#which is why he’s so insistent on the double black partnership

[dinosaur-mayonnaise]

perhaps the reason mori was so adamant about dazai and chuuya becoming partners was because he wished that for himself.

[whatsyourcolor]

Dragnet - Chapter 9 - Kingdom of Thieves.

Read on Ao3

Thank you to those of you that are still reading Dragnet! In previous chapters Kogami and Akane conducted a mission that resulted in technology malfunctioning, suspicions arising and Akane almost getting killed. Kogami broke up their short-lived (or so he thinks) association for reasons and emotions still confusing to him. Here’s Chapter 9:

KINGDOM OF THIEVES

Pliable, suspiciously warm, the sofa's leather cushions in the analysis lab sank underneath Kogami's weight, comfort suffusing his tense limbs like an anxiolytic. Undoubtedly, Kunizuka had made a routine pitstop here prior to heading to the interrogation room with Ginoza for another round of fruitless grilling. Which would explain the mellow, secret melody Shion was humming as she typed away on her keyboard. At least someone in Division 1 was having fun. Banished from the interrogation room and having severed the only connection he had to that other world, lulls of silent anticipation such as this had become nearly intolerable for him because, like a stray dog, his mind would go—insistently, shamelessly—back to her.

If only his ruminations had been centered in the pragmatic aspects of their relationship (what was her exact link to the syndicates? When did it start? And why?), he could have forgiven himself more easily. But it was the way his name sprung from her direct mouth, and how it meant she was not cross with him (as opposed to Inspector), and that furrowed brow each time she sermonized about things not unlike those he’d spend hours perusing in books—things he had strictly forbidden himself to linger on; things he’d never dream to speak about out loud. It was her scrutiny, never sub rosa. Not when she looked at him with unabashed eyes, not searching for a weakness or a fault—he suspected—but for something like a virtue, something that would warrant their unlikely partnership in her eyes.

So what did it mean for him to be sitting here while she was still out there, meandering in the dark? Stubbornly continuing this, insisting on this, and she would lose more than her hue. Kogami palmed the cellphone inside his pocket and then thought better of it because—what right did he have to care? To ask anything from her? Who was he in her life but an accident of chance? Or, perhaps, had his threats managed to compel her, and had she gone back to an ordinary life where she didn’t want to change the world? No, he thought sullenly. Even I know that about you. But it’s not like you’re alone either, is it, Tsunemori? Not that it makes you any safer.

On a large screen, a corner-side vantage of the dark interrogation room. Light spilled from a lamp above onto a table as a cuffed man swaggered in like a circus bear that's figured out the master's whip is made of hay. A braggart's smirk splashed across his face as he flumped on a chair. Kogami perched his elbows on his legs, interlaced hands under his nose to summon all his objective focus on the screen, but all he could think about was how much he'd love to pummel that sneer off again.

"A different species of inspector today," proclaimed the Arumajiro man, all affected bravado to Gino's bespectacled, sober professionalism. Still bearing the marks Tsunemori had gouged on his tattooed skin, he slammed his arms on the table, presumably to stir a wince from Ginoza, who only blinked with imperturbable disdain. "And you even brought a woman to protect you. That a habit of Sibyl's dogs?"

"The type of technology found in the interior of the truck you and your comrades were riding on is not something that can be built with metal scraps scavenged from Ougishima,” Gino said with no inflection in his voice. "Who is funding your association?"

The man acknowledged the question with a caustic snort for answer, a sort of growl. His eyes slithering over the less illuminated corners of the room—methodically, as if searching for something.

“He’s watching, ain’t he?” he eventually muttered. “He wouldn’t miss this.”

"You'll have enough time to look at walls when you go to the isolation facility. No need to strain your eyes so hard on these,” Gino spat back. “Answer the question. Your syndicate knew about the crackdowns by the MWPSB. How did you acquire a signal jammer? Who programmed it?"

"Inspectors in the blocks," the man began in a low voice. "You lot stick out like a pack of wild hens running around with your dominators. Of course, everyone always knows when you're there, with your holos and your drones. You’re not exactly low-key, you know? The eyes of Sibyl might see us only when they want to, but we’re always watching.”

"And so your syndicate figured they'd try to go undetected and invest on an illegal piece of technology impossible to acquire within the abolition blocks.”

"Impossible,” the man echoed as if mulling the meaning of the word. As if, Kogami thought, what a Sibyl detective would deem impossible, even preposterous in his world, was something that acquired a different value where he came from. A perverse grimace spread on the man’s face, a sort of smiling frown full of certitude. "Nothing is impossible in the abolition blocks. Not anymore.”

“Not exactly a charmer when he finally decides to talk, is he?” Shion drawled with a slow plume of smoke, her profile silhouetted by blue light in the haze. “What could he possibly mean?”

"At least he's taunting us now,” Kogami murmured dryly. “But I don’t perceive urgency in his behavior. No negotiation or surrender. If he’s decided to talk it must be for more than dull temporizing, though I don’t think his objective is to necessarily give us what we want.”

“Hmm. Who knows.” Shion gave an affected gasp. “Could it be he likes Ginoza better?”

Kogami chuckled softly, and Shion smiled, proud of herself. He figured he probably had been looking as dismal as he felt.

“Definitely,” he acknowledged with a cool sigh, lifting himself up from the softness of the sofa, and starting to hanker for a smoke. He shoved the flaps of his navy windbreaker aside and thrust his hands in the pockets of his pants. “Gino can be a darling when he wants to. But I should head over there now. Might as well put some pressure now he’s talking.”

“I thought Ginoza said—”

“I know. I know he instructed all of you to keep me at bay. But this case might be bigger than we think and I can’t just wait idly by.”

Shion exhaled coolly, swiveling her chair toward her station again. “Very well. Just be careful.”

Freely, brashly for an interrogation, the man went on blathering on the screen. “But impossible things have been happening. People disappearing. Tunnels hidden behind holo. Miracles, even. The last of which involved a woman intercepting a truck in the tunnels, armed with nothing but a bat—so what I’ve been wondering is, how did the excellent and competent MWPSB get a double-crossing bitch to do their job for them?”

Doors glided open in front of him as Kogami’s step came to a standstill. Jaw clenching, he whirled round to face the grainy image of the man again.

“You’d do well to remember I’m the one asking questions here,” Ginoza retorted impatiently, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “This isn’t an exchange of particulars between two commensurate parties. This is an interrogation, and your time is running out.”

The man leaned in over the table and Kunizuka’s back went upright, her hand circling around her waist as a warning. “You see,” he said. “I can’t help but be intrigued as to how a single woman gained the trust of the underground resistance and helped them against the syndicates, all while working with the police.”

Kogami stiffened. Was that the reason behind Tsunemori’s ironclad secrecy? Did the man not kill her only because he was working information out of her? Even if Kogami had entertained a similar notion before—with her overt spurning of the system and her criminal consorts—something in him refused to admit that she could be, for lack of a better word, his enemy. But if what was being said was true, then the accusations he’d hurled at her—the same ones that had been tormenting him since he’d said them—may have been wholly understating.

“Justice for traitors and informers, know what that is? That wretched girl hanging from a wire in the ports of Ougishima where anyone else with funny ideas can see. Or worse—No. Better—her chained to a bed in the filth of a brothel. See that pretty hue turn black.” The man spoke slowly but without pause, in his visage a pained expression that evoked menace in lieu of sorrow. “Imagine, if you can, in a place crawling with people both desperate to cleanse their sins and itching for something unsullied to defile, just what coveted merchandise a clear-hued Sib would be. Not just any Sib, no. A plant by the MWPSB. A traitor. Hell, for all we know it might be her own people that get her first.”

With clenched fists, Kogami made his way back toward the screen. It wasn’t that the man’s tirade didn’t incense him greatly, considering to whom his poisoned darts were being aimed. But there was something else: the fact that he spoke as if he wasn’t in Sibyl’s claws. In his claws.

“That brat is too smart for her own good. Messing with things she don’t understand. Stealing things that don’t belong to her. Out of all the crummy chumps the so-called resistance has produced, this one might be the trickiest one. Should’ve snuffed her out when I had the chance.”

“This resistance,” Ginoza cleared his throat, “is it an anti-governmental group?”

The man stared superciliously, almost amused. “You Sibs think the blocks are seedbeds of chaos where the scum of society oozes like a weeping blister in your clean world. It’s not for me to deny it. I’ve seen men rip out each other’s guts over a cigarette. I’ve slain many more myself, men and women, for less than that. Why? You worried the pus might spill onto your streets? You afraid hearing these things will make you catch that disease?” A spark of relish in his eye. “What if I told you there’s a cure for that?”

“A—a cure? A cure for what?”

“The illness of evil—the illness the Sibyl system diagnosed for the rest of us. In fact, I’ll prove it to you right now,” the man invited with an almost affable tone. “Point your dominator at me.”

“What? What are you talking abou—H-Hound 2! No one ordered you to withdraw your dominator!”

Kunizuka, arm fully extended next to Ginoza’s face, had her sights aimed directly at the space between the eyebrows of the Arumajiro man. “I’m sorry, Inspector. This is the only language men like these speak.” A heavy mute second was filled with Ginoza’s eyes flitting from the dominator, to the man, back to Kunizuka until at last, haltingly, she lowered her arm and her jaw dropped with shock. “Th-There has to be a mistake. We checked his hue this morning and it was—a-and besides, he just said—”

Kogami didn’t wait to hear the rest. He bolted out of the analysis lab and down the corridor in the direction of the emergency stairs. His mind raced. One victim found dead in a factory. A second victim mauling herself to death in Nona Tower. Disparate timelines and intervals in both casualties, as if the pill’s dual mechanism could be detonated at a distance, at will. It made no sense. He hurtled down endless flights of stairs many floors below, gnawing despair lodged deep in his stomach. He’d seen him strangling her. He’d tried to drown him. No doubt he was a murderer. It couldn’t be. Nausea and doom had overtaken him by the time he tore past the doors of the last hallway and turned the last corner, silvered walls bouncing all around him as he caught sight of his mark leaving the interrogation room behind Ginoza and Kunizuka. He couldn’t see or hear until his hands were on the man. Until he felt other hands trying to pull him away.

“Shepherd 2! Get a hold of yourself!” Ginoza thundered, forcefully jostling against him. “Stop this right now! Kogami!”

“You fucking bastard,” Kogami growled, both hands yanking the manacled Arumajiro man by his threadbare shirt. “You know about the pill. You know what it is. You’re gonna tell me everything even if I have to kick it outta you!”

“Seems like someone’s found the antidote to Sibyl,” the tottering man hissed back, reveling in Kogami’s stunned expression. “Whatever it is you want to call it.”

“Yeah?” Kogami’s grip was taut on the collar around the man’s neck. “Then you must know about its side effects. Does that make you smile also?”

“I’d be more worried about that hue of yours, Inspector. I’d even go as far as advising you to choose your friends and allies wisely. Before she ruins you.”

A sobering shudder ran through Kogami.

“Search for her,” he rasped with bared teeth, “touch her again, and I swear I’ll find you and kill you with my own hands!”

“That’s enough of that!” Masaoka shouted from somewhere. Next thing he knew, Sasayama was there too, shouldering his way between them, tearing Kogami off as Kunizuka and Gino pulled the man away. Still, Kogami shoved and kicked and cursed as the man crossed the threshold of a door shutting closed, and then his vision went askew as a sharp pain had him hunching down and looking at the ground, immobilized.

“You need to cool down, son.” Masaoka tightened his armlock and Kogami heard himself pant helplessly, his forehead beading with sweat.

“Don’t you realize,” Kogami grunted through the pain, “that’s the one lead we have in this case?”

“And what good will it do if you end up in a rehabilitation facility?” Sasayama’s shoes came into view and Kogami was just able to shift his head up to shoot a glare at him. “How is pulling this bullshit gonna help you catch him then?”

There was the slow squeak and hush of a door opening and closing again.

“I hope you know this is all your influence, Sasayama,” Ginoza roared. “And if you think I won’t have a few words to say about you in the report of this incident, then you’re awfully misguided.” Masaoka loosened the grip of his metallic arm, and Kogami yanked his own free. He straightened up to meet the withering, unforgiving gaze of his partner. “Masaoka, go assist Kunizuka in the discharge of the witness. Kogami, you and I need to talk.”

“Gino, we can’t let him go,” Kogami protested with a gruff voice. “You saw what just happ—”

“Would you rather we do this in the presence of the Chief?”

Kogami squeezed his eyes shut, attempting to steady himself, but rage still boiled inside of him. “Fine,” he grumbled with frustration. “Fine.”

---------

Outside of Nona Tower the sun had set but the city was blazing like it was the middle of the day. A shine as artificial as that of the abolition blocks, though sleeker, clearer, new. Not the dizzying red and yellow twilights that led the way through the narrower, angular alleys of the abolition blocks, nor the darkened hollows and crannies where eyes and knives glinted. From a holographic billboard the large face of a woman donned in traditional garb gazed at him, her pale face dissolving into a pink forest, carpeted with what looked like pink snow. The next thing he noticed was that there was no distinct smell.

He walked the stretch of the plaza. Guardedly. Drawing near to where another hologram had attracted a multitude, but still keeping a cautious distance, he stood to watch. Three large fish swam in a hoop, floating in sync until one of them broke the formation to playfully pursue the others, making a squealing sound similar to that of rats, but louder and full of delight. Something like a fog, a vague sensation taking form, disturbed him. A nebulous recollection from years ago, of childhood in the blocks. A discoloured picture of animals like these nailed to a cracking wall. A wrinkled old lady calling him evil before falling with a thud. He remembered her body being warm even after he’d withdrawn his knife more times than he could count. The eyes in the eyes of his first kill looking deep into him and then…nothing. It’s cold, he thought, and that’s why I’m shivering. He peered at the crowd. Oblivious onlookers and their marveled profiles. His gaze drifted upwards and behind the surrounding skyscrapers. They didn’t know a few kilometers from here people burned. Soon they would.

He pivoted to two pairs of gawking eyes pegged on him. Youngsters. They approached him with slimy passivity, before gushing admiringly.

“Woah, mister, you really went out of your way with that cosplay! See? I told you the tattoos weren’t holo!”

“Of course they’re holo! How do you think he’d show to work with those tattoos? But isn’t the convention until next February though? If it was today I’m sure he’d win first prize!”

He snarled at the two pests, which only seemed to excite them more. A flashing light blinded him for a second, and before he could curse them out, they were scuttling away. It was then he took notice of the woman wearing a red long coat standing beside him.

“Do you actually know where you’re going, Igarashi-san?”

Unblemished skin. Long, silky hair. Almond eyes evenly shaped with a strange green sheen to them, and a thin, pointy nose. An enigmatic smile that could’ve been wider but wasn’t.

“Choe Gu-sung?”

“I knew Makishima-san was right to put his trust in the Arumajiro.”

“Your holo is too perfect,” Igarashi answered with blunt disdain. “No one looks like that.”

“That may be true in the abolition blocks, but as you can see, people love illusions here.”

Minutes later they were driving through the elevated highways of Tokyo. A light rain fell aslant, pins of purple and pink hitting on the windshield of the driverless vehicle. Igarashi kept a wary side-eye on Makishima’s lackey sitting beside him, though underneath that stupid holo he was more unreadable than usual. Not that he didn’t understand how such concealment was necessary for serious matters, but it pissed him off that important work should fall on the lap of a foreigner out of all people.

“I hope your doubts about our plan are settled now, Igarashi-san,” said Choe Gu-sung as if reading his mind, the faintest hint of mockery in his voice.

“Our plan requires certain arrangements we’ll overlook for the moment, but I know the Arumajiro won’t be so sparing afterwards.”

“It’s precisely that ruthlessness that Makishima found so compelling for this project to start with. In this brave new world of Sibyl, few men are willing to go where the Arumajiro go, and so your clan is instrumental for what needs to be done.”

All the sickly ass-licking made Igarashi turn his face toward the city flashing past. “To think you’re the first person to

address me by my name since I was arrested,” he muttered with disgust.

Once they had arrived at the high-rise hotel, an elegant wooden door embellished with the metal knocker of a spider admitted them into a vast suite decked out with fine furnishings. A low gray sofa with plush cushions half-mooned around a glass table where a steaming cup of tea had been set. An open book rested onto the lid of a black piano, and above it, a strange light fixture glittered from the ceiling like a dancing bride. Igarashi was becoming acutely aware of the thick, green rug underneath his tatty boots, but unlike him, the silver-haired man contemplating Tokyo out of the ceiling-to-floor windows fit into the room perfectly. Deceptively.

“I’m glad you made it out safely, Igarashi-san.”

Obscured on the reflection, Makishima’s features betrayed his otherwise harmless semblance as a truer, more sinister face smiled at Igarashi from the glass. Long gone was his first impression of a wealthy, over-spoilt child uttering words of revolution because, where the pointless, clumsy violence of the blocks rose and fell with no consequence or significance, Makishima had given them the means to overthrow an evil bigger than all the gangsters of the underground.

