#the bestest boys for the bestest friend there is

[tsamsheadcanons]

Headcanon -

Sun is transfemme, and nearly nobody knows. By and large, pronouns are a roulette wheel of "does this bother me Yes/No/Unknown". If given her own space and freedom to present however they want to without any consequences or follow up, she'd present almost exclusively somewhere between androgynous to femme. Gender is a performance, and she was initially made for the stage /j

Moon had a... mild suspicion in the beginning, but couldn't place it. At first, he didn't care to. Then, he was busy with more important things. Then after that, everything went to hell in a handbasket, so it never came up.

Ironically, Eclipse does know. As much as he refuses to admit it, his sentience was essentially incubated by Sun's code, and he's spent copious time in close, attentive proximity. He also knows that Sun isn't ready to come out yet, and while he's a bit of a jerk, he's not gonna cross that line. He does, however, use "Sunny" more often than not, bc it's a nickname that always made her a little more excited and happy. He'll never admit to it.

Earth and Lunar never really questioned anything about Sunny beyond "Oh, that's a bot with anxiety". Earth specifically also has a habit of calling things cute and sweet, and very quickly picked up how Sun absolutely glowed with the phrasing, so she uses it regularly. Lunar, meanwhile, doesn't clock "Sun is sis, not cis", and personally is mildly offended bc they had more faith in his gaydar/transdar than that. How shameful (/hj)

Solar had no warning or clue but also may arguably be the most chill. Sun is Sun, and Solar care about that obsessive compulsive mess.

Monty.... wondered, sometimes, but never brought it up. Never seemed the right time, ya know?

Once Sun DOES come out, everyone is supportive and it's lowkey hilarious bc Sun is just HEAPED with praise, and Lunar and Moon devolve into "how did we not KNOW" which... not the time or place, guys, but whatever.

Jack and Dazzle just kinda blink. "Uncle is not uncle. Uncle is aunt. Auntie Sun ooooh~" and "Sunny is still Sunny. I haves a girl bestest friend and a boy bestest friend now."

There are, ofc, slip ups, but it's a quick adjustment all in all. The first time someone calls Sunny sister has her biting back giggles while her rays spin.

When Dazzle calls her Mama, though, she explodes /pos (/bittersweet)

(Also bonus points - all the "bad guys" and antagonists don't get the memo, so they go to do their evil monologs and someone interrupts when they go "and poor little Sunny, pathetic man-". Upon being corrected, they immediately go "ah, my apologies. Ahem. Poor little Sunny, pathetic girl-")

((Additional bonus points - Moon instinctively goes for the 'femboy' thing just to pause and flounder. "You're such a fucking femb- uhhhhhh f... fem... girl? ... shit-"

"Pft- uh huh? Nice save"

"Ughhhhh-" *hides in his hat*))

I love this headcanon!

[yaniiiiism]

stars and raindrops. ꒰ a k.sm series ; chp 4 ꒱

chapter four. > and i’d gladly break my heart for you.

ㅤ ︵ ۫ 在 ི۪۪۪ 🦢 ྀ۪۪۪ 𓈒 ֹ

series index > main masterlist > schedule > main directory

♪┆pairing : kim seungmin x fem!reader ͏ ♪┆ info : sadfic , fluff , melancholy , unrequited love (cough cough) , feelings , mature themes , suggestive , bsfs , one sided , uni au , happy ending (?) ͏ ♪┆ personas + bg : uni students ; best friends ; trio of jisung, seungmin and reader. music students! ♪┆ word count : 2.2k ♪┆warnings : kinda sad, seungmo's a sweetheart but just clueless. lots of fluff tho

The girl sat cross-legged on her bed, fingers delicately strumming the electric guitar as her macbook sat open beside her. The soft hum of the amplifier filled the room as she plucked out a melody that had been swirling around in her mind for days. 

Her loungewear, a pair of loose grey shorts and a snug white camisole, clung to her skin comfortably. Her hair was messily pulled back into a bun, a few rebellious strands slipping free, brushing against the black frames of her glasses perched on her nose.

