#this realization just unlocked so much about tai for me

[yellowjacketslesbian]

I’m sure someone else already picked up on this, but I’m rewatching S1E3, and taissa’s grandmother is catholic. the crosses on the wall are actually crucifixes and the religious art on the walls is in a traditional catholic art style.

this literally adds so much context to tai as a character and how she approaches the supernatural element in the wilderness imo. like of course she rejects it and tries to pretend the man with no eyes isn’t real. of course she’s instantly suspicious of it all.

like there tends to be a lot of emphasis in catholicism placed on the existence of the supernatural more so than in many other branches of the religion, so it makes sense that tai would reject any discussion of the supernatural because it could bring up religious trauma.

[soleilnomoon]

Hello! May I get some strawberries and possibly some mango with a mai tai (Kidd) and songs 3,4 and 16 from the playlist please! Thank you so much!

hihi  ପ(๑•ᴗ•๑)ଓ ♡ i love writing for kidd, he’s so ridiculous all day every day. ty for requesting & i hope you have fun reading 💛💕

1k words (it wasn’t my fault), gn reader (no pronouns), nsfw, 18+ mdni; fluff (it’s there somewhere) & smut; feat. kidd & reader in denial bc that’s how i live my life, a lil fwb except is that all there is~, alcohol, kidd being dumb & that’s how reader likes him (tbh me too), rough sex (does kidd even know the definition of gentle? no?), kitchen sex, choking, a lil bit of a hand job, idk no real warnings except eustass kidd deserves his own warning bc *motions to him* have u seen that man in action (if u see spelling errors/grammar mistakes no u didn't 💕)

it’s not goodbye, you remind yourself for the fourth time that night, throat suddenly dry at the thought. the ice in your cup melted a while ago, so you toss the watered-down drink onto the sand before standing up. when eustass kidd insisted on throwing a party, you didn’t think much of it; how quickly you forget that pirates are notorious for their theatrics and kidd isn’t immune to that behavior.

a large bonfire blazes in the middle of the beach, the air warm and sticky; you hate how humid it is and hate that you let the others talk you into drinking. now your hair is tied up, to keep its thickness away from your neck and face, as sweat glides down your skin. without looking back, you leave everyone behind and make the short trek back to your house. you’re determined to shower and call it a night; you doubt your presence will be missed that much.

after downing another shot of tequila, a frown works its way onto kidd’s lips as he stares at the empty shot glass in his hand. he’d meant to just have a few drinks, but he got roped into game after game by his crew mates and he lost track of time.

now you’re gone.

it’s a sobering enough thought that he shoves the glass into wire’s hand, not bothering to explain himself as he goes searching for you. he doesn’t like that you left the party early, and he doesn’t like that he’s a little bit miserable because you’re not with him right now.

it’s foolish to feel that way and equally foolish to want to do something about it. he knows that, but it’s not enough to make him turn back around.

when he finds your backdoor unlocked — a nasty habit that he can’t believe you refuse to correct — a small wave of irritation surrounds him. you didn’t bother locking the door because you knew he’d eventually make his way over — you assumed it would be much later, but kidd is always unpredictable.

and because he’s incapable of stealth when he’s annoyed, you hear him rummaging through your kitchen. you stand in the doorway, hands on your hips as you watch him eat several pastries in a row.

the man’s stomach is an abyss, you’re quite sure of it now.

“there are plates, y’know,” you say lightly, a teasing smile sliding onto your face with ease, “and napkins too.” since it’s obvious kidd has no home training whatsoever. he doesn’t see what the fuss is, but he knows it drives you crazy when he does that — which is possibly why he keeps doing it.

“didn’t feel like using them.”

his answer should annoy you, but it doesn’t; if anything, it just makes you smile again, a little sadly this time. it doesn’t go unnoticed by kidd, however, who narrows his eyes at you.

“why do you keep leaving that door unlocked?”

you blink a few times, confusion briefly taking hold of you before you realize he’s serious. “you ask me that all the time,” you counter and walk over to him, voice airy as you decidedly stuff the rest of your complicated feelings for him into a tiny box. “and what do i always say?” you place your hands on his chest — soft and gentle, which only annoys him even more.

because you like to do that — touch him like you care, like you enjoy his presence. his mind likes to play tricks on him, so he refuses to believe it; except it’s hard to tell the truth from fiction when he leans down to kiss you. all those pesky, bothersome thoughts coast to the back of his mind when you lick a bit of powdered sugar from his lips.

when he kisses you again, a different kind of heat passes through you, making you press closer, practically melting against him when his tongue caresses yours. it’s in between sloppy tongue kisses that he asks you to come with him — the decision is rash, and he hasn’t thought it through all the way, but the idea of you staying behind only pisses him off.

your heart beats a little too loudly at the prospect of leaving home and going off with him, but your answer is lodged in your throat, unable to come out no matter how badly you want to tell him yes.

he knows how deep your stubbornness goes, so naturally he’s just going to have to help you make the right decision. when he hoists you onto the counter, you unzip his pants with hurried movements and kidd groans softly as you start stroking him. you like the luxury of having your own place, but you know you’ll be lonely when kidd leaves — more unpleasant feelings that you can’t seem to keep hidden.

you wrap your legs around him as he inches his cock inside of you — slowly, at first, before he pulls back and snaps his hips forward, thrusting roughly. your lips are on his again, fingers sifting through his hair as he fucks you harder.

“come with me,” he insists again and again, you shake your head and keep your lips pressed together because you know you’re so close to saying otherwise. he clicks his tongue and he grabs your throat so you can look at him. “why?”

you wish he’d let this go — but a small, much more selfish part of you is glad he’s pressing the issue. “because…” you gasp and moan when he squeezes your neck as he gives you short, brutal strokes. kidd’s stamina is unrivaled; he fucks you like he’s trying to break the counter, nearly forgetting himself and his brute strength. he eases up a bit and releases his hold, but you’re panting when you speak again.

“w-what if you get tired of me?” your voice is quiet, but he hears you perfectly clear.

kidd rolls his eyes before tugging on your earlobe with his teeth. “is that all?” a ridiculous fear, but he can’t really judge you, now, can he? kidd fixes you with a pointed look, one that says be serious. he almost admits that he could never be tired of you, not even if he tried.

you want to tell him that you’re being very serious, but don’t get the chance as his cock hits a spot that has you babbling incoherently at him. kidd laughs out loud because knows what your answer really is; he’s just going to keep fucking you until you can say it with conviction.

[timextoxhajima]

Sonder: Part I

Parts: I II III IV V

member: enhypen heeseung! x oc! woo ki yeom [3rd person pov]

genre: coming of age, slice of life, angst, romance

w/c: 5k

warnings: topics on religion, distressed relationships, mental health (I want to leave an a/n here that I grew up with my maternal family being Buddhists so what I've written is based off what I researched online and the way her family practised Buddhism. I'm personally a free-tinker and this narrative is not in any way meant to offend nor support any particular religion.)

synopsis: after being kicked out of her home, Woo Ki Yeom is forced to live life on her own. struggling to find herself in the midst of her chaotic life, she meets lee heeseung, who, like her, can't give any more fucks to life than she does.

"n. the realization that each random passerby is living a life as vivid and complex as your own."

That word. That keeps coming out on Instagram pages and TikTok videos.

It's a strange feeling to know that everybody else in here was living their own lives. Maybe they were going through a breakup, or someone in their family had just passed away. Perhaps their pet ran from home or a trip just got cancelled because their travel buddy fell sick.

It's fascinating at first - but you get bored by it after some time. And even if you didn't, Woo Ki Yeom did.

It's not like it was difficult to figure out how to vacuum your room or do your own hair. Nor was it difficult to figure out how this washing machine operated, though Ki Yeom must admit that it took her a couple of minutes to get it down. But now, all she does is give it a good smack to the side when it doesn't start up.

"wo gen ni jiang (I'm telling you), one day you're going to smack it until it's spoilt!" The owner of the laundromat nags from the payment counter. He's a man in his 50s - Ki Yeom likes to think Mr Hsien is an alternate-dimension version of Eve from the film, Everything, Everywhere, All At Once. He clearly hates this life, and the only time Ki Yeom has seen his wife was when he was sick and couldn't run the place himself.

Mrs Hsien is just about ten times sweeter than he is - which Ki Yeom recalls - she didn't respond that well to.

She must think Ki Yeom is an asshole.

Then again, Ki Yeom knows for a fact that she is one.

"Then you'll finally come around to your senses and get it changed. I just found a coin from the 1930s the other day in my load."

"Do you know change washing machine how expensive?" Mr Hsien rambles on, looking through his glasses that were so far down his nose bridge, Ki Yeom thinks it might just slide right off. In his hands were dollar bills. "shi yi ge yue de qian (It's a month's worth of money)! From everybody that comes here."

She doesn't bother responding - no need to, unless she wants to start a debate.

"All day gloomy," Mr Hsien mumbles under his breath. She dumps herself in the row of chairs right out the door as he aligns the dollar bills and goes to unlock the door. "My wife say gloomy not good. tai duo yin (too much yin)."

His voice is slightly muffled, since his entire body is hidden behind the counter as he hides his money. After a few moments, his hand comes to grip the edge of the counter as he pulls himself up to stand, then he takes a deep breath and sighs as if it took him a bountiful amount of energy to get up. But he looks outwards at Ki Yeom and wiggles a finger at her.

"Are you listening to me?" He shakes his head, processing Ki Yeom just looking down at her phone.

Yes.

"You know, Chinese people always think young people who don't respond are very rude. If you were my daughter, wo yi jing hui ma si ni ah (I would've already scolded you to death)."

He grumbles as he pushes himself out the little door by his counter and waddles for the storage door.

"You shout for me if anything weird happen outside. I'm going to da bian (poop)."

Ki Yeom connects the bluetooth headphones to her phone and adjusts it over her head as the door swings shut.

It was a quiet Wednesday night.

Ki Yeom liked to do her laundry in the middle of the week because there aren't many people around, and she didn't have to wait for strangers to come clear the washing machines before she could use them. She didn't have to talk to strangers - which came as a surprise to her when she first moved here. She never understood why people would just randomly strike up conversations.

What was the point of knowing so much about someone's life when you're probably never going to see this person again?

But it's ironic that Ki Yeom has found comfort in a familiar place, enough to fall asleep. Even if Mr Hsien were to walk right out that storage door and finds her nodding off in her awkward sitting upright position, she knew he wouldn't wake her up. She knows, because it's not the first time she's passed out from a day's work.

Sometimes, Ki Yeom gets her inspiration from her dreams. One would be surprised how much she dreamt - because that meant that she could wake up feeling like she never slept. At some point, Ki Yeom was convinced that she was part of a cult by blood, because strange symbols, shapes, and creatures kept appearing in her dreams. She would draw them out and then go to the library to find anything on them, but to no avail.

Sometimes she blames this on her family.

But this 'gift' does her well at work, especially when the clientele of the tattoo parlour she works at are avid fans of the rare and uncommon.

Because of the number of clients who have grown fond of her artistry, she's been requested more than the average tattoo artist at the parlour she works at. Ki Yeom had been advised not to bite off more than she can chew, but it's not like she has any financial help or alot of money in the first place, so why not?

At least, not after she was kicked out of her own home.

In her busiest week, she spent four nights sleeping in the parlour, and had licorice and coffee for breakfast, a chicken salad for lunch and instant noodles for dinner on one of those days. And that wasn't even the worst meal combination she's had.

Some of her colleagues are kind - the ones who leave her blankets and buy her coffee and bread in the morning when they clock in. Others? Not so much.

"Too young." "Inexperienced." "Greedy." "Hard-up."

She's heard those too many times to feel a thing. It's also because she knows they're true. But it's not her fault she's greedy.

What's wrong with it?

Greed usually comes hand-in-hand with desperation, even if it weren't for a good cause. Greed comes with knowing how it feels when you lack something. Ki Yeom's greed stems from her lack of money, and is that her fault?

No.

She finally jerks awake from her evening nap when a loud thud manages to get past her headphones. Blurry vision still taking some time to clear, she's able to make out Mr Hsien frantically grabbing a rag and cleaning off the counter top. Tea was dripping off the edge.

Just by the movement of his mouth, she can tell he's rambling off about being such a clumsy old man.

She sits up and stretches her neck, feeling the ache when she pulls it the opposite way she was dosing off in. A slight frown, and then in the corner of her eye, she notices someone had taken a seat on the other end of the five-seater row of seats.

It was someone probably her age, maybe younger. But she returns her attention to Mr Hsien finishing the rest of his tea and walking round the counter, grabbing some dry tissues to clean up the remaining on the floor.

Then she catches the stranger glancing in her direction, as if wanting to say something - and then she realises that her music isn't playing. 

She fumbles her lap for her phone, then finds it on the floor right under the seat. The stranger seems to sit with ease now that she's picked it up. She almost finds it embarrassing when she tries to reconnect her bluetooth, but is interrupted by the washing machine she was using finally beeping to indicate that it was done. 

Ki Yeom clears her throat and gets up to the washing machine, yanking the worn-out door open. Gathering the damp clothes in her arms she tosses it into a dryer. She instinctively feels around her pockets to find the token she had paid in exchange for it, but her mood is slightly ruined when she can't find it. 

Mr Hsien is no longer in the counter, so she assumes he had gone to the back, berating himself for being clumsy, so she looks around the floor. Perhaps she might find a stray one sitting somewhere. 

She returns to the dryer, defeated. No, actually, she's too tired to be annoyed. Sliding the headphones off her head, Ki Yeom sighs to herself and rolls her eyes. 

But a soft 'tick' rings quickly across the surface of the dryer, and she looks up to see the stranger turning his back on her. The token sits on the white-turned-grey surface of the dryer next to the one she was throwing her mental tantrum at. 

Ki Yeom builds up the care to speak.

"It's fine but I'll just wait for him to come back out." 

He sits anyway, leaning back coyly and looking at her with a lack of expression. "I'm trying to collect karma points, so don't take it personally. Maybe another day if we see each other."

As if I'm going to see you another day. 

But Ki Yeom is not someone who rejects something when she needs it. 

"Thanks," The word is almost reluctant to come out. Without hesitation, she chucks it into the coin slit of the dryer and it tumbles down into a bed of tokens. She hunches over the dryer and jabs the buttons - sometimes they don't work very well either.

Ki Yeom hadn't always been like this. In fact, she was one of those kids who could plug in her earpieces over dinner and watch her favourite shows and her parents wouldn't say anything about it, because she knew to take them out when the food came.

Sometimes, her parents would join in on the fun of watching whatever show it was she was watching.

But what truly set her family apart from the average family was that her parents were devoted Buddhists. Karma, Liberation, Meditation... Honestly, Ki Yeom never understood what it truly meant until she hit her teenage years, and even then, her understanding of it didn't last very long.

It was a unique, and an admittable forceful, way of which Ki Yeom fell out with her family. As individuals who believed so much in karma, they had the tradition of donating large sums of money to the temple they frequented. They went vegetarian, prayed, kept a kind heart to whomever it was they met - and then her father was left jobless when the company he was working for got involved in an embezzling scandal.

Ki Yeom, at the age of sixteen, had witnessed her father go from the proud family man he was, to someone who stayed in bed all day, afraid to go out, in fear that he would have to open his empty wallet.

The anxiety became crippling and her father had developed depression upon the rippling news that he couldn't be accepted into other jobs because of his niche and limited experience and that he was too old.

At sixteen, when you've spent most of your life trying to understand and believe the ways of which your family has led their lives by, you'd be confused. Why was this happening? Have we not done enough?

What was once a home filled with laughter, comfort and encouragement, turned into a home that scrimped and saved every penny - even spending some nights without any electricity and relying purely on candles.

There was a gradual build-up of resentment on Ki Yeom's heart.

She had gone three years living off the meagre five dollars a day - and when you're in school with friends who find going to Starbucks and getting bubble tea an enjoyable past time, it's difficult. Even if they were understanding and chose not to go to either of those options, it was inevitable that Ki Yeom felt like it was her fault they couldn't go.

Just where in the world did all that money go? All the good karma points they were trying to accumulate? What happened to my God?

Ki Yeom had just graduated from pre-u. She wonders how she even managed to graduate, in the midst of all that falling apart at home, when it happened.

She had reached home after a day's work at the restaurant. As a waitress, she's grown numb to all the ridiculous comments and issues that customers bring up to her, if she were even paying attention.

So, all Ki Yeom wished was for a quiet dinner, a quiet evening and a quiet night to herself. She could crawl in bed and hug her pillows and scroll on her phone until she passed out, and then her day would start from scratch again.

But upon reaching home, she's not given enough time to respond - Especially when the things in her room seemed to be in the midst of removal. By strangers.

"What's going on?"

Her mother follows them out of the room as the movers trudge past her - and out of the house. "Ki, I'm sorry, we'll have to make do-"

"With... what? The floor?"

"You know how hard it's been, we just had to do this for the extra cash."

"How long is this 'cash' going to last us?" Ki Yeom puts her tote down, pushing past her mother and looking into the room. What used to be a cozy room with a bed, a desk, a standing lamp and even a beanbag was now a mattress, a makeshift table and a table lamp.

Ki Yeom turns around, at a complete loss of words. "You literally sold my room."

The elder stands, facing the door because she cannot face her daughter.

Ki Yeom gulps, feeling this intense heat coming up from within her. It feels like she's about to cry, but also wants to vomit and scream at the same time. "How much is selling my room going to make?"

"Ki-"

"How. Much?"

A pause. There's some knocking and rustling outside as they wrap the furniture in bubble wrap. Someone yells at someone else to hand her the money.

"Enough for a couple of weeks."

Ki Yeom sighs heavily, not knowing she was even holding her breath. Then, she coughs and almost hyperventilates. A scoff. Then, a strangled growl, like she was about to throw herself out the window, and the tears start to clog her eyesight.

She watches as her mother receives the thin stack of fifty dollar bills, and the man doesn't give them one last look before leaving.

There's a painful silence in the house when Ki Yeom squats. And when her feet become numb, she drops to the floor with her back hitting the wall.

"I'm sorry, Ki," Her mother turns and sniffles, shoving the fifty dollar bills into her backpocket. She squats, trying to look at Ki Yeom. But her daughter's head is hung low, for she has taken her final sanctuary.

"I don't understand... how this was an option. I'm working. And aren't you and dad trying to find jobs? Aren't you working?"

"I know... and we are... we just... we have nothing."

"What about grandpa? Hasn't he offered to help? At this stage... you want me to believe he hasn't offered any type of help?"

Her mother goes quiet, only taking a deep breath and sitting on her rear as well.

"What? What does that mean?" Ki Yeom frowns, tears finally dribbling down her cheeks as she struggles to understand. "Is he so heartless... that he cannot give us some to get by until something... better comes along?"

"Ki, we've been like this for years..."

"Which makes me wonder why he hasn't helped?"

Silence.

Ki Yeom frowns. "Does he even know?"

Her mother looks up at her through disheveled hair.

"How could he not know?"

"Ki, he knows. We just... you know the rules we live by."

Ki Yeom audibly gasps and chokes in horror. Her stomach drops in disbelief. "Rules? We are sleeping on the floor, our lights are candles and the table lamps are on the floor... we eat instant food two out of three meals and you're telling me... that out of filial piety... you did not accept his help?!"

Silence.

There's an eerie quietness in the home. Of course, atop the screaming in Ki Yeom's head and the traffic outside her home. Her vision is blurring from the tears, but she looks around her dark home, once brightly lit, and her vision ends on the orange-red glow eminating from the altar right next to the front door of her house. It's wide open, so the wind coming through was making the little flames on the candles flicker.

It's been untouched, only routinely cleaned and the oils thrown and replaced. Ki Yeom clenches her jaw, trying for a moment to resist the urge.

But to everyone's devastating shock and surprice, Ki Yeom harshly swipes her entire arm across the reachable counter top, spilling the cups of oil holding the candles and the incense sticks out of their packets.

Her mother quite literally screams and rushes over, yanking her away from the mess.

Smack!

