#top ways to prevent concrete cracks

[topazy]

Tomorrow’s promise

Pairing: Daryl Dixon × reader, Rick Grimes × sister reader

Warnings: Violence, swearing

Chapter: 5.02

After being taken from the train car along with Rick, Bob, and Glenn, Daryl’s hands were zip-tied by their hands and feet and forcefully lined up in front of a drainage pipe. The sounds of flesh being sliced combined with terrified screams were enough to bring tears of fear to Daryl’s eyes. They witnessed three men being bludgeoned and having their throats slit before an explosion went off nearby, causing the building to shake and distracting the butchers long enough for Rich to free himself and kill them.

Daryl rips the rag from his mouth as Rick frees his hands. “What is this place? Slaughterhouse?”

“A human slaughterhouse,” Glenn mumbles.

Daryl gets to his feet and then helps Bob up. “These sick bastards have Jace. We need to find him.”

Rick steps in front of him, preventing him from rushing out the door leading outside. “I want to find him as much as you do, but we need to be smart about this. We need weapons. Can’t fight them off with nothing.”

Begrudgingly, Daryl nods in agreement. He couldn’t lose them, not again.

“Was anybody else taken?” Glenn asks quietly while they make their way to another room.

“I don’t think so—” Daryl enters the room they keep butchery equipment in first and instinctively covers his mouth. “Holy shit.”

The smell of death fills the room, and hooks with human limbs hung from the ceiling. A lump forms in the back of Rick’s throat. “You cross any of these people, you kill them. Don’t hesitate; they won’t.”

“They’ve got Jace,” Daryl’s voice cracks. “These sick fucks have him. We need to get the kid and get back to the rest of our people now.”

—

Bile hits the back of your throat when you find the room Jace is being kept in. He was on the ground underneath a flipped-over crib, preventing him from crawling away. Which was a blessing considering a walker was restrained to the wall next to where he was.

The blonde woman from earlier was sitting on the floor sobbing, rubbing at a bit mark on her ankle. You could hear gunfire and screams coming through her radio, but she was ignoring it.

Quietly you pick up the bloodied bat from the door and swing it, bashing the girl across the face before she has the chance to shoot you; she screams in pain but drops her weapon. You take the gun she dropped and run to the wall and stab the walker that’s chained up in the head, then use the outside of a jacket you found in the hallway to soak up some of its blood.

“You’ll never make it out,” she sobs. “None of us will!”

You flip the crib off Jace and pick him up; once he’s in your arms, you’re reminded that Judith wasn’t with Rick when he arrived. “Mommy’s here; it’s okay, baby, it’s okay.”

While trying to short Jace underneath your top to make sure the blood from the jacket doesn’t touch his skin, you keep one eye on the blonde and almost pity her. If she wasn’t part of Terminus, you would have either tried to save her or given her a mercy kill; instead, you were leaving her to turn.

—

Your heart thuds in your chest as multiple footsteps get closer as you stand frozen on the concrete staircase at the building's fire escape. You were stuck; you couldn’t go any further up because the asshole running this place was on the roof shooting at walkers, or so you heard on the radio, meaning you had no choice but to go down.

Please don’t cry. Jace, please don’t cry. It was a miracle you made it this far; the inside of the building was slowly starting to fill with walkers, and your makeshift weapon was becoming blunt, and soon it wouldn’t be sharp enough to stab them in the head with.

The people walking below whisper, but the closer they get, the more clear their conversation becomes. “We go in pairs to clear each room; nobody is left behind.”

You lean over the banister and look down. ���Rick?”

“Y/n?” Both Rick and Glenn pop their heads over the bannister and look up at you surprised. “We came to find—”

The door on the top floor creaks open, and instinctively you step backwards out of the line of sight of anyone looking down. It was Gareth, and it sounded like he was reloading a weapon. Doing your best to try and remain calm, you press your back against the wall and carefully take one step at a time, trying desperately to reach your brother without making any noise.

Holding Jace with one hand, you use the other to keep hold of the handrail. You continue to make your way down until you come face to face with someone coming upstairs, Daryl.

The look on his face melts your heart.

Silently, Daryl cups your cheek while looking at Jace, and you could see the relief in his blue eyes.

—

When you make it outside, you stay with Rick and Carl to pick off walkers while Glenn and Bob go to the train car to let the rest of your people out. The smoke from the burning terminus was now thick and making it harder to breathe and see; the loud noise had attracted a horde of walkers, which were swarming the gardens of the building now that the community's fence was down.

What the hell happened?

“Shit, they’ve spotted us!” Daryl yells and pushes you behind him. “On the roof!”

The three of you take shelter behind a car as bullets fly in your direction. Jace’s cries are drowned out by the sound of gunshots hitting off the car and screams as zombies pile up on a woman, tearing her from limb to limb.

“Y/n, this way! We’ll cover you!”

Trusting Rosita, you wave for your brother and Daryl to follow, “Come on!”

You race across the garden until you meet her at a barbed wire fence; there was a small part of the fence dipped in the middle with a thick rug over. You spot your nephew on the other side already, “Carl! Take him.”

Rosita and Abraham fight off a handful of walkers while you hand Jace over to Carl. As soon as you’re no longer holding Jace, Daryl practically throws you over the fence and then jumps over behind you.

Rosita, Abraham, and Rick climb over the fence right after. Catching your breath, you smile watching Rick reunite with Carl and Jace; you meet your brother's eye and tear up. He didn’t need to say it out loud; Judith was gone.

You look from them to Daryl and frown; in the daylight, his black eye looks so much worse. You throw your arms around him and bury your face into his neck, “I don’t ever want to lose you again.”

[min-gis]

A LESSER MAN. — choi san.

pairing. fighter!san x fembodied!reader

synopsis. there's only so many ways of calming san down, especially when it involves him losing a fight.

genre/warnings. angst, san is pissed and gets borderline violent with woo, injuries, swearing, implied mxm towards the end, smut ! mdni .

word count. 4.3k

HE LOST.

It’s always a bittersweet feeling, to receive the text from Wooyoung. It doesn’t happen often, but on the rare occasion that it does happen— oh, is it bittersweet.

The makeshift bed in the back of the van is far from comfortable, you think. It’s not comfortable at all, you realize with a sigh escaping from your lips. Nothing about the current situation is comfortable, really. 

It’s about to get a whole lot more uncomfortable, though, you bitterly realize.

Because yes, the makeshift bed and the humid air is uncomfortable — it’s horrible, even — it’s still about to get worse. 

Something Wooyoung confirms when his thumb comes down to press send before shoving his cracked phone down the front pocket of his pants. Something Wooyoung confirms when the text comes through on your phone, when Wooyoung confirms what you fear every time San steps foot into the ring.

He lost.

It’s not necessarily the losing. It’s not the fact that he lost that’s the problem, nor is it the loss of money. You don’t care, and while Wooyoung might make it seem like it’s the only thing he’s in for — the money that San brings in every time he wins yet another fight — you know he doesn’t care either.

San, however, does.

Something he makes very clear every time he does, in fact, lose.

Today isn’t going to be any different, you suppose.

‘’You’ll win tomorrow,’’ The back door leading into the building slams open, followed by Wooyoung’s muffled voice. He’s annoyed, you realize. Not that you expected any less.

‘’Fuck off,’’ The voice that follows causes you to squeeze your eyes shut. If Wooyoung is annoyed — you’re not sure just what San is.

Judging by the way he raises his voice and the sound of what you can only make out as a fist colliding with the side of the van, you figure he’s beyond annoyed. He’s enraged, perhaps infuriated, even.

But just like you excepted for Wooyoung to be annoyed — you already knew that this was coming.

Fury. Rage, even.

You don’t have to look at the two men to know just how the current situation is playing out. You already know Wooyoung is running his fingers through his hair in an attempt to calm himself down, in order to calm the other male down. 

It never works, you know that. Wooyoung, too, knows that.

‘’Don’t fucking touch the van,’’ Wooyoung’s voice comes out muffled thanks to the walls of the van shielding you, but the annoyance lingering behind his words doesn’t go unnoticed. ‘’Not the fucking van, take your anger out however you please but not the van, you hear me?’’’

It’s the silence that follows that causes you to reach for the door handle. The cold night air happily greets you as the door slides open, and while you’d like to embrace it for just a while longer — the mixture of anxiety and worry that runs through your body prevents you from doing so.

It’s not until your feet hit the concrete ground and you take a step forward to look around the corner of the van that you realize just how bad it is.

And how bad it’s about to get, too.

You can’t see his face from where you’re standing, not that you need to. His disheveled black hair and ultimately ruined white tank top tells you enough. The dried blood that’s forced its way into the once white fabric, though, tell you that it’s worse than you thought.

And if it wasn’t because of the dried blood, it’s the way his fist grab onto the shorter males shirt that tells you just how bad it actually is.

‘’Who paid for that fucking van, huh?’’ San spits as he presses his forehead against his friends. Wooyoung doesn’t respond, instead, he just stares at the man standing a mere inch away from him.

He’s used to it, you think. While it’s horrible, it’s also good, you realize. It’s good that he doesn’t respond, because neither of you knows just what might happen if he would’ve. None of you wish to find out, either. ‘’That’s right,’’ San hisses at the lack of response, ‘’Fucking I did. My fucking blood and sweat paid for that van, so don’t think you have any right to tell me what the fuck to do.’’

Only then do you realize just how bad it truly is.

‘’San.’’

You’re not sure if you managed to conceal the shakiness lingering behind your voice, you hope you did. You truly hope you did. Wooyoung’s eyes flicker over to you, and even though not a single word leaves his lips — you know what he’s trying to convey.

Thank you, and get him off of me before I make it worse.

The silence that follows is almost deafening. You just watch as your boyfriend's back heave up and down, a result of the fight that had just taken place and the adrenaline still running through his body. You’re about to part your lips and call out to him again, until his previously clenched fist relaxes.

You watch as Wooyoung stumbles backward, a result of San using his palm to push him away. A low wince leaves his lips as his back collides with the building, and for a split moment you wonder if you should check up on him.

You don’t. You want to, but the way he looks over at you through hooded eyes tells you not to. It’ll make things worse.

Standing up straight, Wooyoung runs his fingers through his hair before a low hiss leaves his lips. ‘’Get your shit together,’’ He hisses as his eyes land on the man standing in front of him. ‘’Do whatever the fuck you have to do, just get your fucking shit together and then we’ll talk.’’

The air feels heavy as he slips back into the building, sending one last stare your way before slamming the door shut behind him. 

Please sort this out.

Suffocating, almost. It feels suffocating, standing in the quietness of the night. Not a single noise besides the sound of people yelling further down the street and San’s heavy breathing, and it feels suffocating. 

Fuck.

While you already knew what was coming the second the ping of your phone informed you that he had lost, there is only so much you can do. There’s only so many ways of preparing yourself, because frankly, you have no idea how it’ll play out.

It’s different every time, how it plays out. It’s always the same — the anger, the raised voices — it’s always the same. But beyond that, you have no idea just how it’ll play out.

And while violence isn’t uncommon, it always takes you by surprise. And the lingering fear never changes, either. Not that you expected it to. Nor do San, you think. He knows, and he hates it just as much as you do.

Perhaps even more.

You watch as his gaze meets the ground, and you don’t need to see him to know that he has his eyes closed. The way he clenches his fists tells you that he’s trying to calm himself down. You know it’s not going to work. So does San.

‘’San,’’ 

It’s not as stern as your first attempt. It’s softer, still stern, but far from angry. You want him to look at you, to let you see him. He doesn’t allow you to.

His gaze remains on the ground underneath him as a small sigh leaves your lips. His gaze remains on the ground even when he hears you walking towards him — even when he feels your hand graze his back — he refuses to turn around to look at you.

Your fingers trail over the spots of dried blood, taking in the small cuts left on his exposed shoulders. You go to touch them, only to earn a low whine from the male and his body jerking in response.

It’s not until your hands gently grab onto his shoulders and slowly turn him around that he allows you to look at him.

And as soon as your eyes land on his face, you understand his anger. And as the realization of what had actually gone down slowly begins to settle in, you realize just why he refuses to look at you.

Dried blood decorates the corner of his lips, accompanied by a fresh cut to his cheekbone. He looks horrible, you realize. 

It’s more than just losing a fight to him, it’s about his dignity, as well. His feeling of feeling worthy. Of feeling needed, of feeling wanted. Something winning gives to him. Something losing rips away from him.

