#th: romance not included

[mxrainewhispers]

"I'm sure you do--maybe you just keep trying it on the wrong stage," Raine smiled. They believed everyone had some sort of talent. But maybe they just aren't showing them off in the right place or having found the right time to show it off.

Raine chuckles at her comment. They know it's lighthearted. They know there's some thought behind it.

"Oh, um, well, you know I'm a professor. I'm a sorcerer--bard magic is my specialty-- um..." How much of their life back on the Boiling Isles did she really need to know? "I'm from Ingary--well, sort of. I'm from the Boiling Isles. I think... you know all the big things about me? Anything that your mother might ask, at least."

@majkemaniiia

Romance Not Included || Rainespell [V-Day Trope Extravaganza]

[starnicorn]

I know it's been awhile since Bioware did this, but I'm still really happy with how mine came out and it was such a good idea! Like I've got all my love interests: Tali, Liara, and Kaidan. I included Thane as my go-to biotic sniper, Legion as one of my favorite companions to talk to, EDI the up and coming AI who studies the human condition lol, and everyone's favorite Krogan bois Wrex and Grunt. Kinda feel like replaying the trilogy again now and I can't wait to see what's next for the series.

[tsunodaradio]

change me at all costs ⛐ 𝐂𝐒𝟓𝟓

THIS IS: FORMULA ONE, A MILESTONE EVENT 📀 the three times carlos proposes and the one time you say yes.

♫ starring: carlos sainz x girlfriend!reader. ♫ word count: 2.8k. ♫ includes: fluff, romance, suggestive. mentions of alcohol consumption. established relationship, so much love :(, some spanish. @binisainz requested mitski's cover of bleachers' let's get married. ♫ commentary box: inclined to pack tf up because i don't think i'm ever going to top this. i cannot stress this enough: loop the song while reading. man. what a time. 𝐦𝐲 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭

“Did you not get the memo?” 

Before you even turn around, you can already imagine the look on Carlos’ face. A raised eyebrow, maybe. A hint of a smile. Sure enough, he’s sporting that very expression when you glance over your shoulder. 

Fiddling with his cufflinks, Carlos mumbles, “I’ve switched to Williams blue, corazón.”

Your dress for the night is closer to his previous team. It’s not the same shade of red and the highlights are more gold than yellow, but you can certainly see where he’s coming from. This is the outfit of a Ferrari tifosi. 

Ignoring his jab, you hold out the jewelry set that has been giving you grief. “Help me put this on,” you say.

Carlos is already crossing the room before the full sentence is over. He takes the necklace first, and you gather your hair to one side as he fiddles with the clasp. 

“Seriously,” he doubles down. There’s that familiar edge of petulance in his tone, the one you know is mostly joking. Mostly. “I’m sure I’ve bought you at least one blue dress. They’re going to say you hate my new team.” 

Your shoulders shake as you laugh; Carlos pauses to admire the sound. He recovers quickly, now reaching out for your earrings. 

“No one is going to say that,” you argue for the sake of arguing. 

“Everybody is going to say that,” he shoots back. “Betrayed by my own girlfriend. I can already see the headlines.” 

Your earrings now firmly in place, you turn around fully to shoot Carlos a half-hearted glare. He’s dressed to the nines for tonight’s charity gala. His suit, immaculately pressed; his tie, a gift you had gotten him three or so years ago.

You rest your palm against his chest. Instinctively, he places his own hand on top of yours, even as he maintains that slight frown at your alleged betrayal. 

“It’s not Ferrari colors, cariño,” you say patiently.

“Oh?” He cocks his eyebrows a little higher, as if challenging you to debate what he considers to be obvious. “What is it, then?” 

“Think.” 

“Think?” 

“What else is red and yellow?” 

Carlos indulges you. He always does. “There’s red and yellow on a traffic light,” he offers. 

You shake your head. He lets out a small sound— one caught between amusement and frustration.  “Are you ketchup and mustard?” he grumbles, and you gently bump your knee against his in retaliation. 

“You’re overthinking it,” you say. “It’s right here.” 

“Right where?” 

You reach up to tug at the lapel of his suit jacket. That’s when it seems to hit Carlos. The pin resting right over his left breast, given to him over a decade ago by family who always wanted him to remember who he was. A miniature golden flag featuring three horizontal stripes of red and yellow. 

“Spain,” he says, a little bit dazed. 

You reward him by tilting upward to kiss him. Only on the corner of his mouth this time, but a sweet kiss all the same. The teams might change—

“Not Ferrari. Not Williams,” you murmur in the low light of your en suite bathroom. “Just you. Just you.” 

— But Carlos will always be Carlos. 

He’s contemplative as you pull away. He doesn’t let you go that far, his hand still keeping yours firmly pinned over his chest. It’s why you feel the slight stutter in his heartbeat. Before you can deliver some jab about it, he pulls the rug out from underneath your feet. 

“I could marry you, you know?” he says. 

It’s not something entirely out of the left field. The two of you are mutual in the thought that you’ve passed the age of dating for experience. Anything, now, involves future-proofing. Building a life to be shared together. 

You haven’t talked about it a lot, though. For the most part, it’s enough that you’re on the same page. And so you’ve joked about cradles after a couple of glasses of wine; you’ve used the fantasies for ammunition during one or two instances of lovemaking. 

But to hear it, now, completely sober and without a hint of a tease—

Your tone is quiet, almost shy. “It’s just a dress, cariño.” 

It’s not just a dress. You know that. He knows that. He says it out loud, too, as his hand tightens its hold of yours. “It’s not,” he whispers, partly to himself.

You don’t know what to say. 

Gracefully, Carlos recovers faster than you. He blinks once, twice. And then he’s putting his smile back on, like he’s entertained at how effortlessly the two of you fell into something so tender. 

“Well?” he quips. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

“What?” you sputter. 

“I asked you,” he says slowly, enunciating each word, “to marry me. What do you say?” 

It’s a little easier, now, when you can clock the mirth in Carlos’ tone. You give him a low, derisive groan in response, using your hand on his chest to push him back. He detaches with a laugh, his eyes glinting in that mischievous way you’re used to. 

“I say— we are going to be late,” you snipe. “Go fix your hair already.” 

He clutches his chest, feigning offense. “It’s already fixed! Are you saying it looks bad?” 

The impromptu proposal is forgotten, folded in between petty squabbles over hair products and a hasty makeout session in the entryway. But you should know better than to think Carlos would ever let this— let you— go. 

It happens next after a win.

The details are hazy; the mad dash for points always did feel like a whirlwind to you. There’s one too many safety cars, a hint of rain mid-race, a brush with the wall and an ironclad strategy.

It’s all so fast. One moment, Carlos is stealing a kiss from you. (For good luck, he claims, his lips pressed to your temple.) 

The next, he’s first to shuttle past the checkered flag.

“Carlos Sainz has won Yas Marina!” the commentators screech.

You catch words like in a Williams and ahead of Verstappen and legendary, but you’re too busy exchanging bone-crushing hugs with the ecstatic Williams team. A podium finish at the last race of the year is always cause for celebration. 

It’s a glorious finish, fitting of someone who had to crawl his way through hell and back. You’re convinced you’ll remember this your whole life— the way he thrusts his trophy over his head, the way the fireworks go off like technicolor prophecies. 

There are cameras on you, of course. Close-ups of your tear-stained cheeks; photographs of your hands wrung together. His happiness, his safety, is your answered prayer. 

Carlos has some prayers of his own. 

The worst of the media obligations are done. He’s given the cursory reunion, the vouchsafed five minutes with those who love him most. 

There’s his parents, of course, who whisper mi campeón so much that the words feel like Carlos’ second name. There’s the team principal. His co-driver. 

And then. And then. 

It’s in his eyes. You see it, there, when he finally looks towards you. You know Carlos so well that you can predict that look, that you know what’s already on the tip of his tongue. 

“No, no,” you say hastily, the words splintered between your laughs and sobs. “Don’t even think about it!”

He is thinking about it, though. It’s probably the moment in his head. Carlos is a greedy man; he could use another win. Preferably one you’ll grant when he’s down on one knee. 

But he knows you’re right, too. This is not the time. Not when there are dozens of cameras trained on him. Not when everybody is probably thinking it, expecting it, anticipating a velvet box hidden somewhere in his tracksuit. 

And so he settles for something second best. He throws his arm around your shoulders, precariously dangling the trophy in his other hand. You respond by wrapping your arms around his middle. 

The two of you click into place like magnets. Carlos seals it with a kiss, ducking his head low in a futile bid to hide you two with the brim of his cap. 

It doesn’t work. The kiss is front-page news the next day, subject to dozens of videos and articles questioning Where’s the ring? 

But that’s for tomorrow. For now, Carlos tastes like cheap champagne and the drugstore lip gloss you’d given him before the race. 

For now, Carlos is simply yours. 

The evening shimmers like a promise of something yet to come.

You’ve never been more grateful that most important events in your life fall during the off-season. Tonight, it’s your parents’ thirtieth wedding anniversary and Carlos is your enthusiastic plus one. 

He’s well-loved by your family and friends. They’ve since gotten over the myth and the legend of him being a renown race car driver. To them, now, he is merely the love of your life, and vice versa. 

Your younger cousins race past the two of you, shrieking as they play their little game. Your aunts and uncles swap stories of their own marriage, giving you and Carlos unsolicited advice. 

Never go to sleep angry. Your wife is always right. Don’t stop holding hands. 

The last one, Carlos takes to heart. 

For majority of the party, he keeps his touch on you. A casual arm over the back of your chair. His fingers absentmindedly toying with the hem of your dress. His shoulder pressed against yours all throughout dinner. 

He’s in a mood, you can tell. He spends the evening leaning into your personal space so he can whisper one thing or another. Little nothings of this dress will look good on the bedroom floor and I know something sweeter than this dessert. 

You rebuff him at each turn, grumbling about keeping things PG-13. He’s amused— maybe a little tipsy— as he giggles and keeps on going. At one point, he slips into his mother tongue, emboldened by the fact that nobody will understand the filth. Not even you. 

Me vuelves loco, he says after you coo at a baby cousin.

¿Por qué no lo hacemos aquí?, he says as the two of you wander around the garden for a bit. 

Quiero que me montes con ese vestido puesto, he says with a playful tug of your outfit. 

“Stop,” you hiss, the tips of your ears burning red. “Behave, Carlos.” 

The lack of his usual pet name has Carlos letting up, though barely. Your parents are readying to give a toast and he’s back to pretending like he’s innocent, his palm flat on the small of your back. 

The toast is a good one. A reminder of love that endures. There’s not a single dry eye in attendance by the time your parents are setting up for their tradition— a slow dance to the very first song they waltzed to. 

As the small crowd watches on, you feel Carlos’ hand twitch at your back. You glance at him. He’s not looking at your parents. 

He’s looking at you.

His next words are soft. Spoken like a secret, shared like a destiny.

“¿Cásate conmigo?”

There’s no need for a translation. You know this question, know the look on his face. 

Marry me? 

You want to believe it’s the Chardonnay talking. The overwhelming feeling of seeing love endure and persist. But there’s something serious underneath all of it, something just below the surface. 

Carlos isn’t smirking, isn’t joking. He’s asking, and he’s waiting for your answer. 

But, again, again, again— 

This is not yours. Not your evening. Not when there’s a haze of alcohol over the two of you; not when it’s your parents that are meant to be the center of attention.

You give Carlos’ knee a gentle squeeze. It’s enough to pull him out of his head. His face breaks into a sheepish smile and he mumbles an apology; your heart seizes up. You don’t want him to be sorry, don’t want him to think he owes you anything of consequence.

Aiming for levity, you ask, “Where’s the ring?”

He stares at you like you’re the crazy one. You press on, tone playfully chiding.

“Where’s the ring?” you insist. “You can’t be proposing without a ring, cariño.”

Carlos laughs, then. It’s a forgiving sound. “You’re right,” he concedes as he reaches across the table.

He hesitates to pull his touch away from you, but what he plans to do requires both hands. His fingers are a bit clumsy in their movements; once or twice, he has to start over, and you can do nothing but watch with growing fascination.

He gets there eventually. Gently, ever so gently, he takes your hand in his. (He shakes like it’s the real thing.)

The tissue paper ring is slid onto your finger.

It’s a crude imitation of what he truly hopes to give you one day, but at this very point in time, it’s better than any cut of diamond in the world. 

“Mrs. Carlos Sainz,” he says reverently, his gaze flitting to your face to check your reaction.

He finds nothing but your smile, giddy and wide. 

On a day where everything seems to be going wrong, Carlos sets things right. 

The kitchen faucet breaks. He watches a fifteen-minute YouTube video and declares he is now an expert plumber. He succeeds in getting the faucet back into shape, but not without flooding the floor in the process.

You order takeout for lunch; they neglect your special instructions on the pizza. Carlos issues them a strongly-worded review before painstakingly picking out the olives you dislike so much, setting them as far away from you as possible.

Even the shower is not spared by your supposed bad luck. There’s some issue with the apartment’s storage tanks. Carlos lets you bitch and moan, and then, again— that self-assured, reassuring commitment of I’ll fix it. 

You can hear him moving around in the bathroom, can hear the water sloshing in the tub as he tries to get it to the temperature you want. He rightfully assumes you’re still stewing in your misfortune, so he pitches his voice just loud enough for you to hear him singing offkey. 

“I know it's bad when we look out, but bad, bad people, they don’t live in our house,” he belts. “So, I'm gonna get right for you honey! Take all of my medicine, spend you all my money, yeah!”

It chips right through your foul mood. 

By the time you’re getting into the tub with Carlos— the water exactly how you like it— there is no doubt in your mind that this is the person you want to spend all of your days with. The good, the bad. All of it. 

Nothing matters after that. 

Not the dinner plans that have to be canceled due to some double booking by the restaurant. Not the load shedding that plunges your apartment into darkness. Not the stickiness of your sweat as the two of you crawl into bed for an early night. 

The sheets are abandoned, but cuddling is non-negotiable. Despite the heat, he pulls you to him until your foreheads are pressed against each other. 

The conditions are arguably less than ideal.

But if you spend your whole life waiting for the perfect moment, then that will be all it is. Your whole life, waiting.

Your voice is small but certain.

“Let’s get married.” 

Carlos, half-awake, hums a hushed, questioning “hm?”  

“Let’s get married,” you repeat, your breath warm over his face. “I want to marry you, Carlos Sainz.” 

He tilts forward just so, his eyelashes fluttering over yours. When he kisses you, it’s unhurried. Like he knows he’s going to have a hundred more kisses like this— at the altar, in your old age, on your wedding anniversary decades down the line. 

When he pulls away, he murmurs his next words against your mouth. “I heard you the first time,” he rasps. “I just wanted to hear it again.” 

You laugh, and you laugh, and you laugh, feeling an entire lifetime worth of love swell in your very being. You can barely make out his face in the darkness, but you like to think he’s smiling. 

“But I want to be the one who asks,” he says once you’ve settled down. 

“Ask, then.” 

“How impatient, corazón. I should make you wait.”

“You wouldn’t.” 

“No,” he agrees. “I wouldn’t.” 

A beat.

“The ring is in the bedside table,” he reveals, and your heart lurches in your chest. “Underneath my underwear.” 

“Really?” 

“I could get it right now.” 

“No.” Your arms tighten around Carlos. You’re not having second thoughts; you want that much to be clear. You just don’t want any distance between the two of you. 

Not now. Not ever. 

“Just ask,” you tell him gently. “We can do everything else later. Just— just ask. One more time. One last time.” 

There’s a moment of silence. It stretches, long and suspenseful, and you know it’s Carlos’ way of finding the courage he needs. “Okay,” he says, the word exhaled. “Okay.” 

“Will you marry me?” 

[timefall-if]

DEMO (prologue / 11th of January 2025) || An IF based on & inspired by the show "Arcane". Time Fall is a drama interactive fiction story with steampunk & cyberpunk elements, set in the dual state-cities of Delphora and Draeken, also known as The Spire and The Depths. It's meant to follow complicated relationships, complicated choices, and complicated consequences. It is written with an 18+ audience in mind due to heavy themes and topics such as death, use of drugs and alcohol, swearing, violence, (optional & skippable) explicit sexual content etc.

Time does not wait for anyone, even for the one that controls it.

After the bloody aftermath of Draeken's rebellion against Delphora, you're left an orphan. Your mother lies dead beneath a pile of bodies, crushed under the boots of the Time Watchers, and your older brother, Mylo, is nowhere to be found. Bruised and scared, you're taken in by Marek, your mother's friend, together with a few other strays he managed to catch hiding in the shadows of the night.

As Marek tends to your wounds and wipes away your tears, the Council of the Eternals, forever holed up in their lavish upper city, is falling apart. They are in complete mayhem and disarray as, unbeknownst to you, one of the five time shards that keep the heart of the city—the Clocktower—working in tune with time's balance has been stolen.

Oddly enough, that lost shard looks suspiciously similar to the strange shiny stone your mother gave you and your brother right before the doomed uprising. With it gone, the flow of time grows slippery and erratic, as the Clocktower starts to decay without its missing piece.

Life in the undercity of Draeken, also known as The Depths, is brutal enough. But when an ill-fated encounter leaves you forever altered—your blood itself changed—you’ll soon realize that time is strange, and the thin fabric of reality a fickle thing. Even more so when it’s something you can no longer just witness ... but may be forced to control.

༒︎ Fully customizable MC including: pronouns, gender, physical appearance, personality, sexuality etc.

༒︎ Choose 1 out of 5 occupations for your MC: underground pit fighter, street artist, black market medic, inventor, or dingy bar singer.

༒︎ Romance 1 out of 4 love interests, all of which are gender-selectable. Engage in hookups with other side characters.

༒︎ Find your brother, or let him find you.

༒︎ Go through an unimaginable physiology-changing experiment and manage to keep your sanity, or become completely unrecognizable to those closest to you.

༒︎ Betray the people you care about or protect them at all costs.

༒︎ Explore the dual state-cities of Delphora and Draeken on a steampunk/cyberpunk background.

༒︎ Become the hero everyone wants you to be, a new world order dictator, or God :D

Maddox / Maxine (M/F) - Rough around the edges and with a body built for combat, M's very demeanour and appearance reflects years of hard living together with you in Draeken. Taken in by Marek after the failed uprising, M had grown overbearingly protective of you on the very first night of sharing a bed with each other as kids. Now, all grown up, M fights in Marek's underground fighting pit to earn their keep, but with every bloodied knuckle, their anger grows—anger at the scraps their people are handed by Delphora’s elite. M is ready to make a change. Are you?

— Possible (romance) routes: Best Friends to Lovers / Best Friends to FWB to Lovers / Best Friends to Lovers to Enemies / Best Friends to Enemies

Riven / Raven (M/F) - A street-smart wildcard loyal only to the highest bidder, R lives by a simple rule: survive and have a good time while doing it. So they smuggle goods and sell information to whoever pays the most. R is not above double-crossing anyone, and they don’t pretend to be. Always charming, confident, and looking at you like they want to take your pants off any second, you’ll have to find out if R is worthy of your trust, or if they’re truly incapable of not betraying those they care about.

— Possible (romance) routes: FWB to Lovers / FWB to Friends / Lovers to Enemies / FWB to Enemies

Seraphim / Seraphina Vaughn (M/F) - The strangest person you have met down in The Depths, and that’s saying something. S is sweet, about as intimidating as a puppy, with a wide and bright smile and … clothes that sometimes seem to be too well tailored to their frame with golden silky linings that make them stand out in ways they’re trying to hide. They’re a people pleaser at heart, but S’s thinly veiled ambition and naivety about the streets of Draeken makes you wonder about their intentions. They seem to be attached to you from the moment you meet. Can you figure out the catch, or will your trust come back to bite you?

— Possible (romance) routes : Friends to Lovers / Lovers to Enemies / Friends to Enemies

Cassian / Calypso Kazimier (M/F) - C’s deep sense of superiority and disdain for The Depths is reflected clearly on their sharp and cold face, their commanding presence demanding respect and authority with every move. As the most influential member of the Order of the Eternals, C makes it their very purpose to ensure that no one can challenge their rule, and that any threat to their control is dealt with swiftly and without mercy. What happens when that threat might be you? C is untouchable, they will make sure to squash you with their own hands. Unless …

— Possible (romance) routes : Corruption Arc / Enemies to Lovers / Enemies to Lovers to Enemies

DISCLAIMER: this is a project in early progress, meaning that there are things that might be subject to change later on.

LINKS: cog forum || ROs physical descriptions || other project || neon dividers credits

[circeyoru]

Love Trial _ Part 3

[Sung Jinwoo x High School Ex-Lover!Reader]

Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3 (here) ― Part 4 ― Part 5

Where? Where were you? You weren’t the type to miss school. Jinwoo’s anxiety shot through the atmosphere after homeroom was assigned and everyone was seated. Yet you were nowhere in sight and your seat had some other random person. With his Shadows, he had combed through the entire student body, and there wasn’t a trace of you. Where did you go? He had asked around for you, but none knew who you were, as if you never existed. You weren’t even in the school registry. It was impossible for you not to be here.

Everything had been the same. It was the same class he was in, the same classmates, the same school. Was he hallucinating back then? But it clearly saw your younger self and heard your name being called. There was no way you were gone from this world. 

He searched beyond his school. The question of where you were made him anxious. Was there an accident? Did you perhaps get hurt? These questions popped up more and more, and then ridiculous scenarios to explain your situation came to mind. Maybe he caused you to―

There. You were in another high school, studying with another class of students who weren’t his. You were diligently making notes and paying attention in class―unlike him―and by the looks of things, you had skipped grades. You were in the same grade and class as Choi Jong-In, two grades above him.

Now that he found you, there was a moment of relief. However, soon, relief turned to confusion. Nothing changed for him, even after he had been gone for two years. Why did you change? Not to sound degrading, but you weren’t the studying type. You were smart and brilliant but never liked skipping grades because you treasured friendships with the same age group.

