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pinkmoontaco · 2 months ago

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It all started with a song || Lee Jihoon

Pairing: Producer-Idol Jihoon x Producer-Solo Idol Reader

Genre: Fluff, Idol romance

Summary: Jihoon, the reserved genius of SEVENTEEN, unexpectedly finds himself drawn to Y/N, a rising junior idol from HYBE, after collaborating on a duet. What starts as a professional partnership blossom into a heartfelt romance, captured in their respective songs

Author's note: This is my first time writing a story, and I truly appreciate you giving it a chance. Please forgive me if there are any mistakes—I’m still learning and growing as a writer. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and support my work. It means the world to me, and I hope you enjoy the journey I’ve created.

If you have any requests for any member or any other groups feel free to do so

Jihoon was preparing to release his solo album, which included a heartfelt duet about two lovers. After finishing his own parts, his next challenge was to find the perfect female lead for the song. With Bumzu’s help, he sifted through several demos of the female section.

After an exhaustive search, one demo finally stood out to him—it was exactly what he was looking for. When Bumzu visited him the next day, he asked, “Did any of the lyrics catch your attention?”

Jihoon nodded and showed him the demo.

“Oh, so you liked Y/N’s lyrics,” Bumzu said with a knowing smile. That’s when Jihoon learned that the lyrics had been written by Y/N, a junior solo idol from HYBE.

“You’ve never met her, have you?” Bumzu asked.

Jihoon shook his head. It was no surprise—everyone knew Jihoon wasn’t one to socialize much.

“I’ll bring her to the studio tomorrow,” Bumzu said confidently before heading out, leaving Jihoon to ponder the upcoming meeting.

The next day, Jihoon arrived at the studio earlier than usual, his mind a mix of anticipation and curiosity. He wasn’t sure what to expect. He knew Y/N by name, but meeting her in person would be different.

As he set up his equipment, the door swung open, and Bumzu walked in with a bright grin. Behind him was Y/N, her presence soft yet commanding. She wore a simple outfit, but her confidence and aura made it clear why she was a rising star.

“Jihoon, meet Y/N,” Bumzu introduced.

Jihoon stood, his usual calm demeanor masking his nerves. “Hi,” he greeted simply, bowing slightly.

“Hi! It’s so great to finally meet you Sunbae-nim" Y/N said with a warm smile. Her voice was light and melodic, just as he’d imagined. “I’ve heard so much about you and your music.”

“Likewise, but please don't call me sunbae-nim, you can call me by my name,” Jihoon replied, his words brief but sincere.

Bumzu clapped his hands together, breaking the silence. “Alright, let’s get to work! You two have a duet to perfect.”

Jihoon gestured toward the recording booth, silently inviting Y/N to take her place. As they started working through the song, Jihoon found himself impressed—not just by her vocal ability but by her understanding of the emotions behind the lyrics.

They went over the harmonies and phrasing, fine-tuning every detail. By the end of the session, Jihoon was pleasantly surprised at how smoothly everything had gone. Y/N wasn’t just talented; she was professional and insightful, bringing a depth to the song that exceeded his expectations.

“You’re really good,” Jihoon said as they wrapped up, his tone earnest.

Y/N beamed. “Thank you! Your composition is amazing—it makes it easy to connect with the song.”

For the first time in a while, Jihoon felt a genuine sense of excitement about the project. Maybe working with others wasn’t so bad after all.

After their first session, Jihoon couldn’t stop thinking about how seamlessly Y/N had brought the song to life. It was rare for him to feel this level of connection with another artist, especially so quickly.

The next day, Bumzu texted Jihoon. "How was it working with Y/N? She said she had a great time."

Jihoon hesitated for a moment before typing back. "She’s talented. The song’s coming together well."

Bumzu responded with a teasing emoji. "That’s high praise from you! Maybe you should tell her that in person."

Jihoon frowned slightly but didn’t reply. Compliments weren’t exactly his strong suit.

Their second studio session was scheduled later that week. Y/N arrived on time, as cheerful and prepared as before. Jihoon noticed how her energy seemed to brighten the room, even when she was just warming up.

“Good morning!” she greeted with a bright smile.

Jihoon nodded. “Morning. Ready to dive in?”

“Always,” she said confidently.

As they worked through the song again, Jihoon found himself more at ease. Y/N’s suggestions were thoughtful, and she wasn’t afraid to ask questions or offer input, which he appreciated. Somewhere in between harmonizing and tweaking lines, they started to find a rhythm—not just in the music, but in their conversations.

During a short break, Y/N leaned back in her chair. “You know, Jihoon, this is one of the most beautiful songs I’ve ever worked on. It feels so raw and real.”

Jihoon glanced at her, caught off guard by her sincerity. “Thanks. That means a lot,” he said quietly.

“Is it based on a personal experience?” she asked cautiously, as if afraid to overstep.

He hesitated for a moment before replying. “Kind of. It’s… inspired by the idea of love. Not necessarily mine, though.”

Y/N tilted her head, studying him. “I get it. Sometimes it’s easier to write about emotions from a distance.”

Jihoon nodded, appreciating her understanding. Their conversation drifted to other topics—music, inspirations, and even random stories about life as idols. For someone he’d only met recently, Y/N was surprisingly easy to talk to.

By the end of the session, the song was nearly complete. As they packed up, Y/N turned to Jihoon.

“I think this duet is going to be really special,” she said. “Thank you for letting me be part of it.”

Jihoon looked at her, feeling a rare warmth in her words. “You brought the song to life. I should be thanking you.”

Her eyes lit up at his unexpected praise. “Well, I guess we make a pretty good team,” she said with a grin.

Jihoon allowed himself a small smile. “Yeah, we do.”

As Y/N left the studio that day, Jihoon couldn’t help but think that meeting her had been one of the best things to happen during this project.

In the weeks that followed, Jihoon and Y/N spent more time together polishing their duet. Each session seemed to bring them closer, not just as collaborators but as individuals. Y/N’s infectious laughter and unfiltered enthusiasm often pulled Jihoon out of his shell, while Jihoon’s quiet determination and thoughtful approach inspired Y/N to push herself even further.

One day, as they wrapped up the final recording, Bumzu entered the studio with a wide grin. “So, how does it feel to be done?”

Y/N clapped her hands together excitedly. “It feels amazing! I can’t wait for people to hear it.”

Jihoon nodded in agreement, his usual stoicism giving way to a subtle but genuine smile. “It’s better than I imagined.”

Bumzu raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. “Wow, Jihoon actually giving compliments? I need to write this down.”

Y/N laughed. “He’s not that bad. He’s just… selective with his words.”

Jihoon shot her a mock glare, but there was no malice behind it. Instead, he found himself smiling along with her—a rare occurrence that didn’t go unnoticed by Bumzu.

As they packed up, Bumzu pulled Jihoon aside. “You know, you’ve changed a bit since working with her,” he said casually.

Jihoon frowned. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you seem… lighter. Happier, even,” Bumzu said with a knowing grin. “It’s a good look on you.”

Jihoon didn’t respond immediately. Instead, he glanced over at Y/N, who was chatting animatedly with a staff member. There was something about her—something that made him feel less burdened, more open to the world around him.

The song’s release day arrived, and the response was overwhelming. Fans praised the emotional depth of the duet, calling it one of Jihoon’s best works yet. Many were also captivated by the chemistry between Jihoon and Y/N, evident not just in their vocals but in the behind-the-scenes clips shared online.

As they stood backstage during a live performance, Y/N turned to Jihoon. “Are you nervous?” she asked, noticing his unusually quiet demeanor.

“A little,” he admitted. “Not about the song, though. I just hope people feel what we tried to convey.”

Y/N placed a reassuring hand on his arm. “They will. This song has so much heart in it. You’ve poured yourself into it, and I’ve never been prouder to be part of something.”

Her words struck a chord with Jihoon. For the first time in a long while, he didn’t feel alone in his creative journey. “Thank you,” he said softly.

When they stepped on stage and began to sing, Jihoon realized something unexpected. The song, which he’d once viewed as merely a project, had become something far more personal. And in that moment, as their voices blended and the audience’s applause filled the air, Jihoon understood just how much Y/N had changed his perspective—not just on music, but on life itself.

After the performance, Y/N grinned at him. “See? We nailed it.”

Jihoon met her gaze, his expression warm. “We really did.”

And as they walked off stage together, Jihoon couldn’t help but think that this was only the beginning of a story far greater than either of them had anticipated.

In the days following the song's release, the hype only grew. The other members of SEVENTEEN were quick to congratulate Jihoon. Mingyu, with his ever-present energy, was the first to bring it up during one of their group practice sessions.

“Hyung! That duet is insane! Everyone’s talking about you and Y/N,” Mingyu said, clapping him on the back.

Joshua added with a smile, “Yeah, the fans are loving the chemistry. You two sounded amazing together.”

Jihoon felt a rare flush of embarrassment rise to his cheeks. “Thanks, guys. It was a lot of work, but she made it easier.”

“Oh-ho!” Seungkwan chimed in, eyes sparkling with mischief. “Hyung admitting someone made his life easier? This must be a first!”

The room erupted into laughter. Even Jeonghan, who always had a teasing comment up his sleeve, smirked. “So when do we get to meet this famous Y/N?”

Before Jihoon could respond, the studio door creaked open and in walked Bumzu—with Y/N beside him. The sudden appearance of their guest caught everyone’s attention.

“Speak of the devil!” Vernon said, raising an eyebrow.

Y/N waved nervously, a bit overwhelmed by being surrounded by the full force of SEVENTEEN. “Hi, everyone. It’s nice to finally meet all of you.”

Dino bounded over with enthusiasm. “You’re the one with that amazing voice! Your part in the song gave me chills.”

“Thanks!” Y/N said, her smile growing as she relaxed.

Hoshi, never one to miss a moment, stepped forward and grinned. “Are you ready to dance with us too? Because in SEVENTEEN, we don’t just sing—we dance.”

Jihoon rolled his eyes but couldn’t hide a small smirk. “Don’t scare her off, Hoshi.”

Y/N laughed, feeling at ease now. “I’d love to try sometime, but I don’t think I could keep up with you guys. I’m more of a singer than a dancer.”

Jun nudged Jihoon playfully. “Looks like you’re not the only one who’s found a great collaborator.”

Over the next hour, SEVENTEEN welcomed Y/N into their world, joking and sharing stories. The room was filled with laughter, the group’s usual dynamic enriched by a new presence. Jihoon found himself observing the way Y/N blended in so effortlessly, as if she’d been part of their chaotic family all along.

As the evening went on, Minghao approached Jihoon with a knowing smile. “You look happy,” he said simply.

Jihoon glanced at Y/N, who was now in an animated conversation with DK and Woozi, sharing anecdotes about their vocal warm-ups. A small, content smile played on his lips. “I guess I am.”

A few weeks later, SEVENTEEN was preparing for a group livestream, and Y/N was invited to join as a surprise guest. Jihoon wasn’t thrilled about the idea at first—he preferred to keep things professional—but the rest of the members were insistent.

“Come on, Jihoon,” Seungkwan pleaded. “The fans already love you two together. This will be fun!”

“It’s a great way to promote the song even more,” Mingyu added. “Plus, we want to see how she handles being in one of our chaotic lives.”

Reluctantly, Jihoon agreed, and Y/N arrived at the dorm just as the livestream was about to begin.

“Is this what it’s like before you go live?” Y/N asked, watching the members scramble to adjust cameras, lights, and snacks.

“Always,” Jeonghan said with a smirk. “It’s controlled chaos.”

As the livestream began, fans flooded the chat with comments. The members introduced Y/N, and the reaction was overwhelmingly positive.

“Y/N’s here! OMG!”

“She and Jihoon look so good together!”

“The duet is my favorite song right now!”

Jihoon, who was reading the comments on his phone, shifted uncomfortably but managed a small smile. “The fans seem happy,” he said quietly to Y/N.

“They’re so sweet,” Y/N replied, her eyes scanning the messages.

The members took turns asking her questions, each one more playful than the last.

“Hoshi,” Y/N said, laughing, “why are you asking if I’d join the Performance Team? I just told you I’m not much of a dancer!”

“Because we can teach you,” Hoshi replied with a dramatic flourish.

DK chimed in, “Or you can join the Vocal Team! We need more people who can hit those high notes.”

“Don’t listen to them,” Minghao said. “You’re a solo artist. Stay in your lane before they rope you into our madness.”

The banter continued until Seungkwan leaned into the camera and asked the question everyone wanted to know.

“So, Y/N, how’s it working with Jihoon?”

The chat exploded with reactions.

Y/N glanced at Jihoon, who was clearly caught off guard but tried to mask it. She smiled. “Honestly? It’s been amazing. He’s a perfectionist, but in the best way. I’ve learned so much from him.”

Jihoon cleared his throat, his ears tinged pink. “She’s talented, so it wasn’t hard to work with her,” he said simply, earning exaggerated “oohs” from the members.

As the livestream continued, Y/N fit right in with SEVENTEEN’s dynamic, laughing and joking with them like she’d known them for years. Fans in the chat began calling her an “honorary 14th member,” a title that made her laugh but also secretly warmed Jihoon’s heart.

After the livestream ended, the members sprawled across the couch, tired but happy.

“You handled that like a pro,” Mingyu said, tossing a cushion at Y/N.

“Thanks,” Y/N replied, catching the cushion. “You guys are a lot of fun. I can see why your fans love you so much.”

As the group began to disperse, Jihoon found himself alone with Y/N for the first time that evening.

“You were great today,” he said, his voice softer than usual.

“Thanks. I was a little nervous, but you all made it easy,” Y/N said, leaning against the back of the couch. “Your members are like family, huh?”

Jihoon nodded. “They are. It’s chaotic, but it’s… home.”

Y/N smiled. “I can tell. You’re lucky to have that.”

There was a comfortable silence between them before Y/N added, “And thanks for letting me be part of all this. I didn’t expect to be welcomed so warmly.”

Jihoon met her gaze, his usual stoicism softening. “You’re part of it now. Whether you like it or not.”

Her laughter filled the room, light and genuine. “I think I like it.”

And for the first time in a long while, Jihoon felt like the walls he’d built around himself were no longer as important.

Over the next few weeks, Y/N continued to bond with SEVENTEEN. She found herself invited to more studio sessions, group meals, and even impromptu dance practices. Despite her initial hesitation about being in the spotlight alongside such a well-known group, their warmth made her feel at home.

Jihoon, on the other hand, started noticing the subtle ways Y/N was changing the dynamic around him. She wasn’t just a collaborator anymore; she was becoming a friend. Someone who could pull him out of his creative tunnel and remind him to enjoy the little moments.

One day, after a long recording session, the group decided to hang out at their dorm. Y/N hesitated when Seungkwan invited her along.

“Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude,” she said.

“You? Intruding?” Seungkwan scoffed. “You’re practically one of us now. Come on!”

When they arrived at the dorm, chaos quickly ensued. Mingyu was in the kitchen, trying to cook something “special,” while Hoshi and Dino argued over which choreography to show Y/N.

Jihoon sat on the couch, quietly observing the scene. Y/N was laughing with Jeonghan, who was undoubtedly up to some mischief. He couldn’t help but smile to himself.

“You like her, don’t you?” Minghao’s voice pulled Jihoon from his thoughts.

Jihoon turned to him, his expression unreadable. “What are you talking about?”

Minghao smirked. “You’re not as subtle as you think. The way you look at her—it’s different.”

Jihoon sighed, leaning back against the couch. “She’s… easy to be around. That’s all.”

“Sure,” Minghao said, clearly unconvinced. “Just don’t wait too long to figure it out.”

Later that evening, as everyone settled in for a movie, Jihoon found himself sitting next to Y/N. The room was dimly lit, and the sound of laughter and popcorn crunching filled the air.

Y/N leaned closer to whisper, “Thanks for letting me hang out with you guys. I didn’t expect this when we started working on the song.”

Jihoon glanced at her, the soft glow of the TV reflecting in her eyes. “You’re not just here because of the song anymore. They like you. I… like having you around.”

Her eyes widened slightly at his admission, a soft smile forming on her lips. “I like being around you too, Jihoon.”

For a moment, the noise of the room faded, and it was just the two of them, sitting closer than either realized.

“Jihoon! Pass the popcorn!” DK’s voice broke the moment, and Jihoon blinked, quickly grabbing the bowl to hand over.

Y/N chuckled softly, leaning back into the couch. The warmth between them lingered, unspoken but undeniable.

As the weeks turned into months, their bond deepened. Whether it was through shared late-night studio sessions, casual dinners with the group, or quiet moments away from the chaos, Jihoon and Y/N found themselves drawn closer together.

And while neither of them said it out loud, they both knew that what had started as a simple duet had grown into something far more meaningful.

As time passed, Jihoon and Y/N’s bond became increasingly apparent to everyone around them. The other members of SEVENTEEN had a field day teasing Jihoon about it, though they were careful not to push him too far. Y/N, on the other hand, took it all in stride, her easygoing nature making her a natural fit within the group’s chaotic but loving dynamic.

One day, they found themselves in the studio late at night, working on a new song. The other members had already gone home, leaving just the two of them.

Y/N leaned over the desk, scrolling through the playlist Jihoon had prepared for inspiration. “This one’s good,” she said, pointing to a track.

Jihoon nodded, playing it without hesitation. The soft melody filled the room, and they both sat in comfortable silence, letting the music wash over them.

After a while, Y/N broke the quiet. “Do you ever think about what this all means? The music, the fans, everything we do?”

Jihoon looked at her, surprised by the sudden introspection. “All the time,” he admitted. “It’s why I work so hard. I want it to mean something—to leave something behind that matters.”

She smiled softly. “You already do. Your music touches so many people, Jihoon. Including me.”

He felt a warmth spread through him at her words. “What about you? What does it mean to you?”

Y/N took a moment to think before answering. “It’s about connection. Every lyric, every note… it’s a way to reach people, to let them know they’re not alone. I think that’s why I love working with you. You get that.”

For a moment, Jihoon was at a loss for words. Her sincerity, her openness—it was something he wasn’t used to but found himself drawn to.

“Y/N,” he said, his voice quieter than usual. “I don’t say this often, but… you’ve changed the way I look at things. Working with you—it’s made me realize how much more music can be when it’s shared.”

She looked at him, her eyes shining with gratitude. “You don’t know how much that means to me, coming from you.”

They held each other’s gaze for a moment, the weight of unspoken emotions filling the room. But before either of them could say more, Jihoon’s phone buzzed, breaking the moment.

The next morning, as they arrived at the practice room, the other members were already there. Hoshi immediately noticed the way Jihoon and Y/N seemed closer than usual.

“Did something happen last night?” he asked, his eyes darting between the two.

“Nothing happened,” Jihoon replied quickly, his ears turning pink.

Y/N, however, laughed. “We were just working on music. Don’t let your imagination run wild.”

The members didn’t buy it, but they let it go—for now.

Later that week, the group had a fan meeting, and Y/N was invited as a special guest to perform their duet live for the first time since its release. The fans erupted into cheers as Jihoon and Y/N took the stage together, their voices blending seamlessly as they sang.

During the performance, Jihoon couldn’t help but glance at Y/N, her presence radiating warmth and confidence. He realized that what had started as a professional partnership had grown into something far more personal.

After the performance, as they stood backstage, Y/N turned to Jihoon, her eyes sparkling. “That was incredible. Thank you for sharing this with me.”

Jihoon hesitated for a moment before replying. “Thank you… for everything.”

Y/N smiled, her hand lightly brushing his arm. And in that moment, Jihoon knew that whatever this was between them—friendship, partnership, or something more—he wasn’t ready to let it go.

A few days after their fan meeting, the duet performance went viral. Clips of Jihoon and Y/N on stage, their undeniable chemistry and harmonies, flooded social media. Fans couldn’t stop talking about how perfectly their voices blended and how natural their interactions seemed.

The buzz didn’t go unnoticed by SEVENTEEN.

“Have you seen the comments?” Seungkwan said, shoving his phone in front of Jihoon’s face during a break in practice.

Jihoon glanced at the screen, where fans had flooded the comments section with messages like:

“They’re perfect together!”

“Jihoon and Y/N need to release a whole album together!”

“Am I the only one who feels like there’s more to their story?”

Jihoon sighed, pushing the phone away. “It’s just the fans. They like to speculate.”

“But they’re not wrong,” Mingyu chimed in with a sly grin.

“Not you too,” Jihoon groaned.

That evening, Y/N visited the dorm for what was supposed to be a casual hangout. As usual, the members couldn’t help but stir the pot.

“So, Y/N,” Jeonghan started, leaning casually against the couch, “what’s it like being the most shipped person with Jihoon right now?”

Y/N nearly choked on her drink. “Excuse me?”

“Oh, you didn’t know?” Hoshi said, joining in. “The fans are calling you the ‘power duo.’ Some are even saying you’re a better fit than us!”

“Don’t listen to them,” Jihoon muttered, his ears turning pink.

Y/N, recovering from her initial shock, laughed. “Well, I guess it’s a compliment? I mean, Jihoon is an incredible artist, so I’m honored.”

The room erupted in exaggerated “oohs,” with Seungkwan dramatically fanning Jihoon. “Did you hear that? She called you incredible!”

Jihoon buried his face in his hands, muttering, “Why do I even let you all talk?”

Despite the teasing, Jihoon couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride at Y/N’s words. She always had a way of making him feel seen—not just as an artist but as a person.

Later that night, after everyone had settled down, Y/N and Jihoon found themselves alone on the dorm balcony, overlooking the city lights.

“It’s been a wild night, huh?” Y/N said, leaning against the railing.

Jihoon nodded, his gaze fixed on the skyline. “Yeah. I didn’t expect any of this when we started working together.”

“Me neither,” she admitted. “But I’m glad it happened. I’ve learned so much—not just about music but about myself.”

Jihoon glanced at her, his expression softening. “You’ve changed a lot of things for me, too. I didn’t realize how much I needed someone to remind me why I love what I do.”

Y/N looked at him, her heart skipping a beat at the vulnerability in his voice. “Jihoon… I—”

Before she could finish, the balcony door slid open, and Mingyu stuck his head out. “Hey, are you two having a moment? Because we’ve got snacks inside.”

Y/N burst out laughing, while Jihoon groaned. “You have the worst timing, Mingyu.”

Mingyu grinned. “That’s what I’m here for.”

As the night went on, the teasing and camaraderie continued, but something had shifted between Jihoon and Y/N. Though unspoken, there was an understanding growing between them—one that neither was ready to confront just yet but couldn’t deny any longer.

And as Jihoon watched Y/N laughing with his members, he couldn’t help but think that maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something he’d been searching for without even realizing it.

The weeks passed, and Jihoon found himself unable to shake the feeling that had been slowly growing inside him. Every time Y/N smiled, every time their eyes met during a quiet moment, something in his chest fluttered. He had always been someone who let his music speak for him, but this time, it wasn’t enough just to express himself through lyrics. He needed to tell her, to be vulnerable in a way he hadn’t been with anyone before.

But how?

It was during a late-night studio session, after everyone else had left for the day, that Jihoon decided to do something about it. He had spent hours working on the song, tweaking the melody, perfecting the lyrics, and now it was ready.

The track wasn’t like anything he had made before. It was softer, more personal, and every note seemed to come straight from his heart. He had poured his feelings into it, capturing the emotions that he couldn’t say out loud. It was a love song. And the subject of it? None other than Y/N.

The next day, Jihoon invited Y/N to the studio under the guise of working on new material. She arrived, always eager to help or collaborate, but there was something different about Jihoon’s demeanor that caught her attention.

“What’s going on?” she asked as she walked into the studio. “You’ve been acting a little… off lately.”

Jihoon avoided her gaze, fiddling with the soundboard for a moment. “I… I have something I want to play for you.”

Y/N raised an eyebrow, curious. “A new song?”

He nodded, his throat tightening slightly. “Yeah. But it’s… different.”

Y/N walked over to him and sat down, her eyes fixed on him. “I’m all ears, Jihoon.”

Jihoon hesitated for a moment longer before hitting play. The soft, melodic intro filled the room, and Y/N was immediately drawn into the haunting beauty of the song. As the lyrics began, she felt a stirring in her chest. The song felt… personal. Deeply personal.

She listened intently, her heart racing as the chorus hit, and Jihoon’s voice filled the space:

“I didn’t know how to say it, but now I know it’s true, Every moment with you feels like I’ve found something new. In the silence, in the music, in the things I never said, I’m falling for you, I’m falling for you, And I can’t take it back.”

The song went on, each lyric pulling Y/N deeper into the emotions Jihoon had poured into it. By the end, the room was thick with the unspoken words hanging in the air. The music faded, and for a few moments, there was silence.

Y/N slowly turned to look at Jihoon, her eyes wide with realization. “Jihoon… that song…”

He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. “It’s for you.”

Y/N’s breath caught in her throat. She had known there was something between them, something that had grown over time, but hearing him express it so clearly, through music, felt like a confession she hadn’t expected.

“Jihoon…” she whispered, her voice trembling.