The ringing is sharp in Ki Yeom's right ear as she processses the sting on her cheek, jaw and head. In the corner of her eye, she can see her mother is more surprised than she was. But this surprise is quickly replaced with anger and intense disapproval, so much to the point that her mother pushes past her and squats to pick up the items.

Ki Yeom's heart shatters.

She gulps, thinking if she should help. But her mother shoves her off, as if scared to be touched by her.

"Mom."

The clatter on the floor is gentle and quiet, and her mother is careful not to touch any of the shattered glass. Ki Yeom grimly squats by her and reaches for it, but rejection shoves her backwards on her rear when her mother pushes her away. She loses her balance and falls backwards, hands on the floor and her tears dribbling down her cheek.

Her mother's face is like rock - expressionless, tired. Helpless. Speechless.

Ki Yeom's face was starting to burn up.

"Mom-"

"Get out," She stops her cleaning and stares at the floor.

Honk.

"What?"

"You want so badly to do things your own way... and cannot agree with what we believe in... so pack your things and get out."

She resumes her cleaning up, taking the smaller, shattered pieces and placing them on the altar. While Ki Yeom remains on the floor, her mother squats, picks up whatever her hands can carry, and returns them to the altar. Again, and again.

"Mom, I- Please. How can you live like this?!"

The weight in Ki Yeom's knees start to shake her thighs when she kneels, dragging herself to her mother's feet. She hangs her head low, vision blurry and her head in a whirl. "We prayed to a God for years... my entire life... and we believed in everything we studied... Why were we not returned with the karma we always thought we've been collecting? Why did we pray and pray and yet nothing came along to help?"

Ki Yeom looks up, hair in her mouth and in her eyes as she manages to make out her mother placing the shattered cups back into position.

"Do not speak of Him that way," She whispers under her breath, opening a drawer and pulling out a lighter for the incense sticks. "He is always watching us... and He will help when the time is right."

Ki Yeom finally breaks apart in her own demeanour, sobbing and releasing her mother's clothes.

How can she choose a God, a deity... over her own daughter?

Her mother bows thrice, and sticks the incense stick in the incense pot. "I didn't sell your luggage. You can use that."

Ki Yeom looks up from the floor again, in disbelief those exact words came out of her mouth.

"I expect you gone by tomorrow morning," She turns and walks away, but stops and turns around for a second. "Nobody in my house will disrespect Him."

Ki Yeom had completely blocked out whatever her client was talking about - something to do with work. Her colleagues. Ki Yeom couldn't give any more fucks.

But she sits up to stretch her neck and back and notices in the reflection in one of the mirrors in her workspace a familiar back and a bald head.

She finishes up quickly, not bothering to acknowledge anything that her client has said. "Jun Yeol, can you help me tape her? I- yeah."

Instantly, the pink-haired boy turns around to look out the window. "Go. I got it from here."

"Chargeable list is on my desk. Thanks."

The bell on the door rings as she pushes her way out. She sucks in a deep breath, thinking of what to say again when their eyes finally meet. But out comes a rude and unnecessary: "What are you doing here? I told you not to look for me here."

For a moment, she feels bad. But her grandfather's retort is a reminder that she inherited her attitude from someone.

"I go wherever I want to!" He struggles to get up from the chair they've placed outside the tattoo shop for when there was a queue.

"Sit down!" Ki Yeom rushes over and pushes him back down by his shoulders, making sure to take a seat next to him so he didn't need to stand up again.

"I figured out how to make your mum's soup. The melon wolfberry one."

Ki Yeom looks down as he hands her the cotton bag that perfectly fits a thermal flask.

"You don't like cooking."

"I don't. It gets everywhere and there's a ton of pots and bowls and spoons to wash."

He shoves it into her lap, and huffs while wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Let me call you a cab."

"Cabs are expensive, don't you dare."

"I'd rather have someone send you home safe than have you pass out on the way back."

"And if I'm destined to die today, I will pass out anyway, won't I?"

The harshness and brutality of his words summon a glare from her. She wants to berate him for being so careless with his thoughts - afterall, she did grow up around the theory of manifestation of karma. And she knows for a fact her grumpy old grandfather might not have that much good karma left.

"Are you earning enough? For yourself? For your rent?"

She sighs and hugs the thermal flask to her stomach. The doorbell rings and her client walks out, turning to say thanks and goodbye.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me."

"Is it safe? Where you're staying?"

"We've been through this. There's a security guard on the first floor and you can't go up without a keycard."

"People out there nowadays are terrifying, have you seen? All these gadgets and hidden cameras!"

"I know, I know, but the estate is safe. Don't worry about me," Ki Yeom rubs her eye. Both of them go quiet for a minute. She's listening to the grumble of the asphalt as the cars go by, and she knows her grandfather is thinking about the other questions he had prepared before coming out to meet her. 

"If you're wondering whether they've reached out... they haven't. And I'm not planning on doing it first."

"I didn't ask you to, and I know you wouldn't."

They go silent once more, but the silence is broken by the bell hanging on the front door of the tattoo parlour. 

"Ki, a client called and said she's on the way but she's early for an appointment."

She looks down at her phone for the time. "Yeah, she's supposed come in at 4pm."

"Aight, call me if you need anything," Soo Min smiles at the elderly man, who seems awkward when he tries to return the acknowledgement. The bell rings again when she returns back into the parlour.

"Thanks," Ki Yeom waits for her to go back in before she smiles to herself. "You can just say 'hi'. She's a nice person."

"Her short hair scares me abit. Reminds me of the gangsters and hooligans that run around on the street and in back alleys back in my time," He pauses, realising Ki Yeom's disapproving looks. He clears his throat. "Do the people here treat you well? The last time you told me some of them aren't fond of you."

"Well, it's still the same. It's not like I'm going to try and change their minds about me. I earn my share and they earn theirs."

Grandfather nods and hums in acknowledgement. "You know... sometimes I think you're meant to come out and live your life on your own. I believe you were made for the streets - in a good way - and that you learn and meet so many new people outside of a comfort zone. It's something that the rich and wealthy don't get to have."

There's a gentle gush of wind that rushes through the corridor. The rows of shop along this road were in their not-so-busy afternoon period, but Ki Yeom could still make out that barista who got her order wrong a couple of days ago cleaning up the table along the corridor. And that hair stylist who supposedly cut someone's hair too short and almost got sued.

"Right," She responds first. "But I wasn't given a choice. Would've loved to have one."

Ki Yeom turns back to look at her grandfather. His wrinkles have gotten deeper, longer. She knows he won't be around much longer to be the parent that she lost. Unlocking her phone, she opens the taxi cab.

"Oi!"

Since her 4pm client had come early and Ki Yeom had gotten the job done early, she'd decided that she no longer had the mental capacity to stay anymore - besides, she works on appointment-only basis now anyway.

So amidst all the skanky, judgy looks she gets from the other tattoo artists who don't get as many requests as she does, she bids Jun Yeol and Soo Min goodbye. The evening sun greets her as the evening crowd begins to fill the surrounding cafes, coffee shops and other places that people go to.

She walks by the coffee cafe, and catches the eye of that barista who fucked up her order. She waves.

The barista, of course.

But Ki Yeom feels obligated to at least offer a smile, so she does, and proceeds on her way.

Finally in the comfort of her home, she drops her bag and opens her fridge, eyeing the half-eaten packet of frozen dumplings, miso paste and frozen udon. Ever since she's moved out, she had the freedom to test out whatever stupid recipes TikTok and Instagram had to offer that required three ingredients.

Well, provided she had the equipment - which was a pot, a pan, a mini rice cooker and an air-fryer that the tattoo parlour wanted to get rid of. Honestly, she hasn't used it because she's been afraid it would explode if she did, but it just seemed like a waste if she let them throw it away.

She prepares the miso soup while waiting for the dumplings and udon to defrost first - then the unusual happens.

Knock knock.

Ki Yeom frowns to herself, and mentally checks through all the bills and finances she has to settle. Rent? Not due in another three weeks. Credit card? Haven't touched it. Delivery? Haven't ordered anything.

Knock knock knock.

She turns the stove off and goes for the door, looking through the peephole.

It's the kid from the laundromat.

Perhaps he came to even out the debt.

Ki Yeom opens the door.

"Oh," He seems surprised. "It's you."

"If you're here for the token, I don't have any extra to return. I can pay you a couple of cents or a dollar for it if you're insistent."

"Uh," Gently shaking his head, he simply lifts a hand, and in it, there was an envelope. "This came in my mail. I think they wrote the address wrongly."

She looks at the envelope, and sees her name but with the unit 07-33 instead of hers, 07-38.

"I figured eight just seemed the most similar to three, so. Are you... Woo Ki Yeom?"

"Yeah, thanks," She blinks and reaches out for it.

"Mail's not that common nowadays," He nods towards the envelope. "They don't have your number or email?"

There's an attempt to chuckle, or make a joke. But Ki Yeom doesn't bother responding, only tearing it open and pulling the letter out.

"Yeah, they don't have my number or my email."

The boy clears his throat out of awkwardness. "Oh."

Ki Yeom straightens out the letter right infront of him. As much as she wants to forget that her parents ever existed, she knows she can't. She's been trying - which is why she changed her emails, her phone number, and didn't provide their names to the building's management for "allowed visitors".

Futile efforts - that's what they were. She might be able to change the way she thought but her heart can't forget. Her father used to tell her that the heart always knows what's right, but what he didn't tell her was how to deal with it when she doesn't want to.

Dear Ki,

I'm writing to share that I've gotten a job.

Instantly, she folds the letter back up and shoves it back in the envelope. Her blood boils.

Why did it matter if her father got a job now? It doesn't change what her mother said to her or what happened. It doesn't change-

"Um. You... alright?"

Ki Yeom looks up, remembering that this stranger was still infront of her. Vision blur, she clears her throat and shoves the letter back in his hands.

"It's not mine."

He looks down at the shredded envelope and haphazardly-returned letter. Her eyes are red, so he's not dumb enough to believe it's not hers.

"Are... you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure," Ki Yeom closes her eyes and rubs them over her lids. "Sorry, I was just busy making dinner. I have to go."

"Right," He clutches the envelope to his side and nods subtly.

With pursed lips, she looks at him one more time for acknowledgement. He's quiet, and careful, as he takes a step back and turns to leave. Ki Yeom gently swings the door shut, feeling her nose sour all over again.

Sucking in a deep breath, she looks over in her mini kitchen and stares at the slightly-cooled soup sittin on the stove. Then her eyes travel over to where she had dumped her bag, and remembers the thermal flask.

She walks over to it and picks it up, opening it and carefully sipping the warm soup.

PART II

[carnivorousyandeere]

YESSS DREWWWW YOU UNDERSTAND ME I LOVE YOUUUUUU 😭😭😭 i'm so much into chastity stuff it's crazy 😭 are any other ocs of yours into it? locking their darling or being locked??

Okay tbh I didn’t realize how many of them probably WOULD be into it— just hadn’t really thought about it until now. But it’s a good amount of them, actually 😭

( MDNI, No Age In Bio DNI )

Likes Being Caged: THORN, Felicity, CLAY, Memphis, Kurtis

Likes Both, but Being Caged More: IAN, MOTH, Tai

Likes Both About Equally: Airna, ERIK

Likes Both, but Caging more: Mildred, Dakota, Isla, Mehri (but you’d definitely have to introduce her to it first), Byte