Yet, the fact that you were with Choi Jong-In. That was all that told him this was no coincidence. He flinched when your gaze turned to the ground where his Shadows would be watching from. Your gaze was cold and indifferent, rivalling his own in his worse moments. He had to call his Shadow to go to another location. This proves it.

You, who was hurt by him, remembered everything.

.

.

.

After Choi Jong-In’s words, you listened for the deliberate footsteps that a high-skilled Hunter would otherwise be able to hide. Sure enough, you felt the imposing presence coming closer and closer. Your hand grabbed the other tightly; they shook from the strength you used. All while, your face remained as neutral as it got. 

Jong-In noticed your state easily. Although he had no idea what happened to make you have such a repulsion towards the track star, as your friend, he would stand by your side no matter what. Even with bullies who once mocked you for skipping grades or questioning your intelligence, you weren’t that agitated. It was only when Sung Jinwoo was brought up that you’d be the complete opposite of who you were.

As if Sung Jinwoo killed you in your past life.

Jinwoo paused, maintaining a close distance between the two of you, but also within your earshot so you’d hear him clearly. Your name was called with a sense of lost, maybe even regret, “Can I talk to you alone?”

Jong-In glanced to you. You still had your back to Jinwoo and he was staring longingly at you for a response. Anyone could see the tension between you two. Jong-In would say former lovers that ended on a sour note, not that he’ll voice it out. You had glanced back to him, a signal he was well acquainted.

In a swift movement, Jong-In stepped between Jinwoo’s stare at your back. With a smile and an edged tone, he told the Monarch, “My partner and I just ended classes and we’re quite tired. So if you have anything to say, you can do it here.”

Oh, look at that clenched fist. Observed Jong-In as he fixed his glasses. This would make for a good romance show, if he weren’t included in the character list.

Whatever frustration, Jinwoo forced it down, silencing his chirpy Shadows that promised to inflict the worst pain possible if and when given the order to get loose on the former Hunter that stood between their Liege and his love.

Jong-In’s eyes widened as he watched in horror at the black and purple wave-like mist coming from Jinwoo, like a thick fog but alive at the same time, threatening even. “Let’s go.” Without waiting for your approval, Jong-In dragged you away from Jinwoo. 

“Wha-?” You snapped back to reality when Jong-In brought you deeper into the hallways to another building. You didn’t care as long as you were getting farther and farther away from Jinwoo. “What’s going on? Why did you just―”

“Call me crazy, but I saw something. Black and purple. It was all around that guy.” Jong-In spoke with a shiver in his mind at the thought. “He’s too dangerous―my instincts tell me that. Your gut feeling is spot on.”

In the past, you helped avoid ’bad’ futures or events under the excuse of ’gut-feeling’. Jong-In seen it in action a few times and believed your lie. There was no way you’d tell him, “Oh I came from a past that has monsters and these superhumans that fight them inside some otherworld pocket dimension called Gates! Guess what, you were one of the strongest in this country and we were best friends before too!” Yeah, people will lock you up in an insane asylum and wire you up.

You can’t help but look back. You saw his trusted Shadows standing by Jinwoo as he continued to stare at your fading figure with his eyes glowing in a purple hue. You couldn’t see his face, but you could tell the bloodthirsty Beru was suggesting something about using violence and the knightly Igris would be suggesting something like chasing after you. Though, you knowing Jinwoo, he wouldn’t do either.

Yet you wonder. Why was Jinwoo searching for you? What did he want to talk about?

.

.

.

From then on, Jinwoo would appear around you regularly, trying to strike up a conversation or something along those lines. It was easy to avoid said conversations because Jinwoo was something of a celebrity. As a single guy and talented―and handsome as much as he wouldn’t admit and you hate to admit―a number of girls were dying to be the one. Whenever you were alone without Jong-In as your meat shield, you’d just grab some random girl and introduce her to him. His reactions were fun to watch, and then you’d slip away.

Speaking of your personal meat shield, Jong-In didn’t want to be around Jinwoo as much as you, perhaps more. You choked it up to his unawakened Hunter instinct. You didn’t see anything. Well, you did see the Shadows Jinwoo treasures, but nothing about the ominous aura Jong-In mentioned. Perhaps he saw the Shadows but a blurred version, or he saw them but the lack of explanation shifted towards fear of the unknown. Either way, you understood. Ironic that you thought he’d be a good shield, but now you were better than him.

Not that you were that much better, you still chose to avoid Jinwoo as much as possible. You being in a different year level than him helped when it was all about the lectures and tutorials, since you two were in different departments, it was even better that there would be no clashes. During lunch, you weren’t even on campus. During your time at the library, you either booked a private study room or had your group of friends with you. Jinwoo had no chance of meeting you nor getting you alone.

Well, there were the times when you were heading to class and travelling alone on campus. Like you mentioned, you purposefully picked the more common routes where a number of students would be strolling around. They acted as the perfect meat shields. True to your memory, Jinwoo was not one for attention, and he was quite oblivious to social cues. Sometimes you looked back and wondered why you loved him.

You watched from a distance, on a balcony outside the library’s study room, how a girl was presumably confessing her undying love to Jinwoo in the courtyard. You didn’t know the words he spoke, but he made her run away crying. Your face crunched up in mild disgust, a bitter feeling in your chest as you recalled your little break-up. Jinwoo was as blunt and straightforward as they come.

Jinwoo was family-oriented. He loved his family and would put his life on the line for them. You admired that about him during his E-Rank days. There were moments where he was down in the dups, but he was able to bounce back one way or another, never giving up. Jinwoo treasured loyalty, not caring for fame or fortune or status of those around him. What mattered to him was their intention and if they would be good in his and his loved ones’ life.

You were once among his loved ones. You thought it would stay that way. You hoped and wished it would. However, reality is often disappointing and dream-shattering. 

At that moment, he looked up in the direction where you were. You neither flinched nor hid. Instead, your head tilted. There was no way he could do anything out in the open like that. So you mouthed to him, “Meet me at the rooftop.” And you turned to head there yourself.

With everything that happened, your repulsion and hatred of Jinwoo subsided over time. You can’t ignore that that Gate that appeared all those years ago had something to do with him. Plus, the fact that the world was at peace and no Gates or Hunters appeared proved your theory. As always, Jinwoo preferred to do solo missions and self-sacrifice just to keep his loved ones and the world safe. Whether that included you, you didn’t care, because that was what you loved about him. That heroic quality. It was there even when he was an E-Rank.

In a way, you owe your current life, peace, and happiness to Jinwoo and whatever he went through.

“Congratulations on whatever your goal was. Hunter Sung.” You turned to him when you sensed him coming, a plain service smile on your face.

“So you do remember…” A sigh came from the Monarch.

“Despite being the unnamed hero of the world…” Your smile dropped to a straight line, “I’d like for you to stop hovering around me and carry on with our separate lives.” 

Sung Jinwoo was the living embodiment of the famous quote, ‘Heroes would sacrifice their loved ones for the world, but villains would sacrifice the world for their loved ones’. He saved the world, but what exactly did he sacrifice?

The Monarch flinched at the sight of your gaze. There wasn’t malice. There wasn’t bloodlust. There also wasn’t sadness or hatred. There was just nothing. “Just. Like. Before.”

Standing before Jinwoo was the you that suffered from the heartbreak he caused. Heroes are purposed to protect and love their loved ones, you were considered one in his heart. Yet… That indifferent attitude you had. It’s haunting.

Back to the question of what he sacrificed to save the world satisfy that momentarily impulsive want?

You. 

You and your heart.

Note: If you had noticed, there would be a total of 5 parts for this series, then it's completed. No schedule for when the other 2 parts are coming out cause I'm working on other requests and my enemy Monarch series as well. I think the ending might be a bit fast, but I'll let you guys judge when the time comes~

𝕮𝖎𝖗𝖈𝖊 𝖄.

My Works: MASTERLIST

Taglist: @my-arietta @mydearestbeloved @skylar896 @o-qi-shisme @the-dumber-scaramouche @mochinon-yah @waka-babe @ditmemay1234 @mangooes @cottonbeeeeeeee @gurlie919 @rozuburedo

[chanafehs]

My Veilguard review:

Note - I will be honest in saying this is very long and very negative. If you enjoy this game please don't let me be the one to ruin that for you and skip on this post. I will be discussing spoilers. This is just my opinion so please don't crucify me for it.

I think my thoughts about this game were shaky to begin with as I had been exposed to different spoilers and information before the launch. I wasn’t actually expecting this game to be amazing but as someone whose favorite Dragon Age game is Dragon Age 2, which is arguably the weakest in the series (until now), I still went in with the impression I would have a good time regardless. I did not have that at all, in fact towards the end of Act 2 and the beginning of Act 3 all I wanted was for the game to be over. 

The problems for me really started right in the beginning with the Inquisitor character choices and their characterization. No choices for your Warden, no choices for your Hawke, and only three choices for your Inquisitor out of the dozens you made in Inquisition. The romance option just felt like a very polite way of asking if you romanced Solas or not, especially after completing the game where your non-solas romance will only get one letter for you to read, outside of that, the Inquisitor will not even mention them. Disbanding the Inquisition meant basically nothing and vowing to stop Solas felt like it had little bearing on what my Inquisitor said when she showed up. 

The time frame to make Dragon Age 2 was just over a year and somehow included more choices from Origins than Veilguard did with over ten years of production. That is the information that's been banging around in my head throughout this entire game. In Dragon Age 2, we get the consequences of our decisions with Alistair’s fate and we get extra dialogue concerning Isabela/Zevran/Leliana/Anders/Nathaniel + some sidequests. Veilguard couldn’t even give us so much of a mention of our Inquisitor’s friendships and the consequences of those friendships outside of Solas. The Inquisitors themselves are locked into one personality type as well, and regardless if you choose to stop Solas or not, they are very amicable toward him. 

During the second cut scene you get with the Inquisitor in Dock Town, they will go on to ask you about your progress and then go on about Solas. Mind you, my Inquisitor is extremely unsympathetic to Solas and I chose the option to stop him no matter what, so why is it that every time I speak to her, she keeps trying to ask me if Solas is being genuine and that he was her friend? That doesn’t sound like someone who has vowed to stop him. They will also try to draw parallels between you, Rook, and Solas. Even at the end of the game, they will still try to appeal to you to see reason with him. That is essentially all the Inquisitor is there for. Incredibly frustrating. 

Throughout the game you will get missives from the Inquisitor detailing the devastation that is being brought to southern Thedas and every letter feels like more and more of an insult. To keep it short: Southern Thedas as we know it has been essentially wiped out. I think that deserves more than a footnote in some missive most players aren’t even going to see.

So the setting we spent all three games in, that we saved countless times, had our companions and protagonists die for, gets demolished in the background where we cannot see it. Skyhold had to be taken back from demons and whoops, that's not actually something you can do anything about. Nothing the Warden, Hawke, or the Inquisitor ever did mattered at all and it renders everything from the previous games absolutely irrelevant. 

With that aside, the companions are also another issue for me. I found myself having trouble getting attached to any of them and every single time I recruited one I had the internal question “Why are you even here?” None of their companion quests really tie into the story at large, save maybe Harding and Davrin, and they are incredibly boring save for a few cool moments.

The main appeal of Dragon Age for me is the companions, it’s why Dragon Age 2 is my favorite of the series. Despite the overused environments and the rushed production I still had a great time with it because of the companions. I was actually eager to do the companion quests and learn more about them and how they all fit into the main narrative. Even characters I didn’t like, I still understood why they were important to the story. Like I can’t stand Anders but I know why he is there, he has a purpose.

Every companion is painfully amicable towards you even if you decide to be “stern” towards them. I found myself not caring what dialogue option I chose about them because it made absolutely no difference. There is nice, funny nice, and gentle parenting. That is really all you have to work with in terms of the dialogue wheel. It was more difficult to get disapproval than approval and I can probably count on my fingers every time in this game I actually got companion disapproval. There is only one companion in my playthrough that became hardened, Lucanis, and it had virtually no impact on his character other than the fact he leaves for a couple of saves and comes back to kissing your ass. 

Something I actually really liked about BG3 and the previous Dragon Age games was working for your companion approval - this meant actually learning about your companion and what made them tick. If you don't understand them well enough you get disapproval, when you actually listen to their ideas and thoughts you get approval - there is an active effort to get these things. In Veilguard this does not exist and you are essentially promised approval no matter what, meaning there is no encouragement to know who these people are if they're just going to support you regardless.

I have to agree with the Skillup review they made about this game saying that every dialogue option feels like it was made with HR in the room and I one hundred percent agree. This is not how real people talk to each other. This is how teachers talk to toddlers when they want to explain the virtues of sharing toys with their classmates.

It felt honestly insulting at times to be treated like I don’t understand the concept of bigotry, I still have no idea what they were trying to go for with this, like were they trying to appeal to a market of high school boys who hadn’t discovered what empathy was yet? There is zero trust in the player and every dialogue and decision you make in these moments feels handhold-y and preachy. Like Pixar levels of life lessons you learn.

In the moments where I had to settle arguments over coffee and companions not respecting each other's interests, I could not honestly believe this is the same universe with Loghain Mac Tir, Meredith Stannard, fuck even Corypheus. Humor has always existed in Dragon Age and I love the comedic banter between the characters but it was always humor that served as an escape from the oppressive and dark situation around you, here the dark and oppressive situations feel like an escape from the unrelenting friendliness and tone deafness of your companions. 

The companion I probably had the most issue with was Taash and the way they were handled. I’m not going to get too deep into the Bharv scene because even thinking about it makes me cringe but If someone messed up my pronouns and then immediately dropped to do pushups I am most definitely killing us both. Isabela’s explanation is extremely preachy and she proceeds to do the exact thing she says she hates about people messing up pronouns. Anyways. Moving on. 

Taash I think is a good example of how to not write a multiethnic character. I don’t expect a white person like Trick Weekes to understand the first thing that comes with being multiethnic or having strict parents that intersects with that identity but it is most definitely not whatever the hell this is. 

The only thing I can offer here is that as a multiethnic person (my father is Palestinian and my mother is mainly Irish and Seminole) is that there has never been a point in my life where I felt like I had to choose what culture I am let alone give that choice to someone else in my life I just met.

That’s not what being multiethnic is. I do not have to choose between anything - I am whole and I don't need to cut myself into halves and quarters to be accepted.

It also feels subconsciously like you are supposed to choose Rivain as the Qunari are depicted as bigoted and oppressive as they always have been in this game. Knowing all of this really tainted my experiences with them as a character and I understand a lot of other non-binary individuals love the representation they brought on that level but personally, I’m just tired of “queer representation” always coming with racist undertones. Again, this game feels like it always had white queer people in mind, not lgbt poc. 

These kinds of comments are really only made worse knowing what the Qunari take inspiration from - primarily Black and Brown SWANA Muslims. Why should Trick Weekes have any authority over a questline like that is beyond me. 

Also, this sucked. Especially because they said it to Neve too. I don’t really want my non-binary representation sprinkled with Misogyny as well, especially since we can’t really call Taash out on this comment unless you’re playing a woman (as far as I know).

Aside from Taash, I thought the writing around Harding was strange. Don’t me wrong, I love Harding, but I do not remember her being this friendly and people-pleasing in the Inquisition. If you play as a Dalish elf the first thing she says is she’s surprised that you would care about anyone else - there is absolutely no inclination of this kind of perspective in Veilguard. Additionally, despite knowing everything Solas has done and the consequences that had on her ancestors, she still tries to push you to reason with him?

All of her quests about learning about the Titans, experiencing and embracing their anger, and you still want to appeal to Solas? That was another thing I found so weird about this game, throughout the entire story you are being told again and again that Solas cannot be trusted, he is to blame for everything, and will stab you in the back and yet it seems like every companion tries to push back on you if you agree with this viewpoint? 

Also, something I didn't know at this point of the game but I do now is that Solas had killed Varric and she does know this so why is she acting like this knowing Solas had killed her friend who she spent years with?

Genuinely this whole game felt like: Devs: Solas is a villain

Rook: okay understood

Devs: actually nvm you don't understand him if you think he's a villain

The only companion quests I was actually genuinely interested in were Emmrich and his thoughts around death and becoming a lich. Lucanis' quests had the best boss fights for sure. Outside of that, it felt like “Go here with Bellara” or “Go here with Taash” and it got so grating I couldn’t wait for these quests to be over so I could progress with the main story. It felt like an annoying back-and-forth game to finish a main quest just to finish all the companion quests and then go back to the main quest. Like a list of chores to get through before you can have any fun. 

The inclusion of characters like Morrigan and Isabela in this universe was extremely hollow and they do not feel like the Morrigan and Isabela we know at all. With Morrigan there is a bit of an explanation to this with the essence of Mythal however she reiterates that it is still herself and it is only the memories of Mythal that remain inside of her.

In my canon playthroughs of Dragon Age, I romanced both Morrigan and Isabela, so I was curious to see how the developers would address their pasts with our Warden and Hawke. Unfortunately, the answer is that they don’t address it at all. Morrigan hardly mentions her past, leaving us to wonder if Kieran even exists. The game implies that the relationship between Morrigan and the Warden is insignificant; a codex entry oddly suggests, in a very slut-shamey way, that Morrigan had more lovers than there are trees in the forest. Isabela doesn't reference Hawke either, as she fondly remembers Kirkwall for found family and friendship. It seems that if you romanced Isabela or Morrigan, congratulations—your canon doesn’t exist.

I will echo the statement others have made about all the cameos feeling like mascots because that is really what they are. There is no substance to any of them, Isabela only feels like she is there to be a supportive voice for Taash, Morrigan will only really talk about Solas and Mythal-Dorian is the only one who actually gets a substantial quest related to him. I thought he was fine minus the "illegal slavery" bit because what is illegal slavery Dorian. Next up we will discuss legal murder.

Another thing that genuinely broke the immersion for me in this game is how awful the armor is. It is a Dragon Age game so I wasn't expecting Haute Couture but the design is all over the place and nothing looks right. Not to mention the extremely weird orientalist undertones that follow the Lords of Fortune everywhere. The outfit Isabela is wearing is even worse in person and I tried to give this game the benefit of the doubt by thinking we would be getting some underwater mission with her and that would be the explanation behind her bikini outfit - this did not happen.

The belly dancer-esque outfits with the coin-bedazzled turbans were pretty egregious and made me want to limit my time in Rivain as much as possible. For a game released in 2024, I am disappointed we are still dealing with the same Orientalist fantasy tropes. Even the Qunari are more naked in this game than I had ever seen previously. At least DA2 and DAI gave them pants. But hey the Antaam are all blighted and evil so who cares right.

Speaking of the Antaam, a lot of the antagonist motivations for this game genuinely did not make sense to me. The Antaam are suddenly giving up their fear of magic to pair up with...the Venatori? To fight for the elven gods? It honestly felt like they had no idea who to make fight for the Evanuris so they just pulled two of the baddies from the Inquisition and went "We can just use them and call it done". When you press for information on why this is the answer is always a mustache-twirling dialogue about power. Nothing much deeper from that than any of the villains besides Solas. All of the villains, especially Elgar'nan and Ghilan'nain, are extremely one-dimensional and have no motivations other than being evil and striving for power. At least Corypheus had cool lines.

I'm not going to get too deep into lore changes since I know a lot of things happened in the comics, books, and TV show (all of which I did not read or watch) but I honestly do think it's a bad idea to have a "soft reboot" while needing to read several books to understand everything. That's not being welcoming to new players that's homework. If you wanted a soft reboot probably don't start off with half your plot and characters coming from various comics and novels people need to catch up on.

The portrayal of the Dalish in this game is inconsistent. When we inform them that their gods are evil and planning to overthrow the world, they respond, "Okay, heard you." How can they accept this explanation so readily? In previous interactions, Solas shared that the Dalish did not listen to him and even threatened him when he revealed this truth. Yet, when we present the same information, they believe us almost immediately. Is there no pushback or skepticism? The Dalish accept everything about the evil elven gods meanwhile Andraste’s followers remain completely unaffected by these revelations.

I think what frustrated me even more was watching our elven companions express grief and regret over the actions of the elven gods like they had something to do with it, painting the Dalish as adjacent to oppressors when they themselves are oppressed in every way. The only thing that remains consistent is the sad boy Solas act about it.

At the end of the game, two of my companions - Harding and Emmrich- were killed. Emmrich's death was unfortunately overshadowed by a zoom-in on a rock and I had no idea he had died until I got the popup. Still, all I can think about is just going "Rock moment" when he died. I don't really have anything negative to say about Harding's death other than the way she went out was fitting for her narrative. Bellara got blighted and there were no consequences for this and she walked away from it - forgive me but I am still under the DAO impression that if you get blighted that's game over but all the rules about the Blight have been changed in this.

I decided to trick Solas, and honestly, I don’t have anything negative to say about it, except that Solas should have noticed me holding the fake dagger since it was clearly in his line of sight. I liked the idea of outsmarting the god of trickery. While it wasn’t extremely satisfying, but I’m okay with how it turned out.

Even as the credits began rolling I still have trouble believing rook's role in any of this. Just the persistent nagging idea that they really just have no place in this story at all. In the beginning I wanted to see how Rook is looped into all of this and how they become central to the fight against Solas but just like with most of the companions, I have no idea why they are here. This should've been the Inquisitor's story to finish.

I'm not going to pretend that everything about this game was irredeemable and terrible. There were genuinely parts I enjoyed and had a good time with. The romance ending scene with Neve was fantastic, even though it took a long time to get there. Davrin was an unexpected aspect of the game that I actually liked, as I never cared much for Grey Wardens before, but he changed my perspective. Harding's mention of the Inquisition was also very sweet. Although I wasn't particularly invested in Emmrich, I loved the conclusion to his quest when he became a lich lord.

While I'm not the biggest Solas fan, I actually really enjoyed the cutscenes between him and Rook because one of my aims with this game was the ability to be mean to Solas and kick him while he was down. They definitely delivered there even though everyone else kept disagreeing with me.