‘’Oh, San,’’ You breathe as your hand comes up to cup his jaw, tilting his head to the side to get a proper look at his face. His gaze remains on the ground, refusing to meet your own. ‘’What did they do to you?’’

Your thumb comes up to gently graze his cheekbone, feeling him clench his jaw under your touch. ‘’It’s nothing,’’ He mumbles, so low that you almost don’t hear him. ‘’I’ll win tomorrow.’’

His words cause an ache to spread across your chest. You don’t care if he wins. You couldn’t care less whether or not he walks out of that building with thousands and yet another victory, you care about him.

And this — his eyes low and his voice hoarse — causes your heart to break.

Your thumb runs down the side of his face before pressing it against his chin. ‘’Look at me.’’ You command, tilting his face upwards. You just stare at him as you wait for his eyes to meet yours, and when they eventually do, you feel your heart crumble even further.

Sad, sorry eyes meet your own and you think you might start crying right there and then.

I’m sorry.

I’m sorry for not winning, I’m sorry for lashing out.

You don’t care. You don’t care about any of it.

‘’Come here.’’ 

It’s all you have to say. It’s all you have to say for his arms to come up and wrap themselves around your figure, pulling you closer to him. You let your arms fall down onto his shoulders, your fingers quick to slip into his hair. 

He dives into the crook of your neck, his nose brushing against your skin as he does. You can feel his heavy breath fanning across your skin as you gently massage his scalp, his chest expanding into your own with every shaky breath.

There’s nothing you could ever do to stop your boyfriend from fighting. He treasures it, he loves it — he thrives off of it. There’s nothing you could possibly do or say that would ever stop him from doing what he loves, it comes in a package, he once claimed. Him and fighting, you sign up for both when you get him.

You don’t want to, either. You don’t wish for him to stop. Despite how scary and messy it gets, you don’t wish to stop him.

So when it does get messy, the least you can do is comfort him. Make it less scary, even if it’s just for a moment.

‘’It’s okay,’’ Your words come out mumbled, but comforting, nonetheless. ‘’You’re okay.’’

San just breathes against your skin in response. You’re not saying it for him to respond. You’re saying it to comfort him. To soothe the anger still lingering.

‘’I was so close,’’ You barely hear the words as they slip past his lips. They’re mumbled, and you’re not sure if he’s saying it for you to hear or if he’s saying it for himself to hear. To make a point. A statement even. ‘’I was so, so close.’’

You just hum in response. You’re not sure if he wishes for you to respond, yet you do. You hum as your fingers gently thread through his hair, pressing a chaste kiss onto the side of his face. Chaste, but comforting. ‘’I know you were.’’ 

You don’t know. You don’t know just how close he was to actually winning, but you tell him you do. That you do know. Because despite not being there to witness it, you still know. His anger proves to you just how close he actually was.

And how much he despises himself for not winning.

The feeling of his lips leaving a wet kiss onto your skin takes you by surprise. Your fingers massaging his scalp come to an abrupt stop as he does, his warm lips pressing against your cold skin sending shivers down your spine. 

‘’I’m sorry,’’ He mumbles as he presses another kiss onto your skin. ‘’I’m sorry for scaring you,’’ Another one, ‘’I’m sorry for not winning,’’ Another one, this time his hands placed on the small of your back pushing you firm against his body, ‘’I’m sorry for being such an ass,’’

The feeling of his teeth slightly sinking into your skin causes a gasp to leave your lips. Your hands slip out of his hair, your fingers grabbing onto his shoulders in an attempt to stabilize yourself. It doesn’t work, at least not when you feel his tongue running over the spot where he had just sunk his teeth into.

You already know where this is heading.

‘’San,’’ You breathe. His name trailing off your lips causes him to look up at you — only after leaving one last kiss on the skin of your neck — allowing your gaze to meet his.

One of his hands comes up your side, gently squeezing it before grabbing onto the side of your neck. He tilts his head, eyes low as he looks down at you. ‘’Let me show you how sorry I am?’’

You’ll always be there to comfort him. Each and every time, you’ll be there — waiting to console him.

So you nod. And as soon as you do, his lips crash against your own — hungrily, urgently, even. Like he might crumble if he doesn’t get to kiss you right now, right here. You feel the same way as his hand comes up from its previous position at the side of your neck, cupping your jaw as his rough fingers slip into your hair in an attempt to pull you even closer to him.

It’s rough, the way his tongue slips into your mouth and muffles the moan that almost leaves the back of your throat. The taste of the dried blood in the corner of his lips coats your tongue, a taste so disgusting yet so pleasing.

It’s not about how sorry he is. You know it isn’t. The urgency behind his movements and the slight metallic taste lingering on his tongue tells that it’s not about how sorry he is, not at all, really.

It’s about him, him and his disappointment in himself. It’s about him needing a distraction. Solace, even. Something that’ll allow him to escape the burning in his chest — and you — you might be the best distraction of them all.

You’ll always be there to comfort him. And with one of his hands running down your back, nails digging through the fabric of your shirt — you realize that this time is no different.

Rough hands grab onto your waist as they force you back down, and you realize the makeshift bed is just as uncomfortable as it always is.

The flooring is rough on your knees, despite the blanket you had previously laid out to prevent it from being too rough. The thin fabric doesn’t do much, though. You didn’t expect it to, either.

And while the flooring might be bruising your knees with every bounce, it’s far from being as rough as he is, you think.

‘’San,’’ His name barely slips past your lips, your voice giving out halfway through as he snaps his hips forward. His hands force you back down onto his length, meeting his thrust halfway. The harsh snap of his hips makes it hard to speak — and you think he might want it that way.

The leather of his pants sticks to the back of your thighs with every bounce, leaving such a foul and filthy sound to echo through the closed space. The sound of leather sticking to sweaty skin, leather pants pulled down his thighs just enough to allow his member to spring free.

Rough, raw and filthy.

One of his hands comes up to grab the back of your neck, fingernails threatening to dig into the skin of your neck. A grunt rumbles through his chest, a guttural one — an angry one — laced with undeniable lust. ‘’Look at me.’’

It’s a command. A command he follows up by allowing his nails to sink into the skin of your neck, forcing your head back. A command you follow, your half-lidded eyes meeting his own. His clenched jaw and droopy eyes are enough to pull a whine out of you, a whine he then forcefully pulls out of you as he slams your lower body back down.

His grip tightens as the whine trails off your lips, ‘’Such a good girl, just for me, right?’’ His voice is still laced with both anger and lust as he asks, only this time you hear the slight fear lingering in his words, too.

‘’Fuck,’’ He doesn’t give you a chance to respond as he continues slamming his hips into you from underneath, ‘’Don’t even fucking deserve you, do I?’’

Fear that he’s not good enough for you.

Fear that you’re just as disappointed in him as he is in himself.

His fingers slip into your hair, allowing his fingers to intertwine themselves into the strands before forcefully tugging your head backward. The action pulls yet another whine out of you, a painful one. A pain he soothes by diving forward and running his tongue across your now exposed throat, his dry lips leaving a wet kiss behind. 

You wish to tell him that you’re not disappointed in him. That the anger he feels deep within isn’t something you reciprocate, that his actions and his losses don’t define who he is.

He doesn’t wish to hear it, though. So you don’t. You don’t lean forward and embrace him, you don’t whisper in his ear about how you love him and how he can’t allow times like this to consume him.

Instead, you force yourself down his length for the nth time — pulling yet another grunt out of him.

He wants you to console him, so you do. You console him in the only way he���ll allow you to.

‘’I hope every single person in that building can hear you,’’ He grunts against your skin, teeth nibbling on your skin, ‘’Let them hear how good I’m fucking you, show them just how fucking good I am,’’

They know, you think. They already know, and if it wasn’t because of the way he had fingered you against the cold metal of the van a few moments prior — the way your movements now slightly rocked the van most definitely told them.

‘’Tell them, baby, show them.’’

The hand that had just been grabbing onto your hip quickly shifts position, sneaking down to place three fingers against your clit. The action causes you to jolt against him, his fingers pushing firmly against you as you do. ‘’Fuck,’’ You whine, desperately rocking your hips against his fingers — something that causes a hum in approval to leave his chest.

He needs more than that, though, you realize. He wants more than that.

Something he tells you by tugging even harder at your hair, forcing your head back even further as his fingers begin to rub quick, harsh circles over your clit. ‘’I said fucking tell them,’’ He hisses against your skin.

‘’San,’’ You whimper, far from what he wants, yet it seems to somewhat satisfy him as he grunts against your skin. It’s all you have left to offer him, your voice hoarse and throat slightly aching from the current position. ‘’Want you to come,’’ He hisses against your throat, almost commanding you, in a way.

A command you desperately nod at in response. A command you’re more than happy to follow.

‘’Want to hear you, too,’’ He continues, his fingers never stopping and neither does the thrusts, ‘’Want everyone to hear as you make a mess all over my cock,’’

You don’t need to be told twice. A broken moan spills past your lips as you sink your fingers into his shoulders, your hips stilling as your orgasm washes over you. While your movements stilled, his doesn’t — his fingers still desperately rubbing circles over your clit and his cock buried deep within you.

‘’Good girl,’’ He praises, ‘’Fuck, don’t deserve to feel you like this,’’

You’re too far gone to even hear his mindless rambling, too busy coming down from your orgasm to even focus on what he’s saying. You know it doesn’t matter, it’s just mindless rambling, after all.

Things he doesn’t mean.

His hand slips out of your hair, pulling you firmly against his chest as he allows you to rest your forehead against his shoulder. Broken moans and whines spill past your lips as he chases his own orgasm, riding out your orgasm at the same time. 

You know by the desperate grunts leaving his lips and the sloppy thrusts that he’s close, so you bring your hands up to gently cup his face.

‘’Fill me up,’’ You breathe into his ear, ‘’You deserve it.’’

Three words. Three words is all it takes for a groan to rip through his chest and for his hips to snap forward one last time, cock buried deep within you — so deep that it slightly hurts — before he spills into you.

A pleased hum leaves your lips as he slightly trembles in your touch, his cock twitching as white ropes of cum paint your walls. Your thumb comes down to gently stroke his cheek, the skin sticky from the sweat and the humid air — lips pressing a soft kiss onto the same sticky skin.

One last breathy groan leaves his lips before he relaxes underneath you, hands that had just been gripping onto your hips falling down his side. 

You stay like that for a while. Chests pressed against one another, your thumb gently stroking his cheek as your face remains buried in the crook of his neck. He doesn’t pull out — you don’t want him to — and neither does he.

He wishes to stay buried within you forever. Until he psychically can’t anymore.

‘’I’m sorry.’’

He’s the first one to speak up. His voice is hoarse as the words slip past his lips, hands coming up to wrap around your waist. It’s loose, the way he holds you — but still comforting, nonetheless. 

You just shake your head in response.

He has nothing to be sorry about, you think. ‘’Don’t.’’ You seal your words with a soft kiss on his throat, a kiss that tells him to stop.

‘’I’ll win tomorrow, I promise.’’

His words cause you to pull away, your hands still placed on either side of his face. The look you’re met with as your eyes land on his face slightly tugs on your heartstrings, his eyes low and a cheap smile plastered on his lips.

Like he’s trying to convince you. That’ll he win tomorrow, that he won’t disappoint you again.

Like he disappointed you in the first place.

‘’You know I don’t care.’’

He hums in response, ‘’I know,’’ He almost whispers.

‘’But I do.’’

You know he does. You know he cares, you know it matters to him. Whether or not he wins, it’s not important to you — he is.

He’s important to you.

You, too, hum in response as your thumb comes up to soothe the red, irritated skin by his eyebrow. ‘’I know you do,’’ You mumble, carefully running your thumb through his eyebrow. ‘’And I also know you’ll win tomorrow.’’

Your words tugs the corners of his lips into a smile. A genuine one, nothing like the cheap one that had just decorated his bruised lips. 

You don’t know. You don’t know if he’ll win tomorrow, you never know, really. You never know how it’ll end, and you guess that’s the charm of it all. 

Whether or not he’ll fuck you in the back of the van and allow you to praise him for winning yet another fight, or if he’ll walk out of the building with the same anger he had worn today lingering behind his features — it’s all a part of the job, you suppose.

Of never knowing just how it might end.

‘’You think Woo is still mad?’’