He finally met her gaze, his eyes vulnerable in a way she had never seen before. “I’ve been trying to ignore it, trying to tell myself I was just… overthinking. But every time you’re near, every time you smile, it feels like something more. I think… I think I’ve fallen for you, Y/N. And I couldn’t hide it anymore. Not after writing this song for you.”

Y/N’s heart raced as she processed his words, her own emotions swirling within her. She had felt it too—the connection, the way everything felt more meaningful when they were together. But hearing him say it out loud made it all so real.

She took a step closer, her voice soft but steady. “I’ve been feeling the same way, Jihoon.”

His eyes widened, and he took a step toward her as well. “Really?”

She nodded, a smile tugging at her lips. “I’ve been too afraid to admit it, but… I’ve been falling for you, too. Maybe I didn’t want to admit it because I didn’t know if you felt the same, but… I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

The tension that had built between them in the past few months suddenly lifted. Jihoon, overcome with relief and happiness, took her hand gently.

“Then… do you think we can figure this out together?” he asked softly.

Y/N smiled, her heart swelling. “I’d like that very much.”

For a moment, neither of them said anything else. The weight of the confession hung in the air, but the silence felt comfortable, like a shared understanding.

Jihoon squeezed her hand gently. “I don’t know what comes next, but I want to find out with you.”

Y/N nodded, her eyes shining. “Me too.”

And as they stood there, hand in hand, Jihoon knew that this song, the one that had started as a way to express his feelings, was just the beginning of a new chapter for them both.

For a few weeks, Jihoon and Y/N managed to keep their budding relationship under wraps. They weren’t intentionally hiding it, but neither of them was ready to face the whirlwind of teasing that would inevitably come from SEVENTEEN.

However, secrets rarely lasted long in a group as close-knit and nosy as SEVENTEEN.

It all started during a practice session. Jihoon had left his phone on the bench while the group worked through choreography, and a text from Y/N popped up on the screen:

Y/N: Can’t wait to see you tonight ❤️

Seungkwan, ever the observant one, noticed the notification first. “Oh? Hyung, care to explain this?” he asked, holding up the phone with a mischievous grin.

Jihoon froze mid-step, his face instantly turning crimson. “Give me that!” he snapped, rushing over to grab the phone.

But it was too late. Seungkwan had already shared the discovery with Hoshi and Jeonghan, who were now looking at Jihoon with matching expressions of glee.

“‘Can’t wait to see you tonight?’” Jeonghan teased, his tone dripping with mock innocence. “Jihoon, do you have plans we should know about?”

The rest of the group quickly caught on, gathering around as Jihoon struggled to come up with an excuse.

“It’s nothing,” he muttered, shoving his phone into his pocket.

“Nothing?” Hoshi said, raising an eyebrow. “Sounds like something to me.”

“It’s Y/N, isn’t it?” Mingyu blurted out. The room went silent for a moment as everyone processed the possibility.

Jihoon sighed, realizing there was no escape. “Fine. Yes. It’s Y/N. We’re… dating.”

The room erupted into chaos.

“What?!” Seungkwan exclaimed, looking both shocked and delighted. “When did this happen?”

“Jihoon, you sly fox!” Jeonghan said, clapping him on the back.

“You’re dating Y/N, and you didn’t tell us?” Dino pouted. “I thought we were close!”

Jihoon groaned, running a hand through his hair. “I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, okay? It’s still new, and we didn’t want any unnecessary attention.”

Joshua, ever the voice of reason, stepped in. “Guys, let’s not overwhelm him. It’s Jihoon, after all. This must’ve taken a lot for him to admit.”

“Yeah,” DK added, grinning. “But seriously, Hyung, we’re happy for you. Y/N’s great.”

“She’s not just great,” Minghao said thoughtfully. “She fits in with us, and most importantly, she brings out a side of you we don’t see often. It’s nice.”

Jihoon looked around at his members, their teasing replaced with genuine support, and felt a wave of relief. “Thanks, guys. Just… keep it low-key, okay? We’re not ready for everyone to know yet.”

The group collectively agreed, though Jihoon wasn’t sure he trusted their definition of “low-key.”

That evening, Jihoon met Y/N at their usual spot in the studio. She could tell something was different as soon as he walked in.

“What happened?” she asked, tilting her head.

“They know,” Jihoon said, sitting beside her.

“Who knows?”

“SEVENTEEN,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

Y/N’s eyes widened. “Oh no. How bad was it?”

Jihoon chuckled despite himself. “About as chaotic as you’d expect. But… they’re happy for us. They promised to keep it a secret, though I don’t know how long that’ll last.”

Y/N smiled, reaching over to take his hand. “Well, I guess it was bound to happen. They’re your family, Jihoon. And honestly, I don’t mind if they know. I like being part of your world.”

Jihoon squeezed her hand, his heart swelling at her words. “You’re more than just part of it, Y/N. You’ve made it better.”

The next day, when Y/N visited the dorm for dinner, the teasing resumed, but it was all in good fun.

“So, Y/N,” Jeonghan said with a sly smile, “what’s it like dating our Jihoon? Is he as romantic as he is in his songs?”

Y/N laughed, glancing at Jihoon, who looked like he wanted to disappear. “He’s perfect,” she said simply, her sincerity making Jihoon’s face flush even more.

The room erupted into cheers and playful jabs, but beneath the chaos, there was a palpable warmth. SEVENTEEN was more than a group—they were a family. And now, Y/N was part of that family, too.

As the night wore on, Jihoon couldn’t help but feel grateful. For his members, for their unwavering support, and most of all, for Y/N, who had somehow become the piece he hadn’t realized was missing from his life.

A few weeks after SEVENTEEN’s comeback promotions wrapped up, Jihoon surprised fans with the announcement of a solo track, titled “Only for You.” The anticipation was palpable, especially after fans connected the dots between the mysterious teasers and Jihoon’s recent duet with Y/N.

When the song finally dropped, it was an instant hit. A tender and emotional ballad, the lyrics told the story of someone realizing they’ve found the one person who completes them. Jihoon’s heartfelt delivery struck a chord with listeners, but eagle-eyed fans noticed something peculiar.

The release coincided with a few subtle interactions between Jihoon and Y/N on social media. Comments like:

“This song feels so personal… is it inspired by someone special?”

“The vibe reminds me of Jihoon and Y/N’s duet. Are we missing something?”

“Wait a second… some of these lyrics feel like they match things Y/N said in interviews!”

The speculation ramped up a notch when, only a few days later, Y/N teased her own solo track, “Echo of You.”

When Y/N’s song dropped, fans were quick to notice that it felt like a reply to Jihoon’s. While Jihoon’s track spoke of falling for someone who brought light into his life, Y/N’s lyrics told the story of being seen and loved for who she truly was.

Lines like:

“I thought I was just a shadow, but your light made me shine.”

“Every melody you wrote felt like a message just for me.”

Fans flooded social media with theories.

“Wait, these songs feel connected. Are they… about each other?”

“Woozi's ‘Only for You’ and Y/N’s ‘Echo of You’ are like two sides of the same love story.”

“If this is real, I’ll cry. They’re perfect together!”

The speculation reached its peak when a fan-made mashup of the two songs went viral, seamlessly blending the tracks into a duet that felt like it was meant to be.

Back at SEVENTEEN’s dorm, the members couldn’t help but join the buzz.

“So,” Seungkwan started, holding up his phone, “the fans are catching on.”

Jihoon groaned, slumping onto the couch. “I knew this would happen.”

“I mean, they’re not wrong,” Jeonghan said, smirking. “The songs do sound like they’re talking to each other.”

Y/N, who had been invited over for dinner, sat beside Jihoon, trying (and failing) to suppress her laughter. “It’s kind of impressive how quickly they picked up on it.”

Joshua leaned forward, grinning. “Are you two going to say anything? Or just let the fans go wild with their theories?”

Jihoon glanced at Y/N, his expression thoughtful. “What do you think?” he asked her.

Y/N smiled softly. “I don’t mind letting them wonder for now. I like that the songs are just ours, even if people are curious.”

The members all groaned in mock frustration.

“You’re both too private for your own good,” Mingyu teased. “Just admit it already and save us the headache!”

“Admit what?” Jihoon shot back, feigning innocence.

“That you two are the main characters in the greatest musical love story ever told,” Hoshi declared dramatically, earning laughter from the group.

Despite the teasing, Jihoon and Y/N decided to keep quiet, letting their music speak for them. The buzz around their songs only grew, with both tracks climbing the charts and becoming fan favorites.

During a live Q&A, Jihoon was inevitably asked about the inspiration for “Only for You.”

“It’s about someone who changed the way I see the world,” he said simply, his expression soft.

When Y/N was asked a similar question about “Echo of You,” she smiled knowingly. “It’s a song about gratitude and love—for someone who helped me realize my worth.”

The fans didn’t need anything more. To them, the connection between the songs—and their creators—was obvious.

One evening, as they sat together in Jihoon’s studio, Y/N turned to him with a playful smile. “So, do you think they’ve figured it out yet?”

Jihoon chuckled, shaking his head. “I think they know. They’re just waiting for us to say it out loud.”

“And when do you think we should?” she asked, tilting her head.

Jihoon thought for a moment before replying, his voice warm. “Maybe someday. But for now, I like that the songs tell our story. It feels… special.”

Y/N leaned closer, her hand resting on his. “I like that too.”

The weeks following the dual song releases were a whirlwind. Both tracks dominated the charts, and the fan theories only grew more elaborate. Mashups, fan edits, and endless analysis filled the internet, with fans piecing together subtle interactions and shared moments.

Despite their best efforts to stay under the radar, the buzz became too loud to ignore. SEVENTEEN’s members didn’t make it any easier, constantly dropping playful hints during interviews and live streams.

One day, Jihoon and Y/N found themselves at a joint event where multiple HYBE artists were present. It was a casual, live-streamed Q&A session, and the energy in the room was lively. Fans flooded the chat with questions about collaborations, their music, and, of course, the connection between Jihoon’s and Y/N’s songs.

The host, clearly aware of the buzz, decided to address the elephant in the room.

“So, Woozi-shi and Y/N-shi,” they began, a mischievous glint in their eye. “The fans have been talking nonstop about how your songs seem… connected. Care to comment?”

Jihoon, caught off guard, glanced at Y/N. She met his gaze with a small, encouraging smile, her eyes silently asking, Are you ready?

He hesitated for a moment before leaning into the mic. “Well,” he started, his voice calm but tinged with nervousness, “the fans aren’t wrong. The songs are connected.”

The room fell silent for a moment, everyone—including the other artists—hanging on his every word.

Y/N chimed in, her tone light but honest. “We didn’t plan for it to be a big mystery. We just wrote from our hearts. And, well… our hearts were in the same place.”

The host’s eyes widened in realization. “Wait, are you saying—”

Jihoon nodded, cutting them off gently. “Y/N and I… we’re together. And the songs were our way of telling that story without saying it outright.”

The room erupted into applause, cheers, and a few playful whistles from SEVENTEEN and the other HYBE artists. The fans watching the live stream went wild, the chat filling with messages like:

“I KNEW IT!”

“This is the best plot twist ever!”

“Our musical power couple!”

Later that evening, Jihoon and Y/N sat together backstage, scrolling through the flood of messages on social media.

“Looks like the fans are taking it well,” Y/N said, laughing as she read a particularly enthusiastic comment.

Jihoon smiled, his shoulders relaxing for the first time in weeks. “I guess I shouldn’t have worried so much. They seem… happy for us.”

Y/N leaned her head on his shoulder. “Of course they are. We’ve been honest in the best way we know how—through our music.”

Jihoon wrapped an arm around her, his voice soft. “I’m glad we finally said it. It feels good not to hide anymore.”

She looked up at him, her eyes shining. “Me too.”

As the weeks passed, their relationship became a beloved story among fans. Jihoon and Y/N didn’t share much beyond their music and occasional glimpses of their dynamic, but their authenticity resonated with everyone.

Their next collaboration—a duet explicitly written as a continuation of their story—became one of the most anticipated releases of the year, cementing their status as not just two incredible artists but as a couple who had found love in the heart of their shared passion.

And as Jihoon often said in interviews, with a small, knowing smile: “It all started with a song.”

The announcement of Jihoon and Y/N’s relationship didn’t just excite fans; it gave SEVENTEEN endless new material to tease their usually reserved member. And, of course, they weren’t going to let the opportunity go to waste during their next content shoot.

The group was filming an episode of their popular variety show, “GOING SEVENTEEN,” and the theme for the day was a mock courtroom trial where members had to defend themselves against outrageous (and often ridiculous) accusations.

As the camera rolled, Jeonghan smirked, ready to unleash chaos. “Today, I bring a serious accusation against Jihoon,” he began, standing dramatically as the self-appointed prosecutor.

Jihoon, sitting at the “defendant’s” table, raised an eyebrow. “What now?”

Jeonghan held up an imaginary piece of paper, squinting at it for effect. “Jihoon, you’ve been accused of… secretly writing love songs instead of working on group projects. How do you plead?”

The room erupted in laughter, with Seungkwan clapping his hands. “Guilty! We all know it’s true!”

Jihoon sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Is this really necessary?”

“Yes!” Hoshi chimed in, his grin practically splitting his face. “We’ve all noticed you humming random melodies lately. Are those for us, or… someone else?”

The teasing didn’t stop there. As the trial continued, the members took turns “presenting evidence.”

Mingyu dramatically placed a notebook on the table. “Exhibit A: Jihoon’s lyric book. Do we need to open it to find the word ‘Y/N’ written a hundred times?”

Dino jumped in, mimicking an investigator. “Exhibit B: The way Jihoon smiles at his phone during breaks. Suspicious behavior if you ask me.”

Even the usually quiet Wonwoo joined in. “Exhibit C: The recent duet with Y/N. We all heard it. It’s basically a confession set to music.”

By this point, Jihoon’s face was a deep shade of red, though he couldn’t help but chuckle.

During a break in filming, Joshua leaned over to Jihoon. “You know, they’re only teasing because they’re happy for you, right?”

“I know,” Jihoon replied, a small smile tugging at his lips. “But they’re relentless.”

“Hey, it’s good content,” Joshua said with a wink. “The fans will love it.”

Later in the shoot, the tables turned when it was Jihoon’s chance to act as the judge. He banged the gavel dramatically. “I have an accusation of my own,” he announced, his tone firm but playful.

The members gasped in mock horror.

“I accuse SEVENTEEN of being the nosiest group in the industry,” Jihoon declared, pointing at them one by one. “Always prying, always teasing. How do you plead?”

“Guilty!” Seungkwan shouted, raising his hands in surrender. “But we do it out of love!”

Hoshi stood up, grinning. “Your Honor, I’d like to counter-accuse. Jihoon is guilty of smiling more these days. We all know the reason why.”

The room burst into laughter once again, and Jihoon couldn’t help but shake his head, a reluctant smile on his face.

As the shoot wrapped up, the director praised the group for their energy and humor. The episode, once edited, was full of golden moments that had fans laughing and cooing over SEVENTEEN’s antics.

And while Jihoon might have been the butt of the jokes, the camaraderie and genuine affection from his members shone through.

In the comments section of the uploaded episode, fans were quick to notice the playful dynamic:

“SEVENTEEN teasing Jihoon about Y/N is peak family energy!”

“Jihoon trying to act annoyed but secretly loving it is so cute.”

“The way they all support him in their own chaotic way makes me emotional.”

That evening, as Jihoon returned to his studio, his phone buzzed with a message from Y/N:

Y/N: Saw the episode preview. They’re so obvious, lol.

Jihoon smiled, typing back:

Jihoon: They’re impossible. But at least they’re on our side.

Y/N: Always. And so am I.

As he leaned back in his chair, Jihoon couldn’t help but feel grateful—not just for Y/N, but for the family he’d found in SEVENTEEN.

Even if they never let him live it down.

250 notes · View notes

kaszuma · 8 months ago

Text

Aera Perennius | Hoshina Soshiro

Part 7 of “Certainly Yours”

pairing: Hoshina Soshiro x fem!reader

summary: soshiro was never one to raise his voice at anyone. But the one time he did, it was because he almost lost you for good.

warnings: Slight Kn8 Manga Spoilers, Description of Pain / Injuries / Hospitalizations, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Arguments, Cursing, Slight mention of self-harm

wc: 9,793

–

note: I finiahed it earlier than anticipated so here you go-- I had such a difficult time writing this because I've been so busy. There were so many changes and the original draft had been scrapped so many times that it almost made me want to give up and start over. But lucky I didn't or I would've not updated in time. So, yay!

English is hard haha and sometimes it hates me and just doesn't make sense when I read it in my mind versus when I read it outloud. Anyways I will be doing slower updates, so no definitive dates nor titles for the next parts yet. But Part 8 and 9 will be back-to-back spicy NSFW stuff (courtesy of reaching 200 Followers. Thank you lots by the way), So stay tuned!! This is not proofread. So if I missed any warnings feel free to tell me. 🫶

–

Sleep had come naturally to you.

The sound of rapid footsteps and muffled yelling had all but faded into the distance as mere whispers against your ears.

Such rapidness did not seem to fit the silence of what had initially surrounded you. The sudden weight of your own body being dragged left and right until your vision blurs. The stark darkness of city skylines transformed into the unnatural shine of the hospital's fluorescent lights; one that made it hard to pick people's silhouettes apart.

And as such, it reminds you of the distant past.

One that was filled with vast open fields, very unlike the corporate labs you had been accustomed with. A stark contrast to the very corners of Japan, in the countryside where your grandparents had established a simple life for themselves. Filled to the brim with rice crops and summer cicadas.

And it makes you reminisce about the short time you'd spend there. On the cool nights after your summer school days would inevitably end. And you'd be dragged to a summer house where cousins and relatives had doted on you.

Such a homeward bound place was a far cry to the bustling streets of Tokyo's Eastern divisions. Which had often been endowed with the familiar cries of loud music and the steady rumbles of heavy railways underneath you.

One that Kaiju had lamented no peace from.

Even in the midst of high-story buildings where your workplace had boasted the use of sound proof walls. The cityscapes nearest Izumo Tech Corporation could not even be muzzled by its titanium doors, of which Japan's Top Secret Bioweapons had been kept. Schematics and all.

You had grown used to such a taciturn work environment.

Your existence is thrown into the small bubble of your private lab. Segregated from your coworker who valued work over social relations. And you had been much the same.

You and the rest of the technicians were far too focused on your projects. Tinkering away at the prototype suits that the company had sent your way. A partnership between your parent company and Japan’s Defense Force. A task of which you and a few others had been selected to create and maintain.

And how lucky you had been, to land yourself a snug spot in the notoriety of the Third Division's wake. The very same division that had boasted the least amount of casualties in the case of a large-scale Kaiju attack.

The very same division where Mina Ashiro had led and mounted into victory.

And you'd consider yourself lucky to have known such an amazing person in this lifetime.

For fate to have led her to you, you'd assume you've somehow accumulated some sort of good karma in your past life. The reward to you had been fresh in this new one. An action that had garnered some godly being to bestow upon you a chance to meet your soulmate.

You'd be remiss with disappointment if you hadn't met Soshiro Hoshina in this lifetime.

But prior to that. Before Ashiro had recruited you into her division, you had little to no contact with the officers on-field. Delegated to the simple task of sending blueprints in and out of Tachikawa's base should the time arise; begrudgingly in the early mornings of every month too.

Back then, you had befriended a bespectacled girl named Okonogi. Who wore a slightly bigger uniform than the rest of the recruits. A quirk of hers which you found rather amusing. She, who wholeheartedly believed she might still grow into the uniform that was two sizes too bigger than what was recommended of her.

And you had remembered the day you had met her too.

It was another typical day in your routine. Delivering notes to Captain Ashiro in and out of bases. Though this time, you had decided upon taking a detour. Seeing the empty spaces of the mess hall which granted you an opportune moment of grabbing some coffee.

And such a detour had led you upon the bespectacled girl. Your documents slipping from your very fingertips. And your other hand, which held the coffee mind you. Accidentally toppling over. Spilling the liquid against her pristine ivory lab coat. Staining it.

Lucky it had not been hot, or else that could've been an accident in the making.

“I am… so sorry about that.” Your eye catches the glimpse of her nametag, stained with a bit of caffeine. Okonogi was what it read. And you were already pulling out a handkerchief from your pocket. Intent on correcting the mistake you made.

“No, it's okay. Really.”

The sincerity in her voice made you visibly flinch. And you had half a mind to just shove her your wallet, a chance given to compensate her for the coat you ruined. But the look on her eyes was determined. Abrupt in the way she had declined you.

“Are you sure? Money shouldn't be a problem. I can definitely get you a better coat within the day..” You spoke with much guilt. And yet she insisted.

“No need, really! It's just a stain. Nothing a bit of bleach can't handle.” She moves lower with a smile, one hand tucked behind her knees as she tries to pick up the few folders scattered on the ground.

“-Lucky it didn't hit the documents! Or the Director would definitely have our heads for it.” Okonogi had surprisingly jested your way. And a small laugh bubbles between the two of you in turn. As if you had known each other for quite some time now.

“I suppose so.” You had spoken between giggles. The sentiment shared between the two had all but eased the tension of the room.

And the brunette had gingerly handed you the pile of documents that had been untarnished. Though, one in particular catches her trained eye.

It was a simple list of materials used for the next batch of combat suits to-be-made. Or at least, that was the pitch you had planned to present today. In the hopes that Mina Ashiro would give it enough attention and send it to command for a much more direct approval.

And Okonogi, who was a newbie at the time. Had known all too well of the budding genius you had been. A technician far too enraptured in improving Combat Suits and weapons catering for strange combat. One that did not conform to the normalcy of firearms which had modernized the era.

And it seems one of your papers in particular had caught her attention. Like a hammer against glass.

It was a series of notes and drawings involving bronze wires that resembled the muscle groups of a Kaiju's inner workings. All built into the combat suit that had been Izumo Tech's symbolic masterpiece.

And its Kaiju plating was as amazing as it was unconventional. Built to last no doubt in the wake of an ever evolving organization.

Okonogi could not help but stare at it. Admiring the artistry and engineering involved in such a concept.

“An idea of yours?” She asks. And you nod in turn. Surprised by the way she did not immediately question the schematics.

Normally you'd be met with strange looks. One that questioned the very ethics of your research for involving Kaiju parts into the combat suits.

But the Defense Force had long since been converting strong Kaiju into weaponry. And applying the same sentiments to a combat suit, should be no different. “That's right.”

“I was hoping to improve the current designs of the Combat Suits.” You admitted. “If it succeeds, it might help our soldiers a lot more. Survivability wise..I mean.”

And Okonogi smiles at this. A layer of irony mixed in with the few laughs that bubbled within her chest.

She knew how fragile lives can be. Especially in their line of work where they had faced massive enemies almost on a daily basis. And a battle of attrition against such monsters? It was never a pretty picture.

But still, it had been a rare sight to see one so dedicated with quality of life improvements. And it was as if Okonogi knew that she'd be able to trust you with such a task.

“Glad to see you working on it! People have been volunteering less and less these days. But if we had better tech, I'm sure our members would increase by a large margin.”

Her assurance made you nod. Already taking the paper from her hands and delicately sliding it back to the rest of the folders you held. Carefully standing as the both of you had come to smile at each other.

“If there's a chance it can save lives. There's no harm in trying. It's just a part of the job.”

“There's definitely a truth in that.” Okonogi remained positive with a dip to her head. Making her rimmed glasses slide gently from the bridge of her nose. A tilt in her head as she next spoke.

“-But, why use bronze by the way? Wouldn't steel or alloy be a better alternative?”

You had looked over to the notes peeking from your file. And a smile is etched on the very corner of your lips. Complacent in the way you had so easily looked at her, as if you knew something she did not.

“There's a saying you see.”

Okonogi tilts her head upward. Who had finally moved to fixate her gaze to you. Eyes meeting with the absolute tenacity and confidence at your craft. “...a saying?”

You nod. “They say that some people should seek things that are more lasting than bronze.”

“Does bronze not last very long?”

“Oh it does. But even in metals, people try to find something much better right?” Okonogi who had paused to think about your words. Had only nodded in turn. Your sentiment was a much more refreshing and positive take than she had imagined it to be.

“I intend to find that material. One that would make a monument more lasting than the lives we lost.”

And Okonogi’s breath hitches. And you had looked her in the eye, with a determination she was sure would last you a lifetime. “Even if that means I have to dissect a Kaiju and use its very skin as armor.”

A bit morbid for her take. But still, she couldn't help but admire your tenacity. It was the same sentiment she'd see with the soldiers. And somehow, it reminds her of a certain someone who was all smiles despite wielding a blade.

“I suppose most Kaiju do have a layer of tough skin..” She jested. And your shoulders shake with a bubbling smile. The start of a silly friendship perhaps, where Soshiro's eyes would soon flicker your way.

And somehow things just started to click into place.

You didn't know if it was fate. Had it been Okonogi or Mina Ashiro that led you to him. But it wasn't until a few weeks later, you had found yourself responsible for the Third's technical division. Overseeing much of the repairs and weapon upgrades needed for Kaiju slaying. And it was in that very same division where you had grown much closer to him.

