#valorant found family

[i23kazu]

valorant found family brainrot below: disclaimer: these are all my personal hcs. if you disagree, please just move on :^) they may be very ooc also im very new to valorant so some things i say may or may not be canon. pls dont hate huhu

ok i intentionally made the young adults abit more kidlike FOR A REASON bc they make my brain go weewoo in a very very good way.

firstly – roles!

• dads of the year go to cypher and brimstone. cypher can be a gentle dad and he's usually the comfort / gentle dad that the younger agents like. brimstone tends to more of the discipline / also comfort side of being a parent, but its safe to say that both dads can switch roles easily. the agents love them :) (also the voiceline from the killjoy-cypher interaction talking about the dark web makes my brain go to mush.)

• moms of the year goes to (obviously) sage! and more distantly viper and reyna. i love the idea of the other two being more mentor-like towards some of the agents – like viper to raze and reyna to jett and killjoy. i read about it somewhere and i'm not sure whether it's canon but its defo fanon in my mind. sage is #1 mommy (heh. sagemommy69) and she's genuinely so gentle and loving its unreal. it hits harder for jett because of the whole omega-alpha counterpart venice confusion thing that left her and her bio mom's relationship cut off.

• uncles include breach, omen, chamber, kay/o, harbour. the tough love uncles: breach, chamber, sometimes omen. i can see kay/o and harbour being uncles that offer a bit more TLC when people need it though. i like to think that killjoy and chamber have a somewhat okay relationship because of them being brainiacs <3 again im not too sure what's canon and what's not but this just made sense in my head

• aunts include fade, astra and skye! i was debating on whether or not i should put skye as one of the moms but she defo gave me more of a big sister/aunt vibe so she's here. fade is one of the agents that the younger agents can talk to about their problems – she's more down to earth than anyone else and can often get phoenix and jett out of their heads. astra has a super comforting vibe but i love the hc that she can do really good girl talks with the female agents. and skye is just comfort. she lets neon and jett play with her wolves :D

• second to last; sova gets his own category because i wasn't sure where to put him – as a kid or an uncle? but i realised there was a middle ground hehe. therefore, i give him the burden of being the oldest sibling – the innate nature to protect and care, but also the longing to be cared for the way he does for others. all the younger agents regularly go to him for advice because of his calm, cool and collected nature! he also just generally gives good advice while instilling confidence in his younger siblings teammates.

• lastly, the kids <3 phoenix, yoru, jett, raze, killjoy, neon! i loveloveLOOOOVE the idea of the five being siblings since they're all relatively close in age – yoru albeit reluctantly, i think. phoenix and jett get along so well ; a bit too well, the older ones think. they're often up to pranks around headquarters and regularly get raze onboard, and neon likes to tag along with her squish-squish attached to her hip. yoru begrudgingly takes care of the younger ones like killjoy and neon, although killjoy protests that she doesn't need his protection. (yoru does it out of his respect for reyna.)

secondly – more headcanons!

cypher knows how to do the girls' hair because of his daughter.

brimstone has a soft spot for the younger female agents (/p) and often lets them out of training early, much to phoenix's disdain.

sova gives HELLLAAAA good advice!!! plus he's literally free-flow confidence. he oozes confidence to his teammates.

cypher can cook really well and often makes dinner.

astra loves sitting down with her girls and talking them through whatever problems they have.

secretly, yoru goes to reyna to talk to her (get comfort) when he wants to (when he desperately needs validation from a parental figure)

harbour and breach both train the younger team!

when missions go well, brimstone and sage treat the whole team to a good meal.

when neon gets nightmares, the #1 person she goes to for comfort is cypher!

yoru also likes to hang out with omen because #emobois support group is definitely a thing

sage tries to get jett and raze to read more as a pastime but that usually fails. because the both of them cannot sit still for the life of them

skye and sage try to get everyone to sit down and have a meal together every week bc team bonding! but ofc that doesnt always happen bc of how tired the agents are from their missions.

sometimes neon feels left out bc of how young she is compared to the rest of the agents — even the younger group :,) ♡

the team likes sharing songs from their native languages!!!

also hc that cypher knows how to speak multiple languages and once he heard neon listening to pano by ZT and he just went “sweetheart who hurt you”

and neon is just shocked bc tf???? dad knows how to speak my language??? yes he does hes a cool dad

sova sometimes gets torn between the whole needing to protect and wanting to protected and the parents definitely give him the option sometimes when he looks so burnt out

sage loves talking with him because of how reliable and collected he is and she loves to give him advice when he needs/wants it! (ofc, he defo asks for it)

cypher uses a lot of petnames!! sweetheart, darling, dear, etc <333

brimstone’s knows all of the agents favourite foods and he tries to cater to everyone’s likes for dinner at least once a month bc the smiles on their faces are #worthit #loreal #becauseyou’reworthit

honest chamber is just there and viper just. does not vibe with him. she tries to leave the room when he enters but i love the hc that once he tried to kabedon her to stop her from leaving but she flipped him around and kabedon-ed him instead. then left like the girlboss she is

skye takes over the medbay healing when sage needs a rest!!!

also i think sage and omen’s relationship is slowly getting better but i like the idea of them being able to communicate without talking. just body language — nodding heads, eye contact, head pointing, etc

reyna trains the agents very hard but she also gives good breaks!!

once she tried to squeeze neon’s shoulders because the girl was clenching and neon yelped. turns out she’s not a massage person yoru is though and he goes to her when hes alone (/p)

game nights!!! phoenix beats everyone and got cocky until he played with omen and omen TRASHED him. so bad to the point where yoru started patting phoenix’s back out of sympathy

riot please just give yoru a good support system he needs to work out his anger issues and aggressiveness

brimstone and kay/o can often be seen hanging out together i like that

kay/o tried knitting once and hes not bad at it! just that it was too tedious and now he has a half done scarf in his room.

raze and cypher like to bake together :) <3 (theres a fanfic about this on ao3 but i cant rmb the name)

harbour is the second agent the younger ones go to for advice, next to sova!

also movie nights. when they watch horror movies, fade can be seen putting a palm on whoever’s knee to comfort them a little bit :,) its her own way of loving others

ok this is getting very long i’ll make a part 2

[scftm1ttens]

i’m gonna make a prediction, i can’t guarantee that it will be 100% true but anyways, iso and sage will have a similar relationship to what reyna and gekko are to eachother

[akuzdoesart]

I am all about the soft found family shenanigans when it comes to Chamber, Cypher, KJ and Clove.

Chamber and Cypher: Deeply fucked up men that come together and take these kids under their wings and watch over them because they deserve it

[alwaysinnerkryptonite]

Valorant brainrot.

[witchnordemon]

They sat with curiosity as Golden Guard replied to them, and slight confusion as they watched his ears do that thingy again, which only compounded when he started getting fidgety. Sometimes - rarely, really - Philip got a little twitchy-witchy when he was fibbing, but... there was nothing for Golden Guard to be fibbing about, right? So that didn't make any sense... urgh. They wished mortals weren't so confusing.

Oh. And now he was apologizing to him... and about something the Collector himself had felt before. Huh. He didn't know how to respond right, not really, but...

❝ ... lots of people don't like me asking a lot of questions, either. ❞ He offered quietly, unsure of why it was hard to get out, and even more unsure of why he couldn't seem to find any more words to say afterwards. He was especially grateful when the conversation shifted this time.

Embarrassment (at his assumption of Golden Guard asking something completely different than he really had) was quickly squashed by bafflement. ❝ The Boiling Sea? ❞ He repeated, incredulously. ❝ I've never heard of that. The Sparkling Sea was the sea all around the... you know, most of the land the Titans lived on... the Boiling Sea? ❞ He repeated yet again, as though he couldn't comprehend it, ❝ ...where are we? ❞ He asked, though he didn't give enough time for the Grimwalker to respond initially, as he quickly continued blurting out more of his stream of consciousness ❝ There's a whole 'nother sea out there, and you fell in it? ❞

They clasped a hand in their opposite palm and contemplated for a moment. A lot of mortals' planets had a sea, some planets even seemed to have lots of seas. They'd never heard of the Boiling Sea in all their free time on the Isles... which meant they must be really far away right now from where they'd been sealed away. Where on this planet could they even be?

