#they do it for different reasons like i already said before but i want to write about it with a bit more detail

[amirasainz]

Maybe some jealous Lando but with a happy end? Btw, I loved your last post. 💚

Enjoy reading and send some requests!!!

-xoxo babygirl 🧡

Burning Jealousy

The silence in the car was unbearable.

Yn sat stiffly in the passenger seat, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the passing streetlights. The only sound was the low hum of the engine and the occasional flick of the turn signal. Lando’s hands gripped the steering wheel a little too tightly, his jaw clenched, his knuckles white.

It had been like this since they left dinner with their friends—since Mike had made her laugh a little too much, leaned in a little too close, and, in Lando’s eyes, given her just a little too much attention.

Lando had said nothing the entire drive. But then, just as the silence was starting to settle into something tolerable, he opened his mouth.

"He's in love with you, you know."

Yn’s fingers twitched. Her lips pressed into a thin line as she stared out of the window. She refused to acknowledge the comment.

"Yn," Lando tried again, his tone sharp. "Don't ignore me."

She exhaled through her nose, still refusing to look at him.

"I'm not ignoring you," she said, her voice dangerously even. "I just have nothing to say to that."

Lando scoffed, shaking his head. "Right. Of course. Because you don't see it."

"Because there’s nothing to see," she snapped, finally turning to glare at him. "Mike is my friend, Lando. He has been for years. You know that."

Lando let out a humorless laugh, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, and I also know the way he looks at you."

Yn clenched her fists in her lap, willing herself to stay calm. But the anger had already started to bubble over, and she knew it was too late.

"You know what? I’m done with this conversation."

She turned back to the window, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a reaction.

Lando let out an exasperated sigh, running a hand through his curls.

The road ahead was empty, the city quiet at this late hour. When they reached a red light, the car rolled to a slow stop. The tension in the air was thick enough to choke on.

And then Yn had had enough.

Without a word, she unbuckled her seatbelt and pushed open the car door.

"Yn!" Lando’s voice was sharp with shock, but she didn't stop.

She stepped out onto the pavement, reaching down to yank off her heels. The night air was cool against her skin, but her anger burned hotter.

"Yn, what the hell are you doing?"

Lando had barely processed what was happening before she was walking down the street, heels dangling from her fingers, her bare feet padding softly against the pavement.

"Yn!"

The sound of the car door slamming echoed through the quiet street. A second later, Lando was jogging after her.

"You can’t just walk away!" he called, his voice laced with frustration. "Yn, stop!"

She ignored him.

"Yn, I'm serious—come back here!"

Nothing.

Lando groaned, running a hand down his face before picking up his pace. His heart was pounding for a different reason now—protectiveness, fear, the sheer desperation to fix things before they fell apart.

He caught up to her quickly, stepping in front of her path and forcing her to stop.

"Move, Lando," she muttered, her voice ice-cold.

"Not until you talk to me."

"I don’t want to talk to you."

"Well, too bad," he shot back. "Because I’m not letting you walk barefoot down the street at night like a crazy person."

Yn huffed, crossing her arms. "Then you shouldn't have said something so stupid."

Lando’s expression softened slightly, but he didn’t move. He took a deep breath, running a hand through his hair.

"I know," he admitted. "I know it was stupid."

Yn blinked, surprised by his sudden shift in tone.

"I just—" Lando sighed, looking down at the ground for a moment before meeting her eyes again. "I love you, Yn. And sometimes, that love makes me an idiot."

She frowned, her anger flickering for just a second. "Lando—"

"No, let me finish," he interrupted, stepping closer. "I know Mike is your friend. I know you love me. But sometimes, I see the way other guys look at you, and it drives me insane."

"Lando—"

"Because I don't want to lose you," he admitted, his voice quieter now. "Because the idea of you being with someone else—of someone else making you laugh like that, making you smile like that—kills me."

Yn’s anger started to waver, just a little.

"I hate that I get jealous," Lando continued. "I hate that I let it get to me. But it's only because I love you so much, and sometimes, I don’t know how to deal with that."

Yn let out a breath, her shoulders loosening slightly.

"You're an idiot," she muttered.

Lando let out a small chuckle. "Yeah, I know."

She sighed, shaking her head. "I love you, Lando. But you have to trust me. You have to trust that I love you and only you."

"I do," he said quickly. "I do trust you. It's him I don’t trust."

Yn rolled her eyes. "Mike has never tried anything, and he never will. You have to let this go."

Lando hesitated before nodding. "Okay."

"Okay?" she echoed.

"Okay," he repeated, reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm sorry. Really."

Yn let out a small sigh. "You're lucky I love you."

Lando grinned, his dimples appearing. "I really am."

Before she could say anything else, he bent down and, without warning, scooped her up into his arms.

"Lando!" she squeaked, wrapping her arms around his neck on instinct.

"You're not walking back barefoot," he said simply. "Even if you are mad at me."

Yn huffed but didn’t argue. She rested her head against his shoulder as he carried her back to the car.

When he finally set her down, she looked up at him, her expression softer now.

"You're an idiot," she murmured again.

Lando smirked. "Yeah, but I’m your idiot."

She rolled her eyes, but before she could say anything, he leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against her lips.

And just like that, the fight was forgotten.

The love, however, remained.

[cashmoneyyysstuff]

FIRE BREATHING—wait, haven't i seen this before ?! - the dragon's route ☆ !

cashmoneyyysstuff's big 6K event!!

synopsis : big red horns, sharp fangs, fiery breath and a blazing temper—meet your new mate katsuki !! and.. the big ass whole in your wall ?!

you were hoping to start your day off like usual, but apparently it seemed the universe just didn't want it that way.

based on the something that had just blasted through the wall of your dorm room.

despite almost jumping to your ceiling, you're still in a daze. which is why when you managed to catch a mop of blond through your misty eyes—despite the big ass red horns and massive wings towering behind its back, the first word you uttered was a sleepy—

"kahsuki...?"

after which, you promptly fall back asleep.

when you wake up again. you jump to the ceiling again, but for a couple of different reasons.

you've definitely overslept and were no doubt going to have to rush to class.

your boyfriend was mostly likely already on his way to your dorm room and would definitely not be happy to have to wait for you.

it feels pretty chilly all of a sudden, you realise— only to then realise there was a damn hole in your fucking wall.

hole in the wall. something blasted through your wall. something was still in your room when you fell back asleep. you fell back asleep.

how the hell did you fall back asleep ??!!!!

"i was wondering when you'd awaken, you sleep like a log." the deep rumble of the something's voice startles you. you look to your right, only to see...

"katsuki ?"

except it wasn't...quite him. big red horns had sprouted along the sides of his head, his bored slanted eyes seemed just a bit sharper, just a bit redder. you could catch the glint of a little red earring, and you absolutely couldn't miss the mountains of jewellery he had dangling around his neck. nor the tribal looking tattoos (when'd he get those done ?) on his arms and his very exposed chest.

he hums, choosing to ignore your words to continue staring at you. "i'll ignore you using my name so casually, 'cus your face isn't..." he trails off, reaching a large hand out to smush your cheeks together "...too bad to look at." he settles.

you're absolutely, completely, positively, stumped.

"what are you talking about ?" you paw at his wrist to get him to release you. he doesn't let go, but he does relent and soften his hold slightly.

"how'd you get in my room ? and wha'd ya do to m'wall ?" you ask sleepily, bleary eyes squinting at your boyfriend's bored face.

"you called for me. so here i am." he answered simply. simple as that and it looked like he had absolutely no intention of elaborating. you, still being very sleepy, decide to say the only other thing on your mind.

"i didn't know you liked cosplaying..."

katsuki tilts his head, everything on him dangles "what the hell are you on about ? prattling on like that...you humans say some strange things."

you turn to look at the giant hole in your wall, really look at it.

you point towards the sun shining in your face, reminding you it was very much time to wake up "wha—ka'suki, my wall—"

"i'll fix it later." your boyfriend groans. "but why ?"

"i just told you—"

"but i didn't—"

knock, knock !!

you both perk up as a rather loud series of bangs rattle your door. oh god, katsuki was here and you still hadn't gotten dressed!! you can already hear him complaining—

wait but—

you turn to look at katsuki with the horns. he's let go off your face by now and his eyes are fixed on the door like he's ready to pounce.

you jump, leap up from your bed. grab a fistful of your handle and swing it open and—

"katsuki ?"

"the hell are doin' ? class starts in like, twenty minutes ! i swear, this is the last fuckin' time i'm coming to pick your ass up..."

he rambles and mumbles and you know he's lying cus this is the second time this week he's said this exact same phrase. but you feel like you've just been hit dead on by a sound grenade.

wait but—

"the fuck happened here ?!" katsuki's eyes immediately flit to your decimated wall, eyebrows furrowed in confusion and worry, and then his eyes flit past you to katsuki (?) already on his feet still in front of your bed. . . .

"AND WHO THE FUCK IS THAT??!!"

"MORE LIKE WHO THE FUCK ARE YOU ?!" katsuki barks. and you cannot believe it when your boyfriend starts bickering with...himself.

god, you wish you could go back to sleep.

"...can anybody tell me what's happening here ?"

"that's what i'd like to know !" you're boyfriend exclaimed from the your left, foot tapping impatiently on the floor, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed "sensei, you better deal with this weirdo 'fore i do it !" he warned.

"as if ! don't make me laugh, like a weakling like you could lay a finger on me." your boyfriend, the one on your right and with the— oh yeah —the horns and a tail—growled. arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed, legs spread out laying back like he was demanding dominance in the room, occasionally glaring at the other teachers walking in and out the lounge.

you have a margin of about .2 seconds, a singular eye twitch from your boyfriend before they're both shooting up from their seats, foreheads almost knocking against each other " HAH ?! you trynna talk shit wearin' my face, you faker ?! i'll roast you alive !" your (original ? is that what you should call it ?) boyfriend's already rolling up his sleeves, hands popping in warning.

the dragon barks out a loud laugh "try it if you want, i"ll rip you apart 'till there's nothin' left of ya !" he growls, cracking his knuckles menacingly.

all you can manage is a sigh while they bicker, missing how the both of them shoot you a brief look. until your homeroom teacher sends chills through all three of your spines, sending you a harsh glare and a singular rackle of his throat sends every ounce of killing intent in the room flying, overpowered by the dead eye of the man before you. you didn't sign up to have your fight of flight instincts kick in this early in the morning !

neither of them sit back down, but they do rip they gazes away from each other to look at the bigger threat in the room, occasionally sending each other nasty side eyes.

mr. aizawa rubs at his temples and lets out a very, very tired sigh, pushing his hair back "now...can anyone tell me what is happening ?" he starts up again, he sighs when no one seems to have an answer for him. the black haired man points to your boyfriend with the horns "you, answer quickly—what's your name ?"

the horned boy grumbles, but lowly growls out an answer "bakugou katsuki, better not forget it.." you hear your boyfriend let out a quiet scoff on your other side. aizawa sensei ignore it, quickly whipping a finger towards him.

"you. has anything happened to you recently ? have you had any strange interactions lately ?"

katsuki racks his brain, thinking for a moment before he grunts "mm, i guess...was out to get groceries last weekend and this weirdo bumped into me. started apologising like crazy too, somethin' about how 'the after effects shouldn't be too bad' or whatever."

"that's suspicious as hell !!" you gawk "why didn't you say anything when it happened ?!" you exclaim.

"i don't fucking know, thought he was just a crackhead or something ! how was i supposed to know this was gonna happen ?!" katsuki shoots back, pointing over to his doppelgänger. mr aizawa nods to himself, mildly intrigued.

"okay, so we've narrowed down our cause...the problem is what we do now." you bite your lip in thought. your boyfriend finally takes his seat back next to you and the beast stiffens, immediately shooting back down next to you as well and even scooting his chair closer to yours. getting an unimpressed eye-roll from your boyfriend, before he sneakily tries to do the same.

"ain't it obvious ? all we gotta do is send this bastard back where he came from." you turn to look up at the beast katsuki's shoulder pressed to yours. honestly as unbelievable as it was in this situation you couldn't help but be reminded of those cheesy otome games you used to like when you were younger. or those random 12 episode anime you'd watch where the main boys would fight for the girls love—except this was your boyfriend ! and if the room wasn't so tense this would kinda be a dream come true—but you needed to focus !

"uhm, well...katsuki..?" and both of them immediately turn to you, it almost makes you jump—snap out of it. "..how do we send you back ?" katsuki stares at you then sends you an amused huff.

"wouldn't know," he shrugs. and then he's already so close but leans in closer and if you hadn't backed up in time your noses would've bumped. "pretty bold of you to try and send me away after you called me, sweets. but you're not getting rid of me that easy."

your skin heats up despite your best efforts "i—keep telling you i didn't call you ! i don't even know how i would do that !"

he's so in your space, leaning in ever closer despite you trying to keep your distance and he talks to you lowly "if you're worried about these morons hearing you, rest assured i'll clear this place out in no time. no different from any old dungeon in here." he boasts proudly, you can practically taste your ticking time bomb of a boyfriend about to basically implode from next to you.

quickly, you place your hand on top of his leg basically by instinct. his leg stops bouncing but he still sounds anything but pleased, he practically burns behind you as he grumbles under his breath. you feel bad for your homeroom teacher who can only watch and sigh.

"anyway. we'll wait and see what happens after a while. l/n, this bakugou seems pretty attached to you so i'll grant you and excused absence to watch over him until we get this sorted out." the older man explained. your katsuki immediately straightens up.

"oh, fuck no ! i'm not letting' her stay with this creep ?!"

"i know it might not be ideal, but you can't exactly take him to class." your teacher sweatdrops. the blonde can't exactly disagree and he curses under his breath. you take this chance to reassure him, rubbing his leg soothingly.

"i'll be all good, katsuki. you don't need to worry." you smile

your boyfriend searches your face for any signs of distress, sends his clone one look then immediately looks back at you with hardened eyes " i'll stay with you then."

your teacher cuts you off before you can respond "i don't remember allowing you to cut class, bakugou." you both stiffen at his tone. you feel a bit bad when you see how conflicted he looks between being a secret goodie two shoes and wanting to watch over you.

"hey," you assured, "i'll be fine. besides, it's still you so it shouldn't be all bad." you tease. and even though he still looks a bit worried, katsuki resigns and sighs lowly saying "if he does anything to you i'll fucking kill 'im." you pat his shoulder in agreement and katsuki sets out to go to class (not before sending horned katsuki a very deadly glare you're sure would've killed anyone else if it wasn't to designated to...himself.)

your attention is brought back to your teacher who is also starting to make his way to class, grabbing his sleeping bag and complaining about being 'too tired for this...'

"well i'll leave you to it. l/n, if you need anything let me know." and though he stays deadpanned, the tone of his voice is warm and you know he means it, you nod, he sighs, then leaves you alone with katsuki...number two ?

you could make the best out of this, you had to until you could figure something out. "well, let's try to get along then, yeah ?" you smiled, reaching a hand out to shake his. katsuki scowls down at your hand like it was nasty before grabbing it and pulling you up with him until your pressed right against his chest, you can see the identical faded scar under his eye better now, your heart hammers hard against your chest. or was it his ? you can't tell the difference.

he presses his nose to yours "i won't accept you treating me like your comerade. you're mine, i'm yours, and you will treat me as such." he commands. he leans forward and bites your cheek softly "understand ?"

all you can manage is a dumb nod. katsuki seems happy with himself, and smirks. he squeezes your hand then tells you to lead the way. you nod robotically, and while you walk back trying to avoid crowded hallways, you remember.

"ah ! hey, about my wall..!"

"tch, i got it. told you i'd fix it didn't i ?"

as promised, katsuki had fixed your wall, somehow. you won't question it.

aside from that, it was just you and your literal other worldly boyfriend now.

currently, you've been allowed to skip class. seeing as it would be quite the hassle to bring what looked like a barbarian bakugou into class. he had already caused enough trouble in the teacher's lounge and your homeroom teacher had determined that if he worked like any other bakugou, he'd be manageable with you around.

your katsuki, your boyfriend katsuki, had used any free time he could find to check up on you through text, openly very opposed to leaving you alone with his clone (although the other katsuki insisted that your boyfriend was his clone.) but you managed to reassure him. and you'd really, really like to avoid another death match like the one from this morning.

so, it was currently just you and him.

