#this is just a comparison of my characters eyes

[missinglaterals]

Standardizing ref sheets... mannnnnnnnnn

[ghoularaki]

w3lc0me t0 th3 fr3aksh0w <3 | 3

↠  summary: Your ex-boyfriend not satisfied with how the relationship ended comes back to teach you a lesson its best to keep your mouth shut. Some secrets are best left unspoken.

↠  word count: 11,960

↠ pairing: todoroki touya x reader, takami keigo x reader, geten x reader

↠ genre/warnings: angst, smut, college/dark web au, DARK CONTENT, yandere! dabi, bullying, stalking, blackmail, panty shots, noncon touching/fingering, daddy kink, blood/gore, major character death, the reader talks about addicts in a very not nice way

series masterlist

Leaning your head against the window, the blurry world rushed by you as you sat on the crowded bus. You hugged your bag close to your chest. Usually you would be more considerate of others, but after a long shift your feet ached. All help your parents offered had been cut off after you reported Dabi to the police. Though they only did to appease Enji.

Your life had been entangled with the Todoroki’s way before you dated Dabi, but the details were foggy and unclear. From what you had been told, you were inseparable from Dabi’s youngest sister, Fuyumi. Though after an incident happened, your parents deemed it best for you to never come back as you were hospitalized and they didn’t want ‘you to get hurt again’.

But now you knew it was a load of shit. They just didn’t want to get on Enji’s bad side. The Todoroki’s were the rich of rich, the upper echelon of society. And your parents would do anything to crawl and grovel anywhere near at least a step on the ladder.

Your parents weren’t anywhere near poor, you knew full well you came from a well off family with your father owning a reputable and flourishing business, but any success pales in comparison to the empire the Todoroki’s possessed.

To continue on with the family legacy your father and mother forced you to get a degree in business. Since they were only fueling their own desires, they paid for everything in the beginning. You didn’t have to worry too much about expenses. Even then, you refused to take more than given. Anything your parents offered came with a hefty price. Though they quickly dropped you after you sent Dabi to jail.

They basically disowned you and cut all funds they were giving off. At first, you panicked, scared, but relief filled you. For once you would be granted freedom and true free will. But your leash was only handed over to Enji instead.

He had you in the palm of his hand. You were ready to change majors and careers paths you actually had interest in, go to a cheaper college—finally start your life over. Enji ripped that away from you when he held over your head the fact he’s a main administer at the college and could strip you any ability to make a living.

He made an offer: you could drop out and live your life in misery, or you continue your degree and he would get you a secure job, but every move you made would be heavy monitored. You were completely under his thumb.

Enji paid for all your college expenses, but everything else you were on your own. Hating to be a burden on your friends, you got a job without telling any of them. Everyone still thought your parents were giving you an allowance and you wanted to keep it that way.

Bored of the darkening city flashing by you, you pulled your phone from your front pocket and flipped it open.

still coming over?

from: ice prince (≧◡≦) ♡

sent 7:13 PM

on da bus 2 u

from: my princess

sent 7:21 PM

get here safely

from: ice prince (≧◡≦) ♡

sent 7:22 PM

hmm ill think about it, feeling like causing an accident

from: my princess

sent 7:23 PM

don’t be annoying, brat

from: ice prince (≧◡≦) ♡

sent 7:24 PM

;P

from: my princess

sent 7:24 PM

Smiling down at your phone, you accidentally let a giggle tumble out. Embarrassed, you glanced up and around to bus to see if anyone heard. Your eyes caught the mirror at the front of the bus. A flash of blue stared back. Squinting hard, you didn’t want to believe what you saw.

Sucking in a ragged breath, you snapped your attention to the bus driver. He definitely saw that you saw him. Clutching onto your phone, you dared to look again. This time, he didn’t break eye contact. A smirk dimpled his scarred skin.

A deer entranced by the headlights of its impending doom, you continued to stare. Your mind raced as your body sat paralyzed. You contemplated texting Geten but ultimately what could he do?

The university crept into view. Dabi already knew where your dorm was, but not Geten’s apartment. Putting Geten’s safety above your own and trying to think a step ahead, you pressed the button to alert the bus driver to let you off.

Standing up as the bus came to a screeching halt, you observed Dabi standing up as well. Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you shuffled past the driver.

“Thank you,” You mumbled out as you scrambled down the stairs.

From the corner of your eye, Dabi took the doors in the middle of the bus instead. Before he could even step out the bus, you quickened your pace towards the dorms. Behind you, his boots resonated from the rubber leisurely stomping against the concrete. He was in no rush, but kept you in his line of sight.

Under the streetlights, you searched for the shadows of other people. You knew ultimately no one would help you—everyone knew the power Dabi held—but it gave you shaky comfort. That’s not even putting who his father is into the equation. He made a reputation for himself outside of the Todoroki name.

His own shadow loomed, following closely but enough to give you some wiggle room. Likened to mouse loosely clutched in the jaws on a cat, he let you think you could escape. You refused to turn around, walking faster, you glanced at the shortcut. Instead of weaving through the buildings you could sprint across the parking lot and patches of grass. You would leave yourself open, but he already knew where you were.

In front of you, you saw a small building used for registration. They don’t close until eight so you had time. Redirecting yourself, you tightened your grip on your backpack straps. Hoping he didn’t know the building well, you could exit through the back and cut through to the dorms.

Hand outreached, you gripped the cool metal and swung the door open. Not wasting time to close it behind you, you raced the lady at her desk.

“Can I help-” She didn’t even get to finish her sentence as you sped around the corner and out of her sight.

The florescent lights flickered above you as your slippery shoes smacked against the tiled floors. The offices were empty around you, everyone must have gone home by now. Lucky them.

Dabi found you again. His familiar footsteps bellowed through the lonesome halls. His pace quickened past his lazy stride, not wanting to lose you. Whipping around the corner, you spared a glance at him. He didn’t look happy. Annoyance clear on his face that he had to speed walk to keep up with you.

Turning another corner in hopes to throw him off, you almost slammed into a wall. You hissed as you checked your shoulder against the corner. Wincing, you breathed heavily. The long day had gotten to you and impromptu game of cat and mouse ran you ragged.

Your sprint slowed to a light jog as you ended up at a dead end. You frantically looked around as you realized you took a wrong turn.

“Come out, come out where ever you are,” Dabi drawled out.

To the left of you an unoccupied office called out to you. Twisting the door knob, it opened with ease. Gently as you could, you closed the door closed and crouched down. You looked for a lock but sadly it could only lock from the outside with a key.

Awkwardly still in a crouch, you walked towards the window to the left of the desk. Flipping open the hinge, you pulled it open with your fingers until you could push with your palms instead. As you opened it enough to fit in, the door creaked. Spinning around, Dabi stood in the door, casted in darkness. The piercing lights outlined his lithe frame and dark hair.

You stared at each other for moment, waiting to see what the other would do. Your shoulders heaved up and down as you sat in nausea inducing anticipation.

“Are you really going to jump out a window just to avoid me?”

“You’re the one stalking me,” You stated matter-of-factly.

He approached closer. Being further in the room, you could see the smirk on his lips. “Can’t argue with that.”

You swung one leg out the window, not liking how he came closer. Pupils blown out from adrenaline, you felt like the unsuspecting prey. In a stand off, to see how much farther you can run before you tired yourself out. Endurance hunting, you read about it somewhere and you couldn’t help feeling like the one being hunted.

“How much longer are you going to do this.” He kept talking, not so subtly walking towards your frame in slow strides.

Another step, you throw your other leg over the frame. Your torso stayed twisted so he didn’t leave your line of sight. He was now only an arms length away.

“Until you take the hint.”

Jumping out the window, Dabi’s hand brushed against your backpack. You screamed when you felt the minor tug, but the window being under a hill gave you enough momentum to slip through his fingers. Stumbling, you ran down the small decline.

“Are you fucking kidding me!” Dabi shouted out the window, crawling out of it. He wasn’t as agile as you getting through due to his taller form.

With tiny, quick steps, you scampered down the hill with him hot on your trail. Clutching onto the straps, you stumbled onto the flat bit of grass. Taking a sharp turn, you race towards the pathways to the dorms. Dabi’s quick, lumbering footfalls thunder behind you. He was no longer leisurely prowling not too far behind. He had a goal, nab you before you could escape again.

With the doors only a mere few feet away, you shove your hand into your pocket. Shaky fingers fumble for the key card attached to your lanyard with your student ID. Cradling it with your palm, you glanced so it faced the right way. Not slowing your pace, you slammed straight into the doors. Slapping the card against the reader, it chirped, the door clicking open.

Stepping back, you swung the door towards you. Glancing behind you, a screech scared the birds sitting peacefully in the trees, they cried as they flew away. Dabi barrelled towards you, a finger brush away from swallowing you.

Slipping into the door, you clutched the metal handle and tugged it to you. Stopping himself right before slamming into the glass, he stared at you with an eerily calm expression despite his flared nostrils to take in more air.

Adrenaline coursed through you, your hands slicked from the sweat soaking them. Your digits clutched the lanyard, thankful you didn’t drop it while being chased by this fucking psycho.

Not saying a word, he waved at you with such a serene air to him. A stark difference from in the office. Your face must of pinched as he laughed at you, his grin so wide it must hurt.

Admitting defeat, he stepped away. You did not move as his lithe frame sauntered off the campus, away from you. But, he would come back, he always does.

Blinking, you spun on your heel and walked the path to your dorm. In complete silence your traverse the halls until you reach the room. Twisting the knob, you walk in and slump against the slab of wood. Flipping the lock, your lips started to wobble.

Ripping your backpack off, you threw it into some corner of your room. Breathing heavily once more, your rack your nails through your hair. Tugging at the strands, you screamed. Crying out, you slid down the door until your butt ungracefully hit the door. Curling up into a ball, you cradle yourself as you sobbed into the darkening, empty room.

Work had been grueling. Blowing a stray hair away from your face, you perched a tray on your palm. Forcing a false smile on your lips, your mary-jane heels clicked against the tiled floor. The intricate drinks barely swayed with each step. After working here for almost a year, you have gotten quite good. If you wanted to pretend, you could call yourself a simple waitress, but you wouldn’t kid yourself.

Bubbly, you went over to your table, “Here’s your drinks, masters!”

All the men at the table were awkward in that excited way. You were used to it, you preferred these customers over the smarmy ones. The glasses and tea cups clinked against the table. Finished, you bowed to them and heading back towards the kitchen.

Your frilly black and white maid dress flounced around your upper thighs. You hated this job, but it was the only place hiring around this area that you could feasibly take to bus to. Purposely picking a job far away, it took about an hour and half to get here after a bus ride, a train and then another bus. You didn’t want your friends to see you like this. They were still under the impression that your parents were paying for everything. If only they knew.

“Y/n!” Your boss called to you.

Hiding your eye roll, you sauntered over to him. “Yes?”

Not looking up from his phone, he pointed over to the right side of the cafe. “There’s a customer asking specifically for you.”

Throwing a mini tantrum, you threw your head back and groaned, “Please don’t tell me it’s Mr. Tsukishima. He’s such a creep.”

He glanced up at you, “No, it’s the one in red.” Not giving you anything else, he went back to his phone.

Cursing him under your breath, he was such an ass. If you texted on the clock like he did, he would fire you immediately. Sucking down the agitation, you spun on your heel and put back on your bright persona. Surveying the tables, you spotted who your boss was talking about.

Your feet faltered.

Keigo rested his chin on the palm of his hand and twinkled his fingers at you. Blood rushed in your ears drowning out the girly pop music playing in the background. Your vision swarmed as you forced yourself to push forward. Swallowing the ball forming in your esophagus, you stared at his smug expression.

As you reached your table, you could feel your boss’ eyes on you. Coughing despite how tense your throat was, you gave a shaky smile.

“What can I-uh, what can I get you today…” You trailed off.

Keigo raised his brow with a hum.

Sighing, you continued, “Master.”

A smile didn’t leave his full, rosy lips. He kept staring for a moment, his golden irises flitting over your attire, satisfied. Reaching a hand out, he pinched the hem of the skirt.

“They couldn’t give you anything longer?” He tilted his head like an owl, mocking you.

Through gritted teeth that could be mistaken for a smile, you sweetly seethed, “No.” You snatched the skirt back.

Letting go a little too easily, he reached for the menu. Flipping it open with a fwop he browsed the options. Keigo didn’t say anything as he pretend to contemplate every option. You were left to stand there like an idiot, unable to do anything beside wait.

“Do you need more time to choose?” You subtly hinted that you had other things to do.

He slapped the menu closed, the sound had you flinch. Twisting his torso so he gave you his undivided attention, he smiled once more.

“Is there anything you recommend?”

Your eye twitched. He seriously wasted five minutes looking just to fucking ask that. Breathing out, the fear quickly turned to anger. How dare he come and harass you at your workplace. Thing was, he technically hasn't done anything so you couldn’t even kick him out.

“I really like the chocomint-”

Keigo stuck his tongue childishly, “Ew, I hate mint chocolate.”