The worlds are beautiful and the CC is definitely the best we've gotten in any Dragon Age game, I spent probably a solid hour in there. The hairstyles are great and the four unibrow choices? Bioware you shouldn't have <3.

Overall I definitely didn't have the best time with this game and towards the end of act 2 I was incredibly bored and the combat became repetitive and stagnant enough that I turned down the difficulty to get through it faster. I can't see myself replaying this any time soon and I am unsure what my stance on Dragon Age is now, do I Ignore this game ever existed or do I carve out everything I liked and pretend this is the Dragon Age I love? I have no idea, I am disappointed at how this game leaves us off and I really wanted to sit here and say It's good but I can't.

I think this game will reach out to and resonate with a different group of Dragon Age fans than me, I just wish I could enjoy it as much as I see other people doing. I was originally going to give this game a 3/10 but knowing you can pet the cats I will give it a very generous 3.5/10.

[pearlprincess02]

romantic blueprints: 5th house ruler in 5th house

5th house ruler shows how you approach love affairs, the type of partners you attract/seek, your approach to casual romantic connections, struggles in dating & love.

5th house ruler in 5th house

passionate, expressive, romantic, playful, dramatic, creative, devoted, open-hearted, affectionate, intense, fun-loving, charismatic, artistic, adventurous, bold, confident, attention-seeking, enthusiastic, youthful, emotionally warm, flamboyant, magnetic, teasing, witty, seductive, charming, playful banter, eye contact-heavy, passion-driven, theatrical, overly idealistic, attention-craving, easily bored, commitment-phobic, dramatic ups & downs, attracting immature partners, seeking constant validation, overly romanticizing love, impulsive decisions, jealousy issues, childlike wonder, seeking excitement, romantic grand gestures, falling in love quickly, strong sexual energy, loyal when truly invested, a lover of romance itself, prefers relationships full of passion, can be self-centered in love, needs admiration from partners

5th house in signs

aries 5th house ruler in 5th house (mars in 5th house)

with aries ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with fiery passion, spontaneity, and an all-or-nothing attitude. you crave excitement, intensity, and a partner who can keep up with your fast-paced, adventurous energy. in dating, you seek bold, confident individuals—those who exude independence and a spark of challenge. your flirting style is direct, playful, and full of teasing, often coming across as daring and flirtatiously competitive. however, your biggest romantic challenge lies in impatience and a tendency to lose interest quickly if things become too predictable. you may also struggle with impulsive decisions in love, diving headfirst without thinking through long-term consequences.

type of love/lover: enemies to lovers, the chase is better than the catch, love at first fight, impulsive love confessions, independent lovers

taurus 5th house ruler in 5th house (venus in 5th house)

with taurus ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with patience, sensuality, and deep devotion. you crave stability and seek partners who are reliable, affectionate, and willing to build something long-lasting. in dating, you are drawn to those who exude warmth, security, and a touch of luxury—someone who appreciates romance in its slow, indulgent form. your flirting style is subtle yet magnetic, often using touch, eye contact, and a calm, grounded presence to draw people in. however, your biggest romantic challenges lie in stubbornness, possessiveness, and a tendency to stay in relationships longer than you should, fearing change or disruption to your emotional comfort.

type of love/lover: slow burn, friends to lovers, the protective lover, loyal to a fault, the sensual romantic

gemini 5th house ruler in 5th house (mercury in 5th house)

with gemini ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with curiosity, playfulness, and an insatiable need for mental stimulation. you seek partners who are witty, engaging, and can keep up with your fast-moving thoughts and ever-changing interests. in dating, you thrive on variety and excitement, often gravitating toward those who are socially dynamic, intellectually stimulating, and open-minded. your flirting style is lighthearted, clever, and full of teasing banter, effortlessly drawing people in with your charm and humor. however, your biggest romantic challenges include restlessness, inconsistency, and difficulty committing, as you can quickly lose interest if a relationship becomes too routine or emotionally heavy.

type of love/lover: flirty best friends, love through late-night conversations, catch me if you can, magnetic opposites, lover of many faces

cancer 5th house ruler in 5th house (moon in 5th house)

with cancer ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with deep emotion, sensitivity, and a strong desire for security. you seek partners who are nurturing, affectionate, and can provide a sense of home within the relationship. in dating, you are drawn to those who are emotionally intuitive, family-oriented, and capable of forming a deep, sentimental bond. your flirting style is soft, warm, and subtly inviting—often expressed through caring gestures, deep eye contact, and an air of emotional mystery. however, your biggest romantic challenges include moodiness, emotional attachment too soon, and difficulty letting go, which can lead to staying in relationships that no longer serve you out of nostalgia or fear of emotional vulnerability.

type of love/lover:childhood sweethearts, the caregiver lover, love letters & nostalgia, the protector & the soft heart, falling first, falling hard

leo 5th house ruler in 5th house (sun in 5th house)

with leo ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with passion, confidence, and a flair for the dramatic. romance is a grand adventure, and you seek a partner who adores, admires, and uplifts you. in dating, you are drawn to charismatic, bold, and expressive individuals who match your energy and appreciation for fun. your flirting style is magnetic, playful, and full of grand gestures—you love to impress and make your interest known in a big way. however, your biggest romantic challenges include craving constant attention, struggling with pride, and sometimes making love more about validation than true emotional depth. learning to balance ego with vulnerability is key to long-lasting love.

type of love/lover: the star-crossed lovers, grand romantic gestures, the charmer & the cynic, all or nothing love, the performer in love

virgo 5th house ruler in 5th house (mercury in 5th house)

with virgo ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with thoughtfulness, devotion, and a desire for stability. you seek a partner who is intelligent, reliable, and willing to grow with you—someone who values the little things and shows love through actions rather than just words. In dating, you are drawn to those who are practical, hardworking, and emotionally mature, often preferring deep, meaningful connections over fleeting passion. your flirting style is subtle yet attentive, expressed through acts of service, witty conversations, and a keen interest in your love interest’s well-being. however, your biggest romantic challenges include overanalyzing feelings, setting impossibly high standards, and struggling with self-criticism, which can make it hard to fully relax and enjoy love in the moment.

type of love/lover: love in the details, the stoic & the softie, fixing you; fixing me, from colleagues to soulmates, acts of service as love

libra 5th house ruler in 5th house (venus in 5th house)

with libra ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with charm, romance, and a strong desire for harmony. you seek a partner who is elegant, emotionally balanced, and knows how to keep the romance alive. in dating, you are drawn to those who are aesthetically pleasing, socially graceful, and emotionally intelligent—someone who values partnership as much as you do. your flirting style is smooth, charming, and effortlessly engaging, often using compliments, deep eye contact, and a touch of mystery to captivate others. however, your biggest romantic challenges include indecisiveness, a tendency to people-please, and struggling with superficial connections, as you may prioritize the idea of love over its true emotional depth.

type of love/lover: meant to be, the socialite & the loner, aesthetic power couple, romance as an art form, the flawless facade

scorpio 5th house ruler in 5th house (pluto/mars in 5th house)

with scorpio ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with intensity, depth, and a need for emotional transformation. romance is never casual for you—it’s all-consuming, passionate, and often life-changing. you seek partners who are magnetic, emotionally complex, and unafraid of deep connections. in dating, you are drawn to those with a mysterious edge, someone who can match your emotional depth and unwavering loyalty. your flirting style is seductive, magnetic, and almost hypnotic, often relying on intense eye contact, subtle touches, and an air of intrigue. however, your biggest romantic challenges include jealousy, control issues, and the tendency to test your partner’s loyalty, sometimes creating power struggles where there don’t need to be any. learning to trust and let love flow without fear of betrayal is essential for true fulfillment.

type of love/lover: all or nothing love, the obsessive soulmate, forbidden desire, toxic but irresistible, the protector & the possessive lover

sagittarius 5th house ruler in 5th house (jupiter in 5th house)

with sagittarius ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with enthusiasm, adventure, and a thirst for freedom. romance, to you, is an exciting journey, and you seek partners who are spontaneous, open-minded, and willing to explore life with you. in dating, you are drawn to those who have a strong sense of individuality, a love for learning, and a wild, adventurous spirit. your flirting style is playful, bold, and full of witty banter—you enjoy making people laugh and keeping things lighthearted. however, your biggest romantic challenges include a fear of commitment, restlessness, and a tendency to chase the thrill of new love rather than building deeper emotional connections. learning to balance independence with emotional depth will help create more fulfilling relationships.

type of love/lover: the runaway lovers, opposites attract, love in a foreign land,the commitment-phobe, best friends to lovers

capricorn 5th house ruler in 5th house (saturn in 5th house)

with capricorn ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with seriousness, patience, and a sense of long-term commitment. romance, for you, is grounded in stability, loyalty, and practicality. you seek partners who are mature, responsible, and share your ambitions, someone who can build a solid future alongside you. in dating, you are drawn to those who have a strong work ethic, a sense of purpose, and a grounded demeanor. your flirting style is reserved yet sincere, often expressed through subtle gestures of care and showing your interest through actions rather than words. however, your biggest romantic challenges include being overly cautious, emotionally reserved, and sometimes coming off as distant or too focused on achieving goals, which can make it difficult to fully open up or be vulnerable in relationships.

type of love/lover: the steady; reliable lover, slow burn, power couple, the mentor & the student, the practical romantic

aquarius 5th house ruler in 5th house (uranus/saturn in 5th house)

with aquarius ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with a sense of individuality, open-mindedness, and intellectual curiosity. romance, for you, is about freedom, innovation, and sharing new ideas, rather than traditional expressions of love. you seek partners who are unique, independent, and forward-thinking, someone who values personal freedom and is open to unconventional relationships. in dating, you are drawn to those who are quirky, intellectually stimulating, and have a strong sense of individuality. your flirting style is playful, experimental, and often involves witty exchanges or unique gestures that set you apart from others. however, your biggest romantic challenges include emotional detachment, difficulty with intimacy, and a tendency to prioritize logic over emotional connection, which can sometimes create distance in relationships.

type of love/lover: unconventional love, intellectual connection, the free-spirited lovers, the eccentric couple, friends first lovers later

pisces 5th house ruler in 5th house (neptune/jupiter in 5th house)

with pisces ruling the 5th house and its ruler placed there, you approach love affairs with deep sensitivity, idealism, and a romantic, almost dreamlike quality. romance, for you, is about emotional connection, escapism, and transcending the mundane. you seek partners who are compassionate, intuitive, and able to understand the unspoken depths of your emotions. in dating, you are drawn to those who are empathetic, creative, and open to exploring a spiritual or imaginative bond. your flirting style is soft, mysterious, and full of gentle gestures—often conveyed through subtle touches, poetic words, or dreamy eyes. however, your biggest romantic challenges include being overly idealistic, getting lost in fantasies, and struggling to differentiate between real love and the illusions you create, which can lead to disappointment or emotional overwhelm.

type of love/lover: star-crossed lovers, the dreamer & the realist, healing love, the enigmatic lover, falling for the artist

all observations are done by me !!! @pearlprincess02

main masterlist

[planetmimi]

PROLOGUE: Between Worlds

wc: 892

context: tamaranean-kryptonian reader x mark grayson cw: none, for now

Tamaran

26 years ago, a Kryptonian scientist named Val-Ren left his home in search of something his people could never offer him-understanding. He left Krypton as his desire to understand how life develops on other planets became too strong. He was looked down on by the scientific community, his desire to see energy as a living force, seemed futile on Krypton, useless. But he could not rid his mind of one question, what could Krypton become if we learned from others. That desire, that question, led him to Tamaran.

His plan was to study life on Tamaran for a decade and then head back to Krypton, using what he learned and discovered on Tamaran to make Kryptonian biology better. But four years after he arrived on Tamaran, his home planet was destroyed. It was abrupt, there was no warning, no goodbye. No survivors. Just silence.

When he landed on Tamaran, the king had died several years prior. Leaving Queen Luadn’r as sole ruler until one of her two daughters were ready to inherit the throne. When Val-Ren met the Queen her beauty captivated him, and she was by his purpose. She wondered, what could Kryptonian technology do for Tamaran?

The Queen, along with her council, decided to allow him to continue his scientific work under the watchful eyes of Tamarans most trusted scientists. The walls were built high, and trust had to be earned.

Over the years the kryptonian, gained not only the trust and respect of Queen Luadn’r, but the love as well. He found her intoxicating. Her wisdom, her strength, her unyielding love for her people. In turn Luadn’r was drawn to his intellect, curiosity, and his mind. Where most wanted to conquer and squander, Val-Ren wanted to understand, to learn.

It was not a whirlwind romance, it was slow, gradual, yet steady. A love based on a foundation of respect and understanding. When they officially started to court each other, Queen Luadn’r made sure to not hide it from the people of Tamaran. Their wedding was a public affair. The people of Tamaran were divided, ones who celebrated the couple and ones who disliked that their royal family would now include a Kryptonian.

It took time, but the public learned to accept the relationship.

After 10 years of being on Tamaran, Val-Ren and the Queen had their one and only child, Princess Kaelynd’r. A baby girl, a perfect mixture of Tamaranean and Kryptonian- fierce, bright, radiant. But most of all, she was a little girl who was love. Her older sisters Komand’r and Koriand’r adored her.

Komand’r, as the eldest, took it upon herself to make sure that Kaelynd’r would never be weak. She taught Kael to always speak her mind, to not be afraid to be different. They bonded over the fact that both looked different from the other Tamaraneans, it allowed both to feel as though they belonged. Even if some would say otherwise. She often spared with her sister, taking pride in being the one to teach the younger girl about their energy beams and how to move without a sound. Komand’r would train her at night, work on Kael’s stealth by having her sneak from her room all the way to Komand’rs room, while not alerting any guards. When Kael would succeed, Komand’r would take her flying through the night sky. Under the twin moons of Tamaran, the sisters would fly and train with each other, a secret between the two, a bond like no other.

Koriand’r, on the other hand, was the big sister ever child dreams about, was extremely kind and always wanted to play with Kaelynd’r. While Komand’r taught Kael to be bold, strong, and unapologetically herself, Kori taught Kael to be kind and appreciative of all things. The two youngest would often sneak off from their teachings to go to the lake together to swim and play in the water, they would play dolls and make traditional Tamaranean sweets together. Once Kori spent an entire evening helping Kael put on a show for their family, they played music, danced, and dressed up as different characters in a play that Kael created. Kori allowed Kael to feel free, to be a kid, to be creative.

Kori and Komand’r were the perfect balance. Komand’r was her courage, Kori was her joy. Both girls helped shape who Kael is and wanted to be, until the Gordanians arrived.

The Gordanians invaded Tamaran with a haste that could not have been predicted. Their purpose- take the planet by any means. Crush any resistance and wipe out the royal bloodline.Kaelynd’rs life was turned upside down at only 15 years old.

At 16, to keep the royal bloodline from going extinct, to protect her. Kaelynd’r had to be sent off world. Far from the Vegan solar system. The goodbye was rushed, secret, harsh, but necessary. Her mother, cried for the first time in front of her. She kissed her daughter on the forehead and told her her to be strong, to fight. Her father held her hand until the cryo chamber sealed.

Kaelynd’r was placed into cryostasis to buy her time. To allow her the chance to have a life wherever she landed.

A chance that is near.

One year ago, her pod crash landed on a world universes way. A world called Earth.

And her pod, is finally starting to open.

a/n : This prologue is basically the same for the Dick Grayson version of this story. The Dick Grayson story is following Young Justice while this, obviously, follows Invincible. But i just wanted to get this out. I’ll probably have the first chapter out in a week or so.

If you read this and you think you’d enjoy the story leave a comment and let me know if youd like to be on the taglist

taglist: @astrelz @burdened-locus @deleted-1-800 @hali-k-issy @raventtelov3r

[withallthingslove]

Have you seen the press kit on Hulu’s website?

They are basically doing a 180 arc of Nick with him still not stepping up to Gilead but even worse, following his father in law into the dark side, after him and June said they love each other in the present. Lizzie and max speak about Nick betraying June mid season and June not letting her love cloud her judgment anymore and finally see him for who he really is, a commander in Gilead.

I mean if they wanted to achieve a fail final GOT style, I think they are succeeding… I know we have to wait and see but I’m really disappointed with this storyline. But Lawrence on the other hand will help fight Gilead…

Yes, I was commenting on the Reddit thread.... *super long post and spoilers incoming*

Overall, I'm not surprised. They've done this since season 2. If they completely scrap Nick's Testaments characterization in favor of redeeming Serena or Lawrence I will be big mad. But why would they rewrite Luke's character to be like how he is in The Testaments but not Nick's? The answer is I think they are still pushing Nick to be underground and I think we could still have a NickxJune endgame or an ambiguous she chooses no one.

Before diving into the press notes, let's look at what we have so far:

Max is listed 4th on the cast list, in front of Ann Dowd. The season synopsis says he will face tests of character. This to me implies a big increase in screen time

Both Elisabeth and Max chose the bridge kiss as their favorite show moment

On the giant billboard, Nick is shown right beside June. Luke, Aunt Lydia, June, and Nick are also all in a group together, which to me is the characters who make it out alive to be in the Testaments.

The season summaries for seasons 1-4 were Nick heavy with his rebellious acts while only the season 5 was Luke heavy

In the fan tweets video they have O-T read a fan wish about June and Nick ending up together

The trailer is pretty Nick heavy like the season 4 trailer

Now the press notes:

June's character description: It does not mention Luke, but does mention Nick. "Over the course of the series, June becomes a completely new person, a person who does find her voice, an angry voice, a powerful voice. She’s a different person than she was. A lot of the romance with Nick is because of that. They are two people who understand and share the burden of Gilead’s tyranny."

This is reaffirming that Luke is included in June's past, Nick is her present. Back in the day we compared Nick and June to Katniss and Peeta, and this is almost verbatim what Jennifer Lawrence once said about Everlark.

Nick's character description: "I think some of the edges fray on Nick this season. His moral center is actually shifting. He has been quite selfless for much of his life, especially in this dynamic with June. And so maybe his gas tank for that is starting to run out. He’s speaking up from himself a little bit more and sometimes in quite misguided ways"

For seasons I think Nick has been a fuse waiting to blow. He was manipulated into joining a cult, survives in said cult, meets the love of his life and makes her his north star. Everything he does is for her but that is not sustainable and is uneven. Part of what I love about June and Nick's relationship is that he soaks up all of her stress and desires. But what is his outlet for that? When you take June away who is Nick? Where is his moral center if he is not acting out of love for one person? He has to figure that out this season if he actually wants a future outside of Gilead. If June ends up with him now, you would have a long list of people saying it's not good enough. So Nick needs to do more than be seen as good because of his connection to June.

"There’s something in Wharton’s masculinity that Nick has been searching for. One of the things that this season explores is the notion that a lot of these men in Gilead have broken relationships with their fathers. I think Nick sees in Wharton a mentorship that he craves. This season is the first time Nick’s been tempted by the dark side on a fundamental level, primarily because of that relationship."

Look I love Nick but by anyone's definition he's a war criminal with daddy issues. And that's fine because he's a fictional character and it's nuanced. He's nowhere near as responsible for Gilead as Fred, Serena, and Lawrence are. But he is still complicit. He's a Commander now, and he may still have ties to the Martha network and friendlies and Mayday, but he is not operating a secret operation out of his house like Lawrence that we know of. Being complicit as a driver is different than being complicit as a Commander. You go from being a cog in the system to upholding the system. The show has repeatedly driven home that Nick and Lawrence are good but flawed men. But if June is to truly choose Nick and end up with him, he has to turn away from Gilead for himself. Not to protect her, Nichole, and Hannah. And I don't think Nick has done that kind of work yet. At least not the show's version.

Now for his daddy issues. I think Nick is morally good, but even in earlier seasons he thought Commander Pryce was a good person. He looked up to him and trusted him. But Pryce was still a founder of Gilead who designed and upheld the system. When Pryce died Nick started depending on Lawrence. It makes sense that he would be drawn to Wharton. He's messed up from losing his family before Gilead and craves acceptance and stability and a paternal figure. It's how he got manipulated into the SOJ in the first place.

I don't think Nick could go underground at this point, even if he is working with Tuello. He's not ready. He has to work through the issues that got him into the SOJ, and that might mean he backslides. Healing and doing internal work is rarely linear and I doubt it is linear in a totalitarian regime.

So while I can't see him turning June in, I can see him ruining the rebels' plans by abandoning his agreement with Tuello. I can see Wharton taking advantage of a distraught Nick and having him kickoff the Return Baby Nichole campaign 2.0. Because Nick might not trust systems but he trusts people. And trusting the wrong people got him roped into Gilead.

So while yes it may suck for us fans of Nick and I don't trust the show to do it well, but I can see the writers thinking that Nick's path in season 6 involves backsliding. Because his history can suggest that. I will also add that when I first read The Testaments and was reading so fast, I interpreted Nick being underground as a commander on the run/rumored to be dead for protection almost like a myth. Not an active resistance operative. The show could easily go that route where Nick backslides and then redeems himself when he realizes his mistake and goes on the run vs officially joining Mayday.

Luke's character description: Doesn't mention June, just Hannah.

Tuello's character description: By the end of Season Six, a lot of the alliances that Mark had hoped for have fallen apart. Lawrence may be Mark’s only last, desperate hope to retaliate for all of Gilead’s many atrocities.

I could see Nick's betrayal being to Tuello and by extent of that to June, not him betraying June herself. It also makes sense that Nick makes a choice in the Jezebels episode after he sees June in disguise, and she hears about it two episodes later.

Elisabeth about Luke: "He is ready to go. So as soon as Mark gives him that opportunity, he doesn’t hesitate. June is furious with Luke’s choice. She’s trying to keep everyone safe, and Luke signs up for this most dangerous of missions."

What about that says June is choosing Luke?

Elisabeth about Nick: "In this season, we see Nick and June together for the first time in quite a while. Finally, they can talk about things that have been left unsaid. They finally admit that they love each other now, not just in the past but now."