Likes Caging: DREW, Cassandra, ANGEL, Kyra, SONIKA, GENESIS, KAYLEE, Elena, Wisteria, GIULIANA, LOTTIE, Cecilia, Marcus

~~~~

Honorable Mentions for Mika and Cyrus, who probably aren’t super into it themselves but would let their Darling cage them if it made them happy 🫡

Second Honorable Mentions for Hailey, Quinn, and Penelope, who probably aren’t super into it but would cage their Darling if it made them happy 🫡

And third category of Honorable mentions specifically to elaborate on Memphis, who howls like he’s been genuinely neutered, like an actual tomcat at the vet. He pretends to hate it soooo much but refuses to safeword, and if you try to unlock him too soon he pouts at you and tries to squirm away 😭

[daniels-rwby-blog]

rwby v9 c9 review

Episode 9 a tale involving a treeAlright who's ready for this!

(Not me)

Intro as good as ever, so much meaning we missed in ep1

A door opened you say?

An exerpt from the Fairy TALES WITH SUMMER!WHAT!!!!

BABY YANG AND RUBY!!!!YOOOOO!Anyhow now to team JWBYYou did a lot wrong jauneWhat the hell?A crystal paper pleaser?Eh oh jaune is puzzled

Water works guys, it's adorable

BLAKES EAR!!

oh her animation is sooo good this volume

That emotion oh yes, amazing.

And jaunes realizing his mistakes

And as usual Wiess is rightAnd that far shit was nice.

GROUP HUG!!!(I see you white knight)

And the key is unlocked

Teleportation is voice activated

That sun that color, ITS GORGEOUS

The sun omg , yang's hair it's YELLOW

my god it's volume 1 again.

Accept, yeah that's the message of this volume isn't it?

And to the rubes we go.

Surprise it's the blacksmith.

Some intriguing dialogue.

And Lindsay did so well her, that subtle "am i?"

And the hammering continues outside.

And Curious Neo!

The sarcasm the sass, it's beautiful

Best girl is still her in spirit i suppose?

That pose tho it's hilarious

And sassy wiess yay!

Her hair is amazing btw Neos model is great

Alyxs is not the bad guy bingo card!

The hands the face, it's terrifying and amazing.

This fight is gonna be awesome

So the blacksmith is the tree (someone called it)

The combos, yang's anger so focused on helping Ruby.And ruby's confession, the tears, the eyes.And weapons to choose ruby's fate, fitting.

And they have more white rose moments

And the cat can fight my God.

And the snap cuts into her speech, nice.

"Mom" that's emotional.

The credits song is awesome Casey still killing it.

And that summer art, wow!

So we've finally seen summer in "full" i was kind of right, really wanted ruby out of the tree by now but this is fine I guess.

So summers axe is drawing her daughter, i think we can say ruby will become summer, or at least very much like her, enough for tai and wrote to double take (and raven i guess). Why else would she have a full Maya model? Now this could be temporary, or perhaps we have a dream sequence with summer and ruby talking and summer tells her all about how she heard her at the grave this whole time, but yeah we gonna see that full model one way or another.

And yes the blacksmith is alyx, it just is.

The idea of ruby and summer being the same person i disregard on first viewing i disagree with that far, but it's a possibility I'll admit, a wierd one tho in terms of imprecations. I think it's a metaphor if a full circle not an actual circular family tree.Alright imma break this down, expect theory's later this week, see ya - D

Best Girl Pics for happiness to forget we ain't out the woods yet

[hopeshoodie]

17, 29, and 37 if you're doing the asks 👁👁

17. What was your favorite scene in [all of the seasons because I talk too much]

1- Immediately post-Cherrygate, specifically all the islanders’ reaction to it. I love how everyone has such a variety of thoughts about it, because everyone has unique motives/positions, and I love self righteous Jake so much. I also really REALLY like Erikah’s apology scene, or really any scene with Erikah.

2- The scene where Noah yeets the baby in the trash because Hope’s uncomfortable. It’s SUCH a sincere gesture, plays perfectly to their individual characters and why I love them, and ultimately foreshadows why they won’t work (but in such a kind way). On every level, it feels perfect in the meta of the story, in their relationship, in their story arcs as individual characters. Love it. 

3- Tai’s waterfall scene. It was the only standout scene of the season that made me feel actually invested. If we’re counting Boat Party as part of the season, then I love the first initial argument scene in the first chapter, because every argument seems so realistic.

4- Lexi’s meltdown. I wish there had been more of it, but I love a girlboss going unhinged. 

29. Which character’s route would you change if you could? 

Hope’s. I’ll die thinking that Noah’s unlocked-on-day-29 route should have been for both of them. I wrote a whole post about it, but a Hope route where she confides that she knows Noah’s being shady and then realizes she might be interested in MC would have just been the best part of the season.

If it has to be a canon-endgame route, then Rahim’s. He’s my favorite character pre-CA, and I think his writing in the last 6 days or so RUINS him. I want a scene where he apologies and says he’s overwhelmed to MC during Jo/Shannon. I want him to be nicer to MC, or if he isn’t to have a scene between MC and him addressing it, with him saying thinking about the ‘real world’ is making him nervous and apologizing for his behavior. I want a scene of him being rightfully betrayed and angry as his best friend (in the villa) trying to sleep with his girlfriend the night before the finale. I want him to be as fleshed out at the end of the season as he is in the beginning, and not just be uncharacteristically dismissive for the sake of making Noah or other characters appealing. 

37. Which character would you have a real life enemies to lovers with

Shane :P 

Realistically, probably Rocco. I’d call him out early on and find his schtick super annoying, and he’d think I was mean, but then through opening up to each other I’d find him relatable and if he finds Chelsea and Marisol endearing then I could be his type. And I’d HATE it because he is not my type.

[nexyra]

RWBY's Love Language - Part 2

Hello friend ! I'm back at it with a second part and whatever character I can think of ! (Among which best boy Oscar because he deserves it, and also more adults)

Let's go !

***

Oscar Pine

So ! While I love Oscar with my whole heart, honestly guessing his Love Language is no easy feat. One thing for sure : touch isn't is thing even if it's how everyone else chose to communicate their love.

I saw a post a while back detailing how Oscar is always putting his hands up as a barrier when he's scared or uncomfortable and that makes me cry a little instead but it's true TT. Anyway...

In the latest volumes we've got quite a bit of comforting Oscar-talks but I have to wonder how much of that is due to Ozpin's influence really. As a result I've decided to settle on... Acts of Service or Quality Time ! This is based on a few details : when people are upset with him in one shape or form, Oscar was always very eager to prove himself useful, give some aspect of concrete help (such as cooking a Casserole, ringing any bell ?). Plus I imagine that's the exact brand of help his Aunt would have needed most on a farm. Added to that, he always seems fairly happy to be included, be with the others no matter what's going on. Training ? Yay ! A movie with Jaune & Weiss ? Smiling puppy look. Fancy party ? Shenanigans together ! So yea, I love seeing my boy loved and hugged but please everyone settle for the loving he's most comfortable with <3

“She made a choice! A choice to put others before herself! So do I.”

“Oh, uh, yeah. I thought you guys would appreciate a hot meal after... spending all day looking for me, apparently.”

“No, it's okay. These past few days, I've been scared of the same things you were. I don't know how much longer I'm going to be... me. But I did some thinking, and I do know that I want to do everything I can to help with whatever time I have left.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Ozpin

For our favorite immortal wizard aka not quite dead Headmaster... I think the answer is rather obvious. When you're so careful with your words, but also so fiercely devoted to humanity, Words of Affirmation is a must. Ozpin constantly does his best to calm, to reassure. He's good at controlling the conversation and getting people where he wants... Except he more often than not use it to make them think and help them reach an healing ore motivating conclusion. This man is so insisten on giving and cultivating hope, so painfully aware of just how much words can change... There's no doubt in my mind that it's through these very same words that he tries to fight the darkness in others' mind, even when they don't want to let themselves be persuaded. And with some help from the farmboi, Ozpin is gaining in honesty and earnestness. And that can only help in giving comfort.

But to be honest... If you offer him a hug I doubt he'd refuse, and he definitely deserves one. Also therapy. For Oscar too. Everyone in therapy 2k21.

“Ruby. I've made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet. But at this moment I would not consider your appointment to leader to be one of them. Do you?”

“It's not every day that friends are able to come together like this. Time has a way of testing our bonds, but it's nights like these that can help keep them stronger than ever. Nights like these are ones we'll never forget.”

“Don't worry, Mr. Arc. Your journey is far from over, and the same might be said for all of you. Unlocking your Semblance isn't the end. It can still grow and evolve. Providing you are willing to put in the work, who knows what could happen?”

- - - - - - - - - -

Emerald Sustrai

Now here I'm gonna go ahead and say that the way Emerald has been taught to express her love and the way SHE would rather preffered to be loved most likely do not align. At the side of someone like Cinder, and even Mercury who isn't exactly the most emotionally vulnerable person; the only brand of love that gets an easy pass is Acts of Service, and that's probably what Emerald is the most used to. I can go on a mission with you. I can help. We go right back to the "I can be useful" mentality and I'm not sure she's been shown any other way honestly. Let's be real though : if someone offered a hug or some gentle words ? She'd probably pout & fuss but I hardly doubt she'd object.

“I don't care about Salem! But I owe Cinder everything. You want to fight her that bad? Be my guest.”

“I just... Cinder was the only family I ever had. She cared about me, taught me things... But without her here, I don't know if what we're doing--”

“I've been working on my Semblance. I can help. I won't tell anybody.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Pyrrha Nikos

What's with everyone and dedicating their whole love toward just helping their teammates anyway they can ?! Stop ! But any way, you guessed it. I'm pretty sure one of Pyrrha's top way of showing love is Acts of Service, and nothing means quite as much to her as Quality Time. For someone who's been put on a pedestal and has a hard time relating to people; both touch and words can be a bit awkward. But if they're wrapped up neatly in a training session or semblance explanations ? Well that's already a more familiar area. Pyrrha gives her whole to her friends and those she cares about. And in exchange, if anyone can simply... be there and spend time with her... May it be at the ball or simply sitting in the courtyard... I'm sure our girl would be delighted.

“Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask.”

“I'm constantly surrounded by love and praise; but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place. But thanks to you, I've made friendships that will last a lifetime.”

“I'll do it. If you believe this will help humanity, then I will become your Fall Maiden.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Qrow Branwen

If I say Gift Giving for the corvid, is someone gonna hit me ? Come on it's fun ! Okay, more seriously... I think this kind of love conversation is kind of a necessity for Qrow. With a semblance such as Bad Luck, making everything complicated... Qrow tries to keep his distance from those he cares about. And since he's an emotionally repressed (but caring) asshole on top of it... Well that kinda narrows down his option. You know what DOESN'T put anyone at risk but can still bring smiles on their face ? GIFTS. Shiny things, souvenirs from his missions all over the world to give to 2 smol nieces. Sounds safe right ? That said, as any good emotionally unavailable character in this show, I gotta say Qrow probably has a thing for helping out and making himself useful in relation to Oz, Tai or the rest of the inner circle. So you know what that means *whisper* Acts of Service.

That said ! When it comes to receiving some love back... Qrow probably likes everything he doesn't allow himself to have. Soft touches, loving & comforting words, spending time with a friend without his semblance making everything complicated... We know that's all he wants.

“You idiot. I know you didn't do this.”

“Look, pal, I'm not sure who you are, but you need to leave my niece alone.”

“No one wanted me... I was cursed... I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world... I thought I was finally doing some good...”

- - - - - - - - - -

Clover Ebi

And among our newbies (and gone too soon) friends we have Clover ! Clover was a very good contrast to our dusty old crow but also a great help. Kind-hearted, perceptive and honest; he knew just how to put Qrow's self-loathing in his place and push him to give himself some credit. He always had a nice word or a joke for everyone, and visibly the rock of the Ace Ops : an expert a keeping the moral up and the mood companiable. Evidently, Words of Affirmation was his expertise. Had things gone differently, I'm sure we'd have had time for many more earnest and helpful conversations with this teal-eyed fisherman.

“It's a good thing they had someone to look up to and get them through it. Not everyone is so lucky.”

“I meant deflect a compliment. Those kids wouldn't be where they are without you. You've had more of an effect on them than you realize.”

“We don't have to fight, friend.”

- - - - - - - - - -

Winter Schnee

And today in the "emotionally unavailable" category we have... Winter Schnee ! TALK ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS PEOPLE ! Just - I would say look at Ruby but even she doesn't talk about her bad vibes... Nor does any of the "Words of Affirmation" peeps. Honestly what's wrong with y'all people ? Anyway Winter cares so much. Is it hidden behind professionalism and a stern *big sister* demeanour ? Sure. But it doesn't negate just how much she loves her closed ones. She's fiercely loyal, and even if she doesn't let her personal feelings get in the way of her duty and doing what needs to be done, no one is allowed to say she doesn't care. Countrary to Weiss, Winter doesn't seem as good nor as aware of the love that exists in simply *being* with people. Rather, she's dutiful and ready to help any way she can when given the chance. You guessed it, yet another Acts of Service kind of love... Maybe I'm doing this wrong XD. I'm on the fence about Words of Affirmation as well. Despite her standoffish looks, Winter has always been very open & reassuring during her discussions with Penny. But she's more stern when it comes to Weiss so I dunno x)

“I don't recall asking about your ranking, I'm asking how you've been. Are you eating properly? Have you taken up any hobbies? Are you making new friends?”

“You've grown up a bit, haven't you? You're not the little girl clinging to the family name anymore.”

“You can't just buy trust like everything else! You have to earn it!”

And that's it for Part 2 ! I might do some other characters if people suggest some but I don't have a pressing need to right now. I have many ideas of songs to apply to various characters however so that's prob what my next posts will consist of (or fun templates)

If anyone has tips to create RWBY gifs or links to download the eps in good quality I'll take it ! Good day everyone !

[itjazzbicch]

The Last Laugh PT. 3

Pairing:  Kenny Omega x Fem Reader

Summary: Continuing from my Last Laugh Series (In my wattpad which is in bio):

The reader and Kenny are now realizing their true feelings for one another, but the Young Bucks still have their questions due to previous events, trying to crack the reader but when they fail, they test Kenny...

Warnings:  N/A

Requested by: No one (But I hope you all enjoy!) 

Word Count:  2784

Tag List: @demonqueen29 @jessiebean00 @new-zealand-chic @crowleysqueenofhell @justamess44 @thatpanpal @hungmanhorsecarriage @irish-newzealand-idian-dutch  @linziland13 @yungbludjazz360​  

I DO NOT OWN THIS GIF

[You coming over not? I have a big match tonight you know] I sent to Kenny.

I thought I’d never see the day, but Kenny and I were getting along, getting very close and having true feelings for each other rather than just going at it.

[Just give me a few minutes. I’ll be over] Kenny sent back.

I had a championship match tonight and Kenny said he wanted to see me before since he couldn’t escort me out himself.

Since he had to take his time, I patiently waited for him. There were still some things for me to do. I just got out of hair and make-up, my gear still needed to be adjusted, so I just sat in my locker room waiting.

Kenny didn’t take as long as I thought he was going to, quickly turning to my phone when I heard it vibrating consistently.

“You finally coming over?” I asked, holding my phone up to my ear as I was still fixing my boots.

“Sure am!” Kenny said cheerfully, “You ready for the night?”

“Always ready,” I smirked, sitting up straight.

“You always have been,” Kenny cooed, but then there was silence. After a moment, Kenny whispered into the phone, “Hey, give me a second.”

Kenny didn’t hang up, but it sounded as if he put his phone in his pocket, it was muffled, but I heard Matt.

“Kenny, we have an interview and some other stuff to take care of. Where are you going?” Matt questioned.

From the sound of Kenny’s voice, he was remaining calm when he sighed, “You guys realize that I am a champion across three different companies, right? The champion is a very busy man.”

“Yeah, but we already had this planned dude,” Nick groaned, but Kenny didn’t budge, explaining:

“A few minutes delay isn’t going to ruin anything, okay? A few minutes is all I need. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”

“You know,” Matt said, sounding like a stand-off was ready to happen, “I have heard that phrase before and I’m convinced that it’s a code word of some sorts.”

Kenny scoffed at his comment, groaning, “Where else have you heard that from?”

“Remember when Y/N tried being a bitch again out in the parking lot? Well later that night, we coincidentally ran into her again. She told us that she had business to attend to. Said it just like you did,” Matt pointed out, Nick adding:

“And how strange it was that your phone kept going straight to voicemail that night and she also went up to the floor of your hotel room.”

Kenny was always good at getting around sticky situations, laughing at them at first, “Aren’t the two of you observant!” But then, his voice grew serious when he continued, “Look, you two are just letting mind games get to you. Now, I have business to do. I’m not going to stand here and play into your conspiracies.”

After that, the phone hung up. I was on the same page as Kenny. They sure were nosey and it angered him. I could tell by the tone of his voice.

This week, I got myself a private locker room and no one knew where it was except for Kenny, so I left the door unlocked.

When Kenny entered, he was stressed and I addressed it.

“I heard everything, Kenny,” I informed him.

Kenny had both hands on his hips, still frustrated, groaning, “They are like brothers to me but damn, they need to mind their business!”

Quickly, I went to Kenny, pulling his face towards me so I could look in his eyes, saying, “What they don’t know won’t kill them. They are kind of catching on and hell, even if they figure it out!

They will prove their loyalty and accept your decisions.”

“They just don’t realize how things have changed,” Kenny whispered, “I know they can tell. They just won’t face it.”

“I agree, but right now, we have bigger things to worry about,” I sighed, smiling, “I do appreciate you coming back here to support me.”

“Believe me, I wish I could escort you out there,” Kenny smiled back, looking down at me, “And then bring you back here and get you out of that gear.”

“Hey, my shower is big enough for the two of us,” I chuckled, laughing more when Kenny said:

“First handcuffs, now shower sex? You sure are creative.”

“That’s only the beginning baby,” I cooed, raising up a bit to kiss him, Kenny returning my kiss, putting an even bigger smile on my face.

“But in all seriousness,” Kenny whispered against my lips, “I am proud that you are a fighting champion. I know you’ll kick ass out there.”

“Don’t I always?” I snickered, “Tonight, I’ll even step it up, just for you.”

“I’ll be watching so you better live up to that,” Kenny warned me playfully.

“I always live up to the hype,” I sighed, kissing him one more time.

Kenny stayed in the locker room with me for a bit longer, we even went over some exercises to get me in the zone and I was ready.

I had about seven minutes to get to the guerrilla and Kenny already took off, so I made my way there with my title on my shoulder.

I was laser-focused, confident like always, but on my way to the guerrilla, someone was there to give me “support”.

“Y/N!” Matt smiled, approaching me with Nick right behind him, “There’s our reigning, defending, women’s champion!”

“For once, I agree with you,” I smiled in his face and I could see how it angered them.

“Unlike Matt, I’m not going to play these games anymore,” Nick said sternly, “We know what you’re trying to do to Kenny.”

“Thank you, Nick,” Matt smiled at me, “We know you’re just trying to hurt him. It’s Japan all over again. Not to mention that little fight you keep mentioning .”

Even I couldn’t deny it, My rivalry with Kenny in Japan was intense, but as Kenny said earlier, things were different and I wasn’t going to let Nick and Matt get the better of me.

At first, I just laughed but getting serious when I said, “You two are just delusional. I have no intentions with Kenny. So what I poke some fun at him every now and then. Rivalries just don’t end you know. And that fight? Again, Kenny is the one who needs to tell you. Not me.”

“We know what’s happening,” Matt growled, stepping up to me, “I’ve seen all the signs and you might think we’re stupid, but you are rudely mistaken.”

“Whatever you say, boys,” I sighed, rolling my eyes.

I didn’t have time for their interrogations and bullshit. My title was on the line and I was facing Tay Conti, a very good female wrestler who I could not underestimate.

My match went exactly like how I imagined it would. It was all straight-up wrestling. We showed that it was main event worthy and we tore the house down.

The only thing that kept slowing me down is her constant attacks on my left arm. It all began whenever she rammed me into the steel ring post.

I was truly afraid that I separated my shoulder or something, the moment I fell to the ground, holding my arm, the referee and some medical staff tried tending to me.

Like always, my stubbornness took over. I refused to quit this match, crying through the pain when I got back up and into the ring.

Everyone thought I was crazy, but I still kept going, using my striking and my legs to the best of my abilities.

Towards the end of our match, Tay had me in an armbar on my injured arm and everyone watched in shock whenever I yelled through the pain, picking up her entire body with my bad arm, power slamming her on the mat.

My arm needed a moment. I didn’t even bother to go to cover her for the pin. The ropes assisted me to my feet, Tay getting up at the same time.

We met in the center of the ring and she went to hit me with a kick but I ducked it, running to the ropes, coming back and dodging again but the next time I came back, I hit her with a devastating, jumping knee strike, similar to Kenny’s V-Trigger and I pinned Tay, retaining my title.

The entire crowd were on their feet and cheering me while I sat on the mat, taking my title and holding it close, sitting still while the referee was checking out my arm again, but then we were all confused, looking to the stage when we heard:

“SUPER-KICK PARTYYYYY!”