The sudden question causes a chuckle to leave the back of your throat. You tilt your head before pressing a small, chaste kiss onto the corner of his lips. ‘’Yeah,’’ You smile as you pull away, a smile he mirrors, ‘’He most definitely is.’’

A sigh leaves his lips, but the playful smile remains. ‘’You think he’ll forgive me if I let him ride me?’’ His words draw yet another chuckle out of you, one he muffles by pulling you back onto his chest.

‘’I doubt it.’’

With a hum leaving his throat, he leaves it at that.

Wooyoung will have to wait, you realize as one of his hands comes up to gently stroke your hair. It’s sticky and sweaty against his chest. You don’t care. Your knees still hurt from rubbing against the hard flooring for a little too long and he’s still buried deep within you, yet you still don’t care.

You stay like that. Silent, his once rough — now turned soft that the anger has slowly faded away —hand stroking your hair. It’s peaceful, you think. You know San feels the same way.

Just like he knows that whether or not he wins the next fight, you’ll be there to either celebrate or comfort him — you always are, and you always will be.

[the-broken-truth]

Leaving The Web [Part 5 - Finale] - Platonic Yandere Miguel O'Hara w/ Daughter Symbiote Spider Reader

Summary: The situation has escalated to a critical point. You and Venom have grown tired of Miguel's meddling and are prepared to confront him decisively. A confrontation ensues between Venom and Miguel, but the question remains: can the symbiote control its murderous impulses, or will it result in the loss of the Spider-Society's leader?

The Leader of the Spider-Society was taken aback by the thunderous footsteps approaching him. Two massive arms, locked together, were raised high in the air with a menacing snarl. The arms came crashing down at an alarming speed, causing Miguel to swiftly dodge out of the way. The impact of the components caused the concrete roof to crack, but it did not break. Miguel was then faced with Venom, who let out a loud roar before pursuing him with his claws locked in position. Miguel managed to escape by jumping off the building and swinging away using his red webs. Venom followed closely behind, utilizing his black webs to keep up.

"Be careful, V, I have a feeling that Miguel is going to try to lead us o the Portal where he came from." [Name] said from the depths of Venom's mind.

"We know, we're counting on it. We have a plan in case he brings us there and we hope he leads us to where he comes from. Hopefully, there's an audience of Spider-People, watching their leader get beaten by the beings he abandoned." Venom told [Name] with a smile, causing his host to smile at the thought of beating Miguel in front of his people, showing them not to approach herself or Venom.

Miguel swung until he reached the top of another building - where a portal to Earth-928 was waiting - soon enough Venom arrived at the top of the building and glared at Miguel with a smile on his face; that smile scared Miguel but he wasn't going to show it.

"Venom, this is your last chance - come with me peacefully or I will take you and [Name] back home by force." Miguel threatened but Venom started laughing with his long tongue waving around like a whip before it slithered back into his mouth and he spoke.

"You really think you can scare us? We have been alone for the longest time, Miguel, and now we have a home here; the fact you can't understand how much damage you have done to us shows how pathetic of a Father you really are. This is your last chance - leave our universe and never come back...or we shall break you and throw you back in that portal." Venom warned as he pointed at Miguel who shook his head and started running at the large symbiote and jumped to kick Venom in his face, but he grabbed Miguel's leg and started smashing him into the ground over and over again before throwing him off of the roof and chased after him.

Miguel lifted his hand to shoot a web but the air in his lungs was knocked out when Venom's Feet plowed into his stomach, ending the 2 of them crashing into the ground, Venom stomped on Miguel before he jumped off him and landed in a crouch. Miguel groaned as he turned on his stomach and pushed himself off the ground before weakly standing and looking at Venom, who rose to his full height once again; Miguel wiped the blood leaking from his mouth as he looked at the large creature.

"Mija...please...don't let Venom control you..." Miguel tired but his pleads were met with a punch to his stomach and another to his face that sent him flying into a cafe window, causing the people who shriek in horror as Miguel crashed into the wall behind the counter. Miguel tried to move but a black web connected with his chest and yanked him out of the wall, out of the building, and back onto the street before he was punched upward; Miguel went flying until he landed on the surface of a flat roof, groaning in pain as rips in his suit tried to reform themselves but there was a malfunction in his suit that prevented them from closing - his mask faded once again and he coughed up blood once again as Venom jumped up to the top and grabbed Miguel from behind and lifted him off the ground, forcing him to face him.

"[Name]... Mija... Please, come back to me..." Miguel said in his weak voice as he lifted his hand to try and touch Venom's face but the face of Venom moved away from his touch and revealed [Name's] angered face. "Mija... Please...come home."

"How long is it going to take before it sinks in? We. Am. HOME! Venom and I belong here and I won't let you take us away from the home we have built with the people who care for us - people who love us; sure I love and miss the others but I love being here more with Venom. Now, your body can barely move, your suit is destroyed and I will send you back home but the next time you come here; your brain will end up in our stomach." [Name] said as the mask reformed on [Name's] Face to the Face of Venom as the massive symbiote jumped from building to build until they reached the top of the building where the portal was, Venom looked at Miguel's broken body before tossing him in the portal, causing the portal to close behind Miguel. Venom exhaled and returned control to [Name], causing his body to get smaller to Spider-Woman's Body.

"You okay, V?" [Name] asked.

"I should be asking you that. You went through a lot before You and Me became We but now that we are the way we are and we shared memories. [Name], I am grateful for what you said, thank you, my friend." Venom said.

"You're my best friend, V, thanks for dealing with Miguel. I really needed that." [Name] said as she walked over to the edge of the building and swung away, "So, what do you want to have for dinner tonight?"

"I'll let you pick," Venom said.

"Then I want baked chicken and salad." [Name] smirked.

"NO SALAD! I HATE THAT!" Venom said.

"We need to keep the body healthy; we'll have chocolate for dessert." [Name] said.

"Fine!" Venom groaned.

With a chuckle, [Name] and Venom swung off into the sunset of their world, their universe, without Miguel O'Hara.

[chameleongray]

A deep yet languid kiss stole Cole's breath, head spinning and fingers digging into Kai's ass. Against his lips Kai smirked, tugging at Cole's lower one with his teeth before pulling away with a murmured "Something you want?"

"You."

Cole's head fell to the side as Kai worked down his neck, nipping occasionally at the delicate skin and smearing wet heated kisses against olive-toned skin. Nimble fingers slipped into the wild mane of black hair, the other hand taking Cole's chin to redirect his head and lift it, exposing his throat. The earth ninja groaned quietly as Kai continued to lavish attention on his neck, kissing down the hollow of his throat.

His thighs spread, opening Kai's in the process, grip tightening as his shoulders sank and chest heaved, body igniting with want as Kai's scent caught in his nose and lungs like incense, clouding judgement and stifling breath. His arms wrapped around the body pressed against him, craving to touch bare skin instead of clothes, to add his own marks to the countless faded scars.

Cole was an artist, and he wanted to make Kai his canvas.

More than just a canvas, if he was being honest.

A door slammed open from somewhere in the Bounty followed by a distant holler from Jay, driving them apart. Panicked eyes fixed on the closed door of the room, they scrambled to get themselves back in order, then Cole caught a glance dropping to his neck.

"I left a mark."

"We can say it's from training." Cole dove onto his bunk and snatched his sketchbook, footsteps and voices drawing closer. Kai threw himself to the floor and assumed a position for flexibility training just as the door opened and in walked Zane and Jay.

"What took you guys so long? Thought you said it was going to be a quick trip," Kai joked.

"We ended up having to stop a bank robbery then we swung by Chen's to bring home food and on the way got mobbed by fans. Y'know another day in Ninjago. She says hi by the way anyways food's getting cold." Jay vanished, and Cole glanced to Zane.

"Mobbed by fans again, huh," he commented, closing the sketchbook before standing.

"At least they were not Kai's."

"Hey!"

"You can't say it's wrong," Cole pointed out while cracking his back. Kai opened his mouth then decided against an objection, instead saying, "Let's just get food. I wonder how Skylor's been."

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

At the worst possible time, Cole started coughing. He kicked the charging enemy away then fled, frantic to reach safety, terrified of what he may cough up this time. Spotting a ladder mounted to the side of a building, he climbed quick as he could, struggling to hold off another coughing fit the best he could. Lungs screaming, vision blurry from shallow pants, he reached the top and busted the ladder to prevent pursuers. Ripped back the hood and dropped to all fours, succumbing to the cough.

The dry hacking of trying to dislodge something consumed him. A sharp metallic taste rose in his throat, beads of blood rolling down his tongue and dripping from his lips, mixed with spit. His fingers dug into the rough concrete of the roof, bracing as something came loose in his lungs and forced upwards. He spit it out, trembling as he glimpsed through tear-stained vision petals.

Yellow with a slight outwards curl.

Hyacinth.

He sat back on his heels, numb and lost in thought. It had taken mere weeks for the cough to change from normal to blood to...this, and it frightened him. The others suspected something wrong; how could they not when he would erupt into abrupt coughing fits or have to run from fights? Kai approached multiple times but Cole played it down.

"It's nothing. C'mon, we have bigger things to worry about."

Eventually Kai stopped asking.

Cole wrapped his arms around himself, eyes closed as tears welled up, rocking back and forth. From the ground he heard his name but didn't respond. Didn't want to go back, but running away wouldn't solve this—or any—problem; he knew that all too well. No, the only thing he could do was go back and try to hide the petals for as long as possible.

Shakily, he stood and walked to the edge of the building, answering his team's calls.

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

The sun was mercilessly hot, making an intense day of training even more miserable. Shirts came off, and a knife drove itself into Cole when he saw the marks on Kai's back as fire readied to spar ice.

Red scratches dragging along his spine and shoulders, fingerprint-shaped bruises scattered across. The inconsistent smirk he'd worn all morning was suspicious as were the markings on his neck and collarbones paired with sneaking back in late last night, but this...

Cole's grip tightened causing the staff crack and Nya, Lloyd, and Jay to glance at him with concern. With the deepest breath he could manage with his petal-filled lungs, he claimed to be alright, slowly releasing the staff. It dropped, clattering to the deck as a coughing fit took control, driving him to bolt for the bathroom.

More blood, more saliva, more petals clumped together in full blooms. Retching, struggling for air, vision blurry from tears and lack of oxygen, he collapsed against the cold porcelain with a ragged gasp. Outside he could hear faint arguing and Nya firmly saying "You need to talk to him now". The thought of confrontation made him sick, stomach churning and tying itself into knots.

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

A knock at the door.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"...I was scared. You made it clear you didn't want to be more than...than what we were."

A pinch on the bridge of a nose followed by the raking of hands through hair. "You should've said something though. This is your life we are talking about. If I'd known sooner, maybe we could've worked something out but I'm with Skylor now. The pressure and responsibility you just put on me..." A frustrated groan. "Damn it. There's nothing else?"

A tiny shake.

Another deep-seated sigh. "How much longer do you think?"

"Probably not much. I've...been coughing up full flowers. For a while now."

"Dammit" softly whispered, heavy in sorrow.

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

Cole wandered into the forest, steps nothing more than unbalanced shambles. Pain gripped his body, his lungs and heart the worst of it all. Blood and petals dripped like rain from his lips, staining his chest. With a weakened wheeze he collapsed against a tree, shaky legs unable to carry him further.

Perhaps...perhaps it was for the best, that he be left out here, his remains never found. The team discovered what had transpired, and it had been an ugly mess of emotional words when he'd stolen away, their voices still ringing in his ears.

But here, beneath the tree, a hand pressed against the soft soil and tuning into the slow and subtle rolling shifts of the earth's energy, he felt at home. Peace, for the first time in a while. His eyes closed, head falling to the side as a bloody hyacinth bloom fell from his lips and landed on a thigh.

After all he was earth, and to the earth he returned.

[imbadatparking]

When we drove through the rain, the water hit the roof over and over, washing us in a muted silence. The repeating, uneven, patternless sound could be heard clearly, even through the rusting metal of your car’s frame. It served as an unsuccessful way to fill the tension, a backdrop of white noise against our palpable fear. Thunder rolled below us from a distance, echoing through the streets and under the car tires like an omen. The dark clouds hung low in the sky, building something more than just rain, overlapping each other and dipping just beneath the top of the treeline. 

