#this is one of his lines i know from memory

[honeyncherry]

secret of us II - joe burrow

summary joe’s world is unraveling, and without you, he’s learning that holding on is harder than he ever imagined; but losing you isn’t an option

content angst, swearing, slowburn

part one

I can’t keep wondering where I stand in your world.

The house was too quiet, emptier than ever.

Joe sat in the dim light of his living room, the muted TV casting flickering shadows on the walls. He was supposed to be studying old game footage, but the glow of the screen barely registered. It couldn’t drown out the echo of your voice.

It replayed in his mind, over and over, like a record stuck on a loop, refusing to fade.

I can’t keep wondering where I stand in your world.

The line haunted him, cutting deeper with every repetition. You weren’t wrong. You deserved more. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier to fix, didn’t tell him how to bridge the growing distance he’d let spiral between you.

He drug a hand through his hair, his eyes drifting to his phone on the coffee table. Your name was still pinned at the top of his messages, sitting alongside his mom’s. The sight made something sharp twist in his gut. He reached for it instinctively, but his fingers froze just above the screen.

It wasn’t the first time tonight. He’d done this before; reached, hesitated, then pulled back, like the phone might scald him. Each time, his mind raced with half-formed messages, things he couldn’t bring himself to say.

I’m sorry? It felt hollow.

I miss you? Too selfish.

I love you? Too late.

​​With a sigh, he picked up the phone anyway, his thumb hovering over your name. For a moment, he considered unpinning the conversation, as if removing it from the top of his screen might lessen the weight in his chest. But his thumb faltered, trembling, before he dropped the phone back onto the table with a muted thud.

He couldn’t do it. Couldn’t let go. But he couldn’t reach out, either.

The silence in the room pressed heavier against him, suffocating. The faint hum of the fridge in the kitchen buzzed in his ears, and the occasional rumble of passing cars outside only reminded him how still everything inside felt. His thoughts raced, looping back to memories he wished he could escape.

Your laugh came first, bright and unguarded, the kind of sound that could lift even his heaviest days. He could picture it clearly: the way you’d throw your head back slightly, your eyes crinkling at the corners as your whole body gave into the moment. He remembered how it felt to make you laugh, the warmth that bloomed in him, the way it silenced every doubt.

Then there was the way you always noticed him. Not Joe Burrow, star NFL quarterback. Just Joe. You’d catch the tension in his shoulders after a bad game, the quiet in his voice when something wasn’t right. “You’re off today,” you’d say, your tone gentle but firm, like you wouldn’t let him brush it off. You always saw through him, and he’d let you, because it felt safe.

But he’d squandered that now. Pushed you away so thoroughly that even those memories felt like shards of glass pressing into his skin.

And still, your voice echoed in his mind, broken and tired: I can’t keep wondering where I stand in your world.

Do I even mean something to him?

The silence was unbearable.

You sat cross-legged on your bed, your phone resting beside you like a taunt. The weight of Joe’s absence clung to you, heavy and unrelenting. You told yourself you shouldn’t care this much, that you’d done the right thing by walking away. But the questions still clawed at the edges of your mind.

Do I even mean something to him?

The thought alone sent a pang through your chest. You tried to rationalize it, to tell yourself that he’d been distant because of something unrelated to you.

But the late-night doubts crept in, twisting the truth into something darker.

What if he never cared? The question whispered through your thoughts, insidious and relentless. What if I’ve been holding onto something that was never there?

Your phone buzzed once, a notification breaking the stillness. Your heart leapt, but the moment you saw it wasn’t from him, disappointment settled like a stone in your stomach. You shoved the phone away, letting it slide across the bed.

Glancing toward the mirror across the room, you caught your reflection in the dim light. For a moment, you stared, searching your own eyes for answers you couldn’t find.

What was it about him that made you hold on, even when he gave you every reason to let go?

The fear crept in, sharp and undeniable. What if I’ve invested in someone who doesn’t see me the way I see him?

The thought curled around you, smothering. You blinked hard, shaking your head as if the motion could dislodge it.

But it lingered, a truth you didn’t want to face.

So, when a friend invited you to a housewarming party, you said yes without hesitation. The idea of noise, of motion, of anything other than this unbearable quiet felt like a lifeline.

You didn’t overthink it. You didn’t let yourself. It was something to do, something to occupy your mind, something to drown out the ache that wouldn’t leave.

The house was already buzzing when you arrived, laughter and music spilling out onto the lawn. Strings of lights twinkled in the trees, their soft glow casting a warm haze over the scene.

The energy was electric, alive, a stark contrast to the silent chaos you’d been drowning in at home.

You wove through clusters of people, their voices and laughter blending into a steady hum. The scent of grilled food and spilled beer hung in the air, grounding you in the present. It was easier to focus on the movement, the sound, the colors around you.

Eventually, familiar faces came into view, Mia and Drew, the couple hosting the party. Drew’s arm was slung casually over Mia’s shoulder as they chatted with another guest, their ease a reminder of everything you used to feel when things in your life weren’t so complicated.

“Hey, you made it!” Mia beamed when she spotted you, breaking away from the conversation to pull you into a warm hug.

“Of course,” you said, forcing a smile that you hoped looked genuine. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

“Drink?” Drew offered, holding up a freshly cracked beer. His signature grin was just as lopsided and teasing as you remembered. “Or are you still pretending to be a wine connoisseur?”

You snorted, grateful for the distraction. “Still pretending, but I’ll take whatever you’ve got.”

He handed you the beer with a laugh. “Classic.”

Mia nudged him playfully before turning back to you, her expression softening. “Seriously, though, thanks for coming. It means a lot. I wasn’t sure if you’d be up for it.”

You hesitated, shrugging as you shifted the bottle between your hands. “Figured it was better than staying home.”

“Well, we’re glad you’re here,” Mia said, squeezing your arm lightly. “And I think you’ll be glad, too. Lots of familiar faces tonight.”

“Joe’s here,” Drew said casually, tipping his beer toward the living room.

Your stomach dropped. The name hit you like a sharp gust of wind, stealing the breath from your lungs.

Your grip on the bottle tightened instinctively, the flood of questions almost immediate: Did you want to see him? Could you even handle it?

The questions collided with the sinking realization that you’d somehow forgotten — how had you forgotten?

Joe was the one who’d introduced you to Mia and Drew all those years ago.

Mia’s sharp jab to Drew’s ribs made him wince, her expression darkening as she shot him a glare that could have melted steel.

She turned back to you, her eyes softening as they scanned your face, noting the way your shoulders had tensed.

“I’m so sorry,” Mia blurted, her words tumbling out in a rush. “I didn’t even think to mention it. There are so many people here, I figured you two wouldn’t even cross paths. If you want to leave, I completely understand.”

Her voice carried a mix of panic and guilt, as though she wasn’t sure which would hurt you more, staying or going. You fought to keep your expression neutral, swallowing down the dread twisting in your stomach.

“Don’t worry,” you said, your voice steadier than you felt, though the tightness in your chest betrayed you. “It’s fine. Really.”

The words tasted harsh, like a lie, but you forced them out anyway. You ignored the tightening in your grip on the drink Drew had handed you, the way the cool glass pressed against your palm like it might anchor you.

“I’ll just… stay out of his way,” you added, the shrug you offered feeling as hollow as the calm you were trying to project.

Mia searched your face, her uncertainty plain. Her lips pressed together like she wanted to argue, but she relented, nodding slowly. “Okay. Just let me know if you need anything, alright?”

You nodded back, clutching the drink as the hum of the party blurred into white noise.

Your breath came shallow and uneven as you fought the instinct to glance behind them, in the direction Drew had pointed.

You told yourself you wouldn’t look, wouldn’t let yourself go there. 

But then, as if fate itself had a cruel sense of humor, your eyes caught his across the room.

Joe.

He stood near the edge of the living room, mid-conversation, but his focus had shifted.

His gaze locked on yours, and for a fleeting moment, something unguarded flickered in his expression, surprise, maybe even guilt, before it vanished, quickly replaced by that maddeningly unreadable mask he always wore so well.

An invisible force seemed to squeeze the air from your lungs, your breath hitching before you could stop it. And God, he looked good. Too good.

It wasn’t just the sharp cut of his jaw or the way his fitted shirt clung to his shoulders like it had been made for him. It was the ease in his posture, the quiet confidence in the way he stood, unaware of how effortlessly he drew attention.

The shadow of stubble along his jaw that you used to tease him about, all of it stirred something in you, something you wished would stay buried.

Your stomach twisted, heat creeping up your neck. It wasn’t fair, how he could still look like that. How he could stand there, completely oblivious to the effect he had on you, even now.

It wasn’t fair that, despite everything, some small, traitorous part of you still wanted to cross the room and close the space between you.

For a moment, the world around you blurred. The noise, the people, it all dissolved. Just you and him, caught in the weight of everything unsaid.

But it was you who blinked first, tearing your gaze away. The hollow pain grew heavier, and you took a long sip of your drink, desperate for something to distract you from the rising heat in your cheeks.

Beside you, Mia glanced between the two of you, her brows drawing together in concern. Her hand brushed your arm lightly. “Hey,” she said softly, her tone careful, deliberate. “Come with me. I’ve been dying to show off the kitchen.”

You hesitated, trying to steady your breath. “I’m fine,” you started, the lie weak even to your own ears.

But Mia didn’t wait for your protest. Her grip tightened gently, steering you toward the hallway. “Just trust me,” she murmured, her voice warm but insistent. “You’ll love it.”

You followed her, grateful for the escape, even if your mind still felt heavy. The bursts of laughter grew louder as she led you into the open kitchen.

Mia’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts as she gestured toward the expansive marble countertops. “Can you believe this? Drew’s been talking about this kitchen for months. The island alone is bigger than my first apartment.”

You nodded absently, trying to focus on her words, but the lingering tension in you made it hard to hear anything beyond the pounding of your own heart.

“And look at this,” Mia continued, pulling you toward the double ovens. Her tone was a touch too enthusiastic, like she was trying to fill the silence between you. “They’re state-of-the-art. Apparently, you can control them with your phone. Like, who even needs that?”

You managed a small laugh, the sound hollow but enough to make her smile in relief. She pointed out every detail: the sleek cabinets, the farmhouse sink, the oversized wine fridge. Her voice was light, easy, but you could see the subtle glances she cast in your direction, checking on you without saying it aloud.

But then she froze mid-sentence, her fingers curling around the edge of the countertop. Her eyes widened slightly, darting toward something, or someone, over your shoulder.

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.

A wave of dread washed over you, the knot in your stomach tightening before you even turned around. You didn’t need to look to know who it was.

“Hi,” Joe said.

The single word was quiet, but it hit like a thunderclap. Slowly, you turned, your grip tightening on the beer bottle as you faced him.

He stood just a few feet away, his hands shoved into his pockets, his expression carefully guarded. For a moment, neither of you spoke. The hum of the party dulled to white noise, the edges of the room blurring until it felt like it was only the two of you.

“Hey,” you said finally, your voice clipped but trembling with the hurt you couldn’t hide.

He hesitated, his jaw tightening. “I didn’t think you’d be here.”

“Yeah, well,” you replied, folding your arms across you like a shield. “I didn’t think you’d care.”

His shoulders stiffened, and for the faintest second, something flickered in his eyes — regret, maybe. Or guilt. He dragged a hand through his hair, the motion as familiar as it was frustrating. “I deserved that.”

“Yeah, you did.”

The words hung heavy between you, the air thick with everything unsaid. His gaze dropped to the floor, his voice softer now. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“Funny,” you bit out, your voice shaking despite your best effort. “Because from where I’m standing, that’s exactly what you did.”

“I was scared,” he admitted, his voice cracking as the words escaped. “Scared of ruining everything. Of losing you.”

Your breath hitched, a knot twisting painfully in your chest. Heat surged behind your eyes, anger and sorrow colliding like waves in a storm.

“Well, congratulations,” you said, the words trembling as they left your lips. “You managed to do it anyway.”

The words struck him like a blow. For a moment, he just stood there, shoulders sagging under the weight of your anger and his own guilt.

You turned to leave, but before you could take more than a step, Joe’s hand closed around your arm, not harsh, but enough to stop you in your tracks.

“Wait,” he said, his voice sharper now, tinged with frustration.

You froze, slowly turning back to him. His face was taut, his jaw clenched, and his eyes — those stupid, stupid eyes, were filled with something you couldn’t quite name. Guilt? Embarrassment? Anger? Maybe all three.

“Let me explain,” he muttered, his grip loosening but not releasing. “Just… Can you stop and listen for once?”

A bitter laugh escaped you, sharp and cutting. “Stop and listen?” you repeated, your voice low, laced with disbelief. “That’s rich coming from you, Joe.”

His face reddened slightly, and for a moment, you saw something like shame cross his features before it was replaced with exasperation. “I’m trying, okay?” he snapped. “Can you just give me a second?”

“A second?!” You wrenched your arm free, your voice low but razor-sharp. “Joe, I gave you months. I gave you every second I had trying to be the friend you clearly didn’t want. And this—” you gestured between you, the tension spilling over. “This is what I get in return?”

His frustration bubbled over. “Fine. Maybe I messed up,” he muttered, his voice tight. “But can you just stop acting like—”

“Like what?” you interrupted, stepping closer, your voice a low hiss. “Like I don’t have a right to be upset? Like you don’t deserve every ounce of guilt you feel?”

For a moment, he just stared at you, his chest heaving, but you didn’t give him a chance to respond.

“You’re not half the man you think you are, Joe,” you whispered coldly. “And I’m done waiting for you to prove otherwise.”

You turned on your heel, setting the drink down and walking away without looking back. You heard him curse under his breath, low and frustrated, but you didn’t stop. You couldn’t. Not anymore.

When you left, the party carried on around Joe, but he barely noticed.

The laughter grated against his ears, hollow and distant, like static in a bad signal. The drink in his hand had long since gone flat, and each sip tasted like ash.

He lingered near the edge of the room, his gaze skimming the crowd half-heartedly, but his mind was miles away.

He’d never seen you that angry before. Never been the target of your wrath. Your voice, usually warm and steady, had cracked with an edge so sharp it cut through him like a blade.

It wasn’t just the anger in your eyes that haunted him. It was the hurt, raw and undeniable, that twisted the knife deeper.

He kept replaying the moment in his head, over and over. The way you’d stood there, unflinching, hurling the truth at him like stones.

Each one had hit its mark. Sharp. Deserved. Impossible to ignore.

And for the first time ever, Joe had no defense. No excuse. No shield to hide behind.

It wasn’t like he didn’t already know how much he’d screwed up, he’d been carrying that guilt for weeks. But hearing it from you, seeing it etched into every line of your face, watching your shoulders sag under the weight of his mistakes, it was unbearable.

And yet, even as you’d turned and walked away, he hadn’t moved. He’d stood there frozen, paralyzed by the very thing he wanted so desperately to fix.

By the time he got back home, the silence in his house was deafening. He dropped his keys on the counter, the metallic clang echoing in the empty space. Collapsing onto the edge of the couch, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees, staring blankly at the phone in his hands.

His thumb hovered over the screen, his breath shallow as he opened your contact. For what felt like the hundredth time, he started typing, rehearsing the words he’d been cycling through his mind all night.

Joe: Can we talk? Please.

His finger hesitated above the send button, doubt twisting in his gut.

What if you didn’t respond? Or worse, what if you did, and it was already too late? The thought clenched around him like a vice.

Before he could stop himself, he pressed send, his heart lurching as the message flew out into the void.

Seconds stretched into agonizing hours in his mind as he waited, the silence amplifying every fear. When his phone buzzed in his hand, his heart jumped, his pulse racing as he read your reply.

You: When?

The single word sent a wave of cautious hope through him, sharp and overwhelming. Without hesitation, he typed back, his fingers moving faster than his thoughts.

Joe: Tonight. Please. I’ll come to you.

As soon as he hit send, his breath hitched. He stared at the screen, nerves twisting into knots as he braced himself for your reply.

When it finally came, two simple letters that carried the weight of the world, his grip on the phone tightened.

You: Ok.

Joe exhaled sharply, the tension in his chest loosening just enough to let him breathe. It wasn’t much, but it was everything.

Fragile. Fleeting. A chance to make things right, and he couldn’t screw it up.

He pushed off the couch, pacing around his living room, his mind racing.

What could he say to fix this?

How could he even begin to mend the cracks he’d caused in something so precious?

Every possible scenario played out in his head, each one ending the same way — your hurt eyes staring back at him, colder than he’d ever thought possible.

Stopping mid-step, he dragged a hand over his face, frustration clawing through him.

He hated himself for every misstep, for every silence that pushed you further away. Now, he wasn’t sure words could ever be enough. But he had to try. He owed you that much.

The drive to your apartment had been a blur of glowing streetlights and the persistent drumbeat of his own heartbeat. The radio drummed through the air, but it was nothing more than static to his ears, drowned out by the endless thoughts in his head.

When he pulled up outside your building, he stayed in the car for a moment, gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles ached.

From where he sat, he could see the faint glow of your window, and the sight made his hands sweat

With a deep breath, he grabbed his phone and typed a message, his fingers trembling with a mix of nerves and desperation.

Joe: I’m here.

The three dots appeared almost instantly, his breath catching as he waited. When your reply came, his heart skipped a beat.

You: Door’s unlocked.

The burden in him grew heavier with every step toward your door, and when he stepped inside, the air felt thick, charged with the tension of everything left unsaid.

The scent of your apartment hit him first. Warm, familiar, and grounding in a way that only twisted the knot in his stomach tighter.

His eyes found you immediately. You were sitting on the couch, staring blankly at the dark TV screen, your posture rigid and guarded.

The soft glow from the lamp next to you highlighted your face, but it didn’t hide the exhaustion in your eyes or the way your lips pressed into a thin line.

You didn’t move. You didn’t speak. But your expression said more than words ever could.

It was an unspoken challenge, a demand for answers he wasn’t sure he could give.

Joe swallowed hard, every carefully rehearsed words evaporating in the silence. His voice caught before he finally spoke, “Thanks… for letting me come.”

The words felt insignificant, but they were all he could manage.

Your head snapped over to him, jaw tightened, your eyes narrowing just enough for him to see the storm brewing behind them. “You said you wanted to talk,” you said finally, your tone sharp and clipped. “So talk.”

Joe’s throat tightened, and for a moment, he couldn’t move. The tension in the room was suffocating, and every ounce of hurt in your voice twisted something deep inside him. He took a hesitant step forward, his voice trembling slightly when he spoke. 

“I should’ve handled this better,” he said, his voice low, almost pleading. “I shouldn’t have pushed you away. I shouldn’t have ignored you. You didn’t deserve that.”

The words stumbled out, weighed down by the guilt pressing deep into him. “I got in my own head, and I let it get the better of me. I thought… I thought that keeping my distance would make it easier, but all I did was hurt you. And I hate myself for it.”

You blinked, your jaw tightening as the meaning behind his words settled over you, heavy and unclear. Keeping his distance? Easier for who? Why?

The questions swirled silently in your mind, but, before you could think better of it, you stood abruptly, the motion sharp and filled with tension, your arms folding tightly across your chest.

“You were scared,” you referred back to earlier, bitterness creeping into your tone. “And what about me, Joe? Do you think this was easy for me? Do you think walking away didn’t hurt like hell?”

He flinched, your words hitting him like a slap. He had no rebuttal, no defense.

Because you were right.

He’d been selfish, so consumed by his own fear that he hadn’t stopped to think about what it was costing you.

“I know I don’t deserve another chance,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “But I need you to know that I care about you. More than anything. And I’m sorry I didn’t show you that when it mattered.”

The tremor in his voice made you pause. Your arms dropped slightly, and you exhaled a shaky breath. “Joe,” you started, softer this time, but the hurt in your eyes was still there, unmoving. “I just… I don’t know if I can keep doing this. I don’t know if I can keep waiting for you to figure out what you want.”

“I know,” he said quickly, the words rushing out like a plea. “I know I screwed up. But please—” He stepped closer, his voice breaking. “Please let me fix this. Let me prove to you that I can be better.”

