#the two things my friends want to hear about is gossip and cats

[astralis-is-typing]

Gossiping with skz

⚝fic type: head cannon (comedy/crack)

⚝word count: 1.4k

⚝A/N: I had so much fun writing this lmao, enjoy my unhinged assumptions ʕ⁠ノ⁠•⁠ᴥ⁠•⁠ʔ⁠ノ Thanks to @yonglixx for helping me find the gif.

｡Bang Chan*ﾟ

Knows all the tea before you even bring it up.

Homeboy knows everything about everyone somehow. I guess it’s because Chan has this really welcoming aura that just makes people deem him trustworthy. He won’t even pretend to be surprised by what you’re telling him, so you might feel a little put out… but he’ll more than make up for it by telling you what he knows! Your eyes are literally bulging out of your skull, your jaw hanging open by the time he’s done. It feels like you brought a snack and he pulled up with a whole five course meal. He’ll smirk at the expression on your face and tease you for thinking you could top his tea.

To put it simply, you cannot outdo the doer. Bro literally knows it all haha. Also, he’s very low-key about what he knows– so consider yourself lucky that he’s chosen you as his gossip buddy.

｡Lee Know*ﾟ

He'll pretend he’s uninterested and act like he’s ignoring you, only dropping the act to scold you that it’s bad manners to gossip. That is, until you mention something or someone that piques his interest. Now he has to know.

You’ll probably be teasing him like, ‘oh, I thought you didn’t want to know’, sticking your tongue out and walking away. If he needs to pin you down to the seat/couch HE WILL. As Han once said, “I can’t tease Lee Know-hyung, he’ll use force”. Will grant you one of his death stares if you try make him apologize before you finally spill for ignoring you. Literally will not let you leave till you finish the story.

Lee Know probably gets so smug when he’s the one bringing in the tea. Like his eyes glimmer and everything. I feel like he’d do that pose where he’s got his legs crossed and his hands on his lap; flashing you a cat-like grin and sitting so stoically upright while you’re borderline dangling out of your seat, just to hear what he’s saying because he won’t speak up.

  ｡Seo Changbin*ﾟ  

Gossiping with Changbin would have to exclusively be done in private because he’ll be reacting so loudly! Gaping and pointing when you mention someone in his line of sight. And heaven forbid the tea in question walks past you guys… man will STARE.

Brace yourself because he’s the type to smack your shoulder exceptionally astonished.

I feel like both he and Lee Know would ask loads of questions. They love gossip but also would like to verify that it isn’t all just hot air, you know? Also, whenever the two of you were in the same room as the people you were gossiping about he’d keep looking over at you and grinning or pulling faces that make you struggle to hold in a laugh. You’d be scolding him and hitting him (playfully of course) afterwards, vowing to never share ANYTHING with him again. He’d whine, promising he won’t be as obvious with future topics of discussion (a promise that barely lasts 2 days).

Bonus: Changbin is the type to store screenshots from group chat arguments like court documents. He has pretty incriminating evidence on that android of his so better not test the guy.

 ｡⁠Hwang Hyunjin*ﾟ

The type of friend to have just as much beef as you do with whoever you guys are talking about by the time you’re through with the tea.

Very reactive and will definitely be adding things on. Stuff like, ‘It isn’t even in their place!’ if someone’s talking smack about you and what not. With him it’s like sparring or a tennis match. When you serve, he will serve back; it builds up like a jenga tower. Just best friend material if you catch my drift.

Honestly there’d be a lot of tone variation haha. At some points you’d be whispering conspiratorially, leaning close to each other and whispering even if you two are alone. At other points your exaggerated hand gestures will be running the conversation. Gossiping with Hyunjin would be such a rewarding experience to be honest. In addition, he’s got a really expressive face, so you’d be knowing his opinion on whatever you’re saying immediately. Would definitely be slapping a hand over his mouth, frowning in disgust… the whole package.

Hyunjin has previously mentioned that he doesn’t judge a book by its cover, preferring not to believe rumours about people, and this is true. Nevertheless, he’d indulge you (thoroughly) because he trusts your judgement and you aren’t one to think badly of a person without reasons.

Bonus: Snacks and actual tea (or in his case, iced americanos) are FOR SURE part of the conversation. Would be sipping dramatically with raised eyebrows when you mention someone he knows. Let’s out a dramatic ‘SAME!’ because he doesn’t like them either. “I thought I was the only one,” he’d say while clutching his chest before shaking his head and continuing to munch on whatever flour-based snack he’s brought that day.

 ｡Han Jisung*ﾟ

Cannot keep still while gossiping. Will keep standing up and will even pace/ walk around when something is particularly juicy. And with his weak ass legs he’d probably trip and end up just lying on the floor for a while… unbothered by it because the story is getting good. Yes, Han is a floor gossiper. (Insert Rose’s “everything I need is on the ground” meme.)

Han also is the type to get SO wrapped up in a tea time session that he won’t notice the time passing lmao. He’ll probably remember an even juicier story mid-story haha. “BY THE WAY! Did I ever tell you-?”/ “SPEAKING OF WHICH-!”.

Like, every new point you make reminds him of something else. The two of you are out here putting pieces of a puzzle together until you’ve found out who the neighbour is cheating on her husband with or something lol. Like it’s part gossip part detective work, you two actually deserve salaries for how good you are. If you guys are texting and you drop a bomb, be prepared (preferably with low phone volume) for an impromptu facetime with a SHAKEN Jisung. Also, if any of the other members know something about what you two are talking about he’ll be dragging them in. If it’s Seungmin, who’s very stingy with his tea, the two of you will be offering your kidneys for the information he most definitely can give you.

No snacks/ drinks here because he’s probably the type to spit out his water in shock haha.

 ｡Lee Felix*ﾟ

Bro gets astronomically shocked. Like his reactions when he’s gossiping, watching people roast each other or similar situations are just priceless.

At first he’s pretty tentative with it because he doesn’t gossip much, but he’ll come around. He’s more subtle than Changbin but will still be nudging you with his elbow or foot when the ‘issue’ is in the room with you.

An adlib gossiper- he even gasps on beat and all that. You’ll be all like, “Felix you won’t believe what they said-” and he’ll be like, “Gurl what did they say??!” (You know, in the best aussified alternative for this sentence, cannot imagine the term gurl/gworl coming out of Felix’s mouth lmao).

If someone’s watching you guys they’ll feel so excluded (how I felt when watching skz talker in the gif *sigh*… feeling intensifies when there are no subs). Also I feel like a prime location for a gossip session would be the car! Long journeys where there’s not much to see outside the window, and you turn to him like, “Did you hear about…”

 ｡Kim Seungmin*ﾟ

Now if you’ve ever watched 2kr (2 Kids Room) you KNOW this man has the inside scoop.

It’s an elite feeling to be gossiping with Seungmin because, as I’d mentioned before, he’s very choosy when it comes to who he shares his tea with. That stuff is scalding hot. Like between him and Chris, those two know all the jyp ent. secrets. Like bro probably has documents proving that Hyunjin and Yeji are related. Seungmin is INFORMED.

This is another member who’ll have actual tea with him, cradling the cup delicately with both palms and sipping slowly as he watches you lose your mind over the rim of the mug. Crosses his legs and acts so nonchalant while slapping you with the fattest, juiciest conspiracy/rumour you’ve ever heard. If you tell him something he actually doesn’t know, his composed aura will fade so fast- mouth forming a perfect ‘O’ as you share your story.

 ｡Yang Jeongin*ﾟ

Jeongin will 100% end a gossip session saying, “But anyways, who are we to judge?”

Between Innie’s attitude and Grandma identity your boy is a prime candidate for a gossip buddy. He’s just THE ONE. His yt/vlives are literally titled ‘Maknae’s Private Life’- doesn’t that scream tea to you? Like if you’re gossiping in a group his input is for sure the most awaited. People will be leaving to go look for him if he isn’t already present.

Gossiping with Jeongin is all hushed tones and huddled conversations. Bro might even go as far as putting his phone on silent if the tea is hot enough. I feel like he’d unintentionally switch to his Busan accent when things start to get really juicy lmao.

Abruptly keeps quiet or changes the topic whenever someone passes by the two of you. If you aren’t used to this you’ll get so confused, looking at him like ‘???’ when he randomly starts telling you about the new shoes he bought.

Idk why, but to me I.N’s really good at insta stalking and he would be pulling up people’s pages if you didn’t seem to know who he’s talking about.

⚝A/N: How would you rank them MTL? I'd love to hear about it. P.s: in case you like them, the orange dividers originally by @animatedglittergraphics-n-more​ 

+Thank you for reading!♡ Here's a present for making it to the end😋:

[honeyhae-svt]

Untold

Kang Haerin FANFICTION (oneshot)

GN Reader x Kang Haerin - r16+!!!

GENRE: Angst, Drama, Romance, High school, RomCom.

⚠️ WARNINGS ⚠️: Infidelity (light), Betrayal, Bullying / Rumours, Jealousy, Manipulation (light).

wc: 7134

Synopsis: In high school, rumors spread, secrets come out, and friendships get tested. You thought you knew who to trust, but when betrayal strikes, everything changes. Caught between your past and a surprising connection with the new girl, Haerin, you have to decide if you can rebuild what’s been broken. It’s a story of heartbreak, healing, and a romance you didn’t see coming.

>>>pictures are from 📌, CTTO

a/n: hope y'all like this one(?), idk, maybe it's a little cliche but well, we have our preferences soo... please do enjoy this work.

You were always the lively, outgoing, and extroverted student everyone knew at school, effortlessly drawing attention wherever you went. Your charm, humor, and kindness made you popular, and it didn’t hurt that girls seemed to swoon over you more than they ever did over the boys.

You were tomboyish, smart, and playful—a combination that had both admiration and envy directed your way, particularly from the boys. After all, you could steal girls’ hearts with ease, becoming the school’s unofficial heartthrob.

"Y/Nnie, you got another confession letter, this time from..." Minji, one of your closest friends, paused to inspect the letter in her hand. "Kim something," she shrugged, tossing it onto your desk. It was already the third confession of the day.

Sighing, you put down your phone and picked up the letter. Though you received these love letters regularly, you still appreciated them, each one different in its own way. What you didn’t enjoy was the inevitable rejection that followed—figuring out how to let someone down without breaking their heart was exhausting.

"The handwriting is neat," you commented, scanning the page. "And the way they described my eyes? Not bad at all." You folded the letter and stuffed it into your bag.

Minji rolled her eyes, hopping onto the table. "You don't even know him, do you?" she asked, a sly grin on her face.

"'Him'?" You blinked, surprised.

"Yeah, him. It’s a guy." Minji confirmed, watching as your expression shifted into a frown.

You sighed again, already preparing your response. Men weren’t your thing. Ever since what happened with your father, you couldn’t bring yourself to trust them. That’s why dating girls had always been so much easier—you could be dominant, in control, the way you wanted it.

"Tell him I'm not interested," you said, leaning back in your chair and reaching for your phone.

"What? Why do I have to do it?" Minji scoffed, crossing her arms. "That's your job, not mine."

The classroom buzzed with the usual gossip and chatter as the two of you settled into the lull of scrolling through your phones.

"Oh, did you hear there’s a transfer student?" Minji added casually. You barely reacted, too caught up in your feed to care.

"She’s transferring into your class," Minji continued. Before she could elaborate, the classroom door swung open, and everyone scrambled to their seats as the teacher entered.

Curious, you put your phone away and straightened up, eyeing the unfamiliar girl who followed the teacher inside. She had wide doe, cat eyes, her hair neat and shiny, and she stood taller than most of your classmates. Her presence was quiet, but something about her intrigued you enough to look twice.

The teacher clapped his hands to get the class’s attention. “Settle down, everyone. We have a new student joining us today.” His tone was neutral, but the room was buzzing with curiosity.

You leaned back in your seat, your eyes flickering back to the new girl standing at the front. Her hands were clasped tightly together, betraying a hint of nervousness despite her calm appearance. You found yourself watching her a bit too intently—she had this quiet confidence, the kind that intrigued you, but also left you wondering what secrets lay beneath the surface.

“This is Kang Haerin,” the teacher introduced. “She’s new here, so I hope you all make her feel welcome.”

Haerin. The name felt soft, matching her gentle demeanor. Your eyes followed her as she scanned the room, her gaze landing briefly on you before she quickly looked away. Was it just your imagination, or did she look... uneasy?

“Go ahead and take a seat,” the teacher said, motioning to the empty desk a few rows ahead of yours. As Haerin moved toward it, you noticed a ripple of whispers spreading among the students. You weren’t the only one who’d been captivated by her presence.

Minji leaned over, whispering, “She's pretty cute, huh? Heard she transferred from Seoul or something.”

You barely nodded, still watching Haerin as she sat down, adjusting her hair behind her ear. There was something about her you couldn’t quite place—something that made your chest tighten a little.

As the lesson resumed, you found it impossible to focus. Your thoughts kept drifting back to Haerin, wondering what her story was. Why did she transfer? Why did she look so tense when your eyes met? You weren’t used to being thrown off by someone, but here she was, making you question things you hadn’t thought about in a long time.

When the bell rang for lunch, Minji was quick to pull you aside.

"Let’s go grab food, I’m starving," she said, dragging you out of your seat. But before you could leave the classroom, you felt a tap on your shoulder.

You turned to see Haerin standing there, her expression unreadable.

“Y/N, right?” she asked softly, her voice smooth but a little hesitant.

"Uh, yeah." You replied, trying to hide your surprise. How did she know your name?

“I—I just wanted to say hi,” she stammered, her fingers fidgeting with the strap of her bag. “You seem... popular around here.”

You blinked, caught off guard by the statement. It was rare for someone to approach you so nervously. Most girls were bold, confident, trying to catch your attention with flirty remarks or teasing grins. But Haerin wasn’t like that.

"Uh, thanks. Welcome to the school, I guess," you replied, trying to sound casual.

She smiled—just a small curve of her lips, but it felt genuine. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away, leaving you standing there with Minji watching the whole exchange, eyebrows raised.

“Hmm, weird,” Minji muttered. “New girl has guts. Didn’t expect that.”

You shrugged, trying to shake off the odd feeling lingering from your conversation with Haerin. But as you left the classroom, Minji linked her arms with you, leading you the way to the cafeteria.

The cafeteria buzzed with laughter and chatter, the familiar sound of students teasing each other filling the air. You sat with your group of friends, casually picking at your food and sipping your favorite drink. One of your friends cracked a joke, and you couldn’t help but burst out laughing, thoroughly enjoying the playful atmosphere.

But then, someone approached your table. Haerin.

She stood there with a shy smile on her lips, clutching her lunch tray. The conversation around you quieted as all eyes shifted to her—and then to you. She didn’t say a word, but the way she looked at you, seeking silent permission to sit down, which created a brief moment of awkward tension.

Clearing your throat, you reached for her tray, placing it on the table as an invitation. Haerin took the seat across from you.

"Hey, new girl—Haerin, right?" one of your friends asked. Haerin nodded, picking up her chopsticks and nibbling on her food.

It was clear she wanted to be near you, but there was a certain distance between her and everyone else at the table. Maybe it was just her shyness, or perhaps something more. When your friends tried making small talk, asking her a few questions, she responded with simple nods and shakes of her head. The lack of engagement left some of them visibly annoyed.

But you? You were the most intrigued.

You noticed how she kept making eye contact with you, her gaze lingering before darting away, like she was trying hard to maintain her composure but couldn’t quite manage. That amused smirk tugged at the corner of your lips—you were enjoying this little game of push and pull. It was the most excitement you’d felt in a while.

As the conversation drifted and your friends began goofing off, you leaned in across the table, your smirk never fading.

"We’re both sitting here, feeling..." You started, but before you could finish, Minji slumped down beside you, taking the empty seat next to yours. Her arm casually wrapped around your waist as she rested her head on your shoulder, her attention fixed on her phone.

Minji glanced across the table, noticing Haerin. She narrowed her eyes for a brief moment before offering a polite smile. "Hey, new girl," she said casually, before immediately returning her focus to her phone. She leaned in closer to show you something on the screen—a funny picture, judging by your stifled laugh.

Haerin, who had been unusually quiet, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was soft, but her words had an edge of determination. "Feeling what, Y/N?"

Her directness took everyone by surprise, their attention snapping back to her. It wasn’t the kind of tone anyone expected from her—especially not aimed at you.

You blinked, caught off guard, while Minji looked between the two of you, her confusion evident. Something unspoken was hanging in the air now, the tension palpable.

The silence that followed Haerin’s question was thick. You felt the eyes of your friends on you, waiting for your response, but it was Haerin’s unwavering gaze that held your attention.

You leaned back slightly, tilting your head as if to analyze her. That determination in her voice had caught you off guard. For a moment, you weren’t sure if she was challenging you or just curious, but either way, it made your heart race in a way you weren’t used to.

A slow grin spread across your lips. “Feeling curious,” you said smoothly, your eyes locked on hers. “About you.”

Your words hung in the air, and you could tell by the way Haerin’s posture stiffened that she hadn’t expected that response. The corner of her mouth twitched, as if she wasn’t sure how to react.

Before the tension could build further, Minji’s grip around your waist tightened slightly, her head still resting on your shoulder. “What are you two talking about?” she asked, her tone light but laced with something unspoken. Jealousy, perhaps?

You glanced at her briefly, your smirk fading just a little. “Nothing serious,” you replied casually, though you couldn’t shake the feeling that Minji’s sudden closeness wasn’t just random.

Minji gave Haerin a once-over before returning her focus to her phone, but the subtle shift in her demeanor wasn’t lost on you. Something was definitely off with her, but you couldn’t figure out what just yet.

Haerin, on the other hand, had composed herself. She lowered her gaze to her food, her expression unreadable, but there was a noticeable tension in her shoulders. Your curiosity deepened.

The cafeteria noise resumed, and your friends went back to fooling around, but your mind was elsewhere. Haerin had piqued your interest in a way you hadn’t expected, and Minji’s reaction only complicated things further.