Praise be we're getting extended Nick and June scenes. We're getting them talking like an actual couple and confirmation that they are the people they would choose to be with. Hopefully they discuss his role in the takeover and his history, because as one of the EPs said years ago, because June and Nick only have fleeting moments they try to keep it light when they see each other and they push down or forgive the bad. They NEED to have an actual discussion that fans see if an endgame is going to be possible. Or else they will be a resentful conflict avoidant couple.

"But then, toward the end of this season, Nick betrays June’s trust. It’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened to the two characters. It’s inevitable in a way. June has been shown over and over again that Nick is a member of Gilead’s hierarchy and will abide by their rules. But, she just doesn’t listen. Love clouds her judgement. Now, finally, she is able to see who he is and what he’s capable of. It’s devastating"

She says towards the end of the season, not at the end. So there is time for Nick to redeem himself before it ends.

Love clouds all of our judgements. We love Nick as a character so we see the nuance and we know his backstory as a resistance member in the novels and how his season 3 scenes were cut and that he was originally going to get Hannah out. But the average viewer doesn't. For better or worse, the show made Nick a commander in the system with a shady past. For him to go underground they have to address it and rectify it, not avoid the direction a great deal of viewers see him going in.

We love Nick for how he supports June and that he is a complex character. But he has been capable of bad things in Gilead by "following the rules." Would disobeying them get him killed? You could argue yes. But his character as written in the scripts is one who finds a way to do things for June within Gilead's official and unofficial rules. And after season 2 he's also bombed Chicago, killed commanders, married a high commander's daughter, supported starting New Bethlehem and probably a bunch of stuff offscreen. June hasn't seen that, but we have. And we chose to see through it and love him as a character anyway. But June has to do the same.

About it being inevitable, Tuello implies Nick has had multiple opportunities to leave Gilead. But he never did. Why? I think of what June said to Lawrence about "how long did you think it would be until they came for you?" The longer Nick stays in Gilead, the more likely it becomes he ends up betraying June in some way, either by active choice or association.

Also, we don't know what his big betrayal is? Why freak out about it yet when season 4 hyped up him capturing her and him being married as betrayals. Because that season also got us great Osblaine scenes that ended on a high note.

In a glass half full look, maybe seeing June distraught over Nick will be super angsty and amazing in a way so painful it's great.

O-T about Luke and June: "they are united as a couple to save Hannah. On the road to that mission, they sometimes have to make sacrifices. They have to sacrifice intimacy, home life and romance"

Nothing about this says happy rebel couple in love.

"It’s difficult for Luke to see June and Nick together because their connection is palpable. These are two people who are deeply energetically connected. They have a dynamism that he and June lack. Also, Nick is a man of action and, so far, Luke has not been.... And Luke definitely feels that when he sees Nick - so handsome, so confident, so strong. Max plays Nick with so much nuance and charisma that you totally understand why June is drawn to him. But, of course, Nick is still a commander in Gilead."

We're getting Luke, June, and Nick together!! Luke realizing that June is in love with Nick!! Luke realizing that they have something he and June will never have!! I've prayed for times like these.

"Luke is going to love June forever no matter what, although Luke fears that she might end up with Nick. I think he understands their connection is eternal, and he might have some uncertainty about how it’s going to ultimately play out."

So, so far Elisabeth has mentioned June being angry at Luke and in love but betrayed by Nick, and O-T has mentioned June and Luke not having romance and Luke coming to terms with June ending up with Nick.

It sounds to me we are getting the dissolution of June and Luke's romance, and an angsty high stakes faux-lovers to enemies back to lovers June and Nick arc.

Max on Nick and June:

"I don’t think that Nick has ever had any apprehensions about Luke... He’s often been quite compassionate toward Luke. I think he recognizes and understands that the situation is painful for both of them."

King shit.

"I think his relationship with Rose definitely factors into the changes in Nick’s relationship with June, but time is honestly a big part of it. We’ve spent a long time with these characters and in turn, they’ve been in these relationships for a long time, and relationships evolve, and resentments grow, especially when there’s so much external drama and chaos. I think it’s understandable that we would start to see the edges fray on this dynamic between June and Nick."

Just like I said earlier. Nick has been selfless towards June for pretty much the entire show. How long can that selflessness go unreturned, especially if he feels that every time he makes an effort to save her she is causing havoc again to try and save Hannah or bring down Gilead? And that brings Nick and June to two different pages.... June trying to bring down the horrible system Nick lives in BUT WON'T LEAVE because he has family obligations, daddy issues, and a low self esteem. A turning point would have to come eventually.

And Max's description might sound bad, but edges fraying just means uncertainty. It doesn't mean ending. The only reason Nick and June have been stable across seasons is partially because distance makes the heart grow fonder. They can push aside the bad when they are together and wish for each other when they are apart. I believe 100% they can be a couple in the real world, but to do so they need to rock the boat a little bit.

It looks like this season will let them face some hard truths so they can actually move on to the other side. S1-2 they were I think as much of a couple they could be, but s3-5 they've just been in a purgatory limbo of not being able to see each other or discuss anything. Because of how deep their love is they still hold a candle for each other, but they've been holding that candle while metaphorically moving farther apart.

Warren Littlefield about the love triangle:

"June’s married to Luke but she’s in love with Nick. She’s having Nick’s child, but she still loves Luke."

Even a producer knows that Nick is who June is in love with. Luke she still has love for, but she's no longer in love.

CONCLUSION

Obviously I'm using this to comfort myself because of how much I wrote. But honestly, when I read through the press doc for the first time I didn't read it as the end. As much as I would love for Nick to join the resistance midway through, I can see why the show is not taking that path. They are choosing to go with the storyline they've been building for seasons to (hopefully) get to Nick abandoning it all in a huge, dramatic, finale way.

But this doesn't have to be a bad thing. I read the press doc as an opportunity for June and Nick to actually overcome the challenges that have been keeping them apart.

And nothing about the character descriptions says June is choosing Luke. It says her and Luke are only bound by Hannah, and she and Nick are in love but drama is keeping them separated.

So let's get ready for some angsty, horrible, amazing, intoxicating drama.

[devoted-horror]

May I request a reader that hides behind them when she is overwhelmed or doesn’t wanna deal with people ? For Charles’s lee ray , Vincent Sinclair , the doctors and trickster (seperetly) fluff plz

a/n: it's pretty short sadly but i hope u enjoy it!! <3 anyways have u guys seen jiwoon nd yunjin's upcoming halloween cosmetics.... guys..... guys im down bad for them i fear...

includes: charles lee ray, vincent sinclair, the doctor, and the trickster.

warnings: typical slasher and dbd warnings, mentions of murder, i think it's pretty much just fluff but there might be some undertones of darker stuff?? like very very vague undertones that you'll probably honestly miss but. just stating it, in case.

CHARLES LEE RAY

Charles would, in all honesty, probably tease you for hiding behind him of all people whenever you get overwhelmed. It wouldn't be malicious teasing or anything like that, though he definitely doesn't know when to stop.

In the beginning of your relationship, he probably won't say it, but he likes that you feel safe enough to hide behind him like this.

He'll definitely act annoyed every time you hide behind him, maybe even roll his eyes, but don't let this fool you because he's shielding you away from the rest of the world and keeping you hidden from anyone who may be around.

And if you hide behind him because there's someone around that you're trying to avoid or that you just flat out don't want to deal with at the moment, then trust that Charles will take care of it.

He's not going to immediately resort to murder, so you don't have to necessarily worry about that, but depending on who it is and how they treat you, then yeah.

They may die.

It's an act of romance from him, by the way.

Nothing says 'I love you' quite like killing anyone who inconveniences you in some sort of way. He is a serial killer, after all. How else is he supposed to be romantic?

In all seriousness though, Charles does try to make you feel at ease whenever you find yourself hiding behind him.

He'll crack a few jokes, tell random stories of the past crimes he's committed, anything that'll help you feel less overwhelmed.

VINCENT SINCLAIR

Vincent is the only one here who would truly understand why you hide behind him, I think. He knows what it's like to be overwhelmed, wanting to hide away from everyone. It's why he spends most of his time in the basement.

He would never judge you for this, like... at all. He actively encourages you to do it, if anything else, because he wants you to do whatever makes you comfortable.

If he can help you feel less overwhelmed, then he will. If somebody has been bothering you enough to make you feel this way, then trust that he will not hesitate to step in.

Tourist, Bo, Lester, it doesn't matter. You're his top priority more often than not these days.

Shit, he'll put himself in time out if he somehow contributes to making you feel this way. He'd feel genuinely awful if he made you feel overwhelmed, honestly.

When he's overwhelmed, he finds that absently drawing helps to calm him down. He knows that not everyone finds comfort in the same thing, but he'll definitely offer you a pencil and paper if he thinks it might help.

But if you'd rather just make yourself comfortable behind him, then he doesn't mind. He'll continue whatever he was doing with no issue.

Though... if he's in the middle of turning someone into a wax figure, he'd rather you not be around during that. And you obviously can't hide behind him when there are tourists in town, because like... obviously.

But other than that, you're free to use him as a little shield from the world whenever you need.

It makes his heart feel warm inside knowing you feel comfortable enough around him to go to him whenever you feel like this. It makes him feel like he's doing a good job at this whole dating thing.

THE DOCTOR

Herman is a bit of an enigma here because while I don't necessarily think he'd mind you hiding behind him like this whenever you're overwhelmed, he's also not the nicest person to know.

Lover or not, he isn't the type to be nice when it comes to words. He's a genius and views himself as better than everyone else, and you aren't an exception.

Personally, he's never felt overwhelmed. Like... never. He had everything he wanted growing up, and he truly never believes he's in the wrong, even if he is, so he's never had that sort of anxiety either. The only time he's ever felt anxious was when he knocked his classmate out for the first time, he thinks.

So, while he doesn't understand it on an emotional level, Herman does understand it on a scientific level. A part of him can't help but want to pick you apart and study your brain for somehow finding comfort in hiding behind him, but he doesn't.

Herman loves you. At least, he thinks this is love. A considerable amount of tolerance, if not.

This habit of yours is just one of the many things he's not sure he'll ever truly understand when it comes to you. It's... frustrating, just a bit. You're an enigma to him. An anomaly.

He's never been a big fan of anomalies. Yet here you are, hiding behind him as if he were someone who would protect you from harm.

He'd destroy the minds of the many for you, he thinks.

Being who he is, both before and after the fog, you're bound to be safe if you stick by him.

So, while Herman doesn't understand why you feel safe around him, or why he doesn't mind your behavior, he certainly isn't going to make you stop.

THE TRICKSTER

Jiwoon is... not really gonna understand why you hide behind him whenever you're overwhelmed. He thrives under attention, positive or negative, so he can't wrap his mind around how you get overwhelmed by it.

But he most thrives under your attention, so having you hide behind him every time you're overwhelmed or done with people in general really just... feeds into his ego.

So if this is before the fog, it's definitely not something you can do in public.

Jiwoon doesn't care, he really doesn't, but as an idol, dating is like... not really acceptable in the industry, and Yunjin would literally have his ass if he was caught being lovey-dovey with someone and it wasn't part of a publicity stunt of some sort.

He does understand what it's like not wanting to deal with people though, even if he does thrive under their attention. He literally killed a sasaeng because they were stalking him, so like...

I don't think he'd explicitly offer to kill someone for you if they put you in a state of being overwhelmed, mostly because he keeps his whole killer business a secret but, I mean, he would kill for you.

The moment he finds out who has you feeling so overwhelmed, be it by you telling him yourself or by other means, they will be dealt with.

And when the person who has been stressing you out so much lately is suddenly found murdered, Jiwoon is right there to help you deal with the overwhelming shock that may come with the situation.

Not long after the gruesome murder, The Trickster releases a love song with haunting background vocals. Fans and critics alike are trying to figure out who the mysterious voice is, but no dice.

No matter, fog or not, he will be a loving boyfriend and let you hide behind him however you please. Your attention, more often than not, is one of the only things that matter to him.

[lilacxquartz]

homicipher x reader: valentine’s day

scenario: how the residents react to being around you on valentine’s day. just a fun little thing for today! <3

included: mr. crawling, mr. scarletella & mr. gap — themes: romance, yandere-lite for mr scarletella, fluff, humour, gender neutral reader — w.c: each piece is below 500 words • masterlist • my ao3

Mr. Crawling

For a while now, there were certain artifacts that had bled through the surface world into the ghost apartments. Mr. Crawling, who had seldom left you alone, would sometimes shuffle away to patrol the area, ensuring that you were as safe as one could possibly be.

To his surprise, there were new objects scattered everywhere within a room. Things like cards and empty boxes and wrapping paper adorned with the faded decor of little red hearts and the like. He didn’t quite grasp the meaning behind these things, but they seemed special.

Almost like a type of offering.

If these were declarations of love, then he had to give something for you too. It was only right to do so, after all, he loved you more than anyone else ever could.

The world above was sooner yours, so you would definitely understand, he thought. He gathered everything he found from cards, to heart shaped things to dried out bouquets of flowers—anything that he deemed good enough as a result—unloading the many contents over your lap as you woke up in bed.

“For you,” he began, watching you wake up. “I give you.”

You blinked at the pile of cards and empty boxes in the shapes of hearts alike, taking in the sheer amount of Valentine’s day offerings that there were. You had seen remnants of these things scattered earlier on, but Mr. Crawling had been busy—this might have been the whole stock.

“For you,” he pushed again, seeming almost expectant.

You smiled, scooping up the cards and hugging them to your chest.

“I love th—“

Love. That’s a word he knew! Before you could even blink again, let alone finish your sentence, Mr. Crawling was all over you within a flash, with his ashen arms wrapping tight around your form, happily exclaiming his success.

“Love, love, love!” he repeated again and again, drunk on the words that swirled around in his head like a feverish mantra.

You loved it.

You loved him.

(And that’s all he could ever ask for.)

~~~

Mr Scarletella

Valentine’s day was something that was not yet lost on Mr. Scarletella. He knew about it a little too well for everyone’s liking and now that he had you to obsess over, his pining for you was almost suffocatingly obvious.

Somehow, this bit of knowledge was late in reaching you. For the most part, you came to the conclusion that Valentine’s day was either not a well known topic in these apartments, or, it was just met with general indifference.

However, from the moment you had crossed paths with Mr. Scarletella yet again, you knew that something was up.

(He seemed somehow more intense than usual.)

He stood in front of you, holding out a note that had something written on it in blood red ink—if it was even ink at all—the drying liquid seeping into coppery maroon hues.

You warily plucked the paper away from him, narrowing your eyes at the text. It was a name, it seemed. Not yours—you knew better. His?

“Be… my… Valentine?” he slowly said.

You repeatedly flicked the corner of the card along your thumb, lost deep in thought. You supposed that this was better than him trying to hunt you down for the time being, so you accepted.

You gulped, toning your voice down into a slight sulk as you granted him such an admission, if only to be petty.

“Fine,” you said, “I will be your Valentine.”

For a moment, nothing seemed to change, but then suddenly, he was in your face within a beat.

“I love you,” he said.

You turned away, deciding to leave all this alone and yet he followed you, popping up around the corner and the next, holding onto those same three little words.

Wherever you went, so did he; no longer hunting you for your name, but rather to bombard you with endless affection, unable to quite tear away.

Wherever it was that you went, you would very likely soon hear those three little words swirling around in your head, and maybe it was because you were going crazy from him, but… you almost didn’t even mind after a while.

In fact, you even accepted it.

You found yourself wanting him back.

~~~

Mr Gap:

As you were wandering around the ghost apartments, Mr. Gap popped up without a hint of a warning, just about scaring the (lack of) life clean out of you. From the moment you turned the corner, you spotted his ghastly face watching you from within the void.

He held up an old news clipping to you with smudged ink on the paper, but you could just about read the words:

“Valentine’s Day! Give your heart to your true love!”

Likely from an old advert, maybe?

Then, in his usual rasping voice, he managed to croak out the words, “You… my valentine?”

You blinked, tilting your head in slight bewilderment, but entertained it all the same. “Oh?” you asked. “You want me to be your valentine? Well, alright…” though, a chill ran down your spine as you said that, a wave of potential apprehension tiding you over.

Just as you were about to continue onwards, too, Mr. Gap caught your wrist with his greying calloused hand, tugging you back to where he sat.

“Give heart,” he demanded, almost, his voice laced with pure entitlement. It would be cute, if he wasn’t asking for your literal organ.

Of course, you knew better than to indulge in his strangely literal needs. Valentine’s day had been bleeding into this world, luckily enough for you, so you had a box full of heart shaped chocolates wrapped in red foil on your person.

Good timing on picking those up, too, because now you had a means to get out.

Cautiously, you threw him a piece.

“There you go,” you said, “a heart.”

Mr. Gap snatched the small object from your hand with some annoyance in his glare, narrowing his eyes as he tried to figure out what to do with such a thing. At first, he bit into the foil, recoiling at the sensation but then he had half a mind to peel it off, biting into the chocolate instead. His eyes widened in what appeared to be delight and then he slinked off, leaving you completely alone… or so you thought.

Oh, how wrong you were, in fact.

Every time you would pass by a wall or any surface that had a hole caved inside, Mr. Gap would suddenly emerge from the darkness and into your company, fading in from the shadows within the blink of an eye.

And each time, he would clear his throat, demanding more of the hearts, calling you ‘My Valentine’ whenever you dared to walk away.

Giving him the chocolates wasn’t the problem, though.

It was the part where you were running out of them.

With just one left.

[slut4sugu]

𝐌𝐘 𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓 𝐕𝐀𝐌𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐄— alucard tepes x fem!blackreader

౨ৎ: including— black!fem reader, established relationship, mentions of previous intercourse, of reader being in a previous toxic forced marriage, alucard being a gentleman, mentions of previous verbal and physical abuse from previous relationships, fluff+ angst a bit, kinda long lol, ALUCARD NEEDS A LOVE INTEREST IN THE SHOWWW

valentines event . song recc: my love mine all mine; mitski

The carriage rattled softly, a gentle counterpoint to the symphony of crickets chirping in the warm night air. Inside, you sat nestled beside Alucard, the soft velvet of your new emerald green gown brushing against his dark coat. He’d surprised you with it earlier, a gift to celebrate your first anniversary. It was just one of many surprises that evening.

The day had been a whirlwind of romance. A private tour of the art museum, followed by a candlelit dinner in a secluded garden overflowing with fragrant jasmine. He'd even commissioned a portrait of you, capturing the way your eyes sparkled when you laughed. He'd truly outdone himself.

You had never even allowed yourself to dream of such luxury or pure bliss, so much so you found yourself speechless at each breathtaking sight. The way Alucard would take your hand in his, leading you up grand stairs with such grace as he whispered to gently to you about how gorgeous you looked in ivory.

It felt dream like — heavenly even.

"Enjoying the ride, my dear?" Alucard's voice, a low rumble, broke through your reverie. His amber eyes, usually so intense, held a soft, almost tender light.

"Immensely," you breathed, a genuine smile gracing your lips. "It's all been…perfect." He took your hand, his touch surprisingly gentle for someone so powerful. "You deserve nothing less." The delicate tone of his words plucked all your heart strings. The feeling of his lips every so slightly kissing your knuckles made you swoon.

It truly was a the perfect night.

So why couldn’t you shake it — why couldn’t you shake him?

As the carriage rolled past the moonlit park, a flicker of memory, unwelcome and sharp, pierced the bubble of happiness surrounding you.

A whisper of a past life, years before you met Alucard, echoed in your mind. A different dress, cheap and ill-fitting. Cruel demeaning words shouted in your face, every single day. Scars on your body trophies of your temporary victories. Over fights turned physical, sure you got the occasional slap or scratch in. But he always got the upper hand.

Though after a while, the fights blurred, your will to struggle faded and you decided tending to your deep seated wounds was a better use of energy. The scars would heal, and you’d smile tomorrow. Happily? Never, for peace? Yes. However you never were truly happy, never truly unbounded by the suffocating societal preferences of happiness until you met him. Until he saw you, heard you. Freed you.

“You needn’t worry about him any more.”

Words you so longed to hear by anyone. Anyone who dared stand up to the man you were forcibly married to. Words spoken in confidence by Alucard.

A different man, his words of love and admiration, not of cruel possessiveness. A man who never let a frown grace your lips, not even for a millisecond. A man who healed you, and your deep rooted scars. You were and are eternally grateful for Alucard welcoming you into his home and protecting you. Yet it still plagued you, his actions still tainted your mind.

Even after all this time he still had some control over your thoughts and you hated it. You hated every fiber of his being. You hated that he made you question if you even deserved this type of love, if you were ever even good enough for anyone. If you were meant for dresses of this quality, if pearls weren’t meant to sit on such ugly skin. You hated the fact that his words permeated your mind. That they made you truly question, if you deserved it.

Even if alucard respected your space, and only hugged you when you cried in the middle of nights. Even if he sat by your bed side when you’d be under the weather. Even if he kissed your tears away and made love to you (properly) for the first time under the stars. You still felt like this love wasn’t yours, that it shouldn’t be yours.

The memory was fleeting, a phantom touch, but it was enough. Your smile faltered, the joy in your eyes dimming slightly. You tried to push it away, to focus on the present, on Alucard's warm hand in yours, but the seed of unease had been planted.

Alucard, ever perceptive, noticed the subtle shift in your demeanor. He tilted his head, his gaze searching your face. "Something troubles you, my love?" You shook your head, attempting a lighthearted tone. "Just thinking about how much has changed these past years."

He didn't press, but his grip on your hand tightened reassuringly. He knew you better than you thought. He knew the shadows that lurked in the corners of your mind, the echoes of past hurts. He understood the vulnerability you tried so hard to conceal.

As the carriage slowed, approaching the castle, a single tear escaped, tracing a path down your cheek. You quickly brushed it away, hoping he hadn't seen.

But he had.

The carriage came to a halt, and before you could move, Alucard gently cupped your face in his hands. His thumbs brushed away the lingering dampness on your freckled cheek. His eyes, now filled with a deep understanding, met your chestnut ones.