You didn’t respond right away, and the silence was deafening. But when you finally met his gaze, he saw the war in your eyes, the part of you that wanted to protect yourself battling with the part that still wanted to believe him.

For the first time, he realized just how much he’d put at risk. If he lost you now, he knew he wouldn’t recover.

Your lips parted, and he braced himself, every muscle in his body taut as if preparing for a blow. “This… this is your last chance. Don’t waste it.”

The weight of your words hit him like a tsunami. Brutal. Final. But in the wreckage, there was a sliver of hope, fragile and flickering, and he clung to it with everything he had left.

“I won’t,” he promised, his voice steady in a way that felt almost foreign after weeks of chaos. “I won’t waste it.”

You nodded, but the gesture was stark, emotionless. There was no smile, no warmth. Only quiet resolve, sharp-edged and cutting. “You better not,” you said softly, the faintest quiver in your tone betraying the exhaustion beneath your anger. “Because I don’t think I can do this again.”

You turned sharply, your movement punctuating your words like a final period. But just as you began to step away, his voice broke through the tension, low and deliberate. “Me either, sweetheart.”

The word stopped you cold.

Your breath hitched, the sound catching in your throat like a snare. Sweetheart. He’d never called you that before, and hearing it now felt like a quiet declaration, unspoken but heavy with meaning.

It was unfamiliar on his lips, but it wrapped around you like a hesitant embrace; soft, tentative, undeniable.

Slowly, you drew in a deep, measured breath, letting the weight of his words settle in your brain, rippling outward in waves you couldn’t yet name.

When you finally exhaled, it was as though a fraction of the tension released with it. Quietly, you moved back to the couch, sinking into the corner as if it might anchor you.

The tension in the room lingered, a silent witness to everything left unsaid, but it no longer suffocated you.

Behind you, his footsteps were soft, hesitating for the briefest moment before coming closer. When he sat beside you, the space between you felt impossibly vast, a canyon carved by weeks of silence and hurt.

You risked a glance at him, your heart thrumming in your chest. His eyes stayed fixed on the floor, his fingers clasped tightly as if bracing for a blow.

But his presence was steady, quiet, grounding in a way that sent a flicker of warmth through the cold ache in your chest.

You hated how much you’d missed it. Hated how some small, fragile part of you still leaned into that warmth, despite everything.

And for the first time in what felt like forever, something unfamiliar flickered in your chest. It wasn’t relief, not yet.

But it was softer than anger. Warmer than indifference.

A fragile ember that stirred in the quiet, daring you to believe that maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t the end.

[sorryimananti-romantic]

HI BEAM OMG I'M EXCITED TO READ YOUR REVIEW DFGJHD:

yes omg this is me making use of the whole kpop (and actors) industry in here again you'll see lmao (it's so hard to keep track of your side characters if they're named randomly right? 😭)

omg luna is such a lovely name but to hear your mom be like 'short for lunatic' too KJDFHGDHFG okay mom 😭😭

yepp the crescent company is kind of catchy but then again i'm also a basic b who can't remember her own stuff so i be recycling the same few names in every fic if you haven't noticed already 💀 but yes this time it's more immersive def

AHAHA well i'll be doing a short recap before every chapter so hopefully yall don't have to take notes i hope 💀 but i'll also be releasing a character book + timeline soon so hopefully that's helpful when refreshing your memory dkfghdjfg but yes i hope this fic helps you with the political intrigue stuff anyway <3

YES BIG SCARY YUNHO vs soft sunshine yuyu (this comparison won't last too long bc again i can't resist writing yuyu)

AHAHA yes yunho is the consigliere but also yes they're kind of in charge of different parts of the business as you'll see later hoho AND YES had to get sth going in chap 1 (otherwise this series would have become 10 chaps longer 💀💀)

i have a feeling that you're gonna love the rv spies hoho

YEOSANG HAD TO PULL THE 'you're fired' AS IF LUNA WASN'T ALREADY RECOVERING FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT

ahaha thank you i was haha heheing when i wrote that line dfkghjf

yepp jihoon is absolutely right on that one bc you'll see how tightly knit the crescents are and how they go all the way back and then comes luna with barely two years of bookkeeping already in the main office (tho this was the crescents' trying to keep her close for info)

AHAHAHA yes she's sketching (bc she likes hwa or bc she's coping? who knows) and then the interaction with yunho hehehehehe

thank you so much for this lovely review, beam! yepp it's gonna be a very bumpy ride, but i hope it never gets boring! thank you so much for reading!

The Leaders | Chapter I

"this is the underworld that no one escapes from."

masterlist

ot8!ateez x f!reader, mafia au

chapter warnings: mentions of violence, gangs, drinking, shooting, near-death experience, illegal businesses, seonghwa and yunho are major assholes in this chap, san and yeosang have warmed up, mention of killing, etc

chapter wc: 9.8k

chapter synopsis: it is the year 1970 in eden when an attack on the crescent bar prompts you, the bookkeeper, to carry out yeosang’s order and flee with the contents of the safe. however, you are unlucky to have discovered an unknown, suspicious package that sentences you to an early death. left with no choice, you reveal secrets about the underworld to the crescents and their underboss that even they are not aware of. will this gamble prove to be fruitful?

It was very easy to get lost in the liveliness of the Crescent Bar. Despite being stationed away from the heart of it all, you often found yourself distracted by the chatter of a couple who would occasionally pop in for a drink, the hushed whispers of a group of men who would be looking over their shoulders every few minutes, the hearty laughter that would suddenly fill the hall and spread warmth in its wake, or simply, a lone traveller who would be swaying to the light music that you were actually sick of hearing but didn’t have the heart to complain about. 

It was now second nature to jot in an observation or record transactions on an hourly basis, just like it was natural for you to take over the cashier’s place so the poor girl could take a break and move around. You no longer felt your hair rise every time you overheard a piece of information that you knew Yeosang or San would like to hear, nor did you feel your pores opening to release sweat every time they glanced your way– just like San did now, just having entered the bar and sent his trademark flirty smile in your direction.

“Restock champagne on table two, right away!” 

“On the way!” You shouted instead of the new girl who was currently finding it hard to multitask. You didn’t have to worry about a thing– Yuju, the head of staff, noticed everything as if she had eyes in every corner of the bar. She would make sure to let the girl know that she was doing well with an encouraging pat to her back.

“They’re going to empty our inventory tonight,” Eunbi shared a grin with you. “We’re going to have to check the stock again.” 

“I’ll take that– ask Jeonghan to wake the hell up and make sure we don’t run out,” you requested, sliding over to the cash register and typing in the latest entry, marking it with today’s date of 3rd April, 1970. Eunbi urged the waiters to speed up before rushing to the empty table at the left corner of the bar where Jeonghan was resting. She delivered the message with a smack and Jeonghan, who was never really asleep but just had a knack for pretending that he found the loud and bustling atmosphere of the bar relaxing, groggily walked across the hall to the door that led downstairs to check stock- or to get an actual nap. You would find that out later.

“Luna,” San greeted you with your nickname and you nodded in greeting– the nickname stuck with you after Jeonghan once called you Luna. Everyone started calling you by that name afterwards but only a handful knew it was short for lunatic and you intended to keep it that way. 

You had no desire to use your real name anyway.

“Busy night?” San slid on the stool not far from you, Eunbi passing him a sweet smile before she started to pour Black Shadow for him- a staple of the Crescent Bar as the only supplier of the famous and well-loved Utopian wine in all of Eden. San swirled the red wine in his glass casually before downing it in one gulp and Eunbi refilled it before passing the bottle to you, going to attend to more pressing matters than one of the owners casually lounging to chat.

“Kind of,,” you turned to grab yourself a glass and San poured the wine for you. The clinking of your glasses echoed even in your loud surroundings and you took a sip, taking in his appearance- you assumed he must be returning from business since he was wearing a formal black suit, though he ditched his coat at the entrance. The white sleeves were rolled up, revealing his sturdy forearms with a thick silver watch on his left wrist and a silver band on his index finger- one you had never seen him without. 

Your eyes travelled up to his face- tendrils of slick hair falling on his forehead. Choi San was one of the most attractive men you had ever seen, and hardly anyone could deny that. 

The problem was that perhaps, he really did not realise how painfully attractive he was. The man was far too humble for his own good, despite being one of the most dangerous and powerful men in Eden.

“Heard something interesting of late?” He inquired routinely. It was always a bit more casual with him as compared to Yeosang. Yeosang was the boss around here, yes, but San was the one who kept things under control. The pair of them worked together very harmoniously and you admired that, even though you had qualms about whatever they were doing- whatever you thought they were doing. Almost two years here and you still had no idea just what it was that their gang did. 

Gang, you called them though they preferred ‘organisation’. The cops preferred ‘criminal organisation’ but you supposed it was just semantics at this point. Their name was Ateez- you never heard that term directly from any of their mouths, but even a child recognised that name and knew to avoid them- or avoid trouble with them. 

But officially, they were the Crescent Company, owner of the Crescent Bar and other businesses in Eden.

“Just politics,” you finished the rest of your drink, adjusting the lone pearl ring on your right hand. “Everyone’s a little antsy with what happened at the protest. They think it’s Assemblyman General Wi’s gang.”

“General Wi would never interfere like that, though,” San scoffed in amusement- perhaps he genuinely found the idea of a man like Major General Wi resorting to dirty means hilarious. “He’s far too smart for that.”

“He is,” you had to agree. “But who else to blame? Only someone from the military would dislike people protesting against martial law. There’s only one candidate for presidency who’s got influence in the army. They think General Wi’s success in the elections would mean the army would control the state.”

“Isn’t the army somewhat controlling the state already, though?” San pondered. “President Lee has ties with the army too.”

You may have gotten used to interacting with the most feared gang in Eden, but the mention of President Lee still made you shiver involuntarily. San had noticed it one too many times and though he hadn’t asked for an explanation, you were sure you would lack the words to describe this sentiment anyway. “President Lee… cannot be controlled by the army, or anyone for that matter. General Wi may be smart but he’s still easily influenced when met with someone of a higher status- that’s what I heard,” you added the last bit hoping it wouldn’t sound like a personal opinion. 

San raised a brow at your comment- you often tried (and failed) to mask your personal opinions under the guise of news but whenever you shared something, he made sure to listen- and listen beneath what your words tried to cover up. He often found your opinions and predictions regarding politics holding some weight and he wasn’t quite sure if you were subconsciously very observant or purposely pretending to be unaware. He once asked you how you knew so much but when you didn’t discuss any information with him for a few weeks, he took the hint. You only reported officially to Yeosang and he could bet you found it easier to talk to him about these things because he wasn’t one to probe.

“Keep me updated,” San said and you nodded. “Yeosang must be inside?”

“He’s actually in Room no. 1- he has visitors.”

“Visitors?” San frowned. “Who?”

“Lieutenant Jeong and co.,” you said and San shook his head at the way you so formally addressed the man. He had told you before that no one ever referred to him as the ‘lieutenant’ but you didn’t know how else to refer to him. “I was in the office earlier so they decided to take the room.”

“That’s okay, I’ll pop in there,” he grabbed a handful of nuts from the counter before walking to the backside of the bar, disappearing in the shadows as he reached the VIP area. You took a deep breath, your mind once again wandering to the ‘guest’. 

Lieutenant Jeong Yunho was not a guest here at all. He belonged here. If you thought Choi San was intimidating, you were wrong. You still recalled the first time you saw him right outside the bar, all roughed up, wiping the blood off his face with his sleeve but not a single scratch on him while a group of men around him writhed on the floor, clutching their mangled limbs. He met your eyes and your heart sank in the worst way possible- worse than the moment you were disowned by your own father. It was simply fear, and you hated feeling fear. You made up your mind to avoid him from then on but there was only so much you could do when you worked at the place he owned. 

Oftentimes he came into the bar in the late hours of the night after wrapping up things in the main office and sat right where San had been sitting earlier in front of you, drinking the strongest wine available in silence- perhaps to sort his thoughts out. He didn’t mind you sitting near him and doing your paperwork, and you didn’t make him feel uncomfortable unlike the others who could not stop stealing glances at him- it wasn’t that you didn’t want to, but you simply could not. You didn’t want him to find out what kind of an effect he had on you.

Especially when he had the warmest laughter and his entire demeanour shifted around his comrades. It intrigued you because he felt like two different persons in one vessel. That was the only time you would allow yourself to steal glances at him- when he was distracted enough. Otherwise you didn’t dare look at him in fear that he might find something about you that you had been struggling to hide all your life.

Eunbi came back after serving a group of guests, whispering, “This one table- they were awfully quiet when I went to serve them. I don’t know if it’s because they’ve got some gossip they don’t want anyone to hear or if they’re going to try something stupid.”

You looked at her- Eunbi’s instincts were usually spot-on. “Which table?”

“Over there,” she glanced at the corner and sure enough, the group of four was already looking in your direction. You pretended to be unaffected, asking her to take over the register. While casually strolling towards the door that led to the basement at the other end of the hall, you passed their table, noticing how they resumed talking only after you were out of earshot. 

Something was up. You went downstairs to see Jeonghan napping on the couch.

“Oi,” you poked his thigh and he stirred, opening an eye. You knew he wasn’t really asleep- he wasn’t one to let his guard down, but you supposed he could have his moments of peace. “Stock?”

“Enough for tonight but I’ll place an order for tomorrow before we leave,” he said. “What’s up?”

“There’s a group at table seven. Four young men, armed with guns, awfully quiet and jumpy. Care to take a look?”

“They could have just lost a bet. They might be collecting the remnants of their pride- you tend to do that in silence,” Jeonghan mused.

“Yeah, well, I’d rather you make sure,” you said. “Lieutenant Jeong is here. They’d be stupid to try anything- anything at all, even if it’s just throwing a tantrum.”

“Ah,” Jeonghan got up and smoothened his long dark hair. “I suppose I’ll ask them if they require a better drink to down their shame.”

“Whatever,” you sniggered before going back to your position upstairs. You watched Jeonghan don his jacket as he entered the floor and he looked around, meeting eyes with the group and you both noticed two things-

That their hands went to their hip where the weapons rested, and that they exchanged quick glances with each other. Jeonghan looked at you and you shook your head, urging him to skip the plan and alert the others- it might be an attempt at robbery or worse, but they were so stupid to do that, especially tonight. 

“You’ve restocked their drinks?” You asked Eunbi.

“They just ordered another, Soojin is going to refill their drinks-”

“The new girl?” You shook your head, “She’s been jumpy all night. Stop her, right now. They’re armed, they might do something stupid-”

Before you could finish the sentence or Eunbi could carry out your order, the loud shatter of glass made you both flinch and hold on to each other as you ducked, splinters raining down on you and making you both hiss in pain when some of them met your skin. You tucked Eunbi closer before you raised your head over the counter to assess the situation-

Chaos was the word. Eunbi had been right to be suspicious- the men were now pointing guns at whoever dared to move and another gunshot sounded followed by a guttural yell of the waiter whose arm took the blow. You met eyes with Soojin who stood frozen in the middle of the room and you motioned for her to stay that way.

“No one move!” One of the men shouted, wide eyes relaying the threat. “I’ll shoot you if you move!”

“I’m going to take the register and go to the office,” you whispered to Eunbi who shook her head furiously.

“It’s too dangerous- they’ll shoot you,” Eunbi held your arms in panic but you pried her hands away, squeezing them assuringly.

“I’ll be fine- they won’t spot me. I have to hurry,” you told her and before she could insist, you started crawling away from her, keeping close to the wall and moving towards the backside of the bar, avoiding the shards of glass as best as you could. You had orders to follow- orders Yeosang trusted you would follow at a time like this. You could not disappoint him now after everything he had done for you.

The office was the nearest room from where you sat crouched and if you made a dash for it, you could probably go unnoticed- if the instigators didn’t catch movement from the corner of their eyes. They were too busy forcing the customers to line up against the walls so you could take this chance-

Without thinking any further, you gathered the material of your skirt and thanked the lord that you wore boots instead of your usual heels today as you took a few large steps to disappear into the shadows, now successfully out of their vision. You silently unlocked the door and entered the empty office, taking a deep breath once inside, the adrenaline rush making your head spin. After stealing just a few seconds to calm down, you opened the drawers to make sure nothing of importance was there and then you bent down to access the locker under the desk-

The locker of which you had the key to all this time, but never once checked the contents of. You remembered when Yeosang promoted you from cashier to bookkeeper and told you that not all their transactions were legal- you just had to keep a record and stay shut about it. That, you could do. You kept the key on you at all times, and you took it out from the inside of your skirt’s waistband, unlocking the safe and gathering the two registers and a small packet wrapped way too much to figure out what it held inside. You held the things close to your chest as you made your way out, peeking first to see if the commotion had moved away from your eyeshot. 

You took a turn to the narrow space at your right that led to the back exit, but that was not your destination- the room at the end of that corridor had a passageway that led to another exit in the alley. You slowed down at the sound of footsteps and you wondered if they were coming from right behind you-

Before you knew it, you were being pulled inside the room with a twirl that ended up with your back slamming against the wall, a gasp producing from your lips and freezing midway when you realised just who had pinned you against the wall-

Lieutenant Jeong. And he did not look pleased. 

“What do you think you’re doing?”

“Carrying out orders,” you breathed, realising just how tall and broad he was now that he was in front of you, bending to reach your height. You clutched the registers tighter reflexively, your left wrist still in his strong grip. “I’ve been instructed to flee with the contents of the safe in case of an attack.”

“By who?”

“Kang Yeosang,” you said, though you figured he already knew the answer. “I have the key.”

The man scanned you slowly as if that would give him all the answers to the questions he wasn’t asking. He knew you were the bookkeeper, but did he not know that Yeosang trusted you enough with this?

The sound of a few rushed footsteps caused him to let go of your wrists and you rubbed the skin there. It was Yuju accompanied by the manager, Mingyu, and they told Yunho that there were more men outside now.

“Did you figure out who’s behind the attack?” Yunho asked.

“Probably Chan’s gang,” Mingyu huffed, looking at you and relaxing when he saw that you were safe. “I’m going back to get the rest of the employees.”

“I’ll stay here and make sure they get out safely,” Yuju nodded, noticing the items you were clutching. “Luna- go. We’ll call you when things settle down.”

You looked at Yunho- though you didn’t need his permission, you knew that he could very well ruin things for you. He didn’t trust you- he had no reason to. He told you to wait and disappeared out of the room and Yuju widened her eyes in confusion.

“I mean… I can understand,” you shrugged. “Is everyone okay back there?”

“I don’t think they knew that Yunho and his lackeys were here,” Yuju folded her arms, hugging herself. “They’re going to regret it. Whoever it is… they’ll make him regret ever coming up with this plan.”

“Even if it was just San and Yeosang, they couldn’t have won,” you said and Yuju agreed. “They both go a little crazy too.”

“But Yunho-” she shivered. “He’s something else.”

Your lips twitched in amusement despite the gravity of the situation and moments later, Johnny- Yunho’s assistant- appeared, looking battered.

“I thought it was a gunfight- why does it look like you were in a catfight?” Yuju commented, slumping down on one of the chairs and Johnny shot her an annoyed look. 

“One, I didn’t have a gun on me. Two- they touched my hair!” Johnny huffed and you looked at the man in disbelief, all the impression you had of him going down the drain. Yuju was familiar with Johnny so she didn’t seem very surprised at his childish outburst. “Anyone who messes with my face will get worse in return.”

“Understandable,” you muttered. “Can I go now?”

“Oh, you’re staying here,” Johnny urged you to take a seat. “You’re not going anywhere- Yunho’s orders.”

“Wow, okay,” you sank down on the chair. “And you don’t have a gun? If someone comes here and tries to take these away from me?”

“They’ll have to get past me, you don’t need to worry,” he grinned. “You can relax.”

You could, but you were far too nervous to. You didn’t realise how badly you were rocking your legs until Eunbi entered and you groaned in relief to see she was unscathed. “They almost shot me. I can never get used to this.”

“You will get used to it, one day,” you told her, holding her hands and Eunbi squeezed it with an anxious smile, wondering if that was why you seemed mostly unaffected.