Collector was (gladly) snapped out of his troubled pondering as Golden Guard started asking about Titans again. ❝ Oh, well - twenty to fiftyish years isn't a long time, and they're not big big yet, but they can go out and be okay if they want to, or need to. ❞ He clarified. ❝ Most don't need to or want to, because they're safer and happier with other Titans, but some of them do, and they're alright if they do. ❞ He shrugged. It wasn't a shocker to know he related to the Titans in many ways, and this was one of them - he was a lot younger than the other Collectors, and missed them a lot of the time, but... well, he had Philip, and now he had a friend in this new Grimwalker, so... he was okay.

❝ Most Titans start foraging when they're pretty young. It's like an.. an.. instick. ❞ They suggested, repeating what they vaguely remember hearing from years and years past. ❝ Most Titans can search for their own food as soon as they can walk on four legs, so... ❞ They looked back down at their hands, counting off a few fingers, ❝ ...two years... five years? ❞ They shrugged. ❝ They can't hunt yet, but they can find bugs and fruit and other stuff. ❞

He drummed his fingers against one another. ❝ ...Titans are really incredible, hardy critters. They can do so many amazing things all on their own from the time they're really little, even though they usually don't need to if they have a family group. But- but they still can if they have to, and that's so cool! A lot of the stuff they do is... it's just instickshual. ❞

His ears perked up, just a little, as the Collector confirmed that he in fact loved questions. Relief flooded through him. "Oh." He wasn't in trouble. He wasn't going to be in trouble, for asking too many questions or irrelevant questions. The Collector was enjoying his questions.

Which then made his ears dip down once again. He had ruined it. Oh, titan. Would they be annoyed at him for that? He pressed the side of the pen tight against his ankles and rubbed it up and down against them, something to deal with the anxiety that filled him.

He did not look at them as he quietly said, once more, "Sorry. I didn't mean to- People don't usually like me asking a lot of questions. I didn't mean to ruin things. The conversation was good." He'd liked it, a lot. It was fun. And then he'd ruined it.

This Philip guy really was losing out on not asking questions, though. The Collector knew so much. He would be an incredible resource of knowledge, and he was very willing to share it. Why not take advantage of that?

As they started to explain what a sea was, Valor looked up at them in offended bewilderment. "What? No, that wasn't- I know what a sea is, Collector. We're surrounded by one, and I've fallen into the Boiling Sea more than once. I've just- I've never heard of the Sparkling Sea before. Where is that?"

The explanation of why it was called the Sparkling Sea was interesting, though. "Don't all large bodies of water sparkle in the sunlight? Is it even more so than that?" It must have been, if staring at it when the sun was at its highest could blind you.

Hm. He no longer entirely felt he was going to lose it if he let go of his pen for too long, but that didn't mean he wanted to let go of it either. He'd have to find some other way to relieve the anxiety then, and those other ways would be way more obvious.

It was fine. He'd just. Constantly go over what the Collector told him so that he could remember it when he could write it down.

Their frown was something he assumed to be related to trying to remember how long it took for titans to become adults, or trying to do math related to it.

"Only twenty to fifty years?" He'd have expected longer, what with how small they started and how big they could get. Though the fact that they never stopped growing . . . That was fascinating. He wondered if they ever got too big for anything they could eat to properly sustain them. He wondered how long they tended to live. He wondered if dying of old age was synonymous with dying of starvation.

He did not ask the Collector these questions. He was still being careful about how many he asked at once, and he still had other, more pleasant questions. "How, um, how long would it take them to forage on their own? Not- Not leaving the nest on their own, but like . . . not needing others to find food for them."

[girlactionfigure]

Daniel Lewin and Mohammad Hamdani were two 9/11 heroes with very different stories.

Known as Danny by his friends, Lewin was the first person to die in the terrorist attacks, sixteen years ago today.

Danny was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11 and an Israeli-American veteran of an elite IDF combat unit. He was trained in counter-terrorism and spoke fluent Arabic.

Investigators pieced together that Danny heard the terrorists plotting in Arabic and tried to stop the hijacking. He was stabbed to death by Saudi law student Satam al-Suqami.

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Danny emigrated to Israel with his family as a teenager. As a newcomer, he could have skipped his military service, but chose instead to serve and work his way up to the toughest unit in the IDF. He later became a successful internet entrepreneur.

Only 31 when he died, Danny had already made his mark on the world.

Mohammad Hamdani was a first responder who died at the World Trade Center on 9/11.

Mohammad immigrated with his family from Pakistan when he was a year old and grew up in Queens, NY. He played football for Bayside High. Hard-working and ambitious, Mohammad became an EMT and then a police cadet. He also applied to medical school, and in September 2001 he was waiting to hear if he’d been accepted. 

On the morning of 9/11, Mohammad was taking an elevated subway on his way to work when he saw smoke coming from the twin towers. He got off the train and rushed to the World Trade Center to help. Mohammad was never seen alive again. He was only 23 years old.

At first Mohammad was listed as missing. Because of his Muslim background and lack of connection to the World Trade Center, he came under suspicion of being involved in the attack. The cloud over his name did not lift until his remains were found at Ground Zero in October 2001, along with his medical bag and ID. 

Mohammad Hamdani was buried with full honors from the the New York Police Department, and proclaimed a hero by the city’s police commissioner. He is mentioned in the Patriot Act as an example of Muslim-American valor on 9/11. 

May the memories of these two righteous young men always be for a blessing.

Accidental Talmudist

[aventurineswife]

“Both your hands in the hole of my sweater” | Part 2

Summary: While your partner was away on a work trip, you, as their beloved partner, spent the time knitting them a sweater. Upon their return, they’re met with the surprise of a handmade gift.

Tags: Dan Heng x Reader, Robin x Reader, Argenti x Reader, Topaz x Reader, Numby Fluff, Knitting Sweater for them, Domestic Fluff, Handmade Gifts, Warm and Fuzzy Feelings, Soft Moments, Fluff and Comfort, Found Family Vibes, Tender Moments, Gift Giving, Wholesome Fluff.

Part 1, Part 3

Dan Heng

You spent hours knitting a dark blue sweater for Dan Heng, mirroring the serene, star-streaked nights you both spent watching on the Astral Express. When he finally returned from his trip, he was tired and stoic as always, but his eyes softened at the sight of your gift.

“It’s… for me?” he asked, voice almost a whisper. His fingers brushed the yarn as if it might dissolve under his touch. A faint smile crept onto his usually impassive face. “Thank you.” he murmured, slipping it on over his usual tunic. It fit him perfectly, cozy yet just snug enough.

In a rare moment of vulnerability, he glanced at you and said, “I’ll wear it often. It reminds me of… home.” And for once, he seemed truly at peace, holding onto a warmth beyond the fabric.

Robin

You chose a soft, lilac-colored yarn, matching the hues of Robin’s cascading hair. As she entered the room upon her return, you presented her with the delicate sweater you’d knitted, woven with a gentle star pattern around the sleeves.

“Oh, it’s beautiful!” she gasped, green eyes bright with genuine joy as she ran her fingers over the intricate stitches. She slipped it on, twirling gracefully, the fabric flowing in tune with her elegance.

“It feels like a comforting hug, a piece of home I can carry wherever I go.” she whispered. She then looked at you with a teary smile, touched beyond words. “I’ll treasure it always… and sing a song of gratitude just for you.”

Argenti

You chose a deep crimson for Argenti’s sweater, with golden accents reminiscent of his armor—warm, rich colors that represented both his valor and the beauty he saw in the world. When he returned, you offered it to him, suddenly unsure if he’d appreciate something so simple.

But Argenti’s reaction was instant and profound. He took the sweater from your hands with reverence, tracing each stitch as if it were a masterpiece. His eyes shone with admiration and something deeper, something devoted. “This… you made this?” His voice was soft, his usual confidence tempered by awe.

“Such dedication,” he whispered, studying the gentle waves and patterns in the fabric. “To think, each thread was woven by your hands… It holds a beauty unmatched by jewels or stars.” He slipped it over his armor, the fabric draping him like it had been crafted by divine hands. He looked down at it, then back at you, eyes filled with a rare vulnerability.

“You’ve taken the simplest of things—yarn and time—and turned them into something… extraordinary,” he murmured, as if still in disbelief. “Your love is in every fiber, every loop.” He placed his hand over his heart. “It’s not just a gift; it’s an embodiment of beauty, pure and true. I will wear it always, a reminder that true art is made with care, and beauty lives in all that we cherish.”