The faint glow of her side lamp illuminated the clutter around her. Scattered pages from her journal were splayed across the bed, some scribbled with music notes, others filled with bits of lyrics and ideas. The scent of lavender lingered in the air, wafting from the diffuser on her nightstand. It was a cozy, creative chaos—her safe haven from the world outside.

A soft knock on the door jolted her out of her focus. She blinked, glancing at the door, and then back at the document she was working on. The knock came again, more insistent this time. 

“Come in,” She called out.

The door opened, and standing there, in his typical nonchalant style, was her dear dorm mate. He was dressed casually, dark trousers and a faded band tee, hair slightly tousled as if he’d just rolled out of bed.

But there was something in his expression that made her pause – a slight hesitation that didn’t usually accompany his presence.

“Hey,” he greeted softly, dragging himself over to her bed, where a mess of sheet music and notebooks were scattered across the duvet. With a half-hearted attempt, he shuffled some papers to the side before collapsing onto the bed, resting his head on his hand as he lay on his side.

 His eyes darted briefly to her glasses before flicking back to her face. “Am I interrupting?”

She barely glanced at him. “Mmm, no. Just working on a music file.” Her gaze was glued to the screen, glasses slipping slightly down the bridge of her nose as her brows furrowed in focus.

He nodded, glancing around at the organised mess. The soft, rhythmic strumming of the guitar still lingered in the air, mixing with the sound of the rain that had finally begun to patter gently against the window.

“Well, don’t you look extra gorgeous today!” He awkwardly cheered, to which the girl simply raised an eyebrow, knowing the look all too well ; despite the slight hue of crimson heating up her cheeks.

“What do you want, lover boy?” she groaned, glancing at him over the rim of her glasses.

“Can’t I just wanna spend some time with the bestest dorm-mate of mine, yeah?”

“Quit it.”

“Fine, fine.”

There was a brief pause as he gathered his thoughts, his gaze fixed on the floor before he looked up and met her eyes. “I wanted your.. help..?”

“With?” She spoke, her words slightly muffled as she held the cap of her black pen between her teeth, scribbling down onto her journal, eyebrows knit. 

“I was thinking of asking Eunha out tomorrow. At the beach.”

Her heart stuttered in her chest. The words felt like a blow, knocking the wind out of her lungs, but she kept her expression neutral. 

She blinked once, twice, processing what he’d said. Seungmin asking Eunha out. The very thought made her stomach twist into knots, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure if the ache in her chest was physical or emotional. 

Probably both.

“Oh,” she finally managed to say, her voice more steady than she expected. “That’s... great.” She forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes.

He didn’t seem to notice, or if he did, he didn’t say anything. Instead, he let out a small breath of relief. 

“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and... I don’t know. Tomorrow feels like the right time, you know?”

She nodded absentmindedly, her mind elsewhere. She was zoning out, slipping into that space where everything felt surreal, like she was watching a scene play out from a distance, detached. 

Of course, it made sense. He had feelings for Eunha, everyone knew that, and she knew herself that one day he would ask her out, right? The way he looked at her, the way his attention always seemed to gravitate toward her whenever they were together.

“Right... tomorrow,” She echoed, her voice light, almost too casual.

Seungmin shifted closer to her, a soft smile tugging at his lips. “I’m not really sure how to ask, though. I mean, you’re better at this kind of thing than I am.”

The girl’s fingers stilled on the guitar strings, the last note lingering in the air before it dissolved into the soft hum of rain outside. She stared at Seungmin for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly behind her glasses as she processed what he had just said.

Seungmin, oblivious to the subtle change in her mood, shifted on her bed, his dark eyes scanning her face with an expectant look, waiting for some words of wisdom. "Come on," he prodded. "You've always been good at reading people. And you're honest. Just tell me what works and what doesn't."

The girl blinked, biting down on the inside of her cheek to keep from letting her real thoughts slip out. 

Honest? You want honesty? 

She sighed internally, glancing away from him, her heart tightening as if someone had tied a knot around it. She didn't need to think twice about why it bothered her—why the thought of him asking Eunha out made her stomach churn.