“The MWPSB has an informer in the blocks. That’s how they were able to get us. It’s Lemonade Candy.”

Piqued by his words, Makishima looked briefly over his shoulder. “The mastermind of the resistance works with the MWPSB,” he said, turning again toward the city. “How interesting. It only makes it the more impressive for you to have survived such a predicament, being attacked, as you were, by both sides.”

“It was one of their own group who gave them away. An unregistered who’d worked for Bunzo.” Igarashi’s fingers trailed the soft fabric on the arm of the sofa without daring to sit. “Wanted to settle a score or somethin’. Went mad, and for a moment there I really thought we’d turned the tables on her.”

“Her, you said?”

“Lemonade Candy is a twenty-something woman. Small and thin as a reed. And still the bitch was able to take out our lights singlehandedly and then escape through one of their hidden tunnels. We followed, and for a moment I had her, until an inspector showed up.”

“She ensnared you,” murmured Makishima. “She used herself as bait knowing you’d follow her. What appeared like recklessness at a cursory glance, was a calculated gamble.” He turned around and ambled across the room, feathery and lithe, with hands in his pockets. “We’re not the only ones with the will to choose to bet, it seems.”

Again there was that mysterious smile on Makishima’s lips and, like an obedient disciple, Igarashi felt the irresistible urge to supply more. “The resistance is not our biggest problem. Getting the syndicate to get rid of her now that I’ve seen her should be easy. But there’s also the police. That detective, especially. He don’t seem the type to let go of things.” An ear-to-ear grin spread on his face. “And he’s a hot head for that woman. Nearly slugged me when I mentioned her to him. Threatened to kill me, even.”

“Are they not merely enforcers?”

“No,” Igarashi assured with a sharp shake of his head. “He’s the one who’s been interrogating me. Or trying to, at least. Today I heard his partner refer to him as Kogami. As for the woman…haven’t seen her since that night.”

“Kogami,” Makishima echoed with flash of eagerness in his amber eyes. “Are there still humans in this city who are not afraid of themselves, I wonder? And, if so, is it a coincidence that we happened to lure two of them out of hiding? Is this what the sentimentalist calls ‘destiny’?”

Across from him, Choe Gu-sung ambled over and sat on the other side of the sofa where he opened a laptop. He’d remained so quiet, Igarashi had but completely forgotten about his presence, and his appearance, now devoid of holo, glared like a sour reminder. He began typing something hurriedly.

“They’re vermin—that’s what they are,” crossing his arms, Igarashi commented while looming over Choe. “All those who can’t rise by their own strength deserve to be squashed like roaches. It’s the rule of the world. Eat or be eaten.”

“You know, Igarashi-san,” Makishima lingered by the piano, slowly turning over the pages of the book. “I’ve always admired men like you. The ones who agitate the whole world through the sheer strength of your desire. If the world sings blue, you’ll force it to sing red until it matches your vision. A common man in an uncommon world. Please,” his eyes rose from the page to watch him intently. “Understand that this is the deepest of compliments. You see, in this sterile, plastic world, that type of primal life force has been forgotten. The human animal domesticated, his soul depurated, sterilized, until he became nothing more than the ruins of what he once was—and ruins are only beautiful after a great war. Anything else is…mockery.”  

“Well, that’s the way of the blocks. The only way we know. And now, thanks to you, these things will be ours too.” Not until he said it did it seem true to Igarashi—that they would rule over this world just like they ruled over the underground. Dominators, cymatic scanners and drones could not stop them anymore, and the weak children of Sibyl would succumb just like their evil mother. “And even the enemies of the Arumajiro won’t mind it if it means destroying this system.”

“You are correct. Anger has an interesting way of vitalizing people in ways no other need or cause does, notwithstanding how pure or lofty. That vein those spurned by the system share is what the Sibyl system has cut off and anesthetized, to the extent where the masses can’t even recall it ever being there. Their senses lay dormant as if they could truly exist as humans without them. Others even claim to want to live forever. But what value does a life have when it’s benumbed and protected from the knowledge of its own mortality? When it loses all primitive instincts in a beautiful cage where there’s no danger? As in the yesteryear, we need men like you to remind us what it means to be alive.”

In more ways than he could understand, Makishima’s words made Igarashi feel strangely satisfied. Comforted, even. Never before had he thought of his life in any aspect beyond, well, living.  What for was a question that hadn’t occurred to him. But for all the things he’d seen and done, he never would have guessed it’d be this man the one to weave meaning into his life.

“Do you know what intrahistory is, Igarashi-san?”

Choe Gu-sung’s annoying typing made it difficult for him to hear the question. “Huh?”

“Intrahistory,” Makishima continued as he ran his finger down a yellowed page in the book, “Is the history that’s left outside of the books. Think of it as the blank margins on the paper. It’s the story of the nameless people who made history but who are never mentioned. Without them, History with a capital H is unconceivable.”

Igarashi gave a sly smile. “Is that the people from the blocks?”

“Indeed. The men who wrought the world and thrust it forward through blood and fire. You can see why the system made sure we never hear about them. Those who dare to be the actors of their own existence have no need for Sibyl.”

“Like the Arumajiro in the blocks.”

Makishima closed the book carefully. “Like the gladiators who died devoured by the lions under the impassive eyes of an Emperor. Or the soldiers in the vanguard bringing us closer to victory with their sacrifices. The anonymous martyrs who enrage the survivors. The strongest within the strong.”

It was quiet now. Choe Gu-sung had abruptly stopped his noise. A bizarre, undeniable aura of expectation hung in the air. Igarashi swallowed something he’d not felt in years down his parched throat, his mind scrambling to decipher what Makishima was getting at with his incessant blabber.

“Violence can be captivating, even beautiful. But like any art, when it’s empty, it’s hopelessly corrupted and vulgar. You do not need to worry about that, Igarashi-san. I’ll be sure to make your sacrifice meaningful.”

Dread surged in Igarashi like a freezing chill. “What the hell are you talking about?” he murmured. He’d kill the two of them. He could take them both easily, rip them apart with his hands, bludgeon them to death.

With a flourish, Choe Gu-sung made a single clicking sound on his keyboard, and Igarashi felt his body drop and crash into the glass table. A hail storm of white particles infested his vision, followed by a green crooked line and a tea cup rolling on the floor. Beyond that, Makishima’s feet trod toward him with the precision of a ropewalker, and he felt fear.

“I know you don’t like this gruesome part, Choe. You may go.”

Igarashi’s wild eyes tried to meet the mechanical eyes of the hacker, but he couldn’t move because a rumbling began inside his body; his blood boiling and searing and cauterizing from the inside. He clenched his teeth and grunted, his body growing rigid as pain travelled through his veins like a jagged marble—excruciating pain that made it impossible to think on anything except on it being over. With what little mind he had, he started wide-eyed at a slice of a window visible between Makishima’s legs, wishing with all his rotten heart he could jump from it. Then he heard himself howl a beast-like howl over and over again.

“’Alas, what is good and what is evil?’” Makishima said looking down on him. “’Are they both one single thing with which we furiously attest our impotence and passion to attain the infinite by even the maddest means? Or are they two different things? Yes…they had sooner be one and the same…for if not, what will become of me on Judgement Day?’”

[be-dazzled]

FT Rare Pairs Week Day 5: Opposites

Rare Pair Week Day 5: Opposites

Pairing: Natsu Dragneel x Juvia Lockser

Dedicated to: @sobatsu and to all the Navia lovers out there.

Thanks to: @freeezingrain for helping me with how to spell out the English words into French accent! You're a savior, BB!

Writer’s Corner: Navia has always been my guilty pleasure.

---

“Oh, there you are!”

Natsu fondly gnawed on the burnt fish in his hand. He savored every bit of flesh and bones as bouts of laughter escaped his open mouth. He failed to notice the head-waitress’ arrival at their table as he continued to munch down the poor fish.

“What do you mean, Mira-chan? We haven’t even left this table since Erza brought in that bucket of fish.” Lucy masked her irritation with pretentious innocence, sarcasm implied.

“Well, my last job added this to my reward. Didn’t know what to do with them.” Erza had the need to explain when no one asked her.

“If it shuts the flamebrain down, I don’t have any complaints.”

Flame-brain retaliated but his insult came out incomprehensible with another over-cooked fish filling his mouth.

“Aye, aye, sir!” Happy chirped, pulling his head out of the bucket with raw fish writhing between his teeth.

“Oh, well. I just wanted to give you this.” Mira balanced the empty bottles on her tray in one hand as she presented a mission request to the trio, which was only intended for the fire dragon slayer.

“A mission?” Brown eyes shining in anticipation as Lucy imagined the tons of jewel she was about to get her hands on. “Does it pay handsomely?” She asked, voice bereft of that foreboding gloom it had earlier.

“Well, yes.” Mira held on her bright, albeit forced, smile as if she wasn’t about to drop a bomb on that table. “But it specifically requests Natsu and Juvia.”

“Natsu and Juvia?!”

Expectedly, Lucy and Gray shared a shocked expression on their horrified face.

“That’s odd.” Commented Titania, massaging her chin as she pondered over the peculiar partnership. “What kind of job is it?”

Mira opened her mouth, about to answer when the missing half of the “Oddest Couple of the Century” materialized at the double door.

“Oh, here she comes now.” Mira exclaimed, “Juvia, we’re here!” she waved the water-mage over the table. As if she really had to. The moment Juvia felt Gray’s presence through her ‘Gray-dar’, she rushed to the guild hall, about to claim the spot beside him when the fire-dragon slayer hooked his arm with hers and dragged her out of the hall.

“C’mon, Juvia. We gotta job to do!”

“Aye, aye, sir!”

“But… but…” Blue wistful eyes remained glued at the ice-make mage who was watching the retreating coup-no! the retreating duo until they disappeared behind the squeaky doors.

Even Mira, the self-proclaimed Queen of Match-Making found the Natsu-Juvia pairing a bit strange and… she couldn’t find the right words. She snapped out of it quickly, trying an idea on the remaining mismatched couple.

“Lucy, maybe you’d like to try going on a job with Gray?” She suggested.

“I guess we could…”

“I’m going home.”

“What?!” Lucy jumped out of his seat, attempting to stop the ice-make mage who was already at the door. “Gray! I need the… money.” She finished her sentence in a small voice, finding it useless to talk Gray out of well, walking out, and returned to her seat dejectedly.

“If you really need it,” The Requip mage, who was now finished downing her fifth strawberry shortcake, scooted over to Lucy to offer the sulking celestial mage some help, “I can go with you on a mission.”

Slowly, Lucy scurried away. “On a second thought, I probably don’t need the pay, after all-eep!”

As usual, Titania wasn’t listening. She was half-way marching down the door with a nervous Lucy in tow.

Because the last time she went on a job with Erza, Lucy was baited to the pervy old men of some lost town, dressed in just string bikini and a nervous smile.

---

“How far is that place, Natsu-san?

“Dunno.” Answered the fire-dragon slayer. Hurting his brain looking at the map, which he turned upside down over and over again.

Juvia sighed in exasperation. They’ve been on foot for half a day now and it seemed the fire-dragon slayer hasn’t figured out the map. He refused to take the train and promised to get them to their destination even if reading that ordinary map they bought from town killed him.

“Well, this map is pretty useless.” He declared, burning the paper in his frustration.

“No! Juvia could have taken a look at it.” But her words fell on deaf ears. Juvia didn’t even know how Lucy managed to survive the partnership between her and the fire dragon slayer who refused all help. She wants to get to their destination a.s.a.p. and get things done. She already missed Gray, after all.

“I wonder what Gray-sama is doing now.” Juvia mused. Suddenly, Juvia had a certain feeling of eyes following her. She stopped dead in her track to confirm her suspicion. To meet those eyes that followed her. But the street was populated with people who were going in different directions. Juvia didn’t see anyone or anything particularly looking at her. Maybe, she was wrong. But her apprehensions forced her watchful eyes to study the corner of a building where rustling sounds could be heard of. Then, there was half a shadow. She couldn’t make any figure out of it. But it was moving.

“Oi, Juvia. What’s wrong?”

Juvia didn’t answer just yet. She waited for something – anything – to come out the corner of the wall. Her hands were prepared for whatever that was.

Then, she heard a soft purr. A black alley cat stepped out into the light, licking the fur on one foot. It stopped, sensing Juvia’s eyes on her. The cat held the blue eyes’ gaze, its deep, black cat’s eye staring down at the water-mage, sending a shrill down Juvia’s spine.

“N-n-nothing…”

Juvia turned around and rushed towards the puzzled dragon slayer’s side before the cat actually scared the hell out of Juvia. As they continued on foot, Natsu suggested they stay somewhere for the night. Happy seconded, tired of flying over their heads.

“Juvia supposes it is rather late…” Juvia’s eyes were downcast, still uncomfortable with being alone with Natsu.

“Look, there’s a motel!”

“Motel?!”

Happy regained his energy and gleefully flew around Natsu’s head. The old lights on the name flickering on and off started to scare Juvia. But nothing compared to the horror of what Natsu was implying.

“D-d-does Natsu-s-san even know what a m-m-motel is?”

“Huh? Isn’t it just a place to stay?”

Natsu disappeared into the questionable building, leaving Juvia no other choice but to follow after him. Inside, an old lady behind a covered counter greeted them. A merchant’s smile plastered on her wrinkly face because she knew, if the young couple who just entered her motel had other choice, Natsu and Juvia and that weird flying cat behind them would have never even casted a glance at that shabby-looking building. If the exterior made you wanna reconsider, the inside of the near-retirement motel sent you running out for your dear life.

“We’ll take it!”

“Natsu-san!”

Juvia puffed air in her mouth, refusing to breath that smelly air in that sinister, dimly-lit hallway of the motel. Just until they reached their shared room because the lady caretaker said it was the only one left. Juvia refused to believe it but Natsu was insistent, dragging the protesting water-mage to the second floor. Natsu celebrated the moment he found their door; not even sparing another thought about actually sleeping in it. Juvia wondered if the foul smell didn’t bother him as much as it did Juvia. Wasn’t he a dragon slayer who was highly sensitive to smell-eep!

Juvia squealed when she was suddenly pulled into the dark room.

When Natsu turned the lights on, Juvia was a little surprised. The room was tidied, even smelled lavender. But she wondered why there was so many mirrors installed on the walls, even the roof.

“Finally! Time for rest.”

Natsu threw himself into the made-up bed, squealing in excitement as the soft mattress nearly swallowed him. The bed was big enough to cater for two tired bodies. Juvia, however, had reservations.

“Juvia could just stay on the couch, Natsu-san.” She said, already starting for the worn-out, she dared call couch, next to the bed.

Natsu sat right back up, brows furrowed in confusion.

“You can sleep on the bed. It’s big enough for the three of us.”

No! Juvia couldn’t, she thought. What would Gray-sama say…

“Juvia prefers the couch, Natsu-san.” She faked a smile, which was coming out weird and awkward as pointed out by Happy.

He could have said something but the Exceed was too tired to even sing his famous, “she liiiiiikes you.”

“Suit yourself.” Natsu collapsed back to the bed, head cushioned on his hands. Happy flew to his side, resting his head on Natsu’s arm.

The short silence was then quickly replaced by Natsu and Happy’s loud snoring. It amused Juvia how they easily fell asleep. But she remembered something. In her desire not to make any noise that may wake up the sleeping figures on the bed, Juvia tiptoed, silently making her way to get herself some pillow and cover to use. Natsu wasn’t using them anyways. She gathered the sleeping essentials in her arms and slowly turned around to go back to her rightful place – on the couch. Then, she heard a scream coming from outside. Juvia hovered over the bed to look out the window. She didn’t know what happened. It just happened so fast. Suddenly, she was pinned down on the bed, beneath Natsu who covered her body with his.

“What was that?”

Natsu whispered, looking around the room before his apprehensive eyes landed on Juvia’s. They stared at each other for a moment, waiting... Happy wedged himself between the two. Looking up at him, at his onyx eyes, Juvia felt… nothing but utter annoyance that it wasn’t Gray who was on top of her. Juvia pushed his face away from hers, kicking and punching her way out of his hold.

“Hey, what was that for?” Natsu was offended, rubbing the places Juvia hit him.

“Juvia can handle herself, Natsu-san.”

“I just thought something happened to you.” He explained, rising on his knees on the mattress to look over the window. “I was sure I heard a woman’s scream.” There was nothing out there but an endless star-studded sky and a lonely coconut tree which leaves swayed with the wind.

“Natsu…” Happy buried himself against him, poor thing shaking.

“Juvia heard it too. But like she said, Juvia can handle herself.” She gathered her sleeping essentials and marched over to the couch.

