#there was 'let me get the bandages from the infirmary i forgot we had'
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lilyoffandoms · 1 year ago
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WtD Drabble - Troy x Saeed
Warnings & A/N: nothing that’s not canon compliant. Needed a warm up this morning and since I got them on my mind, I might as well. I just hc Saeed feels it’s his place to go on these scavenging forays and Troy doesn’t really care for that idea.
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He was exhausted. All he wanted was to climb into bed. He looked at the others from the party. They had made it out with only a few scrapes and bruises, and one broken arm.
“Jacob, go get that arm bandaged. Shannon should be in the infirmary waiting,” Saeed nodded at the man with his arm in a sling. “You two help him down there and be sure to get those scratches cleaned out. The rest of you, clean up and get some sleep.”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” a few mumbled as they shuffled away.
Saeed put his weapons on the armory counter where the others had stacked those they had checked out.
“Got them all checked in?” he asked the woman behind the counter who was logging weapons back in.
“Yes, and I see you broke another bowstring?”
“No, just frayed. If it had snapped entirely you’d not have a bow to log back in and I’d have lost an eye.”
“Still broke it,” she smiled in challenge.
“It was close to fraying and you know it, Sal,” he smiled tiredly. “Plus, we found some new ones in that warehouse. Must have been heading to a hunting supply store or something.”
Her eyes lit up. “And bullets?” she asked.
He nodded.
“Knives?”
He nodded again.
“Guns?” she asked hopefully.
“I’ll let you see for yourself when they get the vans unloaded.”
“It’s like Christmas come early,” she grinned, giddy with excitement.
“Don’t know what that is, but if that entails staying up all night categorizing and logging in new weapons, then yes, just like Christmas.”
She shook her head at him with a smile and got to work opening boxes that were plopped down on the table beside her. Saeed leaned against the wall as he waited for the unloading team to finish bringing the supplies through.
He felt himself slumping a bit as his eyes dragged closed and his breathing slowed, only to jerk awake when someone bumped him.
“I know our mattress isn’t all that comfortable but it’s gotta be be better than the wall?” Troy teased him with another bump to his shoulder.
Saeed gave a tired smile as he glanced at the crew still unloading, closed his eyes again, and shook his head grinning, “Depends on what I’m doing against the wall.”
“Taking a page out of my book with that one, I see,” Troy laughed before turning more serious. “Everyone get back safely?”
“We all made it back nibble free,” Saeed nodded, eyes still closed.
“Come on let’s get you to bed.”
“They should be done in the next ten. I’ll sleep when the job’s done.”
“Your job is done, Saeed,” Troy whispered casting a worried look over him.
“Saeed?” Sal interrupted. “I’m going to need that armor, dear.”
“Oh, shit! I forgot. Sorry, Sal,” he said as he slid clumsily out of the armor.
Troy steadied him as he stumbled tiredly through the task.
“Here,” Saeed said when he finally passed the gear over to her.
“Get him to bed,” she said to Troy.
“That’s the plan,” he said but paused when the stench of death and putrefied guts hit his nose. “Well, maybe a shower and then bed.”
“What? You don’t like this new cologne I’m trying?” Saeed teased, waving to Sal and saying good night to the others as he let Troy lead him to the bathing room they had set up outside.
“Strip,” Troy said as he left Saeed grab water.
Saeed did as told, too tired to protest. His muscles screaming with each movement.
“Got the water-“ Troy let his sentence trail off.
Saeed followed Troy’s line of sight to the large bruise forming on his thigh. He met Troy’s wide eyes and shrugged.
“I thought you said everyone got back safely?” Troy scolded as he reached out to gingerly touch the angry bruise.
“We did,” Saeed hissed at the touch.
“This doesn’t look like you were safe.”
“Safer than a bite,” Saeed said nonchalantly.
“Saeed,” Troy sighed.
“I got slammed into a crate by a drone. It’s dead. I’m not. I’m fine,” he waved him off.
“Saeed.”
He earned another sigh. “Troy, can we not do this now? I’m tired. I stink. I’m sore. And I just want to go to bed.”
“Okay,” Troy relented and turned Saeed to face the shower stall. “But we are going to-“
“Yep. You can yell at me tomorrow,” Saeed chuckled as he stepped inside and yelped as he splashed the cold water over himself. “This is fucking cold.”
“When is it not? Plus, it will help with the muscle aches and that bruise.”
Ten minutes later they were in their room with a fire going in the hearth, snuggled on their bed. Troy watched as Saeed snuggled beneath the covers and then into him and closed his eyes.
He wished he’d stop going out on these missions. This one had been a week long foray. He hated waiting, wondering. Wondering if he’d come back to him. Wondering if he had died out there. Always wondering. Always worrying.
He brushed a stray hair off of Saeed’s cheek.
“I’m fine,” Saeed smiled.
“I wish you would-“
“Hey, did the crew bring my pack up?” Saeed interrupted, not wanting to have the conversation again.
“Um,” Troy looked around and spotted the backpack by the door. “Yeah.”
“There’s something in it for you,” Saeed mumbled as sleep began to overtake him.
“You can give it to me tomorrow,” Troy smiled into a kiss placed on Saeed’s temple. “After I finish yelling at you,” he whispered.
——————————
Choices Tag: @storyofmychoices @aallotarenunelma @inlocusmads
Other Tags: @choicesficwriterscreations (fic of the week) @choicesoctober (newest mc & partners)
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bobbimorses · 3 years ago
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hi! i had a question about something and was wondering if you could help out. i've read a lot of fics where clint is extremely resistant to accepting medical care when he is injured, stubbornly refusing to go to the hospital or medical wing or whatever. is there any sort of canonical basis for this in the comics? thank you!! (and no pressure, and no worries if you don't have time/interest to answer!)
ok wow your timing is impeccable bc i was involving this in a thing after the previous fic ask!
in the comics, i would say it's situational on the injury and period of time (it'll make sense when i get to these examples)
in avengers #231, clint breaks his leg in battle, and is shown next issue to not exactly be compliant with medical treatment, including a dislike for anesthetic
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(a sentiment echoed in the iron age #1, which takes place shortly after)
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in this instance, clint’s denial about the extent of his injury, or what he doesn’t like about being declared medically unwell, is the fact that he’ll lose his spot on the team, which is like his whole deal:
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he also doesn’t like being “mother-hen’d,” and at this time is in his jerk stage, so that, combined with getting kicked off the team, makes him lash out in said jerk-mode:
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so it could be said he can be very crabby when visibly injured
in hawkeye v1 #4, clint doesn’t want bobbi to know he’s just gone deaf bc he “couldn’t stomach pity,” and she basically has to chase him down to admit it and probably is the one to drag him to a doctor
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in the west coast avengers’ lost in time arc, there’s a whole new dynamic to clint’s treatment of his injuries; clint’s now a team leader and wants to keep up morale, and prevent the team from stopping frequently so they can get forward in time (into the past) as quickly as possible (don’t ask). so that’s a whole “take a hit for the team, don’t wanna slow them down” thing.
wonder man blows up a bunch of guns in front of clint, burning him. of course, his primary concern with an injury as always is “i can still use bow???”:
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(from west coast avengers #19. tigra....why.)
but he keeps transparency with his team and doesn’t deny that he’s injured (even admitting he has a fever), or that he needs a doctor, and doesn’t refuse stopping for one; he just kinda tries to...push it aside a bit until he can’t any longer.
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(shortly after this, he dies, is revived by khonshu, and invents moon knight’s weapons so. all in a day’s work)
in avengers spotlight #22, he goes to a marriage counselor with bobbi, and the office is then ambushed by some mercenaries. clint ends up getting chased and battling a whole multitude of mercenaries. 3 issues later, he ends up injured in the sewers, and it turns out the doctor was in on the whole thing:
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so in avengers spotlight #27, after he’s apparently been showing symptoms of illness for a while, he refuses to undergo tests bc of his newfound distrust:
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and now his denial of sickness also has a new element of “we have bigger fish to fry”
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(turns out he had a bladder infection). also right as he was leaving this doctor, a supervillain blew up the sidewalk underneath him, so clint really had a terrible streak with going to doctors here
in widowmaker #4, he gets smacked at the back of the head hard enough to draw blood, but refuses to get looked at, which we can again assume is part of his dislike of being fussed over
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which culminates in hawkeye: blindspot, where he’s been ignoring symptoms while avengering that turn out to be him going blind.
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after being told this by tony, steve, and dr. blake, he still continues to run around doing business even though he’s not been cleared for duty and they want him to stay at avengers tower. so obvs his response is to beat up cap when he tries to ground him for his wellbeing (yes they look like clones):
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we’ve got twofold reasons here: he initially ignored the symptoms bc his whole schtick is impeccable aim reliant on eyesight. then, he refused to be cooped up under medical supervision bc he was more determined to see-through the investigation of his (evil) mentor’s death
anyways, now that we’ve gone through these, i wouldn’t say clint has a hatred of doctors or denial of obvious injuries or anything, and he’s gone to the hospital on multiple occasions. in fact, avengers: no road home #8 stipulates that he’s apparently done so a lot, which, ow:
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but would i say he’s more comfortable healing up with the avengers instead of a hospital like in fics? well, i guess possibly? the thing is, the avengers didn’t consistently use an infirmary for the longest time. so for decades of issues, people were just going to the hospital for anything that needed more attention than setting a limb etc. (ok a baby was delivered once but we don’t talk about that). but in avengers v3, wanda is healing clint with new healing magic she learned after he’s beaten grievously by the wrecking crew, so i’d say that would both be more convenient and preferred by him...if she didn’t end up killing him a few issues later bc i don’t recall any ally avengers using “healing magic” on him again.
so i think my answer to every aspect of your question is, essentially, “idk it depends” but also “yes.” on one hand, he doesn’t like to face when his status as an ace archer or avenger is threatened. on the other, he does get injuries treated to prevent as much, but sometimes it’s only after it becomes way too apparent. or sometimes he just wants to push through to get the job done. and he doesn’t like feeling helpless or pitied. so, you’ve got your base elements, but it’s not like a phobia of hospitals or anything (except for that stretch with all the doctors blowing him up and trying to cut off his limbs for a bounty. that was fair)
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whitexwingedxdoves · 3 years ago
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Foxtails and Rabbit trails | Part 2
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A/N: This is part 2 to my collab with @starlessea​ i’ve had such a fun time working on this with Yaz and I hope you all love it as much as we do   🐰 Read Part One Here  Summary:  Daryl Dixon was a good hunter, but there were still some things that he struggled to find. Such as the patience to deal with you. You wore a rabbit’s foot keyring, but Daryl thought you were the furthest thing from lucky. After all, you ended up stuck with him, too.
-  Lying back on the grass, staring up at the cloudless sky, you thought that the world had never looked so pretty. 
The foxtails tickled your cheeks, and you could feel the fresh dew on the leaves as they gathered up beneath your fingers. You tried to focus on their texture, and how you could hear them crunch brittley before they scattered to the ground like autumn confetti.  
You really did try to focus on the good.
But the pain was blinding. 
“Hol’ still, ‘m gonna get ya outta there,” Daryl whispered, but you picked up on the way his voice stuttered over the words.
He got to work on disabling the trap, every little movement translating into a jolt of searing pain which made you cry out for him to stop. Though, the look in his eyes was no better. Even through your tears, you could understand that this was hurting him just as much as it hurt you - maybe even more.
If only you hadn’t been so fucking careless.
You reached out your hand for your satchel, fumbling in the grass until your fingertips brushed up against the soft fur of your rabbit’s foot. It was supposed to be lucky.
What a joke, you laughed, and grit your teeth through the pain.
Daryl disarmed the trap, making you whimper hoarsely once more as the metal jaws dislodged from your ankle. Your knuckles had turned white over that rabbit’s foot - almost matching its snowy pelt.
The man retrieved the rag from his back pocket - that same one you’d joked about not so long ago - and used it to bind your leg to stop the bleeding. 
Maybe that ratty cloth was handy, after all.
You tried to look down to catch a glimpse of the injury, and assess the damage. Except, Daryl didn’t let you.
“Eyes on me,” he instructed, gesturing to himself with his free hand.
You nodded, before letting your head fall back onto the damp grass. You glanced off to the side, noticing the mounds of dirt that crumbled near you.
“Hey, Daryl,” you murmured, “look at all of the burrows.”
The man didn’t look up from what he was doing - tending to you - but he still nodded his head anyway.
“Yeah,” he replied, tightening the makeshift bandage, “see if ya can spot any rabbits.”
And with that, Daryl carried you back to Alexandria - quickly and carefully, looking down at his feet the entire time.
Once you reached the infirmary, the man placed you on one of the beds whilst Denise got to work. She tried her hardest to be gentle with you, but even the softest touch made your skin crawl. Painkillers were given - only dulling the sensation ever so slightly - but they seemed to be enough for the doctor to stitch up your wounds, and replace Daryl’s old red rag with a clean bandage.
“I thought you hunters were supposed to be mindful of your surroundings,” Denise quipped, sending one of her sneaky looks your way as she finished her work. 
You rolled her eyes and shuffled ever so slightly in the bed, trying to get a glimpse.
“Yeah well, it was pretty well hidden,” you hit back. 
Daryl cleared his throat from the corner of the room; he’d been so quiet that you almost forgot he was there.
“Nah, ya got too distracted by the damn rabbits,” he grumbled.
More like too distracted by damn Daryl Dixon.
A glare was exchanged between you and the archer, but your smile got wider the longer you stared.
“Either way, it got you pretty good. You need to stay off that leg.” 
With a stern tone, Denise broke your gaze.
You shook your head. “That doesn’t work for me,” you argued, “I’ve got people to feed!” 
In response, you tried to shuffle off the bed - but a searing pain clambered up your leg and stunted your movements.
“I’m sure Daryl wouldn’t mind taking over for a while. Just until you’re better,” Denise reassured you.
The young doctor peered over her glasses at the archer, only for him to reply with a grunt.
“Now rest,” she told you, pressing your shoulder back down into the mattress. “Doctor’s orders!” 
That first night at the clinic had been quiet - far too quiet. It made you mull over your mistake until it was old in your mind, and heavy on your conscience. 
That is, until Daryl returned to bring you dandelions.
Denise had insisted that you stay where she could keep an eye on you, until the morning at least. But, you missed the comforts of your own room - where it was familiar. The walls of the infirmary were too white and barren, as opposed to your house which was decorated with pressed flowers and furs and much too many books. 
Your foot twitched occasionally, and every time you closed your eyes you could hear the snapping of those metal jaws as they clamped shut.
Sleep would probably elude you tonight.
Your nerves were made even worse when you were startled by knuckles rapping on the window. Reaching for the lamp, you illuminated the figure behind the glass - who also seemed spooked at having been caught.
Daryl stood there, motioning for you to open the latch on the window. 
You did, and the man lifted the pane, letting in the cool night’s breeze. 
“You’re not supposed to be in here,” you whispered, peering around the infirmary.
Daryl scowled, and muttered something below his breath that you couldn’t quite make out. The lampshade cast long shadows on his face, and you could only see the whites of his eyes poking out from between the strands of hair hanging over them.
“I ain’t,” he rasped back, gesturing to where he stood. “Technically.”
You raised an eyebrow at the man, not expecting that dry humour to come from him. He shook you off, and continued.
“Not stoppin’ long,” he dismissed, lifting up his backpack and fumbling around in it. “Went back out there an’ couldn’t see no more traps.” 
He smirked - faint and dim in the artificial light. But you still caught it.
“Ya must’ve sprung the only fuckin’ one.”
You laughed a little too loudly.
“Just my luck,” you shot back.
Daryl pulled something out from his bag - something you immediately recognised. It was a pelt blanket of soft, tawny fur. You’d made it yourself.
“Olivia tol’ me to give ya this,” he explained, feeding the material through the open window until you could reach it. “She went to get it from yer room.”
The feeling between your fingers instantly brought you comfort, and you ran the blanket along your cheek absentmindedly. 
Before you could reply, Daryl fished something else out from the rucksack and placed it on the windowsill. 
It was a glass bottle of dandelions.
It was a soda bottle, to be exact - probably snuck out of the pantry when no one was looking. You also recognised the flowers; you’d seen them out hunting once and noted just how much you liked the colour.
They looked like sunshine.
“Those from Olivia, too?” you whispered, gently stroking over the petals with your fingertips.
Daryl zipped up his bag and shook his head.
“Nah,” he mumbled, gesturing for you to close the window behind him. “These are from me.”
That was when you realised that perhaps Daryl Dixon wasn’t such a hard ass after all.
Though, your favourite memory from back then had to be the time he brought you bluebells. You’d practically chewed his ear off on one of your earlier trips, telling him all about how pretty they were - but you never thought he was listening.
You’d been sitting in your front room, pressing the previous bunch of flowers between one of your bigger books, when Daryl entered your home that day. Denise still hadn’t given you the all clear to go back out and hunt, and your movements were still pretty limited.
Hence, the constant appearances by the other hunter.
At this point, it had just become a part of the routine. Daryl would visit the house, walk straight to the empty vase on your bedside, and fill it with a new set of flowers. 
Though, today was a little different. 
Usually, he’d drop off some of the meat he’d managed to catch, and then leave. But, today he took a seat on the sofa opposite yours and fumbled with a tangled up cord.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” you giggled, sitting further back into your cushion.
“Been trying to fix ya stupid traps out there. Can’t get the knot right,” he mumbled, his patience wearing as thin as that rope in his hands. 
You couldn’t help but let out a hearty laugh at his words. 
The irony tasted so sweet. 
Daryl shot you a look which instantly made you cover your mouth. “Come here, I’ll help you,” you managed to say, whilst beckoning him over.
He did as instructed, but not without grumbling.
You took the cord from his hands and effortlessly untangled it. Daryl muttered something under his breath - but instead of prying, you took the victory and proceeded with your demonstration.
“Loop the rope around your hand like this and tie it.” 
Before finishing the action, you handed it over to Daryl so that he could do it by himself. 
“Then you fold the loop over to make ears, just like a rabbit!” you announced proudly, leaning over the man to show him exactly how it should look.
He scoffed. “What is it with you and the damn rabbits?” 
You rolled your eyes at the archer, and nudged him in the side for not paying attention - to which he carried on following your directions. 
“Then you thread the rope through,” you instructed, your hand hovering over his as you watched for any mistakes.
You hadn’t realised how close you were to him until he had finished the knot. You pulled away, and cleared your throat before refocusing on the cord - not daring to dwell on the tension.
“Then you add this end to the spring and leave the other end hanging.”
Daryl nodded silently, inspecting your work like he was trying to recreate it in his mind.
“Thanks,” he eventually whispered, chewing at the corner of his lip.
It didn’t take the man long to spring to his feet and murmur a goodbye before leaving. 
Thinking back on it, you could only laugh at how naive you both had been. 
Those bluebells were the last flowers ever left in that glass vase, but they hadn’t been the last you’d seen during your time at Alexandria. To this day, you still had an old, leather-bound book tucked away somewhere on a shelf - containing all of those pressed flowers with their dried up petals and stems. But, they weren’t the most memorable.
No. The ones you could remember the best, despite not having them laid flat atop a page, were the foxtail lilies.
“You good?” the man asked, guiding you through the long grass.
You followed him slowly, weaving through the wildflowers - being careful not to trod on them. 
Your leg had mostly healed, but your confidence still hadn’t made a full recovery. It was your first time hunting since the accident, and you couldn’t help but keep your eyes locked on your feet the entire time - despite Daryl having reassured you that he’d checked the area three times over.
“Yeah, just feels weird,” you replied, rolling your ankle. “But it’s good to be out again, thanks for taking over for me.”
Despite being out of commission for a few weeks, the people of Alexandria definitely hadn’t starved - that’s for damn sure.
Daryl shook his head, and continued to step through the foxtail lilies. He was leading you back to that new area - to explore it properly this time.
“Nah, ain’t nothin’,” he shrugged, not even sparing you a backwards glance.
You followed his trail, where his boots had flattened the grass and made it easier for you to navigate.
You sighed. “Can’t just say ‘you’re welcome’, can you?”
Something sprung in the distance, and you immediately flinched. It took you a few seconds to figure it out - but you soon realised that you recognised that sound.
You turned to the other hunter, only to find that he was already looking at you.
“Daryl Dixon,” you breathed, a smile already wide on your face. “Did you set a twitch-up snare?”
The man shook his head, before pointing into the distance - at the dozens of burrows you hadn’t gotten the chance to show him that day.
“Not jus’ one,” he announced, as you glanced around the field, counting the traps.
No wonder Alexandria hadn’t gone hungry.
Another one sprung, and made you jump. You couldn’t help it, you slapped Daryl over the back and laughed too loudly - probably making the remaining rabbits scurry back into their burrows.
“Be still my beating heart!” you joked. “I knew you’d come around.”
The lilies tickled your legs as they blew in the breeze, and made you laugh even more. But for once, the man didn’t scold you for scaring away the game.
“Yer welcome,” he replied, and smirked straight back.
Daryl thought of that memory, as he and Judith made their way through the darkened forest, back to the house. 
You had definitely changed him since then - in more ways than how he set up his traps.
Daryl hung behind the young girl, watching her feet as she navigated the thick overgrowth, and stepped over tree roots - her fox tail charm swinging from her jeans. 
It had been his, once. He’d caught that red fox himself in the dead of winter, and kept the brush just like you’d told him to do. Though, Judith Grimes had taken a liking to it as a baby - always reaching for the soft fur with her small hands, and sneezing when Daryl used it to tickle her nose.
It was hers now; it had been since that day.
As if feeling his stare, Judith turned back and called out to Daryl for him to hurry up - unless he wanted dinner to be cold. He let out a grunt and picked up the pace.
He was too damn old for this.
The two of them returned to the cabin before the sun had set, but Daryl could already smell the scent of cooked meat from the pathway, a few minutes back. The lights were on inside, flickering warmly behind the glass windows - as though calling the both of them home.
Judith reached the door first, and rapped on the wood, tapping out their signature knock. As soon as it creaked open, the young girl burst through - nearly knocking you over as she trudged through the house with a wide smile and muddy boots.
 Then, you disappeared behind the frame after her - yelling something about how animals were meant to be on a plate, and not seated at the dinner table.
Daryl couldn’t help but laugh at that one; you always did have a good sense of humour.
But for that reason, the hunter made sure to wash his hands as soon as he stepped through the door - before even attempting to put them on you, and pull you in close.