A strange recruit, scouted from the Kansai district. Where Captain Ashiro had particularly shown a keen interest in. His skill in the blade had been incomparable to his peers. And although he boasted the highest individual body-count when it came to handling melee pursuits. You had once thought him stupid for sticking to a fighting technique that had long since aged from the existence of firearms.

But how wrong you had been in judging him for that.

Okonogi often reminded you not to be too harsh on him whenever the two of you had just so happened to meet. Jesting that you two would've made a stellar couple, had you both given each other a chance. And although you've denied such things a few times before, Soshiro would always take a glance at you as if reading the expressions on your face. Thoroughly investigating the subtle expressions you wore that would've reached his conclusion.

And each time after that, he too would answer for you. A denial. A white lie.

And Okonogi always saw through it of course. She had been there since the beginning. Serving cupid for the both of you.

And when she can, she had always been peppy in her step. Pushing the both of you in a particular direction. Waiting for one of you to make a move. Calculated like masters playing chess on a board. By far you two had been hopeless. If it wasn’t for Okonogi’s encouragement, Soshiro wouldn’t have thought to visit you between breaks. And how lucky you had been to have the girl pry him out of his skittish shell.

It’s a wonder you two had gotten together like this.

You had rarely seen the girl frown or be frustrated over anything. Let alone your own bite when it comes to Soshiro's mixed signals.

So it had been a sudden whiplash, seeing her so frightened above you. Her voice had been unusually drawled and shaky as she repeated your name. Trying to keep you awake despite the far off look you had in the depths of your irises.

Wait.

Why was it so blurry all of a sudden?

Where were you again?

Right.

You were injured. And from the look on her face, it was probably worse than you had realized. The trickle of an unfamiliar liquid slid down your forehead to the very height of your cheek. Where you could’ve sworn a clawed hand had been there to comfort you.

Larger than your own, and definitely plated with armor. Gently grazing the very skin of your cheek.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

It's starting to hurt. The pain on your lower back had suddenly hit you like a metric ton of weighted bricks. Like something jagged and sharp had punctured through you. A result from a bad fall.

“Sweetheart. Keep yer’ eyes open alright?”

You heard a deep rumble from the side. And your eyes pried away from Okonogi's disturbed features. Suddenly enamored by the wine red irises that looked at you as if you had gone through hell and back.

Had it really been that bad?

Last you checked, you were narrowly able to escape Kaiju's attacks. The flashes of its flaky features had encompassed your mind’s eye. And the ground below you had bellowed like a monster’s mouth. Suddenly ripping open as a shockwave had violently lifted you from your feet.

And like a leaf on a windy day, you were blown to the side. Crashing harshly against the window of a boutique. A stray shard puncturing your lower back to the point of near paralysis. And it leaves you barely conscious to see the not so lucky victims that tried to escape the Kaiju.

One group in particular had been crushed by the rubble of a building. And somehow the scent of blood and bones was enough to knock you out cold. Their downfall would’ve made you vomit, had you not been injured and too dizzy to think about it all.

And as morbid as it sounded, you had been fortunate enough to have only been thrown aside. Sacked into a world of pain which had reminded you that you were very much alive. It had been a miracle that Soshiro found you when he did. Despite the slight sprain on his ankle and the sores he felt in the muscles of his arms. He forced himself to run. Empowered to meet with you, ushered by the help of Number 10’s powers.

And like clockwork he was led straight to you. The fears he had once buried deep in the back of his brain had all came flooding through.

And he didn’t know what to do.

…

You heard a few voices then.

Although it was barely comprehensible, you could make out a few distinct ones from the array of shouts. Your name in particular was whispered in a prayer. Begging you not to fall asleep despite the odd temptation to. And sure enough, the back and forth argument you heard between two figures was enough to keep your mind and heart racing with urgency. The look between Okonogi and Soshiro’s face had all been so different than usual that it frightens you so.

But despite the noise, despite the shouting. You heard him in clear daylight. Like it had been the only voice in the room. Isolated from the rest who had rushed in a frenzy.

“I got ya’ alright? I’m here baby. I’m right here.”

His reassurances had blanked when his voice cracked. Desperate like he had been ready to cry. The way your name had escaped his lips was almost hesitant. As if he didn't deserve to call you out. And you wanted to stop him before his thoughts could drift further. But your voice had failed you when you needed it most. A soft cry escaping your lips instead.

I'm okay.

I'm here.

I'm alive.

All of that died the moment it tried to leave your throat. And without those very words. Soshiro's face was left to contort. As if he were the one in pain instead of you. And how he'd wished that were the case.

“Let me through!”

You heard him scream. And your eyes had focused just enough to see Okonogi and a few nurses blocking his pathway to you. Desperately trying to push past them despite the grievances.

The sight had been a blur.

One second your vision was fine. The next you had felt the telltale signs of drowsiness hit you. And you feel the way the pain medication had started to kick in when your eyes had isolated itself from the world. Your body’s exhaustion hits you squarely on the chest down to your very toes. And when you had been dragged to the next room over. Soshiro had been the last face you had seen before separation. Sleep pulling you over until your breath is taken from you in that instance.

Your name had been the only thing Soshiro could say afterwards.

“I said let me through–That's an order from your Superior Officer, Okonogi.” Soshiro had warned her. Voice uncharacteristically deep when issuing an order. It was normally never used in this way. Such a tone was only ever used to command Number 10 when he had been too stubborn to listen.

But the bespectacled girl knew better than to fan the flame. And in retrospect, she out of anyone would understand his frustrations the most. Yet she stood her ground. Gently shaking her head at her heated friend.

“Vice Captain.” Okonogi started. Hands already raised to try and calm him down. And she could see it in his eyes; the way it subconsciously followed the rolling bed they had put you in.

Dragging your bed into another room where only the best medical practitioners had worked on you. And yet despite that, he couldn't find it in himself to sit still. His gut sinking at the mere thought of you getting worse than when he had already found you in. And he was willing to bet Weapons 10 had all but read the blatant emotions he displayed on his sleeve. With or without having to delve into his mind.

He was in utter ruin just from your condition.

“-Please understand. You cannot, in under any circumstances enter the surgery room, sir.”

“To hell with that!”

The scream had made Okonogi frown. And Soshiro had half a mind to push past the smaller woman. And rush forward with Number 10's help. But he stopped midway. Reminding himself that his suit could go on a rampage at any time. And right now, he did not want to expose Okonogi and a handful of civilians to Number 10's war-ridden desires. His deep baritones had instead vanished for more firm ones. Unlike the resentment from prior. Oddly curt in his delivery.

“Move. Or I’ll do somethin’ drastic.” He steps forward.

A threat is a threat, and he hoped that would at least be enough to convince the bespectacled girl to move. Yet Okonogi had known him for far too long to actually perceive it as one. And she looks unfazed by his words.

“Sir please.” She pleaded. “It'll only worry you more.”

Her voice was gentle. Understanding even. It almost reminded him of the way you speak at times. Stern but with a hint of softness when it came to his stubbornness. And how he wished it was you he was talking to right now.

“Just please try to calm down. We should get your own wounds treated first and then we can-”

“Fuck no. I'm going in there and-”

“Hoshina.” The stern voice of their Captain had made them both flinch. And the heavy cleats of Mina Ashiro'a footsteps had gotten louder as she had made her way closer to the two.

“Captain Ashiro.” Soshiro had spoken with a much more leveled tone than he did earlier. Hand raising into a salute as the rest followed suit. Though even in his greeting, his frustrations had still been made entirely clear. And he was more than willing to face insubordination just to get to you. But Mina was one step ahead of him.

“Hoshina. You’re causing a disturbance and deliberately disrupting the medical wing from doing their job--I'd let you run some laps. But I can see you're injured.”

Soshiro had glanced down at his body, a light scoff emerging from his lips when she had noticed the way he stood, limping.

“Patch your own wounds up and we can discuss it later.”

And Soshiro had frowned at the way she immediately knew. A sixth sense perhaps that he had been getting sloppy. And sometimes he feared Mina Ashiro would kick him out of the Third because of it. But Mina made no such accusation, instead her eyes had been understanding.

Firm as they usually are, she, like Okonogi, was quite aware of your relationship with Soshiro. And by all means, she understood his sentiment.

Today had been a jumbled mess. And Soshiro was practically facing the very brunt of it all.

With you as its victim.

“But-”

“That's an order, Vice Captain. Do not make me repeat myself.” Her stern reply had been met with his half-meant glare. Red irises swirling with thoughts before ultimately concluding that Mina had been right. Okonogi too. He'd just been too stubborn to see it.

And for a good few seconds, he finally drops his own staring.

Reluctant as he had finally turned around. Facing Okonogi with a sort of defeated look in his eyes. Uncharacteristic to her as he'd normally be so cheery, even in the face of impending death.

He'd be thrown into a pit. And as long as he was still kickin’ he'd probably end up smiling and joking about it the next day.

This had definitely been a first for the two to witness.

And although Mina had not usually been the closest to Soshiro. He couldn't help but make an exception this time. She'd waive him of running laps, not as an officer. But as her friend. And a stern hand was placed squarely on his shoulder. Gently giving it a pat of reassurance. One that Okonogi would follow up with her own.

“It'll be okay. Right Captain?” Okonogi glanced between the two.

“That's right. I'll see to it personally that she gets the best care. For now, get yourself patched up–That'll be the punishment you get for speaking to your superior officer.” She awkwardly spoke. Though a small reassuring smile had cracked on the face of her usually hardened expressions.

And such a sentiment from both the girls had silenced him before he could think of another protest to answer with.

“understood.” He begrudgingly spoke. His hand balling into tight fists at the possibility that you'd wake up without him by your side.

Bronze was made to last, yet it wasn't exempt from tarnish after all.

“Good. I'll inform you shortly once her treatment is done–Okonogi.”

“Yes?” Her reply had been immediate.

“Make sure his wounds are treated. And, I expect a detailed report on Number 10's latest excursion later.”

“Roger.” Okonogi had saluted. And Soshiro watched her as she slowly walked past them. Entering the very same room where he had not even had the chance to take a glimpse in.

His arms had gently felt the pull to another direction. Okonogi had done well at Mina's request as he had all but dragged his feet further away from the blaring red lights of the operating room.

And the flicker of your sleeping face was all that’s left before he too was separated somewhere else.

A place where he was left to wonder what will become of you. And for a moment, his distinct thought was a scenario where he hadn't met you.

If only he hadn't asked you out that day..things would've turned differently.

Right?

…

Your eyes blew wide open. The strangled breaths you took were caught on your throat as you could smell the bitter antiseptics nip the back of your nostrils. It reminded you of a hospital. That of which you had the unpleasant experience of having to frequent anytime Soshiro would come back to base injured.

Often you'd be on the other side of his bed. A frown on your face as the condition of his health had been on the top of your mind. And each time with a smile, he'd make a joke to ease the tension in the room. A signal to indicate he had been alright. Despite the lack of words you two would exchange.

Habitually it was you unharmed. You left to worry at his bedside.

So it had been a rare sight indeed, to find yourself on the opposite side of the spectrum.

Laid in thin hospital robes. Connected to a needle of an IV drip. The constant flow of medicine made you drowsy and your thoughts jumbled into a mesa of numbness. And if you had looked at the amount of bandages wrapped around your torso you'd surely start squirming in place.

But just when you were about to scrutinize the heavy onset of your heartrate’s monitor. The blaring sound was all but silenced when you heard the familiar tremors of his voice. Smooth and soft, like you had always heard them as.

“Yer’ finally awake.”

You turned to his direction. Bright eyes had met his own which had been as familiar as it was squinted. His irises were more crystalline and tired than usual. Puffy on the corners, like he hadn't been given a chance to get a good night’s sleep between your hospitalization.

And yet, despite the unfamiliarity of his somber tone; the despondent frowns he'd make.

His voice had been the sound you missed the most.

“Soshiro..” You croak out. Voice dry like someone had stuffed cotton down your throat. And you try your best to scoot closer. To move and stand like you had always done when faced towards him. But this greeting would cut short. Hands restrained by firm bandages and hollow tubes that weighed heavily on your skin. And you hadn't realized the mumble of a barely audible whimper from your mouth. One that Soshiro could not miss even if he tried to.

Soshiro noticed the way you had squirmed. Struggling to sit up. Which made him all the more vigilant. And he ends up closing the small leatherbound book he'd always brought with him. Sinking it back on his pocket where you had been accustomed to seeing it.

Walking much closer to you in an attempt to calm and shush you.

“Where are we?” You asked him. And his fingers hesitantly graze your cheek. The same way when you had blood trickling down it moments prior. “Base. The Medical wing took ya’ in.”

His words were oddly curt in delivery. And although the average person who knew Soshiro on a surface level could probably not tell. You were able to differentiate the distinct way his voice had sounded odd. Such sentiments laid rather clearly for you. And you can see the layer of guilt etched on his stiff face.

“Okonogi?” You inquired. And he gives you a nod.

“Safe. I'll call her for ya’ later so she doesn't worry.” and you let out a breathless sigh. Your head slumping against the cushion of the soft pillow. The lingering feeling of glass and cement on you had all been but a pipe dream now. A memory that you'd soon forget.

And how Soshiro wished it was that easy for him to forget.

“How are you feelin? I can call the nurse for ya if anything hurts.” He moves to turn around.

Eyes already searching for the small caller that was given to him in case of emergencies. Though your hand, as painful as it felt, had pulled him in. Weak fingertips grabbing the sleeves of his jacket to refuse him. Your eyes remained squinted as they were sharp despite the fatigue. And you caught the glimpse of bandages wrapped around his skin. A stark testament to the rest of his unblemished face.

“What happened?” You had immediately tried to get up. Alert in the way you had wanted to reach out and inspect his own injuries. But the fatigue of your body had stopped you. Causing you to slump forward and unto his willing arms who had been cautious in the way he handled you.

“Easy. You're still…not well.” Soshiro gently nudged you back down. Hand placed squarely on your chest to ease you into the pillow. But you stubbornly persisted. Compromising by sitting up against the bed's headboard instead.

“That doesn't matter. What's more important is, what happened to you. Are you alright?”

“That doesn't matter? Are you seriously askin’ me that right now?” For a moment you mistake his scoff for a laugh. His hands which had held you firmly had just as quickly left leaving the spot on your skin cold and yearning for his proximity.

Had you said something wrong? This aggression was unlike him.

Soshiro was rarely this agitated. And your voice couldn't help shrivel in meek irritation. Unsure whether you should respond back with much the same turbulence.

“Should I…not be asking you that?” You spoke unsure. And he shakes his head in turn.

“You were dead-still for five days straight and yer tellin’ me THAT doesn't matter right now?”

You didn't know how else to reply. The way his tone had shifted into a scoff had made you double back to glare at his face. For once since you awoke, you truly saw how tense he had been. Gone was his usual suave smile that made you laugh or cry in between meetings.

He had been too worried to focus on that. But you had been too frustrated at this sudden change. That it made your voice come more forcefully than you anticipated. “Well isn't it obvious? I'm worried about you.”

You replied. Your own expression had squished into rapid vexation. And you see the way he takes a few steps back, too far for your touch to reach. And it pained you that you couldn't just stand up and make him face you like you usually could.

“And you think I don't feel the same!?” He spoke loudly. Causing your shoulders to flinch in turn. One he had regretted as soon as he spoke. And yet, he continued.

“You don't think..that I didn't nearly kill myself when I found you bleeding in the middle of that goddamn street?” He pointed out the window.

And your expression had turned liquid at the images that flash in your mind. Imagining how he had found you. His thoughts, his expressions..you could only imagine the torment he felt the moment he found you. Barely breathing.

His breaths came in gasps. Eyes widened so that you can clearly see the crimson of his eyes peeking through. And suddenly you notice the way Soshiro had oddly been so vulnerable in front of you. The quips on your sore throat began to die down when you saw how frustrated–how fearful he had looked in the moment. And gods did you wish you woke up sooner just to comfort him.

“No–that’s not what I meant. I only wanted to know if you were okay. Is it so wrong to ask?”

“Well maybe ya’ shouldn't have asked at all.” He huffed out. Looking away from you with regret lingering on his features.

It was stupid. He thought To get so frustrated over something so tiny. But as much as Soshiro Hoshina excluded the guise of a proper adult. He had been flawed just like the rest of everyone else. And he'd be lying if he didn't have his moments of doubt. Often scrutinizing in the lonely privacy of his home. Where he knew no one would bother him.

That is of course, before you had entered his life.

But not everything was understood between the two of you. Okonogi was a witness to the piles of misunderstandings you both had caused. And without help you two were likely never to get along, habitually falling for the same skittish routine you had played at.

But a miracle happened. With him belonging to you. And you belonging to him.

So why was it that your heart cramped so much? Surely it was not the pains of a physical injury. Let alone a type of sickness.

Instead it was struck by simple bad habits and insecurities. One of which even you had trouble dealing with. And the loud firmness of his voice had made such an impact on your heart that you began to frown. Unable to hold back your bite.

“What is your problem!?” You started. “Listen, can we just please have this conversation some other time. And then we can-”

“And then we can, what? Do you want me to just sit here and forget that all happened?” He had interjected.

And suddenly you feel your brows knit tightly. Eyes feeling heavy from the burst of a headache you had gotten. Of all the times Soshiro wanted to argue, it's the time you had just woken up.

But he wasn't entirely unjustified.

There have been plenty of moments where you had fanned the flames of a fire that should've ended right then and there. Your word choice is poor and your temperament less than ideal.

For as frustrated as you had been, you understood Soshiro's sentiments. And your hands had raised as a sort of white flag. Not needing this fight to escalate more than it should.

Not when you were both injured and all you wanted to do was crawl into his arms.

“-Listen Soshiro, I didn't mean to upset you. I only wanted to know if you were okay.”

��Does that matter?” He repeats your own words. And you had to hold back another jab of acknowledgement. Smart in the way he played his words. It almost made you want to laugh. But this time, your intent came from sincerity.

And his small play of mockery had been a sight for sore eyes, since you had quickly gotten the gist of what he had been trying to convey. Wrong in your choice of words. This time, you correct your mistake. Sincerity and all.

“Yes it matters. More than anything– of course it matters.” You had told him. And you see the way Soshiro’s mouth quivers into a small tremble. Uncanny when he'd normally be so laid-back and sweet when it came to you.

And how you'd wish he just took a breather and relaxed. Maybe take a break so that they could talk things out. Without yelling preferably. But that had not been possible. At least not just yet from the way he replied.

“Well had I not made it in time, you woulda’ been dead. Do you hear me?”

“And yet, Here. I. Am. A witness to your unwarranted behavior.”

“Behavior that's justified because I shouldn't have let you outta my sight.”

Silence had followed soon after. Your mouth gapes for a moment to think of a reply when the words slip past your lips. And Soshiro would note how uncharacteristic that was, even for you. He, who was always used to your quick replies and clever jabs. But it seems his words had cut too far this time.

And he pried his eyes away from you. Chest heaving as he ran a hand through his face. “I shouldn't have..”

He composed himself. Clearing his throat whilst you looked at him with an etched frown on your face. One that he wished would go away. But he had been the cause of this.

He had been the one to make your smile go away. And it somehow makes him feel even worse.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you. I just-”

“Soshiro.” Your voice sounded like bells. And when he looked up, relief had immediately sagged his shoulders upon seeing your gaze blown wide open. Not at all restrained by the pain medication and exhaustion you had felt.

And your hand had gently reached up to grab his own. Gentle in the way her thumb caressed his knuckle which had been previously so bruised and bloodied.

And although there was a struggle to reach for his hand. Your touch was met halfway. Gently threading your much softer skin that would've paled in comparison to a blanket had he not taken glances.

“What happened back there wasn't your fault. We couldn't have known that the Kaiju would follow me back to the shelter.” You whisper. And Soshiro's expression had turned serious. Like he held a weight that you couldn't possibly fathom even if you tried.

“And yet I let it slip away.”

“I let it get to you, and now you're in here because of me.” He had wanted to so badly pull away from you. To walk himself out before he could be tempted to lean back into those pretty eyes of yours. But the moment he met your sight.

Those sad eyes of yours had been his journey's end. And he couldn't do that to you. Not when your expression had frustratingly asked him to stay.

“And yet it was also because of you that I'm still alive and breathing, Soshiro.” You reasoned. “You don't give yourself enough credit. If it hadn't been for you I would've been-”

“Dead.” He cut you off. “You would've been dead.”

“No. You wouldn't have allowed that. You're the Vice Captain, remember? If there's anywhere safer for me, it's by your side.” You didn't know whether such assurances had really made him listen. The way he was assured in that answer of his wasn't a mere fortnight conclusion. It was as if he had been thinking of such consequences for a much longer time, and that alone makes your heart sink.

So you scooted closer. Moving in to try and pull him down so that you could wrap your arms around his neck. And just when you were snaking it through his shoulders. His hands had stopped you midway.

His calloused palms holding on to the points of your elbows as he gently pries you off of him.

Normally this would be met with your pout. Maybe another bout of force just let the stubborn man look your way. But you had been too weak, still healing from an injury you had no control over. And his response is far too swift for your liking. Leaving your arms missing the warmth his body could provide you.

“No, no, no, no, no–no. You don't understand. I don't deserve to be anywhere near you right now.” He had managed to convince himself. Looking away as the anxiety within you had spiked upon his words.

“Soshiro. Listen to me we can-”

“What I’m saying is that we're done here.”

You had blinked. Looking up at him who had towered above your bed. A somber look on his expression despite the daunting words he had spoken. He looked passive. Unaffected even. Like he had been ready for this moment which had been planned for a long time coming. And your voice could only muster a feeble whisper.

“What do you mean we're done?”

“It's over.” Soshiro continued. Not once paying your face any heed. Lest he change his mind from doing you a greater good he deemed correct. “I don't want anything to do with ya’ anymore.”

If this had been a dream you would've laughed at the way he delivered such a sentiment.

You'd somehow suppress the inner workings of your shock and you'd wake up to find the morning documents you promised yourself to do; in the desk untouched where it usually had been.

And by the time you left your room, you'd habitually laugh it off and tell Soshiro about it in the afternoon just to get a chuckle and light scolding out of him. The usual banter that admittedly, had always been the highlight of your day.

But this had not been a dream.

And hearing him say that. Had hurt more than you anticipated it seemed. And your voice cracks before you can even register yourself speaking.

"Is this because you think I can't love you?" The sudden appearance of tears had painted your face. And you had tried to sniff away the bigger ones that threatened to spill over. But to no avail.

And Soshiro’s eyes widen at the telltale signs of your crying. An unexpected third party which had not been invited to the list of things he ought to do. And his head reels to face you once more. Seeing your face redden with a shame he'd never thought he'd see.

"Do you really think that I'm incapable of willingly loving you? Even beyond that fucking sword of yours-" And Soshiro had all but shook his head. Remorseful in the way tears had jerked from your eyes.

"That ain't the point!"

"Then what IS the point!?" Your tears had blurred your vision. And your hand had embarrassingly moved up to wipe it. One that Soshiro had wished to do for himself had he not been so stubborn.

“-What is the point if I can't make sense of you trying to leave me?"

The turmoil in your voice had been made present. One so encompassing that Soshiro couldn't ignore. And as much as it hurts you to scream. It hurt him to see you suddenly cry like this. Someone he associated as being so usually strong-willed, crumbling in a few short words from him. And suddenly, it feels as if he wants to swallow back his words. Mouth churned into regret when he had moved to take a step closer to you.

“Sweetheart, please..I-”

He shook his head. Suddenly finding himself kneeling down in front of your bed. And when your eyes had met his, it was as if his heart had stopped momentarily. Too focused on the way you had looked at him in desperation. Mixed with both physical and emotional pain.

And he had been the cause of that. Regrettably he knew he had been the cause of that.

"Is the idea of me loving you THAT terrible of a concept to you?" you spoke flimsily. Words betraying the tone you wanted to convey. And somehow you felt worse than when blood was unnaturally seeping out of your wound.

And his own body. One that betrayed his own commands, had a mind of its own. Strong arms wrapping around your bandaged ones that had still been healing from the minor cuts you had accumulated. And the warm steady beat of his heart had drowned you back into reality. Cheeks pressed against his and regrettably, soiling his jacket.

Not that he minded of course. Far too focused on wiping your tears away. Shushing you when you'd shudder from the breathless sniffles he'd been the cause of.

"Shit- no sweetheart no. I didn't mean it."

“I didn't mean it. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.” His instant apologies and regrets had echoed for a few moments. The sudden urge to calm you down had him reeling just to caress your shoulders. Weary of the injuries you were faced with as you cried in his arms.

And the struggling shudders you were faced with had all been too painful to see. Comical in the way he had all but worsened your condition when stressing a healing patient had been the last thing people needed to be reminded of.

Yet here you were, struggling to even cry when every breath would agitate any bandaged injuries you'd gotten. And it had been his fault entirely.