As lunch neared its end, Haerin quietly gathered her tray. Without a word, she stood up and walked away, but not before glancing at you one last time. That look in her eyes—it wasn’t just shy anymore. There was something deeper, something that made you want to follow her.

But before you could act on that impulse, Minji’s voice cut through your thoughts.

“You’re not actually into her, are you?” she asked, her tone playful but with an edge of seriousness.

You raised an eyebrow at her, trying to read between the lines. “What makes you think that?”

Minji shrugged, still holding onto you tightly. “I don’t know. Just wondering.” She smiled, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

There it was again. That hint of jealousy. You could feel it creeping into her words, her body language. And for the first time, you began to wonder if Minji’s feelings for you ran deeper than friendship.

As the bell rang, signaling the end of lunch, you stood up and stretched, your mind racing with the possibilities. Haerin. Minji. The strange tension building between the three of you.

This was going to get interesting.

After lunch, you and Minji headed to your next class, but your mind was still caught between Haerin’s strange behavior and Minji’s lingering possessiveness. It wasn’t long before you noticed someone else watching you—Hyejin, the class president.

Hyejin was one of those girls who seemed perfect at everything: top of the class, captain of the debate team, and effortlessly cool in a way that didn’t scream for attention but still got it anyway. You’d never paid her much mind, but today she seemed particularly interested in your interaction with Haerin. Maybe a little too interested.

As you slid into your seat, Hyejin casually walked over and leaned against your desk. “So, what’s going on with the new girl?”

You raised an eyebrow, caught off guard by her sudden interest. “What do you mean?”

She gave you a sly smile. “Don’t play dumb, Y/N. Everyone saw her sitting at your table, looking like she wanted to say more than just ‘hi.’ The whole cafeteria was buzzing about it.”

“Is that so?” you replied, leaning back in your chair. “Didn’t know it was that big a deal.”

Hyejin shrugged, but the way her eyes sparkled with mischief told you she wasn’t buying your nonchalance. “You have a way of stirring things up, you know that? First Minji practically glued to your side, now the new girl with those doe eyes of hers. You might want to watch out.”

You smirked. “Sounds like I’ve got competition.”

Hyejin’s smile widened, but there was something sharper behind it. “Just a friendly warning. Some people don’t take well to sharing.”

Her words hung in the air for a second longer than necessary before she sauntered back to her seat, leaving you with a new thought: Hyejin wasn’t just warning you out of kindness. She was clearly up to something, and you had a feeling this wasn’t the last you’d hear from her.

As class dragged on, you noticed more students glancing in your direction, no doubt fueled by Hyejin’s not-so-subtle observations. The attention wasn’t new to you, but today it felt different. The vibe in the room had shifted. Even Minji, who was usually content to banter with you throughout class, seemed quieter than usual, stealing glances at Haerin whenever she thought you weren’t looking.

By the time the final bell rang, you were ready to escape the growing tension. But as you packed up your things, you spotted someone else lingering near the door—Jisoo, your partner from last semester’s science project.

Jisoo wasn’t part of your usual crowd, but the two of you had gotten along well enough while working together. She was quiet, more of an observer than a talker, but when she did speak, it was with a sharpness that caught people off guard. Today, though, she seemed different. Nervous.

“Hey, Y/N,” she said, her voice lower than usual. “Can I talk to you for a second?”

“Sure,” you said, slinging your bag over your shoulder. “What’s up?”

Jisoo hesitated, glancing around to make sure no one was listening. “It’s about Haerin.”

You blinked. “The new girl?”

She nodded, biting her lip. “I don’t know her personally, but... I’ve heard some things. Back at her old school, she didn’t exactly have the best reputation.”

You frowned, curiosity piqued. “What do you mean?”

Jisoo leaned in closer, her voice dropping to a whisper. “Let’s just say she’s not as innocent as she looks. There were rumors—about her messing with people’s heads, getting close to them and then... turning on them. I don’t know how much of it is true, but I thought you should know. Be careful around her.”

Before you could respond, Jisoo quickly walked away, leaving you standing there with more questions than answers.

Haerin, with her quiet demeanor and shy smiles, didn’t seem like the type to cause trouble. But then again, everyone has secrets.

As you walked out of the classroom, you caught sight of Haerin standing at the far end of the hallway, talking to one of the teachers. For a brief moment, her eyes met yours, and that familiar unease crept back into your chest.

What was her deal?

Just then, a pair of arms snaked around your waist from behind, pulling you into a familiar embrace. You didn't need to look to know who it was—Minji. She rested her chin on your shoulder, her warmth sending a sense of comfort through you. But today, it felt different. She was being unusually clingy, and you could sense a certain edge in her tone when she spoke.

“Karaoke later?” she asked, her voice teasing but with an undertone of something deeper. “Seonhwa and the others are coming.”

You hesitated. On one hand, you had cram school later—something you couldn’t afford to miss—but on the other, hanging out with your friends sounded like the perfect distraction from the swirling confusion in your mind. You weighed your options, feeling Minji’s arms tighten slightly around you, as if trying to pull you in more than just physically.

“I don’t know,” you replied, unsure. “I’ve got a lot to do today.”

Minji’s grip didn’t loosen. Instead, she let out a soft sigh, her voice dropping to a low, almost coaxing tone. “Come on, Y/N, we don’t get to do this every day. Just this once. Please?”

Her persistence was hard to resist, as usual. You glanced over your shoulder at her pouting expression, knowing full well she wasn’t going to let this go. With a sigh of your own, you finally gave in.

“Fine,” you muttered, “but only for a little while.”

Minji’s face lit up with a victorious smile, and before you could react, she grabbed your hand, intertwining her fingers with yours in a way that felt far more intimate than usual. The closeness was something you’d grown used to over time, but today, with the weight of Haerin’s earlier gaze still lingering in your mind, it felt...different. Almost like a silent competition was brewing between the two girls.

As Minji led you out of the classroom, your thoughts were disrupted when you passed by Haerin, who was still standing by the door. The brief exchange of glances between you felt electric, as though there was an unspoken connection pulling you towards her, even as Minji clung to your side.

But then, out of nowhere, you felt a gentle tug on your wrist. You turned around, surprised to see Haerin standing there, her fingers still wrapped lightly around your wrist. Her eyes met yours, and for a moment, time seemed to slow.

Minji stopped in her tracks, her eyes narrowing at Haerin in a way that wasn’t just curious—it was almost territorial. “Can we help you?” Minji asked, her voice laced with annoyance.

Haerin ignored her and looked straight at you, her unreadable expression softening into a quiet smile. “See you tomorrow?” she asked, her voice so gentle, it sent a shiver down your spine. The smile she gave you—small and shy—was strangely comforting, and for a second, you forgot that Minji was still standing next to you.

Caught off guard, you returned the smile, a genuine half-smile that felt like the most honest reaction you’d had all day. “Yeah,” you replied softly. “See you tomorrow.”

The tension between the three of you was palpable as Minji let out a loud sigh, pulling you closer to her, almost as if to stake her claim. “Alright, enough with the sweet goodbyes,” she grumbled, lacing her arm through yours once more. “We’re late.”

With that, Minji practically dragged you away, but your thoughts were left behind with Haerin—her smile, her touch, and the lingering feeling that something about her was different. As you caught up with the rest of your friends, your mind kept wandering back to Haerin, and you couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of something far more complicated than you anticipated.

The walk with Minji was filled with light chatter, but your thoughts kept drifting. Without thinking too much, you brought up the one question that had been nagging at you since lunch.

“So, what’s Haerin’s story? What happened at her old school before she transferred here?”

Minji paused, her steps slowing slightly. She seemed to consider it for a moment before offering a nonchalant shrug. “I don’t know all the details, but I’ve heard she’s bad news. Doesn’t seem like the friendly type.”

Her tone was casual, almost dismissive, but you couldn’t help noticing the subtle shift in her demeanor—the tension in her voice, the way she stiffened. It made you wonder if your question had struck a nerve. Was it curiosity or something else? A flicker of jealousy, maybe? Minji never liked to share your attention, but for now, she kept her emotions in check, hiding behind her usual playful facade.

You arrived at the karaoke room soon after, the air immediately filling with laughter and music. The atmosphere was lively, as always, your friends singing and goofing off without a care in the world. Minji, though, had a different energy tonight. Whenever it was her turn to sing, her eyes found yours, and every love song she chose seemed to carry a hidden message.

It was subtle at first, but soon, it became impossible to ignore—the way her gaze lingered on you, her voice softening as if speaking only to you. And while you didn’t want to jump to conclusions, the intensity behind her eyes was unmistakable. You smiled, trying to play it off like you hadn’t noticed, but deep down, you knew. There was something more to her actions tonight, something she wasn’t saying.

But you couldn’t let yourself think about it. Not now. Your friendship with Minji was important, too much to lose over misinterpreting her signals. So, you decided to stay neutral, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

As the night went on, amidst the laughter and off-key singing, Seonhwa suddenly brought up a familiar name, one that immediately caught your attention.

“Haerin,” she said casually, as if dropping a bomb in the middle of the conversation.

Minji’s eyes narrowed at your reaction, but she said nothing, simply watching you closely.

“I think that new girl’s into you,” Seonhwa added, glancing at you with a mischievous smirk. The others murmured in agreement, some laughing, some nodding.

Your heart skipped a beat at her words, but you played it cool, forcing a laugh. “Really? I don’t think so.”

Seonhwa wasn’t about to let you off the hook that easily. “Oh, come on. You must’ve noticed something. Or... is it that you’re into her too?”

You chuckled again, shaking your head in disbelief. “Are you crazy? I barely know her. It’s nothing.”

“Hmm, sure.” Seonhwa’s tone was teasing, but there was an edge to it that made you uncomfortable. Before she could push further, someone else chimed in.

“She’s weird, though. Off, you know? Definitely not your type.”

The conversation shifted again, as Seonhwa quickly moved on to another topic, but you were left with your thoughts. You stared down at your grape juice, swirling it absentmindedly.

Why did you care so much? You’d only just met Haerin, yet she was all you could think about. It was unlike you. The magnetic pull you felt towards her—this unfamiliar curiosity—was something new, something that unsettled you in a way you couldn’t quite explain. It was as if you've just discovered a part of you that you, yourself didn't even know existed.

And yet, for the first time, you found yourself wanting to know more.

The morning sun filtered through the classroom windows as you settled into your seat. The usual buzz of students preparing for the day filled the room, but your thoughts were still wrapped around the previous night’s karaoke session. Haerin’s name, her curious eyes, and that inexplicable pull you felt towards her were on your mind.

As the day went on, you found yourself scanning the hallway for Haerin. The moments between classes felt longer than usual, and you were increasingly aware of how much you wanted to get to know her better.

Your chance came during lunch. As you walked into the cafeteria, you spotted Haerin sitting alone at a corner table, her lunch untouched as she flipped through a book. You hesitated for a moment, then made your way over.

“Hey, Haerin,” you greeted, sliding into the seat across from her. “Mind if I join you?”

She looked up, her eyes meeting yours with a soft, shy smile. “Of course. I was actually hoping you would.”

The conversation started off slow but gradually picked up. You learned that Haerin had a love for literature and was passionate about art, which was something you could relate to. You found her company surprisingly calming, and her quiet nature seemed to draw out a side of you that you rarely showed to others.

Days turned into weeks, and your friendship with Haerin grew. You’d meet up between classes, share stories, and support each other. You noticed Haerin’s subtle gestures of encouragement, especially when she caught on to your quieter moments and offered a listening ear.

During one of your conversations, Haerin brought up a topic that made you pause.

“You know,” she began, her voice gentle, “I’ve noticed that you seem to carry a lot with you. If you ever want to talk about it, I’m here.”

Her words hit you harder than you expected. The trauma from your childhood—seeing your father with another woman, the betrayal, the pain—it was something you never really spoke about. But with Haerin’s sincerity, the walls you had built around those memories began to crack.

“I appreciate that, Haerin,” you said, looking down at your hands. “It’s just… hard to trust people, especially men.”

Haerin nodded, her expression one of understanding. “It’s okay to take your time. I’m here for you, no matter what.”

As the weeks passed, you found yourself opening up more to Haerin, sharing bits and pieces of your past. She listened without judgment, offering support that slowly began to heal old wounds. The bond between you grew stronger, but the romance wasn’t rushed. It was more like a gentle breeze, gradually building up over time.

Meanwhile, Minji’s presence remained a constant in your life. She continued to be clingy, but her actions were becoming more noticeable. She would often interrupt conversations with Haerin, subtly trying to draw you back into her orbit. Minji’s jealousy simmered beneath the surface, and you could sense it in the way she would look at you and Haerin.

One afternoon, after a particularly intense discussion about your past with Haerin, you noticed Minji waiting outside the classroom, arms crossed and a frown on her face. As you approached, Minji's gaze shifted between you and Haerin.

“So, you two are getting close, huh?” she said, her voice laced with a hint of bitterness.

You felt a pang of guilt but tried to stay calm. “Uh.. Yeah,"

Minji’s eyes narrowed, but she said nothing more. Instead, she pulled you aside, her voice dropping to a softer, more vulnerable tone. “I just don’t want to lose you. It feels like you’re drifting away.”

Her confession hit you harder than you expected. You had always valued your friendship with Minji, and the thought of losing her was unsettling. But at the same time, you couldn’t ignore the connection you were building with Haerin.

You took a deep breath and looked at Minji, trying to find the right words. “I’m not going anywhere. But things are changing, and I need to figure them out. I hope you understand.”

Minji’s expression softened, and she gave a small nod, though her eyes still held a trace of sadness. “Okay. I get it.”

As you walked back to Haerin, you couldn’t shake the feeling that things were becoming more complicated. Yet, with Haerin by your side and Minji’s support, you felt more grounded than you had in a long time.

The journey wasn’t over, and there were still challenges ahead, but you were ready to face them, one step at a time.

In the days that followed, rumors about Haerin started spreading through the school. Students whispered about her past—how she was rumored to have bullied others and earned the nickname ‘liar and snake’ at her old school. The gossip seemed to grow darker with each passing day, and it wasn’t long before you heard it too.

Seonhwa was chatting about the rumors in the cafeteria, and you felt a pang of worry for Haerin. Without thinking, you rushed out to find her, but she was nowhere in sight.

Days turned into weeks, and Haerin still didn’t come to school. You became increasingly concerned, and then, things took a turn for the worse. Your own secrets were exposed.

When you walked into the cafeteria one day, the scene was chaotic. Papers were scattered all over—on the floor, tables, and even the walls. Each paper had your face and personal secrets printed on it. You froze when you saw a paper that said, “father cheated trauma freak,” with your picture on it.

Haerin was the only one you had ever shared that secret with. The betrayal was too much to bear.

As you stood there, feeling a mix of shock and sadness, Minji came over and patted your back. “Hey, it’s going to be okay,” she said, trying to comfort you. But the pain of the betrayal was overwhelming.

You grabbed some of the papers and crumpled them in your hands, your eyes filling with tears. The cafeteria, usually a lively place, now felt cold and hostile. You couldn’t see the faces of your classmates—they were all a blur as the tears flowed.

Minji noticed how upset you were and tried to offer more comfort. “Y/N, we’ll figure this out. I’m here for you,” she said, her voice filled with concern. But her words barely reached you through the fog of your emotions.

“Why would Haerin do this?” you wondered aloud, your voice trembling. “I trusted her.”

Minji looked at you with sympathy. “I don’t know. But we need to find out what happened.”

You nodded, feeling a mix of frustration and determination. The betrayal was deep, and the exposure of your secrets was painful, but you knew you had to confront the situation. The first step was to find Haerin and get some answers.

Weeks had passed since the papers were scattered around the cafeteria. You were still dealing with the aftermath, feeling lost and overwhelmed. Minji remained by your side, offering support and comfort through your darkest moments. Her presence was a constant source of solace, and gradually, you started to notice a shift in your feelings toward her.

One evening, as you sat together, you found the courage to express how much Minji meant to you. “Minji, I’ve been thinking a lot lately,” you began, your voice steady despite the butterflies in your stomach. “You’ve been amazing through all of this, and I realize that I want to be more than just friends.”

Minji’s eyes widened in surprise, her face lighting up with joy. “Really? You mean it?” she asked, her voice full of excitement.

You nodded, smiling. “Yes. I want us to be together.”

The two of you started dating, and though you were happy with Minji, there was a lingering emptiness. It felt as though something important was missing from your life—a puzzle piece that had yet to be found. You continued with your daily routine as if Haerin had never been part of your life. Yet, the absence of her explanation gnawed at you, leaving you unsettled.

As the days went by, Minji and you grew closer in your relationship, but you couldn’t shake off the feeling that you needed closure with Haerin. The thoughts of her and the unanswered questions about the rumors lingered in your mind.

One day, while walking through a park, you unexpectedly ran into Haerin. She looked just as surprised to see you. “Y/N,” she said hesitantly, her gaze filled with uncertainty. “I didn’t think I’d see you again.”

“Haerin,” you said, your heart pounding. “I need to talk to you. I’ve been feeling like I need to understand what really happened.”

Haerin looked up, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and relief. "... I’m glad you came,” she said softly. “I’ve been avoiding school because I didn’t want to deal with the rumors. They were so painful, and I wanted to stay away from the drama.”

You sat down beside her, listening intently. “I need to believe you, Haerin. The rumors were brutal, and my own secrets were exposed. I can’t understand why someone would do that, especially when I trusted you.”

For a moment, Haerin's eyes widened in surprise, as if she wasn't expecting hearing that your secrets have been exposed. She had no clue, but would you believe her? "W- what...?" she stammered, still in disbelief. But you only stared at her for a brief moment, taking a deep breath to steady the moment.

Haerin’s eyes filled with tears as she continued. “I swear, I didn’t spread those rumors. I don’t know who did, but it wasn't me. I'm as shocked as you when I heard about it. I think someone must have used my name to spread lies. I never meant to hurt you.”

The sincerity in Haerin’s voice gave you pause. You wanted to believe her, but doubts lingered. As you processed her words, another thought crossed your mind: Minji. She knew about your secret, and it seemed too coincidental for her not to be involved.

You listened intently, trying to make sense of her words. Doubt still lingered in your mind, but the thought: Minji had known your secret for a long time. Why would she betray you now?

