#this was a fun question thank for answering it

[gangplanksorenji]

Step One: Be Fair at All Times.

Pairing: TWICE’s Chaeyoung x Male Reader

Word Count: 5,027

A/N: Hello Orenjideul! This was a quick fic extension from the prompt exercise @mintwithchoco gave us! Thank you for another exciting prompt and it was really fun writing these kinds of stuff! Anyways, enjoy reading!

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There it goes, the devil within you tempting you and it’s only a matter of time before you give in.

The ebullient sounds of students roar around the classroom and beyond, as always, and it’s a natural phenomenon to even cause trouble somewhere near to where you are at. You can hear someone trying to separate them yet it seems like they’re failing, and nonetheless, you wouldn’t care less.

That’s you, evidently distracted as the miniscule resonance of sounds piques you as you blankly stare at the void of the paper that will define your future in this subject. It’s only a matter of time before the clock reaches zero, and you still can’t figure out why you can’t think of what can be the answer to such a simple question.

Final exam, final day, the final reckoning. The suffering is nearing its demise, but it seems to extend whenever you circulate around that damn question, and it’s just going to get worse.

You’ve cheated swiftly for god knows how many times and you’ve done it in times of desperation. Trying to cover it up with a hand up on your forehead just to look at what the girl beside you may answer—

“Letter ‘B’, huh? Seems right?” Your devilish eyes scout the prey like an eagle, capturing it and rewarding yourself with the possible fruit of your sinful labor. It pretty much makes sense, mostly complacent knowing you’ve caught the answer from one of the brightest minds this class has ever known.

You circle your answer as the clock nears its end, just with two minutes left. You feel pressured, knowing there’s three more left two answers with such little time left. All of your classmates traverse their way onto the professor’s desk and slamming the test paper there, somewhat confident and increasingly anxious.

And you, huh, stuck with the hindrance that can defy expectations.

The sound of people sharing answers and conversations distracts you, always tempted to eavesdrop with the possible answers but you miserably fail. Time is running out and you’re just the only one left in your column to be answering and with the mindset of absolute indecisiveness, you let your gut feeling break the trance and answer for yourself.

Done—three questions, three letters answered.

You fidget the hem of your shirt as your friend just outside the classroom gets your attention, gesturing to quickly go with them once you’ve passed the papers. You placed yours on top of the stack of papers that you’re unnerved to see until a force stops you from advancing further and out of the classroom. You look back and fuck, it’s Ms. Son, an eyebrow raised, her hand gripping onto the hem of your jacket.

“Go beside me, we’ll have a talk once everyone is out.”

And there your future goes, possibly reduced to atoms as your gamble didn’t save you further, and your fate has succumbed onto an unfavorable one.

Knowing you’re not going to get out soon, your friends look over at you with a face teasing you and laughs reverberating around them, as you look at them with envy and disgust.

“Ma’am, what did I—”

“Just stay there.” Her tone is stern, composed like the finest as you gulp in nervousness, not knowing what her mouth has to offer later.

Oh—and your filthy mind is fucking you up with the possible thought about—

“Not now, not now.” Is what you whisper on yourself, and it’s even making it worse knowing how every action of your professor sends those lustful thoughts up in your filthy mind.

You’re just counting each person that passes by and submitting their papers, until the last student bowed to her and shutted the door carefully, leaving you and the professor alone, and you, utterly unsure on how things may unfold.

“Take a seat.”

“Wha—what—”

“I said, take a seat and we’ll have a talk.” The look that she gave you shoots up a nerve up in your spine, and it’s intimidating, possibly coerced with those doe eyes. Your eyes are uneasy, incredibly cautious as you anticipate what she can say to you. It didn’t take long before you swiftly traverse your way onto the nearest chair and grabbed it, and seating with emotions evident precarious.

Well, it’s in ways knowing how your professor possibly caught you in the scene of the crime, and you fathom the inevitable consequence that may come right after.

“Your bright mind might know why I called you so suddenly, am I right?” In all honesty, you’d assume it’s all about how your eyes dart to the paper of others, relentless and desperate. It was the only strong answer that you can mutter to her, but your lips pursue itself to be shutted, unable to talk with how she’s getting you in this disposition of anxiety.

Then you gathered the courage, yet it wasn’t enough to be truly vocal. “N-no, Ms. Son…”

“Sure you do.” Quite the privy, and she read you like a book. “Speak up.”

Your lips quiver, the damned hubris earlier instantly fell off into a cliff so easily. You’re definitely uneasy right now, all frozen as just wanting these things to end and learn your lesson. Your hands fidget onto your pants, as she inches herself closer and breaks you in that trance. 

“You know, I’ve been watching you from the start when you took a seat in that chair. It became quite interesting considering the fact that what you’re displaying right now is clearly not what we are all used to.”

You gulped and stared at those dark orbs that emphasized that gravitas until day one, and it’s more evident with the point that she got you immobilized and that earns that subtle smirk curling up in the crevice of her lips. “And besides, you’re becoming too much of a problem, aren’t you aware of that?”

You grit your teeth not-to-harshly, lips continuously bearing the nervous state. “I am—I am p-pretty much aware of that, Ms. Son.”

Fuck, she is quick and it catches you off-guard—her hands tug on your tie, investing your utmost attention towards her and it just ignites her possibly sadistic disposition. 

Then she clicks her tongue, and raises an eyebrow. “Are you?”

You nod, eventually getting frantic as she stops you, the tremble in your breath enough to make her reconsider her control and the ways of schooling you. She looks at you, eyes scanning your features which etches a question in your brain but quickly dismisses it. She’s close enough for you to smell that floral perfume that just intoxicates you into her even more.

You’ve never been this close to a girl like this, and you’ve probably hit the jackpot consider that you’re just inches away from a tempting action that you’d be too afraid to do, considering that you’re still daunted under her spell. 

“I still can’t believe I can shut you up so easily like this.”

Then, she just pulled herself away from you gently, as she faces away from you, removing her glasses and tying up her hair with a dark-colored band which raises questions in your brain. It was out of the blue as your eyes are averted towards her and her only, then her voice heightened your senses even more. 

“You’ve been a pain for the university, in case you didn’t know—multiple reports have been scattered all over our bulletin board, written with your name for god knows how many times and thinking to myself, if you’d be any better.” Her face is stern, eyes glued to your pupils ignited with disappointment and the possible anticipation, before shaking her head slowly and clicking her tongue to intimidate you. “Guess what? Probably you will. Considering the potential—your precarious self is finally showing its true colors, hm? Well, We would be doing something unorthodox.”

Your eyebrows furrowed, utterly confused at this point as you’re oblivious with what her true motives are. “W-what do you m-mean, Ms. Son?”

“Well, I need to ask you one thing first.” She then takes a seat, now face-to-face with you as you’re in all ears to listen despite the growing discomfort and awkwardness. “Do you want it the ‘straightforward’ one or ‘thoroughly explained’ one? Both end up in the same route.”

She is full of surprises, for what you can assume. Wanting things to end as soon as possible, you ended up choosing the former choice with a stutter, and that made her smile a little.

She’s a simple woman, and you’ll get what you’ve chosen.

“You, young man, would need to confess everything that you’ve done to besmirch your name in this institution while I—” She tugs onto your belt and the hem of your pants, earning a yelp from you as she continues her proposition. “—suck your cock, indulging in the pleasure while in the challenge of telling the truth while we are at it. That’s how straightforward it can get.”

Unbelievable. That’s what your mind concluded after hearing such words that you wouldn't have thought would come out of her mouth.

It doesn’t fucking matter if you’re going to register such explicit and unethical words as her voice freezes you another time, and it’s commanding. “Stay still and say everything on my command. If I’m satisfied, I may even let you cum and consider this as something confidential.”

Jesus. You never thought she could be like this, evidently ambiguous yet here you are, unable to do anything but comply.

“Get up and strip. All the way, pants down.” You’re eager to do what she tells you to, nervously unbuckling your belt as your uneasiness earns a chuckle escaping her lips. It was quick from you, not wanting your future on the brink of collapsing, even though it’s most likely diverting to that path.

Your cock springs into life, throbbing and invigorated, and that alone, sparks the interest from her eyes. 

“Looks like your little friend here is dying for some action—did I really rile you up, hm?”

Son Chaeyoung and her choices of words are really something else, and it’s just bringing you down to your knees. Who would have thought that such a professor that looks so innocent and bubbly could be so intimidating and stern?

The duality drives you insane, moreso, the way her small, dainty fingers wrapping around your shaft, stroking it so leisurely that it makes you moan so sexily. Her modicum of patience is tested, and eventually, she’ll start the final nail of the coffin.

“Let’s start off with the tip of the iceberg, shall we?” She kneels down, abrupt with her movements as she spits onto your raging crown, lathering it with lubrication that can elevate on what’s about to happen. “Why’d you cheat, hm? You better tell me the truth.”

As you’re about to speak and look over the distance, you throbbed and moaned her name with the dismissal of honorifics, her lips quick to envelop itself on such an insatiable meal that she’s been deprived of, obviously.

“I w-was desperate t-to just, uhm—shit, oh—uh, just c-can’t think of the answers—god.”

Her bobs are consistent and moderate, her fingers massaging your base as she looks up with you, ejecting herself onto your cock with a big pop. “Tell me more, that can’t be the only reason you can come up, hm?”

You look down and admire her gradually messy façade, but then stand your ground knowing it’s the right answer. “But, Ms. Son—I a-am telling the truth—oh, shit.”

She continues to bob her head onto your shaft, skilfully impaling her throat with more than half of it, and makes one hell of a mess all around it. Her hands find their way onto your thighs, grasping it for some leverage as she wrings out the best bits of pleasure you’ve ever experienced in your entire life and adds up to the pleasure you’re experiencing.

“I j-just w-want to pass, that’s al—oh, fuck, really, Ms. So—god.” Her vibrations onto your shaft sends you in short circuits, even more with the ways she’ll hollow up her cheeks to prove a point and to diligently test your capabilities.

You weren’t taking it like what she’s possibly expecting, but it doesn’t matter—you’re fighting for what could be better here despite the challenge brought by her pleasurable mouth.

She’ll pull away from your cock, covered with her saliva and her face, getting messier that even turns you on even more. “Desperation? Wasn’t that in your vocabulary? Maybe you just wanted the fun of doing something that isn’t right, hm?”

At this point, it’s just throwing water at the ocean, because no matter how honest you can be, she’ll continue to make you cry in pleasure. Admit or not, she’s great at giving you head, possibly the best contender that gave you one and that definitely surprises you.

And you can’t think straight again to come up for a reason, as her head continues to deliver such gratification, evidently running those mascara tears on her cheeks and the lipstick that smudged onto the base of your shaft, considering how talented she is with her own limits.

She’d eventually gag, and you’d orchestrate another reason with the mix of a cry of her greatest product. You’d swim onto what her lips can offer, and you’re loving how great she blows you as the effects of anxiety fades away ever-so-quickly.

“God, that’s w-what I can j-just say—p-please, Ms. Son.”

She pulls away, and you’re throbbing relentlessly, precum spilling out and unshackled, signaling what may come closer to the promised land. “It wasn’t such a hard task, hm? Now, tell me everything you’ve done to earn yourself such a vice spot in the vicinity.”

Then, it can just spiral out of control there. You’re fighting for what you can and she’s determined to do absolutely everything to get what she wants, and you’ll give it to her, whatever it takes.

“E-Everything, Ms. Son?” She’s really testing you, revealing secrets no other ethical person should ever know but with her continuous bobs and her lazy stare towards you, seals the answer for such a rhetorical question. She didn’t even mine pulling out to let herself be clear, as actions speak louder than words, her hands gripping you tighter than usual as frantically gratifying you to satisfy her truly with your genuine answer.

Only if she knows the battle you have to go through to articulate thoughts in your head just for the urge to finish this mess of an interrogation even though it’s the natural human instinct to really indulge with such pleasure, no matter the time or place.

The struggle is stating the obvious, and that curls up a smile on her mouth between numerous frantic bobs as you whisper how good it feels, closing your eyes as the information your lips escape was reaching her wit’s end. Then she pulls, eyes darting and feels like could kill and she’s tantamount as before with the objective on why she’s doing this in the first place. “Why can’t you talk, hm? Am I making it too hard for you?”

You can’t lie, not when your heart is racing so fast that you can’t pull up a game that can possibly encourage her to believe your lies. She has the utmost authority, the unbreakable control that you wouldn’t dare break, because assessing this situation, you have everything to lose.

“Seems like you’re pretty scared, hm? All of that tough and hubristic side gone just because of my mouth—hah, it’s pretty surprising. I possibly thought you’d take me better, but it looks like this isn’t going to work so well for you, won’t it?” She’s right, goddamn right. She’s stroking you leisurely, not giving a care for what her hands can do to you as she looks, sighing in disappointment as she continues. “Look at you, all groaning and an utter mess, dying to cum—you’re going to cum, aren’t you?”

She got you into this pliant disposition, biting your lips repeatedly as the pleasure is getting too much, even if it’s just her fingers alone. You’re nodding evidently, desperate for this to be over but then you’re pretty hypocritical if you’ll deny how great she offers you pleasure.

You’re begging and she chuckles lightly with the despair and pleasure distorting your face. “Too bad you still can’t release everything yet—you still have to answer my question.”

She lets your length throb uncontrollably in the air, the poor twitching of it as it needs someone to aid it is just a sight of her own pleasure. She’s keeping her promise, words sealed and etched, and knowing you want to cum to her so badly, you’d gather up the mental drive to confess everything to your heart’s content.

“Now, speak.” She indulges down hungrily and god, you’re figuratively on your knees as her mouth is your kryptonite. 

You’re doing your best, and you’d do whatever it takes to end this up on a good note, even if it takes both your names to be besmirched, and hers with a more weighted punishment.

The sudden, lazy bobs helps you to think more clearly, and that alone is a sigh of relief. “W-we have taken a video, a h-humiliation just for fun—oh shit…”

That possibly piqued her, pulling out and looking up with that ruined countenance that you’re dying to cum onto. “We possibly came around that case, go on, don’t keep me waiting.”

“We just f-felt like it—we had some issues—oh god, uhm—l-like back then—shit.” It was a true struggle to fight it, you’d eventually give in as her head pumps onto your cock vigorously with the words you’ve said, earning more moans that just amplifies the experience. You’re possibly adapting to her patterns and the pleasure that she brings on your shaft, a scrutiny with evident efforts from you to possibly know whenever she’s satisfied or not. You still need more information to come up with reasonable conclusions, yet it’s a challenge considering the gratification that’s the bottleneck of this hypothesis.

Screw the science behind this stuff or whatever articulative, because you’re just moaning uncontrollably with faint begs that you didn’t even know your mouth could utter.

“We’re getting somewhere, huh? What issues? Anf why do it within the premises? Care to elaborate?” It’s her stare, that damn, sullied stare that’s remarkable and etched within the deepest parts of your brain, even so, making you twitch evidently that made her smile devilishly. She’d deliver such feverish then sluggish strokes that make your thighs shudder, precarious to just indulge and swim into the pleasure, yet her hands are the only one preventing the possibility of tearing down such robust architecture.

You’re trying to speak up yet you struggle, and she assures you equivocally, even though you’d know how this can end in both ways. 

“Come on, you can do it—it’s just my hands.” She continues and you’re groaning in need, even tempting to grab those blonde locks just for leverage. “Elaborate.”

It’s another cycle of agonizing pleasure, and you wholeheartedly acquiesced it—the lingering anxiety of being caught and what can destroy your image is what is keeping you away to dismiss such pleasure, and it feels wrong received something sinful with one of the most respected professors in the university.

You have a strong claim whenever things go downhill—she initiated this in the first place.

You can feel yourself getting nearer and even if she tells you not to, you feel like the d in you will break loose once she continuously pumps her head onto your ruined length. You struggle to provide details, as the play within the temperature of her warm mouth and breeze of the air conditioner really adds on riling you up, and it’s not helping whenever you look down with such a sullied visage of hers—chin dripping with her own saliva, face ruined with her makeup and tears, her necktie drenched with her drool and most of all, those unholy set of bobs that could milk the living reservoir your balls can hold.

You try your best but then you can’t take it anymore and she knows it, evident with the way your cock throbs and your plethora of pleas.

It’s coming until she pulls out again for the umpteenth time, and the climax that was supposed to hit an all-time high dies down, depositing such miniscule amounts of cum that you pray for her to be oblivious about.

“Fuck—s-shit, Ms. Son.”

She analyzes your shaft like she’s thoroughly checking test papers—eyes darting on every inch, hands inspecting and possibly admiring such a wonderful and delectable sight. “Looks like you came a little. Don’t worry, I know you can’t hold it anymore but you know that right from the start that I never break promises.”

“But, Ms. Son—”

“I said what I said.” Her fingers trace and tease your thighs, and it sends shivers with you. You know she’s just going to edge you and hinder your euphoric high when your answers are not in her favor. Again, you can’t play any games against her and not when she’s controlling you like a puppet. “Whenever I’m satisfied with your answers, I’ll let you cum, and it’s going to be better than this.”

You know the key to achieve such euphoria, yet it barely registers within you to utter what can satisfy her for two reasons: the first one can be the cause of just the immense waves of pleasure just coursing within you that makes you think that everything that you’ve been saying is disparaged, as well as the effort of articulating them with honesty; and the last, possible reason could be the criteria that doesn’t really meet the standards, therefore, the prolonging effect of an ecstatic denial.

Or the worst part is just the fact that she’s doing this for the sadistic pleasure of hers—you name it, as anything can be possible at this moment.

“Care to also explain how you had something special with a student?” Her strokes are practically in a more of a massage, dearly pleasurable and soothes you, calming your nerves and fading that anxiety away. Even with all of these, her questions still hit like a truck, getting yourself to think about the ways to feed off her satisfaction while making yourself in a great position. “A classmate rather, in fact. Really putting it up to the test, hm?”

Her strokes suddenly become frantic, mustering a velocity that plays within the limit of her wrists, and the devilish look on those eyes of hers really concludes the fact that she’s possibly playing you know. You groan repeatedly, the sea of symphonies orchestrated to best fit her satisfaction with your struggles as you deserve it (honestly, you really do, considering the defamatory things you’ve done inside the premises).

You feel yourself shuddering and begging for her mercy inadvertently, and just laugh as her strokes maintain that pace like before. “No, no—tell me why the both of you did it inside the library out of all of the other places, hm? Possibly can’t hold it in?”

Now, it seals the deal that she’s just playing with you right now, a toy that can’t do anything but release the indulgence of her dexterous masterclass. It’s definitely equivocal, and right now, the answer can possibly be obvious but it’s a must to answer her correctly, if you really want your reward. 

She stands up, looking up a little while she manages those pleasurable strokes, one and another, and you, eliciting a groan every three or two. “What about the unapologetic behavior towards your peers when playing basketball—gosh, that was a disappointment.”

That look on your face while she spills every defamatory act you’ve done says it all—frozen, eyebrows furrowed and your eyes permeated with fear and defeat. The apprehension lingers longer than before, yet it feels contradictory considering the pleasure she delivers with every stroke. 

Then she speaks again, earning a shudder on your shoulder and your gaze locking into hers. “And the worst of them all—” She tilts her head a little, eyes scanning you from head to toe, and her lips curling up that hubristic smirk, subtly nodding right after. “—is that you can’t even talk properly when a professor’s hand is diligently stroking your dick—it’s pretty much a shame, no?”

You subtly nod as your lips quiver right after, a breath summing up a note which just explains the nervousness that is still within you. Her boldness still catches you off-guard, maintaining her composure even with the investment of such an act and her ruined face thanks to her.

“But I really appreciate you trying your best even with the fact that it’s incredibly hard to think straight. Am I right?” You utter a ‘yes’ and nodded, and that made her smile in satisfaction. “But since you’ve been compliant, I think it’s time to relieve your nerves a little.”

Those words would make you erupt at any second, as your reservoir is filling up quickly, accumulating and savoring the last bits of pleasure before the climax hits you like a truck. With the persistent throbs and begs coming out of your mouth, she wouldn’t be oblivious about how damn close you are.

Then she speaks, a command eager to ignite the fuse that’s been lit up since she started this mess. “Cum. Cum for me.”

Her words unlock something within you, and it’s the best of both worlds as you grab onto the blackboard, releasing everything with your heart’s content. Spurts erupted like a volcano, shooting multiple projectiles up in the air and landing on her hand, arm, and maybe even the floor with how thick the volume of your load is. She didn’t flinch nor faze with the amounts of cum that had been deposited and made sure that she wouldn’t be as messy as she was earlier. Albeit the composure, you could tell on those eyes that she loves how hot the scene is, gleaming in satisfaction in your orgasmic trance. You feel yourself extending more than what you can bear, her strokes evident to be the contributor to the gratifying element of her dexterous expertise.

