#they don't make him sacrifice his quirks

[froginabogg]

rewatching nowhere boys (yeah sue me i know i know) and i'm lowkey obsessed with how sam isn't even like,,, mean, he starts talking to andy and felix right from the start and isn't insulting or rude to them, he calls them nicknames he uses for the rest of the show, he has a few rude moments and insults but definitely not as much as jake does, who's an actual bully

it's very fascinating to me how sam's ENTIRE arc is really just him getting a reality check and being like "dude you gotta be less selfish", dare i say incredibly adhd coded (hi hello it is me i relate to this so fucking much), and he's right at the age for it too, which fifteen year old hasn't gotten bonked in the head by destiny and told "yo cut it off and think of others", it's genuinely so nice

[dolche-tejada]

You know, I think this ending would have been slightly less of a fucking disappointment if the heroes hadn't been so unfairly favored by Horikoshi compared to the villains. I mean, seriously

Deku destroys every bone in his body multiple times throughout the story and is warned that if he continues, he'll permanently lose the use of his limbs ? Everything's fine, his body's just got used to being reduced to a bloody pulp somehow so there's no consequences for him. In fact even when he literally loses his arms to Shigaraki, he gets them back two minutes later thanks to Eri because guess what ? Her horn still works even when cut off from her body. How convenient.

Gran Torino gets his ribcage obliterated by Shigaraki ? Don't worry guys, he'll survive that despite his old age and injuries, and this to have no particular role in the plot afterwards.

Bakugo dies heroically trying to buy time before Deku arrives ? Lmao, did you really believe it ?? No of course not, Edgeshot just uses his last-minute Deus Ex Machina to save his life at the cost of his own and- Oops nope he's fine too, my bad !

Hawks murders a criminal fleeing for his life in cold-blood ? The best Hori has to offer is him completely free and in charge of the HSPC.

And no, losing his quirk isn't a real consequence for him because not only it literally played a major part in saving the world with Vestige!Hawks raising an insurrection among AFO's quirks, but also because his quirk has always been the element through which people exploited him.

Endeavor abused his family for years and completely destroyed his eldest son ? No jail time and no media backlash for that, the only blame he received was due to the heroes' failure to stop the League during the Raid Arc.

And don't even get me started on this bs about facing hell or whatever for what he's done : He's literally free and wealthy ; he have Rei, Fuyumi, Shoto, his sidekicks and Hawks on his side ; and all the difficulties he's apparently going to suffer are off-screened.

Deku had to sacrifice OFA and his future hero career to save the world ? Guess what, Bakugo invested all his time and money to make him an Iron-Man suit and now he can still be a hero with everyone else.

There are plenty more examples of this but I think you get the idea. Now let's take a look at the villains' ending :

Toya is now a piece of charcoal kept artificially alive for the few years he has left, unable to move a finger, and whose few minutes a day during which he can stay awake will be spent talking to his father who abused him as a child.

Toga, a literal teenager, killed herself to save Ochako and because she knew it's still better than rotting at Tartarus her whole life.

And not only did she die but she did by bleding to death. Let me repeat for those who have trouble grasping what I've just said : In a manga where the heroes can survive having their heart blown to bits, being impaled Kakyoin-style or smashed against buildings like a fly on a windshield, one of the main antagonists died of a fucking hemorrhage…

As for Shigaraki, after learning that his very birth and all the tragedies of his life have been orchestrated by AFO, after all this development and narrative promises about him being saved in the end... Deku just kills him.

Because despite all his speeches about saving him, it seems like the best he could do was beating him both physically and mentally until he crumbles to dust…

Compress on his side is apparently locked up for life and kept alive by machines too.

A begging Kurogiri tried in a desperate attempt to save Shigaraki, only to be unceremoniously blown up by Bakugo and dying off-screen without anyone giving a shit, including Aizawa and Mic.

And Spinner will now spend the rest of his life struggling with the extra quirks inside him that affect his body and mind, while having to cope with the thought that his boyfriend best friend and companions have either died alone or are locked away for life in horrifying circumstances.

Clearly not the same as with the heroes...

Now don't get me wrong, even if they suffered just as much from the consequences of their actions or the plot as the League, this ending would still be a disaster in terms of writing but AT LEAST it wouldn't reek that much of hypocrisy.

[darkcircles4lyfe]

it's a story about hands (reprise)

Yeah, okay, today's the day.

I gave my blog that title for a reason, you know, and it has loomed over me for years because the hand motif is absolutely everywhere and you could go on about it forever.

Maybe that's something I'll never actually attempt to do, but this chapter, we reached a breaking point.

Before I continue, I need to give a big, big disclaimer: I do not have a physical disability, so I'm not able to speak about that from the standpoint of representation as a first-hand perspective. I have at least listened to enough disabled people to know that fictional characters who become amputees only to miraculously gain their limbs back is, um, a trope. Disabled people in general being "healed" is a conception we would really prefer to avoid here. Not to call people out, but I don't think we're giving enough space to acknowledge that.

I don’t feel comfortable making the judgement call about what should happen. I’m leaving that open. I also don't want to downplay people's emotional reactions. Honestly, I don't know if I can accurately define the line between acknowledging real pain vs. ableist pity. But I’d like to talk about the possibilities of what could happen. Other characters have definitely gotten permanent disabilities as a result of their hero work, or even just the side effects of their quirk. But, for better or worse, I don't think this case is really about representation. Not that Horikoshi won't do that justice. He might. What I'm saying is that's not his purpose for having Izuku lose his arms. It's meant to be symbolic, so we can explore what it means. The other thing I’m keeping in mind here is that Horikoshi is notorious for playing with our expectations, like, alllllll the time. I mean, just take a few chapters ago for a classic example. Eri appeared at the end, and we all assumed she was about to take some sort of action to save someone with her quirk. Then, immediately following, we were given an explanation for why that wouldn’t be happening. And now it’s clear he wanted to do that “fake out” not just as a silly cliffhanger prank, but specifically so we would know not to suspect that Eri could be the miraculous solution to Izuku’s loss of his arms. Rest assured, there is no easy way out of this.

The expectation at play in this particular instance is an old one. It’s very understated, but its subtext has burned so brightly, you’d be a fool not to notice it. It sits with anticipation like one half of a call and response. Man, I was so certain. Lots of people still are. I was really looking forward to printing the panel where it happened onto a t shirt and wearing it proudly. All the hand motifs in this story radiate thematically from a single moment, the one that started it all for Izuku.

It raises all kinds of questions about the act of saving, who needs saving, why, what does it mean, what are the dynamics of power, politics, honesty, exploitation, compassion, pity, disdain, sacrifice. Katsuki has dealt with many of these since he first rejected Izuku’s hand. While Izuku was the one who was convinced Katsuki would keep on rejecting him…

…Katsuki was the one who kept that moment in his mind all these years and eventually came to regret it.

Katsuki is the one yearning for that hand-hold, the one who has imbued it with so much more weight than it ever originally had. Izuku, in contrast, does not allow himself to dwell on what he wants. To illustrate this difference, we need to look at another piece of foreshadowing:

Ugh, do y'all remember when lots of folks were complaining about how there never seemed to be actual consequences for Izuku's destructive treatment of his own body? I don't blame them, I was concerned and confused about it too. There were several "fixes" along the way. Recovery Girl healed him, but left a physical reminder. Then he started training to fight with his legs… sometimes. Then he got support items. All of these were unsatisfying non-conclusions because they didn't present Izuku with a lasting enough impression to change in a meaningful way. They didn't address his core, his origin.

Of course, that all changed this chapter. Now it looks like our frustration was inflicted intentionally. With the current context in mind, all of these moments look more sinister, like this day was always gonna come because they kept putting bandaids on a deep emotional and psychological wound. The problem is pretty much spelled out for us here:

As Katsuki put it, he just doesn’t take himself into account, ya know? He doesn’t care what happens to him. And he lies about it, to keep others from worrying, to keep them safe. To keep them from returning the favor and putting themselves in harm’s way for his sake. His motivations are noble,

…but what about the little boy inside Izuku? Who saves him?

This is all about Izuku giving himself up to the point that he literally has no more to give. The thing is, I bet he saw this coming. He knew his limits and decided to keep going anyway, because his personal safety and wellbeing are not important. Now that way of thinking has come back to bite him because the fight isn’t over yet, and he’s already made his sacrifice. So now we know who will be more distraught over this. Not Izuku—Katsuki.

It’s not about Izuku becoming disabled, it’s about how Katsuki wanted to use the intertwining of their fingers to communicate that he would never let go. Never stop valuing him most. Never let himself make the mistake of rejecting him again. Never let Izuku be so reckless with his life. To say: “we are in this together.”…if only Katsuki believed he deserved to be able to say such things. To reach out his hand would have been the ultimate way to simply imply them and let Izuku be the one to decide. Then, to feel their hands clasped together would be more than either of them dared hope for, but so beautiful, so right. A moment they’ve waited their whole lives for.

Yeah. That’s what we were expecting. We’ve been so comfortable. Horikoshi gave us all the signs. He tempted and teased us over and over. BUT. You know he does this thing were he gives us a desirable, completely plausible and simple thing to look forward to, and then he snatches it away. And THEN he replaces it with something much better, something we were not expecting at all because it seemed too good to be true. That’s exactly what happened when Himiko snatched Izuku away, and we were robbed of the chance to see him and Katsuki fight together. In hindsight, though, I’m glad things went a different way because now there’s so much more depth and angst on display. Likewise, in the present moment, we may consider how, as one door closes, another opens.

As wonderfully meaningful as the hand-hold would have been, perhaps it is still too simple a resolution for Izuku, for his and Katsuki’s relationship. Tbh, it could have been done like 100 chapter ago. At this point, there’s so much more potential. There are a couple of ways it could go. If Izuku stays armless, Katsuki will be forced to use other methods to get his point across. He’ll have to do something else, or say what he means, or both. Yes, I’m talking about what you think I’m talking about. If I say it, I just might jinx it (lol), but I mean it. I’m being serious. Either way, if Izuku did get his arms back in the end, I’m sure that it wouldn’t be an easy fix. It would be hard-won against Izuku’s self-destructive mindset, and/or by Katsuki’s conviction. Again, I say this knowing it is not meant so much as a representation of disability, but as a representation of Izuku’s greatest character flaw taken to the extreme. I know this might sound harsh, like, hasn’t he been through enough? I get that, but… I’ve said it before and I say it again: Izuku is stubborn as hell.

I wish I had a resounding final note to end this on, but I kinda don’t. I’m not sure what’s best. Now we just have to wait and see what Horikoshi has in mind.

[haine-kleine]

The entire manga ending is a burning trash fire that falls on its head in all of the established thematic purposes, but what was done with Shigaraki's character might be one of the stupidest and plain evil writing decisions.

Shigaraki was established as an immature and arrogant AFO's heir and since they were separated after Kamino, his journey was all about learning to stand on his own, developing his own agenda, establishing and chasing the goals he set out for himself. In other words, since AFO's imprisonment, Shigaraki was gradually healing from years of grooming, brainwashing and social isolation.

His backstory revealed in the My Villain Academy arc had challenged the readers and their views of this character, showing his extreme trauma, his guilt as a 5 years old boy who had killed his entire family in a quirk accident. It also finally explained Shigaraki's fervent devotion to AFO, the only one who had reached out, who wanted to help, who cared.

Of course we were aware AFO's motives can't be pure. He was preparing Shigaraki as a future vessel for himself, a means to achieve his dream of living forever.

Then, by the last war arc, Shigaraki has all the agency, individuality, autonomy ripped away by AFO stealing his body. He spends the entire second war fighting for control, silenced by AFO and the narrative barely giving him any chance to talk. One of his main goals was protecting his comrades and their dreams - this is taken from him as well, the League spent the entire second war separated, not even getting one final chance to see each other. Shigaraki dies while thinking of his friends, of his goal to save them, which he will never be able to achieve. While Izuku was at least given a chance to directly confront Shigaraki on his final quest of trying to save him, Shigaraki spent the entire time even before the second war delirious, and until his death, he had never even learned what happened to his friends, the people who chose to follow him, trusted him and supported him.

The very last thing that happens to Shigaraki before his death, is learning that his entire life, everything that had happened to him, was caused by AFO and his schemes. This strips Shigaraki of the last of his agency, turning him into a martyr. His story is no longer one about the unfairness of the heroes-adoring society and hypocrisy, good VS bad victim, trauma and coping with it. His story is about becoming a victim of a creep who had been grooming him since he was 5. One who had tried his best to make a life for himself outside of his abuser, and then had this life cruelly taken from him. Shigaraki doesn't even get to talk or react to the fact he has to sacrifice himself for AFO to die. Izuku doesn't ask him, doesn't apologize to him, he just presents the fact plainly. Shigaraki just has to deal with it.

He went from a victim to a martyr and the story barely even acknowledges it. Deku and Shigaraki were the only people who had learned the truth and neither talks about it or is allowed to share this with the world. Shigaraki died an unwilling martyr, and is remembered as a monster no better than AFO. The public draws no line between the abuser and his victim. Izuku or Allmight don't exhibit any intention to reveal the truth, and we already have Dabi's example on how this turns out.

What is the point of this character ending? Life is unfair and everything is horrible? Just deal with your trauma without causing problems for others, or you will be punished? Always abandon your ideals and your friends if a cop tells you to, or you will be murdered?

[ghostgirl101]

Being In A Relationship With Feyd-Rautha Would Be Like This...

A/N: Yes yesss, I'm back from the deepest depths of the dead, finals kicked my ass earlier but now its almost october and I'll burn any exam paper I see from this moment onwards 😀 don't even question why I used this gif, it pretty much summarises the whole headcanon lmao🖤so enjoy it and lmk if you want to be added to the taglist thing at the end. Keep in mind that requests are not open currently, as I'm catching up with ones already in my inbox for Dune and other dark fandoms.

Warnings: Kind of dark themes, mid violence.. it's Feyd Rautha, idk what to tell you 😐

Next Week's Fanfic: Headcanons for a love triangle between you, Feyd-Rautha and Paul Atreides 😎😎

☠︎︎• You got yourself into some weird territory with this one 😵‍💫

☠︎︎• If you're expecting any semblance of stability and pure romance, then I'd turn and run for the Dunes to find Paul instead, because this Harkonnen doesn't have an ounce of level sanity in him, and the amount of spiking tension you'll have to cope with on a daily basis is enough to give anyone a literal heart attack 💀💀

☠︎︎• My guesses are that you were introduced to Feyd-Rautha as either a pretty young Bene Gesserit girl chosen to weave her way into his life to continue the bloodline, or he liked the look of you when he was off-world in one instance to look over Spice production with his uncle, and took you back as a trophy because he liked the look of you. So lucky you. 🙃

☠︎︎• This boy is an absolute sadist and an unpredictable unhinged mess, so there's a lot to get used to, and even when you do get used to things, it could all flip and spin just as quickly. It would take a hell of a time to truly understand Feyd-Rautha enough to predict him one hundred per cent and longer to have his trust that you won't run off or try betraying him.

☠︎︎• There's definitely a kind of dangerous allure to him that he uses to his advantage, a smug grin on his face when he enters the arenas, most likely to make kills in your name. It wouldn't be a massive surprise if you became some figure in Giedi Prime to sacrifice the dead to, like some kind of goddess of the kill (ik that sounds dramatic as hell, but i see it happening .-.)

☠︎︎• Feyd-Rautha is absolutely not used to the concept of looking out for anyone other than himself, or feeling anything close to respect and love for anyone other than himself. So the relationship he forces between you and him is a shaky and slow-burning bond that works in its own weird ways and quirks, and adapts to him and him only, so there are a lot of adjustments to be made on your end. Because even though Feyd isn't sensitive in the general sense, he's majorly unpredictable, and one wrong word could set him off. Just, tread carefully in the early days.

☠︎︎• If you want affection in any other way than corpses and bruising hickies, it may take a little while, because he has no idea how to pull that kind of gentleness off, and doesn't necessarily want to either. But if it's something that'll get you to submit to his hold over you more, then he'll come round to it, and when there's absolutely no one else in the area, you might get some actual, genuine passion, though there's always a part of it mixed in with some darker conflict in him.

☠︎︎• If you want attention from him, you've got it anyway. Feyd has his own form of attachment, pretty much an obsession, but it's always tangled in with his desire to dominate and possess. It's a suffocating relationship and tipped-scales dynamic, and the only way you can really get him to see your side of things is by wording it in ways that'll make it sound like it was his idea in the first place, and that the reason is because it'll feel better for him.

☠︎︎• Needless to say, if you're a little firmer and have a dark side to you (i'll make a safe bet that you do if you want this guy x_x) this Harkonnen is a thrill seeker to the extreme, someone always looking to feel something new and raw and insatiable, like the sharpest peaks of ecstasy and adrenaline, so will he try out new stuff with you even though it sounds mental and freaky and dangerous? That's a rhetorical question.

☠︎︎• Despite all the bloodshed and his ruthless havoc in the arenas, taking lives and living for the pain of it, believe it or not, Feyd is actually vulnerable in the least suspecting way. He doesn't have an emotional connection with anyone, because he's an unhinged psycho amongst a crowd of pale unhinged psychos who expect nothing less (and.. have you watched the film?? It's confirmed that this dude has mummy issues, so... i'm just saying, look at this hc's front gif 😏)

☠︎︎• If we're talking romance and affection, just think intense. Intense intense intense, because that's the best way to describe it. His hugs are breathtakingly tight and forcefully smothering, and he doesn't kiss, he full-on makes out with you. Public or not doesn't matter, it's just an opportunity to mark you as his in front of an audience, and he'll gladly perform, so suck up your shyness.

☠︎︎• Thinking of pet names, I see Feyd-Rautha calling you either by just your true first name and having everyone else address you just by your general title, or using other typical nicknames he'd use with satisfied smirks and lingering looks. Maybe his dearest darling, because you're higher than the pets he feeds and used before you (apparently they're called harpies??!? idk what the heck lol) I don't see him saying my love or honey unless he's just being a jackass in an argument, because I'm betting my life savings this boy only eats bitter things, and he sure as hell can't define love like you can.

☠︎︎• Feyd comes across as pretty dominant in everything he does, which is right, and even if it's you questioning him, he'll throw a dangerous fit that escalates within a second no one sees, so, again you have to be clever with the way you word things. You physically and mentally cannot be independent with Feyd-Rautha, because he'll break that spirit right out of your soul. Would he physically hurt you? Not badly, no, but just don't push him, because he'll lash out without a second thought in the moment of impulse.

☠︎︎• Again with the independence, another thing that stops you from getting any is how absolutely suffocatingly obsessive he can get, which turns on his possessiveness. You're essentially an extension of himself, something that's peaceful and pure and perfect in so many ways he'll never understand and will always pull your mind apart to try to. So if any other skulking Harkonnen looking to impress you by challenging Feyd himself or devoting a kill in the arena to you, has immediately chosen the slowest, most humiliating death, that you'll probably be tied down to watch -_-

☠︎︎• And if he can tell in even the smallest way that you're drawn to someone aside from him, there's a chance you'll be kept locked up in his chambers for a month or two with no servants, nothing breathing at all permitted to trespass except him, until he's satisfied and you have him wrapped around your finger again. And that means you can get him to do practically anything if it benefits him and draws you closer, like a kill.. to maybe even destroying a whole planet, it's not impossible for him. Once he has his mind set on something, he's a hunter, he's found his target, and he'll go wild until he destroys it.

☠︎︎• He's protective in the way that he will not let you die, or get hurt in any way by any person other than him. If another Harkonnen draws your blood in the tiniest scratch, or hurts your feelings in some way, Feyd will use that as an excuse to wring their necks. You're his to look at and admire and dress up and be close to and make you feel things, so anyone else daring to step up beside you will get knocked down and fed to his darlings. The only time you'll actually see him being doting and surprisingly, cautiously gentle is when he's healing a wound without the audience of any nurses or outside help, an uncharacteristic and uncomfortable silence in the air as he concentrates and gets you back to rights.

☠︎︎• The moments where he'll allow himself to be truly close to you go unspoken, like in the cold hard nights of Geidi Prime, where he pulls you up from your bed and tugs you down the short dark corridor to dump you in his own instead, with nothing else but the need to feel smotheringly close to someone who understands how his mind works. You'll remind him of his mother, and that's all good, so long as you stay by him and with him always, because if you take the opportunity to turn and run, don't let him catch you in the act. There's a 50/50 chance he'll keep you in his rooms for the rest of the relationship, or just straight-up kill you and take in your memories and mind to possess you that way ._.

════════════════════════════════════════════

Next Week's Fanfic: Headcanons for a love triangle between you, Feyd-Rautha and Paul Atreides 😎😎 ⊹˚₊‧───────────────────────────────────────────‧₊˚⊹

Taglist (lmk if you want to be added to this for my future Dune fanfics): @milaeth @ennycutie @nckcn @void21 @leighta @williamtt33 @deathsimp @tatumrileyslover @beebumbo @the-dark-dreamer25 @lilepad @skboo @keicdcat @1950schick @reggiesmoon @velosrantipole @yoonessa @anonymjuni @saturnhas82moons @xlxnq @frickyea-guacamole19 @meowmeeps @chalklate

════════════════════════════════════════════

DUNE MASTERLIST ⋆⁺₊⋆ ☾𖤓 ⋆⁺₊⋆ MAIN MASTERLIST

[queenshelby]

ONE SHOT: THE CASTING COUCH

PART ONE OF THE DARK & SEXY SERIES

NOTE: This is a series of one shots and mini series for Cillian Murphy & Tommy Shelby in which he acts totally off-canon. Most of these shots are very dark in nature and you should read their individual warnings. All of these shots are requests from readers. Co-written with @darkshelbyfiction

PAIRING: CILLIAN MURPHY X VIRGIN READER

WARNING: DUB-CON, BLACKMAIL, LOSS OF VIRGINITY

"Thank you for coming over Cillian, and for helping me out with my rehearsals," you said after opening the door for him. You hesitated, your eyes glancing at the untidy mess strewn around, hoping he wouldn't notice how disorganized you were. You were still young and inexperienced when it came to acting and life in general and had recently finished filming your first movie under Cillian's guidance.

"No problem, Y/N," Cillian replied smoothly, stepping inside your apartment with a confident swagger. "I was looking forward to it," he told you and you nodded silently, forcing out a smile.

"Great! Well, let me just clear up a bit of space here," you murmured, quickly moving clutter off your couch and onto the floor.

You noticed that Cillian took note of this odd behavior, raising an eyebrow curiously. His gaze lingered on your body, taking in every curve and line.

"You know you've got a lot of competition to get this role," he stated matter-of-factly. It sounded like advice rather than a threat, but there was something strange about his tone.

"I know," you mumbled back, shifting uncomfortably on your feet. "I'm willing to do whatever it takes, Cillian," you told him and he smiled, the corners of his lips quirking upwards slightly. 

"Whatever it takes, huh?" Cillian mused thoughtfully, reaching out to brush a stray lock of hair from your face. His touch was gentle, almost tender, and you could feel your skin tingle beneath his fingers.

"Yeah, I really want this part," you admitted quietly, meeting his gaze directly with your big eyes. There was something magnetic and yet uneasy about his presence, drawing you in despite your better judgment.

"Well, I can help you with that," Cillian offered with a knowing grin. "But I need something in return," he added, his voice dropping low to a husky whisper.

You swallowed hard, feeling a wave of trepidation wash over you. "What do you mean by that?" you asked innocently, squirming under his steady gaze. 

"Come on Y/N, you are a smart girl, aren't you?" Cillian asked with a playful smirk. "I am sure you know what I want," he continued, running his fingers through your soft hair.

Your heart raced in your chest as you struggled to find the right words. "Look, Cillian, I appreciate you giving me this opportunity, but I don't think I can go there," you finally managed to say.

His eyes narrowed slightly, assessing your resolve. "You know that roles like these don't come along often, especially when you're starting out in this business," he explained coolly. "It's all about connections. And trust me," Cillian said, his voice dropping even lower—a soft purr against your ear, "I have plenty of those." 

"I will touch you, down there, if you like, but I won't sleep with you. I never had sex before, so..." You hesitated, unsure how to express yourself. Your voice trembled as you tried to maintain composure. "I mean, I am not ready and..." you suggested cautiously.

Cillian's gaze intensified, locking onto yours as he interrupted you mid-sentence. 

"Y/N, I want to fuck you properly," Cillian explained calmly, watching your reaction carefully. "You either take it or leave it," he whispered softly, leaning closer. "But if you want to have this role, then you'll have to make some sacrifices."

The air between you felt thick and heavy, charged with an electric tension neither of you dared to confront. Cillian was older, far more experienced in both acting and life, but there was something that made you feel uneasy about his request, despite your attraction towards him.

"But I have never done anything like this before," you insisted feebly, your voice barely above a whisper. "I'm not ready," you pleaded, clinging onto hope that he would relent.

"I didn't ask if you were ready," Cillian retorted sharply, his eyes flashing dangerously. "I asked if you wanted the role," he reminded you coldly, crossing his arms defensively.

"Yes, I do," you agreed hurriedly, eager to appease him.

"Good, then we understand each other," Cillian said confidently, stepping closer. "Now I will try to make this as comfortable for you as I possible can," he promised, his voice low and soothing. "Take off your clothes," he then commanded abruptly, staring intently at you.