“Would you like the strawberry latte more?” You didn’t even try to entertain his obvious teasing. He wanted to make a fool out of you.

“That sounds lovely.”

“I will be right out with it.” You bowed to him and turned around.

His hand engulfed your wrist and stopped you in your tracks. Stationary, you twisted back to him. Your fingers shook from his grip. Heart in your throat, your pupils expanded from the adrenaline.

“What do you say?”

“Huh?”

His voice was underwater.

Tugged you down so hard you had to catch yourself on the back of his chair, your face hovered over his.

“What do you call me, Y/n?”

Gulping, you stuttered, “Master?”

Beaming up at you, he let you go. Snatching your wrist back, you clutched it and cradled it to your chest. Pivoting on your heel, you raced to the coffee machines, sniffling.

With shaking hands, you kicked on the machine. Grabbing a dainty mug, you grabbed the syrup and coated the inside. From the corner of your eye, you watched Keigo. He had pulled out his phone and his thumb rapidly pressed against the keyboard. Foreboding sunk deep in your stomach. Maybe if you threw up right now, you could go home. But you knew, Keigo would only follow and come back again.

Finished with his drink, you grabbed a tray and set the mug down. Racing over to him, you wanted him out of here as fast as possible.

“Miss!” A voice called for you.

Whipping around, you saw one of the men from your other table waving you down.

Smiling, you stopped, “Sorry, master, let me finish this and I will be right with you.”

The man who worked up the courage to beckon you, blushed and nodded with a shy smile. You stifled the scoff, what a loser. The second you had enough saved, you were quitting this stupid job.

Focusing on one thing at a time, you approached Keigo sooner than you would like. Setting down his latte in front of him, you tucked the tray to lay on your stomach, hands clutching the rim.

“Anything else I can get you, master?”

Suspiciously, he only smiled, “Not yet.”

Pinching your face in confusion, you stepped away. Keigo let you, but watched you like a hawk. Going back to the other table, you tried to smile. His eyes piercing into your back.

The table of awkward men stumbled over their words to tell you they needed the bill.

“Right away, masters!”

You went to the cash register and started to plug in their orders. Punching into the old keys, the mechanical buttons creaked. The bell on the front door twinkled, filling the air. Glancing at the door, you didn’t see any customer. That’s weird.

Hitting enter of the register, you shifted your weight on one leg. These damn heels were digging into your toes. Shaking out the pain, you ripped the receipt off the printer. Shoving it into a spare pink, leather binder, you sauntered back to the men.

Sneaking a glance at Keigo, the little binder slipped from your hands and toppled on the floor. Your feet tingled for a different reason. Body screaming to run, Dabi sat across from Keigo. At the clattering, he dragged his eyes over to you. He tilted his head at your obvious trembling fingers.

“Miss?” A voice cut in.

Still shivering, you bent down and grabbed the receipt, not taking your gaze off the two men. Picking it up, you raised and slowly spun your head back to the table.

Your voice thick, you muttered, “How will you be paying today?”

One of the men’s face recoiled, obviously not liking you didn’t say master. You didn’t care, you weren’t going humiliate yourself like that in front of Dabi.

“Cash.”

Working up a shaking smile, you gathered the cash given to you. As you were about to plug it into the register and give the change back, the one displeased with you told you to keep the change. They all gathered their stuff and left the cafe. Money in hand, you kept your head down. Crumpling up the cash, you stomped over to the register and shoved all the money inside. Slamming the drawer closed, you stuffed the receipt into the accordion folder.

Mustering up the courage you didn’t have, you dragged yourself to Dabi and Keigo. There was no way to avoid him.

Still scared, you couldn’t help your anger, “What are you doing here?”

Like the cat that ate the canary, Dabi grinned wide, “Is that any way to talk to a paying customer?”

“Yeah Y/n-chan, you don’t want us to tell your boss, would you?”

Whipping your head to Keigo, you sneered, “You have no right-”

Dabi raised his hand, ready to call over your employer. Like a kicked dog, all your fight slipped out from you. Clutching onto his wrist, you forced his arm down. Not putting up any resistance, Dabi welcomed your desperate clutch.

“Please, don’t,” You begged. You needed this job.

Flinching back as his hand reached up, you let him cup your cheek and stroke your cheekbone. “That’s more like it, baby.”

Clearing your throat, you lifted yourself back up.

Pretend he’s just like every other customer, you chanted in your head.

“What would you like, m-master?” Hot humiliation filled you, burning behind your eyes.

“Fuck, that’s hot,” Dabi chuckled out, slipping further into his seat while spreading his legs. A bulge prominent in his pants, he was already half-hard.

“Can’t say I don’t enjoy seeing her so pathetic like this,” Keigo taunted. He only smirked, showing off his canine when Dabi threw him a glare. “What do you say, scarface? Should we commemorate this?”

Before Dabi could even reply, Keigo grabbed his phone. Grabbing the hem of the skirt once more, he flipped it up and snapped a picture of your panties. Yelping, you shoved your dress back down.

“What the fuck?” You barked.

Keigo laughed as he showed Dabi his screen. You could only blink as Dabi huffed out a chortle of his own.

“Pink skulls, really? You don’t change do you?” Your ex peered up at you, not caring at all.

Tears sprung in your eyes. Crinkling your maid dress between your trembling fists, you went to tell your boss. You had enough.

This time, Dabi was the one to grab your wrist and tug you down. Forcing you to sit on his lap, you frantically looked for anyone to help you, but the cafe was basically empty. Of course your boss went for his hourly smoke break.

In the process of shoving you on his thighs, your skirt rid up, your panties on full display under the table. You heard the shutter of a phone camera along with a quick flash of light that illuminated Keigo’s face. Squirming, you tried to get off.

Wrapping his arms around your torso and your arms, you were bound to Dabi. You kicked against his shins with the pointy part of your heel, but he didn’t budge.

Keigo pulled his arms from under the table and presented both you his phone. From here, you could clearly see your underwear and bare thighs on full display.

“What you think, is it a good photo, Y/n-chan?” Keigo's gaze stayed on your face, a smug smile stretched his lips.

You attempted to jump to grab the phone, but Dabi pushed you back to his chest. Sick of this, you opened your mouth to scream, but your ex slapped his hand over your lower face.

“You’re so predictable, you know that?” Dabi sighed into your ear.

Cursing him out from under his palm, you glared at Keigo, not able to look at Dabi from this angle.

Keigo gave a mocking pout, “Oh no, we made the snitch mad.”

Ignoring the man in front of him, Dabi turned you to sit more sideways to look you in the eye. Your mascara run down your face, coating the edge of his pointer finger.

“Here’s the deal. You do what we want, or these pictures,” He nodded towards Keigo’s phone, “will be spread to everyone and they will know you what you do. You want this a secret, right?”

Seething, you bobbed your head in agreement.

“Good. Unblock my number and stop running or else.”

More tears wet your cheeks and his hand. Seeing you got the picture, he let go of your face. Wiping away the salty water, he only spread the streaking makeup more. He continued, “You know I hate when we fight like this.”

Grabbing his hand, you pushed it off your face. “I need to get back to work.”

“Nah, I think you’re done for today.”

Dabi glanced at Keigo and he understood. You watched him as he went towards the employees only door. He must be telling your boss some lie that the idiot will believe. Keigo could charm anyone.

Helping you off his lap, you both stood up. Keeping your head down, you stared at your shiny mary-janes.

“I need to get changed,” You muttered.

Hooking a finger under your chin, he lifted your face, but you still didn’t look at him.

“Don’t even think of running.”

Shoving his hand off, you clenched your teeth. Pivoting on your foot, you marched to the back. Opening your locker, you grabbed all your stuff and slammed it closed. Stomping over to the bathroom, you rapidly got changed and shoved your uniform into your backpack. Snot dribbled down as the tears poured over. Wiping your nose with your sleeve, you sniffled.

Slinging your bag over your shoulder, you took the walk shame out and see both of them waiting outside the cafe doors. From through the glass, Dabi took a huff of his cigarette and blew the swirling, grey smoke into the air. The bell chimed as you went outside with them.

Like you were still together, your ex slung his arm over your shoulders. Relaxing your spine, you slipped out from under him. Standing in front of him, not caring he spotted your blood shot eyes, you pointed a finger at him.

“Don’t fucking touch me.”

Putting your back to him, you raced to the bus stop, them not too far behind. Grabbing the handle of your bag, Dabi had you stumble backwards to him.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“I’m going back to my dorm, Touya.”

Dabi’s face fell at that. “That’s not my name anymore.”

Pushing his hand off your back, you got in his face, “And neither am I your girlfriend, but I guess we both aren’t getting what we want.”

He didn’t back down and loomed over you, using his height to his advantage. His piercing blues bobbled with rage. “Fine. Be a bitch, but we aren’t done with this.”

Flicking his lit cigarette off into the street, he stomped away. Keigo followed, but not before waving to you with a shit-eating grin. Trembling, your knees wobbling, wanting to collapse right here on the sidewalk. Mustering up the strength, you continued to the bus stop and waited.

A moment later, the bus came to a screeching halt. Paying and selecting a seat in the back, you swung your backpack to lay on your lap. Hugging it to your chest, you pulled out your phone. You had no texts.

Laying your forehead against the top of the bag, your leg bounced. Both rage and deep sadness pulled at your tendons. A scream climbing to your tongue, begging to be let out. As you got closer to the subway station, more anger coursed through you.

Going down the stairs to your train, you trembled with each step. Stewing in your thoughts, by the time you reached your stop, you didn’t even want to take the last bus ride. Sunlight still hung in the sky. Walking the rest of the way to the dorms, you had thirty minutes to seethe.

You don’t get why Dabi won’t take the hint. Whatever you two had died last year. Your relationship was built on lies anyway. He knew exactly what he did to you ages ago and never brought it up. He fucking targeted you and dragged you down with him. But you refused to drown with him.

Swiping your ID against the keycard, you marched up to your dorm. You need to rant to someone before you lost your mind. Toga would be the worst to tell this to, she might actually kill them in broad daylight. And Geten, well, you were scared for him. Plus you needed someone with an outside perspective about this.

Booting up your laptop, a message already awaited you.

hey gurl!!

from: killerkiko

sent 3:23 PM

hiii. can i vent to you ; (◞‸◟)

from: psychokitty

sent 4:56 PM

what happened :(

from: killerkiko

sent 4:57 PM

you know the crazy ex i told you about?

from: psychokitty

sent 4:56 PM

that psycho? what he do this time

from: killerkiko

sent 4:57 PM

it wasnt just him, its that fucking dick riding blond bitch too

from: psychokitty

sent 4:56 PM

oh… ?

from: killerkiko

sent 4:57 PM

sorry i’m just so upset. they found out where i work and you know how much i hate working there but i have no other options. they took pictures and are blackmailing me and telling me that i have to do what they want or theyll tel every1 and enji doesnt know and im sure he will rip me a new one. my life is so fucked kiko

from: psychokitty

sent 4:56 PM

wait, what pictures ?

from: killerkiko

sent 4:57 PM

oh um this is so embarssing but they took panty shots

from: psychokitty

sent 4:56 PM

gurl wtf can you tell its you

from: killerkiko

sent 4:57 PM

not really unless you slept with me and know what underwear i like lol but my ex has a lot of influence so if he says its me then its me. haha i’m so fucked arnt i

from: psychokitty

sent 5:00 PM

you should get back at them

from: killerkiko

sent 5:01 PM

wut? how????

from: psychokitty

sent 5:01 PM

i’m sure you have dirt on them too

from: killerkiko

sent 5:05 PM

you dont know half of it. im scared it will get back to me tho

from: psychokitty

sent 5:06 PM

or just spread a rumor, no one has to know its you

from: killerkiko

sent 5:08 PM

You stared at your screen for a moment, contemplating. Chewing on your bottom lip, the impulse to do something stupid doesn’t leave you. Maybe Kiko was right, why do they get to just ruin your life especially Keigo. He had no part in this, but he inserted him into your horrible breakup. You want at least some payback.

Pulling up the university blog form, you make a new account. Without thinking, you started typing:

no one heard this from me, but i saw takami keigo do drugs before his game. from what i heard he usually takes coke to keep himself alert and pumped before each game. that whole natural being the fastest is bullshit, he’s a druggie just like his supplier todoroki touya aka dabi. yeah that dabi who’s todoroki enji’s son. both him and keigo sells drugs to other kids on campus for a quick buck despite being filthy fucking rich. be careful around them and their friends bc they are all drugged out losers who sell cheap shit for a high price.

