#unlike with dad that he was declining over time and needing more and more care

[hawkswildfireheart]

Very impressed with my gma.

Sh fell down the stairs and broke her pelvis in two spots on Christmas. She was going down backwards (please don't) and said that she hadn't been counting and missed the last step and fell. Literally one step. Spent a week in the hospital with just some Tylenol for pain relief (no surgery, they wanted to try conservative treatment first).

She came home on the 31st, had a hard time getting out of the car and up the garage stairs into the house. I hadn't been over there since, just getting updates from her thru text, or hearing from Mom or my aunt.

I was the one available today to be there when home PT came and it's night and day from when she came home a week ago. Had an actual stride while walking, had shoes on and was fine with the extra weight of them. Was flying up and down those garage stairs during PT and said that when she was stepping and had all her weight on the bad leg it didn't hurt at all. She's doing her PT regularly, following most of the directions (she did walk from the bathroom to her chair by herself yesterday without supervision, she agreed it wasn't a smart thing to do), she's moving around almost better than before the injury tbh and she's only 2 wks out from the fall

[edenesth]

TWTHH Spinoff: Little Touch of Heaven [1]

Pairing: physician!Yunho x herbalist!reader

AU: historical au (Joseon era)

Word Count: 5k

Summary: Dedicating his life to his work, Yunho had never bothered to entertain the idea of settling down. Despite encountering many charming women throughout his career, none had sparked his desire for companionship. But everything shifted when he met a certain herbalist whose medicinal knowledge seemed to surpass even his own. What began as mere intrigue might have gradually developed into affection.

A/N: As stated in the title, this is a spinoff. If you have yet to check out the main story, it's probably better to read that before starting this.

Main Story | Spinoff Masterlist | Part 2

"Are you still here, sunshine? It's way past closing time. Come on now, let's head home soon. Your mother will be worried if we take too long," your father called out from the backdoor of his apothecary, where you were diligently working in the backyard farm responsible for growing and harvesting all the herbs he required to make his medicines.

You sighed, gazing at the new batch of seeds you had just planted and still needed to water, "Uhh... you go on without me first, father. I'll join you as soon as I'm finished with this latest batch of ginseng."

The elderly man shook his head in resignation, "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you. Be prepared for an earful from the lioness at home if you're late for dinner."

Chortling, you playfully stuck your tongue out at him, "Worry about yourself first! I'll tell mother dearest you called her a lioness," you waved him off as he sputtered in disbelief, panicking and giving you all the reasons you shouldn't say such a thing. But you only shook your head, finding your old dad incredibly adorable. That's why you couldn't resist teasing him every chance you got.

"Go home, father. I was just teasing you, geez," you reassured with a cheeky grin, watching as he huffed and grabbed his bag, "I'm going then. Hurry up, sunshine. And be careful on your way home."

"I will. You be careful too. I'll see you in a bit," you said, quickly returning your attention to your work. It was only then that you realised your stomach was beginning to growl with hunger at the thought of your mother's cooking. With no time to waste, you hastily completed the remaining tasks.

After finishing up, a contented sigh escaped you as you dusted off your hands and admired the fruits of your labour. Despite years of repetition, you couldn't imagine ever growing tired of this routine. Your father's apothecary had been a fixture long before your birth. Your mother had been one of his loyal customers, initially seeking medicine for her ailing father. However, as time passed, her visits seemed motivated by more than just medicinal needs.

It didn't take long for them to realise their love for each other, and they soon married. In the early days, your mother continued to assist your father with herb growing and harvesting, even after your arrival. Growing up, you spent your childhood amidst the sights and smells of the apothecary, playing and observing as your parents toiled away.

As you matured, your curiosity blossomed into genuine interest, prompting you to actively participate in and learn about herbalism. With your mother's growing age and declining health, she was eventually advised to retire and stay home, leaving you to take over her responsibilities in the apothecary. However, unlike her, you insisted on handling the planting of herbs alone, sparing your elderly father from further strain. Instead, he managed the less physically demanding tasks such as medicine-making and store management.

Locking up the apothecary doors, you began your trek home, you observed the families and couples passing you with a small smile on your face. While you couldn't exactly relate to most people, having spent most, if not all, of your time in the back of your father's store growing up, you couldn't be any happier than you are now.

You had no desire to venture out, make new acquaintances, or seek friendships. Your simple life brought you contentment, and you cherished the strong bond you shared with your parents. Grateful for the absence of hardship and discontent, you had no yearning for wealth or extravagance. Engaging in what you loved, even if it meant remaining within the confines of the apothecary indefinitely, filled you with immense satisfaction. You were perfectly content staying right where you were, surrounded by the familiar warmth of your family and the comforting aroma of herbs.

I could do this forever.

"I'm home!" you called out cheerfully as you stepped into your humble abode. It was a decent-sized house with all the essentials, providing everything your family needed. Despite the success of the apothecary and its financial stability, your parents saw no reason to move to a larger residence. Attachment and sentimental value outweighed any desire for more space.

Everything in your home remained in excellent condition, thanks to your mother's meticulous care, and that was all that mattered. As soon as you entered, she cooed and rushed over to envelop you in a warm hug, "Oh, my dearest little sunshine is home!"

You grinned at your father, who rolled his eyes in mock jealousy. Unlike you, he had returned home only to be lectured for allowing you to walk home alone instead of waiting for you. It was almost ironic how he had warned you about being scolded, only for the roles to be reversed.

It didn't take long before a smile spread across his features; your father was one of the sweetest men you'd ever known. But you hadn't met many people, given that most of your time was spent in the back of his shop. Even then, one thing was certain: he was good to you and even better to your mother.

You had never witnessed him raise his voice, regardless of how upset he might be. He always remained patient, letting his wife do all the yelling. And at the end of the day, he would go to great lengths to make her smile again, ensuring she never went to bed angry. If you were to find a husband, you'd want someone like your father.

Fortunately, you inherited his cheerful personality when you were born. You were truly a bundle of joy since entering this world, earning the nickname 'sunshine' from your parents. No matter how bleak their days became, your bright presence would always illuminate everything. You couldn't recall ever having a particularly bad day, and you hoped things would stay that way forever.

As you settled into your seat at the dining table, your bowl was instantly filled to the brim with your favourite dishes. Your mother chimed in, "Eat up, sunshine. You need to replenish all that energy you've lost from working so hard." The aroma tantalised your senses, and you couldn't help but salivate, "Thank you for the food, mother!" you exclaimed, immediately digging in, feeling famished to the point where you felt like you could devour an entire cow.

"Woah, woah, slow down. They're all yours, silly girl," your father cautioned, shaking his head at your unladylike eating habits, "I'm telling you, no guy will be attracted to you if you eat like that in public."

You pouted, retorting, "If he truly loves me, he'll accept me for who I am." Your mother gently tucked a strand of hair behind your ear, "While that's true, I'm starting to worry that you might never attract anyone at all, since you're always at home or hiding in the back of the store," she confessed, setting down her chopsticks, "I've been feeling slightly better lately. Maybe I could return to the store occasionally, and you could finally go out and meet some boys—"

Shaking your head, you cut her off, "Nice try, mother, but that's not happening. Be good and stay home if you don't want me and father to worry. Besides, I don't need a man to complete me. I'm content as it is. All I need is the two of you by my side."

Unbeknownst to you, your parents harboured fears about exactly that. They knew they wouldn't be around forever, and once they were gone, who would take care of you? The thought of leaving their precious little girl behind all alone in this world filled them with dread.

The elderly man pondered for a moment, unwilling to let go of the topic so easily, "How about you come and help in the store once in a while? That way, you'd still have the chance to interact with some of the customers, and who knows, you might meet someone the same way your mother and I met each other."

You giggled, watching as they exchanged affectionate glances, their hands intertwining on the table, "That's cute, but no thank you, father. The farm isn't going to tend to itself, and before you offer, I refuse to let you perform such hard labour. Your body can't handle it; please don't make me worry. I'll be just fine, I promise."

You're fine, sunshine, but we're not.

Your parents sighed, disappointed by your refusal. At this stage, they could only hope for some miracle to happen, allowing you to meet a kind man who would care for you when they no longer could.

But maybe that miracle wasn't as distant as they thought. Maybe there was no need for your parents to be so concerned. Maybe things were about to change very soon. Perhaps your parents had prayed earnestly enough, and perhaps the heavens had finally chosen to answer those prayers.

"Tell me what you need, and I'll assist you," Jongho offered as soon as the physician finished briefing the head maid on all the tasks she would now have to handle, especially with Lady Park's pregnancy encountering difficulties and depending on him. With a shake of his head, Yunho smiled at the assistant, "It's fine, I've got it covered. Eunsook knows what to do while I'm away. Now if you'll excuse me, I should probably head to the apothecary for some herbs."

As the doctor made his way to the apothecary where he sourced medicines and herbs for his clinic, his mind raced with plans on which herbs would best suit the case at hand. It had been some time since he last treated a pregnant woman or dealt with pregnancy-related issues like this, and he couldn't deny feeling a bit rusty in this area. If only he had foreseen this, he might have brushed up on his studies, but the urgency of the situation caught him off guard.

He could still recall how urgently he had been summoned. Jongho had barged into his clinic, leaving him with no choice but to close up immediately. He wondered if he should have anticipated the pregnancy, especially given the general's desire for alone time with his wife. Perhaps he had been foolish not to prepare beforehand; he should have seen this coming. But there was no time to chastise himself over it now. His focus needed to be on ensuring Seonghwa's baby safely reached the three-month mark.

"Ah, finally, we're here," he murmured to himself as soon as the familiar store with the sign 'Ryu's Apothecary' came into view.

Without hesitation, he entered the establishment he knew like the back of his hand. This was the only place he trusted for all his medicines and herbs; he had known the owner for years. Mr. Ryu truly was one of the kindest apothecaries, never overcharging him and sometimes even offering discounts and deals for his loyalty. Just when Yunho thought they were close enough for him to know everything about the elderly man, today seemed to prove otherwise.

Perhaps he didn't know nearly enough.

"Mr. Ryu, I'm afraid I'll need all your raspberry and peppermint leaf supply for the day. Lady Park hasn't been doing too well in the early stages of her pregnancy," the physician announced upon entering the apothecary where he regularly obtained his medicines and herbs, his eyes busily scanning around for anything else that could be useful.

"Is that so? You might want to consider our latest batch of Codonopsis root imported directly from China just a week ago. It's highly effective in boosting vital energy and reducing fatigue during pregnancy."

Yunho's head shot up in surprise.

First of all, why hadn't he thought of that before? More importantly, the feminine voice addressing him sounded nothing like the elderly man who usually managed the store. He turned to find a young woman behind the counter, his eyes widening in astonishment.

"O-oh, um... hello there. I didn't realise Mr. Ryu had such a young wife," he blurted out before cursing himself, feeling embarrassed for making such a hasty assumption.

Your face immediately twisted in disgust, "Goodness gracious, you're severely mistaken! I'm his daughter!"

Way to go, you complete idiot!

The physician immediately bowed, overwhelmed with embarrassment as he offered his apology, "I-I apologise, Miss Ryu! I don't know what made me say that. It's just that I'm used to seeing only your father here. Seeing someone else caught me off guard."

Blinking rapidly, he hoped he wasn't visibly blushing. He had known the elderly man for so long and hadn't the slightest clue he even had a daughter, and such a pretty one too. Making such a mistake on their first meeting was unbelievable to him. He rarely found himself flustered and struggled to maintain his usually composed demeanour.

Good lord, did he really just say that?

You could only sigh; this was precisely why you didn't want to be out here in the store. It was only your first time in your father's place, and this was the first thing that happened. Off to a bad start already, you wouldn't be surprised if this trend continued with some of the other customers later on. It felt like your father had jinxed it at dinner that evening; shortly after, your mother fell sick, leaving him no choice but to stay home and care for her. In the meantime, you were left with no option but to manage the store.

Determined to put the incident behind you, you shook your head, reassuring the physician, "It's fine, sir. My father has to stay home due to an emergency, but fear not, he should be back in a few days to man the store as usual. So, would you be interested in those Codonopsis roots? I could pack some for you as well."

"Y-yes, please. Thank you for the recommendation, Miss Ryu; I really appreciate it," he said, stepping over sheepishly towards the counter.

"No problem, sir," you responded politely, busy packing the raspberry and peppermint leaf he had requested along with some of the Chinese herbs you had suggested.

You calling him 'sir' only reminded him that you still didn't know his name. For the first time in forever, not knowing what to do with his hands, he intertwined them behind his back and cleared his throat, "Uhh... my name is Jung Yunho, by the way. I'm the—"

"Oh, so it's you!" you cut him off, nodding in recognition with raised brows, "I know you; I've heard plenty about you from my father. I know you're the great General Park's family doctor," you continued with a shrug, "But of course, I should've figured that out when you mentioned a certain Lady Park's pregnancy. Huh, it's good to know they're having a baby soon. And before I go off on a tangent, more importantly, you're known to be one of the best physicians in town."

With a light chuckle, he shook his head modestly, "Well, I'm clearly not the best if I couldn't even think to use Codonopsis root."

Furrowing your brows slightly, you countered, "I don't see how that has anything to do with your abilities. That's because you're a physician, not a herbalist. Experts like me are here for that. While we may know which herbs are best used to treat what, herbalists obviously cannot diagnose patients. See, that's our difference and why we coexist to help one another."

Listening to you speak, Yunho felt thoroughly impressed. He couldn't deny that he had always believed he was the smartest person in the room, given his medical expertise and role as the famous general's personal doctor. People often revered him for being at the top of his field. At some point, he had almost convinced himself that there was nobody who could teach him anything new.

But your words made him reconsider.

He hadn't expected to meet someone who could humble him and make him realise he still had much to learn. Especially not a young woman like you, the daughter of an apothecary, a herbalist.

"In that case, Miss Ryu, what else would you recommend for an unstable early pregnancy? You see, the general's wife suffered from severe malnutrition throughout her childhood, and her body is now lacking enough nutrients for both her and her baby," he asked, deciding to set aside his pride and seek help. Seonghwa was relying on him, and he couldn't risk anything happening to Lady Park or the baby.

Finishing up the last of his orders, you hummed in thought, "Actually, there is another medicine that could help. It's a well-known Chinese herb my father has sold to some customers facing similar problems," you explained as you retrieved a box of medicine from the cabinet behind you. Opening it revealed a brown block of medicine he had never seen before, "This one also arrived not too long ago from China. It's called Colla Corii Asini, and it nourishes the kidney while preventing miscarriage. Perhaps this is what Lady Park needs."

"Thank you so much, that sounds perfect," he breathed out in relief, finally feeling a glimmer of hope. You shook your head with a small smile to indicate 'no worries.' As he prepared to make his payment, he asked, "Um, I was just wondering... why haven't I seen you before? I mean, you're Mr. Ryu's daughter and—"

You shrugged, "I'm in charge of growing and harvesting all the herbs we sell, so I'm usually on the farm at the back of the store."

"Ohh... so, you are the genius behind all these herbs," he nodded slowly in wonder, standing there after completing his payment, hands full with the herbs you'd packed for him. Intrigued by your knowledge, he mustered the courage to ask, "I know I'm probably asking too much, but... w-would it be okay for me to come over frequently and learn more about herbs from you? You know, to improve as a medical practitioner."

You shrugged again, "Sure, suit yourself."

Yes, she said yes!

Deep down, he didn't want this to be his first and last time seeing you. He rationalised it, telling himself you were simply an intriguing person. He hadn't encountered anyone as passionate about healing and herbs, someone who possessed more knowledge than he did. He was just eager to learn more.

That had to be the only reason.

It had to be.

"Has the mistress been feeling any better?" the physician inquired eagerly, anxiously awaiting Eunsook's response. He had returned to the general's estate a few days after administering the first batch of the medicine you had recommended.

Beaming, the head maid exclaimed, "Oh, those medications worked like magic! The fatigue and morning sickness improved immensely just a day after she started taking the medicine. You're amazing, Physician Jung! I knew we could count on you!"

It wasn't me at all, it was all her.

"That's good to know, Eunsook! I couldn't have done it without the help of a very talented herbalist. Well then, I'll be back in another few days with more of those herbs," he said eagerly, already looking forward to returning to the apothecary to share the news with you.

The elderly woman bowed, "Of course! And please extend our thanks to this kind herbalist friend of yours, we definitely could use more experts like him around—"

"Her. She's a female herbalist, and you're right, we do need more talents like Miss Ryu around," Yunho quickly corrected.

Blinking rapidly, Eunsook nodded with a slightly knowing smile, "Oh, my apologies. I shouldn't have assumed her gender, but yes, please offer Miss Ryu our sincere gratitude."

"Don't worry, I will."

As he approached the apothecary, his heart seemed to quicken at the thought of seeing you again, though he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why. Perhaps he was simply eager to make a new friend who shared his passion for medicine. Besides, he couldn't deny his admiration for your extensive knowledge of herbs, despite your young age. You seemed to surpass even some of the more experienced practitioners in his field.

Truthfully, he genuinely desired to learn more about herbs from you. The prospect of befriending you held great potential for him; he envisioned you as a valuable ally who could aid in his continuous growth as a physician. Together, with his medical expertise and your herbal knowledge, you could make a formidable team, contributing significantly to society together.

"Oh, Physician Jung! How can I help you today?" Mr. Ryu, your father, greeted him upon his entrance. For once, the doctor seemed rather flustered as he approached the counter, "Oh, uhh... I'm not here for medicine today. I came to see your daughter. Please don't take this the wrong way!" he hurriedly added, "She said I could come to learn more about herbs from her, so I—"

Your father's eyes widened in excitement as Yunho rambled on. While he didn't like the fact that his wife had to fall sick for him to finally be away from the store, it must have been a blessing in disguise because now his daughter had finally met someone, and not just anyone, but the amazing Physician Jung. Oh, he would be able to die happy if this was to be his future son-in-law.

With a little snicker, the elderly man nodded, "Ah, I see you've met my little sunshine while I was away. No need to explain yourself, I believe you. Now if you'll come with me, she's just at the back of the store."

"Here, just head straight ahead, and you should find her somewhere within the plantations," your father said, nodding his head down the hallway leading to the back of the store, "I'd take you there myself, but I don't think I should leave the store unattended."

"I've got it, Mr. Ryu, thank you."

As he walked down the hallway as instructed by Mr. Ryu, the physician wondered how the elderly man would have reacted if he knew Yunho had mistaken his dear daughter for his wife during their first meeting. That would surely ruin the image of perfection he had consistently been upholding.

But why would that matter?

The apothecary would continue to value him as a customer. Why was he suddenly concerned about how your father would view him? The direction of his own thoughts was beginning to baffle him.

Before he could become lost in his thoughts, he reached the farm and was struck by its beauty and meticulous upkeep. His admiration for you swelled, knowing that it was your work that had created such a splendid place. Ryu's Apothecary was known for its top-notch herbs and medicine, and now he understood why. His respect for you grew immensely, realising that you were the mastermind behind it all. After taking in the full view of the farm, he finally spotted you.

Is that what a fairy looks like?

The moment he spotted you amidst the herbs you were planting, he felt as if his breath had been stolen away. He already thought you were pretty before, but now, seeing you in your white and blue hanbok among the lush greenery, passionately engaged in your work, you looked even more enchanting to him.

"Ah, Physician Jung, you're here!" you exclaimed, pulling him out of his reverie with a wave of your hand, "Hurry over, I'm about to harvest this batch of Sophora roots. There's probably some valuable information here for you to learn from this."

"Right away, Miss Ryu!" he replied eagerly, rushing over to join you.

Without delay, you plunged into your work while explaining the herb to him, "This, right here, is the Sophora flavescens, native to China and Japan. Its antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal properties make it useful in treating conditions such as damaged livers, jaundice, eczema, ulcers, and more. I know it looks nothing like the completed product you're used to seeing, but that's because it requires several seasons of drying after harvesting before it's ready for use."

While he knew he should focus on the herbs, he found it difficult to tear his gaze away from your face. The subtle furrow of your brows and the delicate bite of your lips when you weren't speaking—adorable. Wait, did he really just think that? He'd never had such thoughts before. Sure, he'd treated plenty of beautiful ladies throughout his career, but this occurrence was a first.