“It was on instinct, you know.” He defended himself but Juvia was already settled on the couch, covering her head with the sheet. “That ice-bastard will kill me if something happened to you.” He muttered to himself, trying to calm Happy down but eyes still trained at the sheet-covered form on the couch.

“C’mon, Happy. We still got work tomorrow!”

“Aye, sir.” The Exceed answered, slightly shaking now.

---

The sunlight coming from the window hit Natsu’s eyes, forcing him to wake from his deep and loud slumber. He opened one eye first, crossing an arm over his face to shield from the direct rays. Quickly, Natsu adjusted to his surroundings, remembering why he was inside that shabby room with Happy still sleeping soundly right beside him. He sat right up and looked for Juvia who he remembered opted for the couch. She met his ‘just-adjusting’ glance and expressing a look of surprise, greeting him with no warmth nor hostility, just a mechanical, “Oh, good morning, Natsu-san.” Juvia was fixing her hat atop her head and looked ready to start her day – or maybe, just wanted to get this mission done and get rid of him asap.

“Good morning, Juvia!” He flashed her a toothy smile, brighter than the sunlight hitting his cherry hair. Now, that Natsu had a good night sleep and much wanted rest from all that walking yesterday and using up all his brain cells reading that stupid map, he was so ready to put this mission to bed, “I’m all fired up!”

The duo paid their bill, with Juvia denying vehemently the old woman’s accusation of her and Natsu enjoying the night as a couple.

“Juvia has promised herself to another man!”

“Oh…” The woman behind the counter expressed her surprise but she’s seen worse so she knew better not to judge. That didn’t stop her from sharing some wisdom. She gave Juvia a sound advice, “you shouldn’t dilly-dally with another man then. Save your self for that man you promised.”

“You gave yourself to another man?” Natsu took offense on behalf of his open-secret best-friend. “Man, Gray’s gonna flip!”

“Aye, sir!”

“Juvia promised himself to Gray-sama, Natsu-san.”

But Natsu-san wasn’t listening, continuing to the door, muttering much to Juvia’s chagrin.

“But can’t blame ya. Gotta be his fault leaving you alone like that.”

Juvia didn’t have the energy to refute that though she totally disagreed. It was useless but she just felt the need to say, “Juvia only has Gray-sama in her heart.”

Outside the almost retiring motel, both Natsu and Juvia shared a quizzical look as the once lonely streets became so hectic in the morning. There were so many people flocking behind a taped line. Video and sound recording lacrimas flying around the area. Both Natsu and Juvia didn’t understand what was or about to happen. But Natsu couldn’t care less. He was ready to ignore the whole commotion when a huffing and puffing young man approached the two.

“Natsu-san, Juvia-san, welcome!” The young man quickly pulled the two mages, leaving Happy to just fly behind them, to introduce them to a higher official.

“We were worried you didn’t receive our request. Director-san would have buried us alive!”

“Director-san?” Natsu wondered while he allowed himself and Juvia be dragged towards a tight circle gathered under the devised canopy. As they get closer, however, Juvia recognized the voice of the high authority, spewing orders here and there, before she even saw him.

“Director-san, the Fairytail mages we requested are here.”

The group quickly dispersed, revealing a slim man in formal, respectable clothes. Two of his distinguished features, one which both Natsu and Juvia easily recognized were the monocle on his right eyes and his thick French accent.

“Salut!” The man with the highest power climbed down the director’s chair to greet the guests.

“Sol?!” The Fairytail mages, minus Juvia, fell on a defensive stance in case the former Phantom Lord Mage went offensive. Natsu and Happy haven’t forgotten about what happened.

“Non, non, non.” He quickly dispersed their apprehension. “Monsieur Sol does not seek a fight.”

“Like I’d believe that!” Natsu wasn’t buying it, however, putting himself in-front of the water-mage a defensive wall.

“I have a new life after Phantom Lord, just like Mademoiselle Juvia, oui?”

Natsu was ready to attack when he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder. He glanced at the water-mage over his shoulder but his walls weren’t down.

“Perhaps, Sol-san is right. Just like Juvia, he has found his way. He isn’t an enemy of Fairytail anymore.”

Juvia blue eyes beseeched him. If Juvia trusted this weirdo swaying around like some kind of a flailing tube man, then maybe Natsu should give it a try. He was, after all, a man of forgiveness and second chances. Slowly, Natsu let his guard down, “I guess so.”

“Magnifique!” Sol exclaimed, linking his arms with the Fairytail mages, and leading them under the canopy. The people under the shade scattered, leaving only the young man who greeted Natsu and Juvia earlier to accommodate the guests, offering them refreshments.

“You see…” the former Phantom Lord Element 4 started, gesturing to Natsu, Juvia and Happy to take the seats offered them. “I have finally found my troue (true) passion – ze (the) arts!” He declared, throwing his slender, swaying arms above him, as if presenting the busy site to the still puzzled mages. “Now, down to biz-ness.” His face turned serious as he motioned the young man, who turned out to be assistant director-san, to explain to Natsu and Juvia about the job request.

“Basically, we are going to burn that building down.” The young man pointed to the dying motel the ‘odd partners’ stayed in. “Using Natsu-san’s fire magic. And Juvia-san… Juvia-san is here to control the situation,” he flashed them an awkward smiled, bordering guilty, as he slowly dared continue the sentence, “in case, it gets out of hand.”

Basically, they didn’t trust Natsu to work on this alone and they needed Juvia as a what? Extinguisher? However, the ‘insult’ was way over Natsu’s head.

“I’m all fired up!” declared the fire-dragon slayer, jumping out of his seat and pumping his fist into thin air.

Sol, the movie director joined him, leaving Juvia the only one feeling, “Juvia feels this won’t end well.”

Juvia wasn’t a fortune-teller, but that’s exactly how the afternoon of shooting a movie went – not well. Bad. Worst. Hell. Natsu was just showing off, burning everything in his wake. Juvia was left cleaning up after him, using her water magic to just wash off the fire that burned the entire street. Juvia apologized to Sol but the latter waved it away, telling her it was expected since they requested the fire-dragon slayer for the job. But Juvia couldn’t help but feel sorry for the guy while the old woman who owned the run-down motel kept adding expenses to his tab. That also meant there was going to be a big cut out of their pay.

“Now, Juvia knows how Lucy feels.” She muttered.

At one point, Juvia had to shower the female actress with cold water because Natsu just ‘accidentally’ burned her, which forced Juvia to hesitantly take her place instead. The water-mage didn’t warm up to the idea at first. What woman in her right mind would willingly go into a burning building to wait for someone to save her? Certainly, not one of the member of the strongest guild in Fiore. However, it was her former guildmate who begged her to do something. Despite of what happened in the past, Sol was a nice friend to her. She didn’t have the heart to say no. Until, she was told there was a kissing scene.

“Juvia certainly will not do it!”

“Will you reconsider if we put Natsu-san in the leading man’s place instead?”

“Oui! Idea magnifique!” Came the exclamation from behind the young assistant director. Sol clasped his hands around Juvia’s, eyes pleading with hers. “If not, we will keep lo-sing money.”

“Juvia and Natsu-san don’t even look like your main couple! And that’s not part of the request.” She tried everything to get out of that deal.

“Death.” Sol covered his eyes with his arm, in such a dramatic fashion befitting such a dramatic person. “Death is coming for moi.”

“Sol-san!” Juvia caught him and helped him into his seat.

Juvia looked around the expectant looks from the crew members. Not only was Sol going to lose money because of delayed production, as he persuaded the water-mage, although Juvia had a feeling he was using the guilt card on her, he would have to start firing people. That part of the information the assistant director made sure was heard all over until the neighboring town. Now, she had the entire “Man of Fire” cast and crew relying on her to be their savior. The person who said he was going to take care of everything just walked up to her to ask, “How hard could it be?”

Natsu wasn’t considering it, was he?

“It’s just going in and out of a burning building.” He shrugged his shoulders. “Easy.”

But it wasn’t easy. Especially, when Natsu started questioning Sol about why he should do this or that, telling Sol how to do his job. He wasn’t making it easy for anyone, especially not to the water-mage who got a number of her dresses reduced to ashes.

“Non. Non. Non!” The director was now stomping his feet, thrashing his head around out of frustration. “Monsieur Natsu need to carry Mademoiselle Juvia like a bride.” He informed. “Zen (then), lay her on ze (the) ground and you claim her sweet lips.” Sol pursed his lips for emphasis. Then, he dropped the loving expression, “Not laugh like a villainous maniaque (maniac).”

Apparently, Natsu was not able to wrap his head around the idea that he was actually the main lead and not the evil dragon king he thought himself to be.

“You could have just said so.” He grunted and returned back into the burning building to, figured Juvia, get the scene right this time.

But Sol, feeling the frustration boiling up his blood, returned to stomping on the ground and trashing his head around saying, “zat’s (that’s). wat (what). I’ve. Been. Saying.” Juvia had to apologize on Natsu’s behalf, once again, before returning into the building to play the damsel in distress.

This time, however, the fire dragon slayer made good on his promise. The director and the crew watched on the monitor lacrima as the scene played out on their screen. Sol, the director and whose head was going to be chopped if the movie didn’t go so well, nervously gawked at the large monitor, chewing on his fingernails, as he hoped not but still expected something to go wrong. Thank the heavens, everything went perfectly. From the time Natsu rushed into the burning building to coming out of it with Juvia in both arms. The moving-photo lacrima taker loved everything about the dragon slayer: his serious look, furrowed brows, and sexy bravado. His torn clothes exposing hard muscles was just the icing on the cake. Now, it was the most crucial scene that got Sol all nervous and fidgety; the highlight, the moment that will end it all, the scene of all scenes – the kiss.

Natsu gently placed Juvia on the ground as per Sol’s direction, safe from the fire he created for the movie scene. He had his hand behind Juvia’s head, keeping her close to him. His focused eyes sought hers. Juvia’s heart was beating loudly. With Natsu’s enhanced hearing ability, she was sure he could hear every beat of it. Then slowly, ever so cautiously, without any word spoken between them, Natsu leaned in. Closer and closer until he was just a breath away.

Then, he wasn’t breathing at all. Because Natsu Dragneel was just frozen solid.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Gray-sama?”

“Non. Non. Non. Non!” Sol pulled his drilling stare off the monitor, off his literally frozen male lead. He slid off his seat and thrashed his head until he broke his neck, he hoped. So that he didn’t have to deal with all the angry people who will be out to get him if he didn’t finish this movie. “Pourquoi (Why)?” He fell on his knees, grasping on the ground. Then, Sol lifted his arms to heaven, questioning all the gods that must have hated him. “Pourquoi moi (Why me)?!”

Natsu, finally learning how to thaw Gray’s ice and unfreeze himself with his fire magic, became warm skin again. “What the hell, Gray?” He lurched for the newly arrived visitor who easily side-stepped him.

“Why are you about to…” Gray, the uninvited visitor, had a strained expression on his face, “with that flame-brain?!”

Gray Fullbuster, who looked like he was ready to swallow the water-mage whole, effortlessly dodged all of Natsu’s attacks, whilst drilling a hole at Juvia’s head with the way he was glaring at her.

“It’s a job request, you ice-prick!”

“Natsu-san is right, Gray-sama!” Juvia jumped to her feet to defend her honor. “It was just a near-touch kiss.”

But her explanation fell on deaf ears because ‘Ice Prick’ and ‘Flame Brain’ were already destroying half the town.

“I’m really sorry, Sol-san.”

---

Juvia walked back to Magnolia with the world on her shoulders. Not only did she not get the pay for the simple job request; she and Natsu were slapped with so much damage and penalty claims that she would need to bust her butt off working all missions available back at the guild and still need to get herself some side gigs. Serve as a human fountain? Human sprinkler? Giant faucet?

“Maybe, Juvia can pose as a model for Sorcerer Weekly?” She mulled it over. Although she wasn’t comfortable with the exposure, she needed the jewels.

“I’ll help you with the claims so don’t worry about it.” Said Gray who was walking beside her the whole time.

“Yeah. Me too.” Natsu caught up with Juvia and Gray, with the latter going to such lengths as putting himself between them as they travelled or urging Juvia to walk faster to lose Natsu. Just because he wanted to separate the water-mage from flame-brain. But as expected of Natsu, he wasn’t getting the hint that Gray actually did not want him there.

“You’re half the reason for it!”

“Yeah? Well, news for you droopy eyes. You’re the other half reason!”

“You wanna go at it, slanty?” There was no point asking because Gray and Natsu were already at each other’s throats, ready to land the punch they were both holding up.

“Juvia would really prefer to walk in peace, Gray-sama.” She sighed. Juvia now had a new whole respect for the celestial mage who had to deal with all this.

It was the ice-make mage who first pulled away from the ensuing fight, muttering a small sorry for his behavior. His actions made Natsu wonder because: one, Gray never backed out of a fight; second, especially when he looked so eager – athirst – to land that cold fist on Natsu; and finally, how did even Gray knew where he and Juvia were?

“Oi, ice bastard. Why are you even here?”

“What?” Gray heard the question the first time. Not knowing how to respond to the question – an inquiry that got him all stiff and sweaty – the ice-make mage pretended not to hear. If he was lucky, Natsu would drop the subject.

But the question wasn’t dropped as he hoped. It got the attention of the water-mage, who Gray wished was so preoccupied with having to pay the town and that French speaking former guildmate of hers a great deal of jewels that she couldn’t put two and two together.

“Was Gray-sama on a job and was about to go back to Magnolia when he found Natsu-san taking advantage of Juvia?” Her eyes were sparkling with expectation that she was right with her assumption.

“Y-yeah. T-t-that.” Even to Gray, he didn’t sound so convincing. But Juvia seemed satisfied with his answer. So, he could puff a breath of relief. Except that Natsu and Happy was still staring at him skeptically.

“W-w-whatchu lookin’ at?”

“You were following us, weren’t you?”

Gray’s usually droopy eyes widened at Natsu’s conclusion.

“You were the woman we heard screami–mnmnmn.”

Gray nervously glanced at Juvia over his shoulder as he kept his hand covering flamebrain’s loud mouth, nearly suffocating the dragon slayer. Juvia, however, seemed oblivious of everything that was happening around her. Good, Gray sighed. She was probably off to her imagination land.

“Shuttup or I’ll make you eat ice cubes all day.”

Natsu stopped fighting and reluctantly, Gray let him go. He threatened the wrong bastard though. Because Happy just ecstatically hovered over the three of them to announce, “Gray screams like a giiiiirl!”

tags: @ftguildevents @fairytail-rarepairs

[deltatrevino45]

dazai’s vision with atsushi and akutagawa

light spoiler warning!

theory that dazai put tension into atsushi and akutagawa's relationship on purpose possibly because that's what he had with chuuya, and to foster their eventual partnership. 

dazai and chuuya started as enemies, and after trying to kill each other (plus a little emotional manipulation on dazai's part) and getting a common goal (furthering the mafia) they were highly successful as double black. besides both their immense combat and deduction skills plus complimenting abilities, they ran off of a semblance of reluctant trust that become second nature. they were forced to trust each other because of the situations around them.

dazai has generally only known dysfunctional relationships. the healthiest one he had imo, with odasaku, ended badly. his partner, chuuya, and the most efficient one in the lens of work and probably his closest relationship only lasted so long because of the mafia's need.

he also knew they were from different organizations and had a very different set of morals. when dazai tells akutagawa, "my new subordinate is far superior to you." (season 1, ep 9, 8:05) he goes out of his way to make akutagawa go after atsushi. to make them fight. and then the Guild Arc forces them to work together. to develop a ripped up form of trust because their abilities work better with each other. it's situational, just like dazai and chuuya's trust was. 

dazai actually tells them, "you two are going to start fighting with your special abilities again." (season 3, ep 11, 12:08) when asked why, he says, "that's my plan. i'm going to have the two of you sneak into the enemy hideout together." atsushi insists that, "akutagawa's hatred for [him] is beyond reason." (season 3, ep 11, 12:55) and it is, because dazai made it that way. but akutagawa listens to dazai, because dazai's also made it that way. and the two of them want to save the fukuzawa and mori. they end up following dazai's plan to a t and fighting alongside each other pretty well.

we know that from the second dazai met atsushi, he wanted to see what akutagawa and atsushi could do together. i'm curious if he saw himself and chuuya in them. enemies that had abilities that worked better together.

besides his own curiosity, i wonder if he thought their partnership could be healing for akutagawa. the way dazai trained akutagawa was awful, traumatic, cruel. in the mafia relationships are defined by the hierarchy and strength which did play into dazai's harsh training methods. (this plays into how dazai showed akutagawa atsushi's strength) but dazai treats atsushi, his new subordinate, extraordinarily much better, even though there are still high stakes missions and risks. perhaps he doesn't treat atsushi well, but much better than akutagawa. atsushi gets forgiven for his mistakes.

when dazai met chuuya, especially evident in the fifteen arc, he's much more childish and comes out of his shell. and he got a partner. i wonder if dazai wanted to give akutagawa some of that. or give atsushi companionship from someone on par with his ability, trauma, and age. not necessarily out of kindness for the two of them, but perhaps almost pity or curiosity. then again, that could just be collateral of them partnering up and taking advantage of their abilities.