More words tumbled out of you as you bitterly sobbed. You wanted to say more, expose more, but you knew this was enough. If you said anything besides this, it would be easily traced back to you. Not thinking, you posted it. Leaning back in your chair, you clicked back on Kiko’s profile.

did i do something stupid?

from: psychokitty

sent 5:48 PM

haha did you actually do it

from: killerkiko

sent 5:56 PM

yeah….

from: psychokitty

sent 5:56 PM

good on u gurl you feel better ?

from: killerkiko

sent 6:01PM

am i a bad person if i say yes lol

from: psychokitty

sent 6:03 PM

no youre not

from: killerkiko

sent 6:04 PM

thanks kiko you really helped, i think im gonna sleep early

from: psychokitty

sent 6:05 PM

night <3

from: killerkiko

sent 6:05 PM

night <33

from: psychokitty

sent 6:06 PM

Squinting your left eye, you groggily groan at the sunlight peering in through your window. You forgot to close the blinds last night. Shoving your pillow over your head, you flopped back down and tried to get more sleep.

What happened yesterday came rushing back. Spring up so fast, the pillow went flying, your head whipped to your closed laptop.

“Shit, shit, shit, fucking shit,” You muttered while untangling yourself from your sheets.

Stumbling over to your desk, you flipped open the computer, hunched over. The tab to the blog was still open. Though your post along with your account had been deleted. Digging the heels of your palms into your eyes, you cursed yourself out. How could you be so fucking stupid?

Scrambling for your phone, there was one text message left unread.

Watch yourself.

from: Mr. Todoroki (flaming cunt)

sent 6:00 AM

You were so screwed. Of course he was able to figure it out it was you, that man knew your every move. Nothing got past him. Smacking yourself in the head with a grimace, you berated yourself for being so dumb. Being overemotional was not an excuse. The childish part of you wanted to blame Kiko solely for this, but you were the one that listened to her. You should have know better. Crossing your fingers, you hoped only Enji figured out who made the post.

Glancing at the time, you were late for class, again.

“Are you fucking kidding me,” You groaned to yourself as you scrambled to get ready.

Shoving on whatever was clean clothes near you, deciding to just shower after class, you raced out the door, slipping on the shoes closest. Snatching your bag from last night, you raced out the door.

“Late again?” Ayame shouted as you sprinted past her in the hallway.

You only offered her the finger as you continued running. Luckily you only had one class today, but it was a lecture, so much fun. With haste, you arrived only ten minutes late, swinging open the back door. The professor merely glanced at you before continuing his lecture. He surely despised you and you didn’t blame him.

“Again?” Toga leaned over, not really whispering that well.

“Ugh not you too, Ayame gave me shit, too.”

Toga shrugged cutely, “Well…”

“I’m well aware I have been slacking. It’s been a lot,” You sagged into your seat, wishing you could just curl into a ball and stay there forever.

Toga rested her head on your shoulder and nuzzled, “I know, girl, I know.”

Leaning back to her full height, she left you alone. Trying to focus, you reached into your bag for your notebook. Instead your hand grabbed your work uniform. A cold stone dropped in your stomach. Zipping your bag shut, you awkwardly sat straight up.

Glancing at your phone, there was still no message sent from neither Dabi or Keigo. You had unblocked them before falling asleep. Them being so silent freaked you out. Abandoning trying to focus, you stared at your phone, terrified.

A palm landing on your shoulder had you scream. Slapping a hand over your mouth, you stared wide eyed at Toga who only looked at you in shock.

“What the actual fuck was that?”

“You scared the shit out of me!” You yelled back, unable to think of any excuse.

“Damn, I think you pierced my eardrum,” Shigaraki complained, his finger pressing against his ear. Walking over to you two, he inserted himself into the conversation.

Getting up from your seat, you cradled your backpack, refusing to let it out of your sight. Ignoring both of them, you asked, “So are we getting lunch?”

Toga and Shigaraki spared each other a quick side eye.

“Yeah, let’s go!” Toga cheered, slinging her arm around your shoulder.

Leaving her be, you let her guide out of the classroom, Shigaraki not too far behind. Walking towards the cafeteria, you pulled out your phone. Geten had called you.

Pulling away from Toga, you shook your phone, “Hey I got to take this. Meet you outside.”

Her mouth parted to say something, but you were already gone. Speed walking outside, you shivered at the Autumn air. Beelining for the vending machines, you went straight for the chips. With one hand, your phone beeped as you pressed the buttons to call your boyfriend back.

He picked up after two rings, “Where were you?”

The chips fell into the dispenser. Reaching down, the metal flap flipped up as you grabbed your food. “Shit, I’m really sorry. I wish I could give you a good excuse.”

Geten was silent for a moment. “Is this about yesterday?”

You hated how perceptive he was. “I can’t hide anything from you, can I?”

“I preferred if you didn’t. I can’t help you if you won’t let me.”

You sniffled as your eyes stung, you meekly mumbled, “I know…” God, he turned you into such a big baby.

“Are you in class right now?”

Kicking a stray rock, you went over to a free table. “No, I’m in the courtyard.”

“I’m coming to pick you up. Wait there.” Through the line you could hear the rustling of clothes as Geten got up and searched for his keys.

“No, don’t, I can just take the bus.”

“Princess?” He softly called.

“Yeah?”

“Shut the fuck up.”

Giggling, you smiled for once in what felt like a week. “I’ll see you in a couple minutes.”

“Good girl, I’ll be there soon.”

Giddy, you hung up the call and stared at your phone. It’s not fair how well he knew you. Him and Dabi were so different. Dabi was hot, like a fire that never wavered. Everything he felt, he felt at thousand percent. His anger scolded, licked at your skin.

Geten had such a cool flare to him. A cold stony marble, a level head that kept you even. With Dabi, you two were like pouring kerosene on a raging flame.

“What’s got you so happy?” Shigaraki asked, pulling you from your stupor.

Looking up at him, you waved him off, “Nothing, don’t worry about it.”

“Is it your new boy toy?” Mirko mocked, coming over as well.

She took the seat across from you, Bubaigawara taking his place next to her to sit facing Toga. Said petite girl sat to your left while Shigaraki took the spot to your right.

Confused, your face pinched, “What the fuck are you guys all doing here?”

Toga smiled, though faltering, “I thought we could all eat together, ya know? Like old times!”

“Yeah, Y/n, like old times,” Keigo’s voice had your heart skip a beat.

Taking the free seat diagonal to you, his eyes never strayed. The need to vomit stuck to your gums like glue. This was too much. Your uniform being in your bag only made this worse. All the evidence was right there.

Your eyes bounced around the courtyard waiting for Dabi to pop up as well. Everyone joked and laughed around you, like nothing changed. You were a mere spectator to the joy surrounding the table. Food was shared but your bag of chips was left untouched. Keigo joined in on the fun, but he never broke his gaze off you. Like a bird hunting its prey. For some reason, the thought that he knew about the post wouldn’t leave.

Pinpricks shuttered throughout your body, the wait for the shoe to drop was driving you insane. This silent torture made you ill. Maybe if you exposed yourself before Dabi and Keigo did then all their leverage would be gone. Sure they still had the panty shots, but what good would they be if everyone already knew.

A dam was about to burst in your stomach.

“Hey, princess,” Geten’s voice pulled you back.

Spinning your head around, Geten made his way over to you, hands in pockets. You were about to get up when he pulled a hand out and motioned for you to stay sitting.

Mirko faked a gag at the nickname, but you chose to ignore her. Beaming up at him, he stood behind you. Petting your hair, he gave a tiny smile as the grin stayed on your lips.

“You want to sit?” Shigaraki asked, ready to move if needed.

No one here really liked Geten. When he attended the college he was a loner and refused to interact with anybody. He always had a bad attitude. They also didn’t like him because the one time Toga invited him to a party, he not so politely told them to keep their drug infested orgies to themselves. Ever the charmer. Like most things about drama, Shigaraki didn’t give a fuck, though. He found the comment funny despite also finding Geten annoying.

“No. We won’t be long,” Geten answered Shigaraki, but kept his focus on Keigo.

Oh no.

Sensing the challenge, Keigo grinned showing his canines, “Yeah, man, come on and join us.”

Geten’s face recoiled in disgust, “Do these guys know how much of a weirdo you are?”

Keigo’s face fell for a second before springing back with his lazy, boyish grin. “No weirder than they are.”

“Hey!” Toga called, deeply offended to be compared to him.

“Like I’m sure they all know about the drugs, but what about the other things, Takami?”

“Geten,” You tugged on his shirt, trying to get him to stop.

Keigo’s lip twitched despite the smile, obviously irritated. “I have no clue what you are taking about.”

Geten hummed, “I’m sure you don’t. How about I tell everyone here? You wouldn’t like that, would you?”

Mirko butted in, “Stop being so cryptic and say it with your chest.”

He tilted his heat at that and stared down Keigo. “It’s not so fun on the other side, is it?”

Seeing he obviously got under his skin, Geten gently grabbed your hand and pulled you from your seat. Throwing your bag over his shoulder, he led you away from the group. Over your shoulder, you watched how Keigo started laughing, doing damage control as Mirko called Geten a freak.

“You didn’t need to do that,” You scolded.

“Yeah I did.”

“Geten-”

He stopped in his tracks and pulled you to him, “You don’t need to be tough.”

“I’m not being tough, I’m just scared what he or Dabi will do.”

“I’ll be fine, you on the other hand are not.”

Leaning your head on his chest, you cocooned yourself into his warmth. “You don’t know them like I do. Keigo won’t let that slide.”

“Stop worrying about me and let me deal with this, okay?”

Not wanting to argue, you let yourself sink further into him. For a second, you could pretend that wasn’t the dumbest move Geten could have ever done.

Shivering, you wrapped your arms around your torso for any sort of warmth. Cigarette hanging from your lips, you glanced around for any sign of Toga. Earlier today she texted you to do karaoke. You both haven’t gone in ages and she could tell you needed to let loose.

“Y/n!” Her voice bellowed throughout the busy streets, her arm raised high in sky, waving frantically.

Waving back, you snubbed the cigarette and shoved the half finished stick into the carton.

“What took you so long? I’m practically shivering my ass off out here.” Your teeth clacked together to emphasize your point.

“Sorry, sorry. I was waiting on Jin, but you know how he is.”

Your brows furrowed, “Bubaigawara’s coming?”

Toga paused and gave you a guilty smile, “Along with everyone else.”

“Himiko,” You growled, you were not prepared to see any of them.

“I’m sorry, okay? I told Keigo and Dabi to behave themselves. I didn’t mean for them to come either, Jin invited them and it’s hard to say no to the guy.”

Sighing, you couldn’t help but feel a little betrayed. You knew Toga was on your side, but all she knew was that you and Dabi had a messy breakup, not the extent as to why you were avoiding him so much. Honestly, you were scared to tell her, scared to tell anyone. If Toga knew everything, she would probably kill Dabi, or at least cut ties with everyone and you didn’t want that. Toga had a hard time making friends. She finally found her little family and who were you to take that from her?

“Let’s go get a room.”

Toga scampered after you and clung onto your arm, “Are you mad at me?”

“A little bit, but it’s not your fault. Let’s just forget about and have fun,” You smiled at her.

She stared for a moment, “You’re hiding something from me.”

You sagged, hating how well she knew you. “You and Geten are like bloodhounds, I swear. I’ll tell you soon, I just don’t know if I’m ready to say anything quite yet.”

Squinting her eyes at you, she decided to let it go. “Fine, but you can’t avoid it forever.”

“You don’t even know the half of it.”

Walking to the counter to rent out a room, you were stopped by a hand clamping down on your nape. The hot palm seared your skin. He arrived sooner than you hoped.

“Miss me, doll?” His nosed brushed up against your ear.

Facing him, Dabi’s pupils were blown wide. He was high. That only meant trouble for you.

Toga quickly cut in, “Hey, hey! Didn’t I tell you to behave.” She had a scowl on her face with her hands on her hips.

Surprisingly, Dabi listened. Pulling away, he lifted his hand up in surrender and walked around her. He ogled at you before going to the assigned room. Toga beamed at you, content with herself. Little victories, but he would come back.

Entering the room, Dabi sat in the corner with his arms spread across the back of the leather seating. The TV sat right next the door on the left. You were about to take the seat closest to said door when Dabi subtly beckoned you over with two tattooed fingers.

Reluctant, you mosied over, like lamb to the slaughter. Slotting yourself next to him, you left a few inches of space between you two.

“Saving room for Jesus?” Dabi snarked.

Your swiveled your head to glare at him. “I don’t want anything to do with you, but you can’t take a fucking hint.”

Dabi huffed out a tiny laugh, a lazy grin on his face. “You’re so lucky I’m high as shit or else I would have taken you over my knee like five minutes ago.”

“You’re fucking ridiculous.” You crossed your arms and waited for everyone else to pile into the room.

Your watched as Keigo came in first and sauntered over to take the open seat by you, sitting closer than needed. So much for being on their best behavior. Never in a million years did you think you would say this, but Mirko was your saving grace, arriving with the booze.

The second the alcohol sat on the table, you grabbed a bottle. Cracking the lid open, you flicked off the top and took a hefty swig.

Mirko laughed while Toga whistled, “Now that’s more like it!”

The bottle was tiny so you chugged it all down in one go. Probably not your best judgement, but with so many people around, the two men crowding you couldn’t do much. You were in for a long night and you needed something in your system.