“God—seems like you’ve not been blowing it for weeks, possibly months—god, there’s so much.” Her hands feel glued to your shaft, stroking your shaft fully with a leisure pace as she kneels down, then looking up to you with a possible action in mind to conclude this denouement. 

She didn’t even dare to ask you, as she indulged into tasting you again, her lips meeting your sensitive head and her tongue dancing around the messy slit, cleaning you off. Once she feels like she's done what she can, those inviting licks on her fingers to tidy it up makes you lock your gaze onto hers, riling you up with how sensual her tongue dances around her fingers and tasting every bit of your cum, not wasting any drop.

“Gladly, your cum is enjoyable to even swallow—it tastes pretty good, possibly greater with the way I treated you.” She stands up modestly, fixing herself up as you’re still frozen on the spot, mind-boggled with what she had made you do. Then, her eyes dart that telepathic question, a confused expression of hers that is enough to break your trance and work onto dressing yourself up. 

She was quick to apply makeup on herself and maintained that professional composure even with the sinful act the both of you had invested into. “Glad you’re cooperative with me—I even expected worse but I like the way you tried. Consider this as a start of an agreement that should be strictly clandestine except for the both of us.”

You paint that confused face, unsure of what your professor is implying. “W-what does this mean, Ms. Son?”

She stares onto you with such seriousness, and then grabbing your necktie and tiptoeing a little to whisper in your ear. “I’ll ensure that I’ll cover up your defamatory acts in these premises under one condition.”

You gulp, then tilt your head a little bit and ask. “What’s t-that, Ms. Son.”

“This cock—” She cupped the bulge onto the clothed fabric, making you shudder in response as well as your eyes lighting up in anticipation of her following words. “—is the condition. I need someone to vent out my stress sometimes, and I possibly found someone who can do a great job at it.”

Now that regains the confidence within you that was dead into the greatest depths earlier, curling up a faint smile up your lips.

“But for now, let’s get out of here before anyone suspects us.” And so the both of you did, deftly to check and clean everything, making sure that nothing around the vicinity can spark any suspicious marks.

This feels surreal, every event happening in such quick succession yet you will not complain, but rather thank the gods above that this is the reality.

---

As the both of you part ways like it’s just the wind breezing by, you notice a paper that’s been in your pocket for who knows how long, and it’s surely your professor’s fault. You’re quick to unfold and open it, only to reveal such a note that can defy the future of your academic path.

“Be at the front of the women’s bathroom at 6 pm. Third building, fourth floor. See you there, I have a surprise for you.”

“Oh god, this is real, is it?” You still can’t believe what’s happening, utterly perplexed with how she possibly orchestrated this mess yet everything is certainly bona fide.

Holy shit, what can possibly fuel this of yours? Did she intentionally call you earlier because she wanted you physically? Did she want more from you? Is this just a test and you’re being lured with one of her games?

No one knows and no one probably will, because you’re living in the reality that the respected Son Chaeyoung is now something more than just a professor. Guess you may have learnt your lesson in such an unorthodox way, but it’s probably going to elevate your experience here from now on, for what it's worth.

[captain-bubble-wrap]

Taking Quinn home to meet your parents for the first time? Could the reader have a little brother who knows who Quinn is? Pretty please? 🎀

"Oh, be warned, mom is probably going to give you a kiss."

From the driver's seat, Quinn gave you a peculiar look as he rounded the last corner before finally arriving at your parent's house. He didn't know what to do with the tidbit of information you had given him, which prompted you to elaborate. You knew you should have probably declared that a lot earlier, but it had simply slipped your mind. It had been quite sometime since you had brought anyone home since moving away.

"Just on the cheek! She's...just really affectionate!"

Returning his eyes to the road, Quinn's tone dropped, "Is there anything else I need to know?"

"Daddy will look at you like he wants to shoot you...but only for a few minutes."

It was a nervous laugh that came out of Quinn's mouth. "Yeah, that's uh-- that's good to know. Thanks-- babe."

"Oh, stop! You'll be fine!"

It was obvious Quinn was nervous, and while you tried to reassure him that everything was okay, he still looked at you with unease after parking the car. This was supposed to be a fun day, and you felt responsible for the sudden shift in the overall mood.

"I promise they'll love you!" You reached over and touched his hand. "I promise."

Quinn gave you the softest smile before following you out of the car. He shuffled silently behind you, up the sidewalk and to the front door where after a short moment, your mother answered your knocking.

"Oh, you finally made it!" She hugged you first before zeroing in on Quinn, who still was lingering on the porch. "You too, Quinn! Come on!"

While he got the mother treatment, you made your way over to your dad, who was getting up from his chair.

"So this is the guy, huh?" He wasn't the most affectionate man, nor the most chipper when it came to who his daughter was involved with, so you didn't take his lack of warmth too personally.

"Be nice! He's sweet, you'll like him. And I'm happy to see you, too!"

His grumble was to be expected. He had yet to "like" any of your boyfriends; his standards just seemed too high. "Mhm, you've said that before."

You'd roll your eyes before leaving him to go rescue Quinn. "Mom! Let him breathe!"

"Oh, he's fine! It's good to finally meet you! Y|N has told us quite a bit about you, but I'm sure she's been holding back!"

Yours and Quinn's cheeks flushed with pink; yours because your mom had just revealed how often you talked about him, and Quinn's because he was being talked about... Before either of you could open your mouths to say anything in objection, your little brother came running from his room upstairs. The sounds of his rapid footfalls made everyone turn towards the thuds. He had just turned fourteen and was loving being the only child in the house since you had moved out.

"Whoa, what is Quinn Hughes doing in our living room?" He had come to a stop in the middle of the staircase, and was staring at Quinn, mouth slightly open at the sight of the hockey player standing there.

"How do you know who he is?" Questioned your mother, confused by the sudden change of events. She looked from your brother, to you, and then finally at Quinn. He was smiling, hands in his pockets as he hated being the center of attention for anything.

"He's the captain for the Vancouver Canucks, mom!"

"The who?"

Your brother threw his head back as he sighed, still the drama queen you realized. "Hockey, mom! C'mon!"

"Attitude," barked your dad, growing more annoyed with the back-and-forth. Now was about the time that he took his afternoon nap, and like a toddler, he was getting grumpy. Your brother, ignored the fact that he was being reprimanded, an made short work of the rest of the stairs to stop right in front of Quinn. He had yet to even acknowledge you were standing there!

"You're like the best defenseman in the league! I can't believe you're in my house!"

"Meet your biggest fan, Quinn," you teased as your brother eyed you like he had caught you in the act of theft.

"You're dating my sister? What the heck?"

Quinn smirked despite the family dynamic being a little chaotic at the moment, "Yeah, for about a year now."

Your brother didn't know how to respond to what Quinn had said, and opted to give you another judgmental stare instead. He had been around ten when you moved out, and neither of you had been real close whenever you had lived together. Now, however, you felt like complete strangers; he only seemed interested that you were home because of who you had brought along.

"Gross! You could do better!"

"Parker!" Hissed both of your parents in unison. You stifled a snort at him getting double-teamed; poor Quinn, however, looked lost at sea.

"What? It's true!" He snickered, looking back at Quinn like he was going to somehow agree with the childish statement. "Hey, do you think you could sign one of my sticks?"

Breaking up your brother trying to be the center of attention, she turned back to Quinn, "Y|N said you played hockey, but we didn't realize you played professionally! You're so young! And Parker, leave him be, alright? There will be plenty of time for all of that later. They've not even taken their coats off! Come on, you two. Let me make you both something to eat. I'm sure you're hungry."

Parker couldn't get over the fact that he had just met his sports idol, your boyfriend no less. He couldn't wait to tell the team at practice. They weren't going to believe him!

[rasenkaikyo]

Oh, awesome!!

As it had been making rounds on Bluesky, I answered them all there!

Thank you! They were fun questions to answer 💜

I decided to make a very in depth and fun ffxiv oc question meme! (Feel free to steal and use)

[grandline-fics]

Single Red Rose with Shanks please~ 🌹

DESCRIPTION: Single Red Rose- When your date goes wrong, they come to your rescue

WARNINGS: none come to mind

CHARACTERS: Shanks

WORDS: 1,434

A/N: Thank you @littlemissmav for this valentines request. I had a lot of fun with this one and I hope it's to your liking! 🌹

*REQUESTS ARE OPEN*

DIRECTORY | PROMPT LIST | KO-FI | VALENTINES EVENT MASTERLIST

———————

The bar was as uncharacteristically lively for it still being relatively early in the afternoon but this is what happened when the Red Haired Pirates came back for their visits. Their presence never failed to bring a fresh surge of life to the otherwise calm and peaceful island. The best food and drink were always brought out the second their ship appeared on the horizon in swift preparation for when Shanks and the crew disembarked from the Red Force and began their usual route through the city, gathering their loyal fanbase of civilians eager to hear the newest stories of the crews’ exploits and adventures and those begging to go with them when they’d eventually leave again. As always regardless of what the flurry of questions thrown his way was, Shanks merely laughed and told them. “Have a little patience. We’ll eat and drink first and then we’ll talk.”

“What? Please tell me you’re joking!” Your voice cut through Shanks’ attention on the group he was sitting with in the tavern. Mostly because even though you hadn’t yelled your tone was a definite shift from the air of festivity. His attention was also caught because he had noticed you from time to time when he stopped by the island. With his tankard of ale poised at his mouth, Shanks glanced over his shoulder to see you stood in the corner of the room staring at your friend with wide eyes. “You set me up with someone I don’t even know? Are you crazy?!”

“What?” You friend asked with a small shrug, unbothered. “He’s cute in a certain kind of way.”

“So you go out with him then!” You hissed and Shanks held back a chuckle. 

“It wasn’t me he wanted to ask out, not that it matters. It’s a double date, so I’ll be there too if that’s what you’re worried about.”

“Th-that doesn’t matter. What possessed you say yes on my behalf and without even talking to me about it first?” You asked, unable to wrap your head around what was thrown at you. You thought you were having a night out with your friend, now you were facing the reality that a date you hadn’t agreed to was on their way. 

“There wasn’t much time. Besides every time I try to set you up with someone you back out. I think this’ll be fun, you need to put yourself out there again.” Your friend assured you with a smile. “Come on, it’s almost time to meet them. You’ll be thanking me tomorrow for this, I just know it.”

“I highly doubt that.” You grumbled, being pulled from the tavern to the meeting spot. You were still not happy that your friend had yet to apologise for all but forcing you into this with no warning. You were so wrapped up your forced date that you failed to notice you’d gotten Shanks’ attention the whole time, his keen gaze following you as you left the tavern against your will. With you gone, Shanks effortless reentered the conversation currently happening at the table like nothing had happened but his curiosity was definitely piqued.

For the next hour he remained at the bar, enjoying the awed stares as the stories were shared and drinks continued to flow. Still though Shanks couldn’t stop thinking about your unhappy expression as you were dragged from the bar. It was so unlike you because anytime he did spot you in his visits here you were always smiling so sweetly. It didn’t sit right with him that you were clearly uncomfortable but who knew? Perhaps the date was actually working out well as your friend had predicted it would. Knowing he couldn’t properly enjoy himself until he had his answer, Shanks got to his feet and lightly clapped Benn on the shoulder. “Going for a change of scenery. Might be back in a bit.”

Used to his Captain’s random whims, Benn merely nodded and waved him off. He’d either see Shanks back here, back on the ship or randomly the next day at some stage depending on what kind of mischief he managed to come across on his solo wandering. Shanks didn’t know exactly where you’d gone for your date but he'd been to the island enough times to know the key spots couples tended to go to-especially for first dates- and headed for those first. The first couple places got him nowhere but the third place he spotted you immediately. Your friend and her date were all but draped over each other while you were the complete opposite to your date. You sat angled in your seat, trying to create space between you and him while he was oblivious and attempting to convince you to come closer.

“Promise I won’t bite, don’t be shy and come closer.”

“I’m happy where I am thanks.” Oh this was painful to watch and Shanks’ eyes narrowed slightly when he saw your date gearing up to press again for you to move closer to him. Immediately he approached, throwing his arm out wide and calling out to you. “Baby, there you are!” You and the others in the building looked his way and when you saw the Emperor’s stare on you, you choked on your drink. No. There was no way he was talking to you and yet here he was, not looking anywhere else but your face. “I was looking everywhere for you. I know I was a little late but that’s no reason to go out with someone else to make me jealous.”

You could only part your lips and try to remember how to speak but nothing coherent was coming to you. All you could really register firmly in your mind was Shanks was in front of you. Your shock only grew when he fell to his knees in front of your seat and took your hand into his. “Please give me another chance. Just say the word and I’ll sweep you off your feet all over again.”  

Shanks gave you a wink that your date couldn’t see, wordlessly telling you to play along. At the prospect of cutting the date short your brain began to function again and you let out a small laugh. “Sweep me off my feet, huh?” You repeated, feeling your nerves settle when Shanks’ strong fingers lightly squeezed yours in reassurance. Feeling stronger you cleared your throat and tried to look convincing enough that the others wouldn’t see through the lie. “I suppose giving you a second chance is the least I could do seeing as you tracked me down.”

Grinning Shanks was on his feet in seconds and in a swift but smooth motion had you lifted onto your feet and effortlessly guiding you outside. “Seriously thank you for that, you’re a life saver.”

“Life saver?” Shanks grinned as you let out a calming breath, leaning against a random building he’d stopped beside. “He that bad?”

“Apart from the backhanded compliments, blatantly eyeing up others, and ordering more drinks before I was finished my first one yeah he was swell.” You sighed. You had a feeling your friend only dragged you along on the date because hers asked if she knew anyone for his friend and it had nothing to do with getting you to ‘put yourself out there.’ Still Shanks didn't need to hear any of that, he’d done his part so you smiled at him once more and moved to walk again. “Thanks again.”

“Woah, where do you think you’re going?” Shanks asked, falling into step beside you but remaining a gentleman by not touching you. Last thing he wanted was to take you from one uncomfortable situation and put you in another. “I promised to sweep you off your feet, remember. That's if you want to?”

“You were serious?” You asked in surprised, looking to see he his expression showed no deception. There was no denying he was a very handsome man and it wasn’t everyday you got an offer of a date with someone like him. “Okay, I did promise you a second chance after all. Sweep away.” Grinning Shanks stepped a little closer and took your hand to lead you somewhere different, glancing at you when you laughed softly. “When you got on your knees back there and pretended to beg for me to take you back I thought you were going to propose.”

“I guess it did look like that.” Shanks agreed with a laugh before offering you a playful smile. “But before we move on to marriage we’ll eat and drink first…then we’ll talk.” 

——————————————-

TAG LIST (If I’ve missed anyone or if you want to be added just let me know) @3v37773, @tsaaps , @i-am-all-love-puns-and-lazy , @sanemisnonexistenteyebrow , @fiery-captain-spider-santa, @kabloswrld , @atanukileaf , @ane5e , @stuckinthewrongworld , @deathsmajestysworld , @cloudysunset04 , @chillerkiller , @extremely-ashtridic , @decayingpizza , @liesatemyocean , @ace-for-ace , @nerium-lil , @destynelseclipsa , @dreamcastgirl99 , @my-name-is-heartache , @iamn1ya ,  @yunho-leeknow , @hinata7346 , @h0oouwlss , @missrandomdreamer , @sleepykittycx , @ddawn111 , @jaygrl22 , @sylum , @acehyacinth , @resident-cryptid , @treelogirl , @maellem , @its-a-dam-blue-brick , @thulhu , @appalost , @dindjarins1ut , @irumawife , @laidenbreecatchall , @redwolfxx , @jevoislesbrasdemer , @schanwow , @pao198391 , @glitchtricks94 , @nina-ya , @48daisies , @rosemary-lungs , @sagyunaro , @artemis162534 , @thecraftywriter

[tokyo-daaaamn-ji-gang]

Can you make headcanon about izana and Mikey in the final timeline how they interact ect please and thank you🙏

Yeah here are some with what I think their relationship is like!

Their relationship is basically "hey only I can bully him!" They won't hesitate to throw hands or tease each other, trying to make each other mad but if anyone else tries to do it? Then they're beating them up like "hey that's my brother!"

Izana and Mikey's rooms can't be next to each other or they just end up banging on the walls to annoy each other

Izana helps Emma to steal Mikey's blanket/towel so it can get washed. Everyone wins this way (aside from Mikey who's pouting the whole time).

Grandpa Sano remains unfazed about everything, Izana and Mikey can be throwing food at each other across the kitchen table and he'll just keep reading his newspaper.

They get very competitive with each other while riding bikes, always racing each other. Despite the competition though it typically ends with both of them smiling and laughing about something that happened, it's clear they had fun together. 

One time when both Grandpa Sano and Shinichiro had to go out, Shinichiro struggled with choosing who's in charge. Izana is older but Mikey's lived here longer, he ended up leaving Emma in charge. Izana and Mikey bickered the whole time about who's more responsible.

Izana and Mikey compete over who can give Shinichiro and Emma their birthday presents first. Shinichiro normally gets squashed in this process since they jump on his bed to try and get there first (they're more gentle with Emma)

Izana and Mikey's rooms are pretty much opposites, Izana's room tends to be kept fairly clean while Mikey's is more messy. Emma thinks this is pretty amusing.

Izana hated that he had to join toman at first

Mikey keeps trying to convince Izana to name one of his fish "Manjiro" or "taiyaki" but Izana thinks those are both stupid names.

Sometimes they'll team up against Shinichiro or Emma to tease them about something.

Izana finds it very amusing to leave out the curry filling taiyaki's in the kitchen (he know Mikey will steal them) then watch as Mikey gets upset because he assumed they were red bean paste. 

Izana being at Mikey's races always motivates him more (he definitely doesn't want Izana to tease him about losing)

Mikey actually quite enjoys listening to Izana play the guitar 

They both had and saved each others backs in multiple fights before 

When Emma has her baby although they both bicker a lot about who the best uncle is (it's Shinichiro). They also work together a lot to help look after the baby and will sometimes babysit together. 

And finally, one time at one of Mikey's races they were interviewing 'fans' and Izana was picked to answer some questions (no one realising who he is to Mikey). When he was asked on his opinion of Mikey, Izana was tempted to say something else but ended up being honest and complimented Mikey's driving. What he didn't realise is later on this would be shown on tv and Mikey would see it. Mikey teased him for a whole month about how much Izana clearly admires him (he was pretty happy with the comments though). 

[benz12313]

🥺👉👈 ridoc who falls head over heels in love with violets twin who is autistic and he's an absolute sweetheart to her, and helps her when she needs something and protects her.

Also their dragons are mated and aotrom is very over protective of her.

I had so much fun writing this. I hope this was written well. As a parent of an autistic child (diagnosed) and as someone who suspects herself and her other child are AuDHD but in the process of getting diagnosed, I really tried to represent this well. I also think in the Fourth Wing universe, at least in Basgaith, many mental differences are shunned or looked down upon, so I went that angle with this fic. Please give me feedback on how I did with this request. I also have some ideas for a part two so let me know if you'd like that! Thank you for your request though! I had a lot of fun working on it. :)

Own Worst Enemy - Ridoc x Sorrengail!Reader

Warnings: violence, death, dragon mate possessive behaviour

Word Count: 4,274

I sat quietly next to Violet, as she interacted with her- our friends. As much as they assured me that I was just as included as her, I’d never really felt that way. I wasn’t like her. I didn’t know what to say, what to do? Always feeling a little bit lost when the group was together, like I was one step behind, too busy analyzing everyone to add my own input into conversations. Sometimes it felt like they only put up with me because I was Violet’s twin, and not nearly as breakable as her. 

I was good with schoolwork and okay with challenges, at least good enough to hold my own and take minimal injuries; and my joints are stronger than hers, not popping and breaking under pressure. Perks of being a fraternal twin I guess. Our DNA isn’t identical. No, something else in me feels broken. Something deeper. More substantial. Something I never talked about with anyone, ever. 

Violet has asked before, in my moments of weakness, when everything is too much and I can’t hide. But I always am able to reign it back in then, hide it all behind a smile and recite lines I know will appease her worry. After all, the mask I wear protects me, especially growing up in a family where weakness isn’t tolerated. Even Dad, who saw straight through me. He expected me to reign it in too. Taught me in his own ways how to know what to say, how to make people look away, how to breathe when it was too much. Yet he still expected me to conform, to act like everything was okay. Like I wasn’t broken and weak minded. 