But instead of voicing the frustration bubbling beneath the surface, she offered him a deadpan, shifting gears into sarcasm to mask the internal turmoil. 

“Seungmin,” she began, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose with her index finger, “I’ve rejected three guys and dated one only to break up with him in a week. I’m hardly a pro in romance here.”

Not to mention my agenda and immense love for unrequited love.

Seungmin chuckled awkwardly at her words, running a hand through his hair. “Yeah, but maybe those rejections were, like, super graceful. Maybe they thought they were better off without you.”

She shook her head, stifling a laugh. “Sure. If by ‘graceful’ you mean brutally honest to the point of soul-crushing.”

“Oh, come on, Y/n,” Seungmin groaned, flopping back dramatically against her pillows, arms folded behind his head. “Okay, maybe you’ve not always been the most... tactful when it comes to feelings, but you’re a woman. Eunha’s a woman. You know what women like!”

Y/n blinked at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. She scrunched her nose at his fumbling attempt to appeal to her supposed “womanly wisdom,” but decided against commenting. There was no need to kick a puppy when it was already down.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Seungmin whined, covering his face with one hand. “I’m serious. I really, really like her, Y/n, and I swear I have no idea what to say without fumbling every word. You’re the only person I love and know who’s smart enough to help me not look like an idiot. Jisung is not helpful by the way.”

He met her gaze then, his eyes softening, and she felt the familiar sting in her chest.

“Please?”

Y/n sighed, closing her laptop with a soft click and finally turning to face him fully. “You’re cheesy as fuck.”

He grinned, grateful for her surrender. “So? What would your ideal proposal be?”

She stared at him, her lips twisting into a wry smile.

She sighed deeply, glancing away from his eager gaze. The question hung in the air, and she wrestled with the urge to give an honest answer, one that would reveal far more than she was ready to admit. She swallowed hard, pushing her emotions back down where they belonged.

“I don’t know,” she spoke, her tone more casual now as she leaned back into the pile of pillows on her bed. “Maybe something simple. People overthink this kind of thing.”

He watched her intently, his brows knitting together as he waited for her to elaborate. “Simple?” he asked, as if the concept was foreign to him.

“Yeah, like…” She paused, staring at the ceiling as she thought. “You know, no big speeches or anything. Just… be honest. Be yourself. You’re not bad with words when you’re not trying so hard.”

He chuckled, his expression softening. “You think so?”

She nodded, smiling faintly. “Yeah. You tend to overcomplicate things when you get nervous. Just keep it real.”

Seungmin’s lips twitched into a frown, “Are you sure?”

“I mean, you asked me for my advice, Romeo. I’m no love guru, don’t come crying to me if she rejects you.” She deadpanned.

Seungmin rolled his eyes, his tone turning mockingly dramatic. “Hey, don’t give me the ‘just be yourself’ line. I need specifics! Should I bring her flowers? Maybe a pick-up line? What’s the game plan?”

The girl groaned theatrically, leaning back against her headboard, her guitar resting beside her. “You’ve been watching too many rom-coms, Min.”

She sighed, “This isn’t a drama. You don’t need a ‘game plan.’ Just… talk to her. You’ve known her for, what, a year and a half now? You’ve already got the foundation. Just build on that.”

Seungmin looked thoughtful for a moment, his brow furrowing slightly. "But what if I say the wrong thing? What if I—"

“–What if she morphs into a werewolf and eats you alive mid-sentence?” she interrupted, deadpanning.

"I'm serious!"

“I am too. You’re overthinking this, as usual. Just tell her what you feel—straightforward, no fluff. Trust me, she seems like the type who’ll appreciate that more than some grand gesture.”

He looked at her, his expression softening. “You really think so?”

Her heart gave a painful lurch, but she ignored it, nodding. “Yeah. I think she’d appreciate you being honest with her. No pretence. No gimmicks.”

“Or you could try serenading her, by maybe one of your own songs or– any song of an artist she likes?”