With a heavy heart, you decided to confront Minji. You arranged to meet her at a quiet café, the tension palpable between you.

“Minji,” you began, struggling to keep your voice steady, “I need to ask you something. Did you have anything to do with the rumors about me and Haerin?”

Minji’s face went pale. She looked down, her hands fidgeting with her cup. It was a brief moment of silence before she spilled everything about what happened—far from what you've expected.

“Y/N, I... I did it,” she admitted quietly, her voice breaking. “I was jealous. I couldn’t stand the thought of you being interested in someone else. I thought that if I could push Haerin away, you’d focus on me.”

The pain of Minji’s confession hit hard. The betrayal felt like a sharp wound. “Why, Minji? Why would you do this? You knew how much this secret meant to me.”

The reason you never talked about your past with just anyone was because you, yourself were insecure of not having the father to lead you like others. And with that being exposed with the reason of this... It was too much.

Minji’s eyes watered with tears. “I’m sorry. I let my jealousy get the best of me. I didn’t think about how much it would hurt you.” As she explained, how Seonhwa was also behind every rumour she made about Haerin and set her up, it was too much.

The revelation was devastating. You realized that the person you had trusted most had betrayed you out of jealousy. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but you knew you had to make a decision.

“I can’t be with you anymore, Minji,” you said, trying to keep your voice firm despite the sadness. “I need to focus on healing and understanding what’s right for me.”

Minji’s tears flowed freely, but you stood up, feeling a mix of sadness and relief. You needed to rebuild your life and find closure with Haerin.

After ending things with Minji, you reached out to Haerin once more. You both started to reconnect, and although it wasn’t easy, you began to rebuild trust. You spent time together, getting to know each other better and working through the past hurts.

Slowly but surely, your bond with Haerin grew stronger. The feelings of emptiness started to fade, replaced by a sense of understanding and companionship. The missing piece of your life began to fall into place, and with patience and openness, you found a new sense of peace and hope for the future.

After everything, rebuilding your relationship with Haerin was slow and delicate, but it felt right. You spent more time together, learning about each other, laughing at the little things, and healing from the wounds left behind by the rumors and betrayal. Each moment with her made you feel like a missing piece of your heart had finally been found.

"So, can you tell me what really happened in your old school?" You asked, taking a sip on your favorite beverage.

Haerin thought for a moment, then nodded. "Well, my mom had to work near here so she decided to transfer me on one of the schools," she explained and you nodded, still slightly surprised that her story was far from the rumours you've heard. "Seonhwa... She was my friend before, but things between us didn't end really well, so maybe she spread those rumours about me absentmindedly,"

She noticed that look on your face, making her giggle—a soft laugh that was infectious. It made you smile, "What? Why are you laughing?" You questioned, although the smile remained on your face.

"Nothing," she replied, tucking a strand of hair behind your ear, making you feel utterly speechless. Your stomach soon felt as if there were butterflies in it while you felt your face heat up—an emotion you didn't quite normally get. It was as if every time you were with Haerin, you keep discovering a new version of you that would have never thought would even exist.

There were times you and Haerin bumped into Minji in the halls. It was unavoidable at school. Each time, you'd catch her staring from afar, her eyes full of sadness and regret. You couldn’t ignore the heaviness of it all, but you knew in your heart that you had made the right decision. The awkwardness was there, but it didn’t consume you anymore. You had moved on, and slowly, Minji seemed to realize that too.

One day, as you and Haerin walked home from school, a gentle silence fell between you. It wasn’t uncomfortable. If anything, it was calming, the kind of silence that comes with being at ease in someone else’s presence. You thought about everything you had been through together, from the initial distrust, the rumors, to now—this peaceful, growing friendship. It wasn’t perfect, but it was real.

As you reached the park, you both sat down on a bench, watching the leaves rustle in the soft breeze. Haerin spoke first, her voice soft but sure.

“I’m glad we’ve come this far. I didn’t think we’d be able to, especially after what happened,” she admitted, glancing at you with a small smile.

You nodded, your heart swelling with emotions you couldn’t quite express. It was rare for you to feel this way—this close to someone again. And yet, something deeper lingered. A warmth that had been growing steadily within you.

Suddenly, without thinking, you blurted, “I like you, Haerin. I mean, really like you.”

Your confession hung in the air, a rare moment of vulnerability for you. It wasn’t like you to be the one to confess first, but this time, it felt different—like the right thing to do. Your heart pounded in your chest, but there was a strange relief in finally saying what had been on your mind for weeks.

Haerin blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting you to be the one to confess. A slow, wide smile spread across her face, and she let out a soft laugh. “You really beat me to it,” she said, shaking her head. “I’ve been wanting to say that too, but I didn’t know how.”

You both chuckled at the awkwardness of the moment, but it only made the confession feel more real, more honest. Haerin reached over and gently took your hand, her thumb brushing over your knuckles in a soothing motion.

“I like you too, Y/N. More than I’ve liked anyone,” she whispered, her voice sincere.

For the first time in a long time, everything felt like it was falling into place. The weight of your past traumas, the scars from Minji’s betrayal, and the confusion of your feelings all seemed to fade in that moment. Sitting there, with Haerin’s hand in yours, you felt whole.

As the days passed, you and Haerin continued to grow closer. It wasn’t always easy, and sometimes the shadows of the past crept up on you, but together, you found a way to move forward. There was laughter—plenty of it—small moments of joy in the chaos of school life, and the undeniable feeling of falling for someone who understood you in ways no one else had.

And while Minji still lingered in the background, her presence no longer held the weight it once did. You couldn’t completely avoid her, but the distance between you both had become bearable. Over time, even she seemed to find a way to move on, though the sting of betrayal would remain with you both for a long time.

In the end, you found something rare—something that went beyond just healing from the past. You found someone who made you feel like yourself again. With Haerin by your side, life was far from perfect, but it was yours, and for the first time, it felt like it was truly beginning.

And now, sitting on a bench with Haerin, giggling at teasing at each other, you felt content and mostly... You felt love. With all problems fading away, while Haerin had that small, shy smile—which made you reminisce on the first day you saw her. Maybe even then, you were already in love with her as it is, you just never found it out yourself until now.

As Haerin held your hand, staring at your eyes like the both of you did back on day one, you couldn't help but lean close to her, cupping her cheek with your other hand while the other was busy holding hers, intertwining fingers with one another.

She leaned into your touch and before you knew it, your face were inches away from hers. "Can I?" You asked, and with a split second-pause, Haerin nodded, her breath hitched upon finally touching your lips.

The kiss wasn't rushed at all—if anything, it was deliberate, passionate, and most importantly... It tasted like love.

a/n: okay, maybe i focused too much on readers pov. well, that's all, luvvies. did you like it? hehe. please like, reblog or follow! love y'all and stay safe. mwaapsss. 💋 xoxo

[nixiliv]

Comfy

Author Ramble : Little story popped up in my bored head. Enjoy!

PS: If you have any tips on writing, do share. byyee

Pairing: Minho x reader

Genre: Fluff

No one understands the way you two communicate. A silent secret language through eyes and body language. When people get a glimpse of the way you two spend quality time together, they would swear you’ll have the same hobbies as elderly people.

But you both like it that way. You enjoy the times when you both get to have your calm, quiet routines. They give you security, they give you confidence knowing Minho is content with just being with you. Whether you choose to dress up a little that day or stay in your pajamas. He only cared that he was with you. Your “boring” days would consist of Minho making breakfast, you would occasionally join to help with. Your favorite is pancakes. He would stand close behind you, guiding your hands on how much ingredients to add. Getting you started with whisking the batter and then letting you take over, placing his hands on your waist playfully scolding his kitten on how much of a mess you are making. He takes over when it's time to cook the pancakes. While you cut up fruit or put together any sides, and get coffee ready. 

Depending on the day he might have to go into work for a meeting or two. Your work is hybrid so you might go into the office, or get to stay in and work in your home office. But if you are both free, Minho loves a good walk. A lot of the walks are quiet, only commenting on the scenery around you or talking about some random things you’ve both seen or heard the past few days. There have been walks of you talking about the latest gossip among your friends or coworkers. He listens enough to only add colorful commentary to the story. But he loves listening to you babble. The different inflections in your voice, how animated your expressions get. His favorite is the way you talk really low, telling the juicy part of the story as if the person or subject is within hearing distance of you.

A stop by your favorite coffee shop is one of your rewards to yourself for not complaining once about being too tired while out walking. You order your usual, in addition to a muffin. It’s a new seasonal flavor. Both of you opt for sitting outside, people watching for entertainment. Giggling to each about a conversation you both overhear. Minho isn’t into pda much, but he knows you like little touches. Like caressing your hand or playing footsies under the table. He secretly likes it too. When you link arms with him while walking or rub the back of his neck nonchalantly. He spots a cat, or more like the cat spots him. The feline, curious about the coo-ing, makes his way over. Minho, always prepared, pulls out a little treat, gives the kitty a few pats and it is on its merry way.

Before dinner with a group of friends, you both spend hours watching a couple of movies Minho has had in mind that he wanted to see. Him sitting on the couch with his legs elevated. Your head in his lap in a fetal position with various snacks strewn around you. One of the cats has made home cuddled up with your feet. His hand in your hair massaging your scalp. Checking the time to countdown when you need to get up to get ready. Minho suggests another movie and you are too comfortable to say no. During the credits he asks you to pick between another  movie. You pick something you both have watched a thousand times, each of you repeating lines along with the characters. Before you know it, your phones are lighting up with text messages inquiring about arrival time for dinner. Minho grabs both of your phones, puts them on silent and tosses them to the side. You feel bad, but being comfy and snuggling up with Minho seems more of a great way to spend the rest of your day.

[alphyser]

Random things in my MHA DR about 1-A!

Mineta was originally part of the class, however during the quirk apprehension test at the start, he got the lowest score and that Aizawa noticed him acting creepy so he acted on his threat to expel someone and gave Mineta the boot. That way, it'd also serve as a warning to others.

Mineta was actually hilarious though on first day. Actually made me crack up a lot, especially since I also have a dirty sense of humor. But then he he tried to peek under Yaomomo's skirt and the illusion was shattered. (For a moment I thought he could've been great </3)

I unironically voted for Sero during the class rep elections. Him and Yaomomo had a tie and he dropped out of the nominations saying that Yaoyorozu should be the vice-representative for 1-A over him. (Sero is such a sweet soul in my DR.)

Bakugo Katsuki, despite having fashion designers for parents, only ever dresses in the most basic clothing. Black compression shirts and sweatpants are his go to and when he feels like it he sometimes wears graphic tees and jeans. But he also criticizes others a lot on their fashion sense. (He one time straight up scolded Mina for an hour because she wore a shade of yellow that didn't go with her skin tone.)

Sato, without fail, will always have a box of some type of sweets on him. Man is a god send. He brings like this little lunchbag and he has two tupperwares of sweets. One time he had these donuts and each of them were a cool new flavor I've never seen before, like a raspberry donut with candied bacon, it sounds gross but he makes it taste good somehow.

Most Sundays, Aoyama usually goes out to visit this stray kitten in a park near U.A. He feeds all the time too. He has little cat treats in his bag always. He doesn't even like cats that much, but he sees himself in the kitty. Weak and can't do anything about it (Aoyama deserves better.)

Sero makes the MEANEST avocado salads ever. Like actually godsent. It's avocados, tomatoes, red onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, cilantro, parsley, garlic, black beans, jalapeno, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and white pepper, and queso fresco all tossed together. (Yes, I memorized the recipe because I wanted to make it in my CR 😭)

Oddly enough, Koda sleeps really loudly. Like he snores, talks in his sleep, grinds his teeth, even clears his throat sometimes. He fell asleep in the common room once on a sat evening watching Princess and the Frog with Tsu and my god, everyone in the first floor could hear it, even on the second floor only it was a little more muffled.

Iida dresses wrong. Not bad, wrong. He doesn't dress ugly, in fact he's one of the most well dressed in 1-A. The issue is, he never knows what outfit for when so he either always ends up overdressed or underdressed. We went out to get groceries and he was wearing a first date outfit (He looked fine asf but like for groceries?? 😭)

I don't know how it happened but for some reason, Monoma and Yaomomo are friends. Like not frenemies or just acquaintances. Like real actual friends. They hang out sometimes and gossip with Kendo. He even tones down the 1-A hate passion canon in her presence, it's actually amazing to see.

[bellarkeselection]

Revealing Arrangements

Request from @snoserin Chandler finds out the reader speaks another language or something

Rachel and I were talking about random gossip stuff when I had come to visit her at work. Sitting in her desk chair the phone rang on her desk and I held it up against my ear. “Hello.”

“Y/n, is Rachel there?” Chandler’s voice came her boss’s desk phone.

I answered him, sparing a glance at her when she had a scowl on her face hearing his voice. “No sorry. She had a business thing. What do you need?”

“I need some help. Can you come to her boss’s office please?” He asked before I hung up the phone getting up from her chair going to see whatever he needed. Walking up to her office I unlocked the door, dropping the keys on the ground.

“What - how did you get into this situation?” I covered my mouth with my hands, blushing at the fact that he wasn’t wearing any pants and part of his blue shirt was unbuttoned showing his bare chest.

Chandler sent me a cheeky smile. “This is a long story so here’s the situation. The keys to the cuffs are on the back of the door. Could you be a doll and grab them and scoot over here and unlock me.”

“This is how you break up with a girl?” I couldn’t help but not laugh at the situation he had gotten himself in.

He attempted to defend himself. “I did break up with her. She just took it really really well.”

“Chandler.” I throw my head back sighing heavily under my breath.

His eyes locked onto mine begging me to free him. “Y/n please unlock me. She could be gone for hours and I’m cold. So let me out of here before she gets back.”

“Fine but you owe me.” Reaching up on the door I snatched the keys. Removing the lock on his hands I stepped back. “Does it hurt?”

Chandler’s gaze met mine. “No, I just always see guys do this when they get handcuffs off. Hello sweet pants.” He went around me grabbing his pants off the door hook until the office door opened again.

“This is what you called her for.” Rachel shut the door quickly behind her.

I pointed to the fact that he wasn’t wearing pants. “She had him handcuffed with no pants. I don’t think he meant to be in this situation willingly.”

“I am going to get fired if she finds out you're gone.” Rachel began panicking and paced in her dress shoes in front of the two of us.

Chandler shakes his head no. “I’ll make something up.”

“No, there's nothing to make up. She’s gonna know that I have a key to her office and then she’ll know I let someone in to let you out.” Rahcel grabbed his wrist that still had a locked cuff on it.

Chandler winced when she tried dragging him back over to the chair to cuff him. The pair bickering and fought against the other till she locked the other cuff into the filing cabinet. “Well this is much better…Y/n, please let me out.”

“Rachel has the keys. Do you want a girl on girl fight?” I asked, putting one hand on my hip.

He tugged his body forward as much as he could given the fact that he was handcuffed. “That would be interesting to see. Especially if you won then you can unlock me and we can run away from the woman who's afraid of her own boss.”

“How dare you!” Rachel gasped accidentally dropping the keys from her hands.

Chandler cheered with his free wrist in the air watching me run around the office with the keys in my hands. “Go Y/n go!”

“Y/n, give me the keys back.”

I glared at Rachel. “No Rachel.”

“He has to be back in that chair otherwise I'll lose my job.” She throws her hands away from her sides.

Chandler cheered in the background of the two girls playing cat and mouse. “Y/n, I'll give you whatever you want if you let me go.”

“Chandler, stop talking.” Rachel warned him.

Chandler managed to reach the door handle opening the door calling out for one of Rachel's worker friends. “Sophie. Sophie, help me. Help me!”

“Sophie sit!” Rachel noticed her standing up, bolting over to the door and slamming it shut before locking it too.

Rachel suddenly came up behind me snatching the keys from my hand, causing me to gasp. “Chandler, just calm down before you hurt yourself - ah!”

“I'm gonna say this one more time. Would you please just-” Chandler yanked his wrist cuffed hand causing the drawer to come out and hit him harshly in the side of the head.

Rachel gasped sharply covering her mouth. I gasped too imagining that it must have hurt so bad. “Chandler I’ll let you out because - estoy muy enamorado de ti!” ( I have a massive crush on you )

“Did she just speak Spanish?” Rachel raised a brow in my direction.

Chandler nodded. “Yes, she did.”

“How does she know that?” Rachel stands still confused.

Chandler smiled nervously at me not caring if Rachel was in the room since she wouldn’t understand what he said anyway. “I was in her Spanish class. But I never thought you’d like me if I couldn't say uh…Yo también tengo sentimientos por ti.” ( I have feelings for you too )

“Awe Chandler.” I sucked in a breath feeling my face turning red with a huge grin crossing my face.

Chandler tilted his head to the side questioning. “Did I say I love you feet or something?”

“No, you said it right silly duck…because I have feelings for you too.” Striding past our friend Rachel I draped my arms around his neck kissing him without another word. Chandler smiled into the kiss deepening it as much as he could.

Raising one of my hands I undid the handcuff and he scrambled to get his pants back on. “See ya later, Rachel!” He bolted for the door and I followed him.

“Chandler! Y/n!”

Shutting the door in her face I laughed before suggesting to my former friend now a possible boyfriend. “So you wanna grab lunch?” He nodded in agreement and we left Rachel's work together.

Comments really appreciated ❤️ Tags @lover-of-books-and-tea @rosie-posie08

[ismartiegirl300-blog]

First Dance

Announcements: I have a requests box open on my profile! (I think... I’m still working on how tumblr works). I write for MHA, Harry Potter, Attack on Titan and Naruto so feel free to send me some requests!! 

Summary: You’ve known Bakugou since your UA days but at the alumni dance things feel a little different between you two. Flashbacks included. Bakugou pov mostly. 

Warnings: Fluff! Fem reader. Pining. 

WORDCOUNT: 2254

***

Bakugo tried to loosen his tie, it was hot in the dance hall. It was good to see Class 1A back together again, even if he would never admit it. Class 1B on the other hand... damn he wanted to strangle that pompous straw haired copy cat Monoma. He took a deep breath and focused back on the group he was talking to. 