I was a good actress at least. Everyone just thought I was quiet and reserved. And they never looked too hard at me, letting me fall into the background. I preferred it that way, it was much easier.

Everyone, except Ridoc Gamlyn, of course. He was always right there. In my space, but somehow, I never minded it. Maybe because with Ridoc, it didn’t matter what I said, he just accepted it. When I missed an unwritten social rule, he just smiled and responded, somehow getting what I was trying to say instead of harping on how I said it. He was annoying at times, always a bit loud, but he could say or do whatever he felt like with no reservations, easily breaking through my walls like no other could. Not even my own sister. I was honestly a bit jealous. 

Ridoc wouldn’t let me fade either, prodding me to talk with him while the others were occupied in their own conversations. His voice usually quieter in those moments when he was trying to get me to reconnect, asking the oddest questions about whatever I was working on. It worked though, making my mind settle as I answered whatever he’d asked me, the casual back and forth grounding me, easing my anxiety over messing up. 

He could see me. Really see me, like nobody ever had. It didn’t take me long to understand though, as I quickly became interested in trying to figure him out. Nobody really saw him either. Seeing what he wanted them to see. The loud, boisterous, sexually overconfident man he let everyone see wasn’t all of him. He didn’t let them see his worry over schoolwork, or over whatever current obstacle we were being thrown as new riders (currently the gauntlet) or his disappointment when a night of fun never became anything more, even if his conquest came back, it was never more than for another round. It was such a carefully crafted act that nobody thought to ask questions, nobody seeing that there was even an act to catch. 

Nobody could see. But I could. And he knew I could, giving me a knowing smile in his moments of weakness, but I never knew what to say to make it better. I don’t really think he wanted any sympathy, hence the mask that mirrored my own. He interested me though, so completely different than the others. Even though that’s what he wanted, I could never truly look away. Not when he’d become my biggest source of safety in this death college. 

Always pushing me on the mat, giving me pointers on how to improve. Walking with me when I needed a moment, my body feeling restless. Talk about my books, even the smutty ones, maybe especially the smutty ones. He’d grin and let me talk for hours, sitting on his bed in the men’s dormitory as we talked quietly. He’d glare at any of the other men who looked at us too long, daring them to say something. To make one move towards me. None ever did. And he always listened, asking questions that actually made me think, or that would lead me to another tangent.

Ridoc Gamlyn was an enigma I could barely understand, so I too hung around. Maybe it was the same for him. Maybe we were both just trying to figure the other out, never quite getting there. Never quite understanding. But accepting. Always accepting. 

“I think, maybe you could bounce back and forth up the chimney. Your joints aren’t as weak as Violet’s so if you get enough speed and momentum…” He trailed off, as he watched me nudge my sausage across my plate. “Y/N?”

I met his warm brown eyes for a moment before my eyes quickly returned to my plate, torturing my sausage again. “I get what you’re saying. It’s worth a try.” It was presentation day, and this was my last try after all. Violet had told me her plan, but it wouldn’t work for me. If both of us pushed the rules like that, then one of us would definitely be disqualified. It was her plan, so I told her I’d already found another way. Lied through my teeth, but she’d let it go so it must’ve been convincing enough. 

“C’mon, you’ll make it.” He assured, like there was no possibility I wouldn’t. “After all, my best friend isn’t a weakling.”

The twisting in my gut wasn’t unfamiliar, it happened every time he mentioned us as being friends. Why? I wasn’t quite sure, and it was one of the few things I refused to ruminate on. I refused any negative emotion when it came to Ridoc, too afraid to let anything take hold and then let the emotions push away my only solace in this place. 

“Yeah.” I sighed. Then forced a smile as I met his gaze again, holding it this time. “Just want it to be over with.” 

He smiled, moving some hair out of my face, the annoying strand of hair that always refused to stay in my crown of braids. “I know you do. And you’re gonna kick ass, and then in two days, we’re gonna get dragons and be certified badasses.” He sent me a big grin and I sighed, looking away to hide the smile blooming on my lips. I speared the sausage on my fork and plopped it in my mouth, finishing my breakfast. 

“Yeah, yeah. Can’t get rid of me that easy.” I joked and with a quick glance from the corner of my gaze I saw his smile widen. 

“Exactly Sorrengail. You’re stuck with me. Forever.” I laughed, before standing, Ridoc quickly following me. “Besides, I haven’t heard about the end of that dark romance you’ve been reading. It’s just started getting good. And I won’t have the patience to read it myself if you go and die on me.”

“Glad to see I have some use.” I snorted at him, my body relaxing the moment we’d gotten to the hall. The noise of the cafeteria fading the further we got from it. Finally, I could actually hear myself think now. 

“Oh don’t be like that! You’re smarter than Violet, and that’s saying something.” He said and I rolled my eyes. 

“No, I just watch more than she does. It’s easier to put things together when I don’t have to worry about holding a conversation at the same time.” I countered and he chuckled, pinching my side and making me squirm away. I still giggled against my will though. “Plus the photographic memory helps.” I snorted out another laugh when he poked me again. “Stop that!” 

“Okay. Okay.” He relented, giving me a goofy grin and shoving his hands in his pockets. I knew that was the only way he’d be able to not touch me as he tried to honor my wishes. Ridoc never really could seem to keep his hands to himself when he was near me. Especially when he was nervous. “Don’t discount yourself though. You’re brilliant. Own it.”

“Shut it Gamlyn. I’ve got enough to worry about.” I sighed, taking in his expression before bumping his shoulder with my own. “Don’t need to worry about me okay? I won’t die today.” 

The anxiety in his eyes faded, replaced with all consuming warmth as I was stuck in his gaze. He opened the door ahead of us, not saying a thing. 

Ridoc’s POV

I held the door for her, warmth pulling at me as her gaze never faltered. I believed her, after all, it wasn’t often that she lied to me. In fact, she was usually unabashedly honest with me. A fact I was grateful for. She hid herself from the rest of our friends, her sister, but couldn’t hide from me. 

Her brilliant mind fascinated me, she was amazing in her own unique ways. How the others couldn’t see it was beyond me. She was definitely the strongest, and smartest of us. I just wish they could see that, that she could see that, just once. She finally rolled her eyes, moving through the door as her cheeks went pink and my chest swelled with pride. 

She was beautiful, in every way, and I'd been hopelessly pining after her since that first night when we’d been assigned to the same squad. When she’d finally met my gaze with those pretty y/e/c eyes of hers, catching me in a trance as she looked through me. Past my confident facade, straight to my core, past all the bullshit I wore like armor. But then she didn’t call me out like most would have, just cocked an eyebrow at me, and looked away. Like it was some secret that she was electing to keep for me. 

I’d been practically begging for her attention since, especially after I’d figured out that she was pretending too. That she hid herself, afraid of the inevitable rejection too. But she didn’t play pranks, pretend to be stupid and refuse any feelings too painful to address. No she refused everyone, never letting anybody too close to be able to hurt her. Only letting the rest of our friends close enough to see what she deemed the useful parts of herself, but never close enough for them to really see her. But she let me. And I knew it was because she saw our similarities. 

I was broken from my thoughts when we made it to the gauntlet, and fear seized my heart. As quickly as it’d taken over, it was gone because Y/N shoved my shoulder with hers again, sending me a bright smile. 

“We’ve got this Ridoc.” It was simple, yet wholly convincing. 

“We’ve got this.” I repeated, squeezing my hands into fists in my pockets to keep them still. To keep them from pulling her into my arms, and never letting go. 

Y/N’s POV

I made it. I fucking made it! Shock seized me as Ridoc’s bellows rang in my ears, not quite hearing it even though his words echoed through me. His arms were wrapped tightly around me, spinning me around as he held me in a bone crushing grip. He set me back on the ground but didn’t let go, burying his head in my shoulder. 

“You made it.” He whispered, and I nodded, tears pricking in the corner of my eyes as emotion flooded through me. Everything was suddenly too much as I hid my face in his chest. Breathe in. Out. In. Out. In. Out.

“I made it.” I whispered back, squeezing him from where my arms were wrapped around his neck. 

We made it through presentation as well. Though several of the less savory of our squad couldn’t say the same for themselves. None of the dragons really stood out to me, a hollow feeling in my chest as I walked off the flight field. I won’t be chosen. I knew none of those dragons would choose me, deep in my soul. I didn’t say anything though, not until I was sitting criss-cross with my back leaning on his pillows and headboard as I watched him sharpening his sword, talking about needing to be ready for threshing. 

“Did you-“ I paused when he quieted and glanced up at me, “Did you feel any of their approval?” I asked, voice barely above a whisper. 

“The dragons?” He asked, putting down the stone in his hand and setting the sword to the side. Damn him, he must’ve noticed my shift in mood, deciding to focus on me completely now. I nodded. He thought a moment, his face shifting into contemplation, a look I couldn’t help but find so handsome. “Not really. There was those greens that crowded your sister. But I was terrified of them. Maybe that brown one, towards the end, that was annoying the others? Rolling all around them. He was funny. But I don’t know, none of them really jumped out at me.”

He hadn’t been able to take his eyes off that brown. I remember following behind him, watching him as he had softly chuckled at the dragons antics. For him to have brought it up again…maybe he was just lying to me, or himself, but he’d definitely had a connection to that dragon. My heart dropped. 

He must’ve seen it too because he sighed, before crawling over and wrapping his arms around me as he pulled me into his side, and I leaned my head on his chest. “You are gonna get a dragon tomorrow. I just know it. Maybe your dragon just isn’t sure about you yet.”

“Comforting.” I snorted, voice devoid of emotion.

“Look, I know I haven’t convinced you, and you’ll be thinking some awful things about yourself now.” He paused, sighing and looking unsure of himself as he tried to find the right words to soothe me. Failing, but he’s cute, trying like that. “Just trust that I know, more than I’ve known anything that you will get a dragon tomorrow. If any of us deserves one, it’s you.”

The raw honesty in his voice made my heart race, and despite myself, his words gave me an inkling of hope. Hope that he was right. That there really was a dragon out there who could accept me, despite my shortcomings. Hope that a dragon would find me worthy. 

“Thanks Ridoc.” I mumbled, and hoped that he’d hold me just a little longer as I worked to pull myself back together. 

He did. 

Ridoc’s POV

I wandered the woods, my mind occupied with Y/N and her show of weakness last night. She never let the facade fall that completely before, she was scared. More scared than she’d been for the gauntlet. Afraid a dragon wouldn’t want her. I frowned as I hid behind a tree as a red passed by. I knew that one wasn’t mine, but luckily it either hadn’t noticed me or decided to spare me instead. 

I’d felt a tug all afternoon as I wandered the forest, coaxing me further and further inwards, where I knew that brown was waiting. I’d meant what I said last night, it’d only been once I’d left my friends that I felt the tug. But Y/N had caught what I hadn’t last night, in that way that only she does, already knowing the brown had intended on choosing me. 

I finally started moving again, lost thinking about Y/N. Too lost to notice the forest shifting in front of me, until a deep male voice rang through my head, ‘Oh come on! You didn’t even notice me!” 

I jumped back two feet, suddenly seeing two large golden eyes staring at me from a large brown swordtail that was hanging from a particularly large tree. A tree that still looked like it was about to buckle under the weight of him. 

“S-sorry.” I stuttered out. 

The brown jumped from the tree, landing on the ground and sending me staggering from the shockwaves. ‘I suppose I’ll forgive you. Only cause you’re so worried about her. Call me Aotrom, I’ll give you my full name later. You’re mine now.’ He sniffed at me as he circled me, before settling in front of me again, looking proud of himself. 

“You mean Sorrengail? Y/N?” I specified, remembering Violet was out here too. 

The dragon made a sound, that sounded suspiciously like a snort. ‘Who else? Your mate of course.’ 

My body froze as my mouth fell open in shock. “She’s not! We’re not-“ I shook my head. “She’s my friend.”

He tilted his head, looking confused. ‘Oh? I thought…’ He sounded confused too, thinking, before his face lit up again, tail wagging back and forth. ‘I see! Eve did say she thought you two hadn’t acted on it yet when I shared my memories with her. I guess she’s right!’

My mind was swimming. This-my dragon, Aotrom, was unlike any other dragon we’d learned about. That was for sure. And he thought me and Y/N were mates??? “Who’s Eve?” I finally let the words out and the dragon puffed his chest out as he straightened with obvious pride. 

‘My mate of course.’

Y/N POV

I kept a hand over my mouth as an orange slinked by, sniffing the air. I willed my traitorous heart to slow, afraid that the nasty looking dragon would hear my heartbeats and try to eat me. Eventually he slinked out of view, and I let out a small breath as I continued on my way.

I still felt that hollowness. No pull anywhere as I wandered around aimlessly. I’d run into a dozen different dragons now, and felt nothing from any of them. 

I silently wondered if Ridoc had found that brown swordtail. I wondered if Rhi and Violet had found theirs too. If Sawyer would finally get his own. If I would be forced to repeat the year as well, and start over next year. 

I paused when I heard a rustling in the bushes, but before I could hide, one of the other cadets strode out. It was one that hung by Barlow, not in his inner circle but itching to move his way in and appease the cruel man. He was tall and fit, definitely a foot taller than me. I palmed my daggers as he stared at me, cruel grin forming as he looked me up and down. 

“The quiet Sorrengail twin.” He hissed and I glared. 

“Won’t earn you any points with Barlow killing me.” By sheer will my voice was strong. 

“Oh, but it will weaken her, and Barlow will approve of that if he hasn’t killed her by the end of the day.” My heart raced at his words as I steeled myself for the fight ahead of me. He wasn’t backing down now. 

He ran four steps raising his sword and was about to swing when air rushed around me, and then suddenly he was lifted off the ground, a giant scorpion tail sticking out his back and through his chest. With a flick of the tail his body flew behind me. 

But I was frozen in fear. Standing in front of me was a dragon, with navy blue scales and bright green eyes narrowed on me, assessing. Waiting for what my response would be. It’s tail moved slowly now, curling around its body, which gave me some hope that this dragon didn’t plan on killing me. Yet at least. 

“Thank you.” I whispered, lowering my gaze as my thoughts went wild. There weren’t supposed to be any blues out here today. 

‘I came because my mate wished to take a rider, that’s all.’ Her voice was majestic, beautiful and commanding, filling my head and making my eyes snap back to hers. She was talking to me…but that meant… ‘Yes, Strategist, I agree with my mate’s assessment. You are worthy of being mine, despite your worries. He may have been selfish, having chosen his own already, but he had assured me that you would do me proud young warrior. Now, climb on, before I change my mind.’

She chuffed out a puff of air in my face and I chose not to argue and climb atop the small blue dragon. She wasn’t the smallest of the ones we’d seen during presentation, but she definitely wasn’t the largest, I noted as I climbed on top of her. 

She grumbled. ‘I am only 21!’ She hissed out the words irritated with my…thoughts. Great she can read my mind. ‘I will grow with time! I’ll be bigger than Aunt Sgaeyl even! Just you watch!’

So don’t mention her size. Noted. Wait, Sgaeyl? Riorson’s dragon??? 

‘My name is Eventhasil, but you may refer to me as Eve.” Then she was launching into the air not a second after I had thoroughly settled into the seat, ignoring my mental question of her lineage. I gripped her tightly with my thighs, hanging on for dear life. Once she leveled out, not jostling me at all anymore, I was able to actually enjoy the wind flowing through my hair. Joy flooded me and tears welled up again. I was actually chosen. 

‘That is a habit we will have to kill with prejudice. Your doubt in yourself is sickening.’ Though her words were harsh, I think that was supposed to be encouraging. 

‘What about your mate?’ I asked, changing the subject. ‘What’s he like? Who has he chosen?’ It would be nice to know exactly which cadet I’m now tied to for the rest of my life.

‘He approaches.’ She says simply, her voice going quiet as she speeds up, forcing me to hold tighter as a brown tried to catch up. Were they…racing? ‘Yes, and if Aotrom wins he’ll be insufferable. Hold tight.’ Determination laced her tone as she tightened her movements racing towards the flight field at top speed, easily outflying the brown as she flung her wings out at the last minute, landing quickly. I was nearly flung from my seat with the maneuver, but with luck and my muscles locking, I was able to hold on. The brown landed thirty seconds later, towering over Eve as he snapped at her face playfully. She snapped back at him, narrowly missing his neck as her tail swung behind us. 

But then another dragon landed on her other side and the brown lurched forward, growling low in his throat as he eyed the other male, his swordtail curling around Eve protectively.

She, however, sat calmly amidst his display of possessiveness. Almost…bored? 

‘Overpossessive male.’ She explained, irritation lacing her tone. ‘Male dragons are known to be volatile towards any potential threats in the first few years of establishing a mate bond. And Aotrom is very…determined to keep me as his.’ An obvious affection was laced in her last words. The other male backed away, submitting to Aotrom’s dominance and claim, eyes and head down as he moved out of range. Only when the male had moved a sufficient distance away and Aotrom relaxed, turning to his mate again did I see his rider. Ridoc. Holy shit! Ridoc!

Happiness bubbled within me. There was no one better to be tied to! Holy shit. And he looked unharmed, thank the gods. 

��Go speak with him.’ Eve somehow sounded…teasing? ‘He’s relieved that Aotrom had told the truth when he told him that you were safe. As if I’d ever let harm come to what’s mine.’ She snorted at the last sentence and I laughed. 

‘I’m glad he’s okay too.’ I sent her way as I climbed down. 

The moment my feet hit the ground they lifted again, as Ridoc’s arms wrapped around me and swung me around. “We both got dragons! We’re both riders!” His voice was full of joy as he put me on my feet again. “We made it Y/N! We made it!” His hands moved to my cheeks, and I was frozen as euphoria took over his gaze, and then in a split second, his mouth was on mine. 

Moving, kissing, me. I slowly moved back holding onto the moment as my heart burst. My crush was kissing me. Tongue slipping into my mouth as he pulled me to him, pine and male and Ridoc taking over my senses completely as I lost myself in him. 

This moment was perfection. 

And then it was ruined, by Sawyer calling our names, obviously not able to really see us yet. Ridoc jumped back, looking panicked and my heart lurched. Did he not mean to do that? His eyes scanned mine as he backed up. 

“Talk later?” He asked, and I froze. He froze too, hands hovering over my waist. “Y/N? Talk later yeah?” 

I nodded, words catching in my throat as Eve growled in my mind. But she said nothing. 

“Yeah.” I whispered, putting on a smile as our friend greeted us. 

~ I'm taking requests as well, just submit them to my inbox and I'll get to them when I have time.

~ Want to be added to the tag list? Just comment or message me! :)

@xadenswhore @littlemissmelodie @jobroho @worldsanna @uneducatedraccoon @nicksolemnlyswears @binksbrewcrew

[vyoleya]

hihi here's some more stuff of my complicated DR au!! here's a big ramble + a doodle of their designs

annd here's a more detailed + more dramatic version of them :)

okay.. huge ramble/lore dump under the cut. you have been warned.

in a desperate attempt to find his parents, arin ended up joining ras and becoming shattered. arin justified everything that he (and ras by extension) was doing all in service to reverse the merge. his last mission was supposed to be killing lloyd that way ras could become the new conduit, only for arin to discover what ras's true intentions were with his master. (which was nothing short of a celestial takeover.) arin never wanted to kill anyone, especially not lloyd, and feeling very ashamed of his actions, he purposefully attempted to rile lloyd up and give him clear openings for lloyd to kill him instead.

lloyd, not really wanting to kill arin & not taking the bait, kept trying to get him to come home. arin's whole plan backfired as arin got more and more desperate and riled up for lloyd to kill him, and ended up doing object shatterspin which killed lloyd .

in his last moments of consciousness, lloyd clung to the fleeting life inside of himself and (somewhat) merged with his element . due to being a conduit and having carried divine energy by not only the source dragons, but also the FSM, lloyd was able to sort of become a divine guardian . (ill talk more about him later but this is just a summary lol)

lloyd then used his power of life to protect arin, essentially making arin (very reluctantly) immortal. (the drawing of arin is what he looks like when he's close to death, as lloyd expends a lot of energy to keep him alive, and his 'guardian angel' wings become visible, and everyone can kinda feel lloyd's presence watching everything. hence the eye)

sora, after finding out that arin was responsible for killing lloyd, who she saw as a father, she began to believe that the arin she knew died once he became shattered. eventually, after many encounters where she'd beg for him to be 'good' again, she began to search for ways to kill him and free lloyd's spirit.

they both started wearing these wooden masks with painted moons on them, very much inspired by the whole 'the fool who let the moon go' post. arin started wearing his first after he first started getting serious injuries that weren't being healed very quickly. arin found that sora preferred him wearing it, bc then she didn't have to see her best friend's face in her enemy.

arin goes by the name 'z' whenever he can, based on the scar on his cheek that actually looks like the letter z in ninjargan! (he also does because he believes that going by arin is an insult to who he used to be.)

sora, with the help of jordana, ended up tracking down the reversal blade. because if she can reverse lloyd ever dying and arin becoming immortal, then with lloyd's conduit powers, they can stop ras's plans and Everything Will Be Okay Again!

she was planning on taking both herself and jordana to the past, but due to the merge being reversed sooner than planned, sora didn't have time to take jordana with her, leaving her behind.

after… a lot of nonsense on z's end (like the world ending, but him being the sole survival due to lloyd's energy… yikes) (oh and also him recreating the merge despite everything thanks to lloyds conduit-ness + the oni and dragon in him) and he also ends up in the past. now both sora and z are wandering around in the third year of the merge (the year they became ninjas) , trying to stop the world from ending :) (to make it more dramatic, neither of them knows that the other survived. it's a very big jumpscare when they run into eachother.) anyway. i may draw them more + post drabbles about them on ao3! so .... consider this your backstory guide to my overly complicated au . if you read this far then congrats !! (because yes, this is just the backstory) (also if anyone has any questions feel free to ask .. . it'd be fun to answer them)

[losver07]

GUYS WTF WE'RE AT 100 FOLLOWERS

JSJDJSJFKDNCKDKSKXKNC HELP ME WHAT DO I DO

okay okay first of all THANKS???? like omg jdbckdnckfj im kinda freaking out a little bit i wasn't really aware of how many people actually read my shit on here lmao

OKAY! i'm going to do one of those ask things because i think they're really fun and i don't know what else to do if not that! so yeah!