(anyways i could write circles around these characters i love them and this is all for now)

[lady-tortilla-chip]

Earrings and KuniChuu?

Hello anon! Thank you for this great prompt! I actually had a lot of fun with it! Though this became more about piercings in general than just earrings. Lol. This also ended up real long winded at about 760 words! So...hopefully that’s not too long?

—

Chuuya had a thing for accessories. Ranging from cloth adornments to mild body modifications. From the chokers to the tattoos. From his gloves to his piercings.

The reasoning and stories behind them were more interesting than the accessories themselves. Kunikida had come to learn that through their many interactions. From before and after they began dating.

The tattoo, cascading flowers which danced around a flaming Phoenix stood for loyalty and his ability to grow. His ability to wilt yet return as something new and just as incredible. Chuuya -who, at the time, had been nakahara- explained the meaning behind the markings inked into his back, still drunk on the wine he’d consumed earlier on in the night. Body relaxed and gleaming with sweat.

Kunikida recalls the night fondly as it had been the first night they’d spent together. The first time they’d reached passed cloth layers, pulled at defenses, and let go of pretenses.

The choker -something Kunikida had previously thought of as a collar gifted to him by Dazai- had turned out to be something Chuuya had chosen for himself. Kouyou had put together his outfit when he’d joined the Port Mafia, had chosen the attire he’d constantly wear and had eventually come to enjoy wearing. The choker, had been something he chose all himself. Something which, he’d felt at the time, depicted a part of his personality in a way the sharp blazer, tight pants, and barely worn jacket didn’t.

The day Chuuya had told him about it was early one morning when he’d stumbled over to Kunikida’s apartment. Bone weary after a successful mission which had required the combined strength of Soukoku and Shin Soukoku.

The piercings, of which he had many, was a conversation began over coffee and finished tucked in bed.

The first one he’d divulged information about was the one imbedded in his tongue. A drunken whim which he decided to keep. Despite, Ozaki-san’s insistence that he remove it.

The second one he told Kunikida about was the eyebrow piercing he’d gotten as a dare from Tachihara when he was nineteen. After compromising on the tongue stud Ozaki threatened to rip the bar of silver out of Chuuya’s face if he didn’t have it removed immediately.

The holes had closed up though they remained scarred. Kunikida asked about them one hot afternoon when Chuuya had his bangs pulled back.

This particular night which had been Chuuya’s first night off in over a month, Kunikida asked about the piercing in Chuuya’s ear. The black bead which pricked through his skin and stood stark against the pale of his ear and red of his hair.

“Oh, I got this when I was fourteen,” Chuuya said, hand raised to touch at the earring gaze steady on the wall across from their bed.

Kunikida raised an eyebrow, he’d assumed the first piercing Chuuya had gotten was the one in his mouth, “Why did you get it?” he asked, because there was always a reason. Something worth hearing even if the only reason was that the idea of an earring had sounded like a cool one. Like something the edgier kids did. It was the kind of mindset Kunikda had had when he got his own piercing. Though he’d yet to tell Chuuya about that story.

Chuuya tilted his head slightly, a soft hum sliding from his lips as he considered his answer, “Well, I didn’t really get it. It was given. The Sheep, one of the members. She gave it to me. Didn’t really ask if I wanted it. At the time she even gave me this fancy faux diamond earring she’d happened to get her hands on. It was one of the nicest things I had so I was grateful even if a bit confused about the point of stabbing a hole in my ear. On purpose.”

“What made you switch to a black stud?”

Chuuya’s expression shifted at the question, somewhere caught between sheepish and irritated, “We..were called double black. And I never thought to switch it out.”

Kunikida nodded, that made sense. It stood to reason that Chuuya would wear a mark of that partnership and continue to wear it even after the other half of it had disappeared.

Kunikida didn’t say as much aloud, but as he settled against his lover he decided he would add visiting a jewelry store to his schedule for the month.

[emotionsofthesoul]

Chapter 16 _ Hoy Es El Dia!

A few weeks into the month the girls had gotten into a busy routine. Juliana with work and her portfolio while Valentina was busy most afternoons shooting in the studio. For the most part the girls saw each other in the evenings when they each arrived home. They decided to stay at the downtown loft making it easier for Juliana to get to and from work.

Juliana’s presentation was set for the Monday before thanksgiving so as the holiday approached her stress peeked. Valentina had made sure Juliana was eating properly since she would spend most of the evenings trying to perfect her designs.

In the past weeks since they moved into the city Juliana had kept in touch with her father and he made sure she had everything she needed to prepare for school. He was completely on board with her decision to take control of her life and do what her heart desired which was to be a designer. He had gotten a better paying job and they were now getting enough money to support themselves and be able to save up. Chino decided to set aside money for Juliana in case she ever needed it. They had also spoken about getting Juliana her own apartment the following month. Her mother had yet to speak a single word to her but her father continued to tell her to keep her hopes up reiterating that hope is always the last thing to die.

As the day of the presentation came Juliana prepared all her designs both on paper and the physical ones. She decided to wear one of her pieces in order to feel more relaxed on the day of.

“Today is the day babe, you ready? I’ll drive you because I know you’re nervous and I want to be there for you when you come out.” Valentina said as she served the two of them breakfast. 

Mondays were her days off so she made sure to wake up early on this particular one in order make sure Juliana ate something before leaving. They had become very accustomed to each other and they learned to take great care of one another without having to speak out when words were not necessary.

-

“Welcome, what are you presenting today?” A man in a black Gucci suit asked Juliana.

“I am presenting 13 of my best sketches and 5 handmade pieces.” Juliana said confident in her work.

A ginger woman next to the man looked Juliana up and down, as Juliana stood next to her work, and asked, “Who are you wearing?”

Juliana stood up straighter and answered, “This is an original piece. I made it myself.”

The woman nodded her head and wrote something on her notes.

After a few more questions from the round table, Renata finally spoke and asked, “Why would you like a spot in our academy and why do you deserve it?”

The question caught Juliana off guard but she instantly knew how to respond.

“I would like a spot in this academy’s first batch of students because I believe in its message and the direction it wants to head. I believe this can be the beginning of the change the owner wants to make in this city. I think I would be a great candidate because I am dedicated to my craft and ready to face any challenges thrown my way. I’ve always had to problem solve my way through every piece I’ve made and I think my persistence can be useful for this academy as well as my perspective. I have been in love with fashion and design since I was a little girl and have always know this is what I was meant to do. It’s a goal I’ve actively been working towards since the age of 10 despite my parents not supporting this dream.” Juliana said passionately.

The round table wrote down their thoughts and ratings to Juliana’s work before thanking Juliana for her presentation saying they would let her know in the following weeks.

Off she went with the hope in her heart that this would work out for her. She had grown to love this city and the people who helped her fall in love with it, including Renata. Juliana knew Valentina thought she already had this in the bag but she did’t want to slack off. She wanted to earn her place, not just get it because she is dating Renata’s sister in law. She had worked her butt off to get to where she is today and that was not about to change just because she was dating someone with influence.

After the presentation Valentina took Juliana out for lunch at Crepeville down the street from the loft. They hadn’t been out in a while and Valentina insisted that it was time to celebrate. Her gallery was coming up and she wanted to celebrate both of their recent accomplishments. Life had been hectic lately and they agreed that they deserved a break and lunch was a great way to start.

“How are you feeling post your amazing presentation?” Valentina asked as the girls sat outside at a table waiting for their lunch.

Juliana smiled and responded, “I’m actually feeling really good. I feel like I’ve worked hard for this and I gave all my answers honestly so even if I don’t get it at least I know I gave it my best.”

Valentina gave Juliana a look that told Juliana there was no doubt about her getting into the school, before deciding to speak her thoughts instead.  “Juls. We both know you’re in. Why do you keep expecting the worst? Be more positive about life and just everything. It stresses me out how little credit you give yourself.”

Juliana laughed as she listened to what Valentina was saying which only caused Valentina to continue.

“No Juliana, I’m serious. Sam Walton once said, ‘If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish.’ And I need you to believe in yourself as much as I believe in you. More than I believe in you. What you tell yourself matters. How you speak to yourself about yourself matters. I need you to believe in your potential. You are amazing at what you do. Every design you’ve turned into a reality has been incredibly beautiful and I’m positive they saw that as well. I see the fire with which you work and talk about design and fashion, it’s what you love and I love that about you. Your passion is what will land you that spot. Your passion is what will bring out the best in you and consequentially bring out the best in your work.” Valentina told Juliana very passionately so she could understand what she truly meant.

Juliana couldn’t help the huge smile that was now on her face. She felt every word that the woman in front of her was trying to get her to comprehend. She gave Valentina an adoring look while they made eye contact before speaking.

“I don’t know how you always know what to say but I love you and I appreciate you. Everything you do, you do out of love and it’s incredible. Thank you. For not only believing in me but for fueling my soul with your beautiful words. Gracias, amor.” Juliana said as she took hold of Valentina’s hand as they interlocked their fingers.

They had a lovely lunch filled with more encouragements from Valentina. Both girls had grown much closer in the past weeks. It was incredible the way they looked after each other. Juliana allowed herself to be cared for and tried to return that love and that nurturing sentiment by double when it came to Valentina. She felt safe and loved and like she belonged, something she hadn’t felt in years, so she was very appreciative and protective of the woman she was lucky enough to love and care for.

The girls had been completely honest about their feelings and held nothing back from each other. They knew exactly where they stood with each other and had established a very healthy relationship. It was a beautiful partnership that grew stronger with each day that passed.

[sunflowerseedsandscience]

Someday Your Child May Cry

Previously: Question | Preparations | Irrational | Confession | Collateral | Thoughtless | Interrupted | Recovering | Irresponsible

10. Possibility

The second time around, Scully knows more about what's in store, and so the side effects from the hormone shots don’t take her by surprise nearly as much. Her emotional reactions are, once again, drastically out of proportion, to be sure, but she’s expecting them to be, and somehow that makes it easier to handle.

Also making it easier on Scully is the fact that if Mulder and Diana Fowley are spending time together, they're not doing it anywhere that Scully can see it happening. Which, since Mulder is suddenly determined to spend nearly all day every day in Scully's presence, and calls her every evening that he's not haunting her apartment (or keeping her at his with a very flimsy excuse of some file or other that he wants her opinion on), would have to be happening between the hours of two and five in the morning.

Mulder takes Scully out to lunch nearly every day of the week, ignoring her protests that she's brought food to eat from home. Yogurt and bee pollen, he insists, do not constitute a fitting lunch for a potentially expectant mother. This time around, he seems to have decided to take personal charge of Scully's nutrition and hydration. He's forever brandishing granola bars and bottles of Gatorade in her face, and Scully might take offense at the implication that she can't take care of herself... except that, somehow, Mulder's sudden, constant attention to her needs is just so damn endearing.

"Do you have enough space?" he asks her in a double bed in Kroner, Kansas, after a freak tornado and a flying cow have rendered his own room uninhabitable. "I can sleep on the floor, if you need me to. Or out in the car, even." He's actually in the process of throwing back the blankets and climbing back out of bed, and Scully reaches out, seizing him by the wrist.

"Mulder, stay put," she orders him sharply. "There's plenty of room." He hesitates briefly before sinking back onto his side of the bed with a deep sigh. She releases his wrist, but before she can withdraw her hand, Mulder captures it in his own, winding his fingers between hers. She glances over at him quizzically. "You okay, Mulder?" she asks. They've been forced by circumstances to share a bed while in the field on more than one occasion before, and he's never been this jumpy.

"Yeah, fine," he says, but he doesn't let go of her hand. "I just... I keep thinking." She stays silent, waiting, and after a moment, Mulder rolls to face her. "It just keeps hitting me that for all we know, you could be pregnant right at this moment." It's too dark for her to read his expression, but she thinks he's smiling softly. "I know you're trying not to think about it until you're sure, Scully, but that’s proving just about impossible for me."

"Really, Mulder? I couldn't tell," Scully says dryly. "Between your obsessive tracking of every bite of food that passes my lips and your constant questioning of whether or not I need to rest, I had no clue."

"Sorry," says Mulder, ducking his head sheepishly. "I just... I really want this for you, Scully."

Her mind snags on his words like cloth on a stray nail. He wants it for her. Not for them. For a moment, she thinks that maybe this is the perfect opening for the conversation she knows they'll have to have, if it turns out that she's pregnant... but she's hesitant to broach the topic before she knows for certain.

If it turns out that Mulder wants to be involved, even if it's only partial involvement, she thinks they'll be okay. But if he's decided, as she fears, that he wants his donation to be the sum total of his part in this, Scully doesn't quite trust herself to be able to hide her disappointment. Mulder will be able to tell, and with his overdeveloped sense of guilt, he will feel that he's failed her for not being willing to provide something that she has absolutely no right to ask of him. And to be honest, Scully's not sure their partnership could survive. 

Better to wait, she reminds herself, until either she knows for sure, or until she's certain she'll be able to accept any answer with a smile that's at least genuine enough to fool Mulder. So instead of speaking, she gives his hand a gentle squeeze. He pulls their joined to his mouth and presses his lips to her knuckles tenderly, and instead of letting it go, he holds it close to his heart as his eyes close.

They fall asleep with their fingers intertwined on the mattress between them.

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

Mulder had planned to give Scully her Christmas gift sometime between Christmas and New Year's- in fact, he had planned to take her out for a nice dinner (nice enough that she could interpret it as a date, if she wanted)- but after dragging her out to a haunted house on Christmas Eve, he feels like he owes her.

Not that he doesn't always owe her, really.

So when she shows up at his apartment door, even though she's only got about four hours to sleep, at this point, before she's due at her mother's house, he decides to go ahead and give her the gift now. And, as it turns out, she's gotten him something, as well, so it all works out in the end.

Mulder goes first, tearing the paper off of a hardcover book- Contact, by Carl Sagan. He grins widely.

"I don't need to ask why this made you think of me, Scully," he chuckles. He's got a copy already, of course, but this is much nicer than his beat-up paperback. "Have you read this?"

"No," says Scully. "But I saw the movie with my mom." She blushes. "It made me think of you." Mulder grins, returning his attention to the book. He flips it over, examining the illustration on the dust jacket, which is immaculate, without a single crease or tear. 

"Hey, is this a first edition?"

"Yes, it is," says Scully. "And, uh... also...." She reaches over and opens the cover to the title page, where several lines have been scrawled in thick, black marker: 

Keep believing. -Carl Sagan

Mulder looks up at Scully, eyes wide.

"I found it at my mother's church, of all places," Scully says. "They had a rummage sale in November, and this was sitting in a box of beat-up books from someone's basement. And I know we said we weren't exchanging gifts this year, but it just seemed too perfect to pass up."

"It is perfect, Scully," he says, putting an arm around her shoulder and squeezing her. "Thank you." He puts the book on the coffee table and nods at the package she's still holding. "I didn't find that at a rummage sale, but I had the same thought as you when I saw it. It was too perfect to pass up." Scully begins peeling off the wrapping paper. She sits there, silent, staring down at the object in her hands, her face unreadable. "And technically," continues Mulder, "I kept my word not to get you anything, because it's not really for you." Still, Scully says nothing, and Mulder begins to get nervous. "Scully?"

"Mulder," she says, her voice amused and hoarse with emotion, all at the same time. She holds up her gift and turns to him, eyes wide. "Where did you find this?"

"On the internet," he says. The handle of the rattle is made from sturdy plastic, while the top is coated in a softer layer, ideal for a baby to gnaw on without hurting himself. It's in the shape of an alien- not the classic, creepy, oval-eyed version, but a friendly, smiling alien, sprouting trumpet-shaped antennae from its head. "I know you're nervous about tempting fate, Scully, but I just feel like one of us should be open to extreme possibilities here. And I think it's safe to say, from past experience, that that someone is gonna be me." Still, silence. "Scully?" Nothing. "Scully, if I've done wrong, I'm sorry, I just-"

It's as far as he gets before she turns and kisses him.

It's quick and sweet, and before he even has a chance to respond, she's already drawn back and is staring at him with wide eyes. He thinks she's surprised herself almost as much as she's surprised him.

This time, it's unclear who makes the first move. All Mulder knows is that suddenly, he's lost in the sweet taste of Scully's mouth. She's got one hand buried in his hair and the other is creeping up the back of his t-shirt. She feels so small in his arms, so perfect, like she was made to fit there, and he's just beginning to lay her back on his couch when she jerks away.

"I should go," she says, hastily gathering up her things, not looking at him. Mulder's heart sinks.