But once he did, you beckoned him over.
Daryl felt the warmth of your skin as you pressed your forehead to his.
“‘M home,” he murmured, offering out the bunch of wildflowers he’d picked for you on the way back.
They were slightly crushed from his grip - the stalks bent and the petals flaking off - but you still smiled at him in such a way that it made his breath catch.
Yeah, he thought, you hadn’t changed one bit.
“My favourites,” you replied, and placed those foxtails in fresh water at the centre of the dinner table.
-
tags:  @browneyes528​ @phoenixblack89​ @srhxpci​ @jodiereedus22​ @witch-of-letters​ @deadthewalking​
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britishassistant · 4 years ago
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I wonder what the supervillains (the dorm leaders) would do if they get switched with their other self in Twisted Wonderland.
They'll meet a younger Yuu calls them senpai and probably get shivers when they hear someone shout Prefect but then realize its Yuu's role in that world.
Bonus would be if Yuuken's there too, sharing the dorm with Yuu.
Thank you for the ask, dear anon!
I decided to take a little inspo from my Villainous Paranoiac series for this one! Not a whole lot, but the idea of Twisted Wonderland Yuu being put in the infirmary after the events of Chapter Five!
(Also consider it non-canon, since it kinda involves everyone’s identities being exposed!)
Basically imagine that the supervillains find themselves in what looks like a private school infirmary, late at night. The air is buzzing with a strange energy, almost like the powers back in their home world, but...different, somehow.
The room nearly empty, save for one occupant in a cot close to the door.
Poison Queen and King immediately begin bickering over whose fault this mess is, while Royal Flush tries to get them to keep their voices down or else they’ll be detected. Charon is half a minute from going to curl up in a corner, clutching his freeze ray like a lifeline, while Octo Dealer and Snake Charmer are busy inspecting their surroundings for anything of value or that can be requisitioned into a weapon on short notice.
Tsunotaro has wandered over to inspect the sole other living being in the room with them.
He is pleasantly surprised to see what looks like a younger version of the reporter he’s so fond of, fast asleep in the infirmary cot. Their cheeks still retain the last bit of baby fat from childhood, and there’s some acne left that will fade with age. He may give one cheek a gentle poke, just to satisfy his curiosity. The sleepy mumble they let out is a little more high pitched than normal, but that’s the reporter’s voice alright.
He is less pleased to see dark circles under their eyes, or the bandages around their throat that stink of medicinal salves. If this truly is a younger version of his child of man, then why do they look so worried, even in sleep? Why are they injured and sleeping in this place of healing in the first place? They’re a mere child, barely old enough to operate a vehicle or live alone. Their only worries should be trivial things, not whatever is causing this furrow in their brow and hunch in their shoulders.
The other supervillains have begun to migrate over to where Tsunotaro is crouching in silent contemplation. King flips his eyepatch up to get a better look, whistling lowly. Octo Dealer busies himself with refilling their water glass, sneaking glances at them as he places it within easy reach. Snake Charmer pulls their pillow more under their head from where it’s almost slipped off. Poison Queen straightens the arrangement of the very tasteful bouquet on the bedside table, so the flowers’ best angle is shown to the bed’s occupant. Royal Flush carefully tucks their covers in over them.
Charon takes a picture with his tablet.
He forgot to turn off his flash.
Yuu cracks their eyes open...
To see seven adults looming over their bed in masks that resemble the ink from the overblots that haunt the Prefect’s nightmares.
Cue terrified screaming.
Snake Charmer lunges forward instinctively to cover Yuu’s mouth—
It’s only thanks to Poison Queen yanking him back that he doesn’t end up with an arrow in the shoulder.
Several more follow the first one through the window above the prefect’s cot, cold iron sharp and perfectly aimed to seriously maim if the supervillains don’t immediately get away from the screaming teenager. Rook was lax in protecting the Trickster after VDC ended, assuming there was no more danger after Roi du Poison’s overblot was saved. He will not make that mistake again.
The infirmary doors burst open, a younger Yuuken in a sleep-rumpled uniform barging in from where he decided to sleep outside because Ramshackle felt too empty and quiet to bear, but was forbidden from staying in the infirmary himself. He only has a pillow, but he brandishes it at the strange adults, fully willing to defend his dorm mate in whatever way he can.
The vanguard appears in a flurry of bats though, too many to fight off, small and vicious and furious. Their commander materializes in the center if the swarm, hovering over the head of Yuu’s cot, pink eyes brimming with a cold rage that makes his small and cute form look like it’s bursting at the seams holding something much older and angrier back. He opens his mouth, fangs long and glistening—
Only to stop short at the sight of one of the supervillains. “Malleus? Malleus Draconia?”
Tsunotaro nods warily.
“Wh-What in Twisted Wonderland are you wearing??”
Tsunotaro ducks his head like a chastened child. “I could say the same thing.” He mutters sullenly.
From there the lights get turned on, and the seven supervillains are made to explain themselves to the sleep-deprived students and staff who trickle in to see what’s going on. All six dorm leaders and one vice dorm leader vanished from their beds, setting everyone on high alert until news of these...alternate versions spread.
It is very weird for the supervillains to see all their minions as teenagers (again in some cases). It is only surpassed by how weird it is for everyone else to see their dorm heads and vice head all grown up and adult, even if they are dressed weird.
Ortho still wants to shoot them with a beam until they bring back his nii-san. Luckily Charon is able to convince him that Idia should be fine if he’s in Charon’s lair—he’s got plenty of the latest games, manga and tech for him to play with, so that should keep him occupied for a while.
Sebek is in a state of Malleus awe. He has shut down and will not restart. Silver has taken to pinching himself just to make sure this isn’t a Lilia’s cooking induced fever dream, while Lilia himself scolds Tsunotaro that he raised him better than to go around watching people sleep like that! Tsunotaro tries to use the “but I’m a supervillain” excuse, only for Lilia to shoot back “and I’m a war criminal in some nations, what’s your point?”
King is enjoying watching the overgrown lizard get scolded. Now if only the tiny Ruggie would stop asking him what injury the eyepatch is for, and making remarks about how embarrassing it would be if it were totally pointless—King does not pay his adult self so much to put up with this shit. The baby Jack also needs to stop demanding to know if his adult minion self can pull a sled faster than a moose or something...
Jade and Floyd are attempting to wind up the adult Octo Dealer, trying to see how much they can get away with compared with the normal Azul. Octo Dealer is legitimately at a loss as to how this world’s Azul doesn’t keep them in line without letting them turn to a crime or two. Then he learns about Azul’s contract business and feels a pang of commiseration and understanding.
Poison Queen, Royal Flush, and Snake Charmer are unpleasantly shocked when their dorms address them by their respective secret identities in front of their fellow supervillains out of the blue.
Poison Queen has to put up with King’s uncontrolled laughter as he finally understands the full extent of the incident with White Neige so long ago, while Tsunotaro tries to tell him he liked Schoenheit in his role as the evil dragon prince in the GaoGao dramatization. Royal Flush is about two seconds away from throttling Octo Dealer if the bastard doesn’t stop trying to make a deal to guarantee his mother doesn’t learn about her son’s private activities. Snake Charmer’s just glad his civilian identity flies under the radar enough that Charon has to try and look him up to understand who he is (and fails because he’s not on school wifi and his cellular data is bust).
Poison Queen is also getting a headache from Rook rhapsodizing about how his villain form is another, enhanced mode of beauty he is fortunate to lay eyes upon, as if he hadn’t been willing to skewer Poison Queen along with the rest of the supervillains five minutes ago. He’s at least able to amuse himself by letting Epel run away with his speculations about how he’s the buff hyper-masculine muscle for Poison Queen.
Kalim is crying that Jamil had to resort to becoming a villain in his home world! He must be so sad if he has to do that! He’s mildly cheered up when Snake Charmer tells him they work together on schemes, and that Snake Charmer is actually reasonably happy with his chosen vocation—and then he begins panicking that Jamil will like that world so much, he won’t want to come back.
Royal Flush is glad his counterpart at least has good people around to look after him, even if it is odd to have young versions of Trey and Cater trying to mother hen him despite the fact that he’s the older one now. At least Ace and Deuce acting up seems more fitting now considering their age than it ever did on their adult selves.
Ace huffs a sigh and leans on Yuu’s shoulder. “This is a mess, huh Prefect?”
“You said it.” Yuu replies. “I just wanna sleep forever.”
The supervillains go still.
“I’m sorry,” Snake Charmer says carefully. “But isn’t Enma-san the Prefect?”
“No?” Yuuken replies, confused. “Yuu’s the prefect of Ramshackle Dorm. I’m their vice— or would be, if we had any other students apart from them, me, and Grim.”
Octo Dealer laughs, sounding slightly strained. “Ah, apologies, but you see, that isn’t possible. It can’t be. Yuu isn’t—”
“But I am the prefect, Azul-senpai.” Yuu the Prefect says. “I’ve–I’ve always been the prefect.”
There’s a stunned silence.
Royal Flush places his head in his hands. “What the fuck.”
Back in the Supervillain AU universe, Yuu the Reporter sneezes sharply while trying to wrangle five frightened teenagers, one frightened-but-playing-tough twenty year old, and one confused however-old-he-is-but-younger-than-Tsunotaro fae.
They wonder what the chill down their spine is.
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themadauthorshatter · 3 years ago
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FEBUWHUMP DAYS 15-19!
Day 15: Hidden scars (From Red Queen
-As we all know in the wonderful world of Red Queen, Cal has scars that he wears like trophies
-I'm counting them as hidden because Mare and we the readers only see them when Cal takes off his shirt and turns his back.
-BECAUSE THEY TELL HIM THAT HE SURVIVED AND WAS LUCKY FOR IT. Kinda like a sick way of saying, "Good job of not dying, gold star" or "This is how you survived. Best be glad it worked."
-One scar was a stab from an enemy's bayonet that JUST missed something vital, another is a a clean shot through from a bullet that almost made him lose a limb.
-Does he get on edge talking about them? Not really. He just gets uncomfortable because it's like remembering when you broke your leg or had to get a tooth pulled; not fun, and not okay with sharing.
-It probably doesn't help that Tibe was proud of Cal's keeping the scars; nothing says, "I'm a man's man," like battle scars.
-Cal doesn't mind having his scars, but he does when people ask how he got them, because he sort of forgot.
-The only one who felt shook with him was Julian, who was frightened by the idea of losing the last peice of his sister that he has left.
Day 16: "Does that hurt?" (From Toppat!Charles)
- Going a little dicky with this one.
- Charles is in his cell after taking a beating and is insanely sore and tired.
-It does not help that Right walks in to check on him and actually admits to being surprised at Charles's endurance; the army really did raise him to be tough.
- Charles doesn't really listen, but Right spots a bandage that's covering some broken ribs and makes the observation that he's probably bagning Charles up a little too hard, seeing as how one kick nearly shattered his ribs.
-Charles ignores him and Right answers by letting himself into the cell, stating that Charles can act like a child all he wants, if he's okay with getting kicked around because of it. Charles mutters that Right can do whatever he wants because it doesn't really matter anymore; Charles can't feel it, so what's the point?
-To test his theory, Right grabs Charles and throws him to the ground, making Charles scream and cough as he lands on his already injured ribs.
-Right only glowers at him amd asks if he felt THAT, if he felt the impact of the throw and if he's in any pain to feel his ribs breaking.
-Charles stays quiet and Right responds with a kick to the face, somewhat demanding an answer.
-Charles is beaten a little more, getting his skin broken open, his ribs re-broken, blood everywhere and in his eyes, and even almost going unconscious before he responds that, yes, he can actually feel that he's in pain, thank you very much.
-Satisfied, Right carries Charles to the infirmary to get him patched up, because he's nice like that.
-Charles onlys lets himself be carried and examined, knowing that fighting of any kind is useless.
Day 17: Self-inflicted Wound
- ... I'm skipping this one. Call me whatever you want, but I can't do this prompt.
Take a brain break and enjoy this gif of a puppy, go get some water, eat a snack, watch some Tiktok, But It's Basically Vine Videos, Idk just take a minute or two to shake off anything stressful because goodness knows we don't practice self-care enough🤷‍♀️
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If you're back, great.
ONWARD!
Day 18: Forced to Watch (From the Webcomic Series Fire for Hire by @cutec3 because I'm a fangirl and the potential is TOO ripe)
-Once upon a tine ago, Frank worked for the mafia, which never ends well.
-On one sunny day, after a successful hunt, Silver had him and a few others stick around for a couple demonstrations, one that involved 'harvesting' from an elemental, and another that Silver gave to show what happens to people who are of no use to him.
-The second act started small with an explanation about why the Hunter failed and what he THINKS should happen to him.
-He only awkwardly suggests a demotation and pay cut, but Silver suggests a different idea, as emphasized when he grabs the Hunter's arm, freezes it whole and shatters it against his desk.
-Everyone in the room gasps, except for Silver, as they watch the Hunter scream over the fact that his arm was frozen and SHATTERED amd the amount of pain he's currently in because of it.
- Frank instantly reacts by holding his own arms, but Silver's not done, as he grabs the Hunter by the neck and begins to slowly freeze the rest of him, the Hunter shivering, apologizing, and begging the entire time.
- Silver doesn't really listen and instead tells the Hunter that he has NO place in his 'business' for people who are useless and don't bring him results, and that refers to both in hunts and in post-injection. Seeing as how the Hunter is the former, he's kind of fired and on two minutes' notice as he continues to freeze, his muscles tensing from the decreasing temperature and making him shiver violently, his skin turning blue, teeth clicking together, and sort of unable to produce tears to cry, until he first dies and then turns to a block of ice that Silver carelessly pushes back and lets shatter across the floor.
-All of the witnesses are shaken and stirred, but Frank is figuratively frozen as he looks at the remains of the Hunter, at the fact that if he screws up, he'll be frozen from the inside out and killed amd no one will save him from that.
-Silver excuses the men left in the room and warns them to not disappoint him, not unless they know what's good for them.
-Frank does not look a gift horse in the mouth and leaves right away, not wanting to stay to see how certain messes arebcleaned up.
Day 19: Delirium (From Dip/AfP by @dreamsofspike-blog yet again😅 Gabriel just can't escape the whump, can he? Slight spoilers for AfP)
-Anyone ever been so overworked, but still so stressed that they can't sleep no matter how exhausted they are? That's Gabriel in a nutshell as he 'works for' Aziraphale.
-When he goes to bed, it feels like the best thing ever.
-It's a real big shame that he's so scared and stressed out that he can't get a wink of sleep😮‍💨😑
-And it gets worse the longer it gets, as he begins to hear footsteps and voices that he's pretty sure don't belong to anyone and then he begins to RECOGNIZE those voices and can put names to them.
-One of the things he sees and hears is Crowley as he talks about having another escape plan that relies on him escaping while Gabriel causes a distraction. Maybe he can screw up one of his chores and work with his shirt OFF for a change so that Aziraphale is more enticed to take his time, and it will leave to Crowley slipping away. Catch is that he'll only tell Michael and the others if he remembers because priorities.
-Another thing he sees is Aziraphale, who appears as he did in the days of Eden and before he forst war in Heaven. Aziraphale asks what Gabriel did to deserve all of this, what happened for them both to deserve what's happened to them. There were two things Aziraphale had ever wanted: To gain Heaven's and the Archangels' approval and to live on Earth with Crowley, but neither happened because of Gabriel and everything he's done, from every arrogant remark to Aziraphale to toughen up our do better in his work to talking Crowley from him, the only person that he loved and loved him, even remarking that he only ever tried his best to please his boss, and has lost everything for it.
-Speaking of losing everything, the last thing I'll mention Gabriel seeing is himself, but not the tired, weak, abused Archangel he is currently.
- He sees who he was before, prideful, strong, clean, deterred by nothing and wounded by nothing as he stands in a clean, expensive suit that fits him perfectly and makes him look every ounce of the leader of Heaven that he is.
-This version of Gabriel stares at the one curled up and shaking in bed with disgust and shame, absolutely disappointed in the fact the Aziraphale, a Principality who's a sap for Earth and a traitor to Heaven, actually did this to him, broke him down to the point where he's afraid of his own shadow. It's sad and something that is unbelievable because he's the Archangel fucking Gabriel.
-Present Gabriel tells his old self that he can't fight back, not with the watch on and not when he has nowhere to go.
-Past/Hallucination Gabriel laughs because Gabriel CAN take get the watch off and DOES have a place to go. He's just too much of a coward to do either because he's become a demon loving whore just like Aziraphale, so much so that he's become Heaven's doormat rather than their voice.
-Gabriel shouts at his past self to go away, if he hates him so much. Leave andbho back to Heaven where he doesn't have to deal with anything that doesn't hurt him, like right now.
-The shouting snaps him out of it and makes him realize that he REALLY needs the sleep he can’t actually have.
-Even worse, someone walks in: The REAL Crowley, who asks if Gabriel's okay.
-Gabriel takes a moment and lies that he's fine, laying down on his bed and saying he was just having a bad dream.
-Crowley knows that's BS, but knows better than to push after everything that's happened(go read the Perdition books if you want to know what's going on). He asks if Gabriel needs anything and the Archangel declines, as he needs to be focused for his 'work' tomorrow.
-Crowley relents and leaves, giving an apoloy and a goodnight as he does so.
-As much as Gabriel wants to ask Crowley to stay, he doesn't, in fear that the demon really is planning on leaving him for realsies, something he just can't handle.
-In spite of everything, Gabriel gets a tiny bit of sleep before he has to get up.
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camthesolemnone · 3 years ago
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oo hoo hoo, here we go! ok, i have a few thoughts, so imma send in a few of these. first: sickfic. one of them (maybe Medic? cause haha, irony) gets *really* sick, but he trys to hide it from Heavy (maybe they're still working for MannCo, at the time?) but at some point he ends up collapsing because his head's spinning to fast or something. i just want him to fall, and wake up in a bed with a cool cloth on his forehead as Heavy scolds him for not taking better care of himself
I'll get your second request done tomorrow. I hope you enjoy!
Gott verdammt.
Why out of all of the possible days Medic could get sick, he fell ill in the middle of the summer? The New Mexican desert was unforgiving, to the point where anyone and everyone on the RED team would make up an excuse to sit in the air-conditioned medbay, even for just five minutes as Ludwig bandaged their fourth cut of the day.
His teammates' repeated visits were getting on his nerves, but their frequent injuries were the least of Medic's problems.
He was suffering from a terrible fever, one that made him feel like his whole body was on fire. The doctor's skin was flushed in a way that made him feel pale and his entire being from head to toe was drenched in sweat. He so desperately wanted to change out of his lab coat and dark trousers, but the company's dress code mandated that uniforms were to be worn at all times with the exceptions of during showers or while sleeping.
Medic never paid mind to the idiotic rule until he was literally melting in his clothes.
"You can get through this, Ludwig. It's just a fever. You are a doctor, you will be fine," the German murmured to himself.
Even simply walking from one side of the room to the other left the medic exhausted, but he pressed on. Shuffling slowly to the fridge located next to the operating table, he wrenched open the door and everything inside rattled.
Some food could help.
With weak hands, Ludwig dipped into the fridge and pulled out a perfectly triangular sandwich. Through his discomfort, the tiniest smile graced Medic's lips; his lover was always so thoughtful as to leave meals in his fridge when he forgot to eat.
Medic took a small bite of the ham and cheese sandwich and chewed it meaningfully. Within mere seconds of placing the food in his mouth, his eyes widened as the signs started showing up. This was bad. The sandwich was salty on his tongue, far too salty for even Heavy. Ludwig's whole mouth suddenly went dry and his throat began to constrict. The doctor wrapped one arm around his stomach and planted the other firmly on the top of the fridge. The plate containing the food shattered on the ground, but Medic didn't care.
"Breath in, breath out. Breath in, breath--"
He gulped down the sandwich and let out a sigh of relief. Thank god.
Ludwig moved to stand up straight but soon found the wind knocked out of him. The flames burned his temples, his arms and legs, his lungs, and his heart. He couldn't stop the world around him from spinning, the colors and shapes becoming a blur as they zipped across his vision faster, faster--
.
"Eugh, ich fühle mich scheisse."
Medic's lids opened painfully, expecting the sight in front of him to be that of the infirmary floor.
They all but shot open when the doctor realized several things were not as they were supposed to. For one thing, his lab coat, sweater vest, and trousers had been removed, leaving him in just his light dress shirt and his boxers. Secondly, there was a cold, wet cloth resting on his forehead. Finally, he was not on the tiled floor of the medbay, but in his quarters and situated in his bed.
"Doktor, how long have you been sick?"
Ludwig shifted his head abruptly at the voice, but calmed down when he realized it was Mikhail.
Wait, had Mikhail done all of this?
"W-wha--how did I get here? And when did you get here?" Medic croaked.
Heavy crossed his arms.
"Heard something shatter in Doktor's office. Went to go investigate and found you passed out on the floor with very high temperature. I brought you back here, Ludwig," he paused, "Heavy is sorry for undressing you without permission, but I did not want you to get any hotter."
Medic let out a cough and Heavy's frown deepened with concern.
"I had feeling something was wrong, ever since when you refused breakfast. Why did you hide sickness from me, Doktor?" He asked.
Ludwig shut his eyes for a brief moment, as if he were thinking deeply about his obviously simple response.
"It is because I did not want you to worry about me, meine liebe. I am a grown man, this is noth--"
Medic cut himself off with another cough followed by a groan.
"Doktor should take care of self better! You worry Heavy very much when things like this happen!"
The doctor hid under the blankets slightly in his guilt, but was soon uncovered by his big Russian bear.
"Pozhaluysta, Ludwig..."
"Fine, fine. Next time I fall ill, I will notify you. But only on the condition that you do the same, Heavy!"
The giant grinned. He could agree with those terms.
"Good. Now try to get some rest, Doktor. I will have cold water ready for when you wake up," he said softly.
The heavy weapon's specialist leaned down to place a chaste kiss on his medic's searing forehead. Medic smiled before shutting his eyes once more and turning to his side.
Just before the German slipped into overheated dreamland, he whispered, "Danke, Mikhail. Ich liebe dich."
Unbeta-d so I apologize for any mistakes!
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bloody-bee-tea · 4 years ago
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JC Love Month 2020  Day 7
Family’s Obligation
Day 7 of JC Love Month brings some modern Lan Qiren feels, who doesn’t even try to hide that Jiang Cheng is his favourite student. Warning for some shitty, shitty parenting from JFM and YZY, I guess.