Silence wrapped its slimy tentacles around our mouths and coated the seats and the windows. The inside of the car was stale, the kind of quiet that made everything feel heavier. The way we tried to pretend everything was okay, how we tried to hide all our secrets, what I’ve been too scared to say aloud when you can look at me. 

When we drove through the rain, your skin was close enough for me to reach out and touch, if only I wasn’t so scared. You’re closer to me than you have been in for the past two months, and yet when I look over, you seem a million worlds away. I’ve been trying to close the distance you’ve been incomprehensibly focused on making bigger. There’s a crack between us that spreads with every argument you start and every touch you pull away from. I am going in behind you with a naive hope, uselessly pouring concrete in behind you, trying to fix the irreparable damage.

I was foolish for hoping it might’ve been the beginning of redemption. I thought the muted, forced proximity of us - what we’d been trying so hard to avoid, this elaborate chess game of denial and avoidance - would make us acknowledge our problems. But maybe it only allows the opposite of what I’m wanting; you’re using it as a shield, an excuse not to look at me, like every other feeble excuse you never would’ve prioritized before the incident. The headlights paint across your lips and nose, making you look gaunt and tired. They prevent your carefully blank face from being hidden from me. 

When we drove through the rain, I tried to put onto it what we can’t find for ourselves. I’ve rendered myself helpless trying to make things better. I’ve used all my resources, given up everything, no longer own any piece of me that doesn’t belong to you - and will continue to do so. Despite your uncertainty, I will keep fighting against the intangible monster that’s taken you away from me and swallowed you whole. I won’t leave you to face it by yourself; I was here before, I’m here now, and I will continue to be here. 

Maybe we'll never find what we can’t fix for us, but you’re still here. Even though we’re in different universes, even though you’re struggling with a fight I can’t see, even though these past few months have been one inescapable tragedy after another; you’re still here. So I’ll stay. I’ll stay and wait for the rain to get worse, and I’ll weather the storm like I always do, with you by my side like you always are. 

| k. - @nosebleedclub march, xxi. clambering

[thewhumpcaretaker]

⚜ 𝓑𝓮𝔂𝓸𝓷𝓭 𝓙𝓾𝓭𝓰𝓮𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽 - 𝒞𝒽𝒶𝓅𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝒳𝐼𝐼: 𝒯𝒾𝓂𝑒 𝓉𝑜 𝑅𝑒𝒻𝓁𝑒𝒸𝓉 ⚜

TW: PTSD flashback, mention of prior relapse, canon typical violence, masturbation

Summary: John and Vincent split up to keep Vincent hidden while John enters the Bowery alone.

If the backseat of Marjorie’s SUV had looked cramped and uninviting, the trunk of a stolen van with tinted windows looked even more so. It belonged to an assassin who had recognized John in the driver’s seat, and made the mistake of pursuing them. So they took his car and agreed Vincent would stay closed in the back, pretending not to exist, until they reached the destination. It was the safest way to pass through the city - John wanted to take absolutely no chances, not even to let the Bowery know Vincent was onsite.

As he stood above the opening, Vincent’s lifeless phone turned over and over in his hands, the cracked screen catching at his fingertips. It had died at some point during the chaos at the motel, and they had yet to reach another outlet. Reflected in its dark pool, he looked nervous as hell. He cringed away from his own reflection as soon as he met its eyes.

“Can’t we stop somewhere to charge it? I will have no way to contact you.”

“Too risky. I’ll take it with me and find an outlet inside.” John held out his hand, and Vincent reluctantly gave it over. He had a morbid curiosity to see what the High Table must be saying to him now. Exactly how vicious were they being, in the knowledge that they’d driven him out of hiding and into relapse?

But he would rather John didn’t find that out before he did. “If it turns on, don’t…er….”

“I won’t read anything. Now get in.”

He folded himself into the darkness, on top of the blanket that they’d laid down as padding, and glared up at John. “Do you enjoy putting me in undignified positions?”

“No,” said John, leaning over him with one hand braced against the trunk lid. His hair was trailing almost over Vincent’s lips, and it stole his breath. But John tilted his head to get a proper look at Vincent’s face, and smiled like he was looking at something very small and adorable. “Not this one at least. Maybe we’ll try some others later.”

“Oh…” So John could flirt too. Who could’ve known. “I’m holding you to that promise, I hope you know.”

Before he could fully recover his thoughts from the gutter they’d fallen into, John was back to business. “Knock if you need out urgently. When we get there, I’ll knock three times when I leave and again when I’m back. If this starts driving and I haven’t knocked, you jump. Got it?”

“Yes, just make it fast, will you? No detours.”

“That’s the idea.” The lid swung closed.

The early part of the ride was…unpleasant. The car rattled over a million tiny bumps, fit to make him sore even if he hadn’t been shot in the chest. But it was at least focused. Pain gave him something to occupy his mind. The attempt to lean into the walls or the duffle bag full of weapons in such a way as to avoid being jostled prevented him from worrying about the possibility that the Bowery would simply reject them, if not shoot John on sight.

There was no such distraction once the vehicle came to a stop. Based on the echoing sounds of John’s footsteps on concrete, they were in a parking garage. But beyond that, he had no clues about their surroundings, and wished he had asked John earlier. He listened for a struggle or a gunshot as the footsteps faded from his range of hearing, and none came. So far so good, probably. Dog was quiet too, no doubt sleeping in the space between the seats as he had taken to doing. Vincent realized he was chewing on his lips from stress and stopped.

Then the long wait began, and with it, other worries. Reflections. The past few days had been such a roller coaster, with hardly a moment of peace. The only constant had been the presence of challenges to his very sense of self. Whether in pleasure or pain, whether from baffling kindness or infuriating ridicule, he had been torn open repeatedly, his chest never fully allowed to seal up into its familiar concealment.

He did not like what he’d seen within. Maybe he had never liked it. God, he never wanted to self-examine this way again. It would be so good to go home, to think about strategy and call for hits without complicated feelings, to have dinner at the opera in a private booth, drink a couple glasses of wine (or…) and go to bed with some son or daughter of an aristocrat whose name he’d forget in the morning.

John’s little flirtation earlier had been a gift, he realized. Something to hold onto and look forward to. John had seen that horrible truth of himself and stayed by his side, believed in him, went to the trouble of making him feel good. He let a happy rush go through him as he savored his way through the memories of being held, being carried, being fussed over, being kissed. The details of the way their torsos had pressed together and the crinkle at the center of John’s eyebrows. John’s face looking towards him for what seemed like four straight days, passed over by sunsets and tree branches and rain but always so full of care. He would paint it in heavy chiaroscuro, with smoldering black shadows at the eyes. It made his cheeks flush and his body flood with heat to think about that look.

Was this really what he was thinking about, at a time like this? Yes. The answer was yes, and he hated that too. He was suddenly too aware of the seam along the inside of his slacks, and tempted to rub his legs together.

He shifted onto his back, fighting the urge, but it wasn’t going away. It was one of those tricky ones that just got stronger the more he tried to pretend he wasn’t turned on. It suddenly seemed so hot to be helpless in the face of this all-encompassing arousal. To think that he could try this hard to not think about John and still fail, to think he was locked in a car trunk in a life-or-death situation, and still couldn’t help touching himself.

Fuck it. He ran a single finger along that pesky seam, imagining how much better it would feel if it was John’s tongue. The resulting thrill made every muscle in his body seize up at once. At this point, he might as well just go for it.

It was at that moment, pathetically horny and about to give in, that he heard movement outside the car.

There were footsteps, and they belonged to more than one person. Holding his breath, he felt for the gun that John had given him, securing it with his left hand while his right hand slipped the knife out of his back pocket. He winced at just that small movement. To fight in this state would be terrifying. Keep walking. Just keep walking.

They stopped in another part of the parking garage, and their echoes came to him from far away. Two deep voices spoke to each other. “Clear.” “This one too.” He could hear doors opening and closing. They were searching cars. Shit.

He remembered John’s advice at the motel: get out before they can search the room, or he’d be trapped in there. Of course, this was a little different because now he was armed…but still, it seemed much better not to be cornered in his present state. Cautiously, he popped the trunk open. Concrete columns repeated under bluish-white electric lights. Some five rows down, two tall, heavily built figures were facing away from him, prying open a trunk. Now was his chance.

His damn legs were useless after laying for so many hours. They crumpled under him, one of them asleep, but he put one arm in front of the other and dragged himself under the car, where dripped oil soaked through his sleeves. His heart was pounding so hard he didn’t even care.

This wasn’t how killing normally felt, not like killing by orders, or stabbing someone who was already bound and watching the light drain out of their eyes. No, this crawling, this desperation that lesser people had always taken for him…this must be how it felt when John killed. He hadn’t felt this way very often. Once in a while, in a sparring match that went particularly poorly back in his days of fencing classes, he felt something akin to it. And at the duel. And at the gas station.

Fear rocked through him. There in front of him, advancing along the row towards the vehicle, were two reasons why he was cowering right now. He was going to kill them for making him feel this way, if he could just breathe, just hold his gun steady…

One of them was opening the trunk while Vincent stared at his black cuffs and his brown oxfords pointedly, imagining how it would feel to sever the tendons at his ankles, wondering how he would scream. …Or how a bullet would sting through his own chest, how they’d drag him out and put the gun to his head, and he’d know, all over again, that the world was about to go dark… He held his breath, letting the fear and the memories sink deep into his bones, and watched those polished shoes turn towards the next car. Just let them go, it’s fine, they were beneath him anyway…

Then he heard a whine overhead. Dog, in the back seat. The footsteps stopped.

There was one on the right side of the car, and one on the left. The one on the left was laughing. “Well I’ll be damned. That’s his fuckin’ dog.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, look at this.” Presumably, he was holding up a picture. “Spitting image. This is his car, it’s gotta be.” Vincent’s grip on the gun tightened. Maybe they’d take Dog and just leave.

A window smashed, glass scattering over the pavement. Dog was yelping wildly as he was lifted into the air. The men ignored him. “Do you think they’re in the Bowery?”

“High Table’ll have the Bowery’s hide if they are…But we’d better not initiate here just in case. I say we take the dog hostage and leave a note, then he has to follow us to neutral ground.” Perfect! Yes, just take the dog and leave him alone. Except…

If that dog dies, you die. You do not treat him as something you can sacrifice to save yourself. He IS you. A vital body part.

The adrenaline was putting Vincent’s heart inside his throat where it throbbed nightmarishly. And then it was putting his blade through the ankle of the man on the right.

The gun would have been smarter, but at a time like this, familiarity meant a great deal. He had the instinct, for instance, that severing one tendon wouldn’t be enough to bring the man down, that he had to strike a second time on the opposite calf before there was time for retaliation, dropping him. He had the instinct that when he pulled the knife back out he could drive it instantly upwards, and it would hit the man somewhere irreplaceable as he doubled over. In this case, it happened to be straight through the eye into the brain, spilling a satisfyingly fatal shower of gore that drenched his knife hand when he pulled it free.

On the opposite side of the car, though, the other hitman had grabbed his own ankles and was dragging him out across the broken glass. Shards dug into that porcelain-soft skin, so unusual to combat. Adrenaline gave way to genuine fury and he kicked hard - to little effect.

He flipped himself over, twisting his ankle in the process, just as the man fired a shot next to his head. For a moment, he was deaf and then realized he was screaming, something high pitched and hateful like the yowl of a feral cat. He struck out with renewed vigor, kicking the man in the stomach this time, and then hurling his knife in one clean, true shot straight into his throat. Dog fell out of his dead arms and cowered under the car, growling.

He stood over the corpse and emptied the clip into its head and chest and let himself just stand there and shake. Bien. Reste à terre, enfoiré. [Good. Stay down, motherfucker.] He stared at it for a long time afterwards, but it didn’t move. He did it. Everything was fine, despite a few new injuries. Now just…um…maybe get back in the car? The car that was now highlighted by two rapidly spreading pools of blood. Maybe not such a good idea.

Before he could figure out what to do, another voice came from behind him. “Hands up.”

What bastard was it now? Vincent raised his hands slowly as more figures began to move towards him from the opposite side of the parking garage as well. They wore the ratty garb of panhandlers, but they were armed to the teeth. Bowery personnel. He was surrounded.

The Marquis was suddenly very aware of the blood and oil covering the front of his already lackluster clothing, the small rubies budding across his stinging hands – some visible and others lost in the sea of red dripping from the knife. But his biggest concern was his face, onto which he plastered a tight and bloodless smile. It would have to do. “Good afternoon,” he said icily.  “It seems someone has been hunting dangerously close to Bowery grounds. I handled it. Is there a problem?”