"Don't," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "Don't ever feel you have to hide anything from me. Not your joy, and certainly not your pain."

He leaned closer, his breath warm against your skin. "I know there are demons in your past, my love. I know there are thoughts that still haunt you. You don't have to carry them alone. Let me share your burden. Let me be your shield against the darkness."

His words, spoken with such sincerity and tenderness, broke the dam you had so carefully constructed around your emotions. More tears welled up, but these were different. Tears of relief, of gratitude, of love.

"Thank you darling" you managed to choke out, your voice trembling.

He pulled you into a gentle embrace, his strong arms offering a haven of comfort and security. He held you close, letting you cry until the storm of emotions subsided. He didn't need words. His presence, his silent understanding, was enough.

As you finally pulled away, your eyes red but your heart lighter, Alucard kissed your forehead, a soft, lingering touch. "I promise you, my love," he murmured, "I will spend the rest of my days making new memories with you. Memories that will eclipse the pain of your past."

And in that moment, you believed him. You knew that with Alucard by your side, the shadows would never again hold the same power. He was your anchor, your protector, your love. And together, you would face whatever the future held, hand in hand, heart to heart.

[solar-wing]

⚣ Nightwing & Shadow 🌃

⚣🌃 A/N → So, remember when I said I wasn't going to re-write and re-vamp Nightwing and Shadow like I did Primal? Hehe, funny story... I lied. HOWEVER, I did follow the original plot line...sort of. Just made it easier and smoother to read, along with SOME proofreading and fixing SOME grammar mistakes. So, this should roll out much faster than before (that also is possibly a lie knowing me). WARNINGS: 18+ MDNI | MAJOR THEMES of NON-CON/DUB-CON | Omegaverse | YANDERE Behavior | Mentions of Blood | Bondage | Lactation Kink | M-Preg | Oral Sex | Knotting | Implied Stalking |

⚣🌃 Summary → A new vigilante, Shadow, takes to the streets of Gotham, protecting its innocent Omegas against arrogant and brutish Alphas and the arbitrary and oppressive laws that support their criminal-like behavior. Yet, what will he do when in both his civilian and vigilante lives, he's plagued by the very same problems he's fighting against?

⚣🌃 Words → 11.1K

REBLOGS & replies are greatly appreciated, please! 💙

⚣ ENJOY 🌃

Welcome to Gotham City.

Known for its less-than-sunny atmosphere and crime-riddled streets, the city holds many titles under its mantle. One of them being ‘Utter Hell for Omegas.’

In the old days, Omegas were rarely seen as love interests, romantic partners, or even just random associates you’d nod at on the street. Nope, they always had two roles attached to their titles; Fuck-Toys and/or Baby-Makers.

Not much has changed in the present day, save for a few laws passed here and there that criminalized some behaviors. In truth, these new laws and punishments were the equivalent of putting a toddler in time-out before rewarding them with a cookie later for acting like they were ashamed of their behavior.

It seemed like every day, another Omega was being abused by an Alpha who never understood the meaning of ‘no’ because they were raised in a society where everything was supposed to be ‘yes’ for them. Taken against their will and made to live in truly cage-like homes with partners who could only be called that when it came to legal documents.

In reality, they weren’t partners. They were masters, abductors, and delusional sociopaths who relied on biology and society to abuse and take the things they wanted rather than earn them.

They never saw the Omegas they were stripping of free will and autonomy as partners, or friends, or even humans for that matter. They saw them as possessions, things to own and show off to their friends and family as a symbol of how great they were and how well they were doing in life.

And Gotham was the breeding ground for these types of men and women.

Some would call it for what it was; ownership and power. They had no shame or morals about the acts they would commit. Others dared to call it romance, claiming that true love drove them to these vile acts and oppressive rules.

If this is what they called love, it’d be interesting to see what they’d do if they hated you.

Yet, progressing times meant more progressive and outspoken minds. Many, including some Alphas and Betas who held somewhat decent morals and values, were calling for change. They were protesting to their local, regional, and national governments for Omega liberation.

Of course, no revolution has ever started, let alone succeeded without someone getting their hands dirty.

Enter our hero, Y/N, and his story which some would argue was the ultimate catalyst that led to the fight for Omega Rights and Protections pushing toward victory.

Y/N lived a relatively quiet life in Gotham. Born and raised in the city, his parents taught him from a young age not only how to navigate this world in a way where he protected himself, but also equipped him with the means to do so if need be.

He was trained in the art of self-defense from the moment he had his first incident in school, when the signs of biological dynamics were becoming more and more clear, and some bigger kids decided to pick on him for it. 

His mother, an Omega herself, saw this and immediately went to her husband, Y/N’s father, and demanded they get him in lessons. He agreed and they began scouting classes the very next day. 

Y/N was blessed enough to see what a truly happy and healthy relationship between an Alpha and Omega was like from his parents. His father, bless his soul, never subscribed to the ideology that Alphas were the superior dynamic and held power over those below them, especially Omegas.

No, he fell in love with his Omega, genuinely in love we should say and not that obsessive and creepy kind where they excuse their horrible actions because of said ‘love’. No, he courted and adored her as nature intended, and their story eventually brought Y/N into existence whom they also loved and cherished as if he was the most valuable treasure on Earth.

Fast forward to the present, Y/N was a strong and stead-fast individual who didn’t let his biological dynamic hold him back from what he was meant to achieve. Seeing how different the world was from how his parents raised him, he made it his ultimate purpose to see to the change and betterment of society that included protections and rights for Omegas in Gotham and beyond.

In school, he studied business and politics, which landed him a position at Wayne Enterprises post-graduation, where he surprisingly had the backing of Bruce Wayne, CEO and heir to the very company he was employed by. He voiced his support and even dedicated teams to his mission which initiated the spread to other companies and beyond.

If a powerhouse like Wayne Enterprises was supporting ideas and notions of Omega Liberation and rights, many companies would soon follow. And as many know in this world, money talks. Politicians want to keep their investors and backers happy, so they’ll more than likely support whatever it is they’re claiming to support.

Though, appearances can be deceiving. Just because these companies would take up the mantle that they were for Omega rights, didn’t mean their actions would show that. And if there was one thing Y/N prided himself on, was being able to see bullshit for what it was; bullshit.

It didn’t deter him, though. It inspired him.

When Y/N sat and thought about it, he realized the thing that started and fueled most rebellions and movements was a symbol. An icon or an example that truly represented the meaning and impact behind said movement. And his meaning or idea was justice.

Justice for all Omegas who had been or had yet to be wronged by a system designed to hold them down in chains for others to use and abuse. He also sought liberation not only for those living today but future generations where they didn’t have to live in a world where they weren’t seen as people or equals.

What could be that symbol?

Conveniently, as Y/N sat in the living room of his moderately luxurious apartment, he looked out the window to see a symbol being cast in the sky. A symbol many residents of Gotham were all too familiar with.

The Bat Symbol.

And that’s when it hit him…

True, Gotham was a city known for its less-than-friendly streets and crime-filled alleys, but if the stories his parents told him were to be believed, Gotham was much worse before Batman began protecting its civilians, along with his numerous sidekicks and partners.

Seriously, why does it seem like Batman, or Gotham in general gets a new hero or vigilante every year? Kind of weird when you think about it.

Yet, they were about to get another one as Y/N had made up his mind. He knew the symbol his movement needed, the inspiration that was lacking for so many Omegas in Gotham and outside of it.

They needed to believe that they could stand up for change. That they could fight back and be victorious against their abusers. There was no such thing as biology not being on their side as much as it was their own belief not being on their side.

Omegas needed something, someone they could look up to, someone they could see fighting back and say “If they can do it, so can I.”

Y/N was going to be that symbol.

Thus, Shadow was born.

A bit cringe when you think about it, but the desired effect was still there.

Using his self-defense skills that never went without practice with his growing up and living in Gotham, as well as a couple of connections with some engineering friends from college, Y/N or Shadow was set to be Gotham’s newest vigilante and protector.

With their help, he created his own style of weapons and utility tools to help him out on the battlefield. Most notable were a pair of twin-style blades that when tossed or thrown, expanded out into throwing discs. They were magnetized to each other as well which threw out the need for grappling hooks when he could just toss one forward and use the other to pull himself forward.

He dubbed them Shadowblades.

Yes, still cringe, but aesthetics are everything when it comes to this kind of work.

It helped to have rich friends, especially when it came to his outfit. While, of course, Y/N couldn’t have everyone he knew getting involved in this project, he only reached out to those he knew he could truly trust as they would have just as much to lose if Y/N was to ever be caught and unmasked.

As mentioned before, aesthetics were everything when it came to these ordeals, so his outfit had to match his name. The color scheme consisted of a shadowy black and purple along with a domino mask that had gold covers in the slits to keep his eyes hidden as well.

Skintight (as usual), but flexible and functional. It was also light enough to accentuate Y/N’s smaller and leaner body frame. However, it did nothing to hide the dump truck from behind.

“Nightwing would be put to shame,” A comment from one of his friends who took it upon themselves to jokingly cop a feel. Y/N ‘jokingly’ tossed one of his blades at them as a warning, which they clearly received seeing how close the spinning blades came to their face before zipping back and folding close in his hand.

That did it. Shadow was a force to be reckoned with.

The moment Y/N hit the scene with his new outfit and weapons, ripples were being made in the city. It didn’t take long for Shadow to become a recognizable name and face in Gotham, some dubbing him the Omega Savior with all of his notable rescues and actions.

Within the first few months of Shadow being a presence in Gotham, he’d not only thrown a few dirty Alpha dogs behind bars for attempted rape and abduction but also stopped a major Omega trafficking ring happening right in the city, as well as liberated a few captives from their abusive homes and partners.

Unsurprisingly, with the trafficking ring, Y/N discovered many links and connections from that operation to people who were big-name executives and even CEOs at major companies. Even more shocking (not), some of those companies were the same ones that took up the mantle of supporting Omega rights and freedoms.

Discreet as ever, Y/N wasted no time in ‘suggesting’ that Wayne Enterprises cut all deals and partnerships with these companies, which helped earn him a promotion when the scandals were eventually revealed to the public. This ended up putting him more on Bruce Wayne’s radar who delivered his promotion news personally himself.

In every story, there’s a turning point. Many know the structure that many books, movies, and even shows will follow with the inciting incident that leads to the rising action until you reach the climax, where things typically turn for the worse.

For Y/N, that moment was when Bruce conveniently decided to introduce him to his first adopted son at the same time he was delivering his promotion news, Richard Grayson, or Dick for short. Little did he know how much Dick was about to invade his life.

But, everyone deserves a little teaser, right?

Shortly after Bruce introduced them, he had to leave for a meeting, leaving the two alone in Y/N’s new office. It wasn’t awkward, but it also wasn’t comfortable, at least for the Omega who was wary of being left in a room alone with an unfamiliar Alpha, despite how famous he was.

Yet, Dick seemed to keep a respectable front, only coming as close as he deemed allowed while making small talk, and congratulating Y/N on his new promotion. The Omega gave his thanks while setting his things up on his new desk and shelves.

Now, despite earlier thoughts and possible assumptions, Y/N was no prude. Just because he fought against Alpha abuse and their entitlement didn’t mean he didn’t have his fair share of interest and attractions.

And Dick Grayson did spark his interest. The man was undeniably handsome and had a body many either desired to touch or have. But, Y/N knew self-restraint, and sad as it may be, in this world, he knew to practice caution with whom he showed his attraction.

Dick, however, did not follow the same line of thinking. Of course, why would he if the world was made for him to not have to?

He noticed one of Y/N’s gazes towards him and took that as all the sign he needed to make his move. When Bruce said he was going to deliver the good news initially to the Omega, Dick all but demanded he bring him along. The former acrobat had his eyes on Y/N ever since he first started, and was waiting for the perfect chance to swoop in and make his claim.

Dick did have the right idea that Y/N was not the easy type, and would probably try to resist his charming suaveness. He hadn’t met anyone before who had such luck, so he wasn’t worried. In fact, the idea of a potential challenge made him all the more bold.

And he showed that boldness by closing the distance between him and the Omega while his back was turned, pressing himself against his backside. Dick was not shy about letting Y/N feel what he had packing down there while he in return got a feel of what he had decided was now going to be his.

Y/N immediately jumped at the touch and turned to move himself away but was held in place by the adopted Wayne who leaned forward, pressing his hard chest against the Omega’s while leaning his lips down their his ear. 

“Feel like breaking in the new desk?” Dick whispered hotly into his ear, pressing his very noticeable throbbing appendage against Y/N’s backside, the layer of clothes between them doing nothing to help mitigate the sensation.

Y/N could feel his instincts urging him to submit and present himself to the Alpha. He was no stranger to rumors and gossip and heard the many tales of Dick Grayson’s, well… dick, from many of his co-workers. Despite Bruce’s very relaxed rule about employees having relations with his family.

Though the temptation was there to see if the rumors were true, he was not about to let himself become another number or name in Dick’s or anyone's black book. He had to remain a symbol.

“Sorry, but I prefer to keep things a bit professional. And, frankly, you don’t meet my criteria.” Y/N sarcastically remarked.

“Oh, come on,” Dick smirked against the side of Y/N’s face, slowly grinding himself against him a little harder while rubbing one of his hands up his side, feeling the hot skin of the Omega under his silk-white button-up. “Don’t tell me you have a rule against workplace sex. Or are you worried because I’m the boss’s son? If you don’t tell, I won’t.”

Dick began pressing soft kisses against Y/N’s skin, now using both of his hands to rub up Y/N’s front, slowly beginning to undo the buttons. The Omega had to admit that he was good with his hands and lips, and he could definitely see some truth in his co-worker's words about the man’s hip control. But, logic wasn’t out of his mind yet.

Y/N began to use his arms to push back against the desk, creating a little room while the Alpha was distracted with trying to reach inside his shirt. He pushed off the desk, creating enough momentum to throw Dick off balance and allow him the chance to step out of his grasp, immediately moving to the other side of the room putting distance between the two.

“Boo, you’re no fun,” Dick mocked.

“Not for you. One of my criteria is not being a self-entitled brat who only thinks with his dick, and that’s just to get a text back.” Y/N rudely articulated. He quickly fixed the buttons on his shirt while the Alpha ogled his body up and down with no shame.

“If you come back over here, I’ll show you why everyone calls me Dick.”

He scoffed before exiting out of the room, marching himself to Bruce’s office. His assistant, Wyndall, was sitting at his desk, looking at the storm that was an angry Y/N who demanded to know if Bruce was in a meeting.

Wyndall was one of the only other few Omegas alongside Y/N who worked (relatively) this high in the company, so they both found friendship in one another and would often meet up for lunch to hang out and talk. So, when he saw his friend storming in the way he did, he knew something had to be wrong and immediately paged Mr. Wayne.

Given the okay, Y/N went into the office and, to keep a long story short, had a very heated discussion with Mr. Wayne that definitely did not end in him threatening to castrate his son if he came near him again. And, hypothetically if it did, Bruce respected it.

Y/N understandably made demands that if Dick was going to be present on company property at any time, he be notified in advance and not left alone with him at any point. He also made sure it was clear on the Alpha’s part that he was to have no contact or even attempt any with him and to keep his distance at all times, should they ever be in the same room together.

Bruce agreed to everything without a second thought and apologized on his son’s behalf, which, in truth, didn’t surprise Y/N as his boss always had been understanding and accommodating since he started at Wayne Enterprises. Y/N had to admit that the billionaire was one of the few Alphas that gave him hope in his vision for the future.

That was only the beginning of his troubles though. Not only did Y/N have to deal with pesky Alphas in his civilian life, but he had to deal with it in his vigilante one as well.

As more time went by with Shadow cleaning up the streets and helping more Omegas by the day, he eventually caught the attention of the city’s other ‘defenders’. This is when Y/N learned how ‘possessive’ Batman was of Gotham and didn’t appreciate some newbie moving on his turf without checking with him first.

He didn’t give Y/N the grace of making an appearance himself, but he did send his lackeys, or ‘team’ after him. Thankfully, none of them could keep up with him in the field, given his natural speed and agility. A credit to his Omega nature.

Only one could keep up with him though, and that’s where his Alpha troubles began as Shadow. Nightwing, Gotham’s second most famous vigilante, seemed to make it his personal mission to catch Y/N, and unlike the others, gave the Omega a run for his money the way he managed to keep up with his elusive ways.

The first night they met, which also happened to be the first night he made contact with someone from Batman’s team, he wasn’t surprised to discover he was being tailed and watched. He was expecting them at some point to try and make contact with him.

Though, in hindsight, he expected more of a welcoming, collaborative approach and less of a threatening, hostile trying to capture him one. 

Shadow had just finished dealing with a couple of Alpha thugs who were trying to force themselves on an innocent Omega when Batman’s first sidekick made his appearance. Just after he finished tying up the mammoths, he felt the hairs on the back of his neck standing, hearing the sound of footsteps approaching him from behind.

Immediately grabbing his blades from his sides, he turned to find Nightwing standing just a few short feet away from him, blocking the way out of the alley. Y/N had to admit, Nightwing was definitely a lot more attractive in person. Not that he wasn’t from far away, but you could appreciate the view more up close.

“So, you’re the new kid on the block that has Batman all worked up? Have to say, I wasn’t expecting this when he asked me to check you out, but I’m not disappointed,” The taller man spoke, the shadows around his face barely hiding the suggestive glance he was giving the Omega.

“I get the feeling you’re doing a lot more than just checking out.”

“Guilty.” Nightwing chuckled.

Shadow’s facemask hid his annoyed eye roll, suddenly wishing it was Red Hood or Robin he was dealing with instead. From what he heard, they tended to get to their point a lot faster.

“Well, I’d say I’m flattered, but I did promise my mother I’d never lie. Anyway, I’m assuming you’re here on behalf of the Bat himself.” Y/N inquired, wanting to just get to the point so he could get back to doing his work.

“Yeah, Dark Knight would like a word with you. Not really pleased with you moving in on his turf. Can’t say I agree with him, though. I’m sure many have appreciated your touch around here.”

Cue another annoyed eye roll from Shadow. Between him and Dick, he didn’t know who had it worse when deciding to try and flirt at the most inopportune times. And it looked like it was going to be a draw.

“Now, my instructions were to give you the chance to come on your own and, if not, use whatever external measures as needed. But, I’m willing to forgo this little meeting in my memory if you’ll give me something worth forgetting.”

“And what exactly would that be?” As if Y/N didn’t already know what the smug Alpha was getting towards.

“I know you help and save Omegas, but what about poor Alphas in need?”

“Assuming you’re the Alpha in question, what exactly would you need?”

“The touch and comfort of a sweet and savory Omega like yourself.”

It was cheesy and overused. A cliché at best and totally cringe at worst. But, Y/N couldn’t deny (try as he might) the attraction he felt stirring in his body. He didn’t know what it was, but there was something in him itching to give in to the Alpha’s request.

It was like the feeling when you hear a sound or lyrics to a song and it reminds you of something, but you just can’t put your finger on it. And there was something oddly familiar about the vigilante that had Y/N’s curiosity piqued.

Yes, Y/N had standards and criteria for who he would decide to give his time to, but he couldn’t deny that Dick, and now Nightwing, both held something that made the idea of throwing both of those things out the window. But, again, his goal of being someone to look up to for him and all Omegas alike remained strong in his mind, so he went against his body’s sexual desires and instincts.

Was Nightwing attractive up close and afar? Arguably, yes. Did he appear to have a very nice and chiseled body under his skin tight suit? Also, arguably, yes. Yet, was he just as infuriating and annoying as every other persistent Alpha who couldn’t spell ‘Hint’ even with a dictionary in front of them?

Absolutely.

It was this thinking that helped Y/N come back to his state of mind before he faked a sultry smile on his face, walking forward to rub his hand down Nightwing’s chest (which, Jesus Christ, that motherfucker is FIRM). The Alpha smirked down at the Omega going to place his hands against his waist before getting the uno reverse of his life.

In some complicated flip and turn, Shadow managed to not only catch Nightwing off his guard but put him in a submission hold with his head and neck being squeezed between the Omega’s flexing thighs. What was that saying about saving lives? Because this seemed to be the opposite.

“Is this the comfort you were seeking,” Shadow maliciously teased the Alpha, while flexing his legs more, effectively choking out the Alpha. When he decided to release him, Nightwing fell to the ground coughing, trying to catch his breath while the Omega threw one of his blades to zip off.

“Next time, tell Batman to send Red Hood or Robin. They’re a bit more persuasive and less desperate.”

After that, Y/N made sure to be extra careful on his patrols, figuring Nightwing would not be as forgiving lest they meet again in another dark alley or atop a rooftop. His Alpha troubles were nowhere near over yet, especially in his civilian life.

Some time had passed after the incident between him and Dick at his job, and after having the janitorial and cleaning staff do a deep clean of his entire office which he tipped them graciously for (tip your service workers people), Bruce adhered to his conditions perfectly.

Whenever Dick was in the office, Y/N was immediately notified and he would have his schedule altered for the day to avoid any run-ins with the billionaire’s son. If there was an occasion where he couldn’t get out of it and the former acrobat was present, he kept his distance from him and was happy to see the other doing the same even if it looked like he didn’t want to.

You’d think with his tight schedules at work and his busy nightlife, the young Omega would barely have any time for fun and social things like parties and dating.

You’d be right. Y/N did not party at all, but he did find time to mix and mingle occasionally and had come up lucky in recent months. On a previous outing with some co-workers, after a successful deal had gone through, Y/N had met a nice and attractive Alpha who happened to be a friend of Wyndall’s.

His name was Leo and he was not only a fitness trainer, but also a teacher in self-defense arts and fighting. Guess what their first date was considering the mutual interest.

Dinner and a movie. Dirty minds think alike, huh?

But, Y/N truly felt like he was growing strong feelings for Leo. He was a respectable Alpha who treated him with nothing but kindness, respect, and love. Attentive, romantic, and very easy on the eyes, the more time he spent with the Alpha, the more he could imagine spending the rest of his life with him.