Jiang Cheng is sitting in Headmaster Lan Qiren’s office and he really wishes he could be anywhere else.
“Are you in pain?” Lan Qiren asks him and Jiang Cheng looks down at his bandaged wrists.
The nurse thinks it’s broken, so she recommended a trip to the hospital to get it checked out even though she already bandaged it and Jiang Cheng is just waiting for his parents to pick him up.
Or at least Lan Qiren is waiting for that.
Jiang Cheng knows better than to expect them to come for him.
“It’s okay,” Jiang Cheng says, even though it’s still throbbing painfully.
Lan Qiren seems to be able to look right through him, because he gets up and hands Jiang Cheng another cold compress. Jiang Cheng doesn’t even know where he got it from, but he gratefully takes it anyway.
“You should speak the truth if you are in discomfort or pain,” Lan Qiren chastises him as he sits back down and Jiang Cheng shrugs.
It’s not like people in his household usually care much if he’s hurt or not, his siblings not counting.
And speaking of siblings—
“Where’s Wei Wuxian?” Jiang Cheng asks and he thinks that he can see a vein throb on Lan Qiren’s temple.
“That hellion ran away after what he did,” Lan Qiren presses out and Jiang Cheng is just about to protest, because there was a whole gang of Jin’s after him, when Lan Qiren pinches the bridge of his nose. “And it was probably the smart thing to do as well,” he sighs. “Still, he’ll have to come in eventually and I’ll have to punish him for what he did.”
Jiang Cheng would protest that as well—Wei Wuxian was only defending him after all, and he was not the first one to throw a punch—but Jin Zixun has been kicked out of the school, so whatever punishment Wei Wuxian will get, it will probably be a lot better than that.
“Thank you for kicking Jin Zixun out,” Jiang Cheng mutters and Lan Qiren levels him with a look.
“He attacked three different students, was entirely disrespectful towards your sister and your brother, seriously injured you, threatened your family and broke so many rules that I won’t bother reciting them all now. Of course I wouldn’t tolerate that.”
“And Wei Wuxian—?” Jiang Cheng dares to ask, because Lan Qiren seems to be in a talkative mood at the moment.
“As much as I don’t like him and his insolvent behaviour I have to admit that it was good of him to stand up for you and Jiang Yanli. He certainly has the right values, unlike other people in this school,” Lan Qiren spits out and it’s no secret that he holds no love for the Wen or Jin heirs.
“He’ll have to copy the rules,” Lan Qiren says after a moment of deliberation and Jiang Cheng raises his eyebrow.
That seems like a very lenient punishment, especially coming from Lan Qiren.
“I guess Wangji will have to oversee it,” Lan Qiren goes on and suddenly Jiang Cheng’s eyes burn.
Everyone in this school knows that Lan Wangji and Wei Wuxian are so very desperately in love with each other and it must have reached Lan Qiren’s ears as well.
This is no punishment at all. It’s a reward.
And since Lan Qiren holds no love for Wei Wuxian this must be a reward for Wei Wuxian because he came to Jiang Cheng’s defence.
It’s like an unspoken secret that Lan Qiren holds a soft spot for Jiang Cheng, even though Jiang Cheng himself could never figure out why the hell that would be the truth, but it seems like everyone else was right. Jiang Cheng never dared to believe it, even when Lan Qiren checks in him personally at least once a week, and when Jiang Cheng’s parents forgot to pick him up, Jiang Cheng got to do his homework in Lan Qiren’s office.
Still, Jiang Cheng always thought he was just being a decent person to a sad, lost boy, but it seems like everyone was in fact right when they say that Jiang Cheng is Lan Qiren’s favourite.
“Thank you,” Jiang Cheng whispers and Lan Qiren strokes his goatee, clearly uncomfortable with Jiang Cheng’s expression of gratitude.
“Where are your parents?” he asks instead of letting the moment turn more awkward than it already way, and every warm feeling flees Jiang Cheng’s body.
He had called them from the infirmary, but he hadn’t reached them. Jiang Cheng suspects that they chose to ignore him, rather than missed his call, because he called both his parent’s work phones.
“I don’t know,” he admits. “I couldn’t reach them.”
“Are they at home?” Lan Qiren demands to know and Jiang Cheng shrugs.
He hasn’t seen either of his parents for the past few days, but he’s not going to mention that to Lan Qiren now.
“I think they are at work. There is some big deal going down if I’m not mistaken,” Jiang Cheng finally says and Lan Qiren nods, though he seems anything but happy about it.
“I see,” he says and then reaches for the phone.
It’s enough to startle Jiang Cheng into motion, because if Lan Qiren calls them then his parents will think Jiang Cheng did something wrong and he doesn’t want to hear their reaction to that.
“Please, don’t,” he says, before Lan Qiren can dial a number and he freezes in his movement.
“What?” he asks.
“Don’t call them. I can just go home by bus, it’s no problem,” Jiang Cheng desperately tries.
“You’re supposed to go to the hospital, not home,” Lan Qiren sternly tells him and then simply dials the number.
“They won’t come,” Jiang Cheng mutters, and Lan Qiren’s eyes snap to him.
“Headmaster Lan, what did Wei Wuxian do now?” Madam Yu’s voice rings out from the speaker and Jiang Cheng tries his best to melt into the seat.
“This is about your son,” Lan Qiren says and there’s a beat of silence.
“What did he do?” Madam Yu asks and whereas she sounded annoyed the first time, there’s real anger in her voice now.
“He got hurt,” Lan Qiren says with a frown and Madam Yu sighs.
“Is he alright?” she asks, and Jiang Cheng’s hand clenches around the cold compress.
His wrist hurts, and with his luck it’s more damaged than just bruised, and his mother is not going to care beyond the fact that he can’t work at his intern job in the company.
“His wrist got injured. A trip to the hospital is advisable,” Lan Qiren tells her.
“If it’s only his wrist, he can take the bus. My son is not so weak that he needs to be coddled. He can take care of himself. He better got that by beating someone else up,” Madam Yu says and Jiang Cheng wishes she would stop talking.
“Madam Yu!” Lan Qiren says in outrage but Madam Yu doesn’t seem to care that much.
“Is he there?” she asks and Lan Qiren expectantly looks at Jiang Cheng.
“Yes, mother,” he dutifully says.
“What happened?” she asks and Jiang Cheng tries to hide his wince but going by the twitch in Lan Qiren’s brow he doesn’t know how successful he is.
“Jin Zixun said something mean to Yanli so I tried to make him stop,” he sums it up and Jiang Cheng goes cold at the answering silence.
“And?” Madam Yu icily asks after a moment.
“And then Jin Zixun almost broke my wrist,” Jiang Cheng goes on.
“Wei Wuxian?” Madam Yu wants to know and Jiang Cheng shrinks even more in on himself.
“Came to my help.”
“Is he hurt?”
“Not that I know of,” Jiang Cheng says and he knows what’s coming next.
“Then you are not, either. I expect you at work later this afternoon,” Madam Yu says and Jiang Cheng hangs his head.
“Yes, mother,” he agrees and Madam Yu hangs up without another word.
There’s only the beeping sound for a horrible long time and then Lan Qiren lets out a long, long breath.
“Does that mean she’s not coming?” he then asks, voice carefully controlled and Jiang Cheng nods miserably.
“Your father?” Lan Qiren asks then and Jiang Cheng is quick to shake his head.
“He will go looking for Wei Wuxian, claiming that it’s more important since we know that I am fine, but the same can’t be said about Wei Wuxian,” Jiang Cheng predicts and is very grateful when Lan Qiren doesn’t pick up the phone to verify.
“Is it always like that?” Lan Qiren carefully asks and Jiang Cheng is very ashamed when he bursts into tears.
But it’s just all too much; the whole day has been a rollercoaster of emotions starting with the anger towards Jin Zixun and the adrenalin and then he got hurt and Wei Wuxian came to his rescue and now this whole mess.
Jiang Cheng doesn’t know how to handle any of this at all.
He startles badly when someone awkwardly pats his shoulder but when he realizes that it’s just Lan Qiren he almost leans into him. Jiang Cheng wonders which one of them feels more awkward about this, but he can’t bring himself to care, at least not right now.
“Jiang Wanyin, is it always like that?” Lan Qiren asks again and this time Jiang Cheng nods.
“I haven’t seen either of them for a couple of days. I know they are home sometimes, but mother goes to talk to Yanli and father goes to talk to Wei Wuxian and then there’s simply no time for me. Father would drop everything to search the whole town for Wei Wuxian but driving me to the hospital would be a chore. Caring for me is an obligation neither of them know how to handle, and by now I am not expecting anything anymore,” it bursts out of Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng doesn’t get much for his position as an intern, but what he gets he saves. When he turns eighteen he’ll be out of his family home immediately and he doesn’t think his parents will notice for at least a week.
It’s a thought Jiang Cheng tries to push very far away.
Lan Qiren is very quiet at his side and Jiang Cheng is afraid to even look at him, too scared to see what his reaction is to that, so when Lan Qiren puts his hand more firmly on his shoulder, Jiang Cheng is startled.
“Get up, we’re driving to the hospital,” Lan Qiren says and Jiang Cheng is left staring after him, because immediately after his declaration Lan Qiren left the office, talking to his secretary.
Jiang Cheng isn’t entirely sure how he ended up in Lan Qiren’s car, but he’s there before he can gather a coherent thought.
“I wouldn’t want to impose,” Jiang Cheng says as Lan Qiren already starts the car and Lan Qiren silences him with a look.
That does nothing to Jiang Cheng. Madam Yu is his mother, he’s used to much worse.
“Really, you must be busy. There must be other things you need to do,” Jiang Cheng insists, but Lan Qiren shakes his head.
“There is nothing more important than making sure that you are alright, do you understand me?” he wants to know and Jiang Cheng has nothing else to say to that, so they spent the rest of the drive to the hospital in a tense silence.
Lan Qiren stays by his side through the whole examination and when the doctor asks Jiang Cheng if it’s okay to tell him the results in front of Lan Qiren who is neither a parent nor a guardian, Jiang Cheng simply nods.
Lan Qiren feels very much like both of these things in the moment and Jiang Cheng is not at all sure how to deal with that.
“Your wrist is broken,” the doctor tells him then and Jiang Cheng slumps, because of course it is.
Nothing can ever be easy for him.
They put a cast on his arm and then Jiang Cheng is back in Lan Qiren’s car, when Jiang Cheng’s phone rings.
He accepts the call when he sees that it’s Wei Wuxian.
“Where are you?” is the first thing Wei Wuxian asks him and Jiang Cheng snorts much to Lan Qiren’s dislike it seems.
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that?” Jiang Cheng gives back but Wei Wuxian sounds worried and Jiang Cheng is not liking it.
“Listen, I managed to run away from the Jins but I had an encounter with Wen Chao,” Wei Wuxian says and Jiang Cheng winces.
Wen Chao is nothing more than a slimy bastard, but he always has Wen Zhuliu around and he’s a real piece of work.
“Are you alright?” Jiang Cheng asks, because of course Wei Wuxian would go straight from the fire into the frying pan.
“A little roughed up. Got a nice shiner. Do you think Lan Zhan will kiss it better?” Wei Wuxian asks and Jiang Cheng wonders if Lan Qiren will pop a vein with how angry he seems at hearing that.
“What do I care?” Jiang Cheng gives back, but if Wei Wuxian is hurt, he can guess where this is going.
“A-Cheng, I don’t think you should be coming home today,” Wei Wuxian says just on cue and of course.
His father thinks it’s Jiang Cheng’s fault Wei Wuxian got hurt, and his mother thinks the opposite, so they are fighting again.
“Bad?” Jiang Cheng wants to know even though he damn well knows the answer.
“I’m going to stay with Wen Qing tonight, and shijie is with Jin Zixuan, so—,” Wei Wuxian trails off and that means it’s more than bad.
“Fine, I’ll find a place to stay,” Jiang Cheng sighs, even though dread curls in his gut.
He’s not quite as lucky as Wei Wuxian or Jiang Yanli with his friends. His only real friend is Nie Huaisang and he and his brother are out of town at the moment.
Jiang Cheng guesses he could beg Jin Zixuan to let him take the couch but he doesn’t want to ruin his sister’s evening and Jiang Cheng would rather sleep on the streets than room with Wen Qing and Wei Wuxian.
“Take care,” Wei Wuxian says and then simply hangs up on him.
“What was that?” Lan Qiren demands to know and Jiang Cheng startles, because over his own dilemma he almost forgot that they are in his car.
“The usual,” Jiang Cheng tries, but Lan Qiren levels him with a look and Jiang Cheng deflates.
“My father thinks Wei Wuxian’s injury is my fault because I started it, so he is mad at me. My mother can’t stand it when he is mad at me instead of Wei Wuxian, so she gets in these really vicious fights with him and if that happens it’s really best if none of us are home,” Jiang Cheng says with a shrug.
“Where will you stay?” Lan Qiren asks and Jiang Cheng admires him for everything that he so clearly wanted to say and still swallowed.
There’s no way that was his first thought to this.
“Don’t know yet,” Jiang Cheng gets out with a desperate smile. “I’m gonna find a place.”
Lan Qiren looks at him as if he can tell exactly that Jiang Cheng is most likely not going to find a place and then he sighs.
“You’re coming with me,” Lan Qiren decides and Jiang Cheng gapes at him.
“I’m sorry, what?”
“You’re not going to sleep on the streets or whatever you are thinking,” Lan Qiren almost snaps at him as if he’s offended even thinking about it. “I have a guest room and you’re going to use it.”
Jiang Cheng opens his mouth to argue, but then he realizes that there isn’t much he can argue against. It will most likely be awkward as hell, but Jiang Cheng is out of options, so really, what is he going to say to that.
Jiang Cheng tries not to gape when they come to stop in front of a huge house, because this neighbourhood is even nicer than Jiang Cheng’s own, and he only drags his eyes away from the house when Lan Qiren turns towards him.
“Jiang Wanyin,” he starts and Jiang Cheng dreads whatever comes out of his mouth next. “I have a spare key and you’re going to take it,” Lan Qiren tells him then and before Jiang Cheng can protests, a key is being pressed into his uninjured hand.
“What?” Jiang Cheng very dumbly asks but he doesn’t understand what’s happening right now.
“If that is a regular occurrence, I never want you to fret over where you’ll stay,” Lan Qiren says with vehemence. “If you can’t stay at friends of yours, then you’ll come here. I have a spare room and no one who uses it and if I hear you’re sleeping on the streets or something equally outrageous then I’m going to drag you here by your ear.”
Jiang Cheng has to blink very fast at that, because his vision gets blurry and he thinks bursting into tears right now is only going to make Lan Qiren retract his offer.
“And if you ever need a place just to get away from your parents, even for just an hour, you also come here,” Lan Qiren goes on and Jiang Cheng is quick to nod, because if he already accepted, Lan Qiren can’t take it back anymore.
“Alright,” Lan Qiren says and squeezes his shoulder once before he gets out of the car.
He gives Jiang Cheng some time to compose himself, but when he finally follows Lan Qiren into the house and has to use the key to enter, Jiang Cheng bursts into tears again, because a very small part of him thought that maybe Lan Qiren was just fucking with him.
It’s almost not at all awkward when Lan Qiren hugs him, and even if it was, Jiang Cheng wouldn’t mention it.
Link to my ko-fi on the sidebar!
It’s really nice to be held.
Next part
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steves-on-a-plane · 3 years ago
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Keeping the Monsters At Bay
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Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader Warnings: Anxiety Attacks, mentions of nightmares, mentions of broken bones Word Count: 2137 Square Filled: @star-spangled-bingo​ Free Space & @buckybarnesbingo​ U5 *Picture Square* Summary: Reader forgot to replenish the medical supplies after a previous mission and it’s almost time for the team to leave for the next one. The pressure triggers an anxiety attack for Reader, which is when Bucky comes upon them. With Bucky’s help, Reader is able to manage the attack. The next night Reader is able to return the favor when they’re awoken by screaming. Bucky is having nightmares again so Reader helps him get through the night. 
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“Shit!” You hissed out the word as you slammed the storage compartment closed. You looked over your shoulder to see if anyone else had overheard your outburst. Dr. Banner was the only on the quinjet with you. He politely pretended not to have heard you. The other’s would be arriving soon and expect you to be ready to go. You opened another compartment only to discover it too was empty.
“Everything all right, [Y/N}?” Bruce asked after you loudly closed a third compartment.
“Yes, I think so.” You sighed. “I’ll be right back.”
You stormed out of the quintet mumbling every curse word you could think of. On the last mission Steve had asked you to rotate the medical supplies. Apparently you’d remembered to empty all the medical compartments, but never refilled the supplies. As soon as you were sure that you were out of Bruce’s sight you began running through the corridors. There was a sinking feeling in your stomach when you thought of how you could be a reason for the mission to be delayed. You didn’t have much time together everything you needed, but you’d have to do your best. The last thing you wanted was to be in the field and not have something you needed.
“[Y/N]!” Tony called out to you as you almost collided with him. “You’re going the wrong way.”
“Sorry Tony, I’ve just got to grab something quick.” You told him without stopping.
“Wheels up in ten minutes!” He shouted after you. “That’s with or without you!” He hadn’t meant anything by it. You knew he didn’t because half of everything Tony said wasn’t serious. You also knew there was no way Steve would let him leave you behind, but you couldn’t rationalize with anxiety.
You really wished you could turn this part of you off. There was never a convenient time for an anxiety attack, but a mission was one of the worst times. You were already experiencing a stomach pain so intense it felt the way a towel looks when it’s being wrung out. You knew what would happen next, the worrying and overthinking. You’d worry so much about making sure to pack everything that you were bound to forget something. You felt the pain in your chest as you rounded the next corner.
“Almost there.” You whispered as you forced yourself from a run to a walking pace. You were starting to have troubling breathing. You tried to tell yourself it was from the running and the worrying. It would go away once you had all the supplies. That did nothing to sooth the burning feeling in your lungs.
“[Y/N]?” You’d been so inside of your own head, you hadn’t seen Bucky at the other end of the hall. Gasping for breaths now, you allowed yourself to lean against the wall and waited for him to come to you. “Are you okay?” He asked you quietly.
You nodded “Yes” Unable to answer him verbally. He seemed unhappy with that answer.
“You wanna try that again?” He asked. His tone was gentle, inventing. It lacked the usual sarcastic whipping you were used to from him.
“I’m…fine.” You managed between gasps. You closed your eyes and tried to focus on your breathing. It was no use. A part of you was still acutely aware of the time crunch you were under. You didn’t have time for an anxiety attack, which was only making it worse.
“You can lie to me if you want to, but it’s not going to fix the situation.” Bucky said. You opened your mouth to tell him again that you were fine and instead you began to cry. You confessed to Bucky the reason that you were so upset.
“The medical supplies? [Y/N] you didn’t forget to refill those after the last mission. Tony was doing something to the jet a few weeks ago and there was a hydraulic fuel leak. A bunch of the stuff in the jet was ruined. Steve and Tony forgot they’d thrown it all away. That’s what I’m doing here.” He removed the backpack he was wearing and opened it. You could see the bag was filled with supplies.
“We have to go.” You gasped. Instead of feeling better, you felt worse. You’d wasted time coming all the way here you were making everyone else late.
“They’ll wait for us.” Bucky said with certainty. “Do you have water with you?”
“I’m not thirsty.” You told him.
“You’ll feel better if you drink water.” He produced a water bottle from his backpack and forced it into your shaking hands. You tried to sip slowly from the bottle, it did seem to loosen the horrible feeling in your gut a little. “Would it be okay if I hugged you?” He asked. “Sometimes it helps to regulate the breathing.”
You nodded. Bucky wrapped his arms around you. It was like magic how he held you just enough to feel secure but not too tight that you felt trapped.
“We’re going to take big deep breaths and let them out together, okay?” You nodded again, nestling close to him. The act felt a little childish, but it was helping you. After a minute of breathing together and sipping from your water, you were calming down. You were already feeling the post-anxiety attack drain on your system. You felt like you could sleep for a week.
“Okay.” He smiled. “Ready to go? We can take another minute if you need…”
“We should go. We’ve already kept them waiting.” You started to jog away.
“[Y/N], wait.” Bucky caught your hand and you stopped. “We can walk. The extra two minutes won’t make a difference. You continued down the hall together, with Bucky still holding your hand. You decided you should say something before you joined the others.
“Thanks for that back there.” You mumbled.
“Anytime.” He vowed. “Attacks like that can be hard to pull your own way out of. It helps to have someone who can help.”
“I hate asking for help.” You confessed.
“I’ve noticed.” He nodded. “But we’ve got your back. That’s what being on a team means.”
“I haven’t had an attack like that in a long time.” You explained. “I thought I’d grown out of it.”
“You don’t outgrow anxiety [Y/N].” He said. You didn’t know what to say. You were coming up on the quinjet and could tell everyone else had boarded. Tony was standing outside waiting for you both.
“Barnes, [Y/L/N] is this mission an inconvenience to you?” You felt your cheeks flush with embarrassment and the panic rising in your chest again. Bucky gave your hand a gentle squeeze.
“Honestly, yeah, it’s put a damper on my plans for sure.” Bucky called back. “Especially since I had to go all the way to medical to refresh the supplies you ruined.”
“Well, thank you ever so kindly for your contribution Sargent Barnes.” Tony said with a salute. “Thanks for collecting him [Y/N].” Tony winked at you. “He’d probably still be down there gathering bandages without you.”
You and Bucky walked past Tony and continued onto the jet. Bucky dropped your hand and went over to the compartments designated for medical supplies. He began organizing everything While Tony and Steve prepped the jet for take-off.
“Did you find what you needed, [Y/N]?” Bruce asked.
“Hmm? Yeah, I think so.” You nodded. “What did I miss in the briefing?” You changed the subject.
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The mission you’d been sent on was, all things considered, a brief one. You were all back by dinner time the following night. The most severe injury had been your own. You sustained a broken fibia when you failed to stick what should have been an easy landing for you. Clint had patched you up in the field and you’d gotten yourself to the team doctor as soon as you got back.
The team lapsed into their post mission routines. For most that meant well deserved naps in their dorms. Steve always liked to work in his debriefings right away and Tony had a new piece of alien tech he wanted to play with.
