#with the scariest bark and growl ever

[reallyhatethiswebsite]

This is also me shamelessly submitting another request alongside my very NSFW one: could we get Raphael being there while Tav gives birth?

Read on AO3

-

Tav paced back and forth, hands resting on her swollen belly. Each time a contraction tore through her she would grimace, bend forward as much as possible, and bear it with whatever dignity she scrounged up. When the pain passed, she’d resume pacing.

“Mistress,” said the Infernal physician, “perhaps you should lay down -”

“No,” barked Tav. “I don’t want to lay down.”

“So you intend to wear a trench into my floors instead?” Drawled Raphael.

“Yes,” replied Tav, glaring daggers at him.

“Mistress,” the physician tried again, “it would be easier for both you and the child if you -”

“I’m not bloody laying down,” growled Tav. “I’ve been laying down for the last three months of pregnancy. I need to move around or I’m going to cut this baby out of my stomach myself.”

“You won’t change her mind,” Raphael said lightly, “she’s a stubborn creature. She’ll do things her way until she simply cannot any longer.”

The physician sighed, rubbing her eyes.

Tav’s waters had broken several hours ago – much to poor Haarlep’s horror. Raphael was away on business at the time, but as soon as word reached him that his first offspring was about to be born, he’d burst back into the house, physician in tow. The birthing room had been ready for a few days, Tav slightly exceeding her due date, so the three had sequestered inside. Now it was simply a waiting game. The physician hovered nearby. Raphael sat in a plush, comfy chair, seeming to all the world as indifferent and relaxed as usual. Only the occasional twitch of his tail gave away his potential anxiety.

It felt like the entire House of Hope, even every wailing soul within the walls, were holding their breaths. Teetering on the edge of anticipation for the ushering in of a new era: the birth of a prince.

“Ah…!” Tav stopped in her tracks. Hissed as fresh, furious pain wracked her. Different, sharper than before. It didn’t fade. “I think…argh, I think he’s coming…!”

The physician touched Tav’s belly, felt lower, between her thighs. “Yes. You’re open enough. I feel his head. You need to get into the water.”

The physician helped Tav out of her sweat-soaked nightdress and in to the bathing pool of hot water. Raphael watched intently, his onyx and ember eyes never blinking, as Tav – teeth gritted – eased herself into a sitting position, knees up and apart. The water and its soothing magic helped, but the baby wanted out, now. Demanding, just like his father, and damn was she feeling it.

“Gods…he finally decides he’s ready and he’s just going to…to rip right through me…” Tav panted. Curled her fists. Cried out as a violent contraction signalled the end, and the beginning.

“Start pushing,” instructed the physician. Tav groaned, a sound that morphed into a dull scream. Raphael stood up, crossed the room, standing close. His tail thrashed wildly but his expression remained neutral. Tav gave him a foul, pained look.

“This is your fault,” she snarled, slapping her palms on the sides of the bath. “I’ll kill you for this, I swear it.”

“Of course you will, darling,” purred Raphael.

He was not indifferent to her suffering, she knew. Part of him enjoyed it. That she was agonising to bring their – his – son into life only made her pain taste sweeter. It was the simple truth of Raphael’s nature. Something Tav had accepted long ago. Birthing this baby was the scariest thing she’d ever done, scarier than coming to terms with how she felt for a diabolical devil, that she was willing to give him her soul and her heart. Even facing down the Netherbrain didn’t compare. She was hurting and she was frightened, but Raphael was there, strong and assured and steady, and Tav knew she could get through it.

Not without one Hell of a fuss, however.

“GET THIS DAMN THING OUT OF ME!” She bellowed between screams.

“Keep pushing!” Yelled the physician.

“What do you think I’m doing?!” Tav roared back.

“Push, Tav,” Raphael intoned. Commanded. “Let our son’s life begin.”

Eventually, amidst the blood and pain and chaos, it did. A wrinkled, wet and wailing infant was placed on Tav’s chest and she, exhausted and delirious, loved him instantly and irrevocably.

“Healthy,” declared the physician, “and strong. Very strong.”

Tav tiredly adjusted her baby, who latched onto her nipple and began to suckle. His thin, ropey little tail curled. Raphael looked down at them, smug and preening with pride. He would never be the type to offer her his hand to squeeze for comfort, or become overly emotional and adoring of his new son, but he was there. He stayed. And those things mattered more to Tav than her pride would ever let her admit.

[dovesdreaming]

Randonauts Assemble: Logan, Wade, and the Scariest Night Ever

(Logan x reader)

Summary: Wade has the stupid idea of going randonaughting at night with the intention to see something ‘scary’. While you and Wade are left scared for your lives, Logan is left annoyed by the whole thing.

Request

Masterlist

-

It was supposed to be a chill night. A quiet evening at the X-Mansion, maybe some beers, maybe a movie, or better yet, a night where Logan didn’t have to deal with Wade Wilson’s endless stream of insanity. But that was before Wade burst into the mansion at 10 p.m. with his mask half-on, his phone in his hand, and Dogpool under his arm like a furry football. "Logan! Y/n! Prepare yourselves! We are going... randonauting!" Logan didn't even look up from his cigar. "What the hell's randonauting?" You, seated next to Logan on the couch, glanced between Wade and Logan. You had heard of it. Randonauting was this weird app that used random coordinates to send you to strange, sometimes creepy, places based on whatever "intention" you set. It was the latest social media trend, a mix of spooky adventure and internet oddness.

"We’re not doing that” Logan growled, his usual “I’m too old for this nonsense” look firmly in place. But Wade was relentless, as always. "Come on, Wolvie! Don’t you want to live a little? Have a little spooky fun?" Wade practically sang, leaning down and waving the phone in Logan’s face. "We can pick an intention! I’m thinking... scary or creepy because it’s dark, and it’s way more fun to do stuff that might involve ghosts or abandoned places or finding a cursed treasure!" You snorted, trying to hold back a laugh. The idea was ridiculous, but... also kind of fun. "It could be interesting, Logan”.

Logan turned to you, eyebrow raised. "You too?"

You shrugged. "Well, I mean... we don’t have anything else planned. Might as well".

Logan groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I’m surrounded by idiots”. Wade, sensing victory, grinned so widely under his mask you could see the fabric stretch. "Yesss! And Dogpool’s coming too!" The small, mutated dog barked in approval, wiggling out of Wade’s grip to scamper across the floor. Logan stood up, his cigar clenched between his teeth. “Fine. But if this turns out to be as stupid as I think it is, I’m letting Wade get eaten by whatever creepy monster we run into”.

An hour later, you were all in Logan’s truck, winding down a dark, narrow road surrounded by dense woods. Wade was in the backseat, leaning between the front seats with his phone out like some kind of insane navigator, and Dogpool was perched on his lap. “I can’t believe we’re actually doing this” you muttered, glancing at Logan, who was stoically staring at the road ahead like he’d been forced to endure worse than this in his long, long life. He probably had. But still. “Yeah, well,” Logan grunted, “you wanted to come”. “Are we there yet?” Wade sang from the back, shaking the phone. “Randonautica says we’re getting close! The coordinates are up ahead, and guess what? It’s taking us into the woods. Oooh, spooky!” Dogpool barked, as if in agreement with Wade's exaggerated excitement.

You, on the other hand, felt the nerves creeping in. It was one thing to laugh about this kind of stuff when you were safe at home. It was another to actually be driving toward an unknown, creepy location in the middle of nowhere at night. “Logan” you said, your voice a little quieter, “what if this place is actually dangerous? Like, what if it’s-“ “It’ll be fine” he cut you off, his hand finding yours and giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Nothin’ out here we can’t handle”.

You relaxed a bit at his words, even though the thought of wandering through the woods still made your stomach flip. “Yeah, Y/n” Wade chimed in, leaning even closer so his masked face was right beside your ear. “What’s the worst that could happen? We get murdered by ghost lumberjacks? Ohhh, spooky axe-men, please don’t hurt us! We’re just innocent explorers!” He threw his arm dramatically over his forehead, almost knocking over Dogpool in the process. Logan shoved Wade’s face away with a growl. “Sit down”.

Finally, Wade’s phone chimed. “We’re here!” he announced, like some deranged tour guide. “It’s up ahead! Right through those creepy trees. Looks like… an abandoned building or something?” You squinted through the windshield, barely making out the shape of something large and dilapidated looming in the distance. It looked like an old school, or maybe a hospital. Definitely abandoned. Definitely creepy. “Of course it’s an abandoned building” Logan muttered as he killed the engine. “Because why wouldn’t it be?” The four of you trekked through the woods, the only light coming from Wade’s flashlight and the faint glow of your phone screen as you followed the coordinates. The building loomed ahead, its windows shattered, the structure itself looking like something straight out of a horror movie. Vines had grown up the sides, and the front doors were hanging off their hinges, creaking softly in the night breeze.

“I don’t like this” you whispered, instinctively moving closer to Logan. “This feels… too creepy”. Logan, unfazed, wrapped an arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer as you both approached the entrance. “It’s just a building. Ain’t nothin’ here to be scared of”. “Speak for yourself,” Wade muttered, holding Dogpool tighter as the little dog let out a low growl at the darkened interior of the building. “This place is way too on-the-nose for a horror movie. I bet there’s ghosts. And zombies. Probably zombie ghosts”. You gave Wade a look. “Those aren’t real”. He narrowed his eyes behind his mask. “Says you. I’ve seen some stuff, Y/n. Don’t come crying to me when we’re being chased by a ghost janitor with an axe”. “Both of you shut it” Logan grunted, pushing the door open with a loud creak.

The inside of the building was worse than the outside. Dark, damp, and filled with debris. The faint smell of mildew and rot filled the air, and the flicker of Wade’s flashlight cast long, eerie shadows along the walls. “Alright, split up and look for clues” Wade said, holding up Dogpool like a furry detective. “No one’s splittin’ up” Logan said sharply, keeping you close to him as the two of you started to walk down one of the darkened hallways. You held onto his arm tightly, every sound making your heart race. Logan, of course, was the picture of calm, as if this was just a normal stroll through a perfectly fine building.

Wade, on the other hand, was trying to act calm, but you could tell he was freaked out. He kept muttering under his breath, occasionally yelping when his flashlight flickered or when Dogpool barked at some random piece of debris. “This is fine. Everything’s fine” Wade said, his voice a little higher than usual. “I’ve been through way worse. I’ve fought aliens. I’ve fought, uh, time-traveling cyborgs. This is nothing. Totally not scary. At all”. You couldn’t help but smirk. “You scared, Wade?” “Pffft, no” he said, though the way he held Dogpool like a security blanket told a different story. “Just… keeping my guard up. Gotta protect the team, you know?” Logan rolled his eyes. “We’re leavin’ in five minutes. There’s nothin’ here”.

As if on cue, there was a loud bang from somewhere deeper in the building. You jumped, clinging to Logan’s arm even tighter. Wade let out a high-pitched yelp and nearly dropped Dogpool. “What the-was that a ghost?!” Wade shrieked. Logan sighed. “It’s just the wind”. You weren’t convinced. “That sounded a little too-”Another bang echoed through the building, followed by the unmistakable sound of something scraping along the floor. Wade’s eyes widened behind his mask. “Alright, that’s it! Time to go! I’m not gettin’ murdered by ghost janitors or demon hospital patients tonight, thank you very much”. You nodded vigorously. “Yeah, let’s leave”. Logan, to his credit, didn’t seem remotely phased. “You two are ridiculous” he muttered, though even he turned back toward the entrance, his arm still around you.

As you hurried back out into the safety of the woods, Wade was still mumbling to himself about haunted hospitals and vowing never to trust an app again. Logan just shook his head, pulling you closer as the two of you walked toward the truck. “Told you nothin’ scary would happen” he said.“Except that sound back there” you pointed out, still glancing over your shoulder. “Yeah, well” Logan shrugged, “could’ve been worse. Could’ve had to listen to Wade all night”. “Hey! I heard that!” Wade called, huffing as he cradled Dogpool protectively. “You’re all just mad because I brought adventure into your lives”. You and Logan just shared a look to say ‘sureee’.

You held onto Logan very tightly the rest of the night still freaked out about what you had heard, just glad you got out of there before something worse happened. In the next room over Wade clung onto dogpool saying calming things to the dog, who was already asleep, to calm his own racing heart. Maybe haunted houses are just too scary for superhero’s.

[beybaldes]

it’s the last thing you wanted (it’s the first thing I do)

summer sleepover masterlist

roy kent x gn!reader

summary : “we don’t have to talk, if you don’t want to. we can just sit here together until you feel up to anything else.” requested by anon.

an : I was waiting for a prompt tied to the locker room scene thank you anon 🙏🏼🙏🏼 I don’t copy the scene and just swap keeley for reader but it’s the same idea as that scene!!

it’s rotten work, not to me, you arse, not if it’s you

Roy goes down and doesn’t get back up, and you’re pretty sure it’s the scariest moment of your entire life. One of Keeley’s hands is death gripping your and Higgins is scarily still on the other side of you. No one knows what to say to you, and no one stops you as you stand from your seat in time with Roy, who finally stands on the pitch.

“I’ll be right back.”

It doesn’t need to be said that you probably won’t make it back to your seat, or that you’re 1000% going down to the changing rooms to find Roy, but Higgins and Keeley share a knowing look anyway when they let you leave.

The stairs throughout Nelson road have never felt so long and you’re sure this is the quickest you’ve ever gone down them. When you finally do make it to the backrooms of the dog track, all the corridors blur together and you feel like you’re here for the first time again. It feels like years before you reach the doors to the changing rooms and then time stands completely still; the walls stop moving, your hands stop shaking, and you can finally breathe again. Fuck, if you’re this bad, you wonder how Roy’s feeling on the other side of the door.

“Leave me alone.” Roy growled as you pushed open the door to the changing room. He’d pulled his jersey off and stuffed in the base of his locker. You wondered how much longer he’d have his name branded on the door, and unfortunately, you don’t think it’ll be very long at all. However, you can guarantee you’ll be wearing his name proudly across your back for the rest of your life. “Im serious, fuck off.” Roy’s lips tremble as you create less and less space between the two of you, his hands gripping the bench so tight that his knuckles were turning white. “Seriously, get the fuck away from me.”

Roy’s more bark then bite and you know that better then anyone. That’s why you know it’s okay for you to sit next to high, thigh pressed against Roy’s thigh, hand snaking up across his back, your fingers threading into his hair. He lets you guide his head to rest against your shoulder and he lets himself turn his head so his nose is pressed against your collar bone and now nothing else matters but you. For the first time since he hit the wet ground of the pitch, Roy feels like he can finally breathe.

“We don’t have to talk, if you don’t want to.” You whispered into Roy’s curls, keeping the soft and tender moment in the world you’d created by pulling Roy into your hold. “We can just sit here together until you feel up to anything else, yeah?”

For a long while, Roy doesn’t say anything, he just sits in your arms and takes deep breaths. Surely, the match is coming to a end when he finally does speak up, and even then it’s barely a whisper, something hidden amongst the muddy boots and unwashed training shirts. “You… I don’t expect you to stay with me after this.” The words have you frozen, your fingers stop scratching against Roy’s scalp and he pulls his head from your neck. “I know the other lads are… fitter, stronger, got careers ahead of them… all I’ve got is this stupid fucking knee, and all I’m saying is, I get if this means you don’t want me - don’t want to be with me - anymore.

“Roy.” You cooed, tears brimming your eyes as you gently grabbed his face between your hands, turning him to look at you. Roy could feel tears threatening to come to his own eyes when he saw the tears in yours, hurt and upset for him, but he swallowed them down, instead leaning into your touch and pressing a kiss against the inside of your wrist. “This doesn’t change anything for me. I love you for you, you fucking grump. Bad knee and all. You do know that right?” At Roy’s silence, you asked again. “Right?”

“Yeah, of course, it’s just…” Roy looks like even he doesn’t know how to phrase it, how to explain how he’d feeling in so few words that it’s digestible and doesn’t make you sad. You wish, especially in moments like this, he wouldn’t concern himself with everyone else’s feelings, just his own. “What if it’s hard? It’s no secret I’m getting older, but, what if I… what if I get cold? Cruel? All because I’m a sad sack of shit now that I can’t be ‘Roy Kent’ anymore.”

