#tiger & bunny x reader

[chocolate-crab]

Snow was falling outside the window. Big, soft flakes, covering Sternbild in a while, fluffy view. And it was only the end of October.

The sun had already set. Lights from the other buildings made the snowflakes sparkle, a beautiful dance of white and gold.

He was standing at the window in his bedroom, just looking at the world outside. His livingroom was alive, filled with music, laughter and noise.

"Happy birthday, Barnaby."

Her voice was low, but her words were loud.

Glancing over his shoulder, he saw her silhouette leaning at the door.

"You're missing all the fun."

"... I know."

He could hear her walk across the floor, and next thing he knew was the feeling of her arms wrapped around him from behind, her body tight against his.

"Y/N..."

"I know."

His breathing joined hers, matching every calm rise and fall of her chest, his racing mind slowing down, his heavy heart getting lighter, his demons retreating.

Turning his head towards her, their noses bumped into eachother and her lips found his cheek.

"Y/N.."

Their eyes met for a few seconds, before a loud bang interrupted the moment, shouting voices from the living room echoing through the silence.

He closed his eyes, hoping it wasn't something expensive.

"We better go and see." she whispered.

Nodding, he pulled away from her, allowing her to walk off towards the ruckus.

She stopped at the bedroom door and looked back at him, with those piercing eyes and bright smile of hers.

"Coming?"

Another bang.

Shaking his head in amused defeat, he couldn't keep himself from smiling and made his way to her.

"Yeah.."

He didn't have to be alone this birthday. He had them. And he definitely had her.

[honeyinapot]

Man the way I need more Barnaby Brooks Jr fanfiction so bad that I’m working on one but all the pieces aren’t coming to me fast enough and I need it now he’s my favorite white boy PLEASE IVE READ THURSDAY NIGHT ON AO3 TOO MANY TIMES THESE PAST FEW WEEKS

[yourlocaltrashpandaa]

Headcanons for Keith, Barnaby, and Kotetsu with touch starved s/o?

A/n: Finally! Yes, I’ve been waiting for a Tiger and Bunny request. There is little to no x reader content for this anime. So I’ll do it myself. Thank you for this request!

Additional notes: had this with a female reader in mind

<=========>

Touched Starved S/O

kotetsu, barnaby, keith x fem!reader

headcanons

<=========>

Kotetsu/Wild Tiger

Want hugs and cuddles, Kotetsu’s gotchu; I find that he is a very affectionate guy like he’d hug you out the blue bc he felt like you needed it

You’ll always want to be somewhat close to him and Kotetsu is fine with that

He loves it when you hang off his arm as you intertwine your fingers with his

He’ll sling an arm over you shoulder every so often especially in public

Kotetsu doesn’t mind when you get clingy when he’s late coming home from work. You know he’s a hero and his job is important but you miss his touch when he’s not there.

He’s cuddles for the rest of the night with you to make up for him being late

“Love you, sweetheart.”

Barnaby Brooks Jr./Bunny

Barnaby might not be the most affectionate guy but he does welcome it especially from you; he loves you tho he doesn’t say it much

You’d wrap your arms around his neck to hug him from behind if he was sitting down; he’d acknowledge you with a slight touch on your arm

You would have to go to him for affection. Hugs and hand-holding was mostly initiated by you; he doesn’t like it when you do it in public though yet behind closed doors he’d could care less

Barnaby has gotten more and more open when you came into his life; he’s gotten more touchy feely too

He’d kiss your cheek and smile at you, telling you how much you mean to him; you will never leave his side after that, your clingy onto his arm

“I love you, Y/n. Thank you for being in my life.”

Keith/Sky High

keith, a shy boi especially with you and how touchy you are

But it’s not like he minds, he loves you and you love him

Though he wish he could spend all his time cuddling with you but he’s has job to do, a dangerous one at that

You know that of course, you being a NEXT along with him yet you are no hero

So you’ll spend most of your time with John, Keith’s golden retriever while he was gone

But Keith would always bring you back flowers and spend the evening with you

With you clinging to his arm like a koala while he held your hand, brushing his thumbs over your knuckles, his cheek resting on your head.

“I love you… Y/n…”

[lil-ms-darkness]

We're Coming to You Live [Barnaby Brooks Jr. x Reader]

A/N: Tiger and Bunny is my favorite anime, and Barnaby is my comfort character. I'm sure I'm not the only one who is down bad for this man, so I chose to write something for him. This will be a little different, first will be some relationship headcanons followed by a short fanfiction I've had in my head for a while. I intentionally left it GN, because sunrise is pro LGBTQ+ (and lowkey, Bunny seems mildly queer coded. We stan fruitcups in this blog!)

Since there's not many Barnaby x readers on Tumblr (or anywhere, rather) I may post more Tiger and Bunny fanfictions.

(Oh, and if you like T&B fanart, I'd recommend lullakanart here on Tumblr. Their fanart is chefs kiss

𝕷𝖎𝖑 𝕸𝖘 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘 🥀

WARNING: This post does contain some 18+ things, minors DNI

Barnaby Dating Headcanons:

Barnaby is very protective of you after losing his parents at such a young age.

He needs his privacy and space, so he is respectful of yours, as well. But, being as protective as he is, sometimes he can have his moments where he worries about you more than a healthy amount.

He has PTSD due to what he experienced as a child, believing to have witnessed his partner die in his arms, witnessing his parents work be disrespected, and more. You will need to be patient with him, and he will be just as patient with you (medical conditions, mental health, disabilities, etc.)

He is not an easy man to love, he is guarded and hurt, but he does have a heart of gold if you're patient and trust him.

As seen, trust is VERY important to him. Dating him means you have earned his trust completely, so he has no concerns about you cheating on him or betraying him. (If something does happen, though, don't expect him to be super forgiving. I'd imagine him letting someone into his heart in a romantic sense would be much deeper of a connection, imagine Kotetsu betraying his trust x100.)

Barnaby is EXTREMELY family oriented. He enjoys helping the orphans of Stern Bild, and values his parents in such high regards, it's only expected that he'd want a family. Either by adoption, or by traditional means. Of course, if you don't want children or can't conceive for whatever reason, he's open to a conversation about it.

He's happy to treat you to fancy dinners if you'd like, if you prefer more simple meals he'd be happy to accompany you as well. Or, if you'd like to stay in, he's okay with that, too.

Being a hero, he doesn't have much free time, as crimes are happening often. But what little time he does spend with you, he tries to make memorable.

After a few years into your relationship, he takes you to visit his parents grave. He brought flowers for them, and introduced you to them. He took your hand, and after a short time, he'd said, "They would have loved you."

He's not super comfortable with PDA and physical touch, for safety reasons (if Ourobouros finds out about you, you could be used as leverage. The last thing he'd want is for a criminal to use you for ransom, or to get to him) but in the privacy of your apartment or his, he craves your touch. Your hugs, the grazes of your hand, and the rare occasion you rub his shoulders and back.

When it comes to intimate times, Barnaby is very giving. He enjoys his own pleasures, but he's a giver when it comes to desires of the flesh. Being intimate with you is one of his favorite things, feeling your skin against his, the sounds you make, the closeness.

He is big into aftercare, and loves to hold you against him after you both finish. He has s t a m i n a, by the way, so be prepared for long sessions. Quickies aren't his thing, he likes to take his time and drink you in.

I don't imagine he's into many serious kinks, but I can see him being into mild shibari and I can see him having a praise kink.

In these intimate moments, he is incredibly vulnerable and these are the moments you can see the true, unguarded Barnaby. The man that isn't as aloof as he pretends to be, the man who's grown as a person thanks to his partner and you. The man who was broken and lost for so many years and has finally chosen to lead his life his own way, and has chosen you to share his life with.

We're Coming to You Live

The cab slows down, but before it comes to a complete stop, you throw the door open and dive out into the street. Justice Tower- it’s so big compared to how it looks on screen, and even larger than how it looks from far away. The wind breezes past you in gusts as you make it to the police line, keeping everyone back. You can hear the reporters in the distance, the helicopter of Hero TV looming over the top of the building a safe distance away. 

Your body trembles with adrenaline, the wind freezing the cold sweat that drips down the nape of your neck. You chew your lip in overwhelming stress and fear- 

“Please be okay.” You whisper to yourself. 