Your usual post mission routine consisted of pacing around the building until your body and mind were too tired to do anything but sleep. With a broken ankle you couldn’t exactly do that, but you still had no interest in spending the night in the infirmary. As soon as your leg was wrapped in a cast and you received the okay from the doctor, you hobbled out of the medical wing on crutches. Your dorm wasn’t too far away and you were confident you could make it all the way there without assistance.
You were already wearing a plain pair of grey sweatpants an Avengers logo tshirt that had been given to you in medical, so you didn’t bother changing once you reached your dorm. You didn’t bother turning on the lights either. You just placed your crutches by the door and hopped on one foot over to the bed. You feel asleep as soon as your head touched the pillow.
Screaming. You were awakened with a start to the sound of screams. You opened your eyes and tried to listen to where the screaming was coming from. It sounded like one of the dorms. Not wanting to waste any time, and crutches be damned, you raced from your room. The screaming had stopped, which only concerned you more. The lights were off in every dorm in the hall except one, Bucky’s.
With a sliver of light visible under his door, you knocked. When he answered Bucky was covered in sweat. His hair was sticking to his face and he was panting harder than if he’d just run a marathon.
“[Y/N], everything okay?” He asked like you’d been the one screaming your head off just know.
“You tell me, Buck.” You answered. “Either you’re having a hell of a good time in here by yourself or…” you indicated your disheveled appearance.
“Nothing to worry about.” He told you. You didn’t believe him.
“Are you really going to try to ice me out?” You raised your eyebrows at him. “I was honestly with you yesterday when…”
“It’s nothing to worry about, [Y/N].” He repeated. “I’m sorry if I woke you. Shouldn’t you be resting your leg?” He pointed to your cast.
“I was, until someone’s screaming woke me up.” You pointed out.
“Oh. Sorry about that.” He apologized awkwardly. “I’m good now.”
“Why were you screaming? Were you having nightmares again?” You asked.
“They’ll go away on their own.” He told you.
“Aren’t you the same person who told me that my anxiety wouldn’t go away on its own and that it’s okay to ask for help?” You reminded him. “I’m here, let me help.”
“It’s not that easy [Y/N].” He frowned.
“Bucky your room is across the hall from mine, so I know you don’t get nightmares every night. You haven’t found anything that helps stop them?” You questioned.
“Well,” He hesitated. There was one thing that seemed to help keep the nightmares away, but he hadn’t exactly tested his theory. He’d only noticed that while he was away on missions, if he had someone sleeping close by him, he would sleep through the night. Steve was the only person he’d felt comfortable sharing this information with so far.
“Let me help you.” You insisted, reaching out and taking his hand. Bucky explained his dilemma to you. “Oh, that’s all?” You smiled at him. “I could stay in here with you. I’m supposed to be resting my leg anyway so would be a win-win. My leg gets to rest, and we both get some sleep.”
“What if someone were to find out you were sleeping in here?” He worried.
“We don’t have tell them why.” You promised. “It’s none of their business. C’mon, help me in the bed.” You put an arm around his neck and leaned against him, relieving the weight on your bad leg.
“You’re sure this is okay with you?” He put an arm around your waist and helped you over to the bed.
“I wouldn’t have offered if I wasn’t.” You promised as you sat on the bed.
“Are you okay with the lights on?” he asked, sitting down next to you.
“Whatever helps Bucky.”  You nodded. He laid down and you snuggled up next to him. You hadn’t imagined how soft his muscular chest would be, it was the best pillow you’d ever had. When he wrapped an arm around you to hold you close, you were immediately enveloped in warmth.
“This okay?” He questioned.
“Mm-hmm.”  You hummed happily while he drew the bedcovers over both of you.
“Good night [Y/N].” He whispered as your eyes fluttered closed.
“Good night, Buck.” You yawned before drifting off to sleep.  
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bus-stop-to-kpop · 3 years ago
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Son of Demeter (Bae Jacob x Reader)
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Pairing: Bae Jacob (The Boyz) x gn!Reader
Genre:demigod!au, Camp Halfblood!au
Trigger Warning!!: Mentions of blood
Summary: Son of Demeter Jacob meets you, a child of Apollo, while helping out his friend Kevin in the infirmary.
Word Count: 1,624
A/N: As many others I was obsessed with Percy Jackson when I was younger and quarantine made my old love come back, hehe enjoy ;) -Admin J
As a son of Demeter Jacob loves being outside and working in the field. There's something about plants that makes him feel calm and relaxed. What he doesn't enjoy is fighting, so he tries to avoid the arena at all costs. It's not that he doesn't know how to fight. No, he's actually a pretty good sword fighter, but he doesn't enjoy inflicting pain onto others, which is something you can't avoid in combat. He uses his knowledge about herbs to help out the Apollo kids to heal campers that were wounded during missions or practice. That's how he had met his friend Kevin, who was a bubbly Apollo kid. Usually Jacob would only bring by the herbs and prepare them for all the healers to use, but today was a messy day. He had already heard the noise that came from the infirmary when he was on his way, but he hadn't expected it to be that crazy in there. When he had stepped inside he instantly made eye contact with Kevin, who seemed incredibly relieved. "Jacob, I'm so glad you're here!" he exclaimed waving over the Demeter boy. "Can you help me for a second?" Kevin asked him to hold a compress to the torso of the boy that was laying on the bed. Jacob wasn't sure if he knew the boy, as he couldn't bare to watch all the blood that was seeping out of the big wound. He pressed the compress down, while his head was turned to the side. Meanwhile Kevin wrapped a bandage around the boy so the compress would be held in place. "Thanks Jacob." Kevin said after finishing up the bandage. Jacob just nodded, not trusting himself to open his mouth, since the nauseous feeling was still there, he was scared he would throw up. "Hey are you ok? You look a bit pale." a pleasant voice called out to him and he felt a hand on his arm. The last thing he could see before he fainted was a pair of beautiful eyes.
Jacob didn't know how long he had been unconscious for, but he woke up to hearing an angered Apollo kid complain. "Honestly what is this guy? An animal? If I have to heal one more bite wound I'm gonna teach him a lesson!" There was some laughter before Kevin spoke up "You shouldn't do that. He's a son of Ares after all, picking a fight with him would only cause trouble." The other Apollo kid sighed. Jacob started to slowly sit up and then he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Be careful." It was the same voice he had heard before he fainted. Once again he made eye contact with your eyes. There was a bright smile on your face as you helped him sit up and handed him a cup of water. "Are you feeling okay?" you asked him. Jacobs mouth went dry, he could only nod. "Kevin he's awake." you turned around and called out to your sibling, who quickly came walking over. "Hey man, sorry for earlier. I didn't know you can not stand the sight of blood." Kevin apologized to his friend. Jacob shook his head "It's fine. I don't have a problem with blood, but that was a lot." Jacob gave a reassuring smile to his friend so he would stop worrying. Kevin patted his back. "Maybe we should invite you to the beach this evening huh? I mean you're basically one of us? What do you think Y/N?" Kevin called out to you, who had already went to take care of the next person. "What?" you looked up from the small wound you were treating. You had not caught what Kevin had said as you were focused on your patient. "Should we invite him to the beach later. He's basically a healer." Kevin repeated his question. "Sure if he wants to." a small smile on your face as you looked at Jacob to wait for his answer. Once again Jacob felt his mouth go dry and his cheeks started to redden, he didn't trust his words, so he just nodded. "Great I'll come get you later then." Kevin beamed before allowing his friend to leave the infirmary. When Jacob had agreed to this, he didn't know what he was getting himself into. When Kevin came to get him from his Cabin shortly before midnight, he felt extremely anxious. They weren't supposed to leave their respective Cabins after 11 and Jacob was never one to break the rules. However he still found himself following Kevin, sneaking away from the Cabins to a secluded spot to the beach. "Honestly I didn't think you would actually come." Kevin admitted in a whisper as they were moving across the cabins. Jacob shrugged, not wanting to admit he came because he wanted to see you again. When both of them arrived at the secluded spot on the beach he could see around ten Apollo kids sitting around a small campfire. Was it really okay for him to do this? He stopped in his tracks, questioning if maybe he should just walk back to his Cabin. Kevin pulled him closer to the circle of Apollo kids and sat him down. Jacob shyly greeted the others and looked around. His shoulders slouched when he realized you were nowhere to be seen. "What's wrong? Are you missing Y/N?" Kevin teased him. Jacobs eyes widened with shock at what his friend had just said. The younger boy just snorted at his perplexed face "Did you think I wouldn't notice? I know you aren't an extrovert, but you couldn't even speak around Y/N." Jacob felt his cheeks glow red as his friend exposed him, but no one else around the campfire seemed to notice. "Don't worry, Y/N will be here in a bit." the Apollo kid patted his back. Jacob relaxed a bit and even though he still didn't know if sneaking out was the right thing to do, he was having a fun time listening to the stories the Apollo kids told. After a while he heard footsteps in the sand and not long after you sat down in the space next him. "Hi." energetic as always, you greeted him with a big smile. It took everything in him to greet you back, but after he spoke it felt like your smile got even bigger. "Ayyy, Y/N you finally made it. Took you long enough." One of your siblings started cheering from across the Campfire, which led all the attention to fall on you. "Next time, we're not playing rock, paper, scissors I keep on losing. I feel like I've cleaned the infirmary so many times I should be excluded from the next game." you pouted which made your siblings laugh. The stories of the Apollo kids continued and Jacob admired you, who was actively taking part in conversations, but you also continuously made sure to talk to him, even if he only gave shy and short answers. However Jacob also realized he was getting sleepy, as he wasn't used to staying awake that late. His head started to feel heavy and his eyes were closing. He didn't realize it himself but his body leaned into yours, until his head fell onto your shoulder. Your body stiffened a little, surprised at the forwardness of him leaning into you, but when you realized he was asleep you tried to move your body, to prevent the poor boy waking up with neck pain. Kevin also realized your small gesture towards his friend and gave you a smug grin. Before he could say anything to embarrass you, you shushed him with a glance. He only put up his hands in a defensive way, like he wasn't about to give you a teasing. After a while the circle around the campfire had thinned down, leaving you and Kevin, along with a still sleeping Jacob. "I'll be leaving you alone, yeah? No funny business please." Kevin teased, quickly making his exit after his words. If Jacob hadn't been sleeping peacefully on your shoulder you would have hit Kevin. You started lightly shaking Jacob awake, who seemed a bit disoriented. "Where is everyone?" He asked rubbing his eyes. Something about his voice made you feel different. It was raspy and a bit deeper than how he usually spoke. His voice sounded so attractive, that for a second you forgot how to function. "Y/N?" God how could he speak your name with this voice of his. "Sorry what?" you were clearly flustered but it seemed like Jacob didn't realize it. "Where is everyone?" Jacob repeated his question. "Oh they went to bed. It's getting a bit cold, so I woke you up. We should go back to our Cabins too." You explained. Jacob nodded, still a bit sleepy. You took his hand and pulled him up. Instantly a warmth spread through his body. He wasn't sure if it was because of you being a child of Apollo or if he liked you. Considering his actions around you it was probably the later one. You didn't let go of his hand while making your way back to the Cabins. The two of you stopped in front of the Demeter Cabin. "Honestly I didn't think you'd be here tonight. Kevin said you're a goody two shoes and wouldn't dare to break rules. But it was nice seeing you tonight. You should consider breaking rules a bit more often." You quickly pressed a kiss to his cheek. His whole body tensed up, not able to move from his spot, as he watched you back up, sending him a wink before turning around and walking to the Apollo Cabin.
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heyiwrotesomethings · 4 years ago
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Lepidopterophobia
Shinobu Kochou x Fem Reader
A/N: Heyyyyy its been awhile! As far as warnings go, there will be some swearing and butterflies and that’s it as far as I can tell. Bye!
The Butterfly Estate. A beautiful place of refuge for injured demon slayers to rest in the care of the gentle and skilled Hashira Shinobu Kochou, and her attendants. Or as (Y/n) liked to call it, the house of nightmares. (Y/n) feared butterflies immensely. It was something that she would never openly admit. After all, who slays demons with no problem but screams and jumps away from the fluttering of fragile wings? She got enough teasing during her childhood, thank you very much. So, she never told anyone and that would have been fine, it’s not like the information would ever have an opportunity to be brought into conversation. Well, unless you forgot about the large estate that literally had the word “butterfly” in its name that was supposed to be a safe haven for demon slayers like her. (Y/n) was very careful. The last thing she wanted was to be injured and sent off to the Butterfly Estate to heal. She was lucky enough to find plenty of wisteria houses in the event that rest and healing were needed. At least, she was lucky until tonight.
“Aughhh, damn it!” (Y/n) cursed, sucking a sharp breath through her clenched teeth. She glared at the demon as its body crumbled away and she leaned her own battered body on the trunk of a tree. Her hand shook as she pulled it off of her side, gazing at the blood that painted her palm. (Y/n) had managed to behead the demon, but not before it shot off an attack of its own. (Y/n) craned her head up to the sky and saw her raven circling above, cawing loudly and clearly distressed. “Mochi!” (Y/n) hissed, not nearly loud enough for the bird to hear from that height, “Mochi, I’ll be fine! We just need to find a wisteria house...” (Y/n) grunted as she pushed off of the tree trunk she was resting on and staggered forward. She took off her haori and tied it tightly over her waist to slow the bleeding. “Help! Help!” Mochi cried, the bird was too panicked and high up to be reasoned with, but as the raven continued to circle (Y/n) felt a sense of dread pool in her stomach. Her raven was definitely calling for any Kakushi in the surrounding area to come to her aid. (Y/n) quickly jerked her head toward the sound of approaching footfalls and clumsily attempted to hide herself from view. “There she is!” “Hey, don’t worry we’re here to help!” “Shit,” (Y/n) muttered under her breath, leaning back against another tree and turning to face the two Kakushi that were approaching her. She forced a smile, “Oh, hey, thanks for coming, but I’m fine, really. My raven tends to blow things out of proportion, it’s really not that bad an injury.” “Doesn’t look like that to me,” One of the Kakushi answered gruffly. “Ow!” The other one elbowed him in the ribs and approached (Y/n) with concerned eyes peeking through their uniform. “Even so, we are more than happy to guide you to safety. The night is still young, more demons could come.” “That’s fair,” (Y/n) huffed once it was clear they were not going to leave. “I could use help getting to the nearest wisteria house.” “A wisteria house? There isn’t one for many kilometers,” the more gentle of the Kakushi informed. “Damn, where can we go then?” “Don’t you know where you are?” The Kakushi asked, eyes twinkling. “You don’t even realize how fortunate you are my friend! We’re not too far from the Butterfly Estate, much better than any old wisteria house in my humble opinion.” A cloud of darkness swirled over (Y/n)’s face. One would presume from blood loss, but being privy to (Y/n)’s fear, one would quickly know that blood loss wasn’t the cause. “Come on, lean on us, we’ll get you there in no time,” the other Kakushi spoke, closing in. “No, no, no, that won’t be necessary,” (Y/n) weakly waved her hands. “I’m, uh, I really rather go to a wisteria house.” “What? Don’t be ridiculous, you’d never make it in this state. You’re wasting time,” The more grumpy Kakushi said, grabbing her forearm. “Be gentle!” The other Kakushi chided, grabbing (Y/n)’s other arm and swinging it over their neck. (Y/n) began to panic in earnest now, dropping her previous act to struggle against the two Kakushi at her sides. “No! Please, don’t take me there! Anywhere but there!” “What the hell, lady!?” The grumpy Kakushi yelled as (Y/n) elbowed him in the gut. “Please stop struggling, we’re here to help you!” The other added, tightening their grip. “Help! Help!” Mochi yelled, dive-bombing their heads. It was all just absolute chaos. “Enough already!” Grumpy Kakushi swiftly chopped at the back of (Y/n)’s neck, causing the girl to fall unconscious and slump forward. “Oh my gods, why did you do that?” Gentle Kakushi scolded, adjusting their hold on (Y/n) so she wouldn’t slip to the forest floor. “She was being difficult and she’s lost a lot of blood. We need to get her to Kochou-sama quickly,” Grumpy Kakushi huffed, heaving (Y/n)’s other arm over his shoulder. They sprinted through the woods with practiced ease, eventually approaching the wisteria grove that guarded the estate like a natural barrier. They brushed passed the beautiful blooms and rushed to the infirmary. “New case!” The gentle Kakushi called as they burst into the infirmary. “Place her in that cot and I’ll asses the damage,” Shinobu called from the opposite side of the room as she finished changing the bandages of another patient. The two Kakushi heaved the unconscious girl onto the cot and Shinobu came over and observed the girl with a trained eye. “Unresponsive, this must be serious,” Shinobu frowned. “Well, you can thank him for that,” the gentle Kakushi poked. “He knocked her out!” “She didn’t give me much of a choice! She was adamant that we not bring her here. She was making it impossible,” Grumpy Kakushi explained. “Really? How peculiar,” Shinobu hummed. “I wonder why she would be so averse to coming here...” Shinobu would be lying if she said she wasn’t just a tad offended by this information. Nevertheless she thanked the Kakushi and dismissed them from the premises. She removed the blood soaked haori and the upper half of (Y/n)’s uniform the properly observe the wound. The bleeding had mostly stopped, but the gash was rather nasty. Shinobu dabbed over the wound with antiseptic and washed away the blood with water. She then stitched up the wound with practiced ease and covered the area with gauze to protect it. Once that was done, Shinobu raised a thin sheet over (Y/n)’s body to cover her bare torso. With one last check of the girl’s vitals, she left her side and continued her rounds. *** (Y/n) groaned as she awoke the next morning. She rubbed her eyes and tried to sit up, only to fall back against the cot and gingerly grip her sore side and stomach. She took a moment to assess the damage and cringed at the old gauze rolled over her wound. Then she realized she was shirtless and pulled the thin sheet tightly over herself as she tentatively looked about the room. She was in an infirmary, that much she could tell. There were only two other patients in the room and both appeared to be in worse shape than herself if the missing limbs, thick bandages, casts and IVs meant anything. “Oh good, you’re awake. I was just coming to change your gauze.” (Y/n) startled slightly and turned to put a face to the soft voice that was addressing her. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes roamed over the face of the woman beside her. Gods, she was beautiful. (Y/n)’s eyes caught the purple tint of the woman’s hair and followed the pleasant color upward and took in a sharp breath through her nose and shuffled away before she realized that what was pinning the woman’s hair back was an accessory, and not an actual giant butterfly. Still the damage was done, and the woman gave her a puzzled look. (Y/n) assumed that, along with the audible in take of air and the sad distancing attempt, she had also had a stupidly fearful or shocked look on her face. “No need to be frightened, you’re safe here. I would never dream of hurting you in any way,” the woman spoke gently as she approached the side of (Y/n)’s cot, misreading (Y/n)’s momentary fear of her hair pin as fear directed at her. “I’m Shinobu Kochou, the Insect Pillar. You are in my home, the Butterfly Estate, recovering from a mission.” Fuuuuuuuuuck (Y/n) looked around the room nervously. So those Kakushi had managed to drag her to the Butterfly Estate and it wasn’t all just a bad dream. That would explain the hair pin. Not only that, but she was in the presence of the Insect Hashira herself and- oh, a Hashira! “It’s an honor to meet you Kochou-sama!” (Y/n) spluttered out, bowing her head as best she could lying down as a sign of respect. Shinobu laughed and the sound hit (Y/n)’s ears pleasantly and she shivered as an unexpected heat rose to her neck and cheeks. “It’s alright, no need to be so formal. You are here to recover after all,” Shinobu smiled. “Speaking of which, would you mind letting me check your wound?” “Oh, um, sure,” (Y/n) awkwardly shifted the sheet to cover her chest and left side, causing Shinobu’s smile to look a bit more sympathetic. “Sorry, can you drop the sheet, please? The shadows it’s casting is making it hard to see what I’m doing,” her smile quirked up a bit on one side. “I promise to be nothing but respectful and professional.” (Y/n) felt her cheeks begin to sting as they were positively on fire. She averted her eyes and dropped the sheet, allowing Shinobu to remove the dressing and check the sore skin tissue that started a bit above her navel and curved upward near her bottommost rib. “So, what’s your name?” (Y/n) almost forgot to answer, she was too busy focusing on the feather light fingers as they applied some kind of salve to her wound. “I’m (Y/n).” “Well, it’s nice to meet you, (Y/n). Have you been a slayer long? How are you adjusting?” Shinobu asked, closing the jar of salve and reached for the gauze. “I’d say I’m doing pretty well, I’ve been at it for almost four years now. I just reached Kinoto rank two weeks ago. So minus that last fight, yeah, I think I’m doing okay,” (Y/n) answered, a small yet proud smile formed over her lips. “You’ve been in the corps for almost four years and I’ve never had you as a patient?” Shinobu’s brows knit together as if she was contemplating something or she just got a new piece to fit in a puzzle that she did not like. “I dare say it’s not because you’ve never been hurt before, there are a few other scars that I can see here,” Shinobu leaned in and scanned over (Y/n)’s face, checking for any micro expressions as she spoke. “Now that I think about it, one of the Kakushi that brought you in claimed that you fought against their help and refused to come here. Have you been purposefully avoiding this place?” Me? (Y/n) found herself unable to look away from Shinobu’s eyes. They were like an amethyst abyss and (Y/n) felt like it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if she could sink into them and float around aimlessly forever. She cleared her throat, “No! Not at all, I just- most of my missions are farther away from here actually. It’s just more convenient to stop at wisteria houses. This time, it just so happened that here was closer!” (Y/n) let out a breath of air that was supposed to be a laugh as the Hashira’s eyes bore into her own. Shinobu stared a moment or two longer before closing her eyes and straightened herself so her back held better posture. “I see, well, allow me to formally welcome you,” Shinobu smiled. “Who knows, perhaps in two weeks I’ll be begging you to leave,” Shinobu teased, her eyes gleaming. (Y/n) barely managed to stop herself from having her eyes pop out of her head. “Two weeks?” She squeaked out, cursing the way the words left her mouth. “Yes,” Shinobu tilted her head suspiciously. “I really don’t want to discharge you before you’ve healed properly. Is there a reason you seem to be in such a hurry to leave?” “What? No... who is hurrying? I’m in no hurry, I’m cool as a cucumber.” (Y/n) wanted to slap herself. “Okay, cool cucumber...” Shinobu said each syllable with such excruciating slowness, (Y/n) thought she might as well have flossed a piece of sandpaper between her ears. “Mind putting this on? Then we’re going to move you to another room that’s a little less... depressing,” Shinobu frowned as she looked over at the two other demon slayers who were still dead asleep. “Sure,” (Y/n) took the clothing from Shinobu and pulled the top over her head and carefully switched her pants without straining her injury too much. Shinobu smiled and offered (Y/n) her arm for support as she shakily rise to her feet. Then the pair slowly made their way out of the infirmary and down the hall. “Here we are,” Shinobu slid open the door to reveal a small, but homey room. “I bet you must be tired from the walk over here so I’ll leave you to rest in just a moment. One of my attendants, Aoi, will be helping you with day to day things like recovery training and meals. Of course I’ll be checking on your progress from time to time as well. Aoi will drop by in an hour or so with food so in the meantime if you can’t sleep, there are books on the shelf and there is also a lovely view of the garden from the window if your interested,” Shinobu smiled sweetly. “Thank you,” (Y/n) returned the smile and sighed once Shinobu left the room and the door closed behind her. (Y/n) took in her room and nodded appraisingly. It was really nice, nicer than any wisteria home she had visited before, and besides Shinobu’s hair accessory and her surname, (Y/n) had yet to see an actual butterfly in the whole place. She felt a little foolish. She had expected the estate to be a giant insectarium where all the butterflies would roam free without restriction. If this was all she had to deal with, she would have come here sooner. (Y/n) walked over to the window to check out the view, pulling back the curtains she froze for a moment before jerking the curtains back in place and jumping back several steps. “Shitfuckcunt!” (Y/n) clasped her hands over her rapidly beating chest and stared back at the window with fearful eyes and slightly erratic breathing. There must have been at least seven butterflies of various sizes resting on the mesh of the window. (Y/n) cursed some more as she tried to calm her heart and felt the throbbing of her wound. Alright, so may haps she spoke to soon. Apparently there was some truth to the horrible scenarios her brain came up with. Luckily, the threat laid outside, she should be safe in here, right? Please? There was a curt knock on the door and (Y/n) turned to see it open to reveal a stern faced girl with piercing blue eyes. “I heard yelling, what’s wrong?” She asked, approaching (Y/n). “Oh, I’m fine I just... stubbed my toe on the bookshelf,” (Y/n) laughed, nervously. “You shouldn’t be wandering around, if you want to heal you should be resting in bed,” Aoi said, crossing her arms over her chest. “You’re right, sorry. I’ll do that now.” “Right,” Aoi sighed, watching (Y/n) shuffle over to the bed and sit on it. “I’m Aoi, I’ll be helping you recover over the next few weeks. If you need anything let me know, I’ll be back in about forty-five with lunch, then we’ll do some light stretching.” “Alright, sounds good. Thank you, Aoi-san,” (Y/n) said, wincing as she laid against the mattress. Aoi nodded and left the room, closing the door behind her. Then she walked down the hall to where Shinobu was waiting for her. “Were you able to find out what that outburst was about?” “She claims she stubbed her toe on the bookshelf, but I can’t say I believe it. Her feet looked fine, she wasn’t even near the bookshelf when I came in,” Aoi informed. “I wonder what is going on with that girl,” Shinobu pondered. “Keep a close eye on her, please. Let me know if you find out anything about her odd behavior.” “Of course, Shinobu-sama.”