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Author's Note: I'm starting a tag list! Please let me know via comment, ask, or message if you'd like to be added.

[dynmghts]

SHELTER : seeing a threat barreling toward them (such as a storm, the shockwave from an explosion, or a building they’re in collapsing), sender holds the injured / incapacitated receiver close, turning their back to the threat to bear the brunt of the impact instead of the receiver.

bc u know izuku would

katsuki is painfully aware that midoriya izuku doesn't have a limit on what he'd do for him. he's risked his life time and time again, always pushing himself further than he should, just to keep bakugou katsuki out of harm's way ; the sludge villain. his kidnapping. the rescue. he scarcely remembers what happened in the paranormal liberation and final wars, but he was told, shown, and that was enough.

it was the one thing that bothered katsuki the most. this fact that, and he told endeavor this to his face, izuku never takes himself into account. more so when it was him. he swears it's been worse since the war.

the moment katsuki comes under a serious threat, izuku's self-preservation is called into question ; quite suddenly, dynamight will encounter something he might not dodge in time or move away from ... [ or neither : sometimes, it was simply on principle. ] ... and deku would be right there at his side. he would take the brunt of the incoming force if he had to. he'd weather it.

katsuki knows he would do the same if izuku couldn't stop him. he has done the same, in fact. that doesn't make him struggle with it less.

dynamight had been the one to rush into the building first, despite wounded shoulder and gash on his side from their prior engagement with a villain. dynamight had been the one to act on a plan. the first priority was to get injured civilians out of there, coordinating with others to take them so he could stay inside. his second priority was guiding unhurt civilians out, even if he had to snap out the instructions. with debris trickling down from the ceiling and bits of rubble clicking ominously against paved tile, though, the blond knew there was only a matter of time before a section collapsed, with or without him in it.

he should've known izuku would follow him in and participate in the efforts, but a part of him was glad - in the sense that the green-haired hero had always been better with people than he ever could be. they understood dynamight's instruction. they appreciated deku's better worded responses. they could work at it together this way, and with crimson observing the structure carefully as they worked further into the building, maybe they would be out before oncoming collapse.

as if anything were that simple.

katsuki isn't sure how far they'd gone into the building when he hears the ominous creaking and cracking. his eyes quickly turn to the nearby pillars, watching cracks web their way through the reinforced concrete in milliseconds, crumbling away quicker and quicker until the ceiling groans and chips away at itself. katsuki realises he scarcely has time to react. izuku does.

the ceiling gives way. katsuki reaches up to blast it with both hands. before he can, though, a strong force pushes him off his feet and to the ground - head cushioned by the fall, but wind knocked out of his lungs. the pressure to his side and shoulder earn a wince ; but, otherwise, he's unharmed.

crimson eyes slowly peel themselves open, blinking away the dust that settles across the new area while he coughs, heaves in a few breaths. first, he notices the weight on top of him. second, he notices the small confines of which they find themselves in. and third, as katsuki reaches to check over izuku, pain surging through his shoulder as he does, he has to withhold his tongue from swearing up a storm at the other : not because he prevented a worse scenario. not because katsuki couldn't enact the plan he came up with on the spot.

but because he didn't even think about himself, did he ?

the collapse wasn't pretty. did izuku take the brunt of it, then ? the entire area fell on them before either could get far away enough to avoid it, so surely, with that, he's been hurt somewhere ... is he not seeing it ?

❛ you- ❜ the words die before katsuki has the chance to snap them out. [ you idiot, i had it. i could've broken up the debris. my shoulder would've been fine, you'd be fine, we'd still be stuck here but at least you wouldn't have taken the weight of an entire fucking building, you self-sacrificing piece of- ] ❛ fuck. ❜ he grips izuku's face with gloved hands, then. his tone is steady ; angry, but with a quiet panic underneath. ❛ tell me where you're hurt. i can hardly see shit. ❜

@fightaers / HARD-TO-FIND HURT / COMFORT, ACCEPTING.

[occasionally-writing]

In Our Own World

A/N: The fanfic is finally done!!! Sorry for the long ass wait my peeps but it’s finally here XD This is my first time, I think, writing for AkkAyan, but I hope you guys enjoy it nonetheless! The events in this fanfic are based off First and Khao’s song from their Our Skyy eps and there is also a cameo as well! I won’t say who or from what drama, but I bet you guys can figure it out easily hehe. Enough from me! Enjoy the fanfic!!!

Summary: Ayan takes Akk to a secret building where a friend of his mentioned contains a lot of graffiti. Akk decides to act rebellious when Aye pulls out some spray paint and the two get down to some mischief as they paint one of the free walls of the building. 

Word Count: 2624

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“How far are we even going? It’s getting late Aye…” Akk muttered, his voice low to prevent it from echoing around the crumbling tunnel they were passing through, the fading colors of previous graffiti art catching his attention as Ayan continued to pull him. Slowing down their pace to a light jog, Aye kept his attention to the sounds around them, taking in the slight echo of their running steps against the cracked concrete along with the distant noise of passing cars a few roads down. Other than that, it was quiet with no evidence of anyone but them in the surrounding area. “Is that the building you mentioned?” 

Perking up when he heard Akk’s question, Aye grinned when he noticed the old building, the boarded windows and doorless opening making it obvious that it was completely abandoned. Noticing the change in Ayan’s expression, Akk couldn’t help the fond sigh that slipped from his lips, the boy weak to anything his boyfriend did. Slowing down completely once they reached a concrete barrier, Aye shifted the bag that was strapped around his shoulder and climbed up, swinging his legs over the barrier before he reached out for Akk, helping his boyfriend over it as well. 

“We finally made it…I didn’t think it would be this far out. Sorry for dragging you so far out Akk,” Aye whispered, hopping off the concrete and holding Akk’s hand when he did the same. Shaking off Aye’s apology, Akk let his eyes scan the area and if it wasn’t for all the art on the crumbling walls, Akk would think that no one knew this building was even here. Tugging Akk’s arm to get him to follow again, Aye continued to lead the way, entering the ruins of what was once a factory and Akk found himself finally relaxing a bit since they were now out of the potential eyes of anyone who could call the cops. “It’s just up here…White told me that a friend of his boyfriend and her group used to come here to paint all the time. Apparently a really famous instagram painter used to come here too…I think he went by UNAR?”

“UNAR? What happened to him?” Akk asked, his interest in what Aye was saying making his boyfriend grin before he went on, talking about the artist until they reached the second floor. Letting go of Ayan’s hand to stroll towards what used to be a window, the lights of the city making his dark eyes shine while Aye placed the bag down, his eyes taking in the blank space that was just yelling to be filled. “Aye! Look at the view! You can almost see everything from here! I wonder what it would look like at the top!�� 

Turning his gaze from the wall to his boyfriend, Ayan chuckled and closed the distance between them, wrapping his arms around Akk’s waist until he turned and met his eyes, their grins practically lighting up the room. Taking in the scenery for just a moment, Aye brought Akk back to what they were doing before, his boyfriend’s eyes finally turned to the semi-blank wall along with the bag Ayan had brought with them. Strolling back to the backpack, Aye unzippered it and dug around, the metallic clinking of paint cans catching Akk’s attention. Kicking a pebble as he made his way towards Aye, Akk knelt down and helped his boyfriend take the cans out, multiple colors catching his eye along with dozens of paint tubes and brushes, the last thing being two oxygen masks and some kind of lid to a cooking pot. 

“What’s this for?” Akk questioned, holding up the lid as Aye removed his jacket, leaving it by the bag. Eyeing the object, Aye grinned and muttered something about Akk seeing what it was for later, his attention now focused on bringing the paint cans and tubes closer to the wall so they could grab things they needed while they worked without having to step too far away each time. “Aye…what do you mean?! What’s this for?!” 

Hearing nothing but Aye’s cackle, Akk rolled his eyes when Aye turned and gave him a teasing grin. Brushing off the tease with a fond sigh, Akk grabbed the masks and followed Aye, both of them pausing in front of the wall and observing it. They already knew what they were going to paint, but if they wanted to add anything else, it wouldn’t hurt taking a gander at how much space they were working with. 

“How about we start with the background? It should be a light color since we’ll be painting over it,” Aye muttered, his gaze examining the wall closely, the focus in his expression making Akk’s heart flutter from how cute it looked. Letting out a noise to show he was listening and approved of Ayan's suggestion, Akk picked up one of the brushes while Aye laid out some tarp and opened the paint tubes, squirting out blobs of color for them to work with. “Okay, let’s start with this cream color? Or white…maybe we should mix them.”

Mixing a little bit of the colors first, Akk tested the paint on the wall and when Aye seemed satisfied, the two mixed more and got to work, dipping their brushes and painting, their strokes steady as they made sure to layer the paint evenly while making sure not to leave any bare spots. Pulling out of the buckets from Aye’s bag, Akk filled it with water from the bottle they brought and dipped his brush in it, washing the paint from the bristles. 

Sorting out the colors while they waited for the background color to dry, Aye felt mischief rising in him as he poured a small puddle of blue paint out, his eyes keeping track of Akk so he wouldn’t see what he was about to do. Coating his whole palm in the cool liquid, Aye smirked and slowly approached Akk, his boyfriend unsuspecting of Aye’s plan until it was too late.

“Aye!” Akk shrieked, the cool paint soaking through his white tank top, a blue handprint coating the back of his clothing while Aye cackled, triumph in his expression since his devious plan worked. Giving the shorter male a playful glare, Akk grumbled while Aye continued to chuckle, not registering the fact that Akk had picked up the paint brush and dipped it in the same paint Ayan had used to make the handprint on his back. Hearing Akk call his name, Aye focused on his boyfriend again just in time to see the brush being waved, the blue paint splashing onto his black tank top while Akk grinned. Not having time to bask in his revenge, Akk yelped when Aye launched towards him again, his paint coated hands wrapping around Akk’s bare forearms, wiping whatever paint he had left on his hands onto Akk’s skin. “Shortstop! Damn it! Get over here!”

Running to avoid his boyfriend’s now blue hands, Aye cackled as he hopped over the water buckets and laid out paints, Akk’s running steps close behind while their laughter echoed around the empty building. Finally catching Aye, Akk rubbed his hands all over the back of his boyfriend’s neck, Aye shrieks and whines of the paint being cold reaching Akk’s ears. Letting him go once he was sure he literally got everywhere on Aye’s neck, Akk couldn’t help the snort that left his lips when Ayan pouted, wiping the paint from his neck. 

“No fair…you put more paint on me then I did on you!” Aye complained, his tone making Akk coo and pull him closer, the amusement on Akk’s face causing Aye’s expression to soften. Taking Akk’s wrist in his hand, Aye carefully began to use whatever paint he had on his fingers to draw something on his forearm, Akk rolling his eyes when he noticed it was a poorly drawn smiley face. Giving him a look that screamed, ‘really?,’ Akk glanced back at the  wall and decided to get them back on track, Aye catching on as well since he pulled Akk back towards it. “It should be dry now…let’s not waste anymore paint on each other, okay? We need it for the painting.”

“You started it, you know,” Akk teased, the challenging look he got from Aye causing him to raise his hands up in surrender, not really wanting to be covered in more paint. Letting the silence develop around them once more as they got back to work, the two worked on different parts of the wall, Aye focusing on making the middle of the wall a mixture of orange and yellows while Akk focused on the top, making it different hues of blue along with splotches of white and grey. “Okay…should we let this dry while we get the black paint ready?”

Stepping back with a nod, Aye glanced down at his blue hands and sighed, the look he gave Akk telling him everything he needed to know. Snickering at Ayan’s expression, Akk dug through the bag himself, finding the black paint and squirting half the tube onto the tarp since they knew they needed most of it. Pulling out the gas mask as well, Akk stood up and carefully looped it over Aye’s head, securing it over his nose and mouth. 

“I’ll do the mountains, you wanna do the lining?” Akk asked, pulling a pair of goggles over his eyes while he dipped his brush in the black paint. Letting out a muffled, ‘sure,’ Aye pulled out green spray paint and shook the can, popping off the cap while Akk started the mountains. Creating the line of green paint carefully, Aye made sure not to let the paint drip too far into the mountain area, even though Akk would go over it with the black paint, it would still make the paint look lumpy. “That looks good…now, what’s next?”