Kirishima was talking animatedly to Shoji, one arm around Mina. They took a while to get together after graduation but Bakugo was glad it happened, he was tired of hearing Kirishima pine after her. Half and Half was busy talking to invisichick Hagakure and Sero. Denki was scheming in a corner with Mineta and slowly Bakugo’s gaze glided around the circle, over Jirou and right onto you. He felt a tightness in his chest and for some reason the room felt warmer. 

Damn it. He thought he was over this stupid crush. It had been three years since graduation and he hadn’t seen you at all since you just came back from doing work overseas. He hadn’t gotten the chance to speak to you since your return. He had kept putting it off. His eyes lingered on you, your smile and that stupid dress you were wearing. 

Although you were deep in conversation with your old friend Jirou, you couldn’t help but feel someone’s gaze on you. Your eyes slide from Jirou’s face, over her shoulder and you make eye contact with Bakugo. In the time you had been gone, you heard that he had been climbing the charts and was now the #2 hero, right behind Midoriya. You had never really gotten over your high school crush on Bakugo and you received notifications on your phone anytime a news story came out with his name on it. You felt your cheeks turn red under his gaze and quickly turned your attention back to Jirou. 

“Something on your mind?” Bakugo had been so focused on you that he hadn’t noticed Kirishima walk right up to him and started looking back and forth between Bakugo and you. 

“FUCK! Shitty hair! You can’t just walk up unannounced. I could have blown you to bits...” 

“C’mon man! Just go talk to her.”

“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.” 

“Don’t be like that Bakugo... remember the last time we were at something like this?” 

“No.” 

He said no but Bakugo had been beating himself up for three years over it. 

---

It was the graduation dance. The last night before everyone started going their own separate ways. Bakugo had plans to go to Tokyo and start his own hero agency right away. You on the other hand had plans to work overseas and “pay back” in a sense, the foreign powers that helped Japan during its struggle with All For One. You wouldn’t be gone forever, just three years, however there was a certain someone you were hoping would try to make you stay. If he had asked, you would have stayed. 

The party had lasted forever. You had danced all night until you had to take your shoes off because your feet were so sore. The girls kept you busy all night with the usual scheming, gossip, photos, bathroom trips and of course the group dancing. You were gonna miss these girls. You couldn’t think about it or you would start crying. Bakugo on the other hand was acting strangely tonight. He kept walking close to you, acting like he had something to say but then you would make eye contact and he would frown and walk away. You wondered if you had done something to piss him off... Well whatever it was, you might never know. Your flight left in two hours and your ride to the airport was on its way. You heard a slow song start and instead of awkwardly waiting around for someone to ask you to dance, you decided to slip out of the dance and wait for your ride. You might not be able to handle all of the goodbyes anyways. 

At some point in the night Bakugo couldn’t find you. He had been working up the courage to ask you to slow dance all night. He requested three slow songs already. For the first one he just couldn’t get the words out and ended up telling you that you had something on your face. The second time that stupid bird asked you to dance and Bakugo just had to sit and watch from the side of the dance hall. He finally convinced the DJ to give him one more slow song and now you were nowhere to be found. Bakugo was scanning the room looking for you and just before he could give up, Ochako walked right up to him and asked him to dance. He reluctantly accepted. 

“It’s going to be so weird not seeing everyone together anymore. I don’t think I’m ready.” Ochako was trying to make small talk but Bakugo could barely hear her. He was focused on finding you out in the crowd.

“I’m surprised you didn’t ask Y/N to dance...” Ochako said slyly. 

“Huh??” Bakugo’s attention snapped back down to her. 

“I mean, you like her right? Everyone says you like her.” 

“Tchh.” Bakugo looked away but his ears turned red. He didn’t know how everyone knew but he was gonna kill Shitty Hair if he found out he was the leak. 

“She left you know.” 

“What?” Again his attention was 100% on Ochako. 

“She slipped out when the song started. She’s probably on the way to the airport soon.” 

“Already?” Bakugo felt the blood drain out of his face. He wasn’t ready. He hadn’t asked you to dance yet. He hadn’t told you that you looked pretty in your dress, he hadn’t asked you to walk through the gardens with him, he hadn’t had the opportunity to finally confess to you... to maybe kiss you. 

“Go get her.” Ochako had stopped dancing. 

Bakugo looked down at her a little stunned. 

“Go! Go get your girl Dynamight!” She said it louder and caught the attention of others. Kirishima stopped dancing with Mina and looked over to Bakugo. 

“WELL? Go after her!” Mina shouted. 

“C’mon think like a man!” Kirishima added. 

“Ooh! It would be so romantic!” Momo said enthusiastically. 

“SHUT IT!” Bakugo yelled but he was already running out of the doors. 

The brisk night air hit his face as he catapulted himself out of the dance hall and headed towards the front gates.  

“Damnit! This is taking too long!” 

Bakugo stripped off his jacket and tie and threw them behind him onto the dirt path. He rolled up his sleeves and used his quirk to catapult himself into the air. He blasted his way to the front gates in less than two minutes and just in time. 

You were about to get into the car. You had the passenger door open when Bakugo fell out of the sky and skidded to a stop right at the UA gates. His hair was disheveled and he was wiping his hands on his pants. Your heart skipped a beat. 

“Y/N!” 

“Bakugo?” 

Reality caught up to Bakugo in that moment. He didn’t know what to say... “Come back and dance with me.”?? That would be ridiculous. 

“Uhh... I... are you... leaving?” He managed to force out some words, some question, even if that question had a million other questions behind it. 

“Yeah...” You gave him a confused look. Wasn’t it obvious? 

“Oh. Off to the States right away then?” 

“My flight leaves in like two hours.” 

“Right. Well, I just wanted to say...” Bakugo was at war with himself. He had to say he was afraid. He had faced villains on very power level but somehow this was more terrifying then every one of those encounters combined. He wanted to say so many things, 

“I’ve loved you ever since I met you! I wanted to dance with you! Your dress looks amazing! I’ve admired you as a student as a hero but mostly as a person. You’re beautiful inside and out! You were the first to be kind to me and I want to protect your kindness for the rest of my life! AND MOST OF ALL I DON’T WANT YOU TO LEAVE!!” 

But Bakugo didn’t say any of those things. 

“You wanted to say...?” You asked. Bakugo had stopped in the middle of his sentence and was giving you a wide eyed look. 

“Yeah I just wanted to say... good luck.” He opened his mouth again as though to add on, but he snapped it shut again. 

“Oh...well...” You can’t say you weren’t disappointed. But it was always a naïve hope that Bakugo might share your feelings. You quickly smiled to cover your disappointment. 

Bakugo watched as you smiled and ran towards him throwing your arms around his neck. He felt the breath leave his body and his arms clamped around your waist and he buried his face in your shoulder. 

“Thank you Bakugo.” and with that you were leaving his arms, getting into the car and slipping away. 

---

Bakugo had spent the last three years replaying everything that went wrong that night. He had tried to move on, he went on so many dates in the first year that he lost count. But he never could make it to the second date. He tried focusing on his career and he rose pretty quickly after he gave up on dating. But it was hard, playing wingman for Kirishima and Kaminari, being a groomsman at Izuku and Ochako’s wedding and watching you post about your foreign adventures, only wishing he could be there with you. It made his blood boil thinking about all the people you could be meeting who might catch your interest. All because he was too afraid to make a move that night. 

“You do.” Bakugo’s attention snapped back to the present as Kirishima said this. Bakugo merely scoffed. 

“I know you remember Bakugo. You got so wasted afterwards and all you could do was whine about how you let her go. Actually... it’s the only thing you talk about after you get drunk...” 

“Shut up or I’ll shut you up Red.” Bakugo warned. 

“Alright... But I’m gonna ask the DJ for a slow song and if you don’t ask her to dance I’m gonna tell everyone about that time two years ago you fought that laughing gas villain and-” Kirishima couldn’t finish his sentence because he had to dodge Bakugo’s oncoming blow and run to the DJ’s table before Bakugo could catch him.

Damnit. Bakugo watched as Kirishima talked animatedly to the DJ and pointed to his phone. The music started playing moments later. Kirishima was right though. Tonight he wouldn’t mess up and let you slip away again. He turned and found you still talking to Jirou, right where he left you. He strode over to you, blatantly interrupting your conversation and held out his hand. 

“Dance with me.” 

You looked up at him with a look of shock and he realized he still had no sense of tact even after all these years. Your shock faded into a grin and he felt relief flood his body. 

“Alright.” You took his hand and he pulled you in and slid his other arm around your waist. You began to sway to the music and everything else seemed to fade away. 

“How was your time away?” Bakugo asked his head tilting down. 

“It was amazing! Oh you would have loved it! There was so many things to see, so many landmarks and museums! I learned so much! Oh and I met a lot of people too!” Your face lit up as you spoke. 

“Oh really?” Bakugo felt his heart drop at that last part. 

“Yeah! I wished- I mean I wish you were there to see it.” 

“Hah, maybe next time princess...”

“Princess? Are you saying I look like a princess?” 

Bakugo turned red. 

“You wish y/n.” 

“Oh come on, is it so hard to say I look good? I put some effort in you know.” 

“Tchh..” 

You were both silent. You didn’t know what to say next. Maybe you flirted a little too much with him. You were just so excited to see him again, you couldn’t help it! 

“You don’t look good.” 

“What?!” 

“You look great.” Bakugo said blushing and avoiding eye contact. You leaned up so your lips were close to his ear. 

“You look pretty great yourself.” 

Bakugo couldn’t help it. A shiver went down his body and he could feel his face turn as red as a tomato. He stopped dancing. He pulled back and looked at you. 

“Y/n...” 

Then he leaned down, his hand cupping your face and he gazed into your eyes as if asking for permission. Permission which you gave. Suddenly his lips were on yours and he was kissing you. He was kissing you like he was drinking up your soul, pulling your face up into his, his lips surprisingly tender. He handled you like you were precious. It was nothing like how you imagined kissing Bakugo would be but it was amazing. You broke off the kiss when you started hearing the cheers. 

“Man we’ve been waiting forever for you guys to do that!” Sero yelled across all the cheering. 

Bakugo didn’t even care. He just grinned down at you. 

“You’re telling me Soy Sauce...” Bakugo said but only loud enough for you to hear. 

[jamesthedigidestined]

TaiKouvember 2024, Day 6: Light 

(Sequel to Day 5: Hope, although mostly unneeded to enjoy this.) 

“So, that’s why you’re a wreck today?” Hikari giggles, gently rubbing Gatomon’s belly as the feline Digimon purrs warmly. 

“Yes! It was horrible, Hikari; you need to put Takeru on a leash or something!” Taichi exclaims, wiping his face down in an attempt to take the tension off. 

“Onii-chan, I can barely contain a few children; an adult is well out of my league. Not to mention I tried that already and he liked it.” She gives Taichi a playful smirk, taking great joy in the pained reaction from her older brother. 

“I don’t understand what’s so wrong anyway. You humans overcomplicate everything.” Gatomon shakes her head, clueless and frankly uncaring of the gravity of Takeru’s intrusions. 

“I concur, humans truly are mysterious creatures.” Tentomon says, leaning into Taichi’s side in an attempt to comfort him. Grateful for the touch, Taichi begins to scratch under the big bug’s chin. 

“On another note, Onii-chan, Gatomon would like to spend some time with you. The little softie.” The young woman beams at her Digimon, who only raises her chin and looks away in response. 

“Yes, well, I hear Tentomon particularly enjoys your salmon, so I feel inclined to try some myself.” Gatomon tries to deflect, huffing as Hikari pets her. 

“The salmon was good last night!” Tentomon asserts, raising his claw up to accentuate his point. 

“Oh! Uh, sure? We’ll pick some up on the way home,” Taichi tilts his head, somewhat confused but not disliking another Digimon around, asking, “How long will you be staying?”

“Just for a few days.” Gatomon replies simply, leaning into the affection as she, partly, gives up the tough cat act. 

“I have a school trip, which is just overnight, but a few friends and I will be touring for another night. So take good care of her while I’m gone, or I won’t forgive you!” Hikari takes on a more serious expression, pouting at her brother. 

“Of course! I’ll pamper her even more than you do!” Taichi laughs as a waitress comes by. They give her their orders and eat peacefully, casually talking in between bites. School, friends, gossip, previous adventures, a little bit of everything, until their lunch breaks end. 

“What a shame, Onii-chan; I have to go pack. Again, take care of Gatomon! And Gatomon? Feel free to tease Onii-chan as much as you want!” She laughs, kissing the two Digimon’s heads and her brother’s cheek before squeezing him as tight as she can in a hug, which he returns. The three of them then waved her off as she parted. 

“Alright , Gatomon, Tentomon, let’s run some errands before we head home.” Taichi recommends paying for the meal before sliding out of the seat. 

“I have no objections.

“Let’s pick up a treat for Koushirou-han!”

“Hmm, good idea. They’ve been rather stressed, right?” Taichi grins and pats the heads of his companions, leading them off on their new adventure. 

After a rather uneventful but pleasant time, Taichi returns with some groceries and Digimon in tow. Tentomon immediately goes for Koushirou’s office as Gatomon checks the place out. 

“Looks nice, not as dingy as your old apartment.” Gatomon observes, quick to lay down, and starfish lazily. 

“Well, when your partner makes so much, it’s easy to upgrade.” Taichi smiles warmly, proud of Koushirou’s accomplishments. 

“Hmm, and what about you?” Gatomon questions, sitting up now that the topic has piqued her interest.

“Well, I’m focusing more on school, and...”

“Hey, don’t feel ashamed, Taichi. You put your all into what you need to, and that’s what’s important.” 

“Koushirou said the same thing, but...”

“‘But’ nothing; listen to them. They’ve never been wrong before.” Gatomon counters, giving Taichi a stern but caring look. 

With a sigh Taichi nods and agrees, acknowledging how great Koushirou is for shouldering so much. It’s at this moment that he’s reminded of the wrapped package in his hand. It’s a simple box, wrapped in dinosaur wrapping paper, but hopefully Koushirou would enjoy it all the same. Debating on when to gift it, Taichi decides to set it in a drawer and, hopefully, remember to gift it later. 

After checking the time, Taichi decides to pop in to Koushirou’s office, softly knocking so as to not scare his love as he enters the room. 

“Yes, Taichi-san?” Koushirou smiles up at him, their soft eyes and sweet lips drawing Taichi in to plant some kisses. He begins to get greedy, kissing deeper before Koushirou softly pushes Taichi away. 

“You know my one rule,” they say simply, pointing to a curled up Tentomon taking a nap, “no funny business in front of the Digimon.” 

Taichi nods and sighs, keeping his hands mostly to himself while giving his partner tamer affection, resulting in a firm shoulder massage.

“Still working even on a Sunday?” Taichi questions, looking over to the screen but just seeing garbled-looking lines of text and graphs. No wonder Tentomon fell asleep.

“Someone found a zero-day in our SSL protocol implementation, so I’m patching and pentesting our services just to be sure we’re no longer at risk.”

“This couldn't result in another Diaboromon, can it…?”

“If it could, do you think I’d be so casual? I’d have called up every Chosen in the world to be on standby as we get Daisuke-kun and Ichijouji-kun to handle it.” They respond practically, eliciting a nod and sigh from Taichi. Koushirou, sensing their partner’s emotions, firmly holds his hands in their own, massaging them. 

“You’re still doing your best, Tai; please don’t forget that.” Koushirou says tenderly, smiling up at their partner once again. Taichi returns that smile, still unsure but happy to be believed in. However, Koushirou must soon get back to work, and Taichi leaves to study before starting dinner. 

While it was a difficult task, Taichi did successfully get Gatomon to let them have salmon tomorrow, as they already had it yesterday. Instead, today, given the cooler weather, Taichi decided he’d prepare sukiyaki, or hot pot beef and veggies. However, Koushirou wasn’t there at his usual time, which was just after 5 PM. Taichi makes his way to the office quickly, worry building as he opens the door to reveal... Kou, just sleeping in their chair.

Taichi lets out an audible sigh and softly prods the genius awake, kissing their forehead as they wake up. 

“Rise and shine, beautiful; it’s time for dinner!”

“Mhhh… I haven’t even had breakfast yet though…?”

Taichi just laughs again and kisses them on the lips, handing Koushirou their water to help wake them up. And now, with a groggy Koushirou in tow, it was time to eat together. 

Koushirou casually greets Gatomon, who returns the greeting. After interrogating Kou on how they weren’t surprised, he was informed that Hikari texted them last night. With a pout, he accepts the answer, earning him a peck on the cheek and a thank you for the meal. Now shining brightly, he prays with them before they all dig into the food in their own unique ways. 

Taichi was voracious and saved his favorites for last; Koushirou was meticulously melding their flavors together, while Tentomon enjoyed playing with his food as Gatomon was unable to hide their enjoyment as they ate, devouring the food happily.

Soon, with dinner finished, the two Digimon go to play, Tentomon leading Gatomon to their server. 

Now, with the two lovers alone, Taichi can’t help but cling to his other half. In response, Koushirou laughs and returns the embrace, saying nothing as Taichi explores their waist casually. 

“I’ve missed you today.” Taichi breathes out, feeling his scalp being massaged as he’s held closer. 

“It was hardly even 12 hours since we last had sex; you can’t be serious." They laugh, shy and flattered at Taichi’s insatiability, saying, “At least survive until we’re in bed, okay?” Koushirou bargains, kissing his bottom jaw before softly splitting off. 

“Fiiineee, but instead we’re cuddling on the couch with a blanket on.” Taichi says, the implications clear to the two of them. Quickly they get cozy on the couch and find a good movie, snuggled close and getting very familiar as they watch the film. 

Sooner than they’d like, however, the movie ends, and as they slowly untangle from their mess of limbs, Taichi remembers the gift. Quickly standing, he walks over to the drawer and reveals the box, handing it to Koushirou. 

“What is this?” They say, beginning to slowly undo the wrapping. 