You hesitated, biting your lip nervously. The silence hung heavily between you two, making your palms sweat. But the prospect of achieving your dream outweighed any doubts or fears you may have had. So without further hesitation, you began undressing, shedding layer after layer until only your panties remained.

Cillian watched your transformation with rapt attention, his gaze lingering on your exposed flesh. His eyes gleamed with lustful desire, sending shivers down your spine.

You stood naked before him, completely vulnerable, as he appraised your curves and lines.

"Such a beautiful young woman," he muttered, admiring your form. "You're perfect for this role and many others, if you play your cards right."

He stepped closer, reaching out to trace a finger along your collarbone. You flinched slightly, bracing yourself for what was to come.

"Relax, darling," he cooed, his voice deepening. "I will be gentle with you."

He placed a strong hand on your shoulder, guiding you gently backwards until you reached the edge of your study desk, the wood now pressing into your lower back. 

You felt nervous, his proximity threatening to overwhelm you.

"Just relax, Y/N," he reassured you, his voice a soothing balm to your anxious nerves. "We're going to take things slow, okay?" He reached down and scooped you up in his arms, placing you delicately upon the desk. Your knees wobbled with uncertainty, but you forced yourself to stay upright.

Cillian stepped away, leaving you in nothing but your panties. His eyes trailed over your entire body, scrutinizing your vulnerability.

"Sit up straight," he instructed firmly, reaching out to adjust your posture. You complied obediently, clutching the tabletop tightly.

"Don't worry," he consoled you, his voice calm and collected. "This will hurt a little, but everything will be fine." You looked doubtful, swallowing a lump in your throat. But you knew you couldn't turn back now.

As he moved closer, you saw his eyes sparkle mischievously. "Lets take a look at this little virgin hole of yours, shall we?" Cillian murmured, trailing a finger along your inner thigh. You instinctively jerked away, causing him to chuckle.

"No need to be shy, love," he teased, reaching out again to stroke your knee. You didn't respond, instead opting to close your eyes, focusing on breathing deeply.

"Alright, alright," Cillian sighed, removing his hand. "Why don't you lay back for me, baby?" Cillian says, his voice thick with seduction. 

You gulp, your palms sweating profusely now. The anticipation builds within you, and fear mixed with excitement dances across your veins. Despite the situation, you can't deny the urge to surrender to Cillian's will. To submit completely to his desires. After all, you remind yourself, this is your ticket to stardom.

"Are you sure about this?" Cillian asks, concern etching his features. "You know I would never force you, Y/N."

"I know," you reply weakly, mustering a thin smile. "It's just that I-- I've never, uh, I am nervous," you murmured. 

"I know," Cillian murmurs, reaching out to cup your cheek before running his fingers over your stomach, stopping again at the hem of your cotton panties. 

Hooking his fingers into the hem, Cillian pulled them downwards, exposing your most intimate area to his hungry gaze.

A groan escaped him as he stared hungrily at your swollen pussy, nestled between smooth thighs. "So fucking gorgeous," he breathed reverently, reaching out to trace your slit delicately.

"And so small," he chuckled, his fingertip circling your entrance. "But don't worry, I will manage to work my cock into you, baby," he assured you, his tone laced with confidence. Your breath hitched, the anticipation mounting within you. "You see, I've been waiting for this moment ever since I laid eyes on you," he confessed, stroking your cheek lovingly. Your heart pounded in your chest, the thrill of being desired by such an experienced man overwhelming you. "In fact, I've fantasized about you countless times," he whispered, leaning in closer.

"My cock is already throbbing with anticipation, imagining your tight pussy wrapped around it." He ran a finger down your belly, tracing the path it would soon follow. 

Cillian then reached for the pocket of his jeans to retrieve a condom, which he placed onto the desk beside you before unbuckling his belt.

He then slid his pants down, revealing an impressive erection, rock-hard and ready for action. 

Leaking pre-cum, it stood tall and proud, a testament to his arousal. You couldn't help but stare at it, mesmerized and concerned all at the same time. 

"I don't know..." you started to stammer, but Cillian put a finger against your lips.

"Shh," he hushed. "It will only hurt for a moment. I promise," he told you as he picked up the condom and opened the wrapper.

As he rolled it onto his throbbing member, you couldn't help but glance at that massive erection standing erect, a symbol of raw masculinity. It seemed almost intimidating and you closed your eyes, overwhelmed by the intensity of this situation. You knew what was expected of you, but somehow the reality of submitting to Cillian scared you.

"Open your legs for me, sweetheart," Cillian said softly, interrupting your thoughts. He reached out to pull you open, spreading your bare thighs apart to reveal your moistened folds. You whimpered, arching your back involuntarily as he touched you. 

"You've got a tight little hole, haven't you?" he commented casually, brushing aside your tears with callous indifference. "It's good though—it means you're going to feel every inch of me," he added.

"Just relax, Y/N," he urged you once more, positioning himself between your legs. You shut your eyes some more, concentrating on slowing your racing heartbeat when you felt the head of his cock press against your wetness.

"I'm going to enter you now, baby," he murmured before slowly pushing the tip of his cock inside you. You gasped loudly, squeezing your eyes shut as the burning sensation spread throughout your body.

"Ssh, it's alright. Just let me in," Cillian murmured. You let out a yelp as he pushed harder, your eyes widening in shock as he stretched you. 

"You're doing great," Cillian encouraged you, easing the head of his cock deeper into you while looking down in between your bodies, enjoying the sight of his cock slowly opening you up.

"The head is in," he whispered triumphantly, watching the initial resistance crumble before the persistent pressure of his manhood. "Now, I'm about to stretch you out some more," he warned, the anticipation building with every word.

You writhed helplessly on the desk, your eyes squeezed shut, your grip tightening on the wooden surface beneath you.

"Just breathe," Cillian comforted you, his fingers caressing your cheek. "It's going to burn for a second, but it'll pass," he promised, his tone soothing.

You took a deep breath, feeling the warmth of his shaft sliding inside you as he inched forward. Each thrust drove deeper, stretching you wider. The pain was intense, but you bit your lip to hold back your groans. 

"That's it, baby," he praised. "You're doing great. Just a few more inches and I'll be fully inside you," he told you, his eyes locked on yours. "Can you feel it? My cock stretching you wider with each push," he whispered, his voice sending chills down your spine. "That's right, baby," he encouraged you, watching as the muscles of your vagina contracted around his shaft. "Just a little more," he growled, his movements becoming more forceful.

His cock felt huge inside you, filling you up entirely as he took your innocence, the head of his cock hitting your cervix with each thrust.

"You feel so good," he moaned, his cock twitching in response to your tightness. "I could cum right now," he groaned, grinding his hips against yours before pulling out abruptly. "But I want to enjoy this for a little longer. Turn around," Cillian demanded, reaching out to spin you around on the desk.

"I want to fuck you from behind," he said before thrusting his length back into you. "Spread your legs wider," he ordered, and you did as he asked, your cheeks reddening from embarrassment as he increased his pace. 

Cillian's cock throbbed inside you, filling you up completely. He withdrew a little, teasing you with shallow thrusts. "Mmm," he moaned approvingly, running his hands up and down your body. "You're so hot like this," he whispered, pulling on your nipples roughly while watching his cock plunge in and out of your swollen pussy. "I can tell you're getting used to me," he observed, grabbing your ass and pulling you closer, impaling you on his erection. "Getting tighter, too," he noted, grinning wickedly. "It's like you're trying to squeeze me," he joked, bucking his hips wildly until he was balls-deep inside you.

"Fuck!" he shouted, his cock throbbing painfully. "I might cum too quick," he muttered, grabbing your waist tightly.

"I've been thinking about this for so long," he confessed, his breath hot and heavy in your ear.

"Such a good girl," he rasped, thrusting deeper into you. "Tighter than I imagined," he groaned, digging his fingers into your hips. "I bet you're going to be a real star one day," he praised, slamming into you harder. "This isn't going to be easy, Y/N," he warned, his voice strained. "But I've got faith in you," he said, punctuating each word with a brutal thrust before pulling out abruptly and ordering you onto your knees. 

"You are going to swallow my load now, baby," he barked, your ears ringing with the harsh command. "If you want to become a star, that is," he added ominously, pulling off the condom and then holding his cock firmly in his fist while he guided it toward your mouth.

"Oh no, please," you begged, shaking your head in protest.

"Open up," Cillian ordered sternly, guiding your jaw wide while aiming his cock at your mouth. He then shoved his cock into your mouth, gagging you instantly.

"Good girl," he said gruffly, his fingers gripping your chin tightly. You whimpered, unable to speak as he fucked your mouth mercilessly.

"I am going to pour my seed right down your throat now," he ordered, his voice muffled by your gag reflex as he started to groan loudly. "Here it comes," he announced, his cock swelling and pulsing with pleasure as he released his load directly into your mouth.

You gagged inadvertently, your eyes watering from the sudden influx of semen as you swallowed his essence and, going by the sounds he made, he was clearly pleased by your efforts.

"That's good. Drink my seed," he grunted, withdrawing his cock from your mouth. "Swallow it all down," he ordered, watching you struggle to catch your breath.

"Fucking fantastic," he then complimented, patting your head affectionately. "There's a good girl," he cooed, handing you a wad of tissues to clean off before pulling up his pants. 

"Now, we start shooting next week," he informed you, checking his watch. "You did well, but I really got to run," he grinned, kissing your forehead lightly. "I'll text you our schedule tomorrow," he confirmed before saying his farewell. 

[aashi-heartfilia]

Why do we need a Ochako and Hawks conversation before the manga ends

I've been waiting for their conversation for centuries! Like these two definitely need to talk.

Ochako managed to do something that Hawks couldn't do. Toga and Twice both were really nice people and it's just their quirks led them to despair and they both realised this.

Hawks didn't wanna kill Jin Bubaigawara but he did because in his way, he was trying to be a hero, so he brutally killed his own friend but then what kind of hero does that? In MHA, there's a very thin line between heroes and villains and that has been pointed out several times.

Even with Ochako and Toga. Remember when Toga told Ochako how she used Ochako's quirk to kill a bunch of people during their 2nd battle? Ochako was horrified. The same quirk that Ochako uses to make everyone's problems weightless quite literally was used to kill people.

Ochako and Toga are very similar. They're both very cute and shy, they love to tie their hair up in buns, and even love the same boy which is why when Ochako wasn't able to empathize with Toga, she was hurt because she thought at least chako would understand...

Horikoshi loves to draw parallels between certain characters and their storylines and one such beautiful parallel is this...when later on Ochako notices Toga's tears in the final battle.

"She loved seeing people happy. So of course she zeroed in on her tears"

Beautiful narration, amazing storytelling

It is a way for us as readers to tell that Ochako has now grown, as she is now seeing Toga as a person, not as a villain, just as a person who was sad and crying.

Like it's outright stated for us in the manga, so I don't understand people who think Ochako never got any character development because this is exactly where she differs from Hawks ideology.

Hawks was able to sacrifice Twice for the greater good, even if he himself regretted it later. The Public Safety Hero commission must have made him do other terrible things as well and he might have killed some more villains in secret just like Nagant.

We can cut him some slack though cause he was just following the orders, but then so did Ochako. Tsu even points it out, that killing Toga would have been much easier just like Hawks suggested, but her friend Ochako took a harder route and is trying to confront her.

Plus, Hawks had a chance to correct his mistake and yet when Twice (actually Toga) appeared in the battlefield again, his first instinct was to kill him.

MHA is not a story about killing people for greater good. We've seen in the latest chapter how both Dabi and Endeavour survived the war and while Dabi would live for only some time, he would have some moments of peace with his father. They can at least try to heal what was broken.

Killing twice was definitely not a good idea cause his will continued within Toga. She took her revenge and killed so many heroes on the same battlefield. As long as their despair and sadness is not confronted, the problem is not yet solved. We've seen it with Toga and Shigaraki.

Which is why I said that Ochako passed where Hawks failed.

Both Toga and Twice died, but at least Toga died smiling, happily to save someone she loved. Twice died to save his comrades while Toga sacrificed herself to save Ochako, an act of true love by the so-called villains.

And this needs to be addressed.

Plus there has been too much of a teaser about it...

Hawks witnessed the impact of Ochako's speech in ch 325. And she was the last thing that came to his mind before passing out...

Plus even their covers are a big parallel!

So with all that being said, if Ochako and Hawks didn't have a conversation before this manga ends, it would really be such a missed opportunity and quite a shame.

~Sunshine

[jp---v]

I don't need to, but I'll explain my Bakugou hate because I want to.

Long post. Beware

When I started reading the series I was the same age as the characters. Looking at my interests you can probably guess that I was bullied, but instead of getting all sad, I got angry at the people treating me poorly.

So as soon as Bakugou was introduced, I didn't like him. Seeing someone my age verbally threaten and physically attacking people without being punished just really put me in a bad mood whenever he showed up.

Then certain parts of the fandom got incredibly toxic, and suddenly the author is pandering to the worst of them

But the problem keeps getting worse. The entire world warps to kiss his ass. He got everything he wanted at every turn. He deserved nothing and got everything.

Immediately established as a long-term bully. His bullying is then retroactively justified by the world itself saying that Midoriya is worth less than Bakugou as a person.

Why did Aizawa, who was famous for expelling students, not so much as give Bakugou detention for trying to attack Midoriya on the first day of school?

Why didn't All Might punish him for using that gauntlet in the Battle Trials?

Despite all of his actions so far, just since being accepted into UA, the other students still want to be friends with him. They actively choose to spend time near him.

Why is it never mentioned how him(and Kirishima) attacking Kurogiri and getting in Thirteen's way is a large part of why the USJ played out how it did?

His speech at the Sports Festival

Everyone wanting to be on his team, but he doesn't know any of their names or quirks.

Trying to make an unconscious Todoroki fight back in the finals

Aizawa constantly excusing all of his behavior, circling back to my point about the world itself justifying Bakugou's shitty behavior

Attacking Midoriya in the Final Exam.

How did Sero fail his exam by being carried out but Bakugou passed?

At the Training Camp, he actively tried to go fight the villains that have openly stated were trying to capture him. Making himself an easy target and hindering the people trying to protect him

During the Rescue Operation he somehow managed to hold his own against the majority of the League of Villains on his own? Really?

He forced Midoriya to break curfew and just starts attacking him until Midoriya fights back. It's caught on camera and Midoriya somehow gets in the same amount of trouble?

And for some reason he gets let in on the secret of One for All after being such a monumental asshole since forever, despite the fact that even Inko doesn't know? Or literally anyone who would be, like, supportive of Midoriya?

He failed the Provisional License Exam, but don't worry there's a special make-up class just for the people that made it into the second half. Everyone who failed in the first half will have to wait for the next exam.

Oh wow, flawless victory in the Joint Training Arc by displaying teamwork out of thin fucking air that was really just him barking orders at the others.

For a while we just get his usual brand of egotistical asshole-ery and now being needlessly shoved into places where Midoriya's actual friends should be. Or even any of the other side characters. Horikoshi, give them some screen time

But then the war arc and the vigilante Deku arc all just get down on their knees to suck his dick so hard that his quirk evolves and his heart explodes. And I finally get a glimmer of hope for the series to finally stop shoving him down our throats, but no.

Edgeshot decides that this one kid is so important that he will sacrifice his own life to save Bakugou specifically and no one else is on his level of importance.

Going back a step; That apology was pure fucking lip service. Not a single goddamn thing changed in the way he acted afterward. He had a couple of "soft" moments when he wasn't actively screaming and cursing, but that's it.

And Horikoshi keeps fucking doing it.

Somehow each and every thing has to include Bakugou or be about how it's effecting Bakugou or has to mention Bakugou.

The majority of the (much more interesting) cast has been completely forgotten, and Midoriya's characterization got taken out back, given three rounds to the head, skinned, washed in bleach, and hung out to dry, but Oh Wow! BAKUGOU'S HERE!

I said it before and I'll say it again, I'd throw a brick at him.

These are only the broadest strokes of what happened too. If I reread the entire series I could write a massive in-depth character analysis, but that's too much even for me.

[meowmeowmeowmeow4x]

Dark Blue Moon and the Suffering Sun Chapter 4

Damian's face twisted in disgust at the offending object.

Phantom's quirked in confusion. He nudged the massive striped bass towards the smaller siren. "What's wrong?"

"I am a vegetarian." Damian huffed. "And it's raw."

"Oh. Uh, whoops." Phantom shrugged. "I don't know how to break it to you, dude, but, like... There's not much better to eat out there."

Damian glared at him. "I would rather starve."

Perhaps he was being too stubborn. With a buffoon of a companion such as this, the situation was better treated as a survival scenario than a mere mission. Damian was no fool. Vegetarianism was a luxury afforded to those with the food abundance to choose.

That, and it had been a solid sixteen hours since his last meal. His tail felt sore and aching in a way he hadn't felt in years. His stomach growled and groaned, demanding something to fill it.

The last time he felt a hunger like this was when he was still in the League, when they sent him out on weeks long missions where he starved under moonlight and ate birds and rats to survive.

"Come on, Damian, you need to eat something." Phantom cajoled, as if his puppy-eyed look could ever match that of Richard's. "And the seaweed's not gonna sustain you. Believe me I tried."

"Are sirens obligate carnivores?"

"No, but-"

"Then tell me why I cannot sustain myself off of kelp and seaweed?"

"Dude, those things have literally no calories in them."

A valid point, but just because he was right did not mean Damian had to cede the point so easily. "Is the siren species so primitive as to not have cultivated plants in order to sustain their population?"

"I literally don't know how to answer that dude. Do I look like an ambassador or something to you?"

Damian frowned.

"Look, it's getting late and we'll need all the rest we can get. I promise it doesn't taste that bad. We'll try and work something out tomorrow, how's that?"

Damian sighed. "Very well, but only because I very my life, thank you very much."

"Thank god for that..."

Damian unwrapped himself from his tail, and approached the poor fish. "I am terribly sorry, fish. I will not let your sacrifice be in vain." He muttered.

He looked up to find Phantom with a small knife, cutting up the fish into messy fillets, like this was the first time he'd done so. Peculiar. Surely he had lived off fish his entire life, and had deboned many before this moment.

"Just so you don't get poked in the mouth by a bone or two. Those things suck."

Phantom offered a strip of meat. Shutting his eyes, Damian took the food, and shoved it into his mouth, chewing minimally before swallowing.

The taste was... acceptable.

More than acceptable. perhaps.

It would be a shame to let the fish's death go to waste.

...

Damian sank his teeth into the side of the fish, eyes almost rolling into the back of his head from the taste.

Some time later...

Danny floats back into the cave, a handful of kelp bundled up in his arms. "Hey Damian, look I know this situation sucks for you, like in every way, so I went out and got some greens for you, just so it's not all meat and- Wait, Damian?"

The boy in question slept fastly, his fins gently drifting back in forth in the small currents caused by Danny's entrance. His head was slumped against the bass he'd brought in earlier, little strips of fish still stuck in his teeth.

Now that he wasn't making faces and being angry at Danny, he was honestly pretty cute.

Danny wiped some of the bits of meat off Damian's cheek, careful not to scratch his soft scales with a misplaced claw. Despite being so small, Damian managed to chew through a sizable portion of the fish that was easily half his size or more.

Setting the child's body to the side, and draping a small blanket over him, Danny set to finishing off the rest.

He hoped everyone back home wouldn't worry too much. If the GiW boats didn't clear out by tomorrow, then they were in for a big problem. He and Tucker were working on making waterproof earpieces, but they weren't ready yet, and his waterproof phone had been left in his room when he'd rushed out to get Damian back. That meant no communication with Amity Island whatsoever. No way to get in contact with Bruce Wayne, and no way for his friends to know he and Damian were ok.

He was really in over his head, wasn't he?

The morning came with a very loud wake up call.

"YO BABYPOP!"

Danny jolted awake and bumped his head into the nearest desk overhead. "Who's attacking us?!"

Beside him, Damian jerked himself into a defensive stance (or as close to one as he could manage.)

The curtains of the cave were pushed open, allowing streams of sunlight to stream in and blind the boy with its glare. Peeking into the cave was the head of one Ember McClain, a vicious grin plastering her face.

"You never told me you got a kid!"

Damian chirped indignantly.

Danny sputtered. "Whawhwh Wh Wait a second!"

Ember pulled out of the cave, and squealed. "Yo Kitty! Dipstick's got himself a kid!"

A woosh of water rushed past, and Kitty's neon green and teal scales showed themselves. "Omg! Phantom aren't you like fifteen? What the heck?!"

Danny blushed deeply teal. "He's not mine I swear!"

Ember pushed Kitty out of the way. "Oh my gosh he's so tiny. Who's the lucky woman?? Or man??? Phantom what have you been getting up to without us?!"

Damian hissed at him from behind Danny's shoulder (when did he get there?) "Begone, harpies! And cease your accusations! I would sooner perish than be related in any way to this incompetent fool."

Ember trilled in adoration. "He's so freaking adorable. Where did you get him, Babypop? An orphanage??"

Danny would've done a spittake, if he was above water. "W-what?! Dude, literally where would even find an orphanage around here?"

"Did his parents dump you on him like Johnny was?"

"Uh I'm not even gonna question that."

Ember clasped her hands to her mouth in scandalous shock. "No way, did you finally turn to the dark side and kidnap him?"

Damian piped up again, gripping on Danny's shoulders with his unsheathed claws and rising higher. "Nonsense, I claim no familial relationship with this person, not by blood, law, or emotion. He is as close to me as any stranger would."

"Ouch Damian. I literally saved your life."

Ember and Kitty chortled and shorted. They clutched their bellies and lead against the walls of the cave. "It's just... PFPFTT Phantom you total scoundrel, ahah!"

"Yeah yeah, look I gotta get this kid back to his dad on Amity, and quick. He's probably losing his mind over there."

Kitty gasped. "So you did turn him."

Danny shushed them. "Don't scream it out for the whole ocean to hear!"

He rushed out the entrance of the cave and shooed them in, covering the doorway up as they entered.

"Look I'd really, really rather you guys keep this on the down low. This is kind of a huge deal right now." Danny said.

He turned to Damian, still perched on his shoulder, his little tail brushing against Danny's ghostly white sail. "Is it ok if I tell them?"

"if it will convince them to vacate the premises."

"If you have to know, Damian's the son of some ultra rich guy. Skulker got him for whatever reason, and I was forced to turn him."

"Dude, Skulker went for a literal child?!" Ember clenched her first, likely hiding her extending claws. Right, Skulker was a bit of a touchy subject for her. "Of his own kind, no less?!"

"That's fucking low, girl."

"And now the GiW are going crazy too. Probalby got a huge donation or whatever. We're just waiting untli they go away so I can get Damian back to his dad, without any dissections. That also means none of you guys should be going near the place either."

"Pfft, too late for that."

Danny froze. "Who did they get?"

"Relaaxx, Dipstick. I was just preparing another concert, only for like fifty boats to show up out of fuckin' nowhere. Luckily I heard them before they saw me, but come on! I was miles from Amity at that point!"

"Miles?" Damian whispered.

Danny felt the same way too. They were only increasing their patrols now, shit.

"It's bad enough that the rest of the Pod are freaking migrating. We haven't migrated in years!"

"Yeah, actually, Phantom you wanna join us? I know you have this whole, err, thing, with Amity Island, but we hardly see you. And Johnny's been itching for a rematch."

Danny looked over his shoulder, to where Damian was lost in thought. This might have been the first them he'd seen the kid not glaring.

"Thanks for the offer, but I need to get Damian home. It's my fault he's like this, and he's got a whole family out there waiting for him."

"Don't you too?"

Danny swallowed a thick of water. He did have a family, a family that was probably going crazy. But at least part of that family, and his friends, knew he could take care of himself, knew that he was a siren, knew that the water was his element. Damian's family didn't have that luxury.

"We'll figure it out."

The girls shared a look, and shrugged. "The offer still stands, Babypop. Oh, and i'll be sure to fuckin' dice Skulker next time i see him, lying, cheatin' bastard.

For a moment, the boys watched the two siren teens' trailing tails, before they turned a corner and disappeared.

"Gotham."

"What was that?" Danny asked.

"If Amity Island is inaccessible to us, then we have to go to Gotham."

"Isn't Gotham-"

"On the East Coast? Yes, it is. It's our only option."

"That's thousands of miles, and you can't even walk!"

"Would you rather we stay here, waiting for the GiW to approach us and kill us both?"

Danny clenched his jaw. Damian was right, wasn't he.

"The only way to reunite me with Father is to go to Gotham. They will not be expecting us there."

"How can you be so sure?"

Damian dislodged himself from Danny's shoulder and floated in front of him. "Because they are unaware of the sirens' power of transformation, am I correct?"

"Good point, but wait, how did you know that?"

"I did some cursory research before coming here. The prevailing theories put forth by the supposed 'experts' on the matter asserted that sirens eat their human victims, with no mentions of turning. They have no reason to believe I am not dead., and no reason to suspect any siren activity in Gotham."

"And you're ok with that. Thousands of miles of swimming in the endless ocean full of things wanting to eat you?"

"Are you not?"

"Ok ok, calm down." Danny had to chuckle though. Rich as this kid may be, he was definitely not spoilt enough to sit still and wait for his dad to save him.

"And the fastest way to get to Gotham is via the Panama Canal." Damian puffed his chest out in what was probably pride. Danny stared at him, dumbfounded.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Have I ever jested to you before?"