"Scully, I'm sorry," he says. "You don't have to leave."

"I know," she says. "I just... it's late, it's been a long night, and tomorrow's going to be crazy at Mom's, and I..." She sighs and meets his gaze, finally, and Mulder can tell she's conflicted. "I don't want to tempt myself right now, because I can't. Not tonight." She swallows. "Not while...." Mulder nods, understanding: she's not supposed to have sex for five weeks following the embryo transfer, and she's currently on week two.

"It doesn't have to go that far, Scully," he says. "Not tonight." Scully smiles slightly.

"Do you really think we'd be able to stop ourselves?" she asks him, and he knows she's right. If she had allowed him to kiss her for much longer, no force on earth would have been strong enough to separate him from her.

"I guess you have a point," he concedes. She stands, and he walks her to the door.

"I'll see you back at work after New Year's, okay?" she tells him, and his heart sinks.

"I thought maybe we could go to dinner, the night after Christmas?" he suggests hopefully, but she shakes her head.

"I need some time, Mulder," she tells him. "Time to think." She reaches up and gently touches her fingertips to his lips, and he presses a kiss to her hand. "Merry Christmas, Mulder."

"Merry Christmas, Scully."

[friendliest-place-on-earth]

Sprace Domestic Series (pt. 7)

(Part 1)

(Part 2)

(Part 3)

(Part 4)

(Part 5)

(Part 6)

(AO3)

Spot anxiously paced up and down in one of the small rooms of the building where he would soon be married. Jack, being his best man, sat in a chair near him and tried to calm him down.

“Spot, there ain’t nothin’ to be worrying about.” Jack said calmly, only to earn a glare from the nervous, now slightly pissed off, groom.

“You don’t know that! How can you tell me that everything is going to be okay because this is my wedding. How’d you survive yours, Jack?” Spot wrung his hands nervously, feeling the moisture on his palms then rubbing them on his black dress pants.

“Well I just remembered that the only reason everyone was there was so that I could marry the man I love. In all honesty I was where you were right now, only I was alone in the bathroom so no one had to watch, but as soon as I saw Davey from across the aisle I knew everything was gonna be okay.” Jack smiled.

“Geez, what a sap.” Spot muttered, slowing his footsteps.

“Yeah, says the guy who proposed to his boyfriend in the freaking snow and then watched Frozen in a blanket fort.” Jack scoffed.

“Ah lay off will ya? It’s my wedding day!” Spot rested a hand on his chest, feigning offense.

“Yeah okay. Seriously though, you’re gonna make it through this because this is gonna be something you’ll want to remember.” Spot pulled up a chair next to Jack and practically collapsed onto it.

“What if… what if Race decides he doesn’t wanna marry me anymore?” Spot tilted his head down, playing with his hands as a distraction.

“Oh trust me that kid’s got it bad.” Jack laughed, clapping his hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“I just hope you’re right…”

“You kiddin’ me? I’m always right!” Jack exclaimed, hitting his chest with his fist. Spot gave him a look with his eyebrows raised that said something along the lines of Really?

“Okay so I’m right most of the time.” Spot gave him the same look.

“Well some of the-” Spot raised his eyebrows even higher.

“Alright, so I’m wrong a lot but I do know a whole lot about love and you two are in it.”

“I know that it’s just, what if something goes wrong or-” Spot began his descent into the spiraling pit of worry.

“C’mon Spot, Davey planned this wedding. Do you think he’d ever let there be room for error?” Jack questioned.

“I guess not-”

“So, all you gotta do is wait for everyone to arrive and we can get this show on the road and you’re on your way to becoming Race’s husband.” Jack added emphasis on the last word, which made Spot’s heart flutter and his stomach flip. If he could get out of here as his husband, then it would all be worth it.

“I still can’t believe you got Katherine to officiate it…”

“Race, sit down would ya!” Crutchie groaned, pulling his friend onto the couch he was sitting on.

“Just lemme pace in peace, Crutch.” Race tried to stand up again, but he was again pushed into the cushions.

“I’m not just gonna sit here and watch you worry yourself sick! Now talk to me, what’s got you so worked up?” Race breathed a sigh of defeat and sagged into the back of the couch.

“I’m just so nervous. I want this to be amazing, Spot doesn’t have any family that would care enough to come and my goal is to make up for that.” he said quietly.

“First of all, you’re never gonna take their place, most likely because there never really was a place in his heart for them. Those are relationships you can never replace, but you have something better- a real partnership based on love and trust. Isn’t that why you’re here today?”

“You ever thought about taking up writing?” Race smiled crookedly at his friend.

“Well, I teach English class from 11-12 every single day.” he joked. Crutchie was a fifth grade teacher at the local elementary school, so he taught all subjects.

“I’m sure it’s a blast.”

“Hey Race, I want you to remember that Spot loves you, a lot. It’s really obvious, because when he looks at you, I see what everyone talks about and that’s something special. What I’m trying to say is, he loves you no matter what so you don’t gotta work extra hard to please him.”

“I know, I just can’t help feeling this way from time to time. Spot’s usually here but, I guess I can wait a little longer.” Race let a soft smile grow onto his face.

“I hope I can help you at least a little bit.” Crutchie returned the smile.

“Yeah of course kid.”

“We’re the same age!” he groaned, rolling his eyes. Race felt a laugh bubble up through his stomach and some of the nervousness went away. Maybe this will be okay, he thought.

“How much longer we got?” he hoped to get this started soon.

“I’d like to say about twenty more minutes, but I can go see for myself if you want?”

“If you would, that’d be great.” “No problem, I’ll be right back.” Crutchie quickly got up off the couch and walked out the door. He noticed someone else walking in the same hallway a few feet ahead, and soon recognized them.

“Hey, Jack!” he waved, moving faster to catch up.

“You out here to get everyone inside too?” he smiled.

“Well, technically I’m just supposed to see how long it’s gonna take for everyone to get inside, but yeah basically.” Crutchie laughed. They walked briskly down the hall and began guiding everyone inside. They were all shown their seats and it was time for the wedding to finally begin.

It had been decided that their wedding would be very traditional, (Race’s parents insisted and they were paying for the wedding so what could they have done?) and it turned out to be better than they could’ve imagined, thanks to Davey since he basically planned the whole thing all by himself. Race was going to be the one walking down the aisle, the only two reasons being that Spot proposed and Race actually had a parent to walk him down. As the wedding party took their places, there was a pause and the large double doors at the end of the room opened up to reveal Anthony holding onto his father’s arm. Sean almost burst into tears right then and there, but he managed to summon all his willpower and only let a few slip through. Everything was just so perfect, the first notes of the piano version of “This is Gospel” by Panic! At The Disco came on, and how good Anthony’s tux fit on him, it was everything they could’ve hoped for. The grooms immediately made eye contact, even as the blue eyed boy’s eyes welled up with tears which made them look like the ocean. It seemed like he couldn’t get to the end of the aisle fast enough, all they wanted to do was reach out and grab each other’s hands. Finally though, that moment did arrive and Anthony was met with Sean as he released his father’s arm.

“Friends and family.” Katherine’s voice rang out, silencing everyone.

“We’re all here today to witness Sean and Anthony join one another in marriage.” they had decided to put their legal names on their invitations, since that might make more sense years in the future.

“I have had the pleasure of knowing these two for quite some time, and I am honored that they have allowed me to officiate the ceremony.” she beamed as Spot raised an eyebrow.

“Okay so I asked if I could do it, but I am legally certified thanks to the internet. That said, being a good friend of these two men here, I have had the privilege of watching them fall in love. I would like to start this off by reminding you two and everyone else here of the newest journey you are about to take with one another. Marriage is something many people have fought long and hard to earn, which shows its importance to people. It adds a whole new meaning to your relationship, it’s a promise to love one another.” Anthony squeezed Sean’s softly.

“It’s a promise to be supportive, to love and accept all parts of your spouse. Getting married is one of the many ways to celebrate and showcase how much you love your significant other. Speaking of, I think it’s time to share the vows Anthony and Sean have prepared separately.” Katherine stepped back slightly and motioned for them to begin. They each took out a piece of paper with their vows on it, which was basically their insurance policy incase they got too flustered in the moment. It was Anthony’s turn to begin..

“S-sean, I love you more than I can say. I know how incredibly cheesy that sounds but considering we watch Disney movies pretty much all the time, I think it’ll pass.” Sean laughed quiet enough for only Anthony to hear, and he carried on.

“I know that I can be a lot to handle, I get too worked up sometimes or I can stress out if things aren’t how I want them to be, but I also know that you’ll be here despite that. I promise to tell you when I’m upset or stressed out, because I know you can make it better. You are my favorite person in the world, you’re my best friend and this is why I promise to always love you.” Anthony’s voice shook like mad as the world’s happiest tears fell in line down his cheeks.

“F-for my last promise, I promise to keep finding new movies for us to watch because as long as there’s new movies, there’s new ones to watch together.” Anthony’s vows were finished, and Sean pulled him into a tight hug while they both cried for a few moments.

“How am I supposed to follow that?” he asked, causing the entire audience to erupt in tearful giggles.

“Anthony, I can’t tell you what it means to be standing here, looking at you, in front of all these people. You have added so much color to my life, and that’s one of the many reasons that I love you. I’m mostly known as “that angry short guy” and while I fully admit that that’s true, you make me feel like I’m more than that. I grew up in an a place where I couldn’t even dream about being this happy, feeling like my heart is about to explode in the best possible way. I don’t feel so confused about what my future looks like ‘cause I can see it right here. I promise to spend the rest of my life making you feel as important and as whole as you’ve made me. I promise to always be there for you when you feel sad, because I know how hard it is to ask for help. Finally, I can promise you that I’ll make many more blanket forts that we can spend the night in, if only to remember the night I proposed. My love, you’ve done what I thought was impossible, you’ve managed to take a broken boy from Brooklyn and make him feel loved.” Sean took in the brief moment as he finished his vows and heard small sniffles ripple through the crowd. Anthony reached out again to pull him into a hug, crying even more this time.

“If we could get the rings…” Katherine motioned for Les, the ring bearer, to bring them forward.

“Thank you, Les.” she instructed the pair what to do next.

“With this ring, I thee wed.” Sean slid the ring onto Anthony’s ring finger, both of their hands shaking.

“With this ring, I thee wed.” Anthony’s turn to give Sean his ring. Sean’s heart was pounding in his ears and he heard something along the lines of “you may now kiss the groom” and before he knew it he was kissing Anthony, his husband.

Everything else paled in comparison after that kiss, talk about magical. Nonetheless, they all went to the reception a few minutes away, which was held in a hotel ballroom. They’d taken all their formal pictures beforehand, so now it was time to party and hope the photographer didn’t get any embarrassing candid photos. As everyone shuffled in and had a few cocktails, (well, those who could drink) it was time for the newlyweds to make their big entrance. The wedding party was introduced and soon Davey, who was in charge of the mic, announced the new couple.

“If everyone could please welcome, Mr. and Mr. Conlon-Higgins!” the ballroom erupted in cheers and applause as Spot and Race made their way onto the dancefloor. The room was soon silenced as they began their first dance to “So This Is Love” from Cinderella. Spot had his arms hooked around Race’s waist as they danced slowly to the music. Race was keenly aware that everyone was staring but according to his husband “they’re supposed to be staring”.

“It’s okay, don’t look at them, just look at me.” Spot whispered as he looked up into Race’s eyes.

“Using my own words against me?” he fake scoffed as Spot pressed a kiss to his forehead. They continued to dance to the music, drunk in the feeling of absolute love and happiness. Race his forehead on Spot’s as he softly sang one of the lines.

“So this is love.”

“Mhmhmm.” Spot hummed the next line, earning another tearful kiss from his Disney prince.

Here are I used in this fic and the links to the YouTube videos that inspired me to use them:

This is Gospel (Piano Version)

So This is Love [This one is a cover with Tessa Violet and Jon Mozart but I really liked it]

[socialcoldstreams]

Journalism: We must take positive stories and ALWAYS twist them to negativity

Young guy in his 20s raises $1 million as a charitable contribution to a Children’s Hospital and the Des Moines Register thought it necessary to question him for two Tweets he wrote when he was 16 years old, which he says were direct quotes from a Comedy Central TV show. Consequently, the charitable fundraising was stopped and his corporate sponsors abandoned him. Actual children will now be hurt because of journalism’s need to twist a positive story into a negative.

But this one comes with a twist – the reporter’s own Tweets were far more vile than the two tweets of a teen.

That’s when Des Moines Register reporter Aaron Calvin set out to profile King — and found two offensive tweets the 24-year-old had sent when he was 16.

That discovery has now sparked an acrimonious conflict, as King quickly lost his partnership with Anheuser-Busch, and the Des Moines Register scrambled to explain its decision to report on the old tweets in the first place — particularly after critics Tuesday turned up multiple offensive tweets once sent by Calvin [the reporter], forcing the paper to open a new investigation into its own reporter.

Source: Iowa reporter who found a viral star’s racist tweets slammed when critics find his own offensive posts – The Washington Post

The reporter engaged in “cherry picking” – finding two negative tweets in more than 8 years of Twitter use by the subject. Potentially numerous positive tweets were ignored by Aaron Colvin, the reporter to provide context or that the subject had matured. Because the whole point of pseudo news reporting is “gotcha”.

(I’m so old I remember just yesterday how it was inappropriate to question the motives of 16 year olds!)

The reporter’s own tweet history showed highly offensive commentary about blacks, women, gays and police officers. Highly offensive. Before the reporter shut down his Twitter account, many captured his past comments and shared them on other social media. These tweets were allegedly written by the reporter who complained about others’ tweets – because he admits to having since deleted his past tweets and protected his account, these reports from others cannot now be verified.

This one is particularly vile and if true, might suggest a criminal investigation of the reporter.

The Des Moines Register thought it made sense to dig up the old tweets of a teen yet had not checked the past social media of their own reporter who twatted away more offensively as an adult? Worse, the Register said checking the social media of subjects is “routine” – but apparently not that of their own reporters? Double standard anyone?

What compelled the Des Moines Register to take a fantastic good news story and twist into something negative?

We’ve posted on this topic before – the news media insists on twisting even good news stories into a negative. This constant negativity is intentional. Several posts on this topic now.

The reporter has now deleted his own racist, sexist, homophobic, anti history and changed his Twitter account to Protected because its all different when he does it:

As to the Des Moines Register, I checked their Facebook page – there were over 14,000 comments, all in opposition to the Register, and many saying they are canceling their subscriptions.

As Warren Buffet has noted, it can take 20 years to build a brand reputation but just five minutes to destroy it. Congratulations journalists!

In one of life’s mysteries, journalists remain utterly perplexed why people don’t like them …

Update 1:

The Des Moines Registers published a “Letter to the Editor” echoing our comments on negativity:

“I am so disappointed by the negativity in your recent article about Carson King.

Despite the defense of your actions, it is clear that you made the conscious choice to report controversy and negativity.”

Further down the Letters section is another letter blasting them on a different topic but for the same reasons: “Why not focus on positive stories?”

Only a day earlier, the Washington Post wrote it is inappropriate to question the background or motives of  16 years olds, especially Greta Thunberg. Double standards anyone?

Update 2: Des Moines Register is Backpedaling

Aaron Calvin, the reporter, has been fired for violating the publisher’s policy on use of social media.

They admit they did not routinely and thoroughly check the social media of their employees but did routinely run background checks on subjects appearing in the paper’s creative writing exercises.

Criminal records for those under age 18 are not public; but tweets are! Thus, the media can ignore past criminal records but not social media posts. Face palm moment.

No one at the paper has apologized or acknowledged they had bad judgement, and none of the management (editors) who created the flawed employee/hire process, or who thought it appropriate to criticize someone for two offensive tweets quoting Comedy Central when he was age 16 have been impacted.

The paper was also mad that after questioning King about his tweets, he in turn went public, ruining their “gotcha scoop”. Their non-apology blames King for their reporting.

The paper described Carson King’s tweets as “racists” but described their own reporter’s extremely vile tweets as merely “inappropriate” and “questionable”.

They now say there is “nothing more important in journalism than having readers trust” but has no idea how to engage the trust of their readers. Just check the commentary on their own social media pages.

Unlike the Des Moines Register, Carson King accepted full responsibility for his two tweets from when he was 16 years old, and apologized.

The media have no idea why so many despise them. They remain remarkably out of touch.