I literally couldn’t believe it when I stood up, turning around to see Nick and Matt on stage.

“Wow! So impressive! That is one of the best women’s matches I’ve seen!” Matt smiled, Nick following with:

“So much technical wrestling. I loved it!”

“Y/N, you have beaten just about every female on the roster. I appreciate you wanting to be all about the women’s division,” Matt began, “But remember back in Japan when you wrestled in the men’s division?”

“That was crazy times,” Nick smirked devilishly, “And unfortunately for you, Y/N, you left some unfinished business in Japan and now it followed you to AEW.”

I was just in shock. My arm was killing me, I just wrestled my ass off and now they were doing this, live on television!

“You said it yourself, rivalries never really end and ours sure as hell hasn’t ended yet,” Matt growled at me and after that, I had enough, requesting a microphone.

“Are you kidding me? I just wrestled my ass off and you want to come out here, trying to pull up dirty laundry that happened forever ago!” I yelled at them, my anger controlling me when I said,

“I can tell you’re in a fighting mood and I am pretty pissed off! You wanna fight? Get your asses in this ring! I dare you! I’ll kick both of your asses just like I did in Japan!”

Slowly, Nick and Matt walked to the ring and I got into a fighting position, but I knew something was off. They were anticipating something, but after a moment, they rushed into the ring and I didn’t back down whatsoever.

Right, when they got to me, I was ready to swing, but then we all got knocked over. For a moment, the adrenaline in me died and all of the pain from my shoulder hit me hard.

Quickly, I rolled over into the corner, not caring that I was crying, but watching whenever I saw that it was Kenny. He didn’t intend to knock me over, he was protecting me and that’s when I realized what Matt and Nick were doing. They were testing Kenny.

“What the hell are you doing?” Matt yelled at Kenny, standing up and getting in his face.

Kenny delivered that fire right back, forehead to forehead with Matt, yelling back:“What the hell are YOU doing?!”

Everything was just a mess, everyone so confused as to what was happening, Nick yelling to Kenny:

“Tell us the truth, Kenny!”

Quickly, Matt pushed Kenny away, yelling at him, “Tell us now!”

“You want to know the truth?” Kenny yelled, looking back at both of them, his face so red from anger, taking everyone by surprise, which included me when he yelled at the top of his lungs, it echoing through the arena, “I LOVE HER! I ALWAYS HAVE GOT DAMN IT!”

We all just froze my heart about burst through my chest.

“Oh my god,” I whispered, still crying especially when Kenny turned back and saw the condition I was in.

At that moment, Kenny just forgot about Matt and Nick, tending to me instead. I had previous shoulder injures so I was truly concerned about my condition.

“It’s your bad shoulder isn’t it?” Kenny asked quickly and I just nodded my head, crying:

“It hurts so bad.”

“Don’t worry, I’m going to get you taken care of,” Kenny assured, taking my other arm, “You have to get up though.”

Again, I was fighting through the pain, standing up and grabbing my title, still across the ring from Nick and Matt. I still wanted to fight them for the scene they just caused, but Kenny killed that whenever he pointed at them, saying:

“I’ll handle the both of you later.”

Finally, Kenny and I left the ring, taking me back to get the medical attention that I needed. They were checking out my shoulder, multiple tests needed to be done and that scared me.

I was grateful that Kenny didn’t leave my side, but there was a moment that he needed to have whenever we heard outside the door.

“Can someone please tell Kenny to come to talk to us?”

It was Matt.

Kenny rolled his eyes, turning red again because he was still super upset with them but he stood up, giving me a quick kiss, “I’ll be right back.”

He left the door crack and even though they kept their voices low, I could still hear everything.

“So, you love her, huh?” Nick asked, truly curious rather than being a smart ass.

“Have you two ever noticed how in Japan, I’m the one who started the beef with her? All the sly little comments we’d make? How we never took our fights seriously?” Kenny sighed, “Since the day I met her, I’ve wanted her. I just didn’t know how to do it.”

“Kenny, I’ll be the first to say, we’re sorry,” Matt explained, “We just thought that you two legitimately hated each other and when you two got close all of a sudden, we just wanted to have your back. I didn’t want to have to do that, but you just weren’t telling us!”

“Well maybe you should have taken the fact that we were taking things slowly into consideration,” Kenny scoffed, still upset with them.

“You’re right, Kenny,” Nick sighed, “Again, we’re sorry, and just know that we love you, man. If you want to be with Y/N, I’m all for it.”

“Me too,” Matt agreed, nodding his head.

I could see them hugging and it made me feel good. They had brotherhood and I never intended to break that. I just wanted to be with Kenny and it was good to know that he wanted the same with me.

“How’s her shoulder?” Nick asked and Kenny just sighed, his hand covering his face for a moment.

“Not going to lie, I’m worried for her. She had to have surgery on that shoulder before,” Kenny huffed, “They’re making her do a bunch of testing for it.”

“God I feel like shit,” Matt whined, then he just came through the door and he hugged me.

“Dude, my shoulder,” I said quickly, but also laughing as he backed away, mumbling;

“Right, I’m sorry about that.”

“Y/N, we owe you a long overdue apology. What we did tonight was wrong and irresponsible,” Nick admitted to me, “We shouldn’t have tried to invade your privacy.”

“I understand why you did,” I sighed, poking some fun at them when I added, “Besides, fucking with you guys is always a fun time.”

We all shared a good laugh, Nick giving me a soft hug too.

“Also, just know, that match was fucking awesome,” Matt smirked at me, “I wasn’t lying about that. You’re an amazing champion Y/N.”

“Thanks. Hopefully, I don’t have to give it up,” I sighed, looking down at my shoulder.

“Everything will be just fine,” Kenny smiled at me, trying to raise my spirits, and then finally, we had a true, one on one session whenever Matt said:

“I hope you feel better, Y/N. Nick, let’s go. They need alone time.”

Nick and Matt finally went off and closed the door behind them and once we were alone, Kenny was still standing in front of me while I was sitting.

Slowly I looked up into his eyes, getting emotional whenever I asked shyly, “You’ve always loved me, Kenny?”

With a bright smile, Kenny nodded his head and just to brighten our moods when I said:

“I fucking knew it!”

We both laughed together, Kenny hugging me and being gentle and when his head came close to me, I whispered, “I’ve always loved you too, Kenny.”

“I’m serious, Y/N. I love you. I just never knew how to express it. Then next thing I knew, we were the biggest rivals in Japan,” Kenny exhaled.

“That doesn’t matter anymore. We have each other now and I’m serious when I tell you, I love you,” I whispered, my arm wrapping around his neck.

Kenny gave a little bit of a squeeze and when he looked back up at me, his eyes looked teary but a gorgeous smile was on his face, his head falling to kiss me softly, whispering against my lips,

“No more hiding it. You’re mine and that’s never going to change.”

I quickly smiled against our kiss, kissing a bit harder, whispering back, “Just how I want it to be.”

[robinofinashiro]

don’t let me go - part eight

“so call out my name. call out my name when you i kiss you so gently, want you to stay, i want you stay even though you don’t want me.”

series note: surprise shawtyyyy. this is more of a backstory on how they got together/met so a huge chunk of this part is a flashback !! also, this is the last full part and the final post for this series will just be an epilogue :) / if any of you want me to create another series, whether it be AoT or another anime, drop characters or anime’s into the inbox and I’ll see if i can conjure anything up. 

request status: CLOSED

you stared at the blond in front of you who was laughing at whatever your friend Bertholdt was saying. you had no clue of who his friend was but nevertheless, you had to talk to Bert about some project you were working on with him. 

“hey Bert, do you think we can talk about our project for a second? I’m just confused on what the professor is asking for one of my sections.” Bert nodded as his friend stared at you, kind of mesmerized, “oh, that’s easy! if you want to let me do that section since it does kind of correlate with my part, I have no problem,” Bert replied. 

you gave him the biggest sigh of relief, “thank you so much, I literally had no idea what he was talking about and got so confused,” you said, trying not to focus on the look Bert’s friend had on his face. 

“yeah, I don’t know why he did that either,” Bert gave Reiner a look before rolling his eyes internally, “oh, ( your name ), this is my friend Reiner. he’s been a friend of mind since we were kids,” he finally introduced. 

you waved at Reiner, making him get kind of flustered, “nice to meet you Reiner!” you exclaimed, trying to get him to say something instead of just staring at you. “oh, hey, what’s up?” he murmured, getting red in the face. you couldn’t help but smile at his flustered expression.

picking up your backpack off the floor, you handed Bert the paper that contained his section, “well, I should get going. I have a few things to do for class tomorrow and I wouldn’t want to intrude any longer,” you told the two before slinging your backpack over your shoulder and getting ready to leave. 

Reiner’s head immediately rang with alarms that told him not to let you leave. he had no idea why his mind was screaming at him to do that but nonetheless, he complied with his intrusive thoughts and looked at you with sudden determination.

“do you want to go to a party with us later?” Reiner practically screamed at you. you were taken back by the offer and him yelling. Bert on the other hand sighed at what Reiner said, “there’s this party on campus later tonight and you should come!” he continued.

you looked at the ground for a moment, contemplating his offer. you knew you had a bunch of things to do later for a bunch of different classes but a part of you wanted to skip all of that and just take the night off.

“um, sure?” you said, almost questionably. “Bert has my number if you want to text me the details,” you gave them one more smile before heading towards the exit. 

Bert waited until you were no longer in earshot before smacking him in the arm. Reiner grabbed his arm and clutched it, trying to suppress aching arm. 

“is there a reason why you invited her all of a sudden?” Bertholdt asked, “that’s my project partner for the semester and if you some how fuck it up for me tonight, I’m going to drag you by the hair you have and kick your ass.” 

Reiner laughed at his friends lecture before waving him off. “I don’t think I’ll fuck this one up,” was all he said before kicking Bert in the back of the leg to make him fall on the floor. 

+

the night came father than you wanted it too. you weren’t too hot on attending the party but you had promised Bert through a text that you’d at least show up for a bit before leaving. you had a bit of a inkling feeling that it was more Reiner than Bert who wanted you to attend the party. 

you went dressed in a pair of ripped jeans and one of your favorite tops. you didn’t want to over do the makeup nor did you want to wear something that wasn’t in your comfortability range so you went to the next best thing and wore one of your favorite yet casual outfits. 

the party wasn’t too far from your apartment. upon reaching the doorstep, you were met with a short blonde girl and who you assumed was her girlfriend standing next to her.

“do you know anyone here?” she asked as her girlfriend gave you a scowl. you played with the ends of your hair nervously, “yeah, I’m friends with Reiner and Bertholdt?” you tried to say without sounding scared. the blonde girl screamed for both boys before looking at you again, “one second.” 

it took a few minutes but soon enough, Reiner appeared at the door, a smile hitting his face almost immediately, “hey, you came!” he screamed over the music, “yeah, Bert kind of texted me a bunch of times making sure I actually came,” you replied, walking into the house. 

the music was blaring, there were drunk freshman already starting to pass out on the couch, and a part of you felt the nervousness wash away when you saw that it was dark enough to not see what everyone was going. “hey, do you want a drink or anything?” Reiner asked. 

you walked with him to the bar to see a few selections on the table, “can I have a Mai Tai?” you asked the girl who was making the drinks. she nodded and started to make the drinks, “that’s Pieck! she was a transfer student last year,” Reiner explained. 

the girl waved at you again as she handed you again, “is this the poor girl you dragged to the party?” she asked him. Reiner glared at her, making you laugh, “I’m Pieck, I think I’ve seen you around campus a few times,” she said, “nice meeting you!” 

before the conversation could continue, someone else had gotten her attention. you looked to Reiner, trying to see if Bert was anywhere in sight, “he’s probably upstairs playing video games with a few of our friends,” he informed, rolling his eyes at Bertholdt. 

you and Reiner made your way to the basement where a few people were playing different drinking games. the basement was still loud but it wasn’t as hectic as it was on the main floor. you recognized a few faces from different classes but none of which you personally. 

"have you known Bertholdt before this class or did you guys just become friends because of the project?” he asked, leaning up against the wall with his shoulder. “oh, we weren’t friends prior this our class but we just got paired together because out majors are kind of similar,” you explained. 

the night continued with the two of you talking and refilling your cups with different drinks. you noticed that Reiner was strictly a beer kind of guy which kind of grossed you out considering you could smell how cheap the beer smelled. 

nevertheless, you felt the alcohol hitting your system and your nerves getting a bit more loose. you were still cognitive in what you were doing but that happy feeling that usually came with being drunk was starting to creep up. 

within the few hours that you were with Reiner, you started getting closer and closer with him and eventually, you were damn near cuddled up in his arms. you knew that if you had been 100% sober, there was no way you would be this confident but another part of you was glad that your semi drunk self was breaking out of your shell. 

Reiner was staring down at you, a smirk playing on his face as you laughed at the nth joke he told you. your face was closer to his than he realized and couldn’t help but smirk even harder when you started playing with your hair cutely. 

“hey, I think your friends are calling you,” you whispered, grabbing his hand softly. Reiner shrugged, “you should go see what they want. I promise I’ll be here when you return and after I use the bathroom,” you urged. 

Reiner rolled his eyes jokingly before letting your hand go and seeing what his friends wanted. you quickly ran to the bathroom, trying to hurry yourself up so you wouldn’t keep Reiner waiting for you. 

you fixed your makeup, trying to freshen up the powder that was caking your face up and popped in a gum so the alcohol that was coming from your Mai Tai wasn’t reeking in your breath. you knew you weren’t trying to get anything from Reiner tonight but you weren’t exactly opposed to a semi heated make out session from him either. 

once you finished doing everything and spit out the gum, you unlocked the bathroom door and walked out, fixing your hair when you felt someone grab you from behind. you instantly yelped as you tried to figure out who it was that pinned you against the wall. 

“did I scare you?” you heard Reiner’s silky voice say. you chuckled smacking his chest playfully, “yeah, you kind of did,” you replied, your hand staying on his chest. 

he smiled before finally closing the gap between the two of you and gave you that kiss you were waiting for all night. your arms instantly wrapped around his neck as he brought you in closer. Reiner for a split second opened his eyes to see Bert glaring at him. 

you hummed softly at feeling him smirk into the kiss but unbeknownst to you, he actually smirking at Bertholdt. Reiner ran his hand through your hair softly before pulling away, “I’d like to take you out on a date before we get any further than this,” he told you, still holding your hand, “I’d like that,” you replied before bringing him back in for another kiss. 

+

you stared out the window, trying not to think of Porco. the ride was silent for the most part but every now and again, you would look to Reiner and give him a reassuring smile. you knew whatever Porco was at your apartment for was probably to continue his rage from earlier in the morning. 

your apartment building came in full sight as you saw Marcel and Porco waiting on the outside of his car. you grabbed Reiner’s hand and squeezed it softly, “whatever happens, just know that I hold no feelings for Porco. you’ve always been the one for me and don’t let him get into your head,” you whispered, giving him a kiss. 

Reiner nodded as he parked the car and got out. you trailed behind him with Annie and Bert getting out of their car and walking behind you. you stood behind Reiner and next to Annie as Bert stood next to his best friend. 

“what?” he asked Porco. he stared at you for a moment before looking too Reiner, “you really think that I’d just let her go so easily?” Porco replied. Reiner laughed, shaking his head, “you did Friday night,” he responded, trying to contain his laugh. 

Porco growled as the two of them spat insults at each other. between you, Marcel, Annie, and Bert, all of you rolled your eyes annoyingly. it was like watching two kids fight over a toy. 

“enough!” you screamed, looking at Porco, “what I said this morning still stands, Galliard,” you finally told him, “I’m sick of you two fighting and if I’m being quite honest, this entire argument was so useless. Porco, you were never more than a friend to me. you were my best friend and you knew I loved Reiner so I really don’t understand why’d you make this entire situation fester into what it has became,” you exclaimed. 

everyone was taken back as you continued. 

“yeah I was mad at Reiner for doing what he did but the two of you just fighting this way is ridiculous. we got nothing but yells, tears, and even a poor innocent boy getting punched for all this. I’m tired of it, Galliard. I’m tired of hearing all of you yelling constantly. Reiner and I love each other. a lot actually and if you can’t seem to accept it...than I’m sorry but you lost me as a friend.” 

Porco sighed, knowing what you were saying was true. 

he lost. he lost you and in the back of his mind, he knew he would. Porco could tell you loved Reiner. he had absolutely no idea why but he was able to tell that Reiner and you were in love. maybe he did all this to get you to realize that maybe you did hold feelings for him but in the end, you didn’t and now he was hurting you more than he intended. 

Porco lost and he knew he had to let you go before he lost you as a friend.  

[thestarwrites]

A Different Time, A Different Place; Ch. 6 -- END

Taihei Chairo was born in the winter, on February 9th, and he grew up a loving, bright, and sensitive young boy. Keri cherished him more than anything on the earth. She did not give him his father's last name. Now that he was five and she was working on her masters degree, her parents helped them get a little apartment of their own- close by of course- so they could babysit when she worked or had class.

And then one fateful spring day after his fifth birthday...

“Mommy look!” Taihei gasped as he kept his eyes glued to the screen. The five year old was the image of his father. Messy blond hair, shining blue eyes, a million dollar smile, “A new hero!! They say his name is All Might!” 

“What?” The woman rushed in from the kitchen, “What was the name?” Her forehead glowed. The sudden anxiety rising in her chest was almost deafening as she came to where her son watched television.

“All Might! Look! There he is!” He pointed to the screen. The blue diamonds on his palms and on his forehead separated him from being an almost perfect of Toshinori. The boy had a quirk, but it hadn’t much manifested yet, “Look how big he is mommy!”

Her big blue eyes fixed on the screen as they filled with tears, “Toshinori...” she put a hand over her mouth.

The boy scrunched his nose, “Mom- you feel- sad- whats the matter??” 

“I- I know him Tai...”

“What! You know that man mom?!”

She pushed her hand over her eyes, trying not to cry. It felt like the air was all kicked out of her lungs at once, “I knew him in high school- I though he was dead.” 

“Well he doesn’t look dead to me,” he said matter-of-fact. 

“Come on Tai- come on get your shoes on I’m taking you to Nana’s okay?”

He looked over confused, “What?! Why?”

“I need to find out why he’s here. I need to find out where he’s been.” She moved to pull on the coat she wore. 

“But mommy I don’t understand!” He frowned. 

She took a shaky breath, “Taihei... my love- come here.” 

He walked over and took his mother’s hand as she pulled him into a hug, “Mom.”

Pulling back she looked at him, pushing her hand in his hair, “Honey... that man on the television... he’s your father.” 

“W-what...?” He looked shocked, “M-my dad? But you said..."

“I said he was gone. That he died. I thought he did die honey...” 

His blue eyes filled with tears, “Well let’s go find him!! I want to know why he didn’t stay!! Why he did that to you!” 

“That’s what I’m going to do baby, but you need to go be with Nana so I can find out first. Maybe it’s all a big misunderstanding?”

“I’ll - I’ll beat him up!” 

She let out a small laugh, “My big brave hero, come on now, mommy’s gonna make things right.” 

“Yes mama.”

 ---------

Her fist pounded on the door, “OPEN UP TORINO I KNOW THIS IS WHERE YOU LIVE!” She shouted, still banging. 

The older man sighed and shook his head, he saw Toshinori on television this morning - Keri obviously had as well. Coming to the door he opened it, “Keri. Come in, please.”

She walked inside calmly, “You made him leave, didn’t you.” Her body glowed with pure rage and sorrow. 

“You don’t understand.” 

“OF COURSE I DONT UNDERSTAND!” She yelled, “But no one made any effort to help me to understand did they?!” 

“Keri, please, you need to listen to me.” 

“Oh no. I think you need to listen to me!” She shouted, tears rolling down her cheeks, “You NEVER liked us together. And then you send him away from me? Torino- I was PREGNANT.” 

“I know you were pregnant. You have a little boy named Taihei.” 

Keri was shocked into silence for a moment before she clenched her fists, “You knew?”

“Not when he left but shortly after, yes. Recovery Girl and I have been watching over you.”

She let out a mirthless laugh, “Oh my god! So what? He just didn’t care to try and contact me when he gets home? After almost six years??” 

“Keri. He doesn’t know.” 

Putting a hand over her mouth she started to pace, “Oh my god. You didn’t tell him?! What am i supposed to do! Walk up to him and say; hi Toshi you have a whole ass child?!” 

“Keri!” He grunted, “Listen to me. PLEASE.” 

She crossed her arms and scoffed, “Talk old man.”

“You were one of the very few people to know that Nana Shimura was Toshinori’s mentor. And the reason is because he is her successor. The villain that killed her, he knows who Toshi is, he would have come after him before he was ready to fight. I had to send him to America. He had to be away- somewhere this man wouldn’t find him. No one could know. Before he left he begged me to keep an eye on you, to make sure you weren’t being watched. He wanted you to go with him, but you already had college plans and a family. It was safer for you both this way.” 

She looked down, tears falling down her face as she sank to the floor, sobbing, “I - I thought I would never see him again- I- I missed him more than you could imagine!” 

He frowned, “Let me call him. Tell him to come here.”

Keri looked up, “Torino... is it worth it?”

The older man huffed, “Do you love him?”

“Of course I love him! He was everything to me!”