Earlier

“This Hero TV breaking news!” The TV yelled at you from the living room. You felt the familiar twinge of excitement and worry course through your body, hearing the familiar announcer's voice. You rushed to the couch, all but diving over it to sit and watch your boyfriend save many more lives. “At 7:15 this evening, a bomb threat was made to the recently completed Fortress Tower!”

Your heart sunk, immediately. Grabbing your phone from the table, bringing up your messages with the hero.

B: I’ll be by your place soon, one more stop and I’ll be free. Y/N: Where’s the last place? Maybe I can meet you at your apartment B: The Fortress Tower building. I’ll let you know when we’re wrapping up. See you tonight

Your gaze lifted to the TV again, watching as footage played of civilians being evacuated. 

“Reports say Wild Tiger and Barnaby Brooks Jr. are still inside, preparing to deal with the threat! How courageous of our heroes, braving this threat without the protection of their hero suits!” The world seemed to hum and you could hear your pulse in your ears as you shot to your feet. Running to the front door, you grabbed your coat and house keys, throwing the door open. You close the door, forgoing locking the door and choosing instead to rush down to catch a taxi to the Fortress Building.

Present

You can feel your neck begin to ache, craning your neck to look up towards the top of the tower, as if hoping you can see Barnaby and Tiger escape before the bomb explodes. The chaos of the police trying to push people further back, in case the building collapses is a distant hum until you feel hands on your arms. 

“Excuse me, please move back, we need to keep this area clear for your safety,” says the officer, firmly but somehow also politely. 

“No, no, please, I need to stay here.” you insist

“I’m sorry, I can’t let you,” he gently tries to guide you back, his arm coming around to force you to move backwards. You try to resist, the sound of an explosion and eruption of light above cause everyone to fall still. You look up, glimpsing a fading explosion from above the building and falling, fiery debris. The officer scoops you up and sprints out of the way, but you’re too busy staring at the fading light in the sky, feeling the tears threaten to spill over. When the officer finally sets you on your feet, again, he apologizes for laying hands on you, but he sounds so far away. 

Your eyes scan the top of the building, trying to find any damage, but you’re so low it’s impossible to see the top. The tears fall down your cheeks and your hand clutches your phone tightly. 

“He’s okay…” you whisper, desperately. “He has to be okay.” but as time drags on, the weight in your heart spreads to your body and limbs. You sniff as the tears blur your vision, lowering yourself to your knees as your throat becomes tight. You always knew dating a hero would be difficult, that his life would be in danger, yet you knew that Barnaby was always cautious, careful, methodical. He thinks everything through, he’s efficient at his job, and that’s why he’s quickly become a fan favorite. 

You choke on your breath and bring your jacket tighter around yourself. There’s been no confirmation of the heroes being injured, but somehow that’s worse. An image of Barnaby getting blasted back by the explosion crosses your mind and you double over, trying not to wretch. Your phone clatters against the ground. You feel a hand on your shoulder, hear the officer's voice as if through a fog. You can’t breathe, your chest feels tight and you can’t stop crying. 

The officer's hand moves and you feel two hands rest on each shoulder. You can see the tips of red boots. You choke and wheeze, your body stuck curled up. A hand rubs your back, soothingly and you can hear muffled voices.

“Breathe, it’s okay.”

In, out, in, out. Inoutinoutinout-

“Slower. In through your nose, out through your mouth,” you follow the instructions, a voice you trust, a voice that comforts. You look up, very slowly and emerald eyes capture yours. Your trembling hands move up to grasp his on your shoulders. He takes them, gently squeezing, continuing to breathe through his nose and out through his mouth in a steady rhythm for you to match. 

Slowly, the tears cease and your breathing becomes normal. The hand rubbing your back stops and you realize Barnaby is holding both of your hands, so who-? You look over and spot Wild Tiger examining you with concern in his amber eyes. He smiles lopsided, 

“You alright?” you nod, “alright, I’ll give you some space. Gotta get this camera to Agnes and the film crew.” he stands and walks off.

You don’t feel ready to speak, looking over at Barnaby again. In the reflection of his glasses, you can see your face. Puffy red eyes and tear stains. You frown at the image and look around at the crowd of people watching you with concern, some with jealousy. You cringe and pull the hood of your jacket up over your head before you move back. 

“[Y/N], are you alright?” he asks, quietly, his voice as level as ever. 

“I-I saw the Hero TV broadcast. I...normally I’m okay, but hearing you didn’t have your suit, I…expected the worst, I’m sorry. I should have trusted you to handle it,” you wipe your eyes. “I just…I didn’t think, I thought…I was afraid, that…” the words wouldn’t come. You look down, but strong arms wrap around you and bring you in. 

Your eyes widen at the very public display, before slowly wrapping your arms around him as well. You close your eyes and rest your head against his neck. He smells like dust, plaster, wet metal, and gunpowder. Your hands fist the back of his jacket.

“Easy,” he murmurs and you loosen your grip on the leather, settling on flat palms that try to bring him closer against you. His blonde curls tickle your cheeks and you sigh, feeling safe again in your hero's arms.

[razzlerdazzler]

Can I ask for Keith, Barnaby, and Kotetsu (separated) Relationship Headcanons?

Hello, I’m really sorry it took me so long to get this done, I didn’t really know much about Keith besides what I’ve read so I hope I did him some justice, I hope you like it :) 

Keith, Barnaby, Kotetsu (Separate) Relationship Headcanons

Keith 

Keith is a gentleman 

He always opens your car door for you, will pull your chair out whenever you both are eating out somewhere, will help you if you need help with anything, etc

If you are a hero then Keith will ask you to join him on his patrols 

He introduces you to Nathan and all his other hero friends

He loves to compliment you and will always tell you how pretty/handsome you are 

After he loses his spot as the “King of Heroes” and gets depressed and doubts himself he goes to you and talks about how he is feeling and confesses that after he lost he started to doubt himself and has even wondered if he was good enough for you

You tell him that titles do not define a person and that just because he lost does not mean he isn’t a good hero and that he shouldn’t base his confidence and self-worth on titles and that he is human just like everybody else and that you aren’t dating him because of his title

After this conversation you both tell each other how much you love each other and his confidence in himself as a hero and as a person come back 

He likes PDA 

He likes to hold your hand while out in public and he loves to cuddle you whenever you two are at home

If anybody picks on you or tries to bother you, he will quickly and politely tell the person to fuck off leave you alone and will quickly get you away from the person 

Afterwards he will try to cheer you up and will try to get your mind off of the person and what they said or did

He likes to spoil you and will buy you things that he knows you like

Whenever he gets hurt while he is on patrol he will let you patch him up and will kiss you and thank you whenever you're done 

He is very polite and will always check in on you while you’re working and will see if you’re doing good and will make sure that you take breaks and will bring you snacks and will tell you how proud he is of you 

Even though he goes out on patrol every night, he always makes sure that he has time to spend with you

You are someone he holds dear and is important to him, you’re one of the reasons he goes out on patrol every night, he wants to make sure that you are safe and happy

Barnaby

He likes PDA but not so much in public, instead while you're both in public he'll link your pinkies together and will hold hands

However, while you two are alone or are with friends and he feels comfortable, he will hold you, cuddle you, and kiss you, and with your help he gets more used to and comfortable with PDA

Whenever he has nightmares about his parents deaths and the false memories Maverick gave him he'll tell you about the dream if you ask but won't go into the details and will let you comfort him

He will spoil you, considering how he is about PDA he tries to make it up to you by buying you things he knows you'll like

He also spends time with you and loves listening to you talk about your day

He wants to help you and will listen to any of your problems and will try to comfort you the best he can and will help come up with solutions for your problem

Whenever either of you have a bad day you'll both try your best to comfort the other and make sure the other knows that they are loved and cared for

He'll tell you about his parents and will even take you with him whenever he visits their graves

He tells you how his parents would have loved to meet you and how happy they would be that he finally found his true love

Whenever he gets hurt he will let you patch him up and will thank you and will kiss your cheek as thanks

He will introduce you to Kotetsu since he is his partner and his best friend

If anybody bothers you he will quickly come up with a strategy to get you away from the person and will also make sure to put the person in their place while he is at it

You help comfort him during his mental breakdowns and he confides in you about his trauma

You along with Kotetsu are able to help him move on from his trauma and his troubled past

He brings you with him whenever he visits orphans and reads to them

You watch as helps the orphans and bonds with them and see how far he's come from how he used to be

