#this one goes out to all my rivals to lovers enthusiasts

[altarmind]

He flinches away from familiarity, the intimacy of first-name terms. He gets skittish at grand reminders of his heart, so I let him use surnames and titles and gestures for me. I let him dance around the idea of an informal warmth. Such unease is pretty alien to me, but I can't deny that it heightens the satisfaction every time he lets the mask slip.

I'm patient. I don't press too much. I wouldn't have him any other way than what he is.

But I do indulge, sometimes, in the thought of prying his inhibitions out of him. Taking it slow, getting him a little drunk, kissing him until we're both too warm and the room feels unreal. I dream idly of pushing him into a mattress and fucking him while his head spins. I'd love to hear him shudder as I coaxed him further out of lucidity: shh, baby, let go, I've got you, let me worry about everything. just feel good. just be good for me. I'd keep a tight grip on him, enough to bruise, and in my daydreams he gasps into it.

When he's right up to the edge, I tell him to say my name as he comes. I don't specify which. But there's not the slightest hesitation left in him by then. He doesn't flinch away from my first name. He moans it like it's the only word he knows.

And after, I help him find his lucidity again; I watch things re-set between us. Because that's the right thing to do.

I'm only sometimes tempted by the fantasy of leaving him pried open. Fucking him so good he forgets what he was afraid of. Warping him a little, but into better shape.

I guess he's not the only one dancing around matters of the heart. Mine are just a little bit fucked in the head.

[bunnys-kisses]

holy- THE MAX WEED FIC MIGHT BE THE HOTTEST F1 PIECE IVE READ SO FAR OML PLEASE MORE DRUNK FILTHY SEX WITH MAX I BEG YOU!! or hear me out his rival (who already is into max but refuses to admit it) accidentally takes an aphrodisiac and she’s forced to beg and grind on max for his help!! size kink please with those huge thighs and hands of his ❤️❤️

oh my god thank you!!! i wasn't too sure how people would like intoxicated fics! i know that most write it with liquor, but if you've had sex while stoned, it's a nicer feeling. anyway, i'm really fucking with this idea so! i hope you enjoy!

and for those out there on the internet, send me your ideas! i love ideas to be shared and written!!!! send me your smutty ideas! i want em!!!

max verstappen

cw: smut/pwp, rivals au, aphrodisiacs, begging/whining, size kink, praise kink, non-penetrative sex, driver!reader, recreational drug use (weed), enthusiastic consent, thigh riding, clothed sex, max being a good rival/lover

"i think i should cutting these up for you, schat." he said as he cut the bag open for you. nothing too spectacular on, just four pieces of chocolate, "so this was their response to not having weed." he picked up a piece and eyed it in the light of the kitchen.

most drivers had their vices, many indulged in the bitter nectar of alcohol. others enjoyed the private company of certain individuals, which left heavy stacks of money on nightstands and tucked into bank accounts. a small portion got their kicks from substances that went harder.

you remembered having to sit in a meeting with max when you first started in formula one about the dangers of illicit drugs. as if most of the retired drivers didn't have their brains re-altered by the likes of cocaine.

but this wasn't canada, or certain parts of the united states or even amsterdam. you couldn't just freely by your fix, weed, so you had to get creative. but someone with as much money as you, with that much influence in a city like monte carlo allowed you to get what you needed.

it may not be marijuana on paper, but it would do the trick on a saturday night during summer break.

"you don't think i can handle it?' you asked as you rested your chin against your hand with your elbow on the counter. you sighed, "you think so poorly of me, verstappen?"

he sighed, "no, i just don't want you passed out on my couch. the point is to have fun, not get wasted." he said but before he could grab a knife to cut it half for you, you had taken a piece of it and ate it down. max looked at you and put the knife back in the drawer, "you know, fine. fine, fine, fine. let's see how this goes, schat."

it was almost a dare and made you sit up a little more, you made a face at him, "what? i'm a big girl, i can handle a little drugs."

he drummed his fingers against the counter top and stuck out his bottom lip as he made a face back at you. his other hand was on his hip as he said, "like you could handle all that vodka in austria in twenty-nineteen. or when you out smoked me that weekend in amsterdam and i had to stay in your hotel room because you were going to cry if i left."

"ya know, verstappen. i don't like how i'm being spoken to."

he sighed, he went around the counter and kissed you on the cheek, "grab your bottle of water, you're going to need it." max knew, underneath it all, you carried a soft spot for him. he did for you as well, but he was a little more open about it. you had protected your soft underbelly when it came to him, while he held his arms open for you.

the feelings didn't start until an hour after you took it.

there was some movie on, but you weren't paying much attention. you were cuddled up against him. his arm was around your shoulders and kept you closed to him. you could feel the tingle in your feet and up your legs.

you made a small moaning noise with your nose in the side of his neck, right up against his hair. your hand was spread across the broadness of his chest.

your clenched onto his shirt and shakily exhaled as it start to really hit. everything felt gooey in your brain as you rubbed up against him. usually when you took part in illicit fun, you just got hungry or sleepy. but not this, something swirled in your gut.

"max." you said out of breath.

he pulled you closer to him and looked at you, "yes, schat? aw, was it all too much for you?" he cupped the back of your head and pulled you in for a sweet kiss.

you whined against the kiss as you felt the heat run through your body. you felt hot all over, your knew your face must feel so hot. when you pulled away, you swallowed, "i'm.. i'm really turned on."

he chuckled, oh this was perfect. he rubbed the back of your head, those blue eyes enchanted you. this guy really was going tire-to-tire with you almost every weekend. that excited you.

you've thought about the sight of him in that driving suit, the stupid kits red bull puts him in. even now in a white t-shirt, and sweatpants after a nice dinner, you thought about what was under there.

"shit."

he chuckled then reached over to grab your metal water bottle. he opened it for you and gave you some. you drank it down heavily before he laughed once more. he put the bottle down and asked, "how are you feeling?"

"hot all over." you said, "i need you to fuck me."

he said, "i don't think i can. you're too high." he tucked hair behind your ear, but his eyes went wide as you got on either side of his thick thigh. he looked up at you and said, "schat, i need your word. are you okay to do this?"

you nodded as you gripped onto his shoulders, "yeah, yeah. i'll do all the work. nothing serious." even through the layers of clothes, you felt the stimulation across your clit. you could feel the blood rush in your ears.

your dug your nails into the meat of his shoulders, through the t-shirt he wore. you shakily exhaled, "i can see why everyone obsesses over your thighs." you then grabbed his hand and pressed your palm against his, "i didn't realize how big your hands were either." you giggled, "they're like bear paws." then pressed his hand against your heated cheek.

"they're not that big."

you nodded as you moved against him, your clothed cunt felt stimulated by the movements you made. plus his hands on you made you more turned on. your eyes fluttered shut for a moment, "they so are, they're like big paws. big bear paws." you giggled as you squirmed against him.

max looked away from you for a moment and sighed deeply to compose himself. in all fairness he wanted to sink his teeth into you. he wanted to fold you in half and fuck you until no words could leave your mouth. but he couldn't not while you were like this, even when he said yes. he wanted to make sure that you were sober when he did that.

"why can't you fuck me, max? i've been such a good girl! i almost beat you in belgium, that should make you fuck me." you whined, you stuck out your bottom lip with your hips still grinding against his thigh.

he cupped your behind and kept his nose against your, he sighed, "i'd love to, beautiful." he said, "but, you're not in the right mindset. i know we're rivals. but, i could never hurt you." it was the god's honest truth.

"no fair!" you whined.

"if you need to get off again after this, you can feel free to... pleasure yourself." he said, the words got caught in his throat. he could feel the blush up to his ears at the sight of you grinding against his thigh.

you nodded and held onto him as you continued to rub against him. you panted wildly and you were louder than usual. nromally you were rather quiet, but while high you were pitifully loud. you kissed him on the jaw and said, "next time i wanna feel that nose of yours against my pussy."

he exhaled deeply, his heartbeat staggered, holy shit. your dirty talk was making the hairs stand up on the back of his neck. he held onto you and let you continue to rut against him like a little puppy.

"aw, ya like that, max?" you asked softly.

he chuckled, "i have to say, usually you're more subtle. i didn't know that you liked my body so much."

you looked at him and said, "max, are you fucking kidding me? have you seen yourself. the first time i ever saw you without your shirt on, i almost came!" this was something you'd never admit sober, "big ol' hands, big ol' thighs, big ol' nose. all leads to one thing." you jabbed your finger in his chest, "and i know the answer to that!"

if this was a dream that max was going to wake up from, he was going to wish he was dead. but as he clenched onto your hips and let you set your own pace, he thought he had died and gone to heaven.

usually giving him a compliment was like having your teeth pulled. but right at that moment, your tongue was loose as you chased that orgasmic high you needed.

"just keep going." he panted, trying to keep himself together. and that you did, rubbing yourself raw against him.

you eventually hissed through your teeth as you climaxed in your panties. you wanted to cover your face from the rush through your system. you felt the sweat on your neck as you slowed down. you let out a few stray moans before you slowed down enough to a stop.

"holy shit." you panted as you rested your face against his shoulder. your fingers held onto the front of his shirt as you felt the aftershocks in your body.

he rubbed your back, "how are you feeling?" his cock was painfully erect in his sweatpants, but he wasn't going to try it push it further. not while you were in this state. he'd rather a painful erection then you getting hurt.

you pulled away and looked him in the eyes, your eyes were rimmed red as you nodded, "perfect, excellent, amazing. do..do you have any snacks in the fridge?"

he chuckled. you were painfully cute like this, all snuggled up with him. he knew come the next race you'd be getting in his face and challenging him at every turn. but at that moment, with you high as a kite both of the chocolate and sexual bliss. he ran his fingers through your hair and looked at your cute face. he said to you, "why don't you just lie down and i'll see what i have."

you giggled and wrapped your arms around him. you kissed him on the cheek, "you're a life saver, max!"

-

you woke up the next morning with a headache. it was a deep throb like a hangover but it still made you wince if you focused on it too much. you rolled over, away from the streaming sunlight and into max's arms.

"why did you let me take a whole piece?"

he moved his face closer to you and exhaled deeply, "because you're the most stubborn woman i've ever met." he pulled you closer to him, "give me five more minutes and i'll get you something for your head."

you pressed a kiss on his jaw. maybe he wasn't a total nightmare to be around. underneath the mask (or helmet) he wore, he was a caring man who wanted what was best for you. he even made you breakfast afterwards, but don't mistake it all for pure kindness.

come the dutch grand prix after the break, you two were going to go back to wanting to maul one another (and not sexually) <3

[leviathans-watching]

mfil - 18

-` ♡ ´- m.list | no taglist | next | wc: .6k

-` ♡ ´- a/n: i feel like this should be changed from rivals to lovers to idiots to lovers atp lmao

*NOT CLICKBAIT!!!* when asmo learns that you, the newest exchange student has a youtube account and following somewhat comparable to his own, he decided right then and there not to like you. however, after an unfortunate (and misleading) exchange goes viral, he has no choice but to fake date you in order to save face. will asmo crush you and put you into place like you deserve? or are those funny feelings in his stomach not hate, like he had thought? like, subscribe, and maybe fall in love (with this smau) to find out!!

you know when asmodeus arrives by the way those remaining in the classroom break out into hushed chatter, followed by excited glances sent your way. gritting your teeth, you finish packing and sling your bag over your shoulder.

“hey,” asmodeus greets you from the doorway as you walk over to him, and really, could he sound any more enthusiastic?

“hey!” you force a smile. “how was your day?”

“it was good. yours?”

you know neither of you care about the answers. you’re only trying to keep up appearances. the ‘pleasant’ conversation lasts until you exit rad, and once you reach the parking lot, asmodeus steps a bit away from you, putting some space in between your shoulders.

“i meant to ask,” you begin. “how’d you know which class was mine? i forgot to tell you what my last period of the day was.”

he stiffens, then shrugs. “i don’t know, i guess i must have overhead someone say it. i swear, when everybody should be talking about me, they’re only talking about you. it’s honestly ridiculous!”

“someone’s jealous.”

the look you get is scathing. “i can’t believe i have to do this,” he groans, tapping something out on his phone. probably a tweet or something, knowing him. “you really should make some friends.”

“i have friends, thank you,” you reply frostily. “they’re just busy. and don’t act like this wasn’t your fault in the first place.”

“how is this my fault? you’re the one who needed to go shopping?”

“and you’re the one who wanted to ask me out.” your tone is sickly sweet.

“whatever,” he scoffs. “i told you you should just have ordered it online.”

“and i told you, it needs to fit my brand. i figured you, of all people, would understand the need to make content off of this.” too busy rolling your eyes, you don’t notice the car pulling out from its space until asmo’s yanking you back, a hand on your arm.

“i swear,” he says disgustedly, “some of these drivers need their freaking license revoked. i almost get hit in this lot all of the time.”

you laugh, a little nervously. “i’ll have to keep that in mind. thanks, i guess. turning into a human pancake wouldn’t have been a good start to the year.”

your words bring a small, non-sarcastic smile to his lips, and you��re stunned by how normal he looks. one could even call him handsome.

not you, though.

he catches himself quickly, flipping his hair with a sigh. “please, the car wasn’t going that fast. you’re so dramatic. oh look, there’s satan.”

you follow his gaze to a nicer car that’s already running. asmodeus wastes no time getting into the passenger seat, leaving you to climb in the back.

“hello,” you chirp, examining satan. “thanks so much for the ride! i really appreciate it.”

“hello,” he says pleasantly. “it’s nice to meet you. and it’s no trouble at all, especially since i hear you’re being so kind as to buy me dinner in exchange.”

damn asmodeus.

“yep! gotta show my gratitude, right?”

he chuckles, shakes his head, and reverses out of the parking space. “well, i’m looking forward to it. i can’t wait to get to know you better. i’ve heard so much about you through asmo.”

“all good things, i’m sure,” you reply drily.

“satan,” asmodeus hisses, slapping his brother in the arm. “don’t you dare.”

“dare what?” satan asks, flashing you a mischievous look in the rearview mirror. “i’m just getting to know your partner. and doing my duty as an ambassador of the demon realm. nothing more, nothing less.”

“yeah,” you put in. “at least somebody’s showing me a modicum of politeness.”

“introducing the two of you was a mistake,” asmodeus says, sinking down in his seat. “and satan, you know damn well that they’re not my partner. so don’t be a prick.”

“i’m afraid i don’t know what you mean,” satan says cooly, and you realize you might be in for a night of brotherly arguing. oh, yay.

leviathans-watching's work - please do not copy, repost, or claim as your own

[poorlittlegreenie13]

Greenie's Masterlist — Come & join the party <3

About Me:

Hi! My name is Greenie, which is a reference from David Bowie's song The Jean Genie which has the lyric "Poor little Greenie" in it.

I'm a 20-something lesbian virgo, triple earth sign, eternal-student, Donna Tartt enthusiast, 90's alt rock enthusiast, record-collector, & fic writer <3.

This blog doesn't have a specific theme... I go wherever the muses take me. Below you'll find links to & descriptions of all of my fics sorted by fandom.

Link to my AO3

Stories:

The Bear:

Rules For (fake) Dating an Italian 🇮🇹 - Sydney/Carmy. In progress.

WANTED: Female, aged 20-30, to be my date for Christmas eve dinner with my Italian family. Must be willing to eat my mom’s cooking. No physical intimacy required. No strings attached—I will drive you home after. 4pm-10pm, 12/24. Salary negotiable. Call Carmen: (773) 555-0901.

OR: The one in which Sydney just needs a job, and Carmy will die before he proves Richie right.

Yellowjackets:

Wretched Things 🔥 - Jackie/Shauna, Taissa/Van, Lottie/Natalie. Complete, WC: 260K

It’s been five years since Shauna Sadecki volunteered for Jackie Taylor at the Reaping and won the 45th Hunger Games. Now, at the second annual Quarter Quell, everyone who has been previously Reaped is eligible to be thrown back into the arena. That includes former best friends Lottie and Natalie, and former lovers Van and Taissa.

(aka, me offering up another Yellowjackets Hunger Games AU)

The Killing of a Sacred Doe 🦌 - Lottie/Natalie, Jackie/Shauna, (minor Tai/Van, minor Natalie/Shauna). In progress.

|| Inspired by The Secret History by Donna Tartt || (but can be read without having read TSH)

By every metric that matters, Natalie Scatorccio should not have been admitted to Wiskayok Conservatory for The Arts. She didn’t have the test scores, or the tuition money, or any particular talent or ambition that might have made her a promising asset for a conservatory to acquire. She did have a drinking problem, a dead father, and no other option. So sure, why not art school? It was better than rehab. Or jail. 

let the light in 🖤 - Van/Taissa. Complete, WC: 5k.

“Take me home, please, Van.”

Taissa’s words are soft. Not a question, just a destination. They have always been heading here.

(Post finale getting-back-together fic)

Six of Crows / Shadow & Bone:

angelum mortis amo 🪽 - Jesper/Wylan. Complete, WC: 45k.

Jesper and Wylan are both hitmen from rival gangs. Wylan tries to kill Jesper. It goes about as well as you might expect.