"so what do you wanna eat, you must be hungry right ? we've still got left over pancake mix in here if you'd like !" you call from where your head is hidden inside the cupboard.

you're a little bit happy that you're able to properly have breakfast considering you did sleep in. you turn to see dragon katsuki (he insisted on the fact that he was in fact a dragon and not a demon.) still carefully scanning the common room with his eyes. looking around for anything off like a hunter as he slowly makes his way over to you.

"you don't have to be scared, y'know ? it's just us here." you manage to tease, you think you're only able to mess with him because he is your boyfriend...in a way. he huffs loudly, chest puffing out while he continues to scan the area "don't insult me, m'not afraid of nuffin'." he boasts.

yup, definitely your katsuki...

"alright, tough guy.." you hum. picking up all your ingredients to begin making your breakfast peacefully without kaminari around to try to catch a lick of the batter or a bite of your pancakes. dragon katsuki finally gets curious enough seeing you prancing around the stove and makes his way over to you, looming over your shoulder, he runs very warm and you will yourself to ignore it.

"want some ? " you ask, still whipping your batter around, adding some extra milk to make it extra fluffy.

"what is it ?" he asks, scrunching his nose up. he leans closer to your shoulder to sniff at the mix.

"pancakes—well, not yet, but it will be." you explain. "they're good." you reassure and he grunts. which with your katsuki, was usually meant as an agreement.

you freeze up for a moment when you feel him lay his head on your shoulder, before promptly continuing. is this still weird even if it's your boyfriend's clone ? other version from another dimension ?

"so...what brings you here ?" you spoke awkwardly. katsuki's breath hits the side of your neck when he turns to look up at you.

"i've told you a million times already." he almost whines.

"and i keep asking because you make no sense ! i didn't call for you, i would've just...used my phone if i wanted you over !" you spluttered.

"that flimsy piece of plastic is as useless as the rest of your human technology. that has nothing to do with it." he presses his hand to your heart and speaks lowly when he continues "this called for me, right here." you feel your heart hammer, no doubt he feels it too because a soft little smirk forms on his face. "so, i came." a bigger smirks builds on his face when he looks up at you "you should be grateful really, i don't give my time to just anyone."

you scoff, he banters exactly like your boyfriend too. "oh, i feel so honoured that you destroyed my wall." you deadpan.

he rolls his eyes with a whinge "but i fixed it, no ?"

"there was no need for you to destroy it in the first place ! talk about a first impression." you huff.

"you're mine, no need for first impressions if i already know you were made for me." katsuki grumbles.

your heart skips despite itself, you try to remain poised "yours, huh ?"

"you are, and you seem to like the sound of that, too." he smirks.

"do not !" you deny.

"your heartbeat has picked up again—oh, and again just now—" you shrug your shoulder to try and nudge him off, embarrassed. but all it does is make him laugh and wrap his arms around you. you try to ignore the fact he is very shirtless behind you. you pour your batter onto your skillet.

"it did not, you liar."

"ya forget my hearing is superior to yours, sweets. i hear every little sound you make. can't hide shit from me."

"la, la la—damn, this is sizzling so hard i just cannot make out a single thing you're saying !" you say dramatically loud. you feel katsuki shake his head and he leans up to nip at your ear like he knows it'll make you squeal.

yup, that's your boyfriend alright...

the dragon boy has destroyed about ten pancakes and two glasses of juice before he calls it quits. he's a bit of a messy eater, but you don't mind much. (that is one difference you've managed to find between him and your boyfriend.)

you're sitting across from him and now that you've calmed down you take your time to look at his features. you really look at him.

"what's your name ?" you ask. he raises a brow at your sudden question, gulping down a last bite of fluffy pancake.

"you know my name." he answers simply.

"just—c'mon !" you whine, he rolls his eyes but relents anyway.

"bakugou, katsuki."

" okay..." you continue warily " how old are you ?"

"eighteen."

built like that ?! although your boyfriend's always had a pretty...impressive body—you quickly shake these thoughts away. okay, same age as your boyfriend.

"favorite food ?"

"don't care s'long as it's spicy."

"what's your favourite colour ?"

"fuckin'—who cares ?" he grumbles.

holy shit, this was your katsuki.

"i just don't get it, you're both so much alike !" you marveled, stretching out across the island table, dragon katsuki makes a displeased face at your words but doesn't comment, licking his fingers.

"you look so much like katsuki, too—well, my katsuki, other than the horns.." you look down behind the high chair he's sitting at, his now missing tail. he'd told you he could tuck it away, somehow. things could not get any weirder than this, you're sure. "...and the tail."

katsuki pops a maple syrup covered finger out of his mouth to stare at you. "i am your katsuki. and if you're talking about the usurper you shouldn't worry, i'll have dealt with 'im soon." he spits out, scowling down at his plate. then he looks around the room. "where is he, anyway ?"

you sweatdrop "you don't need to worry about him right now, yeah ? it's just us two here." and you fail to notice the way his eyes zero on you at your words "and please don't do anything to him, i'd rather not have my boyfriend try and kill...himself ?" you wonder, running a hand across your forehead. too focused to realise the dragon boy had made is way over to you.

you squeak when you feel a hard head of hair knock against the side of your skull, nudging at you like a cat. and instinctively, you turn around to meet eyes identical with the one's you love so much. his eyes are sharp and fiery red as they fix onto yours.

"you're too focused on that guy...stop thinkin' about him so much when your mate's right in front of you, dammit..." he mutters, cheeks slowly turning pink and the hard base of his horns dig against your scalp. your heart thrums faster inside your chest. this katsuki was so different and yet so similar to the one you were used to. it simply felt like you got to see another side to the boy you loved.

"don't start getting jealous of yourself now, suki." you tease. you put a bit more of your weight against him and he pushes back with a low growl, closing his eyes and nudging against your head and neck. you could've sworn you just heard a sort of purr sound coming from him ?

"that sham is everything except me, quit insulting me." he shoots, you can feel his jaw tighten from where he's nestled in your shoulder and it's literally instinctive how your hand reaches up to pet his hair and—oh, there it is again, that rumble that comes all the way from his chest that you feeling radiating through your bones. he seems very happy.

you snort at his words and decide to mess with him "my sincerest apologies, is there anything i can do to make you forgive me ?"

but then he's leaning up to look at you and the atmosphere is tense, so tense. you're tempted to hold your breath. he looks at you intensely, studying your next move like you were actual prey.

"i mean..." he starts quietly "there is something you could do..."

oh, oh it's coming. you know that look.

god, he really is your katsuki. you quickly squeeze your eyes shut and wait, but what you expect doesn't come. you peek at him when you feel his forehead connect to yours again. he speaks, still just as quiet but just as intensely.

"promise me. promise me you'll be mine. forever." he orders, breathing getting just a bit heavier, or maybe that was yours—had it always been this hot ?

"y-yeah, yeah of course i am..." and he leans in to lick at your cheek, gnawing at it like a dog.

you giggle "yes, i promise !" he seems happy with your answer, a softer smile forms on his face as he looks at you like you're treasure.

"right, i'll hold ya to it then."

and the instant you blink—he's gone.

you're left alone to think about what the hell just happened, left with the extra dishes you'd made for your mysterious guest.

about a few hours later, your boyfriend—the non dragon one—practically charges into your room, almost destroying your door in the process. you'd heard him stomping down the hallway so you weren't too phased.

"where is he ?! where is that fucking overgrown, horned, lizard fucker at ?!" katsuki charges in like a bull—hands popping and ready for action, he's looks like he's sweating a bit too and you wonder if he ran here.

"he's already gone, suki." you giggle, putting your phone down to properly look at him "he left a few hours beforehand. i guess there's a sort of time limit to this quirk, huh ? but then i wonder why it acts so late.." you think to yourself out loud. you've just noticed that your boyfriend has been way too quiet when you suddenly feel your bed dip and his big hands drop down onto your cheeks to turn you around as he sees fit, ignoring your squeals of protest.

"what happened while i was gone ? did he do anything—did he touch you ?!" your boyfriend rambles. you grab his wrists with both hands and smile with puffed out cheeks.

"welax, an' lemme go ! m'okay !" your muffled voice squeals out, your laughter makes your boyfriend shake his head with a huff, releasing you softly although he doesn't let you go fully yet, leaning down a bit more to get to look at you better, both of his knees dig into your matress where you're laying between him.

"honestly, he wasn't a big deal. we just had some food and chatted a bit. he was nice, real sweetheart." you explained, your boyfriend's face scrunched up more and more as you do. you snort and reach up to pinch he's cheeks "don't make that face, you'll get wrinkles, handsome."

katsuki shoo's your hands off, scoffing but feeling himself blush at your petname. he takes his turn to grip your wrists.

"shut up, don't talk about that weirdo like that. bastard was a damn shape shifter an' your treating him like the love of your life 'r something..." he groused, you giggle.

"well..." you tease. katsuki immediately cuts you off with a sharp "don't." his eyes squinted and sharp but he rubs so softly at your wrists and blushes even harder. when he backs off of you, he flops back on your bed with a harsh sigh, he's still holding onto one of your wrists.

you play with a short strand of his hair in your reach, twirling it around your finger with a silly smile "it was kinda cool, though. it was so freaky how alike you guys were." katsuki's nose pulls up at your ceiling while you speak "he was just as much of a brat as you were, it was cute."

your boyfriend looks at you incredulously, squeezing your wrist in reprimand "you're such a weirdo. don't go sympathizing with a clone."

"actually, i think he might be from an alternate dimension."

"durr, actually, durr—" katsuki mocks you with a nasally voice "doesn't matter and no one cares—clone's a clone. and i'm better."

"oh, yeah. totally." you joked, chuckling when he looks at you skeptically. then, he flips over to lay on top of you with his full weight "oof ! fuh—katsuki !" you wheeze out. your boyfriend only makes himself more comfortable, letting out an exaggerated sigh into your neck like he hadn't heard you.

"well, anyway...i'm glad things have gone back to normal. as much as i do love you, i think one katsuki is more than enough for everyone." you manage, reflexively carding your finger through his hair, to which a happy noise rumbles out from his chest, almost like the dragon boy you'd talked to just a few hours ago.

you think having two katsuki would be too much for your heart to handle, as irritating as he is.

"got that right." your boyfriend said groggily, letting out a small yawn into your warming skin. " i'm the only katsuki you need anyway."

you don't know if he misunderstood you on purpose, but you feel him smirk against your shoulder when you burst out into laughter, and you think that's just fine.

"mhm, dragon or not, you can't out do the doer, hm ?" you tease.

"damn right." your boyfriend shoots back and you both share a laugh.

this day had been rather crazy, but you couldn't find it in yourself to complain about it. you're happy to find out even another version of katsuki was as annoyingly endearing as ever, and that you loved him just as much.

and most importantly, that everything was back to normal now.

and especially your wall.

taglist ! ( if your name is in bold i couldnt tag u :(( ) :

@jastoo46 @cecelia77 @erenstitanweave @closehereyes @stoned-anime-babe @taxavoider @yannvi @sugurusmoon @allurearia @kaerotica @wonubby @cupidsblonde @catsoupki @ita606 @andysdrafts @omitea @lili-of-the-vally @serpent-hearted @ghostorchidd @shewki @pirana10 @witch-craft-works @kanvis @okkotsuus @dragonscribble @emmiesarchive @screaming-dough @napbatata @cacaandweewizzsstuff @redollface @meowsannie @katszumi @m-inluv @monchurie @the-hangry-otter @starlostlaiba @moonshuul @katsus-mistress @dondeh-zedonutqueen @liluvtojineteyam @aspiringwriter1111 @redvelvetstan1 @niktwazny303 @nemisimp @kit-katsukii @alphasage @milktea-academia @qyuin

[rewind-redux]

New Experiments - Harley Sawyer/Reader

The halls were dark and reeked of coppery blood, the scents of metal, toys, and blood blending into a suffocating fog. What few papers explaining what had happened in this hell were crumpled in your bag, along with the occasional VHS tape that you managed to find. You were on your way to confront The Doctor, the monster you've read about behind the experiments, now an experiment himself. His voice rang in your head, that rough metallic tone echoing the last words he'd said to you before you’d continued on.

"An intriguing specimen, with no obvious reason to come down into the pits of playtime co." You glanced at the TVs lining the walls, the box frames enclosing the already small hallway, making you feel much more... fragile. God knows what you'll find when you get to the man behind the torture. If he's even a man anymore.

"Even the ground beneath your feet..." The Doctor's voice sang out from behind you, roughly pushing you to the trapdoor. You grabbed his hand at the last second, taking him down with you. Or.. what sounded like him.

Your eyes adjust to the dim room, being met with a robotic body covered in a torn shawl, and a TV for a head that flickered with different images and videos. You pushed yourself back against a fence, the metal rattling loudly in the silence.

"...Harley Sawyer?" Your voice was a bit shakier than you would have liked, but at least the words came out.

The machine's head tilted slightly, as if examining you. "How... interesting. I've seen how you understand that the price of progress is insignificant. I watched you snuff out that little life for the sake of reaching me. You dragged me down into my own trap. And yet, now that you've reached your goal... you don’t seize it. Are the lies finally wearing off? Have you come to your senses about that doll?" He stayed where he was, not moving towards you like one would wait for a puppy to come to them so as to not scare them off.

You inhaled deeply, trying to regain your senses, the stress of being in Playtime Co exhausting you now that you were no longer under immediate threat. ...You didn't even feel like this in safe haven.

"It's a mystery how Playtime managed to ignore such an intriguing mind, such a.. promising one. You understand how things work. How to succeed. You would have made for a stimulating experiment." You looked up at him, the remorseless, ruthless doctor. The doctor that.. could actually do something, keep the burden off your shoulders, unlike the toys you've been carrying through this hell.

You sighed, leaning against the fence. "Why... why should I trust you?" You could feel your body trusting him, relaxing under his analytical gaze.

"If I wanted you dead, you wouldn't have even made it this far into Playtime. 1170 would have made quick work of you."

‘Huggy Wuggy’. You thought to yourself. You've had so many close calls, almost dying every room you stepped in, and yet-

"And what an exceptional case you are, making it all the way to me. Even the most promising toys never made it very far, but you. You would have been the most successful, if only Playtime had recognized it." Your eyes trailed up his metallic body, his eye trained on you, filled with anger and... grief.

"But now it can't." You looked back up at his body as you said it, taking in what he'd become.

"Not anymore. Those.. fools decided to take away my achievements, my abilities. They gave up a vital asset because of their own ego, took over my experiments as if they were their own. They stole my experiments, my ideas, and confined me into this body." You could picture the scowl he would have if he had a face, the anger that would've been so easily seen.

You didn't really know what to say. What was there to say? This man, this... genius, broken down into an amalgamation of metal and dismembered flesh suspended indefinitely. You can't help but feel sympathy for him.

"But you," You glance up at him, his eye still locked onto your body. "You could've been my success. My magnum opus. You could have shown everyone that I was right." His metallic body stepped closer, the whirring of his mechanisms quiet. Soothing, even.

"You didn't deserve this." The words came out before you could process them, the tone… soft.

Sawyer paused, the TV screen flickering as if in thought. No one talked to him like that. He's never been spoken to as if he was a child. But.. you weren't wrong. He didn't deserve it, he knew that more than anyone. His voice became less rough. "No, but they were too scared of my creations, of what I could do. They were fools for thinking doing this would stop me. And now they're gone." The bitterness came back at the last sentence, his eye narrowing.

You stood, pulling yourself up using the chain link fence you had leaned against. He wasn't that tall anymore, and looked... human. Wires and metal and TV static, yet he was still the man you read about. He was still a man.

The silence dragged out, neither of you daring to speak and break it, seeming so fragile yet so needed. A break. That's what you both needed. 

Eventually, Sawyer spoke up, shaking off his feelings, his tone returning to the clinical one you knew. “What do you gain from coming back? Why come back at all?” 

You… couldn’t really answer that. Why did you come back? It’s not like you knew any of these toys personally. It’s not like you knew the directors at all. “...I’m not entirely sure, myself.”