*** Just one more night, one more night and (Y/n) would be home free and no one had yet found out about her fear. There had been some close calls, one of the more notable being when Kanao came back from a mission with a butterfly clinging to her uniform and then it decided to flutter around the hall. (Y/n) yelled and tried to disguise the sound as a sneeze and then excused herself, claiming she forgot to feed Mochi before bolting off back to her room. She was sure no one actually bought that excuse, but she didn’t really care since no one questioned her about it. Shinobu however, seemed to grow ever more suspicious of her manic behavior so (Y/n) always had to stay on her toes around the Hashira as she would ask seemingly innocent questions, but her eyes were sharp and calculating like she was waiting for some kind of slip up. Needless to say, (Y/n) tried to keep her interactions with Shinobu to a minimum, no matter how attractive she found the Insect Pillar to be. (Y/n) was brought out of her thoughts as another wave of pain washed over her body. She grit her teeth together as Sumi, Kiyo, and Naho painfully stretched her body and Aoi prepared her antibiotic for the day. “Are you sure you don’t want to continue recovery training outside? It’s a beautiful day and you could use some fresh air,” Aoi advised. “Um, nope, I’m good.” (Y/n) squeaked, her arm popped as Naho tugged it back with all her might. “It’s pretty hot, I don’t do well in the heat,” she added, looking into Aoi’s skeptical eyes. “If you insist,” Aoi sighed. “Shinobu-sama will be coming to check you over tomorrow morning before you can leave. She wanted to know when she should stop by your room,” Aoi said, giving (Y/n) the medicine as the younger girls finished assaulting her muscles. “I’m fine with whenever,” (Y/n) shrugged, taking the medicine. She was just so ready to get out of this place. She was tired of flinching every time she saw a butterfly hair clip in the corner of her eye or worrying about the occasional open window or door. She was ready to go back on duty and put this whole thing behind her. All the girls were sweet, and she was happy to have met them, but being constantly on edge was tiring. “Am I good to turn in for the night?” (Y/n) yawned. “(Y/n)-san, it’s noon. We haven’t even had lunch yet,” Aoi said, crossing her arms. “Haha, you’re right, how silly of me,” (Y/n) cringed internally. Well, she had to try. She just felt safer in her room where she had more control over her environment. “Come on (Y/n)-san, let’s eat!” Sumi excitedly called. “We prepared lunch before we started stretching, it’ll be so good!” Kiyo smiled. “Okay, I’m coming,” (Y/n) smiled weakly as the younger girls pulled her in the direction of the kitchen. “She seems excited to be leaving, don’t you think?” Shinobu smiled sadly, startling Aoi with her sudden presence. “I wouldn’t say excited, she seems to be... relieved?” Aoi answered. “That doesn’t make me feel any better,” Shinobu sighed, “We haven’t done anything to her, why does she hate it here so much?” “I don’t understand her at all, Shinobu-sama. It’s probably best to just leave her be and send her on her way. Tomorrow we can all go back to normal,” Aoi said. “Yes, I suppose you’re right,” Shinobu frowned. “Well, I’m going back to the infirmary. Inosuke is raising hell again.” “Good luck with that.” “Thank you, something tells me I’ll need it,” and with that, Shinobu disappeared from the room.
*** (Y/n) released a relieved breath as her back hit her now closed bedroom door. She had gone to the infirmary to get her stitches removed and was bombarded by a crazed teen in a boar mask that kept demanding a fight. He chased her throughout the estate until (Y/n) finally managed to lose him and circled back to her room. She stood with her back pressed against the door a moment longer with her eyes shut, but they snapped right back open as a voice addressed her from the other side of the room. “(Y/n)-san, good evening. What a surprise. Do you need anything?” (Y/n)’s head jerked up to see Shinobu standing in a thin, shimmery yukata. Her hand poised over a fish tank as goldfish swarmed after the bits of fish food that slipped through her fingers. “Kochou-sama! Sorry, um- I must have gotten turned around. I could have sworn this was my room,” (Y/n) turned and fumbled with the door to try to make a quick escape, but Shinobu was faster and placed a delicate hand over the door, keeping it firmly in place. “No need to rush off, why not stay awhile? I have tea,” Shinobu singsonged. “I don’t want to bother you, it’s getting late. I’ve got that physical exam tomorrow and you probably have important things you need to do-“ “I’m not busy, it’s just a cup of tea, nothing too strainful for someone who has nearly recovered such as yourself,” Shinobu said, guiding (Y/n) to a little table and motioning her to take a seat on the matted floor while she glides to the other side of the table and poured tea into the two conveniently placed tea cups. “Thanks,” (Y/n) mumbled into the cup Shinobu had given her. “You’re very welcome,” Shinobu said, breathing in the aroma of her own cup. “Hospitality is an important value of the Butterfly Estate after all. I hope we made you feel comfortable and welcome here during your stay.” “Oh yes, I think you are all wonderful people. You all take your jobs seriously. I think I feel better now than before I was injured,” (Y/n) answered. “I’m glad to hear that,” Shinobu took a sip from her cup. “I just wish I understood then, why you seem to think you just can’t get away from us fast enough.” “Oh no!” (Y/n) gasped, nearly spilling her tea. “It’s not like that at all, I swear! I’m just- I’m a busy body. I just can’t sit still. I’m just excited to get back on duty,” (Y/n) explained. She was being truthful for the most part, but (Y/n) was also dancing around the major issue that probably brought about this conversation in the first place and it seemed like Shinobu knew it. “Busy body? I never would have guessed what with all the time you spend in your room. I believe Aoi told me you never once accepted her offers to go outside either. Why might that be?” Shinobu asked. “It’s summer, it’s hot! I hate how it’s so hot!” (Y/n) yelled defensively, feeling her back bump against a metaphorical wall with every word Shinobu spoke. “Why are you so interested in what I choose to do with my free time? I’m sure you have plenty of other patients to concern yourself with.” “I’m concerned about you in particular,” Shinobu stated simply. “You don’t need to be. You’ve done nothing wrong, no one has, I’m just ready to go.” “(Y/n)-san?” “Yes?” “I don’t believe you.” (Y/n) scoffed in disbelief, looking at the smiling woman before her. “Well, I don’t know how I could possibly change your perception,” she said, crossing her arms. “You could start by telling me why you are so uncomfortable here,” Shinobu prodded. “Just drop it, please.” (Y/n) sighed wearily. “I obviously don’t want to talk about it. I’ll be leaving tomorrow so there is no point in discussing it.” “So there is something.” Shinobu frowned. “Don’t beat yourself up over it, there’s nothing you can do about it,” (Y/n) assured, placing a hand over Shinobu’s without even thinking about it, then awkwardly she tried to withdraw it. Shinobu caught her hand though, keeping it clasped in hers. “We won’t know for sure what I can do for you unless you tell me. I want to help you, (Y/n)-san.” Why did this have to be so difficult? If only Shinobu knew how ridiculous this whole thing was, but (Y/n)’s pride was too great and she wasn’t going to suddenly drop the truth on Shinobu after all of that so she just shook her head and slid her hand out of Shinobu’s. “I really need to go to sleep, Kochou-sama. I’ll see you tomorrow morning for my exam. Thanks for the tea,” (Y/n) mumbled. Shinobu tried to get her to stay, but (Y/n) left before she could even finish her sentence. The Hashira, frowned and looked at her hand. It still tingled with the feeling of (Y/n)’s calloused fingers against her own. She gripped her fingers tightly to form a fist, a determined fire blooming in her eyes made it clear that this was far from over. “Shinobu!” Inosuke called as he kicked open her door. “I got the girl here just as you asked! I’m getting tempura tomorrow, right?!” “Yes,” Shinobu sighed. “But you better fix my door first.”
*** When Shinobu entered (Y/n)’s room the next morning, she was pleasantly surprised to find the girl was still sleeping. She decided to grab a book and wait for (Y/n) to awaken, but not before opening the window, as it was rather stuffy in the room. As the pleasant breeze wafted into the room, Shinobu moved the desk chair next to (Y/n)’s bed and began to read. Occasionally she would glance up and observe (Y/n)’s peaceful expression as she slept, making Shinobu’s heart flutter unexpectedly but it was not an unwelcome feeling. Shinobu observed a few stray butterflies from the garden flutter aimlessly through the window and grinned as one took roost in (Y/n)’s hair. Her book forgotten, she watched the insect slowly fan it’s wings as another came to rest on the nape of (Y/n)’s neck. The tickling feeling on (Y/n)’s bare neck caused her to stir in her sleep her hand made a move to scratch her neck and luckily the butterfly had the sense to fly off before the hand made contact. However it’s next perch was perhaps worse than the first. (Y/n) exhaled sharply through her nose as an unexpected light, fluttering weight rested just under her nose and on her upper lip. She immediately bolted upright and rubbed at her lip, looking sleepy and befuddled as the butterfly floated just out of her line of vision. “Good morning, (Y/n)-san. Did you enjoy your wake up kiss?” Shinobu chuckled “My what?” (Y/n) blushed, her sleep addled brain quickly becoming more alert. “I must say, you’d do very well here, the butterflies seem to compliment your beauty wonderfully,” Shinobu complimented. “Huh?” (Y/n) squinted her eyes and tensed her body. “...What are you talking about?” (Y/n) asked, as if she was afraid to know the answer. “The butterflies, they float around you-“ Shinobu stopped speaking abruptly as (Y/n) screamed and tore her covers off of her body and jumped out of her bed. Shinobu watched with shocked eyes and her mouth slightly agape as (Y/n) shook and curled defensively into herself as she darted into a bare corner of the room. (Y/n)’s eyes scanned the room and her breathing became more labored as she noticed a large butterfly blocking the door and three sitting on the window sill. There was one on the bed and one fluttering near the bookshelf. “(Y/n), look at me, what’s wrong?” Shinobu asked, trying to make eye contact. (Y/n)’s eyes finally focused on Shinobu and she looked as if she had forgotten she was in the room. “Kochou-san, help me! I- Get me out, get me out!” (Y/n) spoke rapidly, clinging to the Pillar as a butterfly flew in too close for comfort. “Okay, it’s okay. I’ve got you,” Shinobu pulled the girl into her side and ushered her to the door. She met some resistance as they neared the giant butterfly, but Shinobu shooed it away and it sluggishly flew over to the desk. Shinobu opened the door and (Y/n) bolted out and ran down the hall. The Insect Pillar cursed under her breath and ran after the clearly frightened girl. “(Y/n)-san, you’re safe now,” Shinobu called gently as (Y/n) reached a dead end. The girl turned and Shinobu’s heart ached when she saw the fearful expression upon her face. She walked up to (Y/n) and gently grasped her clammy and trembling hands in her own, squeezing them gently. “I um, I think I understand why you wanted to leave so badly now,” she smiled emphatically. “Yeah,” (Y/n) croaked. “No coming back from that. Just, please don’t make fun of me. I know how ridiculous my fear is, but it doesn’t make it any less frightening for me,” (y/n) mumbled. “I’m not going to make fun of you,” Shinobu said seriously. “I mean, it’s going to be very hard not to tease you about it, but I’d never do it maliciously,” she added. “Are you... going to tell everyone?” “I think we can keep this just between us,” Shinobu smiled. “Now, I’d like you to close your eyes for a moment.” “Why?” “A calming exercise. You look like you could use one.” “Okay,” (Y/n) closed her eyes and Shinobu released her hands and instructed her to breath in deeply through her nose for three counts and exhale through her mouth for another three counts and asked her to repeat the exercise ten times. As (Y/n) breathed, Shinobu carefully reached for the butterfly in (Y/n)’s hair and the calm insect crawled onto her finger with no problem. Then Shinobu carefully opened the conveniently placed window and released the butterfly back outside and quickly closed the window and returned in front of (Y/n) with two cycles left to spare. “Can I open my eyes now?” “Mmm, one more thing,” Shinobu simpered. She leaned forward and lightly kissed the tip of (Y/n)’s nose. “There, now you can open them.” “Okay,” (Y/n) squeaked.
*** After Shinobu cleared (Y/n) for returning to duty, (Y/n) changed into her uniform and prepared herself to go back on the road. She thanked Aoi and the others for their help and was about to make her way out of the mansion when Shinobu caught her at the doorway. “How do you plan to leave the estate with those winged beasts guarding the grounds?” She asked, sweetly. “I was just gonna run like hell,” (Y/n) admitted. “I... I suppose I won’t be seeing you again,” Shinobu said. Her words sounding more like a statement than a question. “Probably not,” (Y/n) sighed. “Nothing against you of course. You’re awesome. It’s just, there’s a lot going on here.” “I’m awesome, hmm? Well, you’re not too bad yourself,” Shinobu hummed. “Gee, thanks,” (Y/n) laughed. “I think I might actually miss you. In fact, just meeting you almost makes being dragged here against my will worth it.” “Was that supposed to be a compliment? If so, you aren’t really good at it,” Shinobu chuckled before speaking again. “You know, this doesn’t have to be goodbye. I wouldn’t mind seeing your raven coming around if you ever wanted to send me a letter. I’d return the favor with my own crow of course. “I’d like that,” (Y/n) smiled. “Perhaps we can make plans to meet again on a more even playing field. Maybe then I can see what you look like when you aren’t stiff as a board!” (Y/n) stuck out her tongue and landed a surprise attack on Shinobu’s nose, causing the Hashira to gasp at the Kinoto’s audacity. Then (Y/n)’s lips set into a small smirk. “I’ll be sure to write! Bye, Kochou-sama!” (Y/n) darted out of the door and Shinobu watched as the girl booked it across the lawn and laughed as she nearly tripped before jumping over the fence and out of sight. Shinobu stood there a moment longer as she swiped her sleeve over her damp nose, her eyes trained on the spot where (Y/n) disappeared over the fence. After her nose was wiped dry, she walked to her office to start drafting the first of many letters.
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jettingtothemoon · 4 years ago
Text
Affection
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➳ pairing: midoriya izuku x reader ➳ genre: fluff ➳ warnings: none ➳ word count: 738 ➳ rating: pg ➳ summary: In which midoriya is still trying to get used to your love. ➳ fanfic reading by cherry tree here
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You and Midoriya had been dating for a little over two weeks. He was, as expected, still very, very shy whenever you showed any affection to him at all.
Surprise him with a hug, he'd blush like crazy and stutter incoherent words while his whole body stiffened, especially when there were others around.
Reach out to hold his hand, pulling his hand into yours starting with his pinky, and he'd let you. His face would still heat up though, however, the blush would only just dust over his cheeks. You'd give his hand a little squeeze and he'd smile, squeezing yours back.
Kiss him and he'd freak out. Every. Single. Time. It would only be a quick peck on his cheek or lips and yet, it would send him into hot flushes whether you were alone or around your friends. He'd visibly start sweating a little, freaking out because you had actually just done that. Sometimes he forgot that that was a thing you would want to do, not that he didn't like it.
Midoriya was shy, particularly around you because he liked you. The thing he forgot was that you liked him too, although he only came to find that out when you had lost your patience and pulled him into a kiss. 
He had, once again, just come back from a very heated fight against a villain and was lying in the infirmary covered in bandages because his wounds were so severe that even Recovery Girl couldn't fix him. Obviously, he didn't understand why you had come to visit him alone and began to freak out from just being alone with you. It was then, as he sat there mumbling about how he was okay and that you shouldn't worry because he'll be better soon enough, that you kissed him for the first time.
His eyes had widened when you pulled away, his mouth moving but no words coming out. You smiled softly at his blushing face and hugged him, resting your head on his shoulder as you asked him to be more careful next time.
Surprisingly, when he was back in class again, he was the one who pulled you to the side after school and stood there shifting his weight on his feet as he asked you to go out with him. You swear you had never smiled so widely before.
"Izuku." You hummed into his ear as you hugged him from behind.
Obviously, he was freaking out again and working himself up over nothing. It was cute, really cute, but you wanted him to feel at ease around you. You just wanted him to be comfortable when he was with you.
"y-y/n... I should p-probably go b-back to my r-room. It's getting l-late." He stuttered.
Midoriya had come to your room after school to do your homework together and now that you were done, you were reluctant to let him go.
"Please stay with me a little while longer. Just let me love you." You sighed, expecting him to get up and insist he go back to his room now.
So you were more than surprised when he just stuttered out and okay instead. After a moment of enduring your hug, he actually relaxed into it a little, his muscles finally untensing.
"If you ever don't want me to do something. Like surprising you with a hug or kiss, you can say so. It won't upset me or anything. I just want you to be comfortable." You explained, trying to get the grips on what was okay and what wasn't.
Midoriya shook his head, "No. I- Don't ever stop doing that, please."
"Okay." You smiled, hugging him tighter as you turned your head around to peck him on the cheek.
The red in his cheeks only deepened, even as you released him from your hug.
"W-what are you doing?" He asked as you pulled him down onto the bed.
"Cuddling. We are cuddling." You stated as you lied down against his chest.
Midoriya tensed again, not quite sure where to put his arms, "W-we are?"
You simply nodded and closed your eyes, smiling when he finally put an arm around you.
All of this affection was still very, very new to Midoriya but he was slowly getting used to it. Getting used to you. As he lied there, relaxing more than even he thought he would with his arm around you, he felt so flustered but so happy. He really, really liked you and he was gradually getting used to you liking him too.
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mediocre--writing · 4 years ago
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Safe With You (Headcannon)
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Harry Potter X Ravenclaw!Werewolf!Reader
(also like kinda Harry’s family X Reader lol)
Summary: You and Harry met in your first year and when he invites you home for the summer, what will his family say about your blooming relationship?