(Featuring crazy-in-love Wylan Van Eck, flirting-at-gunpoint Jesper Fahey, and mob boss Kaz Brekker).

Show Me Yours 🐦‍⬛ - Jesper/Wylan. Complete, WC: 20k.

Wylan's past abuse hovers over him like a shadow. Jesper's gambling addiction binds him like a chain. But as they grow closer, it turns out secrets can melt like ice in the right kind of warmth.

(A character study of TV show-Wylan & Jesper & the way their backstories could factor into the progression of their relationship).

Stranger Things:

Star Star ✨ - Steve/Eddie (minor Chrissy/Robin). Complete, WC: 93K.

Rock band AU in which Robin, Eddie, Jonathan, Nancy, and Chrissy play in a band, and Steve has no choice but to hang out with the most annoying frontman in the world, Eddie Munson. Things escalate when they're forced to pretend they're in a relationship.

Modern AU, fake-dating (kind of).

I Buried a Hatchet (it's coming up lavender) 🪓 - Robin/Nancy (minor Steve/Eddie). Complete, WC: 60K.

Vecna nearly killed Robin before Nancy could take him out for good. Luckily, Robin's too stubborn to die, and Nancy's too stubborn to let her. Nursing her back to health, Nancy soon begins to question the feelings that almost losing Robin awoke in her.

In which Nancy has to do everything herself, compulsory heterosexuality is a bitch, and Robin Buckley is more charming than she thinks she is.

Harry Potter / Marauders:

Burn, Pine, Perish 🎶 - James/Regulus (minor Sirius/Remus). Complete, WC: 33k.

Sirius' family has magically forbidden him from dating anyone until Regulus finds a suitable pureblood partner. The problem is, Sirius is in love with a certain werwolf, and Regulus' romantic inclinations remain a mystery.

James, a pureblood, is nothing if not eager to help a friend.

AKA - A '10 Things I Hate About You' AU in which James attempts to woo Regulus so Sirius can have a chance with Remus.

Lonely Bones 🦴 - Draco/Hermione. Incomplete, on indefinite hiatus, I'm sorry, please stop asking me when I'm going to finish it, your guess is as good as mine, final answers is... sometime, probably, maybe?

Hermione Granger can't sleep. Draco Malfoy can't walk. The war is over, but it feels like it isn't. Neither of them are happy, but maybe the times together are better than the times apart. 

Draco is cursed in the battle of Hogwarts with unhealable bone fractures. Hermione is in desperate need of money to bring her parents back from Australia, and when Narcissa offers her a job attempting to cure Draco, she has no choice but to take it.

A League of Their Own:

It's Rotten Work 💐 - Jess/Lupe. Complete. WC: 10K.

Nobody's ever taken care of Jess McCready.

Not until she met Lupe García, anyway.

(In which Jess is oblivious, Lupe is romantic, and both of them are a little bit confused.)

Devour What's Truly Yours 🏴‍☠️ written in collaboration with the lovely @somebodytoundress - Jess/Lupe. Complete, WC: 37K.

Lupe Garcia had planned to go down with her pirate ship when it was raided by Spanish soldiers one dreadful night. Bleeding out on the deck, she accepted her fate—until an infamous ghostly captain with no name and a haunting face rescued her from the burning ship and nursed her back to health. With no ship, no crew, and no fortune, the solution is clear for Lupe. She‘s going to kill this captain and take over her crew so she may return to ruling the seas. And she’s definitely not going to fall in love with her.

Simply Elegant 🚬 - Jess/Lupe. Complete, WC: 7K.

Lupe is the most popular jock in school.

Jess is a burnout weed dealer.

Lupe goes to Jess to buy weed for a party, and things progress from there.

Bein' Good Isn't Always Easy ⛪️ - Jess/Lupe. Complete. WC: 32K.

The hottest part of summer, working in a guitar shop in the heart of Texas, Jess has the worst sunburn of her life. And she has the hots for the preacher’s daughter. She’s not sure which is worse.

Sing Me to Sleep 🌃 - Jess/Lupe. Complete. WC: 5K.

Lupe's past comes back to haunt her on the anniversary of an important date.

Jess tries to understand. They fall a bit deeper in love.

Slice of life.

Keep Your Electric Eye on Me, Babe ⚡️- Jess/Lupe. Complete. WC: 4K.

Five times Jess caught Lupe's eye when she shouldn't have + one time Lupe did something about it.

Fever With Thy Flaming Youth 🌡️ - Jess/Lupe. Complete. WC: 2.5K.

Estí gets the flu. Jess & Lupe take care of her.

FAQs

Can I translate your fic?

Please ask first! We can discuss details.

Can I bind/print your fic?

As long as it's legal and no one is profiting off of it, go wild, send pictures when you're done!

Why haven't you updated (insert fic)?

Either I lost interest in it for some reason, or I got really excited about something else & intend to return to it, or I have something personal going on & can't write as much. Sorry!

Can I make fan art of your fic?

PLEASE make fan art of my fic. Please send it to me when you're done so I can share it!!!!

[tenderlyrenjun]

Let's Play Ball mini-series

(very tentative; eta jan 2022 maybe - from here)

posts about the Let's Play Ball mini-series

Know How (Busy, Busy, Doing Dreams on Repeat)

Captain Mark Lee is busy, busy. He has seven classes this term, two clubs, volunteer work every other weekend, a part-time job at the on-campus gym, and baseball practice Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday with games in between. The Universe keeps giving him hints to slow down - like when he got a concussion at the beginning of the season, or when he passed out in class, but he doesn't listen. So, when the KU concession stand manager, the same person studying during games instead of serving sodas and pretzels, takes forever to cook his hot dog, she asks him a question: how do you do it all?

Baseball Captain Mark Lee x concession stand manager reader

smut, fluff, comedy - sex in the supply closet, strangers to lovers, signs from the universe, mild sports injuries

status: [lined up]

Universe (Let's Fall Deep Into It)

Baseball Player Huang Renjun needs to work on his batting average (.233333). He goes to the batting cages almost everyday and even watches old footage of golden player Kim Doyoung, who he idolizes a bit but was hopelessly awkward around. He finally thinks he got around the whole awkward thing, but all his teammates befriended Doyoung's little sister, a sports enthusiast who has piously attended every KU baseball since high school. During a party when he chokes on his words, you offer to help him out on the weekends. And then it turns into something more. And Renjun finds out the one thing he needed to do.

Baseball Pitcher Renjun x sports enthusiast reader

smut, fluff, comedy (?) - choking up as a theme (if you know baseball, you'll know what I mean), awkward and rambling Renjun, no I'm not completely bitter about Renjun missing an 00-Line main unit moment no of course not

status: [lined up]

Ok! (I Will Change If You Want That)

Baseball Player Lee Jeno wins an all-star award. He is known as KU's heartthrob, from the way he opens doors for the elderly to the way he holds books for girls in the Literature department. Manners maketh man, his dad would say. But he took it a bit too far and is incapable of saying no, especially when his friends want to celebrate his award at the bars. He drunkenly stumbles through campus to his apartment, but takes the wrong turn and finds himself in front of the library, in front of an extroverted, cute chem major who has the faintest idea of who he is and knows nothing about baseball.

Baseball Center Fielder Lee Jeno x chem major and baseball averted reader

smut, fluff, comedy - introvert/extrovert themes, sex in the library, his friends think she doesn't exist because "who doesn't know about KU's famous baseball team??"

status: [lined up]

New Axis (So Everything is Mine for the Takin', Makin' Real Moves While Ya Fakin')

Baseball Player Lee "Haechan" Donghyuck is not afraid to admit he wants it all: the trophy, the legacy, the pro-athlete career. And he isn't about to let KU's rival school undermine that. Joshua Hong's younger sister constantly camps out at their practices and games, and no matter how many times Haechan has called campus security on her ass, she keeps coming back. One night, under the bright headlights, he finds her on his field, running laps. He stops her at second base, aiming a whiffle ball at her leg, but surprisingly, she catches it and throws it back at him. He barely catches it.

Baseball Shortshop Haechan x rival team's younger sister

smut, angst, comedic relief moments, surprise (?) twist at the end - making out and getting to second base on the literal second base, lots of taunting (re:sexual tension)

status: [lined up]

Dreaming (Answer Me in this Moment, You are My Melody's Interpretation, The Message Within)

Baseball player Na Jaemin wants to give up on the game. He feels exhausted, falling asleep in class, falling asleep in the dugout. But he makes one last commitment to the game, hoping that if they at least make it to the championships, he might like it again. KU's baseball team easily knocks out their competition, heading toward championships. And KU's sports journalist reports on the winning streak, going down the line up until finally meeting Jaemin. She tells him about all the things he already knows: his batting stats, his home run records, his mile time. Then, she makes him look at baseball from a new lens and suddenly he wants to slow down time and replay every game.

Baseball Catcher Na Jaemin x sports journalist reader

smut, fluff, non-romantic angst (?) - sex in the locker rooms, strangers to lovers, descriptions of burnout

status: [lined up]

Round&Round (Only Thoughts of You Hover In My Mind)

Baseball Player Liu Yangyang finds himself often distracted by the new announcer in the special press box, listening to the way she announces things more than he actually watches the game. He takes the chance, before championships, working up the courage, to talk to her. He walks up the creaky steps to the box and waits for her to get out. And while he waits, he finds an broken, old radio. He brings a gear forward and fiddles with the red and blue wires behind it. The radio sparks awake when she walks out of the room. And so do the sparks in his heart.

Second Baseman Liu Yangyang x sports announcer reader

smut, comedy, fluff - sex in the press box, mechanical engineering yangyang gets to be sexy, kind of hallmark-esque

status: [lined up]

Miracles (I Said, "Liberate Your Conscious")

Baseball Player Osaka Shotaro was scouted by KU for his wicked batting whip, but Mark, and their coach, is not as lenient. Shotaro is near failing biology (A D is still passing!! And his major is Dance). If he doesn't raise his grade to at least a B+, he might not even be allowed to play in the championships! So the "team tutor", or at least that's what they call her, a future high school teacher, tutors him after every practice, literally waiting for him on the bleachers so he has no excuse!

Baseball Third Baseman Osaki Shotaro x biology tutor reader

smut(?), fluff, comedy - dorm sex, very cliché, aversion to the easiest science because "it's boring"

status: [lined up]

[bluebedo]

James Potter's Top 10 People

James and Remus

Gayest bromance in the world

James layed his eyes on Remus and immediately went "I want to marry him"

Definitely snogged at least once

Constant jokes about them running off together, so much some students don't believe it's a joke

Remus, deadpan: Of course Lily would go out with you, you're an extremely attractive guy.

James, also deadpan: Careful. Say that again and I may have to shag you, right here and now.

James and Sirius

Chaotic father and idiot son energy

Probably scared away all of Sirius' past relationships like an overprotective dad

Best giver of the worst advice

The person who took him in and cared for him no matter what, whether it be his parents kicking him out, him being gay, or anything in the world. He's always there for his son.

James: You better have a good reason for coming home this late.

Sirius: I was putting dungbombs outside of the Slytherin portrait so when they all leave their common room tomorrow morning they're bombarded with them.

James, on the verge of tears: That's my boy.

James and Peter

Big brother energy

James basically adopted Peter as his younger brother when they were about 5 and he realised Peter had no friends or anything.

Best wingman for a lost cause

Play-wrestling constantly

Bought Peter his first alcohol and let him drink it when he was 15 and James had just turned 16.

Peter, nervous about becoming an animagus for the first time: When Remus turns into a werewolf his bones become all weird and sore because of how he changes shape. So will the same happen to us as animagi since it's basically the same process?

James, crossing his toes: I don't know man, but look at what my feet can do.

James and Lily

Enemies to lovers, basically

Both felt immediate mum energy over Sirius so we're jealous of each other, and said jealousy turned into rivalry

Always in love but only realised it when they got into a fight after a Quidditch match in 6th year and James instinctively kissed her.

Sirius calls them his mum and dad

They're each other's biggest cheerleader and rival

James: Good luck on your exam, your hair looks amazing today, I love you with every bone in my body, and I'm the favourite parent because you suck beyond all measures. Ciao!

Lily, in shock and watching James walk away without another word:

James and Marlene

Rivals who didn't turn into lovers because Marlene rejected him immediately since she's gay.

She was his first crush at school, and he was her first nuisance.

When he found out she was a lesbian he tried to hook her up with basically every girl who gave him any queer energy at all.

Best players on the Gryffindor Quidditch team and most enthusiastic.

James: If I was any object, I think I'd be a screwdriver. I don't know why, though

Marlene: I do. Its because you're a massive tool.

James and Mary

Fake-rivals due to their shared love for Lily (though Mary's is platonic)

Mary and Lily have a similar relationship to Remus and James, so James and Mary practically fight for Lily's love.

Both own fake swords that they often pretend to fight with.

She wants to be a nurse and he's absolute chaos incarnate, as well as too stubborn to go to Madam Pomfrey, so she often practices medicinal potions in him

Mary, pressing a fake sword to James' throat: My name is Mary Catherine MacDonald. You stole my wife. Prepare... To die!

James, who just woke up from sleeping on the common room couch: ...Dad?

James and McGonagall

Co-parents of Sirius Black

If James is ever worried about Sirius he goes straight to McGonagall.

He's a saint to her since he keeps Sirius in check during her lessons.

McGonagall was the one to recommend him as headboy to Dumbledore, and James has basically been in love ever since.

James, watching Sirius try setting fire to Snape's hair in charms class: They grow up so fast.

McGonagall, who's covering the class for a sick Flitwick: Mr Potter! Are you not going to do anything?

James: ...Sirius, stop that right now!

James and the Prewett Twins

The Prewett Twins basically took all the marauders under their wing when they joined, but James especially connected with them.

His favourite is Fabian, but only because his name is better.

He once charmed his hair bright orange for a day in 3rd year to match them before Lily began incessantly teasing him about being in love with her.

He's honestly taught them more magic than they taught him.

Gideon, high: Have you ever wondered why frogs?

Fabian, also high: Dude! I thought the exact same thing.

James, 12, trying to be cool around his awesome upper classmates: Yeah. Frogs. They're... Green?

James and Regulus

It's more of a relationship from afar where they just nod at each other in the hallways and have certain secret stares that mean certain things.

James got worried for Regulus after Sirius was kicked out, so started silently checking in on him like this.

HUGE soft spot for Reggie, possible childhood crush

Regulus told him something was wrong through their looks one day, and James convinced Sirius to go talk to him. That's the day they found out Regulus was forced to get the dark mark.

Regulus, staring at James from across the hall and secretly telling him about what a horrible Christmas:

James, staring right back at Regulus in horror: That bitch!

Sirius, who was eating his porridge besides James, oblivious to what was going on: I don't know who we're talking about, but you're so right.

James and Euphemia

Places the utmost trust in her

Absolute best mums ever, both probably have mugs saying, “Number 1# mum” and “Number 2# mug”

James has the number 2 one, which is the same as his mums only he crossed out 1 and put 2

Basically the same person only James has his father’s horrible memory

James, sipping from his “Second best mum” cup and watching Sirius: I’m so good at raising kids

Euphemia, sipping from her “Best mum” cup and side-eyeing James: I’m not.

[mianavs]

Making Drama

Shoto Todoroki x f!reader

a/n: a sfw enemies/rivals to lovers that’s full of fluff and shitty humor. basically, f!reader is a dramatic goof and shoto is oblivious but doing his best. for @rosesandtoshi​‘s ‘Enemies to Lovers’ collab~ here’s a playlist for the fic

ty: to the wonderful and talented @yamigooops​ for beta reading and saving my ass. love you so much!

wc: 8.1k+

If you had to pinpoint the exact moment your life went to the dogs, it would’ve had to have been that miserably failed mission during your internship at Endeavor Agency. You were a promising second-year student at U.A, and as a result, you’d been selected to intern at the agency of your childhood hero, Endeavor. What should have been a dream come true, however, quickly turned into a nightmare thanks to your upperclassman and son of said hero, Shoto Todoroki.

During a particularly hectic day, the two of you had been sent out to deal with a situation Burnin described as ‘easier than rolling off a log’—which is exactly how it would have been if Todoroki hadn’t forgotten to drink his ‘respect women juice’ that morning. He spent the entire day criticizing and underestimating your abilities to the point of shoving you aside. Needless to say, you weren’t thrilled about being demoted to an annoying bystander by a fellow U.A student, and your anger got the best of you. It was then that the mission went to shit with the two of you too preoccupied in arguing and trying to one-up each other. In the end, the only thing proved was your inability to work as a team that resulted in a handful of injured civilians, a mob of outraged bystanders, and the villains escaping.

As if the shame of failing a simple rescue mission wasn’t enough, you were also the victim of blatant nepotism when you alone bore the brunt of the aftermath, as was decided by one Enji Todoroki. You didn’t hesitate to quit your internship after the brief but stifling press conference at the agency’s headquarters. You then went home to shred—not burn—the one Endeavor poster you kept hung inside the door of your wardrobe closet.