He hummed, a bit disappointed. “And here I thought you came back with a reason I could dissect. No matter. What matters is you’re here now. And I get to have my stimulation, instead of waiting for those inadequate toys to wander where they’re not supposed to.” He stepped closer, examining you. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen a body, much less done a vivisection.” 

You held your ground, not wanting to show that his words made you feel a bit queasy. His hand reached out, feeling your neck and pulse.

“110 beats per minute. You’re scared of this, aren’t you? Your blood pressure feels higher as well.” His hand clamped around your neck, tilting your head up so he could take a closer look at your face. “Your pupils are dilated, most likely from adrenaline and how dark it is. Your respiration rate is higher than average, but not that high. You’re trying to keep yourself calm. Box breathing, yes?” 

You swallowed, feeling vulnerable. He was pointing out everything about your emotional state and your body, nevermind the fact his hand could easily snap your neck in a flash. 

His hand was cold, the contrast ever so noticeable on your warm neck. “You would have made for a successful bigger body. Perhaps a Huggy Wuggy, or a CatNap. Perhaps a completely new toy. Your body would have been easy to change into it.” His hand glided down to your chest, pressing into it. “Strong bones. Maybe it would have been a pain for you to start the process, not that it matters.” 

Your breath hitched, blood rushing to your face as Sawyer pressed into your chest. Thank God it was dark.

“Ah. A reaction. Fear? Anger?” He pressed harder, your back now up against the chain link fence. You could feel the heat on your face, your ears burning as you took a breath. “You’re not going to answer? Do I have to pull the words out of you?” His fingertips dug into your skin, leaving red marks behind. 

A small noise slipped out of your throat, barely getting out before you took another shaky breath to calm yourself. 

“Maybe you won’t be immediately discarded after all. You have such stimulating reactions.” His hand dug in again, and this time you grabbed his wrist to stop his fingers from breaking your skin. 

“Stop-...” He surprisingly pulled away, giving you a moment to compose yourself. At least, that’s what you told yourself. 

“It’s easy to get under your skin isn’t it? Just as easily as you slipped under mine?” The thought made you flush red, visible in the dim light. He pulled you closer again, examining your face. “Extremely easy. In more ways than one, I see.” His hand tightened on your throat, enough to feel it, but not enough to be painful. 

“Sawyer…” You couldn’t tell if what came out of your mouth was a groan of pain or pleasure, or maybe a mix of both. Your hands grasped at his shawl, weakly pulling at it. Gods, you felt so pathetic, but so… needy. It’d been so long since you’ve felt any positive emotions, so long since you’ve felt even remotely relaxed. Maybe Sawyer felt the same way, being trapped in that form, stressed about no direction to go, no purpose in existing other than to spite those who made him what he is now.

He gave a short chuckle, finding your position amusing. This was a game to him, a chance to find and create reactions to stimulate his clinical mind. His hand dropped to your waist, feeling around your skin in a detached, almost professional way, if you hadn’t known he was a sociopathic doctor. 

“Your body is much warmer than everything else down here. No wonder the toys find you so easily.” He pressed his hand into your stomach, eliciting a grunt from you. “Sensitive here? Not at all surprising, the human body is typically more sensitive around vulnerable places, such as your stomach or neck.” You could feel your body heating up, even warmer than before. You cursed softly under your breath, shifting a bit to get more comfortable.

“Where else?” He glanced up at your words, humming in thought. 

“Where else is the human body sensitive, or where else are you sensitive?” You closed your eyes, trying to gather your thoughts to answer him. Your mind felt clouded in a haze of fear and need, thoughts coming by sluggishly.

“Where else am I?” You almost panted out the words, the air you were breathing in not feeling like it was enough.

“For that, I would have to test it. Feel every part of you, what makes you tick, what makes you grimace, and what makes you squirm.” You could hear the anticipation in his voice, the way he viewed you as a new toy to pick apart and analyze what was left behind afterwards. You glanced down at his metallic hand hovering over your neck, the joints almost shaking as he waited for your acceptance. It surprised you that he would even consider thinking about whether or not you accepted.

“I don’t think it’d be very comfortable to do that against a chain link fence.” He looked over your shoulder at the fence, tilting his head.

“I don’t need comfort in this body, the surroundings are trivial.” You sighed. Right, self absorbed mad scientist. 

“I do. I’m still a human, remember? My body isn’t as forgiving with rough surfaces as yours is.” He thought about it for a second, watching you.

“You won’t find a… comfortable place in Playtime. It wasn’t built for your comfort.” You huffed, but shook the annoyance off. He was right in a way, it wasn’t exactly the most inviting place to be at. 

’Ironic.’ Before your thought could continue, his hand pulled you out to a better lit place. You couldn’t control the way your hand immediately grasped onto his, the urge to intertwine your fingers with his coming to the forefront of your mind. He let go as you reached the room where his brain was contained, looming over you like an omniscient being. Well, not that he wasn’t, in his own way.

“Now, get on the table and I’ll start.” You climbed up, laying on your back, the metal cool and hard beneath you.

“Why’d you choose here?” He stood over you, hands poised. He paused when you asked that, humming to himself in thought.

“It works the same as any other nervous system. The closer you are to the brain, the more sensations are felt. The more they can be analyzed and dissected.” You inhaled, relaxing on the table as the soft red glow of the machine reflected off Sawyer’s mechanical body.

His hand started by moving across your face, examining the way it looked and twitched. It went to your hair, feeling the strands. 

“A lot different than the toys you’re used to, huh?” He looked down at your eyes as you whispered that, as if part of you didn't want him to hear your words.

“Yes, the toys… their fur is more like plastic, some have a combination. But they're all more… animal like than human. The same can be said for their… cognitive functions.” His hand went to your ear, tracing around the outside with a surprisingly delicate touch.

“You’ve got a… delicate hand for a…” You faltered. For a machine? For a sociopathic insane mad doctor? 

“I wasn’t a surgeon for no reason. How do you think my experiments always came out so well? How they were perfect? The… cognitive side of those experiments is on the other doctors. They let their pathetic emotions get in the way of progress. See how my creations turned out? 1170, 1222, 1188, 1166? Loyal to only me, how they were supposed to be. I did what the others couldn't stomach. Emotions meant more to them than progress.” His hand gripped your throat, his anger being taken out on you.

“Saw-” You could barely choke out his name, his hand tight. He glanced down and eased his grip.

“Apologies. Wouldn't want my new… test to fall short, now would we?” His thumb rubbed your neck, the cold metal warming up from the contact with your skin. A groan escaped from your lips, Sawyer pressing gently on your throat to feel the vibrations. 

His hand slowly made its way to your collarbone, where he flicked the collar of your shirt. “Clothes… always in the way.” He briskly unbuttoned your shirt and pulled you to a sitting position. “If you could not be a limp body that would be useful.” He pulled the shirt off, and you moved your arms to help this time. The air was slightly cold against your skin, goosebumps raising on your arms. “How… fragile. You can't even weather the air of a factory. That needs to be fixed.” He traced your chest and arms, rubbing a circle around your nipple. “No evolutionary purpose for men to keep these… you'd think for how complex biology is, it would try to be better.” The cool metal of his thumb circled around your nipple, sending heat straight to your face.

His hand moved again, tracing your stomach where your organs sat. “I keep the digestive system in the toys, it makes for a more… challenging procedure. And it makes them hungry, which in turn keeps them loyal to their feeder. The rest of the systems have no use in the toys, other than the nervous system.”

“And you don't have any systems.” He glanced up, slightly surprised at your comment.

“...No. I have lungs, a heart, and a brain. I do commend the efficiency of it, since there's no need for food or air. It makes me practically immortal, almost perfect. The way it was done though…” He trailed off, his hand twitching. 

“...I'm sorry for what happened. It.. sounds terrible to go through.” You didn't really know what else to say, this wasn't exactly a common occurrence. 

“I don't need nor want your pity,” His hand gripped your waist, pulling you forward to him. “You shouldn't be saying anything about what happened to me, unless you caused it. And if you’d caused it, you would be in a much worse state than what any of Playtime Co is in.” His eye stared into yours, seething with rage and grief of what had been taken from him.

He quickly collected himself, going back to the analytical side you'd known him to be. His hand stopped at your pant line with a scoff. A chuckle came out of your mouth as you reached down to help. 

“Never taken someone's pants off before?” You watched his screen as it flickered static for a moment. 

“Yes, I have. All bodies need to be completely naked when it comes to vivisections and turning them into toys.” He helped roughly, clearly not used to his patients being awake when it came to undressing them.

“Didn't mean it like that, Doctor.” He glanced up at you.

“Be clear about what you mean. None of this guessing nonsense, you're wasting my time.” He tossed your pants to the side, then pulled down your underwear in a clinical, detached manner.

“Fine. I'm assuming you've never taken someone's pants off for sex before.” He paused at that, placing the underwear with your pile of discarded clothes.

“No, I have not. I have much better things to do than get in relationships and mess around like a high school boy.” You chuckled, the statement sounding odd coming from Sawyer. He glared at you, then dipped his hand lower, tracing your thighs. His thumb gently brushed against your inner thigh, where your artery lay. 

The realization that Sawyer could kill you within seconds resurfaced from the haze of your mind. You were sitting naked on a table, with a mechanical body of an insane doctor looming above you. His hand poised over your artery, able to strike in moments if he wanted.

As he continued his exam, you realized he was too engrossed in the “test” as he'd called it, to even think of killing you. You could see the concentration in his eye, it flicking up and down, taking in every part of you. His hands moved to your calves, then back up as he mapped out your blood vessels in his head. 

Your breathing was heavier, your heart rate fast. As his hand reached between your legs, your leg jerked, trying to close them. Sawyer said nothing, but used his other hand to push your legs apart and keep them that way. He slowly, agonizingly traced around your privates, his fingertips freezing against it. You couldn't help the twitch of your hips as he almost reached it, the flush in your face darkening. The hand holding your legs moved to hold down your hips, his screen flickering as he watched your reactions.

“I can see you're getting impatient, with your… uncontrolled movements. Perhaps we should control them, no?” Both of his hands pinned down your hips before you could respond, the metal digging into your skin. Your hips reacted, instinctively bucking against his hold. He watched and pressed down harder, drawing another reaction and a small noise from you.

You could see in his eye as something clicked. Humanity was so close for him, however disgusting it was. The feeling that he could be human again, if only in his head. This… emotion he was pulling out of you, this pleasure... this was the first time in years that he felt even remotely close to his old self. To being human. And he craved it, the ability to move around, experiment, to be his old self. He needed it.

He clamped a hand over your mouth as he pushed a finger in, not giving you any time to adjust to the new sensations before he started stretching you. He clearly knew what he was doing, but in a studied clinical manner, as if following instructions from a book. His eye was trained on where you two met, watching your body's reactions to the intrusion. He hated it. But it was all he had left to feel human, this disgusting pointless act. He slowly added another finger, the metal cold and desperate as it thrusted in and out. A low groan escaped your lips, sawyers eye quickly looking up to see your face, your expressions. 

His hand clamped harder on your mouth, muffling the noises you made. He added a third, the stretch painful due to the lack of preparation he’d given you.

“Harley- ngh.. fuck.. slow down..” He glanced back up at your face, his emotions unreadable. It was unsettling, how silent he was, but you supposed it was his clinical side taking over, logging each and every reaction you made. He barely slowed down, just enough for you to stop complaining. His metal fingers curled in different ways, prodding and testing to see if you’d react to it. He was rewarded with grunts and groans that slipped from your mouth, muffled from the hand pressing into it.

He spoke up, his tone back to normal, talking more to himself than to you. “How submissive you’ve become… expected, really. All you need is the right treatment, which would be more successful with locking you up in those padded rooms. How do you think I was able to create and control all of those toys so easily? Though I do prefer a… faster approach, such as isolation and torture. Something like this… It would take quite a long time for the patient to become fully submissive, and for all of the wrong reasons too. The patient would become a pet, not an asset. Completely worthless.” He continued with the movements as he talked, not making any move to slow down or pull away. 

You could feel yourself getting closer to release, your mind in a pleasurable haze as you closed your eyes. He noticed and slowed down, dragging the pleasure out more. A low whine escaped your mouth, almost turning into a moan. Your hips bucked forward, searching for more friction, to finally climax. He moved his hand from your mouth and pushed your hips down, thrusting his fingers hard into you, curling them inside. You could barely even choke out a noise, the abruptness too intense to react to. He continued at a rough and fast pace, eventually adding a fourth finger, stretching your already sore hole even further. You couldn’t help but grind into it, the feeling desperately needed after such a long time of pent up stress. 

He watched your reaction as you climaxed, the flush that enveloped your face, the sweat that glistened on your forehead, the shakiness in your legs and arms, the rapid rise and fall of your chest from your panting breaths. He continued to thrust his fingers in and out, making you ride it out, adding to the sensations he was causing you. He logged every reaction and every simple movement as you laid back limply on the table. 

“It seems I was right. Yet again. What an interesting specimen you are. But.. don’t think I’m done with you yet. There’s still plenty more to test. After all, I haven’t seen anything like you in years. It’s only fitting I keep you for my own… enjoyment, if you will.” He pulled his hands away, wiping them off on his shawl. “Now get dressed. I’m getting awfully tired of looking at you being so… pathetic. It’s disgusting.” He didn’t even bother to toss you your clothes, instead just standing there watching you as you struggled on shaky legs to stand on your own two feet. You eventually managed to pull on your clothes, your shaky hands barely able to button your shirt. You were still breathing heavily, taking large breaths to calm your racing heart. 

He started walking away, expecting you to follow, and follow you did. “Now… what to make of you…? I’m sure the Prototype would… love to get his filthy hands on you, but… let’s keep my secret for now, yes? He may control the board, but that doesn’t mean he controls the pieces, only the rules. And there’s nothing against… holding out on a potential subject for him. As long as you eventually end up in his grasp, I’m keeping you for my own scientific purposes for now. He never gave a time limit either, so that means you’ll be mine indefinitely, until I tire of your presence.” He paused in thought, stopping in his tracks.

“Unless…” You felt goosebumps raise on your arms. You didn’t like the tone of his voice, the way he stopped as if realizing something exceedingly substantial. “I could do what no one else could, with you. I could finally make a scientific breakthrough that no one could ignore. The other heads would be shamed and put in their place, after stealing my work and humiliating me like that.” He turned around, facing you. “...And all I’d need is you.”

[mangionebabymama]

That Time of the Month — Luigi Mangione

Summary: It’s that time of the month for you, and it’s an instance like none you’ve ever experienced.

Word Count: 1.7k

Warnings: Mentions of menstruation (blood) and vomiting, fluff

A/N: Based on this ask, thank you, anon! Fun fact: writing this hits different when it’s that time for you (me) too 🥲

It started as a dull ache, the kind that usually lingered in the background and barely affected you. But this morning was different. When you opened your eyes, the pain surged in waves, radiating from your lower abdomen and clawing its way into your lower back, wrapping around the crest of your pelvis. It wasn’t just discomfort—it was sharp, relentless, like a dagger twisting in your gut. A deep groan escaped your lips as you curled onto your side, your hands instinctively pressing against your belly as if you could physically push the pain away from your body for good.

Luigi was standing by the dresser, already dressed for work. His neatly pressed shirt hugged his broad frame, and he was fastening the last button when he turned to look at you. His expression softened instantly, concern flickering across his dark eyes.

“Hey, bella, you okay?” He asked, his voice warm and gentle, with a hint of worry.

Your hair was a mess, your face pale and drawn, and your eyes held a hint of desperation. It didn’t have to take a mirror, more or less, the innate place of your imagination to visualize how abominable you looked at this moment, inside and out. You wanted to brush it off, to reassure him like you usually did. When it came to this time of the month, your periods were never this bad. Sure, you got cramps, but nothing that a heating pad and some ibuprofen couldn’t fix. But this time, it felt different. Your whole body ached—your muscles felt sore and drained, as if you had run a marathon in your sleep. Your breasts throbbed uncomfortably, sensitive even against the soft fabric of your pajama top, hurting from just hanging and protruding off your chest for their dear life. You could feel the tight swell of bloating in your stomach, pressing against the waistband of your sweatpants, making you feel heavier, indisposed than you actually were. The nausea was a constant companion, threatening to overpower you at any moment.