Of course, he was no fool, and though they were still relatively new to this relationship, he wasn’t going to let up yet, knowing the first year is usually when the prospective partner is always on their best behavior. Really it was six months, but he was being gracious since he liked him.

Y/N even brought him as his date to Bruce’s gala that was being held in his honor. A major deal had been made at Wayne Enterprises where they partnered with some of the biggest charities in the region to begin plans for creating homes and centers for Omegas who were victims of abusive homes and relationships as well as those who were saved from human trafficking.

At first, he was tempted to not go, but since he was being honored at the event for being the major showrunner for the entire project, it’d be rude for him not to show. Of course, Leo decided to make it a whole show and went out to rent a new tux as well as a limousine to take them to Wayne Manor where the event was being held.

To say Y/N felt like a prince being swept off his feet the entire night would have been an understatement. Not only was he impressed with Leo’s manners and dedication, but he also duly noted the Alpha’s restraint and control considering they hadn’t done the do yet, despite being almost half a year into their relationship.

And there were moments when they came close and the temptation was all too real. Contrary to the earlier joke, the Alpha and Omega did have more physical type dates, where they met in Leo’s gym and would practice different moves and fighting styles following both of their training.

As you can imagine when you bump and grind hot sweaty bodies against each other, at some point, things can get carried away at intervals, but Leo always pulled back, saying he wanted to respect Y/N’s decision and wait until they were both fully ready. Damn, having morals and respect for yourself can really take the fun out of things sometimes.

Anyway, the night went on without a hitch. Y/N mingled and greeted the guests as well as shook hands with a few important people Bruce wanted to introduce him to. He gave a speech and had a few more inside jokes with Leo about the stuffy and posh atmosphere these galas radiate.

Right when they were planning to make their exit, things of course had to get interesting.

“Evening, Y/N. Long time, no see. It’s good to see you.”

Y/N counted to five in his head, reminding himself where he was and that couldn’t introduce the back of his fist to Dick Grayson’s cheek, no matter how bad he wanted to. Their running into each other was inevitable, the Omega recognized that. Whether it was him who accidentally did it, or the billionaire’s son who intentionally did it, they were bound to run into each other again.

He remained civilized though. His mother always taught him how being an Omega in this world, people were going to try and push him more than any others just because they saw him as an easy target. She always said the moment you reacted, you proved them right, and he wasn’t going to let that happen. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be petty though…

“Dick, what a surprise. I’d say likewise, but you know how our Lord & Savior feels about lying,’ Y/N responded with a smile on his face but the sarcasm clearer than ever.

Leo chuckled to the side of him, and for a moment, a quick fleeing second, Dick’s cool and suave charade dropped, and Y/N saw how his attitude and lack of respect triggered the Alpha. The adopted Wayne managed to retain his instincts though, keeping a cool smile on his face.

“Ah, you’re funny. A lot funnier than I remember when we were in your office,” It was then Dick seemed to acknowledge the other presence standing before him, “And just who might this be? Your next conquest?” He inquired in a ‘joking’ manner.

That wasn’t appreciated, given the nasty grimace that wiped over Y/N’s face as he was about to respond with an equal if not more than childish insult. At least, until Leo decided to interject in.

“Actually, I’m his date. Though, I wouldn’t mind being a conquest if it came to that. It's better than showing up alone to an event like this with no one by my side. Speaking of, where’s your date?” Leo asked, an egotistical smile on his face as he stared down the other Alpha, already knowing the answer.

Dick looked more than aggravated, and despite his surprise at Leo’s snarkiness, it did not stop Y/N from laughing out loud, despite his failed attempts at concealing them. While the Omega would have loved to stand there a bit longer and see how interesting that encounter could have gotten, he knew better and decided that was a perfect time to make a strategic exit.

“Well, Dick, as much as I’d love to stay and chat, I wouldn’t. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Dick.” Y/N said, quickly grabbing Leo’s arm and tugging him towards the main entrance.

When they reached the main hall, Leo went to give their valet card to the attendant standing by the door, while Y/N informed him he was going to use the bathroom quickly before they left. Both of them were oblivious to the shadow following behind the Omega.

Y/N found the bathroom and quickly did his business, however, he did take a small moment while using the toilet to admire the decor and pristine state of the bathroom.

“Oh, to be filthy rich and pee in luxury.”

After flushing and washing his hands, he was drying them off and was about to head for the door when it suddenly swung open and a familiar face entered.

“Dick! What the hell you fucking perv! Have you ever heard of knocking, or did Bruce forget that in etiquette training?”

“Funny,” Dick replied, his usual lighthearted tone gone, replaced by something dark and vexing. Y/N didn’t understand why he felt a small flutter in his abdomen at the tone of voice, but he chose to ignore that in favor of getting past the creepy Alpha.

“Yeah, I’m hilarious. Open the door, Dick. I’m not playing these games with you,” Y/N ordered.

“Who said anything about playing,” Dick asked, but he apparently wasn’t looking for an answer if the way he grabbed the Omega by his suit jacket and threw him against the sink was anything to go by.

“What the fuck! Get off of me!” Y/N shouted, pushing against the Alpha’s chest, but his smaller state compared to the acrobat put him at a slight disadvantage. If the hard and prominent muscles he felt under the jacket were anything to go by, he’d say Dick spent a fair amount of time in the gym. Made sense though, given his former circus background.

“Oh, come on. You can quit the act now.” Dick huffed while rubbing his hands down the Omega’s body, stopping right at his waist.

“What act? Were you dropped on your head as a baby?” Y/N retorted, still pushing (groping) at the Alpha’s chest. He could feel Dick’s fingers prodding around his body, taking extra time to squeeze his ass before making their way further down his legs, lifting them and forcing them around the acrobat’s waist.

Dick’s smug look grew even more when he could see the Omega’s submissive instincts kicking in, feeling how less and less he was putting up a fight against his actions.

“This act. Look at you, slowly giving in and letting me take control of your body. I’ve dealt with plenty of bratty little Omegas like you. Playing the honorable and conservative role, only to give it up the second you get the attention you’ve been begging for. You almost had me fooled for a quick second. But, after seeing that sad excuse you brought here as a date, I realized your game immediately. I’ll admit it though, you managed to get what you wanted. I’ve never been as jealous before as I was watching you with him all night.”

While saying all this to Y/N, Dick had wrapped one of his arms around the Omega’s waist forcing his body forward on the marble sink and pushing his own against it. His hard and throbbing member was positioned at an angle in the Alpha’s trousers where the smaller male could almost make out the entire length and size of the throbbing tool, the way it was being ground against his pelvis.

That combined with the adopted Wayne’s ever-talented lips sucking and kissing at the Omega’s neck while sniffing the boy’s pheromones and cologne left a fog in Y/N’s mind that was hard to see past. No longer was he fighting back against Dick, but instead he was mindlessly rubbing and digging his fingers into the hard muscles of his chest and abs covered by his white dress shirt, something the Alpha held a smug satisfaction in.

“Oh, would you look at that? What happened to your high and mighty attitude? I thought you weren’t attracted to demanding and ‘barbaric’ Alphas like me? For the amount of crap you’ve talked, I figured you’d have more restraint than that.” Dick’s mocking words were a bit in cruel taste, but it was a taste Y/N couldn’t decide if he liked or not.

His smug attitude and confidence were attractive to the Omega, given the pleasurable tingles he could feel inside his underwear which were slowly getting wetter by the second. But, that was the very thing that confused him.

Y/N couldn’t count how many times he heard this similar or exact sentiment from another overly confident Alpha who felt entitled to his attention and body. So, why was he having different thoughts and reactions now? Was there something in the air? Did he recently start taking some new vitamin or pill that had psychosis-like side effects? Did someone cast a spell on him?

Or was Y/N genuinely attracted and turned on by Dick Grayson and was just too stubborn to realize every word the Alpha was saying was true. He’d rather not think about that.

Small moans and grunts began to slip out of Y/N’s mouth while feeling the increased kisses and marks being left across his neck and jaw. With his legs spread and Dick in between, there was nothing left to the imagination of what he felt grinding against his pelvis.

When his noises were beginning to reach a volume level that could bring unwanted attention to the Alpha, he had no choice but to remove one of his hands from the delectable body he was ravishing to cover the Omega’s mouth. It was okay for now, he’d have him screaming in no time.

“Oh, Y/N. You’re so perfect. Why do you have to act so stuck up though? Just look at you right now,” Dick muttered against the Omega’s skin before looking up. 

It was a sight to behold, seeing the same man responsible for fighting against the system that held Omegas down in the first place being subjected to the same treatment he claimed to hate, and enjoying it at that.

“And to think, we could've been doing this very same thing in your office if you weren’t acting so stuck up.”

Dick’s feverish kisses and bites increased as his hand forced open Y/N’s shirt, exposing his shiny, leaking nipples to the Alpha. He smirked at the Omega’s whimper from feeling the cool air in the bathroom rush against his wet nipples before moving his lips down and attaching them to one of the nubs.

The yelp Y/N let out under Dick’s hand was enough to have the Alpha pausing in his ministrations, making sure no one came knocking on the door before continuing his feeding on the Omega’s nectar. His other hand that wasn’t muffling the moans and cries of the Omega was working its way down the front of the smaller man’s past, just getting past the elastic band of his underwear.

Y/N’s eyes went wide when he felt Dick's cool fingers prodding around at the top of his arousal, just tugging at his cocklette which he knew was probably leaking slick along with this cunt. He did his best to resist the sensations, but even he had to admit the man was skilled.

His eyes began scanning around the room, trying his best not to get distracted by the hot sight of Dick’s dark head of hair lapping and sucking at his chest like a newborn while he felt his pleasure nub and cocklette being fondled under his underwear. That’s when he spotted something of interest.

Sitting right beside his body was a candle, and more importantly, the heavy looking golden holder it was sitting in. It was a bit hard at first with the distractions he was dealing with, but he managed to get the candle out and holder into his grip, using it to bash the side of Dick’s head.

He shouted out in pain, leaning back just enough for Y/N to shove his body forward before swinging his leg right into Dick’s exposed crotch. The dark-haired man groaned in pain, falling over on his knees while clutching his bruised genitals, looking up to the Omega who scooted himself off the counter, taking a moment to collect himself before cleaning himself up and fixing his clothes.

“Still playing hard to get, I see,” Dick uttered.

Y/N turned around, throwing a dirty look toward the Alpha on the floor before turning his nose up at him in a sneer, “You wish I was playing with you at all.”

“True, but it’s okay for now. I’ll have you begging for me soon enough,” Dick chuckled, before groaning again from another painful throb.

Y/N tried to ignore the flutter he felt in his pants and the surge of feelings he felt in his chest. He gave Dick one last glare, before exiting the bathroom, promptly finding Leo and leaving the party. On his way out though, he ran into Bruce who looked concerned at the Omega’s disheveled and angry state.

“Ask your son,” He retorted, grabbing his valet ticket out of his jacket before looking up at the CEO, a storm of emotion and thoughts behind his eyes, “Mr. Wayne, it’s been a pleasure working for W.E., and I’m very happy to see the progress we’ve been able to make in my time at the company. But, after tonight, I think it’s best if I move on to other opportunities. I’ll be sending someone to collect my things from my office.”

With that, Y/N grabbed Leo’s hand and exited the party and Wayne Manor, hopefully for the last time.

That night, the Omega was extra brutal on his patrol, taking out his anger and confusion on every bloody criminal and thug Alpha who even looked like they were up to no good. By the end of the night, Y/N was going to have to ask his contacts for some new gloves with how dirty and covered in blood they were.

As the weeks rolled by, Y/N received numerous emails and calls from Bruce Wayne asking him to come back to the company and if they could work something out. Even Wyndall had reached out to see what was going on with him.

The only person he Y/N talked to about all of this was Leo. He did tell him what went down in the bathroom, and that he just needed some time to sort out his head. The Alpha respected his wishes and still checked in on him every other day just to make sure he was okay.

The thing was, Y/N didn’t really know if he was okay. He felt like he was going crazy.

On one hand, he was very angry and upset still about the bathroom incident and just the situation overall. He couldn’t believe the nerve of Dick, thinking he could just bust his way into the room and into his life and just have his way with him. It was unbelievably arrogant and barbaric.

On the OTHER hand, it was the barbarism of the situation that had Y/N so confused. More specifically, why he was so attracted to it. The truth was, Dick pointed out some significant stuff in that bathroom that had the Omega overthinking everything.

Why was he attracted to it, and why didn’t he fight Dick off harder. He could’ve taken him and avoided that whole situation, but he didn’t. Why?

That was the question that kept pounding in his head over and over for weeks on end. One part of him wanted nothing to do with Dick Grayson, but the other part wanted everything to do with him. Wanted to give in and submit to the Alpha.

But, he had to be a symbol. And he couldn’t do that if he gave in to the very thing he was fighting against.

Though, little did he know that soon, he wouldn’t have much of a choice.

Even if his Alpha troubles had gone quiet in his civilian life, his vigilante one was another story. Shadow was plagued by countless run-ins with Nightwing who was persistent in his endeavors of trying to corner him. That or he wanted another chance to throw some cheesy one-liners at him, probably both. Thankfully, Y/N managed to stay a step ahead every single time and always managed to avoid his capture.

At least that’s what he thought.

Things would take a major turn when Shadow decided to answer a distress call coming from Wayne Towers. An Omega claimed they were being harassed and stalked by an Alpha who locked them in the building. 

Since it was his old stomping grounds, and he knew plenty of ways in and out of the building, he figured it’d be a quick mission. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary on the outside, but for some reason, the hairs on the back of his neck were standing, but he still decided to go in.

The first thing he noticed when he got inside was how quiet the building was, almost too quiet. He’d worked plenty of late shifts in this building before and the silence was never this loud. Where were the nighttime guards? Or the other executives who inevitably stayed late to work?

Something weird was going on. Y/N made his way to the top of the building, closer to Bruce’s office where he heard the Omega say he was hiding over the police line he tapped into. As he approached closer to the hiding spot, he couldn’t help how tense he grew, feeling the ever-growing sensation of being watched take over him.

When Y/N finally made it to Bruce’s office, he was more or less shocked at who he found waiting for him.

“Wyndall?”

The Omega looked up, confused at first but then suddenly shouting out only to be muffled by the gag around his mouth. His hands and feet were bound by rope and he was tucked into the corner. Y/N was about to make his way over until he realized Wyndall was looking at something behind him and not at him.

He turned just in time to see a flash of blue and black lunge at him before ducking out of the way in time, “Nightwing,” The Omega growled under his breath.

“Good to finally see you again, Shadow. Well, at least all of you since I’m only used to seeing the far-distant view of your back as you run away from me. Though, it’s definitely not a sight I’m complaining about.” Nightwing said, his usual playful smirk on his face as he once again eyed the Omega vigilante up and down like their first meeting.

“Attacking innocent Omegas just to get to me, why am I not surprised? Is Batman that mad at me?”

“Who said anything about Batman? Maybe I just wanted the chance to finish our conversation from before. And you say attacking, I say leveraging advantages.”

The Omega looked from Nightwing to Wyndall who was watching the exchange while still struggling to get out of his binds. “Well, hate to burst your bubble, but I’m not in much of a talking mood,” Shadow said before grabbing one of his blades and throwing it at the other vigilante.

Nightwing managed to duck but was unprepared for the attacks he received. Using the surprise to his advantage, Shadow landed quick blows along the other vigilante’s chest and legs before sweeping under him and knocking him to the ground.

When Nightwing didn’t immediately get up, the Omega rushed over to Wyndall, using his blades to cut the ropes and gag, “Thank you,” Wyndall began to say, before both of them turned to see the other vigilante not where Shadow left him.

“No time for that, just grab your stuff and let’s go,” Shadow ordered, getting the Omega off the ground and both of them making a break for the stairs.

Just as Wyndall made it to the exit and Shadow right behind him, neither of them saw Nightwing dart out of the shadows, surprising the Omega vigilante before being tackled to the ground.

“Where do you think you’re going? We’re not finished talking,” The Alpha growled in the smaller man’s face, doing his best to keep the Omega pinned.

Thankfully for the Alpha, the Omega was distracted by Wyndall coming back to try and help him, “No, Wyndall! Just go. Get out of here!”

“But-”

“I said GO!”

He stood there for a few moments contemplating, before turning around and heading down the stairs. Nightwing smirked down at the Omega, using his strength to overpower him and pin his arms down.

“Alone at last,” Nightwing smiled before leaning down and claiming Shadow’s lips in a soft, but demanding kiss. The Omega could feel a familiar sensation sparking in his pants and certain feelings swirling in his gut.

Though, it didn’t mean he was giving up, doing his best to wiggle his leg putting as much momentum as he could into his knee as he shoved into the Alpha’s crotch. His eyes went wide as he let out a muffled grunt before breaking the kiss and letting his face fall into the side of the Omega’s neck.

But his grip didn’t loosen at all nor did his strength waver over the Omega as he tried to push back to free himself, and that’s when he heard the chuckle beside his ear.

“Sorry, but I’ve learned from your tricks before.”

Nightwing leaned off the Omega, but not enough for him to escape. Only enough to where he could flip him around on the floor, bringing his arms and hands behind his back before grabbing some more binding rope off his utility belt.

He tied both arms and legs together, grabbing his shadowblades off his waist and attaching them to his belt. When he had him secured, he turned the Omega back over and lifted him off the ground, holding him steady while taking a moment to admire his captured prize.

“All that running and fighting, and look at you know, finally caught in my grasp.”

“So what, you’re gonna take me to Batman now?”

Nightwing chuckled again, “Hmm, still haven’t figured it out yet. I told you, this isn’t about Batman. This is about you and me. It’s about finally taking what rightfully belongs to me.”

The Alpha leaned down to grab the Omega around his thighs before throwing him up in a fire-man carry and making his way down the hall. Y/N watched from his place atop the Alpha’s shoulder as they traveled through the dark and quiet halls. Eyeing the various security cameras positioned throughout the hall and noting that they were all missing the usual red light that indicated they were on and watching.

‘Did Nightwing manage to cut the cameras?’ Y/N thought to himself as they made their way down another hall, a familiar one at that as he realized they were getting close to his old office.

It was then that Y/N started thinking about various things. How Nightwing seemed to predict his move of kneeing him in the crotch as a last resort since he was apparently wearing some protective garment that kept his genitals safe. Then again, why wouldn’t he being a vigilante?

But, the comment he made seemed as if he expected it. Then, there was the fact that out of all the people Nightwing chose to attack in Wayne Towers, he chose Wyndall, one of Y/N's few friends at the company from this time working here.

And while he’d rather not think about it, that kiss they shared was just as pleasurable as it was familiar. Things were starting to slowly come together for the Omega. It was becoming somewhat clear that Nightwing knew he was, especially given the fact that he was right about his earlier hunch.

They were heading for his old office.

Y/N recognized the hall the moment they turned down the corner, before they made their way through the familiar glass door, Nightwing pausing in the middle of the room while looking at the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

“Hmm, feels just like the first time, only the view I have is much better than yours,” The Alpha gloated before using his other hand that wasn’t holding the Omega’s thighs together to land a harsh spank on the plump ass next to his face.

“Ouch, you fucking asshole,” Shadow yelled, before yelping out again in pain as he was subjected to even more brutal and harsher slaps.

Imagine how he felt in the moment, the Omega Vigilante tasked with saving his kind from brutish behavior, getting spanked over the shoulder of the Alpha who’d relentlessly pursued him for months. Only now, he knew that this Alpha was not different from the one that had been pursuing him in his civilian life as well.

“Alright, Dick! That’s enough.” He shouted, still flailing over the Alpha’s shoulder from the sting in his ass as he tried to hold back the tears that were brewing in his eyes.

The Omega suddenly found himself back on the ground, standing on his two feet but being held by the Alpha at the waist. He did his best to not scoff at the arrogant smirk on the vigilante’s face as he looked down at him with a knowing look.

“Oh, finally put the pieces together, have you?” Dick asked.

“You didn’t make it hard with your not-so-clever hints and cliché remarks.”

“Careful,” Dick warned, squeezing the tender behind while laying a hand over his growing arousal, “Before when I gave you the chance to submit to me willingly, you refused and defied me every single time, always with that smart and condescending attitude of yours. I was forgiving then, but not so much now. And I don’t have to be.”

Y/N didn’t know why, but that same feeling he had before in the bathroom, that ever-growing curiosity, had him wanting to bite back. To test the Alpha and see how far he would go. He didn’t understand why he was actively fighting to get out of the situation he was in.

Frankly, he didn’t care about any of that. Right now, at this moment, he couldn’t remember or think of why he cared about being a symbol so much.

All he cared about was wanting to get fucked.

“Hmm, well, maybe if you had been someone worthy of submitting to, I actually would have listened and given in. Even now, I still don’t see someone deserving of my attention, let alone my body.” Y/N remarked, his own smirk pulling at his lips.

The look in Dick’s eyes was something menacing. It was as if the curtains that were obscuring who the Alpha really was were suddenly going up in flames, and now, the real show was about to begin.

“Oh, you want someone worthy, huh? I’ll give you someone worthy.” Dick uttered, a darkness to his words before he forced Y/N onto his knees.

He undid the clasps of his utility belt before undoing the secret zippers at his crotch, reaching inside and pulling out a sizable tool. Definitely not small, but not too big that would have Y/N clenching. But, appearances could be deceiving. After all, Dick was just as much known as a playboy as his adoptive father.

“How about we fill that mouth with something more worthy, huh?”

He barely gave the Omega any time to comply, using his hand to grip the smaller male’s jaw and force his mouth open, using his other hand to shove his hard appendage inside and down his throat. Y/N choked and gagged over the organ, saliva already drooling out around his lips and tears building in his eyes as the Alpha let out a guttural groan, gripping his hair now and holding him against his pubes. 