~ · ★ · ~

moots! (you know who you are hehehe)

you can suggest either of these:

🪐 i write something for you! you tell me what, i'll just write a short-ish thing, either fanfic or any other ideas you give me <3 (you can choose english or spanish too!)

🎨 i make you a lil doodle! digital or traditional, idc, a sketchy portrait or a drawing of a fluffy cat or whatever you wish!

🪞 i tell you what piece of art reminds me of you! and i mean paintings, novels, sonnets, films, sculptures, whateverrr

📼 song rec! pretty self-explanatory but you get a song that i am obsessed with and that reminds me of you somehow! this will probably be very unhinged and very funny AND very gay

~ · ★ · ~

literally anyone (moots included in this too, obviously!)

🗝️ i compare you to something very specific (flower types, kinds of clouds, an specific colour, a feeling, etc. literally anything) and probably give you a weird and lowkey poetic explanation for it!

🌻 i answer a question about me! nothing too personal/private of course, but all kinds of random stuff to make me yap are pretty much welcome!

🪶 i answer ANY question about my current fic BUT only with yes/no (i probably won't be able to hold myself back from saying more but technically i cant ok?)

~ · ★ · ~

friendly reminder too that gossip and rants and overall yapping are very welcome in my ask box so of course feel free to say anything to me now or whenever you might need! <3 i probably sound like im joking but i love to give advice to people lmao

okayyyyy (i feel like ive said okay a lot of times in this post) that's it!! again THANK YOU GUYS<3 i love you all really 😭 i'm tagging every one of you here btw you're not getting away with this heheheh

@clearqueensong859 @ineffably-fucked @ciorann @thatoneguyhu @nonage4life @junkiepunkie @aletharaej @samisamousa @outromoony @magicwithclass @possesedanddepressed @somanyquestions-featuringanxiety @nyx-taylors-version @chaserofstars11 @isalikescherriesandblue @ll-until-the-very-end-ll @the-moon-and-stars-4ever @andreainlove @addsalwayssick @whydousernamesevenexist @wisegirl42 @t1cyh @glitchedmoon5 @the-fandoms-onceler @burningchopshopblizzard @sparklingwatermelo @equippedtolove @bloutwo @g-doggs-blog @kikinkapipi @nonsensicalnonsense00 @wolfstarjunkie @innielvrz @ssutton74 @treefairy-28 @siriuslyreggie07 @brnwynkl @mynametheyspeakof @jesssss28 @eczl1pse @actually-dumb-blonde @rocknr0llz @huskyhaven @vintagetee13 @mayaspeaks @clementineashton @dutifullynervouscreation @hawaiianshirttaco64

(gonna reblog with the other half of you now) <333

[ericshoney]

Body Image ~ Brothers!Sturniolo triplets

Summary: Your shopping for prom dresses when a sudden anxious thought about your weight hits you. Luckily your brothers are right by your side.

Warnings: possible swearing, body image issues, platonic nicknames, slight angst, fluff.

A/N: All body sizes/shapes are beautiful. If you are happy that's all that matters :)

Reader's age: 16

It was that time of year. Shopping for prom dresses. You were excited about prom since it was the only thing you and your friends were talking about.

Nick, Matt and Chris were home in Boston for a while and offered to take you shopping. You agreed, knowing that their opinions would mean the world to you and shopping with them was just fun.

So here you were, in the car besides Nick as Matt drove to the mall and Chris sat up front singing to the music. Nothing unusual there. You were scrolling through your phone at prom dresses for inspiration on what you liked.

"So what colour are you getting, bub?" Nick asked.

"I was thinking navy blue." You answered.

"That would be nice. Short or long?" He then asked.

"Long." You replied.

He nodded and kept asking what kind of things you wanted. Soon you arrived at the mall. The four of you got out the car and headed into the first store that was selling prom dresses.

As you began browsing, your brothers wandering around for options too, you saw a pair of girls further in the store looking at some dresses. You smiled a bit, but suddenly felt a wave of sadness. The two girls were very slim compared to you.

Your weight and size had never been a problem before. You were healthy and happy, just on the chubby side. Your parents, brothers and friends didn't care either. You were loved and happy.

But seeing the girls with their skinny legs and slim waists made you feel uncomfortable and upset. You looked at yourself in the store mirror and poked your fluffy stomach.

"Hey kid, what's with the sad face? Not see any dresses you like?" Chris asked as he walked over to you.

"Oh um. I'm fine." You mumbled.

"Don't lie to me, kid. What's really wrong?" He replied, wrapping a comforting arm around your shoulder.

"I just....Am I too big?" You asked, looking up at him.

"What? No way! You're perfect the way you are!" He exclaimed.

"Everything okay over here?" Matt asked, walking over to join you both.

"Where's Nick? We need to show our sister she's perfect." Chris replied, ignoring the question.

Upon hearing his name, Nick appeared behind you. He shared a look with Chris and Matt before looking over to you. He was quick to follow your gaze which failed to leave the two happy girls.

"Oh honey. No stop thinking that." He said.

"What's going on?" Matt asked again, being the only one who didn't know what was going on.

"Our dear sister here thinks she's too "big" but in reality she's fucking perfect and beautiful no matter what!" Chris cheered.

"Sweetheart, is that true?" Matt called softly.

"I just....those girls over there look so happy and are really skinny and pretty, they are getting their tiny prom dresses and for some reason it just made me feel upset." You rambled.

"Babe, you're beautiful and they are like sticks. We understand body image issues and worrying about your size, but believe me you're a perfect little fluff ball. We love you, we don't care what number is on a label. What matters to us is that you're happy." Nick ranted.

You looked up at your identical brothers and smiled. You hugged each of them as a thank you, glad they had your back.

"Now, let's get you a prom dress." Matt said, dragging you over to a rail.

Tags:

@lgbtq-girl @mattsfavbigtitties @onelesslonelygirlbieber6 @riowritesitall @sturniolo-fann @mrvlxgrl @lottieluhvs @cl1tlover3000 @melaniesturniolo @lovesturni0l0s @blahbel668 @emely9274 @nicksloverrr @pancjfrjb @luvr4miya @artloo123 @n0aa @sturn-rose @ivysturnss @thetriplets3  @itsjulzandmydiamonds @sturniolos4life16 @courta13 @itsjulzandmydiamonds @sturniologirly @mandmilovehim

Dividers by: @issysh3ll

[a-babe-without-a-name]

Sit Next To Me

Chapter 4: Viktor, Give It To Me.

You had created two rules for yourself.

Rule One: You could do whatever you wanted. Get the degree you want, party when you want, cancel plans when you want, love who you want. Whatever you really wanted to do, you were going to do, anxiety and guilt free.

Rule Two: You could do whatever you wanted, except for have relationships with classmates. No sex, no dating. If they were on the same course roster as you, they were off limits.

Easy enough, right?

…Right?

Viktor x Female!Reader - 18+

CW: Blood. Spoiler details in the End Notes on AO3

A.N. Christ on a mf cracker, this took me forever and it's way longer than it should be. Thank you so so so much to everyone who has left such kind comments and encouragement on the other chapters. It means the world to me. It's 1 am and I'm incredibly tired, so short author note. If I think of anything else to add, I will put more author notes in the replies.

Read on AO3

By the time Wednesday morning rolled around, you had practically pushed all thoughts of Viktor from your head. You had to, there were so many things you needed to get done and what felt like negative time to do them. You were barely halfway through week two of the semester and you were officially drowning. In retrospect, three STEM classes at once was probably a bad idea. Not only was the course load for each class borderline crushing, but it was getting hard to even keep the classes straight. The jargon between each was so similar, two of them shared a textbook, and each one had hours of homework each night. 

Right now you were hunched over a table in Heimerdinger's classroom, staring down at your schedule and notes and attempted organization of the three classes, your hands buried in your hair. You were trying to decide if the page numbers scribbled into the edge of your notes with ‘4 EnviSci’ under it was for your Oceanic or General Envi-Sci class. Your focus, paired with the headphones you were wearing, prevented you from noticing when Viktor took his seat next to you. It took a moment, but when you finally did notice his movement out of the corner of your eye, you flinched hard.

“Sorry,” He laughed, eyes wide as you clutched at your chest, “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Christ, you’re quiet,” You tried to joke, shaking off the startled moment and dropping your headphones onto the table.

“I said good morning and your name,” He told you, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh…” You felt your cheeks go red, “Goodmorning, sorry.”

“It is fine,” He shook his head, then craned his neck to look at the papers in front of you, “What are you so focused on, anyway?”

“My schedule from hell,” You groaned, dragging your hands down your face, you slid the papers over to show him, “I’ve fucked myself.”

“Not in the fun way?” He smirked.

“Ew, shut up,” You scoffed, swatting at his arm.

“Sorry, sorry,” He chuckled, halfway dodging away halfway taking the hit, “What is wrong with your schedule?”

“It’s just so hard to keep straight,” You sighed, “Like, yesterday I gave my Gen EnviSci homework to my Oceanic EnviSci professor and didn’t realize until it was way too late.”

“Hm, yeah, that's not great,” He agreed, “But you wanted to take both classes, no?”

“Well, yeah, but-”

“And your advisor approved you for these classes, correct?” He cut you off.

“Well, yes, but-”

“Then, your advisor thinks you are more than capable of taking these classes,” He interrupted again, his force was only encouraging, “Why are you doubting yourself?”

You sighed as you looked down at you. The question was one hundred percent genuine. He was waiting for an answer.

“I…I don’t know,” You picked at the edge of the table, chewing on the inside of your cheek, “It’s just harder than I thought it was gonna be.”

“Ha, that’s what she said,” Jinx snorted as she slid into her seat across from you. Ekko rolled his eyes as he took his seat.

“Good morning Jinx,” You scoffed, “Thank you for your seven A.M. humor.”

“Anytime,” She blew you a kiss as she pulled her laptop out of her bag.

Your conversation with Viktor died as class started. You did your best to focus on the current lecture instead of dwelling on your tangled schedule. 

----

You were grateful that Heimerdinger had planned a lab for the second half of class today. Heimerdinger had reasoned that it had been many months since most of the class had even stepped foot into a lab. He planned a simple titration experiment as a warm-up to the more complex projects that were to come. The groups shuffled into the crisp white lab, following Hiemerdinger as he reminded everyone about lab safety and personal protection equipment. He explained that the experiment would be straightforward but most likely take the whole two hours. He instructed the groups to split into pairs or trios to ensure that everyone took a hands-on role in the experiment.  As he set everyone loose, he encouraged people to take their time and ask for help if needed. 

You were glad this was a low stress lab, it gave you the perfect opportunity to assess Viktor. For as long as you had been studying science, from highschool to internship settings, it was these moments where you could tell alot about a man. You couldn’t count the amount of times a guy who seemed incredibly kind and respectful showed you how truly misogynistic and vile he really was during a lab. It wasn’t like you wanted Viktor to do something wrong, but it would definitely be easier to rid him from your thoughts if he turned out to be a dick. 

“Hey, are you going to Cait’s house tonight?” Jinx asked you as your group headed to don PPE.

“Yeah, I was planning on it,” You told her, picking out a lab coat from the rack, “Are you?”

“Jayce is cooking, of course I'm going,” She snorted, and then jabbed Viktor in the ribs, “I’m assuming you’ll be there, too. Ya know, since it’s your house.”

He just nodded and hummed as he pulled on his own lab coat and safety glasses.

“Listen, I’m voting for a horror movie tonight,” Jinx told you, then pointed between you and Viktor as she walked away, “And you two should back me up on that.”

You shook your head, watching as she retreated back to the table with Ekko.

“So, partner,” Viktor said, looking down at you, “Do you wanna set up the burette or get the liquids?”

“Hm, I’ll set up the burette, if that's okay?” You asked as you reached the table.

“Perfect, I’ll be right back,” he grabbed the list of materials from the table and went off to gather what was needed. 

Luckily - unfortunately?- the lab went perfect. Viktor was an incredible lab partner. He told you everything he was thinking, asked for your ideas and opinions, stepped in when you seemed hesitant about something, and let you help him when he was unsure. You two worked together perfectly, completely in sync as you worked through the lab and moved on to the equations. In the end, you and him ended up being the first pair to finish. 

“No fair,” Jinx whined from across the table, four flasks of bright pink liquid spread between her and Ekko, “How are y’all done so fast?” 

“Probably because they didn’t purposefully add too much titration because it made a pretty color,” Ekko groaned, rubbing his forehead on the back of his wrists.

“Well, there’s no point if I’m not gonna have fun, “ Jinx defended herself, picking up an oversaturated flask and swirling the bright pink liquid around, “Besides, only the first two were on purpose.”

“Good job, Partner,” You said, holding out a fist to him as you both started cleaning up the experiment.

He tapped his knuckles against yours, amused, “You too,”

You grinned at him as you gathered glassware to wash. When everything was cleaned up and put away, the area was nearly better than how you found it. Before you finally packed up to leave the lab, you caught a glimpse of the notes Viktor had taken to turn in and froze.

“Oh, uh hey Viktor?” You asked, tilting your head down at the paper and squinting. His handwriting was completely and utterly unintelligible. 

“Hm?” He asked absentmindedly, putting his things away in his bag.

“Actually, I don’t think we should leave just yet,” You blurted out, trying to think of a way to do this nicely, “Would it be cool if we stayed to type up the notes? Uh, you know, just in case something happens to these ones.”

He narrowed his eyes at you, seeing right through the lie, “You think my handwriting is bad.”

“What? No!” You squeaked, “No,I just think it’s a good idea to have a backup, just in case.”

“Okay, well if it's not about my handwriting,” He stood and pushed the paper into your hands, “You can go ahead and type them up if you want.”

He walked away as you stared down at the pages. It wasn’t that his handwriting was bad, it was that it was too good. His words were in a sweeping and slanted cursive, written fast enough to smear the pen ink. HIs equations were crystal clear and everything else felt like trying to read a letter from the 1800s. Before you knew it Viktor was already out of the lab. The tapping of his cane got fainter as he moved farther away.

“Wait!” You yelped, walking as fast as you could through the lab without getting in trouble, trying to follow him into the main classroom. He was nearly out the door when you caught up to him, hissing, “Viktor, wait!”

“Admit you think my handwriting is bad, and I’ll help you,” He said, turning and looking at you calmly.

“I…ugh, fine,” You dropped your head sheepishly, giving in, “Listen, it’s not that your handwriting is bad, I just… can’t read it.”

He hummed, narrowing his eyes at you, searching for a lie.

“Really, I swear,” You told him, “If anything, your handwriting is actually gorgeous, I am just inept.”

“Okay okay, calm down,” He waved off your flattery, “Fine, I’ll read it, you type it.”

“Thank you,” You sighed, following him to your table in the empty classroom. 

You pulled out your laptop, swiping away the pages of scheduling notes you had closed in it earlier that day. Viktor picked one of them up, glancing over it.

“You know, I didn’t get to tell you earlier,” He said, catching your eye and giving a small smile, “But I think you are very intelligent, and also very capable.”

“Oh, uh, thanks,” You fumbled as your entire face went red.

“I mean it,” He told you, in all honesty, “You’re very smart, and I think you are causing yourself undue stress over your classes.”

“Viktor, it’s fine, really,” You tried to stop him, feeling exposed by his adulation.

“All I’m saying is,” He sighed trying to find the right words, “I haven’t known you for very long, but you seem like the type of scientist who wants to do real good in the world, but you can’t do that if you burn yourself out in the first two semesters of junior year.”

You stared at him with wide eyes and swallowed hard, hoping he couldn’t tell that you were willing tears not to well, “Thank you.”

“Anytime,” he nodded and then turned away to look down at his paper, “Ready to type?”

  “Uh, yeah,” You opened up a document, “Yeah, go ahead.”

As he began reading, you shook your head slightly, trying to shake the feeling he left you with. Stupid perfect lab partner.

----

After classes, the drive to the Rune Street house was quick. Luckily, your last class ended in time for you to get through the neighborhood without having to wait in school zone traffic. An old BMW wagon was sitting in the driveway next to Jayce’s Pruis, you didn’t recognize it. 

You didn’t bother to knock when you went inside, “It’s me!” you shouted as you dropped your bag into the hall closet. The house smelled like spices and chiles.

“In here!” Jayce called back from the kitchen, you found him practically up to his elbows in masa.

“Starting already?” You leaned your back against the counter, watching as he tried to wrangle the dough into the bowl.

“Hey! Yeah, full house tonight. Wanted to get a jump on it, ” He shrugged, washing the dough off his hands and wrists.

“Ah, smart,” You nodded, looking around the kitchen for something to do, “Hey, who’s Beamer is out front?”

“It’s V’s,” He nodded behind you, you turned your neck to see the aforementioned roommate walking out of his room and towards the kitchen with an empty mug in his hand. He was wearing a pair of narrow wire rimmed glasses, a new addition since you last saw him this morning.

“Ha, makes sense,” You smirked at him, trying not to react to the way he looked in the glasses that would look lame on anyone else, or the fact that he drives a manual. Both of which made you feel a very particular sort of way. 

“What’s that supposed to mean,” Viktor scoffed, tossing a tea bag into the trash and slotting the mug into the dishwasher.

“Nothing, it’s just very European of you,” You teased, moving to lean your hip against the counter so you could see both men, “that’s all.”

Viktor settled on the other side of the kitchen peninsula, opening up a book that was sitting there, “Hm, I’m not going to hold back on the American jokes if that’s how you’re going to act.”

“I dare you,” You narrowed your eyes on him, hoping he would take the joke as it was. 

He returned the look, chewing on the inside of his lip before huffing and rolling his eyes. 

“When did you two meet?” Jayce asked with a laugh, reminding you he was there. 

“We’re in the same-”

“Friday night at the party-”

You and Viktor spoke at the same time. You couldn't help the shocked way you looked at him, Jayce did not need to know that.

“What?”

“We met at the party,” You jumped in, throwing a pointed look at Viktor, then laughed, “Shared a joint, but not names.”

You hoped Viktor would stick to the half lie. 

“Mhm, and she transferred into my OChem class this week,” Viktor nodded, luckily not elaborating on your explanation, “Connected some dots.”

“Oh cool,” Jayce beamed, his puppy dog energy not catching whatever tension might be showing, “Sorry I didn’t get to introduce you guys, it’s cool you have class together.”

“Yeah, we’re in a group with Jinx and Ekko,” You told him, feeling in the clear about your secret not getting out. You flipped the subject anyways, just in case, “Is there anything I can help with?”

“Hm,” Jayce looked around the kitchen, thinking, “Filling is cooking right now. I was planning to make rice later and pico, too. I’ll need help putting everything together later, though.”

“Okay, cool.” You figured you could get your homework done before everyone showed up.

“Yeah. Did you get the husks, by the way?” He asked, wiping down the counter.

“Uh…” You narrowed your eyes at him, searching through your memory, “I would have if you had asked me to.”

“I did ask you to!” Jayce huffed, looking at you disappointed.