What you hoped would be the last of your involvement with the Endeavor Agency turned out to only be the beginning. After suffering that devastating blow to your reputation, you were fortunate enough to get signed by a small hero agency after graduation. Over the course of four years, you worked hard alongside your coworkers and president to transform your little agency into a respectable mid-tier one. Your agency’s growth was a feat you took great pride in, and the fact that it took place amid the monopolization craze of hero agencies, made it that much more significant—or so you thought.

Because just when the craze was dying down, and you sincerely believed your agency had weathered the storm, the president that you’d once considered family ran off with a fat check after selling your agency and its hero contracts to the Endeavor Agency.

“H/N!”

You barely set a heeled foot out of the taxi, when your co-worker cheerfully calls out to you alongside the other heroes from your old agency. As you approach the group, you can’t help but feel underdressed upon seeing that they have pulled out all the stops when it comes to their outfits for the evening. They are dressed to the nines in their crisp tuxedos and floor-length gowns while you opted for last year's New Year’s party dress, clutch, and heels.

“Don’t you all look great!” You declare with a grin that you hope hides your embarrassment.

“Hey, it’s not every day that the Endeavor Agency throws a party in our honor.” One of them says and the rest of them nod and agree enthusiastically.

“Yes, I suppose it’s not every day that your agency gets bought out under suspicious circumstances by the largest agency in the country and they have to resort to some huge PR event to divert the press’ attention.” You bite back bitterly and the group goes silent. “You guys have to admit there was some under-the-table dealing going on between Endeavor Agency and that traitor. Speaking of which, has anyone even heard from him?”

They shake their heads and exchange glances amongst themselves as the festive mood turns sour after your tirade.

You take a deep breath to calm yourself before speaking. “Sorry guys, I don’t mean to be a buzzkill, but I’m still coming to terms with this situation. I knew I should’ve just stayed home.”

“Nonsense!” Your senior cuts in and wraps an arm around you. “Given your past at this agency, it's understandable that you’re a bit hesitant about this, but you’re not alone! We’re all in this togeth‒ OH MY GOD is that Chargebolt?!”

In a second, your so-called “allies” chase after the famous hero, leaving you disappointed but not surprised. Straightening your back, you tip your head up and take in the skyscraper hotel where the party is taking place before making your way through the throng of people huddled outside the front steps.

The hotel is unlike any building you’ve ever been in. Even the fancy banquet hall where your agency would host the annual Christmas party pales in comparison to the glitz and glamour that surrounds you. The ceiling of the massive hall is covered with glittering crystal chandeliers that shine brighter thanks to the golden accents on the redwood paneled walls. While you would normally find a red and gold color scheme garish, you have to admit it’s done tastefully.

As more people shuffle into the hall, you naturally gravitate toward the walls of the room and turn your attention to the buffet tables filled to the brim with hor d'oeuvres, sushi, cold cuts, cheeses, fruits, and little desserts. Years ago you developed a dislike for anything having to do with Endeavor Agency, but at the splendor around you, you have to give credit where credit is due; the food, the location, and the decor are out of this world.

You are on your fifth plate of food when a person bumps into you from behind, causing you to lose your balance and drop your mini-quiche and tempura shrimps. You too would have joined them on the marbled tile floor had it not been for the two large hands that wrap around your arms and steady you.

“Sorry, I should have watched where I was going.” A low and apologetic voice mutters next to your ear, causing an involuntary shiver down your spine. The man sounds familiar but nothing prepares you for the half white-half red combed over hair and the heterochromatic eyes of bright turquoise and smoky grey.

“You!”

The word leaves your mouth before you realize how stupid you sound. Todoroki’s eyes widen with what you assume is recognition and he releases you with a push, like someone that just realized the raccoon in their arms was indeed not their lost cat. Steadying yourself on the sushi table, you fix him with an unimpressed look while he averts his gaze and clears his throat.

“How are you doing today, H/N?”

The greeting is pleasant enough, but you’re still miffed about him shoving you away like a trash-loving furball with rabies.

“Enjoying myself until now, Todoroki.” You reply with a fake smile before lowering yourself to the floor with the help of the trusty sushi table. With a napkin in hand, you start picking up the pieces of crumbled quiche and tempura while the conversation around you switches to hushed voices stating your name repeatedly. Shiny black shoes come closer and are replaced by black slacks belonging to the culprit behind the wasted food, who kneels in front of you.

“You know there are scores of waiters roaming for this very purpose, right?” He deadpans as he looks around the room, probably searching for one of them.

“Well, fortunately for them, I’m used to cleaning up the messes you cause.” You reply saccharinely and relish the shame that flashes on his imperfectly handsome face. “Congrats on your rank of top three hero, by the way! Although, you forgot to name me in your little acceptance speech. After all, I was the one your daddy sacrificed for your sake.”

“You cannot be serious,” Todoroki mutters, shaking his head. “After all these years, the reason you can’t stand me is that?”

You finish placing the fallen food in the napkin and wrap it up before placing it on the table that was quickly proving to be your only ally in the room. “Yes, that.” You grumble, struggling to get up without flashing your underwear to him and the other people that’d seemingly gotten closer after you went down on your knees.

Todoroki lets out a sigh before rising to his feet in one swift movement, an action you have to admit oozes the grace you, unfortunately, were born without.

“Fucking show‒”

Your mumbling is cut short by a large hand that almost hits your nose. You look up to find him with his hand extended out to you while his face looks the other way. Taken aback, you hesitate for a moment and spare a glance at your emotional support sushi table before Todoroki clicks his tongue in annoyance and you save him (and yourself) from further embarrassment by accepting his help.

As soon as you're up on your feet, the crowd around the two of you disperses to Todoroki’s relief, judging by the way his jaw unclenches and his shoulders relax.

This time it’s your turn to act petty and break the skin contact with disgust, so you wrench your hand from his and go as far as wiping it on the short skirt of your dress, scrunching up your nose in the process. At your little display, Todoroki merely rolls his eyes but says nothing, and the immature side of you marks it as a win in your imaginary scoreboard.

“Since we’ll be working in the same agency it’d be best if we buried the hatchet, don’t you think?” He urges, running a hand through his hair and messing it up in the process. He scowls and you grin before spotting a waiter passing by and carrying a tray of champagne glasses. You wave him over and pick up a glass.

“W-what are you doing now?” Todoroki asks, thoroughly exasperated with one hand on his forehead and the other on his hip.

You chug the bubbly drink and wipe off the excess with the back of your hand. “Getting ready to bury the hatchet.” You reply and replace it with another glass of champagne from a different waiter. “Something that will require a couple of drinks.”

You down the next glass just as fast as the previous one and find the effects of the expensive alcohol taking effect via flushed cheeks and an improved mood. You smile at a bewildered Todoroki before extending your free hand.

“Please take care of me, Todoroki.”

He balks at your alcohol-fueled peace offering but eventually takes your hand and gives it a light shake. “Likewise, H/N.”

The rapid-fire camera shutters and flashes of light interrupt the two of you, capturing the moment that would no doubt be used by the press to symbolize the “peaceful” acquisition.

“Shoto! H/N! How do you feel about being under the same agency?”

“H/N, do you think you’ll fit in at Endeavor Agency?”

“Will the two of you be working together?”

“You seem close! What’s your relationship?”

At the incessant shouting of questions and the blinding lights, your body goes frigid. Suddenly, you are sixteen years old again in front of a mob of reporters, like an injured rabbit surrounded by hungry vultures ready to eat you alive.

The hand still holding yours gives it a squeeze but you’re still too shellshocked to respond and just stare blankly at the cameras. Just as the tremors begin, Todoroki pulls you to him and wraps a strong arm around your shoulders, bringing you in for a half-embrace.

“Endeavor Agency looks forward to working with H/N. In fact, she is the primary reason why the acquisition was negotiated in the first place.”

With the camera’s still flashing and Todoroki’s arm secured around you, you feel trapped and look around the room for a lifeline you can cling to and escape. Just then one of the many waiters roaming the hall passes by carrying a tray of your other ally that night. You pluck your third glass of champagne and drink half of it, savoring the crisp taste of the liquid as it flows down your throat.

Like a miraculous elixir, the alcohol breaks your spellbound state and you break into your biggest and most dazzling smile.

“Who wouldn’t want to be a part of the nation’s number one agency?” You declare with a giggle and try to relax into Todoroki. “And reuniting with my upperclassman from U.A is just the icing on the cake! I hope to be a hero worthy of the great legacy of this incredible agency.”

Todoroki’s grip on you loosens, and he shifts uncomfortably next to you. Unwilling to let him get away with holding you against your will, you tightly wrap your free arm around his waist and keep him pressed against you while raising your glass.

“To new beginnings!”

After years of agonizing over the criticism his privileged position in hero society warranted thanks to his family name, Shoto decided to stop caring when it started affecting his work as a pro-hero. Over the years, the guilt he felt seeing his peers fall behind due to their lack of connections and not lack of skill or willpower festered within him until he started hesitating in missions.

It had been the first time in years that he’d messed up. The last time being his third-year internship when he’d let the stress of his studies and family life get the best of him. His inability to focus and work together with his underclassman had led them to a failed mission--his first in the three years he’d interned at his father’s agency.

And like that time, the Endeavor Agency made sure he only got off with a slap on the wrist in the form of a berating from his Father, the former number one hero.

Shoto learned to accept his privileged position and used it to his advantage. He took on more missions, went on more patrols, and worked late into the night with the time his agency saved him filling out paperwork, conducting press conferences and interviews on his behalf, and declining invitations to the events he didn’t have to attend.

Yet, despite Shoto’s new mindset regarding his privilege, there was one person that never failed to make him feel like the biggest piece of shit--you.

Ever since you left Endeavor Agency all those years ago, any encounter Shoto had with you always left him with a bitter taste in his mouth. During mandatory hero galas, a quip at the open bar culminated in a heated debate that would put even the most cantankerous politicians to shame. Overlapping patrol’s around the city started with a glare from you and ended with an antagonized Shoto making atypical petty remarks that left your partners bewildered and you livid. Even on the rare occasions when the two of you were chasing down the same villain and one of you voluntarily stepped down, knowing a joint mission between you wasn’t possible, Shoto couldn’t help but feel agitated when it came to you and your hostility. Shoto just couldn’t figure out why you disliked him so much no matter how hard he tried.

Until the party his agency threw for you and your coworkers, and you snarkily told him the reason point-blank.

“Shoto!”

Said hero turns around to find a sidekick he’d encountered a week ago while on patrol. She giggles as she saunters over in a provocative dress that would tempt any other man.

“How have you been? I was hoping I’d see you here!” She says and drapes a manicured hand over his arm.

“Yes, well tonight is a very important event for the Endeavor Agency,” Shoto explains, pulling his arm away from her grasp. Her red mouth twists into a frown and her eyes scan the room until they find her target.

“Right, quite the group of heroes your agency acquired. H/N, in particular, seems to be… enjoying herself.”

Shoto follows her gaze to find you near one of the exits with your umpteenth glass of champagne and engaging one of the ornately decorated columns in conversation. Shoto does a double-take at the ridiculous sight before his damage-control instincts kick in. He sets down his drink and excuses himself before swiftly making his way towards you, praying that the press hasn’t immortalized your drunken debate with the poor decor.

“... aaaand that's how I caught da bastard!” You passionately declare with a triumphant smile spreading on your face. “Best feeling everrrrrr”

You take a step and lose your footing but instead of falling on your stony companion, Shoto reaches out and pulls you into his arms. He almost forgets all about his champagne-drenched tuxedo when he realizes just how close you are. With his arm tightly secured around your waist and your body pressed against his, Shoto looks at you and it’s like he’s seeing you for the first time. He can make out the various colors reflected off your irises. He traces every freckle, line, and mark on your face with his eyes. He notices the suppleness of your skin and the softness of your lips‒

“Ugh, you can let go now,” you mumble, pushing off his drenched chest with your free hand. For the second time that night, Shoto pushes you away a bit too enthusiastically, only this time you’re completely drunk and the sudden motion has you retching.

Shoto acts before he thinks and takes a napkin from the nearest table before wrapping an arm around you and leading a green-faced you out of the hall, all while convincing himself it’s to prevent a fiasco at an important agency event and not just to save you from embarrassment.

There aren’t many people outside in the lobby to Shoto’s relief, but he still rushes to the nearest elevators when you start heaving again. He punches the button to the top floor where his suite is and silently thanks his father for renting it out for him indefinitely.

The ride up is slow, but you don’t throw up, and Shoto has never been prouder of you. The two of you get off and Shoto fishes out his keycard from his pocket while holding you up. When the door finally opens, he picks you up bridal style and rushes you to the bathroom, where you practically leap off him like a cat and kneel in front of the toilet. As soon as your hands grip the sides of the porcelain bowl, you let everything out, and Shoto grimaces before fleeing the scene to give you some privacy.

After washing up in his private bathroom and changing into some clean clothes, Shoto goes back to the other bathroom to check on you. He finds you still kneeled before the porcelain throne but the arms that had gripped it now serve as a makeshift pillow where you rest your sleeping head.

Unable to control himself at the amusing sight before him, Shoto lets out a chuckle before suppressing the rest of his laughter when you start snoring quietly. If he were someone like Kaminari or Ashido, he’d pull out his phone and record you to preserve this moment, but he isn’t and settles for leaning against the bathroom wall to watch you.

Had it been for Shoto, he would have watched you snore and drool over his toilet bowl all night, but you are as restless asleep as you are awake, and had Shoto not been standing three feet away, your head would’ve fallen into the toilet bowl.

He decides to take you to a much safer place to lay down your head and places you on his bed. You are also evidently a deep sleeper, as you don’t wake up from the sudden change of sleeping environment and merely snuggle into pillows with a pleased hum. Before he knows it, Shoto tucks you in with his comforter, brings a waste bin for you just in case, and makes himself comfortable on the couch across from you.

Watching the rise and fall of your chest and listening to your quiet snores proves to be more soothing than any therapy session or trip to an onsen, and he eventually stops fighting his sleep-heavy eyelids.

It’s the skull-splitting pain that wakes you from the best sleep you’ve had in a while. It pulsates in even intervals and is made worse by the veil of light that spills into your Japanese-styled room‒

Wait. What?

You jerk up and whip your head around, taking in your surroundings despite your screaming head. Everything is clean, new, and looks expensive, including the sleeping Todoroki on a fancy grey leather couch. It takes a fraction of a second for you to realize where you are, not liking it one bit. Ignoring the pounding in your head, you grip onto the incredibly soft comforter and throw it to the side with a lamentable sigh, before swinging your legs over and standing up.

It’s only when you’re on your feet that you take in the spectacular view and for a moment you forget all about your horrible hangover and sleeping enemy. Your musings are interrupted by your alarm buzzing away in your clutch and you rush to it before it wakes Todoroki. You’re successful and turn it off only to remember your appointment with the Endeavor Agency’s doctor for a physical exam.

Gathering your things and slipping on your heels, you walk over to the couch where Todoroki is still fast asleep. Unlike his conscious self, he looks vulnerable and at peace when he sleeps. Had it been any other time, you would have pulled a prank of some sort on him, but he’d taken care of you the night before, so you let him off easy with a roll of your eyes and a muttered thanks.

A thanks that you would come to regret a couple of days later during your first day as an Endeavor Agency hero.  The morning of your orientation went by without a cinch alongside your coworkers, and after not seeing either Todoroki or his dad, you considered the possibility that working at their agency wouldn’t be so bad. Of course, nothing ever went the way you wanted, and you were promptly summoned to Endeavor’s office after lunch.

The ridiculous ride up the elevator to his office on the top floor gave you enough time to agonize over the reason for your summons, dispel your worries, and steel your nerves before the doors opened and you stepped out. Endeavor’s secretary appeared before you could even think about wandering the floor looking for Endeavor’s office and dropped you off after announcing your presence.

The door immediately swung open and you found Todoroki all decked out in his hero costume on the other side. His bi-colored eyes widened and his mouth opened for a moment before he collected himself and stepped aside to let you in. While he appeared as confused as you were, he was silent after the two of you took your seats before a suited and retired Endeavor, whereas you decided to get some answers.

“What’s the meaning of this, Endeavor?” You ask, leaning back into the comfortable leather chair and crossing your arms. “Why are we both here?”

“To show you this,” Endeavor deadpans and takes out a couple of pictures. They’re pictures of you stumbling out of the hall with your arm around Todoroki, who’s holding a drunk you up and leading you to an elevator. “And this”

He pulls out a tablet with an email displaying a news article with a picture of drunk you grinning at Todoroki with his arms wrapped around you.

[Heroes in Love! Shoto and H/N seen leaving agency party for Shoto’s penthouse suite for a private after-party of their own]

“Ugh, you’ve got to be kidding me,” you mutter and roll your eyes in disgust.

“This isn’t true,” Todoroki replies and even you can make out the frustration in his normally cool and collected voice.

“I thought as much,” Endeavor replies, retrieving the items and putting them away. “Unfortunately, we were unable to come to an agreement with the various media outlets and the articles should be coming out as we speak.”

“What!?”