Stepping close, he took your hands in his. “Thank you, my love,” he whispered, his voice trembling slightly. “In this, I see the beauty of our bond—a beauty I am worthy of, but one I vow to honor with all that I am.”

Topaz

For Topaz, you picked a rich, ruby-red yarn with accents of gold—a color as bold as her spirit. When she returned, you handed her the sweater without fanfare, but she gasped, eyes widening in surprised delight.

“You knitted this? For me?” she exclaimed, and she held it up to her chest as if imagining how it would feel. She quickly put it on, looking down with a satisfied smile. “Perfect fit.” she grinned.

“You’re really thoughtful, you know that?” she said with a chuckle, but her eyes sparkled with genuine appreciation. She gave you a light punch on the shoulder. “Guess this means I owe you one, huh?”

!BONUS!

Numby

You'd had a feeling Numby might be a little more difficult to knit for. They were small, always moving around Topaz’s side, eager and full of energy, sniffing out anything they thought held value. Still, you thought they deserved something cozy and sweet—a little sweater that would match Topaz’s.

When they finally noticed the tiny, bright red sweater you'd carefully made, Numby froze. At first, they sniffed at it cautiously, circling it as if trying to understand why you’d given them this odd little garment. You knelt down, coaxing them closer with a gentle hand. "Here, Numby, I made this just for you."

After a moment of contemplation, they gave a small, excited hop and nudged their head against your hand, as if in understanding. Gently, you slipped the sweater over them, adjusting it so the red bowtie around their neck still peeked out, like a cheerful splash of color against the new warmth.

Numby made a little trill, hopping in a tiny circle as they took in their new attire in curiosity and delight. They looked over at Topaz as if to say; Look what I have now!

You couldn't help but laugh as they bounced around happily, shaking with joy. For a creature that usually hunted treasure, Numby seemed to consider this simple sweater a rare and precious find, something even more valuable because it was given with care.

[goldenbeastkeeper]

"Oh- titan," he laughed even further at her reply. "No, no, you're right." Why did this keep happening to him? Most of the other times he'd bonded with people had been through life threatening situations. This had just been the first time he'd been on the healing side of it.

As he calmed down, he said, "But no, yeah. It's just been me and my little sibling since we got to the human realm, so it's . . . nice, to have someone else."

"That's good. I haven't had many chances to put what I've learned into practice, so I'm glad it's doing well.

Valor shrugged. "You get used to it. Using your knees to hold it can help distribute the weight, too, if that makes it easier. People do sit side-straddle sometimes, but only after enough they've gained enough experience. It's difficult to steer that way if you're the one in control, and as a passenger you don't have as much of a grip to keep yourself on."

As she attempted to mount, Valor actually got off, lowering the staff further and waiting to correct her form if needed.

“Nothing says bonding like prevented murder!” Came the joking reply, and she shook her head in amusement. “Though I get what you mean. I don't really know any other mages, myself, so… it was nice to have someone to talk to that at least sort of knows what it's like, even if our magics work differently.”

Alex gave a roll of her shoulder to show that she had pretty good range of motion. “Nearly good as new. A little sore if I strain it a little too much, but that's what ice is for. You definitely wouldn't have known I was recently gouged, at least.”

Attention shifting to Valor's demonstration, she furrowed her brow slightly. “Straddle, not side saddle. Got it. Though… isn't that kind of… uncomfortable?” She couldn't help but ask, even as she moved to first stand behind where Valor was, then attempting to actually mount the staff.

Easier said than done when you're as short as she was, even with Valor having lowered himself a little.

[kingtomura]

Vitality | 5

Summary: You were always told heroes and villains had no place in your home. Not when there’s an increase in crime, not when there’s monsters on the loose in Hosu and certainly not when the man in your home raises a hand to you.  All it takes is one impulsive decision to change your life forever. content: shigaraki tomura x female reader, slow burn, hurt/comfort, mutual pining, reader has a quirk, graphic depictions of violence, past abuse, past sa, angst, pstd, eventual smut, dark themes, found family LoV, mdni wc: 5.8k | prev | chapter 6 | m. list | read on ao3

Shigaraki can’t seem to figure out what it is about you that pulls you to him. It’s something that gnaws at the walls of his brain and it makes his skin itch. 

When he’s plotting schemes — you’re there. When he’s in the field, away on missions that will progress his goals — you’re there. And when he closes his eyes at night to go to bed?

You’re there. 

Haunting his mind like a ghost. 

A ghost of his past, a ghost of his present. He just can’t put his finger on it but there is a familiarity in you that only he can see. 

Shigaraki has always had hazy memories, but this one is so distinct — it replays in his mind at the worst of times. 

Is it your face? So innocent, so kind, but filled with hidden valor. Something so easily overlooked by your usually skittish demeanor. 

Shigaraki has taken notice of that. It was one of the first things that caught his eye about you. 

But is it your personality? The way there is more than meets the eye — a budding courage and fortitude growing under the concrete of your fragile frame of mind. 

He didn’t know. All he knew for the time being was that this bothered him. It gave him things to think about that had nothing to do with the new society he would bring. 

It was a distraction. 

There’s a sharp pain along the side of Shigaraki's neck and it’s then he realizes his bad habit of scratching has made itself known again. Something he’s been trying to work on has pried its way back into his mind. 

Whatever. 

It doesn’t matter what these feelings mean — all that matters is his goal and his plans to bring it into fruition.

Anything else is a distraction. 

———————

You have to leave today. 

The mission shouldn’t take long — three days max, but you still feel anxious about it. Dabi is in charge and you trust him to know what he’s doing. 

You don’t really trust him to keep you safe, though. 

It should be simple enough — stay back, do your job and come back to the base. 

A quick and easy mission. 

Or it would have been, until Dabi paid you a visit. 

“Do you understand?” his voice drags, air of boredom present as if he didn’t just turn your world upside down.

Dabi wants you to help on the mission. He wants you to—

“But that wasn’t the plan! I’m a healer.”

His cerulean eyes narrow, slight hint of irritation flashing over his features before it's gone again, “I know what you are. This would be more useful.” 

You stare at him as he flippantly waves you off and starts towards your doorway, unaware that you are sick at the notion of helping someone cause harm. 

“It’s not optional.” He tacks on, words ringing in your ears. 

You're struck still as Dabi departs, leaving you alone to bear the burden of silence as you anticipate what your new role will bring. 

It’s clear that you’ve lost. 

Dabi wants you to help him interrogate the moles.

He believes that your healing would pair well with his burning. A tactic that can wear the moles down enough to give the information Dabi seeks. It’s a cruel task and one you were not sure you could go through with. 

You may be a villain now but you are not evil.

You were not cruel — no matter how cruel the world had been to you. 

The thoughts weigh on your mind as you move to stand, nerves buzzing as you begin to pace around your room.

No, no, you were a healer. Maybe you were never intending to be a hero, but you never want to harm others either. Even if those others hold the title of villain. 

There had to be another way.

You stop, still in your tracks as the metaphoric lightbulb goes on in your head, steering the gears on your mind into action as the thoughts fall into place. 

You had an idea — a plan.

A small smile makes its way onto your face and you feel as though you’ve solved the unsolvable. 

Maybe, just maybe, no one had to get hurt on this mission.

———————

The sound of dripping pipes and scatter of steps too small to be human grate your ears and make you shudder. 

It’s creepy down here. 

That’s the only thing that comes to mind as you trail behind Dabi through abandoned tunnels. 

You sidestep some fallen debris and realize that the underground tunnels here are a reminder to never take the tunnels below the bar for granted. 

It’s slummy, it’s dark and it smells like abandoned agony. 

There are graffiti stains along the walls, leaking pipes against the ceilings and the floors are littered with fluids of all colors. 

Just being down here makes your stomach twist as your body subconsciously moves closer to Spinner, who trudges beside you as you all navigate through the area. 

Your father would have never allowed you to roam a place like this. 

But he’s not here anymore. 

And you’re a villain now. 

(Kind of.) 

Dabi is in front of you, leading the way as you all trek the halls of the abandoned underground. He moves with the confidence of someone who has seen and done this a million times. You absently wonder if he has. 

You knew next to nothing of Dabi. Nothing about where he’s from, how he’s grown up or where he got his burns — nothing. 