“Dude, when?” You didn’t even know he was planning to make tamales until you had walked in.

“Last night,” He crossed his arms over his chest, you resisted the urge to call him your mother, “I texted you.”

“Bro, no the fuck you didn’t,” You insisted, then turned to Viktor, “Do you know your roommate is delusional?”

“Do not drag me into this,” Viktor said, glancing up over the top of his glasses.

“I did,” Jayce argued, pulling out his phone, “You just never check your messages.”

He wasn’t wrong, you weren’t the most reliable at checking your text notifications, but you were sure he hadn’t texted you last night….well mostly sure. Jayce opened up his phone, tapping through it with purpose. Out of the corner of your eye you could tell that Viktor was poorly pretending to not care. When the smug look fell from Jayce’s face, you cackled. Without saying anything, Jayce grabbed his keys from the counter and walked towards the front door.

“I fucking told you.” You called after him, wiping a tear away as you laughed. You turned to Viktor,  “He’s such a brat.”

“Eh,” He shrugged, trying to act like he wasn’t biting back his own grin. 

Before you could tease him as well, your phone rang. Jayce’s photo on the screen.

“Have you even left the driveway?” You asked, rolling your eyes.

“Make the pico please,” Jayce told you, you could picture the defeat on his face, “And keep an eye on the chicken.”

“Hmm, that doesn’t sound like an apology,” You pulled a cutting board out of the cabinet anyways, “But! If you get me and Viktor drinks on the way back, you’ve got a deal.”

Viktor raised an eyebrow at you, you exaggerated a wink in response. 

“That is exploitation, but fine.” Jayce huffed, “text me if we need anything else from the store.”

You laughed to yourself as he hung up, sure you’d never get tired of bickering with Jayce. He made you feel like you had a sibling sometimes. You gathered what you needed for the salsa. Jayce had made it with you enough times now that a recipe was unnecessary. When you were sure all the ingredients were present and you wouldn’t need Jayce to pick anything else up, you started to put everything together. You stood at the kitchen peninsula so that Viktor was sitting almost directly across from you. Taking advantage of the moment, you let yourself stare at him. The glasses were a…good look, for sure. The harsh black lines of the frames stood out against his pale skin. They were slid down the ridge of his nose, the edge of the frame rested just under the mole on his cheek. His eyelashes brushed against the top of his cheeks every time he blinked. He scrunched his nose just slightly as he read a sentence, eyes not moving from where they were focused as he read the same sentence again. And again.

“So, what’re you pretending to read?” You asked as you began cutting the chiles.

“Hm, interesting accusation.” He snorted without looking up, flipping the page.

“Viktor, honey, that’s the first time you’ve flipped the page in 10 minutes,” You raised an eyebrow.

He squinted at you, “I’m a slow reader…”

“Uh-huh, sure you are,” You smirked at him, teasing, “If you wanted to hang out with me you could've just said so.”

“You’re…” He narrowed his eyes, you wished you could see the list of things he wanted to call you, “somewhat self-obsessed, aren’t you?” is what he settled on.

“Yeah probably,” you shrugged, scraping the chile seeds into the trash, “gotta be sometimes.”

“Interesting philosophy,” He closed the book anyway, leaning towards you on his elbows. 

“You could call it that, sure,” You rinsed your hands in the sink, trying to ward off the sting of the chile seeds, “Hey, text Jayce and tell him to get me an iced strawberry matcha, yeah? And let him know what you want, too.”

“You’re gonna hold him to that?” He pulled his phone out anyway.

“Yeah of course,” You started chopping again, “Honestly, I’m rarely right when it comes to Jayce. Gotta take advantage, ya know.”

“Huh, very big of you to admit that,” He muttered, tapping away on his screen.

“And you said I was self-obsessed,” You scoffed and then leaned over the counter, trying to peek at his phone screen, “What’d you ask him for?”

“Eh, same thing,” He shrugged, setting his phone to the side and focusing his attention back on you, “You and Jayce are close friends?” 

“Yeah, of course,” You told him, nodding firmly, “One of my closest friends.”

“How’d you meet him?” He asked.

“If you’re gonna interview me, at least help,” You gathered up a second cutting board and knife, sliding it across the counter to him with an onion, “We met freshman year. We lived in the same hall. That’s how most of us became friends.”

“Ah, makes sense. So your living situation is what made everyone friends?,” He picked up the knife, and chopped the onion into quarters.

“Kinda,” You shrugged, “Jayce and Cait knew each other before coming to Piltover, so they roomed together, and Me, Lest, and Mel were put in a triple next door. Vi didn’t live on our floor, but her and Cait started on and off dating pretty quick.”

“Hm, I didn’t realize Cait and Vi’s relationship was like that,”

“Yeah, key- word was,” You told him, “No one will admit or talk about it, but their relationship started off pretty toxic. It got better after freshman year, thank god.”

He nodded, thinking about it.

“Don’t tell anyone I said that, yeah?” You asked, “It doesn't matter now anyways, they’re better, clearly.”

“Said what?” He raised an eyebrow at you, then, “What about the others?”

“What do you mean?”

“So, you lived with Mel and Lest, Cait and Jayce lived next door, and Cait started dating Vi,” He waved the knife around slightly while speaking, “How do you know Sky? And Jinx and Ekko?”

“Jayce had a class with Sky and just ended up dragging her along, she’s always been a bit of an outlying friend in the group. Not because we don’t want her around, she’s just a little more introverted than the rest of us,” You explained, “She seems to be breaking out of her shell a little bit this semester, though, which is nice to see.”

“She is very nice, I do like having her around,” He mused, you bit back a jealous comment. You turned him down, you didn’t get to have an opinion on who he liked having around.

“Yeah, she’s great. And Jinx is Vi’s sister, she’s two years younger but graduated highschool early.” You dumped the first handfuls of diced chiles into a bow, “She was a little hesitant of us at the beginning of last year. She wasn’t a huge fan of Cait, but she came around. Honestly, I probably spend more time with Jinx than I do with Cait at this point. Ekko, too. Him and Jinx grew up together, they’re practically attached at the hip.”

You stopped talking, staring down at your hands for a moment as you realized how long you had rambled.

“Ha, and you didn’t really ask for all that information,” You laughed awkwardly, “Sorry.”

“I don’t mind the details,” He assured you, you felt his eyes on your face until you looked up, no sarcasm when he said, “besides, I like listening to you talk.”

You hid your burning face by looking back down, intensely focused on the task in front of you. 

“Don’t tell me that,” You tried to joke, but it was weak, “I’ll never shut up.”

He hummed quietly to himself, pleased with your reaction to him. You half expected a teasing remark, instead he asked, “What about you?”

“What?” You asked, not looking up at him.

“What about you?” He asked again, “You’re telling me about the others, but not really yourself. Where are you from?

“Why do you want to know?” You went back to cutting, eyes focusing on your hands.

“Because I do,” He shrugged, “I’m a scientist, I like to know things.”

“Huh, that’s a fair enough reason I guess,” You didn’t necessarily see the harm in telling him, but the more he knew about you the harder it would be to create distance, “I’m from here, and Maine.”

“You’re from two places?”

“I lived here when I was kid and moved to Winter Harbor when I was, like, 11,” You explained, “So, two places, yeah.”

  “Why’d you move?” 

“Why does anyone move at 11?” You laughed, “Because my dad did.”

“Your parents are divorced?” He guessed, pulling the bowl of chile’s towards him to scrape some of the onion in.

“Aren’t everyones,” You joked, hoping it watered down the bitterness, “I don’t mind it really. I had to go back and forth a lot until I was 16, which is really the only part that sucked. When I was old enough to work, I stopped having to go for summers and it was better.”

“Ah, so you live with…your father?”

“Yep,” You started in on the tomatoes, trying to find a serrated knife to use with no luck.

“You don’t like your mother?” The invasive question didn’t feel so invasive when he asked it.

“I love my mom,” You said, not meeting his eyes.

“Love her, but do not like her,” He concluded.

“That sounds so awful of me, but…”

“I don’t think so,” He shrugged, “You don’t get to choose your family, it makes sense not to like them 100% of the time.”

“I guess…” You frowned down at your hands, struggling to cut through the vegetable with the flat knife, “Still feel guilty about it, though.”

“Can I ask why you don’t like her?” This question was more hesitant, clearly curious to know but not expecting you to answer. 

“I shouldn’t talk bad about her, she tries, ya know. But she’s just never….” You searched your brian for the right word to describe your mothers behaviors, “content.”

“Hm, how so?” He took the bowl again.

“Nothing is ever good enough for her,” You tried to explain, “My dad wasn’t enough, the east coast wasn’t enough, her second husband wasn’t enough, I’m not enough.” You laughed, not able to hide the acid in your voice, “Honestly, I’m sure she’ll decide that her new husband isn’t good enough for her either in a few years. And, yes I understand that people should have what they want and shouldn’t settle for less or whatever, but she wants too much and when you give it to her she just wants more.” 

You struggled to saw through the tomato as you spoke. Your voice and irritation both raised until finally the knife slipped and skidded across your skin. You gasped, rant dying mid breath as you watched blood spring from the slice in your hand. 

“Ah, you should have used a serrated knife,” Viktor pointed out absentmindedly, leaning over to look at your hands.

Your whole body tensed, frozen in place as your breathing became short and harsh. You wanted to move, to stop your blood from spilling over your skin and onto the cutting board, to do anything, but you were stuck. Fully paralyzed as more and more covered your fingers, your ears began to ring.

“Hey” Viktor waved a hand at you, calling your name as he tried to get your attention, “Are you okay?”

You couldn’t speak. You didn’t register that he had moved, but suddenly he was next to you. His fingers wrapped around your wrist and he pulled you towards the kitchen sink. The splash of cold water against your skin ripped you back to earth.

“Ah, fuck,” You hissed, trying to pull your hand away. The cut in your skin burned under the sink faucet, but he didn’t let you go. 

“Stop, let me help you,” He scolded, hands still gentle.

“Ow, god, fuck that hurts,” You whined, pressing your face into the side of his arm, not wanting to look at your own hand. You fisted her hand around the back of his shirt, holding on to him like you would fall through the earth if you didn’t.

“Shh, it’s not that bad, just breathe,” His voice was soft and reassuring as he pulled your hand from under the water. You could feel him pull it closer to his face to inspect the damage. 

Your eyes were screwed shut, face still pressed into him. You did as he asked and pulled in a deep breath, trying to level yourself out. The scent of him filled your head, black tea and citrus and honey. You took another breath, focusing your attention on him instead of your own body. You could feel his muscles move where your forehead was pressed to him, his shoulder blades under your fingers. Solid and strong and sturdy next to your shaking body.

“Yeah, there you go, just keep breathing.” He put your hand under the water for a few more seconds, then shut it off, “I’m gonna put pressure, okay.”

You nodded, sucking in a breath and bracing against him as he pressed a towel against your skin. You bit your lip, trying to hold back the pathetic whimper it forced out of you. You were hyper aware of the tightness of your skin where the cut was, working yourself up again.

“Hey, you’re doing fine,” He told you, holding the cloth tight to your skin, “It won’t even need stitches, I promise.”

You nodded, timing your breathing with his. Neither of you had heard the front door open or the commotion of Cait and Vi coming into the house.

“Woah, what’s going on here?” Vi laughed awkwardly, unsure what they had walked in on.

“She cut her hand,” Viktor told them, not moving from where he stood, “Cait, is there a first aid kit somewhere?”

“Yes, one second,” You heard her hurry away.

“You good?” Vi asked from outside the kitchen, unsure of how to help.

“Yep,” You squeaked out, unmoving aside from throwing Vi a blind thumbs up.

“Here it is,” You heard Cait come back into the kitchen, “How bad is it? What do you need, Viktor?”

“It’s not too bad,” He told her, you flattened your hand against his back, feeling him move when he spoke, “Just some butterfly strips if there are any, and maybe a roll of gauze”

“Yeah, here,” Cait rustled around in the kit for a moment, setting out what Viktor asked for, “Do you need any help?”

“I can handle it, thank you,” Viktor assured her.

“Sure, shout if you need anything, okay?” Cait told him, voice retreating.

You were glad she didn’t insist, already embarrassed enough by your reaction in front of Viktor. More witnesses weren’t necessary. Viktor adjusted, moving so his arm was over your shoulder to get a better grip on your hand. You let him move you around, pressing your cheek to the back of his shoulder, still breathing him in as he pinned you to his side. 

“I’m sorry,” You told him, letting out a shaky breath.

“Hm, you don’t need to be sorry,” You felt his thumb rub gently against your wrist, not to help the wound on your hand, just trying to calm you down.

“This was over dramatic,” You scoffed, pressing your nose hard against him, trying to hide, “...I just don’t like blood.”

“Clearly,” He laughed gently, “lots of people don’t. I’m gonna put the bandaid on it, okay?”

You nodded, grateful for the warning. His hands were gently as he secured the cut and wrapped the gauze around it. 

“There,” He said, pulling away from you, “All fixed.”

“Thank you,” You said, stepping back and examining his handiwork. The gauze banded around your hand was laid perfectly, smoothly hiding any evidence of the incident. 

“You’re welcome,” He nodded, “Does it feel okay? It’s not too tight?”

“No, it’s perfect,” You smiled weakly up at him, still red in the face.

“I’m glad I was here,” He joked,“Seems like you would have bled out otherwise.”

You shook your head with a laugh, “Yeah, probably,”

He took a step over, putting himself between the counter and you, “Don’t panic, but there is blood on the counter. Do you want to go sit down while I clean it up?”

“Oh, gross,” You cringed, “No, I can clean it up.”

“Are you sure?” He held a hand out to the side, as if to catch you were you to faint.

“Yeah,” You assured him, “I’m good now, I’m okay.”

He let you step past him to get to the counter. There was less blood than you had expected, which did nothing to ease the embarrassment of your dramatics. Carefully you dropped the knife into the sink and scrapped the mutilated tomato into the trash. Viktor, unable to not help, grabbed a rag and wiped down the counter. You turned the hot water on, rinsing away the tomato seeds and drops of blood. It wasn’t until you stepped away from the counter that you noticed the smear of blood across the bottom of your t-shirt.

“Aw fuck,” You pouted, pulling the fabric away to look at it. The stain wasn’t huge, but it was obvious against the light colored fabric. It made your stomach turn to see your own blood so bright on your clothes.

“You have bad luck with stains in this house,” He told you, taking a second to pick up on your unease, “Do you want to borrow a shirt?”

“Oh, uh, yes,” You admitted, chewing on your bottom lip, “If that’s okay.”

“Wouldn't have offered if it wasn’t okay,” He told you, already grabbing his cane from where he had rested it against the cabinet and heading out of the kitchen.

You followed him to his room just off the main living space. It was your room from the summer. Except it wasn’t your room, not at all. You had been living awkwardly out of a pair of suitcases for 4 weeks. This was Viktor’s room. 

You hadn’t known him long enough to even think about what his room would be like, but you were sure you would have been exactly right. It was very him. Tidy and warm, posters and art on the walls placed perfectly, bed made, shoes lined up by the door. The only part of the room that wasn’t neat was his desk and what seemed to be a work table. Both covered in papers and books and pieces of machines.

You stood there awkwardly in the middle of his room, watching as he dug through his dresser to find you something to wear. He pulled out a navy t-shirt and brought it to you.

“If I let you borrow this,” He said, pulling it just out of reach, “You must promise to bring back my other one.”

“What?” You narrowed your eyes at him, hand frozen halfway to the shirt.

“The other night, it wasn’t Jayce’s shirt that you took,” He teased, biting back a smirk when your jaw fell open.

“Dude, what the fuck,” You felt heat creeping up your cheeks again, your shoulders curled up as you shrank away from him, “Why didn’t you say it was yours?”

“Eh, you looked good in it,” He shrugged, holding the shirt out to you.

You rolled your eyes with a huff. Then, deciding you wouldn’t let this be a one sided game, straightened your shoulders and looked Viktor in the eyes. 

“So, you like seeing me in your clothes?” You asked, tilting your head and furrowing your eyebrows slightly at him. 

He practically took a step back, startled by your change in demeanor. Before he could respond you pulled your shirt over your head, staring him in the face as you shook your hair out. He sucked in a hash breath, eyes wide and mouth open as he looked at you. He swallowed hard, gaze traveling across your torso and face turning pink. You couldn't help the childish pride as you watched him falter. 

“So the braless look this weekend was a style choice?” He joked with a nervous laugh, following the lines of your plain bra.

“Yep,” You reached out, trying to take the shirt from his hand, but he pulled it away again.

You followed, stepping closer as you tried to get it. Your hand followed it past his shoulder until he was close enough to land a hand on your bare waist.

“Viktor, give it to me.” You warned, as he kept the shirt out of your reach.

“Was this from me?” He breathed, completely ignoring your request as he brushed his fingers across the bruises on your hip.

“Duh, who else?” You snarked, freezing under his hand, “Very rude to leave marks on someone without asking, by the way.”

He scoffed, and pulled the collar of his shirt down to show a matching bruise on his collarbone, “You are one to talk.”

“Not my fault you bruise easy,” You shrugged, trying to keep your voice steady as he traced a line between each mark on your body. You shuddered when he pressed into his own teeth marks on your shoulder, deciding that was enough. 

You gave one last reach and snatched the shirt out of his hand, taking a few steps away from him. You squeezed your eyes shut with your back to him, willing every feeling in your body to stop. You focused your attention on the t-shirt, unfolding it to see it was an old camp shirt. Poradce was in small white letters on the left chest of the shirt, and the back had a logo of an atom and Sýkora printed across the back. You pulled it on, doing your best to hide any reaction to him giving you a shirt with his last name on it. 

“Science camp?” You asked, pulling your hair out from the neckline as you raised an eyebrow at him.

“I was a counselor,” He told you, seeming to recover from whatever had just occurred, “Paid well and looks good on applications.”

“Fair,” you nodded at him, also feeling the tension ebb away.

“Plus, teaching children how to make small explosives is entertaining,” He admitted with a smile.

You laughed at the mental image, “You’ll have to tell Jinx about that, she will demand you teach her.”

“Hm, I believe that would make me an accomplice in whatever she decides to do with that knowledge,” He cringed, laughing with you.

“Uh, thanks again for the shirt,” You said,trying to fill the almost awkward silence.

“Of course. Sorry for making you talk about your mom, by the way,” He twisted his cane on the ground, “I feel bad about that.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it,” You placed your hand on his wrist, stopping his movement, “Really, it’s fine. Not your fault that I get a little crazy whenever I think about her.”

“Yeah, well now I know not to ask you about things like that when you have a knife in your hand,” He laughed, “I’m lucky you didn’t stab me.”

“Next time I will,” You raised your eyebrows with the light threat. 

You wondered if you were looking up at him the way he was looking down at you, pupils blown, cheeks dusted a pretty pink, lips slightly parted. You opened your mouth to say something, not anything in particular just something to keep him looking at you. Before you could think of something to say that wouldn’t make you sound unintelligent, movement out of the corner of your eye caught your attention. 

“Is that a snake?” You gasped, stepping around him to get a better look. 

The large tank was set around the corner of his L shaped room, just out of sight from where you were standing. A small pink snake was moving across a branch leaning against the glass. You crouched down, looking at her through the glass. She was young and a pale pink color, her eyes the bright red that animals with albinism have. 

“That’s Rio,” He said, walking up next to you and crouching down to look at her.

“She’s gorgeous,” You smiled at the snake, moving to get a better look at her, “Is she young?”

“Yeah, she hit four months a couple days ago,” He told you, you could see him watching you in the reflection, “Do you want to hold her?”

“Can I?” You felt like a kid.

“Yeah, of course,” He laughed, straightening up and moving to the front of her tank, “She’s very sociable, likes to be held.” He opened the tank from the front, sliding the glass open. 

Slowly he reached in, “Pojď sem,” He muttered, coaxing her out and into his hand. She moved calmly across his hands, looking around as he brought her to his chest. He smiled down at her fondly, as she moved across his shirt. He motioned you closer with a free finger, using his other hand to steer her away from his face.

“She’s so pretty,” You marveled, taking a closer look at the pattern on her back, “Is she a corn snake? I’ve never seen a snake this color before.”

“Yeah, she’s a salmon snow corn snake. It’s a gene mutation,” He explained, pulling her off his glasses, “A homozygous red factor that makes her very pink, she’ll probably get more color as she gets older. You can pet her, she’ll probably crawl into your hands when she realizes you're there.”

“So cool,” You breathed, reaching out for her. 

Gently you brushed your hand against her back, her smooth scales were warm under your fingers. She turned her head towards you, slowly moving to your palm. Viktor helped her into your hands, holding on until she was cradled against you. She immediately wrapped herself around your wrist, and wriggled up the borrowed shirt.