“It’s a gift for all the hard work you do; I bought it using my own money, so it may not be too great, but I hope you still enjoy it.” Taichi says, rocking on his heels as Koushirou goes faster, careful not to make a mess but wanting to quickly see what it is. Soon, all that is left is a brown box. 

Slowly, the brown box is opened to reveal a gorgeous gold necklace with a large onyx, a deep purple contrasted with bright white streaks. Koushirou immediately starts to tear up, grinning softly. Taichi immediately holds his partner, massaging their back as they squeeze tightly. 

“An onyx… It represents the birth constellation of Leo, right? Which just so happens to be the first month of August…?” They say through sniffles, overwhelmed somewhat as Taichi confirms, congratulating his love for their quick thinking. 

“Say, Tai… I suddenly feel a bit tired... Would you like to go to bed…?” Koushirou says, leaning on their love with a deep, meaningful look in their eye, and Taichi doesn’t need to be asked twice, crazy hat addicts be damned. 

@taikouvember

[letsdeerintheheadlightsuniverse]

<<Previous Chapter<<

**Masterlist**

>>Next Chapter>>

==================================

Pairing: Izzy Hands x gn!reader

Synopsis: Some bad habits are hard to break, and despite his best attempts to be kind, Izzy still manages to mess things up between you.

A/N: And we are back with the second chapter! Thank you for giving this fanfiction a chance. Every like and reblog means the world to me.

Content Warning: Self-depricating inner monologues, reference to the Kraken's torment and torture in Season 2, mutual pining and Izzy being a dick. This series is 18+, so minors dni. Go away (politely).

DISCLAIMER: PLEASE DO NOT REPOST, REPUBLISH, OR TRANSLATE MY WORK ANYWHERE WITHOUT MY EXPLICIT PERMISSION. I DO NOT OWN OFMD OR ANY OF ITS CHARACTERS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

=============================

It had to be noted that, the First Mate of the Revenge was indeed, a man of few words. And the few words that left his lips, were usually either a command or a curse. Though that was not quite strictly true when it came to addressing someone such as yourself. It had not gone unnoticed by the crew that, there was a certain softening of Izzy's tone, whenever he addressed you directly. His curses were said more in jest, than in true anger and there was something akin to fondness in his gaze, as he stared at you for longer than what was considered appropriate from a friend.

While some called Buttons a Sea Witch, perhaps it was you, who was the true magic wielder. Had you not ensnared the First Mate with your powers of compassion and competency? Though you sang no siren song like Swede, you had managed to captivate the mind and heart of the most austere person on the Revenge. If that were not the work of sorcery, then what else coukd it be?

Even now, as Izzy patrolled the deck, barking his usual commands and vulgar threats, there was no denying he kept glancing at the entrance to the hull, where you would be found within the ship's kitchen, helping Roach plan ahead for the upcoming storm.

"I mean look at him, the man's like a lovesick puppy." Lucius scoffed, as he watched the silver-haired pirate like a hawk, scrutinising over every movement and twitch with a level of surveillance that would put even the keenest-eyed night watcher to shame.

Cringing at the verbal observation, Oluwande dared to look in the general direction of the First Mate, whom had thankfully, not seemed to have paid attention to the scribe's declaration. "Sssh, Lucius. He'll hear you."

"Yeah, babe. I love you but you gotta keep your voice down." Pete agreed, taking the rope from his betrothed and making quick work of the shirked task, seeming happy enough to complete the work for them both.

Smirking at the horrified reactions, Lucius looked like a cat who had gotten the cream. Since his lover had taken charge of securing some nearby barrels, he took the opportunity to light himself a cigarette. "Good. I want him too because then, maybe if he does, he'll grow a pair of balls and actually do something about the situation."

"Have they seriously not confessed anything to each other yet?" Archie questioned, genuinely surprised that it had taken you both so long to finally couple up. In the same amount of time, she herself had managed to acquire two partners. Your dire situation did cause the pirate to question whetger or not you were absolutely useless when it came to the matter of love.

"Not according to (y/n), no."

"I wish they'd hurry up. I've got good money riding on them getting together before the next full moon." Wee John grumbled, as he carried a barrel passed the gossiping group. He had invested several coins into the outcome of your poorly-timed love life and by he'll or by high water, he was going to get a good return on his investment- even if it meant locking you and Izzy in the store cupboard himself. Hell, he'd shove you both into a burlap sack, if he thought it would boost his chances on winning the bet.

"You and me both." Archie scoffed.

He could hear them. Not clearly enough to make out what they were saying but enough to hear the sound of constant nattering. It was incessant, irritating. Like having tge constant buzz of a pesky wasp in you vicinity. Izzy longed for his days on the Queen Anne, where tge crew we focused on work, not idle chatter. Judging by the way that Lucius fellow kept glaring at him, the First Mate surmised that he was the topic of conversation. "Oi! You lot," he yelled, having finally reached the end of his patience. "I told you to prep the ship, not stand around gossiping like washer women!" leaning heavily against the railing, Izzy let out a string of curse words. Whilst not a religious man, he did ask whatever deity was listening, to give him strength and the will power to not throw someone overboard. "Fucking useless."

"Hey, Izzy."

He tensed at that familiar sound, that voice that never failed to stir something dark and wonderful within his soul. It brought to life a part of him he thought permanently dead. Turns out, it was just in a state of dormancy, waiting to be awakened at the right time. Or, at least of Izzy, the right person. "Aren't you supposed to be helping Roach lock down the pantry?" to an untrained ear, his lack of greeting might have sounded barbed and unwelcoming but you knew him better than that. The silver-haired pirate might have even gone so far as to say, you were the only one who knew him as well as himself.

The average person started a conversation with 'hello' but your dear Israel Hands was less conventional in his approach. "Yeah, we just finished. Oh, I brought you some tea. Thought you might appreciate it." you offered him one of the steaming cups of tea in yiur grasp. With a word of thanks, you both took a moment to savour the first sip, letting the warmth run through your veins and stave of tge slight chill in the air. "How's it going up here?"

"We'll be dead in the water come daybreak, if this lot don't do their fucking job right!" he all but screamed the final part of the sentence, easily earning himself a chorus of 'fuck off, Iggy' and 'we're doing our best here, dude!'

Your cheshire cat grin only grew, as you relished in the harmless feud between the crew and the First Mate. "Wow, that good, huh?" you teased, nudging Izzy with your elbow.

"Can you go down there and help 'em when you're finished with your tea? I need someone with half a braincell to check the sails are secured properly." he implored, pinching the bridge of his nose, as a migraine already started to form. Already feeling overwhelmed, the last thing Izzy needed was to add 'check the twats had correctly prepped the rigging' to his never-ending list of chores.

Sensing his palpable stress, you were quick to place a gentle hand on his shoulder in reassurance. Though public displays of affection were not common between you both, you speculated that since the pirate had not flinched but in fact, leaned into your touch, that he was comfortable with the gesture. "No problem, boss." his returned smile did not quite meet his eyes but a win was a win. You had at least eased Izzy of one burden. "How bad is the storm looking?"

When your hand eventually dropped from his arm, it took everything in Izzy's power to keep his voice steady, as he gave an answer to your question. Oh, how he longed to take your hand in his and place it back in his arm, so that he may feel your gentle warmth through the material of his shirt once more. "If Ed's calculations are correct, which they usually are, then...bad."

"Sounds like it'll be fun." you sighed, your attention now on the looming, dark grey clouds the besmirched the periwinkle skies with the promise of rain and turmoil.

While you were distracted by the landscape, Izzy was preoccupied by you. That was it, just you. There were not a multitude of opportunities in the day, where the First Mate had the chance to be this close to you. Where he could drink in your appearance, under the guise of merely being invested in your conversation. It felt wrong to him to be so infatuated with someone, who quite frankly, would never return his feelings but he was a starved man. Taking in every moment, every snippet of closeness he could get, until one day, your heart belonged to another.

Sometimes, he liked to delude himself and believe- just for a moment- that your kindness, your patience towards him, were all a hint towards you sharing his adoring sentiments. That perhaps, you could indeed fall for someone so wretched and broken as him.

The illusion never lasted long. Such fairytales of beauties falling so hopelessly in love with a beast were nothing but children's stories. The very same fairytales found in Stede's library, no doubt. And Izzy, well, Izzy was nothing if not a realist. He knew that you only tolerated him because you felt forever in his debt for saving your life. The silver-haired pirate had told you time and time again that you did not owe him anything but being as stubborn as you are, he doubted that you had paid him any mind. "Where are you staying tonight?" he asked, tone softer than he would have liked. Keeping up appearances around you was nearly impossible.

"I'm gonna bunk up with Oluwande, Jim, and Archie. They've got space on the floor of their cabin."

It was a relief, he mused, that at least you would be sleeping somewhere safe tonight, rather than in the communal space with the others. Still, Izzy could not help but wonder what it would be like, to offer you his own cabin to stay in. He would sleep on the floor, of course, he was a gentleman after all- well, that was debatable but he did possess some morals and understanding of social etiquette- and the last thing the pirate would want to do, was force you into an uncomfortable situation but no. Instead, he kept his yearnings to himself and responded in his usually curt manner. "That's good."

"What about you?" you asked, wondering if Izzy had plans on how he was going to ride out the storm. You assumed alone. Although, you felt a pang of jealously towards the non-existent crewmate, who may one day occupy the same living quarters as the man you were hopelessly besotted with. It was silly really, to feel resentment for someone who had not yet joined the team of misfit pirates and yet, it was inevitable that they would soon in the near future, waltz into Izzy's life and give him the love he most deserved. And as much as it pained you to accept your fate, you knew that could never be you.

"What about me?" he shrugged, unaware of your inner turmoil.

Correct, it could never be you who had the privilege to wake up beside him everyday or have the chsnce to call him yours. He would never see you as anything but some wounded creature he had saved from the brink of death. Certainly not worthy of courting the infamous Israel Hands. "Well-"

But before you could answer, Izzy caught sight of something. No, someone watching you both talk. Lucius. Fuck, he loathed that young man. He could not quite fathom what it was about the scribe that made his blood boil but just seeing him standing there, occasionally whispering something to Pete and smirking, as he cast a glance in your general direction, made Izzy see red.

Then it clicked. The oncoming storm. Of course. Those bastards. They knew of his past, thanks to Fang. No doubt they had told you the story too about how as a young sailor, he had not been able to keep down the contents of his stomach during a storm. Fuck, that nicknane too. You must have been revolted by him. Thought him completely and utterly pathetic. "-Look, whatever those twats have been saying, it's not true. I threw up one time-" Izzy began to defend himself, hoping it was not too late to salvage his reputation.

"-Oh, shit. No, I'm not referring to that. Fuck." you were quick to interrupt his rambling explanation. Sure, yeah, you knew the origin of his nickname, Izzy the Spewer but the story had not altered your opinion of the pirate. So, he threw up! Big deal. So had you during your first storm, and no one had bothered to call you, (y/n) the vomiter. "I just know that, storms bring up a lot of memories for some of the crew." you further explained, hoping he woukd catch the underlying meaning behind your words. "If you catch my drift?"

It took a moment but then a flicker of understanding sparked within Izzy's eyes, as he fully understand your insinuation. "Ah."

"Yeah." you smiled meekly, hoping not to trigger any unwanted memories for the pirate. All you wanted was to assure him that, if he needed comfort, you would be more than willing to provide him with comfort and company until the rain ceased and the skies became agate blue once more. "Will...will you be okay? Tonight, that is."

He knew, somewhere deep down. Deep, deep down, that your asking after his wellbeing was not an attack on his character, that you did not view him as weak for what had happened those many moon cycles ago, when the Kraken had stole him of his leg. This was your way of saying, "Hey, I'm here for you. If you need me", right?

Wrong. The poisonous voice of reasoning whispered in his ear, reminding him not to bet soft and be so sentimental. Of course you pitied him. How coukd you not? He was a disgrace. A washed up has been of a legend, who could no longer ride the coat tails of Blackbeard anymore. You were not offering him anything in the way of kindness, you were just reminding him of yet another mistake in his checkered past.

Before he could stop himself, the words left his lips and it was too late to take them back. "I'm not a fucking child, (y/n)." Izzy almost winced at how hurt you looked, as you flinched at his sudden outburst. Each time- and unfortunately, there had been more than one occasion- your pained expression left a lasting scar upon his heart. A fresh wound of regret that bled out over and over again. He did not mean to be this way with you. It was a defence mechanism, not that was much of an excuse really. Izzy should have- no, he did know- better. His sharp tongue was going to drive you away one day and he would only have hinsekf to blame. What's done was done.

There was nothing he could do, except keep up the charade and retire quickly from sight. He did not have to glance in the direction of the crew to know that they had all played witness to the entire exchange. No doubt he would have to sleep with one eye open tonight or maybe Roach would just spit in his food like last time. "Finish your tea and go fucking check the rigging. That's an order."

"Yes, boss." only minutes earlier, that nickname had been fondly used, now it just felt bitter to the taste.

Without another word, the First Mate abandoned your side and disappeared below deck.

Under the guise of work, your friends had been watching the entire exchange through side eye glances or in Lucius's case, just straight up staring.

Though idle hands appeared busy, Pete had in fact, tied the same knot several times. It was important to get everything secured ahead of the storm but in that moment, his mind was distracted. Casting a glance at the love of his life, his suspicions were confirmed, Lucius felt the same way as him- completely and utterly livid on your behalf. "Yeah, you ain't winning that money back, mate." he muttered to a frozen in rage Wee John, who merely stood holding another barrel, looking like he was contemplating throwing it at Izzy.

"Fucks sake, what a dickhead." he hissed, seemingly deciding against the idea, as he placed it with a resounding thud upon the deck.

Lucius could not stand to see you looking so hurt, as you stared longingly after the bastard who had dared upset you. The scribe knew he always teased you about your intense crush on the First Mate but it was during moments like these, where he really had to question what it was that made you so smitten with Izzy the Spewer. The man was volatile and about as pleasant as a cup of cold sick. Worst of all, this was not the first time he had stormed off after saying something cruel, leaving you to pick up the pieces of your hurt emotions. "I'm gonna go and see if they're okay."

"Maybe give it a moment, babe. Look." Pete urged his partner to take pause and watch you down your drink.

Despite wanting to abandon his post and assume the role of comforting friend, Lucius instead watched as you fought back tears and climbed the rigging, towards the crow's nest, no doubt seeking some privacy away from the watchful eyes of your friends.

"He really is the fucking worst. I genuinely do not get why (y/n) likes him so much." Archie mused, as she wondered if it was possible to find a snake at sea and put it in the bastard's bed?

With all the mysticism of a Sea Witch, the conversation was quickly intercepted by Buttons, whom decided to impart a great wisdom upon those in his vicinity. "'Love looks not with the eyes but with the mind. Therefore, is winged cupid painted blind?'"

There was a pause, as the gathered crew ruminated on his words. Well, partially ruminated. Most just sat there, looking confused or proverbially scratching their heads, unsure what to make of his revelation. Not one to admit his lack of knowledge, Lucius made a conscientious effort to nod his head and pretend he had understood the poet musings of the fellow pirate. "Right, yeah. What he said. Makes total sense."

=============================

A/N: Thank you for reading up until the end of the chapter! I look forward to updating you all with a new instalment soon. Before I go, can anyone guess where Buttons's quote comes from?

[who1ssheesh]

If you're still doing it I can't wait to see the prompt with squalos s/o being buds with Xanxus 😂

Squalo's S/O being buds with Xanxus

Pairings: Squalo/Reader, Xanxus/Reader (PLATONIC)

Notes: yes. absolutely. i live for those two idiots. This one is long af compared to Xanxus' one and I can't explain why. But I had so much fun with this, Xanxus is a soulmate in a bro-ish way????

Warnings: good ol swearing, brief mentions of sex (not much really), probably OOC and terrible english (ur not my teacher ha ha)

• First of all, holy shit that’s impressive?

• Second of all, must be mentioned that Xanxus kinda….doesn't see women as friends? He looks at them sexually right away. Or so he thought

• Third of all, Squalo gotta be terrified

• Fourth of all (that's a lot of counting) Squalo situation is not having any drama as Xanxus' does, he is a pure comedy gold and so is his relationship with you. That's what no daddy issues does to you, but what do i know

• Not comedy as if a clown comedy, but a good harsh bri'ish comedy - insert Utopia reference. Squalo is more than confident in you since you obviously date for some time for him to move in with you and therefore reveal you to his boss.

• I'll tell you a secret btw, Xanxus probably guessed he has you because Squalo is a loser cuck and started to act differently.

• I think Xanxus doesn’t give a shit enough to just bust into Squalo’s apartment for any stupid reason as if it’s his own. So if you at least haven’t heard of him as your boyfriend’s boss, you’re going to meet him in person

• Xanxus coming up and breaking your door just to nap:

🧍

• Squalo never told Xanxus where he lives, that bitch just knows

• Never in his life Xanxus expected to see one day a shmoll girl there and not hear screaming at the top of one’s lungs. He still says Squalo is a fucking virgin loser femboy ugly ass haha lol lmao, he can’t be deprived of those shitty jokes…

• I mean it, Xanxus can get pissed seeing you too being lovey-dovey but I'll expand this drama later

• Xanxus is basically your adopted stray cat, deal with it

• Squalo won't say this out loud or says this very...covertly and probably insults you along the way, but anyways he really appreciate you dealing with all that bullshit. He does indeed value strong character - you don't need to wield a big sword or shoot a gun, but going through his path even though you can be confused or scared means much. He knows a lot of cowards who can shoot a gun, so...Squalo looks much deeper than that. Shark, ocean, DEEP, get it<<<<<<</////??????? I'll see myself out.

• He is lowkey terrified but...also chill? Unlike Xanxus, he doesn't overthink (at least not much). He of course draws a line at some things - at first Squalo was really mad at his boss staying...alone....with you....at you house (he is jealous) cause Xanxus is immoral bitch and would try to fuck you if he wants to.

• Also is you start gossiping or making fun of him with Xanxus, holy shit Squalo is quick to start raging. It's one thing to gossip and laughing at some bud, but doing so about your partner is a huge red flag for him. If you have any problems. come straight to Squalo he is an adult and prefers just discussing problems.