He loves you so much and is so happy that he's with you and that you've stayed by his side and helped him throughout his trauma. He can never thank you enough for loving him for who he is

Kotetsu

He loves PDA

He's always been a physically affectionate person, always hugging his friends and family and being affectionate with them and even more so towards you, doesn't matter whether you two are in public or not

He introduces you to his daughter Kaede, and watches with a smile as you two get along and form a bond

He loves spending quality time with both of you, even if his job get in the way sometimes, he tries to get the most out of it

He always apologizes for whenever he has to go to work while you two are on a date or are just spending time with Kaede

He always makes sure to make it up to you, even though you tell him that it's okay and that you understand

He tells you about his late wife and how she would have loved to meet you

He even suggests you join him and Kaede whenever they visit her grave

He loves to listen to your voice and gives you great advice whenever you need help with anything or even if you just want to talk about your day

Whenever he gets hurt he lets you patch him up and talks to you the whole time, mainly trying to cheer you up and get your mind off of him being hurt since he doesn't want to see you worry

He will introduce you to Barnaby and all of his other hero friends

Whenever he has nightmares he'll try to keep it to himself so that he doesn't worry or bother you

However, you notice and tell him that it's not healthy to keep all of these feelings and emotions bottled up. That it's okay to tell people how he's feeling and that you'll always listen to him whenever he needs someone to talk to about his feelings and emotions

If anybody is bothering you he will go up to the person and will call them out on what they're doing and will punch the person if they don't listen or back off

Then he'll quickly take you away from the person and will try to get your mind off of the person and will try to cheer you up

He loves to compliment you and tell you about how much he loves you and appreciates having you in his life

He loves you so much and is so happy that he found love again by being with you

[emmajh97-mumaji]

A Former-Hero's Confession

"A night out drinking with your friend leads to questions about his old partner Barnaby... and where Kotetsu's true feelings lie." - Kotetsu T. Kaburagi x Reader - Reader takes on the role of a 30s-40s aged NEXT going to college for a nursing career. Gender neutral. - Bisexual Kotetsu and Aromantic Asexual Barnaby headcanon - SPOILER WARNING: Takes place after Episode 25 of Season 2! - Prequel to CHAPTER 2: A Former-Hero's Heart & Home

You're a NEXT who lives in a small town just outside of the city of Sternbild. You've made a decent living for yourself for many years, but never got the chance to follow your dream: becoming a nurse to aid the unwell. Finally getting to a stable point in your life, you applied to several colleges-- and were accepted to an acclaimed university in Sternbild!

At first you were embarrassed, thinking you'd be the oldest student in a room full of youths fresh out of high-school. To your relief, there were actually a few other people in your medical classes closer to your age. In fact, there was one person that was a year older than you... Kotetsu T. Kaburagi.

You'd heard about him in passing, of course. Mr. Kaburagi was a famous hero, who recently helped save the city from L. L. Audun, Gregory Sunshine, and the Abbas Prison Disaster! Sadly though, he lost his NEXT powers in the process... and had to retire from being a hero for good. When asked why Kotetsu was trying to get a degree in medicine, he claimed that he had taken an interest in physical therapy when his partner Barnaby injured his leg. That makes sense. When it came down to it, he and you both had the same dream-- helping people in need.

That was the dream, anyway. In reality, you felt bad for the old man. You weren't exactly a spring chicken yourself, but his terrible memory made you worry if he'd ever pass something like Anatomy & Phys. When he jokingly suggested you tutoring him, you jumped at the chance.

It's been nearly two years, now. You've come to know Kotetsu much more than just 'ex-hero Wild Tiger from the news' or 'the classmate who fails nearly every test'. What started as exchanging small details about your lives has become sharing each other's struggles. Kotetsu helps you with your NEXT powers, and you help him with his lack of them. Formal meetings in the college library have now become Kotetsu making fried rice in your kitchen, while you read off flash cards to him. Kotetsu using his phone to show you Hero TV clips has become you having dinner with his family while cheering Barnaby on, live from the Kaburagi's television. What started as-- "Your daughter seems very mature." "So you were talking with your old coworker Barnaby?" "I appreciate you inviting me out for a drink, Kaburagi-san." --has become "Ha! Kaede's going to kill you!" "How's Bunny doing?" "Congrats on passing, Kotetsu!! Drinks are on me, tonight!"

At first you were annoyed at this bumbling man and his foolish behavior. How dare he preach to you about studying too much while he wrecks his sleep schedule from trying to be friendly-neighborhood-hero-of-the-streets all night! But now... you've come to appreciate him as a warmhearted, sensitive guy who tries his very best. Someone who hides his pain, because he's so considerate of others he forgets to consider himself. A workaholic who loves his daughter, who loves his friends, but is still trying so hard to be true to his heart. To replace the dream he he had lost with a new one. ...you'd be lying if you said you hadn't fallen for him. Perhaps further than you could have imagined.

It was a Saturday night, the two of you go out to his favorite bar. You can tell Kotetsu is frustrated, but hiding it from you (as per usual). After a few drinks, he finally reveals he got into an argument with Kaede.

"She wanted me to try out this dating app, but I told her I wasn't interested." Kotetsu explained to you as he swirled his glass. "She's just trying to help you." You reply, "I mean, you do seem pretty lonely sometimes." "I'm fine being alone!" Kotetsu countered, putting on a charming façade, "I'm a too-cool-for-you single man!" "No you're not." you flatly rebuffed. Kotetsu groaned, "Yeah..."

He cut the act, taking a swig before continuing, "I told her that I wasn't sure if I was ready to love again... But she said Tomoe would be disappointed in me for being so pathetic......" "Don't worry about it too much," you console him, putting a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sure Tomoe would want you to be comfortable in a relationship. Trying to force it would just hurt both you and the other person involved." Kotetsu lips curled up into a little smile, the kind that made the scary tiger look like a soft kitten, "Yeah, you're right."

"Plus!" suddenly, his mood brightened, "I don't need a dating app, anyway! I already have someone in mind!"

"You're kidding?" "Nope!" "Who is it?!" He sing-song-edly replied, "That's a secret~"

You take a moment to think. You grin evilly, "Fire Emblem?" "What?! No!" Darn.

The egg-timer in your brain ticked as you thought. Then, with a ding the obvious answer dawned on you-- "...it's Barnaby, isn't it?" "H-HUH?!" Kotetsu looked like he would fall out of his seat, floored by your astute suggestion.

You suddenly remember something that makes you grin twice as evilly as before, "Oh, that's right! Remember? There was that one interview where you confessed your love for him!" Kotetsu, as you planned, had his entire face go red. He blundered through his words in a overly flustered manner, "That was taken completely out of context!!" "Oh really~?" you goad. You already know the context, but you enjoy sitting back and listening to Kotetsu's silly voice when he goes off on one of his patented Old Man Lectures (tm). "It was during that charity event Fire Emblem was hosting!" Kotetsu started,

"Fire Emblem gave a huge speech about how true love is about more than just sex or romance. How it's about trusting someone completely with your feelings. About how girls are allowed to say they love their best friends, but when men do it they're assumed to be gay. And they were right! Men should be able to tell their friends they love them! I really believed them! I was so moved by their speech that I couldn't help but--"

You cut him off with a smirk, "-couldn't help but make a fool of your coworker in front of thousands of viewers?" Kotetsu mumbled angrily at that. He slumped against the bar with an adorably grumpy expression, and took another swig of his glass.

You soften your tone, "I'm just teasing you, Kotetsu. I know you hate it when creepy fans make your relationship with Barnaby awkward." He looked up at you like a sulking puppy, "Yeah..."

"That being said... Part of me does wonder..." Kotetsu shoots you a betrayed look, "Eh?!" You hold your hands up defensively, "Hear me out-!"

"You told me one time that you invited Bunny over to your place for champagne, but that it was ruined because he misunderstood you and invited all your other friends along?" "....yeah?" "And also that you had dreams of an actress with blonde hair and green eyes... one that looks suspiciously similar to Bunny?" Kotetsu sweats, "...y-yeah??" "So? Doesn't that sound at least like a crush?" "W-what?! That's crazy!!" Kotetsu flailed about. But he was protesting too much, and as soon as he saw the look you were giving him he realized it was too late.