“That worthy enough for ya?” Dick growled out, jerking himself forward causing another round of chokes and gags and reveling in the sound of them, “Finally, after all that time, waiting around and watching you ignore me and toss me aside, look where you are now. Crying over my dick.”

Y/N couldn’t even use his hands to try and push back at Dick’s hips, seeing as they were still bound behind his back.

Eventually, the Alpha pulled himself out, chuckling at the sounds of the Omega gasping for air and coughing. “Enjoy this little break, it’s gonna be one of the few you get all night,” Dick taunted, yanking on Y/N’s hair again before shoving himself back down his throat.

He kept the Omega like that for another minute, seeing how long he could go before giving him a slight breather for air. When he had enough of that, he slowly began to move in and out of his throat, watching with sinful pleasure at the teary-eyed look the Omega was looking up at him with as his veiny appendage slid in and out of his mouth, a glistening shine come off it from his salvia and the light of the moon through the window.

Eventually, Dick was ruthlessly shoving himself in and out of Y/N’s lips, barely giving him any breaks or breathers as he claimed the Omega’s throat for himself. This was only the first of his many victories that he would achieve tonight. His patience and planning would finally reward him, especially with the insurance he set up for himself, as he eyed the hidden camera tucked away on a shelf in the corner of the room.

Y/N had no choice but to learn how to breathe through his nose to get the much-needed air he required as Dick had his way with his throat. His mouth was covered in spit and drool while his eyes and cheeks were soaked with his tears. When Dick pulled himself out for the last time, he took a sharp breath in, falling forward slightly as he also released the grip on his hair.

“n-nh ... ah … fuck,” The Omega breathed before feeling himself be yanked back up to his feet and pulled towards the desk.

“I’m not done with you yet, slut.”

With one sweeping motion, he knocked everything to the ground before forcing the Omega against the desk and bending him over it. He made quick work of the utility belt before unbuckling and unzipping wherever he had to, pulling down his pants and revealing his wet cunt to him.

“Oh, look at that, even prettier than I imagined,” Dick looked over the panting Omega, taking pride in the fact that this was all his doing before taking a finger and rubbing it over the wet fold and leaking head of his cocklette, “What do you think, Y/N? Should I go slow? Give you time to adjust and widen up for me? Or should I just take you like this? Since I’m apparently not worthy enough?” He asked with a leering sneer.

“please ...a-ah, fuck ... !” Y/N moaned, feeling Dick’s fingers slip inside his heat while his thumb rubbed rough circles over his cocklette and nub.

“Aw, look at that. Told you I’d have you begging for me soon enough,” He said, forcing his fingers inside him a little more before taking them back out, “That’s enough of that. Time’s up, slut. Now, I finally claim what’s rightfully mine.”

Dick turned Y/N over, removing the rope at his ankles before pushing the smaller male further up on the desk, slotting himself between the open legs. He took a moment to admire the sight before him while slapping his dick against the Omega’s dripping entrance.

“After all that time, all that fighting back and acting like you didn’t want me. Look at you here now, helpless, about to have your body claimed by your rightful Alpha. And to think, we could’ve been doing this so long ago. You and me, Nightwing & Shadow, patrolling the streets of Gotham together, but you decided to be a little bitch about everything and resist me at every turn. Well, now, you’ve got nowhere to go. You’re all mine, and I won’t be letting you go anytime soon. Not now, not tonight or tomorrow, and especially, not after this…”

Dick gripped his appendage while holding Y/N at the center of his stomach, sinking himself inside the wet heat with a deep and vocal groan. The Omega shouted out at the brute and forceful intrusion before feeling a hand slap over his mouth.

“Quiet, slut. I may have knocked the guards out, but we still want you alerting anyone else now, do we?”

Dick held his hand firm against the Omega’s mouth while savoring the feeling of the tight flesh wrapped all around his cock. He had sex with many people before, Omegas and Betas alike, but none of them compared to the feeling he had right at that moment.

A few moments went by, Y/N’s vocal but muffled cries slowly quieting as Dick does his best to calm himself down as well before taking his first move inside the soft and tight cunt. Another whine pops up from the Omega, feeling the drag and pull of the hard cock in his insides.

“Quiet baby, I’m trying to focus on not cumming here, and your little sweet sounds aren’t helping,” Dick ordered, taking his time to slowly move himself in and out while fighting down his growing climax. He knew they would have multiple rounds, but there was nothing like the euphoric feeling of claiming your prize. Conquering the very thing that fought so hard against you.

And, now, his reward lay helpless beneath him. Subject to whatever treatment and punishment the Alpha saw fit. Dick knew it, and he could see Y/N was realizing the way he squirmed around on the desk trying to adjust themselves to being owned and taken by someone worthy.

When Dick made his first full thrust inside, the tears sprang to Y/N’s eyes again as he tried to scoot himself up on the desk away from the intrusive weapon spearing his guts.

“Uh uh, baby,” Dick said, holding him by one of his legs as he forced the Omega still on his cock, “there’s no running from this. You’ve got no choice. You’re tied up and helpless, and you’re going to take my cock whether you like it or not.”

And take it, he did.

Once Dick got himself under control and didn’t feel like he would cum too soon, he mercilessly fucked the Omega with no tone of softness or tenderness in his movements. His cries under the Alpha’s palms never ceased, seemingly only increasing in volume as neared closer and closer to his own orgasm.

Above him, Dick groaned and grunted like an animal while plowing his insides, his other palm was busy squeezing roughly at the whiny little cocklette and rubbing furiously over his little pinch of nerves. The evidence of their filthy fun was becoming increasingly more potent as the slick around his cock combined with the soaking and squelching walls of the cunt he was defiling dripped and splashed onto the floor and around the edges of the desk.

“This is all your fault, you know,” Dick spat, the sweat evident on his body as his hair stuck to his face and the top parts of his mask, “if you had just listened to me and been obedient, our first time could have been gentler and more romantic. But, you wanted to be a stubborn little brat who defied his Alpha, and now you’re paying the price.”

Dick delivered powerful and harsher thrusts to Y/N’s core, pulling even louder sounds from his throat as his arms tingled with sleep from being pressed between his body and the shaking wooden desk.

“Oh fuck, you’re squeezing me even tighter than you were before. Are you trying to make me cum, slut?” Dick asked, eyeing his Omega with lust and focus as he drilled even harder into his insides. “Still think I’m not worthy, huh? Still think someone else is more deserving of your body, Y/N? I bet you no one else can have you wet and screaming like this. I can feel the vibrations from all your moaning and whines under my palm. No one can make you feel like I can. No one can fuck you like I can! No one can own you like I can.”

Somehow, Dick began to go even faster, tears now flowing at a fast rate out of Y/N’s eyes as he met his explosive end over the Alpha’s cock. The vigilante leaned over the Omega’s body as his knot slowly approached.

“Get ready for it, slut. And feel lucky you’re not in heat yet, but soon, you will be. And soon, you’ll be carrying my kids.” Nightwing said as he pushed himself deeper and deeper inside before meeting his end.

He leaned down and bit into your neck with a vocal growl as he buried himself all the way inside, knotting his Omega for the first time. His body convulsed with shudders and shakes as he felt himself shooting his seed deep inside, Y/N feeling the streaks paint his insides.

Both their breaths slowly returned to normal as they waited for his knot to do down, and when Dick felt like he had enough strength, he held himself up, taking his hand away from the Omega’s mouth before looking at him in his post-orgasmic state.

“You were amazing, baby. I’m sorry I had to be so rough with you, but you gave me no choice. But, don’t worry, it won’t be the last time. We should get you home so I can show you how an Alpha properly treats his Omega.”

Y/N could barely form a thought, let alone a sentence, and he didn’t have any time to try and think of one as Dick pulled himself off and out of him. He reclothed both of them before tying the Omega’s legs back together and tossing him back over his shoulder.

“You’re all mine now, baby. Nightwing & Shadow forever,” Dick said to himself while grabbing the camera off the shelf, stopping the recording before exiting the office and heading down towards the parking garage where he planned to take you both home.

To be continued…

☀️ | Dick Grayson/Nightwing | ☀️

☀️ | Masterlists | ☀️

🌙 | Part Two | 🌙

🌃 | Nightwing & Shadow | 🌃 (this image was genrated by Bing AI)

[misasimagines]

desperation / reader x Taiga (Tokyo Debunker)

included characters: Taiga! Romeo is a guest.

rating: NSFW!!!! The actual start of smut is marked with a (***) so if you wanted to read the rest and skip that, you can, but otherwise please. It's smut.

warnings: general Taiga warnings? gun, blood, biting, sex. let me emphasize blood. FEM BODIED READER! Not gender neutral.

anyway first smut fic and first time writing about Taiga, everyone please go easy on me. @ the ask who wanted possessive Taiga, uh, I hope this works for you

Taiga was an enigma to you. He seemed like a dozen different people all wrapped into one threateningly sharp package. Sometimes, you watched him gambling, feet kicked up on the dealer’s table, eyes glinting with mischief, and thought being around him would feel like life itself. All excitement and impulse and adrenaline and it made your heart race with the adventure of it all. You could imagine your own Bonnie and Clyde romance, doing whatever you wanted, getting whatever you wanted. Living solely for thrill and satisfaction.

Other times, you hid as he slouched through Sinostra, blood covered, eyes empty. You hid because you knew he wouldn’t even remember who you were after he finished gutting you and leaving whatever was left to bleed into the carpets. You hid and you shamefully wondered how bad it would be to step into his line of sight. Just risk it. You could be the rabbit jumping into the wolf’s mouth just to avoid the pain of being cut in two. Would it be so bad?

Today was different. Today, you didn’t watch him from the entrance of the casino or with a held breath around the corner in the hall. Today, he was sitting across from Romeo, head leaned back and staring up at the ceiling.

“-from a general admissions student in Mortkranken. Avoid the ghouls. I’ll text you the details, but take it back to your room first, do not come here. Someone will come pick it up from you. Do you understand?”

Sounded complicated, but that was par the course with Romeo. You wondered if he had you running drugs (again) and, with a nod of agreement, you decided it was best if you didn't know. It wasn't your choice to be Romeo's drug mule anymore than it was to be his secretary and verbal punching bag, but hey, it paid the bills. So to speak.

“Repeat it,” he demanded, arms crossed and staring down his perfect nose at you.

“I’m picking up your package from a general admissions student in Mortkranken. I’ll avoid Yuri and Jiro and take it back to my room and wait for one of your guys to come get it. Does that cover it?” You responded, crossing your own arms in retort. You were willing to put up with a lot when it came to Romeo, but that didn’t mean you had to do it with a smile and a nod.

His eyes narrowed slightly, annoyed by your attitude but unwilling to spend the energy on reacting to it. “Just go.”

You stood up and managed only a step before Romeo gave you another order.

“And take those folders to Shinjo on your way.” He gestured to a stack of papers sitting too close to Taiga.

It felt like trying to take a bowl of food from a territorial dog and you felt your blood pressure rise as you considered what violence he could enact simply for you getting in his space. He could rip you apart with his teeth, that was always an option. Or he could shoot you with any number of guns he just so happened to always have on him. He also wasn’t a stranger to beating people with blunt objects, though you didn’t see a baseball bat or metal bar in the vicinity. That option was probably off the table for now.

You stilled your racing thoughts. He wasn’t even paying attention. The papers weren’t his. Romeo was right there. You would be fine. You reached down for the folders.

And he snatched your wrist, his gaze dropping to you and cementing you in place. “You love taking orders, don’t you, kitty-cat?”

His grip wasn’t particularly tight. You didn’t feel your circulation cut off, your bones being ground into dust- no, he just held you. Kept you there until you answered his question, a question you didn’t feel so inclined to answer. Enjoy taking orders- of course you didn’t delight in being Romeo’s servant. To anyone else, you might have snapped at the insinuation. But no one else was Taiga, and snapping at him could mean getting your bones snapped in retaliation. Your heart raced and you wondered if Romeo would intervene. Probably not, not unless there was a risk of staining his furniture. You didn’t want to let it go that far.  “Let me go,” You insisted, voice more of a squeak than you intended.

Taiga cupped a hand around his ear and pretended he couldn’t hear you.

“Let. Me. Go.” You repeated, a decibel louder.

“No one told you you couldn’t leave.” He responded casually.

You flushed with indignation and wrenched your wrist free, grabbing up the files and almost running out. No one told you you couldn't leave…as if you needed permission. As if he hadn't forced you to stop. As if being Taiga didn't carry unspoken rules and crossed boundaries. As if- no, you didn't need to waste your thoughts on more as ifs. You knew the connotations he brought with him with every action, just by virtue of being Taiga and you know he had no reason to acknowledge them himself.

You just needed to leave. Still… As you rushed out, you wondered why he’d asked you anything. He certainly had never given you the attention before. You would have felt better if you knew he watched you on the way out, maybe with interest, maybe with disappointment, but as you reached the door and shoved your way into the hall, you peaked back. 

He was back to staring up at the ceiling.

~~~

It had been a long few weeks. Back and forth from house to house, you never had a chance to catch your breath. If someone wasn't ordering you to do something with a sneer, they were putting you in a situation where you ended up with bruises and scrapes and potentially even worse injuries. They didn't all intend to hurt you, but the results spoke for themselves and you did hurt. The hurts just weren't all visible.

It didn't matter that your hips ached and your feet were sore and there was a split blister on the back of your heel that bled into your sock. You had another errand to run that you were going to be late for and Romeo was going to kill you. You ran, letting out breathless apologies as you bumped into Sinostra students on your way to Romeo’s VIP room. A nearly overflowing bag bounced around in your arms and used your chin to try to hold the tons of little plastic baggies in place as you rushed. It wasn’t the best feeling, being so close and personal to what you could only assume was illegal, mind altering substances, but an accidental whiff of cocaine was definitely less painful than a lecture from Romeo. In fact, it might have made the impending lecture bearable.

Turning a corner, you slammed into something and your bag lept out of your arms.

Taiga had his hands in his pockets, hardly phased from your extreme collision. You had managed to stay upright, but your contraband was scattered all over the floor. 

“Fuck,” you hissed.

“You gonna pick all that up?” Taiga asked, making no move to help you.

You took a careful breath to steady your anger.  “I have to,” you responded as cooly as you could before crouching to start your collection. 

Once again, with the same pressure as before, Taiga grabbed your arm and pulled you back to standing. “Do you enjoy any of it?” He asked, nudging a bag with the toe of his shoe.

“Enjoy what?” You asked, watching his hand on your upper arm carefully.

“Anything.” He didn’t clarify.

Or maybe he did. “I-” You exhaled, tried to find some way to answer this impossible question. No? You didn’t enjoy being Romeo’s drug mule. No, you didn’t enjoy being passed around from house to house at Darkwick, the newest intern in every room you stepped into. No, you didn’t enjoy having your life uprooted, your identity all but erased so you could be whatever anyone needed you to be. No, you-

“Gah, you’re depressing,” he made a sound in the back of his throat, a rolling sigh, and then the corners of his lips curved into a smile. “Come with me.”

You had no time, or chance, to flounder, leaving Romeo’s import all over the floor as Taiga dragged you off into the casino. As you were led off, you couldn’t even imagine a world where you said no, where you got on your hands and knees and picked up every little bag and brought it to Romeo and still got yelled at. You sped up to walk faster, to keep up with him, to choose this, and thought this was the only option for you. As crazy as it was.

Taiga deposited you at a roulette table, pushing you onto one of the stools and clapping his hands over your shoulders. With a nod and a gesture, the dealer slid two untidy piles of chips towards you.

“Oh, I don’t-” You tried to stand up. Gambling wasn’t on your list of skills and you knew better than to gamble in Sinostra of all places.

Taiga held you down, “Lets see you make some choices, kitty-cat. See how much they really matter.” He leaned close enough so only you could hear him, though everyone else at the table and the surrounding area watched with wide eyes and rapt attention. Taiga alone was a spectacle. Taiga with you? 

They were just waiting for the bloodbath. Casting a nervous eye around at everyone, you figured you had two options. Refuse and suffer the consequences, or commit and suffer the consequences. If you forced yourself to stand, told Taiga no, and left, that could be it. He would decide you weren’t worth his time, you’d stay a nameless face in the crowd. You’d be Romeo’s little gopher and you’d be miserable for the time you had left. If you stayed, win or lose, you…Well, you could win or lose anything. You had no guarantee, no way of knowing. Nothing more than Taiga’s fingers resting on your shoulders.

You bet on red.

~~~

You lost most of it. You bet, sometimes at random and sometimes with the thought of “it can’t possibly be the opposite of what I pick 4 times in a row, right?” You lost until the dealer shook his head, saying you didn’t have enough left to meet the minimum.

Taiga stayed behind you the entire time, offering no direction or tips, just sometimes pushing more chips forward than you were willing to bet on any given round. His hands were on your shoulders at first, and then he draped his arms over you, resting his chin on the top of your head. At one point, seemingly with no intention or realization, he had wrapped a hand around your neck and turned to yell at someone a few tables away. 

You stayed completely still when he did that and received plenty of concerned glances in your direction. He put no pressure on your windpipe, and finally turned back once more to watch your games, going back to lazily leaning over you as if nothing had changed.

“Well that’s that, kitten,” He yawned. 

“I lost all your money,” You admit, realization dawning and heart sinking.

He howled with sudden laughter, “Shit, yeah, you did.” He spun you around and held you by the chin, studying your wide eyed expression with a toothy grin. 

The dealer cleared his throat and continued the game for the other gamblers. 

“How are you gonna pay it back?” He asked, leaning your head back and exposing your neck.

The usual sense of being a prey animal crept up in your veins. The desire to apologize and back down and agree to anything to save your life froze your blood and made your heart pound. But you wouldn’t do that this time. Gambling with someone else’s money made you bold. Being around Taiga made you crazy. You grabbed his wrist this time, pulling it down enough so that you could stare at him directly. “I won’t.”

Someone behind you gasped, and then played it off with a cough.

Taiga didn’t stop grinning, letting out another shout of a laugh before freeing you of his grasp and stepping back, shoving his hands into his pockets. “Maybe you’re more interesting than you look.” 

You held back any fits of shaking fear that were creeping up on you.

“Try that shit with Lulu, but I wanna be there when you do it, alright?” He turned on his heel and walked off. 

You exhaled. Shut your eyes. And stood up, walking in the opposite direction.

~~~

The casino was alive. Students from all houses gambled and drank and talked and lost all of their money. It was exactly what Romeo wanted. The flow of cash into his coffers would be extreme tonight.

The only problem? Taiga.

You leaned against a wall and watched him from across the casino. Despite doing something he seemed to enjoy, there was nothing akin to joy on his face. He communicated to the dealer in only gestures and each hand dealt, win or lose, gave him no hint of satisfaction. 

There was a shake lingering in your bones as you lamented the task laid before you. Romeo told you to get Taiga out and do it without causing a scene. How would you do it? You had no clue, and asking Romeo only got a slew of abbreviations thrown your way. Maybe there was some code hidden within. You doubted it.

Taking a deep breath, you accepted your fate and strode across the room towards Taiga. You were enough of a fixture in Sinostra at this point that guests and staff alike moved out of the way for you. It didn't make you feel any better about what you had to do.

“Taiga,” you said gently, “the vice captain wants to see you.” 

Taiga slung his hand of cards down on the table and collected the winning pot. He didn't acknowledge you.

“Taiga,” you tried again, “Romeo needs to see you. Lulu?”

“I heard you the first time,” he snapped. 

Your blood bubbled in frustration. “Then listen,” you snapped.

A hush fell over the table. No one looked at you, but no one could pay attention to anything but you. 

You crossed your arms, “Haven't you won enough?”

“Haven't you pissed me off enough?” 

You had no clue what you'd done to anger him so much. “What are you even talking about?” You hissed, acutely aware of the straining ears of every other gambler and staff member in the vicinity. 

“You’d kiss Lulu's shoes and thank him for the opportunity.”

You balked. The fucking audacity. “You- whatever. I'll leave you alone.” You threw your hands up in defeat and spun away from him.

You heard a click and something cold and metal pressed against the back of your head.

“You think it's that easy, kitty-cat?” Taiga's voice was low when he spoke to you. 

He was going to blow your brains out in the middle of the casino. 

“Walk.” He ordered.

You walked.

~~~

He directed you out of the casino and into the hallways of Sinostra, eventually guiding you down the corridor to his bedroom. Your heart hammered in your chest and you thought about every decision that has led you there. You thought about every way out, and admittedly there were few. 

You could throw yourself to his feet and beg for mercy, you could try to run and hope he missed, you could call his bluff and just leave. You knew none of those would actually work, but whether you died or not wasn’t the question. It was whether you survived Taiga’s inevitable disappointment that was.

You reached his door and stood still.

“You know how to open a door, don't you?” He snarked.

You opened the door and stepped inside.

“Take a seat.” 

You reviewed your options. There was an armchair, his scary torture chair, and the floor. Every option carried weight. Every option told him what you thought of yourself, what you thought you were. The prey animal in you made your knees weak and almost took the decision away from you. If you didn't use every ounce of spite and frustration you had, you'd have collapsed to your knees long before. But that was the case for this entire year, this entire curse nonsense with Darkwick. If you didn't have this burning desperation in you, you'd have collapsed long before.

Maybe that's what Taiga saw in you. Desperation. You couldn't say. You couldn't pretend to know his mind, hell, you barely knew yours. All you did know was that something about him, as terrifying as he was, made you strong. Something made you mouth off to him and something made you feel more than just fear right then. 

You took your seat on his bed.

He stared at you from his doorway, gun still aimed at you. Finger on the trigger.

You sat on the edge, the balls of your feet planted on the ground.

He broke into a grin and manic, empty laughter. He haphazardly tossed the gun onto a table and prowled towards you, throwing himself down on the bed and splaying out behind you. 

You exhaled and pressed a hand to your chest, feeling your heart hammering underneath your skin.

“You got what you wanted. You gonna run along like a good little kitty and tell Lulu you won?” Taiga asked, his grin fading into a bitter smile he directed at his ceiling.