The room fell into a brief silence, save for the soft pitter-patter of the rain outside and the faint buzz of her amplifier. Her gaze drifted to the window, where droplets of rain clung to the glass, streaking downward in winding paths. She found herself wishing, absurdly, that she could melt away into the rain—disappear, if only for a moment, to escape the conversation she wasn’t quite sure she could handle.

“Wait, you’re a genius!”

Seungmin sat up, ruffling the girl’s hair. “I’ll sing and play one of my songs during the campfire at the beach tomorrow, then ask her out when we’re alone!”

She briefly nodded, her gaze shifting to her guitar.

 “Okay,” he said after a long pause, his voice steady now. “I’ll do it. Tomorrow. I’ll ask her.”

She forced a smile, her chest tightening once more. “Great! You’ll do fine. Get out now.”

He flashed her a grateful grin, his whole face lighting up in that way that used to make her smile back reflexively—but now, it only served as a reminder of everything she couldn’t say. "Thanks, Y/nnie. You always know what to say."

“Yeah, yeah,” she muttered, picking her guitar back up and absentmindedly plucking at the strings again. 

She nodded, her focus turning back to the guitar, fingers gliding over the strings. Seungmin watched her for a moment, the soft strumming of the guitar filling the silence between them.

“I don’t get how you do it, you know,” he mused, his voice quieter now, more contemplative. “You’re always so... put together.”

“Didn’t I tell you to get out?”

“Hey, no, I know, just–” His hand went through his hair, as he continued.

“You just seem... unaffected by everything. Like, no matter what’s happening, you’re always calm. Always in control.”

She swallowed, keeping her gaze fixed on the guitar. “Yeah, well, I guess I’m just good at hiding the cracks.”

There was a pause. “We all have cracks, don’t we?”

She shrugged, her voice carefully casual. “Maybe. But some of us are better at covering them up than others.”

He didn’t respond, but she could feel his eyes on her, studying her in that quiet, observant way he sometimes did when he was thinking about something important. She kept strumming the guitar, letting the music drown out the unspoken tension that hung between them like a thick cloud.

“Y/nnie,” he said suddenly, his voice softer than before, “I appreciate you, you know that?”

She glanced at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his tone. “Of course,” she replied lightly, masking the flutter in her chest with a small smile. “Who else would put up with you?”

He chuckled, but there was a gentleness in his gaze that made her stomach flip. “I’m serious. You’re always there for me. Even when I don’t deserve it.”

He smiled, standing up, ruffling her hair once again, before waving his hand and leaving her room with a quick good night.

She felt the weight of his words settling into the space that the two once shared, and for a brief, fleeting moment, she allowed herself to imagine what it would be like if things were different—if the words he had spoken weren’t for someone else.

But reality, as always, came crashing back down, and she pushed the thought away with a quiet sigh.

“Like I said,” she murmured, her eyes fixed on the strings, “I’m good at covering the cracks, even when they’re not mine.”

The rain continued to fall outside, a steady rhythm against the window, as the girl continued to just.. continue, to exist.

a/n. ୨ৎ

CHP FOURRR :] love this chp a lot not too motivated to write a lot for now (personal things, relationships and family) 😭😭😭 will be posting my drafts for a while, hope u guys understand :< ALSO WE'RE AT 98 FOLLOWERS?? omg thank u sm u guys :((((( i swear ill be posting to celebrate the 100 followers !!!! u guys thank u smsmsmsmsmsmsmsmsm muah i love yall :( if u liked this lmk by commenting or liking <3 check out my post-schedule/masterlist/taglists/etc right here ! thank you for reading >< !! — love, yani ♥︎

thank you to @bernardsbendystraws , @adornedwithlight , @littleraesparkle @saturno-web , @anitalenia for the dividers + mdb!

[kimtaegis]

soonwoo x second life x from me to you ⤷ for @smingi ♡ insp.

[lm-onade]

Short time travel au comic

"I wish I could've met Baam before you did"

[acearchivist359]

this is part of a larger page that is still a wip which is why the text is also not finished but

i need everyone to look at him because he is so silly and i love him and his knife hands !!