"No seriously. The Panama Canal. You realise that place is monitored up and down, right? Literally the moment we get spotted, the locks are gonna, you know, lock down, and then we'll be stranded and sitting ducks to be chopped up by the GiW."

"That will not be an issue. You possess the power of camouflage, do you not? And again, they will not be expecting us in Panama, so they will have no reason to bring any sonars there."

Danny wanted to bang his head against the wall. This idea sounded so stupid, but not stupid enough that it was unfeasable.

"In addition, you said it yourself. Your negligence resulted in my permanent loss of humanity, so it is your responsibility to do whatever you can do right your wrong."

Shit. Came with being the son of a businessman, didn't it? This kid was guilttripping the hell out of him and Danny could honestly not say he didn't deserve it.

"Fiiiine. We're going to Panama."

"Excellent." Damian grinned. "Let us leave immediately."

Danny could only pray that none of the 50 things that could go wrong, did go wrong, but when was his luck ever that good?

No, instead, Danny strapped in whatever supplies he had laying around in the cave. To Panama we go...

[thequeenofneverland1]

Klaus & Elijah Mikaelson////A Love Left Behind

Summary: you, a strong-willed woman, captures the hearts of brothers Klaus and Elijah Mikaelson but is pressured to marry Jackson Kenner to meet your pack's obligations. Torn between your love for the brothers and the expectations of duty, you faces an emotional dilemma. As your wedding day approaches, you struggles with heartbreak and regrets, ultimately realizing that love can come with painful sacrifices. Your journey explores the complexities of relationships and the choices that shape your destiny.

Warnings: Emotional Abuse, Forced Marriage, Heartbreak and Loss, Mature Themes, tension and Betrayal, Intense Emotional Conflict, Substance, insecurity and Self-Image Issues, family Pressure

Klaus stands at the edge of a dimly lit alley, his typical smirk firmly in place. His presence alone would usually send a chill down anyone’s spine, but not you. You barely spare him a glance, adjusting the strap of your bag as you walk by, seemingly uninterested.

Klaus steps into your path, his eyes gleaming with intrigue. “I assume you’ve heard of me, love. Klaus Mikaelson. The name tends to have that… effect.”

Your gaze finally flickers to his, utterly unimpressed.“Heard of you? Yeah. Do I care? Not really.”

Klaus blinks, his smirk faltering for the briefest moment, unsure if he heard you correctly. No one had ever dismissed him so casually.“You should be careful with that tongue of yours. I could have it ripped out.”

You quirks an eyebrow, unbothered. You take a step closer, looking him up and down before shaking your head. “Sure, if you’re into that caveman crap. But let me guess,daddy issues, control freak tendencies, and a superiority complex? Please. You’re not as scary as you think you are.”

For a moment, Klaus is speechless, not out of anger but because he genuinely doesn’t know how to respond. No one talks to him this way. Before he can form a retort, you walk right past him, your heels clicking sharply against the pavement as if you already forgotten about him.

It’s a grand ballroom, filled with high society vampires and witches, all dressed in their finest attire. Elijah, ever the gentleman, stands at the edge of the room, quietly observing the crowd, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze lands on you, who’s sipping a glass of champagne, looking bored out of your mind.

Elijah approaches you, his movements smooth and calculated, as if he’s already predicting how the conversation will go. He offers you a polite smile.“It’s not often I meet someone as… self-assured as you. Especially in a room like this.”

You don't bother turning fully toward him, simply glancing at him sideways with an amused smirk. “And it’s not often I meet someone as old as you who still finds that line charming.”

Elijah’s smile tightens ever so slightly, the subtle dig not lost on him. He takes a measured breath, trying again “Your confidence is… admirable, though perhaps misplaced. You don’t seem to fully grasp the situation you’ve found yourself in.”

You take a slow sip of your drink before turning to face him completely, your eyes flicking up and down, as if you're assessing his worth before you even answer. “Oh, I grasp it just fine. I’m in a room full of vampires and witches who think a suit and a brooding glare make them powerful. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t. Especially not you. A nice suit can only distract from the fact that you’re still an over-glorified corpse.”

Elijah remains stoic, but there’s a flicker of something, annoyance? Amusement?,in his eyes. You give him a slow, deliberate once-over before leaning in slightly, your voice lowering. “Word of advice. try loosening that tie before you crumble to dust.” With that, you turn on your heel, your skirt swishing as you disappear into the crowd, leaving Elijah standing there, momentarily stunned by your audacity.

In a small, candlelit room, Klaus sits in a high-backed chair, his eyes narrowed as you paces the floor in front of him. The tension is thick in the air, Klaus’s usual calm demeanor slipping ever so slightly as you continue to challenge him.

“You think you can defy me? I’ve lived for over a thousand years, Y/n. I’ve seen the rise and fall of empires. There’s nothing you can do that I haven’t already dealt with a thousand times over.”

You stop pacing, finally turning to face him.Your arms cross over your chest as you tilt your head slightly, a mock smile tugging at your lips.“Wow. A thousand years? And here I was thinking that living for centuries would make someone wiser. Must be tough, huh? All that time and still stuck in the same petty temper tantrums. I mean, don’t you ever get tired of being such a drama queen?”

Klaus’s eyes darken, and for a second, it looks like he might snap. He leans forward in his chair, his voice dropping low and dangerous.“You have no idea who you’re dealing with, love.”

You, however, are unfazed. You walk toward him, your gaze never wavering as you lean down slightly, your faces just inches apart.“Oh, I think I do. A thousand years of power, but you’re still the same insecure little boy who needs everyone to fear him to feel important. How’s that working out for you, Klaus? Do you ever feel satisfied?”

You straighten up before he can respond, turning on your heel and walking out the door, leaving Klaus staring after you, a mixture of anger and intrigue burning in his eyes.

Elijah stands in a dimly lit library, his hands clasped behind his back, his usual air of calmness and nobility surrounding him. You, however, lounge on a nearby sofa, flipping through an old book with disinterest.“It’s intriguing, truly. There’s more to you than meets the eye, Y/n.”

Without even looking up from the book, you smirks.“You’re right. I’m also more annoyed than I seem.”

Elijah’s eyebrows raise slightly, clearly not expecting that response. He clears his throat, trying to maintain his composure.”You play a dangerous game, challenging the likes of Klaus and me.”

You finally look up from the book, tossing it aside and standing to your feet. You take a few steps toward Elijah, your confidence unwavering.”Oh, please. Your brother’s just a homicidal drama queen with daddy issues, and you… well, you hide behind suits and manners like they make you any different.”

Elijah smiles. “I assure you, I am quite different from my brother.”

You step closer, your gaze never leaving his.“Sure you are. That’s why you’re always cleaning up his messes, right? Pretending you’re the noble one, while in reality, you’re just as much of a control freak as he is. At least Klaus owns his insanity. You hide yours behind all that chivalry and gentlemanly crap.”

Elijah’s jaw clenches, but he remains silent, choosing to take your words in stride. You simply smile, clearly pleased with yourself as you brush past him.

“Don’t worry, Elijah. It’s not all bad. You wear the control freak thing well.” With that, you exit the library, leaving Elijah standing there, his calm facade cracking just slightly as he watches you go.

The moon casts a pale light over the desolate warehouse where you are trying to catch your breath. Your shirt is torn, and you have a gash on your arm, blood seeping through the makeshift bandage. Your face is pale, but you try to hide your pain behind a mask of determination.

Klaus and Elijah burst through the entrance, having tracked you down after hearing of the skirmish you were involved in. Their faces are etched with worry as they quickly make their way to your side.”love, what happened? You look like you’ve been through hell.”

Elijah takes in your condition with a worried expression, his hands reaching out to steady you.”You need help. Let us take care of you.”

You struggle to maintain your composure, waves them off with a grimace of pain.”I’m fine. I don’t need your help. I can handle it on my own.”

Klaus’s frustration is palpable. He kneels in front of you, his eyes filled with concern. “You’re clearly not fine. You’re hurt and you need medical attention. We’re not going to just leave you here.”

You attempt to push past them, but your legs are shaky and you stumble. Elijah catches you effortlessly, his voice a mix of gentle authority and concern “You’re in no condition to refuse our help. You’re hurt and exhausted. Please, let us help you.”

Your resolve starts to crumble as you lean into Elijah’s support. Your defiant attitude fades as you recognize the genuine worry in their eyes.“Alright, alright. Just… don’t make a fuss.”

Klaus gently helps you into a nearby car, his touch surprisingly tender despite his usual intensity. Elijah retrieves a first aid kit from the trunk and begins to clean and dress your wounds as carefully as he can.

You wince from the sting but stays silent, your pride temporarily set aside. Klaus stays close, his hand resting lightly on your shoulder, offering silent support.”You’re not alone in this, Y/n. We’re here for you, no matter what.”

You meet his gaze, your eyes reflecting both gratitude and frustration.“I don’t usually let people in like this. You know that.”

Elijah, focusing on bandaging your arm, looks up and offers a reassuring smile.”We know. But sometimes, even the strongest need a little help. We’re not going to let you push us away, not when you need us.”

As Elijah finishes tending to your wounds, Klaus leans in, his voice softening.“We’ll get you the help you need, Y/n. You’re not going through this alone.”

You, despite your initial resistance, let yourself be comforted by their presence. You realize that, despite your fierce independence, having Klaus and Elijah by your side provides a sense of security you hadn’t anticipated needing.

As the car drives off, Klaus and Elijah remain close, their concern unwavering as they ensure you get the care you need. Though your pride still battles with your vulnerability, you find solace in their steadfast support.

After you are treated and resting in a comfortable room, Hayley arrives, a knowing smirk on her face. She finds you lounging on a bed, your arm freshly bandaged. Klaus and Elijah have just left the room, giving you some space to recuperate. Hayley strolls in, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Hayley smirks.”Well, look who finally decided to let someone take care of her. I have to say, I didn’t expect you to let Klaus and Elijah play nurse.”

You were attempting to rest, but you sit up with an exaggerated huff. You glare at Hayley, trying to hide your amusement behind a mask of annoyance.”Oh, just great. The one person who knows I hate when people fuss over me shows up to gloat. What’s next? A surprise party?”

Hayley chuckles, leaning against the doorframe with a playful smirk.”I’m just surprised, you know. You’ve always acted like you couldn’t stand them, and now look at you. All bandaged up and letting them dote on you.”*

You cross your arms, trying to maintain your irritated facade, but your eyes reveal a hint of amusement.“Yeah, well, don’t think this means I’ve suddenly become all buddy-buddy with them. It’s just... they’re insistent and annoying. It’s not like I wanted their help.”

Hayley raises an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced.“Right. Because you always look like you’re enjoying yourself whenever they’re around. Especially with how Klaus keeps giving you those worried looks and how Elijah practically hovered over you.”

Your cheeks flush slightly as you try to play it cool, though your irritation is tempered by the slight smile tugging at your lips.”Oh, please. Don’t start with the ‘they care’ nonsense. It’s just because they feel guilty about whatever mess I got into. They’re not doing it out of the goodness of their hearts.”

Hayley steps closer, her grin widening as she watches you struggle to keep up your tough front.“Sure, sure. Keep telling yourself that. Meanwhile, I can’t deny it’s kind of sweet seeing you so... vulnerable. Maybe there’s a part of you that actually appreciates the attention.”

You throw a pillow at Hayley playfully, though your smile betrays your true feelings.“Get over yourself. I don’t need you adding to the sympathy party. Just help me get through this so I can get back to pretending I’m totally fine and not emotionally softened by their annoying concern.”

Hayley laughs, catching the pillow and tossing it back onto the bed.“Alright, alright. I’ll let you be. But just remember, it’s okay to let them care. Even if you’re too proud to admit it, they’re not the only ones who want you to be okay.”*

You rolled your eyes but your expression softened as you watched Hayley leave the room.”Yeah, yeah. Just don’t expect me to thank you for the lecture.”

Hayley winks before closing the door behind her, leaving you alone with your thoughts. As you settle back into the bed, you find yourself reflecting on Hayley’s words and the unexpected comfort in knowing that Klaus and Elijah truly care, despite your attempts to act indifferent.

You walked into the grand hall, the light from the chandeliers casting a warm glow over the opulent décor. You held your head high, your steps deliberate and confident despite the lingering pain in your leg. The party was in full swing, with elegant guests mingling and laughter echoing through the room. Klaus and Elijah stood near the fireplace, engaged in animated conversation, but their eyes quickly shifted to you as you entered.

Klaus’s eyes narrowed, a smirk tugging at his lips. “Well, look who decided to grace us with her presence.”

Your lips curled into a practiced smirk as you approached them, your tone dripping with mockery. “Don’t flatter yourselves. I’m here because I have a life outside of your little charade. Not because I’ve missed you.”

Elijah’s gaze softened with a flicker of concern as he took in your appearance, but he quickly masked it with his usual calm demeanor. “You’re walking better. I’m glad to see you’re recovering.”

Your eyes met his, the hint of warmth in his tone making you bristle. You crossed your arms, trying to maintain your façade of irritation. “Yeah, well, I didn’t come here for a check-up. I came because I’m not going to let you two think you’ve managed to make me some sort of charity case.”

Klaus stepped closer, his eyes searching yours. “We were worried about you, Y/n. You know that, don’t you?”

You rolled your eyes dramatically, turning your attention to a nearby table laden with hors d'oeuvres. “Oh, please. Don’t start with the concern routine. I’m perfectly capable of handling myself.”

Elijah exchanged a glance with Klaus, a silent communication passing between them. Despite your insistence, both could see through your bravado. Klaus sighed and took a step closer, his voice dropping to a more personal, almost vulnerable tone. “You don’t have to put on this act. We genuinely care about you, love.”

Your resolve wavered for a moment, the sincerity in Klaus’s voice striking a chord. But you quickly recovered, forcing a laugh and shaking your head. “Yeah, well, don’t expect me to start letting you two get all soft on me. I’m not one of your projects.”

Elijah’s expression remained unchanged, though a glimmer of sadness flickered in his eyes. “We’re not trying to project anything. We just want to know that you’re okay.”

You snatched a glass of champagne from a passing tray and took a long sip, your gaze defiant. “I’m perfectly fine, thank you very much. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other things to do than stand here and listen to your pity party.”

As you turned away, Klaus and Elijah watched you go, their concern mingling with a sense of helplessness. They knew that your stubbornness was a shield, a way to keep your motions at bay. Despite your attempts to push them away, they couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness for you, wishing you would allow them to be there for you in the way they wanted to.

You mingled with the other guests, your laughter ringing out as you engaged in conversation, carefully keeping your distance from Klaus and Elijah. Yet, as the evening wore on, you occasionally cast glances back at them, your facade of indifference faltering just slightly. It was clear that despite your efforts to act unaffected, the depth of your feelings, for both and against them, was more complex than you were willing to admit.

As the night progressed, you found yourself increasingly annoyed by the persistent attention of your friends, who seemed determined to check in on you despite your best efforts to stay aloof. You had just finished laughing off an awkward encounter with a particularly persistent guest when you noticed Klaus and Elijah approaching you again, their expressions a mix of amusement and exasperation.

Klaus, his eyes twinkling with mischief, leaned in. “I see you’re managing to charm everyone but us. Is it a special talent, or are we just not your type?

You rolled your eyes, took a dramatic sip of your champagne. “Oh, it’s definitely a special talent. It’s called ignoring people who can’t take a hint.”

Elijah, with a hint of a smile, crossed his arms. “And how’s that working out for you? Are you enjoying being the center of attention, or is it just your way of avoiding us?”

Your annoyance was palpable, but you couldn’t help the smirk that crept onto your face. “I’m enjoying it just fine. And avoiding you? Maybe. But mostly, I’m just trying to have a good time without you two hovering over me like mother hens.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, a playful grin spreading across his face. “Mother hens, huh? Is that what you really think of us?”

You threw up your hands in mock exasperation. “Yes, exactly! You’re like the overprotective older siblings I never asked for. It’s exhausting.”

Elijah chuckled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. “If we’re such a bother, why not just admit that you missed us? It would save you from all this melodrama.”

You gasped theatrically. “Admit that I missed you? Never! I’d rather suffer through your relentless concern and witty banter than give you the satisfaction of thinking you’re actually useful.”

Klaus’s grin widened as he leaned closer. “Well, if we’re such a burden, you could always try to avoid us entirely. But I suspect you’ll find it difficult to enjoy the party without our charming presence.”

You shot him a look that was half exasperation, half amusement. “Oh, please. I’m sure I’ll manage. I’ve been dealing with you two for far too long to be daunted by a little thing like being pursued for my own good.”

Elijah’s eyes danced with mischief. “And what if we promise to be less annoying? Or at least try not to hover so much?”

You pretended to consider it, tapping your chin thoughtfully. “Hmm, tempting offer. But I think I’d rather keep you two around just for the fun of it.”

As Klaus and Elijah exchanged amused glances, you couldn’t help but feel a flicker of warmth at their continued efforts. Despite your protests and attempts to maintain your acade, it was clear that their presence, annoying as it might be, was something you secretly valued.

The evening continued with you navigating through the party, your interactions with Klaus and Elijah taking on a more playful tone. Despite your efforts to act annoyed, it was evident that their teasing and concern were an endearing part of your night, leaving you with a sense of both frustration and affection for the two men who refused to let you go unnoticed.

As the night wore on, Klaus and Elijah's persistent presence became an ongoing source of irritation for you. Despite your best efforts to ignore them, they continued to hover around, much to your dismay.

Klaus sidled up to you as you were attempting to enjoy a quiet conversation with a fellow guest. “You know, Y/n, you’ve been awfully quiet tonight. Are you sure everything’s okay? You’re not usually this subdued.”

You shot him a glare, barely hiding your frustration. “I’m perfectly fine. I just don’t feel the need to constantly entertain you two with my every move.”

Elijah, never one to miss an opportunity for mischief, joined in with a smirk. “Are you sure you don’t want to share? We might be able to help make your evening more enjoyable.”

You sighed heavily, trying to maintain your composure. “I’m quite capable of having a good time without you two interrupting every conversation I have. Just go away for a little while.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged a look of amusement before Klaus leaned closer, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. “We can’t do that. We’re on a mission to make sure you’re not suffering in silence.”

Your patience was wearing thin. “And what makes you think I’m suffering? I’m having a perfectly good time without your constant need to check in.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow, pretending to consider this. “If that’s the case, then you wouldn’t mind if we stayed right here, would you?”

You tried to stifle your exasperation, but it was clear you were losing the battle. “Fine. Stay. But don’t expect me to be grateful. If anything, you’re making it harder for me to enjoy myself.”

Klaus leaned in closer, his grin widening. “You know, I think you’re secretly enjoying the attention. Otherwise, why would you keep engaging with us?”

You rolled your eyes and took a deep breath. “You’re impossible. You know that, right? Sometimes I wonder how I put up with you two.”

Elijah chuckled softly, placing a hand on your shoulder. “It’s probably because, deep down, you know we’re not going anywhere. We’re too stubborn to let you deal with things on your own.”

Klaus nodded in agreement. “And let’s be honest, you’d miss us if we weren’t around to annoy you.”

You tried to muster a serious expression, but the corners of your mouth twitched in spite of yourself. “You know what? Fine. If you’re going to be this persistent, then I’ll just have to accept it. But don’t think for a second that I’m not annoyed.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged triumphant looks, clearly pleased with their ability to get under your kin. As you continued to mingle, they remained close by, your playful banter and teasing a constant presence.

Despite your attempts to ignore them, you found yourself occasionally laughing at their jokes and appreciating their company more than you cared to admit. As the night went on, it became clear that while you might act annoyed, their relentless attention was a reminder of how much they cared, even if it came in the form of persistent teasing.

Hayley strolled over to where you,Klaus, and Elijah were engaged in your usual banter. Her eyes twinkled with amusement as she watched her sister’s futile attempts to maintain her irritation. As Hayley approached, she couldn’t help but smirk at your obvious frustration.”Well, well, if it isn’t the trio of persistent annoyances. How’s my sister holding up under your relentless attention?”

You shot your sister an exasperated look, clearly irritated by Hayley’s timely arrival.“Oh, don’t start with me, Hayley. I’m managing just fine, despite these two refusing to give me a moment’s peace.”

Klaus grinned at Hayley’s entrance, his eyes dancing with mischief.“Ah, Hayley. Just in time. We were about to test the limits of Y/n’s patience. Care to join us?”

Elijah, trying to hide his amusement, gave Hayley a respectful nod. “We could use another perspective. What do you think, Hayley? Is Y/n’s annoyance as entertaining as we believe?”

Hayley’s smirk widened as she took a seat beside you, clearly enjoying the playful tension.“Oh, it’s absolutely entertaining. I’ve never seen her so determined to act annoyed while clearly enjoying the attention.”

You rolled your eyes, though a small smile tugged at your lips despite your best efforts to stay irritated.“You’re not helping, Hayley. I can’t believe you’re actually encouraging them.”

Hayley leaned in closer, her voice low and teasing.”Well, if you can’t beat them, you might as well join them. Besides, it’s quite clear that deep down, you appreciate their attention more than you let on.”

Klaus’s grin widened, and he leaned over to you with mock seriousness.”See? Even your sister agrees. You might as well embrace the fact that you’re stuck with us.”

Elijah chuckled softly, adding to the teasing atmosphere.“And if you’re honest, you might even admit that we make these parties a bit more interesting.”

You threw your hands up in a dramatic gesture, your frustration now mingled with reluctant amusement.“Alright, fine. You win. I’ll admit that having you around is better than being alone with just my own thoughts. But that doesn’t mean I’m not still annoyed.”

Hayley laughed, clearly delighted by your reluctant acceptance.“There you go. Now you’re starting to sound like yourself again. Just remember, sometimes it’s okay to let others take care of you.”

You glanced at your sister, your eyes softening slightly, even as you tried to keep up your defiant attitude.”Yeah, yeah. Thanks for the advice. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to pretend to be annoyed by these two for a bit longer.”

As Hayley joined the conversation, Klaus and Elijah’s teasing continued, but there was a newfound camaraderie in the air. Your exasperation was now mixed with genuine affection, and despite your best efforts to maintain your aloof demeanor, it was clear that the playful interactions and persistent attention of your friends were something you secretly valued.

As the evening drew to a close, the grand hall where the party had been held was starting to empty. You, Klaus, and Elijah found themselves alone in a quieter corner of the room. The noise of the guests had faded to a low murmur, and they had settled into comfortable chairs around a small table that had been pushed to the side.

Klaus poured a glass of wine and offered it to you, his eyes twinkling with mischief.“Care for another drink?” Klaus asked, a teasing edge to his voice. “You seemed to enjoy the last one.”

you took the glass, rolling your eyes with a smile. “Are you trying to get me drunk so you can finally win an argument?”

Elijah chuckled from his seat, his gaze amused as he watched their exchange. “Oh, we’ve already won. You’ve been on the losing end of our teasing all evening. Consider this just a celebratory drink.”

You took a sip, trying to maintain your composure. “Celebratory for you two, maybe. I’ve had to endure relentless banter all night.”

Klaus leaned forward, his expression a mix of mock seriousness and genuine amusement. “It’s not relentless banter if it’s entertaining. And we both know you secretly enjoy it.”

You shook your head, trying to suppress a grin. “Sure, if by ‘enjoy’ you mean ‘tolerate’ while plotting my revenge.”

Elijah raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Plotting, you say? Care to share any of your plans?”

You leaned back in your chair, crossing your arms with a defiant smirk. “I’m not about to give away my secrets. Let’s just say that you two are always on my radar. I’m just biding my time.”

Klaus grinned widely, clearly amused by your response. “Biding your time, huh? I’ll be sure to watch my back. But for now, I think we’re safe from any retaliation.”

Elijah laughed softly, shaking his head. “I’m curious to see what you come up with. Until then, we’ll just continue our delightful teasing.”

Your eyes sparkled with mischief as you looked at both of them. “Oh, don’t be so sure. I have a few tricks up my sleeve. You just wait until I catch you off guard.”

As the three of them continued their playful banter, the mood between them was light and comfortable. Despite your attempts to act annoyed, it was clear that the teasing and the company of Klaus and Elijah were something you secretly enjoyed. The evening continued with laughter and camaraderie, the easy conversation a testament to the deep bond that the three shared.

As the evening went on, Hayley and Rebekah joined you, Klaus, and Elijah in their corner, clearly in high spirits. The two women exchanged a glance and strolled over, their smiles full of mischief.

Hayley, her eyes gleaming with amusement, looked at you. “I see you’re still surrounded by these charming gentlemen. How’s that working out for you, Y/n?”

You try to keep your composure, sighed. “Oh, you know, just another evening of enduring their endless teasing.”

Rebekah grinned, her eyes fixed on her brothers. “Well, it looks like you’re managing quite well. I’d say they’re actually behaving themselves tonight.”

Klaus, overhearing, couldn’t resist chiming in. “Behaving ourselves? That’s a first. We must be slipping.”

Elijah nodded in agreement, his smile widening. “And here I thought we were being on our best behavior.”

You shot them a mock glare. “Oh, don’t encourage them. They’re already insufferable enough without any help.”

Hayley leaned in closer, her voice dripping with playfulness. “I’m just saying, if you’re actually enjoying their company, you should admit it. We all know how much you love the attention.”

Rebekah’s grin widened. “And don’t think I haven’t noticed how you keep engaging with them. You’re practically glowing every time they tease you.”