You thumb runs over the apple of Roy’s cheek and he preens into your touch like a cat to the sun. “It won’t be hard for me, not when it’s you, Roy. Never when it comes to you.” Roy meets your gaze and holds it, though only for a second as his eyes are quick to flicker down to your lips and notice how close you really have been to him this whole time. “I love you, even if it’s hard, and even if you’re not ‘Roy Kent’ anymore.”

Roy’s face scrunches in disproval at the teasing way you say his name, like it’s fake and some kind of joke that he’s not ‘Roy Kent’ anymore. Though he really feels that way, like a part of him has been robbed from him, you know he’s always going to be Roy fucking Kent, even if that doesn’t include anything football related.

The hands that have been holding Roy’s face, pull it closer to yours and allow you to connect your lips to his, something slow and soft and tender in a way unusual to what kissing Roy was most often like. He pulls away all to quickly for your liking, but the boys come bounding through the door a second later and you’re a little thankful he did. As Ted begins his post match speech, you stay curled into each-other, enjoying the closeness when it was clear you both needed it.

No one asked Roy about his knee, knowing that right now was way too soon, but if they had, he wouldn’t have minded. At least, not with you by his side to make it all better.

[bethanydelleman]

The Obstinate Elizabeth and Bossy Darcy Cycle

This is something I notice a lot in JAFF and it’s so strange to me. Mostly because it involves Elizabeth being “obstinate” to the point of stupidity and Darcy being “bossy” which I can’t even tell if it’s good or bad because Elizabeth is being so stupid.

So here is an example from an extremely popular published JAFF: Elizabeth falls into a frozen river. She gets mad at Darcy for saving her (I’m a strong, independent woman!) and then Darcy offers her a ride home. Elizabeth, soaked to the skin, is like, “Nah I’m an excellent walker, my house is only a mile away.” And then Bossy Darcy says something using an animalistic descriptor and basically forces her into the carriage.

Okay, so 1. Elizabeth would have died. That isn’t stubborn, that’s stupid. I don’t care how “good of a walker” you are, I live in Canada and this is nonsense. Do you like having feet, Elizabeth?

2. I don’t know if it counts as “bossy” if you keep someone from dying/killing themselves with stupidity. I’m pretty sure a non-bossy character like say, Bingley, would have done the exact same thing. (Not that we ever see Darcy be “bossy” at all much less to a lady)

So in my mind you haven’t shown their characters, you’ve made Elizabeth into a manic-pixie-dreamgirl who was fortunate to make it past childhood and Darcy is just a normal dude who doesn’t want a girl to die.

book!Elizabeth would have accepted Darcy’s help without question, because she isn’t an idiot. In the event that the hypothermia is making her delirious and she somehow refused, I think book!Darcy would be very polite in his entities that she get into the carriage to keep from dying. He might have just resorted to walking with her until she collapsed/accepted his help. 

Also, The Gentleman Known As Darcy does not make any speech which can be described using animal sound descriptors (bark, growl, howl) because he has impeccable manners and modulating your voice was like, the whole idea. In my personal opinion, when he is angry his voice would be the most even. That’s the scariest angry anyway; anger with control.

Now, please disregard everything I just said because... this cycle is incredibly popular in JAFF and people clearly like it. 

[amber-michaelson]

A change of heart

Part 1

Barbarian Katsuki Bakugo x slave reader

Summary: after conquering more territory he decides to do a good deed

Read at own risk

Warning: none

the night was quiet to quiet “im going to check it out” my dad said kissing my forehead and left, that was the last thing he said to me before disappearing and he was the only family i had left.

“hurry up you filthy thing” the man shouted and whipped me, our village was raided the night my dad disappeared, all the men died protecting the village, the women and children were forced into labor “you’ll be lucky if ‘he’ even looks at you” he shouted, the ‘he’ was talking about is the prince and soon to be king of the barbarians katsuki bakugo and today hes going around to all the slave camps choosing slaves to join his concubine, the man moved onto the next poor girl i finished cleaning and dressing myself and praying for help.

“kneel before the prince” we obeyed not wanting another punishment we didn’t look up as we heard the sound of boots approach “to fat, to thin” the prince was voicing his opinions as he walked down the line of girls “to dirty” you could hear their pained whimpers as their dragged away after his judgement “to ugly” you could hear his voice getting clearer and clearer as he drew near, i looked to the side and froze, one of the girls looked up at him “you filthy pig” he spat “a peasant like you doesn’t deserve a glance at the soon to be king” he barked, i looked back at the ground and panted as he stepped infront of me he wasn’t saying anything “whats your name” he muttered but i didn’t answer “he asked you a question” i flinch from the yelling and expected a beating but it never came “i asked her not you” the prince muttered “im sorry your majesty” the man begged “if you ever lay a finger on another women, i will find you and kill you, we may be barbarians but we don’t hurt women” he growled “now leave” the man and his goons scurried out the room leaving me and the remaining girls alone with him “now are you going to answer me” he kneeled infront of me and grabbed my jaw forcing me to look at him “yn” i whispered “what was that” he stared into my eyes intently “yn” i murmured again, i was staring at the the red markings that framed his face and some peeking out from under his cape onto his chest and the black pants he was wearing were pulled down low showing of his v line “well yn i pick you” he said standing up, a few of his gold chains rattled against each other “i’ll be waiting outside” he muttered and left i held my breath ‘this couldn’t be real’ i started shaking as the girls picked me up and carried me to the shed were we slept “your so lucky” they all spoke ‘were all these girls deranged do they know who he is’ “here yn now go” they shoved my few belongings into my arms and ushered me out to where the prince was waiting with his 4 bodyguards “nice one bakubro” the one with red hair smirked as he held onto a spare horse “here sweetcheeks” he chuckled and gestured to the horse “you want me to ride” i asked “we’re not that mean girl” the girl smiled  I hopped onto the horse "ready" the prince growled and all I did was nod, this man was bringing me out this terrible place and I should be grateful but I just can't.

▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎Time skip▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎▪︎

Arriving at the bar barbarians camp was the scariest thing everyone cat called and licked their lips staring at me but I was just to nervous to saying anything they all got off infront of a big tent which had 2 guards posted infront "follow me" the prince muttered as he hopped off his horse and made his way inside I quickly got off and followed in his guards that followed him went off to do their own thing just leaving me alone with him, I frozen inside the tent what am I supposed to do, my eyes wondered around the tent before landing on the prince as he shrugged of his coat falling to the floor his back was littered in scars and wounds "are you just gonna stare or are you actually gonna help me".

Part 2

My Other My Hero Academia Works

Check Out My Other Works

[doctor-loki-sherlock]

What's this? A new kennel? We got another dog?

Nope, just a miniature freaking horse

This is Pretty Girl, our resident miniature pony that drools on everything and is the sweetest pony.

We got her 2 days ago? I'm not 100% sure, my sleep schedules been real funky so everything has just been a continues blurr xD but she was my sister-in-laws grandmas service dog. She's a little sad since Lala passed(my sister in laws grandma) but I think she's adjusting well she likes running around with Ein and barking at the neighbor dogs haha she sounds like a BEAST XD (in the last pic she’s pouting cause my brother wouldn’t let her in the bathroom with him lol but I mean...she stands taller than all our furniture, I don’t think she’d fit in the bathroom XD) We had to rearrange the whole living room to accommodate her massive kennel lol the wall all the kennels are on is where the TV use to be...also...if you look close enough at the first picture you can see the cover thing to the interwebs my brother and I somehow broke while moving the massive kennel haha we’re replacing it soon, no worries lol

[twstarchives]

Scary Dress・Voice Lines

● Event: Scary Monsters (October 14 - November 26, 2020) ● Exclusive Cards: Deuce, Kalim, Epel, Idia, Malleus, Lilia, Azul, Jack, Jade, Vil, Cater

Deuce Spade - R

Unlock Card “This school event is meant for everyone to have fun. I’m going to make sure this Halloween’s a success!”

Groovy “You’re not getting away from me... I’ll scare you till you're trembling to the bone!”

Home Setting “I’m a skeleton ghost that’s risen from the grave! BOO!”

Home Transitions “These are our special costumes, so make sure you’re careful with them. Grim, that means don’t claw on the lace.”

“When I was a kid, there were times when I used to start sobbing because I thought there was a monster outside. But it was actually just the laundry drying out there... Oi, stop laughing!”

“I got some treats from Epel. There’s a lot of them, so I thought I’d share with you. You know the secret code, right?”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Happy Halloween! You just can’t help but get excited around this time of year.”

Home Taps “I saw Draconia a while ago. Seeing him walk around in that serpentine dragon costume so valiantly made him look cooler than ever.”

“I got a text from my mom—she said she wants to see my costume. I don’t mind sending her one, but I don’t know how I feel about taking a selfie... Prefect, could you take one of me?”

“I’m used to seeing the ghosts on campus, so they’re not that scary. Our terrifying dorm leader Rosehearts, on the other hand...”

“Viper fixed the lace on my hat for me. I feel like the vice leaders in every dorm are really caring.”

“Hey, you! You want me to bury you!? S-Sorry. I was practicing my scares; I didn’t mean to say that to you, Prefect.”

Kalim Al-Asim - R

Unlock Card “Are you all ready to have some fun? Alright! Come on and follow my lead! One, two—Happy Halloween!”

Groovy “Grr... Pain shoots through my body whenever I look at the full moon. You better watch your back if you start to hear some howling.”

Home Setting “Growl! I’m a werewolf now.”

Home Transitions “Rook knows a lot about wildlife, and he told me all kinds of things about wolves. It was really useful.”

“I always carry around candies this time of year. This way anyone can tell me ‘Trick or treat’ anytime!”

“My magic carpet seems pretty excited for Halloween too. I’m competing with it to see who’s the scariest!”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “A party that everyone’s stoked about—that’s what Halloween is! Let’s have fun together! Growl! Growl!”

Home Taps Whine! Grrrrr! Bark! *cough!* “It’s hard trying to sound like a wolf...”

“I feel like it’d be so much more exciting if Cater, Lilia, and I dressed up for our band performances. Don’t you think so?”

“Jade said his costume is a mummy. If you wore clothes like that in the Scalding Sands, you’d get so hot that you might actually turn into one.”

“I like this costume; its design is really reminiscent of the Scalding Sands. Plus it’s easy to move in. It fits for dressing up as a werewolf.”

“Hm? You want to try scaring me? Spare me from any tricks, though. Ahaha!”

Epel Felmier - R

Unlock Card “Boo! Did I spook you? Hehe. I’ll come scare you again if you let down your guard.”

Groovy “Struggling against me is useless... I think. You won’t get away from me.”

Home Setting “Now, Halloween has begun!”

Home Transitions “Wah! Oh, crap!¹ I stepped all over my cloak. If Vil saw me, he’d get mad and say ‘It’s not proper to run around like that.’”

“I carved some of the pumpkins that are decorating the school. Mine have ghosts and our dorm’s emblem on them. Try to find them, okay?”

“Hey, have you seen the decorations on Main Street? They’re all so pretty, and really marvy².”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “I think this is the first time I’ve celebrated such a festive Halloween. In my town, the festivals feel a lot more scaled down.”

Home Taps “Halloween celebrations in my hometown are never this big, but I can promise you the food’s always delicious. I want you all to come see it someday.”

“Riddle got really passionate when we were talking about the treats for Halloween earlier. Sweets are just amazing, aren’t they?”

“I’m a first-year just like Deuce and Jack, but I wish I could scare as well as they do. But only practice makes perfect!”

“Tremble in fear! ...No. That’s not menacing enough... Ah! What if I put ketchup around my mouth?”

“Huh!? A treat? Sorry. I finished handing all mine out. But I’ll peel an apple for you later, so don’t give me a trick or anything... Okay?”

Idia Shroud - R

Unlock Card “E-E-Even I get excited for events sometimes... Is that bad!?”

Groovy “Anyone who sees what’s beneath my helmet won’t be leaving here unharmed... Hehehe!”

Home Setting “Wahaha! The Pumpkin Knight has arrived!”

Home Transitions “Every time Ortho tells me ‘Trick or treat,’ I give him some candy, but earlier he got mad and said ‘Let me have a trick too.’”

“You need to know your etiquette to have fun with events. That’s true no matter what world you’re in.”

“This time of year, they’re always having tons of huge events in gacha games. I’ve got an overwhelming lack of free time.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Weheehee~... Happy Halloween. Huh? Why are you making that face? Is it that weird to see me pumped up?”

Home Taps “Hiding my face under a helmet really lets me relax. The downside is it’s a little hard to breathe, though.”

“Wh-What are you dressing up as? Don’t tell me you’re just going to throw on something basic like a headband or a hat and call it a day?”

“They say lions are members of the cat family, but... Sir Leona is not soothing in the slightest. Hah~ I wanna nuzzle a cat...”

“You can say it. There’s no such thing as a nerd that hates Halloween!”

“Weheehee! I made this using a 3D printer, so it’s got really nice durability. ‘How much did it all cost’? Well, if you want to know, it was on sale.”

Malleus Draconia - SR

Unlock Card “Halloween is a festival observed by both the living and the dead, regardless of one’s race. You, too, should enjoy yourself as much as you can.”

Groovy “I’d make anyone tremble in fear with a single breath of fire. Watch me.”

Home Setting “I’m not dressed up as a dragon. It’s a serpentine dragon.”

Home Transitions “The students in our dorm seem very pleased with our costumes. They were all cheering with joy. This was well-worth the trouble.”

“Lilia knows a lot about many nations’ versions of Halloween. He told me stories about them instead of his usual lullabies. That was a long time ago, though.”

“I saw two pumpkin knights around campus. The smaller one was floating, so I’m assuming they were the Shroud brothers.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “I’ve experienced many Halloweens, but this year seems especially chaotic.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Trick or treat!... wasn’t it? If you don’t give me a treat, I’ll have to trick you. What will you do?”

Home Taps “The red serpentine dragons from the Far East, which our costumes were based on, could even play folk instruments. Hm... How very interesting.”

“I caught Asim practicing his wolf howls. He’s lacking on the impact, but it does have a charm to it. Heheh.”

“Halloween in the Valley of Thorns is especially grand. It’s a different take on it than other countries have, but you should come see it someday. It’s beautiful.”

“If you hear a strange noise, don’t automatically assume it’s the work of a ghost. Faeries love playing tricks all year round.”

“This tail? Mine is not an accessory; it’s real. As curious as you might be, don’t get too close. You’d be easily flicked aside if you got hit by it.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “I’ll set fire to anyone that harms your dorm, just like a serpentine dragon would. I’m fond of that place.”

Lilia Vanrouge - SR

Unlock Card “Halloween is my home ground ♪ I can’t wait to see the surprise on everyone’s faces.”

Groovy “Do not underestimate me. You might end up finding yourself trembling and unable to sleep all night long.”

Home Setting “Growl! How was that? Did I sound like a dragon?”

Home Transitions “On Halloween Night, the goblins who served the Fairy of Thorns would gather around a fire and dance all night long. You probably wouldn’t expect them to be party animals!”

“I remember the day I met a real-life serpentine dragon in the East like it was yesterday. Its crimson scales were truly a sight to behold.”

“I like eating most sweets, but marshmallows are the only ones I can’t do. It doesn’t feel like I’m eating anything; they aren’t satisfying.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Trick or treat... What? You’re already used to my tricks? Then I’ll have to bring out my trump card.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “If I were a real dragon, I could give you a ride on my back. But instead, why don’t I give you a piggy back ride?”

Home Taps “Hnn... The decorative horns on my cap are so heavy. Malleus really has these on his head at all times?”

“Aren’t my red nails cute? Vil painted them for me. He told me these were called gel nails—long-lasting nail polish.”

“Silver and Sebek used to be such crybabies. The mornings after Halloween, I’d have to spend the whole day doing laundry.”

“Have you seen Ace anywhere? He’s always eating Trey’s sweets like he really likes them, so I made some for him as well.”

“Oh, oh! It’s dangerous for someone of my stature to have a tail almost touching the ground. Try not to step on it either.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “Achoo! Sorry, sorry. This peacock feather tickled my nose.”

Azul Ashengrotto - SR

Unlock Card “The Mostro Lounge is currently offering a special Halloween menu. You must come and see!”