You laughed, letting her move towards your face. She bumped against your cheek, tongue flicking out curiously, “Sorry Rio, no glasses to chill on.”

You pulled her away from your face, watching as she moved between your hands and around your arms. 

“She likes you,” He told you. You raised an eyebrow at him not convinced, “No, really, she has a lot of personality for a snake. Very selective on who she decides to like.”

“Yeah, I’m sure me wearing your shirt has nothing to do with it,” You rolled your eyes, grinning up at him.

“Just let me compliment you, okay?” He huffed, reaching out to pet Rio.

“Fine, I’lll accept that I’m your snake’s new favorite person,” You joked.

“Hey, I don’t know about favorite,” He backtracked with a laugh, smirking down at you. 

He was as close as you could be to you without squishing Rio between your bodies. Hand under yours, to support the pet of course, no other reason. In this moment - wearing his t-shirt, in his room, holding his pet, sharing his space - you knew for a fact that he was going to cause a lot of trouble in your life. 

The sound of people arriving in the house pulled you away from the thought

“Viktor!?” Jayce shouted from the living room.

“In here!” He called back, not looking away from you. You looked back down at Rio, watching her in an attempt to hide the heat in your face.

“Oh, hey guys…” Jayce said, a hint of confusion in his voice as finding you arguably very close to Viktor in his room.

“She’s meeting Rio,” Viktor told him, taking a step back so you could turn to face Jayce.

“She’s so cute,” You told him, turning to show the small snake in your hands.

Jayce grimaced, “Yeah, sure.”

“No fucking way you don’t like her,” You gasped a his distaste.

“I’m sorry,” He shrugged, “I don’t understand the appeal of a predatory reptile.”

“Did you just call this actual angel a predator?” You gawked, carefully holding Rio up towards him.

“That’s exactly what it is,” He affirmed, “Your tea is on the counter, did you finish making the pico?”

“Rude,” Viktor muttered, gently taking Rio from your hands, holding her up to his face and telling only her, “You are not a predatory, moje malá princezna.”

“Not yet,” You waved your bandaged hand at him as Viktor placed Rio back in her tank, “Little mishap.”

“Jesus christ, are you okay?” He asked as you and Viktor walked out of the room.

“I’m fine, just dramatic,” You admitted with a laugh, grabbing the matcha Jayce had brought for you and handing the other to Viktor.

“Very dramatic,” Viktor agreed, side eyeing you as he took a sip of the tea.

“Hm, wanna finish it up while I get everything else ready?” He said, eyeing the lack of space between your shoulder and Viktor’s.

“Yeah, for sure,” You took a step away, hating yourself over the fact that you missed the  rush of being close to him.

“Cait’s home, by the way,” Viktor told Jayce, hanging his cane on the counter and settling back into one of the stools where his book was, “With Vi.”

“Oh cool,” Jayce pulled what he needed out of the fridge to assemble the tamales, “Mel said she’s on her way with Lest and Sky.”

“Good,” You nodded, biting the inside of your cheek and reminding yourself that Sky was a friend that you loved very much and you weren’t allowed to have an ounce of animosity towards her, “Should be done pretty quick.”

You pulled the bowl of chopped chiles and onion out of the fridge and gathered tomatoes to cut. One short.

“In the dishwasher,” Viktor said, watching you from across the counter.

You raised an eyebrow at him.

“The serrated knife is in the dishwasher,” He told you, more caring than mocking when he said, “Don’t use a flat blade.”

“Thanks,” You pulled the knife out of the dishwasher and hand cleaned it in the sink before starting to dice the tomatoes. A much easier task with the proper tool.

You were normally more than comfortable in Jayce’s presence, but right now you felt less welcoming. You wanted to be around just Viktor. You wanted to talk to him however you wanted, about whatever you wanted. You didn’t want to create space between you and, for a moment, you resented Jayce for making you feel like you needed to.

All bad signs. You turned Viktor down. You didn’t want to date him. You didn’t want to sleep with him. You didn’t want to kiss him. 

All lies. You could do all those things right now if you let yourself. You wouldn’t though. Letting yourself get tangled in relationships with a classmate caused nothing but problems for you in the past. It was the one agreement you made with yourself, you had to be strong enough not to break it.

“You’re going to cut yourself again,” Viktor’s calm voice pulled you out of thought, he was barely even looking up at you over the rim of his glasses, eyes flickering down to the knife dangerously close to your fingertips. He raised an eyebrow, a silent question. You hated how readable you apparently were.

You set the knife down on the cutting board, staring down at the seeds and flesh. You heaved a sigh, picked up the board, and moved to the other side of the kitchen. Facing away from Viktor. You couldn’t see him, he didn’t say anything, but you could feel his eyes on your back. You swallowed hard, hating the feeling of being pulled in two conflicting directions.

---

You kept your distance for the rest of the evening, deciding that the acceptable quota of time to be close to him in one day had been used up. Viktor didn’t question you aside from a few narrow eyed looks that you ignored, opting instead to ask Jayce to play music while you and him started the cooking process.

When the girls showed up, it was easier. Lest took up your attention, excitedly telling you about a baseball player she was paired up with in her history class - dumb as a rock, but pretty as all hell - and worried over your hand. Sky squeezed herself into Viktor’s bubble, sitting close to him at the counter. You heard her apologize for being drunk on Friday night, he laughed it off. Called it cute. Luckily, Sky did her best to absorb all of his attention. She made awkward small talk with him, not wanting their somewhat boring conversation to end. It kept you from thinking about him all afternoon…clearly.

At the very least you had managed to avoid his physical presence until after dinner. He sat between Jayce and Sky on one end of the table, while you were at the other. He washed dishes in the kitchen and you wiped down the table in the dining room. You helped Cait set up the living room and he helped Jayce connect his laptop to the TV.

It wasn’t until the movie was decided on and everyone began settling down into the living room that an afternoon of self restraint came to an end.

Of all the space in the living room, Viktor decided the only place he wanted to sit was directly next to you. Something that seemed like nothing to anyone else, including Sky who took up his other side. You didn’t miss the look Lest gave as she sat down on your other side or the way Viktor knocked his knee against yours with controlled force. 

“You like horror movies?” He asked you casually, as if you hadn’t kept him at farther than arm's length for the past couple of hours. 

“Yeah, good ones.” You told him with a shrug as the opening credits to The Descent started. 

“What constitutes a good one?” He raised an eyebrow, closer to you than you had planned to let him.

“If I like it, then it’s good,” You shrugged, pulling your foot under you.

“Hm, interesting criteria,” He laughed, rolling his eyes at you as everyone else settled into their seats 

He didn’t push. Didn’t rest a hand against you or move an arm over your shoulder. He let you exist in peace, your bubbles pressed close but not breached. You managed to reach out to Lest during jump scares, holding on to her hand when your heart jumped. A few times when he flinched you saw his hand hover near yours, just for a second, before he placed it against his braced knee. He picked at the fraying edge of one of the velcro closures, fingers flexing whenever the tension raised on screen. 

It wasn’t until a climbing rope was ripped through one of the girls' hands on screen that you gave in. The shot of blood spurting dramatically from her palm made your stomach turn. You gasped and instinctually looked away, pressing your closed eyes against Viktors arm as you cringed. He grabbed your knee then, squeezing gently.

“It’s over,” He whispered close to your head after a moment.

You took a deep breath and looked back up, the image gone from the screen. He retreated his hand from your knee as you relaxed back into watching. Not long after this, Jayce paused the movie, standing up and stretching his back.

“All right, intermission or I’m gonna piss myself,” He said, leaving to use the bathroom.

“Booo,” Vi whined, chucking a pillow at his back as he left. Cait giggled and placed a hand over her girlfriend's mouth.

Lest leaned her head on your shoulder, looking up at you with puppy dog eyes, “Grab me my water bottle?”

“Brat,” You pushed her off, but stood up anyways, “Where is it?”

“In my bag on the hook,” She called after you as you went to get it. 

A few of the others hopped up to grab things or readjust how they were sitting. When you handed Lest her water bottle and settled back down into your seat, you felt like you had less space. You couldn’t tell if the cramped feeling was in your head or not, and you decided to ignore it. You pulled your leg back up underneath you and ended up resting the edge of your knee on Viktor’s thigh. 

“So, is this a good horror movie based on your criteria?” He asked, not reacting to the contact.

“Eh, hard to say,” You told him with a shrug, “So far it’s good, but it definitely loses points for that rope vs hand situation. Plus, it’s not over. The last, like, twenty minutes are make or break for a horror movie.”

“You’ll have to give me your official opinion at the end,” He said, tapping your knee.

“Don’t worry, Viktor,” Lest said, leaning over you towards him, “She’ll give everyone her opinion when it’s over, she always does.”

“What?” You gasped at your roommate.

“It’s true, you make your opinion very known,” Cait said, standing in front of the couch with her digital camera, “now, smile!”

You flipped her off when the camera flashed. When Jayce got back, everyone settled back in to finish the movie. At some point, you weren’t sure exactly when, but Viktor’s hand found yours in the space created by your knee propped against his thigh. He didn’t react at all, there was no outside sign to anyone else that he was sliding his cold fingers against your palm. You weren’t sure he even knew he was doing it, not until you laced your fingers with his. He took a deep breath, easily playing it off as a reaction to the movie, but you could feel his pulse quicken when you squeezed his hand gently. You stayed like that the rest of the movie, hardly able to focus on anything that was happening on screen with the weight of his hand in yours.

---

On the drive home, you were sure lest was going to explode. She sat in the passenger seat of your tiny pickup truck, practically vibrating as you drove back to campus. Sky leaning against the window in the backseat sleepily. A few times she almost asked. You could see her from the corner of your eye, leaning in, biting at her nail, mouth opening to say something and closing it before she could. 

As soon as Sky was out of earshot, up the steps towards her own dorm building, Lest stopped holding back.

“Did you fuck him again?” She hissed, throwing you off balance as she latched onto you

“Jesus Christ Lest,” You grimaced, shoving her off, “No, why would you think that.”

“Because he wouldn't stop looking at you like you’d given him the best head of his life,” She told you matter of factly.

“Okay, first of all, no he wasn’t,” You scoffed, “And second, I told you I turned him down. I’m not planning to go back on that anytime soon.”

“Okay, so you're blind, good to know,” She said, tapping her ID and holding the door open for you, “And does not anytime soon mean sometime in the future?”

“I don’t know, maybe,” You pulled your ears to your shoulders, stomping up the stairs.

“Whatever you say,” She sang as you reached your room. You groaned and dropped yourself face down into your bed, “But I’m not the one wearing his last name on my back."

You stiffened, forgetting about the shirt you were wearing. She had you there, for sure. You realized you hadn’t mentioned it to anyone. You wondered what they thought. If anyone even noticed. You hoped that they had come to the correct conclusion that your shirt was a casualty in the hand accident. Jayce and Cait and Vi were the only ones that knew you were alone with him. The two girls did find you clinging on to him like your life depended on it, and Jayce had found both of you in Viktor’s room. You debated if it was worth it to clarify to the three of them that you and Viktor were not fucking. Then again, if they weren't already thinking that was the case, it would sound very suspicious for you to bring it up.

“I’m gonna go shower,” She told you, gathering her things, “No masterbating while I’m gone.”

   “Ew, lest shut the fuck up,” You groaned, flinging a pillow at the door as it closed. 

You rolled over in bed, staring up at the ceiling and rubbing the hem of the shirt between your fingers. You had two of his shirts, and now that you were thinking about it, he had two of yours. You gave in to the urge and pulled the neckline of the borrowed shirt to your nose. Unsurprisingly it smelled like him. When you closed your eyes you could picture yourself standing back in his bedroom, as close to him as you wanted to be. The smell of honey and black tea and orange filled your head, an underlying scent of something that was just him. Human and warm and soft. 

You pressed the heels of your hands into your eyes, willing away the thoughts of him. You grabbed your phone, hoping for a distraction. You had barely even unlocked it when an Instagram notification sprung up. 

kirraman.cait has tagged you in a post 

You opened the app to see that Cait had posted the photos she took on her digital camera. They were cute, all time stamped from just a few hours ago. There was a barely focused selfie of Cait and Vi with their cheeks pressed together, and a picture of Jayce, Ekko, and Jinx in the kitchen finishing the tamales, and a few other cute ones that you were going to ask Cait to send you. The last one was of You, Lest, and Viktor sitting on the couch. It was the moment that you had flipped her off, an unamused look on your face as both Viktor and Lest laughed. 

He was tagged as well. You stared at the little its_viktor hovering over his head in the photo. You chewed on your lip, debating. It was just social media. It would be weird if you weren't friends online, honestly. You click on his profile, grateful that it was public. Only ten posts and about as many followers as accounts he followed. You clicked on the newest one, a mirror picture of him in his bathroom holding up Rio, no caption but the photo was also his profile picture. 

You kept scrolling, there was at least four months between posts, sometimes even a whole year, and most were captionless. One of the few to have a caption was him in a hospital bed, looking fresh out of a surgery and giving a weak thumbs up. The caption read ‘Žil jsem, děvko.’, you snorted when the translation told you it said ‘I lived, bitch.’ in english. The rest were fairly simple. Photos of landscapes, the university he transferred from, a highschool graduation picture, some harmless device he made as a camp counselor, decorated with stickers and plastic gems by whatever kids he was working with. 

The very first one was your favorite. A selfie of the 17-year-old versions of Viktor and Jayce. Jayce was holding the camera with one hand and the other arm slung over Viktor’s shoulders, squeezing him close. Both boys beamed at the camera, looking younger than you could even imagine them being. You could tell they were wearing matching t-shirts, probably from the Young Innovators Program they had met in so many years ago. Jayce’s current instagram was tagged in it, and you were a little surprised that you had never come across Viktor’s page before. Maybe you had and just didn’t realize it. The blush across Viktor’s cheeks was endearing, seeing them so close together was sweet. Until today you hadn’t been in the same room with both Jayce and Viktor at the same time. It was a little jarring how different they were, both physically and in personality. In a way, it made sense that they were such good friends. 

You double tapped the photo without thinking. A white heart popping up over the photo for half a second. In the other half of that second, your heart dropped. 

“Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.” You muttered, unliking the photo and closing out the app. You dropped your phone on your chest and slung an arm over your eyes, “Fuck!”

Only a second went by before your phone vibrated. You were borderline crushed to see a text from Viktor. His number wasn’t saved in your phone yet, you had been putting it off after Jinx added you to the group chat, but you knew it was him

I saw that.

You debated blocking him, or maybe moving to another state.

I don’t know what ur talking about

You were never going to hear the end of this from Lest. 

Ya, sure you don’t.

Only a moment later and a new notification popped up on the top of your screen.

Its_viktor liked your photo

You clicked on the notification. It brought you to one of your posts from almost 3 years ago. It was one from your trip to Greece right after graduation. You were in the ocean, holding onto the side of a paddleboard with one hand with a small red octopus tangling around the other. Your cheeks were red enough to match the cephalopod, but you were smiling wide anyway. Aside from the notification there was no evidence that Viktor had liked the photo. 

You opened his profile back up, hit the follow button, and turned your phone off. You laid there staring up at the ceiling and wishing he had been rude about the incident. Of course he wasn’t. He was the perfect fucking lab partner, and he was going to haunt you all semester.

[sweetiesicheng]

vernon - reaction

word count : 645

and of course, happy birthday to nonie ~

-

you change the screen from your starting overlay.

"hello friends! thank you for joining me on my live stream today," you greet everyone. you watch the chat log fly as your audience members greet you. "i'm sorry for being late today. my computer decided that it needed to update itself instead of letting me stream."

you read the messages that are sent into chat for a second. 

"i'm listening to an album today," you answer someone's question. "just one for today, and i’ll take suggestions towards the end.”

svtcarat05: yes! another album review!

ynfan0202: pop??? is anyone good charting?

ynbot: !! please abide to all rules before sending messages to keep our chat safe and friendly !! :)

rocky900: is it vernon's new album? it's pretty sick

lsm33: what about s.coup's album?

cheolcheol: @lsm33 they listened to it last stream

you go onto the stream setup and change the screen that is showing on the livestream. a music platform appears, and you click on the album that you'll be listening to. 

"alright friends! we'll be listening to vernon's new album called "abyss." i have the album ready and the music videos," you announce to everyone. "we'll listen to the album first before we watch the music videos," you add. 

mysticsvt: what vernon's album?!

boototheseungtothekwan: yes!!!

cloversun37: who's vernon?

vernonnonver: some good stuff today

svtlover14: VERNON !!! MY BIAS

caratsunite: abyss and surface are my favorite songs

"wait, wait, wait, before i start...let me do something," you say and pick up your phone. you unlock it and call someone. 

the call picks up, "uh huh?"

"what are you doing?" you ask vernon. 

"nothing much, just out," he answers. "what's up?”

"i'm listening to your new album today."

"you haven't listened to it yet?"

"i need the content."

the door opens and vernon walks into your office. he holds his phone up to his ear, "it kind of hurts that you haven't listened to it yet. i even gave you a signed cd."

you end the call and laugh while starting to read the now frenzied chat. vernon pulls up a chair and looks at the chat too. 

"why are all of the messages coming in so fast?" vernon asks you. “i can’t read any of them.”

"i mean, you are kind of a big deal," you reply to him. 

hamstertiger: THERE'S NO WAY

thisis_redtoo: twitter was right! they are friends!

seventeenteenteenteen: hi vernon!!!

97line97: vernon !!!!!

lovemoneymingyu: VERNON

"sorry guys, i'm putting chat in slow mode because you guys are crazy today," you say and change the settings on another monitor. "for anyone who doesn't know, this guy next to me is vernon. we're listening to his album that just came out a few days ago."

"hi guys," vernon greets, "i was standing outside for like two hours waiting to come in here."

"he's lying! i would never do that to someone," you immediately interject. 

"you left me at the beach," vernon reminds you. 

"because you were asleep! seungkwan and dino were with you anyways," you say to him. "alright, let's get started! vernon, pick which song we should start with."

"oh, artist's choice? we can start with "abyss" first," vernon says while you press play on the his album. 

—

after ending the stream, you lean back in your chair and look at vernon. 

"so, how was your first time on one of the streams?" you ask him, wanting to hear his opinion since he is your first guest. 

"you did a good job. it was fun getting to be on this side of it," he says to you. "you really like my album, huh?" he asks, referring to your reactions. 

"well it is my boyfriend's album," you reply. 

vernon chuckles, "thanks for the support," he says to you and leans in to kiss your cheek. 

"anything for my favorite artist."

"and the content."

"it helps pay the bills.”

[bluepallilworld]

Helloooooo! So I promised a surprise for Mimosa's birthday and here it is! 🎉✨

I made a ghost/ukagaka of him and Mu!!!!

If you don't know what a ghost is, it's a sort of desktop pet! You can have them on the corner of your screen or interact with them! Play with them! Give them gifts! Talk with them! Pet them... Many things to do ;)

If you never had a ghost, I'm gonna explain how to download everything to make them work! If you're not a beginner, you can scroll and download the files (first the font, second the balloon then the nar ;3c)

Oooook lesssgo, the steps:

Download SSP on your computer! It's the thing ghosts work on, the files are all but useless without it! Here's the link: [http://ssp.shillest.net/] Fair warning, it's gonna be in japanese- Don't be scared and just click the download button!

2. Double click on the thingie, and unzip it! I advise to not unzip it in your downloads and give it its own secured folder however ;P

Then to start SSP click on the ribbon in the now unzipped files, ignore the rest, there are just "the guts" on the ghost (I mean you can read the "README" file if you're unfamiliar to all this or are curious, it explains stuff)

3. Let the cat girl (Emily) talks for a second (in japanese sorry be patient) until it opens a lil' window with stuff written (in japanese ¯\_(ツ)_/¯). Click on the right button at the bottom

4. You're good to install them now! Download and install the three files down there ! In that order: the font, the balloon, the nar

Happy Monkey font!

Mimosa talks with the happy monkey font, if you don't have it already (I didn't), download the font and install it on your computer so that what he says doesn't look weird! I promise it will look neater if you do that!

the balloon file (zip)

It's his personal talking bubble! If you don't have it, the bubble won't be adapted to them. ;w;

Download it and drag the file on the japanese-talking girl, she will do the work for you!

Open the right-click menu by, well, right-clicking on the girl and go to the balloon and select "mimomu-balloon". You might want to change the language to "english" as well! The balloon is set!