“I’m fine,” you muttered, forcing yourself to sit up. The moment you did, a stabbing cramp made you gasp and clutch your stomach. In an instant, Luigi was beside you, his hands warm and steady on your shoulders. You tried to keep your voice steady, not allowing the tears welling up in your eyes to spill over. But the pain was too much, and you felt a tear escape, betraying your facade strength.

“That doesn’t look fine,” he said, his frown deepening with genuine empathy. “Talk to me, amore. What’s wrong?”

You exhaled shakily, leaning into his touch. “It just hurts more than usual,” you admitted. “My stomach, my back, everything. I feel like absolute garbage.”

Luigi’s lips pressed into a thin line as he studied your face. Then, without hesitation, he knelt beside the bed, tucking a loose strand of hair behind your ear. “Do you want me to get some medicine? A heating pad? Tell me what you need, and I’ll get it.”

You appreciated his attentiveness, but even the thought of moving right now felt like too much effort. You felt worn out and depleted even before the day started, frustrating you immensely. Adding to your frustration, you felt unusually irritable, with every minor annoyance getting under your skin for no apparent reason. You found yourself wanting to yell at your uterus for its betrayal, for gripping you like a vice within yourself at the most unexpected yet prolonged moments of time, for making you feel weak despite your pride in handling the pain well with your level of tolerance. The emotional toll was as heavy as the physical pain, if not more.

“I just…” You swallowed hard. “I don’t know. I don’t know what will help. It just sucks.”

Luigi pressed a kiss to your forehead. “Then let me help you figure it out, bella.”

Just as he was about to rise, a creeping sense of nausea took you by surprise, like an unseen wave gathering strength just before it crashed onto the shore. Without warning, your stomach lurched violently, and a cold sweat prickled your skin, leaving you reeling in its sudden grip.

Uh oh.

“Oh God—” you gasped, scrambling off the bed and bolting to the bathroom.

Luigi trailed behind, worry evident on his face as you staggered, crumpling just in time before the toilet. Your stomach churned relentlessly as you heaved, the intensity causing your whole body to shudder. The bitter taste scorched your throat, and when you finally stopped, a wave of disgust washed over you, leaving you feeling utterly weak. However, as the nausea began to fade, a strange sense of relief crept in. You felt lighter, almost like the significant weight of undergoing this episode of menstruation had been lifted from your stomach. The turmoil was over, and while the aftermath left you feeling weak and embarrassed, there was a glimmer of comfort in knowing that the torment had finally ceased. It was a contradiction; relief coexisted with regret, leaving you appreciative of the release yet painfully aware of the ordeal that brought you here.

A warm hand rubbed soothing circles on your back. “Oh, sweetheart,” Luigi murmured, his voice full of sympathy. He reached for a washcloth, running it under cool water before gently wiping your face.

Tears pricked at your eyes as you leaned back against the wall, exhausted beyond words. “I hate this,” you whispered. “I just—this whole cycle has been hell. I feel so fucking disgusting.”

Luigi cupped your cheek, his thumb brushing away a stray tear. “You’re not disgusting, amore,” he said firmly. “You’re in pain. You’re having a rough time. But I’m here, okay? I’m gonna take care of you.”

You sniffled, feeling overwhelmed—by the pain, the exhaustion, and the way Luigi looked at you as if you were the most important thing in the world. “You need to go to work,” you mumbled, even though you desperately wanted him to stay.

Luigi shook his head. “No way. I’m not leaving you like this.”

“Luigi—”

“I’m not gonna argue about this.” He helped you up carefully, guiding you back to the bed. “Work can wait. You’re more important.” Knowing not to fight against him, you didn’t dare utter another word as he helped you onto the bed, as he began, “I remember growing up, my sisters had the same thing. Some months, it was unbearable for them. They’d have to stay home from school because the pain was too much. I used to bring them water and blankets, just like this. I know how bad it can get.” His voice became even softer as he gently cupped your cheek again, stressing his need to stay home with you, looking you right in the eyes. “So, trust me when I say work doesn’t matter right now; you do.”

And that did it.

That was it. That was when your emotions completely betrayed you. The floodgates opened, and you broke down in tears, hiding your face in your hands as a wave of embarrassment washed over your body. You didn’t even know why you were crying—was it the pain? The exhaustion? The sheer relief of being cared for so tenderly? Because he knew that his sisters also had terrible periods, too, and you could just picture little curly-haired, doe-eyed Luigi bringing and offering a blanket for his eldest sisters when they were in pain?

“Hey, hey,” Luigi soothed, wrapping his arms around you and pulling you into his chest. “Shh, bella, it’s okay. Let it out.”

“I hate this,” you choked out against his shirt. “I feel so stupid for crying.”

“You’re not stupid,” he reassured you, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “You’re in pain, you’re overwhelmed, and your body is putting you through hell. You don’t have to be strong all the time.”

You clung to him, letting his warmth ground you. He held you like you were fragile but not broken, rubbing soothing circles on your back and whispering sweet nothings in your ear until your sobs subsided into sniffles.

“I got you,” he promised. “Now, let’s get you comfy, yeah?”

You nodded weakly, allowing him to tuck you under the blankets before he disappeared into the kitchen. A few minutes later, he returned with a heating pad, a glass of water, and a warm cup of tea.

“You’re an angel,” you muttered as he helped you press the heating pad against your stomach.

“No, I’m just a guy who loves his girl,” he replied, the dimples of his smile showing out on his cheeks.

And as you snuggled into the warmth, lulled by Luigi’s presence and the way he gently stroked your hair, you realized that maybe—just maybe—this terrible day wasn’t so unbearable after all.

As the morning passed, Luigi remained at your side, a comforting presence in the soft glow of the sunlit room. His strong yet gentle hands worked their magic as he massaged your lower back in slow, deliberate circles, each movement designed to ease the tension that had knotted your muscles like tight, coiled springs. He was meticulous in his care, ensuring you sipped enough cool, refreshing water throughout the day, his voice soothing and coaxing as he leaned in, planting gentle kisses on your forehead whenever you resisted the urge to drink.

And as the sun's warmth chased away the chill in the air, your stomach finally settled, the discomfort fading. Luigi entered the room with a bowl of hot soup, steam curling invitingly above it. With a smile that lit up his eyes, he sat beside you and offered you small spoonfuls, pausing occasionally to wipe a stray drop from your lips. His touch was tender, conveying nourishment and a deep affection that made your heart swell, wrapping you in a sense of safety and warmth long after each bite.

By the afternoon, just hours after the worst of everything could have happened today, you felt exhausted yet undeniably comforted. Wrapped in his arms, with the warmth of the heating pad against your belly and the soothing weight of his presence grounding you, you finally allowed yourself to relax.

“Thank you,” you murmured sleepily, your fingers curling against his chest.

Luigi smiled, pressing one last kiss to your forehead. “Anything for you, amore.”

And with that, you drifted off at long last, safe in the arms of the man who loved you more than anything and would do anything to make you feel better.

Tag List: @daydreamingwithluigi @mailovesreading @wannabenugget @paolavallado @chipsxsalsa @yancii @briarloves

[pixiexdusts-world]

A taste of temptation

Hwang In-ho x younger!reader

Summary: Hwang In-ho’s shy date shares their first kiss with him, as he draws them into his world of control and temptation.

Word count: 668

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A Taste of Temptation

The night had ended too soon, or maybe not soon enough. Hwang In-ho, the stoic, ever-controlled figure I had gotten to know over the past few weeks, walked me to my doorstep in silence. My heart hammered against my chest with every step, each one feeling heavier than the last. He was older, commanding, intimidating even, yet there was something about his gaze that made me feel exposed, like he could see right through me.

I didn’t know how to act. The dinner had been pleasant, though I couldn’t help but fumble with my words, my hands, my nervous energy making itself known in every little movement. When he had asked if I’d like to go out again, I could hardly breathe. Was this really happening? Did he actually want to spend more time with me?

We reached my apartment, and I turned to face him, my heart in my throat. He wasn’t much taller than me, but somehow, he seemed to tower over me. His eyes—those dark, unreadable eyes—were focused on me, studying, assessing. He was waiting for me to say something, but my mind had gone blank.

“You’ve been quiet all evening,” he said, his voice low and steady, almost like he was amused by my awkwardness.

I opened my mouth to reply, but no words came out. Instead, my fingers nervously twisted the strap of my purse. He stepped closer, so close that I could feel his breath, warm against my face. I swallowed hard, too nervous to move, too scared to break the tension between us.

“You’re nervous,” he noted, the corner of his mouth lifting into a subtle smile. “I can feel it.”

I nodded, barely able to meet his gaze.

“It’s okay,” he said, his voice softer now, but still with an edge of something darker. “I don’t bite… unless you ask me to.”

His words sent a chill down my spine, and I instinctively took a step back, only for him to move with me, closing the distance in an instant. I wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol from dinner or the overwhelming tension, but something in me urged me to speak.

“I… I’ve never…”

His expression changed, and I noticed a flicker of interest in his eyes. “Never kissed anyone?” he asked, his tone smooth, like he was savoring the words.

I nodded, my face burning with embarrassment.

“Hmm,” he murmured, his voice tinged with something darker now. “You’re very… innocent.” He didn’t sound judgmental, but rather… intrigued. “I think I could teach you a few things.”

My heart skipped a beat, and I froze, suddenly unsure of where this was going. But before I could pull away, his hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from my face. The touch was gentle, but there was a possessiveness in it that sent a shiver through me.

“You’re too beautiful to be this shy,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Let me show you something different.”

His lips were just inches from mine now, his breath mixing with mine. I could feel the heat from his body, and it made my head spin. I had never been this close to anyone before—especially not someone like him. My hands shook as I tried to step back, but he was already pulling me in, his hand gently cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing along my skin.

“Relax,” he said, his voice soothing but with a hint of something darker beneath it. “I’m not going to hurt you. I just want to see how you react.”

Before I could protest, his lips pressed softly against mine. It was slow, measured, but as soon as his lips touched mine, everything else disappeared. He was gentle at first, coaxing me to respond, his kiss deepening when he felt me hesitate.

I was frozen, unsure of what to do, how to respond. His lips parted slightly, and his tongue brushed against mine, a silent invitation. He wanted more. He wanted to take control. And for some reason, I found myself letting him.

His kiss became more insistent, his hand now resting at the back of my neck, pulling me closer. I could feel his power in every movement, the way he commanded my body without a single word.

“You’re not as innocent as you think,” he murmured between kisses, his lips moving to my neck. “You just need someone to help you find out.”

His words sent a rush of warmth through me, and I couldn’t stop myself from kissing him back, feeling a part of me start to unravel under his touch. He was right—there was something in me that wanted to give in, to let him guide me, even if I didn’t fully understand what that would mean.

For the first time in my life, I felt a thrill from the way he controlled me, a temptation that I wasn’t sure I was ready for—but a temptation that felt impossible to resist.

[thefirstlioveyou]

Mike's Core Fear - No, it isn't not being needed/loved, and no, he doesn't actually need El to need him

Disclaimer: this is technically a discussion on whether mike's Enneagram is type 6 or 2, but this is can still read as a general analysis on mike's actual driving fear. i've been stumped on which he is because of his whole thing with wanting to be needed by el, but still somehow matching entirely as a type 6. i realized while how it may seem his fear is not being needed... it's not the core fear driving mike's actions. also, i'm still learning about the enneagram. bare with me if i mess up or misunderstand something lol. and please correct me

Mike isn't a Type Two just because he wants to be needed by El. He just doesn't relate to any of the motivations of a Two. He isn't wanting or expecting appreciation for his efforts. He doesn't feel under appreciated. Even though he technically is, that isn't relevant to him here. He doesn't care about that. It's the exact opposite. Mike doesn't feel deserving. He feels like he does nothing. He feels inferior to El.

If he is not a Two, this means at his core, Mike's deepest fear isn't not being loved/needed like we've been thinking. Don't get me wrong, it is one of his wants (I mean.. Who doesn't want to be needed and loved?). It's something he canonically cares about... It's just not for the reason we've been thinking. It's not what he desires the most. It's not what he truly fears.

I think his core fear is something along the lines of abandonment/rejection and being without support/guidance, making him a Type Six.

i can't really articulate my explanation with all the terminology since i'm still learning more and more about enneagram typing. but I will try to make sense in my own way lol.

here are some quick things that show me mike's afraid of abandonment and to be without support/guidance:

- he is constantly losing will and el throughout the show in different ways, affecting him greatly every time. loss is already a consistent theme in his story.

- mike hides the real reason for his bruise from el, avoiding potential rejection or embarrassment. he doesn't want el to see him the way others do and essentially drive her away.

- before meeting will, he claims to have felt so scared and alone because he didn't have any friends and knew no one. fear went away once he did finally meet someone. not a lot of kids express feeling scared and alone with tears on the first day of school. scared, sure!! who isn't? but scared and alone? now that's another thing, especially just for the first day.

- one of his fears is revealed in dustin's book. he is scared of letting down the ones he loves. what happens when you let someone down? you're at risk of losing that person's respect, love, support, etc.

- will's "what if they don't like the truth?" resonates with mike. this is similar to the point above. mike is afraid to el the truth because he doesn't want to disappoint and let her down - he's at risk of losing her entirely.

- when mike tries to reach el in s2 on halloween through the walkie talkie, he talks about having a bad day and wishing she was there. he also reaches out again to her after having a bad dinner with his parents and being forced to donate his toys as a punishment. he doesn't specify that to her, but it becomes clear why he's trying to communicate to her. he's trying to cope with events in his own life.

- during mike's monologue, he admits he doesn't know how to live without el. hmmm.

that all being said... as you can probably tell, there's a specific pattern when it comes to el lol. i think it's safe to say:

mike doesn't need el to need him - he needs her.

why? well it makes perfect sense. el is his shield. she has protected him from the main thing that brought him trouble his whole life - his bullies (and the supernatural)

But, she is also the superhero he feels inferior to, the superhero he wishes he could be.. but instead is lois lane (actually, he feels even less than her).

season 1, el protects mike and saves him in multiple occasions from bullies. he is saved from getting ass beat by troy. he is saved from literal death. she saves the whole group as a whole in multiple occasions from the supernatural and government.

mike calls her a weapon. this is important because the only thing mike's seen her use her powers as defense at that point was to defend him from his bullies and when him and lucas were fighting. interesting huh?

Before we see her save him from bullies, we are introduced to the group's experience with bullying. we get a scene where mike is tripped and ends up with a scab on his chin, which he hides from her until she manages to get the truth out of him. She tells him she understands.

ALL THIS is why he keeps referring back to her powers and putting her on a pedestal. THIS is why he sees himself as lois lane and her as superman. Without her, he has no actual defense or "weapon." Without her, he would've died because of his bullies. He is projecting what he wishes he could be on her.

"You can fly." no?? she can make you fly, mike

This is one of the reasons why the cliff scene is SO important. Mike and Dustin are confronted with their bullies who are looking for revenge. The bullies threaten Mike. If he doesn't jump off the cliff, they will cut off Dustin's baby teeth. Mike is defenseless. He doesn't have powers. He can't fight someone who has a knife. His aim is shit enough. He can't do anything. He has to jump and throw away his life, ultimately letting the bullies win. With true bravery, he steps off the cliff for his friend. Gone. Oh wait. He's saved by a supernatural force. He doesn't actually fall to death - He flies his way back to the surface instead! Winning against the bullies... The bullies running away scared... Except... that was all of El's doings. Not his. She's the one who saved him and Dustin. Not him. She's the one who gets the praise, not him. Why would he? Over someone like that? Mike gets it. He's just as impressed.

Similar thing happens in the sauna test. While Mike is the only one with the courage to stop Billy from choking El, it still isn't enough. He once again has to be saved by her.

Notice how he doesn't even try to defend himself as Troy goes for him. He's still like he is in the sauna when Billy has him trapped.

He doesn't fight back. He may start the fight... But he never can finish it. It's either physically impossible or because of discouragement. But, that doesn't stop Mike from for some reason trying again. Still no good.

And even more to think about: He goes about how he thinks El doesn't need him anymore. But.. when has she even suggested to him that she needs him? Like, actually? He's literally just assuming that.