Groovy “Let’s have all the fun we want tonight. Now, let me hear you scream all the way up to the moon!”

Home Setting “How do I look? It’s very stylish with the way it revisits the old-fashioned sort of mummy, isn’t it?”

Home Transitions “If these were my own tentacles, I could move them freely at will, but that’s not true with these bandage wraps. I have to pay close attention to my movements.”

“Of course we have Halloween celebrations under the sea. Although, unlike on land, merpeople don’t exactly wear costumes.”

“I ran into Silver with this costume on, and he yelled ‘The enemy!’ before pulling out a baton. ...He must’ve been half-asleep.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Halloween only happens once a year. Let’s have the time of our lives together.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Did I hear you say ‘Trick or treat’ just now? Offering me of all people a deal is quite bold of you.”

Home Taps “I have an affinity for the costumes Jack and the other Savanaclaw students are wearing. They look like ghosts you’d find at sea, don’t they?”

“I referenced dishes that my family serves for the Lounge’s limited edition menu... Oh, my family runs a ristorante.”

“I’ll hold back on the treats, thank you. Accepting more and more of them will only increase my calorie intake for the day.”

“The reason we chose mummies for our costumes? I’m very unfamiliar with them, which made me all the more curious. After all, you can’t have anything dry under the sea.”

“What are you in such a rush for? I understand feeling excited, but you must be discreet when getting ready to scare someone.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “You must come see Halloween under the sea sometime! It’s just as fun as the academy’s.”

Jack Howl - SR

Unlock Card “Dressing up as pirates fits for Savanaclaw, since the guys here are all brutes. When you want something, you take it!”

Groovy “On Halloween, it’s ghost territory. Make sure you be careful when walking around at night. Grr...”

Home Setting “My scares aren’t just for show.”

Home Transitions “Scarabia dressed up as werewolf ghosts. They really nailed the ears and tails.”

“When we were making jack o’ lanterns, Ruggie kept eating the pumpkin seeds. Do those taste good...?”

“The pirate costume fits Leona really well. He’s lazy and vulgar—ahem! He comes off as strong and powerful.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Happy Halloween! It’s nice with all these decorations and festive energy. Wanna walk around together later?”

Home Transition (Groovy) “I was getting tired of all these sweets, so I got some jerky. Want any?”

Home Taps “Ace and the others swear that anything Trey bakes is to die for. I wonder how his pear compote would... N-No, nevermind.”

“I used to want to be a pirate when I was little. I remember making treasure chests by myself and filling them with coins and sparkling jewels. Those were the days.”

“Pirates have to aim their cannons and do a lot of heavy lifting while onboard. They’ve got to train hard.”

“I almost never wear rings, so I’m scared these might fly off at any moment. Plus it’s hard to move my fingers.”

“Oi! Stop prodding at my costume! What’re you going to do if one of the seashells breaks off?”

Home Tap (Groovy) “You haven’t put on your costume yet? The ghosts will come to kidnap you if you don’t hurry and change.”

Jade Leech - SSR

Unlock Card “I’ve been expecting you. Today I have a most wonderful scare prepared for you.”

“We’ve been working hard to ensure that everyone can spend a wonderful Halloween.”

Groovy “The sight of you screaming as you try to hurry away... It’s irresistible. I cannot hold myself back from chasing after you!”

Home Setting “Who would like to be tied up in fear?”

Home Transitions “You want to see me when I’m frightened? Heheh. I wouldn’t mind you scaring me anytime you’d like.”

“There is no such thing as using pumpkins as lanterns under the sea. I was very shocked learning about culture on land when I was a freshman.”

“Have you had a chance to try out the Mostro Lounge’s limited edition Halloween menu? I contributed a recipe to it.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Trick or treat! Heheh. There’s no need to look so frightened; I won’t bite.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Oh, my. Were you hoping to play a trick on me? I have a treat on hand, so please spare me today.”

Home Taps “I helped Ruggie with making jack o’ lanterns. They’re very quick, cheap, and beautiful. How fitting.”

“Dryness is fatal for merpeople. If we were dried up like a mummy... Just the thought is horrifying.”

“Floyd, don’t eat too many sweets. It’s different while we’re in the water, but here we have a high risk of tooth decay.”

“The draping wraps on our costumes resemble jellyfish tentacles. They’re pretty, aren’t they? I like their asymmetrical design.”

“You seem to have a wish to join the world of mummies. First, I will wrap your whole body in bandages, and then dry you out... I’m only joking.”

Home Tap (Groovy) “Halloween under the sea? If you’re interested, I will show you around one day.”

Duo Magic Jade: Azul, we cannot waste any more time. Azul: Let’s be efficient about this, Jade.

Vil Schoenheit - SSR

Unlock Card “Are you prepared to pledge yourself to me? It’s a great honor to be the sustenance of my beauty.”

“If I’m participating in this, then I’m going to aim for quality that transcends all previous Halloweens. Please keep up with me.”

Groovy “How unfortunate; there’s nowhere left for you to run. Yield yourself to me and become my slave.”

Home Setting “You will be a victim to my fangs.”

Home Transitions “Vampires, who possess eternal beauty... This is a perfect theme for me, isn’t it?”

“It would be difficult to check my appearance if I couldn’t see my reflection in the mirror. Perhaps I’d have to check with Rook between every class.”

“The other day, I was drinking tomato juice in the evening, and Epel screamed at me. How rude.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Trick or treat. Although, I don’t need any sweet treats. I’m sure you can guess what a vampire would want... Heheh.”

Home Transition (Groovy) “Have you flipped your sleep schedule like a vampire’s because it’s Halloween? Make sure you don’t stay up too late.”

Home Taps “I don’t usually carry around treats with me, so last year I fell victim to Lilia’s tricks. That was honestly unpleasant.”

“You should carefully deliberate over your parasol and choose one that has strong protection from the sun. Don’t forget sunblock either.”

“Floyd’s skin is very beautiful. Makeup sits exceptionally well on moisturized skin, too. Always remember to moisturize.”

“My father is an actor, and for every Halloween he would come home in a costume with special effects makeup. I wonder if perfectionism runs in the family.”

“Even a single strand of hair out of place is something to pay mind to. Could you fix my hair for me?”

Home Tap (Groovy) “My cloak has enough cloth to wrap around a person. Should I hide you inside it if any scary ghosts come by?”

Duo Magic Vil: Let’s end this nonsense right here, Lilia. Lilia: Leave it to me to guard you from behind, Vil.

Cater Diamond - SSR

Unlock Card “I’ll fill you all the way to the bone... with fear, of course ♪”

“Aha! Are you surprised with how off things feel now? Let me show you Cay’s charm, now that I’m a touch different for Halloween~”

Groovy “You’re not thinking you’ll be able to get home safely now that you’ve dug me up, are you?”

Home Setting “Don’t you think my costume’s super aesthetic!?”

Home Transitions “The pumpkin pie Trey always makes this time of year... Mm, it’s not too sweet, and it’s sooo good~!”

“Did you see Lucius today!? He was wearing a super adorable pumpkin hat... I can’t believe Professor Trein~!”

“Sebek-kins really loves Malleus~ He’s got a reputation among the third-years for being the passionate Draconian.”

Home Transition (Login Greeting) “Happy Halloween! How about we take a picture to commemorate?”

Home Transition (Groovy) “I have a feeling this year’s going to be the funnest Halloween we’ve ever had. You should be excited too, Prefect!”

Home Taps “I really like how our skeleton-looking laces are so elegant. Our dorm uniforms give off more cutesy vibes; it’s super different.”

“A black veil holds many mysteries... Heheh. You’re always free to lift it up anytime you want, Prefect! Just kidding.”

“Heartslabyul’s costumes last year? We were pirates! Wish you could see Cay as a pirate~?”

“The whole campus gets super festive and exciting around Halloween! And all the decorations are so photogenic.”

“Black makeup smudges easily, so you kind of need to have advanced skills to use it. Does it look okay right now? It’s not smudged?”

Home Tap (Groovy) “What are you dressing up as, Prefect? Come let me know when you have it ready. I wanna take a pic~”

Duo Magic Cater: “Jack, lend me some of your aesthetic support!” Jack: “This’ll be a breeze, Cater!”

[dreamsmp-au-ideas]

Ever after au tubbo is seriously one of the scariest mfs in the fairytale world. Sure, the other dark fairies were tough and ruthless and evil, but here's the thing: tubbo is nice. He chases bees and lets people copy his homework and uses his magic to help carry his friends' textbooks. So, when he's being mean, he's being MEAN.

Tommy pricks his finger and tubbo just collapses next to his friend, sobbing because he has no idea how long he'll be asleep– they don't even know who his 'true love' is! Schlatt simply pats his shoulder, rolling his eyes. If anything, he should be happy! Now he doesn't have to curse tommy anymore! But no, tubbo is still crying over tommy's body, rambling about how i'm sorry, please, wake up, i need you, please tommy, i love you, wake up please... before schlatt can roll his eyes again and yell at him, his sobs become laughs, laughs that echo through the whole room and make everyone's hearts freeze with terror, even schlatt. Slowly, tubbo stands up and turns around, his eyes glowing purple and black smoke coming from his hands, and just growls, "You fucked up."

And that's not even when tubbo has his full powers! He signs the book and suddenly his entire body is trembling and his eyes are glowing and his clothes are changing until tommy can barely recognise him anymore. He's about to go for the final blow on the enemy when tommy jumps in front, begging him not to. Tubbo barks at him to get out the way, talking over him, belittling him, threatening him, until tommy just screams "THEN KILL ME!" Tubbo is taken aback, "What?" "If you're so powerful and so evil, then do it. Kill me." "I– but– you don't know who you're messing with, Tommy! I'll tell you one last time, get. Out. Of. My. Way." "I know damn well who I'm talking to. Kill me, or leave them alone."

Tubbo snaps out of it, and he crumples to the floor, exhausted. And yeah, tommy is grateful because in all honesty he wasn't 100% sure that would work, but... still. He can't help but have nightmares about what would have happened if tubbo killed him that day.

Tubbo is nice and that’s what makes him terrifying. You know when he’s pissed. You know exactly when he’s pissed.

There’s a fucking good reason why Schlatt kidnapped Tommy and took him somewhere else, if he stayed around then he would have absolutely gotten fucked up by Tubbo.

And then we get him in full powers and it’s terrifying and god. Tubbo is scary here.

[theclockworkmonk]

Desire and Will

This is the most popular fic in my "Aang/Katara Missing Moments" series on AO3. This is the first time I'm posting it to tumblr.

Summary: With Aang still having trouble letting loose with his firebending, Zuko asks an alarming question:

"Have you ever kissed a girl?"

Words: 3,944

Read on AO3

FF.net

*******

Katara was awoken by what was, to her, the scariest sound in the world: the sound of Aang in pain.

"OW!" she heard him cry out, and she wrenched her eyelids open and rolled to face where his voice was coming from. There, she saw Aang still laying on the ground where he had been sleeping, rubbing his backside like it had been kicked. Towering over him, fists clenched and face scowling...was Zuko.

A jolt a fear cut through Katara's still half-asleep mind as she reached over for her bending skin and flicked it open with her thumb. She was ready to fight, ready to—

"You're burning daylight!" Zuko barked at Aang, "Get up! Twenty hot squats, now!"

Katara's sleep fog finally cleared and she remembered why Zuko was here in their camp. She remembered their whole reluctant arrangement to have Zuko teach Aang firebending, and the nerve-wracking few days they had disappeared together and apparently danced with dragons.

Katara groggily collapsed back onto her pillow, too tired to even growl at Zuko that the rest of them didn't have to train to defeat his evil dad, thankyouverymuch, so maybe bark his orders more quietly at absurd hours in the morning.

Aang seemed to be feeling the same way, because he just moaned in response. Zuko squatted down next to Aang and pointed out into the canyon that contained the Western Air Temple, where the sky was already turning blood red.

"You see that? That's sunrise, Avatar. That's the sign of a firebender's inner strength coming to life with a new day." He grabbed Aang by the shoulder and started shaking him, "Can you feel it, Aang? Can you feel your inner fire starting to reignite?"

"No," grunted Aang plainly.

Katara was remembering more now, and becoming more annoyed. Right, what had Zuko said to her at the north pole? "You rise with the moon, I rise with the sun?" of course it made perfect sense that on top of being cruel, bloodthirsty monsters, firebenders were also something far worse: morning people. Ugh, did this mean that Aang was also going to be a morning person from now on?

"Well we've got to fix that," said Zuko, and he practically dragged Aang to his feet and started pushing him off towards the courtyard that they used to train, that jutted out from underneath the rock overhang so they were actually in the sun. With their sleeping area quiet again, Katara tried to go back to sleep, but now the knowledge that Aang was off with Zuko, alone, at the other end of the temple was nagging at her brain. It wasn't like she thought Zuko would suddenly attack him or something; she had accepted by now that this wasn't some kind of absurdly elaborate plot against them—mainly because she didn't think Zuko was clever enough to pull off something like that. But still, whenever she thought about Aang with no one around him but Zuko, she found that she...didn't like it.

After a few minutes, she accepted that she wasn't getting any more sleep, so she got herself up and started making her way in the same direction Zuko and Aang had gone. As she was rounding the last corner before the courtyard, she started to hear their voices.

"So if my firebending wakes me up with the sun, and my waterbending keeps me up with the moon, when exactly am I supposed to sleep?"

"You slept for a hundred years, isn't that enough?"

Aang laughed, but Katara recognized it as his uncomfortable laugh. Aang never liked being reminded of all that time he wasn't there for the world, which Zuko would know if he wasn't such a heartless jerk and a terrible teacher. The fact that he barely knew Aang and had no way of knowing what he was uncomfortable with was entirely beside the point.

Katara decided to not announce her presence and instead leaned against one of the stone pillars within the shade of the overhang, while they were out in the increasingly bright morning sun. She was far enough away and in enough shade that they were unlikely to notice her, but if they did happen to look her way then she could plausibly deny she was snooping. She didn't like the idea of leaving Aang alone with Zuko, but she still realized hovering would interfere with them. Aang was always trying to impress her and Zuko was still visibly terrified of her ever since she threatened to kill him the day he joined their team (which she definitely didn't take any pride in).

Aang and Zuko finished their warm-ups and faced a target at the far end of the courtyard, a few wooden logs they had haphazardly nailed together in the vague shape of a human.

"Okay, let's see if that trip to almost get eaten by dragons was worth it," said Zuko, "set your stance..."

Aang positioned himself in a sideways battle stance in opposition to the dummy.

"Now, control your breathing…"

Aang drew in a deep breath and slowly released it.

"Now…STRIKE!"

Aang punched his right first towards the dummy, and a single fireball erupted from his knuckles, traveling about 10 yards to the dummy, briefly engulfing it in flames before dissipating. After the fire and smoke had quickly cleared, Katara saw that the dummy was slightly singed, with a few spots glowing orange for a few seconds before cooling down. Katara could feel the heat of the blast from where she was standing.

Zuko, however, didn't look impressed, "Well that was...certainly better, I guess."

"You guess!?" Aang incredulously asked out loud, and Katara incredulously asked in her head at the same time, "Come on, that was the biggest blast I've ever made!"

"Yeah, and if you were any other novice, we'd call that a really promising start. Heck, you might even be called a prodigy. People would be saying you could become a master in just a few years."

Aang's shoulders slumped in disappointment.

"But we don't have a few years, obviously, so sorry, but we need to find a way to fast-track this."

Aang threw his hands in the air, "Well what more can I possibly do!"

Zuko frowned and rubbed his chin thoughtfully, "Well to be honest, I think you're still being too timid and restrained. You're certainly doing a lot better than before our trip, but I still sense a lot of energy in you that you're not letting out."

Aang looked confused and started to get defensive, "Well of course I'm holding a little back, I'm trying to stay in control! Jong Jong said that firebending requires constant discipline or fire will destroy you. He didn't even let me shoot fire, he had me try to stop a bit of fire from growing, and when I didn't listen to him—" Aang managed to cut off his own rambling and managed to take a deep breath and closed his eyes, "that was when I burned Katara."

Zuko's face cycled through several different expressions as a lot of things suddenly started making sense.