“Then it’s worth it,” he moved to call Toshinori in the other room. Keri just sat against the wall as he spoke softly into the phone. After about two minutes he came back, “He’s on his way. He doesn’t know you’re here. He’s... Keri, he- he’s going to feel like a failure. You have to keep remembering he had no idea. Whenever I talked to him he would mention how much he missed you. Ask if you were safe.” 

She nodded. 

 “Does your son have a quirk?” He said softly.

Looking up she nodded, “Yeah. Can’t tell what it is yet though. It’s got something to do with mine. But he can’t feel emotions and he can’t do what I can do. So whether or not he knows how to unlock it is the issue.” 

Torino nodded, “I’m sure he’ll be incredible.”

She nodded, “He’s so much like Toshinori.” 

“I’ll bet. I saw him once... when you were at the park with him. Little blond boy. He’s cute.” 

“Thank you...” she sighed.

“Keri- you know I’m being sincere when I say it was the only way to keep you and the baby safe.” 

She nodded, “I can feel your guilt.” 

“Could you forgive me?”

Taking a deep breath she tried to think about her coursework toward being a therapist. What she should do, “I’m angry Torino, I’m angry I had to go through pregnancy and labor at eighteen all alone. And get a job, go to school, care for an infant...” 

The older man nodded and frowned, “I’m sorry.” 

Keri nodded, “I forgive you. You were just looking out for him, for us. You know… I’d like it if you could meet Tai. You’d like him… he’s just like his father.” 

He smiled a little, “I would love to meet hi—" The two were interrupted by a knock at the door. Keri felt her whole body freeze and she looked at Gran Torino, who gave her a nod. Walking across the room, he opened the front door, “Hello Toshinori.”

“Hey! I’m glad to see you again so soon, Master! Whats going on?” 

“There is something we need to talk about. Something I’ve kept from you while you were away.” 

“What? What is it?” 

Suddenly, Keri stepped forward, looking up at Toshinori - he’d gotten so much bigger, “Toshi…” 

His blue eyes snapped to the woman and his eyes welled with tears, “Keri?” 

She smiled and wiped her eyes, laughing a little, “Long time no see.” 

“God- Sunflower- I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” he came into the room and knelt in front of her, “I’m so sorry I did this to you.” 

Shaking her head she smiled, reaching out to cup his face, “Torino and I talked. We’re good,” she laughed softly, “You got so huge!” 

He laughed a little and leaned into her palm, “You’re just as beautiful - no, more beautiful than I remember.” He blushed and looked at her, “Are you…I mean - have you been… busy?” 

She smiled, “I was… I was busy hoping somehow you weren’t dead and…” she let her eyes flick up to Torino who nodded, “And too busy going to school, and… and raising our son.” 

His face fell slowly with the realization, “Our…” 

“Our son,” she nodded, “I was trying to figure out how to tell you before you disappeared… I had only just found out and then you were gone.” 

He closed his eyes, “I…. Keri, I am so SO sorry you have had to go through this alone- I should have been here. I should have been here for you, and for our child.” 

She moved closer to him, kneeling with him on the floor, “No- no Toshi it was safer this way. Torino and Recovery Girl were watching over us, though I didn’t know it.” 

All Might turned his head and glared daggers at his mentor before standing up, “YOU KNEW!?” 

“ToshI!” Keri stood, grabbing his arm. 

“YOU KNEW SHE WAS PREGNANT? YOU DIDN’T TELL ME!?” He roared at the older man. Shed never seen him like that before. 

Gran Torino looked up at him, “I didn’t know when you left, I found out when she started showing. You were gone, and I wasn’t about to risk you coming back. It wasn’t safe. For you, or Keri.” 

“HOW COULD YOU!? HOW COULD YOU KEEP MY CHILD FROM ME!? WHAT IF SHE MET SOMEONE ELSE! WHAT IF I DID!?” 

Keri walked up behind him, grabbing his arm, “Toshinori! Stop!” 

“NO! THIS ISN’T RIGHT. HE’S ROBBED SIX YEARS OF OUR LIVES WE COULD HAVE SPENT TOGETHER KERI! HOW CAN YOU TELL ME TO STOP! HOW CAN YOU TELL ME YOU AREN’T ANGRY!” He screamed. 

She knit her brows together, “I thought you were dead for six years. And you’re here, in front of me… and… all all you can do is think to scream at your teacher for protecting us? For doing what your hero training required?” 

“You- don’t."

“No! You don’t. I was the one here raising a baby and going to school and going to work and crying and studying and cleaning up throw up and changing diapers before I was nineteen.” She looked down, “I am not blaming you. I’m not even blaming Torino. Life happened and we’re here now. And you are back in Japan, and you have a son.” She put her hands on her hips and huffed, “Now. What are you going to do about it?” 

The twenty-four year old deflated at the emotion of the woman he loved, and he stepped up to her and he lowered his head, “Well… first… I’m going to ask you if you’re seeing anyone?” 

She scoffed and shook her head, “No… I’m not seeing anyone.” 

He smiled, “Me either. There could never have been anyone but you, Sunflower… I dreamed of coming home to you… hoping you’d… have waited for me.” 

“So what is this?” 

“Well I’m asking you if you’ll be my girl. For good, now that I’m back home where I belong.” 

Keri blushed and smiled, “There's a man in my life you’ll have to ask first, Toshinori.” She reached out and touched his chest, “Come home with me… meet your boy.” 

His eyes welled with tears and he smiled, “My son… what’s his name?” 

“Taihei Chairo… though if you play your cards right it could be Taihei Yagi…” She teased. 

“Taihei — Keri, you named him Peace?” 

Blushing she nodded, “You.. you always said the world needed a symbol of peace… so when you were gone… I…” 

He leaned down, tilting her chin up and beaming, tears running down his face, “I love you. More than life.” Leaning down further he kissed her softly. 

Keri wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back before breaking out into sobs, “Oh Toshi!” 

He held her close as he cried, holding her to him he shushed her gently, “Its gonna be okay baby… you know why?” 

She sniffled and shook her head.

“Because I am here.” He whispered into her ear, “And I am never going to leave you again. Or our son. I know he’s probably going to be mad, but… God I haven’t even met him and I love him — what is he like?” 

She laughed softly, looking up and kissing him again, lovingly, “He’s just like his father. Brave, cheerful, an idealist… he wants to be the number one hero.” 

“He- does he have a quirk?” 

She nodded, “He has markings like mine, but there are more of them and they are smaller. Though we cant figure out what the quirk is yet… but he can’t seem to read emotions or project them so, I’m sure when he can harness it, it’ll come natural.” 

“There are… a lot of things I need to tell you.” He took a deep breath and looked at Torino, “She gets to know, everything.” 

The older man nodded, “Its your burden, Toshinori. If you are going to commit yourself to this woman, then its your call.” 

Keri smiled, “Yeah Toshi? You gonna commit yourself to me?” She laughed softly. 

Toshinori picked her up and she yelped, he grinned his million watt smile, “Keri, I committed to you the day I followed you to that ramen shop for your number. Will you marry me? — Uh, after a little while of course.” 

She gasped a bit, “You- you want me to marry you?” 

He laughed, “Of course I do! I love you, we have a child… I want to provide for you and care for you, and be together until we’re little old people. Keri, please… say yes.” 

Leaning in she kissed him, running her hands in his hair, “Yes… Yes Toshinori Yagi, I will marry you.” 

He spun them around, they laughed and he hugged her close before setting her down, “I’ll have to start looking for a nicer home for us. And don’t you worry about working anymore, okay? You focus on your studies from now on. Then you can spend more time with Taihei.” 

She blushed hard and started to sniffle, “Oh Tosh— you don’t have to…”

“Yes I do. If my hero money can’t go to charity and my family than what good is it? I want to be this. I want to be a husband and a father, and a hero. And I want you to be able to follow your dreams.” 

“Okay Toshi.” 

“Besides,” he smirked, “When I open up my agency, you still have to come and work for me.” 

Keri beamed, “You remembered…” 

He winked and turned to face his mentor. Walking over he sighed and held out his hand, “I’m sorry I yelled at you, sir.” 

Gran Torino smiled a little and shook his hand, “I’m sorry I had to keep something like this from you, my boy. Let me meet the lad soon, eh?” He motioned his head, “Get outta here kids.” 

Keri smiled, “I’ll use Toshi’s phone to text you my number okay? I’ll be in touch about meeting Tai.” 

“Alright, I look forward to it.” 

 ------------

The couple smiled, Toshinori holding her hand as they walked along the street, “I love you.” 

“I love you too, Toshi.” She smiled and took a deep breath, “Taihei is mad you know… he’s the one who saw you on TV. He was really excited there was a new hero and when I heard the name All Might… I knew it was you - I told him that was his daddy. And that II was coming to see you.” 

“I am gonna have to make it up to him.” 

“He said he was gonna beat you up,” she smirked, “He looks just like you Toshi. Unruly blond hair, blue eyes…” 

Toshinori smiled and sighed, “I’m gonna have a lot of explaining to your parents too…” 

“Everyone will understand. You’re a hero, you were being marked by a bad villain, you had to go away. Its a simple and reasonable explanation.” 

“You are taking this so well.” 

She looked up at him, “This morning I was a single mother trying to pay my bills. Now I’m engaged to be married to Japan’s newest and most incredible Hero. And my son has a father.” 

He nodded, “Speaking of engaged, I have to get you a ring.” 

“Nothing big - please? And I’m not just saying that to sound modest.” 

He nodded again, “I know baby, you’re not a show off type of person. It’ll be good, tasteful.” 

“I know honey,” she rubbed his forearm, “Also… what’s going to happen to your popularity when they find out you have a family…” 

“Well, they’re going to want interviews with you, they’re gonna want to be given an exclusive for the wedding…” 

She sighed and smiled, “I guess it comes with the territory of being married to the next number one.” 

He beamed and leaned to kiss her hand, “You think our son will forgive me?” 

“Of course he will. He’s been missing you too. There's a picture of us from back in the day on his night stand. He’ll be mad for a minute but once you explain it, he’ll understand. He is five.” 

“I have a five year old,” he took a deep breath, “Keri, we’re gonna have to have another one.” 

She laughed and looked up, “Oh?” 

“Cause I wanna do this right! I wanna be there for you and your pregnancy and for the babies firsts!” He blushed, “I mean, I know I still have a lot of firsts for Taihei but… you know… a man wants to have more than one kid…” 

“I’ll consider your application and let you know when I make a decision, but I have to say I’m leaning toward yes… it was a compelling case.” She smirked. 

He grabbed her waist and gave it a squeeze as they walked up to Keri’s parents house. 

“I’m sweating.” 

“You’re seven feet tall and built like the Great Wall of china, don’t worry, you’re gonna be fine.” She knocked on the door. 

The sound of small excited footsteps ran to the front door, “Who is it?!” Cried the voice of the small boy. 

Toshi put a hand over his mouth, hearing his son’s voice for the first time. 

“Its your loving mother!” She called back. 

Taihei flung open the door and jumped into his mothers arms. She laughed and spun him around kissing his cheek before setting him down. Taking a deep breath she cupped his cheek, “Taihei… this is Toshinori Yagi, your dad.” 

“H-hey, Taihei…” 

The boy looked up at him and blushed, tears welling in his eyes, “Y-you look… different than your picture….” 

“I did get a little bigger while I was away…” he gave a small smile. 

Taihei started to cry, All Might knelt down instantly, “Why didn’t you want us— why— why did you leave? D-did you not want me?” 

“Oh no- no Taihei… no that’s not it at all.” 

“Then why! Why did you leave me and mom!” The boy’s forehead and palms started to glow blue before his entire body became engulfed in blue energy. 

“Honey- calm down,” Keri looked surprised - this had never happened before. 

“WHY DID YOU LEAVE US ALL ALONE!?” Punctuated on the alone was a burst of energy that shot forward, knocking All Might over and onto the ground. It looked like a… beam of some kind. Like rings of light flying from his body and hitting his father, “WHY DIDN’T YOU LOVE US ENOUGH?!” 

Sliding onto his ass he put his arm up to try and shield himself from the burst attacks coming from his son, “Taihei— ah—“ he looked down as blood started coming from his forearm. 

“Taihei! Stop it!” Keri’s hand flew to his back, her form glowing pink, “Calm down- calm down baby… please…” 

As soon as the boy was calmed enough by his mother to stop crying, he ran toward Toshinori and jumped into his arms, sobbing, “Dad I’m sorry!” 

He looked at Keri with wide eyes as he wrapped his large arms around his son, crying himself, “Don’t be sorry, son… that was incredible! You’re so strong!” After taking a deep breath, he rubbed the back of his head, “I’m the one that’s sorry Taihei… for not being here for you when you needed me.” The boy just kept crying, hugging his father’s neck. Toshi continued, “When I was younger, there was a really bad man after me. My teacher tried to fight him to stop him, and she died… and after that, your mom was the only person I cared for in the whole world. And to make sure she stayed safe… and didn’t get hurt by the bad man - I had to go away for a while. But I didn’t know she was going to have you… and your mom didn’t know where I went… I couldn’t tell her. To protect her. But I knew I was going to come back. And once I did I was gonna find her. But - I guess she found me first.” 

Taihei sniffled and looked at him, “What happened to the bad man?” 

He took a deep breath, “Someday I’m sure I’ll have to fight him. But its not today. Today I’m not a hero - I’m just your dad. And I am so lucky to be able to meet you, and tell you how much I love you.” 

“You’re not gonna leave again…?” 

Smiling he wiped the boys cheeks gingerly, “No, Tai, I’m staying right here. Your mom and I were talking about getting a house. Would you like that?” 

“A house!? You mean like - with a yard!?” He gasped. 

Toshi laughed and nodded, “Yeah, a yard just for you to play in. We can play any time you want and mom wont have to work so hard anymore. She can focus on school and her dreams.” 

“You… you really wanna do this for us?” Tai sniffed. 

Toshinori leaned forward and kissed his head, “Son, I would move the stars in the sky if you wanted me to. I will never leave you again. I promise.” 

Taihei hugged him again, “I- I love you dad!” 

Keri was fanning her eyes, “You two are absolutely killing me!” She was smiling so brightly looking at her two boys. 

“Come over here then, mama!” Toshinori smirked and opened his other arm. 

Tai laughed, “Yeah mom! Come here!” 

Keri laughed and walked over, sitting on Toshinori’s thigh and wrapping her arms around both her son and her fiancé, “I love you both, more than life.” She kissed Taihei’s cheek, and then Toshinori’s. 

All might just held onto them both, “I am the luckiest man in the whole world to have such a beautiful family…” 

“You’re gonna stay at our home until we get a new one, right dad?” 

Toshi looked at his girl and she nodded. Grinning he looked at him, “Your home is right where I want to be.” 

“OUR home, dad.” Tai hugged him again. 

Keri leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips, “Yes Toshi, our home.” 

Toshi sighed contented and then blinked, “Hey! Are we gonna talk about that quirk, boy!? That was incredible!” 

Tai blushed, “Th-that’s never happened to me before! I - I was so angry that I… I don’t know I… I could feel it bursting out of me…. like… like…” 

“Like a supernova,” Keri smiled, “Like a little exploding star!” 

“Supernova!” Toshinori grinned, “That’s a great hero name!” 

The little family talked softly there on the lawn of her parents home, holding each other and sharing little stories and jokes. And for the first time in a long time, even since coming back to Japan, Toshinori felt like he was truly home. He finally had a family.

 And he promised himself he was going to be the best husband and father that there ever was...

THE END -- for now.

[lnfours]

heartbreak weather: arms of a stranger | t.h

summary: she moved to become something more, he went his own way to become an actor. they’re still madly, deeply in love with each other, just in hopes that in the end the universe will be on their side.

warnings: college!au, roommate!au, language (as usual), drinking, and i think that’s it (?)

wc: 1.9k

masterlist | prev. | next⎜’arms of a stranger’ by niall horan

you could feel the warm breath fanning over the sensitive skin where your neck meets your collarbone. your breathing hitched as a pair of soft lips ghosted over the spot where the breath was just hitting, making you uncontrollably move your head to the side to give him more room.

secretly, you wanted him to mark up your neck, cover it in deep purple and blue bruises. you wanted to feel his palms rest against your hips, the way he’d squeeze them whenever you ran my tongue over his bottom lip.

you were pulled back when you felt his fingers loop on the thin straps of your lace thong, pulling them back before they softly snapped against your skin again,”you know you’re mine.”

you turned in his grip to have your front facing his. you wrapped your arms around his neck and stood on your tippy toes in order to reach his ear.

softly, you whispered,”prove it.”

your eyes snapped open and you looked at the ceiling fan going around and around, breathing heavy. you had kicked the comforter off in your sleep, making you shiver. it had been a while since you had a dream with tom in it, and to be honest, you didn’t know what it meant. 

dream you wanted him, lusted for him, craved him. 

real world you didn’t know what you wanted. you didn’t know if you wanted to be the ‘mysterious girl’ tom holland gets pictured with. you didn’t know if you wanted to make a name for yourself. you didn’t know anything. 

except for the fact that you missed him. a lot. whether you’d like to believe it or not. 

it had been a week or so since he had helped you with putting together your furniture and helping you move into the apartment. you didn’t know what else to say to him, you had felt embarrassed when you asked if the two of you could start with a clean slate again and start over. 

his reasoning to his answer made you think. maybe he wasn’t the same ‘tom holland’ you knew, but you knew that tom would never change to be a bad person. he has too many loyal friends and family members who help keep him grounded. 

but yet again, could you handle being in the spotlight almost everyday, all day, for, god knows, the rest of your life? that you were unsure of, also. 

either way, for the past week, your head has been swimming with thoughts and theories on how you wanted it to work. 

the only problem, you didn’t know what you wanted to work. you weren’t sure of what to do. even your gut was confused. part of you wanted to stay out of it and be content by yourself and your writing, but the other part of you missed the interactions the two of you would have. 

as much as you wanted to be in his arms, you also weren’t sure if those same arms would feel like him, homey and just the right amount of love, or if they’d feel like the arms of a stranger, cold and dull. 

your thoughts were interrupted when tay spoke, startling you slightly,”what are you planning on doing tonight?”

you shrugged, pressing the button on the side of your phone, making it lock itself,”i dunno. why?”

“the boys are talking about hitting the local bar for a game night. they asked if we wanted to join.” she sat beside you, sitting on the couch with a bowl of cinnamon toast crunch.

“you going?” you asked. she shrugged, finishing her bite of food before speaking.

“not without you,” she said,”you should join us. it’ll be fun.”

“i don’t know-“

“c’mon!” she said,”have a little fun! you've been moping around since tom built your furniture.”

you shrugged,”i don’t know, tay. i mean, i look at him and i think about all the things we could’ve been and it hurts. it hurts so fucking bad.”

she put her bowl of cereal down on the coffee table, turning her body to face you,”y/n, i know the two of you both still love each other and care for each other deeply. you two grew apart as two separate people and you've both matured since the last time you two were together. you’re going to have to learn about one another all over again. it’ll take time, but it will pay off. i promise.”

“don’t make a promise you can’t keep.”

“good thing i always keep them.” she smiled and you shook your head and let out a soft chuckle. she smiled and got up from the couch, offering you her hand.

“now, c’mon, let’s go pick out an outfit for tonight.”

she wiggled her fingers and you smiled before taking her hand as she helped you up from the sofa, the two of you walking off towards your room.

you fixed your hair one last time before shutting the mirror in the visor of tay’s car, looking over at her. she smiled softly at you.

“you look fuckin’ hot,” she chuckled and you smiled, letting the soft blush rise to your cheeks,”ready, darlin’?”

you nodded and the two of you stepped out of the car and made your way into the bar, the music was soft but just loud enough for you to hear when there was no chatter. you found the boys quickly, their table being the loudest in the bar. you spotted that there was an empty seat next to tom. 

did he save me a seat next to him on purpose?

haz spotted the two of you and waved you over,”tay! y/n! over here!”

you two made your way to the table, tay squeezing between the twins while tom moved against the window to give you a seat.

so he did save it for me. 

“hey, ladies.” harry greeted the two of you.

“what’s up?” tay asked and you looked over at tom, smiling softly and saying hi to everyone before they flagged down the waitress and got the two of you drinks. 

“how’ve you been, y/n?” tom asked and you nodded, the rest of the table lost in their own conversation.

“good, really enjoying that bedframe,” you chuckled and he smiled, softly laughing,”how about you?”

“been busy with work,” he shrugged,”been meaning to text you, actually, i just never got the chance to.”

you shrugged,”it’s alright, shit happens.”

he nodded, swallowing a sip of his beer,”but, i was gonna ask if you wanted to go out sometime? just the two of us?”

your heart skipped a beat and you stayed quiet as he kept talking,”y’know, talk about what you had asked the day i built your furniture.”

you nodded and smiled,”that'd be nice.”

he smiled and the waitress put down your drink, making you turn to say thank you. he moved his arm behind you on the back of the booth, smiling at you. you smiled back, and without even realizing, you were falling in love all over again.

the night continued on and the rest of the party decided to call it a night, but you and tom had decided on walking around the city, wanting to just spend a little bit more time talking and getting to know each other all over again. 

“so you fell off the bike?” he asked and you nodded, continuing with the story.

“yep. 10 stitches on my leg because my cousin wanted to be a jackass.”

he snorted,”was courtney wasn’t it?”

you nodded, a small smile on your lips, shoving his shoulder lightly,”you remember.”

“of course,” he chuckled,”pretty big scar you had. still have it?”

you nodded,”yeah, still thinking about getting a tattoo to get it covered, though.”

tom nodded as the cool summer breeze made you silver softly. it didn’t go unnoticed by him, however, as he shrugged off his zip up and wrapped it around your shoulders. you smiled, knowing that trying to refuse would cause more of a fuss; plus it was really fucking cold.

the two of you walked around the city for a little while longer before you ended back up at the apartment building. you two made up to your shared floor, walking towards your doors. you looked down at the time on your phone, not really wanting the night to end. 

however, it didn’t necessarily have to. 

“tay is probably asleep by now if you wanted to come to mine for a while?” 

he looked at his door and back at you as you could hear the muffled noises coming from the boys’ apartment. you smiled as tom nodded his head quickly, you turning to unlock the door. you two stepped into the apartment and he followed you to your room, the both of you trying to be as quiet as you could possibly be. you closed your bedroom door softly, kicking your shoes off and shrugging his zip up off, placing it on the foot of the bed. you smiled at him softly, his head resting on one of your pillows as he lazily smiled back at you. 