Word Count: 3318
Warnings: none, but EVERYONE IS ALIVE BECAUSE HARRY DESERVES A HAPPY FAMILY!!
i wholeheartedly believe that harry potter would have been an awkward, gangly boy regardless if he grew up with the dursleys or not
so in this, harry gets to grow up relatively normal
except peter’s gone because nobody likes him
but when harry gets to go to hogwarts after he turns 11, he’s a little bit more confident but i still think he would be a little shy and anxious
he would still be friends with ron on the train ride there
he would get to know hermione well, too
and he would get to know you as well
he first sees you at the sorting ceremony, when you were put into ravenclaw, which really isn’t the reason harry becomes interested in you
the reason he becomes interested in you is because you have large scars on your neck and face and, from what he can see, your hands, too
he’s only ever seen scars like that on one other person
his uncle moony
and of course he knows about moony’s furry little problem and he’s heard the stories of what his dad and uncle did to help him
and so the next day, when you have your first class together, he comes up to you with no intention to let you go without a friend
and from that first day on, you're both inseparable
of course around second year, you tell harry your secret because you disappear every month and come back beaten and bruised with more scars than before
and he tells you about his uncle moony, and how his dad became an animagus 
“but you can’t tell anyone because nobody’s really supposed to know about his furry little problem”
but you feel so touched because he knew the whole time and never felt in danger around you
and of course you’re close with ron and hermione too 
because like of course you would be
ron makes sure that you get a weasley sweater every christmas because nobody should ever go without one
hermione does research on all she can to help you, along with making her own wolfsbane when you reach 4th year because she’s upped her potions skills
i also feel like mcgonagall, even though she’s not your head of house, would totally hang out with you in her cat form on full moons 
or at least watch over you
harry talks about his family to you and vise versa
he writes about you a lot in his letters to home
james and lily feel like they know you already and remus is proud of harry for taking initiative for making you feel safe
you also tag along with the trio to all their wonderful adventures
you're not the greatest witch, despite being in ravenclaw
you show people that stereotypes aren’t always true
because not all ravenclaws are smart in class
but
you can always figure out the riddles to get inside the dorm
and you have the most sarcastic humor and can always get your friends to laugh
and most ravenclaw’s brains are always running so fast that they often forget homework, classes, and can often be seen scribbling down final paragraphs to essays they forgot to do the night before
you also daydream a lot
like a lotttttttt
anywhoooo
you, ron, and hermione are invited to the potter/black/lupin household somewhere around 6th year
and yes the boys all live together because with the combined riches of james and sirius they bought a house with like ten bedrooms and decided that it would be easier when they began raising harry and also taking care of moony on full moon nights and the days prior/after 
all in all it would just be easier
back on topic
you, ron, and hermione spend the last month of summer break at the unrealistically large house that you never would have guessed harry potter lived in
because the boy wears the same three shirts every week so how was his house so big because you look homeless, harry!!!
but the three of you come to harry’s house at separate times
hermione arrives first because she’s punctual like that
ron’s next because his mom was on his tail about leaving at the right time
you arrive last because the full moon was the night before and you were asleep for most of the day
you only wake up because of hedwig pecking gently at your arm with a note from harry asking where you were
and you quickly pack a bag and get yourself presentable, but the new cut that has yet to scab over on your cheek is kinda sticking out and just…
ew
you floo over soon after 
and you land in their fireplace in the living room
a really large living room that has like three couches and everyone’s there
ron and hermione are next to each other but they’re also ignoring one another???
ahhh the wondrous world of denying your feelings 
james is talking to ron
lily is eagerly talking to hermione about the new curriculum and how nice it is to finally be able to apparate and that she’ll find it easy when she learns
sirius chimes in a time or two
remus is dozing next to lily, who’s rubbing his back comfortingly
there’s an instant sense of warmth that just kinda envelops the room 
it puts you at ease 
they all turn to the intrusion in their fireplace and you smile a bit awkwardly
harry is the first to stand up and greet you
with a hug
a big hug
that lasts a little too long
you kind of collapse in his arms
james and lily share a little look
and they know that harry’s in love with this girl
as if they didn’t know that from the obscene amount of times he’s mentioned your name
james and sirius stand up next 
james hugs you tighter than molly weasley and you wince
because he’s totally the momma bear
sirius lightly hugs your shoulders because harry’s more than mentioned your condition and based on remus’ snoring on the couch, he knows that you would be just as equally tired and sore
hermione and ron smile at you and wave because you all have been talking all summer and you’ve gotten with hermione a few times already
you sit on the other side of lily, who gives you a sweet hug as to not jostle remus, who’s leaning on her shoulder asleep
you all fall into easy, quiet, conversation
you scratch a bit at the new scar on your face out of anxious habit
lily leans towards you while sirius is talking about the motorcycle he had while he was in hogwarts, and the one he has now
“honey, your cheek is bleeding a little bit, if you ask harry he can show you where the bandages are,”
even though she’s pointing out that there’s blood dripping down your face, you feel loved and wanted and welcome
so lily catches harry’s attention and he walks you into the bathroom where they keep bandages and alcohol to clean the cut
it’s a bit of an awkward walk down the hall there but once you’re in the bathroom, you sit on the closed toilet and harry grabs the alcohol and a cotton ball and leans down to your face
you look into each other’s eyes because he’s holding your chin to angle your cheek towards him
“was it bad last night?”
“it’s never good”
“that was a bad attempt at a joke, sorry. it wasn’t really any worse than usual, ya know?”
“i get it.”
**weird-teenagers-in-love-but-don’t-know-how-to-act-silence**
“so what have you been doing over summer?”
you don’t really know how to answer that
you don’t have any siblings and your parents are both busy most of the time so you just chill at home
“i watched movies and read a few books that i hadn’t gotten to before, i don’t know i didn't do much, really.”
“yeah we haven’t done much this summer. we spent the last like week cleaning because you guys were coming over”
*awkward chuckles*
harry put the bandage on your cheek and you both walked back to the living room talking quietly to one another
remus was awake now
kinda
he was still leaning on lily but his eyes were open
“hi, professor, how are you doing?”
“i imagine about as well as you are, y/n”
you and remus had gotten close during your third year because of your condition and you would spend time together in the infirmary 
he shared his chocolate with you often
which harry mentioned was a pretty high praise from him
he let you slip in class during days around the full moon because he was slacking too
you also had similar senses of humor and talking points
so you were already comfortable around him
sirius kinda intimidated you just because he had a very confident aura around him that kinda reminded you of the slytherins who would tease you for your scars in first and second year
but you kinda eased up around him as everyone got more comfortable
the adult’s friendship reminded you of your friendship
lily and hermione were both like nagging mothers with a little dark side
ron and sirius were both kinda overshadowed in their youth and found shelter in their friends
obviously james and harry are like the same person through and through
you and remus have a very similar personality 
as well as the whole wolf thing, ya know
and seeing the marauders and lily last so long gave you hope that your friends would stick around for you as well
everything was free and easy until dinner
everyone sat around a large table eating take out chinese food because nobody could be bothered to actually cook tonight
james and sirius were directly across from you 
and they both knew about harry’s not-so-secret crush and they were beginning to think that you shared at least some of those feelings
“so what do your parents do?”
“my mom works at a car shop, she’s a mechanic, and my dad works at gringotts,”
“so your dad’s a wizard and your mom--”
“muggle,”
“ahhh”
“yeah she’s really cool though. sometimes she brings home projects or brings me with her and we work on cars together. i’m still trying to convince her to let me buy a used bike and fix it up but she thinks it's too dangerous,”
sirius fell in love, you were immediately accepted into his heart
you were friends with harry, had a good connection with remus already, and you wanted a motorcycle???
james was still iffy about you, just because he was protective of harry, but he saw how kind and sweet and real you were
“what do you plan on doing once you leave hogwarts?”
**que alarm bells ringing in your head
“i’m not really sure, i don’t really know who would hire me in the first place but i was pretty close with fred and george, who just opened their joke shop down in diagon alley, and they were thinking about opening one in hogsmeade during the school year and said they may consider me to manage it if i wanted since i helped design some of their products,”
the boys were kinda (superduper) impressed by that because harry wasn’t really involved with pranks, and now they finally had somebody to talk to about them
then they moved on to nagging hermione because they were already close with the weasleys and knew all about ron
and his budding feelings for hermione
the first week or so was a little strange, just getting used to the way things worked around the house, but everyone was comfortable after that
harry and ron shared a room and you and hermione were together
james had made sure that the boys and girls stayed separated at night and the invisibility cloak was in his possession
oh he saw the sparks between you and harry and the blooming relationship happening with ron and hermione
lily tried to convince him that nothing bad was going to happen and let you guys have a bit more freedom
but like i said before
james is mama bear
as the weeks go by you and harry get closer 
and more comfortable
and you sit closer to one another on the couch 
and at dinner
and when you play quidditch in the backyard, you always playfully tease one another with little glances back and forth
and when you go to the lake behind their house you jokingly tackle one another into the water and dance around
as the days go by, the month comes to an end and starts again, which leads to another full moon
the week before you start to slow down and become more out of it
the last two days before, you start to gain lots of energy, whether it be from nerves or just your body knowing that it’s going to be in pain later that causes it to give you more energy before
none of this bothers harry because remus goes through the same thing and he’s kinda used to it
when you slow down, he slows with you, continues to alter what you’re doing to accommodate your energy level
when you become more hyper, he matches your energy, which usually includes giggles, tickle fights, and more competitive quidditch matches
he also makes sure you take your wolfsbane the week before
“ughhhh ok dad!”
“stop calling me that! i’m being fucking nice!”
the night of everyone eats an early dinner because you, remus, james, and sirius have to go to the little shed in the backyard that’s not really too tiny, but it’s smaller than the shrieking shack
james and sirius try to ease the tension with lighthearted comments, but you feel more tense than usual because you’ve never done this with anyone before
besides remus in your third year and mcgonagall occasionally popping in during your first year at hogwarts
when the transition began, james and sirius transformed into padfoot and prongs
remus’ transition was quicker than yours, something to do with age and his body being used to the transformation after so many years
yours took longer
and even though you took the wolfsbane, it was still extremely painful and took almost 20 minutes to finally transform
james and sirius had flashbacks to their first time with remus and how painful it looked
and they had a whole other respect for how lively and extroverted you were because even when he was your age, remus was always so mellow and quiet
but they hang out with you and remus for the night, distracting you both from whatever discomfort you may have been in 
eventually the sun came up and you and remus transformed back into yourselves
but james and sirius made sure they pushed you into another little room so when you transformed back you wouldn’t be exposed to them
you found a robe on the back of that door that you slipped on before you collapsed on the floor from exhaustion
sirius walked remus’ limping body back to the house while james came to check on you
he knocked on the door and when he didn’t hear anything he slid the door open slowly, seeing you against the wall, on the floor, in the robe they left you
your hair was tousled from the transformation and you were still breathing heavy, even in your sleep
james gently picked you up off the ground bridal style and walked you out of the shack slowly, and when he got to the front door, he saw harry anxiously wringing his hands together 
a small smile spread across james’ face as he saw his son being so completely whipped for you
harry let out an audible sigh of relief when he saw you with his dad
“she’s ok right?”
“did you notice any new scrapes or cuts?”
“was it a rough night?”
etc, etc, etc,
they made it into the house where lupin was laying on one of the couches and lily was looking over his body, making sure that he didn’t have any severe injuries
james laid your body on another couch, hermione coming to sit by your feet on the end of the couch 
harry sat on the floor right by your head, stroking your forehead and hair and staring at you with the sweetest worried expression
it was sweet
once lily finished looking over remus and he went to his room, she came over to you
“do you know if  she usually sleeps this much afterwards?”
“yeah, she usually sleeps through the day, but she’ll probably wake up between lunch and dinner then fall asleep after eating or drinking something.”
harry responded without even looking up at his mom
lily had a sweet smile on her face at her sons’ obvious affection with you
she still checked over your body for any serious cuts that wouldn’t heal themselves within the next day or two
harry made sure you were comfortable on the couch
he stuffed a pillow under your head and draped a fuzzy blanket over you 
and he sat on the floor in front of you for the whole day
he would occasionally talk to ron or hermione or whoever walked in
but he didn’t move unless he had to use the bathroom
you woke up around 3pm
and harry had his head resting on his arm, which was resting the couch
you lifted your arm and stroked his arm from his elbow down to his hand back and forth
he looked up at you quickly and you gave him a gentle smile
he smiled back
“how’re you feeling, want coffee?”
and that was in his softest, little, tired voice
of course you nodded to the promise of a hot cup of coffee
because after transformations you always felt extra cold and had to cover yourself in blankets and consume hot drinks to feel like you’re at a normal temperature 
when harry returned with your coffee you were sat up on the couch, the blanket resting over your lap
he took a seat next to you and handed you the mug
you smiled at him and rested your head on his shoulder as you rested against the back of the couch
you took small sips from your mug as you relaxed and tried to ignore any lingering pain in your body
“your shoulders hurt?”
you smiled lightly because you always complained how bad your shoulders hurt after full moons and he always asked the question with an affectionate, teasing smile
“only all the time,”
“hold on”
harry moved himself to be laying down against the pillow that you were using before, then gently pulling you down to lay between his legs, your back to his chest
he rubbed over your shoulders lightly as you closed your eyes and took the occasional sip from your mug
it only took a few minutes for the both of you to fall into a light sleep, your grip loosening on your mug, but not enough to drop it, and harry’s arms wrapped around your torso
and that’s when lily, james, and sirius walked in
they were going to the kitchen to make dinner, but stopped to check on you
and you can bet that sirius took at least eight pictures
and they were all happy harry found you 
because it never mattered if you dated or not
and it never mattered if they liked you or not
because harry loved you and made you feel safe no matter what
and when sirius and james made a bet for when you would get together, remus got all the money cause he’s good like that
needless to say, you were together by the time you got on the hogwarts express that september
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eurydicesflower · 4 years ago
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say you won't let go
Summary: Levi was not sure where he is. But he was standing on a mountain’s cliffside, a windy breeze tingling his bare neck. He looked around, there was no one there. Is that?
Pairings: Levi Ackerman/Hange Zoe
A/N note:  okay the title was pretty much what came up to my mind this was just a quick fic that i did yesterday and i just finished this earlier welp as i said yesterday (?) i forgot but anyways, here it is!
Tags: Canon divergence, slight angst, fluff, mentions of the afterlife
Also posted in AO3: say you won’t let go
Levi was not sure where he is. But he was standing on a mountain’s cliffside, a windy breeze tingling his bare neck. He looked around, there was no one there. No sign of the kids around him, he guessed if this was dream, he can stay here for a while. But then looking around, he then found a figure sitting not just too far from him. Out of the blue the figure spoke, a familiar voice he always wanted to hear once again.
“Levi, take a seat.” The voice said.
“Hange?” He blinked— he cannot believe his eyes. Is it really true? Hange? Hange was there, are they? He followed them, then settling beside them on where they were sitting.
“Where are we?” he asked as Hange just shrugged at him, then let out a relieved sigh, “I don’t know. I just got here before you came. Did you come here to see me?” Hange gave him a warm smile— he won’t get tired seeing that grin even if it means to seeing her once again.
But then, he considered his words, looking at the grass beneath him, “Is this?-” he hesitated, he didn’t want to assume that this what heaven looked like. After all, if he wished to be dead at some point, at least God let him be reunited with his comrades, as well as the person who accompanied him through thick and thin— Hange.
“I guess so.” They gave him a thin smile.
Silence embraced them, then Hange intertwined their hands into his— Levi didn’t mind at all, he wanted to hold her hands again. Hange smiled, stroking Levi’s hands gently as they were looking at the sunset before them, “Don’t you think in another life we will meet again, Levi?” Hange spewed out as Levi gazed at her eyes—there was no sign of tears or sadness, he noted, it felt like they were only casually talking about her experiments back then.
“What are you saying, Hange?” He said, but he actually knew what she meant, “What made you say that?” he mumbled.
“Levi, I know you. You wanted to see me again, don’t you?” she let out an ardent laugh at him, then the warmth from her eyes faded, “Do you?”
He slowly nodded his head, “I don’t know what to do Hange if I’m being honest.” Memories of Hange sacrifice herself came to his mind—it was still unbearably painful for him to see Hange do that all by herself. “I… I feel empty without you guys. I… I already fulfilled my duty but at what cost?” He lowered his gaze, avoiding Hange’s sympathetic look.
Hange put his hand on their chest, “Then, I’ll guide you.” They told him, “I won’t leave by your side, Levi, I promise that. You may not hear from me again, you may not see me again, but I promise you, I won’t leave your side and if heaven or whatever the fuck it is, granted us to meet each other again in another life, I would gladly welcome you into my arms. I will always love you, Levi.” Hange told him, lifting Levi’s chin up to focus at her gaze.
Levi can’t help but look at their eyes, “Hange…” he mumbled, as he closed his eyes.
“Stay still, Levi.” Hange pressed their lips to Levi then-
“Mister Levi?”
Levi slowly opened his eyes. Blinking, Hange was not there. The cliffside wasn’t there. As he had thought, everything is only a dream. A painful dream he wanted to experience again. He scanned his surroundings, he was in the infirmary, he guessed.
“Good, Mr. Levi you’re awake.” The doctor told him. “Someone you know was here to see you.” The doctor motioned for that stranger to go inside the room.
Levi widened his eyes. He can’t actually believe it. “What?” He sat right up, but the doctor was quick to assist him as he jolted from pain, “Mr. Levi you should stay still, you’re not yet well.”
“But-”
“I know, Levi.” They smiled at him.
“Hange…?” His voice cracked, to hell with it, he doesn’t care if he was being vulnerable, Hange was here. They weren’t dead. They were alive, he can’t believe it. “How?” he gently touched her hands as Hange settled beside his bed.
“Miracles?”
He scoffed, “Really?” but Levi can’t help gaze at her bandaged body. “You sure that’s a miracle?” He softened his gaze as he looked up at her.
She shrugged, “Well at least I’m alive? That is a miracle.” She gave him a warm smile. “You guys actually made it, huh? I’m so proud of you all.”
He squeezed her hands, it’s not he’s usually this emotional but seeing Hange once again in one piece, made him not want to lose her ever again. “Come here.” He gave her a thin smile.
“Oh, now Levi wants a hug? Can’t believe you’ve changed in a week.” She let out an ardent laugh but Levi pulled Hange’s body closer to him, making Hange surprised that he was not joking at all.
“Shut up, I miss you okay.” He mumbled, as he burrowed his head on their neck. “Don’t ever do that again. I’m really scared of what you did, Hange. Please don’t leave me.”
Hange smiled as he patted his head, “I’m not gonna leave you ever again. I promise.” They stayed that for a while, even the doctor left them to give them to enjoy their intimate moment— they needed it after all.
“Hange, I love you.” He whispered at her as Hange just smiled at him, still clinging to her arms.
“I love you, too.” She kissed the top of his head.
Hange will never, ever let go of him anymore.
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Here’s section 2, all wrapped up for you guys to enjoy!
1:      "What is she doing?" Keons asked from the control room. 
     "I'm not sure, but it seems she's up to something, she's not taking the drone with her. We should go check this out for ourselves," Nico replied. 
     "But what if she's doing it in order to not look suspicious to the rebels? She's a really smart girl -" 
     "And I'm not saying she's not, all I'm saying is that it's unusual. If she didn't want them to be suspicious, she could have told the drone to fly in stealth mode, could she not?" 
     "Well, I guess that's right... But can't we just wait a few more minutes for her to give us some indication if there are rebels in those woods?" Keons replied, starting to feel like he's been betrayed by the one whom he loves the most. 
     "Alright, we'll have it your way, Keons. I'll give her two minutes. If she doesn't turn up in that time, you will be the one to find her and execute her." 
     "Yes, sir." Keons replies, deflated, a knot welling up inside his stomach. 
2:      As I was walking through the thick woods, I began to think of what the people back home were saying about me. Were they proud that I went off in search of these "rebels"? What was my father thinking about behind those palace walls? 
     Does he even miss me?
     A few minutes into my walking around, I heard footsteps. Careful, soft footsteps, and I got excited. 
     They're here, they're here!!! Real Banditos, I get to finally see them, finally talk to them!!! 
     "Hello?! I know you're out there, I can hear your footsteps! Come out, please! I promise I won't -" 
     "Won't what, Savanna? Won't turn them in like you said that you would?" My father said, hurt encompassing his voice.  
     "Th- that's not what I-! Bu- But Dad! I- I wasn't- !" 
     "I'm sorry, Savanna, my daughter. I never meant for this to be this way. Just don't fight, and there won't be any pain." My dad said, a tear running down his face. 
     He's gonna kill me, feed me to the vultures, I thought, adrenaline pumping through my veins, I need to run. 
     And so I did. I ran at the fastest speed I could go, running through shrubs and prickly bushes, running for my life. 
3:      When I finally got to where I thought was a safe place, I collapsed. 
     I'm done running, I can't run anymore. I'm done. 
     I just sat there, thinking about my life, if I would make it out of this forest alive, and what they would do if they caught me. 
     Shall I be made to suffer the same fate as that man back in the city? Or will a worse fate await me? 
     I fell into a reluctant and fear-ridden sleep. A sleep in which I never wanted, yet needed immensely. 
4: Suddenly, I awaken from my nightmare sleep to find two people, Banditos, hovering over me. One of them has short, shaven hair while the other has somewhat curly hair and a pair of yellow drumsticks. I attempt to utter out the words "Who are you guys?", but nothing comes out of my mouth, and I'm stuck trying to speak and making no sound. 
     "It's alright, don't strain yourself. You're safe now," promised the one whose yellow duct tape was around him in an 'X' shape. 
      I nodded, and they helped me up. We started walking into the camp. 
     When we got into the camp, the Bandito beside the one with the mask suggested that I should have a tour of the camp, and his friend agreed. 
     "I'm sorry, we really haven't introduced ourselves, have we. My name is Tyler Joseph, this is my friend and head of the Banditos, Josh Dun," Josh waves and smiles, and Tyler motions towards the camp, "And this is our camp. Make yourself at home, please," 
     I nod my head. 
     "Do you have a name? I mean, if you're able to talk, that is. If not, we can get you something for that," Josh inquired. 
     Before I was able to try to speak, a flood of Banditos, young and old, came flocking towards me, Tyler, and Josh. All I remember of what happened next is that everything went black and I collapsed. 
5:      A young Bandito is patrolling the perimeter of the Bandito camp. As he walks, he scans the tops of trees and the edges of the beaten path below. Something catches his eye from the ground, beckoning him to take a closer look. As he stoops down, he finds a stranger's belongings. What lies there is a red robe and an identification card. The red robe smells of death and hurt. The name on the identification card reads Savanna Keons. The face seems familiar to the young Bandito. He knows this woman, but from where? He decides to put the red robe and identification card in his carrying sack and continue patrolling the outskirts of their small camp. He goes home and realizes who the young lady is and how he recognizes her. There will be a time to show this information, but now is not it, the Bandito thinks. 
6:      When I awaken, I seemed to be in an infirmary of some sort, and all I see in front of me is Tyler and something else. The "something else" was small and round, with a circular head, horns, and long ears. Its eyes were like deep chasms, vast and expansive. Its color was a silvery grey. At first sight, I was frightened. I'd never seen something like this before. 
     "What is that? What does it do?" I asked Tyler, frightened by the newness of the being. 
     "Oh, him? This is our little buddy, Ned!", Ned waved at me shyly, "He's a nice companion to have, not really used to new people though. I'm sure he'll grow to like you, though!" 
     "Oh, ok! Well, hi, Ned!" I said while sticking my hand out towards him. 
     Ned just takes a couple of steps back, like he’s frightened of me. 
     Tyler looks confused towards Ned, asking, “What’s wrong, little buddy? What is it?” 
     He turns to me, saying, “He’s not usually like this, I’m sorry, I just don’t understand why he’d be like this.” 
     I start to get nervous, “Is there any other times when he’s like this?” 