"Interestingly, this plant can grow up to 5 to 7 feet tall. Even taller than you, isn't it quite amazing?" you remarked, noticing his lack of response. Frowning, you turned to him and sighed when you realised he wasn't paying attention. With a gentle nudge on his shoulder, you snapped him out of his trance.

"O-oh, sorry, you were saying?" he muttered, embarrassed to be caught zoning out.

"I... never mind. Could you please fetch the root puller from that tool rack?" you requested, opting to delegate rather than have him kneel in the dirt beside you. Perhaps he was starting to regret coming here, realising it wasn't his cup of tea. Not that you minded; he could leave if he wanted to. After all, he was the one who asked to be here. The least he could do was listen.

"Absolutely!" he responded, heading toward the tool rack to retrieve what you asked for.

Making his way toward the tool rack, he chastised himself for leaving such a poor impression. It was only your first session together, yet he was struggling to stay focused. Gosh, you must be judging him so hard right now, and he couldn't even blame you. You were kind enough to share your knowledge of herbs at his request, and here he was, lost in daydreams instead of paying attention. Determined to redeem himself, he resolved to be more useful.

Pull yourself together, Jung Yunho.

However, the doctor was so absorbed in his thoughts that he failed to notice the patch of ground still damp from your earlier watering. You did a double-take when you saw him unknowingly heading towards the wet path instead of taking the drier route.

"Wait, Physician Jung! You'll slip and fall if you go that way!" Your words of warning went unheeded, and you sprang up from your position on the ground in alarm, "Yunho! Yah, Jung Yunho!" In a panic, you dashed toward him, your eyes widening as he stepped onto the wet soil just as you reached out to grab his arm and redirect him.

But it was too late.

"You bloody idiot!" Your shout echoed across the farm as he let out a yelp, his arms instinctively encircling you as he toppled backwards, shielding you from the fall as he landed on the wet ground.

Your breath caught as you landed on his chest, faces mere inches apart, hearts racing. Huh, how have you not realised how good-looking he actually is? Wait, what? Before either of you could react, your father's voice rang out from the entrance, "Oh dear, what's with all the shouting, sunshine? Is everything alright—"

"F-father, I can explain..."

The apothecary blinked at the unexpected sight before him: his daughter atop the handsome and intelligent Physician Jung. God must have heard his prayers. With a grin, he chuckled, "Well, well! Seems like everything's more than alright! I won't intrude any further. Back to work for me!"

"N-no, Mr. Ryu! It's not like that at all!"

With a gulp, he turned to face you again, only to find you glaring down at him, "Let me go," you muttered, and he immediately loosened his grip, "O-oh, my bad." He moved to sit up as soon as you were off him, only to smile sheepishly up at you when he felt the back of his outfit completely soaked. Not only did he fail to help you with anything, but he was now causing you more trouble.

Taking a deep breath to calm yourself, you raised a fist threateningly towards him, "I'll get you some new clothes to change into. Stay here and don't move, or else..."

"Y-yes, ma'am."

« Preview of Part 2 »

"Oh, my poor Yunho. I can't believe that happened," Lady Park cooed, trying to suppress her laughter as she comforted the flustered physician after completing her weekly check-up. He was really beginning to regret his decision to confide in her.

"I shouldn't have told you about it, ugh. And to think you'd be the only one not to tease me," he grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and turning away from her.

Lady Park softened, "I'm not teasing you, silly. You're always so serious and uptight, it's just refreshing to see you like this for once. Besides, there's nothing wrong with having feelings for someone, especially at your age. You should really consider settling down."

He scoffed, a blush creeping up his cheeks, "What? That's funny, I-I didn't say anything about liking anyone, my lady."

"You don't have to. It's written all over your handsome face," she smiled knowingly, "Hwa has that same look often, so I think I'd know better than you, Physician Jung."

Perhaps she had a point; he still couldn't shake the memory of that incident from his mind. The sensation of holding you close lingered, strangely comforting. He started to grasp why couples found solace in such intimacy. Maybe the idea of settling down, and having someone to come home to after a long day wouldn't be so bad. Maybe—

"What are you two talking about? Didn't the check-up end ages ago?" the general's voice jolted him back to the present.

"Nothing at all, my lord," he stammered, caught off guard.

Seonghwa arched an eyebrow sceptically, "You really expect me to believe you'd spent an hour talking about nothing with my wife? So, what were you doing together then?"

"Oh my god, nothing! We just talked, okay?"

"Right, now fill me in. Suit yourself if you don't want to. My wife will tell me everything eventually; just so you know, we don't keep secrets from each other."

Slapping a palm against his forehead, the physician wished he'd kept his mouth shut, "Alright, but promise not to tell anyone. If Hongjoong catches wind of this, I'll never hear the end of it."

"Deal."

Holy sheeeet, thank you all so much for 1.7k followers! I was sleep-deprived asf while proofreading lmao I hope this one was decent HAHA I promise the next part will be more interesting!

As always, thank you for reading and let me know your thoughts! <3

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[llamagoddessofficial]

Okay but what if single mom MC brings her kid to work in the zoo!harpy AU? She usually has them sit on the outside of the enclosure where the guests are so she can keep an eye on them while working but the kid ends up finding a way in the enclosure. How different would things be if it's MCs kid vs a strangers kid?

I'm assuming she'd avoid tranquilizing skull? Or would it still happen?

A real baby? Oh, delight

Sans: Unlike a stranger's baby, who just gets the bird equivalent to the silent treatment, Mc's child gets played with like he's a tired dad who got woken up on Saturday morning. He considers this his baby, after all, can't just ignore them. Sans lets them sit on his shoulders while he drags himself to his feet and sleepily mooches around his enclosure so they can explore it together.

... But when Mc comes to rescue her kid, Sans suddenly wakes up and comes to life- he won't give them back just yet, actually. This is the perfect chance for a fun game of 'catch us if you can'. He scoops the kid up, and despite her obvious sounds of protest, disappears away into his enclosure in a flurry of feathers.

The kid has a great time, obviously, Sans is moving incredibly quickly and climbing up tall structures to hide- they're having the time of their life. Mc finds wherever they're hiding by following the sound of giggling. And while she isn't thrilled that a giant owl harpy has decided to play keepaway with her child... she also appreciates how gentle he's being, and how much fun they're clearly both having together.

... Sans eventually gives them back.

Red: At first, Mc's very careful with Red, because she's not sure if she can trust him near her child. He's made his 'undying love' for her abundantly clear, and wild male animals sometimes kill the offspring of females they want to mate with. What if he decides he's uninterested in a baby that isn't genetically his, and gets aggressive with her kid? She can't risk it. It's a bridge she won't cross and she does her damnedest to keep the two separate.

... Except, when the inevitable happens, Red is great.

He couldn't act more fatherly if he tried- he actively plays with them, carries them around, preens their dirty hair, picks at their clothes, wipes dirt off their face and growls at staff who get too near. Though he's got his usual grumpy face there are clear smiles breaking out over his expression every now and then... her kid can clamber all over him and he's patient as a saint. It's a huge relief for her- and in a way, it kinda re-frames her view of Red. Maybe he's more than just an aggressive flirt.

... He's especially cuddly and flirty when Mc shows up to collect her kid, though. All hopped up on parental instincts, desperate to cement a bond with her through kisses or nuzzles or a song. this is OUR kid, because we're together right? right?

Skull: Now, she already knows Skull has a propensity for getting overly attached to babies. And she knows he gets overly attached to her. So when she goes into his enclosure and realises that Skull has taken her kid to his nest, she's absolutely ready for a full on battle to get her kid back.

... Instead, when she pokes her head into the den and finds Skull cuddling a sleeping child... as soon as she indicates she wants them back, he happily hands them over.

His issue was with babies he thought were abandoned. But he knows that this is Mc's baby. Their baby. There's a good mother (her) and a loving father (him, of course) so there's no need for him to worry. It's normal for birds to have one adult go away while the other stays with the baby; Mom wants to be the one taking care of their child again, who is he to decline?

... He does stare a bit long at them, though. He likes looking at his family all together.

[villainsandvictimsalliance]

Idk what to tell to the people who still don't get that although is okay to teach kids the rules to live in a society (like respect others or don't kill or whatever), Kotaro Shimura, Enji Todoroki and Toga's parents didn't care as much for society rules as they care for the rules that made them feel okay at home.

Which in the end caused the main villain trio to reject authority and society and turn into violence, since they did try to use words as kids and were royally ignored.

Tenko, Touya and Toga tried very hard to be good kids, but in their parents conception it was not enough 'cause they couldn't repress some of their needs: they wanted their dads and moms to accept them as they were, to accept who they wanted to be, to accept the way they expressed love and accept the way they interacted with their surroundings.

In Tenko's case, Kotaro was unable to accept his kid desire to become a hero. His could be the worst case in bnha, given the violence of his tragedy and how misfortune (maybe even something else) played on it ending so badly. Tomura himself said that house rejected his very identity, even tho Hana tried to support him in secret and Nao stood up for him, little too late. For what we saw of him as a child, his only defect as a son was wanting to be a pro-hero, dream that got him beaten up for, grounded in a rather cruelly manner. Kotaro's trauma turned him into an irrational man, his hatred for heroes was both the build up and the catalysis of the tragedy that ended the lives of the people he loved the most.

Tenko didn't become a villain because he was an evil kid. He became a villain because AFO wanting it so and because Kotaro inculcated in him such extreme hatred.

In Touya's case, it's a bit more complicated. I don't believe Enji's obsession was completely evil in nature, although his actions were truly selfish and it became later abusive, when his desperation blinded him to the point he was unable to understand how bad he has turned out to be. Like in Tenko's case, the mother is at fault only in yhe sense that their lack of intervention allowed the situation to escalate 'til they couldn't prevent it anymore. Touya's case differentiates itself in the fact that he was older than Tenko, his behavior declining over the years into extreme violence, unlike the way Tenko exploded in murder glee when Kotaro hit him one last time.

The lack of proper attention from both Enji and Rei allowed Touya's behavior to become a tragedy. Their negligence, Enji's focus on his work and Shouto (as a project not a son) and Rei's role of a caretaker yet not a mother, combined with the incapacity of Natsuo and Fuyumi to understand what Touya was going through (really, only Shouto could, but at that point Touya hated him too much and Shouto was way too young)... Well, it didn't end well for a kid that didn't want help anymore but attention on his own terms. He was tired of adapting, the same way Tenko rebelled in his insistence of acting the hero way.

The same house rule ( YOU CANNOT BE A HERO ) sent them both to AFO's hands, one way or another. They were kids who couldn't act the way their dads wanted, so fuck them I guess.

That part is compatible to Toga's case. Kinda.

Toga's parents are by far the most twisted of the bunch, which is a lot to say considering that Kotaro hit his kids and Enji even hit his wife. Yet, without having to touch a single hair of their little girl, they inflicted damage so deep she preferred to become a runaway criminal than to stay at home one more day.

At least Kotaro and Enji valued at some level Tenko and Touya's existence. Toga's parents didn't care about her at all. She was as good as a broken doll, an imperfect piece of their furniture, something they wish wasn't related to them at all. Enji was at least worry about his son and he loved him at some degree, the same way Kotaro worry over Tenko was born out of his fear of losing his family. Nothing of it excuses what they do and let it be said that Enji and Kotaro did saw Touya and Tenko as monsters at some point (when Touya tried to kill Shouto and on his Dabi era, when Tenko killed his family and turned to Kotaro). Yet it doesn't compare to the way Toga's parents immediately erased her from their lives, even denying any affiliation. They sent her to that therapy like a car needing to be repaired. She was a sign of status, she was an object that they failed to produce, she was an aberration and a freak, she deserved to be put down.

From the three od them, Toga was the one who struggled the most to fit in socially, not to society standards tho. To her parents.

If all these parents had cared for their kids more than they cared for his own stupid rules maybe things would have been different. But that's the core of their problems, they don't need the whole world to accept them, they need to treat the internalized traumas their parents left them with, the self-hatred and the feeling of inadequacy and the need for acceptance (of themselves) and recognition.

That's why Toga, Izuku and Shouto are the key for their recovery. Acting as mirrors, they are meant to provide the closure the villain trio desperately need. It's not just a sibling or a nemesis bond, but a recognition of the self through the other situation.

If they can accept themselves and correct their ways and get free from their parents absurd rules, if they can move past the child need for their parents validation, maybe they can finally exist in a less painful way.

[storm-angel989]

Could you do a part four of this series Eres jodidamente estúpida, niñita? Where they find out she went back to working there and is flirting with customers and other employees and like making out with some customers in the back and the person who hired her promotes her to a stripper?

Sorry if it's a lot and you have other things to do!

Hi there,

As requested! Enjoy the time-hop!

<3 Mandy

College meant freedom. Freedom to study, freedom to learn what I wanted to learn. Freedom to play a sport- or to not. And of course, at the age of eighteen, freedom to make my own money. Finally, my name was the only one on my bank account and as much as I loved my family, I was free of their overbearing eyes. The Lust ring was just far enough away that while my father, Vox, had some control, his camera’s hadn’t yet reached every single street corner. 

I stood in my dorm room as I watched my family fuss around. The work of moving me in had been done by hired demons, but the finishing touches my Aunt Velvette wanted to handle personally. The hour of leaving was upon us, and I could see exactly where this was going as Velvette continued to muss with the blankets on my bed. 

“Call us, if you need anything,” my Dad had told me firmly. “I’m still depositing a check into your account every week. If you need anything, or you need more you need to just pick up the phone and call. I can’t stop you from working, but baby, please enjoy college.”

“And bebita? Stay away from the boys. Watch your drink at parties and practice safe sex. No one wants an STD,” my Uncle Valentino advised. “And if you need protection, I’m happy to…”

“Ew, Uncle Val, enough! Dad, I’m fine. Aunt Vel, leave my bed alone. My roommate will be back any minute, and I’d like to get to know her before she finds out who my family is,” I said as I embraced my father. “I love you all, but shoo- I’ll be home for Thanksgiving, I promise.”

“The limo will be waiting,” my father promised as Velvette and Valentino joined in on the hug. “Just be careful, and call if you need anything.” 

“I will, I promise! Now go, be safe and text me when you get home,” I said as they released me. “Bye guys! Love you!” 

I closed the door behind them and flopped on my bed. Finally, I had the space I always wanted. No prying eyes- of that I was sure. The door opened and I sat up. The girl who I assumed was my roommate walked in. Introductions were quickly made and off we went to dinner. 

One dinner turned to two, which turned to an every night routine. Unlike home, where everyone seemed to know who I and my family were, here I was just another face. I made friends quickly, and learned that most of the girls and guys in my dorm were from the lust ring. Together we explored the local club scenes and for the first time in my life, I experienced total freedom to party. My roommate typically joined us, but at least three nights a week she declined, citing her job. 

“So, where do you work?” I asked my roommate over a quiet breakfast one Saturday morning.

She looked up from her bowl of cereal and her expression brightened. “Ozzie’s! It’s owned by Asmodous, you know who that is, right?”

Asmodeus. The sin of lust. My Uncle Valentino’s boss- though technically, as far as I knew, he didn’t own my Uncle’s soul. But as Valentino served as the overlord of lust, he somehow fell under Asmodeous’s jurisdiction. 

“Is that like a strip club or…”

“It’s a restaurant. And Asmodeous and his lover, Fizzerolli come often. They’re super nice, great to work for and the tips are fantastic,” she paused and seemed to consider. “Hey, didn’t you say you wanted to find a job around here? We’re hiring, and I can put in a good word for you. Actually…” Her expression brightened. “You should come with me tonight!”

I considered her offer for a moment. Briefly, I wondered if this would be anything like my accidental stumble into Valentino’s strip club. I quickly erased the thought from my mind. No way would this be anything like that. And even if it was, I was officially eighteen and there was nothing anyone could do about it. 

To say I was hired on the spot would be an understatement. I scribbled down my name on the application and hesitated for a moment. What if they recognized my last name? Would it keep me from being hired? Without another thought to it, I scribbled down a nondescript, false last name. 

Within a half hour, I was dressed in a scantily clad uniform having the time of my life. I flirted, smiled, pecked cheeks, and at my own discretion, sometimes more. To say I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of the job would be an understatement- I was thriving. As the months passed, my clients grew and I had regulars begin to request me. The time passed quickly, and it wasn’t but three days before Thanksgiving break, the manager approached me with a promotional offer. I would be serving private clients in the back. Bigger tips, he promised, and an hourly raise.

“Look at you, promoted already,” my roommate teased as I pulled on the new outermost layer of my red and black uniform. “Damn girl, you look good.”

I caught my reflection in the dressing room mirror and smiled as I flipped my hair and leaned forward as I applied another coat of bright red lipstick. Between the extra dieting I had done, the touch ups at the local salon, and my perfectly applied makeup, my body looked like something out of a magazine- ethereal and stunning. 

I made my way to the back of the club and climbed up on the stage. The manager had walked me through the steps of the show. Walk down the stage, smile, strip off the outer layer of the uniform and then fulfill the same tasks as I did outfront, just a little more scantily clad. I tossed off my top and as I swung around the pole, my eyes met a familiar face in the crowd. 

Fuck. 

I swallowed back the missed beat and continued until only my new uniform showed. With all the confidence I didn’t feel, I strode back down the stage and ran smack into him. 

Angel Dust. The one employee my Uncle Valentino owned that I had even a touch of a relationship with. 

“You have got to be fuckin kiddin me,” Angel said in disbelief as he grabbed my arm. “Does Val know where you work? What you’re doin? God, Val made me change ya diapers, ya can’t be a whore!” 

I yanked my arm away. “What does it matter? I’m eighteen, Angel. Say what you want, but I’m officially an adult. And nothing you, or my Uncle Valentino, or my Dad or anyone does or says can change that.”  

Angel rolled his eyes. I expected him to protest, to pick up his phone and call my Uncle right then and there. Instead, he gave me a toothy smile and pushed past me. 

“Suit yourself, kid. But move over- the poles are mine tonight.” 

I watched him as he sauntered off and took to the poles like a practiced professional. Although as factual as my words were, a part of me knew that if my Uncle Valentino did find out, there might be actual hell to pay. I swallowed back the cold fear that settled in my gut as I pasted a smile on my face. I had to focus on the job at hand- I could grab Angel and try to talk to him again later. 

Unfortunately for me, Angel Dust vanished off the pole as quickly as he had entered. As I stood in the dressing room, I felt a hand on my shoulder. 

“Hey! You did so well,” my friend gushed. “Ozzie is here! He asked to speak to you privately- it must be good!” 

Somewhere deep in my gut, I doubted that. Reluctantly, I followed her through the maze of dressing rooms until an office door appeared. 

“Just knock, and don’t be nervous! He and Fizz are super, super nice,” my roommate reassured me before turning away. 

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. In a moment, it opened slowly. 

“Come in, come in,” a voice boomed. “And close the door behind you. This is a private conversation.” 

I stepped inside and whatever fear I held inside multiplied by ten. Asmodeus, the sin of lust and depravity, savagery and drugs sat behind a desk. His lover, Fizzarolli, lay wrapped over his shoulder, whispering and giggling in his ear. The bright grin on Asmodeous’s face vanished the second he saw me. He gestured to the chair infront of his desk. 

“Well well, missy. Care to share what you failed to disclose when you were hired here?” He said condescendingly as he leaned his elbows on the desk. 

“I, I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered as I slowly lowered myself into the chair. 

“Oh? So you’re not the daughter of Vox?” Asmodous asked with a raised eyebrow.

“And Valentino ain’t your so-called Uncle?” Fizzerolli added. 

I swallowed. “I mean, I…”

“Simple question. Requires a yes or no answer,” Asmodeous replied as he leaned back.

“I, yes, Vox is my Dad and I…Valentino is my Uncle, that’s all right, but I’m over eighteen and I can…” 

“You lied on your application. That’s reason enough to fire you on the spot,” Asmodeous said slowly. “But on the flip side, you’re one of my most popular girls.” 