"...Oh," was the only thing he could say.

Aang continued, "I hated that version of myself, even more than when I've gone into the Avatar State. After that, I promised myself I would never firebend at all!"

Katara tried to keep track of all the different emotions she was feeling. She was touched by the fact that Aang cared about her so much that the memory of hurting her still got him to be this upset, annoyed at him for being this worked up over something that happened months ago, she had long since forgiven, and was really not important in the context of their mission, and guilty that her getting hurt and the way she reacted had caused him this much heartache, even while she knew that she hadn't really done anything wrong.

Zuko sighed, raised his hand, and after a few seconds of hesitation, lightly patted Aang's shoulder in the most awkward, panicked "there-there" gesture Katara had ever seen.

"Look Aang," said Zuko, "I can't speak to what this 'Jong Jong' guy taught you. Maybe his way is better, I don't know, but it sounds like it takes a lot longer, and we don't have the luxury of being patient and deliberate about this."

He pulled on Aang's shoulder and turned him around so he would stop looking at his feet in self-pity and look his teacher in the face again, "The people of the world don't need their Avatar to be a wizened sage right now, they need a stick of dynamite."

Zuko took a few steps away and tried his best to pretend to be a wizened sage himself, "I can only teach you how I was taught, and I was taught that even when it's not fuelled by anger and rage, all firebending is still fuelled by strong emotion. When teaching me about the elements, my uncle said—let's see if I can get this right…"

He started rubbing his hand on an invisible large belly, stroking an invisible beard, and speaking in an old man's raspy voice in his best impersonation of his uncle.

"Fire is the element of Power. The people of the Fire Nation have Desire and Will, and the energy and drive to achieve what they want."

Aang chuckled at the impression, his mood clearly improving, while Zuko looked really impressed with himself. Katara wouldn't have been surprised to learn that this was the first time in his life the dour prince had made someone laugh.

"See what I mean? Remember what we learned with the dragons. Fire is Life. And passion for life is what fuels firebending. You need to stop thinking like a monk and use your passion."

Aang didn't look frustrated or dejected anymore, but he did look puzzled.

"Um...okay," Aang said, thoughtfully scratching his head, "How am I supposed to do that?"

Now it was Zuko's turn to get frustrated. He hadn't anticipated one of his jobs as a teacher being having to explain how to feel things to this guy. That was something he was not qualified for.

"I don't know," said Zuko, not hiding the annoyance in his voice, "just think about it. Try to recreate those emotions when you're channeling your energy for your bending, and it might make your firebending more powerful. Hasn't there ever been something you...desired? Coveted, even? Something that you needed to have or to win more than anything?"

Katara almost laughed out loud, boy are you barking up the wrong tree.

Aang spent a few seconds earnestly considering Zuko's question, "I don't think so. My people believed that worldly material possessions were meaningless, and attachment to them was the source of suffering. We didn't really have anything beyond what we needed and a few toys that we shared. I played games with all my friends, but I didn't really care much if I won, I just tried to make sure everybody had fun."

Katara was grinning at what an unbelievable dork the mighty savior of the world was.

Zuko, however, groaned and dragged both hands down his face, "Yeah, of course you did." It seemed to Katara that this was the first time Zuko was having to relate to someone who was actually a good person.

Aang just shrugged at Zuko's exasperation, "Sorry, hotman."

"Stop calling me that!" Zuko thought for several more seconds before his eyes lit up and he snapped his fingers with an idea, but then immediately looked like he regretted having the idea, and started looking deeply uncomfortable.

"Hey...can I ask you a personal question? It's going to sound weird and unrelated, but just trust me, okay?"

Aang raised an eyebrow, "Uh….sure?"

"Have you ever kissed a girl?"

Aang's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates, his face turning bright pink, and Katara's heart seemed to stop in its tracks.

After what seemed like an eternity, Aang finally found his voice again, but all he could manage was a weak, "Uh...what?"

"Just bear with me for a second," pressed Zuko.

"Um," Aang squeaked, "Yes. Yes I have." and his face moved past pink into deep scarlet.

"Okay," breathed Zuko, "Now, I know I'm sounding like a gossiping school girl, but I promise I'm going somewhere with this. Ugh."

He squeezed his eyes shut and pinched the bridge of his nose, like this conversation was physically painful. "Tell me about your first kiss," he finished in a too-deep voice, very transparently overcompensating.

Katara was positively screaming inside her own head, No Aang, do not, under ANY circumstances, tell him about your first kiss.

She felt like her heart and stomach had completely removed from her body. She refused to believe that these were the circumstances where The Incident between she and Aang was finally getting verbalized. Aang hadn't even bothered to talk to her about it yet, there was no way he was going to spill it all to Zuko. The fact that the main reason Aang hadn't talked to her about it was the fact that she had been avoiding him non-stop was entirely beside the point.

Katara started running through a hundred scenarios to try to find some way to stop this conversation. Should she rush in and pretend to be sick? Say that they're under attack? Just stay hidden and bloodbend them both unconscious? But before she could decide on one, to her horror, Aang started talking.

"Well," Aang began, his cheeks still red, "it was back at the Southern Air Temple—"

All of Katara's panic seemed to instantly vanish and be replaced with confusion.

Wait, what? Why is he telling him that? Katara thought, We barely knew each other at the Southern Temple….Does he THINK we kissed at the Southern Temple? I guess that would explain a lot. Did he hallucinate or something while in the Avatar State—

"—and she was part of a visiting caravan."

….Oh.

Oh.

"We got along really well while she was there, she was really good at all of my favorite games, and while we were saying goodbye she just kissed me."

OH.

"By the time I realized what was going on, she just giggled and jumped up on her bison."

Katara was simultaneously feeling unbelievable relief that her big secret wasn't being talked about and unbelievable white-hot fury at Aang. She had just spent several weeks believing that her first kiss had also been Aang's, and now she finds out that she's just the latest? Latest of how many? Exactly how friendly had he gotten with those fangirls on Kyoshi Island? She was two years older than him, by all rights she should be on at least equal footing with him in this mess between them, who gave him permission to have more experience with kissing than her? The fact that he had never once told her that he had never kissed a girl before was entirely beside the point.

But Katara cycled through all these thoughts in just a split second before calming herself down and realizing that she had no reason to care about this. What did it matter if Aang had kissed some girl a hundred years ago? It's not like she thought of Aang that way. Aang had clearly just misunderstood her platonic affections. It's not like she had ever seriously thought about kissing him (especially not during some of the more recent times she had kissed him on the cheek). In fact, she doubted that even he had given any serious thought to kissing. He just had a little crush and the intensity of the moment got to his head. So this is fine.

It's fine.

Seriously, it's fine.

It's completely fine. Whatever she was feeling certainly wasn't jeal—

"Wait, she kissed you?" Zuko interrupted Aang's rambling and yanked Katara back to reality, "I asked you if you had ever kissed a girl."

"Well you also asked me to tell you about my first kiss!" Aang yelled with his hands in the air, frustrated again, "Which one is it!" He was clearly angry that in his panic he had revealed an embarrassing story for no reason.

Zuko put his palms up defensively, "Okay, okay, sorry, bad wording on my part. So, to clarify: have you ever kissed someone else? Have you ever been the one to take the initiative?"

Katara's heart started racing again. Why couldn't Zuko get distracted and drop this?

"Um…" Aang's face had been red before, but now all the color seemed to drain from it and he looked like a ghost, "...yes. But I don't think dwelling on that will help fix my problem. In fact, it's kind of a downer, actually."

"Why, was she an airbender too?" Zuko asked. He supposed dwelling on a girl he had feelings for that had been killed a hundred years ago would be counterproductive in fueling Aang's inner fire.

Despite how angry she had gotten at Aang's kissing experience, Katara now found herself hoping this girl was another airbender.

"No," Aang responded, rubbing the back of his neck, "this was after I came out of the ice. Pretty recent, in fact…"

No such luck.

"Okay, so what's the problem?" asked Zuko.

"Well...it didn't exactly work out well for me. She didn't really kiss me back."

Katara scowled, well that's not fair, she thought with more than a little bitterness. It's not like she had a chance to. You're not allowed to act upset if someone doesn't kiss you back when you spring a kiss on them with no warning and then fly away before they even know what's going on. If he hadn't been so dramatic and used his actual words then she would have—

Katara let out a gasp of fear at where her train of thought was leading her. She would have….what, exactly? If she had known the kiss was coming ahead of time, what would she have done? Let him down easy? Told him to focus on the mission? Thrown him into the ocean?...or would she have kissed him back?

No.

Well…

Certainly not.

Maybe?

Perhaps if they tried again wow where did THAT thought come from?

Meanwhile, back in reality, Zuko was waving away Aang's concerns, "That doesn't matter. Don't think about anything that happened afterward. Just bring yourself back to that one moment, where you overcame caution and went after what you wanted. Set your stance."

Aang faced the dummy and resumed his fighting stance.

Katara couldn't help but inch a little closer away from her "hiding" spot. Now that Zuko had stopped pressing Aang for details and was doing his job, she felt like she could observe with a nervous curiosity instead of outright panic.

"Now," instructed Zuko, "take a deep breath, close your eyes, and picture this girl, how she looked in that moment."

Aang's eyes closed and drew in a breath.

Katara swallowed hard. At this moment, there was no more uncertainty about Aang. He was thinking about her, in that way, right now. And that knowledge made her hold her breath and made her face get a little warm.

"Try to remember how you felt immediately beforehand. How she made you feel. Try to recreate how your heartbeat was affected. It's starting to get faster and harder. How your breathing changed—remember, it's your breath that creates energy in the body for firebending. Yours is getting shallower and more intense. Remember how your stomach muscles reacted. They're tensing in anticipation. Now, in your mind's eye, make your move and kiss her, and at the same time….STRIKE!"

Aang punched his right fist towards the dummy, and his hand exploded.

There was no whoosh like with the previous fireball, but a roar as a conical wave of fire erupted from Aang's knuckles, completely enveloping the dummy 10 yards away and continuing onward to blast past the outer railing of the stone courtyard into the vast expanse of the canyon. And to Katara's alarm, it kept going. It wasn't a single blast but a continuous, monstrous stream of fire easily 15 feet wide at its biggest and so hot that Katara had to turn away and shield her eyes.

Several seconds later, the flames finally died down and Aang blinked his eyes open, looking equal parts proud and terrified of himself. The wooden dummy….did not exist anymore. There was no way to tell if Aang had burned it to ashes or simply blasted it backwards into the canyon. The previously white stones that made up the part of the courtyard that had been in front of Aang were now blackened and cracked.

Zuko had reflexively thrown up his arms to shield his face, stumbling backward. He was still sitting on the ground, eyes widened to the size of Appa's, and his mouth hanging open in shock. He sat there for several more silent seconds until Aang gave an awkward cough, then his face split into the biggest grin Katara had ever seen on him and he started cackling with delirious relief and excitement.

"All right!" Zuko exclaimed, jumping to his feet, "Now that's what I'm talking about!" he loudly clapped his hand on Aang's back, who had returned to looking embarrassed.

"No, don't you clam up again," warned Zuko, "hold onto that feeling. Come on, I'll show you how to make a flame whip."

Katara slinked backward away from her pillar and began a very undignified scurry back to their sleeping area. The fire had long since dissipated, but her face still felt hot and flustered, and her stomach felt like it was doing somersaults. Her mind was filled up by the same three words, repeating over and over again:

I did that.

Thinking about her made Aang able to do that. She could no longer simplify things by telling herself that this was just a confusing crush he had let get to his head. For most of the time she had known Aang, the thought that he would have any….desires like that for anyone simply didn't compute for her. He was too selfless, too kind, too pure. He was a monk for crying out loud.

But what she just saw Zuko coax out of her sweet, innocent friend was….not pure. Had he had this inside of him the entire time? And what brought this out of him was thinking about her. Thinking about kissing her. As much as she tried to deny it, when she thought about this power she had over him….she liked it. She was now able to see Aang in a new light, and at least consider the possibility of being more than friends with him.

But she still fought against it, because that realization was absolutely terrifying.

Katara shook her head and splashed some of her bending water on her face. She resolved to keep doing what she had been doing: focusing on their mission. She could sort out all this confusion when the war was over.

Although….

If the goal was to help Aang defeat the Fire Lord and end the war, then naturally they all had an obligation to assist Aang with his bending in any way they could, right? So she supposed it couldn't hurt to give Aang the occasional extra-tight hug now and then. Purely for training purposes, of course.

After all, she thought with a slight smirk as she arrived back at camp, everyone else still sound asleep, what kind of teacher would I be if I didn't give my student the attention he needed?

[amaranthinecanicular]

and the name for your order is

The guy snarls his order, and Kirishima is glad because clearly he's an unrepentant dick to everyone, not just Amajiki. It's easier to come to terms with than he thought it would be. “And your name?” he says, plucking a cup from the stack and uncapping the marker with his teeth.

“Who the fuck wants to know?” says the customer.

“Oh no,” says Kirishima, because oh no, he likes this guy. It's one of those sudden revelations that takes him by the throat and shakes him down. Who wants to know, he says, as though it wasn't obvious. Who wants to know. So absurdly aggressive it ends up amusing instead of intimidating. Endearing, even.

[My belated @fyeahbnha secret santa gift for @pointy-hat-witch! Please enjoy, and happy holidays!!!]

[Alternatively read on ao3.]

OCTOBER 

Fat Gum’s Café has a new customer.

Well. Not new, exactly. He's been showing up for the last two weeks or so but only on days Kirishima wasn’t working. The news shared by his coworkers more closely resemble war stories than work gossip, ranging exclusively from horrible to terrible. 

“He’s the scariest person I’ve ever met in my life,” says Amajiki.

“He’s like a sentient piece of crap rolled up in a garbage can and set on fire,” says Kaminari.

“He makes Give me a mocha double espresso sound like an order of execution,” says Amajiki.

“He’s rude and violent and he has no honor,” says Tetsutetsu.

“If he’s not actually a demon sent from the depths of hell to torture me specifically I would be very surprised,” says Amajiki. Most of the stories are from Amajiki.

Kirishima is dying to meet him, in part to defend his friends’ honor and in part to put a face to the legend. Luckily, the start of the new quarter means new classes at new times, and that means new work hours. What was originally a Tuesday-Thursday-Friday-Sunday schedule shifts to a Monday-Wednesday-Saturday schedule. Kirishima feels bad about that. He likes the coffee shop, likes his coworkers, likes his boss. If he could ace his tests and help out at Fat Gum’s every day he would, but he can't. His grades are dragging.

On the bright side, he meets their local celebrity, like, immediately.

It’s his first Saturday on the job. He knows it’s about to go down when he finds Amajiki attempting to assimilate himself into the storage closet. 

“He's back,” says Amajiki, doing an excellent impression of coffee grounds quaking in fear. “If I have to deal with him again I'll die, I'll just die. Tell Mirio and Hadou I said goodbye. I'm sorry, Kirishima-kun, I can't do it.”

Poor guy. Amajiki is convinced this dude is terrorizing him deliberately, which Kirishima sincerely hopes isn't true. Anyone who would go out of their way to frighten serious, hardworking, anxious Amajiki must be a monster.

As if to punctuate this point, someone out at the front begins to brutalize the counter bell. To be fair, they really shouldn't leave it unmanned.

“Don't sweat it, senpai,” Kirishima says. He doesn't give Amajiki the manly clap to the shoulder that he wants to—Amajiki isn't so good with physical contact from anyone other than Togata or Hadou. “I'll handle the problem customer.”

Amajiki peeks at Kirishima through coffee filters and the dark wedge of his fringe. “You—you mean it?” 

“Sure do. I like a challenge.”

He flashes his brightest smile. Amajiki squints a little at the force of it. 

:

Kirishima is honestly surprised that the poor bell isn’t dented by the time he comes to its rescue. 

“About fucking time,” says the problem customer. He's got riotous blond hair and a scowl on his face like it's been carved there. There's a grenade logo sprayed on his baggy black tee, which makes sense, because one look at this guy brings to mind the word explosive.

“How may I help you, sir?” says Kirishima, with deliberate pep. Impossibly, impressively, the scowl cuts deeper. Like an attack—like he's never not on the offensive. That's fine. Kirishima’s smile will be his armor. 