S1, before the trauma of losing her, he was genuinely just trying to help her because she actually did need help. S2, she's not even there. He's literally desperately trying to reach out to her without even hearing anything back from her. He's the one that needs her, not the other way around. S3, she literally basically says it to his face she doesn't need him. S4, el's actions to mike are closed off. she lied the entire time. it's not like she was begging for his help and for him the whole time?

We only ever see HER saving and protecting Mike, not the other way around. There is nothing for Mike to think she needs him. Therefore... This whole thing is just another case of mike projecting once again. Classic Michael! Also very much a Six thing - Projection of fears and insecurities.

Now that we got the whole Mike and El thing out of the way..

If he is a Two, and if he fears not being needed the most, and to be needed is *the* desire, where does the forced conformity part of his storyline even come from then?

Seeing him as a Six makes the forced conformity bit align far better than if he really is a Two.

Season 2. He is immediately confused by Lucas and Dustin's interest in Max. He doesn't understand their crushes the whole season and ends up pissed as hell by it. He refuses to let her in the Party and rejects her (something a type two would not do). In his eyes, she is ruining the structure of the group. Lucas and Dustin spend more time with her during Halloween and ruins his day, later complaining about it to El briefly on the walkie talkie.

He just can't understand their obsession with this girl. He is behind all of them, he feels.. at least based on the least possibly obvious blocking /s.

He's alone on this. They all agree on this except him. The structure of the group is falling apart due to crushes and girls when he obviously doesn't want them to go to the direction.

But by the end of the season, while sitting alone at the snowball as the rest of his friends dance with someone, this is where he finally decides to give in and join the rest in growing up and focus on girls. Mike doesn't want to be behind and alone, but he can't stop this change. They have to grow up. He chooses to stick to society's rules because that's the most secure way through. That's where his friends are, his source of support and guidance, so that's where he'll be.

He needs El because he needs the strength and protection she gives that he believes he doesn't have himself, which he must learn to conquer. He does not want to be left behind and therefore conforms to fit in with his friends, pushing aside all the things he really actually wants. Despite his overwhelming insecurities, he wants to be the paladin he is in DnD. He wants to lead a structured group to victory. He wants to lead his own life instead of following societal expectations, even if he's alone on it (which he won't be)

Mike is stuck with lots of fears and insecurities and is afraid of being without support or guidance. "I don't know how to live without you" tells you exactly what Mike needs to learn - How to live without someone like El who shields him. He must become a hero himself and must believe it is possible, regardless of what his little negative head tells him. He is meant to be Superman.

Mike is a six. End of the post.

(specifically 6w7 but not the argument here lol)

[swtt4hk]

All because of me || Cho Sang-woo x fem!Reader (oneshot) SMUT!!

suggested by: anonymous!

author’s note: if I didn’t make it clear in the title THIS IS SMUTTY! so if you feel uncomfortable with sexual content please do NOT read this fic! Also this is my first smut ever so if it’s poorly written, I apologise but I’m only used to reading smut not writing 😭 anyway enjoy!

player 218. The moment you laid eyes on him on the first game , red light green light , you knew you hated him. He looked like one of those people who you just look at their face and you know that they’re not likeable. Yes , he was attractive, but for you it’s not enough to like someone.

Unfortunately, for both of you , you guys were on the same team. He was player’s 456 , or Gi Hun’s , childhood best friend and , as he called him , the pride of the neighbourhood. He really did look like someone sophisticated and smart but it still wasn’t enough for you to like him. The way he looked at you or the way he talked to you in a different manner than the others made your blood boil. He always had something to say , a comment to make , especially when you made a suggestion or a guess about what the next game was gonna be.

—what if they make us play ddakji again?

—no , they can’t do that. We’ve basically already played the game before and the one’s who got in here are the one’s who won the game so no one’s gonna die because we’re technically all good at ddakji.

He’s right. But you can’t possibly accept that he’s right , you can’t boost his ego. Your hands turn into fists , your knuckles turning white , as you click your tongue , letting out a “ts” , and look away in frustration. Sang-woo can’t help but let out a slight smirk at your frustration knowing that you know that he’s right.

player 218 or Sang-woo didn’t like you either. But it was a complete different reason for him. The moment he looked at you for the first time , he felt like falling in love. He had never seen such a beautiful woman before. But Sang-woo has a really bad drawback. He’s a cold person , which means he doesn’t let his true feelings out and always lets his ego control him. His feelings for you slowly turned into hate for you but deep down he knew he needed you. He had never felt so needy for a woman before. He loved your strong personality and how you always spoke your mind and wasn’t afraid to do anything. He knew that if you told him to get down on his knees , he would do it , no matter how much he “hates” you.

Your other teammates always thought there was something up with you and Sang-woo but didn’t mention it. Everytime you fought with Sang-woo , they would look at each other with a smirk and you would both scold them about it. You both hated the idea of even looking at each other.

The guards come in , guiding you to the next game’s area. You get into teams of ten people and of course the team you’re in involves Sang-woo too. You hated the fact that you were in the same team as him but he had potential and you knew he would help you and your team win.

and he really did. He was the one to come up with a plan the last minute , just when you were about to die. You’re now returning to the main room , all sweaty sitting on the bunk beds quietly after what you just experienced. Player 212 , one of your new teammates walks up to Sang-woo with a smirk.

—wow player 218 , you’re so smart and your idea was so good! You know , I really like smart guys…

For some reason , a pang of anger and jealousy fills your heart but ignore it completely just like it never happened. Sang-woo coldly nods at her and then looks away , showing no interest in what player 212 just said. Instead , he looks at you , dead in the eye , feeling the unspoken tension between you two. You didn’t know if he was eye-fucking you or looking at you with hate but you liked it. You wanted him to look at you. You needed his full attention on you. You couldn’t lie to yourself after all , no matter how much you “hated” him.

The guards come in again , announcing the amount if money increased and then telling you to get into lines to get your lunch. Just when you get up , you feel a strong hand gripping your arm and stopping you from moving.

—you’re seriously not even gonna thank me for saving your miserable life? Hah , how selfish.

When you hear those words , you try to control yourself to not beat him up or at least shout at him and confront him. You take a deep breath and turn around to look at him with a sarcastic smile.

—being a team and being friends is different. you’re not my friend which means I don’t have to thank you for anything. The fact that we’re in the same team and you happened to come up with a plan last minute does not mean you’re the one who saved my life. I could’ve made it in any other team just like I made it in this one. It’s all just a coincidence.

Sang-woo does not respond. He looks around and quickly drags you into the bathrooms and backs you against the wall , gripping your arms tightly so you don’t try to escape. He looks at you with a dark gaze in his eyes , his lips parted , as he’s about to speak.

—are you serious right now? I’ve accepted your bratty behaviour for so long but this is unacceptable. You could’ve died back there and I was the one who saved you. Cut this shit out , you couldn’t have made it without me or in any other team. You need me. So you better say thank you for saving your little insignificant miserable life or you’ll have to face the consequences of being a bitch.

You let out a sarcastic laugh and he looks at you with confusion. He thought he would scare you but definitely failed to.

—you really think I’m scared or hurt right now? I didn’t die back there because it wasn’t my time to die and don’t owe it to anyone. You saved your life not mine. Stop trying to be a smartass all the time and thinking you are special. You think you’re so special? Look at you. You’re here wearing the same uniform as me and all the other players. You’re just as miserable. So stop being an egoistic idiot and think before you speak.

You’re right and he knows it but doesn’t give up. Your bratty attitude makes his blood boil and his grip on your arms tightens.

—you think you’re so smart , huh? Do you want me to show you who the smart one is in here ,hm?

He says and comes closer to you , feeling the heart in his body against yours. His body pressed against yours makes you weak and needy for him but you try to play tough.

—I dare you.

You say , knowing the consequences of your action. There’s no going back now. With one move , his hands go to your waist , lifting you up and placing you on a sink , your head resting on the mirror behind you.

—you’re such a needy slut. Knowing that you’ll get fucked by your rival but still acting bratty. Fuck , you’re making my blood boil so much , I wanna hear you screaming my name until your throat goes numb.

He whispers to yours ear as his hands slide down to your hips , pressing you harder on the sink. His words are making so you wet , you’re trying so hard to hold back a moan. Sang-woo looks at you with a smirk , his body pressing harder against you.

—cat got your tongue? You’re so desperate to get fucked , huh?

his hands go to the waistband of your pants , sliding them down with one movement and pressing his thumb on your already wet underwear.

—so fucking wet for me already…

He mutters to himself but still audible to you. He rubs his thumb on your clothed pussy and you can’t help it anymore , moans slip out of your mouth without realising it.

—fuck , I fucking hate you

You moan and Sang-woo chuckles

—doesn’t seem like it…

He says with a wide smirk on his face and lifts you up again and gently places you on the floor. He quickly removes his clothes and before you know it , his hard cock is inside you , hitting immediately just right where you like it. Your moans get louder as his pace gets faster and faster.

—look at you , so desperate for me…if you were dead who would be fucking you like this , huh? You’re alive because of me , just fucking admit it.

you respond with a loud moan. You can’t even form a normal sentence, he’s fucking you so good , you’ve never felt like this before. The way he’s touching you just where you want it , it’s like he already knows your body so well.

He gets rougher and faster , making your eyes tear up and your moans turn into screams.

—fuck , I’m gonna cum

He groans , as he holds onto your hips for dear life. You keep screaming and moaning his name not caring if anyone outside hears you. The time has finally come , he moans , his pace slowing down as he fills you up. You both catch your breath , your bodies are sweaty and his hands are caressing your torso as he’s trying to come down from his high. He slips his cock out of your pussy and bends down , filling your neck with hot kisses.

—what do you say now , hm? Changed your mind?

you close your eyes , enjoying his hot kisses on your neck as you finally calm down. You know that he’s right , you knew it all along but who agrees with their enemy? Your hand reaches his head , caressing his hear and you respond in a low and soft tone.

—thank you Sang-woo…

you can feel his smirk while kissing you and he caresses your sides , softer this time as he’s finally heard what he wanted to hear.

outside of the bathroom , everyone is shocked to hear screams and moans from the bathroom , wondering who it is except for your team. They know exactly who it is and they’re not surprised. But later you guys will have to deal with their teasing and the funny looks they will give you.

———————————————————————

The endddd! Thank you so much for reading and a speacial thanks to the person who suggested it! I hope I reached your expectations and if I misunderstood your suggestion please correct me! Anyway , more fics coming soon!💞

[verstappenverse]

Just Another Valentine

Pairing: Lando Norris x Reader

Summary: Every year you and Lando spend Valentine’s Day together as part of an unspoken tradition, but this year something feels different, something that is impossible for you to ignore.

1.8k words / Masterlist

Valentine’s Day always had a way of making you feel like a spectator in your own life.

The smell of chocolate and overpriced roses was thick in the air, reminding you of the one day of the year you could always count on to make you feel at least a little pathetic.

It wasn’t that you hated it. It was cute in theory, love, grand gestures, all of that. But when you were single, the whole thing felt a bit like a slap in the face. And unfortunately, this year was no different.

But at least you had one constant.

Lando had a habit of making sure neither of you ever spent this day alone. Every year, if you were both single (which, more often than not, you were), he’d take you out, making sure the day didn’t pass unnoticed. It started as a joke years ago and then, it happened again. And again. Until it was basically tradition.

So when your phone lit up that morning with a text from him saying, Pick you up at seven. Wear something nice 😉 you knew exactly what it meant.

And for some reason, you spent the whole day trying not to overthink it.

By the time 7:00 p.m. rolled around you had already changed twice, first into something dressy, then into something a little more casual, only to second-guess yourself and switch again. Which was ridiculous because it was just Lando.

The same Lando who raided your fridge without asking, who stole your blankets during movie nights without a hint of remorse, who had seen you half-asleep and drooling on the couch more times than you cared to admit. The Lando who teased you endlessly, who could read your mood with a single glance. Lando who had seen you at your absolute worst, stressed over exams, hungover from nights you barely remembered, even the times when you’d just been a mess of emotions, and he never once flinched.

So why were your hands shaking a little when you opened the door?

Lando leaned against the frame, dressed in something a little nicer than his usual hoodie and joggers, a fitted black sweater and dark tailored trousers, smelling like something expensive. His signature grin was in place, dimples and all, as his gaze ran over you slowly, eyes darkening slightly, though he covered it with a smirk.

“Damn,” he said, cocking his head. “You really listened to me.”

You rolled your eyes. “You said ‘wear something nice.’ I figured you’d complain if I showed up in pyjamas.”

He put a hand over his heart in mock offense “I would never complain about anything you wore,” he teased.

You rolled your eyes, grabbing your coat. “Yeah, yeah. You want a gold star or something?”

“I’ll take a kiss on the cheek.”

You snorted. “In your dreams Norris.”

“You have no idea.”

You lightly smacked his arm as he led you out. The cool February air nipped at your skin as you got into his car, but it was warm inside, the radio playing quietly.

“So,” you said, glancing over. “What’s the plan?”

“You’ll see.”

Ten minutes later, you were standing in front of a little restaurant you’d never been to before. Intimate, dimly lit, tucked away in a quiet part of town. Fairy lights lined the outdoor seating area, and through the windows, you could see tables set with candles, couples leaning in close over their meals.

The hostess led you to a table by the window, and Lando pulled out your chair, waiting until you sat before taking his own seat across from you. You raised an eyebrow at his oddly formal behavior, but he just smiled, picking up the menu like this was all completely normal.

“You really planned this?” you asked.

Lando leaned forward, resting his chin on his hand. “Why do you sound so surprised?”

You eyed him, tapping the menu. “I don’t know. It’s suspicious.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “Remind me how you’re single again?”

You exhaled a laugh, running a finger along the edge of your glass. “Probably the same reason you are.”

HIs expression flickered, something unreadable passing over his face before he leaned back, exhaling through his nose with a laugh.

“Has it ever occurred to you,” you asked, “that we’ve spent more Valentine’s Days with each other than with people we’ve actually dated?”

Lando looked up. “Huh. Now that you mention it… yeah.”

You shook your head with a laugh. “Kinda sad, isn’t it?”

He laughed. “Or maybe we just have shit taste in partners.”

You hummed, swirling the wine in your glass. “Speak for yourself.”

“Oh, trust me, I am.” He shrugged. “Or maybe it just means we have good taste.”

“In each other?”

“Obviously.” He grinned. “C’mon, like I need an excuse to spend time with you.”

You paused for a second, something warm settling in your stomach.

The two of you had always been like this, flirting without thinking, teasing each other like it was second nature. But tonight, something felt different. The way his eyes lingered longer on you when you spoke. The way his fingers brushed yours when he handed you a drink. The way your knees touched under the table, neither of you moving away.

Then, as the waiter cleared the table, Lando reached under his seat and pulled out an elegantly wrapped box, sliding it across to you.

You blinked at it. “What’s this?”

“Open it.”

Inside was a Lego Bouquet set, a build-your-own floral arrangement, colorful and intricate.

You let out a surprised laugh, shaking your head. “You got me Lego flowers?”

“They won’t die,” he said, “and we could you know…build them together, it could be fun.”

You bit your lip, warmth spreading through your chest. “You really didn’t have to.”

“I know,” he said, softer this time. “But I wanted to.”

You ran your fingers over the box, heart pounding a little harder than it should’ve been.

Lando rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly looking unsure. “Is it weird?”

You shook your head. “No. It’s… really sweet.”

His lips twitched. “Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

You didn’t know why your voice was so quiet.

You let yourself relax as the evening passed, enjoying the food, the conversation, the way Lando somehow always knew how to make you laugh, and by the time dinner was over, the restaurant was starting to empty.

Lando leaned back in his chair, watching you. “So, did I do a good job?”

You smirked. “It was okay.”

He gasped dramatically. “Just okay?”

“Always fishing,” you laughed, nudging his foot under the table. “Fine. It was great. Thanks for making today a little less depressing.”

He scoffed with a laugh. “Wow. That’s the gratitude I get?”

You rolled your eyes but softened. “Alright, alright. You really didn’t have to do all this, you know.”

Lando tilted his head. “Yeah, I did.”