“I'm not leaving ya. I'm right here..” He whispered. And you had forcibly glanced up. Seeing the way his distress had wrinkled those usually foxy eyes. Like he had suddenly gained a keen sense of his stupidity and finally realized that his sentiments were not helping you. And upon realization you couldn't help but feel how silly all this had been.

You would've laughed had you not wasted such excess energy into crying your heart out in front of him. Likely an accumulation from the week's worth of not being able to see each other.

That and other things, which were obvious enough.

But you spoke. Wanting to pick his thoughts apart. Reason with him the next time this may happen. And your eyes flutter away the tears as you had finally managed to calm down enough to ask him.

“Then why? Why even suggest that?” Your voice had been soft. His thumbs move to caress the stray tears away from your face. Even moving to casually use his sleeves to gently wipe your cheeks in assurance of his presence. And you close your eyes at the simple gesture. Suddenly feeling much better now that he had been so close to you like this.

Crap, he set himself up didn't he? And just when he had this all planned out too.

In the wake of your hospitalization, he had planned to leave you. Somehow make you change occupations. Maybe work for a tech company where your life wouldn't be on the line. Where you'd be far away from his life and you could live a happy, seperate life from him.

But who was he kidding? Even he thinks it's stupid. The idea of doing you the greater good.

It had sounded conclusive back then.

He'd likely die young, a Kaiju attack that he had lacked defenses in no doubt. And somehow, you'd weasel your way out and live an old happy life.

Like bronze. Tarnished but long lasting.

But you had seen through his intention. And every right to refuse such a concept had knocked him over the head. A simple shed of tears was all it took for such a carefully built wall to crumble. His resolve in shambles at the mere thought of you leaving.

And to take that away from you. To separate the both of you like that? It felt wrong. And somehow his stupidity makes him laugh.

And the next words uttered had been voluntary on his part. Sloppy but it came out from an honest place. That even he doubted its power.

"Because, it scares me how much I need you. Okay?" He leans in. Head against your own so that your noses would touch. And you could see the little cracks on that smile of his. A stark contrast to the facade of laughs he'd usually give off. And it makes your heart flutter upon such fleeting confessions.

"Just hearing that voice of yours is enough to wreck me. And ruin me for anybody else."

"And when I saw you. Layin' there with that faraway look on your eyes. I just couldn't fucking breathe."

The way his eyes had not once left yours had felt like the first time you had met him. In that room with the Captain watching your interactions.

You had been less amicable to each other by then. Always second guessing each other by investigating the little nuances of your expressions. But somehow, the difficulties in reading each other had not been so far fetched. And the longer you two would spend time together. The more you had an inkling of what the other was thinking. And eventually an unspoken understanding had come between the both of you.

One that required no words to speak. Nor assistance from anywhere else. Just you and him. Nothing more.

"What If I lose you? You're all I fucking have.."

"Soshiro.” You whispered. Suddenly feeling the weight of his words drop down on you upon his realization. And you shake your head in turn. Immediately running your hands on the soft tresses of his hair. “You’re not going to lose me.”

“And what if I did?” He was quick to interject. “What if I had been a second too late and you were killed?”

“-And yet I'm still here. See?” You moved his intertwined hands to your chest. Firmly letting him feel the pulse of your heart. A repetition had to be made in order to convince him. And if you had to do such things a million times, there was no doubt you’d do it a thousand more times.

And his hand couldn't help but press firmly. Gingerly looking everywhere to check your wellbeing. Satisfied when he had settled in your slightly puffy eyes that he had been all too remorseful of when he found it too pretty to look away from.

You leaned in. Pressing light kisses against his cheeks to calm his thoughts. The voice in the back of his head all but silenced. When the adrenaline kicked in, because somehow he found himself unfocused when he caught your lips in his.

It was short and sweet.

Far different from the many picturesque and grandiose kisses he'd read about in books. And far too slow amidst the rush hours of your working breaks. Where you'd snag a few touches here and there just to get a rise out of each other. No this had been far too different. Far too gentle than it normally was. But despite the innocence of such a contact. It had made a more lasting impact on him.

The hesitation implied vulnerability, and without it. You'd be remiss to see Soshiro's true feelings underneath it. And it makes you pull away to rub your own hands against his chest. Admiring the way his uniform had engulfed him warmly in the cold air conditioning in the room.

All that matters was that they were okay now.

All that matters is that they are together now. Is that so much to ask?

“I won't die so easily, Soshiro.” Your assurances had made him perk up. Head still leaning against yours where you could see the pretty hallmarks of his tired eyes.

“I may not be able to know..everything in that damn head of yours. But what I do know? Is that I have unwavering trust in you. And that's the only reason I made it out alive today.” Your voice had made him crack a smile. One that makes you raise a brow at him. Suddenly fixated on the way his demeanor had changed so easily when you had spoken your piece.

And Soshiro, ever the enigma that he was. Had stopped his reluctance around you. Finally getting a chance to relax as his hands slotted its way to the bounce of your cheek and jaw, which he had always found so endearing to touch and look at.

He couldn't help but run soothing circles on your flesh. A habit he might've picked up on when reading a few romances here and there.And it makes you wonder if he had always been this sweet. A layer unknown go you that you'd love to rediscover, if only he'd put down that smart mouth of his.

“I think that was ‘bout a week ago.” He corrected you. His face is as snarky as his comment. And that was enough to shake your head.

But of course, that had been too much to ask. Too far and few inbetween. You spoke too soon.

“Fine. A week ago.” You affirmed. Though this time you had rolled your eyes with a laugh of your own.

And the two of you had simply sat there. Soshiro rocking you back and forth as best he could without risking your injuries. Hands against the plush of your waistline, carefully making sure the stitches were still intact. But the warmth had remained.

This time he had been less distant. More calm and understanding like he had usually been. And that was enough for you. For now.

“Do you mean that?”

“Mean what?” You had blinked with a smile on your face. Sweet as it came, you had a viper that you knew how to use. And Soshiro wasn't ever one to stop confronting it. Even if he had to break out of his shell to ask the harder questions between you both.

“When you said you loved me.” He added.

And he wouldn't be able to miss that pretty smile forming on the corners of your lips. Leaning against him until the softness of your lips had grazed his chapped ones. Though you’d note, it was still gentle. Still his. And still yours to capture should you want it.

“Do I have to kiss you again and prove it?” You mutter out.

“Do you not want to right now?”

And without a doubt did you lean in. Capturing his lips with a crooked smile in between. Soft and sensual. And you had missed this. Missed him who had not gotten the chance to set things right by you.

How long had it been since you had taken the time to really kiss him? Without the rush of prying eyes, nor the responsibilities that came with their work. It was just a kiss, yet in this moment it felt like everything.

Slow and reassuring. Without the need of words to complicate things. It had conveyed everything he needed to know. And when you pulled back, Soshiro could see the pretty pearls of your teeth. Admiring the way your lips had bruised red from how eagerly he had captured your mouth. And he wouldn't dream of being anywhere else in the world right now. Not when you had looked so perfect. Hospital gown and all.

“Does that prove my point?”

He laughs. Something you had always thought to be pretty.

“Maybe.” The familiar trace of his hand had brushed past your hair. Straightening out the few loose strands that could obscure him from your face. And his smile, although back to the usual cat-like facade, had now softened up significantly upon your presence. And you had prided the way this man had looked at you like you had offered him the world.

“I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at ya. I just-”

“Shh..I know.” Your hand had touched his lips. Admiring the way it too, had reddened from your previous kisses.

“I'm tougher than bronze, you know? I'm not so simple as to let a few words bend me sideways.”

“Okonogi tells me the same.”

“And right she was. You should learn a thing or two from her.” And a laugh bubbles between the two of you. He had to remind himself to save his apologies later for Okonogi. For despite her absence, even now she was playing cupid for them. The small voice in his head urging him to tell you how he truly felt.

And without warning. He managed to say it outloud.

“I love you.”

Those words had struck a melodic chord in you. Ones that made you look back at him in temporary stupor. Before finally turning giddy at the way he so gently said it. No remorse. No regret. A fact even she couldn't deface as mockery. When there'd normally be a trick of a joke involved.

And in your quiet smiles held a deep admiration for him. Ones that squeezed Soshiro's hand despite the difficulty of your injuries.

But that didn't matter. Injuries heal after all. And right now, you had been far too focused on him to mind the slowly subsiding pain on your body.

“What's this all of a sudden? You're not joking are you?” You ask cautiously. Though a smile still remained on your face. Far too elated at hearing those words. And from the look on his face, you could tell he had been serious in his admission.

“It's not sudden. I just–” Soshiro lets out a small chuckle. Not entirely sure why he feels so nervous in the wake of your question.

“I meant to say it that day. Before the Kaiju attacked. I wanted it to be perfect for ya and..” His voice stops when you lean in. Cuddling him down as best you could in the safety of the hospital's bedsheets. The understanding look in your eyes had all but told him that you knew. And it makes him think twice about having to explain things to you again. Not when you could now read him so well. Especially in the most important aspects of his life.

“I know. You don't need to tell me twice."

He heard you speak. Though the hint of playfulness in your voice hadn't subsided. A reminder that you had been slowly regaining your strength. And pretty soon, you'd be pulling him down by the collar just to kiss him breathless if you wanted to.

But for now, he was gonna have to take care of you. Take the lead and deal with your smart comments. And it makes him smile knowing he'd get to hear such witty banters from you again. More so now that you were awake.

“Really now? And I thought you'd be happy to have me say it outloud for ya.”

His chuckle had made his chest rumble. And you could feel the pleasant vibration as your head fell squarely on his chest. A roll in your eyes as you had hummed in reply.

“Well…I suppose it couldn't hurt for you to say it again.”

And he would. He'd do it as long as you'd allow him that privilege.

And this time, he too had read you like an open book. Somehow fitting perfectly in the way they understand the other without needing to speak. They needed to work on it. They needed each other more than ever before.

So it was lucky their bonds were more lasting than bronze. And fate had brought them together.

#anime #kn8 #kaiju no. 8 #hoshina soshiro x reader #soshiro hoshina #soshiro hoshina x reader #hoshina soshiro #kaiju no 8 x reader #kn8 x reader #definitely self indulgent #angst #angst with a happy ending #hurt/comfort #arguing #kn8 manga #kaiju number 8 #mina ashiro #konomi okonogi

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mellowtrashtrash · 4 months ago

Text

Back in business with Ennard!

After much toil, here's the amazing Ennard!

Ennard is a very complex character so he took quite a while to model, but I appreciate a good challenge. After all the animatronic models I've made, it's nice to work with characters that challenge the status quo. Challenges keep the process feeling fresh. Variety is the spice of life after all. The hard work was very worth it in the end; he turned out great!

The amount of detail this character is able to have while still looking good bodes well for the FFPS animatronics (who I anticipate giving me even more trouble than even the FNaF:SL ones).

I haven't posted in a while as I've been busy with life and some personal projects. I even started working on a sort of (non-FNaF World related) FNaF fangame of my own, but it'll be a while before I can formally share anything about that. I can't say I'll definitely be posting more often because I'd be lying; that's just not the kind of person I am. I work in phases. Quite like the moon. I haven't abandoned this blog, and I hope to have more awesome stuff to share with you all soon!

Thanks for tuning in, catch you on the flipside!

#mellowtrashtrash #five nights at freddy's #fnaf #fnaf world #ennard #sister location #fnaf sister location #animation #3d artwork #blender #3d animation #fnaf fanart #fnaf sl #art

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fxckn-sxck-fr · 3 months ago

Note

Hii!! Just a thought, would any of the yanderes baby trap a particularly difficult reader?

𝐘𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐂 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐁𝐘-𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆…

!!! GN reader, children (lmao), manipulation, coercion into parenting, delusions, slight threats, impregnation mention (it’s not the reader, though), obligatory Tim Drake warning, mentions of possible harm to children.

I’m assuming you just mean the comic book yanderes. Let’s see!

I kept the actual baby-acquisition vague. Could be one or both of y’all’s biological kid, could be adopted, could be kidnapped. Who knows! I also gave them ratings on how they would be as a father, cuz why not.

Bruce Wayne: Yes. Absolutely. This is Bruce we’re talking about. You know, the guy who’s never beating the empty-nester allegations? As long as you’re with him, you’re bound to end up with a kid one way or another. Whether he set out to baby trap you or ended up with a child by chance, he is for sure going to hold it over your head. This kid is going to have both of their parents in their life, biological or not. It’s like a new kid spawns in the manor every time you get even a little bit rebellious. (7/10 father; still has his issues, but he’s learned from his past mistakes.)

Bucky Barnes: Okay, I don’t think he’d initially see himself as a family man. Just never crossed his mind, given his life as the Winter Solider. If he did end up with a kid, it would definitely be by accident. But when that happens, he’ll start to give it a little more thought. The idea of a family… it sounds so domestic; so normal. Uh-oh. Instant baby fever. Now he wants even more kids, and he’ll acquire them by any means necessary. Doesn’t manipulate you with any children, but you may feel obligated to stick around; the Winter Soldier does NOT seem like the type to be good at parenting. (5/10 father; doesn’t know what he’s doing, but he’s at least enthusiastic.)

Clark Kent: This man wants the classic nuclear family life. While he wouldn’t set out to baby-trap you, it will inadvertently happen with his desire for children. He wants to be tackled by at least 3 kids every time he comes home! And if he’s already had Jon, I can see him making it his mission to find the perfect spouse; that’s how he finds you!! Oh, you’re not good with kids? Doesn’t matter. This man is delusional as fuck. It’s not like he sees you for who you are, anyway. Keep in mind that he’s projecting an idealized version of a spouse onto you. (10/10 father; amazing with kids and is willing to pull your weight when you’re being difficult.)

Dick Grayson: If it comes down to it, he will. Any form of manipulation is fair game, and hey… he’s always dreamed of starting a family of his own one day. Even if you’re not big on kids, he’s willing to play the long game to try and get you to change your mind. And if you never do? Welp. That’s too bad. You’re still gonna end up with a child somehow (Dick’s got plenty of ways to make sure of that). When he finally gets what he wants, he’s for sure using the “think of our kid(s)” card any chance he gets. (9/10 father; he’s a family man at heart, and everyone around him thinks it was only a matter of time.)

Hal Jordan: A bit iffy on starting a family. He doesn’t hate kids, he just isn’t sure if he’s ready. However, as soon as he realizes a child in your life could make you more compliant, he quickly starts to sing a different tune. Now he’s all for having kids!! He’d be obsessed with the power it gives, every interaction between you two having that subtle warning of, “try and escape me now.” Papa-Bear Hal is not a force to be reckoned with. You may find yourself not liking the consequences of trying to break up this happy little family. (8/10 father; there’s a bit of a learning curve for him, but he’ll eventually fall into the groove of it.)

Jaime Reyes: Nope. The thought of having kids makes him sick to his stomach. He knows there’s something wrong with him… god only knows what would happen to his kids. The what if’s would drive him insane, easily trumping the possible gains of baby-trapping you. Sure, it might be a bit tempting — and he’ll admit, a small part of him wishes he could one day be a father — but not only would he feel extremely guilty, he also knows that it’s a bad fucking idea. Hopefully, he can continue to ignore Khaji Da’s own thoughts on the matter. It doesn’t matter how important “continuing the Reyes legacy” is, he’s not taking that risk. (6/10 father; despite his fits of spiraling paranoia, he needs to give himself a little more credit).

Peter Parker: Honestly, it’s a toss up. He’s got his concerns with being a father, but thinking about it makes him all giddy inside. I think this would be another case of accidental baby-trapping. He didn’t set out to do it, but hey… if it works, it works. Any “but what about our kid(s)” that he throws at you is by no means intentional manipulation; he’s just genuinely worried what would happen if you left. Then again, I can also see him slightly doing it. As soon as he realizes it works, he’ll keep it in mind. A thing he’ll tuck away for later and only use when absolutely needed. (9/10 father; loves his kid(s) and would do anything for them).

Remy LeBeau: Yeah, probably. As long as he’s in a position where he can have a kid or two, he’ll go for it. Remy secretly longs for a family (though he’ll never admit it), and if starting one means earning your compliance? Well, shit… that’s just killing two birds with one stone! But again, this depends on if he’s in a position where kids are viable. Should he still have some unfinished business to attend to, he’s not gonna be dumb enough to have kids. Growing up in the Thieves Guild taught him a thing or two about why that’s a bad idea. Otherwise, you are not immune to a sudden baby-acquisition by yours truly. (7/10 father; he gives chill baby daddy vibes who tries his best to be there for his kids.)

Scott Summers: Oh, yeah. It’s guaranteed to happen. This man is committed to having a semi-normal life, no matter how unrealistic that may seem. He wants a family. He wants you to be obedient. He wants a sense of normalcy, goddamnit. Y’all are having a kid whether you want one or not. And he leans heavily towards having a biological kid. If you don’t have the means to get pregnant — or fight tooth and nail against the idea — he’s 100% impregnating someone else and stealing their baby. Yes, it’s a crazy idea. Yes, he’s willing to go that far. Don’t test him. He’ll yell and shout at you about how you need to be there for this fucking kid, even if it’s not yours. It’s in your best interest if you comply. (6/10 father; he’s chronically fighting against the absent father allegations and MIGHT be winning… results are still pending.)

Steve Roger: Poor guy wants to settle down so bad. Yes, he’d baby-trap you, but I can see him feeling guilty for it. He knows it’s wrong, and it would especially weigh down on him if you didn’t even want kids in the first place. But he wants a family so bad. He can’t help it!! And as big of a piece of shit he may feel afterwards, he’ll do what’s necessary to make you behave. You need to be here for your kids! If a little bit of manipulation makes you stay, then so be it. He’s surprisingly good at guilt-tripping, making a good case with the image he has to uphold as Captain America. What would people think if they learned he was a single father? What assumptions would they make about you if you left him? Society might not be all that kind to you. It’s best to just stay. (8/10 father; can get a little busy, but he’s definitely there when it matters the most.)

Tim Drake: Not a fan of kids. There might be a chance of him coming up with a baby-trapping scheme during one of his weird fits, but let’s hope he snaps out of it before it’s too late. Do NOT let bro be a father. On the off-chance that he does acquire a kid… pray. And I mean PRAY. His version of baby-trapping ranges from “but this kid needs you” to “I will fucking kill this kid if you leave.” A situation like this means you have to familiarize yourself with Tim’s mood swings. Be compliant at first, then when he starts to second-guess himself, try to gently coax him into giving this child a better home. Hopefully, that poor kid will survive everything unscathed. Tim wouldn’t know what to do with himself if something bad happened to them. (0/10 father; he’d actually do an alright job when he’s mentally stable, but I think everyone — including Tim himself — would agree that he’d do more harm than good raising a kid.)

Wally West: Yup. No hesitation. As soon as the thought crosses his mind, he will get to scheming immediately. His goal would be to make it seem like a natural evolution, even if you’re not keen on the idea of kids. Wally is such a master at masking his manipulation, to the point where it’s unclear if he’s actually baby-trapping you or not, and by the time you’ve realize it… welp… too late. Arguing with him is absolutely frustrating, cuz Wally West does not argue; he smooth talks until makes you feel like an idiot. Wanna know how cruel he is? Those kids will grow up to be accomplices in his manipulation, whether they know it or not. No one can put a stop to his fuckery. (9/10 parent; turns out to be a phenomenal father, I just have to take a point off simply because raising your kids to be just as manipulative as him probably isn’t good.)

#❥ CALL INCOMING: DO YOU LIKE SCARY MOVIES?#❥ TW: YANDERE #❥ YANDERE CHARACTER #❥ ROMANTIC YANDERE #❥ YANDERE BRUCE WAYNE #❥ YANDERE BUCKY BARNES #❥ YANDERE CLARK KENT #❥ YANDERE DICK GRAYSON #❥ YANDERE HAL JORDAN #❥ YANDERE JAIME REYES #❥ YANDERE PETER PARKER #❥ YANDERE REMY LEBEAU #❥ YANDERE SCOTT SUMMERS #❥ YANDERE STEVE ROGERS #❥ YANDERE TIM DRAKE #❥ YANDERE WALLY WEST #❥ YANDERE VARIOUS X READER #❥ GN READER

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voltronisanobsession · 5 months ago

Note

So you like my ideas, huh? Well, I hope I can continue to create some good ones for you! I shall try my best 🫡

Oh! I do have one request in mind, how about Percy being paired with reader who’s the child of Athena? Yes, yes, I know an amazing half-blood known as Annabeth exists but I had something in mind.

We all know how children of Athena are seen as wise, intellectual, clever, and combative people but what if the reader was different than that? There’s several types of intelligence after all, so what if they specialized in emotional intelligence and craft?

I can see them being insecure of their “abilities” since they know their siblings can do better, and even fear that Athena herself is disappointed in them, but, while Percy thought it was strange at first, he soon found himself enjoying those traits.

I mean, with their emotional intelligence, the reader knows when he’s upset no matter how hard he tries to hide it, and they tend to give him gifts like Melinoe!reader. They’re probably usually architectural models, weavings, mini sculptures of what he enjoys… You know all that good stuff. They probably gifted him something as something to remember them by when he went on a quest… but I’ll leave that up to you.

Combat practice to bond/as dates 👀?

Also, I’m not sure if you saw, but I like long headcanons so stop apologizing and keep it up!/lh

Poor all of your thoughts into it if you have to or want, I like it!

Percy with a Child of Athena!Reader

I literally LOVE these detailed asks UGGHHH!! I love the idea of instead having a different form of intelligence as a child of athena like damn😍 I'm getting used to brain dumping on these, its a work in progress🙈

Sorry for answering so late😭

Lowkey this reader sticks out like a sore thumb amongst their siblings😭

I like to think that most Athena kids are usually on the more serious sides, so it surprises a lot of campers outside of the Athena cabin to see Reader extremely expressive!

While the other Athena children spend their time devising tactical plans for big camp games, reader is just on the side doodling architectural designs and whatnot

They aren’t as involved in what their siblings do because it doesn’t interest them much

Like whenever they try and ask for readers opinions and start using big ass words, they just smile and nod cuz they had no idea what the others were saying

Athena's children are extremely intelligent so its difficult for reader to be on the same wave length as their siblings

It lowkey makes them feel like an outcast in their cabin because they cant really connect with their siblings like they do with each other while they talk about subjects beyond reader’s comprehension

Constantly being surrounded by books, scrolls and maps full of knowledge, reader often beats themselves over not being able to comprehend and show interest in wanting to learn about these types of things

They’re led to believing that they are a defect amongst their mothers children (crying)

They are always surrounded by reminders of their own inabilities to match their sibling’s intelligence which is why they spend little time in the Athena cabin, and even littler time with their siblings

Readers only saving grace is that they are always in tune with peoples emotions and feelings, no matter how well or little they know the people around them

Whether its feelings of anxiousness, sadness, quiet anger, or happiness, reader always seems to know how a person is feeling!

The first time Percy meets reader is when he spots them at the crafting hut

Being one of his first activities in the beginning of the day, he notices how reader is always there before anyone else

Percy probably thought you were apart of the Hephaestus cabin or something like that with how many times he’s seen you sculpting and carving away at a new project every other day

So he’s surprised when you reveal that you’re actually a child of Athena

He would definitely notice how you distance yourself from your siblings, especially during breakfast, lunch and dinner

He’s good friends with Annabeth so he sees the differences between you, her and your siblings

While she and her siblings are more closed off and have their noses stuck up a new book everyday, your always seen drawing or weaving a new tapestry for your cabin

You show your emotions more openly compared to their more dismissive nature as well!

He definitely sees you as the 'social butterfly' of the Athena cabin

The more time he spends with reader though, he notices just how in tune they are with his feelings

He could give the smallest, most insignificant indication that he's had a bad day and you'd be able to read him like an open book

It's easy talking to you about his conflicting emotions, your patience and thoughtful expression gives him more confidence to just let everything out

I think he would definitely fall for how empathetic you are in many situations

You've made many friends with campers from different cabins because of this quality trait! Always learning and understanding a situation/conflict that arises, you're always able to resolve the problems that makes it fair for all parties involved

Despite this, Percy is confused and a bit surprised to find out that you're actually insecure about this dominating trait of yours

"What?! It's literally the best thing about you though!"

"I know but its just! My siblings aren't the way I am. They're able to actually use their skills for something. All I can do is listen to people and make friends. That's nothing special. I'm useless."

It PAINS him to hear you say that because its obvious you don't understand the importance of being as emotionally intelligent as you are

He makes it his mission to show you just how many people you've helped, to show you that you have a reason to be proud of what you're able to do!

You slowly open yourself more after hearing all his reassurance, from him and other people around camp

It's definitely a positive change as you have a pep to your step now. You engage with you siblings more now that you have a confidence in your own abilities.