“Yeah! And it's not like you have a deal with Valentino!” Fizzerolli chuckled. “Other than the lying, I don’t see any harm in keeping her employed!”

”Right, well. I’ll consider it. For now you can consider yourself on probation while I decide how to handle this. You can leave now, you come back from break when? Next Tuesday? I’ll have your answer before then.”  Asmodeous said with a sigh. “That’s all, reader. You can leave now.”

In trouble? On probation? Asked to leave? I had never felt this way before. Heat in my cheeks, the painful throb of embarrassment as I echoed soft thanks yous and made my way out the door. I changed from my uniform to my street clothes and numbly made my way out the door. 

The last three days of college passed in a blur and before I knew it, I was seated in the limo, head on the glass as I watched the rings of hell slowly pass by. Part of me was glad to be going home- even more happy that I was going home with straight A’s. But another part of me resented the impact my family name seemed to have even being so far away. And an even bigger part of me worried that Asmodeous would chat with my Uncle Valentino and I would be walking into literal hellfire. 

As the limo pulled to a stop, I stepped out and walked the familiar route to the front door of the V tower. I swiped my access card, and a quick elevator ride, I stepped out into the penthouse. 

“Baby! You’re home!” My fathers voice, a hug so fast he had to know I was coming. 

I laughed as the feeling of warmth washed over me. For the moment, I forgot about the club. I forgot about the stress of class, of grades and long nights. I forgot about long practices and gym nights with my friends. I forgot about parties and sneaking into the boys' dorms at night. 

I was home. 

“Bebita princessa,” my Uncle Valentino’s voice, his body wrapped behind me, squishing me between my father and him. “We are so glad you’re home!” 

“Don’t you dare exclude me!” My Aunt Velvette jumped on the other side, effectively trapping me in a triangle of hugs. “Baby girl we missed you!”

“I can’t wait to hear all about college,” my father said as they released me. “Come on, your Uncle Val cooked all your favorites.

“Yes! The dining hall sucks compared to your cooking, Uncle Val,” I said cheerfully as I followed my father to the kitchen. 

“Mmm, from what I heard, the food isn’t the only thing that sucks,” my Uncle Valentino said lowly as he followed behind me, “meet me in my studio. After your father and Aunt go to bed. Understood?” 

A cold fear settled in my stomach. The tone in his voice was enough to tell me he knew. And the joy and cheerfulness in my fathers told me he and Aunt Velvette had no idea. 

Several hours later, the apartment was quiet. My Dad and Aunt Velvette had long since gone to bed. I stood in front of my bedroom mirror as I carefully braided my long hair into two braids. My face was clean of make up, and my pjs were my favorite pink striped with a bunny patch on the pocket. With any luck, my Uncle Val would take one look at my outfit, smile and tell me how cute I was and then send me right back to bed with a juice box from the fridge in his office. 

I doubted I would be so fortunate. 

I stepped off the elevator into his studio. It was quiet, like usual. Uncle Valentino didn’t allow me in there when he was working, unless of course I was confined to his studio and given Angel as a babysitter. I made my way across the dark wood floor to the only light in the studio- his office. 

“Ah, my bebita princessa,” Valentino greeted me as he looked me up and down. He raised an eyebrow. “Your outfit doesn’t change the fact that you’ve been sucking dick for the past three months.”

I crossed my arms angrily, “oh and what’s it to you, Uncle Val? I’m eighteen! I can…”

“Yeah, yeah, you can do what you want. You’re an adult- a legal adult. And I can’t stop you,” he replied in a bored voice. 

I watched as he stood up and with a single move, he stepped forward and  took my chin in his hand. I felt his fingers press into my jaw and unwillingly, I opened my mouth.

I flinched and tried to step back as his lower set of hands emerged, one holding a cotton swab. 

“Oh relax, you’re not three and I’m not brushing your teeth,” he scolded lightly. “This will only take a second.”

I felt the cotton swab the back of my throat and I gagged. He released me and retreated back behind his desk, dropping the swab into a vial. 

“The fuck was that?��� I demanded between coughs. Defeated, I sank into the chair in front of his desk. 

He slid a  juice box towards me.  “That, my dear, is the first of many tests you’re going to submit yourself to tonight. I can’t stop you from working in my field, but I will be making sure that you are safe.” 

“What do you mean safe?” I demanded as I swallowed, trying to suppress the tickle that emerged in the back of my throat. 

He rolled his eyes and ripped the straw off the juice box, opening it up before handing it to me. “Drink and I’ll explain.” 

Desprarly, I took a sip and swallowed. He raised an eyebrow as he shook the vial. 

“Funny. Asmodeous said you were one of his most obedient workers. I thought maybe that attitude would follow you home.”

“So you know, now what?” I asked. “You can’t stop me.”

“We established that,” he replied evenly. “But I can invoke the contract you signed when you began to work for Asmodeous. Specifically, the part that says his workers must receive regular STD tests, and be up to date on all health care. In addition to you receiving all testing and preventative care, I have asked Asmodous to provide you with additional protection while working. Silent eyes on you, as well as an escort to and from the club each night you work.”

“Uncle Val, you’re being invasive and overprotective,” I argued. “I’m fine.”

He shrugged. “Maybe. But it’s either follow my rules, or your father and I have a chat over breakfast tomorrow morning. You may not see how dangerous this line of work is, but that doesn’t negate it.” 

I felt the heat rise in my face. I didn’t have any shame in what I did, but I didn’t want my dad to know. The knowledge would be a painful slap in the face he didn’t deserve. I swallowed nervously and glanced to the ground. 

“You promise to keep this from my Dad? And from Auntie Vel? Uncle Val, I’m just…I’m having fun.” I said quietly. “I enjoy it.” 

“I know, baby,” he replied softly. “And I’ll keep your secret. As long as you promise to play by my rules. Above all, I want you safe.”

[roseeycreates-blog]

more of farmer au, please! Who's Suyin's dad? tell us more about the gaang and their children? more of farmer Lin? what did Toph find out that ruined their relationship? how come Toph never found Kanto?

Aaaaahhhh! Thank you for taking an interest in the AU! I've said this before and I'll say it again, this makes me so happy~ ANYWAY, I'll answer your questions~

Suyin's dad is Sokka. Let me tell you about the complicated relationship they had. As I mentioned in a previous ask, Sokka was in a relationship with Suki while Toph was with Kanto. After Toph announced her pregnancy to the gaang, Sokka started feeling a little jealous because everyone else, even the one he least expected, had one. He proposed to Suki and asked her to move to Republic City to start a family, but Suki graciously declined. She loved Sokka but couldn't leave Kyoshi Island and her people. They needed her there. Sokka understood because he couldn't leave Republic City and his duties. They both chose their careers over love. Months went by, and then Toph lost her child and her lover. Sokka knew how painful it was to lose someone, so he offered Toph a shoulder to cry on. Toph acted annoyed and insisted she didn't need anyone, but Sokka's persistence won her over. He took extra care of Toph during that time, helping with the investigation and search for Kanto and the midwife. When Toph lost all hope, Sokka was there for her. Old feelings for her friend reignited, and Sokka began seeing Toph as more than a friend. That's how they had Suyin. However, their marriage didn't last. They argued most of the time, especially about Toph's way of raising Su. When Suyin was just 10 years old, her parents split for good. It wasn't a messy breakup because both of them knew they were better as friends than as a couple. Toph also knew that Sokka loved her, but not as much as he loved Suki. About the GAANG and the next-gen:

Zuko ended up with Mai and led the Fire Nation. They were the first to have a child, making Izumi the first baby the Gaang took care of. Toph and Aang spoiled her rotten with gifts and sweets whenever they visited. Katara and Mai often scolded them for going overboard. Aang and Katara had Bumi, Kya, and Tenzin. Unlike in canon, Aang never neglected Bumi and Kya. They always went on family trips, spending quality time together and passing down their Air Nomad and Water Tribe cultures. Izumi’s nickname is Zumi, but Zuko prefers calling her "my princess." Bumi is often called Bubu or Umi by baby Tenzin and later on by baby Suyin. Kya goes by her name, but Aang calls her "my baby girl." She loved it as a kid, but as she grew older, she wasn't as fond of it. When Su was born, Kya was relieved that her dad retired the nickname and passed it to baby Su. Because the adults were often busy, Suyin spent more time with her cousins. Additionally, she spent a lot of time with her father, Sokka, since Toph was frequently occupied with work.

More on Farmer Lin:

Lin had a wonderful childhood despite growing up without a mother. Her father often affectionately called her "Meilin." She found a second mother figure in Lei, her babysitter (also the midwife who delivered her). Lin cherished Lei deeply and once even asked her to be with her father, but Lei always declined, insisting that Kanto was just a friend.

Lin was a quiet child and not very social. She had a few friends from the neighborhood and school. She was known as the quiet kid you never mess with because one time, she snapped and fought off a bully who was picking on her friend.

As a teen, Lin became popular with the boys because of her looks, but she wasn't interested and found them really annoying. Her father would tease her about being tomboyish and say she was too intimidating. She would tease him back, saying, "Maybe I'll marry a feminine boy, and we'll run away and elope, Dad." This always got Kanto, and he would swear that no man would ever lay a finger on his precious girl and take her away from him.

In her young adult years, Lin inherited her grandpa's farm, including the existing workers whom she chose to keep on. Despite their assurances that they can handle things, Lin insists on personally tending to the plants. She also has a soft spot for the farm animals and owns a shepherd dog named Zhenzhen. He's incredibly loyal and friendly to Lin but also fierce and protective of her.

Toph and Kanto's relationship hit the rocks when:

Toph discovered his ties to a gang, later known as the Triple Threat Triad. They argued fiercely because Toph insisted on getting him and others involved arrested. Kanto begged Toph, promising to reform and leave the gang, but Toph remained firm. She insisted he stay free until after she gave birth, after which he would face justice.

Despite Toph's efforts, Kanto managed to evade her thanks to his connections in Ba Sing Se. With "Kanto" being a common name, especially in the Fire Nation, Toph focused her search on finding a firebender named Kanto within the Fire Nation. Meanwhile, Kanto played the part of a non-bender widowed father, complicating Toph's quest to locate him.

[storyunrelated]

The Side of Angels #1

This is, of course, a plaintive and useless effort, but there's no shortage of those around.

Here below would be the first chapter (so serious!) of The Side of Angels, which is a working title. All the names of everyone in it are also working names. The story simmers along.

It mostly concerns a fellow who has a large cybernetic villain lady crash-land in his garden one day, and what then follows after that. They're both quite unhappy in distinct ways, and inexplicably manage to somehow meet in the middle.

I've been rather into it lately. Alone.

Anyway.

-

#1

[TBD]

The garden was father’s pride and joy. Had been father’s pride and joy.

Of course, unfortunately, father’s declining health in later years had seen the garden suffer somewhat, leading to its present state. Jack liked to try and imagine it as something rather Fisher King like, representative of something greater and having more significance. But it wasn’t. It was just a garden getting out of control because the man who’d been looking after it had been too busy dying to put the work in.

That was depressing to think about though, so he stuck with the Fisher King thing. It just seemed more engaging somehow. Made the world more magical. Less cold.

Gardening had never been one of Jack’s strong suits. In his opinion, if asked (though it seemed unlikely anyone would ask), he’d have been hard pressed to say what his strong suits were, or if he had any at all. Mostly he did what he was told to do, and seemed to do adequately enough. Certainly the complaints about his performance had always been manageable. 

Now, with dad gone, no-one was really asking him or requiring him to do anything. Things were just there. Some needed doing, but no-one was making him do them. If they didn’t get done he wouldn’t get in trouble, other than the trouble of them not being done. They were just there. Like the washing up, like the garden. They affected only him, now. No-one else would care. No-one else would even ever know if he didn’t.

Odd, that.

The garden though still had lingering overtones of dad. It had after all (some time ago now) been very much his space, where he seemed most at peace with the world. It was a place that responded to his attentions but without any demanding immediacy. He made a move, he planted something, he pruned something, and the results would come gradually and could be dealt with at leisure.

Dad and the garden had had a particular pace, quite out of step with the harsher, less-forgiving rhythm of the outside world.

Jack did not have that sort of relationship with the garden. He never had. Even back when he’d been smaller and younger (being a child, as it is commonly referred to) and the garden had been at its height of glory and he had often come out to assist his father under close supervision. Back then he’d been a visitor - a high-status one, sure, but still - and now he was just, well, the last one standing. The one arriving only after the party was over.

And now, with dad gone, the only one in any position to do anything with it. And Jack felt he should do something with it. Something positive, useful, now that he could actually spare some time and attention for it. Perhaps tidy it up a little? It had gone a bit to wrack and ruin, had started to overflow and overgrow in a few areas, had been invaded in a few others.

If nothing else, tidying it up would give him something to fill the hours with, given he had a lot more on hand now, and nothing else especially to do with them. It was a tossup between tidying or staring into space and thinking about where he was in life now. Tidying it was.

He’d already stuffed a good half-dozen or so garden waste bags with collected hedge-trimmings and sundry weeds. The bags sat in a little heap on a dry patch of lawn, evidence of his efforts. Today, the brambles seemed a good place to start.

They weren’t native to the garden but were one of the many invaders the garden was presently host to, having spilled in from the long-abandoned builders yard that abutted the rear, cascading over the wall and just working from there.

Jack bore no particular malice to brambles in general terms, but he knew his father had, and even he could admit that these ones were a pretty dire example. A First World War-esque nightmare tangle of thorns, garnished with a sprinkling of tiny, unimpressive blackberries, all lurking within the safety of the aforementioned thorns, entirely out of reach even if anyone had felt like reaching them. 

Unluckily for the brambles, though, Jack had both a thick pair of gloves and a sharp (if a trifle rusty) pair of shears. They stood no chance. Over the course of an increasingly sweaty and hot hour or so Jack worked his way through, hacking and clipping and wrenching, cutting odd handfuls and then wrenching them out of the main mass, adding them to an ever-growing pile  that quickly became several ever-growing piles.

At length, he managed to get them back to the point he could actually see the bricks they’d been growing over the top of and had, until just then, hidden. The wall hadn’t seen the light of day in years. It was okay, as far as walls went, but nothing could dim the sense of triumph.

“Dad’d be proud,” Jack said to himself.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was a start.

And as he stood there, regarding the fruits of his labour, something caught the corner of his eye. Or rather, the top of his eye, as what caught it was something up above. So up Jack looked.

Just in time for something to come down. Abruptly. To put it mildly.

To put it less mildly - and, perhaps, more accurately - something very large crashed very loudly and very quickly into the garden, mere feet from where Jack was standing.

As was the way of sudden, loud, violent things it was difficult to unpick what actually happened. One instant just standing, feeling that very particular kind of exhausted satisfaction that comes from having done something physically demanding. The next, well, laid out flat, staring at the sky without much awareness of the space in between these moments.

Ultimately what this meant was that where before there had been a moderately tidier garden and some bags of dead plants and trimmings there was now a crater in the lawn, a lot of burst bags and a lot of plant material and mud and mess everywhere. 

And something in the crater too, of course.

Something moving. Just.

They - for it was a they, Jack thought, rather than an it or a what - appeared to be in a state of some serious disrepair. Jack supposed that was the typical state of anyone in a crater, as a rule. Approximately person-shaped, it was unclear if they were actually a human person on account of quite a lot of them appearing to be made of machinery. 

Certainly, the mangled remains of their legs and right arm were sparking rather than bleeding, which seemed to suggest a machine, but the groans and growls of pain suggested otherwise. Hence Jack’s assumption that it was a they and not an it or a what.

He hadn’t the foggiest idea who this was, but he could be at least vaguely certain that they were injured, and Jack was entirely firm on this being a bad thing. Hurt implied suffering, and suffering was - as Jack had seen first-hand at some length while looking after dad - not a lot of fun. 

The solution was obvious: he had to help.

Getting back onto his feet (having been staring at all this from the floor, where he’d ended up) Jack wobbled unsteadily over to the lip of the crater his visitor had made and there he stood, unsure whether it was good manners to approach any closer to someone in a crater. He had no precedent on crater-related etiquette.

“Um, hello?” He ventured, speaking loudly on account of this thing’s head being some sort of slanted metal box without obvious ears, something he wasn’t used to dealing with. “Do you need any help?”

The head whipped in Jack’s direction, and he saw that it was originally meant to have impressive, angular horns made of the same metal as the rest, but one had snapped off. The other had not, so now Jack saw that singular horn. Very impressive, he felt, very grand. The sort of thing which made a statement. 

Unclear what kind of statement, but certainly one kind or another.

“Who is that? Which one of you is it?! I can still fight! I’m warning you!” Said the thing while flailing, the voice immediately suggesting that whatever the thing was, odds were good that it was a lady-thing. Or so Jack thought. Rather a striking voice, actually, in its way, albeit muffled and angry. It just had a certain presence and weight to it. Grandeur might be the word.

Jack kept his distance, out of flailing range.

“Um, no, no need for that. You just appear to have crash-landed in my garden. Are you hurt? I could call you an ambulance?” He asked.

Seemed kind of a stupid thing to say and kind of a lame offer to someone missing all but one limb, but Jack wasn’t sure what else he was meant to say or do. He had, as has been mentioned, no context for this sort of thing.

Not that it seemed to matter to the woman anyway. Having apparently pinpointed Jack’s location from listening to him speak she lunged with her remaining arm and grabbed him by the collar, hauling him in close with an alarming level of strength and reach - he supposed having long mechanical arms would allow that.

“No! No you shall not! You shall do no such thing! You- wait, am I outside?” She asked, losing her thread in the middle and only just cottoning onto the full ramifications of what Jack had said to her.

“Um, yes, you’re in my gar-” he started to say only to be forcibly released by her, stumbling back and falling onto his bottom.

“Get me inside now!” She nigh-on bellowed as Jack got back to his feet again, brushing himself down.

“Are you sure you should be mov-”

Again he was interrupted.

“Now! Now now now!”

Clearly she wasn’t in the mood to argue, and presumably she knew best. 

It was lucky that Jack was a big lad, too, as she herself wasn’t exactly small, and what metal bits of her that remained attached were hardly light. A bit of grunting and heaving was required to get her up and out of the crater and onto his shoulders.

“Quickly! Get me inside! Out of sight!”

“Rightyo,” he wheezed, stooped beneath her, already struggling towards the back of the house.

In the end he took her up to the guest room. In his head this made perfect sense. She was a guest, for one, and for another she was in a bad way - people in a bad way get put in beds. It was only after setting her down, face flushed and slick with sweat, that he realised that popping her onto the sofa downstairs would have worked just as well.

Still. One of those things.

“Am I inside?” She asked.

“Yes, yes,” Jack puffed, flapping himself with his sodden t-shirt, thinking longingly of a shower. Gardening had been strenuous and hot enough without having to haul around weighty and unexpected arrivals from the sky.

“Good! Now-” the guest said, only to be cut off by the front doorbell ringing, at which point she froze.

“Ah, hang on, back in a second,” Jack said, going to go and see who that was.

“Wait!” The guest blurted.

“Just a second,” Jack repeated, heading downstairs again.

All kicking off today, apparently.

Vague shapes loomed through the crinkly glass of the front door, vague shapes which told Jack nothing much useful. Not that he had anyone he was expecting anyway. No-one leapt to mind as someone who would pop up out of the blue. He didn’t have anyone left who’d want to come over in the first place. Mystified, he opened the door.

And standing the other side were a pair of very healthy looking women, one being quite enormously tall in a cape-and-spandex combo that showed off a figure built like the side of a house and the other in a suit of what looked to be eye-wateringly expensive, cutting-edge powered armour, the faceplate of which was raised to show a face that did not look especially happy to be there.

This was all very unexpected.

“Hello and good day, sir!” said the woman in the cape, beaming down and giving a wave. Jack waved back, unable to stop himself. “We are superheroes,” the woman continued, gesturing to herself and her friend.

Jack looked them over again, all at once feeling very underdressed and underprepared for this sort of thing. His longing for a shower grew more desperate but, alas, too late.

“That makes sense,” he said.