The rest of the employees came one by one in a matter of a few minutes, recovering from the initial shock though it quickly wore off since all of you had experienced something like this at least once- and working in a bar owned by a gang, it was bound to happen anyway. Everyone knew better than to call them a ‘gang’ to their face, though- they had spent years to make their business and organisation legal. 

Somewhat legal, you would argue as their bookkeeper who knew that wine wasn’t the only thing being consumed here. Your hand that was clutching the packet in its grip itched in answer and you looked at it in suspicion.

The few new employees like Soojin were definitely in shock and Yuju did her best to calm them down. Johnny was kind enough to crack jokes to lighten the mood and you were glad to see it was working. Some people really were here to make a living and you were sure you were going to lose a few employees after this incident.

The door opened and Yeosang entered, looking unharmed, almost unfazed. He talked with Yuju first in hushed voices- probably something about the damage they would have to deal with. When he spotted you, he smiled and called you over. You got up and followed him outside to the corridor.

“Glad to see someone followed their orders,” he commented.

“I would have gone to that building you’ve told me about but…”

“Yunho stopped you, I know.” He was going in the direction of Room no.1 where he had previously been in with Yunho but when you entered, you found not only San but Park Seonghwa as well, looking as posh as ever. 

The underboss of Crescent Company, he was the one person in all of the gang that you truly had respect for- it didn’t matter that Park Seonghwa was a criminal. You had once seen him help a lost child find his mother, and another time seen him carry a cat with a broken leg in his arms, and that had changed everything. Not only you but the whole town was aware that Park Seonghwa was a man that possessed a functioning heart unlike most of the gangsters here.

However, you were soon going to find how wrong you had been.

“Miss Jeon, please, make yourself comfortable,” Seonghwa’s calm voice sounded and you looked at Yeosang instinctively- what was happening? He only smiled though it didn’t quite meet his eyes, pouring you a drink which you downed- you needed it now more than ever.

“I’m glad to see you’re alright,” Seonghwa said. “You have the contents of the locker?” 

“Right here,” you placed them on the desk and Yunho shifted in discomfort.

“Thank you for keeping them safe,” the underboss took a deep breath. “I understand that you’ve been working here as the bookkeeper for a considerable amount of time now?”

“About a year, yes,” you straightened, suddenly aware of the tension in the room- even San appeared to be squirming, playing with the ends of his sleeves- you’d never seen him fidget like this. “What is this about, if I may ask?”

“And you… do you have some family? Someone you’ve been caring for?”

“Not in Eden, no,” you confirmed.

“Do you have any idea of what these items are?”

“That’s my registers,” you nudged the thick books. “I’ve recorded every transaction here, legal or not. And this…” you held the package in your hand. “I’m afraid I do not know, but if I have to assume… probably the drugs we slip to our VIPs here.”

Seonghwa met eyes with Yeosang who sighed. “I told you. She does not know, but she can be trusted.”

“We have a policy, Yeosang. I know we trust our employees, but the trust can only go so far.”

“If you could tell me what this is about,” you gritted your teeth, knowing fully well where this was going. “Maybe you should just talk to me, Mr. Park.”

“Well, here’s the thing,” he turned his attention to you, fixing his coat. “We cannot let you go since you’ve seen that,” he pointed at the package and you realised that it was not the drug that you were aware of.  

But if not that, then what was it? You shook it slightly and felt the rustling of something powdery. It had to be a drug.

“And?” You countered. “I was assigned by one of you to take this and flee in case of an attack. I’ve simply followed orders.”

Seonghwa’s brow rose subconsciously and he shared a look with Yunho who looked amused- amused? You knew that people didn’t usually talk back to those in power, but you had once been there. They didn’t know that you once had power- some semblance of it, at least. 

“I’ll be forward with you- we are not allowed to share that with anyone outside our circle, and anyone who does see that is subject to execution.”

You looked at Yeosang in disbelief- he knew that, yet he had still assigned you to carry out this job for him. He could have asked anyone, but he chose you, even when he knew Kihyun had recommended you. Kihyun, the leader of the longest standing gang here and Ateez’s partner. He knew how desperate you were for some stability in your life, yet he chose you.

“I chose you because I trusted you,” Yeosang offered, not meeting your eyes lest he saw how betrayed you felt. It didn’t matter anymore, though. 

“You can’t kill me,” you told Yeosang. “You know who recommended me.”

“I’m sure they will understand,” Seonghwa answered in his stead.

“No, actually,” you tossed the packet on the table and folded your arms, liquid courage making its way up unfiltered as you met Yunho’s eyes- the one thing that you hid from him- from all of them. “I’m sure I’ll be much more useful alive.”

Yunho scoffed loudly, not quite believing the shift in your demeanour and the calculation in your voice, but Seonghwa leaned forward as if to question the sheer audacity that you displayed, and if you knew any better, you would have backed down and accepted your predetermined faith, but-

You still had unfinished business. You still had to take down the men of Eden who possessed power yet wielded it against their homeland. You still had to get back at your father for disowning you. You were far from your goal and you simply couldn’t stop here. 

“Miss Jeon… how on earth could you be more useful alive to us?”

You mirrored Seonghwa’s posture, leaning forward as well and though the wide table separated the two of you, you could very well have been inches away considering how fixated your gazes were. “I know things about the people in power that even your angels do not know of, Mr. Park. I know how their minds work, I know their dirty little secrets. I know what to avoid when dealing with them. I could help you shake Eden’s current establishment- you should not kill me.”

A silence spread in the room as they processed your words and assessed your statement- was this a leap of faith or an act of stupidity? Whatever it was, it seemed to be enough. Seonghwa looked at Yunho again who seemed just as surprised as the rest.

“We could strike a deal,” you offered, relaxing back. While you knew that they could kill you right away and move on with their night, you decided that if you were really going to get killed, you could try something.

It wasn’t a bluff, no. You meant each word you said, but it was a gamble on your life. 

“Luna,” Yeosang’s low voice prompted you to turn to him and adhere to his warning but you were still cross with him.

“What deal would that be?” Yunho finally spoke- you supposed that as consigliere to his boss, he handled these matters. “What information do you possess that is worth more than your life?”

“If I give it away right now, you won’t have any reason to keep me alive, would you?” You countered and San huffed in appreciation, making Yunho shoot daggers at him.

“What? She’s smart,” he pouted and you smiled inwardly, glad that he was still the same old San.

“You will have to give us something, darling,” Seonghwa straightened his gun on the table and though the action was casual, it felt like a mockery of how your life was literally in his- in their hands. 

You leaned back to think- you had to play your cards right here, and very carefully. One wrong move and you’d be gone. What was it that you could reveal right now that would make them consider that you were a force to be reckoned with, and would also make them join hands with you? Could you make this mafia gang bend to your will, or were you asking for too much?

You looked around the room, meeting eyes with each one of them, calculating every possible move from here. Most of the information you had was something you couldn’t simply claim to know without blowing your real identity. If they started looking into your background properly this time, they would find out that your surname was borrowed and there was no record of you being here in Eden before 1966- that was four years ago. You came back from Wonderland in ‘66, having spent a few years there looking after your sick aunt and recovering from the shame and anger of being disowned by your father. You couldn’t tell them who your father was- it was far too early for that. 

And since you couldn’t have them finding who your father was, you couldn’t let them know anything related to the pharmaceutical business your father owned, or his connections with the politicians- could you give them some information about a politician? President Lee, perhaps? But you weren’t sure how dangerous he was, maybe someone else-

Your eyes fell on an antique porcelain vase in the corner that looked awfully familiar. Your frown deepened as you tried to recall where you had seen it, and when it clicked, you realised you had your answer.

“You got that vase from Assemblyman Major General Wi, is that right?”

The four of them turned to look at the object you were pointing at. Yeosang confirmed that you were right. You couldn’t help but have your lips curl in a smirk. “You might want to return it. You don’t want to have an object that was used for money-laundering… unless you’re involved.”

Yeosang blinked in confusion, looking at the older two who seemed to be concealing any hints of emotions. San, however, looked just as confused as Yeosang. “How do you know that?”

“That’s not the point,” you told him. “The point is that General Wi’s artefact gallery is just a cover for his money-laundering business. Not a good look for a presidential candidate, is it?”

Seonghwa nodded, perhaps connecting some dots in his head and coming to the conclusion that you may be right. “I’m impressed, Miss Jeon. I will verify this information but I have a feeling that you’re speaking the truth.”

You nodded and Yeosang finally laughed in disbelief. “Who are you really, Luna?”

“Your bookkeeper who’s asking that you take consideration of my loyalty and make a deal,” you said and when Yeosang nodded, you continued. “I… I, too, have unfinished business. You know I was desperate to have stability when I first got a job here- it wasn’t always like this. I will give you all the information that you need as long as you protect me as your source. As long as you keep me safe, because you and I,” you turned to Seonghwa. “We have the same goals.”

“And what might that be?”

“Power and protection,” you said, sure that you were right about the first part but when Seonghwa’s brows twitched, you realised that the shot in the dark with ‘protection’ wasn’t fruitless. “We’ve all got something or someone to protect. I’m protecting myself. You’re protecting your people.”

“You’re very talkative… Luna,” Yunho commented and your heart fluttered at the way he called your name- only the nickname, yet you were wavering. You mentally scolded yourself. “This could be the only information you possess. Not enough.”

“Oh, please,” you countered. “You know I have more- I can’t be running on sheer confidence here. But don’t think for one second that you can torture that information out of me,” you said and when Yunho smiled guiltily, you somehow found yourself smiling back despite the fact that your life was on the line. “Protect me and I’ll make sure your boss overthrows the current establishment and becomes the most powerful man in Eden.”

“Protect you from who?” Yunho asked and you gulped involuntarily, recalling the darkness and emptiness in the eyes of the person the whole nation admired. 

“I can’t say yet, just… keep me in the shadows, for now. Please.”

Yunho looked at Seonghwa- you couldn’t be making this up. Yeosang asked you to go home and that they would give you an answer soon. When you left the room, Yeosang sat down next to San.

“You’re thinking what I’m thinking?”

“She’s not lying, yes,” San confirmed and Yeosang nodded. “She’s only ever worked, right? We’ve been seeing her for a year now. Work and home is all she does, isn’t that so?”

“Yes. I kept an eye on her for a few months before I assigned her with bookkeeping duties- she has no family here. Just a few acquaintances- Kihyun of MX Pharmaceuticals, which I thought was odd, but they were a gang before they became a pharmaceutical company, so maybe she encountered them at some point. They literally know everyone.” 

“And her roommate just so happens to be Wendy.”

“I dismissed it as a coincidence. She couldn’t be one of the RV spies, could she?”

“Nope. They’re far too meticulous.”

“You assigned bookkeeping to a person who was acquainted with both Kihyun and Wendy?” Yunho raised his brows in disbelief. “That’s too big a coincidence, guys.”

“Wendy is under a disguise, Luna probably doesn’t know what she actually does,” Yeosang said. “Besides… I trust her. I really believe it wasn’t necessary to just kill her like that. It’s not like she knows what’s inside this,” Yeosang poked the packet with his finger.

“I don’t think Chan’s gang got a whiff of our drug dealing,” Seonghwa sighed, running a hand through his lengthy locks. “They must have attacked just to get us riled up. They wish to tarnish our reputation because General Wi is choosing sides.”

“We really need to check if the thing about the artefacts gallery is true,” Yunho said. “If it is, we have to tread carefully. Hongjoong will be pissed to learn what happened tonight.”

“I’ll take care of him,” Seonghwa got up. “This girl… Luna?”

“That’s what everyone calls her here,” Yeosang said and Seonghwa nodded slowly.

“She’s something. I’ll verify her information- it’s probably true. Tell her we’ve got a new job for her.”

When you bluffed your way out of your death- though you hadn’t really lied, you did hold information that could ruin Eden- you didn’t expect that you’d find yourself with a new job in the main office of the Crescent Company. You paused in the middle of recording the last entries of the day and your job, only to catch Yeosang watching you with interest. 

You folded your arms, staring back and pulling your lower lip between your teeth in contemplation. 

“Are you sure this isn’t just a trap to kill me? You could just shoot me and get on with your day, why go through all these lengths?”

Yeosang’s rich laughter boomed in the office room and you sent a tired glare in his direction before going back to checking the receipts of the new stock. 

“We would have killed you last night if we really wanted to.”

The nonchalance with which he said that sent a bitter taste down your throat, reminding you of familiar words you had heard a few years ago, but you knew that this situation was different- you had to believe that they were different. Otherwise, there was no hope left for Eden. 

“I’m still mad that you signed me up for death with this job, by the way. That was a low blow.”

“You are our first bookkeeper,” Yeosang said in response. “We just didn’t know what to do… does that sound like a good excuse?”

“Hardly,” you muttered. “I thought we were… acquaintances, if not friends. I respected you, Yeosang.”

Yeosang put a hand on his chest. “Respected? Do you hate me now?”

“I can’t really hate you when you’re… you,” you shut the register, looking at him. 

You had spent long hours with Yeosang in this very office. Somehow, with him, it had always been naturally comfortable and he once admitted that he thought it was odd how you both could be in the same room, busy with your own work yet feeling right at home. Though you barely ever had a heart-to-heart with the man, the impression that he was a scary gangster had vanished long ago. He was scary when he had to be, but he just felt more human than his partners.

“What does that mean?”

“I’m just a little hurt that you delivered me on a platter to your underboss for him to do whatever he wanted with me. Try to understand,” you explained. “And I still respect you, don’t worry.”

“He wouldn’t have killed you. I would have stopped him,” Yeosang insisted.

“You were more nervous than me,” you scoffed. 

“I was nervous for you, that you were going to make a mistake and he would really have to kill you,” Yeosang admitted and you blinked in surprise. “But you did just fine on your own. Are you not going to tell me who you really are?”

“I can’t tell you that yet,” you told him. “I trust you just enough to gamble with my life, but I’ll reveal things only when I’m sure the information would be in safe hands. You have to trust me a little too. It’s not like I can betray you- where would I even go? You’re all going to kill me if I make a mistake anyway.”

Yeosang nodded- you had a point. “Have you got nothing to lose?”

“I’ve already lost everything that I had,” you shook your head. “I’ve only got my life now.”

“I have a feeling you’ll do well in the main office,” Yeosang clapped his hands once in conclusion. “Since you’re already aware that we’re doing both legal and illegal dealings, you can do bookkeeping there. I have to warn you though- if information ever leaks, they will kill you without hesitation.”

“Geez, thanks,” you winced. “Tell me something new.”

“I don’t know where you got the guts to talk back to me,” Yeosang laughed, shaking his head once. “But keep this up and you won’t last long.”

“Why?” You leaned forward on the table in challenge. “Are you and San the only ones who can converse like normal humans?”

“We’re always just a little tipsy,” Yeosang said cheekily and you realised he was right. “You shouldn’t see me when I’m sober.”

You pursed your lips, realising that he was right- if he was anything like the rest of his gang, he had to be drunk all this time if he could tolerate you, a mere employee, talking like you were on his level. 

“Snob,” you muttered and got up to put these registers with the rest of the piles, ignoring Yeosang’s snickers. “Alright, my work here is done.”

“You’re fired,” Yeosang announced with a grin. “I’ve wanted to say that to you for so long.”

“You’re hopeless! I’ve been promoted, not fired,” you corrected.

“Whatever,” Yeosang got up, checking the time on his wristwatch. “San will be here in a few minutes- he’ll accompany you to the main office. You can say your farewells but you’ll be here often. It’s not a goodbye.”

“Okay,” you stood awkwardly for a moment, looking around- the beige walls with paint peeling in the corner, the dark shelves and furniture, the gramophone in one corner that you never played because you could always hear music from outside.  

“I’ll miss this,” you took a deep breath, nodding as you memorised and soaked in the feeling of this room.

“You’ll be back,” he assured, giving you a moment. “Now off you go.”

Sticking your tongue out at him, very out-of-character for you and taking him by surprise, you exited the office. You could hear what his response would have been- ‘just because we decided to keep you alive doesn’t mean that you can act out!’ but it was exactly that. If you had their protection, you would act out- just not to them. 

To the people who wore the cloaks of saints over their demonic hearts and ruled over Eden.

“Luna!,” Eunbi spread her arms as soon as she spotted you and you gladly let her hug you. “I’m gonna miss you so much.”

“I’m hearing I’ll be here often, so you won’t have to worry too much,” you poked her ribs, making her squirm as she laughed. “Just stay safe. And no matter what, do not become their bookkeeper.”

Eunbi frowned at that but before she could ask you more, the bell over the front door chimed and you knew it was San the way the bar suddenly fell quiet. You let go of Eunbi and patted her cheek before meeting eyes with San who waved at you.

Waved. You were a little pleased to see that the new arrangement was as awkward for him as it was for you. Eunbi echoed that out loud with a ‘did he just…?’ and you told her to get back to the counter.

“Hi,” San stifled a smile. “Good to see you’re still in one piece.”

“No thanks to you,” you countered. “Shall we?”

“I’m just going to let Yeosang know that I’m here,” San said, finally chuckling. “Look, if it helps, Seonghwa wasn’t really going to kill you.”

“I keep hearing that, but it just feels like you’re trying to convince yourselves instead of me,” you shook your head. “It doesn’t matter. I'll say my farewell to Yuju.”

You agreed to meet outside in five minutes and you went to find Yuju, who told you to stay safe. Jeonghan looked more worried than Yuju- he had overheard some of their conversation last night about them getting rid of you but you assured him it was alright now.  You just found out something you shouldn’t have so they were just being cautious. Though he didn’t look convinced, he let you go with an affectionate pat to your shoulder and a joke about how no one is going to let him nap in peace anymore.

Before you went outside, you took a look in the mirror and adjusted your black slacks and the rounded collar of your cream blouse before wearing your black coat over it. San was already waiting for you in his car- a black ‘67 Bentley- and you got in the backseat, your heart beating in anticipation.

“It’s not a long drive from here,” San said, “But I thought as an apology, I’d give you a ride.”

“I’ve been in better cars, but I appreciate the sentiment,” you said and San deadpan stared at you. You squirmed, realising an explanation would entail revealing details from your background. “I mean… the condition could definitely improve.”

“Yeah, it’s been through a lot, you’re right, “ San let out a chuckle before glancing at you. “You’re not going to tell me where exactly you’ve been in better cars? Because as far as I know, you were struggling to make a living when you first got a job here.”

“That was because I moved back from Wonderland after a long time,” you fiddled with your pearl ring. “Anyone would struggle.”

“And how do you really know Kihyun?”

Kihyun- he was almost like a brother to you. As a child, you had often seen him go in and out of your house because of some business dealings with your father. Though your father kept you hidden for the most part, having homeschooled you and pretending that you were his niece instead of daughter, Kihyun knew. He was far too smart to be deceived by a simple lie, and your brother had made it painfully obvious that he hated you for a reason. And when everything went wrong, Kihyun was there as a shield. 

He had offered you a place in his company too, but you could not possibly involve Kihyun into your plans for the demise of your enemies. You respected him far too much to drag him into your mess.

“He’s just a connection- we have a few mutual acquaintances.”

“And who might they be?” San asked but you shook your head.

“I can’t reveal their identities… yet,” you said and when he narrowed his eyes, you stifled a smile. “Is there something I should know before we reach the office?”

“Well,” San exhaled, thinking. “It’s going to be quite different from the bar- more professional and tense. I’m sure the secretaries you’ll work with will warm up to you eventually but they might come off as unwelcoming or prickly at first.”

“We’ll see,” you said. “And… will I be interacting with… one of you often?”

“Why?” San questioned, a playful smile gracing his lips. “Is there someone you’d like to interact with?”

“That’s not what I mean-” you started but the car came to a halt and with a dirty look thrown in San’s direction, you got out of the car and craned your neck to look at the double-story building that was the main office for Crescent Company.

It wasn’t anything much, and you knew that that was intentional. Just like all the other office buildings in this somewhat posh area of the town, it had a chestnut brick wall with a new moon that made up for the ‘c’ in crescent. The guard situated at the front door bowed to San as you entered. The employees inside acknowledged San’s presence, halting what they were doing and only resuming once San nodded. There were a handful of them- a receptionist and a few workers coming in and out of the unlabelled rooms. You supposed everyone was assigned a task and had respective offices.