You make him many sculptures as thank you gifts! Even when he says that you don't need to, you cant help admit that enjoy giving him these gifts with a nervous smile

You've made him a mini version Riptide and even have given him a small owl pendant

You were hesitant to give him the pendant because it seemed more intimate compared to your other gifts, but he happily accepted it with a soft smile

AND WHEN HE PUT THE PENDANT ON IN FRONT OF YOU YOUR HEART NEARLY LEPT OUT OF YOUR CHEST I CCANNTTT

I think reader would be pretty aware of Percy's feelings for them which makes them feel fuzzy

So imagine how you feel when Percy pulls up to you one late afternoon after not seeing him for the entire day to give you a small pendant of his own

The sculpting of the trident is definitely more crude and less detailed compared to the one you gave him, something Percy abashedly admits but you wave him off

"It's beautiful, thank you Percy."

"No problem, now we're matching!"

You're aware of your own feelings for him as you are aware of his feelings for you, so it doesn't take long for a confession to happen

I mean matching pendants? come on bro its so painfully obvious to everyone

Percy falls for who reader is, not because their a child of Athena

He doesn't care that you're different from your siblings because he understands everyone has their own strengths and weaknesses

You still represent Athena with pride and he'll happily support you till the end

PERCY IS SUCH A GREEN FLAG IN GENERAL I LOVE WRITING FOR HIM💔💔

#pjo x reader #percy jackson x reader #pjo #percy jackson pjo #percy jackson headcanons #percy jackson and the olympians x reader #percy jackson x you #Percy jackson and the Olympians #percy pjo #Percy jackson #x Reader #pjo headcanons #pjo percy #headcanons

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bastardsinthebayou · 10 months ago

Text

RIPTIDE PIRATES MUSIC TASTE

My headcanons for the crew’s music taste 👍

GILLION:

i think he’d like something upbeat that feels good. so probably ABBA.

CHIP:

seems like he’d claim to like heavy metal to seem cool but probably listens to ABBA.

JAY:

wants some good tunes to keep her focused while she works on projects. i think ABBA would be good for that.

GRIFFIN:

after all that monster hunting, he probably wants something relaxing. like ABBA.

ALPHONSE:

with likely a whole database of music in him, he has a wide variety of options. so he’d probably go with ABBA.

QUEEN:

a bard themself, she probably likes the classics. those timeless songs you could hear over and over and never get tired of, like ABBA.

FINN:

likely amazed by the music of the surface world, and has probably written a book on the different ways the undersea vs oversea view music, he’d probably listen to ABBA.

DREY:

drey is a very free spirit, carving his own path as a pirate, so his music taste would likely reflect that. that being said i think he’d listen to ABBA

OLD MAN EARL:

Weird Al Yankovic

#riptide #jrwi #jrwi riptide #just roll with it #riptide pirates #mine

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violettavonviolet · 6 months ago

Text

Tim Drake fic recs part 2

all of these fics are finished and amazing! the word count goes up progressively and the rating is noted but do check the works for tags!

All fics marked with a star haven't left my brain since I read them!

Jaytim

these lines of lightning

smilebackwards

Summary:

“Sometimes when Bruce is being an asshole, the best response is to be an asshole right back,” Jason says, dropping down next to Tim and propping his boots on the milk crates he uses for a coffee table. “I used to go hang out with all the bad kids so I guess you’re already on the right track.”

4.8k teen

do me a favor

yasmindifference

Summary:

“So what were you thinking? Fake financial distress? Fake injury?”

“Fake boyfriend,” Jason said.

9k fake relationship teen

it takes a house, a village

defcontwo

Summary:

“If you shower my couch with love and affection, I might actually kill you.” Or: how Tim Drake buys a house, rebuilds his life, and accidentally falls in love.

10k unmarked, humor

A Gift of Knowledge *

njw

Summary:

Dick’s voice is hoarse with suppressed fury. “So, you’re just exposing us to this, this outrageous substance, and torturing us by leaving us here, bound and drugged?”

He has to know that’s not all. But he’s asking anyway, to get as much information as possible out of the villain before they’re left to their own devices. It’s what they’ve all been trained to do.

Tim squeezes his eyes shut, knowing what Joker is going to say. Knowing exactly what the evil madman is planning to do.

Damn it. Damn it all to hell, not here, not now. Not like this.

20k mature a/b/o

Stripping Down *

njw

Summary:

Tim turns to him with a quick, shy smile before rapidly climbing the pole, waiting for Jason to position himself under him. “Like this?” he asks, arching his back, gripping the pole tightly between his shapely little thighs and beginning a slow, grinding descent. Jason did not realize until this moment it was possible to be so jealous of a fuckin’ pole.

Oh fuck, I’m gonna die again. Of embarrassment or blue balls, just take your fuckin’ pick.

“Yeah, Baby Bird,” he says, almost not recognizing his voice for how throaty and deep it sounds right now. “Just like that.”

20k mature, soulmates

A Midsummer Night's Terror: The Great Escape

kleine_aster, njw

Summary:

A super-villain is on the loose, and he isn't called "The Kinkster" for nothing. On a hot Gotham summer's night, he entraps Batman and his allies, presenting them with a choice—to either succumb to lust, or perish in his maze. Badwrong ensues.

(kleine_aster's fabulous story, with a new ending by njw; posted with permission)

23k sex pollen explicit

I loved thee, though I told thee not, (--Right earlily and long,)

llamallamaduck

Summary:

The news that Timothy Drake, Gotham’s cryptid millionaire, has shot the Joker dead during a public live-stream hits the world like a freight train—and that is just the opening salvo of his bugfuck plan.

Maybe there exists, in the multiverse, a configuration of Jason Todd who will weather this with decorum, dignity and self-respect. This version of Jason Todd decides that the life of an academic is not, really, all that rewarding. In contrast, the life of Timothy Drake’s live-in house-husband is looking more appealing by the second.

24k mature

Re: Soulmarks

Moxibustion (RyuuzaKochou)

Summary:

JASON TODD - EXPOSED!!

By Vicky Vale (@vickyvalegazette)

BREAKING NEWS - Oscar-winning screenwriter, actor and all-around heartthrob Jason Todd has had his Soulmark exposed to the public in a wild escapade at the Gotham International Airport today upon his return from shooting his latest project.

Who is the lucky person with the matching mark? Who will color in the black shapes in Jason Todd’s Soulmark and Bloom with one of the hottest celebrities on the planet?

We will report on this as it develops! Stay tuned to the feed!

32k soulmates

Masquerade (Whose Face is Behind the Mask?)

chibi_nightowl

Summary:

Every so often, someone would take it into their heads that a masquerade ball would be a fantastic idea and make it into the biggest event of the year. Sometimes, they were a smashing hit. And other times…things just got smashed.

81k explicit

Timkon

The Mystery of the Superboy Shirts

Aviatricks

Summary:

The thing is, Tim is a detective, first and foremost.

And like most detectives, sometimes he just can’t let things go.

(Or, how Tim acquires several hundred Superboy t-shirts)

4k humor gen

the honesty in your body

Laroyena

Summary:

Luthor's tech saved Kon's life at the cost of his mind. Tim must take a feral Kon across space to restore his humanity... which is just as difficult as one may think.

(Batman Omegaverse AU: unabashed TimKon porn detailing their original get-together in their early teens to their definite get-together in their late teens. But mostly porn.)

14k explicit a/b/o

Slip and Slide

Living_Free

Summary:

Battle for the Cowl AU

Bruce is dead*.

The cowl has uncemoniously been dumped on Dick Grayson, who is kind of preoccupied with the fact that he now has a very small, very angry, Legacy-obsessed, Damian Wayne to take care of.

As per usual, Jason is not helping.

Tim is Sad, and is dabbling in the the treacherous waters of teenage dating, leading a superhero team, and running a company.

It's up to the voices of reason (mainly Alfred) to make sure that the family does not crumble under the shadow of the Bat.

*If you believe that after all the nonsense D.C. has pulled, there is no hope for you.

21k humor, the series is 200k+ and is fantastic

Catfishing

timkons

Summary:

Tim accidentally catfishes Kon. It goes about as well as you can imagine.

22k teen

Other

moving in stereo

TheResurrectionist

Summary:

Clark closed his eyes, wincing. “Your children have some…guests.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.” Bruce muttered, setting aside the tablet.

“No, I mean…I think all of them, um. Have a guest, tonight.”

2k gen multiple

Against the odds

Heartslogos

It’s a child’s gambit to get mummy’s attention mixed with abandonment issues paranoia and an extreme penchant for vendetta.

3k tim/Bruce 00Q teen angst

say cheese

DairyFarmer

Summary:

“Why are there reporters-”

Dick stopped. His eyes locked on the TV.

“Oh, look at that Drake- you’re trending on social media.” Damian offered far too coolly to be any form of casual.

XxX

In which Tim's nudes get leaked online and he is surprisingly casual about it

4.8k mature

Sticks and Stones

Solemini (SoleminiSanction), SoleminiSanction

Summary:

"Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can cause lasting psychological damage."

The Core Four stage a long-overdue intervention.

Or, in which Steph's abusive tendencies are finally addressed.

10k timsteph abusive relationship teen

Troika

Glitterandlube

16k kon/tim/bart crack

The Wooing of Tim Drake

Titans_R_Us

Summary:

Tim didn't stand a chance.

Each action, each gift, each gesture was calculated for the best possible result. The source of this smothering affection is surprising but Tim can't find a single reason to say no...So he doesn't. The brat somehow worms his way into his heart one inch at a time.

Meanwhile Damian is quite pleased with how his courtship progresses.

20k damitim mature

#jaytim #damitim #timkon #fanfiction recommendation #vio's recs #soulmates #omegaverse

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jazziejax · 9 months ago

Text

The Challenge

Pairing- BlackOC! X Challengers Cast

Summary- moments between Orion O’Connor and the Challengers cast that the people loved

Warnings- swear words, flirtatious between costars

Author’s Note- This sucks raccoon ass, it’s 2am, and I haven’t written in a very long time so cut me some slack, I beg you! I’m gonna write for Challengers at some point but I’m waiting because I want to write a series and I’m gonna need it on streaming services to do that(because I already paid to see it twice). But I’ll probably write some one-off things for you guys. Sorry for any spelling errors and grammar mistakes. As I said, it’s 2am.

Word Count- 2,686

“So, I have to ask.” The woman interviewer said, mainly looking over at Orion. Said girl’s expression went from calm to suspicious as she turned her head and side eyed the woman. The interviewer was about to open her mouth to speak again before Orion lightly gasped as she faced forward again.

“Let me guess.” She stated, leaning forward in her seat. Everyone paused, waiting for the girl to speak. “You’re gonna ask if we’re married.” She said, her left index finger motioning between her and the British man next to her. The woman’s mouth fell open a little bit as she stared at the brown woman across from her.

“How’d you know that?” She asked, genuine surprise in her voice. Orion slightly nodded as she adjusted herself in her seat. She crossed her right leg over her left and her body was slightly tilted to where she leaned Josh’s way. “Everyone has the same look in their eyes before they ask.” She shrugged. The tension of such a question could be felt throughout the room but also on social media. Fans went crazy with this clip, seeing the obvious signs that Orion was tired of such a question and was getting bad at hiding it. Some people called her rude while others defended her saying the interviewer was bad at her job for asking the same thing they already know the answer to.

“I just wanted to know how you guys felt about such rumors going around about you two?” The interviewer asked. Orion looked over at Josh, seeing if he wanted to give the question a go. Said man glanced down a little to make eye contact with the woman next to him before turning to the woman in front of him. “Um, the rumors don’t necessarily bother me. Not anymore at least.” He stated. “People have been saying this since the beginning of our careers, almost, because we became friends right before and have been for so long. So, I guess it just seemed like we were married?” Josh said with confusion written all over his face, his tone rising at the end since he was more so asking a question.

Orion dry chuckled as she watched the man deliver the answer she was tired of giving. “I say it’s rather flattering, in a sense, that people think we are married. Because Orion is an amazing woman that anyone would be lucky to call a wife.” He finished softly, glancing over at the woman next to him. “But no, we’re just best friends with the same name.” He said, visibly pink in the face as he continuously glanced at the woman next to him.

With the new craze of Challengers, every cast member gained new fans along with the one they already had and all were tuned in on their press tour. Social media went crazy over Josh and Orion, new fans because of their on and off screen chemistry while old fans were just excited to see the pair in another project together.

Orion made a cute pout at his words, her face heating as she looked at him in his blue eyes. Her big eyes reflected the fluorescent lights above them as she stated into his. “He’s too sweet for his own damn good.” She said in a sad tone as if she was crying. She leaned her head on his shoulder for a split second before raising it and dropping her façade. “Let me just say this.” She started, sitting up straight in her seat. Zendaya and Mike, who felt as if they were third wheeling the whole time, chuckled at her. “I don’t understand why I keep getting asked that when it could be easily answered by taking a look at my hand.” She said, showing her left hand. She used her right index finger to rub her left ring finger as she stared directly into the camera lens. “I do not have on a ring.” She said, shaking her head. She grabbed ahold of Josh’s and and held it up. Before she could even speak, her cast mates burst out laughing, knowing she was very riled up, which was quite amusing.. “He does not have on a ring.” She then looked back at the interviewer. “I would never do such a thing. I would be mad at Josh if he allowed me to do such a thing.” She stressed. “And I would also never let him or any man disrespect me in such a way. Isn’t that right?” She asked, looking over at the British man next to her. Josh immediately nodded.

“Correct.”

The initial context of video was ignored once clips hit other media sites. All people could talk about was the sheer amount of times Orion and Josh caught the other one staring. And if not them then the camera caught it. They all went feral over the last line, finding the way she demanded an answer out of him attractive and the way he answered her immediately. The compatibility between the two could be felt through the screen. Many edits were made out of the two and their characters, Dion and Patrick.

For backstory, Orion and Josh have been friends for many years. Meeting each other on the set of The Durrells where Orion was the only American that used an English accent for an obscene amount of time to play her character ‘Daisy’. They were only together in a couple of scenes but off screen, Josh and Orion became good friends. They grew even closer when Josh moved in with Orion when she went back to America. He would be staying for a while for work and Orion wanted the transition to be easy for her friend since he was such a big help for her in Europe, so she offered him a room in her New York flat. That’s when the rumors started. Seeing pictures of this pair of up and coming actors with the same last name, doing activities and living together. They blushed and joked at the rumors at first but after a while it started to get pretty annoying.

This being brought up again, fans started researching for old pictures of the two and they couldn’t get enough of the pair. Pictures of them holding pinkies as they walked around New York. Most of them from the same day as Orion showed him all of her favorite spots. There were pictures of them on the subway reading a book together. Pictures of them on visiting each other on set when they worked on different projects. So many pictures for the fans to choose from.

A while later in another interview, the energy seemed to be more prominent between them all.

“Do you think is most like their character?” The interviewer asked them. All of them immediately pointed at Orion, who even pointed at herself. Seeing that they all had the same idea, they laughed at one another. “Why is that? What makes you like you’re character?” He questioned again.

“Um, it’s actually funny because they changed things around for Dion once I was casted for her.” Orion started. “Her name was changed for be more boyish after I was casted because Luca and Justin liked the contrast of such a sweet and feminine character with a “boys” name.” She stated, doing air quotations around the word boy. “They did a lot of tweaking to the script after I was chosen for…whatever creative reasons they have.” She chuckled, waving her hands to indicate she didn’t know why but it was slowly up to them.

“I would hope I would be the most like my character because it’s almost based off of me at this point.” She shrugged. “But I would say I'm most like her in the way I love and express myself. In the movie, Dion is very physical with her friends which I tend do to be.” She chuckled to herself. Mike nodded his head next. She looked over at him, her smile big on her face as she blushed out of embarrassment. “Oh yeah, she’s like a baby koala. Or a sloth.” He started, seeing that the attention was on him. Everyone laughed. “She was always on top of someone in between takes. She falls out when she laughs, and she’s always sleeping.” Mike said, sitting up in his chair as he listed, his voice showing mock annoyance. Orion covered her face in embarrassment, leaning her head back as she laughed.

“I’m sorry, okay! This is just how I am!” She shouted. After a while of everyone laughing, they calmed down and sat still in their seats. “I see where my affection is not wanted.” Orion said sassily as she rolled her eyes, crossing her legs and leaned away from Mike. Mike groaned at her dramatic behavior and rolled his eyes too, doing the same as her. Seeing this, Orion softly scoffed at him. “Art wouldn't treat me this way.” She joked, causing laughter to fill the room again.

“Why do you guys say Orion is like Dion? Where do the similarities lie in your eyes?” The interviewer asked. Mike was the first to answer.

“I say she’s like Dion in the way she stated, herself .” He said, gesturing over to Orion. “Dion is a very loving and passionate character. You see that in the way she treats her friends, and in the games she plays. She doesn’t play for competition , she plays for the feeling it gives her. Like in the scene where she goes against Tashi, it didn’t cause them any strife because she doesn’t see it as ‘who’s better’, she sees it as a relationship and almost a way of communicating.” He said. “I see that a lot in Orion because she doesn’t really communicate through words, she communicates through her actions, in real life and within a character.” He finished. There was a moment of silence as everyone sat with what he said. Mike quickly looked around the room at the silence before looking over at Orion.

“Aww, Mikey.” Orion said as she pouted and leaned over to give him a side hug, placing her head on his shoulder. Breaking the tension in the air, the room chuckled. “He knows me so well.” Orion spoke up, placing her cheek against his with her hand on the other side of his face, smushing them together. They both smiled, feeling their cheeks mush together.

Fans were already in the Art Donaldson/Mike Faist train before they even saw the movie and especially afterwards. During most of the press tour the cute moments were between Josh and Orion and Zendaya and Orion, since the girl has previous history with them. But when Orion and Mike had their cute moments, fans almost felt like they were in love.

It was admitted in an interview Mike had without the whole cast he really admired the work Orion did before he formally met her. He first saw her on the comedy show Community. He found her really funny there and could tell her chemistry with the cast was impeccable. But her acting skills really shined to him when he saw her in Fleabag and The Handmaid's Tale. When he heard that she was going to be in the movie with him, he had a fanboy moment to himself for a few hours before calming down. Little did he know that Orion admitted herself in a solo interview that she used to have a crush on Mike after first seeing him in Dear Evan Hanson. She said that even though she hated that musical, she watched it for him. That’s also why she went and saw Brokeback Mountain live. Fans loved hearing this information, the Art and Dion edits having a mega surplus afterwards. Their interview moments together were cute but people mainly loved their red carpet interactions, Orion either bullying him for what he had on or the way he posed. She never let him live.

Another moment that went viral was their interview talking about intimate scenes together.

“Was that awkward to do with your best friend?” The journalist asked Orion.

“No, because we’ve done that before.” She answered quickly, not thinking of what she said. Zendaya’s head snapped to her, eyes a little wide as she gave the girl next to her a questionable glare. Mike raised his eyebrows while Josh tried to hide his laughter, and his red face, behind his hands. Seeing the reactions she got around the room, Orion chuckled before trying to save herself. “Not like that. I just mean I’ve seen him naked before.” She defended no better. Now all you could hear was the laughter of her cast mates. Mike and Z leaning on one another as they laughed while Josh put his head in his hands. “You guys know what I mean. We’ve done things like this before.” She continued to try to defend herself. Seeing her get nowhere, Josh placed his hand on her shoulder. She looked over at the cute smiling British man next to her, unconsciously smiling along with him.

“What? Tell them this isn’t something new for us.” She demanded the man. Josh placed his large hand on top of hers that was resting on the arm of the chair. “Our characters in The Durrells were in a relationship. That’s what she means.” Josh said, his face still red from trying to hold in his laughter. And blushing.

“The real question is, did you enjoy it?” Orion asked, looking over at the man next to her. But before he could speak, Mike spoke first. “Oh, I enjoyed it.” Mike joked. “Art and Dion were like rabbits at Stanford.” He emphasized.

“Her and Patrick were pretty wild too.” Zendaya said. “

“I think Dion was just like that with everyone, honestly.” Josh said. At that, Orion turned back to him, an eyebrow raised. “What’s that supped to mean?”

“No, byy everyone I mean, Tashi, Art and Patrick.” Josh rushed out, looking her right in the eyes. That’s something the fans caught into a lot. Whenever Orion looked his way, he would never break eye contact. No matter how many times she glanced off to the side or down at her hands playing with his, he never took his eyes off her face, especially when she was speaking. “Which is quite interesting when you take into account Dion was almost in control of everything.” He finished.

Orion immediately rolled her eyes and turned away from him. . Before she could say what she was going to, her other cast mates spoke in agreement. “100%.” Zendaya said.

“I’m not about to have this conversation again.” Orion spoke. “Dion is innocent and she was done wrong.” She said, looking directly into the camera.

“Dion played everyone.” Mike said.

“Like a game of tennis.” Josh finished, a small smirk on his lips. His eyes never left Orion, as if he was waiting for her to turn around. Mike and Zendaya groaned at him while Orion turned to him, a smile on her face when she looked his way. “That was so corny.” She said through her laughter that increased the more she thought about the terrible joke. Oriron loved a bad joke that was delivered kind of awkwardly. The rest of the interview consisted of small moments between Josh and Orion. Jim raising his hand to play with her dangling earring when Mike was talking. Her pinkie wrapped around his when both of their arms rested on their chairs.

Needless to say, the people loved Orion O’Oonnor and were on the edge of their seats to get more of her.

oconnorschildren

liked by, joshoconnorstoe, orionstar, and 36, 792 more

oconnorschildren you mean to tell me that this is Josh O’Connor and Orion O’Connor when they lived together???

view 3,944 comments

zendayacollective sups cute!!! ❤︎ ❤︎ ❤︎

mikeyfaist they look like a couple

orionstar and they’re wondering why people assumed they were married 🙄

⤷ oconnorschildren right! they act in love and get mad at us!

⤷ joshoconnorstoe they should just get married

tomdayaofficial I don’t know who I want her with more, Josh or Mike

⤷ oconnorschildren me neither, she’s has such great chemistry with both! I love her with them!

liversometennis I can’t wait until challengers is on streaming services so I can’t watch her kiss them all day everyday

zendayastwin I wish people would post the moments between her and Z, they are so cute together. Small hints of flirting but amazing friends.

⤷ oconnorschildren I’ll post some in the future because they are cute together!

#challengersmovie #challengers #art donaldson #tashi donaldson #tashi duncan #zenday coleman #zendaya #josh o connor #josh o'connor #patrick zweig x reader #patrick zweig #mike faist #jazziejaxwriting #jazziejaxchallengers

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justarandompersononthehellsite · 10 months ago

Text

So... @muffinlance wrote a really awesome story. I read a post from a point in time, though I truly do not remember when since it seems like I've been working on this project forever, saying that she gives blanket permission for people to print and bind the story into a book (I think there was an also addendum saying that they do not give permission to be sold, since selling fic is illegal). This fic has had total control over my whole brain since it was sent to me (@creatorofthemind I believe it was you, so thank you forever for tuning me into it) back during the days of like chapter six or seven.

So here I am now, sharing this amazing journey of my first ever bookbinding adventure. Further reading below.

So to give you an idea of what's going on, this is a fanfiction about Zuko (Avatar the Last Airbender) (animated show version, the LA show did not exist yet and we do not speak of the movie) being adopted by Hakoda, Father of Katara and Zuko. (This might have also been what kicked off the Give Zuko A Parent craze, but don't fact check me.)

Overall, the characters from the show stick very well to the cannon versions, but where MuffinLance really shines is in the rich backstories and fleshed out feeling of all the non cannon elements. Especially the background characters. I would argue that the writing in this peice of fanwork could easily rival the cannon show at many points of comparison.

Now that you have context, we can get into the actual process.

To start, I used this guide to figure out where to even begin, and fount the included resource list to also be quite helpful. I cannot for the LIFE OF ME figure out where I found the template I used for the front matter and such, but it must be somewhere and I will link to it when I inevitably come across it again.

Then I began to typeset. This step took... a long time. I worked in chunks from about September of 2022 to late March of 2024. I would get a big section done, sometimes even the entire thing, but then find I hated the way I had done it and give up for months at a time. Such is the life of ADHD and flitting interest in projects I suppose.

And then finally, step one was done, and I was left with pages on a word document that look like this. (And do please let me know if you want the link to the document. It was so much work, and I would love to not be the only one to use it.)

Next step was printing out this beast. Ended up being about eight pages of front matter, and about 630 pages of body text.

That I printed wrong.

Twice.

Before finally getting it right. And then not getting a picture of it, because I finished at 4 am and had work at 7, and am also an idiot.

Then I simply stitched along, putting everything together into a beautiful text block.

And came up with a design for the cover.

Yes the glue did end up lumpy. Ignore it.

Yes I did have to sketch out the design onto a scraped page several times before I figured out what I was doing. Ignore that too.

The cover design does wrap around the entire cover. No I did not get a picture before I glued the thing down. See again: I'm an idiot. And just... massively impatient.

Finally, we get to the stage of gluing. Behold, my bookpress.

Of course, topped with Madam MuffinLances own actual professional-people book, Fox's Tounge and Kirin's Bone. It is Excelent. Here is the LINK so you can go and support this amazing author with the real-monies as well as the internet-kudos.

Then, once everything is glued together, one must give the book its "gilt" edges.