[whatthefuckisasweep]

eddie and stan left first bc they had to take the BIGGEST nap ever. they were tuckered out from being a little too fucking brave for their own good.

[wowowwild]

I was going to do someone else but then I found this screenshot I took.

[cupids-fiction]

“reading niko’s bl would kill edwin a second time”

idk about you but that man would eat it UP he exudes confidence and he didn’t really have any internalised homophobia, just anxiety about how safe being out as gay really was

if anything within a few months he’d have obscure recs for niko and they’d have sleepovers where the only times they spoke to each other were to react to something happening in their respective mangas

[your-stranger-halfblood-things]

Niko offering to start from the beginning just for Edwin ahhhh I loved her so much, and I love their relationship so much

[pansyfemme]

i am really so hyped for this one class im taking like. beyond hyped im shaking and crying just thinking about it

[teddybeartoji]

HELLO MICKEY !!!!! bf!gojo anon here and i just wanted to say i was jumping in joy reading your reply to me ily i am covering you in kisses too mwah mwah MWAH!!!!!!

i come with more bf!gojo brainrot because he's genuinely all i think of these days it's getting concerning.. what did he put in my drink ?! and i want to share them with you bcs he rly makes me happy and i hope these silly rambles make you feel happy too! :D

anyway.. he'll be so into whatever.. all kinds of marking !! whether it may be something like hickeys or or sharing clothes :(( HE WOULD WEAR YOUR CLOTHES TOO!!! like those oversized shirts or jackets or hoodies he doesnt care if theyre small or big on him he will. WEAR it!! him wearing your hoodie.. and your hoodie smelling like him.. while you wear his one that atp smells like you ://

ok and hickeys. clears throat i think at first he'd be a bit shy (but excited) about having to walk around with a BRUISE on his neck but .. now.. it feels weirder if he doesnt have a mark of some sort.. also him with lipstick on his neck ? his smooth milky neck ???? rattles cage YOU GET ME ?!

necks.... he immediately melts and turns into a whiny mess when you get near his throat.. when you start kissing him there he never wants you to stop.. ever.. he also loves doing the same thing to your neck ^_^ ok i think i need to stop bcs im going to hyperventilate and this might get nasty real fast bcs needy gojo baring his neck is something tht makes smoke come out of my ears THANK U FOR LISTENING HAVE A GOOD DAY

BOYFRIEND SATORUUUU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GOD I LOVE HIM SO MUCH HE MAKES ME SO NERVOUS HE GIVES ME BUTTERFLIES EEEEEEEEEEEEE I'M SO GLAD WE'RE IN THIS TOGETHER THOUGH NONNIE<3333333333

AAAAAAAAAA YOU'RE SO RIGHT ABOUT HIM LOVING ANY FORM OF MARKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! HE LOVES LOVES LOVES TO SHOW THAT HE'S YOURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! he wears the hickeys you give him with pride and the same goes for lipstick marks and your clothes too. and he obviously loves marking you up too but tbh i think it's more important for him to be yours and not the other way around.

he also likes to buy you clothes that he knows will fit him too,, he wants you to wear them for some time just so he can steal them for himself later lmao i think he loves hoodies the most!!!!!!!!!!!! i might be biased here but idk i feel like hoodies are always so warm and comfortable and now that they also smell like you satoru wishes he would never have to take the piece of clothing off!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND HE FUCKING ADORES LIPSTICK MARKS THEY MAKE HIM SO FUCKING GIDDY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! esp when you're messing around, sitting on his lap and just kissing him all over it feels like he's in heaven he can't get enough of it. and he just soo so handsy while you do it too he really is like a puppy sometimes lmao but mmmmmmm nonnie just imagine how pretty his smile would be:(((((( his cheeks are dusted pink bc he feels so warm all over, his body burning from your love<3333333333 i love smitten satoru so fucking much i'm gonna explode i think