Do that before installing the nar or he won't use the good bubble for the introduction!

the nar file of the ghost

And it's the important file with the kids in it :3

Download it! If you have the font and the balloon installed, you can go and drag the nar file on Emily and you'll be done! You can change ghost in the right-click menu if you want ;3

Tell me if something is unclear <3

Now I have people to thank!

@creative-firebug was the big motivator and enabler! No ghost without them. And they found lil' bugs in it so I could fix them before putting it out in the wild too! Getting lil' hypes, hearts and advices really helps when you're working on something for months! And they linked me the tutorial so yes, enabler.

@zarla-s has created the template I used (Girl and triangle!)! I knew nothing (and still don't know a lot) of code and just how it works at all so thanks for that :D

@ukagakadreamteam answered questions I had and half of the fun stuff wouldn't have been possible without their answers!!!!!

Both Mimosa and Mu are my lil' kiddos shipkiddies

[thelunarfairy]

Hi!!! I hope you are having a great day.

I saw that you believe that the cat that has appeared in the newest TBHK chapter is Tsukasa.

And while I understand where all the people who are saying it is Tsukasa are coming from there is still one thing bugging me a lot. There is already a Tsukasa in this universe and we’ve seen him, even when saying that that’s only the possessed version of him and that his soul is separate and the unpossessed is in the cat that doesn’t quite add up. I say this because when we are introduced to the baby Tsukasa of this universe he seems to momentarily regain consciousness and call for Amane

(Chapter 116)

Do you have any theories relating to this? And if it wasn’t Tsukasa, what do you think the cat is? Do you think it’s existence will have any major impact on the story??

I’m just really interested to know your thoughts overall :DD

Hope you are doing well, and thanks beforehand for reading this! :DDD

Hi hi sweetie!!! thank you!!!!!!!!! I hope the same for you!!!

You are incredibly right!

There are some hypotheses that I like to consider, the first is that we have several versions of Tsukasa from different timelines - and they know each other.

This is because Tsukasa Yorishiro has already given signs that he can travel through time using the house. Apparently, it seems that he was looking for a reality where it would be possible for him and Amane to grow up together, apparently, he didn't find it.

These are theories, okay?

Still, the theories arose from the thought that Tsukasa made explicit, how he wants to show Nene Amane's past (at her request), but still, her bond with Hanako seems to have been planned.

The fact that Tsukasa can see past and future events gives him the possibility of planning anything, even if he is not sure that something will work out the way he wanted.

Okay, but why am I saying this?

Because if we have several versions of Tsukasa that can coexist at the same time (like the twelve-year-old Tsukasa appearing to Nene, or the four-year-old Tsukasa when Tsukasa Yorishiro was in the present) then it means that this little Tsukasa from the current reality is not the same Tsukasa who is supposedly the cat.

That's one theory.

The second theory is that yes, that child who is at school has Tsukasa's appearance, a bit of his essence, but maybe he is not completely him.

Something similar to what Tsukasa did with Mitsuba.

Tsukasa "created" a new Mitsuba with the essence of the original.

Who's to say that Kako didn't do the same just to trick Amane? Did he give him a copy of Tsukasa while he imprisoned the original in the cat's body?

I have these theories in my mind, I don't know exactly which of the two makes more sense, so far, or if they are true, but they both fit into the general context.

Currently, I can talk about both, but I haven't yet chosen which one makes the most sense for me.

It seems like something is missing…

Anyway, remember that this arc will unite all realities and times, it's in this art of the chapter 119.

If it's not Tsukasa, maybe it's someone related to the Yugi family, based on the eyes, an unusual color. After all, all the alteration of reality started because of them.

Yes, the cat is important, he was literally responsible for "saving" Nene here, he facilitated Nene's entry into the boundary, which I find suspicious.

Tsukasa wanted her to destroy Yorishiro, right?

It's only fair that he facilitated her entry there.

;)

So yes, he is important, and we'll find out more about how.

Thank youuuuuuu sweetie!!!!!!!!!! 🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡🧡 Thank you for all your kindness!!!! And it was fun answering this question, thank you dear!!!

[kashimos-hajime]

—candy | s.r.

summary: "on the other side of the net, atsumu grins."

pairing: suna rintarou x reader

a/n: ohhh miya twinssss save me | part of the undateable series

masterlist

It’s not long before you’re staying late after practices to lock up, curled up between the benches with a bag of abandoned towels and a bottle holder next to your feet, watching, always watching.

Your notebook is filled with volleyball terminology and sketches of rotation possibilities, notes of each player's strength and weaknesses. You build a portfolio for the team, speak to each and every one and take notes with your little pencil that's been sharpened to a near-nub. Suna catches glimpses of the page you're working on when he grabs his bottle from you, your fingers rolling the short pencil distractedly. You don’t even look like you’re paying attention, and he sees mentions of cellular division which is most certainly not related to volleyball.

When you suddenly blink and begin writing a sentence beginning with chlorophyll, he nudges the side of your thigh with his foot. You blink, head jerking up to him, 

“Tired?” he asks. When you don’t answer right away, he jets another stream of water into his mouth to span the silence. Maybe if he gives you time to think…

Nope. It’s like talking to a brick wall.

“I said, are you tired.” This time, he doesn’t bother making it sound like a question, and instead kicks your shoe. It must be what kickstarts the human part of your brain because you slide up the wall and nod. He plucks your notebook out of your hands despite your protest, shaking until the next page folds over to reveal the notes you took from their first practice match of the year. 

Although your writing is neat, he can see where the letters lose their sharp edges, the pen loses precision.

“Give that back,” you demand quietly, and he surrenders it when you try to snatch it from his grasp with a shrug. Your eyes avert to the floor, and the urge to smile takes him by surprise. So does the want to pat your head. Hand twitching, he chews on the inside of his cheek and squeezes his bottle tighter. “It’s fun to watch you play, but you guys stay so late.”

“Tell the captain to end practice early then,” he retorts. “He’s the one keeping us jailed here.” Two gazes go to Kita standing by the net and setting to the spikers, and Suna watches out of the corner of his eye as you shake your head. “Scared?”

“Kita-san likes his routine,” is all you say. Pale eyes fixate on your face, but you’re staring at the captain in a way that makes his stomach turn. It’s uncomfortable, and foreign, and when a soft, faint smile plays at your lips, an unwelcome train of thought stations in his brain. You close the notebook, pushing off the wall and turning to him. 

Almost instantly, the smile disappears. Suna’s almost offended enough to comment on it.

Is he ugly or what?

“Either way,” you continue neutrally, “I’ll be okay. Don’t worry about me.”

“Wasn’t worried,” he replies smoothly. “You just looked dead slumped against the wall.” Your eyes squeeze shut as he flicks your forehead. Then, he grabs your wrist and puts his empty water bottle in your hand. “Refill this for me, won’t you? Thanks, kuri-kuri.”

You frown. “Okay.”

Setting down your notebook by your bag, you give him a look before stepping around him and heading out the gym. Watching you go, he shoves his hands into his pants and the corner of his mouth twists into a wry smile. The nickname burns at the edges of his lips, and he debates about why he had called you that, before shaking his head and heading back onto the court.

It doesn’t matter. Osamu and Atsumu call you that to irritate you and Suna, by occupation, loves to annoy everyone around him. He must’ve just picked it up out of habit.

On the other side of the net, Atsumu grins.

.

The next day is a long one. You’re dragging your feet through the school, trying to ignore the heaviest weight in your stomach at the thought of having to stay late again. But there’s another practice match at the end of the week, and you’re in too deep to say you quit being a manager. If Aran’s pleased demeanor at seeing you so often again is anything to go by, you’re struggling to think of reasons not to go besides how exhausted you are.

Maybe you just need to get used to it. A new routine.

After saying goodbye to Mina, you head for the gym with the sun warm on your face. A slight breeze kisses your neck, and you relish in the feeling of a cool, easy spring that’ll soon be replaced by the smell of sweat and hot gym air.

If you’re at the gym quick enough, you’ll have to start setting up the nets. At least that’s one plus. Lifting everything you need to, walking to and fro with whatever you’re tasked with, means you’re getting the exercise you never got before.

You’re nearly there when you notice the aglet of your shoe slapping against your ankle. Veering off to the shade of a nearby building and bending over, you sigh. Even your fingers feel tired.

How is that even possible?   Untying your shoe lace, you’re about to retie it when something crinkles above you and a dark shadow falls over you. Mouth open, you're about to retort if you can help whoever's blocking your sunlight when you find your gaze filled with a shiny dark brown plastic. You blink, looking up at the hand and arm and body attached to it.

Suna Rintarou closes his school bag, outlined by the golden sunlight. It catches his pale eyes as he shoves a bag closer to your face. “Osamu said you needed these and to give it to you if I saw you.”

Blinking, you stand and take it, reading the front before turning it over. A bag of your favourite coffee candies, unopened. You frown as the boy before you crouches to finish up your shoelaces, pulling the loops into a tight bow. You cock your foot back onto its heel, staring down at his handiwork. 

“Oh.” He rises to his feet. Your cheeks heat up. “Thank you.”

He shoves his hands into his pockets, turns, and continues on his way towards the gym.

You watch him go, hand tightening on the bag. The sound of it crackling makes your gaze jerk down. Was that… weird?

Incredibly weird.

“Suna-san, wait.” He glances over his shoulder, disinterest etched into the very planes of his face. You ignore it and jog to catch up to him, smiling politely. “I’m going this way anyway.”

He arches an eyebrow. “Guess so.”

Later, during a break in practice, you pull Osamu aside and hold the bag of candies, smiling. His own smile mirrors yours, and he reaches greedily for the bag, but you yank it out of his grasp, placing a hand on his chest. 

A complain bubbles on his lips, but you only take a step back. “Hold up!”

“What? Where’d ya get those?”

“Whaddya mean, dummy?” You withdraw a candy and he automatically opens his mouth. Rolling your eyes, you toss it into his mouth like a owner giving a dog a treat. “Suna gave ‘em to me. Said you told him to.”

“Suna?” he echoes, pushing the candy into his cheek. His eyebrows knit together, and together, the two look over to where the boy’s fiddling with his phone. For a moment, Osamu looks as if he wants to say something, and you glance at his expression, watching the way his brow furrows, the way his lips downturn.

At length, Osamu finally speaks, the candy clacking against his teeth: “Yeah. Forgot about that.”

[daddy-issues-galore]

Let me fly you to the moon... Chapter 10/?

<Chapter 9< / Oneshot / >Chapter 11>

Warnings: none really

“Love! Alan’s ‘Ere!” Noel shouted up to you.

“Yeah, comin’!” You answered, grabbing your jacket from Noel’s bed and began making your way down to him.

Last night had been the last of Noel’s London shows and like all the others, it had been mega. The only downside had been the constant bother with the press. The two of you had decided to avoid social media as much as possible as to not be drowned in the harsh comments or idle gossip of reporters or fans.

As expected, they’d found out your name. Some ‘friend’ from your school days had happily answered some questions spilling all the gossip (mostly made-up bollocks) but made sure to give your name and the name of ‘the flower shop she still works in’. The bitch – she was always a cunt. Thanks to that little piece of information your poor mum had to be rescued from the shop by her friend’s son due to the press bothering her, wanting to know all the gossip about you and Noel. You almost returned home early, worried about your mum having to deal with the bullshit by herself but she made you promise to stay and have fun because she could ‘tell the press to piss off for you’.

You came to the bottom step with a grin as you thought about your phone conversation with your mum. Noel was sat beside you on his sofa with his arm around your shoulders as the pair of you laughed at your mum as she ranted about the ‘wankers’.

“Right, let’s-” Your brow furrowed as you looked at Noel. He was staring up at you with his mouth hung open. “Noel.” You waved your hand in his face.

He gulped and looked down to the band t-shirt you were wearing. It was just an old Stone Roses t-shirt your dad had given to you. It looked a bit ratty now because you’d had it for so many years, but you loved it. “I’ve seen you in that before.” He nodded to it.

You looked down at it with a frown, “You can’t have. This is the first time I’m wearin’ it-”

Noel gasped and clicked his fingers, sudden realisation hitting him. “You wore it to see Oasis, dint ya’?”

Your eyes widened, surprised Noel would remember something so minor. “How do you remember that?”

Noel began smiling, “You were with that old bloke-”

“Me dad, yeah.” You nodded.

“And… were you with some other bird? Or a lad?”

You nodded again, “Mates from school.” You smiled.

Noel’s smile stretched into a grin as he stepped forwards and placed his hands on your hips. “I remember spotting you ‘cause of the shirt.” He smiled as he looked down at it. “There weren’t many fit young birds wearing owt like it.” Noel licked his lips as he looked down to your chest. “You know why else I remember it so well?”

You shook your head, “Why?”

Noel grinned, “Your dad left ya’ for a bit, dint he?”

“To go for a piss, I think.” Your brow furrowed. “Why do you remember that bit so well?”

“’Cause… No sooner had he turned his back, you fuckin’ flashed us!” Noel smirked at you.

Your eyes widened, “Oh no...”

“You did, dint ya’?”

Yes. “You must have had hundreds of birds flash you over the years.” You scoffed and folded your arms over your chest. “How the hell do you remember me doin’ it?”

Noel shook his head with a chuckle, “R’kid always did… I didn’t get many young birds screamin’ me name, wearin’ a Stone Roses top and flashin’ me.” He chuckled making you blush even more.

“Yeah, well... me mates knew I fancied ya’, so they dared me, dint they....”  You shook your head with a groan and dropped it on to Noel’s shoulder, “Such an idiot.” You stood back up with a pout.

“Nah, you’re perfect, you are.” He gave you a crooked smile that made your chest flutter. “That was probably one of the only things me and r’kid agreed on.”

“What?” You looked at him confused.

“How great your tits were.” He grinned cheekily at you making you roll your eyes with a huff.

“Oh my god.” You groaned but laughed.

“Still are.” He added with a smug grin as he gave your backside a smack making you yelp. “Do you remember what happened after you did it?” He winked at you and stepped back from the stairs.

You walked towards the door and nodded blushing. How could you forget, “Liam shouted out, ‘nice tits, love’.” You said with a giggle as Noel rolled his eyes with a scoff. You looked up to him as you felt your face heat up as you said, “And you pointed at me, winked and said-”

“Think I’m in love.” Noel nodded; his eyes bore into yours. “How come you dint mention it?”

“I dint think you’d remember somethin’ so silly... besides, it would have made me sound like a proper stalker if I just blurted it out, ‘oh, by the way I flashed you me tits and you said you were in love with me’.” You deadpanned making Noel laugh.

“Fair point.” He nodded and reached for the front door and opened it, “C'mon, we’ve places to be.”

You rolled your eyes and stepped outside. You scowled at the sight of the awaiting paps. “Still?”

Noel glared towards them as he locked up. “They’ll find somethin’ else to gossip ‘bout soon, love. Promise.” Noel took your hand and lead you to the car. “Ignore ‘em for now. I wanna show ya’ somethin’.”

You nodded and got in the car. You we’re only going to be in London for a couple more days before you had to return home, you wanted to enjoy your time with Noel as much as you could.

“Where are we?” You asked as Noel helped you out of the car.

“The studio I record at.” Noel said then thanked Alan as he handed him his guitar case. Noel smiled at you and placed his free hand on the small of your back and began to lead you inside. “I’ve had this idea stuck in me head for a few days, wanted to get it down before it vanished. That alrigh’, love?” He asked as he opened the door and let you in first. You nodded with a smile. “Good. Plus, thought you’d like to see where the magic happens.”

“Whoa, careful,” You held your hands out in front of him, “Can your head fit through the door with that ego?” You joked making Noel grin.

“Comedian you are.” Noel slipped his arm around your waist and leaned down but before he could kiss you someone behind you cleared their throat.

“Hey, Noel…” A woman, slightly older than you, smiled sweetly at Noel. “I wasn’t expecting to see you so soon. You can’t keep away, can you.” She giggled.

You screwed your face up in annoyance as you watched her practically drooling over Noel.

Noel hummed as he pulled you a little closer to his side, “Uh, yeah, sorta last minute thing.” He nodded and smiled at you. “This is my- Y/n. She’s come to help me with somet, haven’t ya’ love?” He winked at you making you blush.

The woman looked at you, trying to hide the scowl as she looked you up and down. “I see…” She gave you a fake smile. “Well, I’m Tammy. Pleasure to meet you- sorry, I didn’t catch your name.” She said as she held her hand out to you.

You raised your eyebrow at her, “Y/n.” You shook her hand. “Nice to meet you, Sammy.” You smirked at her as she scowled at you.

“Right. This way.” Noel took your hand and began leading you away from the woman as you glared at her over your shoulder. He slipped his arm around your shoulders and pulled you into his side with a chuckle. “Behave.” He whispered then finally kissed you as the two of you came to a door. He pushed it open, letting you in first before he followed, closing the door behind him. “This is it.” He smiled. “There’s not much ‘ere now with us bein’ on tour, usually there’s instruments and wires all over the fuckin’ place but you get the idea.” He explained as he put down his guitar case. “This is the control room. This is basically the nervous system for the whole thing.” He gestured to the large board that consisted of various buttons and switches. “Through there,” He pointed to the room on the other side of the glass, “Is the live room, where we record vocals and instruments.”

“Wow.” You were in awe as you looked around the room. You turned around to face him with a grin. “So, what’s this idea, you’ve got?” You asked.

“Ah, well, I don’t really know.” He blushed a little as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I still need to have a mess ‘bout with it.”

“I see.” You nodded, “What’s it called?”

Noel shrugged with a chuckle. “No idea.”

“What’s the melody?” You asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’ll be straight with ya’, love. I don’t really have a clue. It’s just... bit of a riff, I’ve got... but I know there’s somet there, y’know?” Noel let out a frustrated sigh as he sat down the small sofa.

You nodded and walked towards him. “So, what do you need me to do?” You asked as you sat beside him.

Noel placed his arm behind you on the back of the sofa. A small smile curving at the corner of his lips. “Talk to me.”

Your brow furrowed, “Aye?”

Noel chuckled softly, “Just talk to me. I wanna know everythin’ ‘bout ya’.”

“You’ve already written a song about that.” You joked making Noel roll his eyes.

“I’m hopin’ if you keep me distracted whilst I play this,” He tapped his guitar case with his foot, “Then it’ll just come to me.”

You nodded slowly. “So, what? I’m like your muse?” You asked with a playful smirk making Noel’s cheeks flush.

“I never said you were me muse.” He answered quickly and reached over to his guitar case. “You’re me distraction.”

You hummed and folded your arms across your chest. “Whatever you say, babe. Bet you end up writin’ a song ‘bout me. Number one hit – you singin’ a love song ‘bout the beautiful distraction that once flashed you her tits.” You teased making Noel roll his eyes as he stood up and slipped his guitar on.

“You’re a knobhead, y’know that?” Noel asked with a playful smile.

You shrugged with your own, “Takes one to know one.” You giggled. “Shall I go get us some coffee before we start?” You asked.

Noel shook his head as he began tuning his guitar, “Nah. I’ll get that bird to sort it.”

You frowned, “Who is she anyway? I assume she works here.”

Noel nodded. “She’s one of the receptionists and Mark’s PA. He co-owns this place with his brother Tom.” Noel explained.

“I see…” You chewed the inside of your cheek.

Noel smirked to himself as he walked over to you as he strummed his guitar. “Y’know, ya look fuckin’ sexy when yer jealous.”

You scowled at him, crossing your arms over your chest, “I am not jealous. I just, saw how she was lookin’ at you.”

Noel smirked, “And how was she lookin’ at me?”

You rolled your eyes making Noel chuckle. “You know how she was lookin’ at you.”

Noel shook his head, “Nah, tell me.” He smirked at you.

You glared up at him. “Don’t you have a song to be writin’.” You pouted and looked away from him making him chuckle.

“I only care how you look at me...” He leaned over and kissed your cheek making you smile to yourself and blush. “Right, I’ll call reception and get ‘em to grab us somet from the cafe, then we’ll start talkin’ bollocks, yeah?” He winked at you making you smile.

“Alrigh’. I’m off to the ladies though whilst you fanny ‘bout.” You stood up and began making your way towards the door. “Try not to let your ego get too big whilst I’m gone.” You called out as opened the door and left. You giggled to yourself as you heard Noel shout back something along the lines of ‘piss off, ya’ cheeky sod’.

As Noel hung the telephone back up on the wall after making a quick call to reception, his own phone went off in his pocket. It was a text from you. He opened it and began grinning. There was a picture of you holding your bra.

Y/n: If this song is any good, I’ll flash you later ;P

Noel shook his head as he smiled to himself, “Bloody pest.” He chuckled and sat down on the edge of the sofa, settling his guitar in his lap.