#atla #salvage #bookbinding #fanbinding #muffinlance #I'm a really big fan of this story and the characters ok?#They're really fun and I love them.

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the-golden-comet · 3 months ago

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✨ Sunday Funday: More Milestones and Bonus Art✨

✨Hello, everyone! 💫✨

On the day of YWIMC’s launch, Peter decided he would one-up the genie debut by reaching yet another FANTASTIC milestone—3,000 hits on Archive Of Our Own! 💛🏴‍☠️

Wow. Just….amazing. In this last week alone, I achieved milestones in all three of my major stories—The Wingman, Peter Hart, and Your Wish Is My Command. I am continually in awe and inspired by how supportive this community has been. Thank you all so, so much!! I hope to continue creating stories that will knock your socks right off! 🧦✨

But, before I start my next giant project (👁️), I am taking a small Holiday Hiatus! Breaks are very important to avoid burnout, but not to worry! I’ll still be around to answer questions and asks about my stories, and participate in the community. I just may be a little quieter for the end of the year wrap-ups. Stay tuned for more~! 🎁✨

I hope everyone is able to rest and recuperate this Holiday Season. Have a great week, a wonderful December, and a Happy New Year! 💫✨

✨👇 Tag List for Writing Snippets below. DM me if you’d like to be added 👇✨

Tag List for writing tidbits (lmk if you want + or -)

@autism-purgatory , @jev-urisk , @talesofsorrowandofruin , @castiels-favorite-hunter , @wyked-ao3 ,

@glasshouses-and-stones , @alinacapellabooks , @gioiaalbanoart , @tragedycoded , @deanwax ,

@dyrewrites , @honeybewrites , @drchenquill , @paeliae-occasionally , @lychhiker-writes ,

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@theaistired , @somethingclevermahogony , @noxxytocin , @the-inkwell-variable , @seastarblue ,

@leahnardo-da-veggie , @addicted2coke-theothercoke , @illarian-rambling , @mysticstarlightduck , @the-letterbox-archives ,

@ominous-feychild , @saturnine-saturneight , @words-after-midnight , @hemlocks-grove , @cowboybrunch ,

@yourpenpaldee , @moltenwrites , @pixies-love-envy , @davycoquette , @writeahurricane ,

@nczaversnick , @greenfinchwriter , @oliolioxenfreewrites , @lavender-gloom , @smellyrottentrees ,

@aintgonnatakethis , @thecomfywriter , @pluppsauthor , @michellekarnold , @flurrysahin ,

@authorcoledipalo , @jadeglas , @spookyceph , @astramachina , @48lexr ,

@inseasofgreen , @agirlandherquill , @saebasanart , @leatafandom , @justabigoldnerd ,

@pippinoftheshire , @just-emis-blog, @aalinaaaaa , @badscientist , @dearunreliablenarrator ,

@worlds-tallest-fairy , @rhikasa , @eccaiia , @theink-stainedfolk , @theverumproject ,

@theprissythumbelina , @riveriafalll , @revenancy , @inadequatecowboy , @amielbjacobs ,

@patternwelded-quill , @sugarchains , @garthcelyn , @prettytothink-so , @leahpardo-pa-potato ,

@winvyre , @speaknowbuckley , @lamuradex , @wintherlywords , @sharkblizzardblogs ,

@dragoninatrenchcoat , @darekasama , @recklessgirl56 , @kokoass , @ziote ,

@paletteofseaglass , @basketcase1880 , @sableglass , @halfbakedspuds , @notwritinganyflufftoday ,

@twopercentboy , @mxtansy , @menaceofmemory , @unfilteredmoonchild , @blerdsong ,

@iamwhimsy , @beansmakesthings , @birdycage , @tiagems , @narkaholic ,

@irolynn , @petitprincess1 , @macinchiz , @owlsandwich , @stephtuckerauthor,

@sarandipitywrites , @mauvecatfic , @finchwrites , @aurumni-writes , @uiraya ,

@justanotherchangeling , @ahopelessnecromantic , @ryns-ramblings , @oleanderbailey , @365runesofthesystem ,

@vesanal ,

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winchesterwild78 · 4 months ago

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A Husband's Return

Master Lists

Characters: Jensen x Reader (wife)

Warnings: mention of sickness, fluff

A/N: Just a short story inspired by an idea from @cheekygirl2309. I hope I do your idea justice. Jensen is married to the reader in this story. No disrespect to him or his family, this is a work of fiction.

All work is my own, do not take it or copy it without permission.

Minors DNI 18+

The house was eerily quiet. A stark contrast to the usual cacophony of laughter, the clinking of dishes, or Jensen's booming voice belting out a tune. You missed the familiar rhythm of your life, the warmth of his presence. Now, the only sound was the soft ticking of the clock and the distant hum of the refrigerator.

Your body ached, a heavy weight pressing down on you. The doctor had warned you it was a particularly virulent strain of the flu, but the reality of it was far more debilitating than you had anticipated. Working around children, you tend to get sick around this time of year, and this year was no different.

You longed for Jensen's comforting arms, his strong hands to soothe your pain. But he was thousands of miles away, filming his latest project. He was amazing when you weren't feeling well. Jensen would make sure you were as comfortable as could be, and he would bring you the banana popsicles you’d loved as a child.

You loved him so much, but when you were sick and he took care of you, you got to see a side of Jensen not many people did. Sure he cared about the people he loved, but when he was taking care of you while you were sick or hurt, you saw a man who would give anything to take the pain or sickness away. A man who would sit up all night to make sure your fever breaks, a man who would hold your hair back while you’re vomiting, and then help you up to wash your face and brush your teeth. He was an amazing husband and an incredible caregiver.

With a heavy heart, you tried to call him, your voice barely a whisper. You thought just hearing his voice would offer some comfort, even if he couldn’t be at home. The phone rang and rang, but all you got was the familiar beep of voicemail. “Hey Jens, I just needed to hear your voice. I have a really bad flu. I miss you and I love you.” Tears welled up in your eyes as you hung up. You felt so alone, so helpless.

Desperate for comfort, you pulled on one of Jensen's shirts. The familiar scent of him enveloped you, a comforting balm for your weary soul. You curled up on your shared bed, the soft, worn sheets a familiar touch. As the hours passed, the pain intensified. None of the medicine seemed to help lower your fever or take away some of the pain. You felt hopeless. You missed Jensen more than you ever thought possible.

Just as you were about to give up hope, you heard the front door creak open. A wave of relief washed over you as you heard his footsteps. He burst into the room, his face etched with worry.

"Y/N?" he called out, his voice filled with concern.

You looked up, your eyes wide with tears. Jensen rushed to your side, his arms enveloping you. A small smile spread on his lips as he saw you were wearing one of his shirts.

You clung to him tightly, your sobs muffled against his chest. He held you, stroking your hair, whispering words of comfort. “Shhh, baby. I’m here. I’m so sorry I couldn’t get here sooner.” “Jens, it hurts so much. I can’t make it stop.”

Jensen called the doctor and told them what was going on. The doctor called in some medication to help with the pain, and told Jensen to keep an eye on your fever. If it got too high he wanted Jensen to bring you to the hospital. “Keep her hydrated, and give her the medicine. It will make her sleepy, but she should be resting anyway.” Jensen thanked the doctor and hung up.

“Baby, the doctor is sending in a prescription. It should be ready soon. I’m going to go grab it, and some things for you. I’ll be back as soon as I can. I love you, rest while I’m gone.

He placed a soft kiss on your forehead and left. Leaving you laying in the bed waiting for him to come back home.

You had managed to doze off a little and before you knew it Jensen was back home. “Y/N, honey, wake up. Let’s get this medicine in you so you can rest better. You sat up and took the pills and the drink. Downing both, you handed the glass back to Jensen. “Thank you baby,” you said weakly. Jensen nodded and sat the cup down.

He kicked off his shoes, and pulled off his shirt, sliding in bed with you. He pulled you close to his chest and you nestled against him.

Slowly, the pain began to subside. In the warmth of his embrace, you found solace. You knew you would be okay, as long as you had Jensen by your side, and he had you.

Tags are open, if you want to be added, let me know.

Tags:

@nescaveckwriter @kr804573

@k-slla @jackles010378

@jawritter @xx-spooky-little-vampire-xx

@roseblue373 @cheynovak

@jassackles @chriszgirl92

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@n-o-p-e-never @ladysparkles78

@smoothdogsgirl @hobby27

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@deans-spinster-witch @snowayumi

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@superrey @kamisobsessed

#hes gorgeous #so damn sexy #jensen ackles #jackles #jensen ackles x plus size reader #jensen ackles x reader

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smallishzine · 3 months ago

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very important official zine stuff for real this time guys please spread this around

we realized we haven’t asked you what you want this zine to be, so here is poll with some different options for things we could do, but this still won’t set things in stone cause we’re aware that we’re working with a relatively small albeit amazing awesome and extremely appreciated audience, but it’ll give us a good idea for what direction you want the zine to go in.

some examples of what we mean for added coherence, please read before voting unless you wanna be like that guy in the Simpsons movie:

an eras tour zine (yes this is a Taylor swift joke shut up if you’re judging us you’re wrong) would be like different pieces dedicated to each, for lack of a better word, “thing” that Joel has done. @/inthelittlezine is a great example of this concept, except the mod has far better organizational skills than we ever could hope to

tourism brochure would be like we pick a specific thing Joel, such as esmp 1 or 2, or x life, or one of his hardcore/survival worlds (I haven’t listed Hermitcraft season 10 cause that’s still in progress but if you guys really really wanna, that too), and make an in universe guide to it expanding upon the lore and characters and builds and stuff. @/scarland-artbook is an amazing example of this, though of course we would be a much smaller scale of a project.

do you wanna tell a story? Or ride our bikes around the halls? We can’t help with the second one, we’re not very sporty people, but this option is both the most difficult and dangerous to the success of the zine, and the one that intrigues me specifically the most. Like, guys, I know I’m polling this, but I’m secretly hoping that this one wins. Like all the hoping. Ever. But I’m not gonna just say yeah let’s do this because if like only three people also wanna this zine will never get made and I will be really, really sad. This option is basically do we wanna take something Joel has done and work together to create an original universe/story based off of it, each contributing a small part of the story in comic or writing form. Unless you’ve been living under a rock and/or this post broke containment sorry if it did I assure I’m usually mostly sane, you probably know where I’m shamelessly stealing taking inspiration from. We heart you @/hotguycomiczine. If we went with this we would obviously create our own universe and storyline, and we’d try to base it off of one of Joel’s characters if possible. Also, if we went with this, we’d start the mod and application process and stuff and once we knew everyone who was going to be in the zine then we’d all get together and start working on the story, and this is the part I’m worried about because if we’re all stumped then I guess the zine is out of luck and I’d be sad. Also even if we did do this, like preemptively temper your expectations I am no where near as good as the legends at hotguycomiczine at organization and promotion and story writing and all that good stuff. However, if you have an idea for a story and want to share, send us an ask cause we might just end up using it.

I think the last two are mostly self explanatory.

please reblog for reach.

#smallishzine #Smallishzine boring forms n’ stuff #<this falls under the “n’ stuff” category #joel smallishbeans #smallishbeans #smallishbeans joel

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hoeneymilktea · 2 months ago

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deciphered ✧ tooru oikawa chapter 3 | ramen & racing

Your cousin, Hajime Iwaizumi—whom you haven't seen in a long time, invited you to support him at the largest street racing event in Tokyo. He told you he was a part of the Seijoh Brawlers, one of the notorious top five gangs affiliated with the underground street racing scene. Once he introduced you to his leader, Tooru Oikawa, a.k.a. Cypher—your interest piqued, curiously wanting to understand the true meaning behind his alleged nickname.

✧ pairing — tooru oikawa / afab reader ✧ genre — erotica/smut, action romance, crime romance, dark romance (absolutely no dv/sa), psychological thriller, crime/detective mystery ✧ rating — very explicit, 18+ mdni ✧ chapter word count — 13.4k ✧ content warnings — violence, street racing, references to drugs, explicit sexual content, heavy angst. see below break for chapter specific warnings ↴

author's note — This fanfic is inspired by the beautiful and amazing fanart of Street Racer AU Tooru Oikawa. Artist is @aikk00. disclaimer — I do not condone the romanticization of the yakuza or the reality of gang life as I intended not to portray that kind of interpretation, nor promote the activity of illegal street racing. Do not seek out these types of experiences as this work is just a piece of fiction. Please remember to read at your own risk.

cypher's condo ⇠ ramen & racing ⇢ renegade nights

✧ chapter specific content warnings: violence, explicit sexual content, foreplay, vaginal fingering

"You lied to me."

Furrowing your eyebrows while giving him a smug look, you scoffed at Iwaizumi. You video called him on your phone, greeting him on a good morning—or a good afternoon, per say. He grabbed his phone and placed it closer to his face, showing off his confused and shocked expression.

You had just finished your last class at the University of Tokyo, dropping your bag on the floor beside your bedroom door. Although it was a Friday night, you still felt overwhelmed from the constant bombardment of numerous assignments and projects from your classes.

All you really wanted to do was curl up on your bed and chat with your favorite cousin on the phone, but he turned out to be more of a nuisance than you had expected.

"Didn't I say not go home with Cypher?"

You squinted your eyes and pursed your lips, not sure why he was making a fuss about it. "So what?"

His eyes widened and a scowl formed on his face. "So what? You fucked him!"

Your arms remained crossed in front of your chest with your head looking to the side. "And? You fucked an import model for the Inarizaki Bois that night too. Don't you have a girlfriend or something?"

Iwaizumi remained silent and turned the camera back to focus on his face, checking his surroundings before whispering aggressively. You called him while he was working at the Seijoh Tune Shop near the outskirts of Shinjuku, only a few minutes away from your apartment. He worked there part time, spending most of his hours at the shop when he wasn't at school.

"How did you know that?!" He whispered loudly against the microphone as the feedback echoed.

You shrugged nonchalantly in response, alluding you weren't speaking on behalf of Leia's gossip. "People talk, you know."

Through the video call, the shop looked like it was busy as you could hear someone yell Iwaizumi's name from a distance. He propped his phone behind a stand with his gloved hands and walked away for a second, giving you a closer look at the inside of the Seijoh Tune Shop.

You saw a few men carrying large tires and car parts—the sound of drills filled through the ambience as you watched a man unfasten the lugnuts off of a tire. The shop was large and spacious, even from the small point of view of Iwaizumi's phone.

Suddenly, another gloved hand grasped the phone. The view of the video call shifted to Oikawa, peering down at you from the camera. His goggles were placed above his messy brown hair and black soot rested above both of his cheeks, staining his fair skin. He slowly smiled at you and moved the phone away from his face, providing you with a better view of his upper body—his chest exposed underneath his unbuttoned mechanic shirt.

"Hey." His teeth peeked out under his smile as your eyes widened, staring straight into his brown eyes.

"Hi," you mustered out, somewhat shocked by him picking up Iwaizumi's phone. It had been a few weeks since you last saw him, just barely a few texts back and forth of small talk since that particular night. In all honesty, Oikawa mentioned he was quite busy with some business of his own, as well as maintaining the Seijoh Tune Shop he and Iwaizumi worked at.

His smile started to dissipate as he placed the phone lower from his body, shouting Iwaizumi's name in a booming tone. His face instantly turned sour, stretching his voice to sound more intimidating than he actually was. "Indy, didn't I say no phones while working?!"

"Oooo, Cypher's mad!" One voice mockingly called in the back, followed by a crowd of laughter.

In an instant, you saw a hand fly across the screen and punch Oikawa in the stomach. Covering your mouth with your left hand, your eyes widened as you heard the sound of him coughing profusely. Iwaizumi's phone dropped to the ground, focusing its view at the ceiling of the car shop with a single lightbulb hanging from above in the frame.

"Don't fucking touch my phone with your dirty ass gloves," you heard Iwaizumi threaten as his head poked from the bottom right corner of the video call, grabbing his phone and stabilizing the view of his face. "Sorry about that."

"Is he okay?" You asked, snickering as you touched the tips of your fingers against your lips.

Oikawa popped up behind him unscathed, surprising Iwaizumi as he forcibly grabbed his shoulders. He smiled and leaned his face into the camera, staring straight at you.

"I'm okay, princess. Don't worry about me." Oikawa teased as his eyelids drooped down his sultry eyes, staring straight at the camera with a smirk on his lips.

Iwaizumi shrugged his shoulders back, shaking off Oikawa's grip. "Don't call her princess or I'll punch you again."

Oikawa backed away with his hands up in the air, innocently smiling. Before leaving, he slyly winked at the camera, showing off a playful smirk. As he walked out of the frame, you couldn't help but smile to yourself. "See you tonight, I'll be waiting."

That night, Leia planned to take you to get the ramen she owed a few weeks back from the race in downtown Tokyo. Much granted, it was long overdue—but to your surprise, she requested for you to bring Oikawa as well. You weren't sure how that would have planned out with Kuroo tagging along, but putting their differences aside, both of them agreed to the little double date saying it would be a nice break to their not-so-ordinary lives.

Iwaizumi rolled his eyes and shook his head, visibly irritated by Oikawa's aimless flirting. "I should probably get going, Cypher's gonna piss me off even more if I stay on the line. I'll call you again sometime soon, m'kay?"

You nodded your head in agreement and raised your hand, giving him a thumbs up. "I'll see you, then. Have fun at work."

You noticed Iwaizumi hadn't changed one bit with how protective he was over you given his interactions with Oikawa. Growing up as an only child, he didn't have the opportunity to be a protective older sibling to anyone. You appreciated having him as an older brother figure, knowing you're always loved and cared for unconditionally. Somehow, you both filled that void for each other even after a decade later.

After hanging up the phone, you immediately got a text from Oikawa. You clicked on the notification preview and opened the message, only to be greeted with an amusing and comical request. Although you knew he was teasing, you felt your face become hot instantly, pressing the pads of your fingertips to your left cheek.

"wear something pretty under that little outfit of yours tonight ;)"

For now, your relationship with Oikawa was just casual. In some ways, you two were considered friends because of your associations with Iwaizumi, along with the added 'adult benefits'. Granted, you've only been with him once, so the bond between you both would need time to develop. Regardless, the feeling was clear and mutual—he was into you, and you were into him.

As the hours passed by watching the sun set on the horizon outside of your window, you glanced at your phone, checking the clock. It was close to the time Oikawa agreed to pick you up from your apartment, around ten minutes to the twentieth hour. He texted you a reminder of when he left his place thirty minutes ago, assuming he would pull up next to your apartment at any minute.

Although you had aimlessly fluctuated between several outfit choices in the last hour or so, you couldn't help but feel like you had to change clothes one more time. Thinking about what Leia would wear, you attempted to match her vibe—trying your best not to look like you stood out too much compared to any of them. You knew how different you looked but didn't want to make it too obvious.

Oikawa didn't need to text you that he was already waiting out front; the sound of his engine roaring from several miles away already gave you a warning. The sudden noise erupting from the bottom of your apartment complex embarrassed you slightly, hearing the rattle throughout the walls. You lived in a quiet little neighborhood outside of Shinjuku where most of the tenants in your apartment complex were the retired elderly, so it was always fairly silent to respect their comfort.

You peeked through the blinds and looked out of your window the minute you heard Oikawa's RX-7 rumble beneath your apartment. There he was, blasting music with both of his windows rolled down, looking at his phone while the headlights shined through the darkened street. You winced, knowing your elderly neighbors would definitely scold you later about disturbing the peace, especially your next door neighbor.

As you grabbed your wallet and stepped outside, a cold breeze brushed past your knees. You thought to opt for something casual on a spring night, choosing something that fitted your taste. Though reflecting back, you angrily criticized yourself knowing that another outfit change would have been useful after all.

While closing and locking the door to your apartment, you noticed your neighbor, Mr. Nekomata, casually sitting in front of his porch and quietly observing the little neighborhood you both resided in. He looked over to you, waving his hand slightly above his lap. Waving back, you gave a sheepish smile, informally apologizing for Oikawa's loud music booming beneath your floor.

Mr. Nekomata was a quiet and observant man, always sitting on the porch and never failing to greet you every time you entered and exited your apartment. He always wore the same red track jacket and matching track pants, whether it would be blazing hot in the middle of summer or freezing cold in the dead of winter.

He was extremely kind as well, making sure to always check up on you whenever he could. From what you could remember, he didn't have any grandchildren—because of that, he felt like it was his duty to watch out for your safety like any grandparent would. It brought you peace of mind, knowing so many people cared about you and your well-being.

Usually Mr. Nekomata minded his own business, but he stared intently at Oikawa down below with a tensed expression. The minute you descended down the stairs, you saw him get up from his seat and lean over the railing, watching Oikawa step out of his vehicle to greet you with a kiss on your cheek.

"Hey," Oikawa whispered as he pulled you close. "You look really gorgeous tonight."

You looked back up at Mr. Nekomata as Oikawa pressed his forehead against yours and slid his hand down your back, giving a quick slap to your ass.

You placed your hands on his chest, slightly pushing him off of you. "Tooru, my neighbors are watching."

"Let them." Oikawa replied shamelessly, pulling your body closer to his again.

You couldn't help but feel ashamed knowing Mr. Nekomata was watching from above, knowing Oikawa looked far from the typical man any grandparent would approve of—piercings, tattoos, a fast car and a big attitude. Your standard bad boy, as they might say.

You stared at the dragon tattoo on his neck, admiring the intricate scales pattern inked onto his skin while he hugged you close. The way it spiraled on the back of his shoulder and looped back around to his arm and edge of his wrist fascinated you, despite the attached taboo surrounding tattoos in Japan. You found them exceptionally appealing and impressive with so much time and effort put into the designs.

Once Oikawa released you from his tight grip, he opened the passenger side door to let you in. The constant chivalry from him made you chuckle under your breath as you sank down onto the lowered passenger seat. A song with heavy bass flooded your ears as it boomed from the back, shaking the entirety of the car.

Oikawa opened the driver's side door and sat down quickly, placing his keys in the ignition and starting the engine. You felt a low rumble from the car before he quickly pressed the clutch down with his left leg and placed his arm around your seat. For a moment, you locked eyes with him; sudden but sweet, accompanied with another insolent-looking smile.

"Buckled up?" He raised an eyebrow, slowly tapping his fingers on the steering wheel.

"Of course."

The ramen shop Leia and Kuroo told you both to meet them at wasn't too far from your apartment. Nonetheless, Oikawa sped down the highway, shifting into fifth gear and accelerating the gas pedal. You held on tight to the grab handle, feeling the pressure of the winds blowing past your skin with both of the windows rolled down. As he passed several cars on the freeway, the stereo started to play a sultry R&B song, instantly shifting the mood of the car ride.

"♫ ...tonight are you gonna ride with me? ♫"

He relaxed his speed down to match the slow and steady beat of the song, leaving the shift on fifth gear. Once he maneuvered his left hand from the gear stick to your right thigh, his thumb began to delicately rub circles on your skin, stroking up and down. Oikawa turned his head slightly to the left and raised his eyebrow up, indirectly asking if he could continue.

You began to feel hot, despite the cold air running through the fully open windows. All of your focus was on the movements of his hand on your inner thigh, slowly building tension between your bodies. You looked directly at the road ahead to distract yourself, watching the city nightscape illuminate in the distance. Yet, the sultry song playing in the background kept Oikawa in the mood as he moved his fingers closer and closer to you.

Somehow, your legs began moving on their own, spreading farther and farther apart. The feeling of his fingertips brushing against your inner thighs made your heart race faster; your body shuddering from every lingering movement. Oikawa shifted his pupils to the corners of his eyes, watching you begin to unravel from every one of his advances. He turned his head towards you, raising his eyebrows for permission as his left hand stopped right in front, ready to pull aside the fabric in between your legs.

With one look from you, Oikawa hooked his middle finger onto the edge of your underwear, slowly pulling it to the side. You gasped abruptly, feeling his cold fingertips touch against you, sending shivers down your spine. Your knees buckled closer together, only for Oikawa to push them back and spread your legs open farther than before. He gently rubbed the inner part of your thighs, warmth running to the surface of your skin before his fingers made his way back, swirling in between.

As you tried to hold in your moans, Oikawa teased you again by rubbing your clit in circles. Your vision quickly became blurry, only seeing the bright colors of the street lights pass by on the freeway. He brushed two fingers against you once more, feeling yourself become wetter with each touch.

Within a second, he inserted his middle and index finger inside of you, pushing forward deeper inside. You instantly grabbed his forearm with your right hand while letting out a sharp exhale, sinking your fingernails into his white bomber jacket. His fingers slowly pulled out just to tease you once again before thrusting them back in.

You brought your left hand up to cover your mouth while you closed your eyes, placing your focus on listening to the sultry R&B song play on the car stereo while Oikawa quickened his pace. You felt the edge of his knuckles repeatedly hit against you as he sunk his fingers in deeper, letting your essence effortlessly guiding him through pleasuring you.

"Fuck! Tooru please," you breathed out as your voice drowned in the atmosphere of the loud music overflowing in your ears.