The guy snarls his order, and Kirishima is glad because clearly he's an unrepentant dick to everyone, not just Amajiki. It's easier to come to terms with than he thought it would be. “And your name?” he says, plucking a cup from the stack and uncapping the marker with his teeth.

“Who the fuck wants to know?” says the customer.

“Oh no,” says Kirishima, because oh no, he likes this guy. It's one of those sudden revelations that takes him by the throat and shakes him down. Who wants to know, he says, as though it wasn't obvious. Who wants to know. So absurdly aggressive it ends up amusing instead of intimidating. Endearing, even.

Kirishima spits the cap out of his mouth. “I want to know. For your order, man.”

The problem customer narrows his eyes as though to peer through Kirishima’s question to the ulterior motives behind it, which is insane, since there are no ulterior motives to be found in the absolutely routine procedure of a coffee shop. Cheerfully oblivious seems to be getting under his skin, so Kirishima leans into it. “What if I forget who asked for the mocha double espresso?”

The customer rolls his eyes. He rolls his eyes violently. “Right, because I'm real fucking forgettable.”

“You could be.” The look he gets for that is entirely worth breaking the Customer Is Always Right creed. “We get a lot of traffic, man, it’s nothing personal.”

The customer braces himself on the counter and leans into Kirishima’s space. Instinct hooks in his spine and tries to reel him back a step or two, but he hardens his resolve into stone and ties it to his feet, weighs himself down, refuses to budge.

“You'll remember me,” the customer says. A promise like a threat, and for the first time in the duration of this exchange Kirishima feels seen by him. Acknowledged. It's the same feeling as scoring well on a test, or making a sad friend laugh. Hard-won and worth it. Kirishima can't stop the grin from breaking onto his face so he doesn't try to.

“Sure I will. I like you.”

And the look he gets for that, well, that's priceless.

“So that name?”

“Fuck off.” 

The guy recovers fast, that's for sure. Kirishima watches him skulk to the serving counter where he roots himself like a particularly irritable tree and barks at anyone who gets too close. The next customer gets an extra punch in her punch card for the wait, and when the guy's order is up, Kirishima is ready with a sharpie in hand. Amajiki has ventured back out to help with orders, steadfastly avoiding anything problem-customer-related, but he blanches when he sees what Kirishima is scribbling on the cup. “Are you insane? Do you have a death wish? Should I be getting you help?”

“Trust me,” Kirishima says. He caps the coffee and walks it to its rightful owner. “One mocha double espresso for Mr. Unforgettable.”

The guy snatches the cup. He stomps off without another word.

Thirty seconds later he stomps right back. 

“Blasty McSplode?”

Amajiki ducks under the counter. Kirishima, in the process of taking another order, smiles wide enough to cramp his cheeks.

“Hey! Back already?”

“Blasty Mc-Fucking-Splode?”

“You wouldn't give me your name. I had to take a stab at it myself. Was I close?”

“I'll show you taking a stab—”

Blasty rants and raves for a full minute, splashing mocha just about everywhere, until finally Fat Gum himself ambles out of his office to gently shoo him from the shop. Kirishima waves at him around Fat Gum’s bulk. Blasty waves his middle finger in response. When Fat Gum comes back in he raises an eyebrow at Kirishima, which, yeah, he definitely deserves, but he also passes a heavy hand through his carefully gelled hair to show that he's not really mad. Kirishima fixes his hair as best he can while Amajiki climbs out from under the counter.

“I can't believe he didn't kill you for that,” he says, his voice buffed by awe.

Kirishima gives the next customer's punch card an extra punch too. Hell, he gives her two extra punches. Why not? He's in a great mood.

:

Two days later Blasty stalks in and Kirishima can't believe his good fortune. He calls out a greeting from across the cafe and gets a glare in response, but that glare holds, a few seconds of extended eye contact, long enough to stay in Kirishima’s belly after it's ended and flutter there.

Blasty growls his order. Kirishima asks for his name. Blasty tells him to go die and Kirishima scribbles Lord Explosion Murder on the cup. He's rewarded with a snort of amusement.

“Did you see that?” he gushes to Kaminari, after Blasty has left. “He totally laughed! He liked it!”

“I saw it I saw it ow stop hitting me!” Kaminari rubs the place on his shoulder that Kirishima had been slapping repeatedly. “I dunno, man. That sounded more like a scoff to me.”

Nah, he's pretty sure he was amused.

:

The next time he comes in, after the requisite exchange (“Your name for the order?” “Eat a dick,” “Cool cool I think I'd get fired if I wrote that but cool,”) Kirishima writes King Explosion Murder on the side of the cup. 

“Better,” Blasty huffs.

Kirishima feels like cloud-walking for the rest of the day. Kaminari isn’t on shift, but when Kirishima texts him, he texts back: “I stand corrected. When are you asking him out?”

“All in due time,” Kirishima promises his phone.

:

NOVEMBER

Blasty’s schedule: 

He shows up Monday mornings, rumpled by sleep and grouchier than usual, before he heads off to class. Wednesday evenings he drinks and studies until closing time. Saturday afternoons he sits at the window with a bento. Coincidentally these are the three days and times that Kirishima is on duty. And it must be coincidental, because if it's not then that means that Blasty memorized his schedule and molded his life accordingly, learned to fit him in, looks forward to seeing him three days out of the week. Kirishima may be an optimist, but he's not delusional. He knows how dangerous a daydream like that can be. 

He’s probably just here because it’s a good place to study. And there must be an exam coming up, because lately he’s been showing up with even more books than usual, and suitcases under his eyes instead of bags. He’s crabbier, too, which Kirishima didn’t think was possible and is honestly impressed by. By this point he has unofficially become the only one willing to serve him, but this wild-eyed evolution of Problem Customer into Demon Customer From Hell just clinches it.

“Maybe you should take a break,” Kirishima says, when he brings over Blasty’s third espresso in as many hours. It’s Saturday, usually Blasty’s day to sit and gaze out the window with one of his more pensive death glares, but today he’s entombed himself in a mountain of notes and textbooks. Kirishima nudges aside a few notebooks to make room for the cup.

“Maybe you should go fuck yourself with a rake,” says Blasty, without looking up from the violent strokes of his pen. “Touch my stuff again and I’ll kill you myself, shitty hair.” 

Watching from behind the counter, Amajiki wheezes with secondhand horror. Kirishima peers at the crowded table. “Hey, where’s your bento?”

Blasty slams his pen down. “Was I not clear enough, you moron? Fuck off! Leave me alone!”

Kirishima raises his hands in surrender. Blasty’s mouth opens as if to say something else, but nothing comes out. Maybe he’s realized he’s gone a step too far. They stare at each other for a beat, and then his jaw snaps shut. He jerks his head back to his books and Kirishima retreats to the counter. 

“He can’t speak to you like that,” Amajiki says, suddenly stern. He’s always braver on someone else’s account. “I’ll tell Fat Gum, he’ll understand. We don’t have to serve him. You don’t have to take his abuse.”

“The guy’s under a lot of stress,” Kirishima says. It’s overindulgent even for him, but when he glances over his shoulder he sees Blasty wrench his gaze away. “And I think he feels bad.”

Amajiki obviously doesn’t think so, but he says nothing more, which Kirishima appreciates. By closing time Blasty is the only customer left in the shop, still hunched over his books and writing furiously. Kirishima has given him his space, and he hasn’t asked for another coffee. Amajiki is still angry enough to go tell him they’re closing—he’ll even be properly intimidating about it—but Kirishima stops him.

“I’ll lock up,” he offers. Amajiki’s look of disapproval is a blow to Kirishima’s pride, but he stands firm. So Fatgum leaves, and Amajiki leaves, with a sigh and a firm promise that he’ll be on standby if Kirishima needs anything, and then the place is empty and it’s just him, Blasty, and the scritching sound of his pen.

Kirishima takes his time. He cleans up and Blasty keeps studying. He locks the doors and Blasty keeps studying. He sits down at a table across the cafe and gets some of his own homework done, and Blasty keeps studying. Then he goes back to the machines, knowing he’ll have to clean them again, and whips up a special drink. When he’s done, he writes FIGHT ON! where the name should go.

“I don't want your fucking charity,” Blasty says as he sets it down. 

“You’ve accepted it so far,” Kirishima points out blandly, gesturing to the very obviously closed cafe. Before Blasty can bite his head off, he continues, “Anyway, don't think of it as charity. Think of it as…an investment.”

“Investment in what?” His eyes are narrowed and very red, both in the iris and the bloodshot sclera. 

Kirishima weighs the pros and cons of his next move and decides to go for it. He hazards a wink. “In my future best customer.”

Blasty is unimpressed. Like, fatally unimpressed. Like, it's impressive how unimpressed he looks. Aggressively deadpan. He has to practice that look in the mirror.

But he takes the cup, and when Kirishima peeks at him later, he's smirking at the sharpie message. 

:

Monday morning sees Blasty quiet and terse, but civil. Civil for him, anyway. Kaminari is disturbed.

“What did you do?” he hisses once Blasty bulls out of the shop. 

“Nothing.” Even if he barely met Kirishima’s eyes. Not promising.

“Did you fight?”

“No.”

“Did he turn you down?”

“No. Dude, nothing happened.”

Kaminari raises his hands. For a minute they work in silence.

“So if you didn’t get turned down, are you gonna ask him out soon?”

Kirishima hands off an order, and then lets his customer service smile drop. “Now isn’t a good time. I’ve got to give him some space.”

“Okay, but what about all your fortune favors the manly stuff? Isn’t that the reason you got this far in the first place?”

“How far is that? I still don’t know his name.” He can feel Kaminari’s eyes on him, and he tries to rally. Picks up his smile and pastes it back on. “Hey, enough about me. How’s it going with you and Shinsou?”

Kaminari lights up. For the next twenty minutes he regales Kirishima—and the whole cafe—with his loud and maudlin romantic woes, all he’s so hot the bags under his eyes should not be so hot and his dry sense of humor is so hard to read and I think he’s flirting with me but I thought that with Jirou and she and Momo still won’t let me live it down. 

Kirishima listens and laughs and offers advice, and he does his job, and he doesn’t think about his grumpy favorite customer even once. Really he doesn’t.

:

When Blasty comes in on Wednesday, he looks well rested. Kirishima waves before getting back to orders. This is apparently not good enough for Blasty, because he scowls at the people in line and then stalks over to the serving counter and proceeds to glare daggers, like he expects Kirishima to just up and abandon his work to attend to him. Like, yeah, he wants to, but it wouldn’t be right. Even if Blasty scares other customers away from the counter. And even if Kirishima is getting steadily more distracted the longer he stares. 

On the third order he messes up, Tetsutetsu intervenes. 

“Go on,” he sighs, nudging Kirishima aside as the next customer steps up. “Make it fast, bro.”

Kirishima promises him a meat bun after work and hurries over. “Hey. You’re looking better. Did you ace the test?”

“Obviously.”

“That’s great. Congratulations.”

There’s a stalled moment. Kirishima taps his fingers on the counter. Blasty is visibly grinding his molars.

“Cool, so I’m gonna get back to work, I’ll make you your regular—”

“Last week,” Blasty starts. He bites out each word. “Last week, I was.” He stops, lips pressed tight and bloodless.

“An asshole,” Kirishima supplies.

Blasty hums low in his throat. Or he growls. Either way it’s as close to an admission as Kirishima is going to get, and it clearly took a hilarious amount of self restraint for even that much. 

Blasty clears his throat and says, “That drink you made. What was in it?”

Kirishima is a little thrown by the shift. “Xoaxacl chocolate, a little chili powder. I thought you might like an extra kick.”

“It wasn’t half bad.” There’s color along the bridge of his nose. “I’ll take one of those.”

Maybe Kirishima had been more upset by Blasty’s behavior on Saturday than he thought, because now he feels loads lighter, any old hurts dissipating like clouds under the sun. He smiles, and Blasty blinks a lot, the color spreading to his cheeks and his ears and down his throat.

“One special order, comin’ right up!”

Kirishima turns around and reaches for a cup and marker. And then, behind him: “Bakugou Katsuki.”

He pauses. “Sorry?”

Blasty is rubbing roughly at his mouth. His whole face is glowing. “You heard me.”

“Bakugou,” says Kirishima, trying the taste on his tongue. Bakugou, full of plosives and hard consonants. “I love it. It suits you.”

Bakugou’s eyes snap wide, then narrow just as fast. “Why the fuck should I care what you think of my name? It doesn't need your approval, dipshit.”

When Kirishima is finished making his drink, Bakugou snatches it from his hand and whirls on his heel, a dramatic spray of foam following him out. Kirishima tingles where their fingers touched.

Then he watches Bakugou take a deep pull, and he has to go clean the latte machine before he’s murdered by the lethal and lovely line of Bakugou’s throat.

:

DECEMBER

“Y’know, I still don’t know what you study.”

“Probably because it’s none of your business.” 

“Right. Except how it kind of is literally my business, since I let you study here, in my place of work, after we’ve closed.”

This has become their ritual. On Saturdays Bakugou stay past closing, sometimes doing schoolwork, sometimes helping clean up, sometimes just chatting. He never stays past nine thirty—Kirishima has learned that he likes to turn in before ten every night, which is bizarrely adorable—but it doesn’t matter. Any amount of time with him is always going to feel like a blessing, and it’s never going to feel like enough.

“You’re not doing me any favors, shitty hair, get that thought out of your empty skull this instant.”

“Sure, sure.”

Kirishima finishes cleaning up. Once the last table is wiped down he sits heavily across from Bakugou, happy to finally be off his feet. His eyes feel swollen, too big for his skull. His grades have yet to pick up despite the extra hours of studying he’s been putting in. He presses his knuckles into his eyes for a moment of relief.

“I’m a med student.”

He blinks the colorless starbursts from his eyes. Bakugou, across from him, comes into focus: his head is still down, his gaze still fixed on his book. Sometimes he wears glasses, thick dark frames that Kirishima loves, and today is one of those days. He grins.

“No shit! You’re going to be a doctor?”

“A surgeon.” Some color rises in his ears; he looks pleased. Maybe because of how awed Kirishima sounds. But why wouldn’t he? Anyone working to help people is worthy of admiration, and manly as hell.

“Dude, that’s awesome. I’m studying to be a nurse.” 

The corner of Bakugou’s mouth twitches upward. “Nurses are badass.”

“I think so. You a doctor, me a nurse. I bet we’d make a good team.” 

Bakugou scoffs, even as pink starts to pool in his collarbones. Kirishima still doesn’t get why certain things make him flush, but he’s happy to learn. He rests his cheek in his hand and tries not to smile too dopily. “Y’know, for a med student you sure drink a lot of coffee. You know too much of this stuff is terrible for you, right?”

“I’m going to tell your boss you said that and get you fired.”

“That’s really not how it works.”

Bakugou’s glare is magnified by the glasses. He takes a long, aggressive sip of his drink—the strength it takes Kirishima not to burst out laughing is Herculean, truly, with the slurping and the deliberate eye contact and all, because only Bakugou could turn coffee into an intimidation tactic. Then he says, “Whatever. I'm invincible.”

Kirishima bursts out laughing. Bakugou grumbles beneath his breath, but his threats delight Kirishima more than they intimidate; Kirishima’s laughter seems to confound Bakugou more than it enrages. They're good for each other, is his sudden thought, and it thrills him.

He’s a little teary and a little breathless by the time he gets himself under control. Through the blurry smudge of his eyelashes he sees Bakugou. Then he’s breathless all over again.

Bakugou’s face—Kirishima wouldn’t say it softens. But there is a softness there, in his unsmiling mouth, in his brow, stern but smooth. He’s just—watching him, steadily. Intent. 

“Hey,” Kirishima says, and it’s easy, it’s so easy. “Make sure you come in on Christmas, alright? I get out early, and I want to ask you something.”

And maybe he expects Bakugou to fluster, or to scowl, or to demand to hear his question then and there. He doesn’t.

 “Fine,” he says, and he just keeps watching. Like he wouldn’t mind watching Kirishima forever.

Maybe Kirishima’s projecting a little.

:

Bakugou would probably tear him a new one for spreading the news around, but Kirishima is too excited to keep it to himself. 

“I’m happy for you,” says Amajiki, sounding worried but sincere.