You rolled your eyes, though a smile tugged at your lips. “Yeah, well, maybe I’m just too polite to tell them to leave me alone.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the banter. “Polite, huh? We’ll take that as a compliment.”

Elijah chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “And here we were, thinking we might actually be getting on your nerves.”

Hayley nudged you playfully. “Come on, admit it. You’re having a blast with these two. If you weren’t, you’d have left a long time ago.”

Rebekah joined in, her tone teasing. “And who knows, maybe deep down, you’re already plotting how to get them to stick around even longer.”

You tried to maintain your feigned annoyance, but it was clear the playful teasing was getting the better of her. “Fine, fine. You all win. Maybe I do enjoy having them around, but don’t think I’m going to make it easy for them.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged satisfied glances, clearly pleased with their ability to get under your skin.

Klaus raised his glass with a flourish. “To our charming persistence and Y/n’s unspoken admiration.”

Elijah nodded, adding, “And to the fun we’ve had tonight. May it continue for many more evenings.”

You shook your head with a reluctant smile. “Alright, alright. I get it. You’re all insufferable, but I suppose I’ll have to put up with you.”

As the group continued to tease and joke, the atmosphere remained warm and lively. Despite your best efforts to appear annoyed, your genuine affection for the company and the playful banter was evident. The evening ended on a high note, filled with laughter and the unmistakable bond of friendship.

As the evening wore on and the trio continued their playful banter, you took a moment to address Klaus and Elijah directly, your tone teasing but with an undercurrent of sincerity.

“By the way,” you said, a smirk on your lips as you looked between the two men, “I still don’t like you guys.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, feigning shock. “Oh, is that so? Here we thought we were making some progress.”

Elijah leaned back in his chair, a knowing smile playing on his lips. “You’re not fooling anyone, Y/n. We can see through your tough exterior. If you really didn’t like us, you wouldn’t be spending so much time with us.”

You took another sip of your wine, your gaze steady. “Well, maybe I’m just trying to keep you two on your toes. It’s more fun that way.”

Klaus’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “Ah, so you admit that we’re good for you, even if you refuse to admit it outright.”

Elijah chuckled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. “And here I thought we were just a nuisance.”

You rolled your eyes, but your smile betrayed your true feelings. “Don’t get any ideas. Just because I’m spending time with you doesn’t mean I’ve changed my mind. I’m still not a fan of your constant teasing.”

Klaus raised his glass in a mock toast. “To being a ‘nuisance’ then. We’ll wear you down eventually.”

Elijah nodded in agreement. “And in the meantime, we’ll just keep enjoying these moments of banter.”

You shook your head, though the warmth in your eyes revealed that despite your words, you valued their company more than you let on. “Fine, fine. Just don’t expect me to admit I like you anytime soon.”

The next day, Klaus and Elijah decided it was time to make their move. They approached you with a blend of confidence and nervous anticipation, ready to ask you out on a date. The sun was shining, casting a warm glow over their little corner of the garden where they had gathered.

Klaus, with his usual charm, flashed a charming smile. “So, love, we were thinking, how about you join us for dinner tonight? A more private setting, just the three of us.”

Elijah nodded in agreement, his eyes sincere. “We’d really like to spend some more time with you, away from the crowd. What do you say?”

You raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying their efforts. You leaned back, crossing your arms with a playful smirk. “Hmm, I don’t know. I’m pretty busy these days.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged glances, a mix of desperation and determination in their eyes.

Klaus leaned in closer, his voice dropping to a pleading tone. “Come on, love. Just one dinner. We promise to behave.”

Elijah added with a grin, “We’re begging you. It’ll be fun, and we won’t tease you too much. Promise.”

You pretended to think it over, your expression a mix of contemplation and amusement. “Really? You’re both so charming, but I’m not sure I can trust you to keep your hands to yourselves.”

Klaus and Elijah looked at each other, their expressions showing a mix of hope and exasperation.”We’ll be on our best behavior. Just give us a chance.”

Elijah smiles.“And if you don’t like it, you can always escape. We’ll make sure it’s a memorable evening, in the best way.”

You finally relented, though your tone was still playful. “Alright, fine. I’ll go out with you two. But let’s get one thing straight, if either of you try any funny business or plotting, I’m going to have to take drastic measures.”

Klaus and Elijah looked at you curiously.

You continued with a grin, “Any wondering hands or sneaky schemes, and I’m cutting your hands off. Deal?”

Klaus laughed, clearly impressed by your boldness. “Deal. We’ll be on our best behavior, and we promise to keep our hands to ourselves.”

Elijah chuckled, nodding in agreement. “We’re looking forward to it. And no plotting, we swear.”

You gave them a playful salute. “Great. Then it’s a date. I’ll see you both tonight.”

As you meticulously prepared for your evening out, you carefully selected an outfit that combined elegance with a hint of allure. The deep red dress you chose hugged your curves just right, while your makeup was applied with precision to enhance your features. The final touch was a pair of strappy heels that added a bit of glamor. You were excited about the evening, though you knew you needed to keep your plans under wraps.

Just as you were putting on your earrings, your sister walked into the room, her gaze immediately landing on your outfit. The surprise was evident in her expression.

“Wow, look at you,” Hayley said, her eyes widening. “Where are you headed all dressed up like that?”

You were caught off guard, quickly scrambled for a response. You turned to face your sister, trying to sound casual despite the flutter of nerves you felt. “Oh, just going out with some friends. Nothing special.”

Hayley’s curiosity seemed piqued, and she took a step closer, her gaze assessing your ensemble. “Friends, huh? You’re looking pretty glamorous for just a casual hangout. Are you sure there’s not something more going on?”

You forced a nonchalant smile, though you could feel your cheeks warming. “Yeah, well, sometimes it’s nice to dress up even if it’s just a regular night out. You know how it is.”

Hayley tilted her head, her expression a mix of skepticism and amusement. “Right. So, no details then? No hints about where you’re actually going or who you’re meeting?”

You shook your head, your tone playful but firm. “Nope, no hints. I’m just in the mood to look nice tonight. Besides, you know how much I hate to be teased. I’d rather keep things low-key.”

Hayley’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she crossed her arms. “Alright, if you insist. But if I find out later that you were out with someone interesting, don’t expect me to let you off the hook easily.”

You laughed softly, feeling a mix of relief and amusement. “Fine, fine. Just know that if you do end up hearing anything, it’ll be on a need-to-know basis. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to finish getting ready.”

In the living room, Hayley was sprawled on the couch, flipping through a magazine, when Klaus and Elijah walked in. Both were impeccably dressed, Klaus in a tailored suit and Elijah in a sleek blazer, exuding a refined charm that was hard to miss.

Hayley glanced up, her eyebrows raising in surprise. “You guys are all dressed up. Where are you headed tonight?”

Klaus, catching Hayley’s curious gaze, flashed a confident smile. “We’re heading out for a dinner with Y/n. It’s a special evening.”

Elijah nodded in agreement, his tone light and casual. “Just a nice dinner, nothing too extravagant.”

Hayley’s eyes widened slightly, and she couldn’t help but smirk. “Oh really? You mean to tell me that my sister was lying to me about her evening plans?”

Klaus looked puzzled for a moment. “Lying?”

Hayley smirked, shaking her head with a knowing look. “Yeah, well, she said she was just going out with some friends and made a big deal about keeping things low-key. Seems like she wasn’t entirely honest.”

Elijah chuckled, clearly entertained by the situation. “Ah, the old ‘keeping secrets’ routine. Seems like she wanted to avoid any teasing.”

Klaus grinned, clearly amused. “Well, it looks like we’re in for an interesting evening. If she went through all that trouble to hide our plans, we must be doing something right.”

Hayley laughed, shaking her head as she stood up. “Your evening just got a lot more interesting. I’ll be eagerly waiting to hear all about it later.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged glances, both grinning at the playful turn of events.

As Hayley watched them leave, she shook her head with a mix of amusement and mild irritation. “You’re both lucky she likes you. Otherwise, I’d have a few choice words about how she’s handling this.”

With a final, teasing smile, Hayley settled back onto the couch, already anticipating the stories she’d hear later. The playful drama of the evening had only added to her entertainment, and she was more than ready to find out how the night would unfold.

As you finally emerged from your room, you found Klaus and Elijah waiting by the stairs, both looking dashing and ready for the evening. Their eyes lit up as they saw you, their admiration evident.

Klaus, with a charming smile, extended his hand to you. “You look absolutely stunning, love. We’re very lucky to have you join us tonight.”

Elijah nodded in agreement, his gaze warm and appreciative. “Indeed. So beautiful like always. We’re both looking forward to a wonderful evening.”

You blushed slightly at their compliments, a smile playing on your lips. You made your way to the door, ready to head out. Just as three of you were about to leave, Hayley and Rebekah appeared in the hallway, clearly prepared to add their own touch of mischief.

“Look at you three, all dressed up and ready to go,” Hayley said, her eyes twinkling with amusement. “Seems like someone’s been keeping secrets.”

Rebekah joined in with a smirk, her gaze shifting between you and her brothers. “And here I thought Y/n was just hanging out with friends. Looks like there’s a bit more to the story.”

You cleared your throat, your tone firm as you addressed the teasing. “Actually, I’m not going with them. Remember,Hayley, I was just going to hang out with friends.”

Hayley’s eyes widened in mock surprise. “Oh, really? So all this effort and glamour is for just a casual evening?”

You nodded, trying to maintain your composure despite the playful challenge. “That’s right. I’m simply dressing up for a night out with friends. No need to make a big deal out of it.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged amused glances, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. Klaus leaned in slightly, his voice low and teasing. “Well, if you insist. But I must say, it’s quite the coincidence that your ‘friends’ are so well-dressed.”

Elijah added with a grin, “Indeed. I guess we’ll just have to make sure the evening lives up to the expectation.”

You gave them a playful look, then turned back to your sister and Rebekah. “I’m serious. Let’s not make this a bigger deal than it needs to be.”

Hayley and Rebekah exchanged one last teasing glance before stepping aside, allowing you, Klaus, and Elijah to make it to the exit. As the trio walked out the door, the playful banter continued, adding a light-hearted touch to their evening plans.

As you and the boys stepped out of the house and into the crisp evening air, Klaus couldn’t help but turn to you with a teasing smile.

“You know,” Klaus began, his tone light and playful, “you’re quite the liar, love.”

You raised an eyebrow, glancing at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. “Oh, really? And what makes you say that?”

Klaus chuckled, shaking his head as he walked alongside you. “Well, the way you fibbed about your plans. I had a feeling there was more to it than just a casual hangout with friends.”

Elijah, listening to the exchange, added with a smirk, “And we’re not exactly disappointed. It seems you were just trying to avoid a bit of teasing from your sister and Rebekah.”

You laughed softly, shaking your head. “Guilty as charged. I just didn’t want to deal with the endless questions and teasing. I knew they wouldn’t let up.”

Klaus smiled, clearly enjoying the banter. “Well, it’s good to see you’ve managed to keep some secrets. Adds a little excitement to the evening.”

Elijah nodded, his tone warm. “Indeed. And we’ll make sure this evening lives up to the hype. We wouldn’t want to disappoint our glamorous companion.”

You grinned, feeling a mix of excitement and gratitude for their company. “Well, I guess I’ll have to make sure the night is worth all the secrecy and effort.”

With that, the trio continued on their way, the playful banter and genuine affection between them making the evening all the more enjoyable. The anticipation for the night ahead only grew stronger as they made their way to their destination, ready to enjoy their time together.

As they walked along, you glanced over at Klaus and Elijah, a mischievous smile playing on your lips. “Besides,” you said with a playful tone, “remember that I don’t actually like you guys.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Oh, really? And here we were thinking we were winning you over with our charm.”

Elijah chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling. “Yes, I suppose we’ll have to work even harder to change your mind.”

You laughed, shaking your head. “Well, don’t get too comfortable. I’m still not ready to admit that I actually enjoy your company.”

Klaus grinned, his eyes gleaming with playful defiance. “Challenge accepted. We’ll see just how much we can charm you by the end of the evening.”

Elijah nodded in agreement, his tone light. “Indeed. Consider this our mission for tonight.”

You smiled, feeling a warm sense of camaraderie despite your easing. “Alright then, let’s see what you’ve got. But don’t think I’ll go easy on you.”

With that, the three of you continued on your way, the playful banter and mutual affection adding to the excitement of the evening ahead. The night promised to be filled with laughter, charm, and perhaps a few surprises, making it one to remember.

As soon as the door clicked shut behind them, Klaus leaned against the frame, arms crossed, a smirk pulling at his lips. "Well, love," he began, eyes gleaming with mischief, "now that the night is over, how are you going to explain to your dear sister that you weren’t just out with 'friends'?"

You shot him a mock-glare, slipping off your heels. “You two are nothing but a headache, that’s how I’ll explain it.”

Elijah, ever the calm one, but no less playful, stepped forward and offered you his hand to balance you as you slipped into your slippers. “A headache? I’m almost certain you enjoyed yourself this evening, Y/n,” he teased, his voice velvet smooth. “In fact, I believe I saw you smiling more than once.”

Klaus snorted. “Oh, more than once, Elijah. I distinctly recall a moment where she almost laughed at one of your terrible history lessons.”

You rolled your eyes, suppressing a grin. “You both have overinflated egos, you know that?”

Klaus circled around you, his voice dropping into that dangerously teasing tone of his. “Admit it, love. You had a good time. For someone who claims not to like us, you certainly seemed to enjoy our company tonight.”

You huffed dramatically, arms crossing as you plopped down onto the couch. “Sure, I had fun, between all the terrible jokes and the fact that you two wouldn’t stop bickering about whose turn it was to pay the bill.”

Elijah smiled, sitting beside you. “You’re deflecting, Y/n. If you hated us so much, you wouldn’t have agreed to dinner at all.”

“Exactly,” Klaus chimed in, leaning casually on the back of the couch, his grin devilish. “In fact, I’d wager you’re looking forward to our next outing already.”

You narrowed your eyes, though the corner of your mouth twitched in amusement. “Don’t get too ahead of yourselves. I just didn’t want to eat alone tonight, alright?”

Klaus leaned closer, his lips quirking into a grin. “Whatever you need to tell yourself, love.”

Elijah chuckled softly at your side, adding in his usual calm way, “Perhaps next time we’ll make it even more unbearable, just to test your resolve.”

You rolled your eyes again, unable to fight back the smile threatening to break free. “You two really are the worst.”

Klaus, with a wink, stood up and stretched lazily. “And yet, you can’t seem to resist us. Funny how that works, isn’t it?”

Elijah placed a hand gently on your shoulder, his expression one of mock concern. “If we truly bother you so much, perhaps next time you should invite someone else to distract yourself.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Oh, don’t worry. I’ll bring someone to keep me entertained and save me from your endless teasing.”

Klaus smirked, clearly entertained by the idea. “Good luck with that, love. No one’s quite as good as us at keeping you on your toes.”

You stood, giving both brothers a challenging look before making your way towards the stairs. “You know, if this keeps up, I’ll be the one who needs saving from you two.”

Klaus chuckled. “We’ll see about that.”

Elijah, ever the gentleman, gave her a slight nod. “Sleep well, Y/n. We’ll be sure to make your life as difficult as possible tomorrow.”

You shook your head, a playful smile still on your face as you turned and headed up the stairs. Despite all your protests and teasing, there was no denying that they made your nights far more interesting than you’d care to admit.

As you disappeared from sight, Klaus leaned toward Elijah, his voice low but amused. “She’s enjoying this far more than she lets on.”

Elijah smirked, his eyes still on the staircase. “That’s the fun of it, brother. She enjoys pretending to hate us, but we both know the truth.”

The next morning, you weren't the only one to wake up with a playful mood hanging over you. In the kitchen, Hayley and Rebekah had already started their day, drinking coffee and chatting quietly when Klaus and Elijah finally walked in.

Hayley immediately raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a mischievous grin. “Well, well, look who finally decided to show up. How was your night out with my sister?”

Klaus rolled his eyes, clearly already prepared for the teasing. “Good morning to you too, Hayley,” he said, ignoring the bait as he grabbed a mug from the cupboard.

Rebekah, leaning casually against the counter, took a slow sip of her coffee, her eyes glinting with amusement. “I’m more curious about Y/n. I mean, she looked like she was about to burst into flames when she walked past us last night. Almost as if she were... trying to hide something. What did you two do to her?”

Elijah, ever composed, simply smiled as he poured himself a cup. “Nothing more than what a pleasant dinner should offer. We were the very picture of decorum.”

Klaus chuckled under his breath. “Mostly.”

Hayley, never one to let an opportunity pass, smirked. “You’re telling me my sister spent the entire night with you two and didn’t strangle either of you? That’s impressive.”

Rebekah added with a wicked grin, “Or perhaps a little too impressive. You didn’t compel her to tolerate you, did you?”

Klaus shot Rebekah a dry look. “Please. I don’t need compulsion to be tolerated.” He took a sip of his coffee and leaned casually against the counter. “She enjoys our company. She just refuses to admit it.”

Rebekah laughed. “Oh, I’m sure she’s absolutely thrilled every time you show up.”

Elijah smiled slightly, unruffled as always. “Y/n has a sense of humor. She knows how to play along.”

Hayley snorted. “Oh, is that what you call it? Because from where I’m standing, it sounds like you two are enjoying the chase a little too much.”

Rebekah tilted her head toward Hayley, her smile devious. “I’m sure it’s more than just ‘enjoying.’ Honestly, it’s adorable how much time they’ve spent trying to win her over. You’d think they were schoolboys with a crush.”

Klaus shot his sister a warning look, but his smirk betrayed him. “Careful, sister. If you’re not nice, you might find yourself spending more time with Y/n than you'd like.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t mind,” Rebekah teased. “In fact, I think I might help her avoid you two next time. Someone’s got to protect her from your endless need to charm.”

Hayley grinned, shaking her head. “Good luck with that, Bekah. My sister seems to enjoy fighting them off just as much as they enjoy pestering her.”

Rebekah took another sip of her coffee, a gleam in her eye. “Well, one of these days, they might actually manage to wear her down.”

Klaus chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief. “We’ve got time.”

Elijah smiled slightly, his tone mild. “Persistence is key, after all.”

Hayley rolled her eyes, though there was amusement in her voice. “Just don’t let her catch wind of this conversation, or you two will be in even deeper trouble than you already are.”

Rebekah grinned wickedly. “Oh, I wouldn’t mind seeing that. The wrath of Y/n is always entertaining.”

Klaus raised his mug in mock salute. “Here’s to the challenge, then.”

Elijah nodded, his eyes twinkling. “Indeed. It keeps things interesting.”

Rebekah and Hayley exchanged glances, laughing softly. “Interesting, sure,” Hayley said with a grin. “Just try not to end up on her bad side... again.”

Later that afternoon, you were sprawled across the couch, enjoying a moment of peace after the eventful night before. Your phone buzzed with a text from Klaus, asking you to meet him and Elijah downstairs. You sighed, already suspecting what was coming. As you made your way down to the living room, Klaus and Elijah were lounging around, clearly waiting for you.

Klaus greeted you with a sly smile, his voice dripping with charm. "There she is, the woman of the hour. How about we take you out again tonight, love? Somewhere even more enjoyable than last night."

Elijah, ever the gentleman, added with his trademark calm smile, "It would be our pleasure to show you an even better time than before."

You stopped in your tracks, eyeing the two with suspicion. “Absolutely not,” you said firmly, crossing your arms. “I barely survived last night with you two.”

Klaus's smirk widened, his eyes dancing with amusement. “Oh, come now, love. You know you enjoyed it.”

Elijah gave you a gentle, teasing look. “We wouldn’t ask if we thought you didn’t want to come.”

You rolled your eyes dramatically. “I didn’t want to come last night, and I don’t want to come tonight.”

Klaus stepped forward, still smirking, as if he hadn’t heard a word. “You can’t deny it, love. You had a great time. Why not make it two nights in a row?”

Elijah, ever the picture of grace, leaned in slightly. “Consider it a... follow-up. To ensure your enjoyment was not a one-time occurrence.”

You exhaled, exasperated, yet you couldn’t help but smile. “You two are impossible. No means no.”

Klaus chuckled, clearly unfazed. “Ah, but you didn’t say it with conviction, love. I think there’s a part of you that’s curious.”

You narrowed your eyes, trying to maintain your resolve, though a small part of you did find their persistence amusing. “No. Absolutely not. I’m not falling for this again.”

Elijah's lips twitched in a barely concealed smile. “I must say, Y/n, your resistance is admirable. But I suspect, deep down, you're tempted.”

Klaus tilted his head, his gaze steady on you. “You can keep pretending, love, but we both know you’ll say yes eventually. Might as well make it easy on yourself.”

You raised a hand, trying to hold back a laugh. “No wondering hands, no plotting, no mind games.”

Klaus’s grin widened into a full smirk. “Deal.”

Elijah inclined his head, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Agreed. We’ll be on our best behavior.”

You shook your head, letting out an exasperated sigh. “Fine. But the second any of you step out of line, I’m leaving.”

Klaus’s eyes gleamed with victory. “Understood, love. We’ll be on our best behavior... for now.”

Elijah nodded, his smile warm and teasing at the same time. “We wouldn’t dare risk scaring you off.”

You looked between them, knowing full well they’d find a way to push your buttons, but despite yourself, you were already looking forward to the chaos they’d undoubtedly bring. “You two are going to regret this.”

Klaus leaned in with a wink. “We regret nothing.”

Just as you, and the boys were heading toward the door, ready to embark on their so-called "no-plotting, no-wondering -hands" outing, Hayley and Rebekah appeared in the doorway, side by side, looking far too amused for your liking.

“Well, well,” Hayley said, crossing her arms with a smirk, her gaze bouncing between you and the boys. “Isn’t this cozy? Another night out with the boys, Y/n? Didn't you say you weren't going to let them drag you out again?”

You felt a flash of irritation, but you kept your expression neutral. “I wasn’t dragged anywhere. I'm only going to make sure they don’t get into trouble.”

Rebekah raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. “Right. Because that's always how it goes when you’re around Klaus and Elijah. Purely supervision.” She winked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

You shot her a pointed glare. “Someone has to keep an eye on them.”

Klaus chuckled, stepping closer to your side. “She’s right. Without her, we’d be absolutely lost.”

Hayley snorted, clearly unconvinced. “Lost, huh? Funny, because from what I saw last night, it looked like Y/n was the one in over her head.”

Elijah smiled calmly, his voice smooth as ever. “Now, Hayley, Y/n was perfectly in control. We were the ones being kept in check.”

Rebekah grinned wickedly, eyeing you up and down. “Are you sure you're not the one being dragged into their little games, Y/n? I mean, it seems like you’re making a habit of hanging out with these two.”

You crossed your arms, feigning nonchalance. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. And for the record, I’m just being nice. Somebody has to.”

Klaus leaned closer to you with a teasing smile. “Of course, love. You’re just being nice.” He glanced at Rebekah and Hayley. “She absolutely can’t resist us.”

You glared up at Klaus, then turned back to your sister and Rebekah. “I’m not going with them,” you declared firmly. “I told you, I’m meeting up with friends tonight.”

Hayley raised an eyebrow, looking far too entertained. “Friends, huh? Funny, because I’m pretty sure Klaus and Elijah count as anything but 'just friends.'"

Rebekah laughed, her eyes gleaming with amusement. “Oh, sweetie, don’t try to lie to us. We know you far too well for that.”

You huffed, rolling your eyes. “Believe what you want. I’m still not going with them.”

Hayley smirked knowingly, clearly seeing through her sister’s act. “Right. Because it’s just a coincidence you’re standing at the door with them, all ready to go.”

Klaus chuckled again, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “She’s a terrible liar, isn’t she?”

Elijah simply smiled, his tone gentle but teasing. “It’s one of her many endearing qualities.”

You shot them both a look, trying to keep your composure. “I don’t need to explain myself to you two,” you muttered, pushing past them toward the door.

Rebekah grinned wickedly as she called after you. “Enjoy your ‘friends,’ Y/n!”

You didn’t bother turning around, waving dismissively over your houlder. “I will.”

As the door closed behind them, Klaus couldn’t help but murmur with a smirk, “Love, you’re such a liar again.”

You smiled to yourself but kept walking. “Who cares? Besides, remember that I still don’t like you guys.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged a glance, both of them wearing knowing smiles as they followed you into the night. They might not have had the full truth, but they both knew one thing: you were far from done with them.

The night had progressed with its usual banter, drinks shared, and casual teasing between you and the boys. The three of you sat in a quiet corner of a bar, you were nursing a cocktail while Klaus and Elijah exchanged amused glances. The mood was light and comfortable, with a teasing undercurrent that always seemed to hang between them and you.

After a moment of silence, Klaus broke it with a smirk. “So, love, we’ve been thinking.”

You raised an eyebrow, glancing between him and Elijah. “Should I be worried?”

Elijah smiled gently, leaning in. “Not at all. But we do have a... proposition.”

You sighed, already sensing the mischief behind their words. “Oh, great. Another proposition. What is it this time?”

Klaus chuckled softly, his eyes glinting with amusement. “How would you feel about making this little... arrangement of ours more official?”

You blinked, looking from Klaus to Elijah in surprise. “Wait, are you two actually asking me to be your... girlfriend?”

Elijah’s expression remained calm, but there was a teasing warmth in his gaze. “Well, we were hoping for a more romantic way of putting it, but yes, essentially.”