“do you mind, uh, helping me?” you asked, motioning to the zipper on your back.

“yeah, sure, love.” he hopped up from his spot and you turned your back to him, letting him reach the zipper easy. you moved the hairs out of his way and held them to the side, letting his fingers play with the metal zipper.

suddenly, the air got thicker and it got harder to breathe. the tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife. you could feel his heavy, warm breath on the back of your neck. you knew he could feel what you were feeling too when he unzipped your dress slowly, wrapping his arms around your middle when he was done.

“tom-”

“shh,” he said softly, turning you to face him, your noses touching as he brushed a strand of hair from your face. you smiled and he smiled back.

“i want it.” you said, blatantly.

“want...what?” tom asked, raising an eyebrow.

“you… us,” you said, taking a deep breath,”i let you go once before and i don’t want it to happen again. i don’t care if a million people know your name or if you have thousands of teenage girls swooning over you, i care about thomas stanley holland. the boy i fell in love with. the boy i’ve always been in love with.”

he felt his heart stop for a second before starting again,”are you sure-”

“don’t ask me if i’m sure if this is what i want,” you said, pulling on his button up that just so happened to be your favorite,”i know what i want.”

“well, so do i.” he said before grabbing your face and letting his lips meet yours. you smiled into the kiss, remembering the feeling of kissing him, letting him take control over your body for the night. you had missed him, missed this. 

he continued kissing you and you walked forward, making him walk back until his legs hit the edge of the bed. he sat down, pulling you on top of him. you pulled away for a minute, looking at his red, swollen lips from kissing, his blown pupils, his messy hair from you pulling it, his slightly crooked nose that you loved so much.

you smiled, tears welling up in your eyes as you looked at him, letting out a soft giggle.

he smiled back at you, and there it was, that damned smile,”what?”

you shook your head,”i love you, tom.”

he smiled back, pulling you closer as he planted a soft kiss on the tip of your nose,”i love you more. i always have.”

add yourself to my tagged list

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[weirdochick56]

Mr. Evans II- Chris Evans AU Chapter Eleven

Teacher!Chris Evans x Student!Reader

Warnings: Explicit language. SMUT. DIRTY DIRTINESS.

Disclaimers: I don’t condone relationships of this kind, this is for entertainment purposes only. Please be gentle on my word-porn.

Word Count: 5, 347 words

A/N: This shit got dirty REAL quick. As I was writing it, I was so fucking confused by what my fingers were typing lmfaoooo. Also this story is nearly coming to an end and IDK what the hell im gonna do after. PLEASE stay safe and healthy y’all! 

Read Chapter Ten here!!

***

(gif isn’t mine!)

You take a long gulp of the bottle.

“It’s like I’m stuck, you know?” You say looking off into the water. “Like I don’t know how to exist or move forward or hell, even back.”

Noah, the guy you’d met at the pool, nods in understanding, taking a sip from the bottle. “Yeah. I get that, but your situation is hella complicated. I get why.”

“I guess I just have never felt one hundred percent in it, you know? Like I could never fully let myself be happy because at any moment that shit could burn down. I’ve always felt like someone was out to get us, like all the fucking odds were stacked against us,” you mumble, shivering when a breeze swishes past the dark night.

It’s been a while since you had met Noah and he was a pretty cool dude. You just clicked- it was just like that with some people you know? You just get along from the get-go. You got to talking, slowly downing the bottle in the process of course and the more time ticked by, the more your tongues loosened.

You didn’t like to play into stereotypes or anything, but you were almost entirely sure Noah wasn’t one-hundred percent straight. But maybe that was just you.

You were at a healthy buzz right now but that wasn’t gonna last long at the rate you were chugging from the bottle.

“You wanna be with him?”

You sigh, hating that there wasn’t even a little doubt in your mind or heart at the question. “I do. But I don’t know how to go about it, you know? It’s all just so jumbled for me.”

Noah releases a little sigh, laying down on the cold gravel. “I know right? It’s like you love someone so much but you also know that being with them could be dangerous, no only to you but to the life you’ve built around yourselves individually. So it’s hard between choosing everyone else or your own selfish ass.”

You glance at him, raising your brows. “From personal experience?”

He laughs but it’s a bit strained- dry. “Yeah. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but I’m not exactly uh- straight.”

“What?! I had no idea!” You mock gasp.

“Shut up.” He laughs, slapping your arm playfully. “Yeah well, he’s actually the most beautiful human being I’ve ever met. But we’re keeping it on the dL. Neither of our parents is exactly supportive. Mine are still a bit touchy even though they’re starting to tolerate the fact that their son is gay and his- well they have no idea. If they did that situation would go awry real quick.”

You sigh, laying your head drunkenly on his shoulder. “Aw, I’m so sorry Nini.”

He laughs, casually wrapping an arm around you. “Oh? Is that my new nickname?”

You nod. “Yep.”

“You know something, Nini?” You suddenly mumble in a slur.

“What?”

“You’re not selfish for loving him- whoever he is. You’re brave.”

“Yeah? And why do you say that?” He hums.

You take the bottle from his grasp, taking a long drink. When you’re done, you sluggishly wipe your lips.

“Because I’m a fucking coward,” you mumble shakily. “I’m so fucking scared of feeling. I just shut down like a robot,” you confess, quietly chuckling. “I numb myself so that I don’t have to face the reality of it all. You face that shit head-on. You’re staying and fighting for your love. That’s super admirable.”

Noah rubs your arm comfortingly. “Thanks.”

You nod, swishing your feet in the water. “It’s true. I wish I could just be with him.”

“Then be with him,” Noah says, simply.

Just like that. As if it were that straightforward.

“It’s not that easy. There’s so many things to consider.“

“Let me ask you a question,” he quickly quips. “Do you love him? Like really truly love him?”

You swallow harshly, gripping the bottle tightly in your hands. “With every fiber in my body.”

Noah nods firmly. “Then that’s it. And listen, I’m going to be honest because it sounds like everyone in your life has been lying to you and telling you basically all you need is love to make it work. It’s not. Relationships are hard fucking work. Especially if it’s one people will have a variety of feelings on. It takes effort, time, sacrifice and you know where all that comes from?”

“Where?” You pout drunkenly.

“From you. You have to be sure you want it you have to be willing to stay and fight. But you also need love. Without love, there’s nothing. If you’re sure you want to be with him, if you think your love is worth it, then I say go for it. It doesn’t have to be this huge announcement either. It’s your relationship- it’s there for no one else but you two. If you feel comfortable later on, then do sure you can tell people.”

You ponder on his words drinking more tequila, before finally speaking in a defeated tone. “I’m scared.”

He shrugs. “Life is really just one big risk you either choose to take or not. Plus, it’s like I told you; relationships are hard work. You have to keep working at it. Even when it gets hard.” He licks his lips. “He gave an ultimatum and from what you told me, you’re not going to be here for much longer. So not to pressure you or anything, but if there was ever a time to act this feels like it’s it.”

Maybe he’s right.

*

Needless to say, by the time Noah walks you home, you’re both absolutely hammered. You make sure to call him a taxi because it was late at night and you also make him promise to text you once he got there.

After he’s gone words keep ringing around in your head over and over and over again. And so do Margo’s. In fact, you felt like you were flying on a cloud of thoughts all whirling and detaching and stringing together back again.

You start replaying everything in your head- your whole relationship. From the start to now. Like a movie.

And your heart breaks even more because you realize right there and then that at some point, the movie suddenly stops.

The movie stops.

It hits you that you’ll have no idea how it ends. What’ll happen with you two. Where you’ll end up.

For some odd fucking reason, it makes you feel sick to your stomach to think about it that way, and your skin crawls. If you let him go, you’ll never him know how the movie ends... the thought tortures you slowly to sleep as it goes round and round in your noggin, pounding you with unbearable guilt and anxious thoughts.

When you do fall asleep, though, you have a strange dream that night. Or more like you have a nightmare.

You’re standing in your room and it’s just like it was when you went to sleep that night, except that on the other side, the usual long hallway isn’t there anymore. There’s only darkness.

Your anxiety kicks up because you know what the darkness is without even touching it.

It’s the not-knowing. The pitch-black emptiness which you’re expected to walk into blind. Fucking alone.

You start hyperventilating when the pressure to walk into it becomes too much, thrashing harshly against the invisible force pushing you into it. Screaming, salty tears, kicking...

It’s all too much. Your breathing is labored and your skin burns with hot tears.

And then suddenly and like a warm blanket- two muscular arms wrap around you from behind, tugging you into a hard chest.

Chris, your mind instantly whispers.

He easily tugs you back towards the room, hugging you to his front tightly.

“I’ve got you, sweetheart. I’m here. I’ll always be here.”

And in that moment of terror, with his familiar scent and soothing voice and tight embrace, he’s safety. He’s warmth and familiarity.

...he’s home. Your home.

You just lay there with him, holding each other.

The next image flashes by instantly and suddenly the darkness is back. But this time you don’t panic...because Chris is right there with you, holding your hand. And for some reason, you know -you’re one-thousand present sure- he won’t let go.

He rubs his thumb softly over your thumb, looking at you with those alluring blue eyes of his, that soft yet capturing gaze that made you feel all fuzzy.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you. I’m here. I’ll always be here.” He repeats his earlier sentence.

You wipe happy tears. “I’ve got you too.”

He smiles adoringly down at you, smile lines crinkling endearingly at the corners. “I know.”

And without a second’s thought you plunge straight into the darkness.

You gasp loudly, sitting straight up in bed. Your heart races, thumping harshly against your rib cage as beads of sweat trod carefully down your temple and side of your face.

Click.

Something in you suddenly clicks and it all becomes clear. 

Was that all that was needed for realization to hit you? A single moment? A single split second in which the fog clears? A split-second where your vision suddenly elevates and the whole landscape is all there? The whole picture is laid out before you? 

It’s early in the morning and you wince when the bright light of an early day hits you in the face, flopping over in bed.

You reach for your phone on the nightstand, quickly unlocking it before checking your contacts. You have a new text message. You click on it.

Hey, Hermosa. I got home okay. Thanks for the taxi, lol.

You smile gently, typing back.

Yeah np, Nini. Thanks for the advice. Needed it.

Your phone buzzes.

Ngl, kinda shocked we still remember that. Lmfao. Ur welcome tho.

You groan softly into your pillow when your head starts aggressively throbbing.

Sobriety sucks butt.

*

“Honey, are you okay?”

Your dad and Kennedy watch you as you haphazardly stuff your face with bacon and eggs then gulf it all down like a dog- brows raised and jaws slack.

Downing your warm coffee in one go, you get up, pushing the chair back with a loud screech and almost trip running over to the sink to put your dishes inside.

“Yes. I’m good. There’s just something urgent I have to go take care of,” you rush out, leaning down over them and giving each a chaste kiss on the cheek.

“I love you guys!” You yell, already half outside and still pulling on one of your sneakers as you clumsily hopped around.

You slam the door shut, running off as soon as you finish putting on the shoe.

Your head pounds inside your skull even having downed three aspirins and having a warm shower and your breakfast swishes inside your stomach with your harsh sprinting but you don’t stop.

Not until you reach his house.

You don’t think. Just feel. Feel how right this was. You’re done being scared of loving who you love. You had what you had and it was what it was, but what you had was him.

Chris.

All this time, he said you were his light. You were his angel.

But really he was your light. He was your angel.

You needed him just as much as he needed you- if not more.

Fuck everyone else.

This was yours. He was yours and you were his and you were done fighting it. Officially.

You had the realization that before, you’d always been just the tiniest bit reluctant. You subconscious put up your own walls to protect your heart, never fully allowing yourself to work on your relationship, never fully giving your energy to it.

But not anymore. No more walls. Just you. Just you, your love and a foundation for a fresh start.

You were exhausted- not of life or him or of the curveballs it keeps throwing your way. You’re tired of fighting yourself.

That’s the real fight you’ve been having this whole time. With yourself. You’re your own damn enemy. And isn’t that fucking tiring?

But you’re done. 

Knocking loudly on the door, your chest inflated with so many emotions and with adrenaline pumping through your veins, you tug at your short shorts, hating that this was the first thing you saw and threw on.

Unfortunately, the next thing you saw was a short ass crop top so you were basically running around in your underwear.

You freeze out the nerves as soon as they start to set in when footsteps pad your way. None of that.

When Chris opens the door, you nearly fall over.

He gives you a once-over, his hair messy, and dark bags under his eyes. “Sweetheart what-“

You stare at him for a few seconds as does he, eyes wide and lips parted.

“Chris,” you breathe.

But you catch yourself and before you know it, you’re spilling all your damn beans right on his front porch.

You needed to. You had to get this off your chest or you would go absolutely insane.

“Chris before you say anything, I just want to apologize. I’ve been a huge fucking hypocrite. But I realize my mistakes and I-“ you laugh incredulously, looking at him. “I just want to be with you,” you mumble meekly, your voice low. 

Not because you didn’t mean it, but because you were terrified of his reaction. 

His eyes soften and he opens his mouth to speak, but you cut him off. 

“No, stop. I just need to finish what I have to say, okay? You were right. You scare me. What we have scares me. But I’m not willing to let you go just because I’m scared. I-” you swallow tears back down. “Being scared isn’t an excuse to let you go. God, I’ve never felt emptier in my life than these past few weeks. Not even when I was gone for two years. At least then I knew I was faraway from you. That I was somewhat safe from all these...feelings.” You gulp. “But being here-“ you shake your head. “Knowing that you’re just a few blocks away- I just want you to hold me, to make love to me, to love me in the way only you know how to.” You chuckle breathlessly. “God, I am so in love with you. Y-you complete me. You make me better- you’re the best fucking person I know. And I know I’ve been an asshole to you, or well let’s be honest we both have, but I guess mostly me- um anyway. I just- I’m here to stay.” You sigh softly, letting the words roll of your tongue like a vow. 

“I’m here to stay,” you repeat softly but firmer this time, swallowing thickly at the sweet after taste.

You’re panting by the time you’re done, both thanks to the running and the little speech you just gave, but your gaze never leaves his. Not for the whole five minutes, he just stands there, looking at you with glimmering eyes.

“Chris?” You whisper.

“Say that again,” he breathes.

“Say what?” You frown.

“Tell me you love me again,” he mumbles, a single tear sliding down his cheek.

You smile a little, looking him in the eye. “I love you. I love you. I love you,” you repeat breathlessly. “I’m here to stay- if you’ll let me that is,” you add on in a clumsy, sheepish way.

He smirks, instantly yanking you into a hug. His arm wraps around your waist and head and your arms slither their way around his broad back. You melt into him, half with delight and half with relief. 

The embrace says all the things you weren’t strong enough to say, it was passionate, warm, loving, fierce. You slid into eachother like to puzzle pieces. Like you were meant to be there- in eachother’s arms. 

Chris holds you tighter to him, using your trembling body, which you hadn’t even noticed was shaking, as an excuse you stuff his nose into your hair and press your chest to his.

“I missed you,” he breathed into you- easy as air. A breath he’d been holding for far too long and needed to release.

A breath that, once uttered, made you instantly freeze. 

You slowly parted away from him so you could properly peer into his eyes and because you have no idea how much being back with him was going to be for you emotionally. 

“I’m sorry,” you mumble, tears sprouting from your eyes. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I was just scared. I’m always scared.” 

He shakes his head at you, pressing a light kiss to your forehead. “I get it, sweetheart. I was scared too. But we’re here now, that’s all that matters.”

He holds his arms out again, but catches himself before wrapping them around you and pulling you to him entirely, the question clear in his eyes; was this okay?

This embrace wasn’t like the one a few moments ago, this one was cautious because you were walking new ground. A ground that was undiscovered but all the same exciting. 

A ground that was the foundation for a new path to happiness. A new beginning. 

You simply nod in response, too tired to try to fight your need for his warmth off.

He wastes no time pulling you to his chest- nice and tight and you instantly hug him back, loving the feeling of safety and warmth you felt there.

You realize that no matter where you go or who you’re with, nothing will ever feel like being in his arms. Nothing will ever feel like home. Not like him.

His hold tightens on you- like he’s afraid of letting you go and you tighten your own hold to signify your own heightened emotions. 

The buzzing in your skin, the racing of your heart, the flush of your face, the fluttering of your tummy- all the emotions that made you feel like there was endless hope and warmth and good in the world- you missed it all. 

You listen to his slightly accelerated heartbeat and nestle your head against his chest. “So we fight?”

He heaves a heavy exhale. “We fight.”

You lick your dry lips, taking a deep breath. “Okay.”

He pushes you back slightly, brows raised. “Really?”

You can’t help but smirk a little bit. “I think I still have a little bit more fight left in me.”

*

You shift in his arms, resting your head on his chest an adjusting the leg you’d hastily thrown over his waist.

After your talk, you’d agreed that a little alone time was in order. So you threw yourselves onto his bed and did what anyone in your position -with unspent sexual frustration and endless simmering desire between your souls- would do and cuddled.

“Sweetheart,” he begins, twirling another strand of your hair in between his fingers.

“Hmm?” you mumble drowsily, drawing a new pattern on his chest with your fingertips.

“Do you love me?”

You pause, brows furrowing. Leaning up on your elbow, you peer down at him. “What?”

He smiles a little. “You heard me.”

“Why do you ask?” You blush bright red.

He chuckles, brushing a hand against your cheek. “Well, I’m not like you, angel. I actually need to hear the words. Again,” he adds cheekily.

You stare at him blankly for a few seconds, contemplating his face. He was perfect. Even the small dips or indents on his skin. Every sharp and soft line, every curve and dip and area of soft flesh.

Beneath you, his muscles strained against his soft pajamas and his warmth surpassed layers of skin and clothing in order to deep into your bones, warming you entirely.

But that wasn’t what made him beautiful. No. 

It was the fact that he was such a dork when it came to Charlotte Brontë and Bram Stroker even when he tried to hide it. It was the fact that for years he put aside his own pain to focus on the futures of his students. The pain of losing his wife.

It was that he looked at you like you were his beginning and his end and everything in between. It was the fact that he was unwilling to relent to everyone and everything telling him he couldn’t have you and that he was willing to forgive you. 

It was that he was still here. Still fighting even when everything could be lost.

He wasn’t just perfect. He was authentic. And he was beautiful just the way he was.

You finally nod, whispering lightly. “I do. I love you more than anything in the world.”

You’ve never meant anything more in your life. And it didn’t matter what would happen next because you’d be together when it happen and you’d take it on together. You’d always have eachother.

He beams adoringly, running his hands through his hair.

You instantly raise a brow. “What?”

He frowns at you. “What?”

You chuckle, a tiny smirk tugging at your lips. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”

“Wrong? Nothing is wrong. Why does something have to be wrong?”

You instantly smile, patting his cheek as you hook your leg over him tighter in order to get more comfortable. “You just ran a hand through your hair; something’s definitely wrong,” you say as if it’s obvious before softening. “C’mon talk to me.”

He looks into your questioning eyes for exactly three seconds before breaking. “Dammit, why do your eyes have to be so big and…shiny? I can never lie to them,” he mumbles under his breath.  

You laugh pressing a little kiss to his stubbled cheek. “It’s my secret superpower. Now; spill.”

He sighs, looking down at his hands. “Nothing I guess I’m kind of second-guessing now. N-not of us o-or anything!” He rushes to explain immediately after. “Just-” he sighs again, looking back down. “I dunno. I feel like I’ve been pressuring you. What if this isn’t what you really want?” He gazes into your eyes, concern swimming in his deep pools. “Is it?”

Unable to hold back a snicker you grin lightly at him. “I just gave you an entire speech about how much I want to be with you and you’re questioning it? Bit late, don’t you think?” You joke lightly.

He deadpans. “Y/n.” 

You sigh. “Yes, it is what I want. No backing out this time.” You hold out your pinky with a tiny giggle. “Pinky promise?”

He raises a brow at the small finger, scoffing at the notion. “Angel, I’m a masculine manly-man do you really think that I’m gonna pinky promise you? No.”

You wiggle your pinky with a tiny pout. “C’mon!” 

 He sternly peers down at you (again for exactly three seconds) before breaking down once more, half-heartedly linking your pinky with his and grumbling for a second time about how your eyes were “unfairly adorable”.

You laugh tightening your finger on his, as you gaze into each other’s eyes tenderly. “I pinky promise to always be with you. No matter what.”

He smiles softly, repeating your words back to you with the tenderest look in his eye. “I pinky promise to always be with you. No matter what.”

When you take your pinkie back, he rolls his eyes, chuckling. “I can’t believe you made me do that. I hate you.”

Lightly shoving his shoulder, you place a soft peck on his cheek. “You know you love me. Plus, c’mon, I came looking for you here, I can’t leave without at least a pinky promise.” 

He smirks, wiggling his brows suggestively. “You do realize this means I won, right?”