There was something in the way he said it that made your breath catch for a second. But before you could process it, he was standing up and paying the bill.

“C’mon,” he said, holding out a hand. “One more stop.”

You recognised where you were the second he parked up.

“The beach?”

He shrugged, killing the engine. “Yeah.”

You turned to him, raising an eyebrow. “In February? You hate the cold.”

He shot you a sideways glance, “I also hate traffic, but that would never stop me from picking you up.”

It was quiet this time of night, the sound of the waves filling the space between you as you walked along the sand. The air was cool, but Lando had given you his jacket somewhere along the way, and you pulled it tighter around yourself.

After a while, he stopped, hands stuffed in his pockets as he looked out at the water.

You stood next to him, stealing a glance at his profile. The soft glow of the city lights reflecting from the water caught the edges of his face, the sharp line of his jaw, the slight furrow in his brow.

After a moment, he sighed. “You okay?”

You blinked, glancing over. “Yeah. Why?”

“You’ve been quiet.”

You shrugged, toeing at the sand. “Just thinking.”

Lando hummed. “About?”

And then, without thinking, you said it. “I can’t help but think that this is a little more effort than someone would normally put in for their friend.”

Lando turned to you, eyes searching yours.

For a second, neither of you said anything.

Then—

“Guess I’m not as subtle as as I thought.”

You swallowed. “Lando—”

“I know,” he cut in, running a hand through his hair. “Bad timing, right? But I just… I don’t know how to keep pretending that I only do things like this because we’re friends.”

Your heart was hammering. “So, all of this—”

“Was me trying to tell you without actually telling you.” He scratched the back of his neck, looking almost shy.

You stared at him, the weight of his words settling over you.

And then, suddenly, it all made sense.

The way he always put you first. The way he looked at you when he thought you weren’t paying attention. The way he showed up, year after year, on this day of all days. The way you never questioned it, because, well, deep down, you had always wanted it.

You took a step closer. “Lando.”

His eyes flickered to your lips before meeting your gaze again. “Yeah?”

You smiled. “You really didn’t need all this effort.”

His brows furrowed. “What do you—”

You kissed him before he could finish.

For a second, he froze. Then, his hands found your waist, pulling you in as he kissed you back.

You pulled back. “Say it.”

Lando swallowed, his jaw tightening. “What?”

“Say it,” you repeated, voice softer this time.

His fingers twitched around your waist.

Then, low and rough, “I want you.”

Your stomach flipped.

When you finally pulled back you were both breathing hard, the air between you charged. Lando's hands lingered on your waist, his thumb tracing absent circles against your hip, like he wasn’t ready to let go just yet.

He let out a shaky laugh, exhaling slowly. “Fuck.”

You swallowed, your fingers still curled into the fabric of his sweater. “Yeah.”

His eyes flickered between yours, searching, like he was making sure he hadn’t just imagined it. Then, his lips curved into a smirk, soft, almost disbelieving.

“So… that wasn’t just a ‘thanks for dinner’ kind of kiss, was it?”

You huffed a quiet laugh, shaking your head. “No, Lando. It wasn’t.”

His smirk deepened. “Good. Cause I was really gonna struggle pretending otherwise.”

You rolled your eyes, but the smile tugging at your lips betrayed you.

He nudged your chin up with a knuckle. “You’re sure about this?”

You looked at him, really looked at him, the way his eyes held yours, the way his grip on you hadn’t loosened, the way this had always been inevitable.

“Yeah,” you murmured. “I’m sure.”

Lando grinned, eyes bright with something you weren’t sure you’d ever seen before.

“Finally,” he muttered, pulling you in again.

[reallyhatethiswebsite]

for raphtav: long and indulgent makeout session with bonus dry humping

“You know,” said Tav, soft and sweet, lingering like what she hoped was an alluring shade in his peripheral, “today's something of a special day, in the mortal realm.” “Really.” Raphael's tone was completely disinterested. He didn't even glance up from the book he was reading, blind to the suggestive way she was dressed: a shirt loosely buttoned up (one of his) and small-clothes. Her long legs bare. She still had that messy, fresh-out-of-bed look she knew he liked. She also knew he was aware of the date, but was feigning ignorance to tease her. To annoy her. Simply because he could. Any of those reasons were valid for Raphael.

“I never cared about it much before, but…” She took his visage in, relaxed in his handsome human skin, manspreading on his fancy couch in only a pair of trousers but still immaculate. The concept of morning, noon and night didn't exist in Avernus, but in the House of Hope Raphael made the rules, and the rules said it was a lazy and quiet morning. “This time is different.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes.” Tav approached, reached for the book; it was a testament to how indulgent and amused he felt that he allowed her to slide the book from his hands and close it, putting it to the side. At last he looked at her, deep and soulful honey-brown eyes like inescapable sinkholes glimmering with interest, consuming her slowly from her toes to her crown, boiling her blood and raising the tiny hairs on the back of her neck. “I feel like celebrating today.”

“And why is that?”

“It's a holiday for lovers, you see.”

Raphael's mouth quirked. “Do you have a lover, pet?”

“I don't know,” crooned Tav, stood between his legs, smoothed her thumb across his thin but plush bottom lip. “Do I?”

She gasped when he took it between his teeth and sucked. “Any lover of yours would be quite the catch indeed, I imagine,” he rumbled, “greedy as you are, you wouldn't settle for anything less.”

“Greedy,” she repeated, sighing when Raphael's big, warm hands slid up her calves and the tender backs of her thighs to cup her ass. He squeezed those cheeks until she grunted. “I'm greedy, huh?”

“Very much so.”

He was right. Seeing him there, powerful and gorgeous and within her grasp, Tav wanted. And so she took. He was her catch, after all. She slid one hand into his silky soft hair and rested the other on his broad shoulder so that she could lean down and hungrily press her mouth against his. She felt him smile, a smug and satisfied thing, but then he was kissing back, just as hungry as she.

Hot and hard presses of lips that grew slick with spit, again and again and again, the tip of his fine nose pressed against her cheek with the tilt of his head, each puffing breath dusting across her face. It was she who opened her mouth first, she who invited his tongue, silver and slippery and sometimes forked, in behind her teeth so she could bite and suckle desperately on it. He liked that; groaned huskily, a sound that she swallowed and answered with one of her own, unable to help herself. He was an excellent kisser, of course. He was good at anything he decided to put effort in. Rotten bastard, Tav thought with a violent rush of affection that he absolutely didn't deserve.

She wanted to be closer to him, so she straddled his lap, knees either side of his waist. The hand on his shoulder drifted to his chest, fingers tangling in the wiry patch of hair across his pecs. When Tav lowered herself, pressed their crotches together with her full weight, she was delighted to discover Raphael's cock was already beginning to fatten. She rolled her hips, the thin barrier of her underwear and the thicker barrier of his trousers creating delicious friction for her clit that was peeking from its hood, enticed – as always – by the devil. Raphael grabbed a fistful of her hair at the back of her head and yanked, breaking their kiss with a wet smack. A thin ribbon of saliva kept them connected despite the way Tav squealed.

“Filthy little harlot, aren't we,” he muttered, forcing her head to tilt. He licked the length of her neck from collarbone to chin, focused on her pulse point where her heart thundered, blood flow so close to the surface. He nuzzled, took a sharp breath, kissed and nipped at the tender skin like he was thinking about biting her throat open and gorging on arterial spray. Or creating another hole to fuck. Or both. It shouldn't have excited Tav, but she'd long come to terms with the fact that she was peculiar. Her whole body shuddered. Raphael chuckled huskily, his hold on her hip iron and bruising. Bruises she would press on and reminisce in the coming days. His eyes were half-lidded, pupils completely blown. He smelled musky, like cherries and burning candle wicks and wine and sweat. He was utterly intoxicating.

“You make me this way,” Tav breathed. Beneath her palm, his own heart thudded, strong and steady. She, like a wanton whore, ground herself against the full, stiff erection now tantalising between them. How easy it would be to open his trousers and free his pretty, leaking cock, to take it to hilt deep inside her cunt and ride until she came all over him, but there was something enticing about rubbing like this. She knew Raphael's penis – both human and devil – intimately; had touched it, tasted it, felt it, watched it, as it throbbed and spurted ropes of hot cum. The idea that he might do it in his trousers like a randy schoolboy, this prim and proper devil creaming himself as she shamelessly humped him, was a truly thrilling one. An idea that soaked Tav's underwear embarrassingly easily. This beautiful and monstrous creature obliterated all her inhibitions without even trying.

“Do I,” he hummed. She felt his dick twitch. Possessive and egotistical, nothing got him going quite like flattery.

You make me crazy, Tav wanted to say, but even as far gone as she was, she knew that would be giving him far too much power over her. Over her heart. So instead she leaned in to reignite their kiss, sloppy and heated, this time slipping her tongue into the moist cavern of his mouth before it could get her into any more trouble.

[lynnieverse]

i'm going to fall madly in love with you // jegulus

oneshot

muggle soulmates au where your soulmate's first words appear as a tattoo on your body

regulus black x james potter

synopsis: James Potter never thought he’d meet his soulmate, let alone his best friend’s little brother.

a/n: this is different from my rafe fics but I thought i'd share my first love when it comes to fanfiction! writing for the marauders is one of my favorite things ever so hope you enjoy!

“Remus, have you got the noodles? I need them to float!” Sirius’ voice rang throughout the Potter’s house. James snickered, but covered it with his hand, earning him a glare from his long haired friend. “This is serious, Prongs. I don’t know how to swim and I don’t fancy dying!” 

“Yes, dear, I have your noodles. Can we please be off now?” Remus whined as he came down the stairs holding three noodles and a cooler in his arms. Peter was running around, throwing item after item into a large tote bag. His face was starting to redden when James placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. 

“Wormy, what in the hell are you doing?” 

“I have to pack all the sunscreen, I burn easily! You can look like a lobster all you want, James Potter, but I will not!” James threw his hands up in surrender before slouching back in his spot on the sofa. The boys were taking this beach trip a bit too serious, he thought. 

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, Reg is going to be joining us,” Sirius said, earning a groan from Peter and a raised eyebrow from Moony. Sirius sighed and gripped the towel around his neck. “He needs to get out of that house.”

“We’ve never even spoken to the tosser!” James shouted. He thought today was just going to be him and the other marauders, until Remus went and invited Lily, who then had to invite Mary, who in turn invited Marlene and Dorcas. Now it was a whole ordeal that James hadn’t planned for. He was hoping to attract some attention from other tourists and maybe his words would appear. 

Sirius and Remus’ already had theirs, when they met on the bus to school it just appeared on each of their wrists. It was the same for Dorcas and Marlene. James had held out hope for Lily, but no words ever appeared and he gave up hope. Now his days consisted of talking to strangers on the street for no reason, but to no avail. Now, his plan was ruined. 

“Well, you’ll meet him today!” Sirius chirped. James scowled but decided to let it go. Sirius wasn’t often in a good mood about his brother, Regulus, and it was best to let them spend time together before it all blew up again. 

“Yeah, it’ll be fun Prongs, lighten up,” Remus said. Oh, he’d lighten up alright. 

“Let’s just go,” James told them, picking up a few beach chairs and towels, then walking out the front door. His three best friends followed after him, one by one putting all of their things in the back of his blue Ford Bronco. James slid into the driver’s seat and twisted the key in the ignition, letting the car roar to life. “Everybody in?” He asked, adjusting the rear view mirror and replacing his glasses with his new sunglasses. A chorus of affirmations sounded from the rest of the cabin, so he stepped on the gas and pulled out of his driveway. Peter, in the passenger seat, started flipping through radio stations when ABBA started blasting through the speakers. 

“I love this song!” Sirius screeched, tugging on Remus’ arm and using his finger as a microphone. 

“You love every song,” Remus deadpanned. Sirius ignored him and started to scream the lyrics.

“YOU ARE THE DANCING QUEEN, YOUNG AND SWEET, ONLY SEVENTEEN!” Peter covered his ears but started laughing, and James cracked a smile. He started to hum along as the wind blew his hair into an even bigger mess than usual. 

“YOU CAN DANCE!” Sirius pointed at James.

“You can Ji-ive!” James sang off key with him. 

“HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE!”

“Ooh,” Peter chimed in quietly. Remus sat in silence, pretending to hate every second of their impromptu concert. Sirius was poking his face, and still using his finger as a microphone.

“Come on, Moony!” James yelled. Remus glared at him for a second before bursting out into song.

“You’re a teaser, you turn ‘em on..” He looks seductively at Sirius, who’s mouth fell open and cheeks heated up instantly. “Leave ‘em burning and then you’re…gone!” Remus pretends to swoon and starts dragging peace signs in front of his eyes. James tries to pay attention to the road, but can’t stop giggling at how ridiculous Remus looks. Peter is completely turned around in his seat and singing the lyrics with him. 

When that song finishes, another follows, making the car erupt in cheers. 

“It’s our song!” Sirius shouts, clapping his hands together wildly. 

“Why don’t you start us off, Moony,” Peter laughs. 

“Well, Billy rapped all night about his suicide, how he'd kick it in the head when he was twenty-five,” Remus sang angelically. Remus had always been the better singer out of the four boys, and they were all jealous because of it. He continued on throughout the first verse and motioned for everyone to join in during the chorus. 

“All!” They sang, “All the young dudes…carry the news. Boogaloo dudes, carry the news!” Their voices carried them all the way to the beach, where James spotted the girls and parked sloppily beside them. 

“Lily!” Remus screamed. 

“Remus!” The redhead shouted back, running towards his tall frame and jumping, wrapping her arms and legs tightly around him. She gave him a big smooch on the cheek and Remus grinned ear to ear. 

“Alright, alright! That’s my soulmate you’re kissing, woman!” Sirius barked. 

“Honestly, Sirius! You’re so territorial,” Lily said as she slid down and off Remus’ body. 

“Like a dog!” Dorcas shouted with a snort. Sirius scowled at both of them and crossed his arms. 

“If I’m a dog, Moony’s a bloody wolf! The way he acts about me and James, you’d think his eyes were green.” Remus rolled his eyes but shot James a look as if to say, ‘Don’t you dare do something, James Potter’. James shrugged and smiled innocently at him, because there was nothing more fun than getting on Moony's nerves. 

“Okay, enough bickering! I want to see my boys!” Lily said, coming to hug James first then Peter. 

“Me too!” Mary shouted, hopping out of Lily’s green Volkswagen van. She ran towards them, her long braids whipping behind her. James smiled and held out his arms, welcoming her embrace. It had been too long since they’d been together. Almost half the summer to be exact. 

“Hope you’ve been staying out of trouble,” she whispered in his ear. 

“About as much as you have I s’pose.” Mary shoved his shoulder and went to say hello to Peter as James made his way over to Dorcas and Marlene. 

“How’ve you two been?” He asked. Remus and Sirius were helping Lily take some of their things down to the shoreline, so he had a minute alone with the couple. He couldn’t help but stare at their soulmate tattoos, so obvious on each other’s shoulder. Dorcas seemed to notice.

“We’ve been good James, but don’t worry! You’ll find your soulmate soon, I can feel it.” He nodded stiffly and pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. 

“I’ll believe it when I see it, Dory,” Marlene patted his shoulder and gave him a sad smile. 

“Some of us were fortunate enough to meet ours in primary school, but sometimes it takes time. You know they’re out there, and you’re doing everything you can, so don’t worry. It will happen as it should.” 

“You sound like Trelawney,” James snickered, referencing their drama professor. 

“Don’t insult me like that!” Marlene flicked his forehead and made him pout. James stuck his tongue out at her while Dorcas laughed at the both of them. 

“Alright, I think we should probably help them,” Dorcas said. When they turned, the only thing left was the umbrella and Peter’s tote bag. 

“Well, I guess I’ll get the umbrella!” James walked over and bent down to pick it up. When he righted himself he noticed a man walking down the path to get to the beach. Scratch that, James saw a gorgeous man walking down the path to the beach. 

James gaped at his lean muscles and dark hair, only barely catching himself before the stranger turned around and gave him a strange look. James blushed profusely but pretended he didn’t notice, instead making sure the girls were alright and had everything they needed. When the trio was ready to head down, the man was gone. James breathed a sigh of relief and laughed at how ridiculous he was being.