Journalism: We must take positive stories and ALWAYS twist them to negativity was originally published on SocialPanic

[diamondheart31]

Black, Green and Everything in Between Ch.10

Shiro likes Pidge, Pidge likes Shiro. Sounds like it should be simple but it never is. To make things more complicated, Pidge has caught the eye of a hot alien prince who is doing whatever he can to win her affections. How will Shiro handle the competition and his jealousy? Co-written by FantasyMagicGirl

Keith getting some of his frustration out by training with a few drones. Shiro figured he would be there so he came in, “Something stressing you out Keith?” Keith sliced another drone before turning off the simulation "I... I kind of messed up today," Keith said sounding stressed and guilty. “Lance and Pidge told me you didn’t like the idea of her getting another pet,” Shiro said. "Yeah," Keith said rubbing the back of his neck "I saw how much it tore Pidge up losing Rover, I... didn't want her to ever go through something like that again, and that cat plant is a lot weaker then Rover was," Keith explained leaning against a wall. “You don’t know what Keith,” Shiro told him, “It may be stronger than you give it credit for. Not to mention Pidge already named her, so I doubt she’d give her up now.” Keith frowned a little at that "Maybe... I just... feel kind of bad for hurting her, I meant what I said but... I really shouldn't have brought up Rover like that.” “I know you were just trying to help in your own way, but the best thing to do now is just be supportive. The whole teams going to help take care of Midori,” Shiro informed him. "... I guess that can help," Keith nodded "Still, a part of me doesn't like that she got the cat planet from the prince," Keith muttered. Shiro sighed, “To be honest I don’t like it either. But I don’t really have a reason not to trust Prince Buteo or Pidge.” "I know he's supposed to be an ally but something about the way he treats and acts around Pidge really bugs me..." Keith said not sure how to explain it. “…You really haven’t figured it out,” Shiro asked. At Keith’s confused look he continued, “Buteo is acting that way because he likes Pidge.” "Well a lot of people seem to like Pidge" Keith replied still looking confused not understanding why that would bother him. Kuro groaning in the back of Shiro’s mind, 'I'm starting to understand why Keith and Katie usually get along.’ “I meant that he’s interested in her…romantically,” Shiro explained, feeling weird having this kind of talk with him. He was smart but could be dense at certain social things. Keith understood when someone was being sarcastic and could make jokes. Through he didn’t much about pop culture, maybe that was it. "Oh...." Keith muttered not sure how to take that "is Pidge interested in him?" Keith questioned. “I don’t think so,” Shiro sighed, “I’m not even sure if she really knew until Lance and I told her.” "I guess that makes sense," Keith said, since he didn't notice either, "Though I can't see her dating the guy.” Shiro couldn’t help but feel relieved hearing that, “Why’s that,” he questioned. "He just doesn't feel like a good match for Pidge, Pidge likes a challenge and that guy would just probably give her whatever she wants, and she likes to be treated equally like a partnership, I can't picture them really working like that," Keith explained though he really didn't know much about the prince but he knew pidge pretty well. “I guess you make a good point,” Shiro said, happy to hear it, through knew the prince could change how he behaves around Pidge once he gets to know her. But the odds were that they wouldn’t get the chance. That even seem to comfort Kuro a little though he still wanted to tell Pidge about how they felt. Shiro kind of wanted to focus on getting rid of Kuro first, still worried he was going crazy. "Good luck with that" Kuro chuckled. Shiro sighed, wondering if there was anyone he could talk to about it. He could tell Keith but he’d want to tell the others hoping they could help him. "So you know... if Pidge is still upset," Keith asked since Shiro had seen her recently. “She still seemed a little upset, give her some more time before talking to her,” Shiro advised. "Alright," Keith nodded, his shoulders slumping a little, he honestly did feel bad for hurting pidge like that. “I’m sure if you’re sorry Pidge will forgive you,” Shiro assured him, “I know you didn’t mean anything bad by it.” "Yeah I just hope she knows the same," Keith replied. Shiro gave him a reassuring smile and put a hand on his shoulder. “Try not to worry about it too much.” "I'll try," Keith replied. He didn't have many friends and didn't want to lose Pidge over something like this. “If she still seems angry after you apologize I’ll have another talk with her,” Shiro told Keith, “But I think she knows you didn’t want to hurt her.” "Thanks Shiro," Keith replied feeling a little better. Shiro smiled, “Through Lance may still call you a jerk.” "Yeah, wasn't expecting anything less" Keith muttered. The black paladin wondered what was the real problem Lance had with Keith. Keith really didn't know, he barley remembered Lance from the academy. Which might actually be part of the problem, since if he did do something, he couldn’t remember what it was. "I'll be glad when we can leave this place tomorrow," Keith muttered. “Same,” Shiro sighed, wanting Pidge far away from the prince as possible. He also thought it was dangerous to stay in one place for too long. Meanwhile Pidge was trying to make Midori a little bed with spare blankets at the corner of her bed so she stayed close. “Are you sure she doesn’t need dirt or some kind of soil to sleep on,” Hunk questioned, not knowing how much of a plant she was like. "I don't think so, but I'll double check with Buteo tomorrow," Pidge said, Midori curling up on the nest of blankets looking quite comfy. “She seems happy at least,” Hunk commented, “…Is she going to shed? And if she does is it just going to be leaves?” "I think so, kind of like a tree, hmm maybe I should get a book from Buteo, or maybe a special communicator from him so I can ask questions if there's ever an emergency with Midori" Pidge said petting the kitten. “That might be a good idea,” Hunk said, petting Midori too, who luckily wasn’t afraid of his big hands. “I’m sure he’d like for you to have a communicator.” "Because you think he's going to want to talk to me once I leave," Pidge guessed, though still had a hard time believing he would hold interest in her much longer after they left. Hunk didn’t know why Pidge had such a hard time believing that a guy would be interested in her. Was it because Buteo was a prince? Hunk had to admit he’d have a hard time believing that a princess liked him. Pidge wondered if she should check up on Shiro before heading to bed, since he seemed to be having a hard time sleeping lately. Shiro was already in bed, not sure if he should sleep or just work out like he usually does. He was surprised when there was a knock at the door and was happy to see Pidge, “Katie, what are you doing here?” Midori perched on her shoulder "I wanted to check up on you... see if you were still stressed or having trouble sleeping... sorry if I woke you up" “It’s fine, I wasn’t sleeping,” he assured her. Shiro wanted to ask her something but was too nervous to, despite Kuro’s insistence that he do it. "Do you want me to stay till you fall asleep?" Pidge offered shyly, petting Midori to ease her nervousness. Shiro smiled, “I would actually enjoy that a lot,” he told her, blushing a bit. He was glad she offered since he doubted he’d be able to ask. Pidge smiled letting herself into the room sitting down on the edge of Shiro's bed. “You can lay down if you want,” Shiro offered, thinking she’d be more comfortable that way, through knew she could sleep sitting up. "You sure I won't take up too much room," Pidge asked not wanting Shiro to feel squished in his own bed. “It’ll be fine,” Shiro said, not minding her having to be close to him, moving over a bit so she could lay down. Pidge laying down Midori laying down on the pillow next to Pidge's head, Pidge offering her hand to Shiro to hold. He smiled and gently took her hand in his, giving it a light squeeze. Kuro was being quiet, which Shiro figured must mean that he’s happy. Pidge blushing a little, gently squeezing his hand back, before closing her eyes not wanting Shiro to catch her staring at him. Giving her hand another gentle squeeze, Shiro closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep, feeling better with Pidge there. Midori softly purring as she cuddled up to Pidge, Kuro feeling calm and content having Pidge so close. Shiro was glad Kuro was being silent. He didn’t even seem to mind Midori being with them. It didn't take long for Pidge to drift to sleep her breathing becoming softer and more even, though her grip on his hand only loosening a little. Shiro kissed her forehead and drifted off to sleep, moving a little closer to Pidge. Kuro wanted to kiss her lips but was content with the small kiss on the head for now, though he would rather wrap his arm around her waist over just holding her hand, with Katie so close to him. The black paladin hoped that Kuro would be content enough not to bother him while he slept. He’d rather dream about Pidge than him. Dream about them both being back on earth, Katie having her long hair again her brother and father home safe again like all the horrible things that happened with the Galra never happened. He wondered what the chances were of being able to have a normal life after all of this. Would he be able to go on his life like nothing ever happened? Or would the paladins always be needed? No one really had an answer for that, but maybe if him and Pidge could find a way to build a relationship, it wouldn't matter which path happened in the future as long as they got to stay together. Of course he still had to work up the courage to confess to her, and he wasn’t sure how long that would take. He thought waiting would be better, Kuro disagreeing with him strongly on that. Though they were making a strange kind of progress with her at least with the sleeping arrangements, Pidge having come to them without even asking her too. Shiro wondered if it would be strange to ask if they could do this every night, cause he really seemed to sleep better when she was with him. But what if she had trouble sleeping with him? It took some time for Pidge to calm down, feeling nervous sleeping so close to Shiro, but something about the scent that came from Midori when the kitten slept made her feel sleepy as well and helped her drift to sleep quicker than usual. What would happen if one of the other paladins found them like this? Would they believe that it was just for sleep? He doubted any of them suspected anything about his feelings for Pidge since they didn’t seem to have a problem trying to hook her up with Buteo. All except for Keith that is, who seemed just as clueless and Pidge was about the prince's feelings towards her. Through getting Midori as a gift made Pidge start to think they were right, but was still kind of in denial about it. Thinking Buteo only found her so interesting was because she was human. Which didn’t really make sense since the others were human too and Buteo’s never seen a Altean before either. Pidge just couldn't imagine why a prince of all people show interest in her. She’d also find it hard to believe if Shiro liked her. The teams handsome, fearless leader. Thinking Shiro only saw her as his friend's little sister. Which couldn’t be further from the truth, though he did feel some guilt lusting after his friends sister. Well one part of him was, Kuro didn't feel any guilt wanting to touch, hold and kiss Katie. Shiro sighed in his sleep, dreaming of holding and kissing Pidge, whispering into her ear that he loved her. Pidge holding him tightly, looking up at him lovingly as Katie told him she loved him too. It was a great dream, allowing Shiro to sleep happily and peacefully, feeling relaxed. Pidge feeling pretty rested when she woke up the next morning as well. Midori was resting on top of her head, her leafy tail in her face. She purred in her sleep. Pidge gently pushing the tail out of her face blushing when she relived how close she was to Shiro. Shiro seemed to be resting peacefully, a small smile on his face, his hand still entwined with Pidge’s. Pidge trying to be quiet as she sat up and gently let go of Shiro's hand. Midori let out a soft mew, getting off the bed when her owner did. Shiro seemed to tense up once Pidge wasn’t near. Pidge pausing seeing Shiro tense up, gently putting Midori on her lap gently grabbing Shiro's hand again as she gently pet her kitten with the other hand. Shiro instantly relaxed as soon as Pidge grabbed his hand, feeling better having contact with her. Pidge a little surprised how quickly he relaxed wondering if having someone close made him feel safer. Pidge’s small hands seemed to fit surprisingly well in Shiro’s mental one, able to feel her warmth.   Pidge always a little surprised how warm Shiro's mental hand really was her thumb gently tracing over the mental. After a while Shiro finally woke up, yawning and feeling well rested, not noticing he was still holding Pidge’s hand. "Morning" Pidge greeted Midori mewing. Shiro was surprised to see her at first, but smiled, “Good morning Katie, how did you sleep?” "Pretty good" Pidge nodded "Though I could of lived without waking up to a leafy tail in my face" she teased her kitten gently ruffling her leafy mane. "What about you? Did you sleep alright?" “Yeah, I slept great,” Shiro smiled, “…Are you sure you weren’t bothered by sleeping with me.” He needed to know cause he wanted to ask if they could do it again. He slept so much better with her. "Well, it is a little strange sharing a bed with someone," Pidge admitted blushing a little "But it didn't take me long to fall asleep.” “This may seem a little weird…but would you mind sleeping with me again sometime,” Shiro asked with a blush, “I sleep better when you’re with me.” It was true, Shiro looked better rested than he had in a long time. Pidge blushed at the requested, slowing nodding "Umm sure" Pidge agreed, she wanted to help Shiro and a part of her couldn't help but like the idea of getting closer to Shiro even if he didn't have feelings for her. “Are you sure,” Shiro questioned, though could hear Kuro telling him not to look a gift horse in the mouth, “I don’t want you to be uncomfortable.” "As long as Midori can sleep in your room as well I don't mind," Pidge assured still blushing. “It shouldn’t be a problem,” Shiro smiled, wondering if he could make the bed bigger. "Alright but let’s make sure to just keep it between us for the mean time," Pidge suggested. “Probably a good idea,” Shiro agreed, not sure how the others would react to it. Kuro very happy that they would have Pidge in their bed more often. Not in the way that he wanted, but it was better than nothing for now. "I better get going before someone spots me, I'll see you later Shiro" Pidge said still blushing a little as she left the room. Shiro smiled, glad things went well. Midori rubbed against his leg before running out to follow Pidge. Pidge trying not to think too much about Shiro wanting to share a bed with her. He didn’t have nightmares like he usually did when she was near, the others noticing he seemed more awake than usual. Pidge going into the kitchen to get Midori some water, happy to discover she could jump up onto the counter by herself. Shiro followed her into the kitchen, “Do you know how big she’ll get,” he asked, not sure if she was fully grown or not. "Buteo says she’ll get a bit big she's only a kitten right now, so she'll probably get a little larger than a normal human cat" Pidge guessed. “Do you have a place for her to sleep or do you not mind her sleeping on your head,” he teased. "I made a little blanket bed for her in my room but I guess I can move it when I umm need to," Pidge said not wanting to talk about them sharing a bed out in the open. Shiro nodded, “Hopefully she’ll use it, Midori seems like the type who likes to cuddle.” Not that he wouldn’t cuddle with Pidge if given the chance. "I don't mind, I'm a pretty cuddly person too" Pidge said letting the kitten stand in the bowl beforehand pouring some water over her back. Midori purred, stretching happily as water purred over her, absorbing the water. Pidge smiling at the little kitten wondering if it would be okay to bring her to breakfast but guessed she most likely couldn't "hey Shiro, do you think Midori would be okay in my room while we were at breakfast," Pidge asked. “If you’re not comfortable having her run around the castle on her own I think she’ll be fine in your room,” Shiro replied. "Hmm… alright, I'll put a bowl in there with her just encase she gets hungry while were away," Pidge said, scratching the back of Midori’s ear. Once Midori was safely in Pidge’s room, thy all got together to head to Buteo’s palace for a good-bye breakfast. Shiro was sure Buteo just wanted Pidge to come, inviting them to be polite. "Morning Buteo" Pidge greeted as soon as she saw the prince. Buteo smiled brightly when he saw her, “Lady Pidge! Good morning!” "Hi" Pidge said smiling "I hope you don't mind but I left Midori on the ship I didn't think it would be okay to bring her to the meal" Pidge explained. “I understand, I’m just glad I was able to see you before you had to leave,” he said, smiling handsomely at her. Pidge blushed a little as she smiled back at him, starting to see the signs that Buteo liked her "Me too" Pidge nodded shyly "If you have time I was hoping to ask you some more questions about Midori before we left." she quickly added before the others got the wrong idea. “Of course, I’d be happy to,” Buteo said, through was a little disappointed she only wanted to talk about her pet. But he guessed it was good for her to have something that would make her think of him. Pidge knew she couldn't really talk to Buteo about his feelings towards her in front of everyone else and thought this would be a good way to get some one on one time with Buteo, plus she really did have questions about Midori. Buteo made sure a feast was prepared for them wanting Pidge and the rest of the paladins to know they had their full support. Pidge and the paladins really enjoying the food, hunk hoping to copy some of the recipes. The chefs were happy the paladins enjoyed their cooking, offering to give Hunk some of their recipes. Pidge wondering how she and Buteo could excuse themselves for a few minutes so she could talk to him. Luckily for her, Allura was trying to help get them alone, hoping Buteo would say something to Pidge. "Since Buteo maybe you should show Pidge some files about planta-gato's before we leave" the princess suggested. "That would be really helpful," Pidge agreed. “It’d be no trouble at all,” Buteo said, happy to be able to spend time alone with Pidge. Buteo offering pidge his hand, Pidge taking it as he lead her out of the room, Allura smiling brightly. Shiro could feel Kuro raging at Pidge going off alone with the prince, angry at everyone for trying to get them together. Keith being the only other one displeased by Pidge being alone with the prince, and once Pidge was alone with him in the library "Prince Buteo could I ask you a few questions. .. that aren't about Midori." “What would you like to know,” Buteo questioned, wondering if it was more queries about their technology since that’s what she seemed interested in. "I'm sorry if I'm being too blunt but do you... have feelings for me?" Pidge asked rubbing the back of her neck. Buteo blushed, freezing up like a kid caught sneaking candy, “Yes, I do have lady Pidge. I had strong feelings since the moment I saw you.” Pidge blushed not realizing that Buteo feelings began then "Why," Pidge questioned not understanding how that was possible. “Why is it so hard to believe,” Buteo asked, “You’re beautiful, intelligent, strong and caring.” Pidge assumed he meant all those things after he got to know her and not just noticed all those things the moment they met " I’m not considered very umm desirable by human standards" Pidge tried to explained. Buteo seemed surprised to hear that, “Really? But your face, eyes and hair are so pretty, why wouldn’t you have suitors on Earth?” "Most males in my species prefer females that are taller and... curvier then I am" Pidge muttered. “I like your height,” Buteo told her, finding that he enjoyed their size difference. He thought it was cute. Pidge smiled a little hearing that "Thanks, but I have to be honest... at this time, I don't really share those feelings towards you, not that you’re not a good person or handsome I umm" Pidge let out a frustrated groan "I’m not very good at this" “I understand,” Buteo said, through his wings drooped a bit, “We don’t know each other that well and there’s a war going on.” Pidge had to admit she felt a little guilty seeing Buteo's wing droop like that "I am interested in you" Pidge admitted blushing she couldn't deny she found him handsome and interesting "But there's also the fact that you're well a prince..." Pidge sighed. “Are you not allowed to be courted by a prince,” Buteo questioned, not sure if it was an Earth thing or a paladin thing since he didn’t know much about either. "No, there's no rule against it, it's just that I don't know how long the paladins are going to be needed, so I might never be able to stay on your planet for long periods of time plus, my family is on earth," Pidge explained. Buteo knew that the paladins may always be needed. He wanted to say her family could live on his planet, but it would be hard for them to get around since they don’t have wings. "Plus, I don't think I would make a very good princess" Pidge said fiddling with her glasses. The Accipiridae prince blinked in surprised, “What makes you say that,” he inquired. "Well, I'm not really a people person, I'm not very good at... softening my words, I'm very blunt a little too much sometimes, and well I'm not very good with fancy stuff." Pidge explained. “How fancy do you think you need to be,” Buteo asked, “And I enjoy how blunt you are, everyone is always so careful what they say around me. I respect your honesty.” Pidge felt a little touched hearing that from the prince "I guess fancy enough to be presentable to the public and well I'm much more casual and comfy when it comes to clothes and how I behave" Pidge guessed. “I don’t see anything wrong with the way you behave,” Buteo confessed, then looked down at himself, “Do I seem overly formal to you?” He honestly had no idea, but to him these were pretty normal clothes. They didn’t wear shirts since they have wings and all. "No..." Pidge lightly shook her head "you look more regal then formal" Pidge commented, not sure how else to explain it, maybe it was his majestic wings or just his presence but regal was defiantly the right word she would describe him as, in looks alone. “…Thank you?” Buteo wasn’t sure what it meant but it didn’t sound like she meant it as an insult. "Oh sorry I guess that's a human word, it just means I think you look majestic and dignified." Pidge explained blushing. “Oh, thank you,” Buteo said blushing as well, “Is it the wings?” "Yeah, partly" Pidge admitted blushing more hoping that she wasn't saying something shallow by his peoples standards. Buteo smiled, glad she liked his wings since they were actually an odd color for his people, through doubted she knew that. "I think there a really beautiful color" pidge admitted. “I’m glad you think so,” Buteo said, his wings fluttering happy. Pidge smiled relived she said something right. “This is probably sudden, but would you consider a relationship after Zarkon is defeated,” Buteo questioned. "Maybe" Pidge replied "I just... don't know how long that's going to take," she admitted. “I don’t either,” he admitted. Even he knew he could lose interest or forget about her after a few years. "Why do you ask?" Pidge questioned though had a feeling what this was leading to. “It’s nothing, just…wishful thinking,” Buteo said, wondering if he should try courting her, through his heart kept telling him yes. "Umm well I was kind of wondering if there was some way for use to get in contact with you, encase I need any advice or help with Midori" Pidge explained. Buteo smiled, though was a little disappointed she only wanted to contact him about her new pet, “There is, but feel free to call about anything.” "And if you ever need help, feel free to do the same" Pidge replied "whether or not we build a relationship later in our lives, I still want to be friends with you" Pidge said smiling. “I feel the same way lady Pidge,” Buteo said, taking her hand and kissing it. Pidge blushing a little giving Buteo a kind smile. “I hope to hear from you soon,” Buteo smiled, giving her a communicator. "I'll see what I can do" Pidge said examining the communicator "this is encrypted right," Pidge asked just make sure. “Of course,” Buteo answered, “But you can check if you want.” "Thanks I might do that, it could give me good ideas on how to improve our own encryptions" Pidge said, putting the device in her pocket. Buteo continued walking and gave her books on how to care for her new pet, “Do you need anything else?” "I think this should be everything, Thanks for all your help and hospitality" Pidge said looking up at the prince, "maybe the next time I come to this planet you could show me around a little more" she suggested. “I’d enjoy that a lot,” Buteo smiled, glad she was planning on coming back some time. Hopefully it wouldn’t be too long. "We better get back to the others before they start to worry about us," Pidge suggested. “Don’t want them to think I kidnapped you,” Buteo joked, leading her back to the dining room. "Something like that" she softly laughed, fallowing Buteo with the books in her arms. Shiro was feeling impatient, wondering what was talking them so long to get back. He hoped Pidge was rejecting the prince and that he would take it well. Pidge and Buteo returning to the room, Pidge carrying a few books. Allura smiling at the two of them dying to know how the talk went. “It was my honor to have Princess Allura and the Paladins of Voltron visit us,” Buteo said politely, “Let it be known that the Accipitridae are your allies in this war against the Galra Empire.” "Thank you prince Buteo, for your hospitality and your efforts against the Galra empire, the Accipitridae are an irreplaceable old and new ally to Voltron" Allura replied with a curtsy, Pidge giving a small bow to be polite. Shiro was glad nothing seemed to have happened between them. Kuro was still upset they were alone in the first place but he told him to get over it. They said their final good byes, Buteo giving Pidge one more kiss on the hand before they all got into the ship and prepared to take off. Shiro was a little peeved that Buteo kissed Pidge’s hand, but told himself it wasn’t that big of a deal. Through he didn’t do it for Princess Allura…maybe he was just reading too much into it. After the ship took off, Pidge started to head towards her room to check up on Midori. Midori mewed and jumped into Pidge’s arms once she walked into the room, curling up with her tail hitting her face. Pidge huffing the tail out of her face, gently ruffling her mane "You better not make a habit out of that" Pidge told the little kitten before nuzzling her. Pidge sitting down with Midori taking a look at the communicator she got from Buteo. After taking a quick sniff at it, Midori looked up at Pidge curiously. She nuzzled her head under her chin, noticing she seemed a little troubled. "I'm alright Midori" Pidge assured, petting her, Pidge just felt a little confused over her feeling, she had been pinning for Shiro for what felt like such a long time and now nice a guy was showing interest in her, pidge starting to think it might be better to move on from her crush on Shiro, but mentally decided that for now there was no rush, they had a lot of other stuff to worry about right now, over confusing feelings and love lives. Shiro was still having a mental argument with Kuro about whether or no he should confess to Katie. It didn’t seem like the right time, worried she might be confused after what happened with Buteo. Pidge put the communicator away when there was a knock on her door, getting up to open it a little surprised to find Allura on the other side "Oh hey Allura what's up?" Pidge questioned Allura with a cat like grin on her face that made pidge a little worried. “Oh nothing,” Allura sang, rocking on her feet, I was just curious what you and Prince Buteo were talking about while you were gone.” Pidge blushed a little "Just some stuff" Pidge muttered looking down at Midori. Allura assumed there was more to it with Pidge’s blush, leaning down closer, “What kind of stuff?” Pidge sighed and took a step back "Come in and I'll tell you," Pidge said thinking making talking about this would make her feel less confused. Biting back a squeal of excitement, Allura let herself in, hoping for some girl talk and gossip. Pidge sitting down on her bed with Midori "Once me and Buteo were alone I just kind of asked him if he had feelings for me and he admitted that he did," pidge started off. “No way,” Allura said, though she was completely aware of it, “What did you say then?” "I... pretty much told him I didn't have the same type of feelings for him that he had for me" Pidge explained. Allura deflated, “You didn’t even offer to give him a chance,” she pouted a bit, thinking they would look cute together.