Grabbing some blue spray paint while Aye picked up his brush with a mixture of white and grey paint, Akk waved some of the blue paint above the mountains, his fingers catching the paint trails before they hit the still damp green paint. Being careful while he flicked some of the white-grey paint over the blue waves, Aye stepped back and looked over the painting, a smile appearing on his lips behind the gas mask when he realized they were almost done. Hearing the sound of the lid clinking against the cement floor, Aye turned towards Akk who coated the rim with white paint, offering the object to Aye with a smile. 

“After this, we can paint the inside yellow and then we’re done!” Aye instructed, his voice dulled behind the mask but nonetheless, Akk heard him since he started to get the yellow paint ready. Stepping up behind Aye with his brush ready, Akk helped him pull the gas mask down around his neck, their eyes moving to the paint when Ayan pressed the lid right in the middle, holding it there for a moment. Holding their breaths in anticipation, Aye slowly pulled back and both of them let out a sigh of relief when the white circle caught their eye, the lid idea actually working. “Okay…be careful not to touch the white circle!”

“I know…I’ll do my best,” Akk muttered, his brush carefully touching the wall, his eyes never leaving it until the inside of the white circle was completely colored in with a bright yellow, the color mixing while with the sunset colors of the rest of the painting. Stepping back while lowering his brush, Akk and Aye met each other’s eyes and smiled, their painting finally complete. “Do I even want to know the time? How long have we been at this?”

Wrapping his arm around Aye’s shoulders, Akk pressed their heads together as they observed the painting, the colors shining even in the dark and if he was being honest, Akk couldn’t wait to see how it looked when the sun rose. Hearing the sound of Aye yawning, Akk chuckled and pulled away, turning his attention to cleaning up now. Capping the spray cans and tubes of paint, Akk tossed them in the bag while Aye dumped the water bucket out one of the windows, ignoring the protest Akk gave out when he noticed Aye’s actions. 

“You’re lucky we’re in a place where no one’s around or else that paint water could’ve got all over someone,” Akk lectured, huffing when all he got from his boyfriend was his rolling eyes. Gathering everything else that didn’t fit in the backpack, Aye placed them beside it and perked up when he heard the sound of fabric being rustled and the metallic slide of a zipper. Akk must’ve found the tent that Sean must’ve left. Spinning around to see that his assumption was correct, Aye observed his boyfriend as he spread out the blanket that was still in the tent, not noticing Aye was watching him until Akk reached out for the backpack and met his gaze. “Don’t just stand there, get in here! It’s late and we have to be up early tomorrow to get a move on out of here. The last thing we need is to get caught by anyone.”

“Yeah, yeah. I hear you!” Aye snorted out, placing everything he gathered close to the tent before he slipped in, zipping up the tent behind him. Giving Akk his attention, Aye couldn’t help the way his eyebrows rose into his hairline when Akk pulled off his shirt, rolling it up into a ball to most likely use as a pillow. Feeling eyes on him, Akk met Aye’s gaze and rolled his eyes, trying to hide the fact he was flustered by how his boyfriend’s eyes trailed up and down his bare torso. “Oh! Good idea! Using our shirts as pillows!”

Not wasting time with throwing his own shirt off, Aye rolled it up like Akk did and placed it in the spot next to his boyfriend. Getting comfortable as much as he could on a concrete floor, Akk laid on his back and opened his arms for Aye, who grinned and quickly dove into the embrace, wiggling around until he was comfortable. Pulling him closer until Aye’s leg was thrown over his own, Akk pressed a kiss to Aye’s forehead, pulling back to meet his boyfriend’s soft gaze, his brown eyes reminding Akk of melted chocolate. 

Letting his eyes lower to Akk’s lips, Aye shifted closer until they were practically breathing each other’s air, their lips not even a millimeter apart. Not wasting anymore time, Akk pressed forward, their lips meeting and fitting together like they were two matching puzzle pieces. Keeping the kiss soft and slow, Akk pulled back after a moment, a soft sigh leaving his lips as Aye snuggled back into his embrace, a sudden wave of sleepiness making his eyes begin to flutter. Seeming like he noticed Aye having a hard time staying awake, Akk pressed another soft kiss to his forehead, urging Aye to let his eyes close.

“Get some sleep, I’ll hold you all throughout the night,” Akk whispered, his own tone beginning to get deep from sleep wanting to drag him into unconsciousness. 

Chuckling softly when all he got was a soft murmur from Aye, Akk continued to gently rub his back, not having to even look to know that Aye had fallen asleep, his warm body still against his own and his breaths fading to something soft and rhythmatic. Burying his face into Aye’s hair, Akk finally let his eyes close, letting out one final yawn before he followed his boyfriend into a comfortable sleep, soft smiles resting on their lips as the outside world became nothing but background noise.

[norskstorh]

Enhance Your Garage with the Best Floor Coating and Diamond Plate Car Mats

A well-maintained garage is more than just a place to park your vehicle; it’s a space that can reflect your style, provide durability, and improve functionality. Two key elements that can dramatically upgrade your garage’s look and performance are the best garage floor coating and Diamond Plate car mats. Both are practical and aesthetic solutions that protect your garage from wear and tear while adding a sleek, professional finish.

Why Choose the Best Garage Floor Coating?

The garage floor is subjected to heavy use, including vehicle traffic, chemical spills, dirt, and moisture. Without proper protection, concrete floors can crack, stain, and deteriorate over time. This is why selecting the best garage floor coating is essential for longevity and maintenance.

Garage floor coatings come in various types, such as epoxy, polyurethane, and polyaspartic coatings. Epoxy coatings are the most popular due to their durability and resistance to stains and chemicals. They provide a glossy finish that enhances the overall look of your garage, making it appear clean and polished.

Aside from aesthetics, these coatings create a seamless surface that is easy to clean. Dirt, oil spills, and dust do not penetrate the coating, allowing you to maintain a spotless garage with minimal effort. Additionally, the coatings help protect the concrete from cracking or chipping due to heavy loads or temperature fluctuations.

Investing in the best garage floor coating is a cost-effective way to increase your property’s value and extend the life of your garage floor. It also reduces maintenance expenses and makes your garage a safer place by improving traction and reducing slip hazards.

The Practical Benefits of Diamond Plate Car Mats

While the floor coating protects the garage surface, inside your vehicle, Diamond Plate car mats provide a similar protective function with a rugged and stylish look. These mats are designed from durable materials, often rubber or heavy-duty PVC, featuring a distinctive diamond plate pattern that enhances grip and resistance to wear.

Diamond Plate car mats offer excellent protection against dirt, mud, snow, and spills. Unlike traditional mats, their textured surface traps debris, preventing it from spreading across your vehicle’s interior. This makes cleaning easier and keeps your car looking fresh for longer.

Durability is another standout feature. These mats are built to withstand extreme conditions and heavy foot traffic without cracking, curling, or fading. Their waterproof nature ensures that moisture doesn’t seep through to damage your car’s carpet or flooring.

Besides functionality, Diamond Plate car mats add a sporty and rugged aesthetic to your vehicle’s interior. The unique metallic design complements various car styles, making it a favorite among car enthusiasts who want both protection and style.

How Garage Floor Coatings and Diamond Plate Car Mats Work Together

Using the best garage floor coating alongside Diamond Plate car mats creates a comprehensive system for protecting both your garage space and your vehicle. The coating safeguards your garage from external damage, while the mats protect your car from internal wear.

This combination ensures that your investment in a vehicle and garage maintenance lasts longer. With a coated floor, your garage is easier to clean and resistant to damage, making vehicle upkeep less stressful. Meanwhile, Diamond Plate car mats reduce interior cleaning time and keep your car’s flooring in top condition, preserving its resale value.

Both solutions offer a sleek appearance that appeals to car owners who take pride in their vehicles and surroundings. Together, they elevate the garage and car interior into a coordinated, clean, and stylish environment.

Installation and Maintenance Tips

For the best results, it’s important to install garage floor coatings professionally or follow detailed DIY guidelines. Proper surface preparation, including cleaning and repairing cracks, is crucial to ensure the coating adheres well and lasts for years.

Diamond Plate car mats are typically easy to install—simply place them in your car’s footwells. They can be trimmed to fit specific models if necessary, making them a versatile choice for many vehicles.

Maintenance for both products is straightforward. Regularly sweep or hose off your garage floor, and wipe down the coated surface to maintain its shine. For car mats, shaking off debris and occasional washing with soap and water keeps them clean and functional.

 

Upgrading your garage with the best garage floor coating and protecting your vehicle with Diamond Plate car mats are smart investments for any car owner. These products not only extend the life of your garage and car interior but also enhance their appearance and ease of maintenance. For more information and quality products, visit norsk-stor.com to find the perfect solutions for your garage and vehicle needs.

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[ontariopaving]

Enhancing Curb Appeal with Professional Paving in Ontario, CA

A well-paved driveway, walkway, or patio can dramatically improve the curb appeal of any property. Whether you're a homeowner looking to boost your home’s value or a business owner aiming to create a welcoming entrance, professional paving services make all the difference. In Ontario, CA, Ontario Paving is the trusted name for high-quality paving solutions that combine durability, aesthetics, and functionality.

Why Professional Paving Matters

First impressions matter, and the exterior of your property is the first thing visitors notice. Cracked, uneven, or outdated pavement can detract from your home or business’s overall appeal. On the other hand, a freshly paved surface—whether asphalt, concrete, or paving stones Ontario—instantly elevates the look of your property. Professional paving ensures proper installation, longevity, and resistance to weather conditions, making it a worthwhile investment.

Popular Paving Options for Ontario, CA Properties

1. Asphalt Paving

Asphalt is a cost-effective and durable option, ideal for driveways and parking lots. It withstands heavy traffic and can be easily repaired if needed. Ontario Paving specializes in smooth, long-lasting asphalt installations that enhance both residential and commercial properties.

2. Concrete Paving

Concrete offers a sleek, modern look and is highly customizable. With options like stamped or stained concrete, you can achieve a high-end appearance that complements your property’s design.

3. Interlocking Paving Stones

For a premium, elegant finish, interlocking paving stones Ontario are an excellent choice. They come in various colors, patterns, and textures, allowing for creative designs that boost curb appeal. Additionally, they are durable, easy to maintain, and resistant to cracking.

4. Sealcoating and Maintenance

Regular maintenance, including sealcoating, helps extend the lifespan of your pavement. Ontario Paving provides expert sealcoating services to protect your investment from wear and tear caused by UV rays, oil spills, and harsh weather.

Benefits of Hiring a Professional Paving Company

Expertise & Quality Materials – Professionals ensure proper grading, drainage, and material selection for long-lasting results.

Increased Property Value – Well-paved surfaces enhance aesthetics and boost resale value.

Safety – Smooth, even surfaces reduce tripping hazards and improve accessibility.

Cost-Effective – Proper installation prevents costly repairs down the line.

Why Choose Ontario Paving?

When it comes to paving in Ontario, CA, Ontario Paving stands out for its commitment to excellence. With years of experience, skilled technicians, and top-grade materials, we deliver flawless results tailored to your needs. Whether you need a new driveway, patio, or parking lot, our team ensures precision and customer satisfaction every step of the way.

For more information on property improvements in Ontario, CA, check out the resource:

The Ontario Observer – Stay updated on community news and home improvement trends.

Final Thoughts

Investing in professional paving is one of the best ways to enhance your property’s curb appeal, functionality, and value. Whether you prefer asphalt, concrete, or paving stones Ontario, Ontario Paving has the expertise to bring your vision to life. Contact us today for a free consultation and take the first step toward a stunning, durable pavement solution!

Ontario Paving 1351 S Grove Ave Suite 106, Ontario, CA 91761 (909) 752-0834 https://ontariopaving.net/

[huntingtonbeachlandscapers]

Transform Your Front Yard with Paving Stones in Huntington Beach

Your front yard is the first thing guests and passersby notice about your home. If you're looking to enhance curb appeal, improve functionality, and boost property value, paving stones are an excellent choice. In Huntington Beach, where outdoor living is a way of life, upgrading your front yard with high-quality paving stones can make a dramatic difference.

At Huntington Beach Landscapers, we specialize in designing and installing stunning paving stone pathways, driveways, and patios that elevate your home’s exterior. Whether you prefer a modern, rustic, or Mediterranean look, our expert team can bring your vision to life. Looking for reliable Landscapers Near Me? You’ve come to the right place—our craftsmanship and attention to detail set us apart in Orange County.