NONNIE. HIS NECK. IS SO. FUCKING. SENSITIVE. literally his weakest point btw... you could just look at his neck and he's already feeling warm lmao he's so cute godddd he loves it when you lick and kiss his neck it gets him so needy and pliant in seconds he's just putty in your hands you could do whatever you want with him (he's into that)

and you're right abt him loving your neck too though.... ooouughhh he really likes licking your neck (??????) and biting too. he likes the way you twitch and squirm under him:33333333 btw i just need to say that kissing overall is one of his favourite things ever. not even like making out he loves Kissing. he wants to feel your lips against his at all times, he wants to taste you. you're so soft and you feel so good in his arms and he goes wild over the little sounds you let out whenever he nips at your bottom lip mmmmmmm fuck that's so hot...

OKE BUT WAHHHHH I'M SO SORRY FOR THE LONG WAIT ON THIS MY BELOVED I AM SO GLAD YOU'RE HERE THOUGH BC WOW HE MAKES ME FEEL INSANE he's thee loverboy of all times he just needs to be loved and held and taken care of. and he wants to do the same to you. you're his everything<33333333333

[iguessricciardo]

something about blake matching colors with daniel that is so special to me

[bruciemilf]

Saw this and INSTANTLY thought of you JANFKSKFNSN

They look like very good friends!!!

[goldiipond]

BLAST IT TO THE BACK ROW!!

[usertoxicyaoi]

"I tend to speak my mind immediately. That's why people hate me."

I CANNOT REACH YOU (2023). Episode 4.

[bow-of-aros]

You Can't Hide Forever

This ended up a little longer than I thought it was going to, but I still think it's pretty fun :) This is an immediate continuation to Playing with Fire so I hope that y'all enjoy!

-

“You have five seconds to run.”

Those words echoed in Charles’ ears as he skidded through the halls of the building. A sort of of giddy nervousness bubbled up inside of him as he frantically tried to think of a place to hide.

He felt like a soda can that had been shaken up: bright and fizzy and full of energy just waiting to explode.

He hadn’t realized, but he’d needed this. It had been weeks since they’d had a proper break between cases and they were both completely wrong out. Between the stress that never stopped building and the rest they could never seem to find the time for, this was good for both of them.

They needed this reminder that they were allowed to still be kids every once in a while, that they were still allowed to play and have fun and laugh.

Charles felt as though he were floating on air as he ran from room to room, all of the pent up energy that had been itching for a way out finally finding its release in this chase.

Speaking of the chase, Charles could hear Edwin’s footsteps pounding not far behind him and steadily gaining. He should’ve known that this was a bad idea. Edwin had always been faster than him, he never took a false step, each perfectly placed to achieve maximum speed and distance with minimum effort and even less room for error.

Charles didn’t like to think about why that was, but he had to admit that it came in handy when they were on a case and they upset something they definitely shouldn’t have.

It was less handy when Charles was the one who had to escape Edwin, so he needed to come up with a plan.

He couldn’t travel through any mirrors because Edwin would be able to determine the path he’d used and would just follow him through. That would also break the unspoken rules of the game, which Charles was already pushing by leaving the office.

He couldn’t keep running because Edwin would catch up with him in no time, and he wanted this to be at least a little bit of a challenge.

Alright, hiding it is.

Charles quickly runs through his options as he skids around another corner and phases through a wall, hoping to buy himself a few precious seconds.

The office is too obvious with not enough places to hide, another person’s room would just be weird, and he doesn’t want to risk attempting to hide in one of the bathroom stalls.

So, the roof or the basement?

He can’t hear Edwin’s footsteps anymore.

That can’t be good.

Charles slows down, quieting his footsteps and phasing through walls when he can. He’s been up on the roof a few times, and it’s mostly open space which will not end well for him.

Basement it is.

The silence as he makes his way futher down is unnerving. Every time that Charles hears the faint echo of a creak, he freezes until he deems it safe enough to keep moving. The hairs on the back of his neck prickle, but every time he glances over his shoulder, there’s nothing there.

Finally, after what seems like forever, he finds himself in what he assumes is a storage room. There are cardboard boxes shoved up against the walls, there are lone pieces of furniture lying forgotten throughout the room, and there’s a large bin full of abandoned clothes in the corner.