“Won?” 

He nods enthusiastically. “Yeah. This time, you came for me. So I won.”

You snort. “Asshole.”

He chuckles as you suddenly grow serious.

“You know, I hate that you know me better than I know myself. I can never hide from you,” you whisper as he grips your face with his hand.

“You don’t have to,” he says sincerely, looking directly at you. His dark gaze pierced your soul and your breath hitches, forming a huge lump on your throat. “Not from me. Not ever.”

You shiver under his touch, leaning into him. You bite your lip as you gaze at him from under your lashes. “What if what I’m trying to hide is ugly?” You husk.

He simply smiles, like what you’re saying is utterly impossible. “Then you don’t try to hide it. I want to see it all. Because you know what? In the end, I know it’s all going to be beautiful.”

You can’t keep the damn goofy smile from tugging at your lips as you softly kiss his nose. “You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me,” you breathe. “I love you so fucking much.”

He pecks your cheek lightly in response, resting his forehead on yours. 

“Who are we without scars, without stories to tell? Your flaws make you who you are, angel. And I’ve fallen in love with you. All of you.”

You smile softly at him, your heart thumping loudly inside your chest. “You make me all crazy, you know that?” you mumble.

He laughs, closing the distance between you two and brushing his lashes against yours. “I’m sorry.”

You giggle against his lips, softly moving yours against them as you peer into his darkened eyes and wide blown pupils. “No, you’re not.”

He rubs his thumb across your cheekbone tenderly, tracing your skin like he was afraid you’d break if he pressed too hard or rubbed too much.

“You’re right- I’m not,” he breathes hotly against your skin, playing with your lower lip.

You press your nose to his, pressure building in your chest as you slowly begin straddling him. “Do you want me?”

His other hands grips your other cheek, gaze pinning yours down with ease. “All the damn time,” he responds without hesitation, voice growing deeper and more primitive.

You smirk down at him, forgetting entirely about everything and everyone else.

“Really?”

He looks at you incredulously. “Are you serious? How do you not know what you do to me, sweetheart?”

“No, as a matter of fact, I don’t. What do I do to you, Chris?”

Your pussy begins pulsating rhythmically, panties damp at the implication.

He inhales sharply, clamping down on that plump lip. “Shit sweetheart. You want details?”

He seemed startled but turned on all the same.

You bite your lip, feeling your nipples harden under the soft fabric of the shirt and nearly let a moan slip when it rubs against the sensitive nubs as you move.

“Yes. I want you to tell me exactly how much you want me. I want you to tell me how you’ve imagined me before. What you’d do to me if you’re given the chance,” you rasp all in one breath.

As you speak, you grind your down hips on his, enjoying the much-needed friction it created in your sensitive spot.

He clenches his jaw, eyes ablaze with that fire you missed so much.

“Careful sweetheart,” he grits out through clenched teeth, hands dropping to your ass and hips. “If you get too close I might burn you.”

You look him in the eye, knowing damn well your own unquenchable fire was swaying sensually back and forth in your eyes. You wanted him—bad. In fact, you fucking needed him. You needed him like you needed air to breathe. Fuck, you ached for the feeling of his cock inside you, claiming you as his. Because damn you were his.

“Then burn me,” you say with full intent.

His eyes snap shut, fingers digging into your flesh.

“Jesus Christ, Y/n. If we don’t stop right now I can’t promise I won’t fuck you ‘til you’re screaming.”

Your pussy instantly grows wet at his words, pulsating far more aggressively than before as you move your hips faster.

“Fuck Chris. Have you dreamed about me?” You pant.

He looks up at you through heavy-lidded eyes, dick stirring in his pants. “Almost every night,” he admits without shame or hell- even embarrassment.

Than only makes you more flushed.

You lick your dry lips, his eyes following the movement. “Yeah? And what am I wearing?”

He closes his eyes, hands traveling down to your thighs before rising gradually up to your waist, pushing fabric out of the way. You tremble beneath his fingertips and he uses the chance to guide your movements against him, his long fingers setting a rhythm for you to move to.

He hisses with pleasure. “Y-you’re wearing my t-shirt. Only with panties underneath.”

You inhale deeply, chest rising but not falling just yet at the vivid image. “Mhm,” you hum softly. “And where are we?”

“My bedroom. You’re sprawled out on my bed, sleeping.”

You bite your lip. “Are you hard yet?”

“Hell yes,” he breathes, digging his nails into your ass. “I can see your ass from here. All of that for me,” he moans softly against your chest as he adjusts you and his grip on you so your tits are closer to his face.

You arch back at the sensation of having his hard cock rubbing against you from beneath his pants.

“You’re moving around in your sleep and I’m getting harder because you look so damn innocent but sexy all at once. Like you’re just asking me to ruin you.”

You moan against him, accidentally brushing your nipple against his lips in the frenzy of your dry humping.

You freeze for a second, letting the sensation sink into your cells, warming them with electrifying bliss before moaning louder when Chris lightly opens his mouth to take one of them in over the thin material of the shirt.

Your mouth falls open at the sensation and your finger rake through his hair, tugging on the strands harshly as he gently suckles on the sensitive bud, rolling his tongue around it with expert sensuality.

His eyes meet yours as he does this and neither of your looks away as he flicks his tongue back and forth, causing your whole body to nearly overload with bliss.

“Fuck Chris,” you mewl, digging out nails into his scalp.

He stops sucking, using his finger to play with them instead. Your mouth falls open in a choked-up scream as he continues narrating his dirty dream for you.

“Even from there I can see how soft your skin is. How perfect your tits are and how good they’d fit in my hands. It’s torture until I walk over to you and grab one of your ankles gently in my hands…”

“Yes?” Your breath hitches as he hits a sensitive spot.

“And the other one too. Then I slowly part them. I don’t want to wake you yet. Not like that.”

You bite your lip, holding back a moan.

“When I’ve completely opened your legs, I slowly crawl up your body, kissing your legs as I go. When I reach your inner thighs, I slowly lift my shirt up….” he trails off, his thumb softly grazing your sensitive nub.

Your head flies back at the sudden jolt of pleasure it sends up your spine. “Shit Chris,” you groan.

“I start leaving open-mouthed kisses all over your soft skin. You’re shifting in your sleep, growing wetter, but you still haven’t woken up. Finally, I kiss your pussy.”

At the words coming out of his sinfully soft mouth, you feel your stomach clench, mouth capturing a silent scream and swallowing it back down.

He keeps you moving against him, his fingers gripping your thigh and his thumb working soft circles into your now soaked panties.

You gyrate into his hand rhythmically, fully concentrated in how good he felt.

“Uh-huh,” you finally grit out.

He continues speaking, voice strained and tone nearly drowned out entirely by animalistic frenzy. “You slowly peel your eyes open as I’ve begun flicking my tongue over your clit back and forth.” He copies the motion he describes with his thumb, smirking viciously when you nearly fall over him.

“I’ve been doing it over your sheer lace underwear this whole time, but when you are finally awake, your smell and your taste become too much for me to handle. You intoxicate all my senses sweetheart. I just want you on my tongue. I want you to ride my face until you cum in my mouth.”

And that’s all he needs to add to his jerky thumb movements for you to cum. Hard.

As if he can sense that you’ve reached a climax, he watches you with hunger, drinking in the sight of you coming all for him. “That’s right, sweetheart. Cum for me. All for me. Fuck, Y/n.”

You convulse, cursing like a damn sailor into his mouth. “Fuuuuck Chris!”

When you’re done, you slouch against him.

He hugs you to him and the rumble of his laughter travels through you, causing your sensitive insides to tremble. “You okay, sweetheart?”

You lift your head carefully. “Yes.”

He smiles. “Good. Y/n?”

“Yeah?”

“I want to make love to you.”

“Oh.”

Read Chapter Twelve here!!

***

The flashbacks to Mr. Evans I are real. Omfg. 

I’m literally in love with him.

A special thanks to:

@star-spangled-steve

@tomoyaevaans

@pepsicola-is-my-brand-man​

@whereeverythingisbetter​

@fallenoutofrose

@plutonium-m

@beepbeepromanoff

@faithmichaluk

@sincerelytlh

@tomshelbystits

@kind-sober-fullydressed

@emmarogers222

@sashimi-cat

@zofty15

@gemgemswift

@fafulous

@chljmntgy

@thatssograce

@leclerc-stan

@colddsalsa

@evansislife

@chris-butt

@captainchrisstan

@marvels-gurl

@davestridersrightnipple

@agirlcanstilldream

@notbexmader

@ib-ebe

@byrogers

@theangrylizard

@oh-hey-janina

@mannatgalhotra​

And My forevers!

@jessikared97​

@ladyofletters67​

@lilypalmer1987​

@sammykb1994​

@tomshelbystits​

[sleepdeprivedheretic]

Those Shoes (Final Ch.)

Song Inspired: My Kinda Lover by Billy Squire

Notes: This chapter is kind of rushed, and is based more on the smut, and the future of the fic. Includes an OC that Rita, or @youtubequeens had created while we brainstormed <3

Warnings: This chapter has brief mention of non-consensual touching, violence, and consensual smut between two adults

………………..

   Time had flown by fast since that night. Although you weren’t single, anymore, it had taken some effort for your mother’s employees and patrons to finally get the hint.

That hint happened very recently.

   The bouncers couldn’t match the fast pace that Tai had possessed, after you yelped in surprise at the sudden, unwanted pinch. Cue your scantily dressed partner in a frilly maid’s outfit, holding the gigantic offender in a fierce headlock, scowling out a growl as he dragged the squirming man near the door, furling him onto the ground in a show of dominance that left the crowd gasping and hollering.

  It didn’t take long for the bouncers to get the hint, grabbing the offender and tossing him out like trash. Of course, your mother gave the signal to her hired men that it was alright, winking at you as you felt yourself being tugged by Nemuri and Yu into the dressing room, making sure that you were alright, whilst teasing you mercilessly when you confirmed with flushed cheeks, that you were.

He was unaware of it, but the stunt that he pulled, left you feeling hot and flushed all over. Of course they didn’t let you live it down as they left you alone.  Cue in Taishiro, walking in as if he owned the place, fretting over you with kisses and light touching. With your reassurance that yes, everything was alright, the kisses became a little dirtier, and the touching became exploring.

 Of course there weren’t cameras in the dressing room, only in the fitting room, and he took in the knowledge to make an opportunity of your situation. You nodded your consent when he pulled away from you briefly to ask, and then sealed his lips flush against yours.

Hot, you felt as if a liquid fire had drizzled within you, as he bit and sucked at your bottom lip, silently asking for entry. You granted it when you felt his hand smooth up your leg, fingers inches away from your skirt as he deepened the kiss, letting his tongue slip inside your mouth, whilst your fingers were threaded through soft yellow locks of hair.

  You couldn’t help but absentmindedly rub your thighs together as he ran his tongue against yours, giving it soft little suckles now and then as you trembled, feeling yourself ache considerably. He tugged a little at the skirt as he broke away first, leaving the two of you breathing heavily as drool collected on both chins. He wiped his face as his eyes gleamed with excitement, looking down at you as if you were a fine meal.

“Ya wanna continue?” He asked non-too bluntly, and you couldn’t help but nod, and he groaned with want.

“As much as it’s enticin’, we’ll get to the main course at home.” He looked as if he regretted the sentence, but looking at your desperation, he couldn’t help but lean in and whisper in your ear, laving his tongue against the flushed lobe as he gave it a gentle suck, humming with approval at the whimper he pulled out of you as your hands gripped his shoulders tightly.  

“You have to wait, Baby-doll. The boys should be sleepin’ when their sitter leaves. We can continue this properly in the bedroom. That bein’ said,” His hand slid up your skirt, and your breath hitched as he leaned down to bury his face in the crook of your neck.

“-it’s rude to keep a lady waitin’ for too long.” He let out a dangerous purr at your wanton moan, biting gently onto your skin as he guided curious fingers into the breach of your undergarments. You widened your legs more apart in relief as you felt him finally reach your folds, he sucked on your neck harshly when you bucked your hips, a silent warning for you to be patient.

Your obedient compliance was rewarded as thick, calloused fingers slipped past the lips, and cupped your soaked sex.

“Ya wanna cum on my fingers? Whet that appetite of yours, first?” He licked a hot, wet stripe against your neck, and you keened into a “yes”.

You were given little time, for he dipped his fingers to tease the tight muscle of your opening, gently with one hand, while his other hand that wasn’t near your soaked panties, opted to cup your ass, bringing you closer to him as he decided to resume tasting your mouth.

He swallowed your wanton cries with eagerness as he thumbed your clit, rubbing it rather gently as he slipped two digits in your relaxing opening. In an instant, you couldn’t help but tremble, holding him more closer to you as you felt yourself being stretched by curling, pumping fingers bigger than your own. He purred, breaking away from sucking on your bottom lip.

“You’re so sensitive, all tremblin’ an’ flushed.” Oh, the irony, you couldn’t help but think as his neck, ears, and cheeks were colored a deep shade of red, now.

“Y-you’re the same.” You mumbled out, and he chuckled, pecking your mouth.

“Yeah.” Was all he really could say as you bucked your hips, feeling the desperate itch only intensify after he stilled. Getting the hint, he scissored your inner walls, feeling you hug him, as if refusing to let go, and he groaned into your neck.

You bit your lip, holding onto him tightly as you bucked your hips, although hoping that nobody would walk in on you, you felt liquid heat pool within you at the thought, trying your best to cum as his breathing became louder, dampening your neck in hot gasps of air.

“Feel ya tightenin’ on me. That’s it, let loose, Baby. Know ya’re pent up.” He let out a mantra of words, and you did, stilling as you felt yourself tremble, hole fluttering and clamping against his digits as he let out a low, victorious groan from how tight that you were squeezing him. You didn’t realize that your eyes were squeezed shut, until you opened them to see him smiling ever so softly at you.

“You did so well, Honey,” He started, pulling his fingers out of your heated and soaked entrance, you felt a little empty, but words died in your throat as he brought his soiled hand to his face, slowly but surely sucking on the release that you’ve left behind.

“-tastes like honey, too.” His eyes glinted as you relaxed against him, feeling uncomfortable by your wetness as you climbed down from your climatic high. He leaned down and kissed you softly, before reluctantly breaking away.

“If ya wanna stay with me for the night, I’ll leave the door unlocked. We don’t hafta continue if ya don’t wanna.” He hummed, and you leaned up to give him a peck on the mouth.

“I’ll be there when I get dressed into my regular clothes. Mom won’t be bothered if I…take these home to wash.” You admitted rather shyly, and he chuckled.

………………

 You heavily ignored your mother, and told your friends where you were heading. Changing clothes, you walked out to meet him in his car, only to find that yes, he did change, but not into his normal clothes.

“Your teacher’s outfit?” You asked. He gave a lazy smile.

“First one ya’ve seen me in, Sugar. Thought I’d make it special.” He winked, and you smiled.

The drive to his house was quiet, but short. You were surprised on how little he cared about wearing his outfit in public, bidding the sitter farewell as he handed them some money, and basically dragged you into his bedroom.

“Ya wanna continue?” He asked.

“Yes.” You answered honestly. Giving your permission, he locked the door, and in an instant, was on top of you as your back was against the soft mattress, kissing you with fervor, kneading your still clothed breast as he drunk in on your gasps and pants.

“Strip for me.” He commanded after he broke away, looking at you expectantly. Your ache and the heat fired within your blood ate away most of your shyness, plus, you were very well acquainted with stares, but this time, you wanted it. You peeled off your clothes, shucking them on the side of the bed as you felt him eye you with that now-familiar raw hunger. Already, you wanted him to touch you, again, to warm up your cool chest, and relieve you.

“So beautiful.” He complimented, crawling his way towards you, slotting himself between your open thighs as he caressed your face rather gently despite the metaphorical nitrogen within the atmosphere, ready to consume the both of you. Your legs rested comfortably at his sides as you couldn’t help but notice the bulge pressing up against his miniskirt, creating a damp spot, causing you to buck against it. He gave a low hiss, biting his lip as he stared at your all-too hungry gaze.

“Uniform’s yer thing, huh?” He couldn’t help but ask. You shrugged a little.

“There’s a lot of things that I don’t really know.” You admitted almost rather shyly, and he kissed your forehead in reassurance.

“It’s alright.” Then, he gave a predatory smile.

“Lay back an’ relax, Darlin’. Lemme teach ya a few things.”

You couldn’t laugh at the joke. He was above you, wearing a blazer with unopened buttons and it’s sleeves rolled up, dampened miniskirt, and of course heels and stockings. His hair and eyes were wild as he looked as if he was ready to make you debauched as he was. You wanted him, too.

“First lesson, Baby,” He began, cutting you out of your thoughts as he turned towards the little nightstand within reach, not leaving his place as he absentmindedly rummaged through the contents in the drawer.

“-is to wear a condom. Didn’t know when we’ll get to this part, but I got the high dollar, good ones. Just in case.” He admitted, and you thumbed his cheek in your approval of his thinking. He leaned down and kissed you in affection, before leaning back up, giving you a show. Folding up his skirt, you bit out a whine in approval. There was an outline of his thick dick pressed against satin panties, heavily dripping precum. He noticed your thighs squeezing together against his waist, trying to find relief as your eyes lit up darkly. He groaned.

“Turns ya on, huh? Don’t worry, Sugar. I’ll give ya what ya want, soon.” He promised. You felt yourself flutter and clench onto nothing as he slid his panties to the side, hissing at the cool air hit his cock and balls, paying it very little mind as he tore the foil of the condom. It was an impressionable size in length, but it was more thick, than anything, you couldn’t help but swallow thickly, watching him struggle and groan as he wrapped the ribbed rubber onto him.

After a short break, he turned towards you.

“Right, after that’s outta the way, your second lesson, is…” He drawled out, sticking his hand back into the drawer as he pulled a bottle out.

“…Lube. Doesn’t hurt to use a lot, an’ makes yer partner slick an’ wet. Prevents me from potentially hurtin’ ya.” The last part of the sentence was said a bit softer as he flipped the cap open, pouring a generous amount of the orange scented lubrication onto his fingers.

“I’m pretty touch-starved, ya know? Not really use to touchin’ anybody, so hurtin’ ya is the last thing that I wanna do.” He leaned down, and you couldn’t help but cup his face rather gently, giving him a kiss as he moaned, lubing up the condom.

“Ya ready?” He asked.

“Yeah. I’m ready, Tai.” You gave your affirmation, relaxing fully against the mattress as he opted to keep kissing you, running one of his hands against your breasts, slowly thumbing a nipple as his other hand slipped in between your folds, massaging and opening you up, further. He didn’t linger there for too long, knowing that you were on the brink of the edge, but he did curl and scissor his fingers, getting you use to the stretch. He nipped your lip softly, before breaking away.

“Alright?”

“Yes.”

 No further words were needed as he grasped your hand within his, the other guiding himself towards your opening, prodding it gently as you felt yourself open up for him. It surprised you how smoothly at first the head slid in, you widened your thighs, feeling the thick of his girth stretch your walls to accommodate it. The stretch wasn’t painful, rather more causing a delicious friction, satisfying the ache. You couldn’t help but bite out a whimper as he finally stilled, resting fully flush against you.

“Squeezin’ me like a lifeline, Sugar. Damn, are ya alright?” He asked, resting his forehead against yours as he drank in your expression.

“More than fine. I need you to move.” You couldn’t help but blurt out, and he gave a soft huff of laughter, that bled into a groan as he gave a small push of his hips.

“You’re right, I do need to move.” He panted, giving sharper thrusts with his hips, and you mewled, trying your best to match each movement as you felt him prod a certain spot within you, churning your tight walls even further as electric heat began crackling and frizzling within you.

“I’m-! Not going to last!” You bit out, as if embarrassed, but he kissed you in reassurance.

“Me nei-ther! T’s alright, w-we can do ano-ah! Ther round.” He panted out broken words as he gripped your thigh, feeling your heated core flutter against him as his hips frantically seemed to move on their own. You bit the back of your hand, eyes widening with surprise as your release snuck up on you, catching you off guard. All of that aching and waiting, bit back with a fierce vengeance as you clenched onto him ever so tightly, refusing him to move any further, demanding his own release that had shot into the condom.

He stilled, panting out as now both hands gripped the sheets as he matched your shaking, trembling, and watery eyes. Although the both of you were absolutely wrecked, he managed to gingerly slip out of you, watching with interest as your opening was gaping at the loss, your own fluids seeping out as he tight the condom halfheartedly, tossing it in the small wastebasket, and then turning off the lamplight. He flopped down next to you, gathering your sweaty, mussed up form within his arms, sighing loudly.

“Ya’right?” He tiredly mumbled out the words in a jumble, and was relieved to feel you nod. He’ll deal with aftercare, later.

………………………….

 Life had seemed to pick up, after that. You’ve gotten into your dream job and quit the night life, Taishiro graduated and became a certified therapist while dancing from time to time, and the two of you moved in together and eventually gotten married and had a daughter, Kirin. Although rather busy, the two of you had found time to indulge in your boy’s and daughter’s lives, as well as spend quiet, quality time with one another.

Your mother retired, and handed the place to an old friend of hers who was known to to be strict with keeping her workers safe, and yet allowed anybody and everyone to be free and dress up as themselves. Nemuri and Yu had finally gotten married in a beautiful, expensive white wedding, giggling manically as Rumi had caught the bouquet, flushing considerably, as her girlfriend, Fuyumi smiled sweetly. Keigo, it turned out, was dating Dabi all this time, and the both of them rented a fancy apartment as Keigo became the sole owner of the pet shop.

 You were a little older, now, and wiser, yet still considerably young compared to of course your mother. Eijirou, now the age of nineteen, had his arms swung around Izuku, the shy boy that he met years ago, was now officially his boyfriend. You were happy for them, yet you weren’t really surprised, for Tamaki and Mirio had announced their partnership when they had just finished high school, as well.