“Shouldn’t you slow down?” Dabi questioned. “You’re kinda a light-weight.”

“Fuck off.”

Toga jumped up to the front of the room and flicked off the lights. Turning on the tiny disco ball in the room, swirling colors of green, red and blue casted everyone in a dim glow. Queuing up her desired song, Toga obviously went first.

Reaching for another bottle, this time you poured it into a plastic cup, not wanting to horde it all. Clutching onto the cup, you took another sip. The pleasant wooziness overtook you. Laughing, you pointed at Toga when she stumbled over the words.

Leaning back into the cushions, you hummed along to the song as Mirko went up next. You weren’t in the mood to sing anymore, but it was fun watching everyone else go. Not really paying attention, your head rested against Dabi’s outstretched arm.

Confused by the warmth, you turned your head to Dabi. A cigarette perched on his lips, he reached for his lighter.

“Hey, you can’t smoke in here,” You pouted. Clumsily, you reached over him and snatched it from his lips. The second you pried it from his mouth, you realized what you did.

Okay, so you should have listened to him. You were gone.

Dropping the cigarette, you placed your cup down and reverted inward. You haven’t done that since you two were in a relationship. Dabi was thinking the same thing as he didn’t stop staring.

A chime broke you from your thoughts. Peering down, you saw a text message from Geten.

did you get there safe?

from: ice prince (≧◡≦) ♡

sent 9:46 PM

Smiling with all teeth, you went to message him back. Dabi scoffed from the side of you. Looking up, he leaned over to read what was sent. Snapping your phone closed, you glared at him.

“He’s such a loser.”

“By caring about me? That’s rich coming from your mouth.”

Fueled by jealousy, Dabi smirked. “I bet you think a lot about my mouth.”

Your mouth dropped in shock, “I’m not entertaining this.” Going back to your phone, you went to text your boyfriend.

Dabi wrapped his arm around you and hauled you thigh to thigh to him. Yelping, you fumbled with your phone until it clattered against the ground, going under the seat. Leaning down to grab it, you were stopped in your tracks. Dabi kept you pinned to his side.

Nuzzling into your neck, he dragged his nose up to your ear. “Does he fuck you like I did, hmm?”

You shivered at the hot breath brushing against your sensitive neck. Squirming, you whined as you attempted to bring your shoulder to your ear. Glancing around, no one was paying attention to you besides Keigo. He watched on with unblinking eyes.

Hooking his fingers under the hem of your shirt, Dabi pulled it down to gain more room. Poking his tongue out, he licked your cheek. Whimpering, you clenched your eyes closed as he kissed the soft skin. Peppering more little kisses downward until he reached your pulse point. Dragging his tongue upwards, he marked his territory with his spit. Nipping the skin, he soothed the ache by suction his lips around the bite.

Releasing you with a pop! he nosed back up to your ear, “Don’t you miss my tongue between your legs, licking your little clit.”

Reaching down, he blatantly cupped over your pussy. You shut your thighs, trying to block him from going further. Dabi only laughed. “Yeah your legs would clench just like that. You couldn’t take it, always begging for me to stop, but we both knew you loved it. Squirming and crying, begging for Daddy to-”

“Please stop,” You pathetically cried, silent. No one had looked over yet, but you were petrified for when they did.

Seeing how terrified you really were, Dabi slipped his hand from between your legs.

“Don’t be such a fucking baby,” He scolded, leaning back into the leather.

Before Dabi could do anything else, Toga flicked the overhead lights back on. The party must be over.

Using this as an excuse, you got up and away from Dabi’s clutches. Following suit, Dabi and Keigo got up, ready to head out. Thinking you were going to be close behind, they left. Everyone else still in the room, Mirko about to clean up, you stopped them.

“I’ll clean up. Himiko paid for the room and you guys bought the drinks. Let me help.”

Toga questioned you, “Are you sure?”

“Yeah! Geten’s planning on coming to get me anyway so I won’t be alone or have to walk to the station,” You reassured her.

“You don’t have to tell me twice,” Mirko stretched her arms above her head, and walked out.

“Call me if anything happens, okay?” Toga said, grabbing the stumbling Bubaigawara.

“Yes, yes. Go,” You laughed and pushed her out the door. Closing it, you let out a hefty sigh and leaned your back against the slab of wood. The mess wasn’t huge, but still bothersome.

Grabbing a black plastic bag they brought the alcohol in, you gathered up the empty bottles and cups. Swirling each glass, you made sure no drop of liquor was left inside. Putting the still filled drinks in their own pile, you planned to give them back to Mirko later. Maybe she will stop being a bitch to you if you don’t drink up all her alcohol.

Content with your work, you gathered up the trash bags and went to the door. Bags in hand, you twisted the knob. It wouldn’t budge.

Perplexed, you tried again. Nothing. Okay, let’s not freak out. You looked for a lock you might have absentmindedly switched. The handle only had a keyhole. Toga must have flipped it on accident. Groaning, you pounded on the door. Maybe a worker could hear you.

“Hello! I got locked inside!” You shouted, but the bass from the adjacent rooms drowned out your voice.

Panic filled you. What if you get locked in here forever and starve to death? Ready to pounded against the door, you stopped for a second. You forgot about your phone. You really shouldn’t have drank that much.

Walking back to the seats, you kneeled down and looked underneath. Your phone sat by the back wall. Shuffling your way so only your butt hung out, your fingers brushed against the phone. Fanning out your digits, you pushed the phone into your palm.

“Finally,” You huffed.

A low whistle called from behind you, “Well, would you look at that.”

You yelped at Keigo’s voice as you jumped. Your head hit against the wood above you. Hissing out in pain, you scrambled your way out. Rubbing against your head, phone still in hand, you stared up at them from your kneeling position.

“W-what are you doing here?” You scrambled to back on your feet.

“I wasn’t done with you, yet.” Dabi sauntered over, intent clear in his posture.

Bouncing over to the glass bottle, you raced over to use it as a weapon. Scooping you up, Dabi slammed you against the leather seats, knocking the wind out of you. He climbed on top of you, but you kicked your feet out.

“Get off me!” You screeched.

Using your boots to your advantage, you pressed them against his chest to push him off. Grabbing your calves, he pried your legs open to shove him torso between them.

Flipping up your skirt, he stared at the tights in his way. You screamed again, but he slapped a hand over your mouth.

“Give me something to gag her with.”

You sobbed and wailed against his palm. Keigo grabbed a spare bag and crumpled it up. Arm outstretched, Dabi grabbed it without breaking his gaze. Makeshift gag in hand, he forced your mouth open and pushed it inside before you could make a noise.

Going back to your tights, he dug his nails into the crouch area and ripped with such force your body jostled. Pushing against his shoulders, you kicked your feet out to get him away. Muffled sobbing carried throughout the room.

Your plain black panties were on full display for him. Slipping his finger under the hem, he pulled them to the side. Full on begging now, you punched against his chest. Gathering up your wrists, he shoved your arms above your head. Leaning more over you, Dabi stared at you as he pressed his fingers into your bare clit.

Tears coated your eyelashes giving them a darker appearance. Glaring at him, you hiccuped as he swirled his digits into the bud.

“You miss this, don’t you? Look at how wet you are already.”

Shaking your head, you denied as he picked up a steady rhythm. Even with the year away from each other, Dabi still knew your body so well. Firmly, but not harshly he played with your clit. Pinching and pulling, he watched as wetness started to dribble out. Gathering the slick, he pressed his finger into your empty hole. He eased his way in with little resistance.

“What a whore. Barely had to do anything and your cunt is sucking me in. Do you love being fucked that much, huh? I bet that cuck’s baby dick can’t do anything for you,” Dabi worked himself up, seething.

Punching his fingers inside, he didn’t let you get used to him at all. The clicking of your wetness being fucked back into you rung throughout the room. Using his palm, Dabi grinded the heel into your clit as he crooked his fingers up. Your back arched as he rubbed right against the spongy spot deep in you.

“Is Daddy making you feel good?”

Your thighs shook from the pleasure, but you still shook your head no. You wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Dabi sneered at you as he leaned down closer.

“Either admit it or I’m making you walk back your cuck of a boyfriend with my cum dripping out your cunt.”

Keening, you shook your head no, again.

Dabi tilted his head, mocking you, “No? My baby doesn’t want that?”

Trying to display any sign of submission, you let your head loll to the side as you rocked your hips against his fingers. Dabi bent down and bit down on your neck, holding you down. Your body shook as white clouded your vision. Sinking his teeth further in, you came with a whine, eyes clenched.

Giving you a few more slow pumps, Dabi pulled his fingers out of your winking hole. Sliding your panties back over your pussy, he gave it two slaps. You jumped at the smacks against your clit.

Dabi sat back, his back resting against the cushioned wall. Your chest heaved as you tried to come down from the high. Tears caked your cheeks as the drool from the gag dribbled down. Grabbing you, he forced you on his lap, back to his chest. He kept your legs spread, a hand cupped your pussy.

“Spit,” Your ex put his hand under your chin.

Scared to disobey, you let the trash tumble into his awaiting hand. He threw it somewhere in the room.

“Let’s keep this party going. Birdbrain turn off the lights.”

You had forgotten he was there. Ashamed he had seen you come, you stared at your lap, at the hot hand pressed against your pussy. The colorful lights illuminated the room once more as Keigo picked some niche, slow songs to play in the background.

Grabbing a still filled bottle, Keigo handed it to Dabi. The man behind you took a bountiful swig before bring it to your lips. You turned your head away, but Keigo leaned over and forced your face back.

The rim of the drink was forced past your lips as Dabi tilted it. The lukewarm alcohol poured down your throat. You tried to gulp down as much as you could without choking. Encouraging you, Dabi stroked your slit with his middle finger. Any time you stopped swallowing to cough, he stopped, too. Soon the bottle was both in your stomach, and coating your face and neck. Keigo cheered.

Pulling the bottle away, you leaned over as you coughed and gagged. Your nostrils flared as you gasped.

A knock at the door disrupted the air. Dabi forced your off his lap and the hand on your pussy now rubbed up and down your back as you tried your hardest not to throw up. Keigo got up and opened the door to see a meek worker.

“Could you guys please keep the noise down?”

Keigo put on his typical charm, “Oh so sorry about that. We got too excited. My deepest apologies.”

The worker blushed, bowed and walked away, not even caring to peer inside the room. Keigo cut the music and groaned.

“Ugh, that bitch totally ruined the mood.”

Dabi let you go and rubbed at his temples, “I agree. I got a fucking headache now. I think this shit it wearing off.”

The room swarmed as you flopped backwards onto the cushions. You were definitely going to vomit.

“Hey, you good?” Dabi asked, his tone seemed concerned, but you couldn’t make it over the pounding in your ears.

“G-go away.”

“You’re seriously still going to act like this?”

Curling in on yourself, you clutched onto your stomach. “I don’t feel good.”

“It’s just the spins, you’re alright.” He stroked your outer thigh, trying to be reassuring.

“I wanna go home,” You sobbed, coiling in tighter.

Dabi glanced over to Keigo who just shrugged.

“Okay, let’s get you back to your dorms, alright baby?”

Like every other time you refused, he ignored you and lifted you up. Taking off his own hoodie, he wrapped it around your waist to cover your exposed bottom. He hauled you onto his back as he walked out the room with your phone in his hand. Pawning it off to Keigo, he let the man go through it.

Keigo flipped through your messages and photos, finding nothing of importance. How boring. A few recent texts from Geten popped up. This dude seemed concerned, that’s funny.

Giving it back to Dabi, they loaded you into his car and Dabi instructed Keigo where to drive to, tangling and untangling his fingers from your hair. Not like Keigo really needed the help to get there anyway.

Geten has never felt an ire as deep as this one. After a couple nights ago, he’s sick of Dabi’s shit. Saturday night he was supposed to pick you up from the karaoke bar, but you never called, not a single text. Scared something happened, he drove to the bar just to be told two men from the group you came with had taken you home.

Scared out of his mind, he was just about to call the police when your caller ID popped up. Before he could even open his mouth to berate you for worrying him, your frantic sobs stung his ears. Through your garbled words, he made out that Dabi and Keigo cornered you in the room, and made you do things you didn’t want. He tried to press for more details, but you were too ashamed to expand past that.

Not wanting to stress you out more, he dropped it, and offered to pick you up. It’s been two days since then and you wouldn’t leave his bed. He emailed your professors that you would be out for the week due to a family emergency, you were basically inconsolable at this point. Cradling you to his chest, he had enough. After lolling you to sleep, he left his apartment.

In his spare time, he did some digging on Dabi and his little friend. Dabi tended to go to house parties rather than be on campus. Keigo had a reputation to keep up being both a star athlete and student, so he wasn’t always at the parties.

Squinting at his phone, he peered up at the house number, double checking he got the right address. Heavy music blasted through the closed door of the rich home. Some drunkards were scattered across the lawn, but Geten paid no mind. On a mission, he bursted through the front.

His frosty eyes surveyed every corner of the house. Weaving through the gaggle of people, he spotted a swatch of black hair hung by a secluded hallway. Perfect.