Oikawa pretended that he couldn't hear your moans, continuing to pleasure you while simultaneously keeping the wheel steady. A slight smirk erupted from his lips with a faint laugh exhaling out, confidence exuding off his body as he concentrated on the road ahead like he had done this thousands of times before.

You turned your head over to look at Oikawa, who had the same smug look as before plastered on his face. His eyelids dropped down with both of his eyebrows furrowed, fixing his focus on your body reacting submissively underneath his touch. Oikawa let out a deep chuckle in the back of his throat, letting his hands do all the talking.

You tried your best to hold everything in, but the pressure forming inside you was too much for your body to handle. His fingers repeatedly curled up, feeling him hit against your g-spot over and over again. You let out another sharp exhale, scrunching your nose and closing your eyes as you leaned your head back into the headrest.

With your eyes rolling to the back of your skull, you started to feel the release of the pressure approaching. Suddenly Oikawa removed both of his fingers, leaving you on edge and unsatiated, craving for more. You whimpered quietly as you pouted your lips, turning your head to face him.

That oh so familiar smug expression rested upon his face while his eyes darted in your direction, drooping his eyelids down with a sultry gaze.

"Don't get my seats wet."

He then placed his two coated fingers on his tongue, savoring the taste of your essence. Slowly removing them from his mouth, his lips made a popping sound—revealing the two digits cleaned.

"Sweet, just like last time. I might save more of you for later."

Oikawa wiped his fingers on his black jeans and placed his hand back on the gearstick, shifting it back down to third gear as the car descended down a ramp and exited off the freeway.

The ramen shop was around the corner, tucked away in a little alley between two large buildings. It had a neon sign up above the shop which flashed the name of the restaurant, Haiba Ramen. You saw Kuroo's bright red Nissan 350Z and Leia's pastel pink Honda S2000 parked next to each other on the outside, right near the entrance. The shop itself was fairly empty for a Friday night as Leia and Kuroo were the only customers inside.

As Oikawa rolled up to the spot next to Kuroo's car, his headlights flashed through the window, shining directly on the table they were sitting at. Leia looked over at you two while Oikawa turned off the headlights and removed his keys from the ignition.

He opened his door and hopped out before you followed suit. Immediately, you unbuckled your seatbelt and looped your fingers around the door handle—only to be interrupted by Oikawa placing his hand on your thigh and a smile on his face.

"Stay, please." He exhaled, ducking his head into the car again with his right hand on the roof of his car, and the other still holding a grip on your thigh. You felt a sense of déjà vu as you remembered him doing this exact thing before, just a few weeks back.

He let go of you and got out of the vehicle before slamming the door shut. As before, he made his way to the other side of the car and opened the door for you, waiting for your legs to swing out and step onto the ground.

You took Oikawa's hand that he offered, pulling you up from your seat before shutting and locking the door behind. His car beeped twice, flashing the headlights one last time before you both started to walk towards the entrance of the restaurant.

He held the door open, allowing for you to step in first and instantly smell the ramen broth in the air. The restaurant had beige walls that were decorated with a mix of traditional Japanese paintings and frames of red cars, along with solid concrete flooring that clicked when you walked on it. Boiling pots and sizzling oil accompanied the sound of small chatter in the corner from Leia and Kuroo with the slight buzzing noise of the dim light bulbs hanging from the ceiling.

Just as he slipped his arm around your waist, Oikawa shined an innocent smile at you before waving his opposite hand at Leia and Kuroo with a slight head nod, acting like he didn't tease you in the front seat of his car. Kuroo did the same, nodding his head with a quick hand wave to both of you.

Once you arrived at the table, Oikawa and Kuroo clasped their right hands together in a handshake before aggressively patting each other on the back. You made your way over to the other side of the table and pulled out the chair directly across from Leia, who was happily chowing down on a plate of chicken wings. She smiled up at you, wiping her mouth and fingers on a napkin.

Leia excitedly called your name and stood up to hug you as she inched her way over with a chicken wing in her left hand. She awkwardly placed her elbows behind your back and rested her chin on your shoulder, initiating half a hug. You smiled and wrapped your arms around her as well, feeling the back of her lace tube top. She wore something very similar to when you last saw her, except with long black jeans hugging her hips and legs.

"Sorry, I'm a little preoccupied at the moment," She laughed before placing the deboned chicken wing back on her plate.

You chuckled along with her as you sat in your seat and scooted in. Oikawa sat in the chair across from Kuroo, leaning back in his seat as he placed his left arm over your shoulder. Kuroo mirrored Oikawa's actions, imitatively placing his arm around Leia as she ate the last part of meat on the wing.

Kuroo looked over at Leia's deboned chicken wings sitting on the plate, giving her a saddened and surprised look. "Damn, princess. Save some for me, why don't 'cha?"

She glared deeply at Kuroo and brought the plate of chicken wings closer to her body, covering it with both of her arms. Although Leia was short and petite, she was able to consume a whole order of chicken wings by herself. Kuroo tried to sneakily grab the last one off her plate before she possessively slapped his hand out of the way. Saddened and confused, all he could do was rub the top of his hand before placing it back over her shoulder, pushing her small body closer to his.

"She does this every time we come here." Kuroo sighed and pursed his lips, waving his left hand aimlessly in the air. "Lev doesn't even ask us if we want chicken wings anymore. Once he knows we're coming in, he instantly makes them for her."

Kuroo reclined back into his seat, tilting the chair a bit as he placed both his arms behind his head. Suddenly, his eyes shifted towards the back of the restaurant when a tall man with white hair and the same dragon tattoo on the side of his neck came out with a second batch of chicken wings.

"Ah, speak of the devil." Kuroo chuckled as the man placed a large plate of freshly fried chicken wings onto the table, right in front of you and Leia.

"This is Lev Haiba, the owner of this restaurant. He was at the last race two weeks ago near the Shuto Expressway, you might have seen him. Shit driver, but an excellent mechanic and lookout for the cops. He can also cook a mean bowl of ramen too." Kuroo explained as Lev cocked his eyebrow, taking out a pen and a notepad.

"No discount this time, DK. You keep running your mouth." Lev mumbled with an irritated expression on his face. Oikawa and Leia snickered underneath their breaths while Kuroo began to complain.

"Come on, Lev, I was just joking!" Kuroo pleaded, standing up straight in his chair. He chuckled slightly to ease himself from the hot seat, crossing his arms in the process and forcing a smile on his lips.

Lev rolled his eyes and scribbled something on his notepad. "I'm assuming you two want the usual?"

His eyes pointed towards Leia and Kuroo, who both nodded without saying a word.

"Okay..." Lev trailed as he scribbled on the notepad again. "One black garlic for Leia and one tonkotsu for the loudmouth."

"Lev, come on." Kuroo sheepishly smiled, trying to mitigate Lev's teasing. Leia let out a short and insolent laugh before continuing to eat the chicken wing in between her fingers.

"And you two?" Lev shifted his gaze towards you and Oikawa, pointing his pen in your direction. You didn't get a chance to look at the menu, shifting your eyes around the table to find one.

"We'll just get whatever they're getting," Oikawa decided for the both of you, nodding his head up at Lev. You looked at him over your shoulder, staring straight into his brown eyes.

You then placed your hands on the table and leaned forward, crouching down to Leia's level. Whispering, you asked Leia about what her order was. "What's black garlic ramen?"

Leia's eyes shifted upwards into your direction and placed the chicken wing back onto the plate. She grabbed the napkin resting near Kuroo's side and wiped her fingers clean before clearing her throat.

"It's like... the best ramen. It's basically tonkotsu ramen broth with chashu pork, but it has a deep garlic undertone." Leia took the napkin and wiped the corner of her mouth. "It's amazingly flavorful. It's what I always order from here."

"Yeah sure, I'll get that too." You looked up at Lev before he nodded his head and scribbled down your order on the notepad.

He looked over at Oikawa who nodded his head in agreement, confirming a similar order to Kuroo's. "Tonkotsu ramen, please. The same as the loudmouth here."

"Cypher what the fuck," Kuroo furrowed his eyebrows and raised both of his hands up in an irritated and confused manner. Leia continued to chuckle, nudging Kuroo in the side with her elbow.

"Alright, Two tonkotsu ramen and two black garlic ramen, coming right up." Lev closed his notepad and walked back to the kitchen, working on your orders.

While waiting for the ramen, all three of them started to talk about the logistics and maintenance of their cars, a type of language you didn't quite understand. You thoughtlessly listened into their conversation about it, pretending like you knew what they were talking about.

You felt uncomfortable knowing you couldn't contribute much to their discussion, awkwardly sitting in your seat as you aimlessly scrolled on your phone through your social media apps. In the back of your mind, you knew how different you were compared to all of them, coming from a different upbringing and lifestyle. It didn't seem like you were supposed to be there, regardless if they invited you out.

You watched Leia flip her long black hair from one shoulder to the other, tilting her head slightly in Kuroo's direction as she listened to Oikawa speak. As he mentioned something about horsepower and explained the nitrous oxide attached to his combustion engine, you desperately tried to include yourself into their conversation with your background knowledge in chemistry.

"Why do you guys need Nitrous oxide in your cars?" You interrupted as all eyes laid in your direction.

Oikawa reclined back into his seat and tipped over his chair, chuckling slightly before shooting you a cheeky grin. He slipped his arm behind your back and traced the tip of his index finger against the edge of your waist. "It's how you win. You can't be the fastest in the race without using it."

"What piqued your interest in nitrous oxide?" Kuroo reclined back in his chair while flicking his bangs out of his eyes. Leia continued to snack on the plate of chicken wings in the middle of the table, shifting her attention to you.

"Well, I'm a biochemistry major," you placed your elbows on the table again, leaning forward. "Anything that involves whatever I'm studying brings my attention."

You crossed your right leg in front of your left as Oikawa placed his left hand on the outside of your left thigh, rubbing the tip of his finger against your leg in circles.

"Chemistry, huh? I used to be a chemistry major." Kuroo proudly smiled.

"Oh, really now?" You replied enthusiastically while widening your eyes. It was uncommon for you to hear anyone with an interest similar to yours outside of university, especially for a gang member.

"Yeah, I almost graduated and everything. Majored in chemical engineering and minored in physics. I also did part time research in a lab that specialized in crystallography." Kuroo placed his hands in his lap and reclined back into his seat, proud of his achievements.

"That's really cool, I always found crystallography so interesting." You rested your head on top of your left hand, tilting your head. Looking over to Leia, you saw her nod her head in agreement, confirming his statement.

"Yeah, so, my baby's a nerd," Leia chuckled as she took another bite out of the chicken wing. Kuroo shot her an embarrassed look, yet he didn't seem surprised by her humorous remark.

"Never knew that about you, DK." Oikawa piped up, nonchalantly tapping his left hand on your outer thigh and twirling his chopsticks in the other.

You turned your head back to Kuroo to continue the conversation. "You said you almost graduated, what happened there? How'd you end up racing?"

Kuroo gave a disdained expression, placing his hands on the table while looking down. He paused for a moment, reflecting on your words.

"Well, half way through my senior year, I ran out of money, so I asked a classmate of mine if I could work with him at his uncle's car shop since I was already familiar with the mechanics of cars, but it turned out to not be the kind of job I expected. They taught me how to deal, first selling marijuana on the streets of Tokyo until I was able to afford my classes again."

Kuroo crossed his arms and looked up at the ceiling as Leia wiped her fingers on the napkin beside her plate, staring at him in the corner of her eye.

"It turned out I was pretty good at dealing. It wasn't anything serious at first, but I ended up catching the eye of an infamous Yakuza boss. He gave me a formal job, transporting and dealing products for him. Sooner or later I got caught up in dealing, so I had to drop out of university. Although, dealing was where I got introduced to the underground street racing scene." Kuroo's eyes shifted towards Oikawa.

"That's also how I met Cypher. The rest is basically history." Kuroo continued to stare at Oikawa, giving each other the same stupid smug expression.

"Ah, I see. Did you guys meet through a deal then?" You shifted your gaze between Kuroo and Oikawa, leaning forward on the table. You recalled Oikawa mentioning he met Kuroo back when he first moved to Tokyo, but nothing else to the story.

Kuroo stayed silent and looked over to Leia and back to Oikawa—all three of them had tensed faces, leaving your question unanswered and ignored. Leia lightly placed her foot on your shoe, grabbing your attention towards her. When you looked over into her direction, she bit her lip and shifted her pupils towards the corner of her eyes facing Kuroo, insinuating there was something wrong.

"Ah shit, I'm really sorry. Was it something I said?" You winced while feeling embarrassed and ashamed, only wanting to make conversation with everyone.

"No, it's okay, you're all good. It's just... Cypher and I don't usually like to talk about how we met. We prefer not to bring it up." Kuroo leaned forward in your seat and smiled wholeheartedly at you, easing the tension off your consciousness.

You nodded your head and smiled back, taking a mental note. Although you wanted to respect both Oikawa and Kuroo's boundaries, something about their history together still intrigued you.

From the back of the restaurant, you could hear the kitchen door slam open as Lev brought out four bowls of ramen—all in little red dishes with sheets of nori sticking out of the noodles.

"Aha, finally." Kuroo clasped his hands together, licking his bottom lip.

Leia moved the plate with the deboned chicken wings over to the side to make room for Lev placing the ramen down onto the table. He pushed a bowl in front of you first, and then handed Leia's directly to her.

"Thank you, Lev." Oikawa bowed his head slightly and reached out his arm to grab his bowl. Despite all the rumors he mentioned of himself, Oikawa was always so polite to others around you. Never once had you thought of him as disrespectful, instead, rather quite reserved under his façade.

"Thank you for the food, Lev." Kuroo mumbled as he began to eat his ramen, slurping up the noodles with his chopsticks. He received his bowl of ramen last, most likely because of his insolent remark at Lev earlier.

As the table filled with silence except the sound of everyone slurping up their soup, you admired the bowl of ramen in your possession. You poked the little soft boiled egg on the left side, pressing down on the yolk and mixing it with the dark broth. There were pieces of black garlic floating around in the soup as you gathered some up, watching it fill up the space of your spoon.

The moment you brought it up to your lips, you realized Leia was right—the broth was absolutely delicious. You looked over to your right and saw Oikawa consume his ramen quickly, effortlessly slurping up the noodles into his mouth. With the chopsticks resting in your dominant hand, you began to pick up the noodles and scoop them into your mouth.

Everything about the ramen was amazing, the little bamboo shoots and enoki mushrooms were tender and the soft boiled egg went well with the broth. Kuroo was right, Lev really could make a mean bowl of ramen.

Just as you slurped another patch of noodles, Lev came out of the kitchen again with a plate filled with ten soft boiled tea eggs cut down the middle. He placed them in front of Kuroo and Oikawa, delicately setting the tea eggs next to their ramen bowls.

"Thank you for the food," they both mumbled simultaneously with noodles still stuffed in their mouths.

"That's a shit ton of eggs," you laughed while Oikawa and Kuroo both ravenously fought for them on the shared plate with their chopsticks.

"What can we say, we like our protein," Kuroo barely mumbled through his food as he placed a whole egg in his mouth. Leia lightly kicked him in the leg which caused him to jolt up a bit.

It didn't take too long before everyone finished their ramen, resting their chopsticks on top of the bowl. You did the same, finishing the broth and all, stacking everyone's bowls up for Lev to come collect. Leia rested her cheek on her hand and leaned over the table as both Kuroo and Oikawa reclined in their seats, tipping over their chairs.

"I'm stuffed," Leia lazily announced, rubbing small circles around her stomach with her right hand.

"It's because you ate all the fucking chicken wings, babe." Kuroo snickered before Leia lightly punched him in the arm, offended by his comment.

"Shut your loudmouth up, DK." She exhaled and sighed before leaning back in her chair like the others, full and exhausted, yet satiated from the meal.

"So, DK..." you began to speak, wiping your mouth on the edge of your sleeve. Kuroo looked up from his phone and cocked an eyebrow, placing his chair flat on the ground. "How long have you and Leia been together?"

"About two years." Kuroo responded as Leia and Oikawa turned to look at you too, all eyes in your direction.

"How'd you guys meet?" You shifted your eyes towards Leia, but she immediately stood up straight in her seat, hesitant to answer your question. She looked over to Kuroo, who gave her the same tentative expression.

You began to grow nervous, not knowing if what you said triggered something from them again. Certain boundaries of what to and not to talk about were vague between all three of them, and you surely would not have known that talking about their relationship origins were one of those topics.

"It's..." she trailed. "It's a complicated story, but overall, he asked me out to go to a party once, and I said no at first, but I ended up going and now we're together," Leia vaguely explained, lightly kicking you under the table as she gave you a grimaced expression. She cocked her right eyebrow slightly and twiddled her thumbs, indicating she would explain later in detail.

You wondered what could have been so confidential that they had to stay quiet from you. Although you understood the circumstances of their boundaries, you couldn't help but feel like the stories of their pasts were all somehow linked together.

"So, how's Indigo?" Leia asked, quickly changing the subject. She rested her chin on her knuckles, placing her elbow straight on the table.

"He's doing fine, I heard he aced his midterm earlier." You replied, slightly raising your eyebrows to confirm her signal. "He also mentioned that he installed a new diameter throttle body to his car, whatever that means. He was pretty excited about it though."

"What? Since when?" Oikawa chuckled lightly, leaning forward as the front legs of his chair laid flat on the ground. "I never ordered that piece."

"Well, I don't really know. He just said he was excited to test it out during the next big race you guys have." You turned your head towards Oikawa while crossing your arms, leaning back into your seat.

He looked up at the dim ceiling, scoffing loudly in exasperation. "This guy never fucking tells me anything anymore."

"What, do all of the Brawlers have to get permission from you to tune their own car?" Kuroo laughed, mocking Oikawa's concern while placing both of his arms behind his head.

Oikawa cocked both of his eyebrows, giving a stern look. "Of course they have to, I'd like to know what they're putting in their cars. I have to ensure their safety during races as they're my responsibility out there in the streets."

"What'd you do to this man?" Kuroo boomed as he turned to look at you, frightening you for a second. He pointed his left finger at Oikawa, "I can tell Cypher's changed, he isn't the same asshole I know. He's gone soft."

"You motherfucker," Oikawa growled before he stood up and leaned forward over the table, grabbing Kuroo's shoulders in order to wrestle a bit with him. They both struggled as Kuroo also stood up, placing a firm grip onto Oikawa's arms.

"Sit the fuck down already, both of you." Leia commanded as she watched them tussle with each other more. As they tried to see who was stronger, both Kuroo and Oikawa pushed back on one another—staring intently at the other with a smug look plastered on their faces.

"Hey! I ain't fuckin' around, take that shit outside!" Lev called from the back of the restaurant, shaking a pair of tongs in the air.

Kuroo and Oikawa let go from each other's grips and plopped back down into their chairs, heavily irritated and breathing hard from their little fight. Oikawa wiped his mouth before flinging off his bomber jacket and placing it behind his chair, slamming both of his elbows on the table. Kuroo crossed his arms, still staring intently at him.

"Seijoh Brawlers, my ass." Kuroo frowned, reclining back in his seat again and throwing his arm over Leia's shoulder. "You fight like a little bitch."

"Fuck you," Oikawa shot back slamming his fists on the table, rattling all the dishware on top. You didn't notice it at first, but you saw a new tattoo appear on his left arm, covering the entirety of his shoulder to his wrist like a sleeve.

It was a beautiful tattoo filled with waves in the background and pink cherry blossom flowers all over. The intricate detail covering his skin looked clean, including the katakana on the inner part of his wrist displayed in a tight brush stroke font. You wondered what story this tattoo told, whether it had meaningful symbolism or just a work of art he wanted inked onto him.

You reached out and touched his arm gently, tracing your index finger down the tattoo before placing your hand on top of his. Oikawa turned his head, startled by your subtle touch while peering down at you admiring his tattoo up close. Instantly, he placed his thumb and index finger in between your chin, staring straight into your eyes.

"My eyes are up here," he whispered into your ear, just barely brushing his lips against your cheek. You began to feel hot as his words flooded your ears, buckling your knees shut while you rested the tips of your shoes perpendicular against the concrete.

"Get a fucking room." Kuroo waved his hand in the air before he crossed his arms, giving a disgusted look towards you two. He hovered a finger in his mouth and pretended to throw up, imitating a childish vomit sound effect in order to tease Oikawa.

Just as he was about to kiss your lips, his fingers slipped off your chin and turned around aggressively to face Kuroo.

"You wanna fucking go?" Oikawa threatened as he stood up and shoved his face up to him, grabbing the collar of Kuroo's tank top.

"Oh my god, cut it out." Leia groaned as she crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, looking up at the ceiling with an exasperated face. "If you're gonna fight, at least do something interesting and race it out."

"Rematch, then. Right here, right now!" Kuroo stood up with a finger pointing to the ground and an irritated expression on his face.

"Oh it's on, bitch." Oikawa furrowed his eyebrows and smirked back at him. He dug into his pocket and smacked his keys onto the table, standing up in the process.

"Okay, I think that's enough play fighting for tonight," you anxiously suggested, waving both of your hands in a crossed motion from down below.

"Oh, they're definitely not playing around," Leia nodded her head as both Kuroo and Oikawa began to walk towards the entrance of the store, slipping out into the parking lot. "Let them race it out."

You were confused as they began to argue again in the parking lot, pushing each other in the chest and swinging their arms at their faces. As what started as a playful wrestle, you weren't sure if this fight ended up being serious or not.

Leia leaned over and placed her hand in her back pocket, digging out a large wad of cash. She counted a couple hundred yen before carelessly dropping it on the table, putting the rest back into her jeans.

"Come on," She stood up and reached for your hand, guiding you off your seat. "They're gonna race soon."

You grabbed Oikawa's bomber jacket resting on his chair, slipping your arms through the sleeves. It was slightly oversized on you, the tips of your fingers just barely peeking out the hem of the cuffs.

As you both rushed to the entrance of the restaurant, you heard Leia thank Lev for the meal. You followed suit, bowing your head and throwing a thumbs up at him in the back kitchen. Leia pressed her hands on the door handle and pushed it open, feeling the gust of the cold night brush up against both of your bodies.

"—It's fucking on, Cypher! Down this street, right fucking now!" You heard Kuroo scream at Oikawa, pushing up all in his face. He was slightly taller than him with an inch difference, but it didn't differ on how they fought to intimidate.

"Just get in the car, DK." Leia went behind Kuroo and slapped his back.

She pulled him back from Oikawa, who already had an enraged expression on his face—while infuriated from Kuroo's taunts, he also growled and muttered profanity under his breath. An anxious thought ruminated through your mind, knowing something was going to happen as both Kuroo and Oikawa were leaders of two completely different street racing gangs, both rivals for one another.

You had never seen him so angry, nor so enraged before—it was opposite from the cool, calm and collected impression he gave off at first when you met him. His eyes were filled with rage and his breathing sounded erratic, making you worried for what was to come next between the two men.

Instinctively, you went up to Oikawa and wrapped your arms around his body, pressing your cheek up to his sternum. You heard the increased pace of his heartbeat, feeling his chest rise up and down from his staggered breathing.

"I think that we just need to slow down and get inside the car," you suggested, mumbling into his shirt that smelled like white tea and sage.

He placed his hand on the back of your head, stroking his fingers through your hair. You looked up at him and met with his brown eyes again, mesmerizing you every time you stared deep into them. The corners of his mouth curled up, giving you a heartfelt and sincere smile.

Just as Kuroo and Leia opened up the doors to the bright red Nissan 350Z, Oikawa grabbed your hand and led you to the passenger side of his white Mazda RX-7.

Before opening the door for you, Oikawa slapped your ass again like earlier in front of your neighbor, yet this time harder than before. You winced slightly as the tips of his long fingers hit against the back of your legs, the smack echoing through the alley as he grasped the bottom of your thigh out of insolence.

"That's how you treat your lady?" Kuroo called from his car, revving his engine. You crawled into his RX-7, grasping the grab handle while feeling your body sink into the seat.

"At least I opened the door for her," Oikawa aggressively retorted as he slammed the car door shut behind you. "I didn't see you do that for Leia."

"Fuck you, Cypher." Kuroo scrunched his nose and placed his signature black sunglasses on his head, covering his eyes.

Oikawa slid on the hood of the car quickly and opened the driver's side door, slamming it shut before he placed his keys into the ignition. The familiar rumble of the car shook through your body while Oikawa pressed on the clutch and shifted the transmission into reverse, effortlessly lining himself up beside Kuroo on the road adjacent to Haiba Ramen.

Oikawa rolled down both of the windows, allowing for the cold night air and exhaust fumes to infiltrate the inside of the car. The sound of their exhaust fumes echoed through the alleyway as both of them had their car lined up right next to each other, slowly revving their engines while teasing the gas pedal further with their right foot.

"We start at the entrance of the Shuto Expressway. First one back here at Haiba Ramen wins." Kuroo explained as he rested his arm on the edge of his car door, showing off his intricate dragon tattoo.