Charles eyes that bin and thinks, Bingo.

He wastes no time in clambering into the pile of clothes, burrowing down until he’s fully concealed.

And not a second too soon, apparently, as he hears the steady click…clack… that accompanies Edwin’s casual stroll.

“Oh Charles,” Edwin calls out, “I know that you’re in here.”

Charles clasps a hand over his mouth in an attempt to stifle the giggles that are already threatening to leak out. He forces his limbs to still so that they don’t give away his hiding spot even though he’s filled with energy that's thrumming just under his skin.

Edwin’s footsteps are growing closer and Charles fights the urge to shrink back. His pace is unhurried, like he has all the time in the world to draw Charles out. He walks with the easy confidence of a predator who knows that his prey is trapped, and is only toying with him until he decides to pounce.

“You can’t hide forever. You only managed to run for so long because you cheated.” His tone is lightly chiding, but Charles knows that he’s not really upset, and that he’s playing it up for the game.

“Do you want me to tell you what I do to cheaters? What I’m going to do when I find you?” A dangerous edge creeps into Edwin’s voice, that spark of mischief that they normally find in Charles is finally being directed at Charles.

At this point, Charles is wondering whether just giving himself up would be less torturous than what Edwin's putting him through with the endless teasing. The anticipation is ramping up inside him until he's sure that he might combust right where he is.

As Edwin makes his way around the room, making a show of narrating his search of each nook and cranny, of the revenge he plans on exacting, Charles wonders if this is how Edwin feels whenever he’s itching for some fun: nervous and excited and happy.

He’s filled with a warmth that comes with the reminder that he and Edwin are best mates. Of course, it’s one of the few certainties that he can rely on in his tumultuous afterlife. But this? Them being friends outside cases and mysteries and the occasional existence-threatening danger that comes with being on the run from Death?

It’s a feeling that he can’t quite put words to, but that he knows that he wouldn’t trade for the world.

The footsteps stop.

Suddenly, faster than Charles can blink, light floods his vision and he’s pulled out of the bin and backed up against the wall.

He looks up at Edwin’s grinning face, eyes dancing with a playful light as he rests his hands on Charles’ ribs. “Any last words?”

Charles puts on his most charming smile and offers the most insincere “I’m sorry?” of his entire afterlife. It makes Edwin laugh though, and that’s what matters.

Edwin’s not the only one laughing soon enough as Edwin curls his fingers into the grooves of his ribs. Frantic, high-pitched giggling tumbles out of his mouth and he barely lasts a second before his knees buckle and he’s sliding down the wall.

Not that it does much to help him. Edwin just follows him down, hovering over him and thwarting his feeble attempts to curl up into a ball, massaging Charles’ stomach in a way that has him throwing his head back as pleas for mercy rush out in between peals of laughter.

“Edwin! Edwihihihin please! I’m sorry! I’m sohohohorry! Shit- NO!”

Evil, cruel hands jump down to his knees and Charles is lost. He’s desperately kicking his legs, shoving away from the wall in an attempt to escape the electric shocks travelling through his legs.

“I’m not sure that you are Charles. Not yet, at least,” Oh that bastard. He’s got that smug look on this face and his tone just screams ‘I’ve got you right where I want you,’ “Oh, but you will be.”

Those words send a bolt of anxiety through his system, spurring another stream of frantic, if half-hearted, pleas.

What? This is the most fun he’s had in ages.

“Let’s see if we can drain the rest of that energy out of you, shall we? Maybe then you’ll let me get some work done? Unless…” he pauses for dramatic effect, because Edwin's a dork like that, “you feel like giving up?” Charles knows Edwin well enough to know that he’s giving him an out, and while he appreciates it, it feels more like a challenge than anything.

He should know that Charles has never been one to back down from a challenge.

He tilts his chin up defiantly, using the small reprieve to suck in some unneeded breaths, and says, “Do your worst.”

And, well, there are certainly worse ways to spend your afternoon than laughing with your best mate.