Klaus leaned closer, his voice smooth and teasing. “After all, love, it’s not like we haven’t been acting like we’re already together.”

You stared at them, your mind racing, but then you huffed, crossing your arms. “You two are unbelievable.”

Klaus smirked, clearly enjoying this. “Is that a yes, then?”

You narrowed your eyes at him, playing hard to get. “Oh, no. You don’t get off that easy. You think I’m just going to say yes and let you two smug bastards waltz around like you won or something?”

Elijah raised an eyebrow, his expression mildly amused. “We don’t need to ‘waltz around’ anything. The answer’s already in your eyes.”

Klaus chuckled. “Come on,love. admit it. You’ve had a good time with us, and you know it.”

You try to keep up your resistant front, though a smile was starting to tug at the corners of your lips. “You two are the absolute worst.”

Elijah smiled serenely. “And yet you keep coming back.”

You sighed dramatically, pretending to think about it for a moment before finally rolling your eyes. “Fine. Fine. I’ll be your girlfriend. But—" you pointed at both of them, your expression is serious despite the amusement flickering in your eyes, “—there are rules.”

Klaus tilted his head, intrigued. “Oh? What rules might those be?”

You leaned back, crossing your arms. “When we’re around my sister or Rebekah, we hate each other. Got it?”

Elijah raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. “Hate each other?”

You nodded firmly. “Exactly. We despise each other. I don’t need them getting in my business more than they already do.”

Klaus chuckled softly, leaning forward. “So we’re playing pretend now? Must we act like complete enemies?”

You shot him a glare. “Yes. When they’re around, we argue, we fight, we throw insults at each other. Otherwise, they’ll never let me hear the end of it.”

Elijah gave a small smile, his eyes sparkling with amusement. “Very well. If that’s what you wish.”

Klaus shook his head, clearly entertained. “This will be fun. But you do realize, love, that your sister’s going to see right through this little act of yours.”

You scoffed. “She doesn’t need to know anything. As long as you two stick to the plan, we’re golden.”

Klaus gave you a teasing smile. “Fine. We’ll hate each other, if that’s what makes you happy.”

Elijah nodded, his tone calm and diplomatic as usual. “Agreed. We’ll play along, though I doubt it’ll last long.”

You finally smiled, satisfied with the agreement. “Good. Because if you two mess this up, I’ll make your lives miserable.”

Klaus smirked, clearly unbothered by your threat. “Love, you already make our lives more interesting. What’s a little more chaos?”

You couldn’t help but laugh, shaking your head at the ridiculousness of it all. “Just remember, publicly, we hate each other.”

Elijah gave you a knowing look. “As you wish, Y/n. As you wish.”

As the three of you approached the mansion, you caught sight of Rebekah standing outside, her arms crossed as she leaned casually against the doorframe. Your heart skipped a beat, and you immediately dropped Klaus and Elijah’s hands like they were burning hot coals.

“Don’t touch me,” you hissed under your breath, stepping away from the two brothers as they exchanged amused glances. You cleared your throat, straightening your posture and plastering an annoyed expression on your face.

Klaus smirked, clearly enjoying your shift in demeanor. “Ah, the game begins,” he whispered slowly, his voice laced with humor.

Elijah, ever the gentleman, kept his calm composure, though a hint of a smirk tugged at his lips. “Remember, Y/n, we must hate each other now,” he murmured, his tone barely concealing his amusement.

You rolled your eyes, stepping further away from them as they neared Rebekah. “Don’t remind me.”

Rebekah’s eyes lit up the second she spotted them. Her smirk grew wide, and you could already see the teasing comment forming on her lips.

“Well, well, well, look who decided to come home together,” Rebekah drawled, pushing off the doorframe and eyeing them with thinly veiled amusement. “Had a nice time, did we?”

You quickly threw on your best scowl, folding your arms across your chest and glaring at Klaus and Elijah. “Not particularly,” you snapped. “These two were as unbearable as usual.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, playing along. “Unbearable? My love Y/n, you were practically hanging off us all night.”

You shot him a death glare. “Don’t flatter yourself, Mikaelson. The only reason I was even there was to make sure you didn’t do anything stupid.”

Elijah, ever calm and composed, chimed in with a faint smile. “She was quite insistent on keeping us out of trouble. Very responsible of her, don’t you think?”

You gave him a side-eye, but before you could retort, Rebekah let out a snort of laughter.

“Oh, please. The three of you can barely stay apart for more than an hour, and now you want me to believe you hate each other? Nice try.” She gave you a knowing look, her smirk widening. “You’re not fooling anyone, sweetheart anymore.”

Your eyes widened slightly in panic, but you quickly recovered, glaring at Rebekah. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. These two are impossible to deal with. I’m just stuck cleaning up their messes.”

Klaus, enjoying the act far too much, leaned in with a mischievous grin. “Is that what we’re calling it now? Cleaning up after us?”

Your glare intensified. “Don’t push me, hybrid.”

Rebekah raised an eyebrow, clearly entertained. “Right. And you just happened to be out together, holding hands all night because... what? You felt like tormenting each other?”

You sputtered for a moment, trying to think of a convincing excuse. “I— We weren’t holding hands! That’s ridiculous!”

Klaus chuckled softly, leaning toward Rebekah. “She’s lying, of course. But it’s adorable that she thinks she can fool you.”

You shot him a furious look, then turned to Rebekah. “Don’t listen to him. He’s full of it, as usual.”

Rebekah laughed, shaking her head. “Oh, Y/n, you’re terrible at this. But I appreciate the effort.”

You huffed, crossing your arms tightly and stomping toward the front door. “Whatever. Believe what you want.”

Elijah shared a quick glance with Klaus, both of them clearly enjoying Your flustered state.

Klaus called after you, his voice full of amusement. “We’ll see you inside, love.”

You didn’t bother turning around, but you muttered under your breath, “I hate you guys.”

As Klaus and Elijah finished dressing, the atmosphere in your room was still charged with the aftermath of your passionate encounter. You were, trying to regain your composure, quickly moved to open the door, your eyes scanning the hallway for any sign of unwelcome guests.

"Alright, you two, time to go," you said firmly, your tone brooking no argument. You glanced at both of them with a mix of satisfaction and urgency. "We don’t want Rebekah or Hayley catching you here."

Klaus, with a lingering smirk, adjusted his jacket and nodded. “As you wish, love. Always a pleasure.”

Elijah, ever the gentleman, straightened his suit and offered you a reassuring smile. “We’ll be going. But remember, Y/n, our arrangement is far from over.”

You shot him a pointed look. “Just go before someone sees you guys.”

As they made their way out, the door swung open slightly, and they nearly collided with Hayley, who had been casually walking down the hallway. Her eyes widened with a mischievous glint, and she smirked at the two men.

“Well, well,” Hayley drawled, leaning against the doorframe with a knowing look. “What do we have here?”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged a brief, amused glance before Klaus stepped forward with a charming smile. “Hayley. Just the person we needed to see.”

Elijah nodded politely, his expression calm but his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Hayley.”

Hayley raised an eyebrow, her gaze shifting back and forth between them and the partially open door of your room. “I see. Looks like you two had a... busy night.”

Klaus, always quick on his feet, feigned innocence. “Busy? Hardly. We were simply saying our goodbyes.”

Elijah joined in the act, maintaining his calm demeanor. “Indeed. We were just leaving.”

Hayley’s smirk grew wider as she stepped closer, her eyes flicking toward your door. “I didn’t realize you two were so... close with Y/n.”

Klaus chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Oh, we’re very close. But not too close, I assure you.”

Elijah, looking unruffled, added smoothly, “We’re just very... attentive friends.”

You appeared at the door, your face flushed and your hair slightly disheveled. You threw a quick, irritated glance at Klaus and Elijah. “Are you guys done? I’m trying to keep things private here.”

Hayley’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she turned her attention to you. “Looks like you’re having quite a bit of fun.”

You tried to maintain your composure, though you were clearly flustered. “It’s none of your business, Hayley.”

Klaus gave you a teasing look, then turned to Hayley. “Well, Hayley, it was lovely seeing you. We’ll be off now.”

Elijah nodded in agreement. “Take care, Hayley.”

With that, the two men made their hasty exit, leaving you and your sister standing in the hallway. You sighed, rubbing your temples.

Hayley watched them go, a playful smirk on her lips. “So, are you going to tell me what’s really going on here?”

You clearly exasperated, rolled your eyes. “It’s none of your business. Just drop it, okay?”

Hayley’s grin widened as she followed you back into the room. “Oh, I’m sure it’s just the beginning. But fine, I’ll drop it, for now.”

As the door closed behind them, you leaned against it, your mind already racing with how you would manage to keep your secret from everyone. The night had definitely turned out more complicated than you had anticipated.

The living room was dimly lit by the soft glow of the television screen, casting a warm ambiance over the cozy setup. You and the boys were sprawled comfortably on the couch, indulging in a movie night. Klaus and Elijah flanked you on either side, their arms draped around you as they all snacked on popcorn and sipped wine. The atmosphere was relaxed and intimate, with you nestled snugly between the two brothers.

Just as Klaus reached for the popcorn, the door creaked open, and Hayley’s voice rang out with a teasing lilt. “Well, well, what do we have here?”

Your eyes widened in horror, and you scrambled to distance yourself from Klaus and Elijah, stumbling over the popcorn bowl in the process. “It’s not what it looks like!” You blurted out, your cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

Rebekah sauntered into the room with an amused smirk, her eyes twinkling with mischief. “Oh, but it sure is what it looks like. You’re cuddling with my brothers.”

Klaus, trying to regain his composure, shot a playful glare at you. “Well, love, it seems our cover’s been blown.”

Elijah sighed, giving you a knowing look. “I suppose there’s no hiding it now.”

You threw your hands up in mock exasperation. “Fine! We’re dating. You two finally got us. Happy now?”

Rebekah’s grin widened as she leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. “Oh, absolutely. But don’t think you’re off the hook that easily.”

Hayley, ever the instigator, waltzed over and plopped herself down on the edge of the couch. “So, are we joining you for the movie, or...?”

You quickly stepped between Hayley and the couch, your expression a mix of irritation and amusement. “Oh, no. Not happening. This was supposed to be a private night.”

Klaus and Elijah nodded in agreement, their expressions equally firm but with a hint of playfulness. “We’d appreciate it if you two would give us some privacy,” Elijah said smoothly.

Hayley raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Are you sure you want to be alone? It looks like you’re already quite comfortable.”

Klaus chuckled, his arm slipping around your waist as he pulled you closer. “As much as we love the company, we’d prefer if you left us to our movie night.”

Rebekah, with her usual mischief, stepped forward. “Oh, come on. It’s not every day I get to tease you three. Why not let us stay?”

You shook your head, trying to hold back a laugh. “No way. You’re not turning our movie night into a circus.”

Hayley and Rebekah exchanged knowing glances before reluctantly standing up. “Alright, alright,” Hayley said with a smirk. “We’ll leave you to your private cuddle fest.”

Rebekah gave you a playful wink. “Don’t think this is over. We’ll be watching.

As Hayley and Rebekah headed toward the door, Klaus and Elijah quickly resumed their positions on the couch, pulling you back into their embrace.

Once the door closed behind the sisters, you let out a relieved sigh, leaning into Klaus and Elijah. “Finally, some peace and quiet.”

Klaus smirked, his arm wrapped around you. “Indeed. Though, I must say, having them walk in was quite the unexpected twist.”

Elijah nodded, his gaze softening as he looked at you. “At least we can enjoy our movie now, without any more interruptions.”

You smiled up at you, your cheeks still flushed but your eyes twinkled with happiness. “Definitely. Just us, the popcorn, and the wine.”

Klaus chuckled softly, planting a kiss on your forehead. “Perfect.”

As the movie continued, the room was filled with the soft sounds of laughter and the occasional clink of wine glasses, the earlier embarrassment giving way to a cozy, intimate evening.

As the movie played on, you snuggled comfortably between Klaus and Elijah, but your earlier embarrassment had turned into playful banter. You glanced at Klaus and Elijah, your eyes twinkling with mischief.

“You know,” you said with a teasing tone, “if you two had been a bit more careful, we wouldn’t have been caught.”

Klaus raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence. “Caught? We weren’t exactly hiding, love. It’s not our fault if you’re so irresistible that we can’t keep our hands off you.”

Elijah, his voice smooth and calm, added, “Indeed. It seems we were simply too engrossed in our private moment to notice the door wasn’t fully closed.”

You rolled your eyes, your smile widening as you shook your head. “Oh, so now it’s my fault for being irresistible? Classic excuse.”

Klaus chuckled softly, his arm tightening around you. “Well, it’s certainly a convenient one.”

Elijah leaned in, his tone teasing. “And you did look quite comfortable nestled between us. It was hard to resist.”

You playfully nudged him with your elbow. “If you two had been a little more discreet, maybe I wouldn’t have had to explain our situation to Rebekah and Hayley.”

Klaus grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “Ah, but where’s the fun in being discreet?”

Elijah smiled, his gaze warm as he looked at you. “Indeed. Sometimes, a little chaos adds to the enjoyment.”

You laughed, leaning back into their embrace. “Well, thanks to your lack of caution, I had to deal with Rebekah and Hayley’s teasing. So, consider yourselves warned. Next time, I expect you both to be more careful.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged amused glances before settling back into their cozy positions. “We’ll take that under advisement,” Klaus said with a grin.

Elijah nodded, adding, “But for now, let’s just enjoy the movie.”

As the film played on, you nestled comfortably between them, the earlier embarrassment now a source of playful banter. The room was filled with soft laughter, the warmth of their shared closeness, and the cozy ambiance of their private movie night.

The morning sun filtered through the curtains as you and your sister prepared for the pack meeting. You were dressed in your casual but stylish outfit, gathering your things when Klaus and Elijah strolled into the room, their expressions a mix of reluctance and concern.

“Do you really have to go?” Klaus asked, his tone almost pleading as he reached out to tug on your sleeve.

Elijah, standing beside Klaus, added with a dramatic sigh, “Yes, must you leave so early? Can’t the meeting wait?”

You laughed softly, shaking your head at their playful theatrics. “Oh, come on. It’s just a pack meeting. I’ll be back before you know it.”

Klaus pouted slightly, crossing his arms. “But we were just getting used to having you all to ourselves.”

Elijah gave you a mock hurt look. “Yes, and we were rather enjoying the peace and quiet of our private time”

You couldn’t help but smile at their exaggerated displays. You stepped closer to them, placing a hand on each of their chests. “You know, I’m going to miss you two too.”

Klaus and Elijah’s expressions softened, though their playful disappointment remained. “Promise you’ll hurry back?” Klaus asked, his voice almost a whisper.

You nodded, your eyes twinkling with affection. “I promise. But before I go, I think you both need a little reminder of how much I care.”

Without missing a beat, you leaned in and pressed a soft, lingering kiss on Klaus’s lips, then turned to Elijah and did the same. The kiss was sweet and tender, filled with the warmth of her affection and the promise of your return.

Klaus and Elijah, momentarily stunned, blinked up at you with wide eyes, their playful frowns melting into genuine smiles. “Well,” Klaus said, his voice a low purr as he pulled her into a gentle embrace, “love. with that kiss of yours. we can let you go.”

Elijah, his gaze soft and filled with admiration, nodded in agreement. “Indeed. We’ll eagerly await your return.”

You chuckled, giving them one last squeeze before stepping back. “I’ll see you both soon. And remember, behave yourselves while I’m gone.”

As you and Hayley headed out the door, Klaus and Elijah watched you and your sister go, their smiles lingering as they exchanged a knowing look. The dramatic farewell had been just what they needed to remind them of the bond they shared, and they couldn’t wait for your return.

The room was buzzing with the low hum of conversations as the werewolves gathered for the pack meeting. You and Hayley sat together at one end of the room, chatting quietly about the latest pack developments. Your conversation was interrupted as Alexander, one of the werewolves, stepped up to the front, signaling that the meeting was about to begin.

As the room fell silent, Alexander cleared his throat and began to speak. “Thank you all for coming. We have a very important announcement to make.”

You and Hayley exchanged a curious glance, your conversation fading as they focused on Alexander. One of the werewolves continued, “We are pleased to announce that there will be a wedding between Jackson Kenner and Y/n Marshall.”

A collective murmur swept through the room, but your attention was solely on Hayley. Your eyes widened in shock, and you turned back to Alexander. “Wait, what? I can’t do that. I’m currently in a relationship.”

Alexander's expression remained stern. “This is a matter of great importance for the pack. It has been decided that this marriage is essential for maintaining our alliance and ensuring the stability of our community.”

Your heart raced, and you turned to your sister for support. Hayley stood up, her face a mixture of frustration and determination. “This isn’t right. Y/n is already in a relationship. You can’t just force her into this.”

Alexander's gaze was unyielding. “The decision has bee made. Y/n must end her current relationship and prepare for the wedding.”

Your frustration grew, your voice rising in protest. “This is insane! I can’t just break up with them because of some pack’s alliance. There has to be another way.”

Hayley stepped forward, trying to argue, but Alexander held up a hand to silence her. “This is not up for discussion. Y/n must comply with the decision.”

Your eyes were filled with a mix of anger and despair. “So that’s it? I just have to accept this?”

Alexander nodded firmly. “You have until the end of the week to end your current relationship and make arrangements for the wedding.”

Hayley looked at you, her expression one of sympathy and frustration. “I’m so sorry, Y/n. We’ll figure out a way to make this right.”

As the meeting continued, you sat in stunned silence, your thoughts racing as you tried to process the sudden turn of events. The prospect of having to break up with them and marry Jackson Kenner was overwhelming, and you couldn’t shake the feeling of helplessness that weighed heavily on your shoulders.

That night, the atmosphere was tense as Elijah and Klaus noticed your demeanor had shifted significantly. The warmth and cheerfulness they were used to had been replaced by a more subdued and troubled air.

They found you in the living room, sitting alone with a distant look in your eyes. Klaus approached first, his voice gentle but filled with concern. “Love, you seem off tonight. Is everything alright?”

You forced a smile, though it didn’t quite reach your eyes. “I’m fine. Just a bit tired, that’s all.”

Elijah, not convinced by your reassurances, took a seat next to her. “You know you can talk to us about anything. We’ve noticed something’s bothering you.”

You glanced at them, your resolve wavering for a moment before you shook your head. “Really, it’s nothing. Just some stuff from the meeting earlier.”

Klaus and Elijah exchanged a worried look before deciding to speak to Hayley, hoping she might shed some light on the situation. They found her in the kitchen, busy with a late-night snack.

“Hayley,” Klaus began, his tone serious, “we’re concerned about Y/n. She’s been acting strange since the meeting. Is everything alright?”

Hayley looked up from what she was doing, her expression thoughtful. “I can’t tell you anything, Y/n is the one who needs to talk to you. It’s not my place to reveal what’s going on.”

Elijah, trying to understand, pressed further. “But she seems really distressed. Is there something we should know?”

Hayley sighed, her eyes showing a mix of frustration and empathy. “She’s dealing with a lot right now. The announcement from the meeting, it’s a huge deal for her. She needs to come to terms with it in her own way.”

Klaus nodded slowly, a frown deepening on his face. “Alright, we’ll give her space. But if there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know.”

Hayley gave them a small, sympathetic smile. “Just be patient. It’s a lot for her to process.”

As Klaus and Elijah returned to the living room, they found you lost in your thoughts. They could see the strain on your face, and despite your attempts to mask it, it was clear that the weight of the situation was heavy on you.

Klaus sat beside you, his tone soft but filled with care. “We’re here for you, Y/n. Whenever you’re ready to talk, we’ll listen.”

Elijah nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with understanding. “Just know that you’re not alone in this. We want to support you however we can.”

You looked at them, your heart aching with the burden of the forced decision you faced. Though you were still reluctant to fully open up, the comfort of their presence provided a small solace in the midst of your turmoil.

On a quiet Sunday night, the moon hung low over the horizon, casting long shadows across the Mikaelson estate. You sat nervously in the grand drawing room, your heart heavy with the weight of the conversation you were about to initiate. Klaus and Elijah, both unaware of the storm brewing in your mind, lounged casually nearby.

“Klaus, Elijah,” you began, your voice trembling slightly as you fought to maintain composure. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

Klaus looked up from his book, his usual confident demeanor slipping into concern. “What’s wrong, love?”

Elijah, sensing the seriousness in your tone, straightened. “Is everything alright?”

Taking a deep breath, you continued, your eyes meeting theirs with a mix of sadness and resolve. “The pack… they’ve been pressuring me. They want me to marry Jackson.”

The room fell silent. Klaus’s eyes widened in disbelief, his face a portrait of anguish. “What? But why?”

Your gaze dropped to the floor, unable to meet the pain you saw reflected in their eyes. “It’s complicated. The pack’s tradition is binding, and they believe it’s necessary for maintaining peace. I don’t have a choice in the matter.”

Elijah’s expression softened, though his heartache was evident. “But what about us? What about everything we’ve shared? Surely they must understand—”

“I tried to explain,” you interrupted, your voice breaking. “But they’re adamant. They want to solidify their alliance with the Crescent Pack through this marriage. It’s not just about me; it’s about politics and power.”

Klaus stood abruptly, his face a mix of fury and despair. “So, you’re leaving us. You’re choosing Jackson over us.”

“No,” you cried out, tears spilling down your cheeks. “It’s not about choosing. It’s about having no choice at all. I love you both, but they’re forcing me into this. I can’t defy them without risking everything.”

Elijah reached out, his hand gently touching your arm, but his eyes were filled with sorrow. “Is there truly no way to avoid this? Is there nothing we can do to fight this?”

You shook your head, your voice barely a whisper. “I’ve tried everything. The pack’s decision is final. I have to go through with this.”

Klaus’s anger and heartbreak were palpable. “You should have told us sooner. We could have done something. We could have fought for you.”

“I didn’t know how to tell you guys,” you admitted, your voice breaking with the weight of your regret. “I was afraid of how you’d react. And now, I’m losing you both.”

Elijah and Klaus exchanged a heavy glance, the weight of their shared loss settling between them. Klaus looked back at you, his eyes filled with a mix of love and resignation. “So, this is it? We’re really done?”

You nodded, your heart aching with the finality of your words. “I’m sorry. I truly am. But I have to go. I hope you guys understand.”

With a heavy heart, Klaus and Elijah stood, their faces reflecting the profound sadness of the moment. They turned away, unable to bear the pain of seeing your tears, and walked towards the door. Each step they took felt like a part of their hearts breaking, the love they had shared now a distant, painful memory.

You watched them go, your own heart shattered into pieces. The echoes of their footsteps faded into the night, leaving you alone with the weight of a decision you never wanted to make and the loss of a love you could never truly let go of.

As the door closed behind them, you sank into a nearby armchair, your emotions spilling over in quiet sobs. The weight of your choice pressed down on you like a physical force. You barely noticed when Hayley entered the room, drawn by the sound of your anguish.

Hayley rushed to you, her own heart breaking at the sight of your tears. She wrapped her arms around you, pulling you close in a tight embrace. “Oh, Y/N,” Hayley whispered, her voice choked with emotion. “I’m so sorry. I wish there was something I could do.”

You clung to Hayley, the support from your sister a small comfort amidst the overwhelming grief. Your voice was muffled against Hayley’s shoulder as you spoke, your words heavy with sorrow. “I’ve lost them, Hayley. I’ve lost the men that I only loved.”

Hayley tightened your hold, her own tears streaming down her face. “You didn’t want this. You didn’t have a choice.”

“I know,” you said, your voice breaking. “But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier. I didn’t just break their hearts today. I broke mine too. I’ve broken three hearts.”

Hayley pulled back slightly, her gaze searching your tear-streaked face. “They’re hurting, but you’re hurting too. You loved them, and they loved you. This isn’t just about what’s happened; it’s about what could have been.”

“I keep thinking about the moments we shared,” you said, your voice trembling. “The laughter, the tenderness, the promises we made. And now, it’s all gone. I had to choose between them and my duty, and I feel like I’ve lost a part of myself in the process.”

Hayley wiped at her own tears, her heart aching for you. “You did what you had to do. You were caught between a rock and a hard place. They’ll understand, eventually. But right now, it’s okay to grieve. It’s okay to feel like you’ve lost everything.”

You nodded, your sobs becoming quieter as you leaned into your sister’s embrace. “I wish I could turn back time. I wish I could find a way to make things right, but I know that’s impossible.”

“I know,” Hayley said softly, her voice filled with empathy. “But you’re not alone. I’m here for you, and we’ll get through this together. It’s going to take time, but you’ll find a way to heal.”

As the two sisters sat together in the dimly lit room, the enormity of your loss seemed almost palpable.the love you had shared with Klaus and Elijah was now a bittersweet memory, and the future seemed uncertain. Yet, amidst the sadness, there was a small flicker of hope in the support of family, a reminder that even in the darkest moments, there could be solace in the connections that remained.

The day of the engagement party arrived, casting a bittersweet aura over the event. The venue was adorned with elegant decorations, a mix of white and gold, creating a festive atmosphere that belied the underlying tension. The guests, including many pack members and important figures, mingled and chatted, their conversations a backdrop to the day’s main event.

You arrived with a forced smile, your heart heavy as you tried to appear composed. Jackson Kenner, ever the picture of confidence, stood by your side, ready to take the next step in the arranged union. As Jackson and you moved through the crowd, you couldn’t shake the feeling of being an actor in a play you never wanted to be part of.

