right. “The”, which stands for the cool set of rainbow pens I found, was in fact in my cart.

“- Cool! Then I think that’s… everything, yeah.

- Okay!”

I hope I didn’t blush. Whenever Jan flashes that giddy smile of his, my face feels flushed… but I have to reassure myself that I didn’t blush. It would be too embarrassing otherwise.

Jan spins around, and we’re heading to the cash register. Though I like this shop… I’m eager to leave, if just to ensure Jan is comfortable. When I noticed him rubbing his eyes… I abruptly realised the lights were too bright, and once I thought about that, suddenly I heard the loud music coming out of speakers all around the place, and quickly I started to wonder if there wasn’t too much of a crowd walking around us.

Lost in thought… when someone stops Jan in the middle of an aisle, I almost crash into him. I apologetically place my hand on his shoulder, but I get shy and immediately remove it.

“- Jan?

- Hmm… Yes?”

The person who stopped him looks to be a young man our age, one I’ve never seen before – and by the sounds of it, Jan doesn’t recognise him either.

“- Jan—Wow! It’s been so long! You haven’t changed at all!”

He has mid-length wavy light brown hair, amber eyes, and a little stubble on his chin. Height-wise, he reminds me of Damien.

(Meaning he’s not all that tall, but I’m an asshole.)

“- Sorry, I…

- Haaa…”

It’s hard to read the stranger’s expression… he looks light-heartedly bothered that Jan doesn’t recognise him, but I can’t see him being too surprised about it.

“- Can you remind me? I’m so sorry.”

Jan is surprisingly calm – I’d gather he’s not used to being put on the spot. I guess he manages to stay cool even when he’s unprepared.

(If I saw you fail sometimes, would it be easier for us to be closer?)

“- Well… Back then, I hadn’t been able to change my name yet.”

That complicates things.

“- But… You were the only person I was out to. You were the only person I could talk to… about my dysphoria, my transition. So…

- WHA…!”

Interrupting his own loud reaction, Jan slaps his hands over his mouth.

I can’t help but take a step in front of him – to look at his face. With his eyes wide open…

He’s cute… What got into him?

“- Seriously?” he continues, letting his hands slide towards his own chin.

“- Y-Yes?

- Oh my God!”

Is he… shaking?

“- It’s been… Seriously? It’s been years… You look great!”

This is weird coming from him… he excitedly grabs the guy’s hands.

“- Really?

- Yes! You look awesome! I couldn’t even… I see it now, though. I’m so glad to see you again!

- Oh, for real?

- Yes!”

This guy… is someone Jan knew in the past. It’s now that Jan recognises him that he looks surprised… Or rather, it’s Jan’s positive reaction that surprises him.

Hmm… I feel a little dumb, just observing them like this. I’ll make a dumb comment to make it look like I’m owning it.

“- Jan was the only person you were able to be out to? That sounds tragic.

- …Attention seeker.

- …Ouch.”

Still holding the stranger’s – to me – hands, the flustered Jan who directs a snarky comment in my direction looks adorable.

(This doesn’t look like him failing at all.)

Guy number three chuckles and does in fact turn his attention to me.

“- Well… I guess… As far as not being able to be out generally went. But Jan being the one who knew, that wasn’t so tragic.

- Yeah? How did he come to know? Were you guys close friends?

- You don’t have to tell him if you don’t want to.”

This could feel like a critique coming from Jan, but he looks in an overwhelmingly good mood. Finally letting go of his old friend’s hands, he looks at him with some sort of… amazed wonder.

“- Heheh, it’s fine. You were so cool!”

Number three takes a step away to stretch, and immediately looks more relaxed. When he starts talking again, though, his voice reveals a lot of emotion.

“- I was just… this was in middle school. My parents are extremely transphobic, and I just couldn’t… allow them to know. I felt like I couldn’t trust anyone, so I was completely closeted.”

He marks a pause, clicking his tongue as he hesitates. I don’t know what to say… so I wait.

“- It felt so bad… I desperately wanted someone to talk to about my feelings… but I couldn’t even trust my friends. I didn’t know that I could trust them to keep it a secret, or even just… to respect me. Well, it’s in that context that I learned about Jan.

- Learned about Jan…

- Learned about Jan…”

Both Jan and I said that.

“- Heheh! Jan was this boy who was extremely popular… but plot twist, he was actually nice! Whenever someone told you about Jan, they would tell you “you’d think a popular guy like this would be an asshole, but no, he’s actually super nice.” He had a really good reputation and he looked like he was friendly with everyone.”

Of course that’s how he was.

“- So when I would run into him, I’d be curious, like everyone else. Plus, there was no way around it… He was pretty… So incredibly pretty…”

He chuckles nervously and starts to look in the direction opposite to Jan before continuing:

“- I started to overthink it… His face… He had such a pretty face, almost like… So I thought… I thought maybe he was like me. I didn’t have any proof, and actually, I didn’t believe it that much… I just wanted to.”