You pull out your phone, work etiquette be damned, and sure enough, find yourself trending with Todoroki on various search engines and social media sites. You face-palm and Todoroki snatches your phone away before you can fight him on it.

“What do you mean you couldn’t come to an agreement with them? We’re the nation’s number one agency, surely you could’ve done more!” Todoroki yells, rising to his feet and sending his seat toppling backward. Suddenly, the urge to win back your phone dissipates and you meekly lower your arms and scoot away from the enraged icy-hot hero.

“Perhaps,” the smug bastard across from you admits. “But we figured this can be used to our advantage to improve your personal images as well as the agency’s.”

It takes you a moment to understand the meaning behind his words, and when you do, it’s your turn to jump to your feet and send your chair flying backward while the cogs in Todoroki’s head are still turning, trying to figure it out.

“No way! I refuse to be a part of your PR campaign with Mr. Oblivious over here.” You exclaim, pointing at the still-confused hero next to you with your thumb. “Find someone else to play couple-goals with him.”

You cross your arms over your chest, jut out your hip, and fix Endeavor with the fiercest glare you can muster while the lightbulb floating above Todoroki’s head goes off.

“For once we agree on one thing,” Todoroki declares and shoots you a glance before turning to his father. “This is ridiculous. We can barely stand each other’s presence.”

“That’s not what those pictures showed,” Endeavor muses, leaning back in his seat. “Regardless, the two of you will act as a couple for a period of time, because you have no choice in the matter.”

Before you and Todoroki can protest, Endeavor pulls out copies of your contracts and flips to a highlighted section that the two of you read. As soon as you’re done, you slam the packet on Endeavor's desk before muttering a slew of curses. Todoroki, ever the refined “gentleman”, sets the packet down quietly, but you spy the wrinkles on the pages and his set jaw.

“This is bullshit! I’m not doing it.” You reply, pointing at the contract. “I’d rather cancel my contract and leave this place.”

With a smug grin, Endeavor takes your contract and flips to the end before pushing it at you where you find another highlighted section. Your jaw drops when you get to the contract cancellation fee and your heart drops to your stomach at the hefty legal fees from a possible lawsuit brought against you by the Endeavor Agency. Your grip tightens around the contract as you think about your upcoming payment on your condo and how you’ll have to resort to eating ramen for the rest of the month.

You set down the crumpled contract and turn to pick up your chair before taking a seat. Emitting a heavy sigh, you turn to Endeavor, “What do you want us to do? Go on a park date? Attend a hero gala together? Go to a hotel?”

The Todoroki’s cough simultaneously at that last bit and you can’t resist the urge to roll your eyes.

“Nothing of the sort!” Endeavor assures you a little too loudly. “The two of you will be assigned on a mission together.”

Panic courses through your body and you lunge forward, planting your elbows on his desk and conjoining your hands.

“Oh no, no, no, NO! Please, I’d rather have a full-on makeout session with him in front of hundreds of reporters than work with him again. Please, Endeavor, my rep can’t afford another failure like that again!”

The retired hero regards you for a moment before rubbing his stubble as if he’s considering your plea. You keep your intense gaze fixed on him and wait for what seems like an eternity for Endeavor to clear his throat and give you a reply.

“The two of you will go on that mission together,” He insists and you deflate, lowering your arms and letting your head fall onto the large mahogany desk with a bam. “And if for whatever reason the mission fails, Shoto will take the blame.”

Your head snaps back up and your dejection is replaced with elation. “Deal!” You declare, sticking out your hand, and Endeavor clears his throat again before taking your hand and giving it a single shake.

“That’s ridiculous!” Todoroki protests and you remember he’s also in the room with you. “Why should I?”

“Because I took the hit last time,” you snap. “It’s only fair.”

Todoroki opens his mouth to counter but his protest dies on his tongue when he realizes he’s outnumbered and closes his mouth right back. It’s a sight you can get used to and suddenly working with Todoroki doesn’t seem so bad—especially when his father and your agency’s head is on your side.

Shoto storms out as soon as his father dismisses the two of you, wanting to put as much space between the two of you as possible. Unfortunately for him, you have other plans, and join him in the elevator before the doors close.

“Why so mad, Todoroki? Does it bother you that, for the first time in your life, daddy won’t be sticking his neck out for you?”

Shoto closes his eyes and bites his tongue, refusing to give you the satisfaction of getting a rise out of him. Had it been any other decent human being, they would’ve dropped it. But you’re a vicious person that takes a sick pleasure in riling him up, so you continue your petty remarks.

“Welcome to the real world, Todoroki, where your fuck-ups have consequences. It’s about time you start taking respon‒”

Shoto’s rage boils over and he turns to meet your taunting gaze. “You better not think about messing this mission up on purpose, L/N, because I’ll make sure it’s the last mission you go on.”

He watches with twisted pleasure as the smile on your face disappears, but his satisfaction sours when your face darkens and your mouth contorts into a snarl.

“Listen here, Todoroki,” you growl, backing him into the elevator’s wall and prodding at his chest with your finger. “Don’t think for a second you’re worth risking countless civilian lives over. I don’t know what kind of scummy person you think I am, but I’ll have you know I’m a hero above everything else and nothing is more important to me than that.”

You’re mere centimeters from his face, and even Shoto can see the sincerity of your words reflected on your face. Shame engulfs him as the elevator doors open and you turn around to walk out, not sparing him another glance. By the time he finds the words to apologize and chases after you, you’re already outside the building’s revolving doors and disappearing down the steps.

He deflates and runs a frustrated hand through his hair, debating whether he should chase after you, when his phone vibrates. He fishes it out of his pocket and mutters a curse when he sees the reminder for an interview he has in ten minutes. He throws a cursory glance at the double doors, despite knowing you’re long gone, before retreating to the elevator.

Throughout the entire ride up to his office, and for the beginning portion of the interview, all Shoto can think about is your face after his accusation. He can still vividly picture the flare of your nostrils, the cruel curl of your lips, the flush of your face, and the deep furrow of your brow. His shame is also still very much present and starts to morph into guilt—of course.

“Shoto? Shoto? Is everything okay?”

His musings are interrupted by the worried reporter sitting across from him, and he quickly clears his throat, giving her his undivided attention.

“Yes, everything is fine. What was your question, again?”

“I saw the reports about you and H/N and wanted to ask you if they were true.” She replies, her tone cautious but curious.

“They are true. H/N and I have been dating for a while now.” Shoto lies and hopes his words are convincing enough.

“Oh, how wonderful! Congratulations to you both!” The reporter gushes, evidently buying the lie. “I wish the two of you a happy and long relationship!”

Shoto flexes his hand and forces a smile onto his face. “Thank you. We’re very... happy together.”

“Tell me, what made you fall in love with H/N?” The reporter continues, oblivious to Shoto’s struggle. For once, he’s thankful for his so-called awkwardness when it comes to interviews because it seems to mask his clumsiness in talking about you.

With everything that has happened with you after the meeting with his father, Shoto has no time to prepare any premeditated answers to the inquiries people might have regarding your relationship. In fact, he didn’t expect to get any in this interview and is entirely caught off-guard by the reporter. His first instinct is to make up an answer until he realizes he has no idea what an acceptable answer to that question would even be. It’s then that he decides to be honest regarding his opinion of you.

“Her fun-loving personality,” he replies, remembering how much you seemed to enjoy yourself around your friends at the party. “Her sense of justice,” he continues, once again recalling your face in the elevator. “She’s also passionate and all those things make her a wonderful hero… and person.”

“Oh, how romantic! It’s so nice to see this new side of you, Shoto! Such a refreshing contrast to your stoic image.”

“Thank… you,” He replies, unsure if it’s the right thing to say. “I hope everyone continues to support H/N and I as heroes as well as...a couple.”

The reporter nods enthusiastically, “I’m sure everyone will! Now, can you tell me more about yourself? What are your interests, hobbies, and goals?”

At the return to normalcy, Shoto relaxes into his chair and lets the practiced answers flow while pushing your image from his mind, secretly hoping you catch the interview and accept his compliments as a peace offering.

After a week of orientation, tests, and training, you and your coworkers are ready to officially start your hero duties. For you, it means reuniting with Todoroki and finally receiving your mission file. 

He’s stiffer than usual after the two of you are left alone in his office to review the material and start constructing a mission plan. After a couple of minutes of sitting in silence, he awkwardly offers you something to drink before shuffling over to his fancy little drink station to brew your tea himself.

Only an idiot would be oblivious to his actions, and you’re no idiot. While a shame-ridden Todoroki serving you tea with a pained expression on his face should’ve been like an early Christmas present, you just so happened to watch the clip of his interview where he talked about you.

He hands you a steaming mug before taking his seat across from you and nervously takes a sip of his piping hot tea. Just as you wonder if his quirk allows him to withstand scalding drinks, he winces and abruptly sets down his mug, answering your unspoken question.

Before he can punish himself further—whether accidental or on purpose—you set down your mug to cool off and clear your throat.

“I-uh… saw a clip of your interview,” you admit, averting your gaze to the spilled tea on the table from his mug, “and I appreciate you saying all those things about me, even if you didn’t really mean it-”

“I meant it,” he interrupts and your eyes snap up to him. “Every word I said about you.”

You want to believe he’s lying. That he’s just saying that to get on your good side so the mission goes well. You want that to be the case with all of your heart, but you know it isn’t true because he’s Shoto fucking Todoroki and is as forthright as they come. An admirable trait for a hero you have to admit.

The compliments from the clip you’d admittedly watched over five times replay in your head, and you feel a flush rise to your cheeks that only grows when Todoroki’s eyes widen and something flashes across them. It’s an emotion you refuse to decipher, choosing to avert your gaze instead.

“Th-thank you,” you mutter after an elongated period of silence, and you pick up your mug to stop your hands from fiddling. “Do you want to look over the case file, now?”

Your efforts don’t go unnoticed by Todoroki who visibly relaxes, thus changing the mood in the room to something more professional. He pulls out the thick file and opens it up, documents and photographs spilling onto the coffee table.

“Yes, let’s start.”

After reading the mission description, you don’t know whether to laugh or cry at being assigned another rescue mission with Todoroki. A thought crosses your mind and you stand up and walk around, searching his office.

“Wh-what are you doing?” The confused hero asks as you examine the lamp on his desk.

“Looking for the prank show cameras because there’s no way this is real,” you reply, picking up one of his ballpoint pens. “Do you think they can fit a camera in this?”

“I don’t know, maybe‒” Todoroki begins before stopping himself with a sigh. “That’s beside the point. Rescue missions are common for heroes like us, so I don’t know why you’re overthinking this. Get over here so we can finish going through the case file.”

You roll the pen between your fingers, admiring the color and feel before bringing it with you. After taking your seat and reaching for one of the leads, you look up to find Todoroki with a singular brow raised and an unspoken question on his, admittedly, handsome face.

“What?” You ask, feigning ignorance. “I need a pen to work don’t I?”

He opens his mouth, and for a moment you’re sure he’s going to fight you on it, but he surprises you by doing the exact opposite. “If you like the pen that much you can keep it. I owe you one anyway.”

“For what?”

“What I said in the elevator. I never apologized, did I?” He remarks, taking another one of the leads and reading it over. It’s something you’re very much grateful for because he misses the second blush that spreads on your face, and before he has a chance to see it, you conceal it from his field of view with the document in your hands.

“See something you like?” He suddenly asks and you choke on your saliva.

“I-I’m… sorry?” You wheeze after overcoming a coughing fit.

The look on his face is a cross of bewilderment and concern. “I asked if you saw something you’d like to include in our plan.”

You sit there dumbstruck and contemplate the possibility of you slowly losing your mind. It’s the only explanation you come to after two instances of you blushing in Todoroki’s presence and hearing him say things he wasn’t saying. You consider downright blaming him for your insanity but stop when you realize it will entail some sort of explanation that’ll just end up exposing you.

“Well, did you?” He asks again, this time with more bewilderment than confusion. Thankfully you’re a hero and have been trained to think on your feet.

“N-not yet, I’m still looking,” you respond with a weak smile. “How about you?”

“No,” he admits. “It looks like we’ll have to examine each of these leads closely.”

He glances at the analog clock on his wall. “I have a patrol in a couple of minutes so how about we call it a day and resume tomorrow.”

“Guess this mission will be a long one, huh?” You reply, putting down the lead and leaning back in your chair.

Todoroki stares at you stretching like a cat, and you’re suddenly all too aware of the weight of his gaze, sheepishly reverting back to your previous sitting position.

While you’d been willing to diagnose yourself as insane just moments prior, you would’ve bet your most prized possession that the twitch of Todoroki’s mouth was a smile and the noise that left his lips was a chuckle disguised as a cough.

Shoto doesn’t know what to make of your… relationship. Not the fake one the agency thrust on the two of you, but the one forming as you spent more time together. It’s one that can’t be labeled as just coworkers because he’s never gotten nervous around another fellow hero the way he does around you. It’s not friendship either, because you don’t text him—despite having his number—during the day the way Izuku, Momo, and Tenya do. It also isn’t the antagonistic one you had weeks ago, because you now greet him during patrols and get him his favorite drink from the cafe down the street every time the two of you work late.

Your relationship is complicated yet simple, intimate yet distant, and established while also entirely new. It’s one that Shoto values more than he ever thought possible, and one that he wants to explore with you.

After weeks of intense reading and investigating, the two of you have everything needed to start your mission plan. During a particularly productive meeting in Shoto’s office, he sneaks a peek at you intensely typing away on your laptop and smiles before catching himself and shifting his attention to the outline he’s working on.

As time ticks by, Shoto’s strict eating regime kicks into gear and reminds him of dinner. He considers calling it a day, but his eyes travel to his empty drink cup and he comes to a different conclusion. Just as he’s about to invite you to dinner at his place, the loudest stomach growl he’s ever heard echoes in the room.

“Oh jeez, guess it’s time to feed the beast,” you laugh as a pretty blush spreads across your cheeks and up to your ears. “I didn’t realize how late it was.”

“Come to my place!” Shoto blurts out, not at all the way he planned on asking you. Your eyes go wide and he panics. “I’ll make you dinner and we can continue working… only if you want to though.”

Your laughter rings once more and Shoto realizes it’s one of the nicest laughs he’s ever heard.

“Okay! It’s about time you pay me back for all those iced matcha lattes.” You joke and point at his empty cup. “Non-dairy lattes aren’t cheap ya know.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Shoto replies with a smile before the two of you pack up your work and take his car over to his penthouse.

Unlike the first time you stepped foot in the luxurious hotel, you’re looking forward to your time there until you realize the busy lobby has gone quiet, and the two of you are the newest spectacle. While you normally either ignored or played the part of girlfriend for your spectators, the occasion was different because you were willingly going over to Todoroki’s place and dining with him.

Lost in your thoughts, you’re easy prey for the random step in front of you and find yourself falling forward and straight into Todoroki’s arms. You’ve lost track of how many times he’s caught you, but every time he does, you swear that your heart beats faster and your face flushes a deeper shade of red.

You’ve always thought him handsome—even when you would’ve rather chewed your tongue off than admit it—but when you’re mere centimeters from his handsome, scarred face, it’s an undeniable fact and one that unnerves you the longer you stare at his features.

“Are you alright?” he asks, his warm breath fanning your face and sending a shudder down below. You’re unable to find the words to ease his worry and all you can do is stare at his parted lips and wonder how they’d feel against your skin, lips, ton—

“F-fine!” you exclaim, finding your footing and backing away from his grasp, regretting it the moment his hands leave your waist. “Thank you, though. Shall we go up? I’m starving.”

He gives you one of his rare smiles and offers you an arm that you take while thinking how wonderful it would be to see him smile every day. A thought that only makes you blush even more furiously while riding the elevator up to his suite—once again.

It isn’t until the two of you are lounging on his couch with a belly full of food and a glass of wine in hand, that you realize you don’t really know Todoroki and he doesn’t know you. What started as small talk after finishing up your work ended as a heart-to-heart conversation where you bared your history, burdens, and feelings to one another.

“I'm sorry, I didn't know about your childhood and strained relationship with your father.” You offer him a sincere apology fueled by embarrassment and liquid courage. “All these years I thought you were just another shameless privileged hero.”

Todoroki sets down his glass and shakes his head. “Your anger was justified. I was also at fault, yet you were forced to take the fall. I don't blame you for hating me.”

He meets your gaze then, and it's like you're staring into the innermost depths of his soul. “And you're not wrong about me being a privileged hero. I am one, and back then all I cared about was living up to expectations even at the cost of other heroes. I should've done more back then as your partner and upperclassman, but I didn't and I'm sorry.”

Your throat closes up at his apology and the burn of your nose indicates an onslaught of tears welling up in your eyes, so you set your empty glass down and decide to change the somber mood to something more lighthearted.

"Can you repeat that?" You ask, pulling out your phone. "I want to record it so I can listen to it after a shitty day."

"Where should I start?" He asks in all seriousness and sits up straight.

"I'm kidding, Todoroki," you laugh, dropping your phone and hitting him lightly on the arm. You’re about to retract your arm when he catches it by the wrist and uses it to pull you closer.