• Well, Xanxus also will certainly not respect you for trying to spill out your bullshit on him and talking shit about his captain. He has standards. (And not because he is a little uwu girl and actually deep DEEP like ocean bottom deep cares about Squalo)

• “The fuck happened here?”, Squalo is on edge, to say the least, seeing stains of blood around the apartment and you cleaning it with a clearly annoyed expression

“So your boss-“

“My boss?!”

“-got over again”

“AGAIN???”

• So, the situation: Squalo, as a person who values trust in relationship the most, is really pissed (sad….) you’re keeping the truth away from him, and you, thinking he’s aware his boss is chilling around since…..well, Superbia is his right hand, makes sense?

• You didn’t know about their burning hate for each other. Gotta be jealous, his love to you will never be as true, fiery and emotional as his undying HATE!!!! for Xanxus

• You screaming “get a fucking room, deepshits” when they start arguing again

• You probably got Xanxus with an insult. Obviously. Sorry, you’ve signed a pact, nothing in your life will be normal again, just like your boyfriend (he’s a little unstable. Just a little)

• Xanxus haven’t been around your house for long - leaving more work for Superbia and leaving right after, quickly patching a quick wound and stealing alcohol, of course

• You’ve been quieter than a mouse, thinking you shouldn’t be involved in Squalo’s business, but one day Xanxus was noticeably not feeling good, ready to pass out, so…you helped him obviously

• Xanxus being Xanxus didn’t thank you, got pissed because air was too warm for his liking or smth and was whining that actually you did a poor job tending his wound

• “Bitch, I will kill you in your sleep?” sent him away, he honestly found this hilarious (we’re talking about your audacity here)

• You got a chuckle out of him, whick you didn't think about much at first, but a Squalo's shocked expression said everything. You can be proud

• Lowkey Xanxus doesn't separate you two together in his mind, you both are a one Superbia homunculus in his mind. Maybe that's why Xanxus with Squalo's s/o feels so....included for all three of you compared to other way around lol

• Even your jokes are on the same line istg

• Xanxus feels even...bittersweet.

• He is...kinda cautious? He knows Squalo is capable of getting out from the devil himself (remember how may times he "died" in manga lol), but you...well...he double checks every visit. Xanxus is very brutal and, unbothered and nonchalant but very smart. Makes sure no one is on his tail.

• Don't get me wrong, it's not in a sweet family way, but you kinda start having dinners together? Both are bitching around but you notice in the end they start having a human conversation instead of their regular unga-bunga

• Xanxus likes this

• Xanxus feels home

• Unlike Squalo, he can't show his devotion to save his life, so you just know there is a "useful friend of a friend that can solve some problems with a call". But I'll tell you, Xanxus will double-check if something is serious, not just throw problems as subordinates.

• Mafia is not flowers and sunshine. Those two have had a conversation "what to do if Squalo dies". Xanxus probably threw a glass at him and said to not be an idiot, but he didn't say no. You're the first person he can call at least an acquaintance, so...

• Well, that counts when we talk about older Xanxus, I'm sure he is mellowed out by that time (+ just enough time for you and Squalo to establish your relationship)

• He's not the type to get over at 2am if there's a problem lol. Maybe he can miss a call cause he's a heavy sleeper. But if anything, you have his subordinates at your place.

• He will teach you to drink. Will laugh his ass off when you fail to beat his ass at drinking competition again and Squalo is having a heart stroke on the background

• Xanxus will turn you in a copy of himself just to piss ofs Squalo lol

• You learning his mood by the intonation he says 'trash'

• Also you calling him janitor or sum in return. Varia horrified you dare to do this, and Xanxus laughing. He still shoots your way though...

• If you're not Italian, you MUST teach him swearing on your native language. Also tell him if there is any local alcohol (of course)

• "Yeah, I teached him coupla words", you laugh, looking obviously happy being a useful friend and having a surprisingly cozy chat with Xanxus.

Squalo is very confused by that. "What the fuck, but he DOES know this language already?"

• I'm sorry but so many sex jokes. Xanxus doesn't give a shit what you do there in the bedroom (until you invite him over ahaha joke unless), but he's going to be a little shit

• Xanxus is 12 yo btw.

• "Can you suck him off so he shuts the fuck up or smth?"

• LITERALLY LOOKING AT SQUALO "NO BITCHES????"

• This idiot fools around sometimes and throws 9-yo-school-bully insults lol

• "He said he wants to marry /insert random woman name/ when he grows up". 25+ y/o Squalo looking at him just:

🧍

• I hope you two have a cat. Xanxus will feed it. Raw meat and everything a fluffy boy shouldn't but it's Xanxus we're talking about. Literally a teenage edgy teen "ITS NOT A PHASE MOM" at your house.

• Naps on your bed ONLY to leave hiss smell of tabaco, whiskey and a heavy cologne. He 100% heehaws thinking about this - Squalo will NEVER be able to have sex if there is reminding him of Xanxus, like an instant turn off. You always try to complain to Xanxus about this absurd situation but start laughing to the point of crying, Xanxus becomes HYSTERICAL at these moments.

• He will teach you how to shoot. Usually he just drinks there and says you're pathetic while you try. But he keeps inviting you himself, so....Xanxus is a little sappy shit. You only use Squalo's photos as a target, so you get sad a bit and probably tell your boyfriend afterwards. He will say he wants to kill you both or smth.

• Xanxus bringing you ideas in your bed. "Hey so you can tie him up and beat to death as a foreplay".

• He will make you rank up bodies of other women he finds hot. Also if you're a girls' girl, Xanxus will ruin this completely. Basically like "just by looking at her tell be if she's a bitch"

• Xanxus enjoys if you talk shit about someone cause he is the same way.

• He will drag you into his shitty gang ideas. If Squalo could go gray-headed again, he would.

• Squalo looking at you both beaten up anf almost getting caught by the police: "why are you like this."

• To be honest, you may be having a serious talk with your man. Squalo is unironically worried, he did a LOT to keep you away from mafia but here you are. If you are very good at convincing (20 CHA lol), he can just a little bit become convinced that you getting hardened can be useful for mafia life "just in case".

• Also MAYBE he can notice the influence Xanxus has on you. Feminine clothes change to leather jackets and grunge, your knuckles even being bloody way too often, you may be smoking more frequently. Squalo is kind of chill with you finding you identity, but if you start wearing feathers in your hair HE LOOSES HIS MIND

• Xanxus will personally train you, if you ever discover your flame. They will have a fight about this with Squalo.

• Xanxus is proud of you tho. One day he will say this, I'm sure

• People know your bond, they know he does appreciate your opinion even in Varia business, and even anything happened he knows Varia is in the right hand - Squalo is more than competent and there is a little angry copy of himself so Xanxus' spirit always haunts Vongola till the end of time. hehe

• You are a badass little sis. He has never had a family, but that...feels nice.

[yansimstorythatiwillnotworkon]

#1

(For those who are deathly allergic to ocs in fan content, one of the ocs put in here isn't too important at the moment, but will be by the next week. Anyway, here's the first day of Osana's week.)

(Also, fair warning, there's a bit of cursing in here that's a tad bit more intense than in the game.)

__

April 2026, Week 1

Monday

“D-Don’t get me wrong!” Osana waved her hands to her friend as the two gossiped a tree or so away from Senpai. Ayano herself was sitting on the bench beside them. “Looks aren’t everything! For instance, I can’t get along with them if they’re as dumb as a rock! So, really, the most important thing is intelligen..”

“Musume!!”

Ayano flinched, being taken sincerely by surprise as Kashiko screamed for the self-proclaimed leader of their annoying little gang. Musume was already unbearable on her own for being such a senseless moron, but Kashiko was loud and obnoxious.

“Girl, you are not going to believe which of the long-skirted sluts are back.” Kashiko snickered, waving her phone teasingly to the taller girl.

“If this girl is so important, then why have I not heard of her?” Musume asked, crossing her arms with a lifted eyebrow.

The purple-themed girl grins, “Duh, cuz I see all the drama first? Maybe if you didn’t spend all your time in the damn plaza you’d see somethin’, too!” She shrugs, “Anyway! It’s Semaj..”

As Musume hears Kashiko whisper this, she scoffs, “Hell no, it is not Amise god damned Semaj.”

“Yes, girl, it is!” Kashiko giggled, “With how she totally quit last year, you would’ve thought that girl was dead!”

Musume rolls her eyes, “If only, huh? God, Hoshiko’s gonna be pissed to hear that Amise is back.”

“For sure! Amise always snitched on her pranks, didn’t she?” Kashiko said to her blue-themed friend, pulling out her phone.

“..where is that goody-two-shoes, anyhow?”

“Uh..” Kashiko smacked her teeth, pulling a finger up to her lips in thought. “The sewing room, I think? Pretty sure she’s chatting it up with that fugly femboy in there.”

Musume raised an eyebrow. “You mean that no-eyed weirdo?” She asked, and rolled her eyes when Kashiko nodded. “Man, she must think she’s the quirkiest girl in school, chatting it up with the loners.”

“Right?!” Kashiko cackled.

“Well, I’m gonna see what she’s been up to, then. See what I can stir up..” Musume hummed, waving her phone at Kashiko as if telling her to get back to her part of the school.

Ayano scoffs, looking back to Raibaru and Osana before realizing that they were just talking about their favorite cats instead of anything relating to Senpai. Ayano frowns, blaming those two for having screwed up her chance at learning more for her plans. In general, she hoped that she got the gist of whatever it was they were saying.

Ayano stands up but suddenly jumps at a voice behind her. “Hello, there.” She turns around, seeing a taller girl behind her. Judging from her general appearance, she assumed that she was one of the foreign kids that the Headmaster accepted in for the sake of having more students. Although Ayano didn’t recognize her.

“Hello.” Ayano responds blankly, although internally she wonders why she didn’t notice this girl approaching her. “Do I know you?” She asked, not very well attempting to hide her lack of interest.

“Well, no, but that’s why I’m here to introduce myself.” The girl puts a hand to her chest with a charming smile. “My name is Amise Semaj, I’m one of the exchange students from last year.”

Ayano nods, “Right.”

“I planned on introducing myself to all of the first years, but then I saw you and realized we hadn’t introduced each other either.” Amise hums, crossing her hands behind her back. “I guess it’s because I’ve been gone so long. But, it’s a pleasure to meet you, miss..?”

“..Ayano. Aishi.” Ayano responds, reluctantly taking and shaking Amise’s hand. It wasn’t often that anyone bothered introducing themselves to Ayano. If anything, if Ayano wanted to look good she would often have to walk up to them and do some sort of favor for them. Thankfully, the whole school was apparently made up of a bunch of morons who couldn’t do a simple essay.

Amise chuckles, “A pleasure to meet you, then, Aishi.” She says, folding her hands back behind her back. “I still have some first years to catch up on, but I hope you have a, uh..” She pauses for a moment, thinking of her next words strangely carefully. “..a productive day.” She says, before nodding and walking away.

Ayano merely hums in response, watching as Amise is suddenly shocked by Musume’s sudden appearance. Musume pulls her in for a quick and brief hug- so much so you would think that she was disgusted by it- before pulling out her phone to take a selfie of the two of them together.

Maybe that was just Amise’s thing, being popular with others, Ayano thought. It would be bad if she “witnessed” anything, then. Ayano would make sure to keep that in mind.

__

“Oh, hey! Hi!” Shoku Tsubaraya was apparently pretty popular with the other students. He was sweet, he baked often, and had an extreme passion for his club while the actual leader was away for a time.

Ayano looked around briefly as half of her attention was set on whatever Osana was saying outside. Apparently she liked the thought of joining the Cooking Club. But what good does that do Ayano? “..hi.” She replied stiffly.

Shoku cleared his throat awkwardly. “I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to you before.” He walks over to the counter and places one of the pastries on the napkin. “Do you like brownies?” He asks, holding one out to her.

“No.” The girl replies quickly as Osana and Raibaru continue on their way to the Drama Club. “I just came to look around.” She says, before swiftly leaving the room and heading for the next.

“Oh. Well, we hope to.. See you..” Shoku trails off before sighing in defeat. “..again.”

__

“Saaaaaalutations!”

Ayano frowned at how loud Tsuruzo Yamazaki’s greeting was, and he seemed to catch the hint and quiet down just a tad bit.

Raibaru spoke to Osana gently outside of the club room, and Ayano turned her gaze back to the purple haired fellow. “Hello.”

“Quite indifferent, aren’t you, my dear?” Tsuruzo lifts his hand up to his chin, smiling in thought as he looks Ayano up and down. “..actually… I think I recognize you! Gosh, who’s class were you in last year…”

Ayano quickly tuned Tsuruzo out before Osana explained that the Drama Club “wasn’t her type” of company. Rightfully so, the lot of them were insufferable for the most part.

The blank-faced girl blinks as Tsuruzo snaps his fingers in front of her. “Hello? Were you listening?”

“Ah, no. I spaced out. Sorry.” Ayano apologized half-heartedly.

With a sigh and a wry smile, Tsuruzo puts his hands on his hips. “I was asking your name, my dear.”

“Ayano Aishi.” As soon as she introduced herself, Tsuruzo’s expression lit up.

He laughs, “I knew I knew you! You were the one who fainted at the beginning of the year, weren’t you?” He recalls. Ayano frowns a bit in displeasure at the embarrassing thought.

Her fainting was the very first day that Ayano ever saw Taro. It made sense to her to be overwhelmed, although she told the nurse that she was simply feeling sick that day. Still, it was shameful that that was Taro’s first time noticing her. How embarrassing…

Tsuruzo on the other hand seemed quite pleased by the news he’d recalled. He didn’t seem to be laughing at Ayano specifically. Or at least, not for fainting like an idiot. “That was such a cute little act you put on! Good on you for getting out of classes for the rest of the day!” He smiled and Ayano blinked, a bit shocked.

It was true that she was allowed to just wander the school for the rest of the day thanks to that little incident. According to the guidance counselor she just needed some time to get used to her surroundings, since the day was “bound to be overwhelming” for some. Was that how people saw that day? Her trying to get away from classes?

Before Ayano could think any further, she noticed that Osana and Raibaru were departing this part of the hallway. “I’m going to go.” She says briefly, but Tsuruzo stops her.

“Ah-ah-ah, one moment.” He pulls a rose pin from his hair and hands it to Ayano. “The drama club could use such a good actress. I’m sure our leader would be pleased to have you.” He claims, before lifting a hand up to Ayano’s chin. “You also have an incredibly adaptable face.. I’d say you’re a perfect fit.”

Ayano pulled her face back, not entirely knowing what he meant by “adaptable”, but continuing on her way with a quiet, “Right..”

“Ah, think about it, Aya!” Tsuruzo calls. “You have a face fit for the spotlight!”

__

“O-Oh.” Shin turns, surprised by Ayano’s visit, but not shocked by her sudden appearance. “..hello, there.” Shin Higaku had a quiet, almost half-assed demeanor if you looked at it a certain way.

Amise was sure that to most people who looked at him he was just shy, maybe even intimidating due to his height. But as far as Ayano could tell, he just didn’t want to be here.

The entire club was very quiet, calm. The few members that were there were simply reading or chatting quietly about something. If anything, if Ayano were to join and was forced to attend an activity to stay in it, she would probably prefer it be in a club with a bunch of anxious losers.

Ayano looked behind her, noticing that she was able to see the hallway from inside the clubroom, although she didn’t know if it was actually one-way. She saw Osana speaking with Raibaru and talking about how creepy the club was. That much Ayano had to agree with. If the club lost the pentagrams it might be seen as some sort of reading club, which would likely be more popular.

“Your club looks interesting. I’ll consider joining.” Ayano says briefly, before tailing Osana upstairs.

“Farewell..” Shin says quietly, a bit louder now that Ayano was leaving.

__

“What? Whaddya want? Why are you interrupting me?!” Gema huffs, barely looking up to Ayano, and only having acknowledged her after she tapped him on the shoulder.

Ayano furrowed her eyebrows, but continued with her question. “What do you do in this club?” She asked.

“Uhh, can you not tell by the name?! What, do you have brain damage or something?!” He crosses his arms, although this only proves to make him look smaller due to his hunched over position. “I bet you came to look down on us, huh? Because we have a different hobby than you?! Actually, you don’t even do anything, do you? What, is staring at the sky more entertaining than practicing your hand-to-eye coordination? Is tha–”

“--what are the benefits to joining your club?” Ayano rephrases, hardly having the energy to refrain from rolling her eyes at his ranting. Even if there was some major benefit, Ayano would likely look for quite literally anyway to get it instead of dealing with Gema as her leader.

Gema raised an eyebrow, but eventually looked back to his game. “You know, since we’ve got tons of different games you can probably, uh.. “Boost your stats” in different aspects and whatnot. Like.. if you want to learn more about biology or writing or something or other, just play a specific game and you’ve pretty much got all the information you need.” He shrugs, no longer interested in conversing with Ayano.

“Right.” Ayano exhales, being released from Gema’s shrill voice only to be subjected to Osana’s whining about how playing games was childish. Ayano didn’t often play games, but considering how many games there were about murder, she thought differently.

“I’m going to move to the next club now.” Ayano comments, although as expected Gema doesn’t even bother to respond.

__

Ayano nearly winced when Budo spotted her. Even his general demeanor made him look… “loud”.

“Welcome to the Martial Arts Club!” And loud he was. “What brings you here?” Budo Masuta asks, holding out a hand for a hand shake.

Ayano reluctantly takes his hands, and gets a very firm shake in return. He was most certainly strong- and possibly the most fit person in Akademi. She could tell that much because of his height and build. Even with the knowledge she was taught about taking people down, Ayano would surely struggle- maybe even fail- against Budo in a one-on-one.

“I’m looking around. Deciding on if I’d like to join a club just yet.” Ayano responded. Despite having a distaste for Budo’s loud persona, she was still capable of holding a conversation with him.

Budo smiles, “Guess that’s my time to promote, then, huh?” He puts his hands on his hips, making himself seem even larger than before. “We study hand-to-hand techniques and specialize in self-defense.” He explains. “We’re not interested in starting fights, of course, but if anyone ever wanted to start one with us, we’d know how to not only defend ourselves, but fight back and apprehend the assailant as well!” He explains.