“You haven’t by chance seen any villains today, have you?” The tall, caped woman asked brightly, like this was a normal question to ask people.

The choice of words here was well-meant, but unfortunate. For while the person who had landed in Jack’s back garden was - for the sake of full-disclosure and just so that you are aware - a villain and quite a well-known one at that, Jack was possibly the only person in the whole country who did not know this. So he did not think he had run into any villains lately.

“No,” he said.

Now, had they asked instead something like ‘Have you seen anything unusual today?’ his answer would have been very different. His answer would have been ‘Yes’, which is about as far removed from ‘No’ as it is possible to get. By definition.

The tall woman’s face fell.

“Oh, that’s a shame. I could have sworn you were going to say yes.”

“Why is there a crater in your garden?” The armoured woman asked, cutting in. Her voice sounded as annoyed as her face looked, as though every moment spent here was a moment wasted somewhere better. Jack couldn’t exactly argue with that. Most of the time he spent in his own company he considered wasted.

“The garden is a bit of a state at present. Tidying it up. How did you…?”

“We can fly,” the armoured woman said flatly.

That would explain it. Everyone’s garden was overlooked by the flying.

“Are you absolutely sure you haven’t seen any villains? We’re looking for one, you see. There was a bit of a tussle and things got a bit hairy and they slipped the net and got out of sight, looked to have landed somewhere in the neighbourhood. It’d really help us out if you saw anything,” the caped woman said.

Jack wasn’t stupid. Well, he was - so he liked to think - but he could still at least connect fairly simple concepts together. It helped him get through the day without walking into any closed doors. In this case, his mind put what it had available together pretty quickly. The woman upstairs, his guest, had looked like she’d been through the wars. Perhaps she had been in a fight? In a fight with these two? And the damage that had resulted from this causing her to crash land in his garden sans a few limbs?

He could see that happening, sure.

But a villain, really? She’d been rude, maybe, but she’d likely been in pain - anyone would have been rude! Pain had a way of drawing the worst out of people, as he’d seen, so rudeness could be expected. A villain? Perhaps they were talking about someone else? Perhaps it was all a coincidence. Strange things did happen, after all. Didn’t they?

Jack wasn’t sure. He did not know what to think.

But he did have the distinct impression that were they to find his guest the violence they had already apparently visited upon her would continue, and this to him was a bad thing. He had no way of proving this would happen, of course, and could have been completely wrong, but his gut told him this and - without enough time to make a full and reasoned response - he had to go with his gut.

“Nope,” he said, lying with the ease and skill of someone who lies so rarely most people believe they’re entirely incapable of it. “Sorry. Been quite the quiet day for me, beyond digging in the garden.”

He felt bad, but this was the way things went.

The caped woman looked genuinely crestfallen.

“Rubbish. Have to keep looking now. Oh well, sorry for bothering you - hope your gardening goes well!”

“Thank you,” Jack said.

With that the two women - conferring quietly - walked back down his path to the street then, once there, promptly shot off into the sky, the caped woman under her own power and the armoured woman with the aid of powerful suit-mounted jets.

“It’d be fun to fly,” Jack said to himself before going back inside and heading back upstairs to check on his guest.

He found her having managed to wiggle up to sit in bed, propped against the headboard, sheets askew and duvet bunched. With her single arm and sparking bits she did look rather forlorn, and that blank, plated face of hers turned his way once he was back in the room.

“My helmet is broken,” she said.

“Ah,” Jack said.

That did explain a few things. For one, it would explain why she’d been sounding so muffled and for another it might explain why she apparently couldn’t see anything, though Jack felt the lack of eyeholes might also have been playing a part in that.

“There is a manual release for the faceplate. You will need a flathead screwdriver. Go and get a flathead screwdriver,” the woman said.

It took Jack a few seconds to realise she’d meant this more as an order than a polite request, and that she clearly expected him to do it right away. Not really having anything else to do he scampered off to comply, returning not long after with a screwdriver.

“Got one?” She asked on hearing him return, head turning in his general direction. Jack nodded, then remembered she was blind.

“Yes,” he said.

“Good. Come here and get ready to follow my instructions to the letter.”

“Okay.”

He approached, screwdriver in hand. He wasn’t wholly sure how close he was supposed to be getting. Within screwing range, probably, but that felt overly-familiar. Jack was wracked with uncertainty and so hesitated.

“Come on!” The woman snapped, which settled that. The bed creaked some more and Jack lent on it, now looming over her.

“Ready,” he said, poised, screwdriver in prime position.

The woman raised a finger. Presumably she’d meant to raise it so as to wag it in Jack’s face but, being blind, she couldn’t quite pinpoint his face and so was waving it more generally, dulling its impact.

“Firstly: you will not look at my face. Do you understand?” She said.

“I’ll do my best,” Jack said.

This gave her something to work with as regards where Jack was exactly and her hand lashed out, grabbing him by the collar and yanking him in within proper berating distance.

“No, you will not do your best, you will not look at my face! Do you understand?!”

Jack considered his next word carefully.

“Understood,” he said.

Jack was entirely unclear on how he was supposed to go about opening up this helmet without somehow accidentally seeing her face, but he was willing to give it a shot at her request.

She released her grip on his shirt and settled back against the headboard again.

“You will find the first of the release catches along the jawline on the left side of the faceplate. Find it now,” she said, shifting so bluntly into offering instructions that Jack was brought up short. Kneeling beside her on the bed for a better position he gingerly approached, trying to remember which left was her left relative to himself.

“Uh, right. Okay,” said Jack.

There followed a surprisingly tense few minutes of following straightforward-in-theory-but-fiddly-in-practise steps. Each catch released led to the next, often in a different place, and the further along he went the more parts of the helmet seemed to pop and release until, eventually, the final catch was fiddled with and the whole arrangement snapped back like an alarmed mousetrap in reverse, folding back around her head enough to leave her well exposed and plainly visible.

Jack didn’t know what he’d expected, honestly, but in the event she looked perfectly normal. A touch more implanted metal and circuitry than you might see on most people (which is to say, any) but nothing especially awful. Just a woman. Short hair (wouldn’t want it getting caught in the helmet, Jack suspected) piercing eyes (also glowing), but that was about it. 

He noticed that she noticed him looking at her face.

“You are looking at my face,” she said icily and he immediately averted his gaze.

“Sorry. Won’t happen again,” Jack said, cursing himself for failing to follow basic instructions - he’d just got so swept up in the releasing of catches that it had quite slipped his mind.

The woman took a breath - the sort of breath that typically preceded a dressing down - but then paused. No-one had seen her actual face in some considerable time by this point, and what she’d expected to happen were anyone to do so was horror, revulsion and general disgust. None of these had happened, and instead he just looked sheepish. This put her off-balance and robbed her of what she had been gearing up to say.

So instead she looked past Jack to take in the room she’d been brought up to.

She was not impressed.

“...this room is disgusting,” she said.

Harsh, but perhaps Jack had just got used to low standards.

“It does need a tidy, sorry,” he said.

“I demand to be moved to a better room,” she said.

“Um, they’re all like this I’m afraid. The house is in a bit of state. Trying to sort it, but—”

“Silence!”

Jack went quiet. The woman sniffed.

“You stink,” she said.

Jack was aware of this.

“I know, sorry. Was gardening, then carried you upstairs. Need a shower,” he said.

“Yes, you do.”

Kind of an impasse here. She was doling out blunt, truthful comments but Jack was already aware of them so wasn’t as ruffled as she might have expected he would be, leaving them both at something of a conversational loose end. Jack was also still averting his gaze, something which she found increasingly annoying with every passing second, especially once she noticed how obvious it was.

Quickly it became unbearable.

“You have permission to look at my face, just stop - stop making such a show of not looking!” She said.

“Right, sorry.”

“And stop apologising!”

It was becoming grating.

“Sor—ah, yes. Okay,” Jack said, smiling weakly and looking now in the vague direction of her face.

The woman was a little confused. 

She didn’t have a lot of direct interaction with members of the public. Typically they ran away from her (and for good reason, usually, being nearby was an invitation for accidental injury) and then hero-types turned up and there was fighting. It didn’t leave a lot of time for chatting, typically.

Her general impression of the rest of humanity was that they did not like her. Because they were stupid, obviously, and had no idea what was good for them. But that didn’t alter the fact that on the whole they didn’t like her and usually reacted with fear or hostility or fearful hostility whenever she was around. This she had observed on more than one occasion, and so this was what she took to be the normal reaction.

This one though just seemed to not know how to react to her at all, which suggested that perhaps he was unfamiliar with her work.

Or was an idiot, more so than most. Anything was possible.

“What is your name?” She asked. She didn’t care, it would just be useful to know. In a practical sense.

“Jack,” said Jack, adding on reflex: “And you are…?”

Being asked a question by a non-entity was an affront, but any opportunity to introduce oneself was always good. Helped set the tone, helped establish an impression, helped to make the baselines nice and clear, so she gathered herself.

“I am...The Queen!” She said, putting considerable effort into heaving herself up in bed and holding her one remaining arm aloft, as close to a power stance as her present state would allow. She couldn’t hold it for long, but as long as she could it worked pretty well.

As impressed as he was (which was mildly impressed) by this, Jack still had no idea what this meant.

“I see. Pleased to meet you, The Queen,” he said, politely.

Collapsing, The Queen turned her attention back to him, plainly annoyed at this lukewarm response, also annoyed at the way he was looking at her. She was aware she’d said he could, but it still annoyed her that he was.

“You don’t seem scared,” she said.

Jack wasn’t. He hadn’t known being scared might come up. It hadn’t even crossed his mind.

“Should I be?”

“Yes! You, mere speck that you plainly are, should be quaking in a powerful mixture of fear and awe! I am a renowned visionary - the sort that the masses like to think of as a villain! Wrongly!”

“Ah. Oh?” 

Jack had no idea what she’d said meant in practise.

And, one click at a time, like a timelapse of a jigsaw being put together, things started forming in The Queen’s head, and she started to grasp the reason as to why Jack’s reaction was so subdued, baffled and nonplussed.

“You don’t know who I am, do you?” She asked.

Not in the sense of not knowing her name - she’d just told him that - but in the more general sense of not even knowing what weight that name carried, in the sense of not having a clue who she was in the grand scheme of things. Not just not knowing what she was called, but truly not knowing who she was.

“Ah, uh, no. Sorry,” Jack said, feeling rude for not knowing this as clearly he should have, another apology slipping out, unbidden.

The Queen’s turn to be baffled now. She hadn’t met anyone who hadn’t known her or known of her for, well, years at this point. Longer ago than she cared to remember. Long enough ago that it had been back when she’d still had her old name! That was how long ago it had been!

She wasn’t sure how she was meant to react, it had largely slipped her mind.

“How? How is that even possible? My deeds are famous! Or infamous, if you’re backward,” she said, waving her twitching, half-useless hand at him as if to indicate that he plainly fell into the latter category. 

“I don’t really follow the news,” Jack said with a sheepish shrug.

He’d fallen out of the habit of doing so a few years previously, finding that being well-informed on just how badly things were going was deleterious to his mental health, such as it was. Now he knew things were bad but not how bad, and felt a bit better in a general sort of a way. Like hearing a train coming but having your back to it, so you don’t know when it’s about to hit you. Not watching the axe means never knowing or worrying when it’s about to fall.

“You don’t really follow the news,” The Queen said blankly, trying to work out whether Jack was serious or not. Had all her systems been operational she would have been able to read his biometrics like a book and see instantly if he was lying, but instead she had to make do with trying to read his blank, dopey face. His blank dopey face told her nothing. 

“No,” he said. She hadn’t asked a question - phrasing it more as a statement - but she’d left a gap and he’d felt compelled to fill it. The Queen’s eyes narrowed.

“You don’t follow the news to the extent that you have never heard of me, The Queen: premier visionary of a brighter world to come, architect of wonder, peerless genius of all known sciences and inventor of at least two formerly unknown sciences, sworn enemy to those vile and incorrigible do-gooders Flying Brick and Powered Armour?”

“Would that be those two ladies who were here not that long ago?” Jack asked, pointing in the general direction of downstairs and the front door.

“Well-built with a cape and surly in a metal suit?” The Queen asked.

“Yes,” Jack said.

“Then yes.”

“Ah.”

The sort of names used by those who feared not the opinions of others, Jack felt, and who also didn’t see the point in giving money to consultants for better options. Kind of on the nose, but then really if you were good at your job what did it matter what you were called?

An awkward silence followed this, Jack still trying to accept that two apparent superheroes would willingly go out to work with names like that and The Queen still trying to swallow how someone in this day and age could possibly not have heard of her.

“So you honestly have no idea who I am?” She asked, breaking the silence. Jack shook his head. They were going round in circles but clearly the poor woman was in a bad way, so he felt it was polite to be patient and accommodating. 

“No, sorry,” he said.

“Or what I’ve done?” She pressed. Again he shook his head.

“Again, no.”

Another pause, but a smaller one. This one just for The Queen to try and fathom where she could possibly go from here. And as she did so, she realised just how odd her situation was, and what had led to it.

“... so why did you do what I told you?” She asked.

Jack blinked at her for that one, finding it a very odd question.

“Because you were hurt?”

“... because I was hurt?”

“I wasn’t sure what else to do. I would have called an ambulance but you said no so the least I could do seemed to be to try and make you as comfortable as possible, and the best way of doing that seemed like doing what you asked.”

Again, she couldn’t quite shake the impression that he was somehow mocking her.

“So it had nothing whatsoever to do with the natural fear most would feel when confronted by such a famous, intimidating villain?” She asked.

“Would have been rude to think of you as intimidating, at least without getting to know you.”

Jack had been told that it wasn’t polite to judge people without getting to know them first.

“... I am an enormous, powerful cyborg,” the Queen pointed out.

Even with most of her missing she was a considerable size, this was true. Jack shrugged some more. Shrugging and apologies made up the bulk of how he communicated.

“Doesn’t seem like something I should base my behaviour towards someone on,” he said.

The Queen struggled for words. He clearly wasn’t lying to her or trying to be funny, but what he was saying just struck her as insane in a way she couldn’t quite pin down. It wasn’t something she’d run into before, and it wasn’t something she had a lot of precedent for. 

Normally she probably would have just hoiked him up by the collar, shaken him around a bit, tossed him aside and moved on, but that wasn’t an option now sadly, so she was stuck trying to figure this strange boy out without throttling him.

“And the two famous heroes showing up looking for me? Didn’t tip you off that something might be amiss?” She asked. Jack appeared to consider this, glancing behind him as though this would stimulate the memory of having gone down to talk to this pair of strangers bare minutes previously.

“Well I didn’t know them either. They did say they’d been fighting a villain but I didn’t want to assume it was you but, well, it is you, isn’t it?” He asked, feeling now was the time to double-check this, just to be clear.

“Yes!” The Queen snapped.

“Hmm.”

She waited for more. There was no more.

“‘Hmm’? ‘HMM’?! Is that all you have to say?! The most notorious, most wanted, most lethally dangerous and dangerously lethal ne’er-do-well in the whole country comes crashing into your back garden, you drag her upstairs for no reason other than she asked you and you lay her in a grubby bed in a grubby room, lie to two vile heroic types about it and all you have to say is HMM?!” The Queen sputtered, rising in the bed on her remaining elbow until the effort became too much and she flopped back again, her weight making the bed creak.

Jack felt appropriately sheepish and so, again, shrugged, this time rather more helplessly than the last time.

“I’m not sure what else I have to say, sorry. Are you hungry?” He asked.

This sudden conversational u-turn left The Queen struggling to catch up, not something she was overly familiar with.

“... what?”

“Or thirsty. I don’t - I’m sorry, I don’t normally have people over. And you’re hurt too. I don’t really know what to do so I’m babbling. Do you need anything? Tea?” Jack asked. Tea was always a good go-to for moments like this, he felt. Or so he thought he should feel.

There was a pause. Difficult to determine how uncomfortable it was.

“... you are offering me… tea?”

“Yes?”

She considered yelling at him some more to perhaps try and convey what a pointless and inane thing this was to offer her but the mere thought sapped what little energy she still had left. She was very tired. Having seven shades of shit knocked out of you will do that. So instead she just sighed, and decided that right then there were worse things than tea.

“Black. Six sugars,” she said.

Out of all that had happened and everything she’d said, this was what struck Jack as the most outlandish. He struggled to keep a straight face, appalled as he was.

“Of course,” he said.

Each to their own.

[caramelcuniculus]

Sheer force of will, once again, gave no valuable response. Okay, Winter King, whatever did that imply? Are there means of breaking yourself free? How were you able to grab a hold of yourself while you continued to decline? Are there means of recreating what you have? Doing it all over again? Saving someone else lost to the ruby reds? Saving another one of you? Another Simon Petrikov? These were all answers that rattled on chains within Des's head, keeping themselves locked and never to be freed. He knew the lack of information was all he would be getting for now. But it could always be revisited later. If there was a later. The thespian would have to have enough patience for that, even with something as crucial as Ice King's free will hanging in the air. He wasn't that desperate. "How dismal." It was unlikely that this Si-- that Winter knew her at all. Through the multiverse, there had been a few other Simons and Ice Kings, all of which couldn't retell the name damned centuries ago. That didn't mean she didn't have her own history, but only with another Simon and another Ice King. She needed to get that point clear through her robotic skull right then and there to keep anything from coming up. The last thing Des needed was an unimportant spill of a past that never existed. Not here. She forced a gulp, hoping to keep herself silenced. Des was listening closely, softening their features for the first time that day. These lands already seemed nicer than those back in the Ooo they were accustomed to, but that didn't make it feel right. Guess this was something they'd have to momentarily get used to. The golem supposed it couldn't be all that bad; Winter did say this was a peaceful and prosperous place. How honest could a claim like that be, especially from the mouth of royalty? If their compass lead them towards a small village, then, and only then, would they get their answer. Walking into the main portion of the kingdom was also one of the last things on their to-do list. And then his face fell flat at the dad joke. "Haha." It was the most pitiful laugh conceived by anybody, but Des wasn't here to play games or tell jokes. The Garden of Healing; he needed to grip his bearings again. Old lunatics and happy, useful nobles should be the least of his concerns. A scoff. "See him as you may, but I quite enjoy his company. Of course, you could never recognize it that way, but I don't think you've ever met me to make that claim upon my behalf." The thespian winced under the mask. "If we're to be acquainted, the two of us are better off going along with a name-by-name basis. Des; that's the name you should know. Become accustomed to it, or not. As if I care." She didn't, really. Unless she could somehow figure out how to reverse the crown's effects, after searching the Garden of Healing, both her and Aurora were getting out of this world as quickly as possible. So long as Winter didn't do anything to her. At this rate, who knows? A ding came from Des's compass. The arrow now was pointing towards the north. "It wants us to go about another path." They turned towards where the compass directed, squinting to see what could lie ahead. For now, more forest. That wasn't a problem for them; yet again the scenery was a spectacle. Spectacle, spectre... "This way, and don't fall behind!" Des spoke loud before beginning to move a bit faster, trying to get to the Garden quicker this way.