Zeroing in on the taller man, Geten marched right up and shoved the unsuspecting man against the wall. Thrusting his forearm against Dabi’s neck, he easily immobilized him. Dabi raised his hands in mock surrender with a lopsided grin.

“What’s got your panties in a bunch?”

“Stay the fuck away from Y/n,” Geten seethed.

Dabi’s carefree expression slipped, “Don’t tell me what to do with my girlfriend.”

Geten pushed him further into the wall. Dabi growled in response. Continuing, Geten bit, “She’s not yours, she’s not a toy you can fucking toss around as you please. Take the fucking hint, she doesn’t like you.”

“Did she tell you that? Her pussy last night said otherwise.”

Liquid anger built in Geten’s throat, though, he only tilted his head at the larger man. Eyes wide, Geten sneered, “You’re pathetic. Like a dog begging for scraps.”

Dabi snarled back, looking exactly like the rabid animal Geten described him as. “Don’t play with me, pretty boy.”

“Or what? I don’t care what you do, just leave Y/n alone.” Pushing him one last time, Geten departed from Dabi.

Coming here was useless. He will find another way to get Dabi off your back. As Geten had his back turned, Dabi came up from behind him, and wrapped an arm around his neck. Scrambling, Geten elbowed Dabi in the stomach, but he didn’t do much but grunt. Keigo sauntered around the corner, hands in his pockets.

Standing right in front of the odd man out, Keigo grabbed a little pink pill from his jeans.

“Open wide,” He cooed.

Geten tried to click his teeth together, but Dabi cut off his air supply, his mouth instinctively falling open. Ungracefully, Keigo shoved the pill onto Geten’s tongue, the bitter taste dissolving rapidly against the wet muscle. Whether it was the drug or the lack of oxygen, the world became woozy. Colors slid to the left as his vision went and his body became slack. He really should have listened to you.

“Hey, I think the cuck’s waking up,” A muffled voice rung in Geten’s ears.

Geten groaned at the sound, his head hung limply to the right.

A rough hand smacked against his cheek repeatedly, “Good morning, sunshine. We don’t got all day.”

A mix of black and blond blended into front of him as he tried to focus. Blinking rapidly, the two men came back in more clear view. They both stood above him, them at a height advantage from Geten being tied down to a busted, wooden chair. He was in some dank basement.

“What,” The words were thick in his palate, “what the fuck are you doing?”

“I think you need a lesson with you learning your place,” Dabi drawled out.

Geten’s shoulders bounced as he gravely laughed, “Did you seriously kidnap and drug me over a little jealousy fit? You’re such a loser, man.”

Dabi’s face dropped. Geten’s head spun a full ninety degrees from the swing of Dabi’s fist. Tears clouded his vision as his nose stung. Warm, coppery liquid dripped down onto his lips. The shuttering a phone camera rung through the cavernous room.

Grabbing Geten’s long, dove white hair, Dabi forced him to face him. Gathering the blood sticking to his teeth, Geten spat. The blood splattered against the other man’s face, he only flinched back due to reflexes.

“You’re going to regret that.”

“Get bent.”

Dabi cocked his fist back again and hit Geten right his eye. Snarling, Geten tried to bare through the pain as his eyebrow split and his eye immediately pulsed, swelling up.

Letting go of his hair, Dabi punch again and again. Blood poured from each strike. Geten could only laugh. The rattling sound stopped Dabi.

“What’s so fucking funny?”

“That you’re this hung up over your ex. It’s,” Geten paused to cough, “comical.”

Dabi’s face twitched. Shifting his weight onto on foot, he kicked Geten right in the chest. He fell backwards from the force, his head bounced up, smacking against the concrete. He couldn’t even grunt in pain as the same warm liquid pooled around his nape. Geten looked up at the dim light, he really did it this time.

Prowling over, Dabi stood over him and stomped against his already broken nose. Geten whined from the pain, but offered nothing more. He was dying. Too much blood was feathering out from the wound at the back of his skull. It was hard to feel anything as Dabi kicked him again. Maybe it was the drugs still in his system that made him feel so light, like everything was going to be okay.

He tried not to think of any regrets as his last thoughts, but he really hoped you wouldn’t have to identify his body if it’s ever found. Both Dabi and Keigo had daddy’s money, they would surely made sure his body never be found. That fucking sucks.

Blackness swarmed Geten, almost like he was falling asleep. Here, he could feel your head resting against his pillowy chest as he stroked up and down your back. You both basked in the afterglow, entangled body and heart. Geten smiled as his only unswollen eye rolled back, the light dimming.

Dabi kicked again, spying the smile on Geten’s face, “Why the fuck are you smiling, huh?”

Geten’s didn’t respond.

Furrowing his brows, Dabi used his toe to push against Geten’s colding face.

“Dude, I think he’s dead,” Keigo laughed, coming over. He snapped another picture. “His face looks like minced meat.”

“Ugh don’t say that, I’ll never be able to eat meat again.”

Keigo only shrugged, bending down to get more gritty details. Adjusting himself in his pants, he pushed Geten’s head to side to get a good picture of his cracked skull.

“I think you can see his brain.” The flash blanketed Keigo’s fascinated face in an eerie glow.

Dabi pulled a disgusted face, “You’re so weird. Let’s go before we get caught.”

Snapping another shot, Keigo stretched as he pulled up from his crouch. “Roger that.”

[lura-valentine]

Hint

Set in the world of My Hero Academia / Boku no Hero Academia

Ongoing story – updates will follow

Multi-chapter fanfiction

Chapters will be linked as soon as they’re published

All characters belong to Kōhei Horikoshi, except for Rain and the mysterious man

Ship – DabiHawks × feminine OC

–> To Rain's Profil (OC)

Please note: English is not my first language, so there may be some small mistakes.

Concept of this fanfiction

Since the final war with the League of Villains, Touya has been dying. The doctors gave him only a few weeks, if at all, a few months, but the stubborn son of fire surprised everyone when he was still alive after 16 years.

He was only a shadow of his former self, trapped by vital machines, but something was keeping him alive, as if there was something else he needed to know...

Overview

Part 1 ☆ Part 2 ☆ Part 3 ☆ Part 4 ☆ Part 5 (W.I.P)

Rains Part

The weather had changed, and thick drops of water rained mercilessly onto the roofs of the city, the rhythmic drumming breaking the silence of the night. Rain landed heavily on one of the taller buildings, her wings trembling from effort and anger. She pulled the soaked hood over her head and staggered forward a few steps, then sank to her knees. Her fingers dug into the rough concrete and a hoarse sound escaped her throat - a mixture of frustration, pain, and the echo of old memories.

Keigo's face, his words, his determination to stand in her way... "If you want Fischer, you’ll have to get past me..." The scene played over and over in her head. His look, that mixture of sadness and strength, had hit her hard. She could never forget him, and she knew that a part of her would never let him go. But why did he stand up for this man of all people? Why couldn't he understand?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a powerful flap of wings. She felt the cold presence before she saw him. The mysterious man landed a few meters behind her, his wings spread threateningly as he looked at her. Drops of water ran down his hood and his turquoise eyes glowed with anger.

"What the hell was that down there?!" His voice was loud, his words piercing the darkness like a knife. "You could have killed him! You had him right in front of you, and yet... nothing. Why did you hesitate?"

Rain took a deep breath before rising to her feet. She turned around slowly, her hands shaking slightly, but her voice was calm and firm as she spoke. "I had my reasons, Kaji."

"Reasons?!" He took a step closer, his gaze icy. "Your 'reasons' almost cost us the entire mission! We had him in our hands, and you... you let some sentimental crap stop you from finishing the job?!"

Rain held his gaze, even though her eyes shone with sadness and tiredness. "I won't let anything stop me, Kaji. I don't make my decisions lightly." Her voice grew cooler. "Perhaps you should learn that not every mission goes perfectly. But no, you don't know any different, do you?"

“What does that mean?” asked Kaji, his voice getting louder, but Rain remained calm.

"You're just like your father," she said, and there was something in her voice that Kaji couldn't quite read - something bitter and painful at the same time. "Impulsive, always angry when things don't go the way you want them to. Do you think that will help you?"

"My father?" Kaji's eyes narrowed and his wings twitched uncontrollably. "You never spoke about him. Not once. And now you're making comparisons like that?"

Rain closed her eyes for a moment, as if trying to organize her thoughts. "Because there was nothing I wanted to talk about, Kaji. Your father was complicated... and I did enough to protect you from the shadows of his past."

"Protect?!" Kaji laughed bitterly, his voice now shaking with emotion. "From what? From the truth? From yourself? Or from what he really was? Tell me, finally tell me who he was!"

Rain was silent. Her hands clenched into fists, but she held his gaze. "You're not ready to know yet."

"Not ready?" Kaji stepped closer, his flames beginning to dance faintly around his hands - blue and ice-cold. "I'm not the little child you can control anymore. I have the right to know. Or are you trying to tell me he was just as much of a coward as Fischer?"

That was when Rain lost it. She took a step toward Kaji, her face inches from his. Her red eyes glowed like hot coals. "Stop saying things you don't know! Your father was many things, but he was never a coward. And you... you're just as stubborn as he is." She breathed heavily, then lowered her voice. "Maybe I should have told you the truth. Maybe I should have told you that he..." She stopped, her voice breaking, and she turned away abruptly.

Kaji was speechless for a moment. It was the first time he had seen Rain like this - broken, vulnerable, unsure. "Mom..." He sounded calmer now, almost gentle. "Then at least tell me why you hesitated with Hawks. Do you know him?"

Rain took a deep breath, as if the words were a heavy weight she had been carrying for years. She turned to him slowly and looked deep into his eyes. Her red eyes were filled with a weary clarity. "I'm sorry, Kaji," she said quietly, her voice rough with all the unspoken feelings. "I'm sorry for keeping the truth from you for so long. I know you're old enough to understand who your father was. You will get your answers, but not here."

Kaji wanted to say something, but he stopped. It was as if he absorbed the weight of her words and it seeped into him.

"For the next step in this mission..." She paused and closed her eyes for a moment, as if preparing for something, "...I would have had to tell you who your father is anyway. The person we are going to now will recognize you immediately and they will ask questions."

Rain looked at the rain falling like little blades on the roofs and then continued. "This person is our only chance to catch Fischer. She is the only one who can still help us."

Kaji nodded, and despite the anger and confusion building up inside him, he knew Rain was right. There was too much at stake for him to continue to argue.

Rain took one last deep breath, then turned to him. Her black wings spread in the cold, damp air. "Ready?" she asked, not hiding her determination, but her eyes betrayed how difficult the moment was for her too.

Kaji, still unsure what exactly to think of this whole drama, nodded. "Yes."

With one last look at the rain-soaked ground, Rain took off, her black wings beating once, and she rose into the sky. Kaji followed her, his bluish, shimmering wings breaking through the rain as he flew by her side into the darkness of the night.

Hawks Part

The rain fell in heavy curtains, turning the city streets into glittering mirrors. The light from the lanterns reflected in the puddles, offering an unreal contrast to the grim reality of the night. Hawks pulled his raincoat tighter around himself as he climbed the wide stairs to the police station. Shoto walked silently beside him, his shoulders slightly tense but his gaze as calm and focused as ever. The old stone walls of the station seemed even more oppressive in the darkness and rain than they already were, and the heavy wooden frame of the front door creaked under Hawks' hand as he opened it.

Inside, it was warmer, but no less bleak. The smell of wet fabric, stale coffee, and old paper hung in the air. Police officers scurried through the corridors with files in their hands, and the low hum of conversation was the background music that permeated everything. Hawks shook himself slightly, water dripping from his coat as he walked purposefully toward reception. Shoto followed him without a word, his footsteps echoing dully on the stone floor.

"I have to see Kenji," Hawks said curtly to the receptionist sitting at a small desk. She just nodded and pointed to the door at the end of the hall.

Hawks knocked twice before entering. The police chief, a tall man with a dog's head and sharp, piercing eyes, sat behind a massive desk covered with reports and files. His posture was as straight-backed and authoritative as ever, but when he saw Hawks and Shoto, he put down the file he had just been looking through and motioned for them to sit down.

"Hawks. Todoroki," he greeted them with a brief nod. His voice was deep and rough, with a certain authority as always. "I assume you're here because of Fischer."

"Exactly," Hawks replied, sinking into the chair in front of the desk. Shoto stood silently, arms folded, watching the exchange.

Kenji took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I have to admit that the situation is... difficult. We have him in custody, but without solid evidence, we cannot keep him for long."

Hawks nodded slowly. "I know there is no evidence at the moment. But we can't just let him go. Fischer has more dirt on his hands than meets the eye. We just have to dig deeper."

Kenji raised an eyebrow. "And what is this assumption based on?"

Hawks leaned forward slightly, his voice becoming more serious. "Someone I trust has made these allegations. She says that Fischer..." He paused for a moment, as if he was having difficulty saying it. "...that he is smuggling children across national borders under the guise of his logistics company."