“Congrats, man,” says Tetsutetsu, and then they have a celebratory arm wrestling match.   

Kaminari is a little more suspicious. “So you haven’t asked him out yet?” 

He’s standing on a stepladder, hanging Christmas decorations while Kirishima mans the counter. Bakugou has already stopped by for his morning coffee, and it’s been a slow morning since. The few people trickling in have been couples, sharing hot chocolate and slices of cake. Kirishima has spent an inordinate amount of time daydreaming about similar situations. In his head it’s usually a little less cozy and a little more explosive, but he likes it better that way.

“Technically no.” He tops the latte he’s working on with extra foam. “I asked him to come by on Christmas, and I’m going to ask him out then. I’ve got a plan.” 

Kaminari doesn’t need to know how nebulous said plan is. At the moment it includes things like Step One: Bribe With Spicy Food (Addendum: Can Christmas Cake Be Spicy?), Step Two: Sweep Bakugou Off His Feet, Step C: Profess Manly Adoration, Step N: Kiss Just Like, Wow, A Whole Bunch. The truth is he’s always been more of an in the moment kind of guy. But he likes Bakugou—he really, really likes Bakugou. He doesn’t want to screw everything up with an impulsive word or action. And if that means taking precautions he wouldn’t usually bother with, he’ll take them. 

“I dunno, man,” says Kaminari. “Midoriya and Momo are all about plans. You…not so much.”

Kirishima decides Kaminari knows him too well. “Any progress with Shinsou?”

That does the trick. Kaminari brightens like the bunch of LED Christmas lights in his arms. He practically swoons, the stepladder protesting beneath him. “Dude, you have no idea. I took a leaf out of your book, just asked him straight out, and lemme tell you I knew Hitoshi was hot but I’ve never seen anyone blush so cute in my whole damn life—”

He swoons a little too hard, arms wheeling, and Kirishima barely vaults the counter in time to catch him. There’s some polite applause from the handful of patrons in the shop. Kirishima and Kaminari bow, and then Fat Gum tells them to quit fooling and get back to work. 

Kirishima does not spend the rest of his shift thinking about how Kaminari called Shinsou Hitoshi. And he definitely does not think about calling Bakugou by his first name on Christmas. 

He does, however, scrawl Katsuki on no less than three to-go cups. 

:

Kirishima does not see Bakugou on Christmas. He does not see much of anyone, or anything, on Christmas. He can barely see his own hand in front of his face, which could be the delirium brought on by the fever or the copious amount of sweat rolling into his eyes, which is also brought on by the fever. 

As badly as he wants to push through the pain, not even he is hardheaded enough to try and drag his sorry carcass to work. It’s hard enough to drag his sorry carcass to the bathroom and back. He tries to text his coworkers (Tamaki? Kaminari? Tetsutetsu? He can’t recall who’s working today, so he texts all of them) and asks them to apologize to Bakugou, but the characters are swimming in his vision and he’s pretty sure the result is gibberish. Which means it’s over. He’s going to be laid up in bed for weeks, he’s going to fail his finals, and come next semester he’ll have a new class schedule, and he’ll never see Bakugou again. He’s blown it. Romance is dead.

Someone’s knocking on the door. He doesn’t answer it right away—it takes a minute for him to peel the rhythm of the pounding door from the pounding in his head. It takes a minute longer for him to stumble up and open it.

“You look like shit,” says Bakugou. He’s standing there looking like god’s gift to the earth, even scowling, even bundled in hat and scarf and mask, even laden down with groceries. Kirishima is pretty sure he’s hallucinating.

“Well? Are you letting me in or what?”

Kirishima lets him in. Bakugou toes out of his boots and then he plants himself in the middle of the room, jerking his head this way and that, taking it all in: the kitchenette-slash-living room, the card table turned dining table, the clashing red and hot pink interior design. “This place is a shitshow,” he declares. “No roommate?”

“She’s spending Christmas with friends.” More specifically, Mina had left last night with the implication that if Kirishima’s date went well he was free to come back to the apartment. There was a lot of obnoxious winking and innuendos. It was sweet of her, if a little mortifying and inappropriate, and in the end entirely wasted when he woke up with the mother of all migraines.

Bakugou drops the groceries on the table and starts shucking his outerwear. The hat, the scarf, the puffy coat. Kirishima sways in place and watches him. He’s wearing a red button down, and beneath that a black tee with the Punisher logo on it. It’s just a little bit dressier than his everyday attire. Is this what he would have worn on their date? If Kirishima had ever gotten to ask him properly? He sighs, forlorn.

Bakugou turns back to him, and they stare at each other. They keep staring at each other until Bakugou reaches past him to close the door, which was still hanging open over his shoulder. Whoops.

“God damn, you’re out of it. Get back to bed, loser.”

He cuffs him over the head, except it’s less of a cuff and more of a ruffle, exasperated and fond. So Kirishima totters back to bed. Hallucination or not, he’s happy to see Bakugou one last time. 

:

When he wakes up, it’s to the rich, earthy kinds of aromas he associates with home cooking, if not necessarily his home. His first thought is that Mina came home early, but she’s just as useless in the kitchen as he is. So either a burglar broke in to cook for him or he wasn’t having an incredibly vivid fever dream, as he’d previously assumed. Which means Bakugou is really, actually, truly in his home.

The door to his bedroom bangs open while he’s wrestling with the sweat-soaked sheets. Bakugou is armed to the teeth with soup, water, tea, pills, and towel, all laid out and puffing steam on a serving tray that Kirishima doesn’t remember owning. He raises an eyebrow at Kirishima’s ogling and knees him in the side.

“Sit up. You have to eat and rehydrate.”

The tray lands on Kirishima’s lap, and then the water and the pills are pushed into his hands. While he’s downing both, Bakugou makes a sour face at the state of his room, and bustles out to change the bedside wastebasket for a clean bag. Kirishima would be more humiliated if he weren’t so happy to see him at all. 

When Bakugou comes back he’s got a thermometer in one hand and the card table’s folding chair under an arm. He kicks the chair open, spins it around, and slings one leg over the side. He brandishes the thermometer like a weapon of war.

“Open.”

The thermometer jabs under Kirishima’s tongue. He winces only a little, and his voice comes out nasally and muffled and a little wondering. “I can’t believe you’re really real.”

 “What else would I be?” 

“I don’t know, a dream? A near death hallucination?”

Bakugou rolls his eyes. “Shut up until I get your temperature.”

A few seconds later the thermometer chirps. Bakugou snaps it up and glares at it, and then something in his face relaxes.

“Barely a fever. You’ll live, moron.”

Kirishima asks, “How’d you know where I live?”

“Your dumbass coworker said you were sick. I threatened him bodily harm until he gave me your address.” Like it’s so obvious. Which, yeah, maybe it is. Probably Kaminari, who is both susceptible to Bakugou’s intimidation tactics and has been pushing for them to get together. When Bakugou snaps open the damp towel and starts mopping at Kirishima’s sweaty face, grumbling beneath his breath, he decides that he’s grateful. 

For the first time he’s realizing how silly his fever induced fears were. He might be down for the count for a few days, but he won’t miss his finals, even if he might fail them. And even if his schedule falls out of sync with Bakugou’s, it’s not like he’ll be gone forever. They have a mutual friend in Midoriya, as Kirishima learned recently. Or else he could just loiter around the cafe until they learn each other’s new schedules. This doesn’t have to be the end at all. Bakugou proved that by coming here.

“Sorry, Bakugou,” he croaks. “I really wanted to be there with you today. Was looking forward to it all week.” 

Bakugou dismisses him with a roll of his eyes. He folds his arms across the back of the chair and rests his chin on them. “So? What happened?” 

“End of the semester. Bad grades. Finals.” He waves a vague hand to encompass the studying and the stress and the lack of sleep. It probably didn’t help that he ran himself into the ground trying to justify a night off with Bakugou, though he doubts that comes across with his flappy wrist.

“Guess it all caught up to me.” He spoons some soup into his mouth. “Oh my god, this is delicious. You made this?”

“I’m great at everything, obviously.” His mask twists with a frown. “You’re having trouble in school?”

“’M not a genius like you.” 

“It’s not about being a genius, it’s about studying habits. You need someone to quiz you, keep you on task.” A pause, nearly short enough to be casual. “I’ll do it.”

Kirishima lowers the bowl he had been tipping over for the last of the broth. “You?”

“What, you think I can’t? I’ll be the best damn tutor you’ve ever seen, shitty hair.” Another pause. This one is more thoughtful.

“What?” says Kirishima.

Bakugou shakes his head. His voice has dropped to a low rumble in his chest. “Never seen you with your hair down. You should chuck all your gel, it’s not so shitty like this.”

“Didn’t think I’d have company to put it up for. I’d have to flip upside down to do it right, I probably would have passed out and died.”

Bakugou snorts. “You’d think a nurse would take better care of himself.”

Kirishima snorts back, with a little more phlegm. “You’d think a doctor would have better bedside manner.”

All of a sudden Bakugou’s scowl is a little less—scowly, than it usually is. More searching. More intense. Their eyes meet for a second too long and it’s like someone is pouring nitroglycerin down the column of Kirishima’s spine.

“Sounds like you want to know more about my bedside manner.” 

He’s smirking, and there are so many things—so many things—that Kirishima could say to that. Things that would be smart or things that would be manly or things that would be safe. So many things. 

His fever speaks for him. “Well, if you’re offering.”

The smirk falls away and that intensity comes roaring back. Kirishima’s insides ignite. Bakugou rises slowly and doesn’t once blink, and his chair scrapes on the floor, and Kirishima has the thought I hope that doesn’t scratch the wood— 

Then Bakugou is kissing him. The rough weave of his mask and the heat of his mouth behind it, like a brand. His open eyes. His hand cradling the curve of Kirishima’s skull. It’s overwhelming and it’s nothing at all, less of a kiss than a touch, less of a touch than a promise. Kirishima clutches at him because he’ll fall away otherwise, he’s hungry and dizzy and unmoored, and he’s got one hand clenched in Bakugou’s shirt and one in his hair and it’s soft, how is it so soft? His heart lurches in his chest.

No no no, not his heart. “Bakugou, back up, I—oh shit—”

He pulls away and flops over the side of the bed, unable to see if his hail mary aim for the wastebasket came through. Only once he’s done tossing his guts does he register the steadying arm around his shoulders. The hand pushing back his hair. It’s warm and square and dry, with callouses on every finger. 

“You’re disgusting,” Bakugou says from somewhere above him. He sounds like he’s trying not to laugh.

“You’re the one who just kissed a sick man. What does that make you?”

“Magnanimous as fuck.”

Kirishima laughs. It hurts every part of him, but it’s good. It’s really good.

“I really like you, Bakugou. Like a lot.” 

It comes out so easy, just like that day in the cafe. He’s still half upside down and his mouth is still sour. Bakugou’s hand is still in his hair. Through the damp red locks that escape his grip Kirishima can see him, and for the first time since they met, he looks starry-eyed. It is the most amazing feeling in the world, even when Bakugou blinks the stars away and glowers. 

“Is that why you wanted me to come by the cafe today? I already knew that, dipshit.” 

His voice is dismissive and mocking, but his hand is still in Kirishima’s hair, and his collarbones have flooded pink. It’s just like Bakugou to flirt and kiss him within an inch of his life only to get shy about a little sincerity. 

“Yeah. That’s all I wanted to say. I was hoping we could go out and, I don’t know, look at Christmas lights. Bake a cake together. Pelt each other with snowballs or something. I like you a lot.” 

Bakugou helps him sit up. At his urging Kirishima rinses his mouth with water and then sips some of the tea. It’s lemony and sweet.

Bakugou demands, “What took you so long? I don’t like idiots who beat around the bush, Kirishima. Didn’t think you were like that.”

Kirishima. He doesn’t think he ever wants anyone else to say his name. “Yeah, Kaminari said the same thing. But I didn’t want to mess things up with you.”

“So you decided to be a dumbass? How’d that work out for you?”

He mulls it over. “The guy I like is seeing me half dead, so that’s embarrassing. On the other hand, the guy I like is taking care of me while I’m sick, which is pretty sweet. Net gain, I think.” He’s heartened by the amused squint of Bakugou’s eyes. “So? Want to go out with me?”

For a long moment, Bakugou doesn’t say anything. He just watches, steady, intent, and his hand weaves slow, thoughtless paths through Kirishima’s hair. Kirishima has never been in love before, but he thinks this must be it. He can’t imagine anything else hurting quite so sweetly. 

“I’m not dating anyone while I’m still in school,” Bakugou says. “That would be fucking stupid.”

“Okay. After med school is residency, right? You think you’ll be dating then?”

Bakugou’s expression isn’t starry-eyed anymore, but it’s pretty damn close. 

He says, “Stick around and find out.”

:

JANUARY

A new semester means a new schedule, and Kirishima’s does not match up with Bakugou’s even once. It’s a little bit of a bummer, sure, but he’ll survive.

The last customer of the day leaves the cafe two minutes to closing. Kirishima sighs, cracks his neck, and starts prepping the last drink of the day. He sets it on the counter and then he starts wiping down tables, and when the clock strikes the hour, Kaminari goes to lock the doors.

They burst open before he gets there and Kaminari jumps two feet in the air and falls flat on his back. In strides Bakugou, and Kirishima’s heart flutters even as he stands back and cackles at Kaminari for a solid thirty seconds. 

“Kirishima,” Kaminari whines from the floor, “your boyfriend’s being mean to me!”

Bakugou kicks at him. “We’re not dating.” 

“Ha! Sure, and I’m not dating an insomniac with a fine ass—okay okay you’re not dating, quit kicking me!”

He does, but only after Kirishima scolds him and entices him away with a drink. He grabs it off the counter and passes it to Bakugou. Then he snatches it back.

“Forgot the name, just a sec!”

“You already know my name,” Bakugou groans, but he follows Kirishima behind the counter with barely a frown. “Hurry up, shitty hair, I don’t have all night to tutor your ass.”

“Tutor your ass,” Kaminari laughs from the floor. Bakugou growls.

Kirishima finds the marker and uncaps it. Before he can start to write, Bakugou threads their fingers together and squeezes hard.

“I can’t write your name with my left hand, Bakugou.”

Bakugou hooks his chin over Kirishima’s shoulder. “Sounds like a you problem.”

Well, Kirishima likes a challenge. The final result is messy, but legible. He garnishes it with a heart. “Here.”

“Stupid,” Bakugou huffs, but he accepts the cup and takes a swig. Then he yanks Kirishima toward the exit, where Kaminari is finally peeling himself off the floor.

“We’re still on for Saturday, right?” he asks, dusting himself off. “Double--”

“If you say double date, I’ll set you on fire,” says Bakugou. “And only if shitty hair here passes his test with flying colors.”

Kaminari endeavors to look contrite--his face wasn’t really built for it--but when Bakugou’s back is turned, he shoots Kirishima a subtle thumbs up and mouths double date. Kirishima returns the favor.

Out on the street it’s cold and biting. Bakugou hisses, and takes another gulp of his drink. Kirishima watches him glance at the name on the side of the cup again. If he pointed out the color in his cheeks he knows Bakugou would say it was the cold, or the heat of the drink, and then he’d punch him for good measure. But Kirishima can see his smile, hard-won and worth it. He can see how he passes a thumb over the shaky black characters, over and over: Katsuki.

:

[theprinceofflies]

Ship: Wilford/JJ

Day: One out of Twenty one

I’m pretty sure me and @basicallywhite-babe talked about this au. Again I have about a thousand posts so it would be very hard to find every ask i got this off of.

(edit four days later i found it https://theprinceofflies.tumblr.com/post/655080369188667392/0oh-how-about-corpse-bride-nightmare-before)

~`~`~`~`~

JJ gasped as the skeleton rose from the fountain. The creatures around him cheered as the skeleton brushed himself off. A pink suit adorned his body and he grinned at the monsters. The skeleton and laughed and looked around. “Well thank you all for making this Halloween extra special. Dark will now read off the awards,” he said. 

“You're the scariest Wilford!” a monster called. 

Wilford laughed. “Thanks.”

The king of pumpkins and madness grinned at the monsters. He turned to the hanging tree where JJ was hiding. JJ gasped and quickly ducked behind the tree. Wilford frowned and turned away. “Let's read the awards!”