“Kirin, stop glaring at him.” You spoke, not breaking your eyes away from the newspaper. The seven year old girl huffed loudly, before biting into her onigiri.

You weren’t sure how a feisty little thing could be your daughter, but you loved her dearly nonetheless. Especially when she was protective towards Tamaki and Eijirou when Mirio or Izuku came by, eyeing them up and down with an unimpressed scowl, more so to Izuku, for Mirio would just beam happily and ruffle her hair. Of course, then again, she knew both boys all of her life, and wasn’t too harsh on them than what she could be.  

Right now, it was a family gathering. You, your husband, the children and their boyfriends, and your mother sat at the table, sipping tea. Of course your mother would take this an opportunity to blend in with her natural environment of trash, grinning wildly at the boys.

“You know, my friend could use some help.”

“Grandma, no.” Tamaki groaned, much to Mirio’s confusion. Ejirou laughed, and Izuku, being the one most picked on, blushed furiously.

“What? My intended audience are all over the age of eighteen. Specially Zuzu, he might be trembling, but I bet he could work the pole.”

Dead silence.

“That might not be so bad.” Eijirou spoke out.

“Babe!” Izuku gasped, and much to your astonishment, Taishiro laughed.

“Ma, leave them alone.”

“Thank You!” Tamaki and Izuku said in unison.

Your mother sighed.

“Fiiiiiiiine.” She drawled out.

The rest of the evening crawled slowly as Mirio, Kirin, and Tamaki drew and colored, and Izuku and Eijirou held hands whilst talking among themselves, blushing and smiling, ignoring the world around them. After everything was said and done, the children put to bed, you rested on the nook of your husband’s arm, humming as he kissed your forehead.

“Crazy, ain’t it? Gotta lovely wife, an’ great kids, an’ a good job…” He rambled, and you gave a chuckle.

“I’m questioning if Kirin is actually mine or not.” You joked, and he laughed.

“Figurin’ this out after giving birth?”

“It’s a process.”  

He hummed, bringing you closer.

“I love you.” Although he said it so many times, the sentiment had always melted your heart and kept you warm.

“I love you, too.”

…………..

Alright! I hope ya’ll enjoyed this fic! I’m going to play Stardew Valley, now

[needtherapy]

soaring, carried aloft on the wind...continued 23

An arranged-marriage story for Xichen and Mingjue, in another time and another place.

The Beifeng, the mighty empire of the north, invaded more than a year ago, moving inexorably south and east.

In order to buy peace, the chief of the Lan clan has given the Beifeng warlord a gift, his second oldest son in marriage. However, when Xichen finds out he makes a plan.

He, too, can give a gift to the Beifeng warlord, and he will not regret it.

Part 1: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 / 11 / 12 / 13 Part 2: 14 / 15 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 19 / 20 / 21 / 22 / 23 … HOME

It’s complete on AO3 here.

Notes: Check the tags if you’re concerned about the pairings ;)

For translations of the entirely fictitious Beifeng language, you’ll have to scroll to notes. I’m only going to translate something that’s not clear in the text. Sadly, there’s just not any other good way to do it on Tumblr!

Chapter 23

Xichen has never kissed anyone but Mingjue; he is at first too shocked to react, and then an intrigued, analytical side of his mind registers the differences, the unaccountable differences. Guangyao tastes like salt and wine. He is less demanding than Mingjue in some ways, but there is a fierce intensity in him, like a darting fox on the prowl. Instead of the inexorable heat of Mingjue’s passion, Guangyao’s mouth and hands are the tantalizing flutter of wings, a brush of eyelashes across Xichen’s skin. What does it mean, Xichen wonders, that he is not repulsed by kissing Guangyao as he suspects he should be?

Guangyao makes a soft sound of surprise in the back of his throat and slides his arms around Xichen’s neck, pressing forward with his hips, pushing him back further, and Xichen realizes his intent. With a clanging gong of clarity, it stops being an entertaining experiment. Even if he is distantly curious about what it would be like to bed someone else, it is less appealing without Mingjue to share it with. And no abstract reward is worth this risk to Mingjue’s trust, to his family’s treaty or—he is now fairly certain—to Huaisang’s heart. It is no hardship to plant his feet and untangle Guangyao’s arms from around his neck.

“Guangyao, stop. You’re drunk.” Xichen murmurs, cupping his hands around Guangyao’s shoulders and pushing him gently away. Tousled and flushed, Guangyao looks hurt and vulnerable, and Xichen has a flutter of regret. But this close, he can see a faintly purpling mark on Guangyao’s neck, on the soft skin just under his jawline. “And I do not think you truly want me, do you?”

“You underestimate your appeal, Xichen,” Guangyao says, with a charming smile, smoothly shifting from brittle and aching into an openly flirtatious man Xichen is even less familiar with. He skims slim and agile hands over Xichen’s chest, hooking one finger in the neck of Xichen’s tunic. “I am not too drunk to know what I want.”

“What purpose does this serve?” Xichen asks, truly mystified. There seems to be no value in seducing the Ikarahu commander’s lover, and he is not so vain as to imagine Guangyao does anything without value.

Guangyao blinks slowly at him, glancing up through downcast eyelashes, and his smile holds an enticing promise. Xichen isn’t as immune to the seduction as he ought to be and he moves back a step, putting space between him and this dangerous version of Guangyao.

“Perhaps I am lonely, Xichen,” Guangyao says, taking a half-step toward Xichen. “Ipira’orhew Ikira has made it clear he will not be alone with me, which is flattering, but unhelpful. You, though, are beautiful and, I think, not so uninterested.”

He tips his chin up, lips parting slightly, the invitation clear. Xichen is tired of being the only one who doesn’t seem to know the rules or stakes of this game he is somehow a part of. Unhelpful, Guangyao had said. What did he mean by unhelpful? It seems an important key to unlocking this puzzle, so Xichen accepts the offer, letting Guangyao’s lips meet his and trying to ignore the hands circling his waist.

“How could I possibly be helpful to you, Yao-ti?” he murmurs against Guangyao’s mouth, and Guangyao draws back with a frown, his spine straightening. Xichen expects him to lie or deflect, but instead, Guangyao’s response is unfortunately straightforward.

“Help me...” He lifts his chin and looks Xichen in the eyes, which does not reassure Xichen in the least. “Help me find a way to send the Beifeng home or extend the armistice while my father builds an army great enough to defeat them.”

Xichen steps back, this time more firmly, this time with fear. He had so hoped that Guangyao’s aim was only personal and not political, but of course he was wrong. Of course the Jin chief would not send his son to the Ikarahu without an ulterior motive. Xichen’s father had not, although at least his father was forthright with his goal.

“What you are asking of me...Guangyao, it would endanger…” he is unwilling to share the extent of his fear, and uncertain he knows how this Guangyao will react. “It would endanger the treaty with my clan.”

“If we are successful, it will not matter,” Guangyao says, a strange light in his eyes, and his right hand clenches unconsciously. “Please, Xichen. You do not understand. There is nothing else I can do. I am running out of time, and I am running out of options. I can not fail here.”

Xichen does understand, actually. Perhaps they had not intended to kill him, but Xichen suspects Guangyao’s father has already sent him an impatient message about the consequences of failure. Xichen feels a well of sympathy for Guangyao, but...

“What have you done already?”

Guangyao stiffens, and Xichen is so afraid of the answer, whether it is a truth or a lie.

“Nothing. I have done nothing, which is the problem, Xichen. I have sent my father one message, and his answer was...not satisfied. But I can not...there is no delay he will accept.”

Xichen can not imagine how Guangyao could have sent his father a message without Huaisang noticing. But then he knows. It is the only answer that fits.

“The bridge?”

Guangyao picks up a book, an account ledger, sitting neatly on a shelf and turns it over in his hands, brushing fingers across the rough leather, a tight expression pinching the corners of his mouth into a flat line. “The Ikarahu magic is unique, Xichen. Fascinating and powerful in such a different way than our people’s. My father does not think it holds danger. He values only foot soldiers and cavalry, but...he needed to see. It is a factor to consider if he is to build an army.”

Xichen wonders how intentional it was that tricking the Ikarahu into putting their magic on display also cost Guangyao’s father a bridge, a supply route, and provisions.

“Even if your father can launch a successful attack, the Ikarahu will not turn tail and go home without what they came for,” Xichen points out. “They will fight.”

Guangyao slams the book down, his voice turning bitter and angry. “Do you even know what they came for, Xichen? What they started a war for? What your family sold you for?”

Xichen shakes his head. “Does it matter? You know, do you not? Do you think it unimportant?”

He is angry now too, and frustrated by the lies and secrets of war. It seems like a child’s game of keepaway, and Xichen feels like an unwitting pawn. This time, he will not be used.

“You do not have to stay here, Guangyao. Mingjue will send you home in a week, and you can play maka from the comfort of Jinlin Tai. I will not endanger my family on your word, and…” He squares his shoulders, making a choice. “I will not sacrifice my own happiness for the Jin.”

“Then you have killed me as surely as if you speared me through the heart here and now. My father will not accept anything but success from his eldest son. I have no choice but to do whatever it takes. Whatever I must to be welcomed back home.” His tone has a vicious bite, but inexplicably, a tear slides down his cheek, and he turns away.

“Does inheriting the Jin clan mean so much to you?” Xichen asks. “You have another choice. You could choose to stay with people who care about you.” He ventures into deeper water. “You could choose to stay for Huaisang.”

Guangyao whirls on Xichen, bursting with unconcealed outrage. “How could you possibly understand? Your life in the Cloud Recesses was a dream, a sheltered fantasy. A family who loved you, a clan that respected you, a mother whose memory you were allowed to cherish? You have always had the privilege of your status and position, and you have never known what it was to fear for tomorrow.”

The words twist with venom in his mouth, and Xichen is stunned, taken aback by the accusations he doesn’t understand. They are both the privileged eldest sons of their fathers, both given away to buy peace. Of course he has known despair. Of course he has known fear. Yet, Guangyao’s fury is so raw, Xichen senses he’s missing something vital.

“I am as much a subordinate here as you are, and unlike you, I can never go home,” Xichen reminds him, and Guangyao’s brow furrows before he laughs, as brittle and bleak as the winds that shear through the camp.

“Are you truly that ignorant, Xichen? You are the edas ahora, the beloved husband of Ipira’orhew Ikira, and I assure you, he takes that definition seriously. Ahora’ipa is not a military title like Zewu-Jun, it is a bestowed honor, the acknowledgement of a relationship so dear it has a name. Did you think they were only words? That they meant nothing more than sound? Why would you want to go home, when clearly, your fortune here is never ending, aitapaho?”

He bites off the sentence with a jagged snap, turning the endearment into a curse. Xichen ignores both the spiteful words and the words that twist in painful hope. They’re only a distraction, he thinks, a veil to hide the truth. Until now, he hadn’t been sure, but Guangyao’s determination to hurt him, to turn his eyes away, has convinced him.

“Your fortune could be the same as mine, I suspect. Why can you not accept Huaisang’s affection as real?” Xichen touches the mark on Guangyao’s neck, the darkening love bite he recognizes. “Why can you not accept that your feelings matter too?”

Guangyao flushes and meets Xichen’s eyes. “Affection is a liability, Zewu-Jun.”

Xichen has to smile because finally, Guangyao has backed himself into a corner. “If that was true, you would be seducing Huaisang instead of me. I have no power here and no military knowledge. Could it be that you do not want to use him as I know you could?”

The only answer Xichen gets is an irate exhale, and in the silence, Xichen hears something that stops his heart.

The scream of fireworks in battle.

To be concluded in part 3!

[protosaru]

Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna, review and thoughts. Spoilers ahead.

I've finally watched the movie and since I'm done sobbing for today I thought I'd share some thoughts.

First of all, I loved it so much. SPOILERS AHEAD, but I'm a big fan of the whole theme of the movie. Having to grow up and leave your childhood behind, realizing you will have to choose a path for your life at some point. It's hard to deal with not having every option at your reach. And that's what Matt and Tai are going through.

And yeah I'm gonna use those names because childhood. Very hypocritical of me.

We know Digimon unlock their evolutions when their partner grows and learns. That's how it's been in Adventure, Digimon couldn't go to their next level until their partner comes to terms with a specific value they themselves hold. Easy to explain with Tai, his crest is all about that bravery, so he has to overcome his fears once he realizes the Digital World is an actual danger for them, and then Agumon can evolve to another level. Good, easy. What happens now is that when during your life you start defining a path for yourself, your Digimon begin losing power. Paths close for you, so they do for your Digimon too, and they can't evolve. Until your Digimon vanishes.

This is pretty okay with me, but it made me so sad. It's okay because I see Digimon as guides, they don't change in personality, they just accompany you until they're no longer needed. Fair! Still, I thought they'd go for a last minute save, and I'd have been okay with that as well. When Agumon and Gabumon ask Tai and Matt what they're gonna do tomorrow, just at their last moments, and they respond that they don't know, that you don't know what the future will bring you, I held my breath. But no backsies on this movie. And that's alright.

I think I cried more for Sora than anything else. She lost Piyomon early, most probably because she had a clearer path for her future. She knew she was gonna lose her, and she didn't even attempt to fight. She stayed home with Piyomon until she was gone. It hit me, because I don't know if I wouldn't do the same.

About the villain, I'm sad and angry for her for a specific reason... I hate when adults make kids skip school years because they're "geniuses". It's bad for the kid's development, what's a 14 year old doing in university, no matter how smart she is? Having your life laid out at 14 is sad, it's not cool. So she loses her partner at a super early age because of that, and believes she must save all other digidestined by capturing their conscience and making them live in an eternal memory of their childhood, thus never losing their Digimon partners. Now that's depressing. But I see the appeal.

Now, I've seen people saying Agumon and Gabumon's last evolution is unnecessary because it's just for a short period of time. I believe you're wrong. As we've said, Digimon evolving have a lot if not all to do with their partners learning and growing. Tai and Matt come to terms with the fact that they can't live in memories forever, that they have to advance towards the future and they can't just keep being children for the rest of their lives. I think it's a really special moment. Tho I'd have liked it for them to be a fusion between human and Digimon partner!

And I'm sleepy and sad so I'm gonna head to bed and think more about this tomorrow!

[captain-of-the-roses]

Weird things Me and Dad said while talking about RWBY:

Dad: Here's my theory.

Me: Take two.

Dad: Ruby. Silver eyes. Summer realizes this and goes to Ozpin. Ozpin tells Summer about Jinn.

Me: So Summer and Raven join forces?

Dad: Not unlikely. Raven would want something in return tho.

Me: Raven is like "Ya ok but what do I get out of this" and Summer goes "You'll get answers." And Raven says "Sounds sus but ok."

Dad: Ya. So they go to Mistral, open the vault, ask Jinn about why Silver eyes are being hunted, and get their answer.

Me: Raven just nopes out of there like "I ain't ever going back" while Summer goes "Welp. Time to get myself killed."

Dad: Ya, probably. Raven leaves and Summer tries to Kamahamaha Salem with her silver eyes but dies trying.

Dad: Winter is going to kill Ironwood. Sword right through the throat.

Dad: Teah brought something up earlier-

Me: Was it the taco thing?

Mom: Taco thing?

Dad: It was not the taco thing.

Me: Oscar uses the staff and says "Spooky Spooky give us back the husband" to bring back Ozma. "Please help we have your wife and we don't know what to do with her we are sorry."

Dad: If anyone hurts a hair on Penny's head I will kill everyone and them myself.

Dad: Kill off Qrow. And Robynn. Just for the shock value.

Me: Do it infront of the kids, cause they see him as a father figure.

Dad: Yes. Do it at the end. Right after Salem is purged of her Grimm self by the silver eyes-

Me: -if the group is smart enough to figure that out-

Dad: -and have it happen unexpectedly.

Me: Do it right at the end of the volume. Have everyone's shocked faces and then cut off the season. Have Raven and Tai and Zwei portal in to and watch Qrow die. The Happy Huntresses are there for Robynn.

Mom: No! Dont kill off Qrow.

Me: Or wait for Qrow to die. Do it after Vacuo when he's adopted CFVY and the Beacon students there.

Dad: No, because, as much as I love Qrow, he's had his arc now its death time. Just have the fandom cannibalize itself.

Dad: Ozpin is hiding much more then we know. He knows too much.

Me: Is that part of the reason why he lied about the no more lies amd halftruths things? Because he knew Yang and everyone else was keeping lies and telling half truths?

Dad: Yes!

Me: Listen, Robynn has fingerless gloves. Who else has fingerless gloves? Coco and Yang. What do Yang and Coco have in common? Theyre both lesbians. Therefore, Robynn is Lesbian.

Mom: I still headcanon they are both bi.

Me: Robynn litteraly runs an army of women, Mom.

Dad: Alright, I'm not gonna interfere with your shipper logic.

Dad: I headcanon Hot Chocolate was invented during the Great War and the King of Vale tried it and was all like "This is good. I'm gonna drink it for the rest of my life." And when he was put into Ozpin Ozpin was "I have the sudden urge for Hot Chocolate."

Me: Poor Oscar.

Me: I still like your theory that Oscar has a mimicry semblance.

Dad: If they don't unlock Oscar's semblance as the ability to act as someone else and no one says "Give this man an award" I will riot.

Dad: Oz is going to have his ideal happy ending, right? What does he want most in the world? Death.

Me: Ooh, fun.

Me: I never understood why heroes do the motivational speech. Like, if someone went up to me and said "Hey wanna fight an evil organization and stop the end of the world for the good of humanity" I would be like "No thanks." But if someone came up to me and said "Wanna go fight a guy?" I would immediatly say yes.

Dad: See, that's the same thing. You just worded it differently. You got to appeal to your audience. In any case, Ruby isnt going to be able to unite humanity against Salem. Salem, however, could do something so bad that humanity turns agaisnt her without leadership. Because when someone gives a motivational speech there is always that one person that goes "BuT wHaT iF-" or when the fight begins someone says "wElL aCtUaLlY-" like no shut up.

Dad: Salem is going to be taken care of this season, and Cinder will go in Volume 9. The bad guy if Volume 10, in Vale, with be the Brothers.

Me: Figures.

Me: The staff of creation just summons a bunch of ghosts in suits discussing how to take down Salem.

Dad: a staff meeting, ha!

Me: Like Summer and Pyrrha are there in suits-

Dad: And all of the Oz incarnations. Just like "you got them in your head to?" "Yep." "Same."

Me: Do you think after they free Salem of her Grimm self she'll join the gang?

Dad: No-

Me: That's sad.

Me: *trying to explain the Oz timeline and where the Infinite Man fits in*

Dad: *nodding in obvious confusion*

Dad: Did Ozma 2.0 and Salem have a son?

Me: Diggs and Salem had four daughters. One for each season. Spring, Winter, Summer, Fall. Color coordinated and everything.

Dad: They arent going to have a happily ever after. What's going to happen is the brothers are going to view humanity as a disaster. With 3 out of 4 of the nations being in ruin, they won't see humanity as being united even if everyone worked together to defeat the final boss. So they are going to let Oz and Salem die and then send RWBY, JNPR, CFVY, ect. back to before Salem went batshit crazy-

Me: The first time or Atlas?

Dad: The first time. So they are going to stop Salem from jumping into craziness. Get it, because she jumped into the pools-

Me: I get it.

Dad: It wont be a HAPPY happy ending but there is no saving Remnant. It was a punishment anyways and Salem already won.

Me: Why cant they just put Atlas on top of the Pools of Grimm?

Dad: Because then Salem will have a giant flying castle.

Me: She already has a castle. And she has a flying whale Grimm. Just put the castle on top of the whale and BOOM! Flying castle.

Dad: I still think Jaune's sword is the Sword of Destruction. Nothing in this show happens without purpose.

Me: No, everything has a purpose, just some things get forgotten and/or ignored.

Me: The group is going to be those parents that when their kid says they don't want to do homework go "When I was your age-"

Dad: Like "When I was your age I stopped an evil monster!"

Me: "I killed my Collage Professor's evil ex wife!" Nora is going to be telling her and Ren's kids the battle of Atlas. "We were alone facimg against an army of Grimm!"

Dad: Its going to play out as Nora telling the group the Beowulf story with Ren correcting her. "We were hopelessly outnumbered." "We weren't." "Surrounded by an army of Beowulfs." "There were two."

Me: "The middle of the night!" "It was the afternoon."

Dad: Ren just resigns himself to spending his life correcting Nora's story telling.

Me: She's telling her kids stories-

Dad: And Ren is just in the kitchen making tea.

Me: Nora goes "Our teacher's wife invaded mantle with thousands of Grimm! The Jellyfish were invading Mantle!" "They were floating in the sky." "We were farther apart then ever-"

Dad: "We were a block away."

Me: "The General.... Was Ironwooding." The rest of the group comes over with their kids. Nora is screaming about the story and Ruby and Yang join in. Ren and Weiss correcting them.

Dad: Blake is in the corner drinking tea.

Me: She looks up and goes "This is great tea." Meanwhile Ren is still busy correcting Nora.

Dad: "But they didnt know we had a secret weapon... A 20 foot laser eyed robot!" "She was 4' 8""

Me: Oscar comes over one day and says "Remember that one time I was shot off Atlas by James and fell and broke my aura falling down to Mantle." And everyone is like no??? Cause with the way things are going, he's not going to tell them.

Dad: Qrow is just upstairs banging his cane on the ground like "Keep it down I'm trying to sleep!"

Me: I love how we assume Qrow lives with them.

Dad: Of course he does. Where else would he stay?

Me: Tai.

Dad: Qrow is that old nuisance who lives with them.

Me: He's an old bird half the time just chilling on everyone's shoulders. How would the rest of the group be paired up? The only canon ship we got is Renora.

Dad: What Salem did with bringing back Ozma was essentially the 'Go to ask Dad. Dad gave you an answer you did not like. Go to Mom. Mom says yes. Parents start fighting and punish the kid."

Me: If Salem had gone to the younger brother, or in this case, mom, she wouldve gotten what she wanted and there would be a war on the Brother's hands cause the older couldn't punish Salem and could only argue against the younger.