“Shoto,” he says, voice lower than you’d ever heard. “I want you to call me Shoto.”

You can’t deny your feelings any longer, especially when those same feelings are reflected in his own darkened heterochromatic eyes that, while once attractive, are now mesmerizing. In your stupor, his thumb rubs circles over your pulse point, causing you to suck in a breath.

“Okay… Shoto,” you acquiesce, liking the way his name rolls off your tongue. “Call me by my name, too.”

He pulls you closer until you’re kneeling on his couch before him and he steadies you with his other hand on your hip. Butterflies flutter about in your stomach and goosebumps rise over the surface of your skin at your close proximity—this time done on purpose and not as a result of your clumsiness.

“Y/N…” He murmurs, and you swear your name has never sounded sweeter. “Can I…” his eyes lower to your lips and like clockwork, you part them. “Can I kiss you?”

“Please,” you beg, not at all caring how needy you sound. “Kiss me, Shoto.”

His mouth curls into a grin and desire pools in your core before he pulls you onto his lap and captures your lips. His lips are soft but his kiss is demanding and hungry, setting your skin aflame without the use of his quirk. It’s a sensation you instantly become addicted to and need more of, so you close whatever distance is left between the two of you and entangle your arms around his neck, raking your fingers through his hair.

In that moment, you’re not thinking about the impending start of your mission or the aftermath. Nor are you thinking about the agency and the facade they’re having the two of you do. The only thing on your mind is the feel of Shoto Todoroki beneath you, his intoxicating kiss, and the undeniable desire to turn your relationship into something more.

[beomglocks]

sidewalks ; c.bg

part 1 of 2

summary : sidewalks saved my life, they don't ever lie

pairing : street racer!beomgyu x street racer!reader (fem)

warnings & other : mulan trope, mentions of misogyny, rivals to lovers, beomgyu is kind of an asshole (?), reader goes by an alias for most of the story, everyone thinks the reader is a male, car sex lmao (in part 2), set in the future, mentions of financial struggles

w/c : 2.5k + (not proofread)

i would suggest listening to sidewalks by the weeknd while you read!

you suck in a sharp breath, as sharp as the turn you just made on the road. that was close, good thing you’re too far ahead in the race for anyone to witness how you narrowly missed the street sign.

"get your act together y/n, im too close to the finals to make stupid mistakes," you think to yourself. you bite your lip anxiously, letting your mind go on auto pilot while you drift through the empty streets of seoul.

the big city that buzzes during the day was now a ghost town. it could’ve been around 3am, you don’t really know and you don't let yourself look at the time on the dash.

you don’t even let yourself look outside the window to admire the vacancy of it all. you just know. you’ve been street racing for too long to know that the streets became abandoned at this hour.

perhaps sometime in the past, there would have been some stragglers or even some insomnia ridden teenagers out and about on the streets, maybe going to buy a late night snack.

you’re not too sure what happened to the city you once loved but these things were no more.

slowly the number of people you’d see on the street at night began to decrease. maybe they knew these were prime racing hours, maybe they weren’t happy with that.

you see, after the major economical crash in 3028, korea no longer became the number one tourist spot you once knew. many people lost their jobs, including you.

it wasn’t the worst thing to come out of the depression. after taking inspiration from tokyo’s iconic street racing styles, the people of korea soon followed and thus began the street racing boom of 3030.

3030 was the year it all changed for you. you soon dropped out of college and taught yourself how to drag race, racing being the only way to make a living after the depression. many people started learning how to drag race and it soon became the tourist attraction of korea that helped boost it's dying economy at the time.

so you see, you didn't let yourself look outside because you already know. you know the lonely streets represent your life. a direct slap in the face that you brought yourself into this life and being that it was the only way you've sustained yourself thus far, you couldn't simply stop.

there were times you longed for more, but what more was there other than pimping up your car every couple of weeks for the next race that would win you thousands then go home and repeat the vicious cycle.

the blinding lights of the finish line snap you out of your thoughts. has it already been three laps? you glance at your side mirrors to see if your opponent was close to finishing but no one was behind you.

so much for a challenge.

the closer you get to the finish line the louder the cheers become and it makes you adjust your helmet unconsciously.

"as expected!" the announcer roars through the megaphone. the showgirls that stand in the street wave the flag enthusiastically when you drive past them. you roll your eyes at the way they pretend to hold their mini skirts to stop them from flying up and flashing all the bystanders.

"HAV0C is the first to cross the finish line making this his 56th drag race win yet! a new record in the racing community!" you decide to stay in your car while the announcer continues listing your achievements.

you sigh when the bystanders jump over the safety tapes and bombard your car to congratulate you. they try not to get too close or touch your car because everyone knows not to do that especially to the most renowned racer in the country. you want to laugh at your fanboys. if they knew you were a girl would they still be die hard and follow your every race?

women were strictly prohibited from racing. you didn't know why but you didn't care because you made it this far already. drag racing was a male sport but you loved it so much that you managed to blend into the testosterone and surpass even the best men in the street.

the bystanders can barely see through the tempered glass of your car but they know you're still in there. "HAV0C please say a couple of words please!" "you were my biggest inspiration to start racing!" are some of the praises you catch.

you sigh, readying yourself to step out of your car. you check your mirror one last time and see the racer you were competing against. he steps out of his car to shamefully face the booing crowd. the bystanders could be a tad bit harsh to those who lose but it was practically suicide going up against HAV0C.

no one has yet to beat him, well you.

you step out of your car gracefully and the crowd's cheers get even louder. "there he is!" the announcer yells over the megaphone. you raise your hands humorously to quiet them down a bit and it works.

"the leaderboard is up for all you racers who want to check their status!" the announcer informs. he uses a small disk device in the middle of the street to project the holographic leaderboard.

status was everything in the racing community. your skills as a driver and racer were all attributed to your status on the leaderboard.

you walk over to the leaderboard to get a better look at it. you knew no one was bettering you for a long time since you had so many wins and points accumulated throughout the years. you just liked to see which drivers were on the come up and which fell off.

"looks like ANGEL313 is on the rise again!" you hear someone beside you say. "at this rate no one is taking his number 2 spot! he's fast as hell!" someone else exclaims.

"not as fast as HAV0C," the first person scoffs. the second person shrugs, "they've never raced each other so you don't know that."

"ANGEL313?" you look up at the leaderboard and there was indeed the name ANGEL313 plastered in the number 2 spot right below your name.

you've heard the name in passing a couple of times but never cared too much about your competitors. "when did he become number 2?" you think to yourself.

"don't worry, i'm not stealing your spot," someone suddenly says. you peel your eyes away from the leaderboard to see a male with long brown hair smugly looking down at you. unlike you, he's not wearing his helmet, instead, having it tucked in his arm, placed on his hip.

"you must be HAV0C, i've heard a lot about you but never seen you in person. you're shorter than i thought," he smirks. this must be that ANGEL313 guy. he's quite attractive if you're being honest with yourself. he's a lot taller than you and his face and hair are quite flawless for a racer but his dark eyes hold a weird mischievous spark.

you shrug at his comment and he laughs. "right, they told me you don't talk much." you never cared to interact with other drivers and when you did it was mostly a one sided conversation since you wouldn't allow yourself to reveal the femininity of your voice.

the bystanders have quieted down just a bit to hear the conversation between you and ANGEL313. it's not like it was rare for other drivers to try to spark conversation with you but rarely did you ever stick around for them to get a word in, this was new. you both stand there, ANGEL313 staring at your tempered helmet and you staring at his smirking face.

you can feel the tenseness of the cold air around you and you don't know why it feels like this all of a sudden. ANGEL313 is someone you've never met in your life so you don't know what kind of driver youre dealing with but the smugness in his demeanor tells you everything you need to know.

"you know the race is over, you can take your helmet off," he says. you only shake your head at his comment and cross your arms, a silent indicator for him to introduce himself properly to you. he raises his eyebrow at you with a smile.

"the name is choi beomgyu also known as ANGEL313."

he holds a hand out for you to shake and you stare at it for a moment. something about beomgyu is so off putting to you. you uncross your arms and take his hand as a truce.

"see? we're cool now, no need to be tense buddy," he grips your hand slightly harder than you can anticipate and it makes you flinch subtly but he catches it.

"ah i gotta go, my race is up next," he retracts his hand and taps his helmet. "you gonna stick around?" he asks curiously. you shake your head no and he frowns.

you never stuck around for other drivers races and you werent about to start.

"well i guess we'll see each other around then?" you shrug at this again. you didn't care about beomgyu at all. he was just another up and coming driver that would soon fall off the charts as soon as he came.

you would never see him again after today.

the next time you saw beomgyu again was two weeks later.

you had been actively trying to avoid the smug driver ever since that day and to your surprise, it was fairly easy. you would finish your races, stare at ANGEL313's pixalted name on the leaderboard for a total of 2 seconds then dip before beomgyu could check the leaderboard himself.

you don't even know why you were avoiding him in the first place. he just gave you weird vibes, like he knew something you didn't.

you don't care how cute he is, you weren't going to fall for it. nothing good came from pretty boys like him.

you lean against your car with your arms crossed. beomgyu has just finished his claimed race for the night. of course, he came in 1st place which wasn't surprising to you. after all, you knew he was quite skilled behind the wheel based off the rumors you had been hearing through these two weeks.

you watch as he flirts with the show girls who fawn over him as he gets out of his car. you had to admit his ride was sleek as fuck. it had a sleek glossy white finish with tempered glass just like yours. a stark contrast from your black car. you can only imagine the fortune he paid for that model since the more you look over it, the more you're starting to notice custom details and designs, like the angel wings on the center caps of the wheels and the license plate reading "ANGEL313".

beomgyu leans close to one of the showgirls as he holds her by the waist. the bystanders holler and whoop as they watch him shoot his shot. you roll your eyes. women in this sport were only seen as sex toys and it made you gag.

after beomgyu is done and had seemingly scored with the showgirl he catches you in the crowd behind all the bystanders. he grins and you contemplate getting in your car and driving off.

you watch him jog up to you while you're still leaning against your car nonchalantly. "HAV0C, did you stick around to see me?" he grins. you shake your head no but you know its a lie. you obviously stuck around long enough to see his win for the night but you wouldn't let him know that. what good would having this cocky ass driver run his mouth about how "HAV0C stuck around for his race." you had to keep your detached image up.

"that's too bad because i won this one, i'm pretty fast you know," he gloats. you nod in acknowledgment. you knew he was fast so there was no need to deny it but you were not expecting his next statement.

"maybe even faster than you?" he brings his finger up to his chin and looks up at the dark sky, feigning contemplation. is this his weak attempt at riling you up? you have to laugh.

you shake your head and hold a hand up as if to say "don't make me laugh". he smiles, "what? isn't it natural to want to compete against someone whose above me?"

you shrug. you don't know what he's trying to pull but it won't work.

a couple of bystanders who had been watching the two of you interact had turned into more than just a couple. beomgyu notices this and decides that now's his chance. "i think the great HAV0C is scared?" he says loudly on purpose. this catches the ears of a couple more people and just like the other day, a group starts to form around you two.

you inwardly sigh. you knew coming here was a bad idea. you didn't have a race claimed for today so really it was like your day off. you had just come here to see beomgyu race and now it seemed like you would be racing against him.

you hear a couple of murmurs from the crowd. you were never one to back down from a challenge but you felt bad for beomgyu. didn't he know you were way out of his league?

you shake your head and the action makes him grin. "so you're not scared but you won't race me?" you make no gestures to this, simply staring at him. "let's make a bet!" he narrows his eyes. you want to groan, this kid sure is determined.

"if you win, then it's settled that you're the best drag racer in all of south korea, no ifs, ands, or buts about it." he pauses for dramatic effect.

"but if i win..." he smiles at you. "you have to take your helmet off."

you immediately shake your head at this. hell no, there was no way you would risk that. you didn't know what kind of shit he would pull to make himself win.

he pouts, looking around at the crowd. "it shouldn't be much of a problem though since you're already number 1. racing me should be lightwork so this just makes me think you're scared and honestly it's flattering."

you shake your head again. you don't care if he gets satisfaction from this or if his ego boosts from your resistance to race him. you simply would not risk it.

"well, it looks like he's not budging everyone, shows over," beomgyu motions for the crowd to disburse. they all grumble at not seeing anything worthwhile and he turns back to you, "sorry to put you on the spot like that dude, you know how it is?" he reasons.

you tilt your head to the side and cross your arms. no, you don't know how it is but you decide you don't like beomgyu right then and there.

"maybe you'll consider racing with me sometime in the near future then?" he seems quite sure of himself. "don't worry i won't embarrass you too much."

"beomgyu~" one of the showgirls calls him. you recognize her as the one he flirted with earlier. "gotta go," he smiles at you. you roll your eyes. you watch them both get in his car and drive away to god knows where. probably to fuck in his house or some shady alleyway where he can park his car.

you sigh, getting into your car and driving off.

around a week later is when you finally get the notice. you didn't have a claimed race so you were chilling at your house when you turned your phone on to see the many notices on the racing community forums.

"SOUTH KOREA'S MOST ACCLAIMED RACER HAV0C BACKS DOWN FROM A RACE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS CAREER?"

you sit up quickly on your couch. "what the hell?!" you say outloud. you scroll through more forms to see more articles of more or less the same title. your heart almost beats out of your chest when you read through some of them.

"last thursday south korea's top racer, HAV0C, and up and coming racer, ANGEL313, were spotted having a heated argument in which ANGEL313 challenged HAV0C to a drag race but the top racer denied! apparently, the wager was that if ANGEL313 won, HAV0C would have to remove his helmet!"

you bite your lip reading this. how dare beomgyu put you on the spot like that? he must've known a situation like this would blow up that's probably why he did it in the first place.

it’s around 1am which is early in drag race time but you waste no time in getting yourself ready to go down to the nearest track. your jaw is clenched the entire time you dress yourself, grab your helmet, and head to your car.

for a moment you wonder how much you’ll be fined if you harassed another driver, that being beomgyu. it was against the rules to physically harass other drivers but damn did you feel like beomgyu deserved it right now.

when you pull up to the track there’s already a heap of people there, including beomgyu with his stupid ride. he seems to be talking to a couple of people near his car, probably explaining or boasting about some specks.

you park your car close and step out. once you step out, a couple people notice your presence but not enough to cause a commotion. they do find it weird to find you here this early.

you walk up to beomgyu who eyes you like he was expecting you to come here. he has a shit eating smirk on his face. it doesn’t look evil but he looks uncharacteristically calm compared to the way you march up to him.

when you get to him you shove your phone in his face. the article you read earlier is pulled up and he simply brings your phone down. “oh that..” he brings his finger up to his face.

you cross your arms, waiting for a valid response. “i guess you have no choice but to race me now? unless you want your reputation to be tarnished?” he shrugs.

“i wouldn’t mind being number 1,” he chuckles.

the crowd starts mumbling among themselves at this. you look around. there’s too many people here for you to kick beomgyu in his dick so you have to hold back.

you tilt your head, deciding to call yourself down. “all i have to do is win a race against this son of a bitch and then he’ll leave me the hell alone,” you think to yourself. “there’s no way he’ll win, it’ll be easy. just drive as if it’s any other race.”

you look up at him and nod, confirming that you will accept the race.

he visibly beams and the crowd goes wild. “im glad you chose to accept!” he says as he rounds his car to get in. “you gave me no other choice asshole.”

“i just need to put some gas in my car then we can start.” he drives off to the nearest gas station, leaving you on the track to contemplate whether or not this was a good idea.

you’re the best racer in the country, there’s no way anything could go wrong.

✼ •• ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ •• ✼

taglist: @gyumie @wairaminute @day6andetcetera

[nikikyuuun]

hello hhhhhh is it alright for me to request gender neutral reader and izumi sena? enemies to lovers? they're both in denial and one of them accidentally blurts out they've taken a liking to the other (you decide which is which) ^^

OH MY GODDDD I LOVE ENEMIES TO LOVERS PLEASE 😭 izumi is literally the. perfect fit for this. thank you anon for my life..... i got a little carried away i think, so i'm sorry if this is a little long! i originally wanted to make a scenario rather than headcanons for once but i cannot for the Life Of Me think of coherent prose rn... anyways, i hope you enjoy!

❧ enemies to lovers with izumi

content warnings: none

❧ it doesn't quite matter what your profession is—if you're an idol from a rival agency, or another up-and-coming model, or both! izumi initially hates your guts either way. especially if you're the latter—are you trying to outdo him? hah, fat chance. there's an undeniable air of tension around you two whenever you happen to be in the same room together, whether you return his feelings of animosity with your own, or with cool indifference.

❧ of course, all of izumi's ire is very much a private matter. as far as the public is concerned, you two are just rivals in the entertainment world! the tabloids are absolutely brimming with the latest "gossip" about the two of you—did you hear about the incident at the latest photoshoot? the challenging little smiles they both threw at the camera at their latest lives? it irks izumi to no end that your names are always beside each other in entertainment headlines—but on talk shows and interviews he always just smiles, too tense and with too much teeth.