Why Choose Paving Stones for Your Front Yard?

1. Unmatched Durability & Longevity

Paving stones, also known as interlocking concrete pavers, are designed to withstand heavy foot traffic, vehicle weight, and harsh weather conditions. Unlike traditional concrete, which can crack over time, paving stones shift with the ground, reducing the risk of damage.

2. Enhanced Curb Appeal

With endless design options—from herringbone and basketweave patterns to natural stone textures—paving stones allow for complete customization. Choose from a variety of colors and shapes to complement your home’s architecture.

3. Low Maintenance & Easy Repairs

One of the biggest advantages of paving stones is their easy maintenance. If a single stone gets damaged, it can be replaced without tearing up the entire surface—saving you time and money.

4. Improved Drainage & Eco-Friendliness

Permeable paving stones help reduce water runoff, making them an eco-friendly choice for Huntington Beach homeowners. They allow rainwater to seep into the ground, preventing flooding and erosion.

5. Increased Property Value

A well-designed front yard with paving stones can boost your home’s resale value. Potential buyers appreciate the aesthetic appeal and durability of paver installations.

Popular Paving Stone Applications for Your Front Yard

1. Paver Driveways

Upgrade your driveway with interlocking pavers for a high-end look that lasts decades. Unlike asphalt, pavers resist oil stains and fading, keeping your entrance pristine.

2. Walkways & Pathways

Guide guests to your front door with a beautifully designed paver walkway. Options like cobblestone, travertine, or brick-style pavers add instant charm.

3. Decorative Patios & Entryways

Create a welcoming entrance with a paver patio or porch extension. Add outdoor seating, potted plants, and lighting for a cozy vibe.

4. Retaining Walls & Borders

Use pavers to build decorative retaining walls or garden borders, adding structure and elegance to your landscaping.

Why Hire Huntington Beach Landscapers for Your Paver Project?

At Huntington Beach Landscapers, we take pride in delivering top-quality paving stone installations tailored to your home’s style. Here’s why homeowners trust us:

✅ Expert Design Consultation – We help you choose the best materials and patterns for your space. ✅ Professional Installation – Our skilled team ensures precise, long-lasting results. ✅ Competitive Pricing – High-end paving stones at affordable rates. ✅ Local Knowledge – We understand Huntington Beach’s climate and soil conditions for optimal installation.

Inspiring Paving Stone Ideas for Huntington Beach Homes

Looking for inspiration? Here are some trending paving stone designs:

Mediterranean Style – Warm terracotta tones with rustic textures.

Modern Minimalist – Sleek, large-format pavers in gray or charcoal.

Coastal Elegance – Light beige or sandy hues for a beachy feel.

Classic Brick – Timeless red or brown pavers for a traditional look.

For more ideas on landscaping in Huntington Beach, check out:

Orange County Register Home & Garden Section – Get inspiration from the latest landscaping trends.

Ready to Transform Your Front Yard? Contact Us Today!

If you’re ready to upgrade your home’s exterior with premium paving stones, Huntington Beach Landscapers is here to help. As the leading Landscapers Near Me, we offer free estimates and expert guidance to bring your dream front yard to life.

Huntington Beach Landscapers 18582 Beach Blvd Suite 21, Huntington Beach, CA 92648 (657) 441-0261 https://huntingtonbeachlandscapers.net/

[shadebaseshop]

How Your Shed Base Impacts Storage And Stability

Introduction: Why The Shed Base Matters More Than You Think

The thrill of selecting the design, color, and storage arrangement usually overshadows other considerations while planning to place a shed in your backyard. One important element many homeowners ignore, though, is the Shed Base. A good base is the basis that decides the long-term durability, safety, and usability of your shed; it's not only a nice-to-have. Consider it like the roots of a tree: invisible yet vital. Let's dissect why your shed base warrants great attention and how it directly affects stability and storage.

1.Structural Integrity Depends on the Shed Base

More than simply a flat surface, the shed base helps to level the whole building. Even the best shed without a suitable foundation runs the risk of collapsing walls, sagging floors, or worse—total structural failure. An uneven or soft ground might cause the shed to move or settle in one direction over time, hence straining the frame and panels unevenly. Warped doors that won't fit correctly, cracked wood, or even hazardous collapse during severe weather might result from this.

Important Takeaways:

Stops warping and leaning

weight evenly supported

Promotes shed lifespan

Like a spine, a strong base keeps everything upright and operating as intended. Thus, putting money into the base is insurance against future maintenance expenditures rather than a cost.

2.Groundwater Protection and Moisture Control

Moisture is among the main foes of any shed, particularly wooden ones. If your shed is touching the soil, humidity, rainwater, and snowmelt can cause havoc. An appropriate base lifts your shed above ground level, so stopping water from permeating the walls and flooring. This safeguards your kept goods from damage and helps to preserve the integrity of your shed's construction by preventing mold, mildew, and rot.

Why It Matters For Storage:

Maintains rust-free and dry contents.

Protects against mildew and mold

Decreases internal moisture.

Channeling water away from the shed may be achieved using materials like concrete, paving stones, or a plastic grid foundation. Consider your shed base to be an umbrella covering the bottom of your shed, shielding it from moisture rising from the ground below.

3.Improving Load-Bearing Capacity For Storage

Sheds nowadays go beyond rakes and lawnmowers. Many people keep toolboxes, garden supplies, even heavy-duty equipment, and bikes. Heavy loads can cause the floor to sag in the middle or buckle if there is no strong foundation. Unstable storage results from this, which compromises general safety and enables shelves to tip and goods to slide.

Advantages Of A Solid Base For Storage:

Holds large machinery safely.

Stops floor sagging and damage

Raises the usable storage space.

For sheds employed as workshops or storage centers, a concrete base or well-packed gravel topped with timber framing provides great strength. Your choices for storage diminish considerably if your foundation is weak.

4.Stability Under Extreme Weather Conditions

Whether it's strong winds, driving rain, snowstorms, your shed will confront the elements every year. The structure is anchored by a strong base, so lowering the tilting or motion risk. For lightweight metal or Plastic Shed Base, wind uplift is a genuine problem; without a suitable foundation, they might be practically blown away.

How A Base Stabilizes Something:

Acts as an anchor during storms

Prevents movement caused by soil erosion.

Shed against frost heave helps

Long-term exposure to seasonal variations can induce shifting even in moderate temperatures if the foundation is not properly laid. Another way to keep water runoff away from the base edges and thereby increase stability is to extend a base a bit beyond the shed footprint.

5.Long-Term Maintenance And Peace Of Mind

Lastly, a suitable shed base lessens ongoing upkeep requirement. You will spend less time repairing leaks, strengthening supports, or rearranging storage objects if your shed is dry, stable, and secure. Especially when you keep goods or seasonal items you don't want to check weekly, that peace of mind is worth its weight in gold.

Advantages Of low Maintenance:

Fewer likelihood of structural repairs.

Reduced water-related damage

Less problems with flooring over time

Like a house on a robust foundation, a shed with a strong base stands tall, withstands aging, and guards everything within. Don't forget the base; it's the one stage that might either make or ruin your whole investment.

Conclusion

Your shed base is essential — sometimes unseen — in deciding how well your shed runs, not only now but also for years to come. A good foundation is absolutely necessary from anchoring your shed during challenging weather to preventing moisture damage and boosting storage capability. Literally, build your shed from the ground up before you transfer your potting soil or tools.

[galvestondeckbuilder]

Restore Your Poolside: Expert Crack Repair in Galveston

Having a beautiful pool deck is great for relaxing and enjoying the outdoors. But cracks can quickly ruin the look and safety of your poolside. Many things can cause cracks in your pool deck. Fortunately, pool deck crack repair in Galveston can fix the damage and restore your space.

Why Do Pool Decks Crack?

There are a few common reasons why pool decks crack:

Concrete Shrinkage: Concrete can shrink as it dries, causing small cracks.

Weather Changes: In Galveston, the mix of hot weather and humidity can worsen cracks.

Soil Movement: The ground under the deck may shift, leading to cracks.

Poor Installation: If the deck was not built properly, cracks might form over time.

No matter the cause, cracks should be fixed quickly to keep your pool area safe and beautiful.

Why Fix Cracks Quickly?

Fixing cracks early is essential for several reasons:

Prevents Water Damage: Water can seep into cracks and damage the deck further.

Safety: Cracked decks can be dangerous, especially around pools.

Looks Better: A smooth deck is more inviting and attractive.

Keeps Your Property Value Up: A well-maintained pool area adds value to your home.

How Pool Deck Crack Repair Works

Professional repair services follow a simple process:

Inspect the Damage: The builder checks the size and cause of the cracks.

Clean the Area: They clean the cracks and surrounding areas to remove dirt and debris.

Fill the Cracks: A special repair compound is used to fill the cracks.

Seal the Deck: The deck is sealed to protect it from future damage.

Smooth and Finish: The surface is smoothed, so the repair blends with the rest of the deck.

This method makes sure the cracks are correctly filled and protected.

Why Hire a Professional for Crack Repair?

While DIY repairs may seem tempting, professional help is often the best choice. Here’s why:

Experience: Professionals know the right way to fix cracks and prevent future problems.

Quality Materials: They use top-quality repair materials that last longer.

Saves Time: Professionals can fix your deck quickly, so you don’t have to deal with it for long.

Long-Term Results: A professional repair lasts longer than a quick fix.

What to Look for in a Pool Deck Repair Company

When choosing a company for pool deck crack repair in Galveston, keep these things in mind:

Experience: Look for companies with good reviews and a solid track record.

Local Knowledge: Choose a company that understands Galveston’s weather and conditions.

Insurance and Licensing: Make sure the company is licensed and insured for peace of mind.

Benefits of Repairing Your Pool Deck

A repaired pool deck offers many benefits:

Increased Safety: Fixing cracks makes the deck safer for everyone.

Better Appearance: A smooth, well-maintained deck is more pleasant to look at.

Higher Home Value: A good-looking pool deck adds value to your home.

Conclusion: Get Your Pool Deck Back in Shape

If your pool deck has cracks, don’t wait to fix them. Pool deck crack repair in Galveston can restore your space and make it safer and more attractive. By hiring a professional to repair your deck, you’ll enjoy a beautiful, well-maintained outdoor space for years to come.

Fixing cracks early ensures your poolside is not only safe but also a place where you can truly relax.

[liamtiling]

Discover Expert Tiling & Waterproofing Services with Liam Tiling

At Liam Tiling, we think your home is worth the best possible care and craftsmanship. As a reputable Tiler in Wellington, we excel at providing top-quality tiling solutions as well as a complete range of waterproofing and structural protection services — including waterproofing membrane, crack injection, and leak detection. Whether it's a new construction, renovation, or emergency repair, we deliver precision, professionalism, and peace of mind to each project.

Tiling Perfection Throughout Wellington

With professional tiling, perfection matters. Here at Liam Tiling, we provide top-class Tiler in Wellington services for domestic, commercial, and industrial properties. We take care of all the work — from preparing the surface and choosing the right tiles to fitting them and completing the job.

We deal with many different types of material such as ceramic, porcelain, natural stone, and mosaic, making sure that every tile is fitted beautifully and to last. From kitchen splashback, bathroom reno through to large-scale floor work, our tiling is built to last and to impress.

As Wellington's top Tiler, our attention is on providing finishes that not only appear wonderful but also last long, particularly in New Zealand's distinctive climate.

The Significance of Waterproofing Membrane

Regardless of how lovely your tiles are, they will not survive if the surfaces below them are not well protected. That is why we highly recommend the application of waterproofing membrane in all wet zones like bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, balconies, and outdoor spaces.

A waterproofing membrane is a cover that prevents water from penetrating floors and walls and keeps your property safe from mold, mildew, rot, and ongoing water damage. Liam Tiling uses only high-quality membranes that are compliant with New Zealand's high standards for building codes.

Our technicians are certified and skilled in using these membranes carefully and precisely. Whether it is remodeling a current bathroom or constructing one entirely new, we make sure all surfaces are sealed and preserved effectively.

Crack Injection: Restore and Reinforce Your Surfaces

Spidery cracks on concrete, brick, or similar surfaces can degrade your property and cause extensive damage if not handled promptly. This is where crack injection steps in — an immensely effective way of repairing and restoring compromised structures.