Kotetsu sighed in defeat, "You're too smart. I can't hide anything from you." You gasp excitedly at that. You were right! He DID have feelings for Bunny! ...wait. Oh no. He has feelings for Bunny... for someone else... You stare at him expectantly, not sure how to feel about this revelation.

Kotetsu leaned back, "I think it's because Bunny was the closest I'd ever gotten to someone since, well..." he rubbed at his ring finger. You nodded in understanding.

After Tomoe, Kotetsu closed himself off from sharing his true feelings with other people. Barnaby and him were obligated to work together- and ironically that made Barnaby the perfect candidate. As heroes, they were forced to trust each other. To literally put their lives on the line for one another. You remember Kotetsu introducing you to Barnaby. The two of them were so comfortable around one another that it felt like talking to an old married couple... With that kind of understanding, it's no wonder something deeper might blossom between them.

Meanwhile here you were. Just someone Kotetsu had gone to college classes with. You've checked in on Kotetsu, forcing him to stop drinking and get some fresh air while he was having depressive episodes. You've patched him up when he was still clinging onto the idea of being a hero, and doing reckless things constantly. But how could that ever compare to fighting criminals together? To going on TV together? To saving the entire city together? You feel a pit begin to form in your stomach.

All these thoughts swim in your head as Kotetsu continues to explain-- "I couldn't help it when old desires I had came up to the surface." he takes another sip, "But it really was just a passing crush at most." You're genuinely curious at this point, "Did you... ever say anything to him?" Kotetsu sighed... "I tried my best not to... but like you just did, he found out." You could infer from his tone of voice that it didn't end well, "Oh no...." Kotetsu grinned in embarrassment, rubbing the back of his head, "I got re-ject-eeed!" "Dang!" you consoled him, "That's too bad." Though (and you're not exactly proud about this) you're actually relieved to hear this news.

"Yeah..." Kotetsu doesn't seem too upset, mostly awkward, "Bunny told me that he loved me as a friend, but he doesn't swing that way." "Aaah... it makes sense. He's always such a show-off to his female fans." "No no, he said he wasn't interested in women, either. It's called..." Kotetsu scratched his beard as he struggled, "uh- arrow-something...?" You chimed in, "Aromantic Asexual?" Kotetsu points at you excitedly, "Yeah, that's what he said!!" "Wow..." you were genuinely surprised, "I never would have guessed." "Yeah, he keeps it a secret to protect his 'sexy celebrity image'." Kotetsu clarified mockingly. You frown, "...isn't he going to be mad you just told me about it, then?" Kotetsu's brow furrowed at that. Finally, he gave a comedically delayed, "...shit! Whatever you do, don't tell anyo-!" You laughed, "Don't worry, my lips are sealed!"

There was an awkward silence. Then suddenly you remembered what started this conversation topic-

"So wait... if it's not Bunny... who is the person you had in mind?" Kotetsu froze, getting one of his characteristically dopey expressions, "H-huh?" "The reason you 'don't need a dating app'! If it's not Fire Emblem, and it's not Bunny--" you think to yourself, 'I highly doubt it's Blue Rose, as much as she'd probably wish it was', "--then who is it??"

"Eugh- w-well..." Kotetsu is back to flubbering again... until he gets an idea, "It's one of my fans, from when I was Wild Tiger!" You didn't even try to hide your incredulous tone, "Oh really?" "And how come I've never heard of this person, if you're so keen on dating them?" "B-because like I said, it's a secret! I didn't want to disappoint all my other raving fans, you see." "...sure." you roll your eyes.

As you take a drink of your own beverage, you notice Kotetsu is staring at you. He has a familiar twinkle in his golden-brown eyes. The look he had when there was something he was trying to hide. Something eating away at him...

You stare back at him for a quite a while, before he realizes you're both gazing into each other's eyes. He immediately looked down at the table, avoiding your face in embarrassment.

Finally... you get the courage to ask... "Is it me?"

You swear you see Kotetsu shiver at that. "E-eh??" he nervously sweats again.

"Am I the one you want to date, Kotetsu?" you repeat, in no uncertain terms.

He stares at you again. This time you can really see the hesitation in his face. He absentmindedly puts his ring finger up to his lips... mumbling into his hands... "I told you... it's... another person. One of my old fans."

"So it's not me?"

You can hear the 'Please stop asking' pain in his voice as he states, "...no. It's not you. You're just my friend."

That last sentence sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than anyone. But still... Kotetsu's mind worked in strange ways. Maybe you really were wrong?

"That's okay. Sorry for asking." you backpedalled, "And don't worry, I don't have feelings for you or anything! Just being friends is fine with me." But then you added under your breath, "I really wouldn't mind if you wanted to ask me out, though..."

"What?" Kotetsu leaned in, seeming as though he didn't hear that last part. But you cover it up, not wanting the situation to get awkward again, "Hey, how about I get you another round? You promised to tell me the story of how you and Rock Bison stopped a monorail together!"

Kotetsu still seemed a bit on edge, but took the hint. He gave you a goofy grin that made it feel like sunshine indoors, "Hell yeah!"

Later that night...

As the designated driver, you escorted Kotetsu back home to his apartment.

"Hey... areyou ssure... about the not-having-feelings forme ththing?" Kotetsu drunkenly asked as he wobbled up the steps to his front door.

You forced a smile, "Yes." Helping him inside, you gave him a glass of water. "But--" "Kotetsu," you cut him off before he could question you, "Listen to me."

"Over this past semester I feel as though I know you enough to at least be your close friend." "That'scuz you are!" he replied with a drunken grin. You kept going, "So I have to say... I may not be the person you're pining over, but if I was... I'd want you to know that I care about you being happy more than I do about getting into a relationship. Because you are amazing. Even if you mess up all the time, it's always for the right reasons. You may cut your leg trying to save a cat from a tree, but seeing you try makes my life so much brighter. I'd tell you that... I know I could never replace Tomoe, but I want to help you pick up those pieces she left behind. Whether that's from keeping you warm on a lonely night, or simply just being there as your shoulder to cry on during the day. Because I love you. Not just as a hero, not just as a celebrity, but as Kotetsu. My friend."

"A-at least, that's what I'd say, if I were th--" you are about to finish when hear a sniffling sound.

Kotetsu is laying his head down on his living room table, ugly-sobbing into his arms. "K-Kotetsu?!" you fret, reaching towards him.

"Th...thaat'sso b-beautiful!!!" his voice is slurring not just from the alcohol, but from the tears. You chuckle, not really sure what else to say. Kotetsu rubs his eyes, then drunkenly says, "I- I love you too, pal!!" "W-wait, what?!" your heart raced, "Kotetsu, it was just an example, I didn't mean--!" But your attempt to respect sober Kotetsu's wishes fell on deaf ears, as drunken Kotetsu continued to spill his heart out-- "I- I mean it! Really!! I'm sso bad at thiss kinda thing! Antonio and Bunny have been so busy with hero work, Muramasa's got his own family to deal with, Kaede's off at boarding school--" he sniffed loudly, "Y-you're the only one that's really been here for me!! I'm so lucky to have you!" You couldn't help but smile at that. "I'msorry for lyingtoyou, I just-- I keepthinking of Tomoe- a-and Bunny rejecting me- a-and...!" Kotetsu tried to keep talking, but it had quickly devolved into incoherent sobbing. You patted him on the back, forcing him to drink the glass of water, "C'mon, Tiger. Let's get you to bed, okay?" You escorted Kotetsu to the bathroom, then waited until he came back out in his pajamas. "You okay?" you asked as Kotetsu got into his bed. He smiled, voice still cracking, "Y-yeah... I'll be fine." You nod, heading towards the door, "I'll come by to check on you tomorrow." The last thing you hear him say is a soft, "Thank you..."

[midnightlee25]

Yandere Valentines

Valentine’s day is a day where lovers show just how much they mean to each other with a whole day of love, however not everyone has such a sweet experience with their so-called “lover”. Are you ready for your bloody valentine?