The moment came when Jackson, with a reassuring hand on your  back, gathered everyone’s attention. The room fell silent, and all eyes turned toward the couple. Jackson’s gaze was steady as he began to speak, his voice carrying over the hush of the crowd.

“Thank you all for coming to celebrate this special occasion,” Jackson began, his tone warm and inclusive. “Today, I have the honor of asking Y/n to be my wife, officially.”

You forced a smile as you looked at Jackson, but your thoughts were far from the joy of the moment. You could feel the weight of the promise you had made, and the memory of Klaus and Elijah’s hurt expressions from the night before seemed to hover around you.

Jackson took a deep breath and reached into his pocket, pulling out a stunning engagement ring. The jewel sparkled under the soft lighting, catching the eyes of everyone in the room. He turned to you, his expression earnest.

“Y/n,” he said, his voice gentle yet filled with hope, “will you marry me?”

As he extended the ring toward you, your heart ached with the knowledge of what this moment truly meant. You hesitated for a brief second, your eyes meeting Jackson’s. Despite the sadness that lingered in your heart, you took a deep breath and nodded.

“Yes,” you said, your voice soft but resolute. “I will.”

The room erupted in applause and cheers as Jackson slipped the ring onto your finger. You tried to focus on the happiness of the guests, but the emptiness of the moment made it difficult to feel genuine joy. You managed a polite smile as Jackson hugged you, his arms warm and reassuring.

As the party continued, you found herself caught in a swirl of congratulations and small talk. The evening wore on, and while she made an effort to mingle and partake in the celebrations, your thoughts often drifted to the faces of Klaus and Elijah, the pain of their absence a constant undercurrent to the evening’s festivities.

In the midst of the celebration, the engagement ring on your finger was a constant, glittering reminder of the choices  you had been forced to make, and the heartbreak that had accompanied them. As you looked around at the smiling faces and the joy of the occasion, you couldn’t shake the feeling that the night, while full of celebration, was also steeped in a profound sense of loss.

You stood in front of the full-length mirror, your reflection revealing the intricate lace of your wedding gown, the weight of the world heavy on your shoulders. You barely recognized yourself in the mirror, dressed up like a bride for a man she didn’t love, not in the way you loved Klaus and Elijah. Your heart ached, and your stomach churned with each passing second. This wasn’t how your life was supposed to go. 

A soft knock on the door made you jump. You turned and saw Hayley standing in the doorway, her expression somber. “You ready?” Hayley asked, though you both knew the answer. 

You gave her a weak smile. “How do I look?” 

Hayley sighed, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. "I wish there was another way."

"I know," you whispered, your voice cracking slightly. "But this is what has to be done for the wolves. For our people."

"Y/n, you don’t have to marry Jackson just for them," Hayley said softly. "It shouldn’t be your burden to carry."

You turned back to the mirror, your eyes stinging as tears threatened to fall. "It’s not just about the wolves, Hayley. If I don’t do this... things will fall apart. Peace will crumble, and the war will begin again. I’m doing this for everyone."

Hayley stepped closer, placing a hand on your shoulder. "But what about you? What about what you want? What about Klaus and Elijah?"

Your heart squeezed painfully at their names. "They know why I’m doing this. They understand." But your voice wavered, and deep down, you knew that wasn’t entirely true.

The ceremony was simple, but the weight of its significance was suffocating. Klaus and Elijah stood at the back, watching silently as you walked down the aisle. You looked beautiful, radiant, even, but the sadness in your eyes was unmistakable. You caught Klaus���s gaze for a fleeting moment, and his jaw clenched. He was trying to hide his emotions, but you knew him too well.

Elijah stood beside Klaus, his expression a mask of calm, but there was a storm brewing beneath the surface. He loved you too, and seeing you marry another man was like a dagger to his heart. But just like Klaus, he was forced to watch. Forced to let you go.

As you reached Jackson at the altar, you forced yourself to smile, to play the part you were supposed to.Jackson smiled back at you, blissfully unaware of the turmoil raging inside you. He took your hands, his voice warm as he whispered, “You look beautiful.”

You nodded slightly, unable to muster any words in response. Your eyes flickered back to where Klaus and Elijah stood, the pain in their eyes mirroring your own.

Later, after the ceremony, you slipped away from the celebration, needing a moment to breathe. You found yourself by the lake, the cool breeze ruffling the fabric of your dress. You hugged yourself, trying to hold yourself together as the tears finally began to fall.

"I knew I’d find you here." 

You turned at the sound of Klaus’s voice, your heart skipping a beat. He stood a few feet away, his eyes locked on yours, the tension between them palpable.

“Klaus…”

“Don’t,” he said, his voice low and thick with emotion. “Don’t say my name like that. Like you’re sorry.”

“I am sorry,” you whispered, your voice breaking. “I didn’t want this. I didn’t want any of this.”

“And yet, here we are,” Klaus muttered, stepping closer. “You in a wedding dress, married to someone who isn’t us.”

You took a shaky breath. “You know why I did it. It’s to protect everyone—"

 “To protect them,” Klaus interrupted, his eyes flashing with anger and hurt. “But what about us? What about you?”

Elijah appeared then, his presence calming but no less heartbreaking. "Klaus, don’t." His voice was gentle but firm. "This isn’t what she wanted, but it’s what she had to do."

You  looked between them, your heart splitting in two. “I never wanted to hurt either of you. You know that.”

Elijah nodded slowly, but his eyes told a different story. “I know, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”

Klaus stepped forward, closing the distance between them. He reached out, brushing a tear from your cheek, his touch sending a shiver down your spine. “Tell me, Y/n,” he whispered, his voice barely audible. “Was there even a moment when you thought about choosing us?”

Your breath hitched, your hands trembling as you reached up to cover his hand on your cheek. “Every moment, Klaus. Every moment, I thought about you both.”

Elijah’s voice was quiet as he spoke. “But you didn’t.”

You turned your gaze to Elijah, your heart breaking all over again. "I couldn’t. You know I couldn’t."

Klaus pulled away, his hand falling to his side. "It doesn’t matter anymore, does it? You’re married now. To him."

The pain in his voice was too much to bear, and you couldn’t hold back the sob that escaped your lips. You buried your face in your hands, your body shaking as the weight of your choice came crashing down on you.

Elijah moved to your side, wrapping an arm around your shoulders. “We understand, Y/n. We do. But it doesn’t change how much this hurts.”

You looked up at him, your eyes filled with regret. "I’m so sorry, Elijah. I’m sorry for everything."

Klaus turned away, his voice hard as he spoke. “Sorry won’t change what’s happened. You’re his now.”

You swallowed hard, wiping your tears as you looked at both Klaus and Elijah, your heart shattering all over again. "I’ll always love you. Both of you. Nothing will ever change that."

But even as the words left your lips, you knew they weren’t enough. Nothing would ever be enough to fix the damage that had been done. And as you watched Klaus walk away, followed by Elijah’s lingering, heartbroken gaze, you realized just how much you had lost.

[wheels-of-despair]

The Sacrifice Pairing: Eddie Munson x You Summary: Evil Woman makes an offering to the Prince of Darkness. Contains: A gift fit for a god, a little bit of bondage, some sticky substances, biting, tongue action, two ridiculous freaks in love. Words: 1k

Youths and ageless blogs who interact with this fic will be blocked.

"Prince of Darkness, thine offering is ready."

"Please," Eddie begs. You shift on your knees, glaring down at him in warning. He shuts his mouth and squirms under your stern gaze, a slight sheen of sweat glimmering on his bare body in the light of the flickering candles. He's beautiful. He's helpless. He's tied spread-eagled to the bedposts.

"Silence, sacrifice," you spit, raising your weapon in the air and preparing to strike.

A slight movement from below catches your eye. He's awfully hard for a person who's about to be sacrificed, but hey, they don't call Eddie Munson a Satanic Freak for nothing.

"But I've been a good boy," he pouts. A bead of precum escapes from his tip, and you have to resist the urge to bend down and lick it off.

"Then why doth lies spout so easily from thine cakehole?" you ask, looking down at him with a quirked eyebrow.

Eddie snorts, and you scare the smirk off his face with a glare. You shake your weapon threateningly without breaking eye contact, enjoying watching his eyes widen in anticipation. He licks his lips.

Enough.

You bring the metal downward, quickly, and Eddie scrunches his eyes shut and stiffens.

You stop just before you make contact with his skin and press the nozzle at an angle. A gurgling sound fills the room, making Eddie's eyes fly open. When the cool whipped cream flies out of the can and makes contact with his hot chest, he yelps in surprise and tugs at his restraints. You reach out with your free hand and find his forehead, pushing him back down on the bed so you can draw the whipped cream bat on his chest without him ruining it by moving.

When your work is complete, you set the can aside and look upward. You raise your arms to the ceiling and close your eyes.

"In the name of all that is sick and twisted, I sacrifice thee, Edward Munson!" You pause for a few seconds. "Lord Ozzy, Devourer of Bats, come claim thine prize!" You wait a beat and open one eye. "Anytime now, Prince of Darkness!" Nothing. You open both eyes, drop your arms to your sides, and sigh in defeat. "Fine, I guess I'll keep him."

Eddie lies still, waiting for you to make the next move. He doesn't really have much of a choice.

Your attack is sudden. He barely has time to flinch when you pounce, leaning over to lick the whipped cream off of him, starting with the tip of a wing. By the time you get to his nipple, he's writhing so much that you have to hold him down; one hand on his neck, one just shy of his happy trail. Next time you'll have to tie him tighter.

"Stop," you warn between licks, "moving."

"Can't," he pants.

You growl and continue your trail across his chest, licking off the sugary bat as you go. When you reach his other nipple, you circle it with your tongue before giving it a bite. Eddie tenses. A warm drop splashes on your hand. You tug at his nipple with your teeth, and he releases the rest of his load with moans sweeter than the whipped cream you've just licked off of him.

When his body relaxes, you rise to your knees and look down at him. He stares up at you with a lazy grin and half-lidded eyes.

"Pathetic," you smile, wiping the back of your hand and the drops on his stomach with the t-shirt you'd stripped off of him before tying him up. "Worst sacrifice ever. Way too eager. Knew I should've hunted down a virgin… but they're just so damn hard to catch, y'know?"

Eddie chuckles sleepily, and you toss the shirt aside.

"Here," you say, reaching over to scoop up the last of the whipped cream with your finger. "Clean yourself up." You bring your finger to his mouth. He eagerly parts his lips to suck the cream off, eyes glimmering wickedly in the candlelight the entire time.

"Look at you," you admire, extracting your wet fingers to trace his jawline. "You're so fucking pretty like this, I'm never gonna untie you. I'm gonna keep you right here forever."

"Okay," Eddie whispers, nuzzling his cheek into your hand. You cup his face, then lean down to kiss him. You're not sure if it's the whipped cream still on his tongue or just him that's overloading your senses with sweetness.

Oh. Right. Whipped cream. You break the kiss to pick up the can and give it a shake.

"We should probably finish this off," you sigh. "Not much left. Not even worth walking back to the fridge for."

Eddie's eyes flick from you to the can. He licks his lips.

"What do you think we should do with it?" you ask deviously.

As if on cue, his cock magically twitches to life again.

"It's like you read my mind," you grin, reaching down to help him reach his full potential. When he's rock-hard and dripping again, you reach for the can and give it a final shake. "Brace yourself," you warn with a smirk.

Eddie moans sinfully when you begin to spray the cool cream around his raging erection. There's just enough left to cover him. He flinches when the can begins to hiss, empty at last. You set it aside and admire the cream-coated mountain of cock in front of you.

"I'm glad the metal gods weren't in the mood for a sacrifice tonight," you grin, tilting your head to look at Eddie's eyes, black and shining in the flickering light of the candles. "Because this is all mine."

And then you take the offering for yourself.

[scary-grace]

Enough to Go By (Chapter 18) - a Shigaraki x f!Reader fic

Your best friend vanished on the same night his family was murdered, and even though the world forgot about him, you never did. When a chance encounter brings you back into contact with Shimura Tenko, you'll do anything to make sure you don't lose him again. Keep his secrets? Sure. Aid the League of Villains? Of course. Sacrifice everything? You would - but as the battle between the League of Villains and hero society unfolds, it becomes clear that everything is far more than you or anyone else imagined it would be. (cross-posted to Ao3)

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Chapter 18

You store your backpack in the lockers provided for the purpose, then step into the line for the metal detector. You looked up what to expect when you visit somebody in jail, and so far everything checks out. It’s a long line. You wait your turn, step through the metal detector with no incident, and make your way up to the check-in desk. The officer behind it gives you a cursory glance. “Name?”

You give it, along with your birthdate, and she types it into her computer. A moment later her expression relaxes. She’s just seen that you’re quirkless, which means she can let you in without any special accommodations or extra guards. “Who are you here to see?”

“Aiba Manami,” you say. “My cousin.”

You haven’t been reading the news very much. You wouldn’t have known that Manami and the villain she works with had been arrested if Isuzu hadn’t texted you in all caps, asking if you’d seen the news and dropping the link when you said you hadn’t. And sure enough, there was Manami’s picture, right next to her villain crush’s at the top of the article – only they didn’t call her Aiba Manami. They called her La Brava, the name her villain gave her.

Isuzu was scandalized when you asked if anyone in the family had gone to visit her. You knew that meant no, so on your next three-day gap, you made plans to go see her. And here you are, hanging out in a visitation room, waiting for the guards to bring her in. You’re the only one in this particular room, and you know why. Manami’s quirk is useless without her villain nearby, and they’ve almost certainly separated them. And you don’t have a quirk, so you're useless overall. It’s safe. Enough.

When the guards bring Manami in, it’s clear that she’s been crying. A lot. Her eyes are red, and her permanent dark circles are augmented by bruises from rubbing them. She looks shocked to see you at first, but it’s not long before her eyes fill with tears again. “I didn’t think anyone would come. The family is so mad –”

“Fuck the family,” you say. Tomura and the others must be rubbing off on you. You never used to swear this much, as evidenced by the fact that Manami’s jaw drops and a startled, nervous laugh sneaks out. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. I’ve been kind of keeping my head down.”

Manami’s gaze sharpens. “Why?”

“Um – no reason. Not really.” You need to be more careful. There’s nothing you’ve said so far that doesn’t sound suspicious. “Should we sit down?”

Manami sits down on the table, and you sit down in a chair. She’s so tiny that even the height boost from the table doesn’t put her at eye level with you. “How are you doing?” you ask, before she can ask you anything. “I don’t know all of what happened, obviously, but I – um –”

“Gentle fought Midoriya, and he lost.” Manami sniffles, while you try to conceal your shock. Midoriya Izuku really gets around. “My love wasn’t strong enough.”

“I bet that’s not it,” you say at once. “That kid’s just berserk. Nobody who runs into him gets away clean.”

Manami picks her head up out of her hands to give you a weird look. You look back, trying not to panic. Your brain-dead civilian act won’t work on Manami – she’s known you your whole life, and she knows the kind of tricks you play to fly under the radar. Then her gaze slides away from yours, and her eyes fill with tears again. “If I had just loved him more –”

“Did he say that? Your – uh, Gentle?” If he did, you and he are going to have words at some point. You might not be very intimidating, but your friends are terrifying, and you’ve picked up a few tricks from them.

“No.” Manami wipes her eyes again. “Of course not. Gentle loves me. He would never. Have you – have you seen him? I don’t even know where he’s being held.”

You shake your head. “I can find out if you want.”

“Oh, that would be wonderful! I haven’t seen him in so long!” Manami’s expression transforms. You really hope that’s not what you look like when you think about Tenko. “You should meet him. He’s the most handsome man in the world, and he’s so refined and elegant – and honorable – and tall! Tall boys always thought I was too short, but he can carry me around all day if he wants to.”

You absorb that image with some difficulty. “Nobody in here understands,” Manami continues. “They say I’m too nice to have ended up a villain, but they’re only saying that now that it’s too late. Everyone was cruel to me before. None of them cared. Except him.”

She looks back at you, her eyes bright. “Our charges aren’t that bad. They can’t keep us here forever. I know we’ll be together again once we’re out.”

You envy her confidence, and the fact that she’s right. If Tenko gets captured, he’s never getting out of prison. The only way you’ll be together is if he wins. “I’ll find out where Gentle is,” you promise, and Manami smiles. It shouldn’t be hard to do. Kazuo could probably find out without even touching his quirk. “I’d like to meet him sometime. I’m glad there’s somebody who makes you this happy.”

“Really?” Manami looks surprised. “My mom called me and yelled at me about him. And my dad. Everybody.”

“Fuck them,” you say patiently. The sooner Manami picks up that attitude about your whole stupid family, the better. “If he treats you well and makes you happy, that’s what I care about. Even if he likes tea a little too much.”

“Ugh, that’s how we got caught!” Manami flops backwards onto the table. “Midoriya Izuku ran into us and Gentle had to say something about him ruining the aftertaste of the special tea – and then Midoriya knew about the tea – so then Gentle had to talk to him about it –”

This sounds like a train wreck. “I didn’t know tea could do that.”

“Me. Either.” Manami sighs. “He was so excited that somebody else might like the weird stuff he likes. I can’t be mad at him for loving stuff. Even if he was dumb about it.”

She glances at you. “What would you do if your boyfriend was doing something dumb?”

“Drag him out of there.” That’s basically what you did that night in the convenience store, and you and Tenko weren’t even dating. “But I’m taller than you. It works a little better.”

“I knew it!” Manami crows, and you jump. “I knew you had a boyfriend! You didn’t even deny it.”

Manami’s sneaky. You forgot about that. “I was being hypothetical.”

“No you weren’t. You aren’t very good at makeup,” Manami says. You freeze. “Maybe you could fool a boy, but any girl could see that hickey from space.”

You clap your hand over the side of your neck, but it’s already way too late, and Manami laughs so hard she starts crying again. Maybe you’re bad at makeup, but you’re going to blame this one on Tenko – Tenko, who missed being crushed to death by inches seven times during the last fight cycle, and was so strung out on adrenaline that you could barely get him to focus long enough to try to fuck him to sleep. If he couldn’t focus on that, there was no way he could focus on not being loud, and he bit down hard on you to muffle himself so the others wouldn’t figure out what was going on.

There wasn’t time for you to grab a condom, so your first errand of the next fight cycle was the morning-after pill, followed by drugstore-brand makeup to cover up the bite mark. Apparently you did a bad job. A really bad job. “How do I fix it?”

“Tell me about the boy first.” Manami wipes her eyes. “Do you have a picture?”

You do. It’s old, and it’s in a locket around your neck, and your hand twitches upwards to it before you can stop yourself. Manami’s eyes track the motion. “Let me see.”

You hesitate. There’s a chance that Manami will be able to recognize Tenko – she went to your fifth and sixth birthday parties, and he was at both of them – but even if she recognizes him as a kid, she probably won’t be able to match his face to Tomura’s as an adult. You unclasp the locket and hand it over. “This is him as a kid. I don’t have a recent one.”

“Oh, he’s cute.” Manami tilts her head, studying the photo – and then her eyes widen. Her voice goes whisper-quiet, so much that you have to lean in to hear. “He’s alive?”

You nod. “He’s who I think he is,” Manami says, and you nod again. Of course she guessed. She’s a villain, and you know for a fact that villains keep track of each other’s press clippings. You should have thought of that, but you didn’t. Maybe you wanted her to know. “How?”

“They took him.” You’re not sure how else to phrase it subtly. Manami closes the locket and hands it back to you. Her hand is shaky. Yours is steady. “I’m lucky I found him again.”

“Lucky?” Manami shakes her head. “No.”

“What do you mean, no? Look at your boyfriend.”

“My boyfriend is a gentleman thief. He’s refined and elegant and he wants to write his name into history by making things better.” Manami’s proud of him, proud in a way you can’t be proud of Tenko, and your stomach twists with guilt. “Yours did – that.”

She’s pointing at the bite mark on your neck, the one she was teasing you over a few minutes ago. Now it’s something evil, just because of who left it there. “I could be into that,” you say, and she gives you a frustrated look. “It’s not any different than you.”

“It is. Look at me.” Manami gestures to herself, her eyes brightening with tears again. “Me and Gentle don’t hurt anyone. Gentle wants to help people and show them another way. What does your boyfriend want?”

To tear the world down, so something better can be built by people who know what needs to be fixed – but he has to tear it down first, and that will come with casualties. Lots of them. You’re slow to answer, trying to package it in a way that doesn’t sound insane and terrifying, and Manami takes your hesitation for what it is. “You don’t have to do this,” she says. “You’re not like I was. You have friends. You have a real job you like, and you’re normal. I mean, quirkless, but normal.”

Not quirkless, but that doesn’t matter. You stare her down, daring her to say what she actually means. To her credit, she does. “You don’t have a reason to do this,” Manami says, and she talks right over you when you protest that you do. “That means you have a choice. It doesn’t have to be him.

“I don’t have a choice,” you say. If she’d just let you talk, you could have explained, but you don’t need that many words to do it. “I –”

You’re trying to say you love him. If you can’t say you love him – to your cousin, who knows all about love that ruins you – who can you say it to? You try again. “I don’t have a choice. I – I lo – I do. I lo –”

Manami’s hand clamps down over your mouth. “Don’t,” she orders. “You have to save it.”

“What?” Your voice is muffled. “I can’t say it. I’m trying. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Why can’t I say –”

“You can. You have to save it for when it counts.” The door to the visitation room opens, and over Manami’s shoulder, you see a guard step through. Two guards. No, three. “You’ll find Gentle, won’t you? You promised –”

“I’ll find him,” you say. You grasp Manami’s hand, hold it tight. “And I’ll be back to visit you. I promise.”

“Please think about what I said,” Manami says. She looks worried – worried, and sad, and even when the guards come to collect her, she hesitates long enough to try one more time. “It’s not too late. You don’t have to be like me.”

You thought you and Manami would be on the same page about things, since you’re both in love with villains, but apparently not. Apparently Manami sees the League as much worse than Gentle Criminal, just like the League sees Overhaul as worse than they are – and she’s worried about you. Yoshimi’s worried about you, according to Mitsuko and Ryuhei, but Manami’s worry worries you more. And then there was what she said while you were stuttering and panicking around the admission that you love someone you’ve loved in one way and another for almost your entire life. Save it for when it counts. What does that mean?

“Wait.” A guard stops you as you try to walk out through the metal detector and you nearly jump out of your skin. “Take that off.”

He’s pointing at your locket, and your hand flies up to cover it. “Yeah, that,” the guard says. “Take it off before you walk through.”

“It was fine before,” you say. Your nerves are jangling. “Why do I have to take it off now?”

“The prisoner touched it.”

“So you think her quirk works on a locket?” You can’t be combative right now. You can’t make waves – but you’re angry with yourself, angry with Manami, and you don’t want to hide it. “She touched my hand, too. Are you going to make me take that off?”

“Take it off or I’ll detain you,” the officer says. If you’re detained, they’ll search your backpack, and if it comes down to them looking at a baby photo of Tenko or checking out the gun in your backpack, you know which one you prefer. You take off the locket and drop it into the guard’s palm. “Thanks for your cooperation.”

You stand there, seething, as he pries open the locket and studies the photo inside. It occurs to you that the guards were watching you and Manami, that they saw her reaction when she opened it. Of course they’d want to take a look. But the guard never met Tenko, doesn’t know what to look for, and after a moment, he hands the locket back. “Was that so hard?”

“No,” you admit. You look down, bite your lip, the picture of quirkless contrition. “Sorry. It just means a lot to me.”

“Of course,” the guard says magnanimously. They’re all magnanimous once somebody gives in. “Go on.”

You walk through the metal detector again, retrieve your backpack and your phone, and step out of the jail. It’s a sunny day, but it’s cold, and you wish you’d brought a heavier coat. Or a scarf. It’s not hard to imagine that the bite mark is beaming like a searchlight from your neck, letting everybody know just how bad your boyfriend is at keeping quiet. You alter your priorities. You’ll get a scarf first. The firing range will still be there after you’ve covered up.

This far into the fight against Gigantomachia, and your errands during each fight cycle have taken on a new pattern. Food and sleep first – as guilty as you feel for eating hot food and sleeping in a bed when Tenko can’t, you’d feel guiltier if you made a mistake because you were too hungry and sleep-deprived to keep a clear head. Once you’ve gotten that out of the way, you do a few things to maintain the ruse that you’re on a leave of absence from work, then check up on the others.

Usually that means corralling Toga, or finding Compress before he can fence whatever he’s stolen. He’s recognizable enough that it’s safer for you to fence it yourself. You worry less about Spinner. Spinner tends to stick close. If he’s not shadowing Tomura or passed out and snoring, he’s usually following you. Once you’ve checked up on them, made sure they’re eating and sleeping in addition to whatever else, you run an errand of your own. You’ve got a gun now. You need to make sure you can use it.

You go to at least one firing range every fight cycle, sometimes more. You’ve learned how to tense yourself against the recoil from a shot, how to load and reload quickly, how to clean the gun, disassemble it, and fix any problems with it before they get work. The main thing, the most important thing, is shot selection and accuracy. Your accuracy is decent – not quite as decent as it is in Call of Duty, but above average. It got a lot better once you stopped trying to aim for the head.