“There they are!” Marlene shouted, pointing at their group down by the water. 

“Who’s that with them?” Dorcas asked. James could have dropped everything right then, because right next to Sirius was the beautiful stranger. His face paled, but he managed to walk the rest of the way. 

“There you are! We thought you’d died!” Mary said, throwing her hands up and letting them fall to her sides. 

“No, no death here. Just a little chat, that’s all.” 

“Whatever you say, Dory,” Sirius smiled. Dorcas gave James a knowing look, to which he ignored. He still couldn’t stop glancing at the stranger. Everyone seemed to be doing the same thing until Sirius caught up and interrupted the silence. 

“Oh, right! Everyone this is my brother Reggie,” Reggie elbowed Sirius with a scowl, “er, Regulus. My brother, Regulus.” James’ eyes widened. Beautiful stranger was Sirius’ brother?! Well shit. 

“Nice to meet you Regulus!” Lily shoved her hand in front of her, smiling wide. That girl was too damn chipper, it’s a wonder how they all hadn’t killed her yet. 

“Nice to meet you too,” Regulus’ deep voice vibrated through James’ ears, filling him up like warm milk. He was staring at James now, probably waiting for him to introduce himself, but all he could manage was a slight nod. Regulus looked confused but returned it, then moving his attention to the others. Remus shuffled over and leaned down.

“That was smooth, James, real smooth.” 

“Shut up, Moony! He’s just so…so pretty!” James whisper-shouted.

“How will you know if he’s your soulmate if you never talk to him?” 

“Oh no, no, absolutely not! He can’t be my soulmate!” 

“Why, because he’s a he?” Remus squinted his eyes and leaned in close. James’ face burned and he pinched his friend’s cheek. 

“No, dipshit, because that’s Sirius’ brother, and Sirius is my best friend!” 

“You know he won’t care,” Remus said, rubbing the spot James pinched. 

“Exactly! He won’t care because it’s not going to happen!” Remus rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. 

“That’s idiotic, Potter.”

“Well,” James tried to think of a comeback, “you’re idiotic!” Remus shot him an unimpressed look and made his way back over to Sirius. James’ shoulders slumped and he couldn’t believe his luck. 

James grabbed his towel and anchored it down with his flip flops, throwing his glasses, shirt, and wallet down with them. 

“I’m going in!” He yelled back at everyone as he sprinted for the water. They all waved and cheered as he splashed through the cold waves. He smiled cheesily at them before a big wave crashed on top of him and he went under. When he resurfaced Sirius was looking worried while Remus was rubbing his shoulder. James gave them a thumbs up to show, yes, he was okay, before swimming deeper out in the ocean. 

James motioned for everyone to come in and soon enough they all were, with the exception of Remus, Sirius, and Regulus. James kept looking back to shore and swore he caught Regulus staring, but dismissed it because he didn’t have his glasses on and everything was blurry anyway. 

They all played in the water for about thirty minutes before James needed a break; the sun beating down was making him thirsty. He jogged up to their towels but couldn’t seem to locate his own. Damn his shitty vision. 

“Hey, dick-for-brains! Stop getting sand all over my goddamn towel!” That deep, intoxicating voice yelled. Knowing it was Regulus, he felt bad. 

“Sorry, love. I can’t really see where I’m going; I left my glasses with my towel.” Silence engulfed him for a moment before Regulus spoke to him in a much calmer tone. 

“Uh, actually…I’m sorry. Totally my fault! You said you couldn’t see? Like, at all?” Even without his glasses on he could make out the shape of Regulus in front of him and stared in that direction in confusion. 

“No? Not at all, why?”

“Um, no reason. I’ll help you back to your glasses, I have something to apologize for anyway and you probably would like to see…”

James’ blood ran cold. He couldn’t possibly be…no. But Regulus kept rambling as he took James’ arm and he knew, he knew exactly why Regulus needed to apologize. 

“I’m going to kill you!” 

“What?!” Regulus exclaimed in alarm. They hadn’t made it to the towel yet, but in this close proximity he could see Regulus’ face clearly. 

“I’ve got “dick-for-brains” tattooed on me, haven’t I?” Regulus blushed and ran a hand through his shaggy hair. 

“Y-yes. Fuck, I’m so sorry.” James stared into his grey-blue eyes and burst out laughing. Soon enough, Regulus was laughing too, until they were both clutching their sides. Regulus finally slid James’ glasses onto his face and he could really look at him. 

“I’ve barely known you for an hour, but I can tell I’m going to fall madly in love with you,” James whispered, reaching up to caress Regulus’ cheek. Regulus smiled at him and kissed his palm. 

“Well I should hope so, we’re soulmates.” James' breath hitched and he felt like crying. He’d finally found his soulmate, after all this time. 

All of a sudden he was tackled to the ground and pinned down. 

“Why the hell are you touching my little brother, Prongs?!” Sirius yelled. James stared up in shock at his best friend sitting on top of him, then to Remus who was chuckling behind him. 

“Pads! Look at my chest!” James shouted. Sirius squinted, but looked down and noticed the brand new tattoo across James’ heart. He then gasped loudly and sat back on his heels. He pointed at James, then at Regulus with a hand clasped over his mouth.

“But your–” he looked at Regulus, “and he’s–” he looked at James, “Dick for brains?” James burst out laughing and glanced up at his soulmate. 

“Yeah, I’ve found a real catch, haven’t I Paddy?”

“Oh, shut up arsehole, you deserved it.” Regulus scoffed with a small grin.

“For life?!” James screeched. 

“I think it’s romantic!” Lily chimes in. 

“You would, Lily Evans, you would.” 

“My brother!” Sirius was still flabbergasted, trying to make sense of this new development. Remus picked him up by the armpits and placed him on his own towel.

“While you process this, we want to actually talk to them,” Remus kissed Sirius on the cheek and turned his attention back to the newly found soulmates. 

“I told you so.”

“Shut up, Moony!” James punched his friend’s shoulder. 

“Oh my gosh, I can be your surrogate! I’ll throw the gender reveal party and everything!” Lily squealed. 

“That’s a little soon don’t you think?” 

“Never! I’ll get everyone else to help, except for Peter, you know he can’t keep a secret.” Lily poked Peter’s cheek and he let out a huff. James could see Regulus was becoming a bit uncomfortable, so he whistled everyone to attention.

“Alright! That’s enough, let’s go back to swimming now!” Regulus shot him a grateful smile but it faltered when James tried to pull him along with everyone else. 

“I’m not a great swimmer, can we just stay here?”

“Sure, love,” James replied with a soft smile, “whatever you want.”

[therocketeer0501]

Emptiness Machine

Author note: Hey all! Thanks for sticking with this story! Little TW for this one. Talk of newsparks. Other than that enjoy!

Starscream X Mech Pilot Reader AU

Chapter 4

It spoke Cybertronian. Albeit rude Cybertronian but of course only the autobots would teach a pet like this something so vulgar. Starscream narrows his optics at the creature as it squirms in his servo. The feel of it soft and warm in his digits sending an uncomfortable shudder through his frame. It turns its gaze on him staring up at him with those uncannily Cybertronian features. Intelligence in its face he wants to forget. If it can speak, it can understand him surely. He records its speech as it chatters up at him, translating the files and creating a program so that he can communicate with it. It takes a moment but he clears his vocalizer before speaking.

“You are bold for such a little thing. You caught me off guard speaking intelligently like that. Here I thought your kind were just miserable little insects.”

•••

That deep voice rumbles through you as he speaks, finally a language you can understand. You can’t even be offended at the way he spoke about you, the shock of the interaction bleeding into fear as you feel the grip of his servos around your ribs. You remember the autobots describing the things that these bots had done during the war. As his crimson optics gaze down at you with contempt you can’t help but wonder why he hadn’t crushed you yet. When you speak, your voice comes out shakier than you’d hoped.

“What did you want with me.”

The mech ponders for a moment. Still studying you as if you were some sort of exotic animal. After what felt like an uncomfortably long pause, he turns his head towards the body of your mech. Now deactivated, her optics dim from the prematurely severed connection. He doesn’t directly answer your question.

“What were you doing with that femme? Were you like some weird pet to her?”

He sounded disgusted when he said the word pet. Raising a tiny hand, you point to the mech. Your voice still shaking a bit but filled with determination and a shocking courage.

“You think you’ve killed her but you haven’t.”

You take a moment to think. Maybe you could throw him off so much that you could escape. You remember the reaction of the autobots when you had first been scanned by Ratchet and Firstaid. It had been one of horror, comparing the way you scanned to that of a newspark. From what you understood, Cybertronians were born one of two ways. Through a spark bond or from a hot spot. The fragile things appearing as a newspark and transferred into a waiting protoform.

“You scanned a newspark signature didn’t you?”

He looked taken aback by that. Either your intelligence was scaring him or the way you knew exactly what had transpired despite not understanding him. You speak again trying to appeal to him. Though you had a feeling it was all for not.

“Did you give any thought to the fact that we might not be so different?”

You wave your hand towards your mech, back to yourself, and then to him in a sweeping gesture. Just then, the door burst open to reveal a new boxy looking blue mech. The red visor covering his optics practically glowing as he looked around. Despite having a mask covering his face, his frame was tense and he radiated an agitated energy. His voice tonal and growling as he spoke urgently in his own language to the mech holding you.

•••

Starscream stared down at you as you gestured to him. Not so different? You were nothing. An insect. The only reason Megatron hadn’t already glassed your planet was the fact that your species might be useful for the creation of synthetic energon. The energon unfit for consumption for anything with a spark. But very useful for powering drones and weapons. The distillation process recently discovered by Shockwave some cycles ago. He had discovered that the organic creatures could be drained of their life force and condensed into this synthetic monstrosity. Personally, Starscream found this absolutely abhorrent.

He didn’t get time to process his thoughts though as Soundwave came bursting through the door. Looking frantically about the room, his visor falling on the body of the mysterious femme on the table.

“Starscream, query, where is the newspark?”

Starscream rolled his optics, the communications officer had always been much too sentimental for his taste. Letting his emotions get the better of him when it came to the care of his cassettes. Worrying over them and keeping much too close an eye on the life down on the planet below.

“There is no newspark you fool. Only this organic creature. Did you know they were intelligent?”

None of this was sitting right with Starscream as he looked back down at your confused face. The communications officer only nods as he walks over to the scanner. Seeing the signature for himself. Turning the screen towards Starscream, he points to the outline of your body and the origin of the weak signature. His voice a deep tonal growl as he addresses the SIC.

“Not just an organic.”

Those words made the energon in his lines grow cold again. Turning slowly to see the look of almost triumph on your face as if you had won. He makes the connection.

“What the pit have those Autobot fools done?”

[gayofthefae]

True reason Byler is canon? Will's feelings serve no purpose for MILKVAN.

Honestly, I've said before I'm a bandwagon fan because I can't handle the heartbreak of it, so I was thinking of if I had to rewatch it and jump ship.

And I don't think I could on this one. It feels too much like "their love beats all odds and...!...overcomes...queerness? He was almost queer but they saved it and he came back to her?" what is the obstacle here?

You say it's the I love you, but then how do Will's feelings factor in at all? Because having 0 impact on Mike not only isn't how writing works but also the prospect of that was erased heavy handedly by the painting and Will encouraging Mike for the ily speech. Will's feelings must serve Mike's story, even if, unfortunately for the message to queer people, that is his story with El.

And that doesn't mean encouraging it. Will easily could done that as a friend. Often a love triangle in some way or another teaches you what you really wanted, I don't feel that they can successfully imply that he didn't know that was El, and season 4 does not show the realization that Will has feelings for him driving him further to El because he realizes, more like Nancy with Steve and Jonathan, that it IS her he really wants. Of course, honestly, the best execution of that would require him to be bisexual and have been considering Will but realize El was his true person.

But that isn't what happened. He already told her he loved her and went back to her and that wasn't the motivation for it. His actions on the surface were unrelated to Will, which means that they were motivated by him in yet to be revealed ways. Those ways could technically be heterosexual and platonic, but it remains true that a character must be impacted by the other's actions. Both must be or it doesn't serve enough of a purpose and it has been poorly written, a waste of time for the character receiving.

If all he needed was to feel loved by Will or to be encouraged, Will did not need to have feelings for him.

If I rewatched this show for Mlvn, Will wouldn't even be an obstacle they overcame, which he should be. Either Will's feelings for Mike and El make Mike and El stronger than they would have been without them or they exist to be satisfied and reciprocated. Those are the only two options, and as it exists, Mike and El do not have a threat to their relationship to be overcome as their entire issue has been resolved - "4 seasons of buildup", right? They did it. It's finished. And that wasn't Will's service to the plot. He DID have impact on it. But his romantic feelings did not. They had 0 bearing on his ability to help get them where they needed to be. His 4x05 advice on telling the truth was about him being gay, not his feelings, and what he passed on from El had no reason to not be true.

Will's feelings have no impact on their romantic relationship. We've covered that his queerness is important but his feelings are useless to his arc whether he ends up with someone else or not (he could have realized through an endgame boy or through Tom Cruise, it could have been anything and didn't need a stepping stone realization boy, let alone set-back heartbreak), but we need to also acknowledge that they have no impact on Mike and El's relationship, or anyone else at all for that matter.

If they do not end up together, his feelings are effectively useless. If you wanted active representation of life without actionable messages or themes, watch a movie about somebody's honest to God day to day that has no purpose or plot, just then going to work coming home cooking and going to sleep. I mean, it's accurate.

Bringing it back to Little Women comparisons, if Mike and El are endgame then that would make Will Jo instead of Amy. But Mike is still Laurie. And part of what drives Laurie is having the comparison of a different kind of love, even if romantic, to contrast his with Amy when he finds it, and his heartbreak matures him to where he needs to be when he reaches her. But this all requires him to have had feelings for the Jo character, and even if the contrast were used to show the difference between platonic and romantic, he would at some point have had to be unsure of that with the Jo character. The perceived romance with Jo would have also had to explicitly come first. These are all things that would have had to happen already.

There is one season left, yes. But the way the conflicts and timing have been written, it is already too late for Will's feelings to impact their relationship - that they would not been together in the end without his feelings for Mike specifically driving them towards each other, the same way I expect Steve's to be a wake-up call for Nancy.

Will's feelings would have to teach Mike or El something that brings them closer and overcome a previous internal threat to their relationship. But they overcame his threat without even knowing about his romantic feelings and as a result of actions that were not dependent on them - Will could have even said the exact same painting speech but as himself platonically, the hiding is what makes it romantic. They overcame it before Will's feelings could even get involved. So, yes, there is a 5th season. But they're supposedly closer than ever with the multi-season threat to their relationship gone, and they did it without the impact of his romantic feelings, so

They are useless. They are painful, unactionable, and simply would be a drag to rewatch - which is the opposite of their leading intention with this show. UNLESS, Mike reciprocates.

To be useful is to change the course of the story. Will did change the course through his encouragements. Will did not change the course by any use of his romantic feelings. Meaning from HERE, the course needs to be changed...and Mike and El's doesn't need any more fixing. So which direction do we go for them now?

I think that answers itself, there is only one. Away. We move away.

Will must break them up, it is the only thing left for them to do. And there is only one way that he could do that that cannot be saved.

Will's romantic feelings are useless to all parties unless Mike reciprocates and it is too late to make them useful if he doesn't. In fact, the only way they have been useful up until this point is if his feelings already posed a threat to their relationship, only possible by reciprocation.

"Mike is unimpacted by Will's feelings!" Really? Because if Mike and El were endgame he would actually HAVE to be.

If Mike had already had romantic feelings for Will, Mlvn endgame would be more likely. He didn't. His feelings are useless to every character in the show. Professional writers don't write useless things.

[bluepandastarfish]

CaitVi x Reader Angst 3

warnings: sadness still, depression maybe, spelling mistakes

shorter one, sorry, things will start looking up soon (or will they?)

part 1, part 2

The three of you weren't happy separate, that was for sure. Vi was losing herself in every way she wanted to after losing you and caitlyn and, although the two of you lived together, both you and caitlyn were also losing yourselves in different ways. You could no longer accurately tell when something was a daydream or not, the other night you'd had a dream of caitlyn grabbing you and demanding you act like yourself again only for her to have no similar reactions the following nights. 