"Umm, it's not that simple, we got talking and agreed that with me not able to stay in one spot for long that it's not the best time to start a relationship, so we kind of agreed that we would give us a chance after the war was over, you know if were still interested in each other by then" Pidge explained rubbing the back of her neck. “So you are interested in him,” Allura squealed, finding it exciting, “Do you have a way to stay in contact with him?” "Yeah I got a communicator from him... so I could ask him questions about Midori but he told me to pretty much call him anytime" Pidge explained. “When do you plan on calling him,” Allura asked excitedly. "I don't know" Pidge said shyly "I figured I'll call him the next time I have a question" “It wouldn’t hurt to call him just to chat,” Allura told her, “I’m sure he’d love to hear from you.” "I guess I could call him tomorrow... just to make sure it works" Pidge said blushing, thinking it would be too soon to call him now. "But what time should I call him? I don't want to accidentally call him when he's busy or doing something important." “Maybe sometime after dinner,” Allura suggested, figuring he’d be done working by then. "Alright I'll try that" Pidge said glancing at the communicator. Allura smiled, hoping they could find a way to make a relationship work. "You think it's a good idea for me to get close to Buteo?" Pidge asked sounding hesitant. “Of course,” Allura answered, “Just because we’re in the middle of a war doesn’t mean you don’t deserve happiness.” "But I feel like I should be focusing on the war and finding my family more than relationship stuff" Pidge admitted looking sadly down at Midori. Allura gave her a sad smile, “I know you have a lot going on Pidge, but having someone to talk to may help.” "But that's what I have you guys for," Pidge half joked she trusted all of them but sometimes kept things to herself not wanting to worry the team, and possible making them not sync up like they needed to. Shiro felt the same, which is why he didn’t tell the team when he had nightmares and kept his feelings for Pidge a secret. "Maybe it would be nice talking to someone outside of the team" Pidge admitted. “I’m sure you and Prince Buteo would have a lot to talk about,” Allura said smiling. "I do find him and his people interesting" Pidge agreed gently petting Midori. “I was always fascinated but their wings as a child,” Allura confessed. "Yeah same, their wings all look amazing, and I have to admit I do really love the color of Buteo's wings, their a really nice bronze," Pidge complimented “It’s a rather strange color but it suits him nicely,” Allura agreed. "What do you mean by 'it's a strange color?" Pidge questioned not seeing anything strange with the color. “Just that it seemed different that the other’s wing colors,” Allura explained, “But it could be more common than I think.” "I never really noticed, but I guess in the grand scheme of things we really didn't get to meet a lot of them" Pidge wondered out loud thinking that different colors could even be the results of growing up in different regions on the planet. “I suppose you are right,” Allura agreed, thinking that it didn’t really matter anyways, not sure why she brought it up. "... I'm still kind of amazed that he's interested in me" Pidge admitted "I'm really not that interesting to look at and well my tech talk usually go over most people’s head." Pidge explained. “What are you talking about Pidge? You’re beautiful,” Allura assured her, “And even if he doesn’t understand your tech talk doesn’t mean he doesn’t like to listen.” Pidge blushed and nodded "Thanks, but he's was just probably being polite in listening to what I'm saying, and not enjoying it.” “He might enjoy it if it’s coming from you,” Allura said with a wink. Pidge cheeks started heating up "You make it sound like he just likes hearing me talk," she muttered. “He could,” Allura argued. "I doubt it's that simple" Pidge muttered blushing a little more looking down at Midori. Allura pouted a bit, guessing that she should have figured that Pidge would be stubborn about romance. Pidge just didn't really understand a lot about romance, or her own feeling sometimes for that matter. The princess was eager to play match maker and didn’t find it that strange that Buteo was interested in Pidge. And Allura couldn’t help but picture what a cute couple the two would make. Shiro of course would disagree with her, but wouldn’t be able to tell her why. Pidge kind of liking the idea of someone liking her for just being her. Which Shiro did, but he felt a lot of guilt wanting his best friend’s little sister. "Hey Allura, do you think the mice could teach Midori how to hide when there's danger?" Pidge asked. “I’m sure they won’t mind at all, once I assure them that Midori won’t eat them,” Allura laughed. "Yes please and I'll make sure she knows messing with the mice is a no, no" Pidge assured Allura smiled and went to go find her mice. Pidge waiting in her room playing with Midori. Shiro knocked on Pidge’s door, wanting to talk to her and see how she was doing. "Come in" Pidge said using a metal straw to play with Midori, Pidge assuming it was just Allura. “Hey Katie,” Shiro greeted walking into her room, smiling when he saw her playing with Midori. "Oh hey Shiro, what's up," Pidge said looking up at him, Midori approaching Shiro, recognizing him, mewing at the edge of the bed for him to pet her. “Nothing, I just wanted to see you,” Shiro confessed, sitting down and gently petting Midori, scratching her leafy ears. "Oh, okay," Pidge nodded, a little surprised by that, but she guessed it wasn't too unusual for Shiro just to check up on her. Midori mewing and purring he leaves fluffing up a little. Shiro could feel Kuro raging in his mind, telling him to make a move on her while he had the chance. He didn’t want that bird brained prince stealing her away. "Are you feeling better now that we left the planet and are on the move again," Pidge asked “Yeah, I feel better,” Shiro said, glad that Pidge wouldn’t have to deal with the prince and they hopefully wouldn’t be back for a while. "Good," Pidge smiled "But tell me if your arm starts acting up again." “I will,” Shiro promised, hoping Kuro wouldn’t take control of it again now that they were away from Buteo. "Do you still want me to meet up in your room after lights out?" Pidge asked wondering if Shiro still needed her to help get some sleep. “If you wouldn’t mind,” Shiro said blushing. He was already looking forward to night time, through hoped he didn’t make her uncomfortable. "No worries was just double checking" Pidge smiled, kind of looking forward to night as well, though reminded herself that she was just helping as a friend, and that she shouldn't pine for him or hope for something more. Shiro winced a bit as Kuro’s shouting got louder, telling him to confess and threatening to take control if he didn’t. "You alright Shiro?" Pidge asked putting a hand on Shiro’s flesh arm. “Yeah, just a bit of a headache,” he responded, mentally telling Kuro to shut up. Pidge frowned a little, "You seem to be getting those a lot lately," Pidge commented. “Don’t worry, it’s probably nothing,” Shiro said, knowing he could tell her that a voice in his head has been causing them. "Maybe I should see if Allura has some kind of cat scan on the ship just to make sure," Pidge said looking up at Shiro concerned. Shiro wondered if that would be a good idea. What if there was something wrong with him? He was hearing voices after all. He even gave it a name. Midori bumped her head against Shiro's arm mewing up at him, Pidge looking worried "IF you think something might be wrong please tell me, I promise it will just be between us I won't tell the others anything till we know for sure if something is wrong" Pidge promised, feeling like Shiro had been holding something back for a while. The black paladin just looked at her. There was so much he wanted to tell Pidge. Should he tell her about Kuro? Would Kuro go away if he told Pidge the truth about how he felt? "Please Shiro, you're always my confidant let me be yours" Pidge said gently grabbing his hand and squeezing it. “…I promise to tell you when I’m ready,” Shiro swore, not ready to let her know just yet. It just didn’t feel like the right time. "Okay, whenever you want I'm ready to listen" Pidge promised smiling up at him. “Thanks Katie,” Shiro smiled, happy he had her. ‘We could have her in a lot more ways if you just freaken tell her how you feel!' Kuro snapped. Shiro did his best to ignore him, even if it was right. Pidge lightly squeezing his hand just before Midori decided to lay over their hands making pidge softly laugh. Shiro didn’t try to move his hand, liking having an excuse to keep holding Pidge’s. Pidge kind of liking it too using her other hand to gently pet Midori. He enjoyed the  quiet moment between them, even with Kuro telling him to make a move. ‘You’re holding her hand and you’re so close to Katie all you have to do is lean down and freaken kiss her when she looks up at you! You don't even have to use words to get your point across' Kuro groaned thinking Shiro was an idiot. Looking down at Pidge he noticed how soft and pink her lips were. How would they feel against his? Should he take the risk? Pidge's honey brown eyes gazed up at Shiro. 'Do it before you lose your chance!' Kuro yelled. Deciding to go for it Shiro slowly moved closer to her, only to quickly pull back when Allura came back in the room. "Oh hi Allura" Pidge said quickly letting go of Shiro's hand, to pick up Midori, Midori staring at the mice curiously, the mice hesitantly starting back at the cat half tucked behind Allura shoulder. "So Mice, this is Midori my new pet," Pidge explained petting the kitten Midori tried to get a closer look at the mice, the smallest mouse, Chulatt, moving closer so their noses were touching. Midori blinked then gave Chulatt a small lick. Chulatt rubbed it's fur back down, the lick ruffling it up a bit, but otherwise seemed alright. Two of the other mice slowly approaching Midori as well. The jumped on her head once they deemed it was safe enough, Platt getting nestled up in some leaves. Midori fluffing up her leaves for them "I think they like each other" Pidge smiled. “If they can communicate with each other the mice should be able to teach Midori to hide,” Allura agreed. "Maybe we should give them time to get to know each other before we start training Midori" Pidge suggested gently putting them on the ground. “That might be a good idea,” Allura said, “Would the four of you like to play with Midori for a while?” All of them squeaking and nodding Midori curiously looking up at Allura then down at the mice. The mice squeaked at Midori who nodded and stretched before walking off with them on her back. Allura glanced over at Shiro curiously wondering why he was in Pidge’s room with her, as Pidge smiled down at Midori and the mice, happy her kitten seem to get along with them. Shiro avoided looking at Allura, trying to focus on the mice playing on Midori. He could feel Kuro raging that Allura came in at the wrong moment. Pidge confused and a little curious why Shiro had been leaning closer to her  before Allura came in. Was it a good thing that Pidge had no idea that he was trying to kiss her? Pidge had a fleeting thought that Shiro was about to kiss her, but thought that was only her wishful thinking. Shiro kind of wished Allura would leave so he could attempt to kiss her again, but thought he should wait. After a while Midori only being a kitten started to feel tired, after playing and chasing the mice around, jumping back up to Pidge’s bed and curling up on Pidge's lap, Pidge lightly petting her "hmm I'm not sure if she's just tired or might need some more water" Pidge hummed wanting to make sure she took care of Midori right. “She could need both,” Shiro shrugged, gently petting Midori too, “Should I get her a bowl of water?” "Sure, better to be safe," Pidge nodded. Shiro got up and went to get water for Midori, ignoring Kuro’s angry ranting. "So... why what were you and Shiro talking about before I came back," Allura asked curiously. "Oh, he just came to check up on me and see Midori" Pidge replied trying not to blush as she thought about how long Shiro and her held hands. “Hopefully he’s trying not to fill the role of a protective brother,” Allura said, noticing he didn’t really seem to approve of Buteo hanging out with Pidge. "He might," Pidge guessed, it would make sense since Shiro probably felt the need to fill in that position till they found Matt. Shiro came back, placing the bowl down for Midori, who jump down and drank some. "Thanks" Pidge said nodding to Shiro, Midori not seeming too dehydrated which was good. The mice helped themselves to some water as well, Midori not seeming to mind. "Looks like Midori's okay with sharing" Pidge said, taking this as a good sign for her to bond with the mice. “She knows they’re not a threat, unless they try to nibble on her leaves,” Shiro joked. Pidge glanced at Allura "Umm make sure the mice know not to do that" Pidge said not sure how Midori would take having her leaves eaten. The mice looked offended that they thought they would do that, climbing on Midori’s back. "Sorry, just double checking" Pidge assured "Midori my first planto-gato so I'm still learning everything about her.” “She seems pretty easy to take care of so far,” Shiro commented petting Midori’s head, “I doubt she’ll cause much trouble.” "Yeah, I guess your right" Pidge said though a part of her was still really worried about messing up. Shiro put a hand on her shoulder, “Don’t worry Pidge, we’ll all help take care of her. She can be the team mascot.” Pidge smiled a little at that "I think we will all need an element gato if we really want to stick to personal loin theme." “True,” Shiro chuckled, wondering if there were other types. "There are many different type of feline creatures from different planets, that are considered house pets" Allura said thoughtfully though wondered how many still existed. “Any flying ones,” Shiro questioned, smiling a bit as he pictured it. "There is a Chineko that is a feline with white wings, some even come with black feathered bodies." Allura said. “Kind of sounds like Black,” Shiro commented, thinking about his lion. "Yes many of the loins design were based on different feline creatures trough out the galaxy," Allura explained. “Which reminds me, why did you decide to design robots to be lions,” Shiro questioned. "Well, my father wanted an animal that was both majestic and powerful, but could be galactically recognized and since feline like creatures are fairly common I thought it was the best choice as a unifying defender of the galaxy," Allura explained. “We have lions on Earth too, through male lions have big manes,” Shiro explained. "Oh, how strange," Allura replied. “Did you have lions on Altea,” Shiro asked. "Ys, but they didn't have manes" Allura explained. Pidge pet Midori, wondering if she would get along with her dog Gunther. "We even had a few types of planto-gato's that were common on the planet though most were red or purple" Allura explained glancing at Midori. “Do you know if they change colors,” Shiro asked, wondering if it was like leaves changing colors during the seasons. "Yes, but only when they went to hotter or colder regions," Allura explained. “So will Midori stay the same color or change since she’s leaving her native planet,” Shiro questioned. "I'm not sure, she may be a slightly different race from the ones that were breed on Altean," Allura replied "We can check in the books that Buteo gave to make sure." Shiro felt his eyebrow twitch at the mention of Buteo, but was glad it was Allura brining him up instead of Pidge. "Speaking of which I need a translator for those books," Pidge mentioned. "I'm sure I can get a computer to translate them into a digital file for you" Allura replied. It couldn’t translate into English, but Pidge was starting to learn Altean. It was the best medium for Pidge at the moment. Midori walked around the room with the mice on her back who seemed to be enjoying the ride. "If it's alright I'll leave the mice with you, I still need to double check over a few minor controls to make sure they don't need recalibration after the repairs" Allura said feeling bad she had to leave so soon before her and Pidge got a chance to do more girl talk. "Yeah, no worries, I'm sure Midori will love the company" Pidge assured. Once Allura left Shiro sighed and turned to Pidge who was watching Midori play with the mice. He had been so close to kissing her. Should he try it again? Pidge glancing over at Shiro feeling his eyes on her, "Is something the matter Shiro," Pidge asked brushing some of her messy hair behind on of her ears. “No, everything’s fine,” he assured her with a smile, sitting back down next to her. Should he take the risk? He could feel Kuro raging, telling him to make his move. "It just kind of seemed like before you wanted to... say something" Pidge really not wanting her imagination to assume what Shiro had been trying to do. “…I do,” he confessed, “I’m just…not sure how to say it and I’m worried what will happen if I say it.” "Well, how about a blanket of forgiveness? Where no matter what you say I won't take personally and or won't hold it over you or anything like that," Pidge suggested, her curiously buzzing with the need to know. Shiro smiled, finding the idea cute. How right was Kuro about Pidge liking him? Did she really see him like that? Was he brave enough to tell her? ‘Stop being a damn idiot and kiss her that way you don't have to spend all this time thinking of what to say!' Kuro shouted. Shiro clenched his head, Kuro’s shouting starting to hurt it. This would probably be easier if he could keep his mouth shut. "Another headache," Pidge asked concerned "Do you need to lay down?” “Y…yeah, maybe,” Shiro answered, grateful for the subject change. "You can lay down in here if you like" Pidge offered. “Thanks,” Shiro said, “…Would you mind staying with me?” "No worries I'll be right beside you" Pidge assured. Smiling, Shiro laid down, placing a hand over Pidge’s. Pidge turning her hand and gently grabbing his hand, wondering if they were going to make a habit out of this. Shiro hoped they would, he enjoyed sharing a bed with Pidge, enjoyed having her close. He felt his head hurt worse the longer he kept himself from kissing her. Pidge gently rubbing her thumb over the knuckles of his hand to try and help calm his headache. ‘Let me out' Kuro growled lowly. The black paladin sighed, feeling relaxed and starting to drift off. He hoped with Pidge here Kuro wouldn’t bother him in his dreams. Pidge staying close to Shiro holding onto his hand as she heard his breathing start to even as he drifted asleep. After a while Shiro’s eyes opened again, being a piercing, glowing yellow.