Kenji stared at him, his eyes narrowing. "These are very serious allegations, Hawks. Who is this 'trustworthy person'?"

Hawks looked briefly at Shoto as if seeking support, but Shoto said nothing, his gaze remained cool and observant. Hawks turned back to Kenji. "Her name isn’t important. What matters is that she doesn't lie. If she says something, she has reasons for it."

Kenji snorted slightly. "Hawks, we both know how this works. Without proof, these are just words. Even if we dig deep into Fischer's past, there is no guarantee that we will find anything."

Shoto, who had been silent until now, took a step closer. "But if he were really innocent, he wouldn't react in such a panic," he said calmly. "Since his arrest, Fischer has done nothing but yell at his lawyer and try to pull strings to get him out.That's not the behavior of someone who has nothing to hide."

Kenji sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I understand your concerns. But this is no longer a heroic matter and we are working on evidence, not gut feeling."

Hawks leaned forward, his gaze burning into the police chief's. "This isn't a question of heroism, Kenji. This is a question of responsibility. You know as well as I do that some people are so good at hiding that they're never caught because no one has the courage to look closely. Fischer is one of those people. And if we let him go now because we don't want to dig, he'll go into hiding."

Kenji studied him for a long moment before grumbling quietly. "Fine. I'll put together a team to look into Fischer's enterprise. But if we don't find anything, Hawks, then he's free. I'm not going to go against the law, no matter how much you trust this person."

Hawks nodded, his expression showing no sign of triumph. "That's all I ask. Dig deep, Kenji. You'll find something."

Kenji looked at him once more before turning to Shoto. "And you? What do you think?"

Shoto shrugged his shoulders almost imperceptibly, but his voice was firm. "I trust Hawks and I think Fischer gives us a lot of reasons not to let him out of our sight."

Kenji stood up and tapped his hand lightly on the desk. "Then I will start the investigation. But remember: without results, this is over."

Hawks also stood up, his coat still slightly damp from the wetness he had brought in. "Thanks, Kenji."

Kenji just nodded and Shoto opened the door before they both stepped out into the hallway. The rain hadn't let up and the blurry points of light from the city could be seen through the windows. Hawks was silent, but his mind was racing.

Hawks closed the door of the police station behind him and a cold draft hit him. The rain had not let up, it still pelted heavily on the asphalt, stretching over the world like an endless curtain. The street lamps cast a dim light on the soaked vehicles parked in the parking lot, and the puddles beneath reflected the dull colors of the sky. Hawks pulled up the collar of his coat and shoved his hands deep into his pockets as he walked down the steps.

Shoto kept pace beside him, his face calm but thoughtful. He said nothing, and Hawks was almost grateful for the silence. There was too much going on inside him and too little he could put into words.

When they got downstairs, they both stood for a moment under the canopy, where the rain wasn't falling directly on them. Hawks leaned his back against one of the pillars and looked at Shoto out of the corner of his eye. "Shall I drive you home?" he finally asked, his voice sounding rougher than usual, almost hoarse.

Shoto shook his head without looking at him. His hands were in the pockets of his coat and his eyes seemed to be following the rain that was falling in endless streaks. "No, thank you. I prefer to walk. I... want to think a bit."

Hawks raised an eyebrow, a hint of curiosity in his eyes. "Thinking? About what?"

Shoto hesitated for a moment before answering quietly, "About that man. The one with the blue ice flames." He lifted his gaze to meet Hawks’s with quiet intensity. "He was strong... dangerous. But something about him seemed... familiar to me."

Hawks nodded slowly, his eyes moving to a dark spot in the distance. "Yes... He reminded me of someone too." His voice became even quieter, almost like a whisper. "But sometimes it's better not to pursue such thoughts too deeply. They often lead to places you don't want to go."

Shoto let the words sink in for a moment before turning away. "Maybe. But I feel like I can't ignore these thoughts. Something about him... it won't let me go." He turned back to Hawks, his gaze piercing. "Thanks for offering to drive me home. We'll keep in touch about Fischer."

"Sure," Hawks said with a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Take care, Shoto."

"You too," Shoto replied shortly before turning away and walking out into the rain. His dark cloak quickly became heavy from the wetness, but he walked away with firm steps, his silhouette slowly disappearing into the darkness.

Hawks stood there a moment longer, water droplets sliding along the edges of his coat, watching Shoto's figure disappear into the hazy mist. Then he exhaled quietly and turned toward his car.

The drive home was silent. The rain drummed on the roof of the car, the streets were empty, and the city lights passed by like blurred memories. Hawks held his hands loosely on the steering wheel, but his thoughts were far away. He saw Rain's face again, the determination in her eyes, but also the sadness that she could never completely hide.

When he finally reached the underground parking garage of his apartment building, the weather felt like a curse that had followed him all the way home. The garage door slowly closed behind him, and the crackling sound was muffled as he turned off the engine and got out. His footsteps echoed on the cold concrete floor, and he pushed the elevator button with a tired finger.

The elevator ride was short, yet it dragged like a lifetime. The mirror in the cabin showed his face, marked by tiredness and something he couldn't quite put his finger on - or didn't want to.

When he unlocked the door to his apartment, the silence was almost oppressive. Hawks took off his shoes and left them carelessly next to the door. The jacket of his suit landed on a nearby chair, its soaked corners leaving small marks on the wood.

He shuffled into the kitchen and switched on the light, which cast a cold white glow over the countertops. His fingers found the switch of the coffee machine as if by themselves, and the familiar whir of the machine filled the room.

Without waiting for the coffee, he went into the living room. The large window front offered a view of the rainy city, but Hawks paid no attention to it. His steps led him to the simple pedestal above the fireplace.

With a slow movement, he unfastened the sword from his belt and lifted it onto the pedestal. His fingers lingered on the scabbard for a moment, as if it had a weight of its own that was more than just metal.

"I miss you," Hawks murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper. The sound was lost in the steady sound of rain hitting the window panes. The room remained cloaked in shadow, lit only by the faint shimmer of city lights bleeding through the rain-streaked windows.

"I miss you too, Keigo." The words were quiet, almost timid, but they hit him like a thunderclap.

Hawks froze. His heart skipped a beat, only to then thunder in a wild, uncontrollable rhythm. His thoughts exploded, racing around like birds suddenly startled from sleep. This couldn't be happening. This shouldn't be happening. His apartment was locked. How could—

Slowly, almost hesitantly, he turned around. Every muscle in his body was tense, as if he were about to fight at any moment. But what he saw took his breath away.

She stood on the threshold between the hall and the living room.

Rain.

The first impression was like a punch to the gut. Its outline was familiar – far too familiar for his heart not to react to it immediately. She looked more mature, and her shoulders now visibly bore the weight of years. But her face... her eyes... those deep red, intense eyes that glowed even in the twilight – they remained the same.

Hawks said nothing, he couldn't say anything. The words caught in his throat, frozen in the heat of the emotions coursing through him.

Rain took a tentative step forward. Her arms hung indecisively at her sides, as if unsure whether to wrap themselves protectively around herself or reach out to him.

"You..." She cleared her throat softly, her voice shaky, nervous. "You didn't lock your balcony door again, Keigo."

A faint, almost apologetic smile crossed her lips, but vanished immediately. "I... we stood outside for a while. I didn't know if I should really go in, but... I wanted to talk to you."

Hawks didn't move. He just stared at her, as if she might vanish into smoke at any moment, like a memory too beautiful.

"I..." Rain inhaled, her voice vibrating with the pressure of emotion. "I'm sorry. For just leaving. For leaving you... and Dabi alone. I should have explained it to you, I—"

A beep suddenly broke the tense silence. The coffee maker in the kitchen chimed in with a shrill sound, tearing Hawks out of his trance.

His head jerked to the side, then back to Rain. Something inside him broke – a dam he'd held for 16 years.

Without another word, without even thinking about it, he walked toward her. With two firm steps he stood directly in front of her. His arms wrapped around her. Strong, desperately searching for support.

Rain gasped in surprise, her lips parted, but no sound came out. She felt his heartbeat pounding against her chest – felt his fingers clawing at her back, as if he were afraid she might vanish into thin air again.

"You're back..." Hawks stammered hoarsely, his face pressed against her shoulder, his voice fragile, barely a shadow of what it once was. "You're really back..."

Rain stood stock still, overcome by the force of his emotions. Then, slowly, she put her arms around him. Hesitantly at first, almost shyly. But when she felt the trembling in his body, heard the pain in his voice, she held him tighter.

Tears welled in her eyes, burning hotly as she realized what this moment meant.

He had missed her as much as she had missed him.

From the shadows of the hallway, hidden between darkness and dim light, two turquoise-blue eyes flashed.

Kaji stood motionless in the darkness of the hallway leading to the entrance. He didn't speak a word and barely dared to breathe for fear of being discovered.

The scene before him felt unreal, and it punched him in the gut.

He had never seen his mother like this before. Not so... vulnerable, never so lost.

Rain Black had always been a force of nature to him—unflappable, cool, and calculating, with eyes that never trembled even in the darkest hours. She had taught him never to show weakness. Never to trust too much, and certainly not to love unless you were ready to bear the pain of loss.

But now she stood there... looking as if she would break at any moment... wrapped in the arms of a man Kaji didn't know. Hawks – Keigo Takami.

Of course he'd heard of Hawks – the former hero who once soared the skies with his wings. The man who lost his Quirk in the war against All For One and saved countless lives.

But no one had told him that this man had once lost his heart to Rain. Or that he was part of that repressed chapter that also included his father.

The weight of this realization pressed heavily on his chest. It was as if a lost mosaic was finally coming together – piece by piece, in slow, painful clarity.

A soft creaking of the wooden floorboards made him wince. Slowly, almost hesitantly, Rain moved.

She didn't completely break the embrace, but took a half step back, just enough to meet his eyes. Her hands remained on his chest, as if seeking support, her gaze boring into his.

"I..." she began, her voice rough, as if covered in dust after all these years of silence. "I wanted to come back, Keigo. I tried, honestly."

Her lips trembled, but she forced herself to continue. "But I couldn't. Back then... The League, the heroes, the war... It would have been too dangerous to come back, and I had to—"

Her voice trailed off, as if she had to pause for a moment to find the right words between tears and grief.

"I had to protect him.”

Last Part <– | –> Next Part (coming soon)

Beta Reader

@doumadono

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I mention accounts that my works ❤️ and 🔄. If anyone no longer wishes to be mentioned, please let me know.

[otiksimr]

No color but whatever.

[laurellala-comics]

Imagine you're Phoenix Wright and you have black hair and beautiful dark eyes and you can pull off the color red so, so well, but your queer-coded rival chose the color red as his signature color years ago without checking with you first (even though he's really more of a spring and would look so much better in mauve or periwinkle, but you don't think he's ready for that conversation) so now you can't even wear the color red without accidentally symbolizing a narrative shift where you've begun to agree with his point of view (which, ew, you would never!) so you just have to grit your teeth and wear your stupid navy suit, which kind of washes you out but WHATEVER it's FINE and you're not bitter about it AT ALL!!!!

[gloomy-prince]

one regret about my art style is that this is the biggest I can make Eddie’s eyes before he starts looking like a cat with dilated pupils

[dw-flagler]

In this post, I will attempt to calmly, reasonably, and in-a-good-faith-manner argue all the points raised by tumblr user @library-bat-girl in the following posts. I am starting a new thread so as not to further destroy the original poster, @skitterenjoyer's, tumblr notifications. Worm (+MHA) spoilers ahead. This will be a long post.

Firstly, I would like to apologize on the worm fandom's behalf. We will not engage in ableism of any kind. I sincerely hope that this was a singular incident and @skittersdrippygirlcock will be better about this in the future.

"MHA has better characters,"

My Hero Academia's primary achievement, I think, is managing to make many decently well rounded characters in a fairly short time-span. It certainly has very good visual character design, with easily memorable character designs, like Mina Ashido or Tsuyu Asui. Most of Class 1A is shown to be more than single-note gimmick characters. For a story with such a tight schedule, and only so much page real-estate, that's impressive! For instance, a character decidedly outside of the main cast, Fumikage Tokoyami, is shown to have more to his personality than "is an edgelord," showing a humility and friendliness that is highly against-type. This is very different than a lot of its peers, especially in Shonen manga, where side characters (and sometimes even main characters) are never more than their tropes (see Fairy Tale, One Punch Man*, The Seven Deadly Sins, or Black Clover). My Hero Academia does clear that bar, by making side characters little more than their tropes. This is to say nothing of the primary cast, who, again, is largely defined by tropes and easily slotted into standardized interchangeable Shonen roles. Rival, Love Interest, Rival but Nice About It. Additionally, MHA has an uncomfortably sexualized main cast, for one composed primarily of minors.