You don’t need to aim for the head. You don’t want to kill somebody. What you need to do is slow them down long enough for you or your friends to get away, and that means hitting somewhere in the center mass. The fact that gunshots to the center mass can kill somebody just as easily as shots to the head is something you try not to think about. You’ve got a lot of practice not thinking about stuff by now. Enough that you can almost forget about the casualties that will result from tearing everything down, and forget basically everything Manami said except her stories about her villain boyfriend and your twin promises to visit her again and find out where he is.

You text Kazuo to ask if he knows where Gentle Criminal is being held, telling him specifically not to use his quirk to find out, and put your phone away. Then you step into your booth at the firing range.

You’re good enough at it now – barely – that you can practice firing one-handed, firing from positions other than square-on in front of your target. You’re also practicing using the gun for something other than shooting people. One of the guys at the firing range in Nagoya, an ex-cop who took a shine to you in a way that made you deeply uncomfortable, told you that a gun’s not helpful at a distance of less than twenty feet. Somebody with a knife can close that distance faster than you can fire. Dodging a knife strike and clocking somebody in the side of the head is a better bet, so today you’re practicing that, too. You’re as useless with a latent quirk as you were without one, so finding another way to be useful in a fight is your top priority. A stupid latent quirk is the same thing as no quirk at all.

But even as you practice firing one-handed, firing from a crouched position, firing from the floor, you can’t shake off what Manami said. Her hand covering your mouth, her order to save it for when it counts. Save what? The I love you? Sure – you should probably tell Tenko before you tell anybody else, as soon as you figure out how to get the words out of your mouth. What was weird was how intense Manami was about it, but Manami’s always been intense about love. Intense enough to cover your mouth about it? Maybe. Maybe she just wanted you to shut up about how much you love Shigaraki Tomura, aspiring of the supervillains, while you’re in the visiting room at a jail. She’s been at this longer than you have. She’s better at it.

She’s the second person to point out that Tenko’s hurt you, and she and Mitsuko had the same reaction. You’d be worried about it if you didn’t know the whole story, but you can’t explain that your boyfriend bit you because he’s loud in bed or that he hates letting even you see him cry. You also can’t explain that you don’t hate the bitemark, that you don’t want people to see it but aren’t mad that it’s there. You definitely can’t explain that you’re trying to build a new world, and you’re terrified of the thought that he won’t be in it with you.

And there’s no possible way to explain that you’ve weighed the world against the idea of losing Tenko again and decided that keeping him was more important. Not without sounding insane and selfish and awful. Not without sounding like a villain.

You stay at the firing range, drilling over and over again until the time you’ve paid for runs out, and then you check your timer. Four hours before the end of the next fight cycle, and the new base camp is two and a half hours away. That’s plenty of time for you to get there before Tenko does.

Or at least that’s what you think. There’s a disruption in the train service, courtesy of some villain, somewhere, and you wait as ten minutes, forty-five minutes, an hour and a half tick by. There’s no way you’re going to make it there by the end of the fight cycle, and you might miss the break entirely. You have to be there. You need to see Tenko and make sure he eats and sleeps, so that the next fight cycle doesn’t end with him being killed. This far in, he’s barely alive. You don’t know how he’s keeping it together. You don’t know how anyone is.

Another twenty minutes slip past with agonizing slowness. You’re getting desperate. If Kurogiri was here, you’d have options, but he was captured months ago, and you don’t know anyone else who has a –

Yes, you do. You dig the earpiece the doctor gave you out of your backpack and activate it, jamming it into your ear. The doctor’s already on the other end of the line, and that strikes you as weird, but you don’t have a chance to think about it any more before he speaks. “I was just about to reach out to you, Saintess. There’s been a development.”

Your blood turns to ice. Tenko can’t be dead. He’d have told you first if Tenko was dead. If Tenko was dead, you’d know. “What is it?”

“Shigaraki Tomura has devised a plan to destroy both of his enemies at once – the Metal Liberation Army, which has challenged him to a battle, and Gigantomachia, whom he has yet to defeat.” The doctor doesn’t explain who the MLA is, but he doesn’t need to. You’re quirkless. You know all about the people who want to make society’s might-makes-right thing explicit instead of poorly concealed. “I’ve just transported he and the others to the outskirts of the battlefield. He gave me explicit instructions to keep you away from the fight.”

“No,” you say at once. “I’m the medic. They need me. I have to be there.”

“My thoughts exactly,” the doctor says. Oh. “I believe you could be very useful indeed. Stand by for transport.”

You hold still. The doctor heaves a dramatic sigh. “That means get out of sight, dear.”

You’re an idiot. You duck into the bathroom at the train station and lean back against the door, blocking anyone from coming in. “I’m out of sight.”

“Excellent,” the doctor says. A moment later, your mouth fills with black sludge.

When you get to the edge of the city that must be the battleground, the fight’s already in full swing. You can tell by the clouds of dust that are rising, the flashes of blue flame appearing and vanishing just as quickly. Tomura must have called for Dabi. Dabi, but not you. Dabi can fight.

“Allow me to provide the lay of the land,” the doctor says. “The Meta Liberation Army has a hundred thousand members in this city alone. Shigaraki’s objective is to hold them off, without drastically reducing their numbers, long enough for Gigantomachia to awaken and pursue him here – where he will theoretically clash with the MLA and incur enough damage to allow Shigaraki to defeat him.”

It’s brilliant. Tomura’s plans these days usually are. But when you check your phone for the time, your heart sinks. “They’ve still got an hour left. That’s too long.”

“That’s where you come in, my dear. The MLA left you out of their calculations entirely due to your perceived quirklessness.” The doctor sounds smug as all hell. “I’ll direct you where you’re needed. With that gun of yours, the amount of ammunition you’re carrying, and the practice you’ve been putting in, you should be quite effective in thinning the MLA’s ranks – assuming, of course, that you’re willing to get your hands dirty.”

You made that decision a while ago. You put on your veil and crown. It’ll complicate your vision, but you couldn’t practice with it on. “I’ll do what needs to be done to keep Tomura safe.”

“Let’s hope he proves worthy of your devotion. Descend into the city. Avoid the main avenues and work your way towards the tower in the center.

It’s a distance down to the city, and the doctor put you on a rocky slope. There’s probably a defined path down, but you don’t want to waste time looking for it, and you roll and slide and tumble your way down to level ground, the doctor tsking in your ear the entire time. You ignore him and choose a deserted side street, working your way towards the chaos in the center of the city. The doctor gives you periodic updates. “Toga has neutralized her opponents, but she was injured – no, no, my dear, your objective is Shigaraki.”

“I’m the medic. If Toga is hurt –”

“Twice is on his way to assist her, and her injuries aren’t immediately life-threatening.” The doctor’s voice takes on a bite of impatience. “You’ll be able to aid her later, assuming Shigaraki’s plan succeeds – which it may not do if you waste time here.”

Helping Toga isn’t wasting time. But there’s a bigger picture here, and you know it. You pick up the pace again, jogging through the streets, until the doctor tells you to stop. “Dabi and Compress are near. Dabi’s opponent could stand to be distracted. Avoid being seen.”

So you can’t help Toga, but you can help Dabi? The doctor’s priorities are pissing you off. You creep closer, pivoting down a small alley and climbing into a building, peering out a broken window for a better view. There’s Dabi, and Compress. And there’s his opponent, some guy with white hair in a blue coat, who’s doing his best to crush Dabi and Compress under a hail of ice.

Strategy isn’t your strongest suit, but this one is easy. Dabi is the League’s only ranged combatant – other than you, and you barely count. If Dabi loses this fight and switches to chasing Tomura, it’s over. Ice Guy is moving around a lot. You take out your gun, make sure it’s loaded, make sure there’s a round in the chamber. You can’t stay here long. You have to get out fast, so you give yourself three shots to get the job done. You peer up over the window frame, steady yourself, flip off the safety, and hook your finger around the trigger. Ice Guy is holding still for once, bantering about something with Dabi. Perfect.

You fire all three shots in a tight burst, but you aren’t solid at this distance, or this angle. You miss with all three, and you cringe in embarrassment. Ice Guy falters for a second, looking around wildly for the source of the gunfire. You drop to the floor and belly-crawl out of sight, gritting your teeth at the amused note in the doctor’s voice. “Obviously it would have been better if you’d hit him, but he’s unsettled enough to hand Dabi a momentary advantage. All Dabi must do is make use of it.”

You make your way into the building’s back lot, then through a gate onto a quieter street. This one is lined with piles of dust. Big piles of dust, and two sets of footprints through them. “Tomura was here. And Spinner?”

“Yes, although Spinner’s unable to compensate for Shigaraki’s near-incapacitation.” The doctor gives you a new direction to run in and keeps talking. “I admire your efforts to keep him healthy, but they’re ultimately futile. The exhaustion will kill him sooner rather than later.”

“Later,” you correct. He can die of exhaustion when you’re both ninety. “Where are they?”

“Continue straight, then turn left at the next major intersection.” There’s an edge in the doctor’s voice now. “If I were you, I’d hurry.”

You pick up the pace, furious with yourself for not being able to move faster. Training with a weapon clearly wasn’t enough – on your days off, you should have been improving your physical fitness, enough that scrambling from house to house as cover on a street parallel to the one Tomura and Spinner are traveling on would be nothing to you. You turn left at the next intersection and you’re bolting down the street when the doctor orders you to hide, his voice loud and sharp. You dive into the shelter of the nearest fenced yard just in time to see a horde of figures dressed in black and white stampede down the street Tomura and Spinner are apparently on. It looks like Twice. Twice, but hundreds of him.

You thought his quirk would only let him make two copies, and he never copies himself. What happened? “It appears his quirk has awakened,” the doctor says, and you realize you’ve spoken aloud. “If only the same thing would happen to you.”

“If I could do that, I’d know.” You poke your head up over the fence to see if it’s clear, and one of the Twice clones spots you. Shit. You duck down out of sight, but you know he’s coming. “What should I do?”

You hate yourself for asking, and the doctor doesn’t answer. At least not in a way that’s helpful. “Your objective is to aid Shigaraki. Proceed with that in mind.”

Before you can even begin to parse that, the Twice clone reaches over the fence and grabs your arm, pulling you upright. “Hey, you’re not supposed to be here! Shigaraki said to keep you away!”

“I’m supposed to be here. I’m the medic.” You struggle to pull your arm free, but he’s stronger than you. “Let go. I have to help him –”

“We’re helping him.” The clone’s chest puffs with pride. “Don’t worry, sister. Your boyfriend’s in good hands!”

You need to get away from Twice. You need to get away from him right now. What’s the chance that this is the real Twice? Next to none – you can’t imagine the real Twice leaving Toga’s side if she’s hurt. With that in mind, what you’re about to do should have no consequences whatsoever. “I’m sorry,” you say to the clone, and you strike him so hard in the side of the head with the barrel of your gun that he collapses instantly into sludge.

“Wonderful. It seems you weren’t lying – your devotion to Shigaraki does extend to getting your hands dirty.” The doctor sounds pleased. You don’t feel like anything at all. “Continue your pursuit course. Shigaraki has pulled ahead of Spinner, but you shouldn’t have trouble catching him.”

You decide against using the main streets, opting instead to hop fences and cut through backyards and alleyways. You don’t want to have to kill any more Twice clones. You don’t have the greatest view, but you’re sure the doctor will tell you if you need to speed up. Tomura might be in the midst of a battle, high on adrenaline, but you’ve eaten and slept in the last three days, so you must have the advantage in speed. You’ll catch him soon. You have to.

You hear the screech of tires, followed by the sound of hundreds of feet on the road – and then a voice, booming out through a megaphone. The voice that responds is quiet and thin in comparison, but you recognize it. It’s Spinner’s voice. Is Tomura with him? No, the doctor would have told you to change course, and he’s said nothing of the kind. Out of everyone in the League, Spinner’s the most loyal to Tomura, second only to you. He wouldn’t leave Tomura for anything. You break the back window of one of the houses, climb in, and pick your way through until you’re peering through the front window. There are too many people in the way. You head for the stairs.

Once you’ve got the elevation, it’s obvious – Spinner’s trapped in the middle of an angry mob. There’s a news van blocking his way, and a guy standing on top of it. He’s calling Spinner by what must be Spinner’s real name and saying the kind of things that make you see red. Spinner shouts back, owning it – owning weakness, owning a lack of vision, owning unimportance except as a follower to better people. That’s not all he is. You don’t let anybody talk to your friends like that, your friends included.

You need to do something. “No,” the doctor hisses in your ear. “Pursue Shigaraki. Leave him.”

“No,” you say. The doctor makes a scathing, offended sound into the phone. “That’s not who I am.”

You don’t have enough bullets in your gun or your backpack to take out the entire crowd, but you can handle the guy in charge, and the resulting chaos might be enough of a distraction that you can yank Spinner out unnoticed. Forget this only-three-shots nonsense – you extract another clip from your backpack and set it down beside you, at the ready once you empty this one. You break the window you’ve been peering through, trusting that the mob’s own noise will cover the sound, and screw the silencer onto the end of your gun. You haven’t practiced with it much, or at all, so you don’t know how it’ll disrupt your shot, but between the gun and the clip you have nine shots to get the job done. At least one of them will have to hit.

The man on top of the van has just donned a mask. Probably a support item rather than a shield, but you were never aiming for his head. Your first shot strikes him in the shoulder. He staggers, turning halfway just in time for you to empty the clip, sending two bullets tearing laterally through his torso. You eject the empty clip and load the next, and in the time that takes, your target collapses. His blood is pooling on top of the van, running down the sides. He’s not moving. Unless somebody in the crowd has a serious healing quirk, he’s dead.

You turn away from the window and race back down the stairs, keeping the gun hidden at your side. Most of the mob’s forgotten Spinner in their efforts to help the leader, and Spinner’s crawled through them, heading towards you. He must have guessed who was shooting. He’s the only one in the League who knows about the gun.

You race out of the house to help him up, drag him out of sight. One person notices the two of you, and you shoot them without thinking twice. Not fatally. It won’t be fatal if they get some help soon.

Spinner needs help right now. He’s bleeding, and while you can see the puncture wounds in his shirt, you can’t tell how deep they are. “You’re wasting time,” the doctor hisses in your ear.

You ignore him, but Spinner unknowingly echoes him a moment later. “Don’t worry about me,” he says, grimacing in pain. “Get to Shigaraki. He needs you.”

“I’ll patch you up and we can both go.”

“No, you need to –”

There’s a colossal explosion from somewhere in the distance. At least, you think it’s an explosion. You don’t know what else to call it, except that it’s the loudest sound you’ve ever heard, and it makes the ground rattle beneath your feet. You and Spinner both freeze. “What was that?”

“Change of plans, my dear. Get as far from here as possible.” The doctor’s voice is in your ear again – and in Spinner’s, based on the way Spinner startled. “Shigaraki has engaged the leader of the Liberation Army, and his chances won’t be improved if he’s distracted by your presence.”

“What if I just shoot him?” you ask. Spinner stares at you. “The leader of the Liberation Army. Could I get a clear shot?”

“He’s the size of a house,” the doctor says, and your stomach clenches tight with fear. “You could hit him from the moon if your weapon had the range. But you don’t, and he’ll see you coming, so –”

“He wouldn’t care about me. You said it yourself. I’m quirkless, so I don’t factor in.” You help Spinner straighten up. “I’m Tomura’s sidekick. I can’t let him fight alone.”

“You can if doing it will get you flattened.” Spinner stumbles as the ground shakes again. “Give me the gun. I can do it.”

“You won’t be able to get clear in time.” Get clear in time for what? At the kind of range you’ll need to be effective with a gun this small, you won’t be able to get clear, either. The ground rattles again. “I have to do this.”

“Yes, I believe you must.” The doctor’s voice is crisp and abrupt, almost as abrupt as his change of tune. “I’m quite impressed with Shigaraki’s fortitude. I’ll be sending another gift to assist him in this fight, in addition to you. Spinner, make for the outskirts. I’ll direct you to Toga and Twice. Saintess, head for the center. Stay out of sight as long as you can.”

There’s no time for you to patch Spinner up. The two of you trade a glance and a nod, and then you split up. Spinner books it in the opposite direction of the disaster that’s unfolding at the center of the city, and you run towards it.

What you see there in the midst of the destruction horrifies you. You’ve only caught glimpses of Tomura’s battles with Gigantomachia, but you’ve heard stories from the others, and in spite of the fact that the giant he’s fighting this time is smaller, you can tell from a single glance that his odds are worse. He was tired going into this fight, and he’s already injured beyond what you or anyone else could fix. And unlike Gigantomachia, this giant can talk.

He wants to know what Tomura’s going to do with the world, if he survives. “Is the pursuit of destruction your only worth as a human? The world you wish to create will be as empty as you are.”

“It’s not my world.” Tomura’s face is smeared with blood. One of his legs is twisted at a terrible angle, broken so badly you can’t believe it’s bearing his weight. His left hand is mangled, missing two fingers at least. He can’t fight like this. How could he? “It’s for them. They can choose what’s in it.”

It’s for him, too. If he gives you the chance to build a new world, you’re going to make it worth living in. “They can choose?” The giant scoffs. “Your pack of outcasts and delinquents don’t have that kind of vision. None of you can see beyond your own petty desires and think of the greater good!”

“I don’t need to see it.” Tomura stumbles sideways to avoid a strike, then loses his footing and falls. “She can.”

He’s talking about you. You get set, raise the gun, and fire.

The giant is too bulky for your bullets to make much of an impact. You’d have to hit him in the eyes or the mouth, and you’d have to get closer for that. He reacts to the shot like you’d react to a mosquito bite, mere annoyance and temporary distraction, and Tomura struggles back to his feet long enough to exploit the opening. For a split second you’re drawn back to the games the two of you played as children – facing some terrible villain, distracting them so Tenko could land a decisive blow. The same game as always. Now it’s real.

Even with the giant distracted, Tomura’s injuries are slowing him down. It’s not just that he’s limping. You come closer, unable to stop yourself, and you see how badly he’s favoring his other side. He’s only got one hand, his quirk at half the strength it used to be, and even as your empty the remainder of your clip into the giant’s torso, load another, and fire again, you know you can’t do enough to make this fight one Tomura can win. If you’ve really got a quirk, if there’s something you can do, now’s the time.

But there’s nothing. Why would there be anything? If you had anything more you could do, you’d do it. if running into the middle of things and getting killed to save him would mean he’d win, you’d do it in a heartbeat.

You wouldn’t hesitate, but you won’t get the chance to choose. The giant’s spotted you. He swats Tomura aside with one hand and turns his attention to you. “So you came to join us after all,” he says. You hold your ground. If he comes close enough, you’ll have a clear shot at his eyes. “It’s a shame to say so, Saintess, but there’s no place for your kind in our future. I’ll put you out of your misery.”

You shoot him. It glances off his cheek, and his footsteps rattle the ground, jarring your next shot into thin air. “You’re only resisting the inevitable,” he continues. “Is this truly a world you want to live in? A world where meta abilities are used freely, where your kind are left to occupy the lowest rung of society while the rest of us wait for evolution to wipe you out?”

You’ve heard people with quirks say some truly out-of-touch things, but that might be the worst. You open your mouth for a retort, but instead of a snappy comeback or heartfelt appeal to humanity, laughter pours out. You can’t make it stop, and the giant stares at you, puzzled. Behind him, you see Tomura rising from the dirt, all his weight on his knees and his mangled hand. It only takes a split second’s thought to understand why he’s putting pressure on his injured hand instead of the good one, but it’ll all be for nothing if you can’t give him time. You need the giant to keep looking at you.

He hasn’t looked away. Your semi-hysterical cackling is keeping all his attention. “Is something funny?”

“This world you want,” you start. You have to pause to suck down air, aware that he’s coming closer to you, aware that you can’t let him look back at Tomura. “It’s the same world we have right now. I’ve lived in your perfect world my whole life.”

Tomura steadies himself. You see him steady his right arm with what remains of his left hand before the giant’s bulk fills your vision. You look up at him, holding his gaze even as he raises his hand to crush you to a bloody paste on the ground, and you smile, even though your veil hides your face. “It’s our world now.”

The giant’s fist comes down towards you. You hear a distant scream. A split second later, the ground falls out from beneath you.

You can’t decide if you’re dead or not. You’re falling through a haze of dust and ash, listening to screams that fall abruptly silent, flinching as buildings crack and crumble around you. Above it all there’s a sound you’ve never heard before – half howl of rage, half insane laughter, all rough and painful, as though it’s tearing apart the throat it’s issuing from. Tenko’s still alive. You can’t die yet. You have to get to him.

Maybe your quirk is some kind of willpower, because even though the impact with the ground is agonizing, you’re on your feet within seconds of the hit. You find yourself standing on the edge of a massive crater, one that’s swallowed half the city. You’re not the only one at its edge. You see Spinner, Dabi, Compress, Twice – about a billion clones of Twice, holding as many clones of Toga, and Giran off to one side with a clumsy bandage wrapped around his hand. The League of Villains made it through.

A few members of the Meta Liberation Army made it through, too. They’re staring down into the crater, sheer horror on their faces, as they look at what’s left of their leader.

He amputated his legs to avoid getting caught in the wave of Decay Tomura unleashed, and the part of you that’s a nurse and not a murderer notes that those wounds will need to be cauterized soon if he wants to avoid bleeding out. But the leader of the Meta Liberation army is a footnote, an afterthought. Tomura’s down there, too. Tomura’s on his feet. His hair’s gone pure white, and his right arm’s been torn to shreds.

He and the Liberation Army’s leader are talking. You can’t hear what they’re saying, at least not at first. Not until the leader announces his unconditional surrender and orders his soldiers to lay down their arms – or rather, to turn them over to Shigaraki Tomura, the new leader of the Meta Liberation Army. Tomura’s won, and it’s not just the MLA who’s submitted to him. When you glance at the far side of the crater, you see Gigantomachia crouched there, calm and awaiting orders. It’s a mark of just how focused you are on Tomura that you didn’t even notice.

The enemy leader’s still talking, but Tomura’s not paying attention. He’s looking up, around the edges of the crater, his eyes lingering on each member of the League. Twice and Giran to Twice and Toga, Dabi to Compress to Spinner, and finally to you. You hold his gaze, unsure of whether to take down your veil and smile, not certain if he needs reassurance that you’re okay or if he’s just making sure you’re alive. Then his face goes pale beneath the mask of blood. You see his eyes roll up in his head, and before you can make a move to help him, he pitches sideways, unconscious.

The enemy leader is the one who catches him, and something snaps in your head. You hop the edge of the crater and skid down the slope, racing towards them. You’re not the only one on the move – Spinner and about fifty Twice clones are doing the same thing, and the enemy leader is shouting for help. Somebody with a healing quirk, maybe. Or transport to a hospital. You can’t think. All you can think about is getting Tomura away from the person who was trying to kill him five minutes ago. A person whose soldiers will kill you all without him to lead them.

You pry Tomura out of his grip, slide your backpack off your shoulders, and start giving orders. “Twice, take the sterile pads and start packing them onto his legs.”

“Whose?”

You gesture one-handed at the giant, who’s not so giant anymore. “Re-Destro,” he introduces himself.

“Yeah, him.” Once the Twice clones are in motion, you unwrap the scarf you bought earlier today and shove it into Spinner’s hands. “Use that as a tourniquet for one of his legs. Find something else for the other one.”

Spinner doesn’t question it. You wonder if he’s made the same calculation as you have, figured out that your survival is tied to Re-Destro’s for right now, but now that you’ve got people helping him, you can focus on Tomura. And Tomura is – is –

The rise and fall of his ribcage is lopsided. He’s got a punctured lung. His shirt’s been torn away, and most of his torso is turning a strange mottled color, one you remember all too well from the victims at Kamino. Internal bleeding. His left hand’s down to three fingers. His right arm’s all but flayed. His leg’s broken so badly that you can see pieces of his femur protruding through his skin. The only thing that’s still working properly seems to be his heart. He still has a pulse, but he needs more help than you can give him. You can’t tourniquet internal bleeding. You can’t stitch wounds inside his body. As much as you want to save him, this is out of your skill set by a hundred kilometers.

You hear a helicopter approaching, and when you look up, you see a cross painted on its side. Medevac, but they’re here for Re-Destro, not for Tomura. When he sees the medics approaching, Re-Destro shakes his head. “Take him. I can wait.”

You’re terrified that they won’t listen, but Re-Destro’s minions are loyal. They come to Tomura’s side instead, load him onto a stretcher, and rush him to the helicopter with you chasing after them. One medic turns to tell you to back off and you shout in her face. “I’m a nurse! I can help!”

You’re not sure if she believes you, or if she just believes that you’ll throw yourself in anyway and spend the entire flight clinging to the landing gear if she says no. Whatever her reasons are, she steps aside, and you scramble onto the helicopter alongside Tomura’s stretcher.

You’ve never been inside any helicopter before, and you have a feeling that most of them aren’t this nice. They have actual gear, actual scanners, and while you get pressed into service trying to secure Tomura’s broken leg, then promptly kicked out to deal with his right arm, the medic who let you in runs a scanner over his torso. The image pops up on a screen attached to the cockpit divider, and when you glance up at it, your heart plummets a thousand meters, all the way back to earth.

Internal bleeding, just like you thought. Massive internal injuries, the kind a person can’t come back from, and the medic who ran the scan shakes her head. “Even if we had the blood to transfuse him, we can’t waste resources. This is ATC, and with those injuries – he’s not going to make it to the hospital.”