“This is us,” San announced, motioning at the somewhat lifeless interior. “Nothing much, and we would like to keep it that way. You’ll be working upstairs with Jihoon and Eunha- they are our boss’ secretary.”

“Mr. Park’s?” You questioned as you followed him at the end of the hall towards the stairs.

“And Hongjoong’s,” San said and you paused in the middle of ascending the stairs.

“I’m going to work for Kim Hongjoong?”

“Relax,” San snickered. “He’s always holed up in his office if he’s not in the field, and Jihoon does the assistant work. You won’t encounter him too much.”

“That’s not the point,” you muttered. You reached the upper story to see three rooms across the spacious hall which was set up as an office itself. There were two people working in that space, sitting in front of the windows where there were three desks in a row. It didn’t look out of place since their workspaces were spread across the entirety of the hall. The empty desk looked a bit odd, though, and you reckoned it had been set for you which meant they must have moved things around a bit.

“I’ll leave you to get acquainted with them,” San said. “There won’t be much to do for a few days until they think you can handle the work.”

When Jihoon’s burning gaze met yours indicating his annoyance- already?- you gulped. Perhaps, you should have stuck to the bar or denied their offer. Jihoon was quick to change his expressions as he rose from his seat.

“Mr. Choi,” Jihoon greeted and Eunha looked a bit surprised as if she hadn’t heard you two come. She followed with her own greeting, tucking her short pink hair behind her ear in what looked like a nervous habit.

“This is… Jeon y/n- the new secretary. I hope you’ll train her well. She’s already familiar with bookkeeping so I don’t think she’ll have to learn much.”

“No worries, we’ll handle it,” Jihoon said. “Nice to meet you, Miss Jeon.”

“Nice to meet you too. You can just call me Luna- everyone does.”

“That’s a pretty name,” Eunha shook hands with you. “This is your desk, and I’ll give you a walkthrough before Jihoon takes you around the office, is that okay?”

“Sure,” you nodded, feeling hopeful. You turned to San. “I think I got it from here.”

“Very well,” San nodded. “Take care of her- she’s got potential.”

Jihoon only smiled in response and as soon as San was out of sight, he slumped down on his desk and went back to typing. You turned to Eunha who only smiled awkwardly, muttering ‘he’s a bit cranky at times’ and you shrugged. You could deal with cranky.

Eunha told you about your duties- bookkeeping since you had experience, typing a report each night that Mr. Park or Mr. Jeong would be signing, and any other miscellaneous tasks that Eunha and Jihoon couldn’t cover in their shift hours. Once she was done briefing, she handed you over to Jihoon who made a display of grunting in annoyance before he guided you downstairs to the last room which was essentially a storage.

“You must know that not all the business under the Crescent Company is legal,” he said and you nodded. “Where would you keep the record of illegal transactions?”

“Definitely not here?” 

“Here,” he corrected, “but concealed while still being right in front of your eyes. In the case of a raid by the detectives because a certain inspector has been on our case for a while, they will take everything in here, right? The illegal transactions are kept in a safe behind that painting,” he pointed towards the mediocre painting of cherry trees in the darkest corner of the room. 

“And the key?”

“A code, this time,” he said. “I’m still hesitant about sharing it with you but Mr. Choi said you could be trusted.”

“I’ve handled such matters before, yes,” you told him, understanding why he was sceptical about you. “There’s a reason I’m here.”

“That is definitely not the reason why you’re here,” Jihoon scoffed loudly. “Just because you passed a little trust test does not mean you get a position as the boss’s secretary. Eunha and I have worked under them since the beginning- that’s a plausible reason. They trust us.”

Though you wanted to argue with the man, you decided that you would be better off being civil towards him if you had to tolerate him to keep your job. 

“Who else knows the key?”

“Apart from the boss, underboss and consigliere… only Eunha and I. So if information leaks, if the location of the safe leaks-”

“I’ll be the obvious suspect, of course,” you nodded and Jihoon considered you for a moment before acknowledging your answer. 

“Our schedules are going to change now, so there is always at least one person out of the three of us in the office at all times, though the three of us must always be present in the 12 to 2pm slot. In case of an emergency, you are expected- obliged to get down here and escape with the contents of this safe, is that clear?”

“Clear as day,” you confirmed.

“1024 is the code,” Jihoon said and you nodded, memorising it. “Now, let me show you where we keep the official records.”

You took note of every little thing Jihoon had to tell you. Eunha observed how you worked for the rest of the evening and made you acquainted with the methods that you were to use. You were familiar with the work- you had already been in charge of tracking expenses, monitoring budget and keeping a record of all the financial transactions in the Crescent Bar. Eunha was going to take care of tax payments and returns while Jihoon was going to supervise. 

It was a manageable workload so you were pleased with your current position- you just hoped the two would warm up to you soon. You did not expect them to get along with you, you just prayed they would remain civil and not stir any trouble.

Your schedule was going to change from the next day and your shift was from 6pm to midnight- or more, if the need be- and you would also have to be present in the 12 to 2 pm slot. Since you were going to be the one who would lock up the office, you received a set of keys which included one for the storage, one for the main door, and one for Jeong Yunho’s office- in case he or Park Seonghwa weren’t present- to lock away those documents. You were to place them in the cupboard in Mr. Jeong’s room.

While you were in the office today, you didn’t encounter any of your bosses. You figured their absence wasn’t unusual since no one was talking about them. Eunha helped you prepare the report that you were to hand over tonight in her stead if anyone did visit the office because she had a work appointment and needed to be there. She told you to make sure that all the locks are in place before you leave for home.

While you waited for the clock to strike midnight- which was about twenty minutes from now- you busied yourself with scratching your pencil at a piece of paper that was going to be discarded anyway. One thing that calmed you like nothing else was the feeling of the pencil’s lead rubbing against the grains of the paper and leaving a mark for you to play with. With a very specific picture in your mind, you continued to draw straight lines, sharp curves and edges, adding the elements of threat and danger where needed, but preserving the softness of it all-

“What are you doing here?”

You looked up to find not the person you were hoping to see but the person you wanted to avoid the most.

Jeong Yunho.

Lieutenant Jeong Yunho, all dressed up in a black suit with engraved silver buttons, the black tie loose on his neck, his hands hidden in the pockets of his pants. Your eyes travelled up to his parted lips, to the muscles of his jaw flexing and unflexing, to his dark gaze trained not on you but lower- what was he looking at-

You subconsciously put a hand over your incomplete sketch and got up in greeting. “Lieutenant Jeong. I have the report- Eunha had a work engagement.” 

“I see,” he nodded slowly as if still coming to terms that you were to work here now. You could return the sentiment- it was a strange feeling to see him here. You had acknowledged each other’s presence in silence and at rare times, shared a drink (you didn’t often drink at the bar). But standing across each other in this formal setting… 

“Well?”

You broke out of your trance, feeling heat creep up your neck. Perhaps, you were waiting for him to call you to his office. Had you expected him to do that because Yeosang had done the same once? He had been so nonchalant about everything but right now, you felt overwhelmed. You fumbled with the folders until you dug out the report, cursing yourself internally because why didn’t you place it right on the top? 

You extended your hand and he drew closer to grab the document from you, reminding you once again of how tall he was. You gulped- there was no way to explain what you were feeling except a crushing sense of intimidation that made you feel so very small. It had been about a year, yet whenever you were in his presence, your mind took you back to memory lane- 

Specifically the lane near the bar where he ended his enemies and found you watching. Neither of you ever addressed why you had been there or why he had done all of that mercilessly.

“Looks fine,” he said, turning the few pages and skimming through them. “You can leave now- it’s almost closing time. I’ll lock the doors behind me”

“Alright…” were you two the only ones inside the building? “Goodnight, Lieutenant.”

“You don’t have to call me lieutenant, you know,” he said and you met his eyes again, finding the ends of his lips slightly curled in a… smile? Or was that a smirk? 

“How would you have me address you then?”

Somehow, it oddly reminded you of a similar conversation you had with Yeosang, except you had been calling him ‘sir’ and he couldn’t stop snorting everytime you called him that. He let it be for the entire day until he told you to just call him Yeosang- calling him sir in an informal environment only earned him odd looks. You argued that apart from the selected few employees, literally everyone called him ‘sir’ or a variation of it, but he insisted that you already sounded like something was stuck up your [redacted] and he didn’t want to add on to that.

That was the only time he saw your composure break. The rest was history.

The consigliere shrugged, giving you yet another glimpse of the person he was. He didn’t like to be called lieutenant, even though this was a formal environment.

“Mr. Jeong then, since everyone calls you that,” you concluded. 

“And do you still go by Luna?”

“I… do.”

He nodded once, his gaze falling at the paper you were hiding from him. You kept your hand placed over it and he turned, disappearing into his office. You didn’t miss the frustrated grunt that escaped his mouth as he shut the door.

Your shoulders relaxed and you picked the paper- he had definitely seen and recognised the gun that you had just seen last night on the table, and he probably recognised the hand that held it as well- the long, slender fingers that radiated delicacy despite being roughed up. 

The hand of the underboss of Crescent Company. Someone you had wished to meet before the night ended.

-> apply for the taglist here! (check your privacy setting if the tags don't work)

taglist pt 1:

@lorensonebraincell @sungbeam @waywardstaytiny @lluvia1415 @woohwababes @jjaemasung @fruithoughts @fancypeacepersona @propinquitypsithurism @kyomiingi @ateezswonderland @janetsarttrove @thenopekid @justconniez @daniela-f-uwu @hwasbestlover @vcutparis @missbangtangirl @zaynsfl4m3s @beabatiny @slowitdownmakeitb0uncy @alliethequeen @lavishloving @haowonbins @franbowesax @klllerwaifu @katerade23 @selfishw4ltz @paramedicnerd004 @atzlordz @curse-of-art @meowmeeps @intowxnderland @faeriehwa @staytiny-yaps @ishz @dumplingsyum @bunnychui @kandy108 @chanst1ddies @softsanglix @yongility @sang-09 @sweetinsaniiity @a-teez-4-exo @omgsuperstarg @saintriots @bihwabi

[dokidokitsuna]

GameSwap!AU #2

Thank @earthykinous for this idea; I saw it in the tags of the first GameSwap and immediately knew I had to give it a try ^^

-Taranza seems like a very ‘devoted’ character, the kind who very easily latches on to personal influences…so as part of the HWC, I think he would be just as involved with the Mother Computer as Haltmann, maybe even more so, just to be able to share something with him. Just in general, he’d be agonized about his father not recognizing him anymore, and desperate to prove his worth despite it, trying to replace familial love with company loyalty in a VERY toxic-positive way. ^^ And besides, if he uses that control helmet often enough, maybe he’ll lose all his painful memories too… And in this scenario…maybe the reason Haltmann dies is because he sacrifices himself to Star Dream to save Taranza somehow, finally recognizing his son when he realizes he’s about to lose him again. OR, maybe he just feels like Taranza is too important to lose without knowing why, leaving only Taranza to bear the true emotional weight of that sacrifice.

-I think Susie is a more mature character than Taranza– despite her sad backstory, she seems to handle her situation well during the game, and doesn’t even seem that affected by Haltmann’s death post-game. If it’s not maturity, at the very least it’s a much lower level of emotional attachment.

So how would she go about dealing with her crush mutating into a tyrannical insect queen? I think she would actually just lose respect for her, and end up turning on her.

Despite staying by her side and aiding in her conquest, she would secretly be plotting her downfall: praising and obeying Sectonia to her face, while trying to undermine her in the background…keep your friends close and your enemies closer, as they say. Rather than mistakenly capturing the wrong ‘Hero of the Lower World’, Susie would’ve picked Dedede on purpose, knowing that Kirby was the ‘real’ hero who would come to save him AND defeat Sectonia. She’d then pretend to oppose him throughout the game, throwing challenging bosses his way to prepare him to face the Queen…and finally, she’d reveal her true motivations once Dedede has been freed.

But maybe, just to bring back the stakes and drama…maybe Sectonia overhears this reveal, and enters the scene. Through the ensuing argument, we could learn a bit about how Sectonia became evil in the actual game, and have Susie basically call her out, admitting to her treachery and daring her Queen to do something about it. To throw away the last shred of their former friendship, once and for all.

Which Sectonia does, of course, and from there the rest of the game could proceed like normal. Only, I think Susie’s characterization as a tough-yet-caring friend and a twist-hero would make her return with the Miracle Fruit a lot more satisfying. Rather than failing to see how evil Sectonia had become until it personally affected her, she knew exactly how far-gone she was, and put her life on the line to try and wake Sectonia up.  And despite losing that gamble, despite witnessing her friend choose to become a monster in more ways than one, she survived and came back to help us end the battle. ^^ I think that would be really heartwarming~

[villainbait]

Midnight Warmth

Pairing: Toji x Reader | Toji x fem!reader Rating: NC-17 Tags: toji x reader, toji x you, toji x fem!reader, quick and dirty toji smut, pov: you’re toji’s wife, cockwarming, cuddling, kissing, intimacy, intimate sex, lovemaking, teasing, porn without plot, this is honestly just smut from start to finish, fushiguro toji has a big dick, soft fushiguro toji Word Count: 1500~

Description: Keys jangle loudly to announce his arrival, and he tosses them carelessly into a useless decorative bowl by the entryway. He starts to walk through the apartment but thinks better of it as the memory of what happened last time filters through his mind. The scarred corner of his mouth quirks upward as he sheds his soaking wet clothes at the entryway, instead of tracking water throughout the apartment. Once nude, he shivered as frigid air ghosted over his chilled skin. He remembered the heat pump was broken and not due for repair until tomorrow. Toji’s smirk blooms into a mischievous smirk when he remembers that he has a perfectly good warmer cozy in bed. He even proudly named you wife. 

“I promise I won’t move,” Toji wheedles, already sliding into bed and completely destroying any semblance of relaxation you were trying to have before he got home. Even from your side of the bed however, you could feel how cold he was. Just how long had he been out in this awful weather? The rain was loud against the windows of your shared bedroom and you distractedly worried about how well he took care of himself when he left you like this. 

“C’mon.” He nuzzles his face into your neck. “Warm me up, babe.”

With a face like that, how could you say no? Honestly, with a cock like that, it was–

His icy feet suddenly skate against the back of your calves, and it's enough to distract you so that he snatches you against him; holding you captive against his chilled body. Your squeak of outrage is drowned out by his chuckle and his hands roam over your body, effective as the ice cubes he liked to drop down the back of your shirt in the summer. Your nipples stiffened instantly, and you bite your lip to keep from asking him to warm them with his tongue. 

“Fineeeeee.” You groan and his hand eagerly tries to sneak between your legs, but you swat it away. Everywhere he had touched raised goose flesh along your sensitive, heated skin. 

You wiggle out of your bottoms, leaving them abandoned somewhere near the bottom of the bed. Your own hand slips quickly between your thighs and he groans, lamenting about how he can’t watch you get yourself ready to take his cock. He sulkily nuzzles your neck instead, nipping at the sensitive skin. The whimper gets caught in your throat as your fingers stretch yourself in preparation to take that monster laying hotly against your thigh. You loved Toji, but he was often too much for you to handle without proper foreplay. 

Toji gets impatient and pushes your hand away to replace it with his. The added cold sensation of his fingers joining yours to touch your aching clit is enough to make you soft, pliant, and ready. His fingers were so much bigger than yours that he has to work them to get them inside of your wet heat, but he makes you feel so full with just this much that you know with a little more work he could easily make you cum.

Instead, once you’re stretched to his satisfaction, he hooks one of your legs over his. He wedges a powerful thigh between yours, lining his cock up at your slick entrance. You knew you weren’t wet enough and so did he, but he wanted to be inside you so badly he couldn’t wait anymore. He was so cold and he desperately wanted to be warm. He wanted you to warm him in the way only you could. The only one he would allow to thaw his frigid heart. 

Toji slides his cock to the hilt inside of you, and your gasps mingle in the frigid air of the bedroom. The repairman swore he’d be here in the morning, but you didn’t mind if repairs were delayed if it meant Toji would tease you like this every night. His cock made you feel so full you swore you could feel it bulging obscenely against your abdomen, even though that couldn’t really be true. It made you squeeze around him, eliciting another groan from his lips as he clutched you more tightly against his chest.

Then, infuriatingly true to his word, Toji doesn’t move. 

“What are you doing?” You try to grind your hips against his, but he has you effectively pinned; halting your movements with his hands on your hips. “Why-” 

“Go back to your reading. I told you I wouldn’t move.” He doesn’t lift his head from where it was buried against your throat. You could feel his hot breath feather along your pulse and you miss the way he’d leave deep, bruising hickeys there to claim what was his. Instead, he was taking his time teasing you, pressing soft kisses along your jaw. His light stubble tickled your skin and you tried to turn your face away but he crowded more closely to continue his lazily persistent  affection.

“How am I–ngh–supposed to read when you keep doing that with your tongue?” You tried to sound accusatory, but the breathless way you moaned gave away how much you liked what he was doing. 

His deep chuckle made his cock pulse inside of you and you whimpered, attempting to move again. Toji also didn’t offer a solution to the problems he was causing and you were so close to begging, his name a plea on your lips. 

“Toji….” you whined and his lips playfully nipped your ear. “What?” You rocked your hips against his and he stilled them with a playful soft slap to your bare ass. “Stop that. I’m trying to be nice, y’know.” 

“Well stop it,” you pout. His scratchy chuckle rumbles against your throat and it makes you squirm even more, desperate for any kind of friction between your thighs. 

“Maybe I don’t want you to be nice.” 

Toji froze and then his fingers curled into the softness of your body hard enough to bruise. “Do you work tomorrow?” 

“No.”

“Good.” His smile curves against your shoulder. “It means you can read your book all night, right?” 

His answer was infuriating, but so was the subtle and rhythmic flexing of his hips to tease you. You almost hadn’t noticed it with how sly Toji was, but once you did, it was driving you insane. 

“Stop that,” you grumbled as you tried in vain to read your book and his kisses along your throat only made it harder for you to focus on anything at all. 

“Stop what?” He asked innocently and his hips stuttered into yours more obviously this time, chuckling into the crook of your neck. Toji’s breath fanned hotly against your throat as he fought to maintain control and not flip you onto your back and fuck you until you were screaming his name loud enough for the neighbors to hear. It didn’t help when you squirmed, your own hips rocking back against his. 

Finally you threw the book aside and grabbed him by the hair, jerking his lips to yours, finally too needy to deny what you wanted anymore. Your hips ground against his and he groaned into your mouth before he broke the kiss and flipped you on your stomach. 

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you, princess.” He withdrew enough to pull you to your knees before slamming back into you with enough force it made the bed creak. Your groans collectively mingled in the air as Toji did what you asked and fucked you hard and fast, the tip of him kissing your cervix with every bruising roll of his hips into yours. 

The room felt warmer now as sweat rolled off your bodies and you found yourself reaching the fever pitch of pleasure, Toji’s name a soft, intimate litany on your lips. His quiet grunts and words of encouragement heatedly whispered into your ear only added to that pleasure, or maybe that was his deft fingers that delved between your thighs, his fingers frantically working your clit to send you careening over the edge until you screamed his name. 

Both of you lay panting in the aftermath, Toji’s cock still throbbing inside of you despite his release and he pressed you down into the soft mattress, trapping you. 

“You’re heavy,” you whined and he chuckled but didn’t roll off of you. Instead, he wedged an arm around your waist and tugged your ass more firmly against his hips; turning onto his side. He drew the covers back over the both of you to trap the heat your combined friction had caused, but Toji’s intentions were clear.  He nuzzled his face comfortably into your throat and absently caressed your stomach.

You realized he wasn’t going to let you go, but your protests fell on deaf ears. All you get for your efforts is a low, rumbling chuckle as he holds you fast against him. 

“Goodnight, wife.”  You didn’t sleep at all.

[iamhereforfunnzies]

Okay, so the longer you go blind, the more your other senses heighten. Humans have proven that they can develop echo location. Especially since humans already have a form of it in their every day lives.