John Doe game: John Doe

Error143: Micah Yujin

Big Hero 6: Wasabi-No-Ginger

Tiger & Bunny: Kotetsu T. Kaburagi

Dachabo: Bo

Something's Wrong With Sunny Day Jack: Sunny Day Jack

Tentador Leches: Koolie Sterling

Trapped with Jester: Jester

The Quarry: Jacob Custos

Snaggemon A Grunt Dating Sim:  Garrett

The Millionaire Detective Balance: Unlimited: Daisuke Kambe

Given:  Nakayama Haruki

Spy x family: Yor Forger

Candy Shop

Extra:

Yandere Valentines: Getting a love letter from their darling (Kaede Akamatsu)

Not even hero work will ruin this day - Yandere Wasabi-No-Ginger 

Stolen Heart - Yandere Aoi Asahina

Yandere Valentines: Writing a love letter to their darling (Swindler)

Finding a love letter written by someone else - Yang Xiao Long, Blake Belladonna, Nora Valkyrie

Sweethearts - Cyborg (Victor Stone)

The Quarry: Travis Hackett 

[unholybatswrite]

Hey! Can I suggest Antonio Lopez from Tiger and Bunny comforting a female NEXT!Reader after a panic attack?

Not a problem! I hope you enjoy c:

-------------------------------------------

Antonio had found y/n alone in the training room, as he passed by he took notice of her shakes as well as the tear stains on her face. He stopped in his tracks, turning to face her. Opening his mouth to speak he hesitates for a moment, unsure of what was the right thing to say. That's when y/n took notice of his stare, looking to him with big wet e/c eyes. y/n looks away as she felt another wave hit her, tears filling her eyes. "I'm fine, ignore it." She insists to him. After a silent moment he moves in front of y/n, kneeling down, taking her hands into his smaller ones before looking up at her, a sweet, concerned look in his eyes. "Is this okay? I'm more than happy to sit here and listen to your worries, you don't have to be alone, we're like our own little family here." He reminds her. Tears begin to flow down your face as y/n tells him everything, the cause of the panic attack, the way it made her feel like everyone and everything was watching and closed in. As y/n sobbed he stood up, holding her close to his chest, hands rubbing soothing circles in her back. Once she went from sobbing to small hiccups he picks her up, lifting her onto his shoulder. "You've gotten your tears out, now how about we work on making you feel better? First things first, a good meal to warm your stomach!" He cheers. Y/n stares at him, a little surprised, until laughter bubbles up inside her. A few stray tears fall down her cheek, wiping them away she nods. "Yeah... I'd like that a lot.. Thanks Antonio." y/n whispers softly, a smile one her face.

[lily-de-wakabayashi]

B-day gift 1/3 for my precious Elieth Schneider, whose birthday is March 27! 🥳🎂🎉😍❤️

She asked me to do one of her Canon x OC couples: Barnaby Brooks Jr., from Tiger & Bunny, and Alyssa Lombardo, her OC 💖. In this scene, Barnaby and Alyssa are dancing on a party, so happy to be together that they don't care what may happen around them 😊🤭😏🥰💜

Happy birthday, my beautiful! I hope you have many more years and that this year what you want is granted, that you have a lot of health, a lot of money, a lot of love and many cats, thank you for being my little sister and for always being by my side! I hope you like my little gifts, I made them with a lot of love! :blowkiss: I love you very much, my precious! I love you so much, my precious! 🌸🎂🥳🎉❤️🍷🍰

[softieyn]

💜💜💜

Sugary Sweet

(Polyamory au) ( Bunny Hybrid! Reader x Tiger Hybrid! Taehyung x Cat Hybrid! Yoongi x Owner! Namjoon)

SUMMARY: Namjoon has a perfect life once he moves out of the city to a cabin alongside his two rescue hybrids, Yoongi and Taehyung. But then one night in the middle of the rainstorm they find you, a bunny hybrid, hiding in their chicken coop.  

WARNINGS: Anxiety attacks, Anxious! Namjoon, mentions of hybrid abandonment, hybrid mistreatment, Half of this is Domestic fluff, possessive behavior. 

W/C: 5,000 words of backstory you don’t need + 5,000 words of pure fluff

A/N: ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ THIS IS A VERRY VERRY HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO MY MAIN HUMAN @peeachypop ❤️WHO I KNOW IS A SLUT FOR TIGER HYBRID TAEHYUNG AND CAT YOONGI, AND AN INTELECTUAL BOYFRIEND NAMS.❤️❤️❤️ I HOPE YOUR NEXT YEAR IS FILLED WITH AS MUCH FLUFF AS THIS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

- Namjoon was not what you call a people person, not most days anyway. 

- Most of the time he preferred to sit at his desk in his little box of an apartment building and write away at his laptop, content only to leave if inspiration was failing him or if his need for caffeine overtook his anxiety. 

- Public places made him anxious, the clawing dread in his chest something he couldn’t shove down and live through, of course Namjoon was admittedly living in the middle of one of the largest metropolitan cities in the world. But the feeling didn’t go away and leave him with age like it should have when he’d aged from being a shy school child into being a full-fledged adult with an anxiety disorder. 

- Instead mid twenties Namjoon sat down at his desk for almost a whole year and wrote a book. Of course it was successful, the fantasy and philosophical tidbits combined to an adventure story that captivated audiences. 

- His publishers tried to get him to go for photo ops and for interviews no matter how much they begged Namjoon even as his novel climbed on the bestseller list. He didn’t want to look like a bumbling idiot in front of cameras, all those eyes on him, just the thought of it made him feel like he was going to be sick.

- So Namjoon’s daily routine was this, he woke up at a time most people would consider lunch or even dinner, and wrote for a few hours. Then he would go  out for coffee at around 6 pm or so when everything wasn’t so crowded in his favorite coffee shop (that his best and only friend Jin owned, they’d only became friends with because back when Namjoon’s anxiety wasn’t so bad Namjoon used to write late night in Seokjin’s 24/hour coffee shop.)

- It’s an idea for his next book that makes him adopt a hybrid, because he’d never had one and Namjoon is always thorough in his research, and if he’s going to write about a hybrid character then he needs to know what it’s like to live with one. 

- The beginning of the process is surprisingly easy, but the next step, actually choosing one is the hardest. Namjoon looks in the room of bounding puppies and foxes and bears that are all playing and biting each other’s ears and Namjoon isn’t comforted just overwhelmed. 

- Not able to choose Namjoon turns and walks down the hall, thinking that maybe this was a mistake, maybe he should just make the character in his book a human, maybe it was bad of him too want to get a hybrid for selfish reasons when in reality they where so close to people. 

- “Hey watch where you’re going!” a low grumpy voice says the second before Namjoon trips over a pair of stretched out legs. Namjoonfalls flat on his face barely managing to catch himself against the linoleum. He doesn’t even know how he manages to scratch his palms so bad. They make him hiss in pain as he picks himself up.

- “What the fuck! can’t you see anything with those glasses?” the person growls, dressed in all black baggy clothes, a round face with a hood pulled up over his head and a pair of headphones. “Apparently not” Namjoon says wiping his scraped hands on his jeans. One of the attendants comes crashing through the door. “I’m sorry mister! Did he hurt you at all?” Namjoon stutters out a no before they turn to small man that Namjoon tripped over.

- Namjoon is just about to apologize to him again before the attendant hisses almost lower than Namjoon can hear, “you where supposed to be in your pen Yoongi, making sure you didn’t bother the patrons. Now apologize.” Namjoon spies the electric prod through the attendants waste, the way his hand hovers on it and the way Yoongi shrinks into the back, no not the man- the hybrid, whose hands are covered by the large sweatshirt that sticks over his hands, and the black hood that covers lumps which must be ears of some sort.

- “I’m sorry” Yoongi says, his face downward. And Namjoon feels the protective instinct in him swell up. Thoughtlessly he reaches up and pushes back Yoongi’s hood, Yoongi flinches and Namjoon becomes even more displeased as he spies the small black cat ears that are poking out of the hybrids rumpled curly hair.

- “Actually, I was just talking to Yoongi about the possibility of adopting him when I tripped, we where just on our way to the office.” Yoongi’s eyes are wide as dinner plates alongside the attendants, his lips parted, his puffy tail swishing. No matter how hard they try to convince Namjoon to adopt “a more suitable companion.” 

- Namjoon won’t budge. Yoongi is going to be his hybrid. 

Keep reading

[manimeeater]

Sorry for disappearing- im ready for requests btw <3

[bunnis-monsters]

Ride a cow save the farm

Various!Male Hybrids x Fem!Cow Hybrid Reader

Bunni’s Monstertober Event

Oct 16th

Oct 15

Oct 17

summary: to help your farm stay afloat, you take a few cocks.

warnings: breeding, belly bulge, lactation

a/n: sorry this is short, I’m trying to catch up… maybe I’ll do something more with this concept when I have more time

During the annual fall fest at the farm, locals and tourists alike came to take a look at the attractions.