“That’s just the simple stuff, though. I’m sure our club can be of interest to you if you’re ever paranoid of.. Maybe walking home alone at night, or just have a problem with those delinquents out there.” Budo jabs a finger out the window to outside because that’s where the infamous delinquents usually hung out.

Ayano looks away in thought, catching that Osana wasn’t too interested in the Martial Arts Club either. How picky. As Ayano is thinking, Budo speaks up again in a slightly quieter tone.

“Sorry if I’m coming off a bit strong. I’m often told that I scare possible club members more than their own anxieties.” He explains, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Mm.” Ayano watches as Osana and Raibaru head towards the light music club. “I’ll think about it.” She responds briefly, making Budo’s expression light up.

“Great! Drop by anytime you’d like to spar with us!” He waves as Osana exits the clubroom.

__

“Yo!” Miyuji Shan, the current Light Music Club leader waved, putting down her guitar and standing up to greet Ayano. Before Ayano could respond, though, Miyuji smiles. “Hey, you’re pretty cute! But I think some red dye would totally make you rock that hairstyle!” She comments, pumping her fist a bit with a bright smile.

Ayano looks at her ponytail, messing with the end of it briefly. She wondered if Taro would like her better with some hair dye. If he liked Osana so much, maybe she could dye it orange? “..if you’re implying that I should become the red color to your band, just know that I’m no good with instruments.”

“Ha! You caught on to me, didn’t you?” Miyuji giggles. “Ah, well, it was worth a shot!” She shrugs. “But don’t worry about your experience- we can teach you everything! Hell, one of our members is sort of like a, uh- a jack-of-all-trades type card, y’know? She can teach you whatever instrument you’re interested in.”

Ayano hears Osana talk about how she wouldn’t want to join a club if she had no experience. She scowled, upset that she and her rival would think the same about anything. Except for how amazing Taro is, at the very least.

Miyuji lifts an eyebrow at Ayano’s lack of response, but shrugs and pulls a pin out of her pocket. “Well, that wasn’t a no, so take this and come back if you’re ever feeling it, alright?” Miyuji suggests, putting the pin in Ayano’s hand.

“..right.” Ayano nods briefly, tailing Osana and Raibaru over to the Art Club.

__

“Oh, hi.” Geiju Tsuburaya, apparently the brother of Shoku despite their varying appearances.

“What do you do in this club?” Ayano asks, folding her arms as she looks around briefly. There was all sorts of paint, good for making a mess, she assumed. She then looked at the painting smock that Geiju was wearing. That would be useful if she wanted to cover up some blood.. But she’d likely have to join the club in order to get it.

“We paint. We sculpt. We craft.” Geiju says irritatingly briefly.

Ayano looks around some more, noticing plenty of tapes, canvases, box cutters, pens.. A lot of items for a lot of uses. Despite the irritatingly silent leader, this club might be of good use, Ayano thought.

Geiju looks away briefly from his canvas. “Joining us?” He asked, although as Ayano looked away in thought, he turned back to his canvas.

“Maybe..” Ayano says quietly. Geiju nods in understanding as Ayano heads to the next club after Osana.

__

“Oh, hey!” Fureddo welcomes Ayano brightly, standing up from the table and stepping out of his club’s little curtain room to converse with her. “Welcome to our little getaway, heh.”

“Hello.” Ayano greets blandly, looking around the room. The clubroom was littered with random photos. Some looked to be very old school photos before they had decided to make the school a little more lively with other decorations. Some were of students last year, 3rd years who were off to college by now, and of course plenty of hangouts with the club itself. It seemed… welcoming, but not of any use.

Fureddo chuckles, placing a hand on his hip. “I recognize that look. Doesn’t look real professional, does it?” He asks, tapping his fingers against his hip with a wry smile. “Can’t say that it is, Yan-Chan.” He admits, before adding in a quiet voice, “Can I call you Yan-Chan?”

“No.” Ayano says in a dead tone, very much hinting to Fureddo that she was serious.

The photographer snaps his fingers with a nervous grin, “Got it…” He then continues with his previous statement. “Well, if I had to explain my club honestly, I’d say that it’s really just a place for us to have fun. You know, chill out..” He nods to the snacks on the table, “Pig out, make friends.. memories.. All that good jazz.”

Despite Fureddo’s friendly demeanor, Ayano only frowned. “So no benefits.” She guesses, crossing her arms.

“Nothin’ but the keys to the vending machines and a free camera.” Furredo shrugs. As he does, Osana can be heard loudly complaining about how she would rather join a club that takes itself seriously.

“Valid opinion.” Furredo comments, smiling, before lowering his voice. “But an awful loudmouth, isn’t she?”

Ayano scoffs, “I’m sure she’d be just as loud if I put tape over her mouth.” She claims, making Fureddo burst out laughing. He clearly didn’t expect such intense sarcasm from someone who was usually so bland.

“You’re fun, Aya-Chan.” Furredo chuckles, nodding to a box on the floor. It was labeled “cameras”, no doubt for all of his nonexistent future club members. “Even if you don’t wanna join, you’re always welcome to come hang whenever.”

Ayano nods at his statement, “I’m going now.” She says, leaving the room as Furredo bids her a last goodbye.

__

Info-Chan: Do you think I should give her a little jumpscare on her phone?

Info-Chan: You’d have to record it for me, though.

Yan-Chan: I am busy.

Info-Chan: You’re no fun.

Info-Chan texted her as soon as Osana started talking about just how weird the disappearance of the Info Club was. Ayano was subtly interested, simply because she knew nothing about her “accomplice”. That thought, though, quickly became just as uninteresting due to remembering that she did, in fact, have a job to do.

That job involved learning this brat’s interests, according to Info-Chan. This had all better be worth it with how much running around and socializing seemed to come with this particular task.

__

“Welcome.. To my lair!” Kaga Kusha, the infamous science club leader, welcomed Ayano as he opened his arms, as if she were to bask in his glory. Instantly, though, he shrunk back to his hunched over position and cleared his throat. “I-I mean, the science club. Ahem. What do you seek?”

Ayano blinks, unamused at whatever excuse of a “personality” this was meant to be, and looks away. “I’m just looking around.”

“Mm.” Kaga turns his back to Ayano, focusing instead on whatever it was he was working on. “Yes, well, come to me if you wish to join. You’d make an excellent test subject- erm.. An alright club member.”

Osana seemed to be paranoid about one of their devices blowing up. That sounded like a wonderful idea. If joining the science club gave her the ability to simply blow up her rival, then this stupid childhood friend could be gone sooner than she’d anticipated.

“Loud girl..” Kaga huffed, frowning at Osana’s remarks. “..our inventions do not blow up.. Or at least.. They haven’t… in at least a, uh.. Two years. When I first started attending Akademi. It was my fault.” He assured Ayano, although this only proved to heighten her disinterest in the club.

Ayano takes a long look around the room, attempting to find anything else that interests her. She spotted some sort of android that a student was working on, whatever weird changing room they had, and a small circular.. Thing. “What’s that?” She asked, pointing to it on one of the tables.

“Eh? Oh, that thing.” Kaga takes a couple of quick strides over to the item and lifts it up, turning it upside down. “Right, right, it’s, uh… I think this is Homu’s little.. Friend or other. Who knows. It cleans the floors. Liquid, that is, so it’s no good to the club.” Kaga claims, waving his hand dismissively and putting the item back down.

“What all does it clean?” She asks, looking at the robot curiously.

“Ah, y’know… water. Uh.. juice, I suppose, although it might gunk up the systems.. Not honey or… well, not anything too thick and not anything too sticky. I’d say honey about draws the line. Maybe.” Kaga shrugs, “Just ask Homu, she probably knows.”

Ayano frowns, clearly disliking Kaga’s unwillingness to answer any of her questions genuinely. “..right.” She sees Osana and Raibaru leaving, and takes that as her cue to leave as well. “..I’m leaving.”

“Yes, yes, have fun..” Kaga waves his hand dismissively as Ayano leaves.

__

Itachi sighs, tossing a towel around his neck as he approaches the waving Ayano. “What do you want?” He asks in his intimidating deep voice, crossing his arms.

“I’m looking for a club to join. I’d like to hear about yours.” Ayano explains simply as Itachi subtly catches his breath.

“Hmm, well..” He turns to the rest of the club, who were still running back and forth on the track. “We run in the morning, swim in the afternoon. It’s tough training- not just any novice can join and get good quick.” He rubs the towel on his face as he continues. “No one’s going to stop if you fall behind, but if you can keep up, you’re bound to improve. Practice makes perfect, as they say.”

Ayano nods, thinking it over. Osana claims that it would be strange being the only female in the club, but having a bat at Ayano’s hand would be very useful. “Do you use any of the other sports equipment in the gymnasium?” She asks, thinking of the dumbbells, the weight, the baseball bat.. All of those were dangerous enough to be useful to her.

“Not often.” Itachi shrugs. “We used them more when our old leader was in charge, but she’s away right now, so we just stick to the simple stuff. If you’re interested in it, you’re free to grab what you want, but it’s not likely that we’ll bother with it.” He explains.

“Got it. I’ll consider joining.” Ayano responds, and Itachi nods before turning to his club and beckoning them back to the changing rooms.

__

“Oh, hello, there Aya-Chan.” Uekiya beams at the lower classman. “It’s so nice of you to stop by. Are you interested in joining?” She asks, smiling sweetly at her.

“I’m looking at all the clubs available.” Ayano responds simply, and Uekiya nods with a smile.

“Well, I assure you that the gardening club is a perfect place for you to not only learn about plants, but enjoy taking care of them in a comfortable area. All of us members of the gardening club can always help you with anything you're confused about as well. Anytime you need, dear.” Uekiya explains as sweetly as ever, resting a hand over her heart with a soft smile.

“...and, what sort of tools do you have in the shed?” Ayano asks, nodding to the shed just behind Uekiya. The gardening leader smiles wryly, but answers.

She hums in thought, “A shovel for dirt, an axe for any weeds or thick vines, clippers for the same reason… rat poison to get rid of pests and.. So on and so forth.” She shrugs. “Why? Do you need something in there?”

Ayano shakes her head. “Not right now.” She pauses, realizing that that was a bit of a strange thing to say and then adding. “I don’t think I’d need it if I haven’t joined yet.”

Uekiya giggles. “That’s right, isn’t it? Well, if you’re ever interested just come to me and we’ll get you a lovely little flower of your choice, alright, dear?” She hums, patting Ayano’s shoulder gently.

“Right.” Ayano nods. In a way, she can see why Osana would feel so comfortable with joining this club. Uekiya seemed like a people pleaser, so it’s normal for her classmates to feel comfortable around her, Ayano assumed. “I’m going to get to class now.”

“Of course. I’ll have to get going here pretty soon as well. Have a nice day, Aya-Chan!” Uekiya waves with a pleasant-as-usual smile.

__

Ayano’s first day of the week was nothing short of disappointing. She followed all of Info-Chan’s advice, and yet in the end it amounted to nothing. What was she supposed to do with her likes and dislikes? Get into her good graces?

But then what about her bodyguard? That damned pigtailed martial arts god? Was she supposed to just spontaneously gain every ounce of strength that she needed to defeat her?

Budo could be of help in that case, considering that he was the only one able to defeat Raibaru. But even with his and her own combined knowledge of fighting, there were so many strings attached.

Joining the Gardening, Sports and maybe even the Light Music club would allow her to walk around with something dangerous without being seen as some delinquent or someone with malicious intent.

Additionally, the Light Music, Cooking and maybe even the Photography Club could help her seem somewhat pleasing to her peers by joining in friendly, sociable acts. 

The Drama and Occult Club could be good for hiding herself, considering the Occult Club’s general reputation and the Drama Club’s equipment.

And of course there’s the Science Club’s items, the Martial Arts Club’s general knowledge, and the Gaming Club’s… assets? All of these clubs could be of use in some way or another, but is it really worth going through all the effort?

According to Info-Chan, Ayano only had four more days to figure out some sort of elimination method, but from the looks of it, four days just wasn’t enough time.

Ayano sighs, standing up from behind the bush as Taro enters his home. As she does, there’s a sudden chime from her phone, indicating that Info-Chan had messaged her.

Info-Chan: I see that you realize how much of a bust your first day was.

Yan-Chan: Did you even have a plan when you made me do all of that?

Info-Chan: Of course, I had plenty.

Info-Chan: You’re just so slow.

Info-Chan: If you’d picked up the pace, I would’ve been able to give you the rest of my plan.

Info-Chan: I guess you really don’t want to get rid of Osana.

Yan-Chan: Don’t antagonize me.

Yan-Chan: You’re playing around with me, aren’t you?

Info-Chan: I’m only being honest.

Info-Chan: Maybe pick up the pace tomorrow, and we’ll see what we can do.

Info-Chan: Capiche?

Yan-Chan: Fine.

Although wondering if Info-Chan wanted to see Osana suffer or herself, she clearly had no time to fool around and find out. If she was going to get anything done, she had to hurry up and head back home.

It was a shame Ayano and Senpai lived so far from each other. It always took so long to get from his place to hers. But seeing him get home safe was worth it in Ayano’s eyes.

[yudaisgirl]

i like him.

i never meant to,

never expected it.

hes just a classmate,

just someone who sits in front of me in class,

someone i’ve shared notes with,

laughed with,

complimented his cologne like it was nothing.

but today,

when i begged him to let me draw on his arm

and saw the way his hazel eyes flickered,

i knew.

i like him.

i used to think it was all about friendship,

the comfort of the quartet we’ve become

always together in class,

never really stepping outside the boundaries.

we don’t talk outside of class,

we don’t hang out,

we don’t get personal.

just joke, gossip, share answers,

and go our separate ways.

simple. safe.

that’s what i told myself.

but today,

something shifted.

when i begged him,

"let me draw on your arm,"

a silly request,

but one i had to make.

i wanted to get closer to him,

to feel that moment of contact,

even if it was just for a second.

at first, he said no.

i was used to it, used to his dismissive laughs,

but i didn’t stop.

i kept asking,

kept nudging him,

and seven rounds of rock-paper-scissors later,

he finally gave in.

i drew a cat —

a simple doodle,

but it wasn’t about the drawing.

it was about his skin beneath my fingers,

the closeness,

the fact that he let me.

that was more than i’d ever expected.

his hazel eyes flickered away from mine,

as they always do,

but today, they caught the light differently.

i noticed it for the first time,

how beautiful they were.

soft, warm,

the kind of eyes you could get lost in.

they implied something i didn’t understand,

something more than just a classmate,

something deeper,

something i could never put into words.

i like him.

but i know better than to say it.

we don’t talk outside of class.

we never have,

and we never will.

hes just a classmate,

just someone who sits in front of me,

someone i share space with,

someone i thought i knew,

but today, i realize i don’t.

i’ve always been more drawn to asians,

that’s always been my type,

my preference.

but here he is,

with messy hair from soccer during lunch,

and hazel eyes that are too pretty for me to ignore.

we don’t talk outside of class,

and i know i can never change that.

he’ll never know how i feel.

i’ll never tell him,

because we’re just friends.

we’re just the quartet,

sharing answers,

laughing at inside jokes,

never stepping outside the classroom walls.

and i’ll just keep pretending it doesn’t matter.

i can already hear it in the back of my mind

the way our friends ship me with the one sitting next to him,

the one that matches my freak a bit too well,

who always ends up being the focus of their jokes,

the one everyone assumes i’ll end up with.

they never expect me to be with him,

not with the way things are,

not with how i should be with the person beside him.

i can already hear them laughing about it —

the two of us, the academic duo.

but it’s never been like that for me,

and maybe it never will be.

they’ll never see what i see when i look at him.

not that it matters.

but deep down, i know:

i like him.

and maybe that’s the biggest secret i’ll ever keep.

[fluffypotatey]

Macaque Book Club AU

He’s the only one asides from Tang probably who has read JTTW. So in his little book club because let’s be honest, between the theatre and the graffiti lego set, he seems like the kind to have a couple modern day hobbies in the arts like your grandma who has a bunch of friends to gossip with at the knitting meet or the greenhouse. He’s the only monkey actually using his human disguise actively so, I imagine they get together at the local library, someone brings refreshments Macky is allergic to by virtue of being a monkey but they get him addicted to (insert snack/drink of your choice) and he gets into fandom discourse at the book club with someone whose like “the 6EM from the book was a one off villain who died ages ago, get over it” but to him, on the worst nights it all comes back. (And maybe this is recently right after Shadow Play so.) oh wait pff, we’re going to need a new recent trigger I forgot he gets kidnapped right after 😭 okay so maybe this person is what pushes him to write the play. I hope you know the exact like of fandom discourse I’m talking about bc I’m really pulling from people who are like??? why are you hyperfixated on this one thing? And maybe Tang eventually puts the pieces together about who this guy is. I also can’t help but start thinking about how lonely Macky might actually be, because you’d THINK he’d be the anti social one but Wukong is the one isolating himself for a thousand years with 13 cats, I mean a bunch of baby monkeys. Meanwhile, Macranberry is out there in Six Earred Hearing Hell in the city and super chatty whenever we see him. He wasn’t as chatty around the Brotherhood. Only with Wukong as needed who was full out dancing on the tables lol, things change eh? Even defeating the smoke monster feels like an attempt at catching up to your friend who got a real job while you’re just starting college. (Aka when Wukong and his shiny new hero legend status sealed the Bull King.) He says there was nobody who could stop the two of them in the Celestial Realm or on earth but we know that 1) Macky doesn’t like the Celestial Realm. 2) They definitely weren’t spending all day there back then with the overthrowing plotting and also got defeated hard. 3) They weren’t actually vigilante heroing back then if Wukong picked up his demon defeating status after the journey. 4) Would Macky ever do that on his own or was it always with Wukong until he tried it out post-resurrection like everything else presumably new about him. He probably meant “nobody could stop Wukong’s mischief that I helped him out with but he mostly did all the big things like immortal peach stealing and the book of the dead himself and I was there for uh, moral support. And baffled that he did that. But I’m going to pretend to MK that we were a cool team and equals and this wasn’t just a precursor to our eventual fall out. Sorry Mr. “yeah you always did have a sidekick kinda vibe.”

careful, anon, he could hear you 👀

but lmao i love this au!!!! also, since Tang is in the same book club as Macky (and i kinda want them to always get into “scholarly” debates when it comes to jttw because it’s Tang’s favorite book and….well, Macky has a monkey problem…..), Tang is invited by Macky to the shadowplay, so end of 2x07 is basically

MK: uh…so that’s Macackle— Tang: MY BOOK CLUB NEMESIS WAS FHE SIX EARED MACAQUE THIS WHILE TIME??? MK: yeah, he— sorry, book club? Tang: THAT BITCH HE FUCKING LAUGHED AT MY ANALYSIS ON THE MONK AND WUKONG!!

and then you’ll just have Tang screaming at Macky throughout s3 about how he must answer for his “crimes” of withholding valuable academic information (3x08 is just them arguing about the content in jttw but it’s not actually about jttw rather about Macky himself and his blind anger obscuring his memories. they just use the book as a cover for the true conversation)

[frodothefair]

Mr. Nisile and I watching Bridgerton: the season 3, part 2 edition

@konartiste

Episode 5:

Mr. Nisile: Kate looks so much like my former classmate, it's uncanny. Me: Yeah, and Anthony looks like my weird friend from med school. Mr. Nisile: and they both had a propensity to share really awkward things with us. Like, didn't (the weird friend from med school) once text you "just had sex"? Me: I don't know. If he did, I probably repressed that.