Just one of the Bat Fam hearing clicks, only to find Reader making the noise to pin point where things are. But the second they turn the corner, Reader stops and turns their head towards the 'sibling' that suddenly came into their room.

"Why were you clicking so much?"

"Oh, it makes it easier to get around when there isn't anyone else to make sound. Usually, any amount of sound can help me locate what's around me."

"Like... a bat?"

"I guess? It's not new. Lot of blind people can do it to some extent."

-

On another note, I feel like Tim would be the least likely to treat Reader as a baby when his attention is on them. He literally trained to fight blind. So did Bruce. But for Bruce, he hasn't had to use that skill in so long, and it was a small part of his training. Tim frequently makes use of his skill in some way, even if he can see, using it as a way to dodge or attack behind himself.

Maybe this leads to Tim getting Alfred to recommend blind self defense training and some martial arts training. After he gets back from his own blind training for Robin. And then just forgets about Reader.

But this leads Reader to actually favoring Tim a bit more, cause he doesn't treat them like an idiot or an invalid. He also made sure Reader has a form of training.

Maybe, when he starts becoming Yandere, he invites Reader to the training mats to help him keep his blind fighting up and teach her more.

Heck, we can even continue on this line. Reader walking with a friend in Gotham, and a mugger to try to grab the blind person. Damian, as Robin on patrol with his siblings, tries to intervene before the 'weak' sibling gets hurt. Only to watch the mugger get bodily tossed, or their feet swept out from under themselves.

And Tim isn't surprised.

OH MY GOD I AM SORRY THIS TOOK FOREVER TO ANSWER😭😭

Yeah , when you treat a child like an adult it will imitate you. Many actually confused children's accent for not knowing how to pronounce words because of lack of knowledge (still a key factor) but it's actually them imitating the baby talk they hear.

Tim would be the type who shows you how to fish instead of giving you fish. I feel like in some sweet way he used to read to you not fairytales but hardknock books be it from science to history. Reader would slightly have better manners with Tim then anyone else because even with their relationship strained she is happy with the memories.

The exact scene Tim will become yandere would actually seeing you do the stuff he taught you doing alone , like slight training in your room , reading alone in braille (it looked low quality since finding braille books are difficult to find) he didn't know what you were reading , he felt bad , so he secretly started learning braille to make books for you and making sure they are the highest quality paper and making sure it's the best of the best translation by going to professionals and staying up to make the cover textures you like. He does ask you about your constant clicking and tapping of foot and gets you so many clicky pens.

Damian , unconsciously followed you walking home and was upset you walking around the street without a cane (he was jealous of your friend holding your hand for guidance) , a rush blurree was about robbed you blind but your insticts bodied him so hard in the cement floor that your friend was the one screaming. Damian was stilled shock and waited for you and your friend to leave to check on the man , kicking the robber's leg and checking his heart (he's alive but paralyzed) he is Honestly excited , HIS OLDER SIBLING CAN FIGHT! Though still amateur move , THEY CAN STILL FIGHT.

In Damian's mind fighting and playing is practically the same.

[darksturnz]

IN YOUR ORBIT

CONTENTS:・fluff? angst?-heavy plot (¿¿¿) ・star!reader ・bambi!madison ・artist!chris・sappy sappy sappy ・artist!chris gets a smidge corny but ITS CUTEE I SWEAR 😿 + more WC:4.2k

this song literally has been my top song in my spotify wraps since it was released. please listen on loop :3!

The treehouse sat nestled behind Madison’s house, its edges worn by years of weather and love. Its faded wood blended with the trees surrounding it, and the faint golden glow of string lights woven along the beams made it feel like something out of a dream. The creek gurgled softly nearby, its sound underscoring the quiet retreat Star had created for herself. She hadn’t left this sanctuary in a week. She hadn’t gone back to the trailer park, hadn’t faced the mess waiting for her there. Instead, she stayed here, wrapped in the safety of Madison’s presence.

Inside, the treehouse was cluttered with years of memories: old books with dog-eared pages, throw blankets, faded cushions, and now, Star’s cat, Comet, who had claimed a corner as his personal kingdom. His litter box sat discreetly in one corner, his food and water bowls lined up neatly beside a blanket she’d brought from home. He was sprawled lazily on one of Madison’s pillows, his black fur blending seamlessly with the worn fabric as he watched the girls with a contented air.

Madison sat cross-legged by the window, her guitar resting on her lap as she plucked at the strings, trying to tune them. Star lay on her stomach near the center of the room, flipping through one of Madison’s journals without any real focus. Her eyes skimmed over the half-finished song lyrics, doodles, and scattered thoughts, but her mind felt too crowded to take any of it in. She wasn’t ready to think about Chris or Danny or the complicated mess that connected them all. The idea of going back to the trailer park made her chest tighten.

Madison hadn’t said anything about it. She hadn’t asked why Star wasn’t going home or pressed her for answers. Instead, she’d quietly made the treehouse feel as welcoming as possible. A portable heater hummed in the corner, keeping the space warm despite the winter chill outside. A lavender-scented candle flickered on a small shelf, its faint aroma mingling with the earthy scent of the creek and the wood. Madison just kept things easy, offering quiet companionship without demands, and Star was grateful for it.

“You’re being too quiet,” Madison said softly, breaking the quiet strum of her guitar. She glanced at Star with a knowing look.

“What’s there to say?” Star mumbled, not looking up.

Madison adjusted one of the guitar strings, the sound twanging sharply in the stillness. “I dunno, just checking in I guess,” she said lightly, though her gaze lingered on Star a moment longer.

Star shrugged, her fingers idly flipping another page. “I’m fine.”

It was a lie, and Madison knew it. But she didn’t press. She just returned her attention to the guitar, her fingers moving deftly as she strummed out a soft melody. The sound filled the space, soothing in its familiarity. Madison’s music had always had a way of quieting Star’s thoughts, and tonight was no different. Star let the notes wash over her, her body sinking deeper into the cushion beneath her.

Comet chose that moment to leap onto Madison’s lap, his paws landing squarely on the strings with an audible thud. Madison laughed, pulling him away gently and holding him up to eye level.

“Your son is terribly unaware of manners,” she teased, setting him down on the floor beside her.

Star grinned, propping herself up on her elbows. “He’s the most well-behaved man in my life. Leave him alone.”

Madison raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching. “That’s depressing.”

Star shrugged again, the corner of her mouth lifting. “Yeah, well. It’s the truth.”

Madison rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered. She gave the guitar another strum, then set it aside, leaning back against the wall. “This place has seriously seen better days,” she said, gesturing at the treehouse around them.

“S’perfect,” Star said firmly, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Madison looked at her for a long moment, her expression softening. “Yeah,” she said quietly. “I guess it is.”

The air between them settled again, the kind of comfortable silence that only years of friendship could create. Star closed her eyes, letting the quiet hum of the creek and the faint rustle of the wind outside lull her into a sense of calm. Madison picked up the guitar again, strumming idly, the soft notes blending seamlessly with the sounds of the night.

“You haven’t sung for me in forever,” Star said after a while, her voice barely above a murmur.

Madison glanced at her, her fingers pausing on the strings. “What do you want to hear?”

Star opened her eyes, her gaze drifting to Madison’s hands. “You know what I want.”

Madison froze, her fingers stilling. “Seriously?”

Star nodded, her lips twitching into a small smile. “It’s your favorite. And… it’s kinda ours, isn’t it?”

Madison hesitated, her expression unreadable. Then, with a soft sigh, she adjusted her grip on the guitar. “Alright,” she said quietly. “But don’t judge me if I mess it up.”

Star didn’t answer, just leaned back against the pillow and closed her eyes again. Madison wouldn’t mess it up, she never did. 

The first notes of We’ll Never Have Sex filled the space, tentative at first but growing stronger as Madison found her rhythm. Her voice was soft, almost shy, but it carried an unpolished beauty that made Star’s chest ache. The lyrics hung in the air between them, heavy with unspoken meaning.

For Madison, the song was an outlet, a way to express everything she couldn’t say out loud. For Star, it was a reminder of safety and love, of the kind of connection that didn’t come with expectations or strings. As Madison sang, Star felt something in her chest loosen, the weight she’d been carrying for days easing just slightly.

By the time Madison reached the second chorus, Star had shifted closer, her head resting against Madison’s shoulder. Madison didn’t stop playing, but she glanced down at Star, her expression softening. She kept singing, her voice steady even as her heart raced.

When the song ended, the treehouse fell silent except for the faint crackle of the heater and the soft purring of Comet. Madison set the guitar aside, her fingers lingering on the strings.

“I missed that, Your voice” Star said softly, her voice thick with emotion.

Madison shrugged, her cheeks flushing. “It’s not all that and a bag of chips.”

“It is,” Star insisted, sitting up slightly. “That song—what it means… It’s everything. You’re everything.”

Madison swallowed hard, her heart racing. She reached out, brushing a strand of hair from Star’s face. “I just want you to feel… loved,” she said quietly. “Like you matter. Because you do.”

Star’s lips twitched into a small smile. “You make me feel that way, Mads. Always.”

Madison didn’t trust herself to speak, so she pressed a soft kiss to Star’s temple, letting the moment speak for itself.

They stayed like that for a while, the silence between them comfortable and full of unspoken understanding. But eventually, Madison broke it, her voice hesitant.

“You should talk to him,” she said.

Star frowned, her brows knitting together. “Talk to who?”

Madison gave her a knowing look, and Star’s face fell as realization dawned. “No. Absolutely not.”

Madison’s expression didn’t change. “I’m not saying what he did was okay. It wasn’t. But he’s become a safe place for you, Star. And you deserve as many of those as you can get.”

Star hesitated, her defenses cracking. “What if it’s not safe anymore?”

Madison shook her head, her voice firm but gentle. “You miss him. And Lila. Don’t let your pride keep you from something good.”

The words sat heavily between them, and for the first time in days, Star allowed herself to consider them. By the time she agreed, the sun was beginning to set. 

Star left the treehouse with reluctance, her steps heavy as she made her way down the old wooden steps. Comet stayed behind, curled into a ball in his makeshift corner, purring softly. Madison leaned against the doorframe, watching her go with an expression that was equal parts worry and hope. She didn’t say anything as Star started down the path toward the trailer park, but her presence lingered, like a steadying hand on Star’s back.

The air was crisp, biting against her cheeks, but Star welcomed it. The chill helped distract her from the storm of thoughts swirling in her head. Each step closer to the trailer park felt like an admission of defeat, though she wasn’t sure what she was surrendering to—Chris, herself, or the ache that had settled in her chest since their fight.

The world around her was quiet, the only sounds coming from the crunch of gravel beneath her boots and the occasional rustle of leaves in the trees. It was the kind of silence that invited reflection, whether she wanted it or not.

Her mind drifted to moments with Chris. The sharpness of his dry humor, the way he moved through the world like he was trying to go unnoticed, and the rare softness he reserved for Lila. She thought about the way his hands were always busy—sketching, tinkering with the car, rolling blunts—and how those same hands had brushed hers when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. She thought about the quiet nights on his porch, words left unsaid between them, and how that silence had felt comforting until it hadn’t.

Her chest tightened as the trailer park came into view, its familiar outline stirring up everything she’d been avoiding all week. She clenched her fists at her sides, bracing herself for the weight of what was waiting for her there.

As she turned onto their shared street, her steps faltered. Chris was already there, standing in front of her trailer. He looked out of place in the streetlight’s glow, his broad shoulders slouched and his hands buried deep in his jacket pockets. He seemed caught between leaving and knocking, his hesitation palpable even from a distance.

Star ducked behind a tree, watching him. She knew she shouldn’t, but her feet stayed planted, her body frozen. He lifted his hand, hesitated, and then let it fall. The second time, his knuckles brushed the door, the sound barely audible even in the quiet.

The door opened to Danny, whose irritation was visible in the stiff set of his shoulders. Star’s breath caught, and she stepped back instinctively, her back pressing against the rough bark of the tree. She couldn’t hear their words, but she didn’t need to. Chris’s body language said it all. His shoulders were hunched, his posture smaller than usual. Danny’s crossed arms and narrowed eyes were all dismissal.

Chris said something low, his voice too soft to carry, and Danny’s expression hardened. He responded with something curt before stepping back and slamming the door. Chris stood there, unmoving, for a long moment. Then he sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration before turning to leave.

That’s when he saw her.

Star froze, her breath hitching as his gaze locked onto hers. His surprise was clear in the way his body tensed, his feet halting mid-step. For a moment, neither of them moved. Then, slowly, Star stepped out from behind the tree, keeping a cautious distance between them.

“Hey,” Chris said, his voice quiet, almost unsure.

“Hi,” she echoed, the word barely more than a breath.

He glanced toward her trailer, then back at her. “You heading home?”

She shook her head. “No.”

The silence between them stretched, heavy and taut. Star dug her hands into the sleeves of her hoodie, her nails pressing into her palms as she searched for the right words. Finally, she cleared her throat. “Can…can we talk?”

Chris’s eyes flickered, something like relief crossing his face before he nodded. “Yeah.”

They walked in silence to the old playground at the edge of the park, their steps slow and careful, like they were afraid to break whatever fragile truce had formed between them. The swings creaked softly in the breeze, the rusted chains groaning under their weight. Star sat on one of the swings, her fingers curling around the cold metal, while Chris settled on the bottom step of the slide, a few feet away.

The silence stretched between them again, the quiet almost unbearable.

“I’m sorry,” Star said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

Chris’s head snapped up, his brow furrowing. “Don’t,” he said, his voice rough.

She looked at him, startled by the sharpness in his tone.

“You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, quieter this time. He stared at the ground, his hands clasped tightly between his knees.

“I shouldn’t have—”

“You were trying to help,” he interrupted, his voice tight. “And I… I shouldn’t have said what I said.” He shifted uncomfortably, his hands running through his hair. "I felt cornered. Embarrassed. You were just... trying to help, and I threw it back at you. I got defensive because... because this is what I do. And it's fucking humiliating. But I have to do it, Star. For them. It wasn’t about you. I just… I can’t—” He stopped, his words catching in his throat.

Star waited, giving him the space to continue, but when he didn’t, she spoke. “I get it, you’re taking care of them,” she said softly. “ But it felt like you were pushing me away.”

Chris’s jaw tightened, his eyes fixed on the ground. “I was,” he admitted, his voice barely audible.

The honesty in his words hit her like a punch to the gut. She looked down at her hands, the chains of the swing digging into her palms. “Why?”

Chris exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Because it’s easier,” he said finally. “To push people away. To fuck things up before they can…” He trailed off, his voice cracking.

“Before they can what?”

He didn’t answer. His hands flexed, his knuckles white as he gripped the edge of the step.

Star felt tears sting her eyes, but she blinked them back. “You hurt me,” she said, her voice trembling. “I thought you…I thought maybe you let me in, but then you just… shut me out. Like I didn’t matter.”

Chris’s head snapped up, his eyes meeting hers for the first time. They were filled with so much guilt, so much regret, that it nearly took her breath away. “You do matter,” he said, his voice raw. “More than you know.”

The words hung in the air, heavy and unspoken. Star looked away, her hands trembling as she gripped the chains tighter.

“ m’not good at this,” Chris said finally, his voice low and hesitant. “At… people. At letting them in. Not anymore,” He paused, his hands fidgeting in his lap. “But you… you’re different. You’re not like anyone else.”

Star’s breath hitched, her chest tightening at his words. She looked at him, her eyes searching his face for something—anything—to hold onto.

“M’working on it though.. don’t give up on me yet,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Please.”

Her heart ached at the vulnerability in his voice, the rawness in his expression. She reached out, her hand brushing his lightly. “I won’t,” she said softly.

For a moment, they just sat there, the quiet between them wrapping around them like a blanket, heavy with the weight of everything unspoken and everything they couldn’t quite find the words to say.

Chris’s voice broke the stillness, so soft it almost melted into the night. “You’re like..every star in my sky, you know that?”

Star blinked, her breath catching in her chest. She turned to look at him, her brow furrowing slightly. “What does that make you?”

He hesitated, his lips pressing together like he was weighing the words, then let out a quiet, almost shy laugh. “I dunno…maybe just the sky,” he murmured. “Big, empty… but you—you light it up. You make it mean something.”

Her heart ached in a way that was both painful and sweet, like it was trying to hold too much all at once. “You’re not empty,” she said softly, shaking her head. “You’re not.”

Chris’s eyes lifted to hers, the guarded walls he always carried stripped away, leaving behind something raw and achingly sincere. “I just… I don’t know what I’d do without them. Or you. I don’t think I want to find out.”

She smiled then, her lips trembling as warmth spread through her chest. “You don’t have to,” she said, her voice breaking slightly. “You’re stuck with all of us, Sturniolo.”

His faint, lopsided smile returned, but this time it reached his eyes.

Star leaned back slightly, letting her gaze drift up to the night sky. The stars were scattered like pinpricks of light, distant and beautiful. “You’re the moon for me,” she said softly, almost to herself.

Chris tilted his head, a flicker of curiosity crossing his face. “Yeah? How’s that?”

“Because even when it’s dark, you’re still there,” she murmured, her voice steady. She turned to him, her eyes shimmering in the soft light. “You always find a way to be there.”

Chris didn’t respond right away. Instead, he reached out slowly, his hand brushing hers where it rested on the swing’s chain. His touch was hesitant, like he wasn’t sure he had the right, but when her fingers curled around his, the tension in his shoulders eased.

Star’s chest swelled with something too big to name, and as she looked at him, she realized the ache she’d carried all week had finally started to ease. Whatever this was—whatever they were—it wasn’t perfect, but it was real.

The walk back to the trailers was slow and unhurried, the crisp night air weaving around them as if it were trying to push them closer. Star’s boots kicked at stray pebbles, her thoughts swirling as the silence stretched between them. Finally, she glanced at Chris out of the corner of her eye.

“What were you doing at my trailer?” she asked, her voice careful but curious.

Chris’s steps faltered for a moment, his hands sliding into his jacket pockets. He shrugged, the motion almost boyish, but the tips of his ears betrayed him, flushing a faint red. “Was seeing if you were home yet.”

Star stopped walking, her brow furrowed. “Yet?” she echoed, her voice tinged with confusion.

Chris hesitated, his gaze fixed firmly on the ground now, like it might swallow him whole. “Yeah,” he muttered, shifting his weight awkwardly. “been over there a couple times. Y’know, to apologize. After you took a while to respond to the drawing.”

“The what?” Star’s confusion deepened, her head tilting slightly.

Chris looked up, his expression caught somewhere between embarrassment and disbelief. “The drawing. The one I slipped through your window?” he said, his voice quieter now, his usual confidence muted. “I just figured you saw it and didn’t want anything to do with me.”

Star blinked at him, her mouth opening and closing for a moment before she found her voice. “Chris,” she said slowly, “I haven’t been home to see it.”

His expression shifted, a mixture of surprise and something softer, though he quickly tried to mask it with a shrug. “It’s no big deal now,” he said, his voice carrying a forced nonchalance. “Was just a stupid doodle asking to talk.”

Star stepped closer to him, her lips quirking into a small, teasing smile. “You really need to work on your apology skills, maybe hand it to me next time.”

Chris huffed a quiet laugh, the sound low and genuine, and it sent a flutter through Star’s chest. “Yeah,” he admitted, rubbing the back of his neck. “Will do.”

As they neared her trailer, the conversation slowed, the quiet settling over them once again. When they reached her door, Chris stopped, turning to look at her. For a moment, they just stood there, the faint hum of the night filling the space between them.

“I missed you,” Star said softly, her voice barely louder than a whisper.

Chris’s gaze darted to hers, his usual guardedness cracking. His cheeks turned red again, but this time he didn’t look away. “Yeah? The trailer’s been a little quiet without you barging in all the time,” he admitted, his voice gruff but laced with something warmer, softer.

The words settled over her like a balm, easing the ache that had lingered in her chest for days, he was terrible with his words but she knew what he was getting at. She smiled, stepping a little closer. “Where’s Lila?” she asked, glancing toward his trailer.