But with his steel gaze and uninterested tone, you think it’s better that way. 

Maybe knowing nothing could be a gift. 

“How much longer?” Spinner breaks the silence as his voice echoes through the halls. 

Dabi doesn't look back, only continuing his trek along the tunnels. “Just keep moving.”

As desperate as you are to know where this trek is heading you decide to hold your tongue. The air of this place is eerie enough and the sooner you get there, the sooner you can leave. 

But it’s odd, you’ve been walking for what feels like hours and you can’t help the nagging feeling that nothing has really changed. 

Not until you all come up on a large corridor. One with two identical, dark pathways. 

Dabi stops in his tracks, leading you both to follow his actions. “Alright wannabe, you go left, I’ll go right.” He throws you a glance, features as indifferent as his tone. “Healer, you’re with me.”

“We’re splitting up?” Spinner pipes up, frustrations of the endless trail palpable and you silently wonder if sending him alone was the safest way to go.

“To cover more ground. You have your way to contact me if you find them.” the arsonist shrugs, mind set on the given direction and you hurry to keep up with him — Spinner going in his respective direction with more brevity than you had previously given him credit for. 

There’s a slight ping in your chest and you kick yourself for thinking Spinner couldn’t hold his own alone. He was still a part of the League afterall. 

You and Dabi both veer right, into the limitless corridor with dim lights sparking like they could go out at any moment. 

This is not a place you would want to find yourself alone in. 

With the crunch of broken beer bottle glass and deep red splatters of what you could only assume as blood along the walls, you truly wonder what you’ve walked into. 

You decide to tread beside Dabi, catching up to his stride and ensuring he won’t leave your sight. 

The warmth radiating from his body is as nice as it is intimidating. It shows just how hot his body naturally runs from his dormant quirk. 

But it’s comforting. It blankets you and soothes the goosebumps that had spread across your skin in the chilled air of the tunnels. 

The silence between you feels natural and not forced, even though your curious questions about his past pry themselves to the forefront of your mind. 

You prefer this, you think. Wandering in silence while looking for the moles. You almost feel.. safe with Dabi here to guide the mission. 

“Hey—”

You gasp and turn back, swearing you heard another voice.

But there was nothing there. 

“Spinner?” You call out into the depths of the hall, walls fading into pitch black as you stare and wait for a response. 

The dark abyss is quiet as you wait for any signs of movement, but everything is stock-still. 

You turn back to Dabi, eyes lingering on the darkness, “did you hear that—?”

You look around but the arsonist is nowhere to be found. The sinking feeling in your heart deepens as your palms grow sweaty with simmering fear.

“Dabi?” 

Nothing. 

He was there just a moment ago, there was no way he could have left your sight. It’s a one way hall with no other doors. 

No, you think, panic rising as you move to sprint down the hall, go the way you know he has to be walking, Dabi wouldn’t leave you in here alone. 

Before you’re able to take your next step, hands engulf you, the sheer shock causes a cry to escape your lips only to be quieted by another hand covering your mouth. 

“Gotcha.”

———————

There's a sluggish and slow pull as you fight to open your eyes. Your nose twitches as your body feels like it's been thrown underwater and brought back to shore just moments before an inevitable demise. 

You feel heavy.

It’s a struggle to move your arm and it takes even longer for you to realize they’re being held together by your wrists. You fight harder to blink yourself awake and it’s then that you notice the voices speaking amongst themselves in the foreign space you’ve found yourself in. 

Your vision is blurry but you flutter until there’s clarity. 

Their voices sound muffled, like you were really underwater as they spoke, but the more you focused the clearer things became. 

There were three men in this room. 

One had dark hair and gleaming red eyes, while the other looked to be much younger. He sat atop a dusty desk and leered at you from a distance, speaking with the third man in a tone too chipper for the line of work he must be in.

The third man in question had you held by the wrists. 

He was behind you, laughing as one hand held your wrists and the other roamed in places that made you feel sick to your stomach. 

“Oh look, she’s awake. Morning princess.” The younger one spoke, green eyes almost glowing despite the darkness of the room. 

Morning? No, there was no way it was morning, but you couldn’t tell up from down right now. You tried and tried, but the grogginess you felt just would not go away.  

You move to speak, but the man behind you is faster, bringing a hand to your mouth to stop your voice before it's free. 

Your eyes dart around the room, seeking any form of familiarity. You only spot a worn down chair that one of the men had occupied, an old, dusty office desk and several metal wire shelves. 

Nothing helpful.

You try again to release your wrists, body slow moving and feeling as though it had been made of lead, but you fight with the strength you have. The man behind you only chuckles, easily amused by your struggle. 

“Whoa there, don’t hurt yourself. My quirk has you doped up with enough tranquilizer to take down a bear.” 

His quirk. Of course. 

You mentally kick yourself at the oversight. How could you be so naive? 

He leans closer, breath ghosting your ear. “Just relax.”

You scramble to remember your training, your fighting skills, anything but it all comes up short against a real life threat. The reality of the situation only makes you sick to your stomach and you cannot believe how woefully unprepared you are.  

You look at the two men in front of you through dreary eyes and know that it doesn’t take a genius to see where this is going. 

Your brows knit in frustration as you begin to feel lightheaded once more, but you desperately try to stay centered. 

“We really don’t have time for this.” A voice speaks up, it's the man with dark hair and narrowed eyes glaring at the other man holding you. You finally notice his lit cigarette and the way it’s awful smell clouds the room. 

The sleeze behind you only chuckles, dark and low as he removes the hand from your mouth to grab your cheeks, squeezing them as he releases your wrists, knowing his quirk has made you weak enough to do so. He pulls you closer by the waist. “Don’t we? Look at her. You don’t come across this often.”

The other nods in agreement, rising from his place on the dusty desk in the corner of the room. Even in your haze you can tell this place is dingy and abandoned — filled with old worn furniture that wouldn't sit on if they paid you. 

“Yeah, you should loosen up.” He mocks, stalking towards you with a sly grin, calling back to the third member of the trio. He places a hand on your head, moving your hair from your eyes. “She’s cute.” 

Your breath is ragged as you struggle against the hold, forcing the man to release your face and he pins your arms behind your back again instead. “Whoa there, feisty.” 

His laugh echoes in your ears and you desperately wonder where your comrades could be at a time like this. 

The man before you watches as you search the bare room for any kind of exit, an amused smile on his face.  

“Any chance that Blue Flame guy will interrupt us soon?” The one behind you speaks, and you close your eyes, knowing he’s gotten you figured out. 

“No way. He’s still stuck in disillusion. By the time he breaks out of it we’ll be long gone.” They both laugh at the idea and it puts your stomach in knots. Of course the other would have a quirk like that. 

No wonder it felt like you were going in circles. 

It’s because you had been. 

“That’s what I like to hear.” 

The next moments feel like a blur as you struggle to catch your breath. 

He is swift as he turns you toward the desk, pushing you forward and bending you over the dusty surface with ease. The panic from before is back and beating against your chest at full force. There was no way this was happening. 

Not like this.

You start to thrash again, even though your body feels like you're trailing it through sludge. 

It's pointless.

You try again to yell — to call for Dabi who was supposed to be with you throughout this, but nothing comes out. God only knows where he could be now, trapped in some illusionary quirk, blind to the time passing by. Wandering for hours. 

Completely oblivious to the danger you were in. 

Your knees tremble when you feel the heat of the other man leering over you, it makes you turn your head, eyes locking with the third guy in the room. 

He meets your eyes, reluctantly watching as his comrades make lewd comments about your body and move in on your space. There is obvious disdain in his crimson eyes but he makes no move to comment further. 

Damn it, damn it, damn it. 

There was nothing you could do to shake the effects of this tranquilizer quirk. Goosebumps rise along your skin as you feel the sticky residue left behind by the other man’s quirk as his hands ghost any bare skin he could reach. 

You were going to be sick. 

“The plans…” the seated one interjects, desperate to stay on topic. “We have to rendezvous with him again tomorrow night. We can’t stay here any longer.”

“Yeah, yeah, we know.” You heard the younger one interject, disinterest clear in his tone. 

“This is our last stint working with the league. Maybe we can leave them a parting gift.” The other breathes from above you, slowly dragging his palms along your clothed sides. 

The response makes the third guy roll his eyes and the younger one laughs. 