At Liam Tiling, our crack injection treatment is a process of injecting expert resins or sealants into cracks to seal and bond them from the inside out. Not only does this restore the structural integrity of the damaged area, but it also stops further degradation and water penetration.

Our experts cautiously examine each circumstance to establish the optimum materials and methods to implement. It's a hairline crack in a bathroom wall, a greater structure issue in a basement or foundation, or we bring precision and expertise to each repair.

Leak Detection: Catch Issues Before They're Full-Blown

Water leaks are quiet dangers — frequently lurking behind walls, beneath floors, or inside ceilings before you see any visual signs of harm. That's why it's so important to have professional leak detection for the safety of your home or business.

With cutting-edge equipment and techniques, at Liam Tiling we track down hidden leaks quickly and precisely without creating unnecessary damage to your property. With thermal imaging to moisture meters, we have the correct tools to trace the source of the issue.

Once we've located them, we offer customized solutions, whether that means resealing, putting in new waterproofing, or using crack injection where structural problems are causing the leak. Our leak detection service is not just about locating leaks — it's about avoiding future issues and providing you with peace of mind.

Why Choose Liam Tiling?

There are plenty of tilers and contractors out there, but here's what makes Liam Tiling stand out:

Experience You Can Trust: With decades of tiling, waterproofing, and structural repair experience under our belt, we bring unparalleled knowledge and expertise to each job.

Certified Professionals: Our professionals are licensed, insured, and certified in installing waterproofing membrane and conducting advanced services such as crack injection and leak detection.

Attention to Detail: We don't take shortcuts. From tile setting to membrane sealing, we're committed to getting every detail just right.

Client-Centric Service: We listen, communicate effectively, and always try to do more than expected.

Dependable and On Time: Your time is important. We arrive on time and finish work quickly without sacrificing quality.

Servicing the Greater Wellington Region

As Wellington's top Tiler, we're honored to provide clients with quality services throughout the greater Wellington area, including Lower Hutt, Upper Hutt, Porirua, and Kapiti Coast. Whether you're renovating your home or handling a commercial building, Liam Tiling is your trusted crew for professional, top-notch work.

We comprehend the local conditions and understand how to keep your property safe from Wellington's frequently damp and windy conditions — particularly with services such as waterproofing membrane installation and precise leak detection.

[auconstructguides]

Concrete Crack Repair: Preventing Structural Damage and Prolonging Lifespan

Cracks in concrete may seem like a minor issue at first, but they’re often the early signs of deeper structural concerns. Whether you’re managing a residential driveway, commercial slab, or a high-traffic warehouse floor, addressing these cracks early is essential. Timely concrete crack repair doesn’t just preserve aesthetic appeal—it protects the integrity and longevity of the structure itself.

From thermal movement to settling foundations and water ingress, cracks can form due to various reasons. Understanding the causes, treatment options, and choosing the right professional can make a significant difference in performance and cost-efficiency. This article explores the key aspects of concrete crack repair, highlighting when to act and who to trust for reliable results.

Why Concrete Cracks and Why You Shouldn’t Ignore It

Concrete is strong, but it’s not immune to stress. Over time, pressure, weather cycles, and poor installation can lead to cracks. These may start small but can widen, deepen, or multiply quickly depending on the environment.

Common causes of cracks include:

Shrinkage during the curing process

Subgrade settlement

Corrosion of reinforcing steel

Thermal expansion and contraction

Overloading

Poor joint design or placement

If left untreated, cracks can allow moisture to seep in, compromising reinforcement, accelerating corrosion, and even causing safety hazards. That’s why working with concrete crack repair specialists is essential to assess damage and recommend the right repair method.

Types of Concrete Cracks You Might Encounter

Not all cracks are created equal. Before repairs can begin, it’s important to identify the type of crack and its likely cause.

1. Hairline Cracks

Often surface-level and caused by shrinkage, these cracks may not affect structural integrity but can be entry points for moisture.

2. Structural Cracks

These extend deeper and may affect the strength of the structure. They’re often found in load-bearing elements such as beams, walls, and slabs.

3. Settlement Cracks

As the soil beneath a concrete slab shifts or compresses, the structure above settles, creating diagonal or stair-step cracking patterns.

4. Expansion Cracks

These occur when concrete expands in the heat and lacks room to move, leading to pressure buildup and splitting.

5. Heaving Cracks

Typically caused by the upward movement of soil during wet seasons, especially in areas with clay-heavy subgrades.

Accurate diagnosis is crucial. Experienced professionals offering trusted crack repair services may use detailed assessments and advanced tools such as crack width gauges and moisture meters to determine the best course of action.

Repair Methods for Concrete Cracks

Depending on the severity, location, and function of the structure, there are several ways to address concrete cracking.

Epoxy Injection

For structural cracks, epoxy injection is often the go-to method. The resin fills the crack and bonds the concrete back together, restoring its original strength. This method is best suited for dry, dormant cracks.

Polyurethane Foam Injection

For actively leaking cracks, especially in basement walls or retaining structures, flexible polyurethane foam may be used. It expands upon contact with moisture, sealing the crack from the inside.

Routing and Sealing

This method involves enlarging the crack slightly before applying a flexible sealant. It is commonly used for surface-level cracks that don’t affect structural performance.

Stitching

In cases where reinforcement is required, metal staples or rods are inserted across the crack and bonded with epoxy. This physically restrains crack movement.

Overlay or Resurfacing

For widespread surface cracks, particularly on floors or pavements, a new layer of concrete or specialised repair mortar may be applied on top.

All of these techniques should be implemented by qualified concrete crack repair specialists to ensure durability and code compliance.

When to Call a Professional

While DIY repair kits might seem appealing for cosmetic fixes, not all cracks are harmless. It’s best to consult with professionals if:

The crack is wider than 2 mm

You notice movement or shifting around the crack

Water is seeping through

The area is load-bearing or critical to the structure

There is visible rust on exposed steel

Professional inspection may help avoid misdiagnosis and ensure the correct materials and repair method are used. This is particularly important for commercial sites, high-rise buildings, and heavily trafficked surfaces.

The Benefits of Proactive Concrete Repair

Preventing small problems from becoming costly repairs is the key reason to address concrete cracks early. But there are several other benefits to regular inspections and prompt repairs:

Improved safety: Prevent trips, falls, or structural failures

Enhanced property value: A well-maintained surface reflects on overall asset quality

Extended lifespan: Repairs protect the core structure from water, salt, and chemical intrusion

Lower long-term costs: Early intervention often saves thousands in future remediation

Compliance with building codes: Especially important in commercial and public spaces

A helpful breakdown of these advantages can be seen in related blog content over at Tumblr, where property maintenance strategies are often discussed by industry enthusiasts.

Choosing the Right Concrete Crack Repair Specialist

A good repair job does more than hide the problem—it solves it. Here’s what to look for when hiring a crack repair expert:

Experience: Look for a provider with a proven track record in both small and large-scale projects

Assessment tools: Modern diagnostic methods offer more precise, tailored solutions

Material quality: Using premium-grade epoxies, sealants, or mortars makes a lasting difference

Service range: From inspection to post-repair monitoring

Safety and compliance: Providers should adhere to all applicable Australian Standards and OH&S guidelines

Providers such as Sonaa deliver trusted crack repair services across varied property types, offering practical and code-compliant outcomes that property owners can count on.

Applications Across Property Types

Concrete cracking can affect various kinds of structures, including:

Driveways and footpaths

Commercial warehouse slabs

Structural columns and beams

Car parks and loading docks

Tilt-up panels in industrial units

Basement walls and retaining systems

Repair approaches may vary depending on the site, which is why tailored solutions from concrete crack repair specialists are essential. Overviews of industry examples, including before-and-after photos, are often shared by professionals on Tumblr, offering real-life insights into what effective crack remediation looks like.

Final Thoughts

Concrete may be tough, but it’s not immune to time, pressure, and environmental exposure. Recognising and addressing cracks early can save property owners significant cost and stress in the long run.

Whether it’s a single joint showing signs of stress or widespread cracking across a large slab, trusting experienced professionals with the right equipment and approach makes all the difference.

Explore lasting solutions with concrete crack repair specialists who combine technical know-how with an understanding of site-specific challenges. A well-maintained concrete structure not only looks better—it lasts longer, performs better, and safeguards everyone who depends on it.

[caparol]

Top 5 Reasons to Choose Epoxy Flooring for Your Industrial Facility

Industrial environments demand flooring solutions that are tough, long-lasting, and able to handle daily wear and tear without failure. If you operate a factory, warehouse, automotive workshop, or production plant, the choice of flooring can directly impact your operations, safety, and maintenance costs. 

One solution that continues to gain popularity is epoxy floor coating—a high-performance option known for its unmatched durability and versatility.

If you’re considering flooring upgrades for your facility, here are the top five reasons why epoxy flooring is the smart choice.

Unmatched Durability and Heavy Load Resistance

One of the biggest advantages of epoxy floor coating is its superior durability. Industrial facilities are subject to extreme conditions—heavy machinery, constant foot traffic, dropped tools, and frequent cleaning. Epoxy floors are engineered to handle all of this and more. They are resistant to cracking, chipping, and abrasion, which makes them ideal for areas with forklifts, pallets, or production lines.

Unlike ordinary concrete or tiled surfaces, epoxy coatings form a thick, protective layer over the floor that enhances its strength and lifespan. This reduces the need for constant maintenance and repairs, allowing your operations to run smoothly with minimal downtime.

Chemical and Impact Resistance

In many industrial settings, spills and exposure to harsh chemicals are a daily reality. From oils and solvents to acids and alkaline substances, these materials can easily damage traditional flooring surfaces. 

Epoxy flooring, however, is highly resistant to chemical corrosion. It creates a non-reactive surface that doesn’t absorb or break down when exposed to chemicals.

This feature makes it especially useful for facilities involved in chemical processing, automotive repair, food production, or laboratories. Additionally, epoxy floors can withstand heavy impacts, whether from dropped tools or equipment, without cracking or denting, which helps preserve the floor’s integrity over the long term.

Low Maintenance and Easy to Clean

Maintaining a clean and safe work environment is essential, especially in industrial spaces where spills, dust, and debris accumulate quickly. Epoxy flooring offers a seamless and smooth surface that’s incredibly easy to clean. Since it’s non-porous, liquids, dust, and grime don’t seep into the material, making regular cleaning tasks simpler and more effective.

Epoxy floors also resist bacterial growth and do not trap dirt in joints or grout lines like other flooring types. This makes them ideal for operations that require high levels of hygiene. Daily sweeping and occasional mopping are often enough to keep the floors spotless, reducing the need for labour-intensive maintenance.

Improved Safety Features

Safety is a top concern in any industrial facility. Epoxy flooring enhances workplace safety in several ways. It can be customised with anti-slip additives to improve traction and reduce the risk of slips and falls. This is particularly beneficial in areas that may frequently become wet or oily.

Additionally, epoxy coatings can be tinted with bright colours or marked with safety lines to designate walkways, hazard zones, or equipment areas. Reflective coatings can also enhance lighting, improving visibility in large or dimly lit areas. 

For facilities handling sensitive electronic components, some paint manufacturing companies in Oman can modify the epoxy flooring to offer electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection, helping to prevent static electricity buildup.

Cost-Effective and Long-Lasting

While epoxy flooring may have a higher upfront cost than basic concrete sealers or tiles, it delivers far greater long-term value. Thanks to its durability and resistance to damage, epoxy floors require less maintenance and fewer repairs over time. This translates to reduced labour costs, fewer operational interruptions, and a longer overall flooring lifespan.

Its long-lasting performance, combined with its low maintenance needs, makes epoxy an extremely cost-effective option. Rather than replacing or repairing worn-out floors every few years, an epoxy-coated floor can serve your facility reliably for many years with minimal upkeep.

Final Thoughts

In the demanding world of industrial operations, flooring isn’t just about looks—it’s about performance, safety, and long-term reliability. Epoxy floor coating offers all these benefits and more. With its superior durability, chemical resistance, low maintenance, enhanced safety, and overall cost-effectiveness, epoxy is one of the best investments you can make for your industrial facility.

If you’re exploring durable and efficient flooring solutions, consider epoxy flooring as a high-performance upgrade that pays off in both function and value. It's the smart, strategic choice for any industrial space that values safety, efficiency, and long-term performance.