Chris leaned against the railing, his hands still tucked into his pockets. “She’s at a sleepover,” he said. “Some kid from school invited her over. First one she’s ever gone to, actually.”

Star smiled at that, imagining Lila’s excitement. “Good for her,” she said, her voice warm.

Chris nodded before glancing at her again. “Where’ve you been staying?”

“With Madison and Comet,” she said, the corners of her mouth twitching. “Tucked away in a treehouse.”

Chris arched a brow, the faintest hint of amusement flickering across his face. “A treehouse? That sounds very… you.”

Star nudged his arm lightly, rolling her eyes. “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

But Chris’s smile faded slightly, his expression turning thoughtful. “You stayed away because of me,” he said quietly, more a statement than a question.

Star looked down, unable to meet his eyes. “It wasn’t just you,” she murmured, though they both knew that wasn’t entirely true.

Chris reached out, his fingers brushing against hers, hesitant but steady. “I’m sorry,” he said again, the words barely audible but carrying the weight of everything he couldn’t say.

Star looked up at him, her chest tightening. And before she could second-guess herself, she leaned in, her lips brushing his in a kiss that was soft, tentative, but full of all the things they couldn’t find the words for.

Chris froze for half a second before he kissed her back, his hand coming up to cup her cheek, warm and steady. When they pulled away, their foreheads rested together, and for the first time in days, Star felt like she could breathe again.

“C’mon,” Chris said after a moment, his voice still soft but steadier now. “Let me take you back to Madison’s.”

Star hesitated, her pulse quickening. 

Chris gave her a small, reassuring smile. “I’ll go slow. Promise.”

After a moment, she nodded, and he led her to his car.

As Chris pulled up in front of Madison’s house, the car hummed to a stop. Star reached for the door handle, but before she could push it open, Chris had already slipped out of his seat and rounded the hood.

She blinked at him as he opened her door, the quiet chivalry catching her off guard. “You didn’t have to—”

He shrugged, cutting her off with a lopsided smile. “Just wanted to.”

Star stepped out, her boots crunching softly against the gravel. Before she could thank him, Chris leaned in, pressing a gentle kiss to her lips. It was brief but full of something unspoken, the warmth of his hand resting lightly on her back grounding her in the moment.

Above them, nestled in the soft glow of the treehouse lights, Madison sat frozen. She’d been lounging on the worn cushions, a book open on her lap, when the sound of a car pulling up caught her attention.

Curiosity had drawn her to the window, her gaze slipping past the familiar outline of the treehouse railing. At first, the car didn’t register as anything more than an unexpected visitor. But then the passenger door opened, and Madison saw the guy step out.

Her heart fluttered as she watched him walk around the car, his movements easy but purposeful. He opened the passenger door, his head tilting toward the figure stepping out. Madison’s breath caught as the girl emerged, her silhouette illuminated faintly by the moonlight.

The guy leaned down, pressing a kiss to the girl’s lips, and Madison’s stomach twisted, the scene unfolding like a blow she hadn’t seen coming. She was about to look away, unwilling to invade their privacy any further, when the girl turned, her face catching the faint glow of the moon.

Madison’s heart stopped.

It was Star.

The book in Madison’s lap tumbled to the floor, but she didn’t notice. Her chest tightened, her breath shallow as she watched her best friend kiss Chris. The kiss was soft, nothing over the top, but it was enough. Enough to confirm what Madison hadn’t seriously wanted to admit to herself.

Madison pressed her lips together, forcing herself to look away. She felt guilt pooling alongside the ache in her chest, guilt for watching, guilt for the bitterness she couldn’t push down.

When she dared another glance, Chris was walking Star up the path toward the house, their conversation too quiet to hear. Madison swallowed hard, her fingers curling into the edge of the cushion. She felt like a stranger looking in, someone on the outside of something she couldn’t touch.

As Star turned to wave at Chris before he left, the warmth in her smile was unmistakable, and it only made the ache in Madison’s chest deepen. She forced herself to step back from the window, her heart heavy, and sat down on the cushions again, her head lowering into her hands.

It wasn’t jealousy, she told herself, not really. It was just the ache of knowing she’d lost something she never really had to begin with.

AUTHORS NOTE: this song GENUINELY makes me crash out my god. anyways you can all stop jumping me in my ask now pls, he fixed it it’s fixed they’re married with 38464923874 children in another alternate universe 😿

TAG LIST: @jetaimevous @sturnsblunt @riasturns @ifwdominicfike @chrissturns-wife @mattsmunch @pip4444chris @ribread03 @ariestrxsh @angelic-sturniolos111 @pvssychicken @stvrnzcherries @dottieboo @lovergirl4gracieabrams @bluestriips @sturniolo-fann @chrisslut04 @owensbabygirl @sturnslutz @sturniqlo @sofieeeeex @jadasmp4 @ncm9696

[teriri-sayes]

Reactions to The Worst's Chapter 388

Brief summary: Gun Mok refuses to talk. Cale figures out that Gun Mok is ruled by fear than loyalty. Cale uses DA to win over Gun Mok.

===========

Short chapter today and we only had one funny moment. 😂

Chief secretary Kang Gun Mok: *nervous and stiff* Cale: Why are you so stiff? Rosalyn: If you're gripping his neck, wouldn't he be stiff?

Gun Mok was not loyal to the honorary chairman, but was rather scared of him. 50 years ago, he saw the honorary chairman and the "monster" he was raising. Judging from the empty-looking "eyes" description and how those "eyes" scared Gun Mok, I guess the honorary chairman was related to the God of Chaos.

But what was the "monster" the honorary chairman was raising? Or was it just MTL messing with me and the monster was actually the honorary chairman himself? I'm confused...

So how did Cale convince Gun Mok? He used a greater fear to combat fear. Since Gun Mok was scared of the honorary chairman, Cale used his DA on him. But Cale's DA did not only scare Gun Mok. It made Gun Mok feel "reassured", that if he submitted to Cale, he would be free from his terrible memories.

In short, he saw Cale as the "light" in the "chaos." 😂 He was not wrong though. Cale was the "Five-Colored Light" god in Aipotu, right? Cale really was the light who also happened to possess a power imitating the power of chaos. 😂😂😂

His last line of "Can you save me?" though. Was Gun Mok the future Clopeh of Earth 3? 😂😂😂

Ending Remarks Today was a short chapter. I mean, not even ten minutes had passed in the story, so it was a really short time! But our Cale already won Gun Mok over in that time. Next chapter would probably be Gun Mok spilling secrets and also the secret lab password. So Eden's birth would likely be next week. But I'm more excited to know what else Clopeh had been planning. 😂

[lightfin]

No one asked for this cross over but as soon as I saw the recent two episodes of Heluva Boss and Stolitz I couldn’t help think of my favourite couple.

So without further ado have a Heluva Boss/Hazbin hotel x Trollhunters crossover.

In this Universe Jim is a half daemon, half angel sent from heaven to destroy a mysterious Devine threat to both Heaven and Hell. He was an earth born soal chosen By the outcast divine angel Merlin to fulfil an ancient prophecy.

But to do so he needed to go to hell. To save his freinds and loved ones Jim accepts and goes through a major soul transformation. Unfortunately in the process losing his memory’s and with it the knowledge of his past life. With little to go by with only a name and a broken halo, Jim must traverse the rings of Hell and trust that his instincts lead him towards his purpose, along with understanding the nature of the mysterious sigil imbued on his chest.

-

Claire is the next in line to inherit her mentor Morgana’s magic, to fulfil her roll in the Goisha as the next keeper of shadows on earth. She spends most her time studying and tying to live to her family’s expectations, but has always felt confined by palace walls.

She has a rebellious spirit and often sneaks out to hang with friends and get to better know the real world she lives in, despite the class divisions. Accompanied by her servant/ brother in kingship Not-Enrique, who makes shure she doesn’t get into to much trouble mingling with the lower classes.

Until one day she receives a vision, leading her to cross paths with a strangely Kind sinner.

Fate interlinked the two find each other, becoming friends despite their differences and keeping each others secrets when they discover one is a Goisha royal, and the other part angel with a magical sword and armour. When threat meets them both they work together to protect the residence of Hell and uncover the prophecy. and what started as friends, eventually becomes love. Making way for a bond between souls that transcends both the laws of Heaven and Hell, ones they must work through together to keep despite its protest. And save both there worlds.

[yourcutelittlegayfriend]

hi hope your having a good day!

do you have any headcanons for a yandere Clark Kent, I just think he's neat

Hi! I have slightly great day actually but I hope yours is much better!

In regards to Headcannons about Sups yes, Superman really is a pretty great character loved the guy since I saw him on TV but kinda scared about how they keep making evil superman these days, anyway lemme just open my old notes and please forgive me for typos this isn't really proofread much.

Yandere Clark Kent/SuperMan

HeadCannons

[General, Platonic and Romantic]

General

In the terms of a yandere Clark I think he's somewhat-

Obsessive - loves to pick up even the tiniest things you do or the little stuff that makes you -You! especially with that perfect vision that can literally see for miles.

Example: The tiny baby hairs that curls at your nape when you tie your hair up, The habit you do when something catches your eye or interest and even the slight twitch of your muscle when you're about to do something.

Controlling - but I say he let's you have some freedom, this golden boy is raised by the Kents to hold his temper when things doesn't go his way-

Like when you disagree with what he wants he will then try to hear out your reason first and maybe work something out, it breaks his heart to see you angry, distress or just sad.

But if it's been life or death? your life and wellbeing on the line? There's no talking your way out of this, his words are final.

Hero Complex - He thinks its his responsibility to protect and save you from everything, He's Superman, Man of Steel and a Hero, Yes of course you can get groceries for yourself but atleast let him come with you, you don't know what some people are planning or what goes inside their head until you just find yourself at the end of the barrel of a gun.

[Platonic]

As a Yandere Platonic it's like just in a very over protective family.

Whether you're like a parental figure, a sibling or even like his own child, He'll become to protective over you.

If he ever has the chance to show you of he will but not to the point of telling anyone everything about you, they'll know who you are, your name , what you are or relation to him and what you do but that's it, he'll try to avoid anymore discussion or talks about you, he gets to keep that informations to himself.

Like how you really like your puppy and you want everyone to know you have one but you won't let them pet it or even just look at them in general, it's your puppy, you're not obligated to share them to people.

Very family Oriented guy, he likes to have his family close to him and celebrate any important events with everyone, memories are precious and he wants to keep them forever, we have this thing here -a culture you might say- where in some families it's not really required or force upon the children to move out and become independent sometimes it's still okay to live under the same roof with your grandparents, parents, siblings, in laws, along with your wife and children and your siblings children (dear lord u don't know how true this is in my country)

I like to think that if you want to be a bit independent to Clark, he'll be like 'Oh! I understand so I thought about this instead'-

and literally build either a separate house that reaches his parents farm house in one full walk or extended the house where you get your own space and still be with the family.

He coddles you even more when you don't have superpowers or is a kryptonian, He freaks out when your hurt and acts like you'll die from a little scratch after falling, still kept baby proofing the house even if you become an adult

You can use accidents or possible injuries as a leverage but you can never talk or joke about kys because he will literally get angry with you and gives you lecture about how important your life is.

[Romantic]

As a romantic yandere I think he's a bit on the Hopeless Romantic side.

Believes in love at first sight or soulmates and continue to fall more and more in love with you day by day, thinks about how romantic it is to swoop in and save you as Superman, likes to pop out everytime you stand on your balcony and sneak up on you and how you fit right in his arms as he carries you in the sky with you and him alone above everything and everyone.

Will give you gifts that has more sentimental value than the price tag, like the scarf his Ma made even meals and treats for you, simple things maybe art supplies or notebook for journaling and if he can get a good raise he'll get you that jewelry that brings out your beauty, he loves to see anything he gifts to you on your person a bit like marking on you that kind of stuff.

Doesn't really like Poly-relationship, he's not really against it but He likes to keep you to himself, you're both made for each other and he likes to keep it that way.

Family - adding this again but really wants to get married to you soon after like what 2-3 dates? wants you to move in and become a stay at home spouse where you'll spend more time with his folks and maybe take care of the kids.

Is dying to see you round and prego like goodness lord you are even hotter to him when you stand there either cooking or walking around with your hand on your hip and the other under that bump may or may not.

If you're willing in this relationship maybe 2-3 kids? if not forced pregnancy might become possible.

And if you can't have kids it's alright adoption is available, he would still look like a highschool boy in love when you hold a baby or a tiny kid in your arms

I'm a bit soft on my Yandere stuff so a bit srry for that

And that's all I got for the Big Man supes, I hope you like this and I hope did this right, been writing this one at 3am, Thanks for the ask btw.

[milder-manners]

"They're verbally aggressive to him, bullying him for his complete inability to swing a sword, all in the efforts to divide cc!Dream from the memory of c!Dream as much as possible.", how our puppy dealing with this treatment? Plus, what is the Syndacate/Dream's reaction to this kidnapping?

When Dream woke up in a stone cell he had a panic attack. He remembered walking to the barn to feed the animals, hearing steps behind him, then a blur into nothing.

Dream pressed his head between his knees and heaved until his ears stopped ringing.

Eventually, he looked back up. His surroundings have not changed the slightest throughout that time.

It was a stone cell, a wall of bars blocking Dream from the singular metal door of the room. It was cold. There wasn't that much space, but there was a bed, a chest full of books and quill, and a lowered section of the floor with a toilet and sink. Everything was lit by a redstone lamp in the ceiling.

Dream squinted from the dull pounding behind his eyes. He realized it might not entirely be from the panic attack; he was probably drugged.

Who--?

Steps came from behind the door. People came in. It was, it was-

Dream's brain short-circuited as the ones most dear to him But Not walked in. George and Sapnap. He barely registered Punz slipping in last and shutting the door behind them.

God, was this what the Syndicate were dealing with? c!Dream? A complete conflict of what you're trained to expect from the faces you Know and the information that these people are different?

Punz remained leaning against the far wall while George and Sapnap stepped closer to the bars.

Dream was too flabbergasted to do anything but stare at the two of them. They looked so, stressed. Exhaustion lining their features. The slow churning guilt that's been present when spotting c!Dream reared its ugly head.

Sapnap was staring at him, upset twisting his features. When Dream and him locked eyes Sapnap scoffed and turned away, "Wow. Okay. George do you wanna ask him or should I?"

George wordlessly stepped closer to the cell. Dream unthinkingly took a step back. He looked, indecipherable, a vague wash of contempt on his face. Dream never experienced George look at him like this.

He stopped inches from the bars. George asked plainly, "If I threatened your life, would Dream, our Dream, give a shit?"

Dream swallowed down the rising panic in his throat. He replied, "... No. I mean, well––I don't think he'd ... give a shit but, Techno would. He'd come for me, and, I think Dream would follow him."

George stared at him for a moment in disbelief, then gave the bitterest scoff-laugh Dream's ever heard. "Right, Techno. Of course. Of course."

"George?" Sapnap asked.

George turned to him, "It'll work, he'll do. Come on."

The three turned to leave and Dream panicked––"Wait! Wait-what–– What do you––how long do you plan on keeping me here?"

Punz was the only one to look back at him as George and Sapnap left, "You say that as if you'd be able to do anything. We could keep you here forever;"––Dream was examined up and down––"wouldn't be hard."

The metal door shut, and Dream was alone.

[galaxymagitech]

Grave Ghost

For @jasontoddweek2025 - Day 4:

Grave | Buried Alive | Immortal Jason Todd

Summary:

“I’m you,” Jason says, spreading his arms wide. “Don’t like what you see?” He snorts. “Don’t worry, I don’t either.”

Or: Jason visits his own grave and meets his ghost.

Characters: Jason Todd

Warnings: Referenced sort-of temporary character death?

You can read it here or on AO3!

Even on an early April afternoon, the cemetery grounds are cold and the sky is an overcast gray. It rains plenty in Gotham, but somehow, the water never seems to make it to the flora; the flowers are always wilted, and the grass is perpetually yellow and rough. On one of the cemetery’s mild hills, there lies a patch of freshly turned soil. Above this patch sits gravestone carved like an angel, her hands pressed together in prayer, and an empty coffin sitting six feet below the Earth.

Jay doesn’t how long he’s been standing here—whether it was since yesterday or for years—but he’s here now, an incorporeal hand resting on the stone folds of the angel’s dress as he watches a man approach his grave.

The stranger seems to startle when he sees Jay, but then his shoulders slump in resignation. “Hi, Jay,” he says. When the stranger speaks, Jay’s world seems to slide into focus.

“Who are you?” Jay asks, tilting his head to the side. He observes the stranger’s tired eyes—a blue so similar to Jay’s own, but tinged with the barest hint of green—and wild black hair with a streak of white at the front. Jay registers the hard lines of the man’s jaw, so similar to Willis’s, and the grimace that seems set into his face. Then, his gaze travels down to see the scuffed leather jacket, the muscles honed by years of fighting, the scars crisscrossing the man’s forearms.

“I’m you,” Jason says, spreading his arms wide. “Don’t like what you see?” He snorts. “Don’t worry, I don’t either.”

In a flash, Jay is sitting atop the angel’s shoulder, looking down at—at Jason. At himself, but older and stronger and harder. Even though his heart is nothing more than whisps of a memory, Jay feels his pulse pick up. “Why are you here? You’re not supposed to be here. This is my place.”

“Good question.” Jason steps forwards, casually treading on his own grave, and plucks one of the stones Bruce left off the base of the gravestone. Tossing it in the air and catching it, Jason grins. “I came to tell you that I’m going to make them pay.”

Them. Jay tilts his head again, trying to understand. Jay knows about revenge, knows the fire that flowed through his veins when he saw his mother’s dealer, when he learned that Two-Face killed his father, when he fought Garzonas. If the Joker stole someone he cared about from him, he would feel that same desire for revenge.

But the Joker didn’t kill someone Jason cared about. Just Jay.

Jason tosses the stone and catches it again. Toss. Catch. Toss. Catch.

“That’s mine,” Jay says, pointing to the stone. “Bruce gave it to me. Put it back.” It’s a silly thing, to be attached to a rock. But it’s one of the only things Jay has, these days. The jagged stones Bruce collected from the cemetery grounds, an empty coffin, and gravedirt. And this one is something Bruce gave him. A gift from his almost-father.

 “Bruce gave you a lot of things,” Jason says, continuing to throw the stone. Toss. Catch. “Including a funeral shroud.”

Jay still doesn’t understand. It must show, because Jason gestures to Jay’s torn, bloody uniform.

“Robin,” Jason clarifies.

“Robin is magic!” Jay shoots forwards, and then he’s standing in front of his older self, his pointer finger less than an inch from Jason’s chest.

Jason throws back his head and laughs.

“Stop it!” Jay stamps his foot, but he lacks the substance to make a sound, let alone shake the ground beneath him. “Stop it, Jason, stop it!”

Jason gasps for air. “Good one kid.” He shakes his head. “Robin is a death sentence. Because you know what? After everything the Joker did to you, Jay, he’s still there. Still in Arkham, laughing his crazy head off. Still in here.” Jason taps his temple with his pointer finger, then raises his thumb and pulls his hand away like the kickback of a gun. “Blam.” Jason laughs again. “Bruce never avenged you. He never even cared about you. You were nothing to him.”

Toss. Catch. “Then why are you still holding his rock?”

Jason drops the stone like it’s a hot coal, then kicks it away with his foot. Jay tries to pick it up, but his hand passes through it and he slumps in defeat. “I’m going to make Bruce pay,” Jason hisses. “Him and the Joker.”

“I don’t want that,” Jay says. “I never asked for that.”

Jason goes from one to a hundred in an instant, just like Willis always did. “You don’t get to tell me what to do!” Jay flinches away. “You’re just a figment of my imagination!”

“Actually,” Jay says quietly, “I think you’re just a figment of mine.”

“Like hell.”

Jay steps forwards. “You’re just a cheap copy of Willis, a teenager pretending he’s all big and strong and grown up. Laughing like the Joker. Going off about revenge, monologuing. You’re a caricature, Jason. You’re not real.” Jason tries to grab Jay by the throat, and for a moment, Jay’s heart freezes in terror. But then Jason’s hand passes straight through and Jay giggles. “Look at you. Attacking a child, like it’ll make you a real man.”