I find myself blushing (though if I’m lucky, maybe not…) and can’t help but take a glance at Jan. He looks slightly embarrassed, but most importantly… Well, Jan is very handsome. I wouldn’t say he could be mistaken for a girl, but his facial traits are delicate… His extremely pale blonde hair contributes to that soft air of his, and when his eyes were wide open in shock just a couple minutes ago…

You could see that he hides it. With his eyelids always exaggeratedly, and yet somehow tastefully relaxed, Jan wants to look cool – which he is – more than he wants to look cute – which he is.

“- I really wanted to. And with time I realised I desperately needed somebody to talk to. That’s why… I risked it, and I talked to him. And I told him.

- But…

- …Yeah. Oops. I was wrong. That was embarrassing, huh?

- It’s alright,” Jan reacts.

“- Of course… See? Being the person that he is, Jan lived up to his reputation, and he was incredibly nice. Now that the cat was out of the bag… It just turned out that he was the only person I’d come out to. And because he was so nice… I knew I could always come up to him to tell him about my feelings… Even just to hang around someone who knew, and believed me.

- Aww, that’s so sweet, though. Is that seriously how you guys became friends?

- Yes.

- Yeah! We were in different classes, so otherwise, we wouldn’t really have had a reason to hang out. I always felt like such an outsider, but there was something exciting about having a secret together.

- And you always seemed to appear out of nowhere, so it was like…

- You were in constant danger,” number three says, chuckling again.

“- Pff… No… I was going to say something like… constant fun.”

When I asked him about it a long time ago, Damien told me Jan had always had close queer friends. If this person’s identity was a secret, then he’s probably not who Dam was talking about. Either way… he said “duh, you’re safe with Jan” like I’d asked him a really stupid question. “Safer than with me, even.” (Threatening finger guns.)

“- Well… I don’t know if you ever thought about me, in all this time, but… You were so important to me, and I’m like… way too happy to have ran into you.

- Hah… are you kidding?”

I don’t know how he could say that, when Jan has been smiling genuinely this entire conversation. But just now… his expression gets a lot more intense.

“- I almost want to cry. I didn’t even recognise you. I’m so happy to see you again.”

[collecting-stories]

I'm still on the soulmate au so can you do the tattoo one with Steve :)

I love soulmate AUs honestly...nothing makes me happier.

-

Heaven Help Us - Steve Harrington

Summary: You go to the video store to rent a movie and you come away with a soulmate.

A/N: I love when soulmate AUs are all mushy but I feel like if I found my soulmate randomly I would be just like stupid over it lol. Like my brain wouldn't be able to process it at all.

Stranger Things Masterlist || Celebrate 11k with me

✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

It happened the summer you turned 18. You were in the process of cleaning out your closet (something your mom insisted you had to do before you left for college in the fall), trying on different clothes to decide what you wanted to donate when you turned toward the mirror and saw it. Right there on your left rib (because why couldn’t it be in an easily discoverable place) was the outlined tattoo of a baseball bat with nails in it.  

“Of fucking course,” you muttered, staring at it, trying desperately to commit the picture to memory. “It’s gotta be some weird shit.”  

You figured, and then hoped and prayed it wasn’t, related to one of those weirdos that played Dungeons and Dragons all weekend long. You thought about telling your friends but then you were worried where their minds would jump if you mentioned it. They had all turned 18 already and they had their tattoos, all of them fairly mundane and normal. Your mom had told you that she didn’t meet her soulmate (your dad, of course) until she was graduated from college, living in a completely different state, thousands of miles from where she grew up.  

“They might not be in Hawkins,” she had said it to you when you were still 17 and still hoping that somehow it’d be something totally mundane and normal.  

This, this would not do. 

By the time your tattoo showed up, Steve had already had his for six months. It was a a silhouette of a black cat and it sat right inside his tricep. He’d shown it to Robin and then, just in case, had shown it to Nancy. It wasn’t for her though and he knew that when it first appeared but he had found himself kind of wishing that it was.  

Just like your mom, Robin suggested that maybe his soulmate wasn’t even in Hawkins, maybe they were halfway around the world staring at a tattoo of hairspray (that comment didn’t go over well) and wondering who their soulmate was. Steve desperately wanted it to be someone he knew though, or at least someone here. He didn’t wanna go halfway around the world. He didn’t even want to leave Indiana.  

“Excuse me?” You waved your hand in Steve Harrington’s face, a last-ditch effort to catch his attention. He was just staring into space, watching the television that was mounted above one of the displays showing some cartoon.  

“What?” Steve looked over at you, slightly startled, and then ran a hand through his hair. You wanted to roll your eyes at him. Of course, Steve Harrington hadn’t changed a bit since he was in school.  

“I was asking you a question; do you guys have Heaven Help Us?” You asked, “I looked under H but I didn’t see it.”  