“N-no…” you find your voice, as small and meek as it may be, you choke out a whispered plea, so faint you almost didn’t hear it yourself. 

“What’s that girl?” You can hear the grin in his words, to think you had derived a plan that would save these assholes. 

To think you didn’t want them to die.  

“You scared?” He mocks, “what, you a virgin or somethin’?”

The warm tears begin to fall, pushing past your waterline and onto the dirty desk. 

“She’s crying! She is!” The blond shouts, excited at his unspoken discovery. 

“How lucky.”

The third of the trio sighs, removing the cigarette from his lips and rising from his place on the chair, but not before making eye contact with you, real eye contact. 

The kind that makes your heart jump at the notion — and then you see it.

The flash of pity. 

Your heart skips at the flash of his reluctance. 

It's so firm and so clear that you can almost feel the idea of him stepping in to save you, knowing that being a villain doesn’t mean you have to be downright villainous, but your hope is crushed as soon as it arrives. 

Stomped out onto the asphalt along with the man’s finished cigarette. 

The man sighs again, rolling his eyes at his comrades as he makes his way to the door, taking your hopes and wishes with him. 

“Well you fuckers better not take too long. I’m leaving.” 

And then he’s gone — leaving you with the men who will use and abuse you. There was a chance to stop something horrific but he couldn’t care less. 

It makes you think. 

It takes you back to your father and his never ending rants of how all men feel the same about girls like you. Stupid, naive and never able to stand on their own.

He put men like this away while wearing the mask of a public servant only to strip the mask and become the same of those he claimed to hate behind closed doors. 

But he’s not here anymore and now you were left in the hands of the unfamiliar.

You can’t help the bile that rises in your throat as you wonder if this was destined to be your fate in the end no matter what. 

You wish you had a choice. 

God, how foolish had you been. 

How naive of you to want to save these men from the League's wrath. 

You should have known better. You’ve been shown time and time again. 

They are all the same. 

They would always only want one thing from you and there was nothing you could do to stop or change it. 

But…

There’s a flash in your mind, of narrowed red eyes and soft pale hair. 

You think of his gloved hand, offering his drink to you. Of his hushed laugh late that night when you unintentionally insulted him. The leader of this group of villains you’ve found yourself a part of, the one who has treated you with nothing but respect since he’s met you. 

The sickness returns. 

The humiliation burns at your eyes. 

Tomura trusted you to be here and now you will pay for it. 

It’s as ironic as it is cruel. 

You were going to be sick. 

“What a prude.” The guy scoffs and turns to his younger comrade, bringing you out of your dissociated stupor and back to your unfortunate reality. 

He lifts you once more, putting your body on display for his younger friend and brings a hand around to cup your clothed breast.

He’s loose with his movements, halfheartedly holding your wrist with one hand and gloating with the other. It’s enough to leave your other hand free and you wince as it dangles by your side. 

You feel the breeze of the open door, pitch black outside of it and wish you had the strength to make a run for it. 

You were so close, like a carrot dangling in front of you face, but just far enough to be out of reach.

His words feel loud in your ears and you close your eyes, resigned to your fate.  “He doesn’t know what he’s missin’ out on.” 

“Oh, yeah?”

The man tenses and that’s all you register before you feel a strong pull. 

A heavy hand grips your forearm and pulls with a force you’ve never felt before. It’s so hot you almost feel burned but your mind is too groggy to care. 

And then it happens. 

You feel it before you see it. 

Blue flames erupt into the room that you were pulled out of. 

If there were screams they are too distant to be noted now. All you feel is heat and you’re beginning to sweat. You can't tell if you’ve been overdosed by the guy’s intoxicating quirk or if your mind was too stressed to care. 

All you can do is pant and struggle to watch as the familiar blue flames lick the frame of the door and incinerate those inside of it. 

(And as you watch the room bathe in flashes of cyan blue and purple hue, the sleezy men wither away into ash — into nothing — it finally clicks in your mind that oh.

His villain name means creation for this reason exactly.)

The men who held you before were no more. That thought alone would have sent you into another fit of tears if the heat from Dabi’s flames hadn’t dried the trails of them from before. 

The flame user in question stands beside you, breathing heavy and teeth bared. You can’t tell if the smell of burning flesh is coming from him or the two bodies he’s just burned and you don’t think you can stomach another thought towards the answer. 

His brows are pinched in anger and you don’t think you’ve seen this much expression from the man since you’ve known him. 

The hand holding your arm is gripping you so tight it almost hurts, but you couldn’t pull away if you wanted to. 

As if the idea of letting Dabi go would take this all away — as if it would make you wake up and face a reality where Dabi is not fast enough to save you. 

A reality where your nightmares are realized. 

“One of them got away.” Dabi low voice rasps and you can only register that conclusion by the footsteps echoing from farther away. He ran the opposite direction, with a head start and far away from Dabi’s wrath. “Maybe Spinner will catch the fucker.”

You can’t bring yourself to speak nor nod. The effects of the quirks toxin are still sweeping through your body with its wrath. 

There’s a lasting lump of dread in your stomach that makes you feel bolted where you stand. It pulls and pulls, dragging you lower and lower until you can no longer keep yourself upright.

You tense, mentally bracing yourself to meet the cold hard feeling of concrete, but somehow, the feeling never comes.

———————

There is something to be said to those with heavy quirks. Those who have quirks that stay for much longer than they should and linger well past their welcome. 

The intoxicating quirk of the sleezy villain before is definitely one you’re happy you’ll never encounter again. 

Your head feels full of cotton as you struggle to catch your bearings, hands gripping the sides of the toilet. It’s been this way since you woke up from the outing. 

The unpleasant remains of the toxins have ruined your stomach, and you’ve found yourself here, on the floor of the bathroom for the better half of an hour. 

A seesaw of back and forth nausea from the quirk and the fact that those two men are dead. 

Gone forever. 

Incerated. 

You don’t think you’ll ever forget the smell of their burning flesh and the final sounds of their screams. 

You wearily eye your cell phone, tossed onto the tile of the floor and locked. It’s inviting, almost calling to you as your hand hovers over it. 

You could call Shigaraki and tell him about the disaster mission you’ve just experienced, but you stop yourself. 

What did you expect would happen? That he would comfort you like he did on the roof? 

He is your leader, not your friend. 

You scoff bitterly at your spiraling train of thought. 

If you called him now It would just be a show of how incapable you are, and you can’t risk this new home you’ve found. 

So, instead of fighting a losing battle, you bring shaky hands to your forehead, the warmth of your own healing quirk soothing you in a way that feels reminiscent to your mother’s ways. 

There was no use waiting around in a stuffy bathroom. Men were dead because of you. 

You know you shouldn’t feel guilt for it — they were trying to hurt you — but the deaths are so heavy on your mind. 

Forcing yourself to stand on wobbly legs, you walk back to your temporary room. 

Shigaraki set you all up with a cover home, seemingly belonging to a family of three but long abandoned. You took the room of the young daughter, the place covered top to bottom in lace and frills. 

You try not to wonder where she’s ended up. 

Your temporary bedroom is down the hall from the bathroom, not too far for any emergency nausea. 

And from the short distance you can see that there’s someone in your room. 

The closer you get to the door the clearer it becomes that it’s only Dabi, seated and awaiting your return. It would be a lie to say the nausea you felt in that moment only came from the quirk. 

“Have a seat.”  He wastes no time breaking the air, thick rasp of his voice making you hesitate as you linger in the doorway. 

Your eyes fall to the ground as the persistent dread in your gut grows, but you do as he instructs. The bed below you feels too soft, a stark contrast from the firm one you’ve grown to know at the hideout. 

You know what this is about, but the anxiety fills you all the same. 

There was nowhere to run. 

Dabi would tell Shigaraki of your failure today and let him know how you weren’t cut out for this. You would have to leave. 

You would have to—

“What are you gonna do?” His dreary voice drags, cutting through your train of thought. 

You look up at him. 

“What?”

“There’s one more left. Are you going to sit here puking your guts out about this or are you going to finish what they started?”

You eye Dabi wearily. 

Was he.. was he trying to encourage you?

With his narrowed eyes and crossed arms this feels more like an attempted pep talk from an emotionally stunted relative than a scolding from a higher up. 

“I… I don’t know.” You murmur, unsure of how to heed this conversation. Shouldn’t you be on the chopping block right now? “Two of them are dead. I think I’ve done enough damage—”

You don’t miss the eye roll Dabi couldn’t be bothered to hide. 