“Fuck you!” Jason shouts. His voice dissipates into the cemetery’s cold air. “We were never a child, we were a fucking soldier in Bruce’s fucking war and we fucking died for it!”

“We were Robin!” Jay screams right back. “We were magic!”

“You’re not even real!” Jason insists, covering his ears like it’ll stop him from hearing Jay’s voice.

Jay sticks out his tongue. “More real than you.”

“I’m Jason Todd! You’re just ‘Jay’! You’re in my head and I’m not crazy so go the fuck away!”

Jay crosses his arms and huffs out a breath of cold air. “Yeah, I’m Jay. The one with the nickname. The real person. Jay Wayne.” Jason lunges forwards again, but this time, Jay doesn’t even flinch. “I’m Robin. You’re just some kid playing dress-up.”

Jason screams wordlessly, then doubles over, hands on his knees, as he catches his breath. “I’m real. I’m real. Fuck you. I’m real.” He clenches his fists and looks down at Jay to meet his eyes. Jay shivers. “I’m going to give Bruce a choice between me and the Joker. And he’s going to have to choose. And then you’ll see how little we mean to him. Maybe then you’ll finally fucking die.” Jason’s fist flies at the gravestone, hitting it with a sickening crack. Fear shoots through Jay’s chest, and before he knows it, he’s behind the gravestone, peeking out at his older self. Jason’s face goes pale like the corpse that he is. “Wait. Kid. I didn’t—” He sighs. “I didn’t come here to argue with myself.”

“Why did you come here, then?” Jay whispers, still hiding.

“To read you a bedtime story,” Jason says. “You died today, after all. Figured you could use something to help you fall asleep.”

“That’s dumb,” Jay says, but he still slips out from behind the cracked angel statue and sits on the barren earth of his grave, crisscross-applesauce. 

Jason sits across from him, mimicking his position, and pulls a book out of his jacket. Bridge to Terabithia.

“Why that one?” Jay asks, eyes wide. “That’s a sad story.”

“Life’s a sad story, Jay,” Jason says. He sighs. “Because…because you said it yourself: Robin is magic. And magic never comes without a cost.”

“I want a happy story,” Jay pouts.

“Tough luck.” Jason opens the book to the first page. “This is what you’re getting.”

“But—”

Jason stands up gracefully, and for a moment Jay thinks Jason will leave him here in this graveyard, alone forever and ever and ever. But instead, the man—teenager, really—picks up the stone he kicked aside.

“You gotta use your left hand,” Jay says. “Bruce always uses his left hand.”

Jason sighs but transfers the stone to his left hand and places it back on the grave with a pointed look. Then, he sits back down and opens Bridge to Terabithia again. Jay doesn’t protest.

When he reads, Jason’s voice is soft and sweet, reminiscent of the boy sitting in front of him who hangs on his every word.

[mayasaura]

You're not the first person to suggest Alecto, so you're certainly not alone in that assumption!

I don't think it could have been her, for a few reasons. Mostly because the line is said as part of a conversation Nona is only barely paying attention to as Alecto's memories start bleeding through. It does fit as part of the conversation, though things are jumbled enough with Nona's perspective for it to take some detangling.

So let me set the scene. Here we have Nona, dying in front of the door to the Tomb as Alecto literally bursts through the seams of Harrow's body. Paul has extracted the blood key from Kiriona, and now they need a thanergy burst. They have to kill someone to open the door.

Kiriona volunteers first, but she's already dead, so it wouldn't work. Pyrrha volunteers next, to complete Wake's final mission. Crux objects, saying to use him instead, and someone says something that Nona misses, distracted by Alecto's memories. When Nona tunes back in, Crux is making his argument for why he should be the human sacrifice. He ends it with:

“I will die for her. She is my nurseling. I am the only one who knows how to die for the Reverend Daughter Harrowhark Nonagesimus.”

The unattributed line that starts "Good. Die. Die for her," is the very next line, said in response to Crux.

Assuming the line was said by Alecto, it would mean that Alecto surfaced from reliving the memory of waking as a ghost for just long enough to have a strong opinion about Harrow's childhood, before tuning back out to relive the memory of her death. Not impossible. She was thinking of Harrow when the line was said. But unlikely, considering how in that thought she called Harrow a "scrap of black-eyed meat."

It also means that everyone else ignored this savage interjection. If Alecto had said it, you'd think someone would have at least turned to look at Nona.

@spending-life-pretending

NO WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE WHO SAYS THIS LINE!!

The book describes it as being said "so savagely that it sounded like a new voice altogether," with no further elaboration.

Aiglamene and Kiriona are talking over one another at this point in the conversation. Crux's response isn't very helpful because he could plausibly be talking to either of them. He never liked Gideon or Aiglamene, and he certainly believed he knew better than either of them what was best for the Ninth and best for Harrow.

Kiriona was my first assumption, too. Assuming this line comes from her, it shows some considerable evolution in her understanding of the relationship between the Ninth and Harrow, which she had always envied Harrow as a child. It's also tiny bit hypocritical. A sharp condemnation not just of the culture and people that failed Harrow so badly, but possibly also of herself and her way of thinking in Harrow the Ninth, lining up just like all the rest of them to shove her death down Harrow's throat as an offering.

The audiobook gives the line to Aiglamene. I had to think about it, but I like this interpretation as well. Giving the line to Aiglamene makes it a brief outburst from a woman who once believed the Ninth had a future worth waiting for, finally allowing herself to be angry that all they were waiting for was to die. That one way or another, all the Ninth knew how to give its children was death. I think she's due a moment of savagery on seeing the corpse of the child she thought she'd helped escape that cycle competing for the right to die again. She thought she'd gotten her out.

It drives me a little crazy, because both versions are good. Both versions are plausible. But they aren't entirely interchangeable in their implications, and there's no way to tell for sure which version is true.

On the balance, I still lean toward Kiriona. Aiglamene takes a bit more convicing to let Crux be the sacrifice, and it would be a damn quick about-face for her to lose her composure like this and then snap back to her titles and duty, volunteering to die herself. But Kiriona does also volunteer to die in this conversation, before being reminded she's already dead. Some ambiguity remains.

[bestboiraditz]

I was watching some old clips of Raditz and I realized something interesting about this characterization. Yes, Raditz is immediately interesting because he's Goku's older brother, but he's made even MORE interesting in my opinion thanks to the brief characterization he's allowed to have.

Take his first lines to Goku:

He doesn't immediately berate him for his failure to purge the planet, he takes a moment to muse on how much Goku has grown and how he looks just like their father Bardock. Keep in mind, Bardock wasn't even a spark in Toriyama's mind, so for him to have Raditz say this when he's supposed to be a throwaway villain shows an unusual level of fondness for family, especially considering what we later learn about Saiyans

Raditz, upon realizing Goku doesn't remember him, isn't just annoyed that Goku forgot his mission, but seems distraught that his little brother doesn't remember him.

It's a small detail, but again, cements that Raditz shows an unusual level of attachment to family bonds, especially for a Sayain.

And then (and this is something important to keep in mind) he declares that he will find a way to recover his little brother's memories because Goku is NEEDED.

His priority isn't to get the planet purged or punish Goku for failing, it's to regain the only biological bond he has left, however little of it there may be.

I find it interesting Toriyama wrote this piece of dialogue. It just seems odd he would write such layered dialogue to characterize a villain he always intended to kill off ASAP. I guess it was to play into the whole "subverting the brother trope" but still, it doesn't make the characterization any less interesting

When Raditz tells Goku how their planet was destroyed and how everyone died, he AGAIN emphasizes that this means their parents died too.

Again, Raditz really seems to put value on his family. Note he says PARENTS not just father. Even Vegeta, for as long as we've gotten to know him, never talks about his father King Vegeta that much (if at all? He's thought about him, but not really talked about him) I find Goku's reaction interesting too, as if deep inside, despite not remembering Bardock and Gine, his heart still feels the pain of losing them. (Could it be possible Raditz noticed his reaction and took that as a sign that Goku felt the bond too, hence his following actions?)

Like @masakoxtra said, Bardock's line seems to be unusually empathetic for Saiyans. (He talks about it at 3:30)

Even Raditz, despite living his whole life under Frieza's boot and submitting to the bullying and callousness of Vegeta and Nappa and hardening his heart because of it, hasn't completely lost his sense of empathy, it's part of his nature albeit incredibly suppressed.

Raditz then has an unusually distressed response when he realizes Goku doesn't have a tail.

He doesn't mock him for losing it or immediately gets disgusted by his weakness, he is outright horrified and then gets mad at Goku for letting others just remove his tail (From Raditz's perspective, It would be like if Goku just let his arm get cut off to fit in with a race of one-armed aliens).

For Raditz, he views it as a form of betrayal, not just of his race, but the idea that his own brother would rather pass as a lowly earthling than embrace his own heritage (family being something Raditz clearly values) really gets to Raditz on an emotional level.

Now that I think about it, Raditz kinda goes through 4 out of 5 of the stages of grief for the brief time he's alive.

His first reaction is denial that Goku had forgot him and accepted life on earth, then anger that he would rather live as an earthling than be with his Saiyan kin, and then he starts the bargaining phase, trying to entice Goku with the idea of fighting saying that he's a Saiyan and it's in his blood.

When that bargaining doesn't work, he resorts to a different form of bargaining.

Blackmail.

Raditz steals Gohan trying to force Goku to join him. He tells Goku to kill 100 humans by tomorrow as proof of his submission, but pay attention to the wording:

Raditz says "when you decide to join us, and you WILL decide to" that's how much confidence he has in Goku's devotion towards his son EVEN THOUGH Goku's a Saiyan.

Raditz doesn't have a shadow of a doubt that Goku will do everything in his power to protect his son, even if he is a weak crybaby. Saiyans don't typically care much for their kin as shown in several flashback material later on (in fact it's later explained that they'll completely disown and abandon babies that are too weak to be considered useful. They have a very Spartan-esque society).

But Raditz knows he can use Gohan as leverage because Raditz actually understands emotional connections between family members, something he would've likely valued all the more being considered weak himself.

A lot of times people are able to use emotional manipulation because they either understand or were a victim of similar manipulation.

He then warns Goku that he might as well comply because everyone is going to die anyway, the earth being scheduled for purging. He hammers home the point that Goku's defiance is pointless and he really doesn't have a choice anyway so he may as well submit.

But what Raditz is doing here is almost an act of compassion (for a Saiyan). The way he sees it, Goku will die if he doesn't comply, so joining them is the only way he'll be able to survive. If he didn't care about Goku's life, why warn him? Why give him a chance to prove himself?

In fact, why would Raditz need Goku to prove himself when he was willing to take him without that before?

This is just an idea, but could it be...because of his scouter?

Remember, his scouter was open the entire time so Vegeta and Nappa are listening in. If Vegeta was listening it, after hearing about Goku's weak power level and his defiance and kind-nature, Raditz probably knew Vegeta might just dispose of Goku when they returned, considering him a disgrace to the Saiyan race. So Raditz has to have Goku prove himself by killing a bunch of humans to show Vegeta he's worth keeping alive.

It's horrific in Goku's eyes, but to Raditz, the lives of a few humans is inconsequential compared to his brother. This again is why Raditz says Goku has no choice, Vegeta won't give them a choice.

This also might be desperation on Raditz's part. If we are to consider the opening of Dragonball Z: Kakarot canon, Vegeta and Nappa mock him, Nappa going as far as to declare it's why he's called "Raditz the Runt", apparently a knickname he's saddled with in the Frieza force.

Raditz, instead of responding angrily or protesting as most Saiyans would, bows his head and pathetically apologizes, promising things will be different next time, showing that not only is this bullying common, but Raditz has just accepted it at this point. The way Raditz treats Goku when meeting him may stem from this treatment, he's trying to sway his brother the only way he's seen, through brute force and intimidation.

But Vegeta, getting sick of Raditz's weakness, promises to kill him if he screws up again, and if Vegeta promises death, you know it's coming. Raditz, panicking as his self-preservation instincts kick in, mentions his brother, saying he can help make things easier, but really Raditz just doesn't want Vegeta to kill him. Even then, Vegeta scoffs "The fact that he's YOUR brother doesn't exactly fill me with confidence" It's possible that Raditz did actually forget his brother and it was only in his panic, scrambling mentally for any way to save his life, that in that moment of desperation he at last remembered Kakarot.

Again, if we are to consider this conversation canon, Raditz needs Goku to survive to better the odds of his own survival, it's only after he's in a pod heading to Earth that he has time to think about Kakarot and wonder why he hasn't tried contacting them after so long.

But back to the OG manga, After Raditz gives Goku his ultimatum, he says this:

Again, he could've stopped at "I hope you don't disappoint me" but to follow it up by emphasizing it's for both his and Gohan's sake is noteworthy.

And even though Raditz clearly doesn't have much of a connection with Gohan as he does with Goku, I find this bit particularly interesting:

He barks at Gohan to stop crying and states that he possesses the proud blood of Saiyans. Yes, he is annoyed by Gohan's crying, but he also feels that he's better than that since he is still a Saiyan and wants him to be strong.

I like to imagine that Raditz is repeating something Bardock told him when he cried as a child, it feels like a very Bardock thing to say.

I particularly like the english dub of this scene, Justin Cook gives such an interesting and tender delivery of the line.

Also I really like how Raditz pauses to look at Gohan before walking away in the anime, I like to interpret it as Raditz seeing a bit of himself as a child in Gohan, but quickly burying those feelings.

There's a little fancomic I found that really drives that idea home.

When Goku and Piccolo show up, before they even fight, Raditz says this:

Again, why warn Goku? This feels more like Raditz is still in the bargaining mindset, he's trying to get his brother to give up and now must resort to brutally beating him to get his point through.

And then followed by this.

Remember, his scouter is open, so it's entirely possible he's acting ruthless and declaring they'll die so he won't look soft to Vegeta. I mean, he'd kill Piccolo without a thought, yeah, but Goku...? It may still be a bluff.

Plus, if he was serious about killing them, why stand around and let them plot instead of finishing them off?

The tail scene is where we see Raditz's cowardly nature on full display. But I think this moment really enhances his character because most Saiyans probably wouldn't beg for their lives, at least not to the degree Raditz is doing, they're too proud a race.

Raditz starts rambling about how he'd never actually kill his brother and his death threats were just bluffs.

Yes, we know it's a ploy to get free, but could there be an iota of truth in there? The fact he could've cut off his tail but was waiting for Piccolo to fire off his second Makenkosopo shows that Raditz is a quick thinker and very calculating.

Plus he probably didn't want to have to lose his tail unless he absolutely HAD to.

Goku was NOT stupid for letting go.

After Goku releases him, Raditz mocks his softness stating that he, a Saiyan-warrior wouldn't hesitate to kill their own brother, only to confusedly ask if Goku wants "a demonstration".

Like, if he wouldn't hesitate to kill his brother, why is he hesitating to kill his brother?

He's not killing him, he's torturing him, he could easily end it.

Remember that Double Sunday he shot off with ease earlier?

And of course after Raditz and Goku get turned into donuts, Raditz says one of the saddest lines in retrospect:

Like, he is relying on Vegeta and Nappa to save him, believing that they'll value him as a Saiyan and bring him back because HE HAS NO ONE ELSE TO RELY ON.

Right before he dies, he's in a sort of stage 4 depression where he can't believe this is how his life is going to end, dying alone and disgraced on some backwater planet at the hands of his own brother, their family line coming to a miserable end. He's never allowed to come to stage 5: acceptance (which is often where the change in a person's perspective/character tends to happen) because he dies and is forgotten.

Another thing that makes me sad Raditz didn't survive is cuz he's the perfect medium between Goku and Vegeta.

Goku rejects his saiyan heritage while Vegeta clings to it, but Raditz feels like he could easily straddle both worlds. He'd cling to his saiyan heritage out of love and respect for his parents (He'd still call Goku Kakarot, not because "it's a Saiyan name" like Vegeta, but because it's the name Bardock and Gine gave, his reason a much more personal one).

However, Raditz would have plenty of things NOT to like about Saiyan society, especially with how he and his father were treated as low-class warriors.

Being on earth, surrounded by kind people who don't belittle him and show basic kindness and respect would quickly endear Raditz to earth (remember, Bardock's kin are unusually empathetic for Saiyans).

Plus, being around Goku, who'd no doubt encourage and be proud of Raditz whilst training, would do a lot to boost Raditz's confidence (Goku looking like Bardock a way to ease his yearning to prove himself to his father) and further make him enjoy earth.

I like to imagine that, while Goku always wears a training gi from earth and Vegeta always wears some semblance of saiyan armor, Raditz would probably have a saiyan breastplate resembling Bardock's (as a kind of tribute to his dad) and go with loose pants like Goku which is good for training, visually symbolizing his willingness to find the balance between two worlds.

If Raditz had survived in the canon, this could've played even further into Vegeta's sense of isolation post-Cell arc. During his whole Majin Vegeta vs Goku fight speech, he could've said something like "And imagine the frustration I felt, when the only other pure-blood of my race left, your brother, that low-level trash who'd trembled for years under my elite warrior might, not only obtained the power of a super saiyan, but deemed me, ME the prince of all Saiyans UNWORTHY of his time! UNWORTHY FOR HIM TO FIGHT!"

Oh, and...

Must run in the family.

[stopbuggingm3]

An interpretation of Slenderman I love is the idea of him as a stalker, a predator, and a manipulator rather than a powerful or aggressive force. His tendrils and demon face/non-face? Cool as hell. No arguments there. But to me the way he's able to get into people heads and break them from the inside out the way he does is much more terrifying.

He's used force as a means of control before, such as with Kate, Masky, and Hoody, but he also leans heavily into manipulation tactics like he does with Alex, Toby, Cat Hunter, and Bones.

Slender, in my interpretation, manipulates and controls his proxies by taking away their identities and making them dependent on him. This can be seen in each of the proxies. Toby, Kate, Masky, Hoody, Cat Hunter, and Bones (just walk with me here) all had parts of their identities stolen by Slender in one way or another.

In my mind, Masky and Hoody were brought back by Slender/The Operator after the events of Marble Hornets to act as his proxies. Slender saw something in them, whether it be their strength, skill, cunningness, etc, and decided they were too useful to let go to waste. But, as their track records show, this isn't something they'd ever accept willingly, and so had parts of their identities taken when they were brought back to ensure their loyalty to Slender wouldn't slip (why wasn't Alex brought back? idk ask Skully i haven't read the MH comics yet. For now lets blame it on his temper making him too likely to step out of line.)

Kate I'm admittedly undecided on as of right now. Her psyche is definitely damaged, having part's forcefully torn away as a result of Slenders torment, but whether or not her animalistic behaviour is a learnt behaviour in order to cope with what's been done to her or a direct result of Slenders torment is unknown. She won't say, and she won't leave either. That's not an option for her anymore, she knows that much at least.

Cat hunter is a mix of both, in a way. His push to become a proxy was forceful, with Slender physically making him kill his father, but its the blows to his self worth and constant reminder of his actions that cause him to remain as one. Guilt has taken away his self worth, and all he can do is try fill the hole best he can with what he has

Toby had his memories from before his time with Slender removed, taking away any sense of identity he might've had before becoming a proxy and making him dependent on Slenders protection for survival. Where else would he go? He doesn't have anyone else, he's a wanted criminal. And besides, life with Slender is good. He clings to that false sense of freedom without even knowing why he holds it so dear. Why would he ever want to leave?

Bones has had her identity tampered with by Slender since she was young to the point she can't discern what parts of herself are truly herself and what parts were planted there by Slender. She grew up with his voice in her head, convincing her that his words are her own thoughts and that she can't be free unless she is with him. "That violence? That's normal. They don't understand you here, you don't have anyone. You're trapped and alone but I can set you free. Don't you want that?" She doesn't know who or even what she is without him and his "guidance". He's all she knows. He's all she has.

The proxies will never be free. They're going to die out there in those woods at the hands of a monster. And the worst part? Most of them don't even know they're trapped.