“No.” Your voice comes out watery and weak. “There’s something you can do. There has to be. I know –”

“You’re a nurse. You should know.” The medic gives you a look. “He’s got minutes. Say your goodbyes.”

It feels unreal. It can’t be real. This can’t be happening. Not like this, not after everything the two of you have been through, not after he’s won. How could you have let this happen to him? You look back up at the scan, hoping desperately that something’s changed and finding nothing. The medic is right. You’re a nurse, and you should know – a patient with injuries this severe isn’t someone who can be saved. No matter how many surgeons could work on them, no matter how many units of blood they might be transfused, there’s no way to hammer life back into a body this damaged. It’s cruel to try.

You lift his right hand, careful to avoid making contact with all his fingers at once. You can’t kiss it, but you bow your head over it all the same, fighting back tears. You can’t face the thought of never hearing his voice again, never linking little fingers with him again, never kissing him or making him laugh or playing another game. You swore you’d follow him through the end of the old world and into the new one. You can’t lose him again. If you could take his place, you would.

“Tenko,” you whisper, even though he can’t hear you, even though everything that matters is already beyond your reach. Maybe that’s why it’s easy to say, why the words are lighter than air on your tongue. “Tenko, I love you.”

You curl over his hand, eyes shut, head bowed. You can’t watch the light leave his face. Feeling his hand go limp and cold will be horrible enough. You stay still and wait as seconds tick past. Seconds, then minutes. The medic said he had minutes. How many minutes did she mean? A spark of hope catches in your chest and you smother it without mercy. He’s gone. You can’t have him back this time. He’s gone.

You hear the medic’s voice, but nothing she says makes sense. “Scan him again.”

“Why?”

“Just do it.”

You stay where you are until someone nudges you aside, but you don’t open your eyes, and you don’t let go of Tenko’s hand. The scanner hums as it runs over his limp, nearly lifeless body, then emits an excruciatingly loud beep. Even with your eyes shut, you see the flash of the screen coming to life. The medic’s voice is hesitant, stunned. “Holy hell.”

“That’s not possible,” the other medic says. “It isn’t! Not without –”

Both of them stop talking. If they’re not going to explain, you should look up and see for yourself. You open your eyes, and sit up, and that’s when you see the second scan, side-by-side with the first. And they’re – different. The first scan is apocalyptic, unsurvivable. Even someone with no medical training could tell. The second scan is bad, too, but it’s better. Better enough to change his status from black-tagged to red-tagged in the medics’ opinion, because they get back to work, working around you rather than telling you to move.

It’s weird, because you’re definitely in the way. You’d ask you to move, if you were them. Do they need you to help? You ask, and the other medic lets out a cracked, uncomfortable laugh. “You’re more useful where you are.”

“What?” you say blankly. “I don’t understand.”

“I do,” the doctor says in your ear. You’d forgotten he was there. “Tell me what you see.”

You describe the first scan, then the second. “Hm. It sounds to me as if Shigaraki’s body is repairing itself,” the doctor says. “Small repairs, obviously – he still requires major surgery and quite a bit of luck – but even such repairs take hours, days, or even weeks to occur naturally. And here they’ve occurred within the space of a few minutes. My dear Saintess – it seems you have a quirk after all.”

The doctor keeps talking, about how he and All For One are never wrong, how you were so silly to doubt him, how he knew your quirk would awaken if the right circumstances were met, and you ignore him. It’s easy to do, just like it’s easy to ignore the medics as they pivot around you, easy to ignore the pilots’ discussion of which MLA-controlled hospital to make for, easy to ignore the fresh scan that pops up on the screen, revealing even more improvement – impossibly slight, but enough. You focus on holding Tenko’s hand, keeping it safe between yours for the landing on the hospital’s roof, the race down to the operating theater, the hours and hours of surgery that leave you dead-on-your-feet tired, interrupted only by orders to move this way or that.

You’re still holding his hand as they wheel him out of surgery, into the recovery unit off the ICU. Still not thinking. Still ignoring everything but his hand, warm and wrapped in bandages, a pulse still beating in his wrist. He stirs slightly in his sleep, eyelids fluttering half-open with no awareness behind them, and you wonder if he’s in pain, if you can call someone to medicate him so he’ll get a good night’s sleep for the first time in months. Your hands are stiff and frozen around his, locked into position for hours on end, and you force yourself to let go. You might need your hands to help him. You’re still a medic, still a nurse. He might need more from you than this.

You leave your little finger linked with his, though. It’s tradition by now, and tradition, too, to tighten your grip just a little bit, letting him know you’re here. “I love you,” you say, in case he’s listening. It still feels easy to say.

Tenko doesn’t stir, doesn’t open his eyes. But his breathing is even, his heartbeat steady, and his finger hooks a little tighter around yours. He’s all the way under. It’s just a reflex, but you’ll take it as proof: In spite of everything, he’s here, too.

[earthtooz]

x : BIRTHDAY WISHES ! :*+ﾟ

in which: you get your own surprise on todoroki shouto's birthday.

warnings: FLUFF! 1.8k words or so of it, reader gives deku the middle finger for funsies, BAD WRITING like when I SAY BAD I MEAN C-TIER AT BEST, shouto deserves better but i wanted to get this out in time for his birthday :(, kissing (oh my god... so scandalous), food cw

a/n: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO TODOROKI WHO WILL ALWAYS BE #1 IN MY HEART. that's all i have to say, try to enjoy!

you're the first person to wish todoroki shouto happy birthday.

in fact, you've even taken the responsibility of driving to todoroki's residence, ringing his doorbell at exactly 11:55 pm, and greeting him with a sheepish grin when threw open the door a little too excitedly.

"hi," you whisper, holding three bags in two hands; one of them much smaller. it's thanks to the packaging that todoroki realises that it is cake, and the bakery-provided candles beside it are a given.

"hello," he greets back, stepping aside so he could let you into his toasty apartment (well- penthouse, really). "what brings you here?"

"you complaining?"

"not at all," the dual-quirk hero steps towards you to help rid you of your layers. he hangs your scarf and coat on the hanger by the entrance. "i'm just curious why you would sacrifice some much-needed rest for me."

"don't be ridiculous, shouto. it's what friends do."

friends. todoroki doesn't like the way that word sounds on your lips, especially when it's addressed to him.

before he can voice any of the distasteful feelings brewing within, you rush into his kitchen, exclaiming something along the lines of 'i'm almost out of time!' before leaving todoroki to dawdle after you. he does nothing but watch as you take the cake out of its box and stick a few candles in, lighting them with matches you brought yourself despite there being a six foot something tall matchstick right beside you.

your appearance is sudden, but not unwelcome. he likes how at home you seem, how normal it feels to have you beside him to celebrate another milestone of his life.

when you check your phone for the time, you exclaim a little in delight, noting that the time now read: 12:00, january 11.

"happy birthday, shouto!" you exclaim, clapping quietly out of excitement whilst todoroki looks at you with an affectionate smile. one that makes you melt a little, and you fear you'll soon be no better than the candles dripping their wax onto the icing of the cake.

"not gonna sing happy birthday for me?" he asks cheekily.

you scoff, a little embarrassed to sing in front of him alone. if it's anything that will deter todoroki, it'll be your singing. "ask one more time and i'll pack up and leave."

his low chuckle reverberates. "i wouldn't want you doing that." todoroki clasps his hands together, closing his eyes before blowing out the candles in one, swift breath.

"thank you, y/n," he says, sincerity lacing his tone. "it means a lot that you'd go out of your way to do this for me."

"of course," you say, handing him a classic, bakery-issued plastic knife. "anything to make your birthday memorable, shouto."

your sentence means a lot more to him than you'd think.

sharing cake with todoroki shouto at 12:04 am when you both had patrol in eight or so hours was not a point in life you'd ever anticipate being at. as you talk, you try your best to burn this moment into your memory, unsure of when you'd ever be this vulnerable with him again.

todoroki, on the other, non-existentialist hand, was comparing the sweetness of your laughter to the icing of the cake. a sound worthy of giving him another sugar rush, he concludes.

"i did beat everyone to wishing you a happy birthday, right?"

he hums in contemplation at your question, "most likely. let me check my messages."

as your dual-quirked friend fishes for his phone from his pocket, you try not to ogle at his beauty. it's unfair how good he looks, even under the harsh lighting of his kitchen, dressed in his silk pajamas that look irresistibly comfortable. from custom-installed tatami mats flooring every inch of his home to silk sleepwear, todoroki really adores snug things.

"fuyumi, natsuo, and midoriya all wished me happy birthday. midoriya texted at 12 exactly so i'm not too sure who won between you two," he informs you.

"midoriya, hm?" you mutter. "can i text him from your phone?"

"sure."

when he hands over his unlocked phone, you immediately click on the camera button, angling the device so it would be a selfie of you and todoroki. except you direct an unceremonious middle finger to the green-haired hero, sending the photo with the message 'beat you to it'.

"that was rude," todoroki teases, the small smile on his face telling you that he didn't mean any malice behind it. you give him back his phone, a small smirk on his face.

"he'll live," you joke. seriously, you've known midoriya way too long now to get petty over a middle finger. "i got you some presents."

"can i open them now?"

"yeah of course!" reaching for the bags at your feet, you present your first one to him which was, mostly, a gag gift that you couldn't resist buying when you saw it. some part of you genuinely hopes that he'll appreciate it though.

when peeking into the paper bag, todoroki's eyebrows crease in confusion, and it wasn't until he fished it out that his confusion turned into delight.

"where did you get this?" he asks, inspecting it as he holds in up in his arms.

"a local hero merch store!" you begin, unable to contain your giggles. "did you know that a recent toy campaign turned some of you guys into cats? it was so weird- i thought it was a little odd at least, but yours is adorable!"

seeing todoroki, the mystical, dreamy, and devastatingly handsome public figure of the century, hug the plush so innocently in his arms was giving you a rush of serotonin. the resemblance was uncanny too, the cat had a white base with a fair amount of red spots dotting it; kind of like a calico design but only with one colour. the best part was that the cat was seated in a perfect loaf position and if that wasn't todoroki shouto as a cat, you'd be lying to yourself.

unable to resist taking a picture, you're almost tempted to save it as a home screen because of how pure and wholesome he was.

just wait til 'people' magazine sees this photo of their undefeated 'sexiest man alive' recipient.

"isn't it cute?" you questioned, "i was almost tempted to buy one for myself."

"this is really fun to hug." for good measure, he squeezes it in his vice grip twice, grinning whilst doing so. you pretend to ignore the way his biceps flex, stretching his silk sleepwear.

"you should have seen bakugou and midoriya's. bakugou's was so funny, the manufacturer really captured his energy. midoriya's was also really cute- all three were just straight up adorable."

"was mine better than theirs?"

"of course, shouto. anyways, i just thought it'd be funny to give you, if you don't like it then-"

"-i do like it. you gave it to me."

this man is bad for your health. you had to pinch yourself to not scream from how charming he was. one sentence and you're practically gone- it's pathetic.

"okay!" you exclaim, trying to wave away how flustered your face felt from that one comment. "second and last gift!"

placing the cat plushie on the counter, todoroki accepts the gift bag you shove in his direction rather readily, furrowing his eyebrows once again as he goes to pull out the contents. does he know about his 'eyebrow' habit?

"you haven't decorated your place much since you moved in so," you begin justifying, feeling impatient, "i wanted to take the liberty of giving you a few things to decorate your home with."

four photo frames appear in his hands and he takes the time to study all of them carefully. they were all filled with photos of him with friends which you got printed.

you stand rooted to your spot with anxiety bubbling in your stomach at how he'll receive your idea. you hope he liked it - todoroki has never been one for sentimental or daring gifts so you hoped this one wasn't too out of the box.

at his silence, you begin to grow more apprehensive, walking over so you could look at the photos too. "there's more photos in the bag if you don't like the ones i chose-"

"-i love them. you're really thoughtful, y/n."

"am i?" you blabber.

"yeah. these are nice memories. this one of iida, midoriya and i at graduation is making me nostalgic," he mumbles, "but my favourite has to be this one."

todoroki shows you the picture in question and your heart stops beating for a moment. it's one of you and him together from when you went to go see the cherry blossoms bloom. uraraka took the photo if you remember correctly. it's one of your most loved photos.

"i really like this one of us," he comments, reading your thoughts. "i'm glad that i can have this in my house now. these frames are all nice additions, i didn't think i needed them. thank you, y/n, really."

he looks up at you with such fondness it almost has you throwing up, your heart ready to leap out of your chest and land straight in todoroki's hands to begin serenading him. you do, after all, owe singing him the 'happy birthday' song.

then, he unexpectedly stands up, somehow manoeuvring you so that your back was now pressed against the countertop with him hovering in front of you. your escape (not that you needed it) was now blocked by his overwhelming figure.

should you be terrified? because you are. delightfully so.

"there's one more gift i'd like to ask of you," begins todoroki shyly, leaning his hands on either side of you. "if you wouldn't mind."

you were going to explode. combust. erupt. literally detonate and paint his walls with a silly shade of love.

"a little selfish tonight, are we?" you tease, trying your best to keep your cool and- if he kept leaning in closer you were actually going to freak out so if he knew what's best for him he'd-

"can you blame me? it is my birthday after all."

"what do you need?"

the way his eyes glance down to your lips provides an immediate answer. you know he hears your breath hitch because this jester has the nerve to smirk despite the anticipation weighing down the atmosphere.

todoroki's face is millimetres away from yours when he suddenly pauses, his warm hand going to grab your face as he whispers an 'is this okay?' and your only sane response is to kiss him silly.

it's a gentle meeting of souls. not hurried or rushed, simply two humans trying to explore the other in ways deeper than anything physical. with the way todoroki's other hand roam from your waist to your hip, you can tell he is analysing how to support and hold you in the most gentle way possible, studying you like no other can.

with the same passion, your arms wrap around his neck, hand gently tugging at the hairs on the back of his head. the sensation makes him smile. his smile feels unreal against you and you suppose that this a luxury many won't get in their lifetime, not even you can recall how you got here. you just hope he understands how much adoration you have for him.

you want to uncover and understand more of the enigma that is todoroki shouto, but, as you separate from his embrace with the desire for air, you realise that you now have all the time in the world.

"you shouldn't be going home at this hour. it's dangerous," todoroki comments, briefly breaking the dreamy state of your mind.

you chuckle quietly. "i'm a full-fledged hero, shouto. danger should be scared of me," you boast, slightly unsure of how credible your statement is, but your confidence makes the dual-quirked hero smile.

"that's true, but still. won't you stay with me?"

after a faux moment of deliberation, you give in to his pleas with a nod, causing him to smile gently as he begins to lean in again.

before your lips could meet again, todoroki whispers something against them.

"birthday wishes do come true."

[bibibbon]

You know? It's kinda of funny how LOV fans treat the whole "I want to be a hero for villains" of Shigaraki as something groundbreaking, when the same concept was already introduced in the series (and was done better) with Nine.

Unlike Shigaraki, Nine literally meet his team members when he saved their lives. In Chimera's case it was when a bunch of racists were about to execute him just for being a mutant.

Nine also was a hero for them in a more thematic level, as he not only save their lives but actually give his team mates a reason for live and fight. He offered them the chance to fight for create a better world. For me it's quite remarkable how Nine despite being a homeless and chronically ill person, go for save people he view as equally oppressed by the world.

He was selfless enough to sacrifice his own health using his quirk to save Chimera despite it was destroying his body, and without expecting nothing in exchange for share a dream Nine a hand to people at their lowest point.

That's much more of an "All Might for the villains" or whatever Horikoshi tried to make Shigaraki in the final moments. Or hell Nine even acts better as a foil to Deku in the sense both are selfless individuals who fight despite their bodies are crumbling, just for the save of the persons who are important to them.

How ironic is that Nine, the original movie villain that was supposed to be just a prototype for the "final villain" of MHA, ended executing the same themes way better than Shigaraki.

Hi @nyc3 👋

A main reason as to why people treat shigaraki's I want to be a hero for the villains ideology better than nine's is simply because I assume a lot of people forgot the plot of the 2nd movie or haven't read the one shot manga chapter mha leauge of villains undercover. All of this is a shame because I heavily agree that nine's version of I want to be a hero and hope for the villains is executed and built up 10000x times better than shigarakis and nine had a fraction of the screentime that shigaraki got which is saying a lot.

Actually rewatching the film and rereading the manga one-shot has showed me that nine and shigarakis arcs are pretty similar with nine's having a better execution and shigaraki having more wasted potential.

The movie sets it clear that nine and shigaraki are supposed to be foils for one another so it makes sense that they would share parallels. However, you would expect that by the time nine is defeated that shigaraki would naraatively prove to us that he is ultimately the better character but in truth he doesn't and nine's downfall by shigaraki ends up being quite disappointing to me.

Another problem within the narrative is also the lack of interactions that nine and shigaraki have. I think that nine is essential to helping shigaraki and start to infulence him to realise that he is just a puppet and should develop a goal outside of just destruction. If shigarakis goal stays as destruction then the destruction of what? Everything? And how would that benefit anyone including him?

Nine like you said meets his teammates and saves them. He sees his teammates suffer like him and chooses to help them and they choose to help him. There is a clear relationship being developed and all the characters come together for the same goal, with similar backgrounds and varying styles yet they work.

When nines team see him in distress they run to help him and vice versa. The team has trust and overall everything that a lot of the leauges dynamics and development lacks.

Nine seeks destruction but his path is clear. He seeks to liberate and let nature flow its course with the strong overtaking the weak and finally being leaders instead of feared and abused because they don't fit into the small little box that is the mha's status quo. Nine plans to get stronger while being fully conscious and knowing the consequences. He makes a logical and heroic decision where we see him realise that he is trading his own autonomy and agency in becoming a lab rat all in exchange for power and a slim chance at achieving his goal.

This is all contrasted with shigaraki and his actions. We don't see his goal of destruction develop into a much more consistent and precise idea like destroying the giver and status quo. We don't see shigaraki fully conscious to come to the conclusion that yes the doctor is evil but he needs power. We lack everything from shigaraki and the information of chapter 419 just makes his character worse as shigaraki was a lab rat through and through.

Horikoshi tries to make shigaraki the better character but nine outclassed him in every way possible from the traumatic beginnings, to the developed flawed goal and to the final bitter end where we see nine crumble due to various factors 1)shigarakis decay and 2) his illness whereas shigaraki dies due to afo still being a lab rat that fulfills his purpose.

All of this reminds me of the ask that said mha's manga ending is a sloppy edited 2nd movie ending (except I was only looking at it from a hero perspective but it even applies to the villains)

Nine deserved better!

[i-wanna-die-like-now]

Bnha x dp Headcanons:

Danny absolutely loves to spend time with Tokoyami because he just gets his dead jokes and dark humour (and reminds him of Sam who he misses)

When he takes the entrance exam he's overwhelmed with the need to protect everyone even though he's 80% sure UA wouldn't actually put them in any real danger. His obsession doesn't understand that though.

Midoriya has a field day learning about his 'quirk' and when he's finally revealed to be half dead he has a million questions about ghosts and the zone, Danny really enjoys talking about it because his parents don't listen and he is a scientist too damn it.

He bonds with Todoroki almost immediately because he knows what it's like to hate his power (ghostly wail) and he knows what it's like to not want to end up like someone. He ends up also bonding over some trauma about their home life later on.

He helps Uraraka with the nausea she gets because he's been there.

Eri reminds him of Dani and it caused him to have a breakdown when he was alone, he begged Clockwork to let him go home to see her.

During the first part of the sports festival he could have just created a portal or telported to the finish but he wanted to watch everyone so he flew over them and finished 4th.

Bakugou absolutely hates Danny because there's just something off about him that only HE is seeing apparently, he can feel him holding back in every fight and Bakugou can't help but get pissed off at that. When Danny's halfa status is revealed he loses most animosity he has towards him. (Because ofc Danny was holding back he's op as fuck)

Aizawa hates that his quirk doesn't get rid of any of Danny's and he hates how Danny is the type of hero to sacrifice himself to save the people he's saving (he has his hands full with Midoriya) when it comes up Danny had actually died he feels his blood run cold and Oboro flashes in his head.

When Danny started joking and doing quips in fights he gets mixed reactions but because he does them everyone enjoys watching. (Bakugou took that as a sign he wasn't trying hard enough)

Danny has chronic pain in his arm that touched the portal and has a glowing green lichtenberg figure that runs up to his shoulder. Sometimes he can still feel the electricity and it can send him into a panic attack.

^Kaminari makes an effort to never touch Danny after he found out about that, which makes Danny feel horrible because he knows how touchy the blonde is.

He sometimes just goes to Koda and sits with him in silence because his senses are getting overwhelmed and he has animals he can pet.

When Sato or Bakugou cooked for him the first time he made an off hand remark about how he's glad it didn't come to life and it made everyone freeze.

Mirio is in awe of how Danny can keep his senses and clothes when he's intangible and it made Danny realise how lucky he was. When he made Mirio intangible by touching him it made his day and then multiple people asked him if they can try it.

^He also gets asked if he can make them fly and invisible so they can experience it too.

Danny can make Hagakure visible because double invisibility evens out (idk just think it'll be fun), they tired it because Midoriya was curious of what would happen and it made Hagakure cry.

[star1ight0]

Shouta Aizawa x Reader "Room for one more" PLATONIC

Tw for runaway/kicked out, abuse and sh(sorta)

Quirk: garden: allows you to manipulate and grow plants

Request are open

You had attended UA high for some time now and had made it into class 1-A you were lucky to be there considering how against your parents were. However the only reason you are able to attend was under the Principal Nezu's offer to have the school assist money wise. Your parents hated heroes and the idea of their kid being one disgusted them. You made it a point to mention as little school at home to avoid confrontation. But being that you enrolled late you had some paperwork to do.

You had asked for more time to get it filled out as it seemed impossible to talk to your parents together about the matter. However this was already 3 months into the school year, and you could tell both Aizawa and Nezu were tired of your excuses.

Aizawa made an effort early in the year to show as little care as possible to his students, and this was further proven by how strict he was and how careless he seemed to act towards all of 1-A. This was quickly disproven when he seemed to sacrifice himself for the class as a whole.

That being said you were the only enrolled student without everything completed, so he made it clear he'd have you removed from the class.

When you got home your mom was at work and your father seemed to be in a good mood so you pulled out the paper work from you bag and sat at the table with your dad.

"Can you um.. help me fill these out please dad. It has a bunch of questions about family health history and I also need your signature on some."

"Why? I thought you'd be smart enough to do this shit since you seem to be too good for this family we've done enough just allowing you to go to that god forsaken school."

After some back and forth it seemed to escalate and it only worsened once your mother got home. It went from paperwork to how horrible of a child you were.

"Sense you are too good for this family maybe you should just leave. "

Everything seemed to go downhill from there. You tried to reason with her and convince her to just let you say but it only seemed to make her want you in the house even less. Finally you tried to reason with them one more time ultimately getting yourself a hit to the face from your dad. Ending with him giving you till the end of the night to leave the house.

What were you even supposed to do? You had a bag with a few clothes and not much money. Most of your extended family lived on the opposite side of Japan so there was no way you could get there nor stay there for more than a few days.

There was absolutely no way in hell you could tell any of your UA friends you parents just kicked you out over hero school paper work. So you had little to no options.

A few hours passed and you were out wandering the streets and you decided it'd be best to just go back to the school and find somewhere to crash for the night. Halfway to the school it started raining and it was well past midnight and you still had nowhere to go. You sat in a nearby coffee shop soaked and used some of the money left on your card. You scrolled through your phone trying to think of someone to call when your eyes landed on your homeroom teacher's number. It was a bad idea right?

He probably wouldn't answer anyways, but what other choice did you have? The phone rang 3 times and just as you were about to give up the line picked up

It's 2 in the morning you better be dying or calling on accident kid.

No unfortunately, I um- do you - um..

Spit it out kid I'm tired and UA doesn't pay me nearly enough

Yeah no sorry um.. is the school open?

No why the hell would it be open. Why are you even calling?

Um..

You feel a knot in your throat and your mind went completely blank

Are you okay kid? Where the hell are you

Um a coffee show a few blocks from the school. I- don't -

You can feel breaking down completely on the phone and your brain forming incoherent sentences.

Just stay there. Don't move. I'll be there in like.. 8 minutes.

After some time past Aizawa showed up and the first few minutes were just him trying to get you to calm down without saying anything that could possibly make you shut down completely. After you were completely calm and got you in the car.

If you tell me why you're out at 2am and what the hell and who the hell happened to your face. . I'll let you sleep on the couch.

You placed your hands on your lap and summoned small vines with thorns around your hands and then they all disappeared and you could feel Aizawa looking at you canceling it out. "None of that. Okay? Just talk about it. Please kid, you gotta give me something to work with before I let you crash on my couch"

You looked over at him pulled out the blank paper work "They don't like heros. They only let me go because. . Nezu offered to pay for most of it. I asked for them to help and.. it all escalated so quickly. Next thing I knew : hit to the face from my dad and my mom telling me to get out."

He looked to you with a feeling you couldn't quite understand, was it anger? Was he angry at you for this, your mind began to race and you felt yourself closing off again and feel your chest pound.

"you'll stay at my apartment, for now at least. You won't be going back home for a while"

As you went to protest the idea he shut it down quickly saying it was no trouble and reassuring you on the matter as a whole.

Sorry I haven't been posting I'm busy and stressed