This is compared to Worm, in which many characters are fully realized and could have been the protagonist (and often were in older drafts of the story, due to Worm's 10-year development hell). Every character that gets an interlude, and most that don't, all have fully realized interiority, traumas, and wants. In fact, this is one of the major themes of Worm. Every character, from the protagonist Taylor, to characters so minor they're seen only once (see Damsel of Distress, Dauntless), to major antagonists and monsters (see Jack Slash, Bonesaw) all have their own story, even if this is never shown on-screen. There are no "side characters" in the same manner as in My Hero Academia, because every character is a protagonist of their own story, and not in a trite "life is so beautiful" way.

Taylor isn't the center of the universe, there's an entire world outside of her 3-block bubble. The mechanism by which all characters get their superpowers means that the mere fact of having powers implies this about them. Even the seeming exceptions, aren't (see Alexandria, Garotte). Taylor is a good character. I don't even know how to elaborate on that. She just is. Worm does not have the character Minoru Mineta.

"a better plot,"

What... what is the plot of My Hero Academia? For the life of me, I can't seem to recall. I can tell you the general formula of most of the arcs for the first ~2/3rds of the story. Class 1A goes to do a hero high school thing, like do rescue training, or on-the-job training, or on-the-job-training, or on-the-job-training (they do it like 4 times for some reason), the League Of Villains shows up (even when it's seemingly not the league of villains it actually is the league of villains) they fight about it, the class beats all the villains, and Deku beats up strongest bad guy and also breaks his bones. Repeat step 1. But like. What's... the plot? The League of Villains is evil and wants to kill people and do bad stuff. They explicitly do not have greater motivations. There's generally themes of passing-on-to-the-new-generation, so there's Tomura Shigaraki as the arch nemesis to Izuku Midoriya, just as All Might's Nemesis is All For One. Eventually they fight a big fight about it and I stop reading because I find out about Worm. From what I understand (I have not read the conclusion) the series ends without addressing any long-running questions, wrapping up any character arcs, or concluding anything in a narratively satisfying manner. As if severely rushed.

Worm, there are maybe 15 main stories going on simultaneously, which are all tied into the final confrontation with Scion. The most obvious is Taylor's and the Undersiders' story, about taking over Brockton Bay and defeating Coil, which is a smaller part of Coil's story about taking over the bay, until their confrontation with him in arc 17, when it supersedes Coil's story, and then intersects with Cauldron's story, the Traveler's story, the Case 53s' stories, the Wards' story, all of it, in arcs 18-19. This is one example. A great deal of attention is spent making sure the reader knows that Taylor, the Undersiders, Coil, all of them, are bit players in a very large game. Despite this, it's never hard to follow, because Wildbow, while lacking some of the more flowery prose, manages extremely well at making his stories easy to understand.

"I feel like even people who like Worm can agree that Worm is not the most consistent piece of fiction ever written. The disjointed way it was written meant that emphasis was primarily put on 'What Wildbow thought was cool in the moment', [sic] and the story RADICALLY shifts gears every time a new arc starts."

What? Huh? Worm is extremely consistent. Like. 1.1 to E.x. It's, like. Not disjointed? Oh my god, are you talking about interludes? Is that what you mean? The interludes shift gears? Because that makes sense. It's one of the hardest things about worm, yeah. It's gripping! The interludes are a great idea to expand the world of worm, but the problem is that taylor's story is so intriguing that stepping away from it to focus on something else is hard, no matter how individually interesting. I want to read about taylor's escalation spiral, not the travelers! (As opposed to My Hero Academia having random escalation and de-escalation between arcs with no real explanation. We're reading about lives-on-the-line battles with child-slavers and then move to playing on a playground with little kids? Best I can think of is that this whiplash is intentional, but this is never communicated to the reader. Worm does not do this. Any de-escalation is met with the explicit understanding that this is merely a period of calm before things get even worse). Taylor's story wraps up in an extremely narratively satisfying fashion, following her story to its logical conclusion. There were so many ways it could have been avoided, but there was really only one way that it could have ended.

"better worldbuilding,"

This actually offends me. MHA could have had great world-building. It doesn't. Every potentially interesting bit of world-building is backpedaled out of or stopped before it could get anywhere. Or it's just never elaborated or expanded upon. Everyone having a superpower could have been cool, but the implications of this are nonexistent. The reasons for this having no real implications, that being the banning of quirks, also has implications that are also immediately backpedaled out of. It's been hundreds of years since our time, yet life is exactly the same. Nothing ever happens. Endeavor is a cool concept. I like Endeavor. his existence implies such interesting things about the world, how important hero ranking is to these people's lives, that he would create this horrific system of domestic abuse to try and get to the #1 spot. What does this say about this system of heroes that operates like a popularity contest? It could have said a lot. It says nothing. What does the League of Villains, a league of people who call themselves out-and-out villains, who base their ideology in opposing this system of heroes, say about society? Nothing. On purpose. Worm does something with this. One Punch Man does something with this. My Hero Academia puts it in the story, and lets it sit, unused, for a decade.

Worm has... unique world-building. Because it's both good and bad at the same time. Worm's #1 feature is its world. It's brilliant, full stop. Triggers, The Birdcage, the PRT, Exclusion Zones! Why does the status quo exist? what does it say about that society? What does it say about our society? Why hasn't society radically changed from how it is in our world? This is explained. This plays into the themes. The story wants to say something about this world, and so it does. There are characters whose stories explicitly delve into these themes that are set up in the worldbuilding, like Armsmaster, or Battery, or Bonesaw, or Coil, or Piggot or Alexandria or Taylor herself or Brian or Lisa or ANY OF THEM THEY ALL DO THIS. Sorry.

Anyway, the bad part is that the actual world is not well built (and is kind of racist). What's going on in Europe? There's a 3 blasphemies! a 3 what? never explained. What's going on in Asia, aside from Japan? China is a monarchy for some reason. Why? It's never elaborated on. India gets a little bit of elaboration, we're told its different but not how it's different. Wildbow uses machine translation wrong and names some guy caliph of dogs. This is like worm's #2 problem honestly (#1 is Amy). Wildbow tries to make the implication of a well thought out globe without actually making a well thought out globe.

"stronger themes,"

It really doesn't. As I said in the worldbuilding section, MHA makes a point out of not saying or doing anything. I don't know if editors made Horikoshi walk back the more ambitious story beats or what, but there are multiple points in the story where the author pretty much looks you directly in the eye and goes "This Story Isn't Saying Anything At All Even Though It Looked Like It Would. Lmao."

Worm has lots of themes. I think Armsmaster/Defiant's story is my favorite. His entire character arc (which is fully realized despite him being a background character for nearly the entire story) has a point to it. It says something. It's misanthropic and uplifting simultaneously, and manages to feel like it earns both. It's a shared theme with Bonesaw/Riley's story, explored in two different ways.

"Meanwhile MHA establishes an actual overall theme/message right from the start that expands and develops throughout the story. The worldbuilding is informed by the message, which informs the characters arcs and the people they become by the end of the story."

I notice that you never actually say what that message is. What is it? Like, for real. I'm not being confrontational or anything, like what is the message? Cuz' I can't think of one. My Hero Academia, at its very core, is a defense of the status quo. Much like its world-building, but much less forgivable, because it does do something new and unique with its world-building. MHA could have done some extremely interesting stuff with its early implicit critique of heroic society as shown with characters like Bakugo, or Shigaraki, or Endeavor, or Overhaul, or Midoriya himself! It just doesn't! It doesn't do stuff that Worm does do!

Worm does have a message. It has a lot of messages, actually, some that the author disagrees with somehow. Prison abolition, for one. We know Wildbow loves prison. Anyway, the big one is in the subtitle: doing the wrong things for the right reasons. Taylor's constant spiral of escalation, her dwindling attachments to her friends and greater focus on treating herself like a soldier is prevalent, and it is to be avoided. Taylor isn't a sin-eater. They don't exist. From what I remember, this is sort of explored in Deku's character arc for a short period of time, but much like everything else in MHA, it is backpedaled out of.

The funniest is "don't text and drive" though.

"Just on a basic level the way that the audience is meant to feel about Taylor oscillates wildly between being directed to think of her as a misunderstood victim of circumstance, or history's greatest monster."

That's kind of the point. Like. the audience isn't meant to look at Taylor the same way throughout the entire story. It's meant to change as she changes. Taylor's opinion of Taylor changes. The mistake here is saying it "oscillates wildly." it doesn't. It's a slow and steady change for the worse, as Taylor gets more violent and starts throwing away greater and greater parts of herself to become more like a robot and less like a person.

"But a bigger issue in general is tone. It's very focused on being dark and gritty and edgy, and it makes the mistake a lot of consciously edgy media does. IE: it thinks that all it has to do to be smart is be bleak and/or graphic. It doesn't really try to say anything, in fact it contradicts itself throughout the book as I mentioned before, it just throws in extremely graphic scenes and content periodically to remind the audience how fucked everything is."

Did you read the boys and think it was worm? What? It's not being smart when it's bleak or graphic? I actually personally like the endbringers or the slaughterhouse 9, and not because I like watching people suffer. These things exist for a reason. It's not being dark for the sake of being dark. The heroes could stop the slaughterhouse 9. We see that, when they almost stop the slaughterhouse 9 (it's explicitly shown that they are stopped from destroying the slaughterhouse 9). The question then becomes why don't they? It's a grim, brutal calculus, and one that wasn't worth it. That's the point. The Endbringers are different. It's not until arc 27 that they're really explained. You could either read them as a criticism of Eidolon or of ableism, honestly. I mean, it wasn't intentional, he didn't create them on purpose, he needed something to fight, because without that he's nothing. His powers are all he has.

"Worm spends so much time trying to be edgy that as with a lot of edgy media the edginess loses all impact quite quickly and becomes sort of cringe."

I don't really think so, but like. Okay. I don't think this is a reconcilable viewpoint (none of this is really but this especially), so like we're probably gonna have to agree to disagree. The only thing I can really think of as edgy for the sake of edginess is Amy's arc. But even that's not really true. It's meant to be an utterly avoidable tragedy that could never have been stopped because of the people involved. Much like Taylor, actually. Amy could have stepped back from the brink, but she didn't, because Amy could never have done that, and nobody else was willing/able to help. It's supposed to be a thing where you sit back and think of all the tiny ways this could have easily been avoided, but wasn't.

"When body horror happens it still has impact because it's not happening constantly."

I mean, I guess. But like. I never got desensitized to the body horror in Worm. It hit pretty consistently for me throughout. As opposed to MHA, where it was usually walked back by the end of every arc. I never felt much tension or suspense because it felt as if there weren't actual consequences. In Worm, when Brian was strung up on his nerves, it felt disgusting because I was fully aware Worm would explore the ripple effects of this. It felt entirely possible he would die there, or never recover, because Worm didn't pull its punches. MHA did. This is a matter of opinion. We'll just have to agree to disagree about it.

"But most importantly - you root for the heroes because the world actually seems like it's worth saving."

that's just, um. sorry. I'm really trying here. That's just. Uh. Dumb. Do you root for Batman cause Gotham is a nice city? Everything's worth saving, that's, like, at its most basic what the concept of a superhero is about.

"Not only that but MHA simply does villain protagonists objectively better than Worm."

um. No? There straight up aren't villain protagonists in MHA. The villains are the POV characters for, like, one arc? You know what, here's a good spot for it. It's stated throughout the story that Shigaraki and the League of Villains have a goal, beyond just death and destruction. They're here to stop the corrupt society of heroes (that MHA hints at the existence of before backpedaling away from), and bring about a fairer society. But then, and this part pissed me off, one of the characters, I think Bakugo, says: "you're just using that as cover! you just want to kill people, you have no noble goal!" and shigaraki's like "dang you caught me." and then it happens again with Deku! Because My Hero Academia is allergic to saying something. Nope! They're villains! No moral depth here! They're Villains, We're Heroes, Go Put Them In Jail.

This is opposed to Worm, where- "The characters of the villains and their origins are used to highlight the flaws in the Superhuman society"

"Most of the villains are only villains because society failed them in some way, and the specific ways in which that happened become big plot points that then play into the future arc of our heroic characters."

I had to walk away from my computer for this one. It's hard to be civil. It's really hard. Polite and reasonable.

So Worm is about this. To even say this without a shred of irony makes me thing you've never once read a single word of Worm and are doing this purely as bait. Or you've read all of Worm and are doing this purely as bait.

"They're actually extremely complex in a way that ends up being fundamentally important to the overall story - where in Worm the villains are either based heroes fighting a corrupt system or they're histories [sic] greatest monsters... until they're presented as heroes again."

I think I get it now. I really think I do. You're not supposed to agree with all the characters. Like. Worm is inconsistent, in that it follows the perspectives of inconsistent people. Of course Triumph and Armsmaster don't agree on what is right! They're different people, they have different perspectives!

"See. Worm fans keep saying "This is Bait." It's not Bait, you all are simply ridiculous and obsessed with this series to such a degree that you feel compelled to say "This is Bait" instead of just... ignoring it, because you have no actual counterargument."

Perhaps worm fans are inclined to believe you posted rage bait because you brazenly walked into another fandom's post and wholeheartedly proclaimed that the thing they liked was Stupid Idiot Bullshit For Fucking Morons, and refused to elaborate until prompted, at which point you said several things that are demonstrably false about Worm.