[tarnishedsilverjewelry]

Hola! Me alegro de ver otro blog de M ^^

Can I request Bi-Han as a parent of a boy or girl around 4 or 5 years old who is very clingy? they don't leave his side and follow him wherever he goes. I love clingy kids, they're so adorable, and I definitely love reading domestic Bi-han.

What fatherhood does to a man

A/n: It’s getting harder and harder to NOT name these ‘The father That stepped up’ guys😭 Also, ah yes the grumpy old man and adopted sunshine child trope my BELOVED!!!! Also I see everyone saying Bi Han is mean and I’ve seen some ppl make him abusive WHICH IS WRONG!!!!! He is raised on tradition!!! Tomas says a line that says “his father’s honor” insisted on taking him in!! HES GRUFF AND A GENTLEMAN!!! HES ONLY MEAN TO HIS BROTHERS🗣️🗣️🗣️….sorry I got a little heated there💔 also also this is based on something saw here (I can’t remember who posted it, sorry) which was like what if Bi Han was pretending and didn’t actually betray his brothers so…yeah

Warnings: Mentioned death, blood and gore. Also angst. Bi Han actually has a heart guys‼️‼️‼️ so maybe ooc and also also no use of Y/n. The child has a name:3

Bi Han stared at the small girl in front of him

She and her family had unfortunately been caught in Lin Kuei battles, which led to the death of her parents by the hands of the enemy clan.

Bi Han stared at her, clutching her fathers cold hand with both of hers begging him to wake up saying that mommy wasn’t waking up either with a blood covered blanket and two stuffed animals crammed under her arms. One bright pink winged-cat plushy and a pastel pink and pastel purple unicorn with holographic tinsel in its mane

Bi Han sighed, and walked towards her, going in his knees to seem less scary. “Child, your parents will not wake..I…I’m sorry.” She turned to him, tears pouring out of her eyes and in a shakey voice asked “Why not?” Bi Han sucked in a breath.

He was a man most acquainted with seeing gore and death. Seeing bodies and blood with nothing new to him, but she couldn’t be older than 4. She’d lived in a secluded house with her parents and farm animals, and he doubted they would slaughter the animals in front of her.

“They…were caught in the cross fire. And unfortunately they have ascended to the heavens, and cannot bring you with them.” How he wished his brothers were here. He was raised to see emotions has weak as the future Grandmaster. “But they will watch over you and guide you as best they can from where they are.” He added quickly, remembering the line from the day Tomas was brought home

The girl nodded, and looked back at her parents corpses. “Oh. So I’m all alone?” Bi Han shook his head. “No, if you allow me to..I will take care of you. I know I will never replace your parents, but I will try to raise you fairly.” The blue ninja awkward opened his arms for her, and she collapsed in them sobbing.

Bi Han would normally be annoyed with the child, but now seeing a girl so young lose her whole life in one night by the enemy…he couldn’t even imagine being upset with her. Not when she got snot and tears on his uniform (not the shoulder he didn’t want to accidentally hurt her with the pointed shoulders), or when she asked him to gather what little remained of her old life.

When Tomas bright with him a small box of memories from his old family—he’d scoffed at it. Tomas would be a Lin Kuei now, he had a new family now. What did he need with memories from before?

But now? Now he understood. Bi Han helped her find what remained from her old room—A few pink floral pillow, 3 hand made quilts, a set of slightly burnt ice skating gear, and more stuffed animals—before finding a box large enough to fit what little was salvageable. When something caught his eye. On the floor was a fallen bookcase, and strewn across the floor were pictures of her parents.

Bi Han asked her if she’d like them, and she nodded trying to wiggle out of his grip. “No, there is glass on the floor. You don’t have shoes on, you could be hurt.” She nodded, sulking only slightly. Bi Han set the box down and helped her pick out 5 pictures of her parents, and 3 of all three of them. He even managed to find two fairly large photo albums that were fairly good condition to take too.

“Bi Han?!” Finally, his brothers were here. The girl whimpered slightly and leaned back against him. “It’s alright. It is only my brothers.” He assured her quietly, repacking her things before walking out. “Brother wh—“ Kuai Liang stopped short seeing the girl tear streaked face and covered in soot and blood. “Oh dear..” he muttered, walking forward.

Tomas followed him, reaching out for the box Bi Han held. “Hello there,” He smiled slightly at her “my name is Kuai Liang. What is yours?” She peered up at Bi Han who nodded slightly at her “Chao-Xing.” She muttered, cuddling further into his elder brother. “How old are you, Chao-Xing?” Tomas asked softly. “I turned 4 yesterday.”

Bi Han silenced their bubbling questions, looking down at the uncomfortable girl who was growing more and more tired. “Enough questions, let’s head back. She is tired.” He said firmly, taking the lead of the group who nodded.

They arrived at camp in two hours, and would be back at the compound the next afternoon if they left before first light. “Grandmaster!” Sektor called loudly, drawing attention. Chao-Xing stirred slightly, and Bi Han silenced her with a glare. “Quiet, Sektor. We will talk soon.” He growled, breezing past her heading for the tent that had been set up for him.

Bi Han tucked her into his bed, leaving the box of her things at the foot of the bed and left guards with stern orders to find him if she startled awake. Then he left to find Sektor and his brothers.

That night, he slept in the chair in his large tent, and when he woke Chao-Xing was curled up in his lap. Bi Han picked her up and wrapped her up in the small throw blanket that was on his bed to keep her warm on the journey.

He oversaw the clan packing up tents as the sun rose, and when Chao-Xing woke up he plated her some breakfast and ate with her on his right knee. The journey to the compound was quick, Chao-Xing fell back asleep some time before arriving and awoke to him ordering someone to clean her things and take them to her new room.

“Chao-Xing, would you like a tour of the compound? I can show you the gardens?” Kuai Liang offered, and she nodded somewhat hesitantly. “Not yet, she needs lunch first. And then she’s getting her measurements taken for new clothes, and then a trip to the medics.” Bi Han told his brother. Hua frowned. “No shots?” She asked quietly. “If they aren’t needed, then no.” She seemed satisfied with that, and let Bi Han take her to wherever her lunch was

After her trip to the doctors, where she thankfully got not shots, Kuai Liang and Tomas took her around the compound and ended the tour in the flower gardens. Chao-Xing enjoyed the gardens, mainly for the koi pond in it.

“Careful Chao-Xing! Don’t fall in!” Tomas laughed, gently pulling her away from the edge of the pond “I like fishes. Pretty.” She replied, looking at the fish in awe. “Yes they’re quite pretty, aren’t they? Maybe in the morning you can come out here and help feed them.” Kuai Liang said, enjoying the way her smile widened

At dinner time, Bi Han found them laying in front of the koi pond with Chao-Xing between his brothers. “Chao-Xing, dinner.” He said, voice surprisingly gentle. She stood up and ran over to him, talking about how pretty the fish were. “Yes the fish are very pretty.” He agreed, eyes drifting to his brothers in silent thanks.

Kuai Liang talked about her possibly feeding the fish, which made her perk up. So of course he agreed, and said he’d do it with her. But only if she ate her veggies at dinner. She poured up at him, but he managed to keep strong against her puppy dog eyes

Tomas struggled to not point out how easily he took to fatherhood.

Weeks passed, and soon Chao-Xing had been here a full month. It became routine for Bi Han to wake up to her curled up in his bed, and before breakfast they would feed the koi fish together. Then he’d help her chose an outfit and get dressed, go eat breakfast and train while Chao-Xing did her lessons

Chao-Xing proved to be a very smart girl, and finished her lessons an hour early every day (unless it was cursive then she finished her lessons on time) and always watched him train with his brothers

Then it was time for lunch, after which Bi Han would take her to the sides of the training grounds and meditate with her before teaching her basic stances for kombat. After that, she really had free rein to do anything within reason. But she chose to follow him around quietly.

Her wide eyes never strayed far from him, she even would sit outside his office during meetings. He would exit to see her staring up at him, pink winged cat plush in hand. She was always hot on his heels, and he didn’t mind too much. She was 4, and lost her family in a very traumatic situation. He couldn’t understand fully, but he could be sympathetic.

One night when he was tucking her in, and checking for monster per her request he asked her. “Why do you not sleep in your bed? I don’t mind waking up to you in my bed, I’m only wondering.” Chao-Xing sniffled and admitted “I keep getting afraid you’ll go where mommy and daddy went. And I’ll be alone.” Bi Han swallowed thickly. “Even if I did go there, which I’m not, you would still have the Lin Kuei to look after you, and Kuai Laing and Tomas to care for you.” She smiled a little at him. Bi Han smiled back.

He didn’t mind when he’d wake up in the middle of the night to her gentle knocks, when her night terrors got bad, when she followed him around, watched him train even though she seemed to hold little interest in becoming a ninja like him.

He didn’t mind, but others did apparently

His brothers made no comment about it, mainly because they had seen Tomas in the same way for many years. But Sektor had made a small comment about it. “I never understood why parents allowed their child to cling to them in such a way.” Chao-Xing tilted her head at the words, eyes dampening with sadness. “Well I’m sure that the parents don’t mind. They are their children, after all.” He growled, eyes narrowing at her.

Chao-Xing may not have understood the message, but Sektor did.

‘Never talk like that about my daughter again’

BONUS! DIALOGUE BETWEEN KOMBATANTS

Bi Han: You were so easy to trick

Shang Tsung: You are weak to think of a child over greatness

Shang Tsung: My offer still stands, with your power our victory will be assured!

Bi Han: I would never betray my family for your petty lies

Liu Kang: I did not take you for the kind for fatherhood

Bi Han: neither did I

Bi Han: was there a chance I would betray my family in this timeline?

Liu Kang: Your daughter changed the timeline in more ways than one

Kuai Liang: I never thought I would be an uncle

Bi Han: I never though I would be a father

Bi Han: I apologize for making you think I would betray you, brother

Kuai Liang: Just tell me your plan next time, and I’ll be happy.

Tomas: What does Chao-Xing want for her birthday?

Bi Han: She keeps asking for a puppy, which she won’t be getting

Bi Han: I apologize for making you think I would betray you, brother

Tomas: I forgive you brother, just warn us next time.

[freakingholland]

I need some fluffy Remus x f! Reader. Reader is a need-of-touch Person, plagued by the similar issues like Remus (insecurity/ anxiety, lack of self esteem, feeling of not deserving love & happiness, depression, and can be impulsive). History of bullying at school, family issues (fighting parents, mean relatives). On a very hard hitting depression day, Remus learns of her troubles, a friendship develops. Both afraid to „ruin“ it with their feelings. A deep cuddle part :)? Thank you very much!

"Let's stop pretending" - Remus Lupin x teacher!Reader

A/N: Hello! Thank you sm for this request! You didn’t specify if you want it to be older or younger Remus so I went with teacher Remus and teacher Reader – I hope you don’t mind! I loved working on this piece and I hope you’ll like it! Also this was my first time writing something so emotional so please go easy on me!

If you or anyone you know is struggling please consider seeking help. Here are some extremely helpful hotlines: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 (US) STAND! For Families Free of Violence crisis line: 888-215-5555 (US) National Domestic Abuse Helpline in the UK: 0808 2000 247 (UK) Crisis Services Canada Suicide Prevention Service: 1-833-456-4566 (Canada) Remember, you are not alone and things can get better. Virtual hugs - Tori xx

Summary: Sometimes the most influential people, the closest to one’s heart, get the worst of treatments. But true love will always shine through the toughest of times. And that’s what happened with Remus and his partner. (emotional hurt/comfort, angst with happy ending, romance)

Warnings: not proofread! descriptions of low self esteem, depressive mood, descriptions of anxiety and worries, heartfelt confessions, teacher x teacher relationship.

Word count: 1.7K +

If you enjoyed my work: Ko-fi.com/freakingholland

questions/requests/ideas here! - rules here

masterlist

my AO3 archive is here

Sweaty, breathless. With a knot painfully tightening in your stomach. With an unrested mind, thoughts colliding with one another and blurring together. Was it the weight of your new function? Was it the memories of your own school years? The taunts, the whispers, the isolation - all of it suddenly felt too close, like it had never really left. But you shook your head, forcing yourself to breathe. In and out.

You were safe now—or so you told yourself. On the other side. Teaching, not being taught.

A bottle of water, your beloved quill, some chocolate, books. You nervously clutched your most needed belongings with trembling hands. You hurriedly skipped up the stairs towards your newly assigned classroom keeping your things close to your torso.

As you were approaching the top of the staircase you were greeted with a small smile from a man walking downstairs. One that you couldn’t help but return despite the tightness in your chest. A fellow professor – judging by the look of his robe. He was wearing a sweater that at first sight seemed just as soft as his gaze. His soft facial expression and scent briefly shook you from your overwhelming thoughts.

“Good morning.” he said calmly. You stopped in your tracks.

“I feel like we know each other,” you said hesitantly, forcing yourself to hold his gaze. “Y/N Y/L/N.”

He nodded gently, with a spark of recognition behind his ocean blue eyes.

“Hmmm we do… it’s been so long. Good to see a familiar face. Remus. Remus Lupin.”

“It really has been. Nice to see you too,” you replied, a weird sense of relief creeping in.

Remus Lupin. Of course you remembered him. He had been a well-seasoned fifth year student by the time you had started your first term at Hogwarts. Though you’d never really spoken directly, you were aware of him. Your paths crossed briefly when you were a prefect for Ravenclaw at a time of his own prefect duties for Gryffindor.

You loved being a prefect, it had been a rare reprieve. It gave you an excuse to roam around the castle, to lose yourself in the beauty of it. While many younglings found the darkness of Hogwarts unsettling, to you it was a genuine comfort, a place where you could gather your racing thoughts in peace.

“I’m sure we will see each other more often. My class is just around the corner. If you need anything dear you know where to find me.” He tilted his head in the direction of the stairs.

“Now if you’ll excuse me ma’am! I have to sign some documents at Mrs. McGonagall’s office. We shall see each other later?”

“Certainly. See you later Remus.”

It was hard not to admit that his warm welcome caught you off guard. What surprised you was that, despite having barely interacted in the past, he seemed to hold some sense of fondness towards you. Regardless, his gesture was undeniably kind.

-

You and Professor Burbage sat side by side, your mugs of coffee warming your hands as you exchanged stories about the last week’s antics from your lessons.

“…and then he- “you began, only to be interrupted by a familiar warmth on your shoulder.

“And who is that?” a familiar voice teased from behind.

Remus peeked between you and Professor Burbage with his very own cup of coffee.

“Good evening, Remmy. Please have a seat!”

“May I?” he asked without really waiting for an answer before pulling up a chair.

As Remus sat down, his knee brushed yours briefly under the table.

“You’re like two peas in a pod these days,” Burbage commented, her eyes darting between you with a knowing grin.

“What can I say dear Charity…?” Remus began, his tone mockingly serious.

“You have to have somebody to complain to when you’re marking awfully written papers.” You finished for him.

“Exactly. Out of respect for our sanity, of course.”

“Oh, is that what they’re calling it these days?” she asked.

Remus raised an eyebrow, but his smirk gave him away. “Yes, that’s precisely what we’re calling it. Survival through shared suffering.”

 “Mhmm, shared suffering,” Charity said under her breath before taking a long sip of her coffee. She glanced at her watch.

“Well well I’d love to banter with you for a little longer but some of us have lessons to prepare for. Good night,” she said, slowly rising from her seat. She gently smoothed out her robe.

“Goodnight, Charity,” you said, trying to ignore the subtle heat spreading through your cheeks.

-

You were moving rice from one edge of your plate to another, trying to make it vanish with your sight.

“You’re awfully quiet today,” Remus said, breaking the silence.

Forcing a smile, you replied, “It’s nothing, just tired.” He gave you an attentive look and nodded slowly.

“Dearie if you need to talk, you know I’m here,” he said gently.

„I know, thank you…”

Your rational side begged you to stop, to bury the feelings before they ruined what you had. But your heart had other ideas. It kept slowly but surely tearing you apart with unrelenting tension, increasing with every single one of Remus’ gestures, remarks.

His hand had barely brushed against yours, and it was enough to fuel the ache in your chest. You wanted to lean into the warmth he offered, wanted to let the comfort of his company wrap around you like a blanket, but you simply couldn’t.

You could feel the weight of his gaze on you. You needed to leave. Needed some space.

“I... I must…go set up the classroom.” You said firmly getting up from your warmed up seat.

As you stepped into the hallway the cold air hit your face, making you more focused on your breathing. The feeling was sort of like the one on your first day teaching. Except this time you were walking away from him, the one person who had brought you so much comfort. With each step, you couldn’t shake the feeling that you were letting something so important slip right through your fingers.

You slammed the door behind you, taking out your anger on the object. You couldn’t help but cry it all out. You slid down to the floor and buried your face between your knees.

Remus couldn’t stand it any longer. He set down his mug with a thud and followed you.

He hesitated for a moment, but the instinct to check on you was stronger than the quiet voice in his head telling him to stay away. Gently pushing the door open, he found you, sitting on the cold stone floor next to it.

He sat down beside you without a word. The silence was growing thicker if that was even possible.

“I don’t deserve this Y/N…” he whispered, his voice trembling.

“You are right…you don’t deserve such treatment, “ you whispered back.

“I... I don’t know what’s happening anymore, Remus,” you choked out, your shoulders shaking. “Everything feels like it's falling apart, and I can’t keep pretending it’s fine.”

“That is not what I meant love.” He locked his gaze with yours, eyes glistening in the warm sunlight. He took a deep breath.

“I don’t deserve someone like you. I’ve spent so long convincing myself that I shouldn’t get close to anyone, and yet… here you are. Without even trying, you’ve become everything to me.” His voice wavered.

“You’ve brought light into places I thought would stay dark forever.”

“I’ve hidden from who I really am… from what I’ve been through. I convinced myself that I wasn’t worthy of any of the good things, especially not you.” His words made your chest tighten.

“But you are worthy, Remus. You’re the most caring person I know. I wouldn’t have survived being here if it wasn’t for your constant support. I owe you the beginning of this chapter of my life.”

He looked down, his voice quiet as he murmured, “I don’t know how to accept that. I don’t know how to feel like I’m enough for you.”

“Please don’t say that.”

“I have to be honest with you, Remus. I don’t know how to just be your friend anymore. I’ve tried, but I can’t keep pretending I don’t feel the way I do.” Your voice cracked, and you turned away, wrapping your arms around yourself.

“I never thought… I never dared to believe you could feel the same,”

“I’ve spent so much time telling myself you were out of reach,” he continued.

He paused, his hand hovering uncertainly before finally brushing gently against your cheek, as if afraid you might pull away. “I need to say this, Y/N. It’s been eating at me for weeks now, and I can’t keep pretending it’s not there.”

“I think I’m in love with you.”

You turned to face him. More tears welled up in your eyes. But this time they were happy tears.

Without thinking, you closed the space between you, wrapping your arms tightly around him. His embrace was immediate.

“I’ve tried to ignore it... but the more I’m with you, the more it’s hard to deny. I love you too,” you murmured into his chest, your voice muffled. “I’ve loved you for so long.”

As he held you close, the world felt like it had finally righted itself.

You soaked in the relief. And the warmth that seemed like it was completely out of your reach just seconds ago.

You stayed intertwined for a while, slowly digesting the good and the bad. Giving yourself space to let everything sink in.

But then, as the two of you sat there in silence for a while, Remus shifted slightly and let out a soft chuckle.

“You know,”

“as romantic as this moment is, my buttocks are absolutely freezing.” You couldn’t help but laugh through the remains of your tears.

“Oh, so now you’re saying my breakdown spot isn’t up to your standards?” you teased, pulling back just enough to see his face, which was now decorated with a playful smirk.

“I’m just saying, if we’re going to spend the night clinging to each other and crying some more maybe we could do it somewhere else. My butt’s about to become part of the stonework here… have some mercy for an old man.”

“I will as long as I am allowed to call you my old man.”

“I suppose I could let you get away with that... but only because I’m feeling generous.” Remus grinned, planting a kiss on your forehead.

Thank you for reading! Stay whelmed xx