You could bob for apples, do a hayride, get your face painted, or pay $5 to fuck one of the farmers cow hybrids.

During that time of year, the cow hybrids on his farm were in mating season and weren’t satisfied with just their bulls and cows, and needed an outlet to get their sexual needs met without exhausting the males in the herd.

This was your first year participating, because you had been too young the year before. You could feel your pussy drooling at the thought of being used by various hybrids in need of a quick fuck.

You were led to the middle of the fall fest, allowed to rest your upper half on some hay while a line formed behind you.

First up with a bunny hybrid. He was small, struggling a bit at first to get a hold of your fat hips, but he was able to push his cock in.

Although smaller than you’d like, he moved his hips rapidly and kept hitting the best spots, making you cum quick. He came a lot too, his load sticky and warm inside you.

The next was a wolf hybrid. He was a lot bigger than the friendly livestock dog hybrid that roamed the grounds, and he was a bit rough with you.

He bit at your shoulders and neck, dangling into your ear as he slammed his hips into yours, knotting you while you clenched around him.

The third was a bull from your farm. He’d been eyeing you since you’d become breeding age, and now he had a chance to properly breed you.

He was a bit huffy that he was third in line, but wasted no time pushing in, using the twos previous creampies as lubricant as he rammed his fat cock in.

Feeling it kiss your cervix was… strange and uncomfortable, but this was what your body was made for. Taking the bull’s cock, carrying his cum in your womb and bearing his calf was what you waste meant to do!

Unfortunately, the line was very long. You lost count after the 15th person, and passed out not long after.

When you woke up, your belly was bulging with cum, the farmer counting his money.

“This’ll be enough to keep the farm running another year… good girl.”

He patted your head, then led you back to the barn to rest.

By the next year, you had already birthed a few calves and all you could think of was how much your customers that fall would love that your fat tits could squirt milk now…

And they indeed loved it.

Puppy hybrids and bunnies lapped at each tit while your cunt was stretched out by an eager tiger hybrid. Males from all around the were there to get a chance to breed with you, to make their mark on your womb…

And you just loved it.

————————

NSFW TAGLIST: @sunset-214 @strawberrypoundtown @avalordream @icommitwarcrimes @bazpire @im-eating-rn @anglingforlevels @kinshenewa @pasteldaze @unforgettablewhvre @yoongiigolden @peachesdabunny @murder-hobo @leiselotte @misswonderfrojustice @dij-ology @i8kaeya @lollboogurl @h3110-dar1in9 @keikokashi @aliceattheart @mssmil3y @spicyspicyliving @namjoons-t1ddies @izarosf1833 @healanette @lem-hhn @spufflepuff @honey-crypt @karljra @zyettemoon1800 @exodiam @vexillum-moeru @imperfectlyperfectprincess1 @binnieonabike @enchantedsylveon @mysticranger575 @readeryn68 @danielle143 @kittenlover614 @filthybunny420 @annavittoria-mm @makimamybelovedwife @blubearxy @omglovelylaila @toocollectionchaos-universe-blog @fruk-you-usuk-fans @wil10wthetree @hammerhead96-blog @slightlyusedfloormat

[yourlocaltrashpandaa]

I have anime oneshots on wattpad that I said I was going crosspost over here. So question:

[lil-ms-darkness]

𝓢𝓷𝓸𝔀 𝓒𝓵𝓸𝓾𝓭𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓦𝓪𝓻𝓶𝓽𝓱 - Barnaby Brooks Jr. x GN!Reader

If anyone knows who drew this beautiful artwork, please let me know so i can give proper credit. I found this in an old phone from like 11 years ago, and I couldn't find the artist.

Warnings: Implications of sexual interactions, minors DNI

The fog in your mind seems to recede as your senses return to the forefront, cold air licking viciously at your nose. You bring the dark gray blanket up and over your nose, mind urging back towards the euphoric relaxation of sleep. You sink into the bed, relishing in the plush bed sheets beneath your bare skin.

Risking the barest crack of your eyes, you find the view outside the window. Sternbild still sleeps in the hushed, early morning, blanketed by low hanging slate colored clouds, snowflakes fall towards the ground rapidly, and the large window is frosted with the cold outside. The space of the bed beside you is empty, sheets tucked in neatly and pillow fluffed. Glancing past your coworkers pillow, the small clock illuminates a soft yellow "5:45".

You want to groan, flabbergasted by how he can be up and about so early. Your nose crinkles a bit as a buttery, caramel-like aroma drifts into the bedroom from the kitchen. Rolling over, lazily, you face the door and inhale the sweet roasted scent. Coffee? It has to be.

You want to let your eyes drift closed again, to float in the fuzzy lull of the quiet room, stillness and patience and the cozy bedding embracing you. After long, hard days of danger and pain and buried deep fear, relaxing in a warm bed on a cold morning with the smell of coffee floating around you, it felt like pure euphoria, a long breathy sigh of delight-

The door opens and Barnaby walks through, two mugs in his hands. He steps softly over to the bed, dressed in his black t-shirt and a pair of crisp black slacks. His glasses glitter with the light starting to peek through the clouds behind you, before the rays are subdued by hushed darkness again.

He smiles softly as he sees your open, curiously tired eyes.

"Morning." he whispers, watching as you sit up, slowly, keeping the blanket close to cover your intimates, pressing fingertips into the corners of your eyes to rub the sleep away. He stifles a nervous chuckle, cheeks pinkening just a touch but doesn't look away. He offers you the white mug, liquid steaming deliciously inside.

You take it, gratefully, not doubting that your bed hair and morning breath more wild than he had ever seen you. "Morning." you murmur, blinking blearily down into the contents of your mug. You blow into the dark liquid, then take a sip, sweet and chocolatey with the most subtle hint of peppermint and caramel.

You close your eyes in delight, "I've never had hot cocoa like this before."

He settles on the edge of the bed beside you, "My mother would make this for my Father and I all the time. It doesn't quite taste as good as hers, but. . .I got pretty close." he lifts his own mug to his lips, a warmth blooming in your chest at the vulnerability in his display. You take another sip, wondering how Emily and Barnaby Brooks would have reacted to you, if they would have accepted you.

The warm cup soothes the cold numbness aching your fingers, as you look over at the window. The skyline breaks against the slate gray clouds, shining lights of the Gold Stage, wonderous and extravagant and everything that Barnaby was. While the lights glitter like stars, homes rest behind gates and fences, dogs lifting their legs or squatting in the snow before retreating back into the warmth of their homes, a few cars drive down the highway, headlights illuminating the already illuminated streets.

"You get to see this view every morning?" you whisper, almost breathless.

You can feel his weight shift as he turns to look out the window with you, "Not really. I usually don't give it much mind. The lighting that comes in through that window gets to be really finicky sometimes."

The corners of your lips lift and you quirk a brow at him, "I imagine the sun doesn't listen to your suggestions, either."

"Not yet, anyway. But Kotetsu taught me a thing or two about being persuasive. And stubborn."

You can't help but laugh quietly, and you don't miss the way his eyes soften at the sound. It makes your heart flutter in your chest. "I'll help file your complaints."

Looking up at him, you smile to yourself, settling in to enjoy the cold and quiet morning with Barnaby. Leaning over, you rest your temple against his shoulder as he takes another sip of his cocoa, taking in the skyline for the first time in a long time.

It's a chance for him to breathe, too.

Hello everyone, I know it's not M&P (again), but I've been having so many other ideas that are easy to just throw into a word document, edit real quick, copy, paste, and post. Barnaby is also my comfort character, so I had to post something. It's not as long as I would have liked, but oh well.

I intentionally left the state of the relationship ambiguous, whether it's the first time you and Barnaby were intimate, an ongoing relationship, one night stand (I can't imagine it being a one night stand, but again, interpretation).

Hope you enjoyed,

𝕷𝖎𝖑 𝕸𝖘 𝕯𝖆𝖗𝖐𝖓𝖊𝖘𝖘 🥀

[razzlerdazzler]

Hello, sorry I haven't finished any requests for the past few months, college has been kicking my ass, but i'm now finished and can finish any requests people have, sorry again for the long hiatus Here are the links to fandoms I will write for, sorry again for not doing this earlier

[emmajh97-mumaji]

A Former-Hero's Heart & Home

"You check in on Kotetsu to see how bad his hangover is... and reminisce on your first time in his apartment." - Kotetsu T. Kaburagi x Reader - Very vanilla SFW slice-of-life romance - Sequel to the PREVIOUS CHAPTER: A Former-Hero's Confession !