[pkansa]

What comes to mind when you hear the words, Helm Khuraburi? If you’re like me, probably very little. However, if you’re an avid diver who travels the globe looking for the best dive spots on the planet, you may immediately think of a small coastal town in Southern Thailand called, you guessed it, Khuraburi. A quick boat ride from Khuraburi are the Surin Islands – an archipelago of five small islands offering some of the best diving in the Andaman Sea.

In keeping with the tradition of naming their offerings after diving-inspired locales, Helm released the Khuraburi in July of 2017, following on from their first release in October of 2015, the Vanuatu. While the Vanuatu was more traditional in terms of the dive watch aesthetic, the Khuraburi takes Helm’s design in a bolder direction.

Before I dive into the watch (no pun intended), I wanted to give the reader some context around Helm as a brand. After fifteen years spent in product development and sourcing in the bicycle industry, Helm Founder Matt Cross was looking for a change.  He packed his bags in North Carolina and moved himself to China in search of new opportunities. Several months (and many interviews) into his new life, but with nothing peaking his interest, it suddenly dawned on him that he was now living in the heart of the largest watchmaking industry on the planet. As a long-time watch enthusiast and collector with a preference for affordable divers, his new opportunity was found. Enter Helm Watches. Taking a watch design that had been floating around in his head for some time, he started reaching out to various manufacturers until he found one willing to bring his vision to life. Matt’s idea of a cool, affordable, high quality diver was about to become a reality, and the Vanuatu was born.

The first suppliers that Helm contracted with weren’t up to delivering on the quality that Matt was looking for in his pieces, so he went in search of new suppliers, and landed on a manufacturer who shared his own passion for quality. The second run of the Vanuatu was at a quality level that Matt was proud to stake his reputation on. With each subsequent run of product, the QC process is tweaked and modified to ensure his standards of excellence are continually met. In addition to developing the QC process in close partnership with his suppliers, Matt was also insistent on ISO 6425 certification for his watches from Day One. That testing is performed in-house by Helm, ensuring that each piece they sell meets the rigorous standard. Believing in the traditional route to product development, Matt has avoided the various crowd-funding methods, preferring to take on the risk himself in developing a product worthy of building its own loyal customer base.

And that brings us to the topic at hand, the Helm Khuraburi. Let’s get this out of the way right now: This is a big, burly, rugged dive watch. It’s certainly not in the gigantic class, but if your tastes gravitate towards sub-40mm watches, or if you just won’t wear anything larger than that, this may not be the watch for you. However, if you understand and embrace the modern dive watch aesthetic, read on.

At 42mm wide (43mm including the bezel) and 16mm thick, this is a sizeable watch that offers significant wrist presence. But, with a lug-to-lug measurement of 49mm, and stubby, steeply curved lugs, the case hugs the wrist nicely, especially on the metal bracelet (more on that later). The brushed center case has a slight bulge to it, and tapers to a smaller diameter at the base, which also helps the watch to wear smaller than it actually is. My 7 1/2” wrists have no trouble pulling off the Helm Khuraburi, and even those with smaller wrists will find that the lugs do not extend past the edges of their arm, as evidenced by the fit on my wife’s six-and-a-half inchers.

The solid, screw-on case back concealing the Seiko NH38 movement, which averaged -6 seconds per day with normal wear, has a deeply engraved Helm logo, and at 22mm, the common lug measurement makes fitting alternative straps a breeze. The lugs themselves have a matching brushed finish on all surfaces (this ain’t no shiny party queen), and are drilled to assist with quick and easy strap swaps. The aggressively knurled 8mm screw-down crown with engraved Helm logo is easy to grip, and can be had at the buyer’s choice of either the 4 o’clock or 10 o’clock position.

The uni-directional bezel, with the same knurled pattern as the crown, operates at 120 clicks with little to no back play, and is…wait for it…sapphire! Sapphire is not exactly a common bezel insert at this price point. One look at the lume shots clearly demonstrates why it was chosen over steel, or even ceramic. The Helm is a veritable light show at night, and the glossy sapphire bezel insert just adds to the spectacle. This particular version sports two lume colors. The first is a nice aqua-hued BGW9 that covers the dial’s indices, as well as the bezel numbers, hour hand, and arrowhead shaped pip about halfway up the seconds hand. The second is a bright orange lume that lights up the first 16 1/2 minutes on the bezel, as well as the minute hand, the stick extension on the seconds hand, and the minute markers on the chapter ring. Topping everything off is a double-domed sapphire crystal with an internal anti-reflective coating. It really is a spectacular display at night, and owners will undoubtedly find themselves frequently charging the lume with an artificial light source just to admire the show. The second version of the Khuraburi is a bit more subdued, with a standard green C3 Super-Luminova covering everything.

On the matte black dial we find pentagon-shaped applied indices, with double markers at 3, 6, 9, and 12. The raised chapter ring contains the aforementioned minute markers in orange, with small square pips every five minutes above the main indices. Other dial markings are minimal. Below the 12 o’clock index is a slightly raised, dark grey-colored Helm logo, while at six, “Diver’s 300m Automatic”, again in a dark grey color, is found in a simple and easy-to-read font. Per the aforementioned ISO 6425 certification, the use of the word “Diver” is permitted on the dial. The entire effect is very nicely understated given the propensity for many manufacturers to “over brand” their dials these days. Completing the cohesive look are thick, sword hour and minute hands that perfectly complement the big burly indices.

The Helm Khuraburi ships with a robust, 22mm brushed three-link bracelet, tapering to 20mm at the clasp. The clasp itself has six micro-adjustment holes and a safety fold-over containing an engraved “HELM”. The links have nicely beveled edges, and the end-links are solid and perfectly contoured to the lugs. The adjustable links are held by solid tubular pin screws, just as you’d find on a Rolex bracelet costing more than this entire watch! No cheap split pins or  collar-and-pin style links here folks. If I had to find a negative in this package, for such a robust tool watch I’d like to see a diver extension on the bracelet, but that’s a minor gripe considering the overall quality of the bracelet.

Included in the quite affordable price is a choice of one of five 3-ring Zulu-style nylon straps, including solid black, solid orange, solid black extra long (17 vs. 11 inches), black with orange center stripe, and a five-stripe Bond-style grey and black. I also popped for the five-link jubilee-style bracelet that comes standard on the Vanuatu. The end-links are different between the two watches, so make sure and order the Khuraburi-specific end-links. The jubilee bracelet is of the same quality as the three-link, with identical solid screw-in adjustment pins and beveled links.

The Helm Khuraburi is available for $300 in the two varieties mentioned above, including the three-link bracelet and your choice of Nylon strap. Both variants are currently out of stock, but Helm expects to replenish inventory by mid-February of 2018. And for all you blue dial lovers (we’re looking at you, Patrick), this next run will include stunning blue and blue/orange models in addition to the two original variants. Overall, you get a tremendous amount of value in Helm’s pieces. Elements like the high quality bracelets and sapphire bezel inserts just aren’t seen at this price point. These guys clearly sweat the details and it shows. If you’re a serious diver, or just go for the occasional desk dive, I highly recommend giving Helm a look before they start charging what these pieces are really worth! As Matt subscribes to, “Buy what you like, keep what you love.” This one’s certainly a keeper in my book.  helmwatches.com

Late breaking news:

With the Vanuatu and the Khuraburi under his belt, Matt is setting his sights on a third model release for the summer of 2018. The Komodo will be a 200m diver with a slightly smaller case diameter for those that prefer a more vintage-sized watch. Following on from that release, he’s targeting a dress diver that can hit the reef in the morning, and then slip under the cuff of a dinner jacket for a night on the town. At their current rate of design and production, Helm is targeting a new model release every year. Personally, I’m looking forward to seeing what Helm has in store for dive watch aficionados in the years to come.

Reader Review submitted by Eric Boucher

Watch Overview

Brand & Model: Helm Khuraburi

Price: $300 (as tested, plus $30 shipping worldwide)

Who we think it might be for: Serious divers, or anyone who appreciates a big, bold diver aesthetic

Would I buy one for myself based on what I’ve seen? I already have!

If I could make one design suggestion, it would be: The addition of a diver extension on the two steel bracelets

What spoke to me the most about this watch: The crazy lume light show, subtle dial markings, overall quality and fit and finish

Technical Specifications from Helm

CASE

Material: Brushed 316L stainless steel

Size: 42mm x 16mm (43mm w/bezel)

Weight: 225 grams w/bracelet (at full length), 125 grams with nylon strap

Crystal: Sapphire, double-domed, anti-reflective coating inside

Case Back: Stainless steel, screwed, special engravings

Water Resistance: 30 atm/300 m/990 ft (Tested in accordance with ISO 6425:1996)

Interlug Width: 22mm

MOVEMENT: Seiko NH38 Automatic Mechanical, 24 jewels

Functions: Hacking and Manual Winding

Accuracy: -20/+40 sec/day

Beats Per Hour: 21,600

Power Reserve: 40 Hours

DIAL

Color: Matte black

Luminous Material: BGW9 + Orange or Super-Luminova C3

BEZEL

Material: 316L Stainless steel

Insert: Flat sapphire with luminous markings

Diameter: 43mm

Removable/Replaceable: Yes

Rotation: Diver compliant Unidirectional, 120-Click

Reader Review: the Helm Khuraburi #diver #divewatch #affordable #under$500 What comes to mind when you hear the words, Helm Khuraburi? If you’re like me, probably very little.