“Why do you feel sympathetic? They wouldn’t give half a shit about you.” He spits and you flinch at the harsh words, knowing they were nothing but the truth. “Nobody cares about people like us.” 

People like us, you think bitterly. Villains. Outcasts. People that aren’t worth saving. People that are lost causes. There are no heroes for those like Dabi — and now, people like you. 

The thought makes you choke up, vision blurring as you bring a hand to your mouth. It’s too late to melt from the humiliation of this, and the weight of the day is just too heavy to carry anymore. 

“This world is cruel.” He continues, tone even and leveled despite your come apart. “You need to learn to stand on your own. We may not always be there to save you.”

It’s the truth. The cold hard reality you face. You would be lying if you said those hands wouldn’t haunt your nightmares for years to come. 

But you wanted to try. As futile as it may have sounded. It’s why even through your tears you speak, “I-I had a plan, you know.” 

Dabi’s brow quirks at this, head tilted in interest.

“I didn’t want anyone to get h-hurt. It was stupid, I know! But I wanted to try.”

You expect him to dismiss you, to say how naive and even childish you may sound. You don’t expect his next words. 

“And what was that plan?”

You look up, warm tears still cascading down your flushed cheeks and your nose probably looking less than sightly. “What?”

“Tell it to me and maybe we can work something out.” His cerulean eyes shimmer with curiosity. You could practically see the gears turning in his mind as he begins to piece together his own thoughts and ideas for your next courses of action. 

And you think to yourself, watching as he listened intently to your words that maybe there was more to Dabi’s personality than meets the eye. 

———————

You thought you would never be down in the tunnels again. It was unfamiliar and cold, if Dabi were to light the entire thing on fire you would be fine with it. 

Each step you take through these grotesque tunnels makes the pit of dread in your stomach grow deeper and deeper. 

It’s unsettling to be back here — even knowing the men were dead. 

You look to your right, turning down the next hall and continuing on your way. 

Spinner said the last one never left the tunnels and there’s only one way out. You’re sure he’s been backed into a corner with Dabi patrolling the area and Spinner lurking and listening. 

That only leaves you. If the man wanted to take the easier target, it’s clear he would choose you. 

You almost scoff. Of course he would. 

But you were ready today. There were no more illusion quirks and no more ambushing. There was just you and—-

You stop in your tracks, the sound of a footstep slashing against water draws your attention. 

The nerves almost build again but you force yourself to focus. This is possibly your last chance to make things right, for yourself more than anything, but also for the mission. 

Keep yourself quiet and lure him in, just like Dabi instructed. 

His movements are sloppy, you can tell from the way he blows his cover to tackle you from the back, but the same trick won't work on you twice. 

You turn, fully ready to send a punch his way when he moves, pushing you to the side and through a weakened door beside you. 

You both tumble to the floor, the hard concrete scraping against your arms as you fight for your life with the skills you’d learned from Toga. You know that with her training and your determined mind it will be all the more easy to get the upper hand today. 

And you do. 

It's a cheap shot, but you hit him where it hurts, climbing onto him when he has no choice but to coil over. 

Your bat was lost in the scuffle, forgotten as you pulled out one of Toga’s slender knives she had gifted to you. Training with her had made you adopt many of her ways, but you were thankful for them. 

They remind you of how far you had come.

Remind you that no, you were not weak like you once thought. 

You look down at the man below you, his eyes closed as he begged for your forgiveness. 

You were ambushed. 

Your training was not in vain. 

“Wait!” The man below you pleads and it's now that you can see the bags under his eyes, whether it be from anguish of his fallen comrades or the lack of sleep you know he hadn’t gotten last night. It doesn’t matter, you can clearly see the cracks. 

You pause, holding the knife to his throat with narrowed eyes, the look urges him to continue — to plead his case. 

“You don’t have to do this,” he starts and you have to keep yourself from scoffing, “I-I know what they did was wrong — I know! But it had nothing to do with me.”

Your brow twitches in annoyance, but you let him go on. This was your part of the deal you made with Dabi. You wanted a chance to hear them out, or to hear the last one out — to see if there was any way that a compromise could be made. 

But now that you had the man here underneath you and groveling you felt something you never had before.

You felt… strong. 

“Just let me go.” His words break through your thoughts, they were tired and worn. Like he knew his time was up. “I know you’re better than this.”

This time you scoff at the irony. 

Better than this, he says. As if that would have gotten you out of that room unscathed. As if being better than this would have made him step in and stop his comrades from trying to assault you.

Yeah, better than this is complete bullshit. 

He’s wrong. 

In this world there is no such thing as fairness. 

If you let him go, if you let him leave here there’s no telling what else he would leak. 

You believe this is why Dabi allowed you the freedom of enacting your plan. The plan where you wanted to hear their side, their story. But now you know better.

It's you or them. Even men who were complacent had no room for your mercy.

So with a (not so heavy) heart you stare down at the man, eyes even and leveled.  

“He’s in here!” Your voice echoes throughout the run down building and the man curses you, calls you every name under the sun but you cannot bring yourself to care. 

“You stupid bitch—!”

In a world like this one it’s win or lose. Take or be taken. 

Kill or be killed. 

Dabi is in the room in an instant, whistling an impressed tune. 

“Not bad, little bird.” His grin grows as he assesses the scene, staples pulling at his skin in ways you can only assume are painful. “I knew you had it in you.” 

He steps closer, gravel crunching under his boots as he bends down eye level with the man. 

“Now, let’s get this show started.”

[prankprincess123]

WW Link was raised on a tiny little island by his grandmother, with his closest in age peer being his baby sister. Both his grandmother and the two old men on the island taught him on stories of past Heroes and knightly valor. The only other family on the island has two little toddlers who adore and follow him around as if he hung the stars. This boy was raised to be a gentleman who helps everyone without hesitation, a perfect example of ideal knightly chivalry, protecting and caring for women, children and the elderly.

And then the day he enters adolescence, filled with stories of the Hero saving his Princess and the kingdom, he meets a girl his age for the first time in his life, captured and in danger just like the damsels in distress from his stories.

And she instantly starts bullying him

Because Tetra was raised by pirates who obey her every command without hesitation. This girl is half feral, will stab unprovoked, and has probably never heard the words 'manners' or 'no' in life. For all her ignorance of her lineage, she is still a spoiled princess, just instead of proper tutors and nursemaids at her beckon call she has a rowdy crew of pseudo uncles and brothers that are trying their best to raise this little girl but are still pirates. She says "I'm bored. Let's fight a sea monster!" and they gleefully say "Yes Miss Tetra! Here's your sword!" without hesitation.

And Link falls in love, with this feral gremlin, who thinks it's funny to shoot him out of a catapult, across open ocean, face first, into a wall, of a heavily armed enemy fortress.

And once their adventure is done, his little sister decides this is her new rolemodel.

And now Link is the Hero and Tetra is the Princess, and they're tasked with re-founding the kingdom of Hyrule.

And I really want to see more of their dynamic in this lifetime than we see in their two games. I want to see Grandma's reaction to meeting the Princess that her grandson loves and granddaughter idolizes. I want to see him attempting to woo her using how he was taught to treat people, and her just being so confused by all this sappy softness. I want to see the kingdom of Hyrule that was founded by a fierce Pirate Queen and her tender gentleman Hero, before it was stabilized by any future generations. Because the dichotomy of their upbringings has such comedic potential that is not utilized enough.

[i23kazu]

GEKKO IS SO FINE????? i feel like he and reyna have a big sis little bro/mom and son relationship

[writtenbyjeanofarc]

・⸝⸝﹒₊˚ UNDRESS ★・⸝⸝﹒₊˚

an album dedicated to Arlecchino.

TRACK 001.

What Looks So Strong, So Delicate

𝖌𝖊𝖓𝖗𝖊: psychological horror.

𝖕𝖆𝖎𝖗𝖎𝖓𝖌: Arlecchino X You (Reader)

𝖈𝖜: possessive behavior.

𝖘𝖞𝖓𝖔𝖕𝖘𝖎𝖘:

You’ve grown tired of Arlecchino’s antics when it comes to her trying to overprotect you from head to toe, let alone keep you from seeing other people she deemed as a threat. After holding back your urges to end the intimate relationship between both of you, you finally gave into your plan of packing your belongings, ready to travel back to your family’s home. To compensate for your absence, you left a note in her office while she was gone, stating your intentions of breaking up with her and leaving for good.