This was definitely a display if he's ever seen one. Despite Winter's twirling around, Des didn't stop walking. At least they could make another mental note, adding this to the long list of the king's ever-apparent personality. He was something alright: a fool. He knew if he said this out loud, he'd have his head. Des knew he was on thin ice as it was, something they were still degrading themself over in the back of their mind. Too late to change any of that now; the two of them would carry on. Unfortunately, this wasn't so much a good thing for the thespian. At least he now had some insight, alongside a name. Yeah, extremely creative. "That tells me next to nothing, but you sure know how to set up an interesting story. That, however, isn't quite what I asked." Tension, resolution, and whatever else, didn't tell the kingdom's tale. Maybe Winter wouldn't share the full details with her. That wouldn't surprise her; she's made a bad first impression already. "It's, err, an honor to make your acquaintance then, king of ice and snow. I'll stick to Winter, then. Easier to say, easier to remember." Like it was hard to forget with the very season surrounding you on all fours, forever and always. Not forever and always. Des and Aurora would be out of here soon enough, but they needed to find the Garden first. Then, and only then, would-- . . . Des froze into the snowy ground under their feet. No sound indicated the pause in time, the freeze in the cosmos. Des simply stood there, looking lifeless, as if they were a mannequin of sorts. They were, in some ways. They'd dressed another vessel up to act the human, the human who knew one of those names by heart. The golem didn't need to hear the last name; the dull mention of Ice King was enough to tell everything. It made them feel... everything. For once, it felt as if they were human again, back in the days where they were a mere archaeology student. And look where that lead them. To the Azran, to the Garden of Healing they were seeking out. And, of course, of course, to Simon. Or, another Simon. This was not the one they knew, because this could never be their Simon Petrikov. Their Petry. It still didn't stop everything from shutting down. But Des forced it all to come back up. "Anything in particular? I do, actually." Her voice was off. Not only did it sound deadbeat, it were as if two voices were fighting each other at once. "You, Ice King? Please, elaborate. Ice King doesn't look nor act like this. I'm sure you're fully aware of that already." Something like this wasn't possible, was it? Des had been visiting his Ice King, his Simon, for almost as long as he's had the Bostonius up and running around the never-ending multiverse. He knew that crown was serious and sinful, something unable to be rewired or rewritten. The truth was painful, but it was the truth, and his Simon was still in there in more aspects than one would think. You just had to be there to understand, and no one else had been outside of him. The old college days, the archaeologist, the antiquarian, and the world. Hundred years have passed and were now behind him. Yet the sole reason Des was here at all was for nostalgia, wasn't it? Suppose it was time to kill two birds with one stone. "So how? How are you like this? How did you break free from clutches that were never to release you?"

[honeysunai]

Hostess| Kyoya Ootori x reader

Part eight -  Operation : Make her happy

Pairing : Kyoya Ootori x reader

General rating : Fluff, enemies to love vibes

Word count : 5k

Summary: As only heir to your family you are bound to an arranged marriage with the third son of the powerful house Ootori. His cold behavior is only a mask for you to uncover when you stumble into music room number three.

This weekend, Haruhi and her father invited you to spend some time over their house because Haruhi needs more girl friends and experience sleep overs and such. You laughed at how bold and funny the two of them are and agreed, besides it’s not like you were busy. After quitting the Host Club a day ago and being in your feelings, you finished your homework and were too drained to want to practice any instruments or read anything. A friend would be better than anything else, right now that’s what you need. 

“And so, they kind of kidnapped me to be in the Zuka Club.” Haruhi finishes her story and you laugh. You were both sitting at the table drinking coffee while still in pajamas. 

“They do that often, don’t worry about it, they won’t press you if you say no.” You drink another sip of instant coffee and remind yourself to keep it together, because to this day, you still laugh that the boys at the club had no clue that this liquid gold existed before Haruhi arrived. 

“I have to do some shopping today, I’ve grown out of a few shirts and I wanted to go get some new ones?”

“I’d love to come shopping with you! We can even bring your dad!” Your eyes were sparkling with joy, it’s the first time since you’ve made new friends you were going to shop with them. “If you’re interested, I can take both of your sizes and ask my mom for designer clothes.”

“That’s very kind of you, but we don’t do designer clothes.” She politely declines your offer. Shoot! Of course you went a bit too far, after all, Haruhi is a commoner and doesn’t care to have the fanciest of shirts. 

“Speak for yourself!” Her father barges in the room and proceeds in deep details both of their sizes and and favorite colors. You took some notes before discreetly sending this info to your mom’s secretary even if you had promised Haruhi she won’t get anything. 

“Hey, did you really quit the club?”

You didn’t even hesitate to lie, you just blurred out the truth to her. “Yeah… I just made a fool of myself and I don’t think it would be appropriate to come back after what happened.” 

“I liked having you around, it was refreshing. Kyoya was on someone else’s back.” She jokes and you nudge her with your elbow. “Mori told Kyoya that he was a jerk and Tamaki had a meltdown after you left.”

“I bet they did.” You chuckle. 

“None of us are angry with you, I promise, but I won’t force you to come back if you don’t want to.” How you wanted her to force you into going back.  “Anyways. I don’t know if you need anything, it’s not as fancy as your mother’s couture, but feel free to shop around too.”

“I was planning to.” You smile. “Unlike Tamaki, I’m not awkward around “commoners”.” You try your best to imitate your friend and she laughs. 

She scrunches her nose and smiles. “He does that often doesn’t he?”

“It’s part of his charm.” You add. 

After an eternity in a local shop, Haruhi finally chose the three shirts she wanted. You, on the other hand, only picked out three bracelets, one for you, for Haruhi and Renge… Your two best friends. The one for Renge has large pink quartz beads, Haruhi’s are small red beads and yours has small lavender beads. 

Haruhi was pulling a few dollars out of her wallet, but you stopped her giving the cashier your card instead.

“If that’s alright with you, I’d like to pay for the expenses of today. You’ve only been kind and patient with me since we met. As a friend I would like to return the favor by paying for your purchases.” Your voice was noble and full of good intentions.

She scoffs in shock. “I can’t accept it.” 

“It would be a pleasure, plus you’ve fed me and sheltered me this weekend as your own sister.” She clearly  wasn’t taking your bluff anymore.

“You’re really not going to let it go, huh?” Haruhi asks, a bit annoyed, and you shake your head.

“I’ll even make you feel guilty if I talk long enough.” You joke and she giggles. She finally agreed and soon, you were on your way to her home. 

As you approached the building, you saw a black Mercedes parked in front of Haruhi’s home… It had to be the Host Club, who else would bother Haruhi on a weekend like this? You didn’t really want to see them today, especially after you made up your mind on giving back the uniform tomorrow after club activities. You were too much of a coward to face them now, you wouldn’t be able to do so the day after. 

“I have to go home, I forgot my French homework is due tomorrow.” You tried to lie hoping Haruhi wouldn’t see right through it.

“Aren’t you fluent in french?” She asked.

“Fluent or not, I still have to do it!” Right now she reminded you of Mauri with her cold stare. 

“Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow then.” She smiled and you were thankful she believed in your lie.

“Haru! Y/n!” Honey’s voice rang like thunder in your ears as he called the both of you. You clenched your jaw tightly before spinning around and met him with a bright smile. “We came to see you.” The rest of the group finally noticed their fellow member had left and joined you three. 

“Well, it’ll have to just be me, y/n has a French homework due tomorrow.” Haruhi smiles at Honey. 

“The homework is for next week, silly.” Tamaki snorted and you wanted to disappear. A soft chuckle echoes to the back of the group and you glared at Kyoya’s shit eating grin. 

You crossed your arms over your chest as you glared at Kyoya. “What are you laughing at, clownfish?” 

“Your poor attempt to flee us is just hilarious to me.” He adds and you swear you saw red. 

Tamaki cuts in before you get the chance to speak. “What he meant was that we are here to spend the most fun day together as a family.” 

“No we are not.” You snort. 

“Yes we are and we are starting with some bookstore fun!” He says proudly as he grabs both you and Haruhi and yanks you inside the Mercedes.

“Tamaki! That’s kidnapping what you just did there!” You yelled as he put your seatbelt on for you.

 “We are on a mission today and it’s to make you happy so stop yelling and enjoy your day with us!” He yells back and you shut your mouth. They wanted to make you happy. Were you unhappy? “We are going to the Nakajima Library.”

You stayed silent the entire ride, you did not want to speak to any of them. They kidnapped you! 

But they did it so you could be happy… It’s still kidnapping!

You’ve arrived at your destination and you can’t believe your eyes… It’s grandiose. You can’t believe you never went there yet. Obviously it’s attached to a university and obviously you don’t go there yet. You are meant to go to the US for your higher studies, but you’re really considering going to this one instead. All of your friend's eyes are on you. You felt Kyoya’s burning holes behind your head, but never looked back at him as you took the first step towards the library.

A smile was pinned on your face as you entered the colosseum shaped library. The dim lights warmed the place with a beautiful orange like light. You felt like you were back in Rome. 

You’ve been to Rome once in your life and you fell in love with the place. It was one of the only family vacations you’ve been on with both your parents. A month in the warm weather of Italy with your loving parents, without their work coming in the way. You strut confidently between bookshelves making sure to browse the titles as you go, it’s mostly books for the students that are part of this university. Tamaki’s bubbly self, followed you like a puppy and offered you books to read. You settled on a science book he offered you that you never knew about and brought it to an empty table so you could read it in peace. 

Peace didn’t last too long, as all of the Host Club brought their own books to your table. To “read”, but other than Haruhi actually reading, the rest of them stared at you. Minutes have passed and they still haven’t stopped watching you. 

“How long should we stay here for?” Hikaru whispers under his breath. 

“Until y/n is satisfied.” Tamaki whispers back aggressively.

Haruhi snorts. “Bold of you to assume she will ever get satisfied after one book.” 

You smile quickly at Haruhi’s words without ever looking up from your book. Soft fingers brushes hair behind your ear. You looked at the person beside you and was surprised Kyoya sat there, his whole body facing you. “Your hair was in the way.” He only whispers before getting back to his book. What was that all about? You feel your cheeks heating up, but shook off that feeling. 

After a few hours of reading and hearing Hikaru and Kaoru groaning, you’ve had enough and Tamaki, once again, dragged you outside like he was kidnapping you, yanking you in the car and you were on your way somewhere else. 

The car ride, this time, seemed more lively and chatty. It was warm and familiar. It was as if everything was normal and you liked that, hell even loved it. 

After a few minutes, the car parked on the side of the road and exited the vehicle. You were left in front of a rather beautiful industrial building that seemed modern and new. 

“Where are we?” You ask as you all walked up to the gates and were allowed inside without question. 

Mori speaks. “Your mother told us that you like that very fancy coffee.” This is the new factory of the French coffee brand you always drink at home. “Tamaki’s French heritage helped us get inside.”

“The owner knows my father, so we were able to get a free tour of the factory and some samples!” The blond man says excited as you meet a beautiful tall woman waiting for you at the door. 

“Welcome! We are really excited to have you visit our factory Miss y/n.” The woman shook your hand. “I’m Elise Hanako.” The combination of the French and Japanese names made you uneasy, but for politeness sake you ignored that funny feeling and smiled properly. “Danuja Hanako, the owner and also my father, gave me his property in Japan so that we can localize our french coffee.” 

“It’s an honor to be in your presence, Miss Hanako.” You were eager to visit the factory. 

“I’ve been informed that you are a huge fan of our brand.” You blushed. “That’s great! I do hope our factory will live up to your expectations.” She adds and the automatic doors behind her open letting all of you enter the building.

This place did not look like a coffee factory, it looked like a high tech law firm or some sort. The interior was in this mix of black and dark wood with plants here and there. Everyone was dressed in a proper way, just like at your father’s workplace. Miss Hanako explains that the magic happens behind the scenes and proceeds to show you where the coffee beans were sorted out and how they were packaged. People dressed like scientists were inspecting every bean before sending it in the “good bin”... Maybe that’s why your coffee was so expensive. 

The factory was huge and you appreciated every second Hanako spoke up to explain how things were made and was kind and patient over your millions of questions you asked over the tour. 

“This concludes our tour and I do hope you enjoyed yourselves.” You all answered with a polite “yes, thank you” and Miss Hanako was pleased with that. “I almost forgot! I have two bags of our new batch that’s coming up next month, Cherry Flower and Chocolate Pecan Caramel.” She snapped her fingers and one of the workers carefully placed two bags in your arms. “My assistant sent you my personal email, so please do give me feedback.” You were in awe. “Get home safe kids.” She smiled before you exited the building to the car. 

You were shocked that they would go beyond anything to make you happy, they were true friends. “Thank you–”

“Don’t thank us yet!” Tamaki shouts over you. “One last stop, the orchestra.” The Orchestra!?

“You don’t mean–” 

“The best musicians around Japan? Yes, I mean that Orchestra.” He smirks. You were there at the presale, but never got the chance to get tickets. You wondered how they got eight of them. “But we can’t go dressed as commoners.” He adds and Haruhi slaps him behind his head. 

You didn’t look awful at all, you thought you all were a bit underdressed for the occasion, but no one would notice. Right?

“Pick whatever outfit you want, it’s on Kyoya.” Tamaki bumps his friend with glasses and he smiles as if he was forced to do so. You gave him a look that almost said : “You just learned that as well?” You all stopped at The Thread Maker, the town's finest clothing store. 

“All of you, pick an outfit I’ll pay for it.” He adds and you smile at him, a bold and bright smile. 

You all scattered around the store and looked around. You kind of wanted to take advantage of Kyoya and decided to go to the more expensive part of the already expensive store. You didn’t even have to think twice, the dress in front of the mannequin was the one you would buy. No price tag = pricey. It’s a scarlet red Queen-Anne shape with a leg slit dress. It’s a fully flared gown, floor length with a corset built in with embroidered floral details all over it. It was from your second favorite designer (after your mother) Teuta Matoshi. Honey’s voice was heard behind you, ordering a worker to let you try it on. You were dragged by another worker inside a cabin… After this day, you won’t let anyone drag you anywhere ever again!

You look at yourself in the mirror and surprisingly it’s a perfect fit all the way around, not too long, not too short, not too big or tight. It was perfect and you looked absolutely beautiful. 

When you came out of the dressing room, you only found Haruhi in another beautiful pink dress that made her look more feminine. The dress was tight on her and she is probably making Tamaki drool, because you sure would’ve. The guys were sitting on the couch in complete silence, their eyes all over you both. 

“Why aren’t you dressed?” Haruhi asked and none of them were answering. You couldn’t help but glance at Kyoya that had his eyes on your body already. You put on a show and twirled.

“My idea of a perfect day would be if you all were dressed too and not undressing us with your eyes.” You chuckle and they all cough and grunt, suddenly bashful of their actions. They rushed to get a suit and you stood there with Haruhi enjoying each other’s company. 

They all come out at the same time from the dressing room and they all are dressed the same, black and white suit with black ties. They look amazing! The last one to come out was Kyoya and when he appeared out the curtain he was playing with a red bow tie around his neck. The other’s were holding their laughter at the sight of him being the only one with a bow tie. 

You chuckled under your breath as you approached Kyoya to fix his matching bow. He froze under your touch and you just couldn’t hold your giggles any longer. “Tamaki said we would all wear bow ties because that would’ve made you laugh, but it seems I’ve fallen right into his trap.” He grunts. “I look ridiculous.” 

“You do.” You smile. “In a good way.” You add. “We are going to be late if we keep mocking our dear Kyoya!” Mori gave you his arm that you gladly took and walked back to the car where you’d wait for Kyoya to pay. 

The conversation between all of you was even more lively and joyful, you were really excited to go see The Orchestra.  Once you arrived at the place, you weren’t confident that this was the auditorium they usually play at, but you let it go once you entered and saw the beauty of the place you were in. Red walls and gold decors, with crystal chandeliers made you feel like you were in a movie. Mori took your arm and led you to golden doors that two workers opened grand and wide for you to realize this was an empty ballroom. 

You were confused and asked: “Are we early?”

“We are right on time.” Kaoru answer. 

The empty room made you a bit uneasy, but once you stepped inside the large red curtain lifted to reveal The Orchestra on stage. It’s a private concert… You spin around to meet Tamaki’s gaze and he smiled proudly at the utter shock on your face. 

“May I have this dance?” Mori asked you and you nodded, not entirely sure of what to do. He leads you to the center of the ballroom and once you do, the musicians start to play. Melodious sounds of violin echoes in the room, followed by loud cellos. Tears were filling your eyes, but you blinked them away. They organized this whole day for you, and only you.

Mori spins you around, letting go of your hand so you were now partnered with Kyoya who held you tightly against him as you swayed with him. The other’s picked each other as partners and danced to the same rhythm as you were with Kyoya. You both stayed silent as he twirled you around slowly and brought your back against his chest, swaying you gently this way.

“I did not know you danced this well.” You whispered with a hint of humor. 

He brought his lips close to your ear and you can hear the smirk in his voice. “I’m glad my efforts are being appreciated, these last four years of dance lessons are being used well.” At that you laughed. 

You danced for hours with your friends to the most beautiful songs who, on multiple occasions, brought tears. 

At the very end of the concert, you all applaud the musicians and the conductor for their performance. You were ready to leave, but an unfamiliar voice called your name, and it was none other than Ayaka Saito, the cello player you looked up to since forever, walking towards you. You felt your knees go weak, she was the most beautiful woman you’ve ever seen, she looked like she was royalty. 

“Y/n, this is for you.” She smiles as she hands you the bow that she used tonight to play with her autograph on it. “I heard you’re a great musician, with lots of potential.” You couldn’t seem to stop smiling without ever saying words. “Our manager would be interested to hear you play, especially if what your friends said is true. There would be a spot for you once you graduate if you impress Sara Nakamura.” Your jaw was on the floor. The Sara Nakamura! She is the face of the classical music industry in the modern era and she wants to hear you play? You were on the verge of fainting. 

You finally spoke to her in the calmest way possible. “It’s an honor to hear this coming from you, you are the one who made me start to play cello.” She smiles even more. “I would be even more honored to play for you and Miss Nakamura.” 

“Her assistant will send you information concerning this invitation.” She adds. “I bid you all good night.” She says before giving you a friendly hug. You were going to faint.

Once again you had to be dragged inside the car because you were frozen in place. You talked like a maniac the whole way back to your house. You were so happy to have finally met your musical idol tonight and that you’ve been given an extra rare opportunity. 

As the vehicle parks in front of your front gate you finally take a few deep breaths, the adrenaline wearing off. You hugged all of your friends inside the car and exited the car.

“We will see you for an early meeting tomorrow morning!” Tamaki smiles and yours drops. 

“Look guys…” You sigh. “I really appreciate what you did for me all day, but I’m okay I promise, I’m not sad.” It was a plain lie. “I just don’t have the heart to be the Host you want me to be anymore.” You tried to give your friends the coffee beans from France and returned the bow to them, but none of them tried to take it. 

“Keep it, please.” Tamaki’s soft smile broke your heart. “It’s a gift for you.” 

You nod and thank them again without ever glancing at Kyoya, you turned your back to them and headed inside your home. They did succeed to make you happy today, but when the door closed behind you, tears were falling down your cheeks as you held the objects tightly to your chest.

You drop your neatly folded uniform on the tea table and sigh. You really loved your club, but it was better this way. You linger a while staring at the blue fabric that you were giving up. You were never one to give up, but recently you have. You gave up on Kyoya, your family duties, your plan to get another financé, you also gave up on your club, your friends… You were tired and disappointed in yourself. You wanted to get better and be better.

“You don’t have to do that, you know?” A deep voice makes you gasp out loud by surprise. Kyoya. 

Your hand was on your heart. “Good God! You scared me.” 

He did not care for your reaction. “You don’t have to leave the club.”

You crossed your arms over your chest. “Did they ask you to tell me this?”

“They have told me multiple times, but I chose to.” He starts. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry won’t change my mind.” You scoff.  

“I know, you are stubborn as a mule.” He lightly chuckles.

“If that’s all, I’ll go. I have somewhere else to be.” You lied and started to walk towards the exit, but he put himself in front of you. 

“Why did you do all of this?” You were confused. “Why did you want Koichi over me?”

You scoff, absolutely baffled by what he was asking. “Because you don’t love me, Kyoya.” It was as simple as that. “Because liking on only one side is just too hard to do. You refuse to fall in love with me no matter how much I try to be perfect for you.” He was silent. You took that time to walk past him in a rush but stopped as you heard his voice once again. 

“I can’t fall in love with you. I– I can’t because if I do I am afraid I’ll end up doing the same mistake my parents did. They fell in love and then… They didn’t. It ruined the relationships between the family.” The look in his eyes… It was painful and sad, Kyoya was hurt. It probably took a lot of his courage to finally admit you spent months trying to figure out. Seeing him lose his composure in front of you saddened you. “It became a competition between me and my brothers, my mother being sad all– all of the time… My father… He doesn’t give any of us breaks, he’s relentless and he just cares about success. He doesn’t care about us, my brothers and I… My mother, his own wife who he is supposed to love and to cherish…” He was out of breath, all these feelings were finally out. “That’s why I can’t fall in love with you, because I don’t ever want you to end up like my mother if I end up like my father.”