❧ everyone from knights is well aware of who you are by now—with how much izumi complains about you, how could they not? he (uncharacteristically) drags his feet to a job whenever you're involved, but the whole time he's enthusiastic in a way that seems a little different from competitiveness... especially as you two work together more, he goes from dismissive and scathing to, well, mostly the same, but he's nicer about it. a little. he'll scold you for your poor form and show you how it's really done, but he'll go through the effort of saying you did a good job today on the walk back to the station.

❧ it's something that seems like the start of a not-quite-friendship, actually! you seem to work better together, almost, and the "playful banter" between you two in interviews and talk shows seems more natural. he denies it so vehemently that it's rather funny, though, and izumi absolutely hates when you tease him for it—what's wrong, sena? don't tell me you've finally fallen for my charms? he denies it within an inch of his life, but there's a part of him in the back of his mind that finds it rather cute, the way you say that.

❧ needless to say, izumi doesn't often listen to voices in the back of his mind.

❧ the actual "-to lovers" part of your relationship is rather...anticlimactic, to be honest. you could be hanging out in a changing room between shoots, or in some half-empty cafe, or on the way back to your house after izumi offered to walk you home. (because he didn't want you doing something dumb and getting yourself hurt, of course.) he's been almost suspiciously nice to you, lately, to the point that even he's aware of it now—and he can't help the heavy sigh that leaves him when you happen to ask why. izumi's retort of, "can't i just do something nice for you?" dies quickly on his tongue when you remark about how he used to absolutely loathe you when you first met.

❧ but you suppose it isn't so bad, you continue, that he seems to hate you much less, now. another remark about him falling for you, another nudge of your shoulder against his, and izumi is nothing short of mortified once he processes the words he blurts out next: "are you really so dense that you haven't noticed that i l—that i don't hate you?"

❧ (the way you gape at him makes him almost feel better about himself.)

❧ izumi's very good at keeping your new relationship under wraps, but that doesn't stop any of the tabloids from gossiping—are you two on a date? what are they to you? he brushes them off like they're nothing—but really, there's no way for him to hide the softness in his gaze as he looks at you sitting next to him on the set of the latest talk show.

[wickedpact]

dear tumblr user crim wickedpact pls write the essay/dissertation about nicky being shakespeare's fair youth (if you have time, ofc!!)

Not To Imply Nicky Was Shakespeare’s Fair Youth But Ive Read The Fair Youth Sonnets & Nicky Was Definitely Shakespeare’s Fair Youth, an essay by me, tumblr user crim wickedpact

background knowledge: our man shakespeare wrote some 120 sonnets about a young man referred to as the Fair Youth during the mid 1590s; there has been some debate among shakespeare enthusiasts whether shakespeare’s interest in the Fair Youth was platonic or romantic (but like. they were definitely romantic). no one knows for sure who the Fair Youth was, but it was definitely nicky and my first and most important piece of evidence regarding this hypothesis is the ‘lmao babe do you remember that guy who had a crush on me?’/ ‘i try not to remember the guy who had a crush on you’ look joe and nicky exchange when Merrick brings up shakespeare during the movie. especially since gina confirmed in a tweet that joe and nicky canonly did know shakespeare

my second piece of evidence is that it just Works (except for a couple small facts like.. the Fair Youth was prolly closer to his 20s than his 30s. and the fact that shakespeare implies that the Fair Youth slept with his mistress at one point. but he doesnt know what hes talking about shhh we IGNORE)

long post under cut

A. The Description Matches

when describing the Fair Youth (who I’ll call the FY from now on), shakespeare says he has a ‘gold complexion’ and ‘beautiful eyes’ and compares him to a ‘summer’s day’. He says the FY has “A woman’s gentle heart" and “An eye more bright than [women’s are], (...) Gilding the object whereupon [they] gazeth”

As much as shakespeare’s perceptions of sexuality and gender are very........  late 1500′s (whoo boy sonnet #20 is a wild ride) ...... the description does match, and also:

  B. The Fair Youth Refused to Get Married

it’s never really said why one way or another (shakespeare assumes it’s because the FY is selfish) but the FY didn’t/wouldn’t take on a wife and have a kid, and this was something that was a real sticker for our man Willy S. because, as he says in his sonnets a million times: beauty doesn’t last forever, but having a child not only passes down the FY’s beauty, but also blesses the woman the FY would have a child with (im not saying shakespeare wanted to bear the FY’s children, but he definitely did)

Whose fresh repair if now thou not renewest, Thou dost beguile the world, unbless some mother. For where is she so fair whose uneared womb Disdains the tillage of thy husbandry?

(ie. If you don’t renew yourself/ have children, you deprive the world and deprive a woman from having your child, since what woman out there is so beautiful that she wouldn’t want to bear your child?)

Like.

1.) if nicky is the FY then so many of these poems center around the idea of nicky growing old sometime soon and that must have been pretty funny to Nicky and

2.)  the fact that shakespeare would have been So Desperate for nicky to find a wife must have been the opposite of funny to joe. considering the ease of his and nicky’s relationship and the fact that being gay in late 1500s england was probably not a walk in the park, it is very likely shakespeare wouldn’t have known they were in a committed relationship-- or at least not known how close they actually were. Thus:

  C. The Rival (aka. Joe)

shakespeare mentions having a poetic rival in regards to the FY in several sonnets. In sonnet #21 he talks about how he’s not like Those Other Writers who use grand metaphors to talk about their muses

So is it not with me as with that Muse, Stirred by a painted beauty to his verse, Who heaven itself for ornament doth use And every fair with his fair doth rehearse, Making a couplement of proud compare With sun and moon, with earth and sea's rich gems, With April's first-born flowers, and all things rare,

(ie. I’m not like other poets who, when inspired by a ‘painted beauty’ use heaven and every other beautiful thing on the planet to make a grand comparison to their muse: he specifically lists the sun and moon as examples as well as other beautiful things)

He then goes on to say

And then believe me, my love is as fair As any mother's child, though not so bright As those gold candles fixed in heaven's air:

(ie. my love [the FY] is as beautiful as any other beautiful person, though I wouldn’t compare them to the stars/heavens (which is what he means by the 'gold candles’. those are stars.))

So shakespeare insults poets who compare their subjects to the sun, moon, and stars (amongst other things) and in the comics, Joe does literally exactly that

That man is the stars in my sky, and the sun that lights my days. That man is the moon when I'm lost in darkness, and warmth when I shiver in cold.

shakespeare also goes on to say in the same sonnet “Let them say more that like of hearsay well / I will not praise that purpose not to sell” which is to say ‘let people who like that kind of language use it, I wont because I don’t want anyone else to have the subject of my affections (the FY)’.

(which is a bit of a contradiction regarding his feelings abt the FY getting married, but these sonnets are full of contradictions. shakespeare was a confused dude; man spent the first 100 or so sonnets convinced the FY loved him back only for him to start wondering if the FY ever loved him near the end)

(not to mention Marriage For Love wasnt really.. much of a thing in Ye Olden Times but thats a different conversation. so shakespeare prolly didnt associate marriage with love/competition? anyways)

Shakesy-boo goes on to complain about this rival several times. In #79, he says

Yet what of thee thy poet doth invent He robs thee of, and pays it thee again. He lends thee virtue, and he stole that word From thy behaviour; beauty doth he give, And found it in thy cheek: he can afford No praise to thee, but what in thee doth live.

(ie. everything ‘your poet’ (as the FY apparently favored this unnamed rival) says about you, he takes it from you in the first place. he talks about your virtue, but learned the word from watching your behavior. he calls you beautiful but only discovered beauty by looking at your face. every compliment he gives you he took from you in the first place)

[and, as a smaller example, he also bemoans the fact that people want to paint the FY in #67, saying, “Why should false painting imitate his cheek, / And steal dead seeming of his living hue?”. and yknow. Joe’s an artist.]

And then another example in #86

Was it the proud full sail of [the rival’s] great verse, Bound for the prize of all too precious you, That did my ripe thoughts in my brain inhearse, Making their tomb the womb wherein they grew?

Was it his spirit, by spirits taught to write Above a mortal pitch, that struck me dead?

(ie. he’s talking about how he’s having difficulty writing abt the FY and is rhetorically asking if ‘the proud sail’ of the rival’s verses was the reason his ‘ripe thoughts’ were killed in their ‘womb’. He then asks (again rhetorically) if it was the rival’s ‘spirit’ (or creativity, maybe) ‘’’‘by spirits taught to write’’’’ that killed his own drive to write. none of the analyses I’ve read really explain what shakespeare means by ‘spirits taught to write’, other than maybe being a joke or reference to something we dont know, but... ‘taught by dead people to write in a way mortal people can’t’ very much sounds like a description of an immortal poet, eh?)

Which brings me to,

  D. Willy Boy Thinks There Are 500 Year Old Writings About the Fair Youth

shakespeare talks about people having written about the FY ‘500 years ago’ from the late 1500s in #59 which......................... would have been around 1100 AD. :thinking face:

Oh that record could with a backward look, Even of five hundred courses of the sun, Show me your image in some antique book, Since mind at first in character was done, That I might see what the old world could say To this composed wonder of your frame;

(ie. Oh if I could look back 500 years and see how you were described in some old books so I could see/reference what people used to write about you)

Which again brings me to,

  E. I’m Not Saying shakespeare Stole From Joe, But:

1.) In #22, shakespeare says this,

For all that beauty that doth cover thee, Is but the seemly raiment of my heart, Which in thy breast doth live, as thine in me: 

(ie, your beauty is due to the ‘clothes’ my heart gives you-- probably means something like ‘you’re beautiful because i love you’. goes on to say his heart lives in the FY’s chest, and the FY’s heart lives in shakespeare’s chest)

so: shakespeare tells the FY he has shakespeare’s heart. in comparison, Joe calls nicky ‘my heart’ in the comics...... :thinking face x2:

2.) In #109, shakespeare tells the FY ‘thou art my all’,

For nothing this wide universe I call, Save thou, my rose, in it thou art my all.

which rings similar to Joe’s ‘he’s all and he’s more’ as well as (from the comics) ‘he is my everything’

and just saying. joe looks pretty #done the mention of shakespeare.

  F. The last One

Despite shakespeare writing 30+ poems about the FY eventually growing old, the very last poem he writes about/for the FY says,

O thou, my lovely boy, who in thy power Dost hold Time's fickle glass, his sickle hour; Who hast by waning grown, and therein showest Thy lovers withering, as thy sweet self growest. 

(ie. you [the FY] have power over the ‘mirror’ (fickle glass) of time as well as time’s ‘harvesting’ ability (sickle hour) and as you grow older, you remain beautiful while your lovers [shakespeare] wither and grow old)

The transition from ‘get married and have a baby before you get old!!!!’ in #1-20 to talking about the FY’s presence in 500 y/o books in #59 to admitting the FY isn’t growing old in #126 kinda seems to imply shakespeare learning of/about nicky’s immortality at some point, and this last poem is him accepting it.

TLDR: not only does it make perfect sense if nicky was the Fair Youth from the FY sonnets, but it also makes perfect sense if joe was the Rival from the FY sonnets. its canon nothing will convince me otherwise

[i-want-it-on-fire]

I see all you still reblogging my "Archivist Tim Crack AU" post, and I'm back with something equally ridiculous: Jon/Tim Fake TV Psychic/Real Irate Magician AU

Way I see it, this can work one of two ways: 1) the version that's fluffier and more in character, and 2) the version with a very fun rivals-to-lovers dynamic. I'll be presenting both here today for your reading pleasure, however there is one detail that does not change whatsoever in either of these versions.

Instead of fixating on an evil spider book as a child, Jon fixates on a book about how to do sleight of hand, and instead of growing up to be a librarian flavored loser, he grows up to be a magician flavored loser. And nothing pisses him off more than people who go on TV and perform magic tricks that they claim are the result of psychic abilities or faith miracles. He makes it his own personal calling to expose and humiliate these charlatans, because using science to debunk them isn't good enough. Even scientists can be fooled by good illusions. A good illusionist, however, cannot.

Version 1

Jonah Magnus is a guy who's been making the rounds on various talk shows where he claims to possess a number of psychic abilities, especially telepathy. He's a bit of a creep, but no one seems to notice or care once he starts getting a crowd going. They also don't care that he is absolutely using this con to swindle people out of their money because so many people are convinced he's the real deal. Obviously Jon fucking despises him, so he comes up with a plan to expose him as a fraud.

He finds out that Jonah is slated to appear on a popular nighttime talk show hosted by Tim Stoker, famous comedian and beloved source of Internet memes. Unlike the hosts of some daytime talk shows that Jonah has already appeared on, Tim isn't known for being a sensationalist. Much of his humor comes from telling it like it is, and it is for this reason that Jon believes he'll make a good co-conspirator.

Jon contacts the show and explains who he is and what he intends to do. Some of the producers are uninterested in spoiling the show, or they're nervous about backlash given how many people believe in Jonah's powers, but Tim immediately finds this weird little magician endearing and decides they should consider it. After checking up on Jon's credentials and confirming that he is, in fact, an accomplished stage magician, Tim calls him back and asks what he has in mind.

Jon gives Tim detailed instructions about how to prepare Jonah's props and tells him that under no circumstances should either Jonah or his people be allowed to touch them before the show. Tim agrees, but even so, Jon isn't quite sure what to expect. Then the night of the show arrives. Jonah Magnus comes on set to a very enthusiastic round of applause, and Tim interviews him completely sincerely, not once letting on that he knows something the fake psychic doesn't. It's a fairly typical appearance by Jonah, up until the props come out and he goes to do his tricks where he moves objects with his mind, because the moment he tries to do anything...it doesn't work.

Jonah is completely shocked, and he struggles to keep his cool and come up with a reasonable explanation for why his "mystical abilities" don't seem to be working tonight. And Tim pounces. Jon fully expects the believers in the audience to get upset as Tim goes through and explains what they did to the props (after all, it's not like anyone has ever thanked Jon for being a killjoy) but instead he turns the whole thing into an absolute laugh riot. The segment is a huge hit, so much so that the network asks Jon to appear on the next episode of the show as a special guest. And amazingly, it's not a complete disaster.

Tim is an excellent interviewer who knows how to get his guests talking about things both they and the audience are interested in, and they have shockingly good chemistry on camera together. It's also a very popular segment that the Internet absolutely eats up when they realize that Jon is actually closer to Tim's age than Jonah's. For about a week Twitter is full of "so which one of you is the talk show host and which one of you is the Vegas magician?" and "imagine your OTP" memes, which Jon finds very embarrassing for completely normal, non-crush-related reasons.

Version 2

In this version, Tim is the phony TV psychic.

I say version 1 is more in character because realistically I can't imagine Tim having either the ambition or the moral bankruptcy needed to actually con a ton of people into thinking he's some kind of miracle worker. However, if we suspend our disbelief for a moment and just accept that this happened somehow (perhaps he's not doing it as a get-rich-quick scheme, and more as an attempt to get famous and have fun doing it) it makes for an excellent dynamic.

Tim has taken the country by storm with his inexplicable feats of telepathy and telekinesis. You know the drill: knowing stuff about people he shouldn't, bending spoons in half with his mind, levitating objects, etc. etc. The real magic, though, is in how charismatic and convincing he is, and he absolutely thrives off the energy in a room when he pulls off a seemingly impossible stunt. Even skeptics are taken in because no one can come up with a good explanation for how he does some of it. And of course Jon absolutely cannot stand this, because he can! He absolutely can come up with an explanation for how he does it, and he's going to show everyone what it is.

After Tim makes a big appearance on a talk show, Jon calls that same show and offers to show them how the trick Tim did works. It doesn't do the same numbers as Tim's segment, but it is the first time any attempts to expose him have actually gained any real attention. Tim and his people are not amused.

What follows is a period where every time Tim appears on another show or shows off some new and amazing trick, Jon is following right behind him calling foul and ruining the spectacle. At first it's just annoying as all hell, but the longer he does it, the more traction he starts to get, and Tim knows he needs to start coming up with some other counter-strategy beyond just inventing new and more elaborate tricks. Jon can sense this kind of counter-attack coming as he starts to get more support, and he decides he needs to get ahead of the game.

Jon pulls the exact same trick on Tim in this version that he did to Jonah in version 1, calling a show ahead of time to instruct them on how to prepare Tim's props so that his "psychic powers" don't actually work. The show-runners agree, and the plan is set in motion. The day of filming, however, Tim can tell something is just a little bit off. He can't tell exactly what it is, but he doesn't need to be a real psychic to read the body language of the host or notice the lack of transparency when he asks questions about the equipment. He also doesn't need to be a psychic to sense Jon's toxic vibes all over this set. So when he attempts his trick during the show and it doesn't work, he can't say he's entirely surprised. Then he does something that neither the host nor Jon were expecting: he calls Jon out and demands he come out onto the set, and though a stroke of blind luck, Jon just so happened to decide to watch the show in person from backstage.