You twisted at the waist to look at him.

His white button down was unbuttoned at the top, the collar unstarched and bent. He had his hands under his head, his red hair messy and tousled. The necklaces around his neck called to you to pull on them. The last thing you wanted was to go deal with Romeo right now. All you wanted was to give in to your desperation and he was just laying there.

You crawled over to Taiga and straddled his hips.

His eyes, so radioactive and piercing, dropped to you. Your face. Your chest. Your hands resting on him and the space he fit between your legs. 

“What do you know about what I want?” You asked him. It felt invigorating to be above him, on him. 

Taiga made no effort to move you. “You don't know what you're getting yourself into.” It wasn't a threat.

You linked a finger under one of his chain necklaces and pulled slightly. “Show me.”

The corner of his mouth twitched up into a smirk. He hooked a leg over your calf and flipped you onto your back.

(****)

You gasped at the sudden change, your legs wrapped around him.

Taiga leaned down and kissed you. There was nothing chaste or sweet about it. He bit your lower lip, pulling it slightly between his teeth. You opened your mouth for him to kiss you again, his tongue pressing against yours this time.

He took your breath away and you grasped at his arms braced on either side of you. He pulled away and you whined, deep in your throat, completely unintentional. It earned you a self satisfied smirk right before he grabbed the neck of your shirt and tore it open all the way down.

“Taiga-!” You didn't know if you were scolding him or begging for more.

His head dropped back down, this time to your chest, kissing down your collarbones and treating your bra with as much delicacy as your shirt. You felt the embarrassed urge to cover your chest for modesty, and might have had he not immediately latched his mouth around one of your nipples. He teased it with his tongue and then let his teeth brush against it just roughly enough to send a shudder up your spine. His hand kneaded the other he couldn't service with his mouth and before you could get comfortable with the routine of the sensations, he pinched your nipple roughly and sucked on the other hard, coming off of it with a pop as he grinned down at you.

Your face was flushed but you couldn't look away from him. You didn't want to.

He didn't bother removing your skirt. He shoved it up around your waist and rubbed his fingers over your panties, “How long have you been this wet?” He teased, pressing down on your covered clit.

You arched against him, desperate for more of his touch, desperate to be rid of any remaining layers between you. His fingers sent jolts of electricity through your core. 

“Answer, kitten. You don't have to do what Lulu says, but you don't have a choice with me.” He growled into your ear as he leaned down again and his teeth grazed your earlobe.

Truthfully? “When you held your gun to my head,” you admit.

He laughed. And then bit into your neck. He broke skin and you whimpered in pain. At the same time, Taiga pushed your panties aside and sunk his finger into you. Your mind was going blank, your body not sure whether to focus on the pain of his teeth against your skin or the pleasure of his finger curling against your inner walls.

He worked his finger in and out of you and his tongue was licking the slight trickle of blood dripping from your neck. He slid another finger in as he pulled away from your neck and kissed you again. This time, you tasted your own blood in his mouth.

You wrapped your arms around him. You did know what you were getting into. This. Him. Good and bad, pain and pleasure, you were desperation made manifest and you weren't denying it anymore. 

“Taiga,” you whined into his mouth, “need you. Please.” You arched against his hand and he ground the heel of it against your clit.

He pulled his fingers out of you and you clenched pitifully around nothing, thighs flexing and chest heaving. He sat back on his knees, stared down at you, and licked his fingers clean. He looked so, so amused by your want of him and you didn't have the shame to care. Taiga took his time unbuttoning his shirt, one button after another, until you couldn't take it anymore.

You lifted yourself up and gave him his own treatment, grasping each side of his button down and tearing it apart. Buttons flew off and you pulled the rest of his shirt off his shoulders, hands immediately pressing to his chest, down his toned stomach, reaching for his belt buckle. He grinned at you and grabbed your hands, pulling them away, letting you both fall back down on his bed. He held your wrists above your head. “Don't go thinking you're in charge,” he kissed you and you let him hold you down, eagerly rubbing the back of your foot against his legs as if you could urge him to just fuck you already.

He reached down between you to unbutton his trousers and free his cock, letting it rest over-top your mound. You couldn't see it, your bodies pressed against each other, his lips on your own, but you could imagine how he'd feel just from the weight of it against your stomach. He bit your lip as he pulled away, splitting the skin and once again making you bleed.

You pressed your lips together, letting the blood coat them, and fought back a wince of pain at the feeling. 

His expression wasn't amused anymore. It was heavy, watching your tongue lick the corner of your mouth to clean away the blood. He was mesmerized. He lined himself up with your opening and pushed in all at once.

You cried out and he just caught you again, kissing you, pushing his tongue into your mouth, sucking the blood from your lips. You whined as he bucked into you, filling you so completely you couldn't imagine going back to being empty. You wrapped your legs around him, crossed at the ankles, locking him to you even though you both knew he wasn't going anywhere.

He barely pulled out with each thrust, his hips meeting yours as he slammed into you as deeply as he could. Taiga didn't let go of your wrists, his nails digging into you and you had started craving it. That pain he was so good at granting you in the midst of mind numbing pressure. You tightened your legs around him, rocking against each thrust as much as you could, feeling his cock driving into you over and over.

You felt everything in you tightening, your cunt fluttering and spasming around him as you reached your high. Taiga pulled away from your kiss, letting you moan and scream unmuffled, your back arching and your vision blurring as you came. He let go of your wrists, his fingers moving down to grasp the fat of your hips as he continued fucking you through your orgasm. It was too much and not enough at the same time. He hammered into you, dropping his forehead down to the mattress next your neck, right back to sucking and biting at the wound he'd left earlier. 

He groaned into your ear, teeth sinking into your shoulder as he shuddered and came inside you. He rocked his hips and stilled. He nearly crushed you with the full weight of his body, his cock still nestled deep in you as he emptied everything he had into you. 

You laced your fingers behind his neck, gently petting his hair as you took deep breaths and your heart beat slowed to something more manageable. You felt sore all over, your tongue coated in the metallic taste of your own blood, your neck throbbing from the bites. As you calmed down, there was an undeniable lightheadedness washing over you. 

Taiga licked your neck and slid out of you, rolling over on his back next to you. You keened quietly at the loss, your legs dropping onto the bed, shaking and useless.

Taiga turned his head to look at you, expression blank and unreadable. It hurt too much to turn your head fully. You could only glance at him from the slight tilt you managed.

“That’s not gonna be enough for me,” he told you, voice uncharacteristically steady.

You hoped not. 

“Don’t listen to anyone else anymore.” He rolled onto his side and traced a finger over your lips, down your neck, your chest, your stomach, and then dipped between your thighs. Your breath hitched in your throat. “You're mine from now on, kitten.”

[devildomwriter]

Ten Manga I Think They’d Enjoy

Lucifer

He likes manga that reads like classic literature, dark stories, mysteries, psychological stories, and occasionally something sweet or cute

Monster, Devilman, Children of the Sea, A Country Without Humans, Doomsday With My Dog, Island in a Puddle, Erased, For the Kid I Saw In My Dreams, Innocent, Shonen Note

Mammon

He likes stories involving his personal hobbies like working on cars, gambling, etc. he also enjoys funny stories and secretly cute romances or relatable romances

The Brave-Tuber, Call of the Night, Fruits Basket, Life Lessons With Uramichi Oniisan, Initial D, Fairy Tail, Chio’s School Road, Gambling Apocolypse, Kakeguri, Prince Freya

Leviathan

Leviathan loves everything but he’s especially a fan of gaming manga, magical girls, monster girls, isekai, and the classics

That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime, Black Butler, Berserk, Darling in the Franxx, Dragon Goes House Hunting, I Want to Be A Wall, The Great Snake’s Bride, Puella Magi Madoka, Sailor Moon, Magical Girl Incident

Satan

Satan loves manga that reads like classical literature but he also loves stories about cats, dark mysteries, psychological stories and ones with characters he finds relatable

Chi’s Sweet Home, Ascendance of a Bookworm, Ex-Yakuza and Stray Kitten, Evil Secret Society of Cats, I Am a Cat Barista, Case Closed, Night of the Living Cat, Natsume’s Book of Friends, Summertime Rendering, The Promised Neverland

Asmodeus

Asmodeus mostly enjoys romance whether it’s cute and fluffy or extremely erotic

Ouran High School Host Club, Lovesick Ellie, Monster Musume, MADK, Yarichin Bitch Club, Cherry Magic!, Dick Fight Island, Sweat and Soap, Shiori’s Diary, Nina the Starry Bride

Beelzebub

Beelzebub is a big fan of manga involving food but he also enjoys a good action adventure and sports manga

Food Wars, Delicious in Dungeon, Farming Life in Another World, Mashle, Sachi’s Monstrous Appetite, Starving Anonymous, Something’s Wrong With Us, Eyeshield 21, Kaiju No 8, Campfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill

Belphegor

Belphegor likes stories with relatable characters which can be hard to find but he also loves adventures, horror, and Slice of life; he’s a little all over the place

Sleep Princess in the Demon’s Castle, The Girl From the Other-side, Hell’s Paradise, Mieruko-Chan, Tokyo Aliens, Shibuya Goldfish, Non Non Biyori, Kemono Jihen, Beyond the Clouds, Laid Back Camp

Solomon

Solomon loves compelling narratives, dark psychological stories, stories that take a deeper look a humanity and immortality, and one’s that involves demons/angels/sorcerers. He does also love cat books like Satan

Death Note, Creepy Cat, No Longer Human, Devils and Realist, Frieren, Made in Abyss, Mao, Sakamoto Days, A School Frozen in Time, Stein’s Gate, Happiness

Thirteen

Thirteen is a little all over the place, she likes to see what’s popular but she also enjoys slashers, one’s that take a closer look at death and spirits, and dark romance

Elfen Lied, Attack on Titan, Miss Kobayashi’s Dragon Maid, Momo the Blood Taker, Assassination Classroom, Can’t Stop Cursing You, Love of Kill, Angels of Death, Vampire Knight, Toilet Bound Hanako Kun

Simeon

Simeon enjoys reading manga that have some religious aspects, he likes ones about authors since they are relatable, and he enjoys some random ones here and there that are cute or funny. He’s also a sucker for a pure romance

Heaven’s Design Team, Gabriel Dropout, The King’s Beast, Merman in My Tub, My Girlfriend’s Child, A Sign of Affection, Tsubaki Chou Lonely Planet, An Incurable Case of Love, Monthly Girl’s Nozaki Kun, Perfect World

Raphael

Raphael canonically likes coming of age sports dramas. I believe he’s also he amused by one’s involving ant Christian aspects about angels and demons, heaven and hell. He also enjoys one’s that include his hobbies like security, military, and anything to do with fashion

Blue Lock, Haikyu, Blue Exorcist, Vatican Miracle Examiner, Maiden of the Needle, My Dress Up Darling, Not Sew Wicked Step Mother, Witch Hat Atelier, A Bride’s Story, Wind Breaker

Luke

Luke loves to try everything but his books are monitored to make sure he doesn’t stumble upon anything inappropriate for his age ana angel status. He loves ones about food, animals, adventure, and a good slice of life or 4-panel.

Happy Happy Clover, Yuzu the Pet Vet, Yotsuba&!, Sui and Tai-Chan, My Hero Academia, Demon Slayer, Dinosaur Sanctuary, Kitchen Princess, Astro Boy, Naruto

Michael

Michael enjoys funny books, one’s that take a closer look at humanity and war, classical adaptations, and one’s involving angels and demons.

Spy X Family, Maximum Ride, Takane and Hana, Obey Me! The Comic, Mr Villain’s Day Off, Hetalia: Axis Powers, Les Miserables, Apothecary Diaries, Deer King, Yona of the Dawn

Mephistopheles

Mephistopheles likes books that involve history, nobility, prestigious jobs, mystery, and equestrian sports. He also enjoys one’s about demons and servants.

From the Red Fog, Derby Queen, The Elusive Samurai, Imperfect Girl, Peach Boy Riverside, The Splendid Work of the Monster Maid, Tales of the Kingdom, Tokyo Ghoul, Noragami, The Rose of Versailles

Barbatos

Barbatos prefers books that are dark and disturbing as well as insightful books on time, immortality, grief, morality vs law, etc.

Phantom Tales of the Night, My Dear Curse Casting Vampiress, A Silent Voice, Orange, Moriarty the Patriot, Nicola Traveling Around the Demon World, Royal Tutor, Usatoki Rhetoric, The Valiant Must Fall, To Your Eternity

Diavolo

Diavolo absolutely loves cute family manga, funny manga, one’s that involve demons and angels, cute romances, and exciting action and adventure. He isn’t picky and will read anything if it’s been recommended to him.

Wolf Childen, Earthian, The Devil is a Part-Timer, Seraph of the End, Mama Akuma, Little Devils, Cells at Work, Snow White With Red Hair, The Vampire and His Pleasant Companions, Azumanga Diaoh

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Satoru Gojo ( Husband) x Reader ( Wife )

- Angst ; Fluff and Angst….

Don't hesitate to leave comments to give me your opinions :) Comments motivate me to write more, and allow me to listen to your opinions and feelings to write things that please you :)

–––

To many, the logic behind your marriage to Satoru Gojo seemed completely absurd.

Stupid, senseless, pointless.

That’s what they thought, but it was so far from the truth. You and Gojo knew that.

Yes, it was irrational, but it was also necessary.

Sometimes, you didn’t need to understand everything perfectly; you just had to hold on to what worked, to what kept you both afloat. Maybe deep down, you were even more aware of it than he was, because despite his arrogance and detached demeanor, he didn’t always realize the depth of his own needs.

What an idiot.

This marriage wasn’t about romance or passion, and neither you nor Gojo were searching for that. It wasn’t a fairy tale with love declarations under the stars or impulsive outbursts of passion. No, it was far simpler than that, and yet so much more complicated.

Practical.

A win-win, as you both liked to say.

For Gojo, it was a form of stability, an anchor in a world where everything, including himself, could spiral into the infinite.

For you, it was the assurance of never being alone again. Each of you found what you needed, without pretense, without lies.

Gojo needed affection. It was almost laughable when you thought about it. Him, the man who seemed to have it all, the sorcerer no one could touch, the strongest of his generation. The strongest.

The strongest.

But you knew better than anyone. He needed to feel a connection, to have someone by his side who didn’t just see the legendary figure of the Gojo clan, but the man behind the blindfold. The man who hid so much, concealed behind his mocking smiles and nonchalant gestures.

Of course, he would never admit it. His pride was too immense, his ego too deeply ingrained for him to confess that he needed you.

But the facts were there.

And they would always be there.

As for you, it was simpler. You didn’t want to be alone anymore.

In a world as brutal and unpredictable as that of sorcerers, loneliness was an enemy as deadly as the curses themselves. The nights could be long and cold, and even surrounded by other sorcerers, colleagues, or friends, you could still feel an unfillable void.

Gojo filled that void, even if he wasn’t the most tender or attentive husband.

Your relationship was… different. But it worked.

You understood each other, each instinctively knowing how far the other could go. You were compatible, not in the romantic sense that so many people desperately sought, but in a much more fundamental way.

You were sorcerers.

Both of you knew death, horror, and the brutality of the world you lived in. You had seen comrades fall, innocent people devoured by curses invisible to the eyes of civilians. You knew that happiness, or at least the fantasy version of it, wasn’t necessarily for you. But what you had built together—this stability, this mutual respect—was enough.

However, love had no place in it. Love was a curse, not the kind you would fight, but a curse just as vicious.

Then there was something else. Gojo didn’t exhaust you, at least not in the way others did. He had this unique ability to walk that fine line between irritating and amusing. His presence was never overwhelming, even with his oversized ego. Unlike many, he didn’t smother you with unreasonable expectations or excessive emotional needs.

He gave you the space you needed, while still being there when necessary. And you did the same for him.

Behind his “strongest in the world” façade, he sometimes needed to be brought back to reality, and you were there for that.

You had your routines, almost mundane. He teased you constantly, always trying to get a reaction from you, whether with a sarcastic comment or an exaggeratedly affectionate gesture. He called you “Diva” when he wanted to annoy you, but within that nickname, there was a form of tenderness he didn’t know how to express any other way. And you played along, responding to his provocations with your own humor, always aware of the fragile balance you maintained.

Sometimes, you were more like old friends than a couple. In fact, you were friends, but now that you were married, you resembled an old couple more than a young one.

You understood each other without the need for words.

There were moments when you could spend hours together in silence, simply enjoying each other’s presence.

And then there were times when the teasing became more direct, more physical. Gojo wasn’t a shy man. He knew what he wanted, and he never had a problem letting you know, one way or another.

The moments when he touched you, when he held you, were rare, but those were the times when you often cried. Every time. Mostly because you were unhappy. Or tired. Or because you were in pain.

He grew cold every time you cried.

Every time.

Some said you were made for each other, while others claimed you were completely mismatched. But deep down, you had never needed the approval of others.

You lived in your own bubble, isolated from external judgments, and that suited you perfectly.

Satoru Gojo wasn’t an easy man to love, but you had never sought ease. You had chosen this man because you knew he would understand you, that he would be there, even if he never said so.

In the end, your marriage made sense. It might have been incomprehensible to others, but it was logical to you.

Gojo had never needed a woman to idolize him, and you had never needed a man to shower you with grand declarations of love.

On the days when he returned from particularly grueling missions, his shoulders heavy, his piercing blue eyes hidden behind his black blindfold, he didn’t need to speak for you to understand. You knew when silence was necessary, when you just needed to be there. On those nights, you didn’t say anything. He would drop beside you in bed, muscles tense, his mind probably consumed by everything. By everything but you.

In quieter moments, when you found yourselves sharing a meal in silence, or sitting side by side after a long day, you didn’t necessarily talk about important things. The mundane conversations often took over, and that was just fine. “You should’ve seen Yuji and Nobara’s faces; both of them totally wanted to kill me,” Gojo would sometimes say with a mischievous smile. And you would chuckle softly, savoring those moments.

You complemented each other, not in a romanticized, idealistic sense. Gojo provided a form of protection, not because you needed it as a sorcerer, but because he gave you a sense of comfort and security you couldn’t find elsewhere. And you offered him stability.

A long-lasting, durable stability.

The nights when he would wake up in a cold sweat, his body tense from nightmares he never shared, you would be there to place a reassuring hand on his back, cuddle him without a word, or tell him to go back to sleep as you let him snuggle against your chest.

He didn’t need to explain.

And you didn’t need to ask.

To some, it might have seemed emotionless.

But for you, it was the perfect balance.

––– BONUS –––

Silence filled the room, broken only by the soft rustle of sheets as you turned, sinking deeper into the mattress. The atmosphere of the bedroom, bathed in the gentle glow of dimmed lamps, breathed a tranquility that only fatigue could bring after a long day of exorcism. Gojo had just emerged from the bathroom, his hair still damp, a few droplets of water hitting the wooden floor as he dressed as casually as possible, wearing only sweatpants and a loose top.

“Hey, did you wash before diving into bed?” The question slipped naturally from your lips as you stared at the ceiling, your thoughts lazily drifting. You knew he had, but it had become a kind of ritual between you two, and besides, you were particular about cleanliness, hating the idea of anyone entering the bed with the dirt of the day or wearing outside clothes.

Gojo stopped at the foot of the bed, a mischievous pout on his face. “No, Diva, I just spent half an hour under hot water without washing, just to annoy you.” He rolled his eyes before collapsing onto the bed beside you, a teasing smile tugging at his lips.

With a satisfied sigh, his muscles finally relaxed. He turned his head toward you.

“We haven’t done it in a while, have we?” he said, his voice slightly husky from the warmth of the shower. He turned to you, his face buried in the pillow, strands of damp hair sticking to his skin.

His tone was detached, almost indifferent, but you knew this man better than anyone. Satoru Gojo had this strange way of addressing the most intimate subjects with a disarming nonchalance.

You sighed, turning your gaze toward the window. “I’m on my period,” you lied, your tone flat, almost apologetic. You knew it wasn’t true, but the thought of giving in tonight seemed exhausting, and besides, you had a lot to do tomorrow morning. The idea of stumbling around or being sore all morning wasn’t appealing. You loved Gojo, even if it wasn’t passionate love, but not tonight.

He mumbled something, buried under the sheets, a barely audible complaint. “You’re a terrible liar, you know,” he muttered, but without pushing further. Gojo knew when to push and when to let go, one of his rare relational skills, considering his overblown ego. “We can still cuddle, can’t we?” he finally asked, a hint of poutiness in his voice.

Cuddle. The word seemed so out of place coming from him. This man, who could manipulate the very space between objects, who could annihilate enemies with a single look, and yet, here, in this bedroom, he was asking… for cuddles. He puffed his cheeks, almost childlike, waiting for your answer.

Your heart tightened for a moment, a mix of tenderness and resignation. It was always like this with Gojo. He never directly asked for what he really needed. He wasn’t just this giant of power and arrogance, but sometimes, like tonight, he was just a man…

“Alright, come here, idiot.” You reached out an arm to pull him toward you, and he let you, like a big kid, nestling his head against your chest, his massive body pressing against yours. Silence resumed its reign, interrupted only by Gojo’s breathing, which gradually calmed.

“You know,” he murmured after a long while, his voice soft and almost asleep, “I hate it when you fake having your period. You’re a bad liar.” He couldn’t help but chuckle lightly, even though his eyes were already half-closed.

A small, involuntary smile tugged at your lips. “I’m sorry for not being as good as you at hiding things.”

His laugh slowly faded, and you felt his arms tighten around you a bit more. There was something comforting in that simple gesture.

You felt the warmth of his body, the heaviness of his breaths deepening as he slowly began to drift into sleep. “Hmm… Thanks,” he whispered faintly, barely audible, but you knew it was sincere, and only then did you feel Gojo’s arms also wrap around your waist.

You closed your eyes, letting yourself slowly drift into sleep.

Why was it so hard to breathe? Why did your heart ache so much?

Love. It’s a vicious curse.