JJ peeked out from the tree to see the Mayor stepping up on a pedestal. The mayor was a short wan with a head that turned back and forth depending on his mood. “For most scares in a-”

JJ was suddenly whipped around to face an angry doctor. “Vhat are you doing out here?” Henrik hissed. “You know you’re not allowed to be out yet!”

Henrik sighed and pulled JJ away with him. He stopped when he stumbled forward. JJ pointed to his missing arm in Henrik’s hand and frowned. Leafs fell out of his arm socket and Henrik groaned.  “This is why you can’t go out.” 

JJ sniffed and followed Henrik out of the crowd. “Anti vas so vorried about you!”

JJ rolled his eyes. ‘I doubt he was flirting with the mayor at the ceremony.’

Henrik sighed. “Well come back home. And don’t drug me ever again!”

~`~`~

JJ giggled silently as Henrik snored. A bowl of cold soup sat next to him. JJ smiled giddily as he left the house. He breathed a sigh of relief and headed down the road. He spun in the streets and smiled at the creatures that he passed. 

JJ reached the gates of the graveyard and opened it with a loud creak. The mute mused to himself that if he could hum he would. Curse Henrik for forgetting to give him vocal cords. He walked through the gravestones and stopped at the herb patch. Being stuck inside did allow him to cook. And he needed more nightshade. Anti had stolen most of his stash for who knows what. He started to collect the flowers. He smiled softly as he picked the flowers. JJ froze when he felt a hand on his shoulder. “Hello!”

JJ jumped and turned, falling to the ground and covering his face for protection. “Oh, I didn’t mean to scare you.”

JJ looked up and gasped. ‘You're the pumpkin king.’

Wilford snorted. “Yes, I am. And you,” his grin widened, “you are new! I love new things! We haven't gotten a new monster in so long.” He sighed and grabbed JJ’s face, turning it so he could look at the stitches. He pulled the doll-like monster up off the ground and grinned. 

JJ was well, he looked human enough in shape. He was made up of a light blue material that served as his skin. Stitches littered his body. His eyes were glassy, one was a lighter shade of blue than the other. He was told they were taken from an old doll. He wore a bowler hat that had been a gift from Henrik. Under it, he had black hair that was normally a mess. “You're beautiful.”

JJ blushed and shook his head. “You must be the project Henrik and Anti were working on. They wouldn’t let me see you.” Wilford whispered, tracing the stitches that made it look like JJ was always smiling. 

JJ grabbed his arm and pushed him away. The skeleton tilted his head and took a step back. “Sorry.”

JJ hugged himself. ‘I’m a failure.’

“What,” Wilford asked, “no you’re not!”

‘I fall apart easily, I'm clumsy and I don’t have a voice box.’

Wilford tilted his skull. “Fall apart?”

JJ nodded. ‘I’m sorry for bothering you, I'll be on my way.’

“You were not bothering me at all.”

‘I’m sure the pumpkin king has better things to do than talk with a failed science experiment,’ JJ signed with a silent laugh.

“I am doing something very important. I’m talking with a beautiful man whom I found in the graveyard.”

JJ blushed as Wilford pulled him closer. “So what are you doing here?”

‘I needed herbs.’

Wilford hummed. “You cook?”

JJ nodded. ‘Yes, I get rather bored cooped up in the lab.’

Wilford nodded and sighed. “Boredom is awful. I’ll tell ya that. I’m bored of this whole holiday. It’s the same blasted thing every year.”

JJ nodded. ‘This is my first Halloween. It’s quite lovely.’

“I’m glad someone likes it.”

‘Well if you don't, why don’t you try something new?’ JJ asked. 

Wilford gasped. “Your right!” He pulled JJ in for a hug. “Your totally right,” He whispered, turning away from JJ, still holding his arm. “This is-'' he paused when he felt something tap his wrist. He stared at the now severed arm in his hand that was waving at him. “Oops,” he whispered. 

JJ giggled silently and took the arm from the skeleton. He pulled a needle and thread from his pocket and got to work stitching his arm back on. “You have leaves inside of you?”

JJ sighed. ‘It was apparently the only thing they had. I also have stuffing from a teddy bear.’

Wilford nodded and watched him. “I can do that too!” He said and popped his head off. “See!”

JJ finished sewing his arm on and clapped. “Dark always says I should put some use to this. He’s always a grumpy gus though.” Wilford muttered tossing his head back and forth. “Something about scaring more people. I, fuck,” he cried when he dropped his head.

JJ gasped and leapt forward, catching it before it hit the ground. “Oh hello,” Wilford whispered, staring into JJs eyes. 

JJ smiled and stood up, placing him back onto his body. Wilford gripped JJ’s arms and sighed. “Thank you.”

JJ nodded and looked away. ‘I should go. Henrik will be waking up soon.’

“Of course,” Wilford whispered. “Feel free to come back any time.”

‘I wasn't aware you owned the graveyard.’

Wilford blushed. “I mean I am the king of the land.”

JJ raised an eyebrow. ‘The pumpkin patch?’

“Fine fine. But please visit.” Wilford said and grabbed JJ’s hands. 

‘I’ll try.’ JJ signed as he pulled away from the skeleton. 

“Goodbye, doll.”

‘Goodbye.’ JJ signed as he walked off.

Wilford sighed dreamily and let himself fall backwards. “Oh, he’s amazing.”

Something barked and he laughed. “Hey Chica,” he whispered as the ghost dog floated over him. She had a pink pumpkin as a nose and she nudged Wilfrods shoulder.

Chica barked again and tilted her head. “I just met the nicest creature. Do you know what he told me? He told me to change things up!” 

Wilford sat up. “But how? Dang it.”

He stood up and walked towards the pumpkin patch. “A walk will help. Oh, I wish Jay would come with me. He’s full of amazing ideas.”

He clicked his tongue and Chica floated over to him. “We’ll play fetch on the way there!”

Chica barked and did a flip in the air. Wilford laughed. “Knew you would like that.”

~`~`~

“You snuck out!” Anti hissed. 

“Twice in fact,” Henrik added. 

Anti glitched widely and approached JJ. His tail swung behind him and he leaned down to stare at JJ. “And where did you go?”

‘Just the graveyard. For herbs.’

Henrik frowned and tapped his arm. “You vere gone awfully long.”

JJ nodded. ‘I lost track of time,’ he signed as Anti circled him like a shark would its prey. 

Henrik raised an eyebrow and Anti pounced on the doll-like creature. JJ gasped as he fell backwards. Anti pulled a note from his pocket and hissed. “Meet me on Friday at Mary Reedfields grave, three o’clock!”

JJ blinked and blushed. “You met someone?” Henrik cried. 

“Who is it? Not the mayor right?” Anti hissed, his green eyes turning black.

JJ shook his head. ‘He’s not the mayor. I’m not going to steal your boyfriend.’

“You aren't meeting vith any verevolves right?” Henrik asked. 

JJ sighed. ‘No werewolves Henrik. I’m not stealing your boyfriend either.’

Henrik blushed. “He’s not my boyfriend.”

Anti giggled. “Oh so sharing health tips and making out isn’t dating?” 

“Anti!”

‘Well, Anti I wouldn't say anything. Considering you have the mayor wrapped around your finger.’

Anti hissed. “You’ll do good not to tease me! I am the dark web!”

‘Yes yes and you are on top of me, please get off,’ JJ signed and waved Anti off. 

Anti laughed and hopped off of him. “I won’t hurt ya but Henrik on the other hand.”

“JJ you’re grounded. And you vill not be meeting zhis mystery person!”

JJ stood up quickly and gasped. ‘What! Please Hen!’

“Nien, to your room vith you.”

JJ sighed and stormed off. Of course, his creators had to ruin everything. Maybe if they paid more attention to him than their new experiment he wouldn't be such a brat. JJ opened the door to his room and slipped inside. He’d make it, somehow. 

~`~`~

Wilford paced back and forth, muttering to himself. “It’s got to be in here somewhere! What does it mean?”

Chica yipped and Wilford brushed her away. “Not now girl.”

Chica yipped again and floated over to the calendar. “What is it? I know I haven't left the tower in a while but,” he trailed off. “I missed my meeting with JJ.”

Chica yipped again and Wilford shook his head. “He’ll be fine. I have different things to worry about.”

Chica growled and floated back to her bed. Wilford grabbed a string of Christmas lights and spun them around his electric chair. “What is the meaning of Christmas? A simple question that I can’t figure out the answer t-” he stared at the window. 

There was a basket hanging from a rope. Wilford opened the window and took the basket. He looked for a creature but saw no one. He took the basket with a soft smile. “Looks like I've got an admirer, Chica Bica.” 

~`~`~

JJ held his chest and smiled. Anti wasn’t ever going to let him out again after this stunt. He blushed softly and walked away from Wilford’s tower. He reached the wall and stepped out of the gate. He sighed as he sat down, leaning against the wall. 

Gosh, he was a mess. He picked up a thorny flower and smiled as he picked the green petals off. He gasped as the petals went up in flames and the thorns grew. A star appeared on the top as it burned. The flames danced, reflected in JJ’s glass eyes before it turned to ash in his hand. 

JJ stood up and stumbled away. He had to tell Henrik.

[shesclearlya3]

Haunted (Happy Halloween!)

pairing: Xavier Plympton x Reader

word count: 3,133

warnings/notes: modern time, language, haunted house shenanigans, lots of scares and fluff

Halloween Night

You clenched the passenger door of Xavier's van as he pulled into the gravel parking lot of one of the scariest haunted houses in California. The sky was darkening as the forest around you became more ominous. You heard the excited giggles of Brooke Thompson and Montana Duke in the back as Chet Clancy and Ray Powell spoke of how "unscared they were."

You thoroughly enjoyed October and the Halloween festivities. However, you always avoided haunted houses of any kind. You felt great anxiety at the thought of being scared, and the last one you went to left a wrong impression on your ten-year-old brain. You were only convinced to come tonight because of your friends. You thought being with them would help ease your stress, and the boys had a sense of humor that could make you forget your troubles for the night. 

You were almost frozen as the doors swung open, and your friends piled out, the crisp air ruffling your hair as Xavier walked around to your side, opening the door for you. He could see the tension in your shoulders the entire ride from your shared apartment. 

"Babe, you good?" he asked, placing a hand on your leg. 

"I'm nervous," you admitted, unbuckling your seatbelt with shaky hands. Xavier helped you out, wrapping an arm around you as he shut the door. "I'd rather be at home."

"We'll keep you safe, y/n!" Ray said, nudging Chet in the bicep. "I'd say we're scarier than anything you'll find in there." he stuck a thumb towards the entrance of the forest, where people were all but running to get in line for tickets. 

Montana and Brooke let out a belly laugh, pointing out Ray's lanky figure compared to Chet's buff physique. Even Xavier smirked, pressing a kiss to your head as you follow your friends to hell on Earth. 

As you waited in line, you focused on the music playing through a speaker. It was a nice but temporary distraction to your pounding heart. You were humming Monster Mash, as Chet talked about the year before someone had a heart attack and died in the forest.

"Nobody died!" Brooke said, reaching up to smack the back of his thick head. You swallowed, leaning against Xavier, who was mumbling to himself. 

"It's true," a girl in front of you turned around, her eyes sparkling with interest. "I was here. It was some older guy, they jumped out and scared him and he went right down." her friends behind her were nodding in agreement. 

"Thank you!" Montana said her tone flat as the girl turned around, happy with her input into the story. Montana sidled to your opposite side, meeting Xavier's eyes over your head. "I wouldn't listen to her, y/n, it's not that scary in there."

You winced as a shrill scream coming from the forest interrupted Montana, before the sounds of roaring laughter filled the air as a girl and her friends came running out, screaming at the top of their lungs. Masked characters came running out, waving their bloody weapons, and shouted after them. 

"Lord strike me down." you said to whoever was listening. Xavier hugged you tighter as you progressed in line. For the next twenty minutes, you focused on the Halloween playlist, and Xavier asking you if you were okay every few minutes. 

The closer you got to the front, the more distractions that came along. You were eventually talking and laughing with your group as the boys tried to decide who was man enough to go first. 

When it was your turn to pay, you had to sign a waiver. Your hands shook as you scrawled your name, and you were given wristbands. You glanced at the names of all three attractions, apparently tame to scariest.

 "Let's go!" Ray cheered, running to the first one. The Hayride. The line was small, and you guys were definitely on the next ride. Montana and Brooke were holding onto you, both admitting they were a little nervous. Xavier was arguing with the boys over why he can't go first in the mazes; he was protecting you. You smiled, thinking maybe it would be okay after all.

It wasn't long before the line grew, and the tractor pulling two trailers arrived. You took a deep breath as they starting boarding. 

The boys told you to pick a spot in the first trailer, and you settled in the middle. You sat between Brooke and Xavier as everyone found a place. You glanced behind you through the caged trailer, seeing characters walking around and throwing themselves at people. Someone dropped their drink and took off in the other direction. 

You felt the engine start and multiple people around you cheered. Ray was hooting, and Chet was clapping. You laughed when Ray said, "that was the whitest shit ever."

You listened as an automated voice came over the speaker, spouting basic safety rules, and to exit the vehicle only due to emergencies or when it came to a stop at the forest. You held your breath as the driver pulled onto the dirt track, soon encasing the trailer in darkness as people giggled and cheered.

"This is kind of exciting..." you said to Xavier, who allowed you to lean into him. 

"I say that now, at least." you smiled as Xavier laughed. 

"You'll be fine, I promise." he said before you both yelled in fright as someone ran up to the ride and beat on the metal cage. Brooke was on Montana's lap as the guy ran down the wagon, scaring others and yelling like a maniac. 

You felt the adrenaline as more people came out, climbing onto the ride and overall scaring the shit out of everyone. You found yourself laughing and screaming with your friends and having a great time. You almost peed yourself at the sight of Chet sitting on Ray's lap, screaming bloody murder as a lunatic tried grabbing at them from the outside. 

You had to admit some of the scenes they set up were pretty gnarly, making you and Brooke gag as Xavier and the boys gawked at the fake gore. Other times you rolled your eyes at the cheesy parts. Before you knew it, the ride was over, and there was the entrance to the Fear Forest, where you had to wander around the dimly lit grounds to find your way out. 

You felt the adrenaline wear off as you followed the guys out, holding tightly to Xavier's hands as people all but ran to get in line. The girls followed behind, talking about the guy pretending to cut a woman's legs off on a dirty medical table. 

You had a few groups ahead, so you took the time to hold on tightly to Xavier as he talked about being hungry. You listened to him speak about these nachos he had the year before, and you felt your belly growl in response.

 "You're smiling," he commented, smiling down at you. "Are you feeling better, I take it?" 

"Well the first time was alright," you said, "I'm not sure about..." you swallowed, looking into the dark forest. You heard screaming and the sound of fake chainsaws. "That."

"They're not going to split us up this time right?" Chet asked loudly. You froze, gripping Xavier tighter until he was begging for you to ease your grip. 

"They better not!" Montana and Brooke said simultaneously. You could tell they were scared too, even Montana, who was hardly scared of anything. "It looks like we don't have to use flashlights at least."

The only group separating you from the forest was given permission to go. You held onto Xavier tightly as Ray and Chet bounced in place, still arguing on why the other has the right to be the lead. The only employee around was chomping on gum and playing on their phone, their earpiece blinking blue every other second. 

"I'm going to vomit." you told Xavier.

"It's going to be fine, babe," Xavier mumbled under his breath. "Trust me. I almost peed myself going in here the first time. It's normal anxiety." 

You nodded, squeezing his hand, "You're right. Just normal anxiety..."

The kid at the podium set down his phone and said, "You're good to pass. Don't get lost, now."

Your feet were frozen as you followed after the guys, Montana and Brooke, pushing up next to you and Xavier as you took the first steps into the woods. The lightning was low but well enough to light the way. There were strobe lights in the distance, and you could still see other groups along the way. You weren't entirely alone.

The first few minutes were just walking with a few props and animatronics barking things at you. You noticed people lurking in the bushes and trees dressed as famous slashers. 