Jon does not agree to come out in front of the cameras, but he doesn't have to. Everyone still knows that he's there, which makes it all the more sensational when Tim starts laying into him. He tells him that he feels sorry for him if he has so little going for him in his life that this is the hill he's chosen to die on. Furthermore, Tim is at least making people happy doing what he's doing, which is more than Jon can say since his career seems to be all about being an insufferably smug asshole. The crowd goes absolutely nuts. No one remembers that Tim's act got fucked up on live TV, and Jon loses a ton of ground as public opinion shifts from "Hmm maybe this psychic is a liar" to "Whether or not he's a liar doesn't really matter, does it? He's not hurting anyone." Jon is unbelievably pissed about this. And to add insult to injury, after the show Tim comes up to him and congratulates him on very nearly getting him. Shame that people care more about a good show than the truth. Then he leaves taking these peak Spiral vibes with him. Slightly disappointed that I'm not a Jon/Michael or Jon/Helen shipper tbh. DistorJon shippers you may steal this idea with my blessing, ily~

Their rivalry continues to get more and more bitter, but as things continue to escalate and they're forced to go deeper and deeper into how the other thinks, they gain a begrudging appreciation for each other's skills as illusionists and entertainers, all while keeping up a very public show of hating each other's guts. (To steal an iconic quote from James Randi, the magician who inspired this AU, Jon at one point says that when he dies he wants to be cremated, and "to have my ashes blown in Tim Stoker's eyes.") It isn't until Tim attempts to sue Jon for being an annoying dickhead that they start being in the same places at the same times more, and they realize they might actually get along if they didn't have so much fun with their cartoonishly snarky banter.

Martin is a writer for a shitty Internet tabloid like Buzzfeed who hates his job, but at least keeping tabs on these two hot illusionists who hate each other is marginally more entertaining than writing another fucking article about the Queen's corgis. Sasha is Tim's PR manager and she thinks they should just kiss already.

[mogwaei]

Chapter 147: Mists    

Rating: explicit/graphic

Pairings: Solas/OFC, M!Lavellan/Dorian Pavus, F!Lavellan/secret companion

Fic summary: Agent of Fen’Harel defects to search for an alternative solution. Time travel with consequences. Lore exploration and expansion. Friends, rivals, lovers, and endless explanations. Throw it at the wall and see what sticks!

Chapter summary: Rescue them.

word count: ~11k | from start 794k

~~

Still and as blank as cold fog, Sezuda held Yin’s gaze steadily. “A noble request. Answer me this and answer truthfully, leader.”

Yin spread his hands, letting the Anchor shine, “’Pon my heart,” Dhrui resisted the urge to kick his shins when he traced a glowing ‘X’ across his breast.

Sezuda lifted a hand and gestured to the rest of them. “How many seas and mountains and men would you conquer to see your people safe, Yin of Clan Lavellan? What sacrifices would you make?”

If she had been in Yin’s position, she would without a doubt have given serious consideration to the questions as he seemed to be doing. But she didn’t think Sezuda was looking for a right or wrong answer right now. The fog had risen to their knees and no one in her immediate view appeared to have noticed.

“It’s a trap,” Dhrui uttered and to her relief, Maordrid heard. The elf instantly threw magic down at the ground, covering them each in a crackling barrier. Simultaneously, there was shouting and seemingly from nowhere, a cloud of white crashed down from either sides of the forest like waves. The Fog Warriors melted into the gloom silent as wraiths.

To their right, a shrill whistle pierced the air.

“Cassandra!” Yin shouted. A trill answered. “We’re coming!”

Dhrui instantly lost the others. She dropped to the ground as low as she dared, clutching her chest where the stone hung. “Asmodei? Please. Anything.”

No answer.

~~

“You are…different,” he said, “from elves we know.”

There were shapes and colours in the giant smoke cloud forming above their circle. Ravens. Bears. A large wolf. The rice wine was good. One of them was admiring the array of seeds she still had laying out from one of her pouches.

“How can you tell?” she hummed.

“Secret,” a bald woman laughed quietly between coughs and sips.

“Magic?” Maordrid guessed, lute in lap, she leaned over to add an apple seed to the collection.

Quell snatched the gourd away from his friend who only giggled and pulled out her own. “Your shape. You took that of a griffon. We saw.”

She raised a brow, plucking idly on her lute.

“Our legend in Seheron goes that they come from there.”

“I would not know,” she answered.

The warriors laughed heartily and it wasn’t unpleasant. The smoke turned into griffons, but it wasn’t her doing. She watched entranced, her fingers no longer trying to play any real tune. One of them said something while the feathered boy listened again.

“M’alo says she watched you fight the reds. That it reminded her of a story she heard as a girl,” he said slowly as M’alo, the intense bald woman, continued talking with her eyes on Maordrid. “Long ago, the Sei’an Miere monks roamed all the seas, blue and emerald.” Maordrid sobered a little at the name and stopped plucking altogether. The boy’s eyes were shining, but that could have been the substances they were imbibing. “Our people pass down few stories of them, from when they came to our shores—when Seheron still sparkled with her great temples and old magics. We remember their battles. Challenging creatures we could never dream of, for they were born of nightmares themselves.” M’alo clapped her hands, pointing enthusiastically at Maordrid while grinning widely at her brothers. The boy kept his eyes only on her.

“Yes,” Maordrid said, looking at M’alo who stilled beneath her gaze, “I know some of their ways.”

M’alo held up a finger after Quell had translated and leaned forward, taking that same finger to draw a shape in the dirt—a triangle, point down.

Then she bisected it with two wavy lines.

Very slowly, Maordrid leaned back, forcing tension from her body.

~~

👀👀👀

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[fabricated-misslieness]

♡〜Can you write an enemies to lovers one shot with Sam Wilson pls? 👉👈💖-anon〜♡

Sam Wilson x gender neutral reader

I don’t know much about Sam but I’ll try my best. I haven’t watched FATWS, and I have no idea what exactly the Sokovia Accords do.

Not very satisfied with this

Requested: Yes

Word Count: 1603

Warnings: swearing

Even before the Sokovia Accords, you and Sam had a bit of a rivalry. 

He was too cocky, too brazen, took nothing seriously. One day, his joking nature would kill him. There’s nothing good about a wasted life. You know he’s skilled; even if his attitude got taken advantage of, he could handle the situation. That said, no prediction in life is 100% for sure. One moment, you’re having the time of your life; the next, you got nothing.

Though in reality, his humour only spiked up around you because he enjoyed seeing you annoyed. There was something about you becoming so easily pissed that made it so goddamn amusing. He liked having a leverage over you, especially when you were so damn serious about every single nitpicking thing. This didn’t mean you didn’t anger him, you were so called enemies for a reason. There’s certain things you do that are so infuriating. Things you do that everybody else does yet they’re so irritating when you do them.

He was always trying to show you up, and even if you knew that training wasn’t a competition or that you shouldn’t be arguing over senseless topics, you really wanted to wipe that shit eating grin off his face.

You couldn’t even stand in the same room together.

Signing the Sokovia Accords gave you a reason to beat the attitude out of him, and you’d gladly take it.

Although, that kid, Peter, apparently had it covered. The teenager fought against the two adults easily, to the point that you really didn’t need to interfere. Granted, that did mean you didn’t get to punch your rival in the face, but it was amusing enough to see him humiliated.

Besides, you had other things to do, something like deal with a ginormous ‘ant-man’.

After the fight and after Cap’s team became free fugitives, you’d received an anonymous call. Not one to be scared, you answered it.

“(y/n)!” The caller said with a familiar joking tone.

“Ugh,” You groan. “Sam.”

“Meet me at the cafe down the road from the tower. I’d like to catch up with you.”

“Who says I can’t arrest you?”

“I know you wouldn’t.” And with that, he hung up on you.

You thought you’d never have to deal with him again. Surely he would’ve kept his distance, surely he would’ve gone underground or something. But nooo, he just had to contact you, didn’t he?

“Sam.” You greet with an obviously annoyed tone.

“Well if it isn’t my favorite friend, (y/n)! This is your usual, right?” He gestures to the untouched plastic cup on the table. It is your favorite, how he knows that, you don’t know.

“Is this a date or something?” You ask, taking a seat.

“Who’s to say it isn’t?” His words shock you, though you don’t let it show. “Aww, come on, don’t look at me like that.”

Furrowed eyebrows and a deep frown decorate your face. You will yourself to ease, but you keep your guard up. “Spit it out, Wilson. What do you need me here for?”

“Now, why would you think I’m scheming something?” He stirs his drink with its straw absentmindedly, sending you a playful stare. He’s being oh so friendly, there has to be something he’s planning.

You scoff, and god does it infuriate him. He’d called you on impulse, he had no idea why and no idea why he even wanted to, but here you were. He had absolutely no plan. “Always pushing my buttons.” He mutters to himself. After clearing his throat, he speaks up again, “I only wanted to talk.”

You raise a brow, one that he really wants to punch off your face.

“You think I can’t do anything nice?”

“I think you’re extremely incapable of doing so.” You and your fancy vocabulary. He wanted you to whisper all your hatred towards him in words he couldn’t understand, just so he could make fun of them; or at least, he hoped. It certainly felt like he wanted it all for another reason.

“But, thanks for the drink.. I guess.” You weren’t raised just to have no manners.

“By the way you owe me-” You cut him off with a familiar glare. “Alright, alright, nothing.”

Suddenly you stand, taking your cup with you. “I have to get going.” For absolutely hating his guts, you look ashamed to leave. “Unlike you, I’m not a fugitive. I have a job to do.”

“Nice seeing you.” He says spontaneously.

“Yeah.”

For a supposed fugitive, you saw him around often. Each time he was nicer and kinder, even if he had even more of a reason to make you his enemy.

Even so, just like always, it was passive aggressive. But there was something new in it; as much as you didn’t want to admit it, the air would be filled with sexual tension.

Everytime you want to see him smirk, you want to both punch and kiss it off his face.

And, it’s only after that you stop seeing him on a regular basis that you realize that he brings out your playful attitude.

Out of all the people in the world, Sam Wilson was not who you wanted to be in a relationship with. Yet the world wanted to be cruel to you and tell you otherwise. 

“How’ve the Sokovia Accords been treating you?” You had a ‘date’ at the cafe every week. Sometimes you dreaded it, other times you looked forward to it.

“Horrible,” You say, absentmindedly staring at the abandoned Stark Tower. “They don’t let us go on missions anymore. I’m glad Tony keeps me around, at least. Don’t know what I’d do without him.”

Sam chuckles, god, you hated his laugh. He seemed to laugh at times where he - no, nobody should be laughing. “You’d need to get a civilian job.”

He relishes in the way you scrunch your face in disgust, laughing heartily. You hated the fact that each time you heard his lively sounds of amusement your chest would warm up. It was as if you enjoyed it.

You scoff, turning to look at him with a glare. He doesn’t seem to hate it as much these days. “What do you even do?”

“Oh, various things.” He shoots you a playful look. “I obviously can’t tell you.”

“Are they harder than beating a teenager?” You refer to his battle at the airport versus Spider-Man.

“I told you to drop that.” 

You roll your eyes, turning back to the tower. The conversation goes stale for a while. The silence between you is insufferable, especially because the people around you talk so enthusiastically.

Sam takes the last sip of his drink before looking at you. “Hey,” as he reaches to tap you on the shoulder, you turn to him again. He freezes for a second then quickly pulls back his hand. He sends you a smile, awkward and seemingly nervous, “I gotta go.”

You nod. He takes his leave, walking quicker than you’ve ever seen him go. As you stare at his retreating form, your hand subconsciously rubs the place his was going to be. Your shoulder burns at the touch, as if it was denying your hand and calling for his.

Fucking Falcon.

“Hey, would you want to join…” Sam gulps, looking at everything but you. He’s nervous, has been for the past week. He refused to tell you why. “Me, Cap’ and the crew?”

You raise an eyebrow. “Sam, this is what you call me for, at the middle of the night? What does that even mean?”

“Well, we do some vigilante stuff, make sure nobody knows it’s us. I was wondering if you wanted to join us.” Without giving it so much as a thought, you scoff. The sound disappoints him, of course you didn’t want to join him. What was he even thinking about?

“You think I would join you?”

But he saw how painful it was for you to sign the Sokovia Accords, your remorse as you fought them… you were a good person, he knew that. 

“Then what are you going to do?” He groans, “The accords prohibit you from doing anything at all. The Avengers grouped together to save people. Even if they try to stop us, we have to keep going. We risk our lives for the people, not to appease the government!”

“But all of this happened because of our mistake! The Sokkovia Accords only-” You keep going on and on, to the point where you’re only spouting nonsense. Sam knows you, even if he’s been your rival the entire time you’ve known each other; as your former ally, he knows everything about your morals. 

He knows you don’t mean this shit, he knows that you’re lying to yourself, and he knows that you regret signing. He can tell that much from the moments you’ve been spending together.

“(y/n), listen to me.” He puts his hands on your shoulders, stopping you from ranting any longer. “You’re lying to yourself.”

“You wouldn’t know that.” You scoff, despite the longing sensation he leaves on your shoulders. You try to push him away, but he doesn’t let you. “You-”

He interrupts you with a kiss and it’s everything you’ve been waiting for. It’s rough but it certainly wakes you up. 

“You’re lying to yourself.” He repeats. 

You take a deep breath, regaining your composure. “You’re right.”

“Come with me, please.” Sam pleads, trailing his hand up to your face and cupping your cheeks. “I miss having you on my side.”

You give in to his touch, moving into his arms for an embrace. “Alright.”

[jamaiskookie]

first of all, thank you to everyone who participated, and i apologise to anyone who’s recs didn’t come out, i tried my best to include all the asks + messages i got. special thanks to all the incredible authors on this list as well. here’s the full fic rec masterlist for minnie’s fic rec week! enjoy! fic rec tags for specific recs

KIM SEOKJIN

;club zombie by @floralseokjin

✂︎ oneshot 17.1k; smut, angst

Kim Seokjin controls the underground of Seoul. No one would dare cross him. That’s how most of the world goes these days. You wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of a zombie now, would you? However, you don’t quite see it like that. Spending most nights dancing at the club he owns, you catch his eye. It’s never the wrong side if you’re underneath him, right…?

Foreverland by @jimlingss

✂︎ oneshot [peterpan!AU] 15.2k; fluff, angst

Just because you’re nineteen doesn’t mean you aren’t still a CHILD! So why does everyone want you to grow up so badly?! Is it so wrong to not want to work? To get married?! And for heaven’s sake, you’ll wed anyone but boring Namjoon! Little do you know, a certain fairy boy’s about to grant your wish and whisk you far away from this nightmare.

MIN YOONGI

do it again by @kimnjss 

✂︎ social media series; fluff, angst, smut

months after deciding to end their three year long relationship, a sex tape hits the internet. fans go wild speculating that rap star, min yoongi and aspiring model, yn are the stars. old feelings arise as the couple try to figure out a way out of this.

Punch Drunk by @joonbird

✂︎ oneshot,soon to be series 33k; angst, smut

Min Yoongi talks with his fists, and the only language he knows is one of anger and pain. He’s damaged, untouchable, a boxing underdog with something to prove. You are the sister of Yoongi’s rival - Jeon Jungkook, the number one elite boxer in your prefecture - and as Yoongi soon discovers, you are also his one and only weakness.

JUNG HOSEOK

Just Practice by @lamourche

✂︎ oneshot 12.5k; smut, fluff

The second time you hook up with Jung Hoseok, he doesn’t remember the first time.  You’re surprised.  It was only a few weeks ago, and you were in a broom closet. That has to be different, right? (Well, not really, you’ll learn.)

Hobi’s Girl by @v-hope

✂︎ social media series; fluff, crack, angst

after attending a bts concert and very clearly catching one of the members’ attention, you can’t help but get flooded with hate comments once people find your twitter account. who would’ve thought that would be the reason jung hoseok would find his concert girl, too.

KIM NAMJOON

the interpretation of dreams by @ppersonna 

✂︎ oneshot 13.8k; smut, fluff

he’s the man of your dreams, the an you’ve spent over 6 years pining over.  and he’s also your Ph.D. mentor and in charge of your very future.

Anonymous by @bloomsuga​

✂︎ social media series; fluff, crack, smut, angst

searching for inspiration, a chart-topping rapper who keeps his identity hidden from the public, going by the stage name RM, stumbles upon you singing in a coffee shop and finds his new muse in your voice. he makes you an offer to collab with one catch: you can’t see his face.

PARK JIMIN

balletteacher!jiminiverse by @jungshookz

✂︎ drabble 3.6k; fluff

“and take those goddamn leg warmers off.”

Into The Wilderness by @gukyi

✂︎ oneshot 27k; angst, fluff, comedy

alright, so last summer’s camp was… disastrous. from the murky green showers to the wasps nests, it was all-around a bad time. but none of those things could be quite as catastrophic as the end-of-camp counselor campfire, when you told park jimin that you were in love with him. and if telling him was terrible, then seeing him again this summer, one year after your fruitless confession, just might be the death of you.

honey, i’m home by @yoongs-jeontae​ 

✂︎ written series; strangers to lovers, fluff, smut

a strange man enters your apartment unbeknownst to you. although your introduction was unconventional, you grow fond of one another and your relationship develops.