He began strumming the familiar chords to ‘If I Had A Gun’, smiling to himself as he thought of you. There was no doubt in Noel’s mind that he would have written that song about you if he had met you sooner. The lyrics perfectly explained the way he was feeling. And it scared him.

Noel stopped playing and let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m fucked.” Noel covered his face with his hands and fell back into the sofa, groaning.

After his last relationship ended, Noel hadn’t expected he’d find someone like you. He was aware of his age, and he was aware he was a lot to handle. He was bloody grumpy, and he liked things done a certain way. According to his ex, he was no fun, he kept things bottled up, he didn’t show his love or that he cared for anyone else but himself. That wasn’t true; he loved Anais, and his mam and his family; he thought he loved his ex and in a way he did but obviously it wasn’t that soulmate kinda love.

You brought out a side of him that he’d lost a long time ago. Maybe your age had something to do with, but you were that type of person. You were lovely, kind, caring, funny, smart, naughty – you’d made him smile and laugh more than anyone else could in a small period.

Fuck, he was screwed.

The door opened and you walked in laughing, holding a paper bag and take away cups. “I intercepted your little fan girl on me way back.” You kicked the door shut behind you. “I don’t think she likes me.”

Noel chuckled as he watched you place the stuff onto the coffee table. “Not everyone likes me, love.” He winked at you making you grin.

“I do… a lot.” You said and pulled your bra out of your pocket and chucked it towards him, hitting him in the face and making him laugh loudly.

After spending a couple of hours talking whilst Noel played his guitar, he put his guitar down and sat back on the sofa with a frustrated sigh. The song was nearly there, just missing… something.

Noel rested his head on the back of the sofa, his knees spread as he slouched down. Your head was resting on your bent arm that was on the back of sofa with your legs tucked under you with Noel’s right arm draped over your knees.

“Don’t take this the wrong way, yeah?” Noel said as he turned his head to look at you.

You raised your eyebrow at him with a hum, “This sounds like you’re ‘bout to put your foot in it.” You teased making him chuckle.

“I know you love bein’ a florist and that, but is that what you’ve always wanted to do?”

“Oh,” You cleared your throat before shaking your head. “I got into it by accident. The shop’s been in me dad’s family for years. I’d always helped out durin’ summer and breaks from school. But when I was ‘bout to go to university it hit a proper rough patch. Me mam and dad had to let the employees go and were workin’ all hours, so I decided to hold off a year to help. One year turned into two and before I knew it, I was just at the shop permanently.” You shrugged.

“What were you goin’ to uni for?” He asked shifting in his seat to face you.

You began smiling to yourself as you thought back, “I wanted to study photography and media.”

Noel’s brow furrowed, “You dint wanna be one of them fuckers, did ya’?” He asked referring to the press.

You shook your head with a scoff, “Fuck, no… I wanted to design album covers and that.” You smiled.

“Seriously?” Noel smiled at you. “That’s pretty cool.” He nodded. A thought popped into his head, but he quickly pushed it to one side. “Do you regret not goin’?” He asked.

“I dunno…” You shrugged. “Maybe a bit. I lost touch with most of me mates from school… and I still had plenty of good times with me mates that I kept in touch with. But I couldn’t just leave me mam and dad when they needed me. I can take photos without a degree.”

Noel looked at you with a soft smile. He’s adding you’ve got a heart of gold to the list of things about you he loved.

You looked up to him and gave him a small smile, “Do you regret goin’ off bein’ a roadie?” You asked him.

He shook his head. “Nah. It was great. Had a laugh, learnt loads, drank way too much… plus, it got me out of mam’s hair and with our Liam ‘round causin’ havoc it was probably for the best.” He chuckled. “Do you wish you had siblings?”

You shook your head. “Nah, I grew up with all me dad’s mates’ lads so, I had loads of brothers without the hassle of living with ‘em.” You smiled to yourself before you looked at Noel. “Would you have liked a sister?” You asked.

Noel’s brow furrowed, “Fuck no. I won’t have been able handle the stress.” He chuckled.

You laughed with him. “Yeah, I get that. One of me mates from school had a little sister, seemed like hell.”

Noel nodded, “Any younger siblings are. R’kid was a right pain in the arse…” He sighed and sat up. “Then again, I guess I was to our Paul, so-” He chuckled. “Guess that’s karma, ain’t it?”

You hummed, “Guess so.” You smiled. You leaned forward to grab your drink only to groan when you realised it was empty. “You empty too?” You asked him.

Noel peered into his cup and nodded, “Afraid so. I’ll call-”

“Nah, I’ll go. I wanna stretch me legs anyway.” You let out a tired groan as you stood up and stretched your back muscles.

Noel frowned and stood up. “I’ll come with ya’. I don’t want you bein’ pestered by-”

You pressed your lips against Noel’s cutting him off, placing your hand over his cheek as you did. You smiled softly and pulled back from him. “I’ll be fine. I’ll tell ‘em to fuck off.”

Noel chuckled, “Good girl.” He kissed you again before you headed for the door.

“I’ll be on my way… I want that song written before I get back, Mr Gallagher.” You winked at him over your shoulder as you walked out the door.

You walked out of the front door of the building to be met by Alan opening the door to Noel’s car. You raised your eyebrow at him, “Uh, hi.” You looked at him in confusion.

Alan chuckled, “Mr Gallagher asked me to escort you to the coffee shop.” He smiled.

You rolled your eyes. “I told him I’d be fine.”

“He doesn’t trust them to leave you alone.” He gestured towards the other side of the road.

You looked over and frowned, spotting the two blokes with cameras. “Bastards.”

“My thoughts exactly.” Alan chuckled as he closed the door and walked around to the driver’s side and got in.

The trip to the coffee shop didn’t that long and before you knew it, you were making your way back to the studio without any problems. You thanked Alan after giving him his coffee and lunch (your way of thanking him) and headed inside.

As you began to walk through the reception area, a tall, plump man that looked to be in his fifties approached you.

“Excuse me, Miss?”

You stopped in your tracks and narrowed your gaze, assessing him. Is he press that’s snuck in? “Yeah?”

“I’m going to need to see some ID.” He said as he clasped his hands in front of him.

You raised your eyebrow at him, “You gonna show me yours then?” You challenged.

His brow furrowed. “Excuse me?”

“I don’t know who you are, mate. I ain’t showin’ me ID to just anyone. Sorry, but you could be some nut job.” You shrugged.

He glared at you, “I’m Mark, sweetheart, the owner. Now show me your ID or piss off.”

“No need to be a prick, is there. And saying you’re the owner isn’t proof.” You frowned and fished around in your bag for your ID. You handed it to him with scowl.

He looked down at it, “Right… And you’re here because?”

“I’m going back to the studio I’ve been in all mornin’.” You frowned at him and took your ID back from him.

He shook his head with a chuckle, “Nice try. We don’t just let people walk in here off the street. You need to be someone to record here. And you’re not. So, get out.”

Your mouth hung open in disbelief. “I’m with Noel.”

“Gallagher?” He scoffed. “Don’t give me that bollocks. We get desperate groupies like you all the time trying to get in here.”

“Excuse me.” You looked over to where that stuck up cow (what the fuck was her name) was sat watching the two of you with a smug look. “She knows me. Don’t you...”

She shook her head faking innocence. “Sorry. Never seen you before.”

You glared at her. “You fuckin’ bitch.” You huffed and looked back at the bloke. “Look, let’s just go to the studio and Noel with explain-”

“I’ve had enough of this.” The bloke grabbed your upper arm and began pushing you towards the door. “Get out.” He gave you a harsh push towards the door.

The coffees in your hand sloshed around in the paper cups, some spilling out of the opening and getting onto your hand causing you to drop them. “Hey! Ow! Get off me!”

“I’m serious. Get the fuck out or I’m call-”

“Oy!” Noel shouted as he appeared around the corner, his face filled with anger as he marched towards you. “Get your fuckin’ hands off me missus, Mark!”

You let out a relieved sigh as your eyes met Noel’s. You felt a weight in your chest as you looked at him. “Noel.”

“She’s your, missus?”

“Girlfriend, missus, bird; pick one, just get your fuckin’ hands off her before I make, ya’.” Noel all but growled at him as he came to your rescue and pushed Mark away from you. He put a protective arm around your back, pulling into his side, careful not to knock the coffee out of your hand. He reached up and brushed your fallen hair back from your cheek. “Y’kay, love?”

“M’fine, Noel.” You whispered. You suddenly felt very vulnerable and embarrassed by the whole situation. You felt the beginnings of tears fill your eyes and quickly hid your face against his shoulder.

Noel tensed with anger and turned slightly to look at Mark. “Who the fuck do you think you are, mate?”

“She didn’t say she was-”

“Piss off. I heard what you were sayin’ to her. Both of yous.” He glared over to the ‘stuck up cow’ and shook his head. “You’re a fuckin’ liar. And you,” He glared at Mark, “You’ve just lost me business.”

The colour in Mark’s face drained, “No, please, Noel. Don’t let some silly misunderstanding-”

“Fuck off.” Noel jabbed his chest again. “This ain’t just some misunderstanding. You fuckin’ manhandled me missus. Look at her.”

“Noel, stop,” You pleaded, worried he was going to get himself in trouble. “Let’s just go. Please.” You sniffled.

Noel let a deep breath out through his nose and stepped backed from Mark. His expression softening as he looked at you, “’kay love. C’mon,” He pressed a kiss to your temple and led you back to the studio.

Once inside you sat down and dropped your head into your hands. “M’sorry, Noel.”

“What are you sorry for?” He asked as he sat beside you.

“I’ve made you look like an idiot, haven’t I?” You sniffled, your tears finally falling as you sat up.

“Hey,” Noel slipped his arm around your shoulders and pulled you into his chest. He pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “You haven’t, ‘kay?” He rested his head on top of yours. “Don’t you worry ‘bout those cunts. I’ll sort ‘em out.”

You pulled away and looked at him, “Don’t get yourself into trouble for me, Noel. I’m not worth it.”

Noel frowned at you. “Of course you are, love. You’re worth, everything. You didn’t deserve what they did to you. You’re perfect.”

You scoffed, “Don’t be daft.”

“I’m not.” Noel placed his left hand over yours. “Look, you’re great, yeah? You’re… proper lovely and that.” He let out soft chuckle as he rubbed the back of his head. “Fuck, I’m shit at this.”

You grinned at him, “You’re lovely.”

Noel shook his head, “Nah, I had this whole thing planned and…” He drew in a deep breath before he picked his guitar up. “Let me play the song for you, and you’ll get what I’m tryin’ to say.”

Your brow furrowed, “The song? The one you were trying to write?”

Noel nodded, “I pretty much had it written before you left.” He admitted with a blush and began to strum his guitar.

You held your breath as you watched Noel.

“Many’s the time when I found I’d lost my way, love

I was stranded inside of the silent city walls

With my hand on my heart, I couldn’t tell you if I’d been dreaming

Take me to my lover’s arms, I won’t wake up this time

Maybe I believe in magic, love

I find it in the moon and stars above

I’ll drag you from the one-horse town that’ll bring you down

And I’ll love you for all time

But it’s alright

And you know we can’t go back

I said it’s alright

To know we can’t go back

You know we can’t go back

If that’s the time then I guess I must be leaving

Gone are the days and the dreams we screamed out loud

With my heart in my mouth I couldn’t tell you what just hit me

Take me to my lover’s arms, I won’t back down this time

Maybe I believe in magic, love

I find it in the moon and stars above

I’ll drag you from the one horse town that’ll bring you down

And I’ll love you for all time

And it’s alright

To know we can’t go back

I said it’s alright

To know we can’t go back

You know we can’t go back

And it’s alright

To know we can’t go back

I said it’s alright

To know we can’t go back

I said it’s alright

To know we can’t go back

I said it’s alright

To know we can’t go back

We can’t go back.”

The studio fell silent as you and Noel held each other’s gaze. You quickly wiped away your fallen tears and looked down, drawing in a deep breath.

“Wow,” You let out a breathy chuckle as more tears fell. “It’s... beautiful, Noel.” You smiled at him.

Noel smiled softly and looked down. “You were right.”

Your brow furrowed, “About what?”

“I ended up writin’ a love song ‘bout me beautiful distraction that once flashed me her tits.” His smile widened as the pair of you laughed. “Only, yer not me distraction, Y/n... yer me muse.” Noel cleared his throat and placed his guitar down. “You don’t have to say anythin’. You don’t even have to acknowledge that I have, I just wanted-”

You quickly moved forwards, wrapping your arms around Noel's neck and crashing your lips against his. Noel was quick to recover from his surprise as he fell back into the sofa with you in his arms.

This time as you kissed and you felt the same funny feeling in your chest, the same one you had been so quick to push aside, you let it consume you. You let yourself get lost in the hunger and the passion.

You pulled back from Noel and drew in a deep breath. You slowly sat up and giggled as Noel laid there breathless and looking dazed. “I do too.” You whispered.

Noel began grinning and sat up. “Yeah?”

You nodded grinning. “Yeah.”

[maleyanderecafe]

The Nerd Turned Out to Be the Tyrant (Webcomic)

Created by: Hwanghween/TOFU

Genre: Isekai

I was actually pretty surprised how fast the male lead turned into a yandere, but I guess that should be expected from series like this. It seems to be setting up a good plot for later down the line, and Lev has already seemed to attach himself pretty hard towards to Lucette already. In total, there is about 30 chapters out right now.

The story starts out with Lucette gets isekaied into the story she's reading on her phone after being hit with a car. She's pretty happy that in the story she seems to be a side character very far away from the bloody plot of the story and lives out her life happily as a result. While out, Lucette views a boy being bullied by other kids because of his red eyes. Lucette is able to save him and he invites her back to his house accidentally finding the bottle of "medicine" that he has and giving her cookies as a thanks. Lucette even goes back to her house to gift him some of the stew her mom makes, with her mom even coming over to give Lev pie as well. The next day, Lev meets up with a magician revealing that he is actually a prince (or at least of royal blood) sent out here to live in hiding. After forcing the magician to leave, Lucette comes to meet Lev and asks him to join her in a competition during one of the festivals. Although he initially didn't want to, after hearing that she might go with someone else, he changes his mind to prevent this from happening. Back in the capital, the younger princ,, demands that he be able to see his older brother to the magician, to whom he agrees and gives him his cloak as a way to teleport to his location. Lucette and Lev have fun together at the fair at least until he hears his younger brother looking for him. Lev corners his brother in an alleyway as to not alert Lucette that he's part of the royal family, and forces him to leave, not wanting to see or really deal with the royal family again. The two of them end up going to a trivia competition after a while, with Lev doing extremely well and answering pretty much all the questions correctly, including the name of the magician in the last question, something is pretty much unknown information to all those but the royal family. They win a bunch of gold as a result, and because Lev did pretty much all of the heavy lifting during the quizzes, Lucette promises to give him three wishes as a result. For his first gift, he requests Lucette to accept a necklace from him to wear. Upon going back, we learn that Lucette's mother is going to open another store with her aunt, with Lucette helping there as a result. Here, we learn that another friend of Lucette, Dominic, is learning to become a blacksmith and Lucette starts to wonder what new goals she should be aiming towards. Meanwhile, Lev gets a surprise visit from the empress and afterwards promises to keep Lucette safe from harm. Lucette gets a stomach ache from eating too fast, but unfortunately, she learns that the village itself has a very shoddy pharmacy, which leads to her thinking about Lev's medicine and then later wanting to be a pharmacist herself.

After walking back, they are caught by Johan, one of the people who created the quiz that they won, offering to tutor them in whatever studies that they need, as they were able to answer the last question. With this, Lucette decides to study in pharmaceuticals with Lev deciding to do magical engineering and martial arts. However, upon returning home Lev passes out due to have forgotten taken his medicine earlier, so Lucette is forced to feed him the medicine mouth to mouth as it's too sticky to get into his mouth manually (apparently). Unfortunately this causes Lucette to pass out once Lev awakens, as the medicine is specifically made for Lev and can cause casualties to anyone else who ingests it. Luckily for Lev, Lucette wakes up pretty much fine afterwards. Lucette continues to learn more about pharmaceuticals (after a teacher who initially didn't teach well as to prevent Lucette from making the same mistakes she did, but ultimately was able to fully teach her). There's some jealousy between Lev and Dominic after Lev finds her talking to him, with Dominic even dragging her away from Lev while it rains. We learn about the magician that Lev talks about through Dominic as his older brother would often tell stories about it. Lev and Lucette later exchange gifts, with Lev gifting Lucette another necklace that allows the two to communicate (like a phone) and Lev getting a bunch of medicine that Lucette makes for him. While learning to fight with the knights, his teacher notices that Lev was likely trained by the royal members, and Lucette eventually meets with Dominic's older brother and learns more about the royal family and their stories. Meanwhile, the Empress attempts to separate and keep Lev's younger brother safe as he's the next in line for the heir, even making a deal with the magician to see what his future holds.

We get to see the original protagonist Aloise, who becomes one of the candidates to marry the king, however, very desperately doesn't want to stay, as it's likely she may die. As a result, her father tries to sneak her out by disguising her as a boy. In addition, Lucette's mother is revealed to be a former maid, and recieves a letter asking her to give up her child, which she refuses. Meanwhile the king finds out about Lev's existence and tries to get people to find him. Lucette has a presentation for her class, however after finds Aloise and her father roaming around the palace area. Lucette runs into the magician who gives her a warning about watching over the audience before he disappears. Just as the magician says, Lucette finds someone who is suspiciously eying the crowd. which leads to her protecting Aloise, as it turns out that man is an assassin. She is successfully able to save Aloise but gets stabbed in the process, causing Lev to hear the commotion and run to hold her. He gets angry at Aloise and her father for letting this happen, and stays by her side until she recovers, promising that he will not let this happen again. We also see that Lucette's mother is interrogated by a member of the royal family who has gone looking for her, and while going to Lev's house, Lucette ends up meeting Lev's younger brother. Lucette befriends Lev's little brother, while Lev is trained by the magician. The story ends with Lev trying to send his brother home to prevent Lucette from being dragged into everything only to be caught by the empress who demands he let his son go.

To be honest, when I first started reading this story My Sister Picked Up The Male Lead, which is similar in some aspects but generally pretty boring, but it actually surprised me with how nice the relationship between Lev and Lucette is. Lucette as a character is generally pretty plain, but one of the things I do like is her drive to become a pharmacist, which ties into not only her drive to help her community but also connects to Lev, wanting to help him with the medication that he has. Lev similarly wishes to protect Lucette from danger, training more physically as well as honing his magical skills as well. It's a nice way to showcase how much the two of them care about each other. I also like how Lucette's mom has more of a role in this story as well, having to run away with her daughter after the death of her husband and become a store owner instead, leading to more of her importance than just a bond with her daughter and keeping the relationship with Lev and Lucette alive. One of the things I'm generally more confused about in the story is Lev's side of the family. While we know he was sent away because of a prophecy, it doesn't really make sense why the magician keeps coming over and training him as well, especially since he's supposed to be living in secret from the rest of the family. And while it is noted that he has red eyes, which is a big indicator, and does hide it with his glasses, it's strange to me that it is only really mentioned about twice, and most importantly when Lucette and Lev first meet while he is being bulled. I do feel bad for Lev's brother, who wants to see Lev after he left, but I also don't really understand what is going on with the empress that much, as it seems like all she wants is to use Lev's brother to usurp the throne. I guess in the end, they are all looking to use Lev in one way or another (including the magician), but they really should stop coming into his house so often if he's supposed to be undercover.

Lev as a yandere shows signs pretty early on after the two of them meet. Lev is already pretty protective over Lucette, especially so when she gets into danger like with the assassin, promising that he won't let this happen again. He also gets jealous very easily, especially with other guys their age like Dominic, even asking Lucette to choose between the two of them if they had to save one of them. He does his best to keep Lucette away from his family business, forcing his younger brother to leave and later telling the magician to stay out of their business, even though eventually it will be inevitable that Lucette gets sucked in because of her mom's history. The necklace that he gives Lucette where they can both talk to each other also serves as kind of a wiretap (though in this case Lucette is aware of it), and as the title suggests, it seems that Lev will be fulfilling the prophecy later on and becoming a tyrant, thanks to Lucette. I'm not sure if this story will get dark at all or even how dark it might get, but I can imagine it both ways where when the timeskip occurs, Lev becomes much more possessive over Lucette or where Lucette is able to calm Lev down and be more as equals (as they are currently).

So overall, I think the story was a lot better than I thought it was going in. Lucette has a goal as a main character which is always nice to see, has a good relationship with Lev and it's fun to see Lev slowly develop more yandere like behaviors towards her while also being tied into his entire family drama.