You had only a mild headache when you woke up... but your brain was still swimming. "I already have someone in mind~" "I'm so lucky to have you!" "I love you too..." Kotetsu's words echoed in your mind...

'Was last night a dream?' you thought as you ate a simple breakfast of fruit and toast, 'Or... was it the start of something new?' It gave you butterflies.

'Calm down, I have to focus.' You get dressed, 'Gotta head over and make sure he's okay.'

It's a lovely spring morning in Sternbild as leave your place-- warm weather, birds chirping.

You arrive at Kotetsu's neighborhood. In the light of day, his apartment's front door is as inviting as ever. You knock, but get no response. You check your phone... It is fairly late in the morning. Did Kotetsu wake up already and head off somewhere? You text him a message to check. A minute or so passes. No response, and you still hear nothing from inside.

Well you tried the polite route, now to get serious. You rummage in your pocket and grab the spare key you discretely borrowed from Kotetsu's kitchen drawer last night.

The inside of the apartment is as dark as it usually is with the lights off, but at least the first floor living area is nice and sunny. It was fairly well kept, too. Only two or three beer bottles strewn about instead of the usual ten.

Unlike back then, over a year ago...

The first time you came to this apartment... . . .

Study sessions started not long after you two first introduced yourselves in your shared Anatomy & Phys class. Kotetsu met you regularly in the college library for them every week.

The meetings went fairly smoothly for about a month, until an issue left you tied up and unable to come. Still wanting to help, you offered to host the session at your place instead. Kotetsu took you up on it, and thankfully the socializing didn't interfere too much with the actual studying. In fact, it ended up going well enough that Kotetsu offered to return the favor.

A lot had happened after Kotetsu made that offer.

You'd seen the news... Members of a gang suspected to be tied with Ouroboros had kidnapped the hero Origami Cyclone. It took the combined efforts of all the heroes to find and rescue him. Rock Bison suffered major injuries in the rescue attempt.

His old friend Mr. Bison in the hospital, his partner Barnaby busy trying to find out who was really behind all this... you could tell the whole ordeal was weighing on Kotetsu. He was absent-minded throughout classes that whole week. Every time you messaged him, it was left on read. You overheard some of the phone calls he had with Bunny... something about the unsolved mystery of Gregory Sunshine's death.. You shuddered to think what Kotetsu was getting himself into, an old man with no NEXT powers sticking his nose into dark corners where it didn't belong. And yet every time you tried to speak with him after class, he said he was "Looking forward to your next study session together!". This man was a terrible liar, but he could really fake a smile.

Finally the day had come. You got out of class alone (it was one of the few you and Kotetsu had differing schedules for) that cold evening. As you walked through the dying leaves of late fall, you pulled out your cell and messaged Kotetsu one last time-- [[Just got out, I'll be heading over now.]] ...left on read, again.

You seriously contemplated calling this meeting off. Would Kotetsu even be in the right headspace to have company over? Then again... would he even be able to pass this upcoming test, considering how he hadn't been paying attention in class for over a week, now? You wanted to at least try to help. His scholarship was on the line, after all!

The sun set behind you in dark reds and yellows as you reached your car. You double-checked the directions on your phone, and started the drive... to his place.

Mixed emotions swirled in your stomach as you ascended those steps to the front door of Kotetsu's apartment. The fear of being in an unfamiliar neighborhood at night, the excitement of finally getting to see what your friend's (and a former hero's!) home was like, the worry of whether Kotetsu was mentally okay enough to do this...

You knocked at least twice-- before you heard the thumps of stumbling from inside. "Coming!" came Kotetsu's muffled voice, followed by crashing noises and under-the-breath curses.

Finally the door opened, Kotetsu standing there with a disheveled face and another one of those grins that you now recognized as forced. "H-hey! Sorry, I guess the study session was tonight, huh? Haven't gotten a chance to check my phone today."

The apartment was dark behind him... no wonder he stumbled so much. It was hard for you to process what you were seeing over the overwhelming smell of alcohol... More accurately, the smell of cheap beer. Yeesh.

"...are you drunk?" "Not yet." Kotetsu replied under his breath, before immediately realizing his mistake and correcting, "I mean- I've just had a beer or two, nothing to worry about." "Kotetsu, if this is a bad time then maybe we shouldn't--" "NO-!!" he cut you off immediately, catching you off guard, "I mean, no- it's okay! I still want to study with you." "...y-you sure?" you stuttered in disbelief. He stepped out of the doorway, beckoning you in, "Yeah, come on in."

He flicked on the light switch... revealing the absolute state his living space was in.

Alcohol bottles and cans everywhere. Unwashed dishes piled high in the kitchen sink. Bed un-made. An ironing board awkwardly left out of the closet with dirty clothes tossed around it. And the living room couch... covered in ominous newspaper clippings and scrawled notes that were most certainly not related to medicine.

As you awkwardly approached the living room table, Kotetsu went around like a busy bee frantically fixing things up. First thing he did was gather all the ominous looking research... you swear you saw at least a few Orobouros symbols amongst the black-and-white clippings as they were scooped up.

"Sorry about the mess!" Kotetsu laughed awkwardly as he squirrelled the papers away in a corner, then immediately went to the windows. Stifling blinds and curtains were pulled open to reveal the twinkling lights of the city street. "It's fine..." you reply back with bemusement, descending to the sitting area and setting down your backpack at the living room table.

As Kotetsu started the arduous task of picking up what seemed like hundreds of old beer cans/bottles, you marveled at his apartment. The media shelves with the TV and his record collection (you'd love to comb through those later). The vintage-looking kitchen. The wooden shelves and dressers... one of them covered in what looked like framed photos.

You looked over your shoulder-- there was still cans & bottles left, but it seems Kotetsu got distracted picking up the laundry. Either way, it was the perfect opportunity to snoop. You walked up close to the dresser and were greeted with a few familiar faces. Barnaby together with Kotetsu the day he retired from hero work, Kotetsu with old boss Ben, Kotetsu with his daughter the day she graduated grade school... But most of these were photos of someone new to you... his wife. You knew she had passed, but Kotetsu always dodged the subject when you brought it up. You squinted at the caption written on an old wedding photo... so her name was Tomoe. She was beautiful. Your heart ached just thinking about Kotetsu losing her.

A loud CLANG of bottles being put down in the kitchen snaps you out of your feelings. You quickly head back over to the sitting area. The apartment is much more presentable, now. Although you still felt uneasy. Not just because you knew all the neglect was simply swept under the rug, not just because the smell of alcohol still lingered, but because of that pile of papers in the corner... what you assumed to be research into a top secret crime organization... perhaps the kind of information that might make someone a target...

"All right! There we go!!" Kotetsu spoke up, coming downstairs from his bedroom area with his laptop and course work. You snapped out of your worried staring, whipping your head to face him. Kotetsu must have caught your reaction, because he got a concerned look as he sat across the table, "You okay?" "Yes. Fine." You finally realized that you hadn't taken out your own things yet, and immediately unzipped your backpack to pull them out.

You tried to break the silent tension in the room by starting off with the usual- asking Kotetsu to compare notes. ...only him to tell you he had none. For any of your classes together. For the entire past week. You tried to stay calm, but couldn't help yourself-- "What do you mean?!" "I'm really sorry, I've been very distracted!" "With what?" You snapped back, "Hunting down Ouroboros?!"

Kotetsu fell silent, perhaps finally realizing you already knew too much. "I'm really sorry about what happened to Rock Bison, Kotetsu, really I am. But..." You trailed off. You didn't know how to say it without hurting his feelings.

"I'm not an idiot." You were caught off guard as Kotetsu responded with a calm maturity, "I know I'm not a hero anymore." Seeing your shocked expression, he continued, "Yes, I've been trying to help Barnaby with the Ouroboros investigation. But I don't intend to become some sort of vigilante." That was a relief. But still... "Trying?" "I've spent the last week reaching out to my connections and asking around. A lot of the criminals I arrested back in the day respect me as their adversary, and were willing to talk."