“Uh yeah, I think someone returned it yesterday,” He announced, stepping away from you for a moment. When he did, you couldn’t help but notice the tattoo on his arm. His sleeve had ridden up enough that you could see part of the cat and thought fondly of your own black cat, no doubt asleep on your bed.  

“I like your tattoo, by the way.” You mentioned, pointing to it.  

Steve looked down at his sleeve, lifting it the rest of the way so you could see the tattoo more clearly before pulling it down and looking at you, “It’s my uh, mark.” He felt cheesy calling it a soulmate mark but that’s exactly what it was. It was supposed to be his soulmate detector but so far it’d done nothing but bring up duds. He’d gone on plenty of dates and still he hadn’t found his soulmate.  

“Reminds me of my cat.” You explained, subconsciously itching at the mark on your ribcage. 

“Can I see your mark?” Steve asked immediately, the movie forgotten and his full attention on you as he stared at the spot you were itching. He’d heard about that before, his dad had told him how badly his leg itched when he met Steve’s mom for the first time. Supposedly it was a reaction that happened for some people but not everyone. (Steve was starting to wish that the rules for this soulmate stuff could be a lot more universal but it felt more like things were all over the place).  

 “What? Why?” You crossed your arms in front of yourself.  

“You said this looks like your cat.” 

“So what? I’m sure it looks like twelve other people’s cats too. Just cause a blue silhouette of a cat vaguely resembles my cat doesn’t mean we’re soulmates.” You replied, defensively. No way you were strapped with Steve Harrington. Sure he was cute, and funny, and you, like everyone else in middle school, had a crush on him at one point but that was then. You didn’t like like Steve Harrington. You weren’t even really friends.  

“Well twelve other people haven’t told me that it looks llike their cat and you keep scratching your side like it itches and that means something.” 

“Yeah, I have an itch.”  

“Come on,” Steve leaned further onto the counter, “one and done. Just pull up your shirt and let me see. If it isn’t than it isn’t and at least we narrowed it down and if it is...” Steve trailed off, not entirely sure what he wanted to say about it.  

“It’s probably not.” There were too many crazy things that happened in Hawkins on the daily, you couldn’t fathom that this could be one too.  

“What if it is?” Steve pressed, eyes flicking between your shirt over your ribcage to your eyes, looking eager and somewhat interested in the possibility that it could be what he thought it was, what you thought it might be.  

You sighed, unzipping your jacket and pushing it aside, “fine.” Carefully, you lifted your shirt up to just above the tattoo on your side, “this is stupid though, Steve, we’re definitely not soul mates.” 

“How do you know?” He questioned, “have you met your soulmate yet?” 

“No.” Honestly it was disheartening, knowing that somewhere in the universe another person existed who was your perfect match and you were here, in Hawkins, still doing the same shit day in and day out.  

You gripped the bottom of your shirt and slowly pulled it up. Your soulmate was probably the member of some deadly motorcycle gang. A Hell’s Angel or a Pagan and you would somehow have to get used to riding around on the back of a hog even though you panicked just driving in a regular car with the windows down. Maybe they’d be like, an axe murderer or someone with an equally terrible disposition.  

“No fucking way, no fucking way!” Steve seemed fairly animated about the whole thing and still your brain couldn’t process what that possibly meant. “That’s my bat!” 

Your reaction time was slow, processing what he was telling you. Maybe it wasn’t the most complicated of sentences but the thought of Steve Harrington owning a baseball bat with nails sticking out of it.  

“Are you also going to tell me that you abduct people on the weekends or something?” You asked skeptically as you raised an eyebrow at him.  

That seemed to bring Steve back down to earth, “it’s a uh, it’s a long story. But, but that’s...I mean. I can show you. It’s in my car.” 

“You have a baseball bat with nails in it just...in your trunk? Why? In case someone upsets you?” You asked, holding back a laugh.  

“No, but, how are you focusing on that right now? We’re soulmates.” 

“That part is gonna take a little longer to process,” you admitted, “I mean, to be fair, I came in to rent a movie...I wasn’t expecting to like, meet my soulmate,” the word sounded foreign as you said it. You’d spent weeks thinking it over and over and wondering who it could be, if they were in Hawkins or somewhere else, and now you were staring at him and you couldn’t even process the information. “Much less that it’d be Steve Harrington.” 

“I mean,” he shrugged, “I wasn’t expecting it either.” 

“I don’t even...know what to do.” You replied, “like what happens now? Do we like, do we go on a date or something.” 

“We can, but I’m not watching Heaven Help Us.” He replied, making a face at the mention of the movie.  

“It’s a good movie!” 

“Look, if we’re soulmates I’ve gotta level with you. That’s a terrible movie.”  

“If we’re soulmates there’s a plethora of things I could say about your taste Steve.” You replied, raising an eyebrow at him.  

He looked like he wanted to say something but he smiled instead, “fine, Heaven Help Us it is. But we’re watching Jaws after that.”