It took you a good ten seconds to analyze what he had just confessed to you. All of it. Your heart broke for him and his family. No matter how much you wanted to console him, that was not what you needed to say. “That’s not good enough.” Was what came out of your mouth. He was perplexed. “That’s not good enough.” You repeated. “It’s not good enough for all of the times you put yourself in the way of a guy I talked to. For all the times you were kind and flirty and then you weren’t. It’s just not good enough.” He was hurt by your words, you knew it. His eyes couldn’t lie. “Is this hypothesis worth more than hurting me?” He doesn’t answer, but never breaks your gaze. You wanted to break and cry, but you stood your ground proud and strong just like your father taught you. “I can’t marry someone who’s afraid to take a leap and fall in love with me. I guess trying to make you feel what I felt was too demanding.”

“You loved me?”

“Does it matter? You don’t care, Kyoya. You don’t care about what my favorite songs are, you don’t care about my favorite books… Even Koichi was interested in what book was next on my list and he didn’t even love me one bit.” You scoff. 

“It’s Lucy by the sea.”

“What?”

“Your next read. It’s Lucy by the sea.” You were confused as to how he knows. “I got a hold of your list from your maid to know what book I should buy you next, in every stupid edition possible because that would make you happy. But no… I don’t care, right?” You were taken back from this confession. “I wore that stupid tie to make you laugh, I organized the whole day with Tamaki so that you would be able to understand that I am sorry.” He adds and something in your heart pinches. He made it all happen so that you would forgive him, but that’s not what you needed nor wanted from him.

“It’s still not enough.” You whisper with tears in your eyes. You blink them away before turning your back ready to leave the music room, you had enough. 

“Fuck.” He whispered before running after you, yanking you to the side to trap you between the wall and him. You wanted to push him away, but couldn’t as he lowered his head to crash his lips against yours. It was sudden and gentle. His lips tasted like mint and were so soft against yours. He was so careful with his next movements, his warm hands cradled your face opening your mouth just enough so his tongue could cross the borders of your lips to devour you entirely. Your arms wrapped themselves around his neck asking, begging for more. More touch, more passion, more of anything, you only wanted him. You raked your hands in his hair and fuck did it do something to him, his hand gripped your hips with such strength moving you against his thigh between your legs. It was so erotic you moaned against his lips which made him smirked. He pulled away enough to look at you in the eyes, truly look at you. “Don’t cry because of me.” He whispers stroking your cheeks so, so slowly, you want to melt in his touch. You pull him by his tie so his lips are on yours again. Your hands roamed his chest and shoulders and my god he was muscular, the uniforms didn’t do him a favor.  His hands were snacking around your waist underneath your dress shirt, memorizing the curves of your body. His touch was warm and soft, you were hypnotized by him. He slowly pulled away to kiss your cheek, then all the way up your jaw to leave one soft kiss under your ear. 

“Do you know how long I've wanted this?” He whispers in your ear. You were so warm, you thought perhaps you were running a fever, but one of Kyoya's hands carefully unbuttoned two of the buttons of your dress shirt, you knew you weren’t having any fever dreams. You looked up at him and you could see his gaze linger on your chest slightly exposed before facing you again. Hunger and lust was the only thing you could see in him. Without ever looking away, his fingers pushed the collar of your shirt to the side so your shoulder was bare for him. His featherlike kisses tickled your skin as he left a trail of them to the side of your neck all the way to your shoulder. He gently nibbled the sensible skin with his lips and tongue teasing you in a way that had you softly moaning, reprimanding for more. He smirked against your bare shoulder before biting the skin that had you rolling your eyes. 

The bell snapped the both of you out of our interaction making him pull away from you. You sigh in disapproval, you didn’t want him to leave now that you truly kissed him. He went to open the door, but stopped without looking at you. “Keep the uniform,” He spoke slowly : “and don’t replace me.” That’s what it was about… He wanted to prove you needed him, that he was better. He was jealous. Two can play that game especially if you are better at it.

You were back in your uniform and ready to conquer the day as you walked into the Music Room number 3 the day after, slamming your hand on the tea table in front of Tamaki. “I want in.”

“Excuse you?” He asked before sipping his tea. 

“I want my role back in the Host Club, I am so sorry for how mean I was that day. But this club means a lot to me and I made a promise to you that I want to keep.” You were practically begging for him to take you back.

“What changed?” Hikaru asks.

“I guess your operation worked a little too well.” You smirk.

“You’re still in the Host Club, you don’t need permission to come back.” Tamaki smiles and you nod. You turn back to Kyoya and he smirks at you before deviating his gaze back to his laptop.

Maybe it's not about finding someone else, maybe you just need another approach towards Kyoya and if it’s through challenges and working each other up that you’ll get through him, so be it.

AN: Hi everyone! So sorry it took so long for this update, this chapter was written, deleted, written, deleted... like a thousand times. I hope this chapter filled your heart with some Kyoya love. I hope you all had wonderful holidays and since today, for me, is still Dec 31. I hope you all have a great 2023 filled with love and happiness! I promise y/n and Kyoya will get some happiness and love in 2023 as well.

— 𝐭𝐚𝐠 𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐬

✧ @gay-noble @vanicogh @hopeless-romanticnamed-s @idktbhloley @p1nkliquor @hellokittykuroo @batboob @kisskissshutmydoor @lemonrolls @hoku-killer @sunukissed @jessiegerl @lunalily19 @i7zha @asrainterstellar @arimoony24 @simp-lythebest @fan-g0rl @randobeetlehouse @glomp-me @yeeyeebabe @maackiimoo @kaelysian @noendingtolove @luminaaz @thewendyslogo @eri0-0 @arielbillyboy16 @aangsupremacy @yuriklol @lillunna @lostsomewhereinthegarden @chocorenchin  @sukcama @bratb1tch @topmeyelena

[visforvengeance]

I saw stars // Rafe Cameron

Requested by: mm no one :)

Notes: i really love rafe and he just needs help. no hate against sarah. she's one of my faves. also i don't remember what happened to their mom so. i based this on that one part in nda by billie eilish that's all lmao

Warnings: like i tried my shot at angst, cursing, teeny tiny bit of manipulation, fighting (between rafe and ward), drug abuse (mentioned). death of a parent (mentioned), there's no spoilers here babes, I actually proofread this time. go me!!

Song

Third-person POV

Rafe paced in his room as his girlfriend sat on his bed. He couldn’t form one coherent thought but his mind was racing. The girl’s voice drowned out in the background. God, she was so worried. He’d called her here, saying it was urgent. But, he’s yet to say what was wrong. She got up and stood in front of him, he realized that she was there and looked up at her. “Baby, what’s wrong?” She pleaded for him to tell her something.

Lately, Rafe had gotten worse. The more Sarah hung out with the pogues, the more their father tried to reel her back in, the less Ward paid attention to how much his son needed him. Rafe fell deeper into his rabbit hole, but the only thing that was holding him afloat was his girlfriend. But even then, he was pulling her in with him too. “Rafe, please tell me what’s wrong. You’re scaring me!” She was so scared. Not of him but for him. She’d watch her boyfriend of 2 years get more unstable with each passing day.

Rafe couldn’t pinpoint which issue he should tell her about, there were so many. Sarah is being a bitch and hanging around the pogues JUST to spite their dad, Ward is fucking falling for it, Rose is being Rose, he’s not ok and no one fucking notices. “Nothing is wrong.” He couldn’t tell her. He had too much shit going on with his family and he couldn’t drag her into it. But, she wasn’t going to let him slide this time. She could see that everything was wrong. The drug abuse, the mental health decline, the lack of attention from his parents. It was breaking him and she’s the only one who seems to give a shit. So why won’t he let her in?

“I call bullshit, Rafe. Please talk to me.” He laughed, manically. “You want to know what’s wrong, babe? Let me tell you. Let’s start with the fact that I have a conniving little bitch of a sister who toys with my father. And a dad who I look up to that won’t give me the slightest bit of attention. Um, the pogues like to insert themselves in everything we do. I just can’t fucking win. So, what’s the point, y’know?” He was crying, although he didn’t realize it. His shedding tears turned to full-on sobbing as his head rested in the crook of his girlfriend’s neck. “Rafe..” she ran her hand through his hair.

He was just a little boy who needed love. She couldn’t imagine having to deal with the shit he does. She was tired for him. The more it sunk in, the angrier she got. She saw red at this point. “Is your dad here?” She whispered to him. He nodded and looked up at her with those pretty little eyes. “Why?” “He needs to get his head out of his ass and realize that everything isn’t about Sarah. He’s completely neglected you and Wheezie trying to save someone who doesn’t want to be saved.”

He tried to stop her but his pleas were being ignored. She spotted Ward in his study and pulled Rafe in and closed the door behind him. “We need to have a little talk.” Ward tried to politely shut her down and get her to leave but she wasn’t having that. “No, you listen to me. Do you realize that other people exist other than Sarah? Like for instance, your other two kids? You’re so far up her ass that you can’t see that they actually need you, unlike her who is doing just fine with her found family.” The two men stood there, shocked as she tore into Ward.

“Your son adores you and all you do is treat him like some stepchild that you don’t want. Do you know how he deals with his pain? Drugs. He’s getting worse and you just watch. You berated him for his actions without even questioning why he does what he does.” Ward tried to defend himself against the younger girl. “Rafe knows that I love him, don’t you, son?” He only called him that to try and manipulate Rafe into doing what he wants.

“No, dad. I don’t. I really fucking don’t. You know, ever since mom died you just stop acting like you cared. I tried so hard to be the son you always wanted and it never fucking worked.” Ward stood there. The rage was evident in his eyes as he stared at Rafe. The younger Cameron was pouring his heart out to him and instead of showing the least bit of sympathy, he was just angry.

He lunged at Rafe, which caught him off guard. As Ward’s fist collided with his face, blood flew from it and onto the ground. Y/N didn’t know what to do as the two men fought. She was terrified for Rafe. The shuffling and her scream were all you could hear outside of the door. Rafe was on top and giving Ward a run for his money. “Rafe, please stop! We’ve made our point, you’re going to kill him!” He realized that his father was no longer fighting back and stopped.

Before they left, he stopped to say something. “Now I really see what you are. You’re just a sad little man, Ward. You only care about this stupid fucking treasure that you killed a man for. And all I ever did was try and help, but it never worked. So, fuck you. I’m done.”

He stormed out of his office with bloody clothing and a bloody nose. Now, they’re in Rafe’s bathroom. Y/N trying to clean his wounds. “Are you okay?” The concern was all over her face. She felt bad. Maybe she shouldn’t have inserted herself in their business. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have gone in there,” she said as he winced at the sensation on his lip.

“No, it’s fine. If anything, you helped. You’ve made me realize that I don’t have to deal with this shit. Will you come with me? We could leave here and forget all of this, it can just be us together.” Y/N thought about it. When she turned 18, all of her family had left. But she stayed for Rafe. So why shouldn’t they just leave?

“Of course I’ll leave with you. Tonight, right now. We pack our shit and go. You remember that trip to our vacation home in Texas? We could go there. It’s basically vacant now. What do ya say?” She smiled cheekily at him. His lips latched onto hers as they shared a passionate kiss. They loaded his things into the truck her dad had given her and they left without turning back. The lights of the Cameron home blurred in the distance and they drove off.

[geekgirlsmanifesto]

Typically I leave tumblr for my interests and try as hard as I can to keep my life out of it but I need a place to just get some things off my chest that is unlikely to be stumbled upon by some well-meaning person who knows the other parties involved in this rant.

Maybe I shouldn't call it a rant because I'm not angry. If anything I'm just exhausted. It's partly my own fault because I'm seemingly incapable of handling money like an adult even though I am far into my adulthood. But there are a lot of other things that are contributing to things right now.

I decided years ago to stay with my grandma and my aunt and let the release the rest of the family from their unique needs emotionally. My brother who is older than I am freely raised his family and ended up the IT Manager at a major teaching hospital.

I ended up working at Target.

Technically I was working in human resources until a single mistake cost me my job and the only thing I could find at the time was Target. At the same time my grandmother's ability to care for herself without serious assistance deteriorated to the point that she was moved to a nursing home. And I suddenly because financially responsible for myself and my aunt who hasn't worked since the 1980s. My grandma has been fighting a lot of paranoid hallucinations about people selling her house out from under her so I have to make sure I keep the house that she and my grandfather had worked so hard for. But it's impossible on my income. And over the last year I have just found myself in a deeper and deeper hole.

Additionally, I have found myself responsible for my father who does NOT live with me but is facing a rapid decline due to ALS.

Over the last few months I have been looking hard for a new job but I'm having no luck. And I'm getting more and more behind on things.

And then Wednesday the loan company called and told me that if I didn't pay them $600 by today they would repossess my car. The car that so many people rely on whether it's to pick up medicine that is keeping them alive (my dad), getting me to work (me), or taking my aunt on daily visits to see my grandmother (both my aunt and my grandmother). So I asked my dad to borrow the money from him because my checking account balance was already in the red.

And then last night my dad texts me (because he can no longer talk) and tells me that the car that he owns broke down while his sister-in-law's friend was driving it and he wants to fix the car but has no money. And now I feel like a completely horrible person for borrowing the money.

Plus I have to pay him back within three weeks which means giving him everything I make every day. Which is just going to put me back in the same boat with the loan.

I am so far past drowning now that I don't even know which way is up anymore.

I'm not tagging this because I'm not looking for attention just someplace to dump all the things that I can't tell my family. And this massive post isn't even beginning to touch on the uselessness and self hatred I feel right now about my own inability to make more than $15 an hour.

I question my intelligence. I question my own ability. I think that I'm basically worthless because I can't take care of myself, let alone my family.

[wesimpforxiao]

Say My Name and I’ll Be There: 5.3

"Oh? I didn't realize I would have visitors today," a mysterious blonde entered the cave, and you tensed despite the pain shooting through your shoulder.

"Oh, hey Albedo!" Paimon greeted in a cheerful voice.

"Aether, may I inquire to the reasons you've stopped by?  I don't recall sending for you recently."  Albedo set his bag on the table and unloaded it's contents haphazardly. He handled his drawings with care, unlike the rest of the vials and glasses of unknown substances.

"We were running from the Fatui," he scratched his head and avoided the alchemist's knowing smirk.

"I'm not even surprised at this point.  Why, you seem to have a honing instinct when it comes to--" His eyes landed on your bloody shoulder.  "--them.  Are you alright, Miss?"

"Me?"  It was a stupid response considering you were the only girl in the room, but his sudden shift in attention threw you off.  "U-uh, yeah.  Bennett patched me up."

"Hi, Albedo!"  Bennett waved excitedly at the familiar Mondstatian.

Albedo returned with a nod, and walked towards you.  "If you don't mind, I would like to take a look at your injury."

"Oka--Ow!"  You bit your tongue when he quickly placed a hand against your injured arm without exercising much caution.  Xiao took a step toward him in response.  

"Apologies." Albedo removed his hand and caught the sudden amber glow that enveloped your eyes, and leaned forward to inspect them.  His supposed guilt for agitating your wound was instantly transformed into curiosity.

H-he's really close, you found yourself leaning backwards to ensure a safe distance from his face.

"That's peculiar," he commented, seemingly more interested in your glowing eyes than your injury now.  "I haven't seen anything like this before.  May I run some tests?"

"What kind of tests?"  Xiao's protectiveness took over and he hid you behind him.  First the Fatui, and now this stranger?  Just how many people were after the two of you?

"Don't worry, he's safe," Paimon teased the concerned yaksha and immediately earned a glare from him.

"For the most part," Bennett and Aether finished under their breaths and made nervous eye contact.

"A simple experiment for the sake of science," Albedo stood and gathered a few cotton swabs from one of the cabinets, then a small needle.  He carefully sanitized it before returning to you.  "Are you also like Aether?"  He only referred to the otherworldliness of the traveler.

"No, I'm from Teyvat."  You watched him as he placed swiped a cotton swab against the drying blood on your shoulder.  He in turn watched for a reaction in your eyes, but found nothing.  He repeated the same procedure, this time closer to your pulsating stitches.  Your muscles tensed at the faint dull pain.  A faint glow emanated in your irises and even though it was barely noticeable he still managed to catch it.

"I see," he nodded to your answer and placed the swabs in separate vials.  Then, while you were still focused on his face, grabbed the small needle.  He turned to face you again.  "How long have your eyes been doing that?"

"Not that long," you caught Xiao's silent warning of 'do not speak of this' out of the corner of your eye.  "Er, I don't know."

Albedo also glanced in the direction of the man that was so obviously overprotective of you and realized the two of you had the exact same eye color.  He didn't say anything about that, though.  "I see."  He quickly pricked your shoulder with the needle when you had your guard down, and you almost backhanded him out of pure instinct.

"Ow!"  You glared at him, and annoyance bubbled inside you when he smiled back in both satisfaction and awe.  

"Experiment one is complete."  He stood and made his way to the table with the three vials of cotton swabs.  Then he proceeded to pour separate liquids into each, shake them gently, and place them back down on the table.  He watched the mixtures settle.

"What do you mean, 'complete?'" You growled and dabbed the miniscule blood off of your skin.

"Your eyes glow in response to pain," he stated simply as he eyed the vials.  "A strange reaction that is tied to a human's fight-or-flight response.  I wonder what else they react to."  Once the mixtures settled, he inspected them with the utmost attention.  He wrote his notes down on a sheet of paper.

"Well?"  Aether joined him at the table.

"May I take a sample from you as well?"  Albedo immediately turned to Xiao, who stood to your left.

"No."  I don't like this at all.  His eyes downcast to you, conflicted.

"Alright, then.  Do your eyes also glow?"

"No."

Albedo looked to you for confirmation, and you shook your head.  Hm, perhaps it is just a coincidence that they have the same eyes, then.  He returned his gaze to the samples.  "What strange results," he murmured to himself.  "You say you are human, yet your blood..."  It isn't like mine or Aether's DNA, either.  What biological component resides within you, I wonder?  "I cannot say for certain what is within you without conducting more experiments, but seeing as though you are running from Fatui, I suppose I'll have to wait for a more opportune time.  Please, return while you have a spare moment."

......................................................

"Your cover was blown?"  Signora raised a brow at her fellow harbinger.  "How did you manage that, Childe?"

"The target managed to convince the others that I'm being dishonest with my intentions.  I can't continue with them further," he lied through his teeth.  While it didn't play out as he had intended, it most definitely resulted in the rest of the adventure team's knowledge of the Fatui's plans if they hadn't known already.

"The Tsaritsa approved my plans," the woman peered down over the balcony.  "Your failure to keep our operation a secret will not impact them, but be aware they'll come back to bite you later."

"There's one other thing.  She received a vision."

"A vision?"  This brought her gaze back to Childe.  "From who?"

"The Tsaritsa.  Was that part of the plan?"

"Not at all," her eyes narrowed in the direction of Snezhnaya.  "What was she--No, no matter.  The plan shall proceed.  A little birdie told me the target and her little posse will be staying here for the time being.  We'll strike tonight," Signora surveyed the City of Mondstat beneath her.

......................................

The adventure team entered Angel's share as the sun set behind the hills.  Bennett had gone to check on all his dads at the adventure guild.  The tavern was teeming with the chatter of loud drunkards, melodies of a lone bard near the entrance, and the clinking of glasses.  Oh, and the hiccups of an incredibly drunk young boy that sat at the bar.

"Ah, the delicious--hic-- wine of Mondstat never ceases to amaze me!"  The boy raised his glass in the air, nearly spilling it over the rim.  His red cheeks provided a striking contrast to his green clothing choice.

Diluc stood on the other end of the barrier with an unamused yet slightly impressed expression.  He noticed your team's entering, and let out an exasperated sigh.  "This is glass fifty-two.  It's been less than half an hour since he started."

"H-How is that possible?!"  You stammered in concern.  "And why is he allowed to drink? He's practically Bennett's age!"

"U-Uh, well you see,"  Paimon fidgeted.  "He has a very high alcohol tolerance!"