"But... After I turned in my findings to the heroes this morning... Bunny told me to stop." Kotetsu's serious expression became sad as he looked down with dark eyes, "Said I was drawing too much attention, and that I was just putting everyone involved in danger." "He's right, you know." Kotetsu sighed, "I know..." "Did he say anything else?" Kotetsu rubbed the back of his head, "That I looked like I hadn't slept or showered in ages." "...have you?" He slumped, "Not really..."

You frowned, "So that's why you were sitting in the dark drinking... you feel useless." Kotetsu suddenly heated up at that word, glaring at you, "I'm not useless!!" "I know you're not!" you clarified, "But you feel that way, don't you? You want so badly to be able to help the heroes, but you're frustrated that there's nothing you can do. Or at least, nothing you're allowed to do, right?" Kotetsu fell silent at that. You could tell you were right.

"Of course I don't think you're useless Kotetsu." you repeated yourself to be extra clear, "The whole point of becoming a NEXT-specialized PT is so that you can help Heroes when they need you most, right?" "Right..." he half-heartedly replied. "So then try to have a bit more self-respect, okay? You know your own limits, so focus on what you can do instead of what you can't." "Uh-huh......" he was even quieter than before.

"Kotetsu..." you say with concern in your voice, "Remember last time... when I brought up going to therapy?" He gave a defeated sigh, "Yeah, I've been meaning to go..." "It really is free. You just have to call Student Services." "I know. I just..." Kotetsu looked over at the stack of now useless research in the corner. "You've been busy?" you gave him a consoling smile. He nodded.

You looked down, thinking back to the photos on the dresser... "I was worried you were avoiding going on purpose... because of your wife..." "What?" Kotetsu's voice was in disbelief. Oh no. You said that out loud. "S-sorry-! I mean-!" you fumbled, "Last time you told me you've seen a therapist once before, so I assumed it was because-- well...!" Kotetsu had a painfully neutral expression, "You're not wrong." He got a thousand-yard stare, "Who knows if I'd still be here if my boss hadn't forced me to go back then..." "I'm so sorry." Kotetsu shook his head, his voice bittersweet, "Let's not dwell on it any more, then." "Yes." you agreed immediately.

Kotetsu cleared his throat, glad that subject was skipped over. Suddenly, he smirked, "I'll make sure to sign up for Therapy after I sleep and shower, how about that?" calling back to Bunny's comment. "Sleep, shower-- AND taking notes for these upcoming tests!" you pointed a ballpoint pen at him threateningly. Kotetsu chuckled and grabbed his pencil, "Right, right."

You spent the rest of the night going over your notes and making sure he copied them and understood the material. You, at least, felt like you understood this place... and Kotetsu himself... a little bit more than before...

. . .

... it's been nearly two years since that day.

This is probably the fifth or sixth time you've been to Kotetsu's apartment, at least. You check the calendar he has on the fridge-- all the therapy sessions he had scheduled for the past month are checked off. Good.

You pay some passing respects to the photos of Tomoe, 'I'm trying my best to look after him for you so you can rest in peace.' before continuing on to the steps. It feels like second nature as you climb them upstairs to the bedroom area. Sure enough, there he is. Laying in a messy bundle of green comforters and sawing away. Well, more like purring, you'd say. Kotetsu's snoring was less like a chainsaw and more like an adorable annoyance. You check the time-- past 10AM. Certainly not early, but you figure you could let him rest more if he needs it.

You head back downstairs and check the fridge. It's all fried rice ingredients, of course. Old takeout rice boxes, assorted vegetables on the verge of going bad, and-- aha! Eggs. That'll work.

You have to wash some pans first, but eventually you fry up some eggs. You intend on bringing them upstairs and surprising Kotetsu. However, you nearly drop the plate when you hear a grumbling behind you-! You turn and see Kotetsu standing there, woozily holding his head as he barely manages to stumble over.

He calls your name questioningly. "What're you doing...?" "Good morning, sleepyhead. How's the hangover?" you walk past him and set the eggs down in the sitting area. "Not the worst I've ever had, but..." he groans, following. "Too sick to eat, or...?" "No.. I think I can eat..." You run over to get a glass of water, putting it in his hand, "Here." you guide him over to the table. "F...for me??" he asks in disbelief as you sit him in front of the eggs. "Yeah." "B-but what about you?" "I ate before coming over." "Oh..."

Kotetsu eats in awkward silence. You sit across from him and browse social media on your phone. The eggs were gone fairly quickly, and after finishing his glass of water, Kotetsu finally speaks up... "Did I say anything embarrassing last night?"

You looked up from your phone and saw Kotetsu's face drooping with genuine concern. That signature guilty puppy expression. "UH..." Normally you wouldn't hesitate to tell Kotetsu the silly things spoken when drunk. But this time, it was serious. It was pretty obvious that there were boundaries that weren't meant to be crossed, and you wanted to respect that. Plus, he just woke up. Was now really the right time to put him on the spot with a 'You confessed your love to me'?

Unfortunately, your conflicted expression was all the answer Kotetsu needed, "I did, didn't I?" "S-sort of..." you weaseled your way around the subject, "You told me that you asked out Barnaby once, but got rejected." "Oh god..." Kotetsu groaned, rubbing his face, "Yeah, I remember that part..." "You also told me that you were planning on asking out one of your fans to start dating." "That too..." he slumped back against the couch.

"What else do you remember?" you asked nervously. Kotetsu rubbed his hands over his forehead and through his hair, hmm-ing to himself... "You... drove me home, I think? Well, obviously you did." You nodded. "And... I remember crying about something... but I can't remember what..." "Well..." You sweat, careful to choose your words, "You said you were lonely. You miss Muramasa, Kaede, and Barnaby."

"Oooh- that's right!" Kotetsu sat up and tapped his fist into his palm, "And I was telling you how glad I was to have your company." "Uh-huh." you nodded, putting on an awkward smile. Suddenly, Kotetsu frowned, "Wait..." "Wait?" "......oh no." "Oh no???" Kotetsu curled his legs up on the couch and buried his face in his hands, "I REMEMBER NOW." "Oh no." "I confessed my feelings to you-!!" "Haha..." you died a little inside, "...yes. Yes you did." "AAAAAAGH." Kotetsu's embarrassment was muffled into his hands. 'AAAAH.' your embarrassment was screamed internally.

"I'm so sorry! I know we're just friends and you just want to help me graduate!!" Kotetsu pulled at his collar nervously, "I'm fine just pretending this whole thing never happened and--" "NO!" Kotetsu goes wide-eyed at your strong protest. You try to tone it down, "I mean- no, no, it's fine Kotetsu! If you really feel that way about me, then... I'm up for it." Kotetsu fell silent. Staring at you with a glimmer of hope and surprise in his eyes, "Really?"

"B-but only if you're up for it!!" you hastily add, "After all, you still have to figure out your leftover feelings for Tomoe and Barnaby, don't you?" He looked down seriously, "I do..." Then stroked his chin, "But... maybe I can multitask..." "Huh?" you cocked your head. Kotetsu was serious, matter-of-fact, "Coping with my old feelings and exploring these new feelings... at the same time." You're genuinely concerned, "Are you sure it wouldn't be too difficult?" Kotetsu shook his head, "The first part? Maybe... but second one? Not at all."

He looked up at you... his golden-brown eyes curved up from a sweet smile as he stared directly into yours, "I already know how I feel about you."

Your heart skipped a beat. He continued, "And I know you love me, too." "H-HUH?!" you felt your face go hot. "Seriously, that speech last night. 'If I was them I'd keep you warm on a lonely evening'? You weren't even trying to hide it, were you?" he chuckled. Now it was your turn to bury your face in your hands, "Y-yeah..." "Hey." Suddenly, you felt the warmth of a body next to you. You looked out from your palms-- Kotetsu had walked around the table and was sitting beside you now. He was looking you up and down, gently caressing your arm with his hand. You stared at him back, appreciating his features up close and personally. He opened his arms. You took the hint immediately, diving into his chest. You wrapped your hands around his waist and held him close, nuzzling into his neck. Taking in the smell of his sweat and a faint hint of cologne. The feeling of his rough skin and the old tank top he wore while sleeping. The sound of his breathing in his chest. Kotetsu nuzzled back, gripping you tightly with arms that made you feel safe.

The words had been weights in your heart for quite some time now, and you finally got to release them... "I love you, Kotetsu." You swear you could feel his heart beat faster...

"I love you, too."

 ♡