Little did you know, days after arriving to see your family out of fearing confrontation, your family was nowhere to be found. After thinking you’ve had the chance of a successful escape, you just had to surrender every bit of your pride upon confronting your crazed lover.

𝕬𝖚𝖙𝖍𝖔𝖗’𝖘 𝕹𝖔𝖙𝖊: Something from the vault. Unreleased.

Banner credit by @benkeibear.

“I thought I’d find you here.”

All it took was one voice that rendered you weak on the knees, its tone penetrating your eardrums. Before even looking back, you were greeted with a shadowy figure towering over you from behind. Your eyes widened in shock. You stopped dead in your tracks, caught within the predator’s trap this time, not knowing where to go and what to do. That kind of voice seemed familiar, you thought, as it sounded deep and threatening; it sounded as if someone was about to kill you at that very moment, your instincts telling you to jump out the window in fear.

It was definitely the voice of someone angry, someone completely crazy over your presence alone.

Your heart rate increased as you turned your back to face the Knave herself. Not knowing how she got access to your home in Mondstadt was something that creeped you out, shivers sending chills down your spine upon realizing that fact.

It’s been days since you last escaped from the Fatui Hideout in Fontaine, defeating all your lover’s most loyal guards and escaping the possessiveness that overfilled the hole of your relationship. It was to no denial that your combat skills were refined and belonging to that of a seasoned warrior. After all, your valor and competence in the art of war was what caught the Knave’s attention, so far as to confess her feelings to you.

After months of arguing over financial matters and resisting The Knave’s desire for control over your freedom, you thought to yourself that YOU had enough of her bullshit. Packing your belongings didn’t feel like a chore, it felt like something you could do forever, for as long as you kept your distance from The Knave. You just didn’t want to be associated with her antics anymore. So all you did was write a sincere letter to her office stating your intention to split up, and that you were leaving to Mondstadt with your family for good.

Days passed since your escape. You spent your quality time bonding with family and enjoying a cup of tea while indulging in joyful chatter. Things went well. However, these memories came to a halt upon witnessing the sudden disappearance of your family when you woke up from a nap tonight. Oh, how the tables have turned. You didn’t expect such a sudden change in the atmosphere when you realized there’s twe was someone who had entered your home.

“Let’s not beat around the bush, shall we?” the Knave spoke. “Tell me, dear, are you tired of us now?”

“I’ve had enough of you.” you replied. “Let’s cut to the chase, alright? I escaped because I felt as if our entire relationship was suffocating me. That letter I sent you is proof of it.”

“Ah, yes…..that letter you gave me. A great argument, but that’s NOT enough.” the Knave said darkly. “I just wanted to surprise you a bit by holding your family captive while indulging ourselves in a rather…. decent conversation. Take this as a moment to clear any form of misunderstanding between us.”

“What is there to be misunderstood, Arlecchino?” you asked. “I already stated my side of the story through that letter. I want freedom. I want to end our relationship.”

“End our relationship?” the Knave chuckled. “Don’t make me laugh. You swore to the Tsaritsa that you shall fight for our relationship to the death once you gave yourself to me. That was a hard promise.”

“Promised? I only mentioned fighting for our relationship to the death because I had faith in you, Arlecchino.” you replied. “But things happen, and people change. We were never fated to be together, knowing all you desired was control over my life and decisions. I’m leaving.”

“You’re not going anywhere.” the Knave warned you. “One escape attempt, and I’ll make sure your family will never see the light of day again.”

“Anything but my family…..” you thought.

“Cat got your tongue?” the Knave sneered. “Poor little creature cares way too much about their family…..I’m almost jealous.”

“Let them go.” you said darkly, your eyebrows furrowing. “I won’t hesitate to run if need be.”

“Are you really going to make things harder for us, my dear? No. You’re not leaving. I won’t allow it.”

“Make me.” you said bravely. While you started running, you were ignored by the Knave this time. However, you felt a knife slash through your arm. Despite the pain you felt from that swift slice, you didn’t stop running. Surprisingly, there was no blood gushing out of your wound as you continued to run. The escape was uncalled for, but you just had to run away to call out someone to help you out, like Amber.

While making your way out of the house, you felt your limbs cramp and your vision starting to blur. It was as if you were about to be paralyzed. You couldn’t feel your legs, your knees wobbling as you lost balance and fell into the ground face first. Looking up, you couldn’t make sense of whose silhouette it was. But it was definitely the Knave’s heels.

“As I thought.” the Knave muttered. She knelt down to grab you by the neck, while your consciousness was about to fade. The last thing you saw was her smirk, her mouth speaking inaudible words as your eyes closed.

“I’m going to have a little fun with you tonight.”

[pacexlikexaxghost]

@goldenbeastkeeper

The summer heat has been with them for some time now, the coastline baking in humidity.

It's the early morning when Garnet walks into Rose's room, where she and Pearl are. Pearl is laying back across Rose's lap, laughing as she tells some story that Pearl isn't even listening to, and the room plays it out around them.

❝I've found one,❞ Garnet says, and Pearl sits bolt upright, her fingers raking through the clouds as she shifts off of Rose's lap, looking expectantly at Garnet.

❝Found one what?❞ Rose asks, and Pearl shoots her a look. There's only one thing that Garnet could be referring to, talking about it like that.

❝A portal to Valor and Flicker's home.❞ She pauses, and looks towards Pearl. ❝Sort of.❞

Pearl stands up slowly. ❝What do you mean sort of?❞

❝Their family isn't there. The one I've found will last about a day and a half, and it goes to their world, but they are also out of time. I see that there could be trouble if they went in unprepared, so we would have to warn them.❞ She frowns. ❝They would be happier going back to that world; no worry over witch hunters and life around them that they're more familiar with.❞

Pearl isn't expecting the painful jolt in her chest at those words. She wants the two of them to get home; she does, and if they would be happier there, even without their family-

❝Oh, well, I'm glad we were able to help them!❞ Rose chirps, jumping to her feet and putting an arm around Pearl's shoulders. ❝It'll be a shame to see them go; they've been such a delight to have around.❞

❝They're both so young! Especially Flicker! They shouldn't be on their own!❞ Pearl blurts out, and Garnet chuckles.

❝I also saw that reaction. Go pack; you'll get a stable portal eventually.❞

Pearl squeaks, and shoots an anxious look towards Rose, who's started giggling.

❝Go! Go!❞

Pearl doesn't need told thrice, darting to the passage to her room.

❝She's acting like a Mom to Flicker, right? Or am I crazy?❞ Rose says the moment she's out of the room.

❝Not crazy. Go tell them; I'll wait at the Warp Pad.❞

❝How long will she be gone?❞ Rose nods towards the passage to Pearl's room. ❝Not too long, I hope? You know how she gets when left to her own devices.❞

❝Not too long. She'll be fine.❞

Rose nods, and takes off out of the Temple and towards the burrow on the other side of the cliff.

❝Guess what!❞ She says excitedly to the pair. ❝We have a portal!! Garnet found one!❞

[felassan]

Dragon Age: The Veilguard Achievements list and current global gameplay stats towards them on Steam, under cut due to spoilers. [source link]

Text version and description of each:

"Part 1: The Minrathous Job Technically, the plan worked. Part 2: Ruin's Reach Made unexpected acquaintances in the most unusual of places. Part 3: Awakening Discovered a singing blade, and the awakening of ancient magic. Part 4: Tevinter Nights Uncovered a darkness etched deep into the streets of Minrathous and beyond. Part 5: Anvallenim Peeled back the shroud concealing a cult's dark movements and gained some valuable insight. Part 6: Old Blood, Older Oaths Faced a howling storm to discover a long-held secret, and found out what it means to be a leader. Part 7: Fire, Feather, and Fade Searched high and low to bring together a team unlike any other. Part 8: No Sacrifice Greater Practiced vigilance, found peace wanting, and witnessed the meaning of sacrifice. Part 9: Bonds and Blackened Wings Forged bonds with a family found amidst an unravelling world. Part 10: The Blood of Arlathan Followed a crimson trail weaving through the heartland of an ancient empire. Part 11: As Shadows Fall Tracked evil through the heart of Antiva, and found that light casts the longest shadows. Part 12: The Best Tales Ascended to the throne of would-be gods under the shadow of their legacy. Part 13: The Last Gambit The only thing left to lose is everything. Part 14: The Dread Wolf Rises Faced down demons, dragons, darkspawn, and even the Dread Wolf. The Ones That Last Beat the odds and walked into the sunset. The Storm Quelled The poisoned fruit ripens. In Peace Found hope in the aftermath. No Real Gods Drew out the latent magic in every Altar of the Evanuris. Reflections Helped an eluvian tinkerer find herself in a shattered world. A New Calling Helped a fearless Warden find his new calling. Death Becomes Him Helped an old necromancer define his legacy. A Song from the Stone Helped an expert scout forge a new path. Blood Ties Helped a master assassin slay his demons. City of Shadows Helped a seasoned detective uncover what lies in the shadows of her past. Little Dragon Helped a dragon hunter find the meaning of what burns inside them. A Memory of False Gods Witnessed the first memory of Fen'Harel. A Memory of Our Mistake Witnessed the second memory of Fen'Harel. A Memory of Blackened Hearts Witnessed the third memory of Fen'Harel. A Memory of Manifestation Witnessed the fourth memory of Fen'Harel. A Memory of Tranquility Witnessed the fifth memory of Fen'Harel. A Memory of an Old Friend Witnessed the sixth memory of Fen'Harel."

"A Rook Likes Shiny Things Found at least 20 Mementos and returned them to the Caretaker. A Rook Really Likes Shiny Things Found at least 80 Mementos and returned them to the Caretaker. Across the Imperial Highway Visited every district possible throughout Northern Thedas. The Talons of Vengeance Aided the Crows in sending a message to any who claim Antiva from its people. The Light in the Dark Aided the Grey Wardens in finding what remains after hearts turn to ash. The Soul of a City Aided the Shadow Dragons in their fight to reveal the corrupted soul of Minrathous. Annihilation in Arlathan Aided the Veil Jumpers to avert disaster in Arlathan once again. Call for Coin and Company Aided the Lords of Fortune in seeking valor, glory, and companionship. The Supernatural and the Strange Aided the Mourn Watch in tracking down anomalies demonic, undead, and dangerous. A Most Esteemed Purveyor Few people are worthy of an invitation, you know. A New Look Changed the look of an item for the first time. Between a Rook and a Hard Place Performed five takedowns. A Faction's Favor Upgraded a faction merchant for the first time. Rune For Improvement Socketed a rune for the first time. Falling For You Defeated an enemy by knocking them off a ledge during combat. Nostalgia Trip Tested for fall damage and survived in the Lighthouse. Clear Minds and Open Hearts Let fly your voice to Mythal. Enhancements! Fully upgraded a weapon, armor, and accessory to their highest level and rarity. Stacking the Deck Spent at least 52 points in Rook's skill trees. Bringing Down the Sky Defeated all high dragons across northern Thedas. The Unbound Broke the seals containing an ancient threat and faced down what lied inside."

[hwanchaesong]

━⁠☞🍽️ Sixth Course: You've always wished for him the best life could offer. But what if you are the best that the universe could ever offer to him? Be salty enough, you guess? 🥢

🎧: Olivia Rodrigo - Happier

wc: 678

genre & warnings: angst, fluff if u squint, lovers to exes to friends, Yeji from ITZY, etc etc

a/n: this is a part of The Sour Restaurant series. if y'all want, you can read the other album inspired fics of other groups here.

"Look! It's adorable! Do you think Mingi will like this?" the girl squeals, grabbing a lilac sweater and showing it to you.

You examined the fabric, and somehow, it made you remember the exact clothing that Mingi prefers.

Gray. Cotton. Oversized.

Still, Mingi will appreciate the thoughtful gift.

"Yeah, he'll love it. Especially since you bought it." you smile, and the girl jumps excitedly, immediately buying the sweater before clinging to you.

"Thank you so much for accompanying me." Yeji hooks her arm with yours, happily skipping in the mall and you can only give her a weak smile.

"It's no problem, really. I'm glad that I can help you." you mumble, laughing a bit when she whines about how helpful you are.

Lies.

Who on earth would feel any ounce of joy when the current girlfriend is asking the ex-girlfriend to help her with picking a gift.. for the man that was once yours and now her boyfriend.

You suppose that it's normal (self gaslight), since you and Mingi broke up mutually, and you two are in the same circle of friends.

The romantic aspect of your relationship was long gone but the camaraderie remains.

It was a well-thought decision on both sides, for the sake of your friends and family, to be casual with each other with no hard feelings.

It was fine and all, until he got a new girl.

You have to bear the pain of watching him be a better, or best, version of himself simply because he is utterly in love with her.

Her being Yeji.

As much as you wanted to hate her, you can't.

Not only is she pretty, but she's also very mature.

When you first met her and she learned that you and Mingi were exes, the way she handled the information was excellent. You explained to her the situation and the agreement, and she was very understanding.

She embraced you fully, accepting you like a sister. She showed you kindness, basically an angel sent from heaven to grace you with blessings. No jealousy, no hostility, only pure intentions.

You hated the way Mingi smiles at her adoringly, his eyes crinkling with affection with the same valor that was once reserved for you.

You hated it whenever Mingi did things for Yeji that he failed to do during your relationship.

But you hated it the most whenever it was shoved in your face that Mingi had found someone new but you still haven't.

You have been replaced so easily while you continuously find it difficult to love again.

The bottom line of all these though, is the fact that you can't hate Yeji.

She has been nothing but a good friend to you. She supported you when you needed it the most, gave you gifts, and she even tried to make you date when you spilled to her the ever growing insecurity of wanting to be with someone again.

You don't despise it when she handed the gift to Mingi, said man happily accepted it then proceeded to give her a loving kiss.

Loathe is not an emotion you harbor but rather... melancholy.

When Yeji turned to you with a proud smile, you had no choice but to act like everything was okay.

You watch her whisper to Mingi, then he turns to you to give you a thumbs up, to which you roll your eyes at him before doing the same thing.

You did wish for him to lead a life of rainbows and flowers, but you weren't ready to witness it.

You did pray for him to meet someone but not so soon, as it gives you a sense of bitterness that the gods listen to you when you pray for someone, but never to you since you are always facing some sort of a challenge before completely having the things that you wanted.

A sigh escapes your lips as your eyes follow the joyful couple.

Selfish yes, but somehow, you hoped that paradise wouldn't come so effortlessly for them unless a storm comes in first.

taglist:

@acciocriativity @iarayara @stolasisyourparent @xdannix @nsixns @heartssol @vixensss @shakalakaboomboo

[pmamtraveller]

PETER PAUL RUBENS - HERCULES FIGHTING THE NEMEAN LION

After going mad and killing his own family, Hercules was given the task of completing twelve labors as penance, with his first challenge being to skin the vicious Nemean lion. Rubens illustrates the two figures engaged in battle. Various pentimenti show where the artist made changes to the animal's right leg and the hero's back in order to find the best way to depict the mythical battle.

Initially, Hercules had to finish ten labors instead of twelve. King Eurystheus ordered Hercules to fetch him the hide of an invulnerable lion that was causing fear in the hills near Nemea as his first challenge. Upon arriving in Nemea, Hercules found that his arrows were ineffective against the fearsome lion he was pursuing. Hercules grabbed his club and went after the lion. Chasing it to a cave with two entrances, Hercules closed off one entrance and then advanced towards the fierce lion through the remaining one. He seized the lion firmly with his strong arms, ignoring its sharp claws, and strangled it until it died.

The Nemean Lion was born from Typhon and Echidna, who were recognized as the creators of all monsters. Some argue that he was affiliated with Zeus and his partner Selene. Hera taught and nurtured the ferocious creature. The majority of the lion's time was spent prowling on the Tretos mountain. He was also sly. The lion would lure warriors to his lair by capturing women he could use as bait. The Nemean Lion would attack and devour any brave hunter who attempted to rescue the damsels.

The painting was widely praised for its lively arrangement and strong emotional impact. Critics and historians have commended Rubens for his skill in depicting movement and strength. The painting portrays the heroic ideals of the time, appealing to viewers who appreciate themes of valor and overcoming challenges. Its influence can be seen in later artistic depictions of Hercules, solidifying Rubens' reputation as a master of mythological subjects.