"Your only response to anything I've said is pedantry, bigotry, and deflection. If it was obviously just bait why are you engaging?"

Well, I'm engaging because I've been in a foul mood since I woke up this morning. Also because you, again, said some very rude and patently false statements about a story that I really enjoy and find narratively rich, even in its faults.

"MHA's characters do fall into archetypal shounen character roles - but they are all given a solid amount of focus explaining why they are like that and developing them into something bigger."

Again, as I said, it's a genuinely impressive feat to have an ensemble cast like what My Hero Academia has, and give so many of the characters a degree of depth, with such little manga to work with. I think worm does it better, but worm doesn't have to be economical about it. MHA does. The problem I have with this statement is that it becomes a question of scale. How much bigger? They're no longer defined by their tropes, instead defined by their opposition to their tropes. It's still a one-note character, you've merely changed the note from C to C sharp.

"so almost every member of the cast has an arc that either develops them past the person they initially seemed to be or explains why they're like that."

This is probably my favorite part about MHA. They do have arcs! I love ensemble casts! it does a much better job in this than all of its contemporaries, even One Piece. However, they are comparatively simplistic arcs that all follow a similar formula.

"I've heard people say MHA is neocon or pro-establishment but the story literally concludes by showing that society HAS TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE or the same problems that created the villains in the first place will keep happening. The entire time skip specifically focuses on the fact that for eight years the main characters have been forcing change in the world and addressing the issues the villains brought up."

Now, I'm going to be clear. I stopped reading My Hero Academia around chapter 275. I don't know the exact number, but it was the latest chapter in ~mid 2020. I would occasionally attempt to reread, in an attempt to catch up, but give up around chapter 200 out of boredom. I don't know exactly how the story ends, but I have read ~2/3rds of the story. I feel this gives me a pretty good understanding of the general tone of the story, unless it wildly changes tone at the 3/4ths mark, which you have explicitly said it does not, as it is extremely coherent and consistent. Therefore, I believe I can state with some degree of confidence that MHA does not do that.

I would certainly believe that it tries (and fails) to SFP it, but SFP does not promote a fundamental societal change. That's the problem. Strong Female Protagonist was willing to come up and say that Alison lived in a fundamentally unjust world, even if it was never willing or able to offer real change. And hey. You do what you can. I sincerely doubt My Hero Academia is even willing to call its world fundamentally unjust, from the 200+ chapters that I did read.

"In the case of the actual main characters, they have extremely comprehensive character arcs."

Adding this behind the last point just so that I don't have to reiterate I haven't finished the book. I am, however, very much not inclined to believe the actual main characters had extremely comprehensive character arcs.

Which plays back into the initial theory that ANYONE CAN BE A HERO.

man, spider-man did that better (not a real argument, but like, spider-man totally did that better). Not least because midoriya specifically could not become a hero were it not for all might giving him a power.

No, the Villains don't get happy endings,

Why not? Why do they go to jail, even the ones who changed and wanted to redeem themselves? Endeavor never goes to jail. He did some horrible stuff. He's redeemed himself in the eyes of the story, right? Anyone can be a hero, right? So why not them? Why haven't they redeemed themselves in the eyes of the story?

You may wish to turn this back on me and ask why doesn't Armsmaster go to prison? Because he's similar in some respects. But worm never calls prison justice. (for some reason, even though wildbow totally loves prison). Prison is punitive, a tool for those in charge to control those it manages to capture. Maybe some deserve life in the birdcage. Many don't. It doesn't matter. Because the birdcage isn't a tool of justice. It's not meant to be. it's a box to put the uncontrollable capes in, until they can be used as meat shields. So Armsmaster doesn't go to prison because the story says explicitly there is no point to it. But MHA? MHA says there is a point to it. Endeavor needs to go to prison if he wants to atone. He's escaping justice every second he's outside.

I have actually read Worm, and for the first half to two thirds I loved it.

Weird. That's exactly how long I really enjoyed MHA. Not, like relevant, to anything. Just odd. I mean, I don't actually dislike MHA. I think it's fine, actually. It feels like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade to me. Funny (when Mineta isn't around), bombastic, and a good time, even if I don't think it's super thematically rich.

I'm not coming at this from the perspective of someone who has never seen any of the merits of Worm, I'm coming at it from the perspective of someone who really liked it, gave it a fair shot, and was eventually disappointed when it ended up not tying together right.

See, this makes me more inclined to think it's bait, actually. since you said "Oh yeah. MHA is published. MHA's been an ongoing publication with a large following for ten years, in a notoriously competitive industry. Now this might seem kind of unimpressive, it's a very low bar to clear I know. But it's one Worm hasn't, so. I dunno, I'd say that's fairly objective. Now you may think "Yeah, but Trash fiction gets published all the time." And that's true but again - Worm hasn't. The worst piece of fiction you can think of got published and Worm didn't. You wanna be an asshole about this? The thing you love is so mid that it was self published in 2013, couldn't get picked up for professional publishing until 2019 and as far as I can see has stayed in development hell since then." in your previous post. Sure, perhaps we can say you were pissed at the time, but "the thing you love is worse than trash fiction, an altogether nothing piece of literature that isn't even worth the paper it would hypothetically be printed on" does not strike me as the words of someone who "really liked it, gave it a fair shot, and was eventually disappointed when it ended up not tying together right." In fact, going back through your other statements on the story, you seem to have genuinely disliked it from the very beginning, on grounds of being too edgy (which I can fully understand the logic of): "IE: it thinks that all it has to do to be smart is be bleak and/or graphic," thematically incoherent: "It doesn't really try to say anything, in fact it contradicts itself throughout the book as I mentioned before, it just throws in extremely graphic scenes and content periodically to remind the audience how fucked everything is," and utterly devoid of purpose or meaning. "When it does introduce new lore that new lore is almost always overly convoluted and acts as a catalyst for things happening, but not really things happening that play into a wider theme or message. It's just "Oh and here's this team of god-level serial killers who are gonna string a dude up by his nervous system." Like yeah, cool visual, but what is any of this actually saying?" This does not sound like a ringing endorsement of the first half of Worm to me. In fact, this sounds like you hated every second of it.

"And frankly given the number of comments that are just people saying "Bait" - I don't think any of y'all have engaged with this in a fair or honest way"

I'm going to reiterate on my previous statement. I like my hero academia. Capeshit is my favorite genre, it probably always will be. They're my favorite genre of story. While I find the themes—or lack thereof—extremely frustrating, I still think of it as fun. I gave it a fair shake. I would probably really enjoy the ending if I didn't have a reading list that was 300 books long.

[xserpx]

Genuinely think "Leo is NOT Glokta 2.0" is the hill I'm willing to die on in the First Law fandom.

And like, I am also willing to admit I could be wrong about this, if Abercrombie decides to literally turn Leo into Glokta, like some people suggest, then fine. I shall eat my words with grace. But I don't think he will and I certainly don't think he should.

I think it's so cheap and easy to look at Leo's disabilities, to read the line about stairs (having to go down sideways) and "click, tap, grunt" and draw those comparisons to Glokta, but if you think about it for two seconds the differences between them are stark and nigh insurmountable (not gonna go over it tbh, it's a whole separate post).

Worse is people who say "well, he obviously can't physically fight anymore, so he can't be a warrior". It's that same thing as annoyingly interpreting "strong female characters" as "women who fight". Someone who is in hospital fighting for their life is a warrior. Someone who stands up against oppression is a warrior. You don't need to physically swing a sword to be called a warrior, because it's a state of mind rather than an objective truth.

I also find the 'warrior' vs 'thinker' dichotomy as it's presented in the series interesting because it's sort of gendered in that warriors are considered to be strong men while thinkers tend to be weak and feminine. Ever since the Heroes, the term "warrior" comes with a whole ton of toxic baggage about manliness and respect - Stour, Scale, Leo, Gorst. "Thinkers" tend to be more representative of marginalised groups or odd ducks - Finree, Glokta, Calder. So when people call Leo a thinker, to me it strips him off his entrenched beliefs about masculinity, as if gender doesn't matters to his character, as if it's purely an analysis of their approach to problem solving rather than a worldview that has a knock-on effect into every aspect of their lives. Likewise, it uncouples his bigotry from that warrior mindset, when his bigotry, in turn, is turn a symptom of his ignorance and desire to see the world in oversimplified black and white terms. Thinkers don't think like that. In fact, I think Leo almost has to be a warrior purely on that basis. Not to say Glokta and Calder are perfect social justice warriors by any means - they're both sexist as fuck - but their bigotry is not indelibly linked to their identity the way Leo's is. If Leo isn't obsessing/angsting over his manly status - of which being a warrior is a massive part - he's not Leo.

He also doesn't want to be smart. Leo repeatedly ignores facts and rationality in order to feel more passion and anger. He enjoys pain to a certain extent, he experiences the world through physical sensations. He's at his happiest when everything is very simple and he doesn't have to think - yes, even in TWOC!

On a different note, get a similar feeling about the Leo/Glokta comparisons as I do when people cite TBI's "Questions" as their favourite chapter in the whole series. Questions, as in the third chapter in the first book in a 10 book series? If that's your favourite you're essentially saying it's all downhill from there, and if that's the case then the series must've been pretty damn disappointing.

Likewise, as much as I like Glokta I think this desire people have for Leo to literally become him betrays Abercrombie's progress as an author. My gripe with TWOC is that it's too Glokta-centric, I wanted Abercrombie to let the new characters shine but I think ultimately he leaned too heavily into reiterating LAOK that it took away from the brilliance of the new characters & plot. Add to that the fact that the contingent of hardcore first trilogy stans are desperate to find something good to say about the new trilogy, people reach for Glokta comparisons because it makes the incredibly hateable Leo more palatable, and it makes them like AoM more. I'm sure that's quite assumptive, not everyone thinks that, but that's just how it comes across to little old, cantankerous, Leo-obsessed me a lot of the time.

[vice-like]

these results WILL surprise you

i'm happy to announce that the vast majority of you got this WRONG, while 4 of you got it right: yes, the right answer was NONE, these are both baby matoba!!

the left one is from this panel (left) in world unbent and the right one is from this panel (right) in hand extended

[skitskatdacat63]

Why is Fernando giving Mustafar!Anakin in this pic

[the-star-and-the-smols]

All of a sudden wanting to write Sean's first time seeing my s/i sizeshift like. I know I would be like I'm so big and ugly I look horrible I'm a freak I hope you don't think any less of me :( and he would be like WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT GORGEOUS I LOVE YOU YOU'RE MAGNIFICENT HOLY SHIT CAN I GET A HUG????!!✨✨✨

(Actually part of me is thinking it's really the first Extremely Obvious sign there's something very strange about my s/i and another part wants it to be the fact that when I'm around him I just fucking... glow because I'm experiencing the love. He's thinking I might be avoiding him at some points and he wonders what's wrong, maybe he said something too crude and pushed my buttons too far? He sees me crying and follows me because he has to apologize and explain himself, stumbling over his words as he peers around the corner and suddenly I'm glowing and also slightly shorter?? But he's not sure??)

[fnibble]

BIG BRAIN MOMENT FOR ME im not going to ascend astarion because my tiefling is a bard and then I can imagine a post-game future of lvl 18 WISH BABEYY

[apollos-boyfriend]

i think you guys can probably tell but i’m soso happy with where my cpurp design stands rn……. i think i perfected him. i need to redraw a full reference sheet for them to make a full comparison with the original

[sesshy380]

Hiii ❤️ I’ve seen you mention your fursona a few times now; do you more info on them and maybe a picture or more detailed description of how they look? (and tooooootally unrelated but would you mind if anyone possibly drew them? :D)

I should warn you that this is an extremely dangerous question to ask me...because OMG AHHHHHHHH!!!!! *FANGIRL SQUEAL HEARD AROUND THE WORLD*

I would in no way ABSOLUTELY FREAKING GO WILD if someone drew her lol

So my fursona is my OC's 'other' forms. You can read more detail about her here. This gives a run-down of her 'furry' appearances (she has 2, one is as a standard black cat w/blue eyes, the other is a black leapard with raven wings).

I picture her anthro form wearing this (old sketch by me from 2006? before hands went to hell)(I got lazy when it came to her hair lol). The cloth areas are black, while the rest is gold (I'm a very simple person, but she's meant to fit in the YGO-verse so maybe the gold should have been more elaborate lol). The 'collar' is gold as well (since it's kinda hard to tell based off the pic).

I've played around with the idea of the anthro form having her hair, but I never got around to drawing that version unfortunately. However, there was a webcomic I used to follow called 'Flycoren Kausim' by RetroDragon. Kat appeared as a cameo in the later chapters, and I even got a rough sketch of her as a bonus from them. (Not my art, credit goes to RetroDragon).

Here's her cameos:

[shiawasekai]

Riding a drawing high and high-key hoping it lasts lol

[llycaons]

horse is so well-researched that even googling the titular horse gave me spoilers