Oikawa nodded and revved his engine loudly, acknowledging the circumstances of the spontaneous street race. He placed his right hand on the top of the steering wheel as the other rested on the gearstick, waiting to shift from neutral to first gear.

Shuto Expressway One was only a mile away from Haiba Ramen, situated on the edge between Chiyoda and Minato City. Both of their cars rolled up to the street light on red, each in their own lane with the empty expressway stretching for miles. Oikawa revved his engine, provoking Kuroo and Leia in the Nissan 350Z. You kept your hold on the grab handle, bracing yourself for another whirl of a race in the Mazda RX-7.

In the rearview mirror above, Oikawa furrowed his eyebrows and smirked to the left side of his face, showing off one sharpened canine tooth poking through his lips. You shifted your eyes to look up at the red street light as both of them revved their engines multiple times, patiently waiting for it to turn green.

The screech of his tires wailed through your ears the minute the street light switched colors. A strong force hit your body as the RX-7 accelerated forward, cutting through the air and speeding down the road. You saw Kuroo's car right next to you, dashing down the expressway with flames out of his exhaust.

Oikawa pressed down on the clutch as he quickly shifted into second, then third, then fourth gear, accelerating his speed faster and faster while the RX-7 zoomed past the 350Z. The sound of the engine staggered, moving the speedometer up to 120km/h as it sliced through the air. You gripped the grab handle tighter and braced yourself the minute your body ricocheted from left to right.

No roller coaster or amusement park ride compared to the exhilarating rush you felt when Oikawa turned a sharp corner, overturning the wheel to the right and lifting up the emergency brake. The rear wheels screeched through your eardrums as the whole car drifted to the left, watching him keep the steering wheel steady.

Kuroo and Leia trailed right behind as the 350Z filled up the entire rearview mirror—their headlights flashed brightly, blinding your sight. They swerved to the right up next to Oikawa's side, revving his engine before Kuroo stared directly at him with a smug look, gaining the advantage in the race.

Oikawa groaned loudly before he swerved the vehicle directly behind the 350Z, following dangerously close to the rear. The bright shine of Oikawa's headlights reflected on Kuroo's license plate, blinding the view on the windshield. You placed your arms up to block the light as he swerved the car left, causing your body to hit against the passenger side door.

You felt a stinging pain in the left side of your body when you rubbed your arm, feeling the car accelerate into the night, slicing through the wind. You gripped the side of your seat and saw Oikawa shift the car in the corner of your eye, stomping on the gas pedal with his right leg.

In an instant, he passed Kuroo again, this time his speedometer reading 150km/h, feeling the rumble of the tires beneath you. Oikawa stuck his head out the window, looking back at Kuroo as they slowed down and you two sped up. When he looked forward on the road ahead, a tight turn with pedestrians approached very quickly.

"Tooru, watch out! Oh my god!" You screamed while closing your eyes and held your breath in, bracing yourself for the worst.

You flinched and stiffened your legs, holding closely onto the grab handle and your seatbelt as Oikawa cursed under his breath. While peeking your eyes open, he pulled up the emergency brake again and stomped on the clutch, overturning the steering wheel to the left with just enough room to drift the tight corner.

The sound of his tires squealing on the asphalt pierced through your ears, quickly signaling pedestrians to move out of the way. Oikawa held tightly onto the steering wheel while yanking it back to the right, controlling the direction of the car.

The RX-7 ricocheted to the left, quickly aligning back to the center as Oikawa swiftly upshifted the gear from third to fourth. You looked over your shoulder and saw Kuroo right behind again with his front bumper dangerously close to Oikawa's rear. Your head spun in multiple directions, causing you to grow faint; yet the rush of excitement kept you alert.

You observed Oikawa drove a lot more recklessly now than when he did in the downtown Tokyo race, his thinking entirely clouded by his emotions. Back then, he analyzed and calculated his drifts carefully and methodically—this time it felt like every decision he made was sporadic and impulsive.

He was silent during the whole race, which usually foretold his intense concentration, not the current mindset he was in. You could tell his motivation was driven by his rage, something he would end up regretting later. Oikawa delivered a blank expression; his eyes slumped down while staring intently at the road in front. He upshifted to fifth gear, effortlessly pulling the gearshift to the right and accelerating his speed.

As the distance increased between Oikawa and Kuroo, it didn't stop him from going all out. You heard the engine sputter when he pressed down the gas pedal again, causing your body to press up tighter against the passenger seat. In the corner of your eye, you saw his nose wrinkle up and his eyebrows furrow before his mouth formed into a malicious grin.

Immediately, Oikawa drifted another turn again, leading straight into the same street Haiba Ramen was in. He clutched the emergency break and quickly released it again when the wheels marked the asphalt, spinning the car in circles in the parking lot of the restaurant. Your vision gyrated, seeing all kinds of lights from the surrounding establishments fly over your eyes.

You inhaled a large breath of air and clung onto his arm and the grab handle above your head, stabilizing your body while your feet glued to the bottom of the car. A gust of wind flowed through Oikawa's brown locks and messed up the front of his hair, tangling it all over the place.

The minute he stopped the car, you both jerked forward, forcing you to hold on tighter to his arm. Oikawa sighed and ran his fingers through his hair, pulling back his bangs and exposing a little bit of his forehead.

He arrogantly smiled at you while his hand reached behind his head, releasing the grip of his bangs as it flung forward, watching the wisps of his hair dangling in front of his eyes. His left arm flexed, showing off his defined bicep with sakura flowers and petals displayed proudly on his arm, something that you could not deny looked attractive.

Oikawa caught your gaze, turning his body around to face you. He reached out his right hand to grab the back of your head, pushing your face forward closer to his. You locked eyes with him for a second, staring straight into his pupils as the red neon lights of Haiba Ramen reflected in his retina. Red was all you could see in his eyes before he looked down at your lips with a suggestive smirk.

"You're so fucking sexy right now."

A deep guttural sound came from the back of his throat before his lips smashed against yours, his hand pulling your head forward while deepening the kiss. You knew how rough Oikawa could be, but his sudden bashfulness was on another level—he bit the bottom of your lip and hummed into your mouth, pushing his tongue in while you could feel his arm slip around the back of your neck.

His right hand tried to push its way in between your thighs, forcing your legs to open while he guided your left foot to prop up against the side of the passenger door. He wasn't gentle at all; kissing too roughly against your lips and biting your skin, all things you were not ready to do at the moment.

"Enough!" You pushed him off aggressively, wiping the corners of your mouth with your right hand. "What the fuck was that?"

Oikawa was startled by your sudden rejection, blinking a few times before realizing his actions. He sighed and closed his eyes, leaning back into his seat while running his hand through his hair again.

"Fuck, fuck!" Oikawa cursed to himself as he pinched in between the bridge of his nose, slumping down his seat. He fluttered his eyes open again, staring up at the roof of the car. "I'm so sorry, I don't know why I did that."

That was the first time Oikawa had upset you. It looked like he didn't even care about the race at that point—it was just another way to take out his anger and excess energy. You wondered what he was thinking of as he seemed extremely different tonight than when you had first met him.

The car continued to rumble underneath your feet as you saw Kuroo and Leia slowly pull up next to the RX-7 with unsettling expressions on their faces. They both stared at Oikawa while Kuroo pulled up to park beside him, turning off his engine. He motioned for Oikawa to come out of the vehicle, waving his hands in a come-hither motion. You looked towards Leia who gave you a discomforting look, visibly disturbed by something.

"Cypher, out. Now. We need to talk." Kuroo demanded as he towered over his car, pressing his chest against the edge of the roof.

Oikawa didn't hesitate as he quickly turned off the engine and the headlights, hopping out of the car and slamming the door shut. You were worried that their conversation could have been about the race, but your assumption quickly faded when you saw the both of them head out a little far from the cars. Oikawa crossed his arms when Kuroo showed him something on his phone.

Leia kept her gaze on you, breaking it once in a while to look back at Kuroo and Oikawa.

"Do you know what they're talking about?" You cupped your hands over your mouth and loudly whispered to Leia, who could only give you discontented pout.

She looked back over at the two men, who started to make their way back over to the cars. Leia gazed at you in silence with the exact same look she gave you back in Haiba Ramen, universally signaling that she would tell you in private, not around Kuroo and Oikawa.

Just as they approached the cars again, Leia turned her head and leaned over to Kuroo who whispered something in her ear while ducking his head down to her level.

You felt Oikawa open the driver's side door again and reach in as he placed his hand on your thigh. He looked at you with a consoling expression as his smile diminished into a desolate frown. "I have to go right now, I have important business to do with DK."

"Now?" You panicked as he dropped the news on you so quickly.

"Yeah, I'm sorry." He pitied, stroking the sides of your thighs with his thumb. "I'm having Leia take you back to my condo."

You didn't respond, for millions of questions ruminated through your mind asking why. Oikawa reached into his pocket and grabbed the keys to his condo, placing them into your hands.

"The Aoba Johsai Tower, forty-fifth floor, unit seventeen. You and Leia can stay there until we're both back, it shouldn't take too long."

He ducked his head out of the car and slammed the driver's side door shut while quickly jogging over to your side, placing his hand out in front to help you up. Oikawa pulled you up once you accepted his hand, shutting the door behind immediately after you stepped out into the parking lot. You slid his bomber jacket off your shoulders, only for Oikawa to grab the collar and place it back onto your body.

"Keep it on, you'll get cold." He smiled down at you, fixing the collar of the bomber jacket around your neck. "I don't want you getting sick."

Oikawa placed a quick and delicate kiss on your right cheek, whispering an incoherent goodbye in your ear. You couldn't hear it clearly as Leia stepped out of Kuroo's car and grabbed your hand, dragging you to the pink S2000 sitting in front of Haiba Ramen.

"Let's go, we have a lot to discuss."

The firmness in her voice struck a chord in the back of your throat, making it hard to swallow. You turned your head back at Oikawa, who already hopped back into the Mazda RX-7, revving the engine.

You watched both Kuroo and Oikawa roll out of the parking lot, the sound of their engines roaring through the street. Kuroo led in front while Oikawa followed closely behind, their red tail lights disappearing into a corner as they furthered their distance from Haiba Ramen.

Leia unlocked her S2000, hopping into the driver's seat. You placed your hand onto the pink handle of her car, pulling it forward as the door swung open. This particular action felt foreign to you as Oikawa always opened the car door for you instead.

Assuming it was common with street racers modifying their cars, Leia's seats also sunk low to the ground. The interior smelled like brown sugar and a hint of floral body spray, vanilla and jasmine mixed within the vents. Although everything was coated in black, there were decals of pink hearts and lotus flowers everywhere, including on her steering wheel resting on the middle console that detaches from the lock. She picked it up and placed it back on the hub just as you clicked your seatbelt on.

"Where's Cypher's condo?" Leia asked as she placed her keys into the ignition. You felt the rumble of her car on the bottom of your feet as it vibrated through your legs.

"It's in the Shibuya district, I can probably point it out when we get close to it." You looked out of your window and felt the car begin to reverse. The red neon lights of shops right next to Haiba Ramen flooded your vision when Leia drove out of the parking lot, feeling the whole car shift into second gear.

Her upshifts were a lot clunkier than Oikawa's as she hesitated between gears, but nonetheless followed through with accelerating through the streets. Her muffler rumbled in the back, making a deep and low guttural growl. While pressing her left leg on the clutch, she slid the gearshift up into third gear from second, increasing her speed as you both exited the main road.

It was pretty silent in the car until you decided to perk up and ask about what she was trying to tell you back in Haiba Ramen. Why did Kuroo and Oikawa leave so early in the night, and where exactly did they run off to? So many questions flooded your mind, and only one person without fail had been able to answer them.

"What was that all about back in Haiba Ramen?" You tilted your head slightly as you caressed your legs, trying your best to warm yourself up in Leia's cold car. "It looked like you were trying to tell me something back there."

"Yeah, not in front of DK and Cypher though." Leia turned on her blinker and looked over her shoulder, switching lanes. "Where do you want to start?"

"I guess we should discuss the elephant in the room," you stared down at your lap with the keys in your hand, clutching your fingers around the silver chrome coating. "Where did they go?"

Leia hesitated for a moment, focusing on the road ahead. "Okay, maybe we should start from the beginning. It might be a little easier to understand as I explain."

"Go ahead, I'm all ears." You turned your head over, playfully wiggling the helix of your right ear with your hand. She giggled at your joke, facing back on the road.

"You're not gonna believe this, but I'm actually the daughter of the Sakanoshita family." Leia confessed, shifting her eyes up into the rearview mirror.

"Sakanoshita? Sounds familiar." You placed your index finger to your chin, pondering on where you could've heard that name before. You weren't sure if it was from your university or somewhere else, but that name was plastered all over Tokyo—you would be lying if you said you never heard of it.

"My father, the head of the Sakanoshita clan, king of the underground. He basically had all of Tokyo wrapped around his finger." Leia explained, her voice sounding more monotone as she trailed her sentence.

A lightbulb clicked in your brain. You did remember—the Sakanoshita clan was the largest Yakuza organization in all of Tokyo. They controlled almost all of the political institutions and underground trade around the city. If you messed with the Sakanoshita clan, you were considered a dead man walking as they were notorious for being absolutely ruthless and coldhearted.

"Oh fuck," you realized, turning your head towards her. "You're the daughter of a Yakuza boss?"

"Was," Leia corrected. "He died about a year ago."

"I'm not sure if I should give my condolences," you pursed your lips and looked over to Leia—not much changed on her face as she continued to stare at the road with a blank expression. "It doesn't seem like you're upset about it."

"I'm not, he was a shitty man. He deserved to die." Leia's eyebrows pinched together as a scowl grew on her face, tension rising in her voice. "He was a terrible man who did terrible things."

You stayed silent for a moment, not sure what to think of next. It surprised you to know Leia had familial ties with the Yakuza, but somehow it didn't shock you one bit. What else were you to expect from drug dealers involved in underground street racing—who happened to be criminals involved with the Yakuza? It just further proved the point on how there was a clear defining line that said you did not belong.

"Tetsurou caught my father's eye when he started dealing all kinds of drugs in larger quantities—weed, coke, benzos, crystal, dope—you name it. Usually that was my father's territory, so it was no surprise when he took him under his wing." Leia pressed down on the clutch and upshifted the gear into fourth.

"I think Tooru said he used to do that back in Osaka too." You looked out the window to the night sky, watching the skyscrapers pass by.

"Used to? Baby, he still does." Leia chuckled, holding the wheel steady with just her right hand. "Cypher is very much still involved with everything DK does too."

"How'd they meet then?" You sternly questioned, placing your hand on the dashboard while you faced her. "Tooru told me that he met Tetsurou when he moved up here in Tokyo."

"That's true. They actually met on his first day up here, but apparently he wasn't new to the area. He already established connections in Tokyo before moving up."

"Was that all?" You clasped your hands together and placed them in your lap.

"Well, the connections Cypher had up here in Tokyo was with us, the Sakanoshita Clan. My father already had business with the clan he was from, the Kitagawa Daiichi, but did not know Cypher was the one coming up to deliver. He ordered a very large shipment of pure South American cocaine from the US that was bought and distributed by the Kitagawa Daiichi here in Japan. That's how they met because my father sent DK to pick it up from Cypher."

"I see. I wonder why they don't like to talk about it anymore." You turned your head back to look out the window, watching your reflection pass through the city.

"I haven't even told you the full story yet," Leia took a deep breath in and exhaled sharply. "...Cypher tried to kill DK that day."

You turned your head slowly to her with your eyes wide open in shock. "Huh?!"

"He shot him in the shoulder, just barely missing a large artery. My father—like I said, is a shitty man. He didn't pay Cypher enough for the large shipment, swindling him short of money while DK had to pay the consequences." Leia sighed and dropped the gear shift back down to third gear, slowing down the car.

"Holy shit. How come you didn't mention that to me earlier?" Your eyes widened as you gulped hard, still appalled at Leia's explanation. You reclined back into your seat, still processing the information. She looked up at the rearview mirror where both of your eyes met.

"I actually didn't know until a couple of days ago when DK brought it up. He said they both tried their best to bury that memory away. When I met Tetsurou for the first time, he had his shoulder all bandaged up."

You were quite shocked, not knowing how this new information affected the way you viewed Oikawa, never knowing what perception of him was true. The more you learned about him, the more complex his character seemed, yet you wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Wait, what did you mean earlier by 'he still does'? Is there anything else about Tooru that I should know right now?" You whipped your head to the right, looking directly into Leia's eyes as she turned her head to face your direction.

Yet again, she hesitated—still trying to find the right words to say without disturbing you. "The reason why DK and Cypher had to leave earlier was because Sly Fox needed backup."

Sly Fox—you heard that name before. Recalling back to the large car meet and street race two weeks ago, you remembered he was the guy in the Nissan Silvia S15 that almost took the lead against Oikawa. Shinsuke Kita, if you were correct. He was the gang leader of the Inarizaki Bois.

"Just before Cypher got ahead of us, Sly Fox called DK's phone. I answered and told him to slow down so I could hear him speak." Leia exited the expressway and descended down the ramp, heading into the Shibuya ward.

"What'd he say?"

"Sly Fox said he needed backup immediately. He was in the middle of a firearms deal when his customer shorted him and took off. When he finally caught up to the guy, it turned out he was a decoy for another yakuza clan targeting Sly Fox, Cypher and DK."

Your mind tried to comprehend all of the information Leia was spitting out. It baffled you how all of this related back to the center of the underground street racing scene. Trafficking, gangs and street racing all went hand-in-hand it seemed, as you could not have one without the others.

"Wait, wait, hold on. Are all of the racers back from downtown involved in this kind of business too? Like the Inarizaki Bois and the rest?" Your voice grew quieter, furrowing an eyebrow up.

"Yeah basically. Almost all, except the Fukurodani Squad. Other than them, almost everyone associated with street racing gangs are affiliated with this kind of life, usually having ties to several yakuza clans." Leia slowed down the car and stopped at a traffic light.

"So Hajime..." Your voice began to shake, visibly upset at the idea of Iwaizumi possibly putting himself into danger. "He's in this business too?"

This wasn't what you thought of when he casually confessed he joined a street racing gang. In reality, you didn't think much of it at all.

"I think you're going to have to ask Cypher that yourself. I don't know what kind of business goes on in the Seijoh Brawlers, but I'm assuming most likely." Leia calmly responded as she leaned in close to the windshield and peered her eyes out, searching the streets of Shibuya.

"Where exactly is Cypher's condo?" Leia leaned forward and quickly looked left and right for incoming traffic before turning to the right.

The shift in tone caused you to take in a deep breath and exhale your anxiety out. You scanned the streets, watching pedestrians walk as plenty of cars drove past you both. You noticed the large condominium you once saw before, towering up in the sky.

"That one." You pointed up at the building in the distance, a couple of miles away from the stoplight you were stuck at.

"The Aoba Johsai Tower? Damn, I didn't know Cypher was able to afford such a place." Leia snickered under her breath as the corners of her mouth lifted up. "I might just rob him."

You chuckled at her joke as the stoplight turned green and Leia shifted her car back up to first gear. She always lightened up the mood with her snarky attitude and remarks, always bringing you back down to earth and showing that there was a normal and humane side of the yakuza lifestyle.

Leia entered the parking garage of the condominium, sliding right between two luxury cars in the guest parking space. Just as she shifted the car into park and turned off the engine, she reclined back into her seat and turned to face you.

"You got his keys?" She asked, cocking an eyebrow.

You reached back into the pocket of Oikawa's bomber jacket and pulled out the ring with two keys and an RFID card. Oikawa kept his condo keys very minimal; not even a label or keychain to identify what they could be for.

"Yup." You clutched the keys in your left hand and placed them back into the pocket.

You would think being the daughter of the infamous yakuza boss who had control of the Tokyo underground should be familiar to a building like the Aoba Johsai Tower—but the minute you both entered the lobby, Leia couldn't stop admiring every little luxurious detail of the place. While in the elevator, there was a large glass pane that ran from the floor to the ceiling. You were able to see the street view and the Tokyo skyline the further you went up.

"Jesus fuck," Leia breathed out, placing her hand on the window as she stared down at the street view. "Cypher, what else do you do to afford this shit?"

Once the elevator opened to the forty-fifth floor, you both stepped out and looked through the corridor of the condos. Leia noticed a sign that read 'Units 10-20' pointing to the right, pulling on your sleeve to gather your attention.

After walking down to a door that said Unit 17, you placed the keys into the lock and turned the handle. Leia gasped the minute the door swung open, revealing the familiar open spaced living room with the large window wall in the back and the fragrant smell of bergamot and cedarwood.

"Oh, I'm definitely robbing him." Leia nonchalantly mentioned as she looked around his condo, taking off her shoes and placing them by the door.

You chuckled at her comment while taking off your shoes and placing them by hers. The cold oak flooring slid underneath your feet while you walked towards the white leather couch by the window wall, watching Leia plop down in the seat. She reclined onto the cushion and placed her arm around the couch frame, looking out into the Tokyo nightscape.

"You know, although shit like this is nice, it wouldn't be my first choice on what I want in the future." She closed her eyes and rested her head back, looking up at the ceiling.

"What do you mean? Isn't this what everyone usually wants?" You dimmed the lights slightly, picking up a cigarette lighter sitting on the counter, lighting the candle in the middle of the dining table right beside the leather couch.

"I don't want to live the city life anymore." Leia sighed, slumping down on the cushion behind her. "I want to move away to the countryside. You know, buy a small farm house and raise lots of kids with Tetsurou. I want to escape this dreadful gang life so badly."

You heard similar words like that before. Leia's imaginative escapism proved that she and Oikawa weren't much different, craving to seek small fantasies away from the fast-paced life they lived. The way she described it was unrelated to Oikawa's, yet they ultimately had the same idea—to escape.

"Tetsurou and I live in a shitty ass apartment in the Chuo ward. Sure, we could afford something expensive like this as well if we wanted to—but we've both decided to save our money and one day leave this god-forsaken place."

Leia turned her head to look back as you made your way to the seat right next to her, placing your hands inside the pockets of Oikawa's bomber jacket.

"That's why Tetsurou takes racing so seriously—after Tooru won the downtown race and we lost the two million yen, he couldn't sleep for a whole week. He promised to win that money so we could finally have enough to leave one day."

"I'm sorry," you instinctively said, not sure why you apologized on Oikawa's behalf.

"You don't have to apologize. Tooru won fair and square." Leia smiled earnestly, no signs of animosity within her words. "Besides, if we had left then, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to be you right now."

Interrupting your conversation, Leia's phone went off as a cutesy bubblegum ringtone played, displaying a picture of Kuroo and the caller ID 'Baby <3'. She immediately picked up and leaned forward, placing her elbows on her knees.

"Hello?" She cocked an eyebrow and looked over to the side, placing the phone against her ear. She scratched her head while the sound of a loud engine revved, hearing Kuroo grunt into the phone.

"Princess, the job is done." Kuroo's voice sounded relieved but upset, like something did not go as expected.

"Are you guys okay?" She looked out the window wall, staring at the Shuto expressway just a few buildings out from the Aoba Johsai Tower.

"Yeah, only minor scratches and bruises. Sly Fox took the most hits, but all of us are okay."

"I'm just glad you're all safe." Leia responded, exhaling a sigh of relief. She turned to you and gave thumbs up, nodding her head. "How'd you guys handle the situation?"

"You're not going to fucking believe who was behind all of this—the Nohebi clan. They had a vindictive plan against Cypher because of what Sakanoshita did. That motherfucker is probably rolling in his grave right now."

"What happened to them? Did they escape?" Leia spoke into the phone as she stood up and made her way to the window wall, peeking below with her hand on the glass.

"No, they're all dead." Kuroo sounded distressed, despite confirming their supposed victory. "Cypher fucking killed them all."

Leia's eyes grew wide, staying silent as she stared out the window. She then closed them and frowned, knowing exactly what the consequences of their actions entailed. Though, what she was most worried about was how she was going to break the news to you.

"We're coming to his place right now, only a few minutes out." Kuroo's voice boomed on her phone, despite him being on a regular volume.

"Okay." Leia acknowledged, turning her body towards you.

"Oh and one thing, Princess." Kuroo mentioned with the sound of his engine revving in the background. Suddenly, he brought up your name—and not in a good context. "Don't tell her about what Cypher did. He really doesn't want her to know."

Leia's eyes shot wide open, realizing you were able to hear the entire conversation. You gave her a panicked look before covering your mouth with an ashamed expression. She did the same, placing her left hand over her mouth. The fear in her eyes made your heart sink down into your stomach as all you could feel was guilt, hearing something you know you weren't supposed to hear.

"Hello? Are you still there?" Kuroo asked through the muffled speaker Leia covered with her hand.

"Yeah," Leia breathed out. "I'll see you soon. Love you."

"Love you too."

She hung up the phone and stared at you with the exact same guilty expression you had. Still covering your mouth, you were unable to move a muscle. Leia pointed to her phone and opened her mouth to ask a question, knowing what your answer was already going to be.

"Did you—?"

"Yes," you interrupted, slightly nodding your head. "I heard it."

"All of it?"

"All of it."

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