Noticing your still-confused expression, Aether leaned in to whisper in your ear, "I'll explain later."  The noise that floated around the room concealed his words from Venti.

"Need anything to drink? Non-alcoholic of course," Diluc's eyes scanned the group until they landed on Xiao.

"I don't drink."  The yaksha left the group to sit at a table in a secluded corner.

"Not very sociable today," Paimon mused.  

"You received a vision," Diluc caught the glint of the pendant hanging from your belt loop.  "Congratulations."

"Thank you!"  You watched as he excused himself to pour a customer another drink.

"Ah, Trav--hic--eler!  It's so good to see you again!"  The boy noticed Aether's presence and waved you all over.  

"Hey Venti," Aether greeted with a slightly nervous grin.  "Long time no see."

"Yes!  Are you old enough to try the--hic-- wine yet? Oh?" His eyes looked to you.  "Hello! Are you a friend of Aether's?  Why don't we all share a drink together?"

"Oh, I'm not twenty-one just yet," you declined, eyes flitting to Xiao.  "Excuse me."

You sat across from Xiao and struggled to come up with small talk. He had been quieter than usual ever since you showed your vision to the group.  "What's on your mind?"

It took several minutes of prodding for him to finally respond to you.  "What were you doing in the moments that led to you receiving the vision?"

"What was I doing?" You were taken aback, but not surprised that he was still cynical of the circumstances.  "Well..." I was trying to protect you.  You wanted to convey those words but were still embarrassed of your actions.  Maybe you didn't deserve a god's recognition for barging into danger like it was normal.  A glum expression took over your face as you slumped in your seat.  You glanced up at him, only to find his cheeks slightly tinged red and that he was avoiding your eyes.  "What?"

"You really are one of the incompetent ones," he grumbled loud enough for you to hear.  

That's when you remembered he could hear every single prayer and wish about him.  It was your turn to blush now.  "U-Uh...um.  I didn't mean any of that!"  

Xiao's eyes flicked to yours, completely unconvinced of your lie.  "Of course."  You hung your head in embarrassment.

"I--Uh," you stood from your seat.  "I'm going to get some air!"  You climbed the stairs to the balcony on the second floor and shut the door behind you.

The cool air of the early night seemed to wipe away the stench of alcohol that had already begun to cling to your clothes.  It was a peaceful evening, what with the bright stars that shone in the sky and the occasional drunk laughter that leaked from the balcony door into the open air.  You admired the constellations for awhile until you felt the air get colder and heard the creaking of a floorboard to your right.  

"Sh--You scared me!"  You let out a nervous laughter when you saw the woman rise from her balcony seat.  "Sorry, I thought I was the only one up here."

"It's easy to be caught off-guard when you're distracted," the woman's lips curled upward slightly.  She made her way toward you, and you could finally make out the details of her figure.

She's dressed a little too formal for a tavern, you noted, yet you still admired how pretty she was.  White hair tied into an updo, a flowing gown that showed off her bust, she was downright gorgeous.  Still, you couldn't help but shiver.  Why was the air so chilly all of a sudden?

"You're not from around here," the woman observed.  "What brings you to Mondstat?"

"I," you started feeling uncomfortable in this dark setting, but didn't want to be rude. "I'm just passing through.  And you?  You don't look like you're from Mondstat."  You crossed your arms to trap the remaining warmth from the tavern around your body.  This woman showed more skin than you, but she didn't appear bothered in the slightest.

"An excellent observation on your part."  She stopped once she was maybe two feet from you.  "We were also passing through.  Isn't that right, Childe?"

Your blood ran cold in an instant, and Signora watched your face pale with satisfaction.

"I think I like it better in Liyue if I'm being honest," the voice you didn't want to hear greeted from behind your ear.  When did he get so close?  "Ambition over freedom.  But nothing compares to the beauty of our homeland."

You spun on your heel and simultaneously began to manifest a polearm in your nondominant hand.  You weren't quick enough, and Childe caught your arm.  Your heartbeat rushed in your ears as time appeared to slow down.

"You're still injured," Childe flashed a proud smile at the sight of the wound he had given you.  "You can't fight."

"Xia--!"  You opened your mouth to scream, but a feminine hand covered your mouth and restrained you.  It all happened too quick for your mind to comprehend, and the next thing you knew, she opened a portal in midair and was dragging you towards it.  Xiao!  Help!

"Prepare yourself, Childe," Signora warned.

"It'd be my pleasure," he conjured his blades and faced the door right as it was kicked down with a powerful force.  Xiao and Aether burst through.

"Let her go!"  Aether charged at Childe, giving Xiao the chance to aim for Signora's head.

"Xiao!" You managed to pull Signora's hand off your mouth and stretched your arm out to him.

He pushed off the balcony towards you, and was instead greeted by the hollow night air.  He crashed into the ground and sprung to his feet again.  The portal had closed.  Childe was gone.

You were gone.

.......................

Up Next:  Darkness, a meeting with an archon, and a quartet of harbingers.

[arkus-rhapsode]

Bnha chap 302 was crazy! So many stuff have been revealed! What did u think of it?

(So before I start, I just want to say, sorry it took me a few days to answer this. when discussion recent chapters of MHA, I’m trying now to wait for the official release before posting anything. I know I haven’t always been the best when using scans vs official releases, but I’m going to try and make this more a  thing. Given some flack I’ve received in the past, as well as recent crack downs by shueisha. So you can send me asks like this, please I’m not discouraging it. but you’re just going to have to wait till after the official releases.)

With the preamble out of the way OH MY GOD! This flashback chapters are amazing! Like this has been the kind of stuff I’ve been waiting for in MHA after the metric crap ton of build up by Horikoshi. And its not disappointed.

First, I do likeEndeavor’s gradual decline into is asshole self from Shoto’s memory. It’s vocally recognized that Endeavor is breaking societal taboos with his Quirk Marriage. Not only his selfish wishes to have an ultimate child to surpass All Might, but Toya is basically one of the worst combinations of this selective breeding. Being that he has stronger fire than Endeavor, but he has resistance to cold temperature so he’s just burning his body.

Yet Endeavor still is more focused on surpassing All Might. And when he comes to the realization that Toya will never surpass All Might, he decides to make a his real ultimate child. Now the reason I like this is because this isn’t Endeavor just being like “I need to surpass All Might with the perfect child”, its also, “I need to create my ideal child which will surpass All Might and act as a deterrent to Toya wanting to be a hero.”

Now, I love this scene, not just because no matter how Endeavor tries to justify his actions, he is still ultimately breaking societal conventions just to selfishly surpass his rival. But it also shows, Endeavor is aware of Toya’s feelings. He KNOWS Toya won’t stop trying to be a hero. He’s not some ignorant to his son wanting to live up to his dream of the ultimate hero. But his plan to stop Toya is not altruistic. It’s still selfish. His plan is literally to make an actually superior child, just to get his son to give e up. Its probably the worst thing you can do.

And most recently in 302, when that doesn’t work and Toya still burns himself and tries to attack Shoto. Endeavor finally just decides to no longer deal with this. personally. He is leaving Toya to Rei and is just going to focus on Shoto. He’s pushing a problem onto someone else and NOW he’s just ignoring it.

And then he just doubles down worse from there. Actually becoming more of the abuser that Shoto and Natsuo remember. All because Rei couldn’t keep Toya in line. Even though Toya was his son too.

It’s been awhile since we have seen Endeavor as the antagonistic figure. And I know the story of Endeavor will always be a tough one because its ultimately one trying to redeem an abuser. And I like that in this flashback, we are really reminded of why Endeavor wants atonement, because what he did to his family was wrong. And now we’re actually seeing it. Hell, some of it is more uncomfortable because we now see, its not like Endeavor was so pure evil psychopath, he gradually slipped from some wrong-headed jerk who was breaking taboos who is aware he’s doing bad things but pushing forward to ignoring his problems he’s caused to finally lashing out at his family as if it’s not also his responsibility. 

And we see a man who is regretful. But he still made mistakes. And I like that this hasn’t just been for the audience, this has been for Endeavor. Because he can no longer keep those skeletons in his closet nor is he in a position to throw himself a pity party. Again, we still have to wait a few chapters before we see like how this pays off. But Rei is reminding him that if he really wants to make things better and prove he’s a better person, then let’s start by getting his house in order.

Speaking of Rei, this has been a pretty interesting character study for her as well. We see Rei as pretty much a passive player both in the series up to this point being in a hospital, but also in this flashback. She agrees to be Enji’s wife and while she’ll speak up, she doesn’t stop Endeavor from having more kids. Nor does she stop him from really separating the kids. She also brings it up that like Endeavor, she didn’t really “see” what was really going on with Toya.

While Endeavor may have thought a deterrent of making him Toya give up would work, Rei try to just talk to Toya about looking beyond his father, but its not just wanting his father’s attention that is driving Toya mad. Its the fact that his birth was solely to make an ultimate Quirk users and if he’s not then his whole creation is pointless.

Because at he core, she is still complacent with this arrangement. From her family to the fact that when she can’t actually stand up to Enji, she then starts lashing out at the children who remind her of them. She has hurt her children too and its wrong. But unlike Endeavor who is really now just trying to come to grips with that, Rei has clearly stewed in that self loathing for a while. And now, she’s not being passive, she’s now taking a stand and being the one who needs to pull Endeavor out of his own self-pity.

Its very nice to see this character who, like Endeavor, has transformed over the course of this union.  

Now what does this mean for their marriage? As this seems to be the root cause of here passivity. I’m not sure. But Hori has given me no reason to think he’ll do something crazy with it. So I’m going to wait and see.

Now onto the man himself, Toya. Man finding out about Dabi has been a trip. Because at first it seems like he just wants his dad’s attention. To be proud of him. But its more than just that. Toya has a fire in him that won’t go out.

Toya’s “fire” isn’t this drive to be number 1 hero and get the glory. Its literally the validation of his existence. Because he was made to surpass All Might. If Toya can’t do that, then he failed at his existence. 

It really pulls back that Dabi doesn’t hate Endeavor because of abuse like Rei, Shoto and Natsuo. Dabi hates Endeavor because he was born solely to fulfill his mission, and when he was physically incapable of doing so, he replaced him with a child who could. It hurts to watch.

Because Dabi will never get over the fact of why he’s here in the first place, I think a lot of kids when they get older have that realization about why they’re here is because of their parents. And Toya can literally trace why his father made him. As he recalled with Snatch.

Just contemplating his family and why he’s here. He lost it.

We also get some cool details on Dabi’s powers. With his flames growing even stronger from red to blue, but also that the burns around his chest that we first saw in his video is intentionally so he could both hide the burns but also avoid hurting him.

There’s also the fact that his flames are tied to his emotions. Probably why whenever we see Dabi he’s mostly irate and disinterested. But when he finally had to get infront of Endeavor and the world, Dabi lets all his emotions come out. Letting him use flash fire and be wary more gleeful in his destruction. Yet we see that any times he cranks up his emotions, he always starts crying. Like he did with Snatch and Hawks. Which is such a subtle touch that I love.

There’s also his unique resentment towards the women in his family more than Natsuo. Now Endeavor we know he clearly hates, but when it came to Natsuo, he ignored him. But he knew Rei and Fuyumi the longest, and they did nothing for the longest time.

We also see the beginning of Dabi’s use of faux concern about society and using it as a way to turn people on Endeavor. 

Dabi has stated he doesn’t care about the League of Villains. Even in his big speech about how its Endeavor’s fire that let him kill people, he knows that’s a lie too. He would talk about confiding in his beloved brother, but if it meant making his dad suffer, he would’ve killed him.

Dabi’s hate is for one man, and if he can use anything to make Endeavor’s existence a living hell, he’ll use it. And we see that his hate is justified, but he will wrap that hate in a way to get others to feel like him. Its very effective.

Its just nice to see a villain who gets a bunch of build up LIVE up to all his hype. Its not like a let down, its just opening more doors to explore.

And now we get to the Todoroki family. Where do we go from here? Well Dabi isn’t just an Endeavor problem or a Rei problem, its a family problem. They all share the burden and Dabi will be their goal.

And I like this because, for the most part, Shoto completed his arc in the Sports Festival of hating his dad, but then accepting this is his power and looking beyond Enji. And while that wasn’t the end as he still has to make his choice on wether to accept his dad as a changed man or not, that’s more part of Endeavor’s goal. Shoto has been sorta like Deku and Bakugo with a focus on being number 1.

But now he has real and true personal motivation that no one but this family can really address and I am excited. I’m glad that the prominent characters of this series like Shoto has something to do. I get that all the kids in UA will never truly get this treatment. They have focus, but they are still mainly supporting cast. But having a main character really be able to justify why they’re up in front is great. I’m eager to see what awaits the Todoroki family in the future.

[reidscookies]

All The Things I Could Not Say

More writing is done, because I procrastinate best when doing things that have no deadline. Read it on AO3, or under the cut! Angst with a happy ending!

Summary: When Spencer heard a knock at the door, he thought Derek might have forgotten his keys again.

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

-

Or, William Reid hears about Spencer's engagement, and wants to know where his invitation is.

TW: Implied Domestic Violence, Implied Child Neglect.

Read it on AO3

When Spencer heard a knock at the door, he thought Derek might have forgotten his keys again. It had been known to happen, and Spencer was already forming some sort of way to tease his fiancé. Opening the door, he started with a small chuckle. “You’re no better than Emily-“

On the doorstep was not his fiancé, but William Reid. His hair was thinner, and he looked tired. His long trench coat practically consumed him, his chest puffed trying to seem bigger than he really was. “Spencer.”

“Dad? What are you doing here?” Spencer asked, mouth going dry.

William motioned his arm towards the foyer. “May I come in?”

Too shocked to say anything else, Spencer stepped aside. “I… Sure, I guess…”

They sat in the living room, Spencer taking his reading chair and curling into it for comfort. His father sat on the sofa, hands nervously wringing. “So, I read the news that you go engaged. It was in the alumni section for your school's old newspaper.”

Spencer groaned internally, recalling Penelope’s efforts to share the news with the entire world. “Yeah, I am. We’re getting married in October.”

William nodded, slightly awkward. “That’s nice, very nice. Um, where, though? And when?”

Spencer raised an eyebrow. “I don’t see how that concerns you, seeing as you haven’t been invited. And I don’t plan for you to be.”

William narrowed his eyes. “Don’t be nasty, Spencer.”

“Screw you, William! Screw you!”

“Don’t be nasty, Diana.”

“Don’t talk to me like a child!”

“Then stop acting like one!”

A crash came from the kitchen. A slap followed directly after. In the morning, Spencer would find his father’s favorite mug shattered on the counter, and the shape of his father’s hand marked red across his mother’s cheek.

Spencer’s expression became hard and cold. “Never say that to me again. Don’t ever speak to me like that. Being honest is not being nasty. While you were busy running away from us, I was a child learning to survive with no father, a mother who grew to need more assistance than her ten-year-old son could provide.”

William crossed his arms. “You know why I left! I’ve explained this to you before.”

“Yes, because you couldn’t bear the idea of Mom getting in trouble about Gary Michaels. See, I’ve thought about this, and I think there’s more to it than that. If you’d been discovered, Lou Jenkins would have gone to jail. Mom would likely have been institutionalized. Both of these have happened anyway, only it’s been 20 years. The only difference now is that Mom has not been charged as an accessory to murder.”

“Spencer, where are you going with this?” William asked, voice shaking slightly.

Spencer paced with ease around the room. “You didn’t really care what would happen to her if she had been discovered back then. Hell, you weren’t even concerned as to how Mom being institutionalized could affect me as a child. No, you only cared about your reputation.” He looked back at his father. “Congratulations, your good name remains intact, not to mention a now relatively successful son who you brag about to your coworkers but never seem to have had the time to return calls to when he was living at home.”

William was red in the face at this point. “You don’t understand. Spencer, I couldn’t stay, I had to get out of there. I kept tabs on you to make sure you were safe, don’t you realize I care about you?”

A cold, barking laugh tore itself from Spencer’s throat. “Care? When have you ever shown me that you cared, genuinely? Was it when you’d tell me to shut up when I was trying to share something I learned about things you liked? Was it when you forced me into little league even though I told you the helmet made my ears hurt? Was it when you sent Mom by herself to pick me up from first grade when you knew that type of social scenario would be too difficult for her? Was it when you left the invitation to my Doctoral Thesis presentation in the mailbox long enough for it to come back to me with “Return to Sender” stamped all over it?” He felt his eyes burn slightly. “Was it when you weren’t there when I had Mom taken to Bennington? God, Dad, I was eighteen! Don’t you understand how scared I was?! How scared I had been for eight years trying to keep both myself and Mom above water?!”

“God, you sound just like your mother, poison tongue and all!” William shouted before thinking. “Spencer-“

Spencer interrupted him. “The thing is, I used to want you to care. I used to hope and dream that you’d come home and help me. But I grew up, despite the bullying and the bills and Mom’s decline, I pulled both of us out to safety. And I have a family now! I have a wonderful family of friends who care, who put up with me despite my facts and lectures, who truly care about what I have to say. I’m engaged, I have a wonderful fiancé who doesn’t ask me to change anything about who I am or how I am. He brings out the best in me when I’m at my worst, he stays despite my “poison tongue” and when I get overly invested in my work. When I write to Mom, he signs the letters too, and a lot of times he’ll even add a few pages of his own. He knows every part of me, he is the person I want to be with for the rest of my life. So no, Dad, I didn’t send you an invitation. Partially because I honestly didn’t think you’d come, but mostly because I don’t need you there. I have who I need, and it’s not you.”

William was stunned into silence. Clearing his throat, he straightened his coat. “Well, then. If that’s how it is.”

“That’s how it is.” Spencer nodded. He looked towards the door where Derek stood quietly with the grocery bags.

Derek had a look of concern on his face, but he kept it relatively masked in front of William. “Everything okay?”

Spencer nodded. “He was just leaving.” He lead William to the door, thinking to himself that his father wasn’t unlike a dog with its tail between its legs. When the front door closed, it was like a note of finality. Something was done, and honestly, it felt good.

Spencer grabbed one of the grocery bags and headed for the kitchen, starting to put items away. “How much did you hear, Derek?”

Derek joined him, putting the milk and juice in the refrigerator. “I only got back a few minutes ago, but probably about the part when you were talking about who your family is now.”

Spencer hummed, folding the reusable bags and placing them in the corner. “He heard about the wedding from the local newspaper announcement Garcia insisted on. He wanted to know why he hadn’t received his invitation.”

“Well, you made it abundantly clear that he isn’t going to be getting one.” Derek said, moving closer. “Need a hug?”

Spencer smiled and let Derek hold him close. “Honestly, love, I really am okay. I was able to say a lot of things I never thought I’d get a chance to. Him leaving is always going to hurt in a lot of ways, but he’s made his choice. I think it’s okay that I get to make mine, too, and that includes who I have in my family.”

Derek gave him a soft kiss on his forehead. “I absolutely think it’s okay for you to make those choices. You’ve got us, baby, no matter what.” He looked at his watch. “You still up for meeting everyone for dinner? Or do you need it to be just us tonight?”

Spencer thought for a moment. “Would you mind if we invited everyone here for pizza instead? I don’t want to go out, but I want my family with me.”

“You’ve got it, pretty boy. I’ll let them know.” Derek gently pulled away and grabbed his phone to reach out to the team. Spencer smiled to himself, letting all traces of his father’s unwelcome visit start to ease off his mind. He had what he needed, and there was no way he would ever change it for anything.

[guiltysecretpasttime]

Consider the idea of Lin /Bumi badly timed proposals"? (just a humble linumi shipper loving your fanfics)

Note: Here's my belated response to this prompt. It ran away from me again until I struggled to close the story out. Hope you like it!

One-shot Post-canon AU Lin x Bumi II

Also on AO3. 

---

Outside of the military, Bumi was known to be the spontaneous one. The Avatar’s child who was the most likely to get into trouble. Or get into an adventure, as his grinning father would correct. He was the kid who took quickly to throwing fruit pies to the air acolytes. He was the teen who travelled to the next city because there was a Pro-bending competition happening there. As an adult, he was also the one who tried (and succeeded in) applying for the United Forces on a whim.