     “Yea, actually, he’s usually like this when there are Bishops around, but I don’t see any, and he’s doing it only towards you, oddly”, he says, scratching his head. 
     I had to make an excuse, and quick, “Uh, well, I got tackled by a Bishop, and I fought him and ran away,” 
     Tyler looked quite unimpressed, but just said alright and left it at that, “So, how was your day so far?” 
     “Boring, seeing as I have to stay in this hospital bed til you guys decide what to do with me.” 
     “Oh, don’t worry about that, we’re going to have a meeting tonight, that’s one of the topics we’ll discuss,” 
     “Alright. Well, stay safe!” 
     Tyler kind of chuckles and says, “Alright, I will, Logan. You stay alive now, ok?” 
     “Ok,” 
     “Promise?” 
     “Promise” 
7: “So, have we all came to a consensus?” leader Josh Dun inquires. 
     “Wait!” a young bandito exclaims, “I forgot about something important”. 
     “What is it, Jake?” 
     “I found this while I was walking the perimeter of our camp. It’s a Bishop’s cloak and a Dema identification card for a Savannah Keons,” 
     The entire crowd gasps, 
     “If you look closely at the picture, you’ll see it’s the newcomer”. Jake hands the cloak and card to Ned, who then hands it to Tyler. 
     Tyler and Josh take a while looking at it and debating what to do with the newcomer at this point, with all the new information that was presented just seconds ago. 
     “But Josh, she’s one of them! What if she came to spy on us? What if?” 
     “And, what if she was captured or found out the truth and is coming to start anew?” 
     “But, But what if-” 
     Josh puts his hands on Tyler’s shoulders, “Ok, ok, calm down, it’s all alright. Remember, my friend, everyone deserves a second chance, no matter what they’ve done,” 
     “Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Tyler sighs. 
     “Now, go tell Logan to meet us at the bonfire tonight,” 
     “Alright,” 
8:      I was sitting on a stump fidgeting when Tyler and Josh came out. When I heard the flap of the makeshift tent door, I jumped up, terrified of what would come next. They already know, they already know, I’m gonna get fed to the vultures, or worse!!! 
     Tyler comes up to me while Josh hangs back, observing. 
     “Hey, Logan?” Tyler says when he gets closer to me. I start to get nervous and tremble 
     “Y-yes?” 
     “Uh, do you know what these are?” he shows me my past belongings: my cloak, badly damaged and worn, and my (former) id card, which insists on keeping me prisoner in my own skin. 
     I say, trying to keep the twang of fear in my voice at bay, to no avail, “Why are these here?” 
     “One of our Banditos picked these up patrolling the perimeter of camp. Are these really yours?” he inquired softly. 
     Terror runs through me as everyone’s eyes lock onto my frail being. I can’t keep it out as I yell, “It was never meant to be this way!!!” I fall onto the ground, my head forcing itself into my hands, curled up like a child. 
     I hear gasps, then silence. 
     After a while of this silence, I feel something touching my arm, like a kitten wanting affection. At first, I flinch at this new contact and yank myself up to a cradled sitting position, face wet from the salty tears that have striped patches of oil from my face, leaving them feeling like bandages. 
     When I look at what or who was touching me, it was Josh. He whispers to me, “It’s alright, we’ve accepted you into our crew. You’re safe from those who wish to do you harm here.” 
     Baffled by his actions, I say, “But I was one of them. I was sent to harm you guys,” I give a tear-filled inhale and exhale, “Why are you letting me in?” 
     He just smiles and says, nodding at Tyler at the end, “Because everyone deserves a second chance.” Everyone starts cheering and clapping, and Josh sticks his hand out to me. I grab his hand and he helps me up, “C’mon, we need to get you cleaned up, or else Ned’ll never warm up to you!” Josh says with a laugh. I laugh along, hearing everyone clapping and cheering me on. Me, not that dema kid who supported the murder of all those innocent people. That person was long gone, and I am what remains.  
9: After everything goes quiet and all the applause stops, I inquire, “Hey, Josh, where are we going, exactly?” 
     “East, to where your past wrongs will be righted, to where you can be free to start anew.” 
     “Alright,” I say, and continue following. 
     When we finally get to where Josh was taking me, all I can say is wow. The place looked magnificent, like the angels themselves carved this place from the earth and put their hearts and souls into creating it. 
     There was a shallow, burbling waterfall trickling softly into a pond lined with several light-colored rocks, some sparkling and some not. This wondrous sight was lit by the vivid green lampshade of the trees, the leaves deflecting the sun’s rays here and there. There was greenery and assorted berry bushes and shrubs around the pond, and the entire place looked like it came from the garden of Eden. 
     After I was done taking in the awe of this mystical and magical place, Josh turned around while I bathed in the healing waters of this pond. 
     When I was done, there was a towel and a pair of Bandito attire in the tree next to me. I say thanks and josh replies with, “Don’t worry, I didn’t look,” 
     When we got back to camp, Tyler and Ned were waiting on us. Josh went up to Tyler, did a secret handshake, and introduced me as the new member of the crew. 
     He started the bonfire, and for the first time in a long time, I was with family, with people who wouldn’t hesitate to die for my sake, and for who I would die for in an instant. I was with people of my own kind. At that very moment, I could care less about what they were saying about me in the city, cause they’re talking about someone who never was. 
10:      My first week at camp, and I already feel at home. I’ve gotten better acquainted with our leaders, Ned too, and found a couple of friends among the crowd. A couple of notable ones I met early on; one of them happened to be the first Bandito I ever seen, remember him? Well, it turns out his name is Rodney Garron, and he’s an aroace enby who’s in a platonic relationship with his straight adhd counterpart George Evergreen. When I first saw them both in camp, Rodney almost had a heart attack, shouting, “You’re that Bishop kid! Don’t take me back! You can’t take me!!!!” Now that I’m thinking about it, their friend had to calm him down. 
     Oh! I’m sorry about the confusion, Rodney likes to be referred to as he or they. Anyways, back to it then. 
     After their friend calmed him down, he explained everything about himself, how he grew up watching Good Day Dema, how they came to the camp in the middle of a snowstorm, and how seeing a Bishop take off their hood and offer their hand took several hours of heavy meditation to get over. I laughed and said sorry to that last one. 
     On another note, I got to see someone I haven’t seen since I was in training up in the city. he used to be my teacher, he was  my teacher for all of my training, and I was wondering what happened to him… 
     “I thought you were dead, teach?” 
     “Miracles happen, my young one,” 
     “But, they said you were exterminated! They said tha-” 
     “They say, they say, they say. They say one thing, but what does your heart say?” 
     I hesitate, give him a big hug, and demand him tell me how he escaped. 
     This is Logan Slife, and this is my story. 
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sup-hoes-its-me · 4 years ago
Text
That’s What Friends Do (Bakugo x Reader)
A/N: It took me quite a long time for me to like bakugo, but here we go. Friends to lovers. Ur all mights daughter too (bc i love him so much i want him to be my dad tbh) 
word count: 5413
“You know, Y/N? You’re kinda an airhead,” Bakugo said bluntly, flicking the girl directly on the top of her head to make her hair fly in all directions. She sighed and brushed down her hair, glaring over at the boy who walked home with her everyday. They lived on the same street so it only made sense to follow each other. Not that she particularly enjoyed it. He wasn’t always rude to her, saying offhanded things once in a while. Honestly, she didn’t even know if he meant the rude things he said, it was almost natural for him to say that kind of stuff. 
She went to protest, defend herself, but Bakugo just had to have more to say.
“I mean like, you’re always dropping things and making mistakes. No doubt the only reason you’re in class a is because of your dad. And you almost never use your powers.”
She bit back her arguments, knowing she would never win. He always had a counter, and was better than her at it. She twisted her bracelets around her wrists, feeling heat starting to emit from her wrists. They had similar powers, Bakugo and her. He would turn his sweat into explosives. She could convert her negative emotions into intense body heat. They could definitely be good friends if they tried; she was so kind and open to everyone much like her father. Yet, it didn’t seem like he had friendship in mind most of the time.
“You know it’s because I have to feel bad before using it.”
“Well then you just need to be angry all the time like me maybe. It won’t do you any good to be happy all the time if you want to be a hero.”
“But I don’t want to be like that. I-I have so many friends because of my personality,” she said nervously, not really thinking about the repercussions of what she would say next. “People like me, but they don’t really like you…”
He froze where he was, his head turning swiftly to glare down at her. “Is it really better to have people like you if you’re just a useless idiot?”
He was right, she was useless. In fact, just him saying that had searing hot tears springing up in the corners of her eyes. She bit her lip, trying to keep the crying at bay. He always did make fun of her for being a crybaby. 
“This is why you don’t have friends, Bakugo,” she whispered, even though she knew she was crossing another line, only to make him angrier with her. 
“”Oh yeah, well then why do you follow me around? You hate me so much yet you try to act like friends? Pathetic. Stick up for yourself once in a while.”
Her body heat was intense, and he had to take a step back when it started to hit him hard. He knew he’d made her upset, it was obvious when anyone did. He felt a bit bad about it. She really was a nice girl. He shouldn’t make fun of her, only it was so unfair that she was All Might’s daughter. She was weak, and never wanted to use her powers. Someone else would make a better hero, would benefit more from the praise and privilege that came with being in that family. 
Maybe he was just jealous, but he hated that thought. He was jealous of her for having powers strong enough that if she used them right could rival the level of All Might. He was jealous of Midoriya, who he suspected had somehow inherited All Might’s powers. Bakugo was strong, stronger than any of them. Why did he have the short end of the stick? 
“Fine. If that’s how you want it to be-”
Just as she was about to say her final goodbye and run back to her home, they failed to notice the cracking of a tree branch right above them. At the last second, she turned her head up to the sky, gasped, and lifted her hands to shield them from the branch. Surely, she couldn’t catch it, and they wouldn’t be able to run in time. 
Her hands glowed a bright red, and upon contact with the huge tree branch, the wood burnt to a crisp and shrunk to the size of burnt and ashy twig. She fell down to her knees, exhausted afterwards. 
“Owie.” Y/N stared down at her burnt hands, blisters already starting to show up on her palms. Her knees stung, and after inspecting them, they were torn up and bloodied, dripping onto the sidewalk.
“Shit, Y/N. I-I...let’s get you home, alright?” Bakugo tentatively said, placing his hands under her armpits and lifting her gently from the ground. She forgot about their fight just a couple seconds ago, the pain in her hands being nearly unbearable. The blisters would go away throughout the night as part of her quirk but god, it would hurt like hell until the morning. 
“Okay.”
It wasn’t that far away, thankfully, only a couple streets further. He held her around her waist, making sure she didn’t fall. He felt bad though, since the blood had dripped down to her uniform socks and stained them crimson with blood. He was surprised that, despite the pain, she didn’t cry.
 Carefully, he helped her walk up each of the steps to her front door and rang the doorbell. All Might answered the door, in his hero form, and just as quickly as his smile showed, it sunk deep into a frown. 
“My goodness, what happened, sweetheart?” he asked, taking his daughter in his own arms from the boy who carried her home. 
“I, uh, there was a really big branch…” she struggled to say, too embarrassed to say she used a huge chunk of her power just to burn up a tree branch. “Burned my hands and fell down and yeah,” she added, looking down at her burns and cuts. 
All Might turned to Bakugo and nodded his head firmly. “Thank you for helping her home, young Bakugo. You’re not hurt are you?”
“No- Y/N, she saved me.” He said softly, actually really impressed with what she had done, whether she hurt herself or not. “Y/N? Thank you. You really came through back there.”
The girl tilted her head to look at her schoolmate and smiled weakly. “It’s all good. That’s what friends do, I guess.” 
“Well, you better head home for the night, Bakugo. Y/N needs rest to heal her burns,” her father said calmly, waving the boy off with his free hand. They shut the door and left the boy standing on the front porch of their home. 
That weak little girl saved the both of them in a moment. He felt terrible for letting her get burned like that, but he was amazed at how much raw power she possessed. He turned on his heel and walked back down the steps, heading down the street to his own home. Maybe she wasn’t so useless after all.
                                                      _________________________________
The second Y/N learned her father was back at UA, in the infirmary being taken care of by Recovery Girl, she ran to see him. Tears had been running down her face as she watched the news, seeing the horrible things All for One had done, hearing her father struggle and seeing him lose his form in front of the public. Her friends all looked to her with wide eyes, as if they were questioning why she kept it a secret that her father was injured all this time. 
Why would she tell a nation of united people that the one person keeping them together was just about to run out of power? If she felt judged, she couldn’t even imagine what her father was going through, having every single person in the world know how weak he was. Endeavor would take over his role as number one hero, and the people would lose their symbol of peace. 
It was heart wrenching.
She opened the door to the infirmary, seeing All Might laying in the bed with bandages wrapped around most of his body. He looked tired and sore after all the work he had done. 
“Oh, Y/N, I’ve been waiting for you to show up,” Recovery Girl announced, walking right by her with a bottle of pills to give to the hurt man. “He’s going to be just fine; no longer a pro-hero, but relatively healthy.”
A breath of relief left the girl as she walked to her father’s bedside. “Dad, I-I saw what happened...I-I never thought that you would have to fight him again. I’m sorry,” that was all she knew what to say. When she found out her father was going to fight his one true nemesis much like years before, her heart sank. She remembered how terrible it was the first time he fought All for One, and this time felt even worse.
“Y/N, sweetheart, I thought the same thing-more like I prayed it would never happen. But you heard Recovery Girl: I’m going to be fine. You should rest. It’s been a long day for everyone.”
Her ears turned red out of pure frustration, and he quirked a brow. “Calm down. I’m still the same ol’ dad.”
“One for All...is it really gone this time?”
“Just about. That’s the last of it. I told you that my next battle would be my last.”
“How can you just accept that? You’re our hero, no one else means as much to the people as you do? We can’t lose you,” she pleaded, grabbing her dad’s beaten hand and squeezing for dear life. “If it’s really gone, what are we going to do? Who will fight?”
“For now, whoever can do it. Later on, you and your classmates will most likely surpass me. If Midoriya can-”
She sighed, shaking her head. “Midoriya is trying, but I can’t believe he will be better than you.”
He smiled softly, shaking his head. “He will. You know.”
With a drop of his hand, she tightened her fists at her sides. “I know, I don’t want to believe it though,” she paused, biting her lip angrily. “I have to go check up on the others who are just getting back. Midoriya and Momo-chan and all…”
“I’m genuinely surprised you didn’t go with them.”
“I’m not heroic like them. I’m just an assist.” It saddened her, saying those words. “Besides, no one would be happy if All Might’s daughter was breaking the hero laws again.”
The girl said goodbye to her dad and the others in the medic bay shortly after that, but her heart was beating a million miles a minute, and she felt like all the air had been sucked from her lungs. She could only remain composed until she left the room and the door shut behind her loudly, echoing through the near empty hallway.
She clutched at her uniform, right over her heart. She could feel her skin heating up under her finger tips, the air drying up around her. Angrily, she bit at her lip and squeezed her eyes shut, tears threatening to burst down her face. 
Seeing her dad in that state once again, this time in his weak form, it was heartbreaking. In times like this, she was truly reminded of her father's mortality just like everyone else. He wouldn't always be there for her. 
"Y/N?"
Her eyes snapped open and she lifted her head swiftly. Tears started to run down her reddening cheeks. Hurriedly she tried to hide that she was crying, desperately wanting to avoid the boy's teasing. He always said she acted like a baby…
"Bakugo? I-I...shit," she choked on her words, sobs crawling up her throat. 
He took a hesitant step forward, reaching his hand out to touch her shoulder. Before she had the chance to yank it out of his reach, he burned himself on her scorching hot skin. "Ah fuck!" The blond hissed, blowing on his hand to cool it off. "Forgot you did that when you're crying."
"I-I know. I'm sorry, I can't help it."
He shook his head, brushing off her apology. It was his fault for not noticing, and also not respecting personal space. He wasn't exactly sure why he reached out for her, but he did know that his heart was currently consumed with heavy guilt. It plagued over his heart. That's why he was going toward the infirmary: to peek into the window, just see how All Might was doing.
"Y/N, is it Al- I mean, you dad? He's gonna be okay, right?"
"He's alive, I guess that's something to be happy about. I just can't be positive right now about anything."
"Listen, Toshinori, it's gonna be okay-"
"Why are you being so calm? Shouldn't you be yelling at me by now for something? Crying? Burning you? Being in your way?" Y/N asked bitterly. The streams of tears on her cheeks were beginning to sizzle up against her skin, steam floating off. 
He was taken aback, but really, should he be surprised? He was always rude to her in one way or another, whether he wanted to be or not? He mocked her on more than one occasion for being a crybaby. She was rightfully a bit scared of him, and it buried into his guilt further. He grimaced, his eyes trailing to the floor and his hand going to rub his other arm. He never meant to be malicious though. He supposed that was just the way he was.
Damn, he felt kinda bad. He really didn’t think he’d ever been that mean to her. Genuinely, he liked Y/N. She was not only a cute and sweet girl (despite being a bit of a “hot” head), but also the only child of his greatest hero. All Might was probably everyone’s favorite hero, to be real.
"This isn't really the time,” he muttered awkwardly.
"I should be going," she mumbled, moving to walk past him down the hall to the classroom where most of her friends were still waiting for updates on if it was safe to go home yet. Not that she would go home anytime soon. She would wait until her dad was ready to go home, and then they would leave together, her pushing him in a wheelchair no doubt. 
He stopped her though, reaching out to grab her hand. It burned, but not as badly as he thought. She stopped mid stride, turning to peer at him in shock. He never touched her so gently, yet he was serious. His eyes were pained, she could see it written plainly for her eyes only. 
"Bakugo?"
"Y/N, I'm sorry for how I've treated you recently, alright? I'm sorry all of this happened, and now your dad is hurt, and fuck, everything is so shitty right now. I'm sorry, Y/N."
"Why are you saying this?"
"Can't you just accept an apology?" He hadn't realized, but her skin was slowly cooling down to normal. "This is all because of me."
"No, it's not your fault."
"Listen, I gotta make a promise to you, okay? Just take it and don't say nothing, got it?" She nodded, genuinely curious as to what he was doing to say. He was a crazy guy, unpredictable to a certain point. He squeezed her hand tightly in his warm, clammy one. "I'm gonna watch out for you from now on. When no one else is there, even that damn Midoriya, I will be there to protect you." 
He refused to meet her eyes for longer than a second. Her beautiful eyes made him remember just how flustered and awkward she made him feel. He glared at the ground and grunted. "It's nothing personal. I just owe you."
"For wha-"
"Didn't I tell you not to say anything? Ugh, so stupid as usual," he grumbled. 
He dropped her hand roughly, eyes trained on the floor tiles again. "Just get out of here, Y/N."
The only thing she knew to do was nod silently and rush off back to the classroom.  It was strange, the fuzzy feeling in her chest when he held her hand and told her he would watch over her. Maybe it was just the words, but something about Bakugo made her feel dizzy. 
__________________________
"You know what's kinda scary, Y/N?" Jirou asked in between bites of her rice. The girl peered up from her lunch to her friend, raising a brow in question. She continued to slurp up her warm noodles as the girl continued. "Hot head Bakugo's been eyeing you down a lot lately. He's actually looking at you right now-"
She choked on her soup, turning her head roughly to find Bakugo in the swarm of tables and students. 
"Way to be subtle, dude."
Almost immediately she met eyes with Bakugo, who was staring directly at the back of her head. Her cheeks turned a bright shade of pink, embarrassment sending shivers through her body. Just as quickly as before, she swung her head back to the table in front her, wanting to bury her head in her hands and whine. 
"That's so weird. Did something happen between you two recently?" Momo asked offhandedly, waving her empty chopsticks through the air. 
"N-no, nothing happened." Way to be smooth, Y/N.
Aoyama, who was sitting with the girls that day smirked as he munched on his cheese. Cheerfully, he piped up, "Aaaaanddd now he's heading over here. Mentally prepare yourself." Jirou laughed a bit under her breath and Momo smiled. They never liked Bakugo, he was annoying and rude, but it was fun to see Y/N red in the face and socially awkward.
Her friends loved to torture her. That's what she gets for being such a pushover, after all.
"Toshinori! You were looking at me?" He said quite loudly as he approached her. Ears turned red and she felt her hands growing quite warm, not burning but heated. She turned in her chair to peer up at him. His eyes were carrying his normal fury, but he seemed mildly calm. "Did you need something?"
"I...uh, no! It was an accident."
He noticed her red cheeks and her tinted ears, and out of pure frustration, he grabbed her soft hand in his rough one. Heat flared up inside her, embarrassment stabbing into her from almost every angle. She could feel her friend's eyes widen and staring at the two of them. 
"Why are you hot? Am I making you feel bad?"
"No. I'm just embarrassed."
He dropped her hand back on the table and crossed his arms. "No need to be. That’s what friends do, yeah? Friends talk to each other, right?" She nodded. "We should hang out tomorrow. After classes, come to my room."
"That's pervy, don't you think?" Aoyama purred. “Plan on making a move on our innocent little heat lamp.” God, she hated the nicknames Aoyama had for her.
"Of course not, you stupid French idiot! You're the only one with a pervy mind if you think that, fucking asshole! I-I'll kill you-"
Y/N placed a gentle hand on his arm and nodded, successfully quieting him. "We can hang out. I have to study a bit so can I bring my books?"
"Yeah, that's cool or whatever." He shifted awkwardly, shoving his hand in his pants pockets. "See you later."
As he stalked off, Momo let out a loud scoff, pushing her friend on the shoulder jokingly. "You said nothing happened between you two! Lies," the girl exclaimed, laughing loudly with the rest of them. 
“You gotta tell us the scoop, Toshi,” Jirou added, leaning her face in one of her palms, staring intently at the girl in question. 
Y/n blushed, but tried her best to explain what had happened recently. “So about two weeks ago when Bakugo and I were walking home, we were fighting and he was yelling at me and stuff like usually, but then there was this super massive tree branch that was gonna fall on us and I burned it up with my quirk. But in the process I fell and hurt myself pretty bad so he walked me home and stuff and then I said something like, “That’s what friends do” or whatever.”
“Interesting. Maybe he respects you more since you potentially saved his life,” Momo pondered. 
“But that’s not the weirdest part, guys.Then, about a week later after that incident with All for One and my dad, i was leaving the infirmary and he ran into me. And he apologized for ever being mean to me, and then said- well, this is kinda embarrassing actually…” she laughed nervously, wringing her fingers together as her face turned even darker red. “He said that he would protect me no matter what because he owes me.”