KIM TAEHYUNG

The Holi-Date by @kpopfanfictrash 

✂︎ oneshot 40.5k; fluff, smut, angst

When your ex-boyfriend becomes engaged to his new girlfriend at your annual Holiday party, you admittedly are not in the best place. Which explains why you down six shots of alcohol, enthusiastically drop it low on the dance floor and – oh, yeah – tell everyone you are also dating someone. The only problem? You are obviously not. Good thing your neighbor happens to be cute and in need of a ride to work every morning.

the point of no return by @illneverrecover

✂︎ oneshot 10.8k; fluff, humour, smut

Just when your evening out has gone to complete shit, you stumble - quite literally - into the cutest man walking the cutest dog, who manages to turn it all around. Or, alternatively - how drunkenly losing your debit card on your quest for nachos lands you the best lay of your life.

JEON JUNGKOOK

reverse by @softjeonggoo

✂︎ social media series; fluff, crack

you’re a rising idol has probably the rowdiest, crackheaded fanbase. what happens when you stumble across a cute fanboy’s twitter account?

the coffee shop contract by @gukyi

✂︎ oneshot 18k; fluff

apparently, having an instagram profile with a different girl in every picture is reason enough for your friends to strike up a deal where they’ll pay you to have a relationship. well, jeon jungkook’s no good at relationships, but a fake relationship isn’t a real relationship. is it?

(my own) masterlist // asks

[kazuharem]

ok, angsty luci! i found this quote and kind of wanna see what you can do with it~ “doesn’t it bother you? that they refuse to see the good in you, that they choose to only focus on your faults and mistakes?” she asks him. he turns his head and looks for the horizon. “why should it? we’re all bad in someone’s story.” 👀👀

(Below contains an image not yet released in EN server)

Hi Grace! I loved receiving this request from you! (Cuz god knows how angst runs through my veins. And when it’s Lucien angst.... I just- *chef’s kiss*). Believe me when I say I love Lucien, okay. But something about Lucien angst.... is just so addictive.

Also, some of y’all seem to forget that I’m an ANGST writer (as well as smut) with all the requests I’ve been getting as of late... So this is my gentle reminder for you that I am indeed, an angsty soul 🤣

Anyways, thank you for requesting this (and helping me brainstorm hehe), this is dedicated to you, my friend 💜 @tartagilicious

───── ⋆⋅ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ⋅⋆ ─────

“We’re All Bad in Someone’s Story” ↠  LUCIEN [ANGST]

Characters: Lucien, Victor, mentions of MC (Female)

Genre: Angst (Pure Unadulterated Angst, A N G S T - You have been warned) *insert Lucien clutching chest*

Word Count: 1,312

A/N: Set after Ch. 13 (Lucien’s betrayal), mentions of established relationship between Lucien and Female MC, and let’s pretend Victor’s little time travel thingie didn’t happen

Summary: With her no longer trusting Lucien, Lucien goes to Victor with a request.

Lucien gazed across the expanse of city lights before him. It should’ve been a beautiful sight, but now, there was no beauty left in this world. Not for him. Not anymore.

“Was any of it true? Everything that you told me? It was all lies?”

He could still see the moment when her heart had shattered. Because of him.

The moment her tears had spilled from her beautiful eyes, he had wanted to run over immediately and wanted to pull her into his chest, just like he had done countless times. But he couldn’t. 

And when the moment she had put the pen that he had gifted her to her neck, his entire world had stopped. He had been forced to keep his emotions under control, to not let anything slip out from the mask he had crafted as he had watched crimson blood flow from her neck. He had felt his heart break along with hers. A heart, Lucien didn’t even know he had.

Foolish girl. Didn’t I warn you? 

A shaky sigh was exhaled from his mouth, exceptionally loud in the still air.

But he had tried so hard, hadn’t he? At the beginning, didn’t he try so hard to ignore her, to ignore the blossoming feelings she had planted within his cold, empty heart. The fact that she alone was able to make the seeds she had sowed grow into a beautiful, passionate yearning was a feat of its own.

“Will you miss me if I do leave?”

He remembered the way she had nodded enthusiastically without hesitation at his question.

“I’m the fool,” he muttered. There was a broken laugh, bitter and grating. 

Lucien looked up heavenward. The sparkling stars he had seen with her were now dull and gray.

“How unfortunate,” only the stars could hear his cracked whisper, “To fall in love with such a wretched man... And I, that wretched man, fell in love with you...only...to break your heart...”

The gentle hum of a car’s engine interrupted him and Lucien turned his head to see a man in a dark suit stepping out, the headlights illuminating the man’s silhouette.

“You asked to see me, Professor Lucien?” The man walked up to Lucien as he spat out his name. The expression on his face was severe. His eyes narrowed, “Or do I call you Ares now?” Indigo eyes met violet ones challengingly. 

“It appears that you’ve already been informed,” Lucien answered casually, schooling his expression into a calm mask, “Victor.”

Victor scowled, “What do you want? Why did you call me?”

“I know you’re busy, but I would just like to ask for a bit of your time,” Lucien said coolly. 

“You have no right to be making demands right now,” The words were nearing a low growl. “Not after what you did to her.”

“I’ll live with the consequences,” Lucien stated softly.

Victor laughed humorlessly, “And her? How do you plan for her to go on? Now after you’ve dumped her like some useless toy.”

“I suggest you get your facts straight before accusing me of anything,” Lucien’s voice was frigid; there was absolutely no trace of warmth. “I’m doing this for her good. To ensure her safety.”

“From you.”

“I’m not here to argue with you tonight,” Lucien smiled tightly. “I just have two requests to ask of you.”

Victor crossed his arms, “What do you want?”

Lucien exhaled, “It would appear that you care for her. And I imagine, with all comfort you’ve given her, she...cares for you as well.”

“What do you want?” Victor repeated, impatience creeping into his voice.

There was a pause.

“My first request is to ask that you keep her safe...Protect her in my stead...” Lucien spoke slowly.

“That’s hardly a request,” Victor scoffed, “I’m not protecting her for you. I’m protecting her from you.”

Lucien nodded once. “I understand. I just want her...to be safe.”

Victor’s eyes narrowed, “And what good does this do for you?”

“I’m prepared to lose the only color in my world,” Lucien’s voice was steady, betraying no sign of his inner turmoil. He turned to look at the man beside him, “Tell me, what are you prepared to lose?” The words carried a hint of underlying threat.

“I don’t lose,” Victor responded flatly.

“No? What about the girl you had yearned for so ardently? The girl whom you’ve searched for all these years?” Lucien couldn’t help but challenge.

Victor’s jaw clenched, “I won’t lose her,” his voice was sure and confident, leaving no room for argument. “Not like you did.”

“Very well,” Lucien conceded with a slight smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. He turned away to watch the city spread before him.

“The other request, what is it?” Victor spoke up after a brief silence. “You asked me to keep her safe, what’s the other request?”

Lucien watched the scene before him, a faraway look in his eyes. There was a touch of melancholy about him. “Keep her safe,” he repeated softly, the words carrying easily through the tranquil air. “And...Please let her be happy.”

Victor did not reply.

Lucien turned to leave, offering Victor a polite nod, “I hope you can honor these requests.”

“Does it not bother you?” Victor spoke up before he could leave. Lucien stopped, but did not turn to look at him. Victor continued, “Does it not bother you now that she found out who you really are? Now that she thinks of you as her rival instead of her lover?”

Lucien gave a soft chuckle, “Why should it bother me? After all, we’re all bad in someone else’s story,” he replied placidly. “Now, if you will excuse m-”

“Did you love her?” Victor cut him off, curt and cold. “Did you ever love her?”

Lucien stilled, his face ever so unreadable. There was a deprecating laugh. 

“How could such a despicable man like me ever be capable of love?” He finally responded, smiling thinly. He turned on his heel and walked away, until he was out of Victor’s line of sight.

As soon as he could no longer see the bright beams of the headlights, he doubled over, gasping. Steadying himself on the trunk of a tree, he took in great shuddering breaths.

A choked groan came out of his mouth as the pressure in his chest built. 

How ironic, he thought to himself, trying to swallow the lump in his throat. A pathetic man like me is capable of tears after all. A single tear traced its way down his cheek as he closed his eyes. He collapsed against the tree, sliding down the trunk until he sat at the base of tree. His head sank into his hands.

Images of her played behind his eyes. The way her eyes had lit up with such innocence, such joy when he had taken her to see the vibrant maple trees in Canada. The way she had taken him in that night when he was testing her, patching him up without a single moment of hesitation. The way she had trusted him wholeheartedly with no questions asked. The way she had loved him unconditionally despite knowing he had secrets, the him who was undeserving of such pure love. 

“Ha..” Lucien gave a strangled laugh. “I am indeed...wretched...”

He reached into his jacket pocket and opened his hand. In it, lay a peace knot. The one she had gifted him with a brilliant smile and a wish hoping he would be happy and healthy. It was frayed in some places. He could no longer remember what colors it used to be. Now it appeared to him in varying shades of gray. His fingers closed over it tenderly, holding it carefully.

“If only...you hadn’t met me...” He whispered, “I hope...my little butterfly will be happy and healthy from now on...I hope, she’ll be safe...” A broken sob broke out from his throat. “Victor...is good for you, little butterfly... So fly away and be free. Be free of this wretched man who had wanted to keep you in a glass jar forever.” He pressed his lips against the peace knot softly. 

“And...I hope you won’t mind this wretched man for wanting to love you just a little bit more... little butterfly, don’t let this man’s ugly blacks and whites stain your beautiful wings...and fly away...”

───── ⋆⋅ Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ ⋅⋆ ─────

A/N Part II: I’m...a Lucien stan I swear. I absolutely, positively love this man with every fiber of my entire being. I just couldn’t resist. Don’t worry, I’m sobbing as well. Also, I love me some good old rivalry between Lucien and Victor. *Cue TENSION* But if you are too sad from this Lucien angst, I have a treat in store for you. It involves FLUFF annnnnnd (sneak peak) wedding stuffs. Stay tuned!

To the Nonnys in my asks, I promise I’m working on your requests! (I just wanted to get through the drabbles before I launch myself into full-blown 10k word fics again). 

If the rest of you would like to request something, as always, my ask and/or messages are open!

Part II: here

More of my work: 📖

[tamamatango]

Let’s talk about Kururu, again

Apparently the fandom is growing all of a sudden so I feel like talking about Kururu again cuz that’s all I know how to do and it’s been a while

First off disclaimer that fandom is fandom and anybody can interpret any character any way they want and if you like to portray a character a certain way for whatever reason go for it, more power to you (unless you put them in pedo/incest relationships that are displayed as good in which case fuck you). But in my personal Kirbpinion(TM) the Funimation dub was a fucking mistake because so many fan content creators write a way different Kururu than what he is in canon cuz the dub never got to his best episodes and also upped the sadism to ridiculous levels. Listen I know it’s funny to joke that he’s the kind of guy that has 3 medieval torture chambers but hear me out. Kururu is by no means a perfect person, he’s genuinely pretty rude/blunt (though sometimes his straightforwardness is justified :P), has an ego, sometimes acts pretty gross around others and likes extreme and elaborate pranks way way way too much BUT.

Assuming you’ve watched far enough into the series (like 100+ eps) I do not really understand the interpretation that he doesn’t care about anyone and that friendship and love are things he is totally incapable of. He says that yes but if you pay enough attention to his dialogue it becomes pretty apparent that he displays this attitude for multiple reasons. One is that he does genuinely have a hard time expressing the emotions he feels and often has awkward/guarded ways of doing so. But also he says many times over the course of the series that he has a “reputation” to keep up and wants people to call him a jerk; he wants to look cool and rebellious all the time and he thinks a nasty apathetic attitude is what earns him that status (not claiming that’s a healthy mindset, mind you). He wants to have full control over the way people see him and he gets super frustrated and humiliated when he can’t. This is probably why he gets so upset when people talk about how unpopular he is, because he’s spent so much time honing his image to a T and is like why the fuck isn’t this working?! In other words even though sometimes he is just an actual pain in the neck a lot of his asshole antics are part of a carefully manufactured persona, and he will do anything down to labeling his own memories to prevent other people from seeing through his facade and discovering the parts of him that are vulnerable.

And God forbid anyone does figure out that he does care quite a bit for the people around him, or at least if he didn’t at first he does now. Early on in the series he was commonly referred to as “depressing” and while the meta reason is probably just the anime writers just didn’t know how to adapt the character yet (he started out a little differently in the manga), in canon I believe he was just even more inclined to push everybody away from him, and as he began to get used to working in a group he gradually opened up. He commentates on how “soft” he’s gotten since he came to Earth a couple times, and the fact that he’s surprisingly one of the most loyal to Keroro out of the whole team (in many episodes where everyone abandons Keroro for being dumb he leaves last) and goes out of his way to help when he thinks it’s warranted (he asks for money when things aren’t dire yeah but hey labor deserves compensation :V) shows that he is dedicated to his team. There’s even episodes where he doles out some kind of moral lesson to the squad in his own Kururu-y way, especially to Keroro and Tamama. Even the Hinatas he’ll pitch in to protect when he has to, and we all know he’ll pretty much drop everything if Saburo needs him.

Speaking of which. I think the unspoken reason why he’s best friends with Saburo (besides the surface-level stuff like they’re smart and nerdy and seen as enigmas by everybody else) is because Saburo is the only other person in the cast who understands Kururu’s particular struggle of putting on airs as a means of self-defense all the time. He basically has a carefully managed celebrity life (that he has to constantly work to hide in anime canon), a somewhat formal/reserved public life, and the more quirky enthusiastic side of himself he only shows when alone and to the few people he’s close to and god damn that just sounds like the most exhausting juggling act ever. He has an outlet to free himself through his art but he still has to live with nobody quite knowing what he goes through on a daily basis, which is probably why we see him off on his own for most of the series (until he gets to warm up to everybody better...wonder who that sounds like) and occasionally have his bouts of frustration and insecurity like in 229 where he says “fuck it I’m gonna fight the apocalypse alone because I need something to do,” 354(? I think that’s the number) where he talks about just dropping everything and starting over, and I think one of the Christmas eps where Giroro has to like beg him to go to the Hinatas’ party cuz he says he’s “busy” even though he’s just sitting around pretty much (UPDATE: it’s 294 the implication is probably that he has his show or something but cmon that’s only like an hour lol). I am going off on a tangent now but anyway the point is he and Kururu are the most complicated communicators of the cast and they share feelings only they understand which is why they can more or less read each other’s minds and know exactly what to do when the other is in trouble.

Back to Kururu. Keroro, from what I can tell, is the closest to him out of the Platoon; Keroro gets freaked out by Kururu’s pranks sometimes yeah but they have a lot of common interests as the fun-lovers of the group and Kururu’s also kinda been interested in Keroro enough time follow him around for almost his entire life up to this point so there’s that. He also gets along with the other people he‘s around; we know he and Aki get along from the beginning because of how dynamic their personalities are but later on he gets close to Fuyuki to the point where they just hang out for the heck of it sometimes, and even though Natsumi is very justified in generally disliking him (many of Kururu’s more Eugh moments tend to involve her) even she seems to rely on him often, and in the cursed puppy episode she knows all his favorite foods by heart so she must care in some fashion lol. Dororo and he aren’t evidently super close but I think they get each other on some level as the (in-universe) least popular of the platoon and Dororo at least respects his abilities, and has clearly come to figure out his subtleties based on 229. Giroro and Mois...things get complicated. Just putting on record that I’m not a fan of either ship between Kururu and them. I’ve said this before but I think Giroro and Kururu are in a turbulent sibling-adjacent relationship in that they have completely opposing attitudes but they have a begrudging sense of respect for each other and, ultimately, they’re teammates, so they’ll defend each other when someone they don’t know tries to mess with them. I really don’t think the flirty stuff on Kururu’s end goes beyond teasing and I got kinda sick of that running gag if I’m being honest. (You can probably tell which frog I ship Kururu with by now :P) Mois went from something of a rival to Kururu to his lab partner, which is probably why he goes easier on her than he used to and even strikes up something of a friendship because the only other person he knows that might be capable of handling his technology is an Earthling who’s still against the invasion despite his lax attitude so. She helps :V

Now the question is why Kururu acts like he does if his relationships really aren’t all that bad and I think there’s two components to this. I’ve made it clear by now I think he’s autistic but your mileage may vary there. I think personally his childhood did something to the way he processes things as well. In Secret of the Kero Ball, he’s got a bandage on his head which may imply he got hurt somewhere and then he almost drowned which canonically definitely did something to him lol, was mostly seen alone so who knows if he has a family he still talks to, and then he got drafted into the army and placed into a high-ranking position of great responsibility at a very young age; it’s kind of a no-brainer why he rebeled and got demoted eventually. I’ve got plenty of headcanons about what his early days in the Military did to him but that’s for another day because good God this post went on too long.

In short: Kururu is possibly the most complicated character in the show and the F in Flanderization stands for “Funimation.” That’s it I’m never writing another essay about pee-color frog again I will make real content again at some point I promise