Mr. Nisile on Anthony, Benedict and Colin talking: Ok, this whole scene is just collars talking to collars.

Daphne the cat is on Mr. Nisile's knee during the mirror scene: Daphne, we must look away for scenes like this. (And then, Daphne actually does look away :P)

Mr. Nisile: You know, this might have been said before, but Penelope probably actually fit the beauty standards of the time far better than most of the people cast in this show. Me: Yes, indeed. There is fatshaming of Penelope even in the book, but in fact, it's quite anachronistic. It was not until the late 19th century that thinness became chic because... *goes off on a tirade that is far too long to document here*

Mr. Nisile: It would've been funnier if Lord Greer had announced his conditions backwards: if he had led with the 4-5 children and Cressida was like, "ok, ok, this I can do," but then only one ball per month, and Cressida is like "shiiiiiiiit" and then the coup de grace is the grey and brown dresses.

Episode 6:

When John Stirling announces his and Francesca's engagement, a few of the chords in the music that follows sound suspiciously like the Fellowship theme from LOTR. Mr. Nisile upon hearing this: NO, NO, NO! YOU CAN'T DO THAT! Me: wha, did I just hear what I think I heard?! Mr. Nisile: You can't SHIRE THE TON! YOU CAN'T FELLOWSHIP THE BRIDGERTONS! Me: what are you talking about, that was excellent! Mr. Nisile: THAT JUST RANKLED ME IN THE RELIGION! Me: Ok, that is one for the Mr. Nisile-isms post, once my nails dry. Mr. Nisile: Ok, fine. But I'll be right back. I need to use the bathroom -- when you get rankled in the religion, it tends to loosen up the bladder.

Mr. Nisile on Cressida Cowper's red dress: That dress looks like a red spinnaker. Me: what's a spinnaker? Mr. Nisile: (looks is up and shows me -- it is a type of sail) Oh. Yeah. Ok.

Me when Cressida Cowper shows up at a ball after she reveals herself as Lady Whistledown: And all the while, Ms. Malhotra is in the background going :D, and that is my favorite thing in this episode so far.

Episode 7:

All of the below are from Mr. Nisile:

You know, Cressida needs some better editing. I could write better than her. I could be Lady Whistledown, that could be my new drag name.

The schism of the ton!

Well, at least this Lady Whistledown is better composed than a crummy tweet.

That outfit is like a Rorschach test for flamingoes.

You know, with how autistic-coded Stirling is, I'm glad the Bridgerton brothers didn't try harder to convince him to "declare himself" by throwing rocks at a window. He might have gone and actually done it.

You know, carriage drivers probably have the best gossip. I wonder why no one thought that Lady Whistledown was a carriage driver.

Ok, you want to talk about anachronisms? Colin's black light vest. It looks like it came from a laser tag studio. (This is in response to me having eagle eyes for any part of a period piece drama that is anachronistic).

Episode 8:

Mr. Nisile on Colin's home decor: Those houses have co-lors.

Mr. Nisile on Colin and Eliose talking: I would be more comfortable wearing what she's wearing than what he's wearing. I mean, he's got like two cravats and three collars, and a woolen coat. I would be sweating like a pig in July.

Mr. Nisile on the introduction of Michaela Stirling: wait, are they (Eliose and Francesca) just in awe of her overwhelming femininity or something? Me: (sitting on my hands and aggressively not saying anything because I have read the books and he has not, and I know what the deal is with Michaela Stirling)

Eventually, I did tell him about Michaela Stirling, and then he felt vindicated because he thought he saw an intimate moment between Francesca and Penelope in the first part of the season, and thought they were trying to code Francesca as queer all along.

[neriyon]

Hey look, an idea I stole from @zylphiacrowley (chain of idea stealing haha), feat. very startled Hawu'li. More details for each relationship under the cut for anyone curious.

Tataru: She and Hawu'li are very close friends, all the way from the first days he spent with scions. They like to hang out, talk (mostly gossip) about stuff over tea, and while other scions take to Tataur's big moneymaking plans with a healthy dose of caution, Hawu'li is always ready to go do anything she asks. She's also the one Hawu'li usually goes to when he needs some advice or just someone to listen to his woes.

Y'shtola: I've mentioned this before but she reminds Hawu'li of his older sisters. They used to be on purely professional terms up till ShB, and have since made steady progess to become friends. The two of them can usually be found reading books in a same room or chatting about Y'shtola's research (Hawu'li is always curious to learn more).

Lyse: I actually first marked her as a friend, but then remembered Hawu'li is a Gridania starter so uh, family it is. Lyse has kinda decided to take the role of a caring big sister/mother figure by herself - despite being only 2 years older. These two lively idiots (affectionate) do get along well, and occasionally send letters now that Lyse is busy with Ala Mhigo stuff.

Estinien: "Boyfriend of my boyfriend" haha. They both date Aymeric, so they are part of the polycule together, despite not having too much romantic feelings towards eachother. They do trust and appreciate eachother a lot, and are in some sort of friends with benefits status. Hawu'li's can be a bit much for Estinien at times, but it's pretty common to see them sharing some casual contact which Estinien seems to like after spending time alone. They also share the single idiotic braincell over money related things (do not let them to the market without supervision!)

Thancred: Kinda between close friends and regular friends tbh. I feel like Thancred would get annoyed by Hawu'li's energy levels, but he'd also be smart enough to just dump the catboy on someone else when in need of some peace and quiet. Hawu'li finds him pretty nice and trusts him a lot, but does not really appreciate that Thancred prefers to keep him in the dark about most things - meanwhile Thancred feels he's a good kid but a bit too young and airheaded to be trusted with everything.

Ryne: Cat sees teenager, cat adopts teenager. While not as close as with twins, Hawu'li happily treats Ryne as part of the family and takes care to check in on her regularily after ShB. He often brings her gifts and books, staying over for some coffee and biscuits to talk about how scions are doing. Ryne tends to come to Hawu'li about any relationship troubles, and when she and Gaia start going out he's the first one to hear about it (and congratulate them, haha)

Minfilia: This is an intersting one, since Hawu'li usually befriends everyone quickly (if they want to be befriended). But somehow Minfilia's position as the leader of Scions made Hawu'li kinda hesitant to bother her too much, so kinda like with Y'shtola, their relationship stayed pretty professional. In hindsight, Hawu'li definitely regrets he didn't get to know her more.

G'raha: Boyfriends! As close as can be, spending lot of time together. Reading, talking about anything interesting they've learned, visiting new places, going on dates… pretty much anything. G'raha has great tolerance for Hawu'li's clingyness and doesn't mind some pda, so Hawu'li tends to stick to him a lot. Also just cat things: they will often knock their heads together and even start playfighting every now and then.

Alphinaud: Little brother! While more snobbish during ARR, Hawu'li does see some of himself in the boy, and does his best to keep him safe and help him however he can. Likes to gently tease Alphi (usually with Alisaie), but will be uncharacteristically ready to throw down with anything threatening his lil bro (he may or may not have growled at Fourchenault when he was talking about disowning twins).

Alisaie: Little sister and partner-in-mischief! Like with Alphi, they are very close and protective of eachother, with the exception that Alisaie seems as ready to fight to protect Hawu'li as he does to protect twins. They often tease Alphi together, or go channel their excess energy in some friendly sparring. Or run off to see who can climb some trees faster.

Urianger: Hawu'li likes him a lot, but unfortunately can only understand him like 30% of the time. However he's just happy to sit there listening anyway, and usually Thancred or Y'shtola know to check if he actually got the important parts. They like eachother's company, and somehow just hanging out with Urianger seems to calm Hawu'li down a lot, which has been a godsent to everyone.

Krile: Still a pretty new friend, but one that Hawu'li is eager to get to know more. He is however tiiiiiny bit nervous about it, since Krile and G'raha are clearly close, and he really really really wants to get well along with his boyfriend's close friend. Krile thinks he's a nice lad, and hopes he'd relax a bit and drop the random bouts of overly polite behaviour.

[happyk44]

ShinBaku have been dating in private for a while. The nature of Shinsou's job means the less coverage he gets, the better so no public photos, no confirmed status, no PDA. Which is fine by Bakugou, who lives life privately anyway.

But unfortunately it doesn't last. About 3 months in, some obsessive fan posts photos of Bakugou with some purple-haired guy at the grocery store. Bakugou is wearing a mask, a fucking Red Riot hat and Shinsou's stupid cat sweater.

Not his typical look but apparently some fans are Deku levels of obsessed.

It wouldn't be so bad, but they're holding hands quite openly. It's only a small series of photos but the amount of excitement it generates puts Shinsou on a temporary leave while his agency and Bakugou's agency try to figure out how to tamp down the wild speculations that Bakugou is dating someone.

Already the gossip rags are wondering if Shinsou's a hero. If he was a fellow classmate. They're scrawling through everything. Shinsou's existence as a public person has been pretty wiped clean. He stopped competing in sports festivals. On paper he was still a general studies student. His agency doesn't technically "exist" and all paperwork says it's a subset of Bakugou's agency. An administrative wing.

It's hard to find any official info on who he is, but in the meantime his picture is out there with the assumption he's dating a Pro. If anyone he'll ever interact with undercover sees it, his underground career is over.

Sure he could probably still work as a Hero, maybe more on the rescue side of things. Helping coax scared kids from burning buildings and whatever.

But he likes underground work. It's comfortable and he's worked hard to become top ten in his agency within the last three years. His Quirk is valuable to them.

It would suck if he had to transfer out.

He's bitching about this to Aizawa. Drunk off his ass and missing Bakugou who he has seen or spoken to for two weeks. On the advice of both their agencies. It's still shit.

Bakugou's his boyfriend.

If he wants to drag him to his apartment and rail his ass into next Sunday, he should be allowed. Aizawa just nods vaguely and tries to trick him into drinking water instead of pure vodka.

It doesn't work. Shinsou downs four more shots, whines some more then crashes on his bed.

So when he wakes up the next day at 3pm to the news wildly freaking out about Bakugou's new boyfriend, he is so confused.

The press conference was 9am. Aizawa is standing next to Bakugou. They're holding hands. Bakugou's is saying stuff but none of it is processing.

Was he just dumped on national television?

For his fucking Sensei? What the hell?

There's a series of texts. Some from his friends, just as confused as he is, one from Aizawa that he childly ignores, and a few from Bakugou.

Firecracker Booty: Yo, wake the fuck up. Firecracker Booty: This is why you shouldn't drink. You have the stupidest ideas. Firecracker Booty: My fucking PR agent heard him talking about it with me and is rolling with it. Firecracker Booty: Fucking answer your goddamn phone.

There's a bunch of missed calls from Bakugou and his agency. A voicemail from his agency's Head of Privacy saying if he doesn't answer they're gonna go with it. The idea he presented while drunk off his ass bitching to his former mentor.

An idea he didn't even remember.

Aizawa will come forward as Bakugou's actual boyfriend. Firmly putting a stop to all the speculation and changing the subject away from Shinsou.

It's something they considered at the beginning but Bakugou was pretty heavily against it. He wasn't going to fake committing to a friend who would want a real relationship of their own otherwise. And he wasn't going to fake commit to someone he didn't fucking know.

Aizawa was someone he knew. Someone who hadn't been in a relationship since he was 20.

It was a good idea. Shinsou's idea apparently.

He hates it anyway. The rest of the voicemail dives into how they'd wait to hear back from him but there's a mission he's needed on and they feel it best to get all the gossip stubbed out now.

Wonderful.

Naturally, there are still someone people who don't believe it so Aizawa and Bakugou get photographed on "secret" dates. Holding hands. Laughing together. Aizawa feeds Bakugou a coffee cake. Bakugou is photographed bringing him a bento box. A little kiss on the cheek.

Eri even makes a statement on her Instagram about how much she likes having Bakugou in her life. That's not a lie. He is her favourite person. More so than Shinsou. Probably more than Aizawa.

But the picture she posts curls Shinsou's stomach.

Aizawa is pressed into Bakugou's back while he cooks something. Smiling into the crook of his neck like Shinsou does.

He can already imagine what Bakugou would do next. Smack Aizawa with his spoon. Aizawa would tease him. Then clothes come off and they're rutting on the kitchen floor just like how Shinsou and Bakugou sometimes end up.

Bakugou briefs him about everything he does with Aizawa beforehand. Just to make sure he's okay with it. He is.

It's just different seeing it in front of his face. With their friends cooing in the comments and fans going rabid over every post and article.

He spends too much time searching for the complaints. People angry because Aizawa was his teacher, isn't that creepy? How Bakugou could do better than some old man.

He might post a couple comments here and there from a burner account. Just to soothe his own insecurities.

Bakugou always comes back to him. Kisses him. Fucks him. Falls asleep in his bed. With his bruises.

It's fine.

It is.

It's for the safety of both their careers.

He hates it anyway. Jealousy is mean in his chest. He ignores Aizawa's attempts to reach other and covers every moment he has with Bakugou, leaving him more marked up that usual.

Even if people go nuts over "Aizawa's" marks and speculate where on his covered body Bakugou's fingerprints have been bruised and burned into, Shinsou knows who made them.

Knows he has Bakugou's handprint pressed into his hip. Knows that the bites on Bakugou's throat are his. Bakugou is his. But the marks he leaves are not statements to the world.

They're statements to one very specific person. And the bastard better get a fucking clue or Shinsou's gonna get worse.

[nightzskii]

Can you tell me the story of how we became friends? <:3 👉👈 it can be as sillyies as you want, or as serios as you can, it can be a mystery or fantasy or what ever! :D it can also be short or long /nf

(<:3c i just wanted to ask something silly and my brain made this up)

@gender-mailman

* hmmmm okay!! sorry that this is relatively late by the way, I kept falling asleep haha :')

* But, everytime I think of how we became friends i think of my source and a different world where my thoughts run wild so I'll be using those two for this!

* There actually was someone in source like you and other people, so its not that hard to be like " oh okay i feel so comfortable saying this "

* I also went on a ramble I'm sorry.

━━━━━━━☆━━━━━━━

How we became friends.. well. At first, I've seen you walk around the kingdom a couple of times, you weren't always aware that you walked by it and sometimes when you were aware we'd have a little chat every time while i was in a disguise (my more human one, but it had demon features)

But promptly after a discussion yesterday, I heard a commotion outside the kingdom and went to check it out to only see you having a misunderstanding with some goops (They're very violent and really territorial if you aren't another goop(scratches head)), I had went to try and calm the situation down but a different goop tried eating you so it was a full on battle with the rest of them while i hid you inside my own goop (don't question, it I'll send the doc about my source and goops after.....)

I won (since I was more powerful (being the son of a god has its perks)) but still kept you hidden until we made it to my castle to which i helped you out of my goop after!! We were chatting and everything to help you calm down from the situation and even some of your friends came by (since they would also walk around the castle with you) to help calm you down

You'd visit a lot after and I'd be waiting for you at the start of the castle since i hadn't known where you lived, and everytime You'd visit or stay for a couple of days we'd have tea at least once and then do all sorts of things

I taught you all about my species and the kingdoms cultures, the different songs (some are actually real songs too (i was excited when i knew this)), the different type of foods (same as some music), how many gods there were and how i was also considered one, a lot of things and i also TRIED teaching you my language but.. it, it didn't work out (teaching meep, goop, zip, beep or anything else is SO HARD HELP. It's like cats meowing but DIFFERENT.) So whenever we'd want to have a private convo out in the open, I'd shapeshift a bit to have the same species as YOU so we could talk in your language instead

We'd always help brush each others fur, and when i first told you my goop was fur you were so surprised i ended up laughing like a tea kettle. I'd also polish all your accessories and clean you clothes while giving you some of mine to wear as I did so, it ended up being like a model thing, where me and some of our friends had to rate the different clothes you wore (I'd keep giving you a 10 because you genuinely did look great in every clothes i gave you :3)

We painted each others nails once, me in my more human form and you just being you as we were gossiping about the latest drama, (I told you about some guys fighting over cabbage and you told me about some glass being knocked over by someones grandma)

There was a time you died too, but i resurrected you and gave the god who did it a scolding of their entire life time (all in a different language too so you wouldn't hear me say some... words)

I also kinda like blessed you. on accident. so that you wouldn't get injured by gods anymore since they were.. extremely powerful (not as.. powerful as me for some reason idk).. and blessing is like, a weird process depending on the god or person trying to get blessed... it wasn't weird for us but it was still like " when thr fuck did i do this " and i still don't know how

Oh yeah!!! I also gave you a personal guard one time but they lost you so fast and we laughed about it cause you were purposefully trying to lose them