Three mouths formed ‘o’ shapes, just staring at her as she told the unexpected story. How could you expect something like that to come from someone like Bakugo? It was just crazy. 
“Wow, okay, so that’s crazy as hell,” Jirou chuckled. “Maybe he has a little crush on you, Y/N.”
“What!? No way! He’s just being nice!”
Momo casts another glance back at Bakugo, noticing that he was once again peeking up at Y/N every once in a while. Bakugo caught Momo’s eyes and quickly lowered his gaze, having been caught doing something so unlike him. “Mhmm, looks like your right, Jirou. He was looking at her again.”
Y/n squealed, dropping her head to the table so no one could see how embarrassed she was. Just what was Bakugo feeling? There was no way he liked her. He never acted like it or showed her any affection since they met at the beginning of the school year. She would just have to wait until they hung out to see what was up with him. She would ask him how he felt about her and that would be the end of it.
______________________________________
Maybe this was gonna be harder than she thought. Classes had ended and she was walking very slowly back to the dorms. It’s easy in theory to just go to a boy’s dorm room to hang out and study but when it actually happens, so many feelings pour into you. 
It was just Bakugo, it wasn’t like she didn’t know the guy. Plus, they were just friends, but that didn’t make him any less cute-what the hell? Y/N brought her book up to her and whacked her forehead, expelling the thought from her mind. Bakugo Katsuki was not cute, not in a million years. More like a demon. 
She shifted her bag on her shoulder as she walked through the dorms, walking past hers and down the hall to Bakugo’s. He said right after class, right? Hopefully he was already home. It would be so embarrassing if she showed up too early and he  saw her being eager to see him. Not that she was excited for this hangout, definitely not. It was just studying while he did whatever Bakugo does.
As she stood in front of his dorm, she pulled down her skirt just a bit to cover her as much as possible, and adjusted the collar on her button up. She felt so exposed, even with no one looking at her. Must just be the nerves. It’s fine, she thought, everything is going to go smoothly and then she can head to her bed later than night.
She knocked on the door and within a few seconds, the door opened. 
He was undressed from his uniform, instead wearing a black shirt and cargo shorts. Typical Bakugo clothes. Still, this made her anxious; maybe she should have gotten into casual clothes before heading over. Does it really matter though? She didn’t know, and as the anxiety grew she felt herself getting hot. 
“You good, Y/N?”
“Yeah, haha, of course. Just ready to get studying.” He nodded, moving to the side to let her in the room. When she saw the inside, she was quite surprised. It was nearly spotless, not a single thing seemed out of place, no clothes on the floor, perfect dorm. She scanned the bookshelves on the walls, and noticed a particular manga immediately, one she also had in her own library.
As she walked over to the bookcase and swiped the volume off the shelf, he quickly shut the door and rushed to her side. “Uh, lets just put that back-”
“You like Maid-sama too?”
“Uh…”
She turned the book in her hands, a smile growing on her lips. “I have all the volumes in my dorm, too. I’ve got to be honest, Bakugo, I did not expect you to read the same manga as me.” He grabbed the manga from her and put it back in it’s organized place on the shelf. “No need to be embarrassed. Just between you and me, my dad sometimes reads my manga without telling me.”
The boy could only gawk. “No fucking way. All Might reads shoujo manga?” he asked, eyes wide with surprise.
“Maybe, but you didn’t hear it from me.”
She placed her bag down on his desk and took a seat at his swivel chair, sinking into the comfy leather. Then, she pulled out her textbook, opened to the page she was working on before she left class, and started to highlight what was needed. He watched her for a couple minutes before sitting on his bed and taking out his phone, leaning back and playing a game on his phone to pass the time. 
He expected her to be a bit quiet, but completely ignoring him for her work was really disappointing. He invited her over so they could talk about themselves maybe, and he could learn more about her. They used to talk every day on their way home from school, and he sorta missed that now that they had dorms.
After about twenty minutes, he took a peek to see what she was up to, only to notice her eyebrows furrowed and her fist clenched around her pen. “What’s up?”
“It’s nothing. I just can’t focus on my work,” she sighed. “Jirou and Yaomomo said something to me the other day at lunch and um, I just can’t stop thinking about it.”
“Wanna talk about it?”
“No, not really. I just wanna hang out now. No use studying if I’m not focused.”
He shrugged, but internally he was happy. She would finally spend time with him in his own room all alone. He wouldn’t have to worry about other people looking at him like he was a softy either for being so nice to the girl. He waved her over to his bed and pulled out his laptop. “Wanna watch anime with me?”
“Yeah, sure.”
After she hesitantly took a seat beside him in his bed, she felt herself getting a bit warm again. Their thighs were close enough to touch, same with their shoulders. She crossed her arms over her chest to hide some of her awkwardness, surprised that he seemed completely unphased being pressed to her side like that.
Little did she know, he was going insane. He could feel the heat from her body and it was making it go crazy. He had to hide it though. The last thing he wanted was to scare her away. It wasn’t like he was obsessed with her, and he definitely did not like her in a romantic way, even if she was adorable and kind and super selfless having saved him a couple weeks ago from near death. 
He turned on some show she had never heard of, and they sat silently watching it. Y/N wasn’t really into mechas so she couldn’t get into the show. Her mind just kept circling all those Bakugo thoughts. He was cute and definitely attractive. Their thighs and arms were touching and if she wanted she could lean her head over and rest it on his shoulder easily. Not to mention her friends had planted in her mind that the boy had a massive crush on her, making the situation ten times more stressful.
Finally, during a scene where the lame main character was talking to one of the sides, she turned to him and blurted out before she could stop herself, “Bakugo, do you have a crush on me?”
He jumped a bit at her sudden question, turning his whole body to see her. “Y/N-”
“Jirou and Yaomomo told me that everything you’ve been doing for me lately means you’ve got a crush on me, and um, I want to know if they are right.”
He paused for a second, trying to think of an escape plan, yet his mind was blank. He grimaced, looking down at the bed. “I don’t know. Maybe, probably. What does it matter?”
Y/n fiddled with her hands in her lap and confessed, “I-I don’t know. Maybe I might like you too, I guess…” when he didn’t say anything she added before things got too much more awkward, “But we can totally still be friends if that’s what you want.”
He nodded in agreement, but his mind was on other things. This sweet girl, someone powerful and brave and kind, liked him back. He hadn’t expected this when he started to talk to her and be nice to her for the past couple weeks. He maybe assumed that she wouldn’t hate him anymore, but this was on another level.
He also had no experience with girls. They never got along with him and he never gave them the time of day. Y/N was the first girl he ever really liked. He was right to be hella nervous.
"So, um, do you wanna keep watching or uh-"
He nodded trying not to let how he felt show through. He placed the laptop back on their legs in front of them and played the next episode. 
But he kept feeling her eyes glancing over at him. Each time he would look to see if what he felt was true, she would turn away and pretend she had been watching the show.
"I think maybe I should go." She started to shift off the bed, her legs dangling off the side when he grabbed her wrist. She looked back at him only for his other hand to grab her cheek, forcing her to look at him.
"I don't want you to go. I think you should stay. Just for a little longer."
"But, things feel awkward now. I feel kinda weird about confessing and all." She rubbed her arm, lowering her eyes to the bed. "I really like you and all, you seem like such a fun guy…You've been one of my good friends since school started. I don't want it to be weird."
"It won't be weird," he argued, pulling her closer to him. "Y/N, I'm going to kiss you now."
She nodded, hopelessly giving in to the boy. He leaned forward just enough to press his lips to hers which were warm and soft. He pulled her face closer to his, running his thumbs over her cheekbones and his tongue across her lips. He'd never kissed, but he'd read enough manga to know what women liked.
She moved without breaking their kiss so she could kneel in front of him, her hands going to wrap around his neck. The kiss was intense, lips moving against each other smoothly for so long. He moved his hands from her face and opted for placing them up her thighs pulling her legs around his waist so her chest was pressed to his, as close as they could be. 
Y/N pulled away, ducking her head down against his shoulder. "My dad won't like this."
"Oh shut up. He doesn't have to know."
And then he kissed her again. Over and over again.
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bellatrixobsessed1 · 4 years ago
Text
Protea (Part 17)
She doesn’t come home that night or the next. So Mai caves, partially under the pressure of Ursa’s rising anxiety.
“She’s probably at ‘er factory.” Mohi shrugs.
This does little to alleviate Ursa’s concert. “Her what?”
“It used to manufacture war machines.” Zenyul remarks.
“An abandoned factory!? Those are...they’re unsanitary and full of blades and broken beams.”
“She always goes there when she’s upset.” She cuts Mai a pointed glare and just like that she recalls the woman’s warning not to hurt her daughter. “Been goin’ ta that factory fer a long while now. Ain’t nothing to worry ‘bout.” Mohi assures.
“She’s been gone for…”
“Only a day.” Zuko cups his hand over Ursa’s. “Azula can take care of herself. She’ll come back when she’s ready.”
“Girl jus’ needs time ta clear ‘er head s’all.”
“I’ll go check on her.” Mai grumbles. She is certain that she will come to regret this decision. Whether Azula is withdrawn or furious she is in for a difficult and tedious time. Really she shouldn’t go at all. But, frankly, she’d do just about anything to keep Mohi from glaring at her with that much hatred.
“Boy, ya git  on up ‘n go find your sister!”
Both Kaz and Zuko rise.
“I ain’t talkin’ ‘bout ‘choo.” She jabs her finger at Zuko.
“He doesn’t have to come.” Mai grumbles.
“He’s a goin’.”
The argument is settled. It doesn’t matter. She doesn’t have to talk to him. And she doesn’t. It isn’t out of hatred nor dislike. It isn’t out of anything at all in particular. Perhaps it is just less awkward. They reach the factory and she leaves Kaz to do the calling. He tries Snapdragon first and after getting no answer he tries ‘princess’ and then ‘Azula’.
Mai finally speaks directly to him, I’ll look inside, I know where her nest is. You can check around outside.”
“Yeah, that werks.” He agrees.
The building has a certain chill to it now that Azula has left it vacant for some time. She is twice as hesitant to ascend the ladder, it seems to sway more than ever and when she reaches the top, she finds no reward. Azula isn’t in there picking through her hoard.
She climbs back down and takes the stairs to the upper levels. She is beginning to speculate that Azula isn’t here. She wouldn’t put it past her to have run off to find the Forgetful Valley a second time.
With a drawn sigh she takes the fire escape. This is where she finds Azula and her stomach has never plummeted faster. By Agni’s fire, she wishes that the princess would have just run off into the jungle again. She is so still, so nauseatingly still. And there is blood.  Too much of it.
Spirits, has she been here all night. She feels queasy beyond compare. She nearly hurls over the side of the railing when she sees Azula’s legs. She takes a deep breath, “Kaz!” Her voice strains, she isn’t used to yelling so loudly. “Kaz!”
“Ya find her?”
“Yeah, and I need your help.”
She is scared to feel for her pulse. She reaches out regardless. It is only faintly reassuring to find a subtle beating. She rubs her hands over her face. She shouldn’t have kissed Kaz. Spirits, what was she thinking.
Snapdragon’s goofy lopsided smile appears in her mind, accompanied by that delighted and loud laugh. Her face is so still, her expression so pained. It doesn’t sit will, not on Snapdragon. On Azula, sure. But not on the face of joyful Snapdragon.
.oOo.
Her head hurts. Her legs hurt, what she can feel of them anyways. Everything just hurts.
She forces her eyes open, expecting to see the sun glaring mercilessly down upon her. She doesn’t remember when she had passed out. She recalls that she had been trying to stop the bleeding and then nothing at all.
But she is not strewn out on hard metal. She is back in the infirmary and wrapped in more bandages than when she had left.
There is no one around, no one save for a healer. She swallows, the really are all angry with her. She tries to sit up and the healer is by her side in an instant, gently coaxing her back to the mattress. “Not yet.” She says gently.  “At least wait until your food gets here.” She hands her a cup of water.
Some fifteen minutes pass and then another five. And Mai enters. She sets a small bento box in her lap. “I’m not a very good cook. Kaz and Zenyul did most of the work.”
Azula nods and heaves herself into a sitting position. She feels so dizzy and tired and her fingers fumble with the box. Mai helps her pry the lid open. She picks at the rice first and then a small helping of noodles.
“You didn’t have to jump.” Mai mumbles.
For a moment she doesn’t register the weight of the remark. When she does, she shakes her head. “I was just trying to get to the top. I figured that I could do it now that I have my bending back…”
She supposes that she won’t be doing much of that anymore. Her face pales; she can’t climb, she can’t do parkour, she can’t even get to her hoard. She can’t do anything that can help take her mind off of things.
Mai looks profoundly relieved. “You really did just fall?”
She holds out her sprained wrist, “I hurt it more trying to catch myself.” She thinks that maybe if it hadn't been so bruised prior, she might not have hurt it so badly. She wonders if she’ll be able to walk again. She inquires as much and the healer comes to her with a small pin. She pricks Azula’s thigh and then her calf. She winces with each.
“You’ll be fine as long as you let your legs heal right.”
Azula lays back, it is more than a relief.
“Kaz helped you make this?” She gestures to the box.
Mai nods.
“He’s still mad?”
She nods again. “I don’t think that he will be for long.”
“Are you?”
“I want to be.” Mai sighs. “I really want to be...”
“But…”
“You just fell off of a building and you look like a kicked rabaroo. It’s kind of pathetic.” She laughs.
Azula frowns and crosses her arms. “Where is mother?”
“Which one?”
“Both of them.”
“I can get them for you. Zuko will probably tag along.”  
She starts to stand but Azula catches her by the wrist. “Stay with me.” With a sigh, Mai sits back down.
.oOo.
Azula still doesn’t let go of her hand. Likely she thinks that she is going to try to leave again. She exhales again and brushes Azula’s hair out of her face. She rests her hand on her cheek. “At least you don’t have to worry about any new scars, they’ll disappear when you get your real face back.”
“My face, not my body.” Azula replies. “I don’t think that my body changed.”
Mai shrugs, the last fragments of her anger fall away when Azula looks back at the bento box and mutters, “you forgot the marigold.”
“I wasn’t sure if you’d still eat that.”
Azula quirks a brow. “I had my memories when we opened up the new shop.”
Mai doesn’t know how her brain had managed to gloss that one over. “Are you trying to tell me that, that wasn’t part of trying to pretend like you didn’t have your memories?”
Azula clears her throat, “the taste grew on me.”
“Spirits, you’re a feral little beast beast.” Mai rolls her eyes. She really can’t hate her. Not anymore. Not when the line between Snapdragon and Azula is so blurred. Not when it becomes so outright that they are one and the same. She carefully lifts Azula’s bandaged hand and, with a moment of hesitation, offers it a little kiss before putting it back down just below her chest. Azula cradles it in her uninjured hand.
“Who do you think is going to have the better lecture; Mohi or Ursa?”
“Honestly, I can’t wait to listen to both.”
“Did Zuko cry?”
“It was more like this look of distress and concern.
“Good.”
“Good?”
“People care about me.” She clarifies. “I didn’t think people cared about me.”
“Of course we care about…”
“Everyone cares about Snapdragon. I...I didn’t think that anyone cared about me.”
Mai bites the inside of her cheek, she probably hadn’t helped any in that regard. “That’s why you became Snapdragon, isn’t it?”
Azula nods, “I was tired of being alone. A new face was my best chance.”
“You didn’t think to try to apologize?”
Azula cringes. “I’m not good with that. I don’t think that I would have felt loved if it was given to me...no memories came with no...trust issues.”
Mai rubs her lips together and tenderly strokes the back of Azula's hand. “I guess that it would have been difficult to just apologize and move on.” She can’t even promise the princess that she would have given her a chance. She has an inkling that Azula knows it too. Of course she does, she wouldn’t have run off if she hadn’t.
“Well, maybe it’s a good thing you did leave.” Zuko shrugs. Mai isn’t sure how long he had been standing there; Azula’s cringe tells her that she isn’t sure either.  
“Why’s that, Zuzu?” She mumbles. “So you could have a break from me?”
“That too. But also because…” He ponders for a moment. “Because I think that Snapdragon is a part of you. The part that you’ve been afraid to show everyone. A new face gave you the chance to do it.”
Azula’s cheeks color ever so subtly. “That’s not…I’m not some feral...”
Mai holds her pointer to Azula’s lips and quirks a brow. “You don’t have to repress yourself. Trust me, it...its tiresome.” Maybe she ought to start surfacing her own bizarre interests and odd habits. The ones that her mother would chastise her for.
“We like you better when you don’t refine and polish yourself. You’re easier to talk to.”
Azula nods. “You guys like me.”
Mai sighs. “Yes we like you, Azula, not just Snapdragon.”
She opens her mouth.
“Not just the Snapdragon parts of you. All of you.” Zuko adds.
“Even the part that is going to laugh at you for crying over me.”
Zuko cringes. “You’re pushing it.”
“But you’re still going to bring me a cup of tea?”
Zuko rolls his eyes. “Fine, I’ll get you a cup of tea.”
Azula smiles and nuzzles her head into her pillow. She closes her eyes.  
Mai wants to get up and fetch herself a scroll or knitting supplies, or something to occupy herself with while Azula rests but she told the princess that she wouldn’t leave. She supposes that it wouldn’t hurt to have a rest for herself. It had been a stressful few days.
.oOo.
Azula feels as though her life has come to a bleak standstill. She can’t climb nor scramble, she can’t firebend to her liking, and she can’t go out and reclaim her old face. Though it is rather nice to have Mai caring for her; bringing her meals and laying on the bed with her. She sits as close as she can without risking damaging Azula’s legs worse. The princess is dissatisfied to find that Mai usually keeps a foot or two between them, despite insistence that she isn’t that fragile.
Mohi and Ursa check in frequently to the point that she thinks they are hovering. Were her speech written, Mohi would be pages into a multi-part lecture on climbing safety and not doing anything bold and risk at the height of anger. It doesn’t matter how many times she insists that it would have been relaxing had she not fallen.
Ursa is softer, but equally as annoying. It is all forehead kisses, babying, and doting. But she doesn’t want to push her away again, so the woman gets away with it. She finds that Zuko is, to her shock and dismay, the most pleasant company.
He brings her things to keep her busy; lets her help him work through some of the more tedious and tricky contracts and proposals that the council presents him with. It keeps her mind sharp and makes her feel useful. Other times he will bring a Paisho board or other strategy games. Sometimes he just sits and tells her stories while she and Mai listen. One day he tells her that, by the time she heals fully, TyLee should be around to vision. Her heart flutters at this. She wonders how the woman will take her relationship with Mai.
.oOo.
It is good to see Azula getting fresh air again. She seems happier for it, far less grumpy. In general, being at the flower shop seems to soothe her. She has taken to opening all of the windows, letting in a breeze that has the petals and leaves in a constant state of rustling.
She watches her engage in conversation as she hands over a bouquet of iris, clover, and foxglove. She is certain that it is doing Azula well to speak with the general public; if there is one thing that Snapdragon and Azula share it is that they both stumble through basic conversation in some way or another. She wonders if Azula will continue working at the shop once she gets her own face back.
Mai watches the customer leave, the last rush of the day has finally come to a close. “I think that this is the most you’ve talked to anyone...ever.”
Azula swivels her wheelchair around to face Mai and shrugs. “I am tired.”
Mai sighs, “you did good.” She rubs the princess’ shoulders and gives her a soft kiss. Azula puts her hands in her lap. “How is your wrist feeling?”
“Sore.”
“And your legs?”
“Right now, they aren’t.”
Mai chuckles. “Do you want a cup of tea? I’ve been saving some leaves so you have plenty of choices.”
Azula nods and rummages through her collection and picks out several flavors. “Any of these will do.”
.oOo.
She isn’t much help with closing duties; she can’t reach the cleaning supplies from her chair and it is rather hard to hold a broom and wheel herself around at the same time. It is just as well, she really doesn’t like cleaning anyhow. The messes have always been funner to make. She can see it in Mai’s eyes that she is relieved that she doesn’t have to clean up a counter full of dirt, the sort of mess that she used to leave behind when Snapdragon would scoop up handfuls of dirt just to watch it sift out of her closed fist. Granted she still does this from time to time when she grows bored, but she keeps her space nice and tidy. There is something relaxing about watching dirt fall, something about the feeling of it shifting in her palm.
When she is through she withdraws her hand and ignites a small flame to burn away that which is still stuck to her hand. “You ready to go?” Mai asks.
“Yes.”
“I suppose that you’re going to have a bath when you get home?”
“Correct.”
She isn’t sure what kind she will have under orders to not get her casts wet. “You are going to have to help me.”
“Why don’t you have one of your serving girls--”
Azula shakes her head, “that’s...uncomfortable.” She paues. “I trust you.”
Mai smiles. She thinks that that is what implores her to roll her eyes and agree to help. Undressing is such a tedious task one that is sprinkled with questions like, “how did you even get these pants on?”  And answers like, “with effort and an hour or so.”
“I am going to have Yora get you a robe.”
“Yes. That is what I wear to bed.”
“It’s what you’re going to wear in the day too, so we don’t have to struggle like this again.” Mai carefully lifts her out of the wheelchair and sits her upon the edge of the spring and hands her a towel.
She finds that bathing is no longer a relaxing endeavor, it is a constant fight to keep her casts dry.
“A little water isn’t going to hurt it.” Mai insists as Azula brings the towel to wipe away the water that has made its way into her lap for, well she has lost count of how many times now.
“It would be helpful to have a water bender to just shift it around and create a space for my legs.”
“Well we don’t have any waterbenders on hand.” Mai replies and hands Azula a bar of soap. She scrubs herself with both haste and efficacy and dries herself just as quickly. She waits for Mai to disappear and come back with her robes. She dresses herself and Mai helps her back into the wheelchair. She smells, once again, like Snapdragon and Firelily. And for it she feels like herself again.
Mai helps her into bed. Though it is a lot cozier, she finds that she doesn’t need her nest when Mai chooses to spend the night in her bed. Mai is just as warm as her softest pillow and is much better for conversation. Sleeping isn’t exactly comfortable, consider her preference for sleeping on her side or stomach. But Mai makes it more bearable by either rubbing her arms or stroking the back of her hands.
Mostly, this coaxes her to sleep. And it is nice to wake up to a slumbering Mai still holding her hand.
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