It was not often that Bumi would plan for anything linked to his personal life.

This was why, on the weeks leading up to that Night (with a capital N), he felt out of his depth. He did what he did best and tried to plan as he would regarding a military campaign.

This was why he thought he was assured of success.

What he did not count on was the extraneous factors, which was their extended family and social circle.

That – and the weather.

---

“Booms -I’m sorry, it’s not going to work out.” Iroh’s voice crackled over the telephone. “That downpour wouldn’t make anything stick long enough to be legible.”

Bumi sighed as he peered at the window of Tenzin’s study. The waves did crash unpleasantly against the edge of Air Temple Island as the rain fell. “Well, we can still move it tomorrow, right? You and the boys are still free?”

“Of course, provided that the weather is better. As for our availability - ,” Whatever Iroh said was lost as the line crackled again as it was wont to do when the weather was poor. Bumi clicked his tongue. Tenzin really needed to have some repairs made in this temple. “- So after that, we can definitely pick it up for you.”

“Great!” Bumi could care less if they need to adjust the timing a bit – as long as it pushesthrough.

He did not need the details.

---

Or maybe, he should have probed for more details.

The retired commander saw that now as he watched visitors mill around Air Temple Island.

Various air acolytes and airbenders from the different temples now crowd the usually empty courtyard.

How was he to know that it was time for the anniversary of the return of the airbenders? He did not even know there was an identified datefor that.

Or maybe, he would have known had he listened to Tenzin’s lectures.

He scratched his chin, pensively, wondering if this might change anything when something cold and wet lashed at his behind.

“Hello, Bumi.” His sister walked over, a water whip formed at her side, grinning as she usually did.

“Mother said you shouldn’t hit people.”

“Mother said a lot of things that you didn’t follow.” Kya crossed her arms mockingly. She nodded to the entrance of the residential building where their mother stood, surrounded by her youngest grandchildren.

He understood. They never could begrudge their mother anything, especially now with her waning health.

A sea of green passed in the periphery.

“I see Suyin and her brood are here.” Bumi contemplated briefly if it would have any impact to his plans.

Kya commented. “Did they really have to be always in green?”

“Did you always have to be in blue?”

“Touche.” Kya shrugged. “Though, I needed to be blue to occasionally camouflage in the South Pole if I needed to be stealthy.”

“For what?”

From afar, they see Katara beckoning Kya forward from where she and Pema stood by the stoop of the house. “I’ll go get settled now.”

Bumi excused himself, citing some reason to check on something, which, technically he needed to do.

“Tenzin said nothing formal; nothing big. Just a small gathering.” The loud voice of the Avatar grumbled.

The clinking of metal was heard next before Bumi rounded the corner. “And yet, everyone is here.”

“Chief Beifong!”

“Avatar.” Lin inclined her head in greeting, with blank politeness on her face.

Bumi knew better though – the slight tightening of her jaw and the grip she had on her belt: oh, Lin was irritated.

“What’s up?” Korra toyed with the sleeves of her formal wear, obviously uncomfortable.

“How are your travels?” Bumi interjected, popping beside Lin before she manages any acerbic remark.

“We are travelling in style! I think I could get used to it.”

“I think you already are.” Asami looked on with amusement.

“You’re lucky,” Bumi pointed towards where Oogi and the younger bison were flying around. “Dad had to travel on a sky bison.”

“Mom said it wasn’t pleasant.” Lin wrinkled her nose.

“There! You! Are!” Bolin ran and huffed as he arrived before them, doubling over in the effort. “Wing and Wei just found where the food was being prepared, we can sneak off to get some before the– oh hello Chief Beifong!”

“I did not hear anything.” Lin looked skyward and waved her hand at them.

“Beifong!” Bumi quickly caught up with Lin, who strode off quickly when the teenagers started talking about food. “Are you on duty?”

“Yes.” Lin sighed, putting her hand on her hips then stomping, doing a seismic perimeter check. “I know, but I have to.”

“I’ll look for you later.”

“Alright. We’re a bit stretched – Tenzin did not give us the correct numbers of attendees, as usual.” Her forehead crinkled as she concentrated on the perimeter check. “Good thing the Fire Lord sent General Iroh and some of his men to represent their nation.”

“Oh, that’s what he meant.” Bumi murmured to himself.

Lin glanced at him in askance.

“Iroh.” Bumi did not want to expound further. Lin had a way of ferreting out the truth from him without seismic sense anyway.

Bumi accompanied her like a silent sentinel as Chief Beifong went about doing check to her team and on the island.

They have finally arrived at the main courtyard where the usually unflappable master airbender was fluttering about like a bright orange butterfly, holding several sheets of paper, which no doubt was the program for the day.

Lin groaned when Tenzin noticed them.

“Lin!”

“I better go ahead.” With one final eye-rolling, Lin left Bumi’s side before he could even ask where she will be stationed at the end of the program.

“Trouble in paradise?”

Bumi jumped a bit, startled by Kya once again. “Of course not, my meddling gossipy sister.”

She offered him a drink, which he rightly declined. “What’s Tenzin up to?”

The man was now talking rapidly to the chief of police. They were far enough not to hear them but near enough to see what was going on.

“He’s quite excitable.” The retired military man shrugged. “Thank the spirits for Pema, that woman is a saint.”

“You mean, thank the spirits for Lin,” Kya nodded towards the pair as she took a sip of her drink. “Pema was just about ready to rip her hair off these past days. She was looking quite frazzled earlier and after a drink or two, bam! Out tumbled everything - Tenzin was anxious and has been driving her nuts with all the prep for today’s celebration.” She raised a glass to the earthbender and airbender on the main event area. “But look over there – just a few words from our dear Chief of Police and the man calms down.”

Bumi could not help but tense up as he observed Lin and Tenzin on the platform.

As Lin continued to converse with his younger brother, Tenzin began to slowly deflate. A smile started to form on the earlier stressed airbender’s face and the corner of Lin’s lips upturned, a ghost of a smile.

“I swear – those two, I wonder how it would have turned out for them had they known this was going to happen anyway…” Kya trails off, as though suddenly realizing who she was talking to. “I mean – hey, they’re both in happy relationships and it’s perfect and -.”

Bumi swallowed drily, drowning out his sister’s voice.

He had thought about that occasionally, really. There was nothing to go on and Lin had been upfront about, well, everything so he knew where her heart is.

But, looking at the pair now, at the anniversary of the return of the airbenders, supposedly the pinnacle of all their arguments…

“Booms – don’t do anything stupid.”

Now that snapped him from his maudlin thoughts. “Why is it that everyone thinks I’m gonna do something stupid when I keep quiet? It’s a bit offensive, you know.”

“Bumi, I didn’t mean -.”

No matter, Bumi was adamant that his Plan pushes through.

---

“POP! POP! BOOOM! BOOOM POP! Whiiiizzz! BOOM!”

Everyone on Air Temple Island (and even those at the edge of Republic City) looked up to see fireworks littering the night sky.

“BEIFONG… WILL…YOU… ohmy sweet - is that a ring??? .. ME.” Suyin squealed as she read what the fireworks were spelling out.

There was a cacophony from the courtyard of Air Temple Island as everyone sought to find which Beifong was being proposed to.

From their perches around the island, Iroh and the UF men whooped in success of their mission tonight – deploying the firework proposal.

“OH-MY-BOLIIIIN!”

All eyes were on Opal who was clutching at a wide-eyed earthbender.

“What?!”

Various voices added to the din, shouting different things.

“Bolin did you really?!” Mako pointed up to the sky.

“What – no I did not. I’m not marrying – I mean,” Bolin swiftly turned to Opal. “I would like to marry you.” Then he shouted at Su and Baatar Senior’s direction. “But not now. One day but not now – I mean, I need to talk to Su and Baat – oh shit Su’s gonna kill me.”

Attention turned to Baatar and Suyin.

“Um no,” Baatar shrugged casually, an arm around his wife. “It’s not our anniversary anytime soon.”

Suyin was still being antsy. “Wing! Wei! Did any of you -?” She saw her twins wave up their arms in surrender, wildly shaking their heads as they each held a plate of food. “If that’s not you…”

“Kuvira and Junior –.” Wei.

“That is unlikely.” Wing.

“Huan?” Both Wing and Wei asked, everyone’s heads swiveled to the artistic Beifong.

“Excuse me.” Huan looked very offended, as though it was an insult that someone would be proposing to him in public.

Bumi’s face fell as the Beifongs present began arguing as to who the firework proposal was for and the actual Beifong who the proposal was meant for was nowhere to be seen.

Just then a soft squeal and a sniffle came from Kya’s side.

Pema was holding to her arm. “No-no-no – it’s for Lin, don’t you see? That’s why – Tenzin is leaving me.” Every other word was punctuated with a sniffle. “That’s why they’ve been talking over plans and that’s why – I saw them talk to Jinora the other day. Oh-airbenders-Tenzin is -leaaving me.”

“Ahem, I have an announcement!”

Now, everyone turned to stare back at the platform where Tenzin stood. Behind him, stood two more people - Lin Beifong stood in his shadows, arms crossed, a guard observing the proceedings, while Jinora stood to the side with a nervous smile, hands at her back.

“Ooohhhh!” Pema let out a wail.

“Shh, Pema!”

Bumi froze. There have been still some lingering insecurities that were in relation to his brother that would take a long time to tamp down. With the man’s whimpering wife at the side and his own significant other beside said man, it did not take much to wear Bumi down to his insecurities.

“This has been a long time coming and before anything else,” Tenzin paused at this to throw a significant look at his back. “I would like to say that this is no split second decision, we’ve talked about it and well –.”

No way he was going to let Tenzin take over his plan tonight.

“I will be stepping down soon with Jinora as my successor.”

“LinBeifong, will you marry me?”

Two voices rang into the night, clearly silencing any other words that might have been going on.

Bumi did not care for or did not mind what the reactions of the people around them were. He only had eyes for the earthbender who was gaping at him then looking back at the sky then back at him.

He worried the longer it took for Lin to react.

From his side, Pema sagged in relief against her sister-in-law while Jinora and Tenzin stood at the platform, greeting well-wishers.

Lin, meanwhile, was yet to do anything other than stand still.

“OH – we forgot the most eligible Beifong of today!” Bolin stated the obvious, pointing to the sky and back at Chief Beifong on the stage.

“What are you doing, go get her.” Kya nudged him from the back.

Bumi ran to the stage, almost tripping on his formal robes. “Lin – I’m so sorry – I didn’t think it would be this public – I -.” Lin hated public displays. “I ain’t doing this to pressure, I -.”

Lin gripped his arm to stop him from speaking.

The crowd went silent as Suyin could be heard shushing everyone (“Quiet! We need to hear what her answer is!”).

Bumi’s heart sank as Lin pulled away from him.

This is it. The Rejection.

He could only look to the ground, unwilling to face family, friends and even his former colleagues in the UF.

Suddenly there was a rumble on the ground as Lin extended a leg in front of her and she raised her arms slowly with a grunt.

“YES – BUMI – I – WILL – dear Agni – Liiiin is marrying Bumi!” Su’s shrill voice read out the words etched on the courtyard.

Tenzin groaned, mumbling about the destruction of his courtyard.

“Shut it, airhead. That courtyard has seen worse when you broke up with -.”

Nope, he did not want to hear about their break-up and so Bumi took Lin in his arms and planted a nice long kiss to seal the deal.

He pulled back and was met with a large grin on Lin’s face.

It might not have worked as he expected or planned it to be but at least, he could honestly say that it was -

Mission accomplished.

[clonemando]

Star Wars Fun in the Sun Submission

This fic was written for @starwarsfandomfests “Summer Fun in the Sun” event. This event was really fun to participate in and I’m glad I joined in. I was given @anaisonfire to write for and chose to write some fluffy Jangobi for you with some bonding between Jango and the clones and Obi-Wan and young Boba. I hope you enjoy!

Find it on AO3 Here

.

.

The sound of the waves lapping at the sand of the beach and the feeling of warm sunlight against his bare skin had Obi-Wan almost dozing in his chair. It had been so long since he could just relax like this and soak in the beauty and sensations of a place instead of worrying about an attack but the war was finally over. A lucky break had come from Fox who had nearly faceplanted onto the council room floor in a combination of his haste to speak with them and complete exhaustion. He had overheard a conversation between Dooku and Palpatine revealing his plans and had recorded it on his helmet cam, giving the Jedi evidence against the now exposed Sith Lord. Dechipping started as soon as they located what it was Palpatine was talking about and within the month, the head had been cut off the snake. Without Palpatine’s funding, a lot of previously Separatist worlds returned to the Republic begging for another chance. Dooku was backed into a corner and he knew it, so he had willingly turned himself into the Jedi council, giving up information on Grievous that led to his capture and the droid army’s shutdown. Things still weren’t perfect. The flaws of the Republic were more obvious than ever. The corruption ran deeper than before. The Clones still didn’t have the rights they deserved.

“What has you frowning like that, cyare? We’re supposed to be on vacation.” Jango’s voice interrupted the downward turn his thoughts had taken and his lips turned up in a warm smile.

“Just thinking about the mess we are not supposed to be thinking about while here. The usual.” He said and Jango snorted when Obi-Wan looked over to soak in the sight of him. Despite seeing his face repeated a million times in the war, none looked quite as handsome as Jango’s own scarred appearance to him.

“That’s fair enough. I keep worrying about Boba.” Jango admitted looking out over where the 212th and 501st were all playing volleyball or splashing in the water or laying in chairs like Jango and Obi-Wan just soaking in the sun. Obi-Wan sighed. Boba was another issue they would have to figure out a solution to. Well, not Boba himself, but how to integrate him into the rest of the family.

“Where is he now?” Obi-Wan asked when he didn’t see the boy in question.

“Inside the hotel room moping. I left him some books to read that I thought he might like so hopefully he’s curled up with one of those at least. I wish I knew how to make it better. I suppose just time with the mind healers for all of us. Watching who he thought was me get their head cut off is not the sort of trauma that goes away in a few months.” Jango murmured rubbing his face and Obi-Wan reached out to squeeze his hand.

“I have to admit it was a big shock to all of us when Dooku revealed you were alive and that the person Mace killed had been one of the clones he had kept personally for purposes such as that. I’m just glad that you survived and that Boba had been able to be located and reunited with you.” He said seriously. Jango nodded.

“If Aurra weren’t already dead I’d kill her again for poisoning him to think I’d want him risking his life that way. I just want him happy and healthy.” He said, squeezing Obi-Wan’s hand back. The relationship that had somehow started between them, since Jango was recovered from where he had been imprisoned and had started helping fight for the clones and clean up the mess that he helped make, was the biggest surprise of all. Obi-Wan had always assumed that Jango was a cold heartless person to have made all the clones and treated them so indifferently, however he had realized that the opposite was in fact true. Jango cared greatly for the clones but he had been just as much a prisoner in Palpatine and Dooku’s schemes as they had and he had distanced himself to protect them from being targeted due to Dooku thinking he might use them against him. Finding out Jango had also been implanted with a rudimentary version of the chip also explained a few things and allowed him to be pardoned for the attempted hit on Padme. Of course, a lot of it was still on Jango’s shoulders and he was doing all he could to rectify his actions. Somehow in all the working together to help the clones, Obi-Wan and Jango had become close enough to the point that even Boba and Anakin had been calling them a couple behind their backs. Now they really were.

“Vacations don’t work well when we just lay around and let ourselves worry about things. How about we go join in on the death ball game the boys are playing instead?” He offered and Jango chuckled, kissing his cheek.

“That sounds like a great idea. Just don’t complain when my team crushes you.” He said getting up and waving over at Cody.

“Wait a minute! Cody is my commander! He’s going to be on my team!” Obi-Wan quickly hopped up to follow and get integrated into the teams. Obi-Wan ended up on Rex’s team while Jango had cockily gained Cody’s choice, Cody giving Obi-Wan a fake-apologetic smirk.

“You can’t even hold onto your lightsaber and you expect me to think you can keep a ball?” He teased with a lot of clones’ ‘ooo’s surrounding them.

“Oh it’s on now, my dear, you’ve made a grave mistake.” Obi-Wan had said, moving to huddle with his team. In the end, due to a non-Force use rule, the teams were evenly matched and the game never really got far in either team’s favor. They were all just having fun wrestling a ball from each other and trying to get it to the opposite team’s goal. Eventually, they all decided to split the difference and go change in Anakin’s room so he had to deal with all the sand instead of the losing team’s when they broke for lunch.

Jango managed to convince Boba to come out and join them for the meal and Obi-Wan smiled as the boy enthusiastically told his father about something he had been reading about snails. Seeing the difference in the way he acted when he had thought he lost his father compared to now was a shock. With Jango’s love and support, it was like looking at two different people. Although, the older bitter Boba was still in there and came out around the clones as shown when Cody sat beside Obi-Wan and started to chat causing Boba to quiet and withdraw.

“Can I go to the tide pools and look for the snails once we’re finished here, buir?” Boba asked and Jango nodded.

“Of course. Just be careful.” He agreed and Obi-Wan perked up at the perfect opportunity to try to bond a little with the boy.

“If you don’t mind, I’d love to come with you Boba. There are lots of little creatures there I’d like to see. Plus those bioluminescent snails sound really fascinating.” He said making sure to show he was listening to what Boba was saying by repeating some back.

“I guess it wouldn’t be bad to have you along. You can probably use your Force thingy to find them more easily.” Boba agreed after a moment of thought and Obi didn’t bother correcting him that the Force didn’t work that way. They quickly finished up the last of their meal and Boba led Obi-Wan towards the rocky area where the tide pools resided. Jango had declined in joining them with a knowing look at his Jedi and made an excuse of needing to call and check in on some work.

“Do you like ocean animals a lot, Boba?” He asked, trying to start a conversation to which the boy shrugged.

“I like all animals. There are so many planets with so many different ways for them to evolve and so many little differences even in species that are mostly the same. It’s cool to see what new things I can find out on each planet my buir and I visit. He used to make it a game we’d play together.” He admitted kicking a rock to splash into one of the little pools of water.

“Jango loves you a lot. You know that him helping the other clones doesn’t change his feelings about you, right?” Obi-Wan asked him and Boba grunted.

“I didn’t invite you to have you try to pick around in my brain. Now get to using your Jetii magics to find me some glowing snails or go back to making dopey looks at my dad and let me do my thing.” He grumbled and Obi-Wan rolled his eyes but did his best to feel around them to try to see if he could connect to any of the animals and figure out where the snails could be if they were even there at all.

While sensing the creature’s minds he felt them all diving deeper from what he figured was fear of the two humans encroaching on their homes however suddenly there was a faint rumbling and he gasped when Boba went barreling right into his stomach knocking him back into one of the ponds just in time to keep him from falling into a hole that opened up under where his feet had been.

Boba groaned as they both picked themselves up, equally soaked. “Dang it. Buir specifically told me not to fall in, now he’s going to laugh at me,” he whined.

“Thank you. I’m not even sure what just happened.” Obi-Wan confessed glad he had been in beachwear already, unlike Boba who was trying to wring out his t-shirt without removing it now.

“The rocks here aren’t round and solid like on most beaches. They’re flat and shift around with the tides as well like plates. It was in the book. The change in temperature at different points in the day causes the water currents to shift and then they move. I saw the fish diving and the rock around it start to move. I might not fully like you but my dad does, so letting you get trapped in a hole and drown seemed like the wrong move.” Boba said, stuffing his hands in the pockets of his shorts awkwardly.

“Well, I appreciate it nonetheless. It seems your extra reading saved my life.” He said with a chuckle, stroking his beard out of habit. “It would have been a shame to live through a whole war only to die to a little water and rock.” He said and Boba snorted but relaxed.

“The great Jedi General Obi-Wan Kenobi done-in by a change in tide while on vacation does sound like a great holonet headline.” He teased and they both continued their search for sea snails a little more carefully, eventually catching a few in a bucket to bring back and show Jango and the clones. Things weren’t perfect, but as Obi-Wan curled close to Jango’s warm chest that night, he found he was okay with that.