Caitlyn was throwing herself into her ‘work’ which was more of a manhunt and segregation scheme than anything else, one she knew you’d object to if you were aware enough. Maybe that was another reason for her to do it all, not only was she passionately angry and intent on finding jinx and bringing her to justice, but doing something so dramatic to get a reaction out of you sounded quite pleasant at the time. It was something she laid next to you at night thinking about, why she was numb to the issues she was selfishly causing and why the only thing she could feel was rage. 

She couldn't tell who the rage was directed at anymore, jinx was certainly some of it but sometimes she found herself wanting to scream at you till you cried because at least then that was better then the horrid nothing you’d been giving her. And Vi as well, somehow she was angry at her for… well, for stopping her when she was so close to jinx but even then caitlyn was somehow self aware enough now to know that was a stupid excuse. Angry at multiple people for one person's misdeed, and then continuing to take it out on the people around her who had nothing to do with it. 

Maybe if she hadn’t involved herself with Vi and Zaun in the first place her mother would be alive. Maybe she would be happy with you in your very own home with you supporting her every step of the way through her career and homelife. But Vi wouldnt be there, and something would be missing, just like it was now. So in the end, perhaps caitlyn was most angry with herself. 

And now was another night of silence between you both. You let yourself drift off while Caitlyn remained aware. You let yourself imagine that Vi was happy somewhere else, that she wasn't letting herself get hurt and she’d found someone who looked after her the way you wished you could.and for a moment you smiled to yourself when you saw her grin in your mind, even if it was at the imaginary woman you'd made for he . 

And then Caitlyn spoke to you for the first time in weeks. 

“Are you awake?” she whispered, not having moved from her position facing the ceiling and yet somehow knowing you were awake so she could continue. “You don't have to speak to me, I just want to know you ok.” 

Her tone was soft, as if she were speaking to a child. You would be angry at her- either for interrupting your fantasy or for driving Vi away in the first place- but right now you felt like every emotion you'd been holding out on was trying to break through the wall. You didn't speak, don't breathe any differently. 

She sighed to herself. “Im- i just want us to be ok.” and now it was less about being soft for you, more about being as quiet as possible so that you wouldn't hear the sob waiting to erupt from her. “I was stupid, I ruined it, didn't i?” 

It didn't sound like a question she really wanted answered, probably because she already knew the answer herself. 

And you fully intended on fading back into your daydream before she spoke again. 

“I love you” 

before, even before Vi, you always said it back. It wasn’t something that either of you took lightly with each other, love was a commitment and a promise. 

Your jaw shook uncontrollably and the wall crumbled. 

It was nonsensical, the words that left you when caitlyn rushed to hug you from behind. You’d never felt so small, not even when Vi screamed at you to leave her and you stupidly listened, it wasn't something you had fantasized about, breaking down for caitlyn, all of those thoughts had been dedicated to the women you love and their happiness. Even Caitlyn screaming at you would’ve gained a reaction and, in turn, she would've been satisfied. 

And you think to yourself as you lay there, held firmly in Caitlyn's grip, that despite the self hate for leaving Vi in the ring, you’d let yourself drown in your emotions a thousand times over if it got them both to hug you one last time.

[deadhands69]

Cute When You Stutter

loser!Shigaraki x gn/afab Reader

prev ◁ part 4

[series masterlist]

You wake-up comfortably in your own bed, unsure of how you got home. You’re still wearing your clothes from last night while your shoes are thrown haphazardly on the floor next to you. With your head pounding, you tap your phone to see what time it is. It's no use, the battery’s dead.

After laying perfectly still for a while doesn’t help, you press yourself out of bed and stumble down the hallway to get some water. Shigaraki is already in the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Toga watches from the dining room table.

“You look like death,” he mumbles while grabbing a mug for you. There’s a huge purple mark on his neck that you vaguely remember giving him. Of course, he’s not even bothering to cover it. Kurogiri eyes you as he passes through the room cleaning.

Your mouth barely opens to ask Shigaraki how you got home last night, but he cuts you off.

“I have to run some errands,” he says before handing you your morning drink and rushing out the door, “see you guys.”

You take a seat at the table across from Toga.

“So, you’re dating Tomura now, right?” she asks, her big hazel eyes staring over the table at you. “You’re the one that gave him the-”

“No, we aren’t dating,” you dismiss quickly. 

“Does Tomura know that? I’ve never seen him do nice things for anyone else before noon. He's not a morning person.”

He's not a people person any time of day you want to add, but you see her point. 

“I think he knows,” you muse, “I mean, I specifically asked him to pretend to be dating me so there’s no reason for him to think we’re together for real. I think he’s smart enough to know the difference.”

“Oh,” she hums. “Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’d be really cute together.”

After a few glasses of water, some food, and a shower, you’re feeling a lot better. Through your shared wall, you hear Tomura get back to his room. Willing yourself out of bed, you make your way to his door, knocking once before entering as usual. He sees you and panics slightly, trying to hide a large box under his desk.

“I’m not here to make fun of you for buying legos. That’s actually kind of cool,” you say, gesturing to the expensive-looking set under his desk. “I just don���t remember last night and have some questions.”

“Wait,” he rubs the hickey on his neck, “you don’t remember anything?”

“I remember that, don’t worry,” he exhales in relief. “I don’t remember how I got home though, or really anything after we left the bathroom.”

“I took you home,” he states matter of factly.

“How,” you ask, “I could barely even walk.”

“I carried you,” he looks at you like it’s the most obvious thing ever. Looking him over, you’re slightly surprised he managed to lift you at all, let alone get you all the way home and into your bed. You’ve seen the way he moves during missions though. And in spite of how skinny he is, you can see that he’s at least somewhat toned under his clothes. Maybe it’s not that shocking.

“And,” you continue, feeling suddenly self conscious, “did I do anything…stupid?”

He glances to his crotch and back at you, still unsure if you remember everything. 

“I mean after that.”

“No,” he says casually. “Before we left, you told your friends to fuck off and said something to your ex that I couldn’t hear. Whatever it was, he didn’t look too happy about it.”

Oh, just that.

Seeing the mortified look on your face, he adds, “they deserved it though, they were being assholes.”

“Got it,” you say quickly, dreading the moment your phone turns on filled with messages from them. He has a point though. In the first good decision you’ve made all in a while, you decide you’ll just block them and move on. Maybe it's the exhaustion talking but none of it feels worth it anymore. After the week you’ve had it feels like a massive weight off your shoulders. You sit on Shigaraki’s bed, burying your face in your hands. You're oddly comfortable in his room, even if it is messy. It’s a feeling you never noticed yourself having before; being here with him and not wanting to be anywhere else.

“Thanks,” you look up to smile awkwardly at him, “I feel like I owe you.”

“For walking you home?” he scoffs, “how else would you have gotten here?”

“I mean, for everything.” 

“Oh, it’s not a big deal,” he grumbles.

“It is for me,” you say, noticing the way his cheeks flush as he stares down at his hands. “Come here.”

Hesitantly, he moves onto the bed next to you. His big red eyes widen as you take your shorts off and climb onto his lap. Grinding against him, you feel him harden in his sweatpants almost instantly. His hands come to your hips, pinky and ring fingers held up as he grips the side of your underwear. He looks even prettier than usual at this angle. The hair falling in front of his face frames the bottom of his nose and mouth. 

You’ve been pretty worked up this week, especially with everything you’ve done with Tomura, so it doesn’t take long before you’re close. Grabbing his shirt you pull yourself into him harder to increase the friction. It works. You softly gasp in his ear, finding that he was very close as well. His fingers dig into your skin as he groans, biting your shoulder. Eyes still clenched shut, he wraps his arms around you to steady himself.

A wet spot forms at the top of his pants as he catches his breath.

That’s okay.

You shove him back onto the blankets. Through heavy-lidded eyes, he watches as you slide your damp underwear off, throwing them on the floor nearby. His arms lay limply over his head as you climb over him, pressing each of his wrists into the bed.

Once more, his breathing quickens when he realizes you’re hovering over his face. It’s cute watching him get so worked up over you.

Smoothly, you lower to sit on his face, noticing that even the dry parts of his skin feel soft against you. He lets out a muffled whine. His chapped lips open, tongue desperately exploring wherever he can reach. It’s sloppy, but that doesn’t matter. This is what you've wanted all week and you're finally getting it: Tomura a bumbling mess under you, working hard to get you off. You find a tempo that works for you as you take the friction you can get from his face. 

The wet sound of you sliding over him and your moans fill the room, punctured occasionally by his stifled gasps. You’d be more self conscious of the pornographic noises that you know can be heard from the hall, but you’re too busy chasing your own high for the first time all week. Everyone in the league knows what you're doing by now anyways.

Angling forward, you rut over him a few more times before pressing hard against his mouth. His tongue dips into you, teeth nudging your clit. Everything that’s built up all week comes out at once, feeling like fire coursing through your veins. You feel his lips grow more slick against you as you ride out your orgasm on him. You gushing over his face pushes him over the edge too, hips stuttering behind you as he whimpers into your lips.

As you climb off his bed to go get cleaned up, you admire your work. His face is drenched with you, still-tented sweatpants wet with his own cum, and he looks like he’s about to pass out from exhaustion. He really is pretty like this.

For the first time, you find yourself wanting to stay.

series masterlist - bnha masterlist

taglist: @shigarakislaughter @kalulakunundrum @jimabbenamara @aryuunachigiri

@badbclub (threw you in here too after i saw your post!)

[mzannthropy]

Anne of the Island Chapter 11

Whew, LMM really threw everything into this chapter, the good the bad and the ugly. (This got long.)

So we're back in Avonlea and it's summer and Anne is reunited with her bestie Diana. RIP residents of Avonlea I never heard of or cared about much. I wonder if Uncle Abe foresaw his own death?

Congrats to Billy Andrews and Nettie Blewett. I also want to know (quoting Davy's favourite phrase here lol) whether he proposed to her himself or sent Jane again. Methinks he did it himself, if only bc I like to think that Jane refused to be his proxy again. We don't know anything about Nettie (at least I don't remember her from previous books) but I imagine her to be the bossy type, a formidable woman, you know, I think that would go well with his personality. Though why the hell am I investing this much time into a storyline that gets fewer sentences that I'm writing here, I cannot answer.

Now, Jane. I made a post on Jane in AOTI in 2023, not linking it here now bc it contains spoilers for later chapters. So, Jane resigned from Avonlea school and is going West. For illustration, this is what "West" means in Canada (PEI is so tiny!):

“Can’t get a beau in Avonlea, that’s what,” said Mrs. Rachel Lynde scornfully. “Says she thinks she’ll have better health out West. I never heard her health was poor before.”

Well, Jane did mention headaches in her letter to Anne but if it's true that her reason for going West is to find a man (and I think it likely is, though I also suspect that Jane wishes to get away from her mother, who is not a nice person) then--so fucking what? In this culture, there seems to be no worse fate for a woman than that of remaining a spinster. I get the impression that even an abusive husband is better than none. Then why blame a girl who is actively working on avoiding this fate? "What else would take her out West to some forsaken place whose only recommendation is that men are plenty and women scarce?" That's kinda the point, Rachel. Jane probably realised she's not getting attention at home, so she decided to go somewhere where she will get it, if only bc there aren't many women. Mrs Lynde is being unfair and judgemental here. Jane is going West to teach, not to have fun. Half a fucking continent away, where she doesn't know a soul, to a completely different environment, and different customs too, I imagine their ways will be very different from the ways of PEI. And she's going on her own. Jane is one truly brave young woman. In this instalment, LMM has gone out of her way to describe Jane as plain and boring. I think this is why she did it, bc there was to be a twist. And I like that Anne defends her friend. It also just occurred to me now that the proposal by proxy might have been a catalyst for Jane. Someone like her brother, who can't even talk to the girl he wants to marry, still manages to bag himself a wife, while she can't even get a man to look twice at her. That's gotta hurt. So she took her life into her own hands, instead of crying into her pillow at night. Good for you, Jane!

Next, Ruby. You know I've always thought that LMM chose to kill her off bc she was so wild about boys. Maybe she wanted to depict someone dying from tuberculosis, bc that's what used to happen in her times, and it had to be someone close to Anne. It couldn't be Diana, of course, so it had to be either Jane or Ruby. Ruby was probably the better choice for that. I mean, idk, I don't care for her much. She's crazy about boys and gets hysterical, that's all there is to her, but also she was an opportunity for LMM to write someone so vivid fighting against inevitable death.

Next, Aunt Atossa. One of the book's pointless plots. There already was a similar character in AOA and it wasn't as out of place. LMM should have written a separate short story for her. (There are actually 2 spinoff short stories for AOTI.) The only good thing is that Diana on their way there admired the sunset. We don't see her do that a lot.

Last, Anne wants to write a short story. Fantastic, tell me more!

[chaotic-neutral-knitter]

Ed-Coded Mountain Goats Songs Part 1

The other day I was thinking about how many songs by the Mountain Goats remind me of Our Flag Means Death's very own Edward Teach, and I decided to challenge myself to assign a Mountain Goats song to each episode Ed appears in. It's going to be a series of posts because for some of them I have, uhhhh, a lot to say.

S1E3 - A Gentleman Pirate

The song that I've chosen for this episode is Animal Mask, from the album Beat the Champ aka "the one about wrestling." The album deals with themes of identity, masks, showmanship, and knowing when to quit. So it's a pretty good Ed album already.

I chose this song for a few reasons, the first being that I just really love it. I referenced it in my wedding vows—I think it's one of the most romantic Mountain Goats songs (serious goats fans out there, yes, I know that the song is about JD's kid being born, shhhh, that's not important, it's romantic TO ME).

The song is about a professional wrestler fighting through a battle royale to protect someone they don't really know. This is how they meet.

Eighteen man steel cage free for all Through the noise I hear you call for help You can't protect yourself Frog mask and yellow cape So desperate to escape I came to you, hands wrapped in adhesive tape That was when we were young and green In the dawning hours of our team

Sound familiar?

The second verse reveals that the narrator has been paying attention to the person in the frog mask and yellow cape. From a distance they saw someone interesting, someone new.

Seen you backstage once or twice Animal gimmick pops real nice Elbow sweep and tiger dance Little extra fighter's chance

Ed is interested in Stede before he even meets him. Finally, here is someone doing something different. Ed is bored, stifled, lonely.

"Hold on", I cried, "I'll be right there" Pull your mask down through your hair They won't see you Not until you want them to

John Darnielle has said a lot about this song but one thing that really stuck with me is this: "This is a song about how, from the moment of your birth, you don't owe anybody a look at your true face." (source) I think about this in relation to masking—for good or for bad it's something people learn in order to protect themselves. And if it's true that you don't owe anybody a look at your true face, it makes it all the more beautiful when you decide that you want someone to see your true face, that you feel safe enough with them to try.

Ed and Stede are both people who struggle with identity. Who they are vs who they present to others vs who they want to be. They're both guarded in very different ways. Stede's ostentatious coats and bravado hides a deep well of insecurity—he is simply convinced that he is not enough. Ed has spent so much time being Blackbeard that he isn't sure who he is outside of that. But when they're together, all of that turmoil melts away. Ed and Stede get to be Ed and Stede. They just... see each other. They open up. And that doesn't magically resolve their identity issues, or make them brilliant at communicating. They struggle to turn their implicit understanding of each other into the kind of healthy communication their relationship needs, because neither of them have any practice with that. But that safe space between the two of them gives them both a place to figure things out.

"What's it like to be in love?"

"It feels... easy. It's just like breathing. He understands my idiosyncrasies, finds them charming even. We expose each other to new things, new ideas. And we laugh a lot. We just pass the time so well. I'd call those things love."

That's what is romantic to me about this song, I think, the sense of safety. You are safe to be vulnerable with me, because I will not reveal you unless you want to be revealed. We may be surrounded by a battlefield but you and me? We're a team.

And for Ed and Stede, this is the early days. The dawning hours of their team. While Stede's "Well I was gut-stabbed..." story intro in later episodes is a funny bit, it's clear that Stede looks back on this moment as a warm and happy one. I think Ed does as well.

Which brings us to the chorus of the song:

Some things you will remember Some things stay sweet forever