You managed to keep your footing, but Ray, in his nervous-excitement tripped over a branch and fell forward, yelping as Chet was laughing too hard to help him up. Brooke ran to his aid, trying to hide her own giggles.

"Are you sure you don't wanna walk with me?" Ray wiggled his eyebrows at her. 

"Hell no, I'm not going first." she released him, going back to Montana, who nodded in agreement and linked their arms together. 

Things quickly became scary as actors came every few steps, screaming at you for help or threatening to chop you up. You slowly felt the adrenaline creeping back up, but the dark forest still flared your anxiety Xavier shielded you for the most part, but even he got scared and tried to run away. 

"Holy!" Ray yelled, running into Chet, who was right beside him. "You go first, man! You're the tough guy!" He shoved Chet ahead before running to the back with Brooke and Montana.

"Fuck!" Chet said, puffing out his chest. "Fuck you, Ray." he said, attempting to look tough, but his voice crack said otherwise. "You guys have my back, right?" he asked you and Xavier.

You had to giggle, "Yes." you and Xavier answered.

"Thank God..." he said before continuing the trek down the forest. 

Now that you were practically in front, you realized it wasn't hard to see who was lurking in the shadows. Of course, you still screeched like a banshee and tried to run when someone got too close. The scenes they had set up were gorier than before, and you were more disturbed than scared when you finally reached the exit. 

"Victory!" Ray called from behind as you all piled into a clearing with food vendors and people chilling out. You heard Xavier mumble something to Chet, causing them to both laugh loudly. 

"That wasn't bad at all..." Brooke said, still holding Montana as if they were conjoined twins. 

"Exactly..." Montana said, "Anyone want food?..." 

"Yes." you all answered in unison. 

You breathed a sigh of relief, two attractions down, one to go.

You waited in line while the others went their separate ways. 

"I thought it would be worse." you admitted, "I feel a little ridiculous now." 

"You're doing great, babe." Xavier said, grinning as you observed the menu. "No signs of a heart attack." 

Xavier shook his head, "No, it was kind of cute." He said, and you nudged him to move forward. "You know you didn't have to come. They would have lived."

You shrugged, "I wasn't going to come. But I've been avoiding them since I was a kid. I'm happy I came though, its been fun watching you get scared."

Brooke and Ray were already seated with food, and you sat with them. Ray was proud of himself despite chickening out and leaving Chet alone. Brooke was teasing him when the other two joined you, and you spent a good hour or so eating and relaxing.

Xavier mocked your laugh before it was your time to order. You got the exact thing and pouted when he paid for everything. He smirked all the way back to the picnic tables as your mouth watered.

"Are we ready to tackle the last one?" Chet asked after a while. The gang all shared looks before ultimately settling on you.

With food in your belly and a surge of confidence, you nodded. "Let's do it."

The final maze was an old asylum, and the outside looked creepy as hell. You got in line, staring up at the dark windows and waiting for the devil himself to appear in one of them.

"This is going to be gnarly," Chet said to Ray, who looked sick. "Too bad we ate right before."

You tried to ignore him, standing next to the girls as Xavier joined the boys, taunting them about who is going to chicken out first. Brooke and Montana both linked their arms with yours, and you quietly asked them if Chet was right.

"I'm pretty sure they used real limbs last year." Montana mumbled to you. 

"That's not very reassuring..." you moaned.

"I think I saw real blood!" Brooke whispered. 

"That doesn't help either!" you hissed.

The girls apologized as the line moved forward. It was the longest wait of all the attractions, and time seemed to drag on. You listened to the Halloween theme in the background and thought of being cozy on your couch, eating popcorn, and watching horror movies on television with Xavier. 

After the hour-long wait passed, you and your friends were told to enter the Asylum. The boys went right inside, and you and the girls were dragging your feet as people behind you laughed and egged you to go inside. 

The first hallway was completely dark, with only foot lamps. The guys were waiting, teasing the three of you as Xavier took your hand, pulling you close to him. 

"Eat shit!" Montana said, smacking Chet on the back of the head. 

"Ouch!" he yelled, hooking an arm around her shoulders. "Let's go, Montana!" he said, leading her to the front as she protested. "Let's get this show on the road!" 

You followed them into the darkened hallways, seeing more props and set up scenes of treatments gone wrong and patients hurting themselves in some form or another. Xavier wrinkled his nose quite a bit, whispering to you if you thought that severed arm was real. 

"SHIT!" Brooke and Montana squealed and ran for it as a man with a chainsaw, and a bloody pig mask flung himself from the shadows, and you and Xavier yelled and attempted to pull each other in opposite directions.

"THERE'S A FORK IN THE ROAD!" You heard Ray call around the corner. You and Xavier stopped behind the girls, looking as there were now two possible routes.

“Oh fuck," you said.

"Which way do we go?" Brooke asked.

"One thing is for sure. We're not splitting up!" Ray said. "I think we should let y/n decide."

Your eyes widened as they nodded in agreement, "why me!?"

"We trust your judgement," Montana said. "Hurry, they're going to force us to move along."

You shook your head, using your gut to quickly chose the left. The boys immediately walked down the aisle, and you followed, hoping whatever you decided wasn't going to send you to the Asylum yourself.

There were many strobe lights once you turned a few corners, and you and the gang were stumbling around as it was tough to see. You heard Montana curse every time someone stomped on her foot, and Brooke exclaiming she found an exit only to listen to her hit a wall.

"GREAT CHOICE, Y/N!" Ray yelled as if the lights made him deaf. "GO LEFT, SHE SAID."

"DON'T BLAME ME!" you said, accidentally grabbing Xavier's hood and unintentionally choking him. "YOU GUYS SAID TO PICK SO I DID!"

"Babe, I think I found an exit!" Xavier said excitedly, and you managed to open your eyes to see he was right.

"Guys, this way!" You called your friends, following Xavier out into the darkness. Your eyes were throbbing from the intensity of the strobe lights. You moved out of the way as your friends piled behind you, complaining about their eyes and asking if they were just abducted by aliens. 

"It smells terrible in here!" you heard Montana complain, and you covered your nose as a wretched smell started wafting over you. 

"I'd imagine this was what death smells like," Xavier said, wrinkling his nose. "I'm getting out of here."

You followed after him, seeing just blank walls and minimal lighting. You didn't think this attraction was that scary as the others and wondered if this were the end. You soon approached another fork in the road, except there were people in line on either side. 

"I don't remember this part..." Chet said as you guys came to a stop.

"It must be new." Ray said frowning. The line was moving decently fast, and you couldn't fathom what was about to happen. 

You watched as Xavier was gestured to walk forward, and he glanced back at you guys before disappearing. 

"I don't like this..." you gulped, knowing you were next.

Someone dressed in a plague costume peeked around the corner and gestured for you to come forward. You did slowly, feeling your heart racing while you followed the hooded figure down the hall before he opened a door and gestured for you to go forward. When you did, he slammed the door.

You seemed to be alone, and you stared down the halls with lightly lit red walls. You wondered if you just had to finish the trek alone. You could do this, you thought to yourself as you took slow steps ahead. You didn't want to see any dark hallways again for the rest of your life. 

After the first corner, you screamed so much your voice was hoarse. People were waiting on every corner, in every crevice, and they were after you to the point you started running, trying to get away. Every once in a while, you smelled something rotten, and you regretted eating those nachos.

You had no idea how many corners you turned and slashers you dodged before you finally reached the end. You almost cried when you felt the cold Fall breeze ruffle your hair. You ran down the small walkway to the clearing where you saw Xavier sitting on a bench. He jumped up at the sight of you, and you crashed into him, almost crying in relief; you had an adrenaline rush.

"That was horrible!" you gasped into his chest. "They were chasing me!'

"I got chased too," Xavier said, patting down your hair. "That was definitely new this year."

You glanced back at the haunted Asylum with a satisfied grin, knowing you'd probably come back next year. 

It wasn't that bad. 

[megatronswaifu]

wrote a fanfiction and wanted to draw something to go with it!!

if you want to read some sickeningly sweet ooc overlord with nightlight please take a look under the cut. i’m happy with how it turned out because i really didn’t take it seriously like i’ve tried in the past.

“Nightlight’s Shadow” <2k words rating: GEN tw: mild canon-typical violence

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

“What’s wrong?”

Overlord peered through the door, hunching over significantly. The phase-sixer was incredibly bored, having killed everyone he felt like and no missions assigned to him for a long while. When Overlord was bored and without those to maim, he went to go bother Nightlight.

The minibot sat in the shape of a ball on her berth. Her helm was tucked between her knees, and her little horns poked out, the only thing clueing Overlord in that “Oh, that part of the purple dot is her head.” When she looked up at Overlord, he thought to himself that this was the most pitiful face she had made to-date. 

The towering bot squeezed into the room, scraping the doorframe with his shoulders as he stomped in (he wasn’t stomping on purpose, it was simply a feature of his size), his pillar audials threatening to pierce the ceiling. Nightlight’s accommodations were definitely made with efficiency and budget in mind. Why would anyone waste shanix and space on the ship just in case someone larger than a pea wanted to visit this room? Overlord thought he should carve out the wall and ceiling so his visits weren’t so difficult.

“What’s wrong?” Overlord asked again, and Nightlight turned to face away, “Why the long face?” 

“I’m not a good Decepticon,” the tiny bot started. Her voice was quivering and hoarse, like she had been crying. Little cheekplates having subtle remnant streaks of tears confirmed this. “I’m not scary. Everyone keeps being mean to me. The bigger bots push me and call me names, even when I don’t do anything to them.” 

“Why don’t you kill them?” replied Overlord like it was obvious. He had slithered onto the berth, laying sideways lazily behind Nightlight, his legs curled so he could fit. Luckily the slab was medium size, having not been made specifically for Nightlight, but it still creaked horribly under Overlord’s weight.

“I can’t do that! I’m not strong enough like everyone else. I’m not big. I can’t beat them up....I...every time I try to fight back,” her face scrunched up and her voice became even higher pitched and even wobblier, “I...I get my- my tailpipe kicked!”

Nightlight choked and whined, stifling a staticky sob in her forearms. She clearly felt so strongly about these simple tussles that it pained her enough to cry. The poor thing. The blue mech brought her into his chest with his big servo like a hockey stick to a puck.

“Don’t cry,” Overlord cooed, “I’ll give you advice.” Nightlight peeked at him from her arms. “You can’t beat them up and you can’t grow any. But that doesn't have to stop you.” 

“When I walk around, everyone moves. As if I have a force field. Nobody gets in my way.” He gestured to Nightlight with his chin. “Why do you think that happens?” She looked away again, not in an attempt to hide her tears, but in thought.

“Um….because you’re really tough,” the moped said, “And, um, you’ll, maybe you’ll beat them up if they’re mean to you.” Nightlight always said things like “maybe” when talking about if Overlord would do something violent or not. Like she wasn’t sure if he was a bad mech, or she didn’t want to accuse him of anything. How kind.

“Yes, that’s true. I’m very tough.”

“But I’m not...it wouldn’t work for me. I’m not really-”

“Yes it would.”

Nightlight stuttered a few syllables of denial before resorting to looking at Overlord with a tipped helm in confusion. Overlord couldn’t help but laugh.

“When I walk around places where nobody knows me,” he said, “Where nobody knows I could mash them to a slurry, my force field still works. That is because I hold myself a certain way. I hold myself with an expectation that everyone fears me,” the duocon puffed out his chest plating a little, and it made a “clink” sound when it tapped his tiny companion, “With confidence. Confidence in myself and that the force field will work no matter what.” He smiled triumphantly. “Lo and behold, the seas part.”

Nightlight looked at him like he was the coolest mech on Cybertron. She had uncurled and instead was facing him, sitting with her knees forward and her pedes behind her. “So,” she spoke with a bit more pep in her voice, “they don’t know you’re strong...but they still kind of know you’re strong because you walk so confident.”

“Exactly.”

“But...but I don’t think I could do that.”

“Why not?”

“Cause what if I pretend to be strong and then they figure out I’m not and they beat me up?”

“If you walk with enough confidence, they won’t challenge you. And if they do, you threaten them. Then they run off like little glitchmice, with not a finger lifted.” Overlord waved his free servo as he talked, and Nightlight rubbed her fists on her optics and cheeks as he spoke, scooting closer to him.

“If I was injured in a way that left me unable to fight, but able to use my words, I would still win. In that moment, when I threaten them, it is not pain they are afraid of,” he explained, half-lying. Overlord loved to taunt, but he rarely threatened. If someone challenged him, most of the time he smashed their head in immediately. “I’m not touching them. They aren’t experiencing it. What they fear is the prospect of pain. All you have to do if you want to scare them off is make them believe you’ll rip them apart.”

Overlord had a feeling he was losing her, given her big optics staring at him. Or maybe that’s just how she looked. He poked her in the chest with acquired gentleness. “I can teach you. I can make you like me,” he said, “You can be intimidating. And nobody will ever bother you.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

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

Nightlight had such a tall stack of datapads in her arms that the top of the pile concealed her face. She had to stumble slowly in the hall and occasionally, carefully glance to the side of the stack to see that there was nobody in front of her, and issue out “excuse me”s and “I’m sorry”s accordingly.

Overlord’s lessons on being braver and more intimidating had not yet been put into practice. Fortunately so, in Nightlight’s optics. The two wheeler hadn’t come across anybody who felt like bullying her for a whole week, and she was hoping her lucky streak would last forever. She didn’t want to try out what she had learned from the phase-sixer, even though out of everybody on the ship, he was probably the best person equipped to teach it. Nightlight didn’t want to mess up.

Turning a corner like an old bot driving slow on the highway, she scooted forward on her pedes and shifted her grip on the datapads. She felt the datapads sliding, and she “eep!”ed as she steadied them, and they settled back in place. “Whew,” she whispered.

Despite her dearest wishes on shooting stars, Nightlight didn’t get much time to be relieved. Just as she found her footing again, some mecha decided to sneak up beside her and stick their pede out. The minibot made a brief yelping sound before landing on her front, some of the datapads breaking her fall, layered like a deck of cards. The rest scattered and clattered around them. The floor and the pointy edges of the datapads poked and scraped her chassis and hands.

“Oops,” said the bot above her, laughing. She recognized him from his voice. She didn’t know his name. “Heh, watch where you’re going, squirt.”

Nightlight stayed on the floor for a moment, facing down, steeling herself and her urges to cry. It was action time. She got up, pushing herself with her tiny servos, whipping herself around with gusto and pointed her finger right in the mech’s face. 

“How about YOU watch where YOU’RE putting your STINKY PEDES, BUSTER!!”

The Decepticon stood with his mouth agape. He stared at Nightlight like she had grown another helm. Her being any bit of aggressive was pretty equivalent, really. “Wha-” he snorted, before barking out laughter that scraped Nightlight’s audials from being too loud. “What’s your problem, Autobot model? You think you can just waltz up in here and get sharp with me? You lookin’ to get pummeled?”

“You’re the one asking for a beating, stupidhead!” Nightlight yelled back with surprising volume, looking up at the considerably taller mech, even stepping towards him with gritted teeth. She stomped at him and almost jumped towards him doing so, looking like a dog trying to chomp at a chewtoy placed above it. “Get out of my way or pick these up,” she pointed at the datapads now, “and take them to room L2400! Or I’ll rearrange your face so much you’ll have to get your whole head replaced!!”

Nightlight, venting hard, felt equal amounts proud and equal amounts terrified. She had used the strategies Overlord taught her! Nightlight had tried her hardest and her best, put on her scariest face with her scariest voice. Hours of practice with Overlord, of him showing her how to be unabashed and angry, were coming to fruition.

The mech looked like he wanted to say something else, but instead he froze up, his expression contorting into a wide-eyed frown. He frantically vented, taking a few quick breaths before letting out what Nightlight could only describe as a “squawk”. His helm darted between facing forward and towards the datapads. He was shivering so hard his chassis rattled. Was it working?

“I’ll do it! I’ll do it, I’ll pick up the datapads!” he threw himself at them, scooping them up like they were shards of his spark. Nightlight couldn’t help but look on with her mouth in the shape of an O. “Just leave me alone, okay?! I don’t want any trouble anymore!”

“Really?!” asked the purple minibot, “I, I mean, yeah! And I don’t wanna ever see your dumb ugly face ever again, got it?!” She shook her fist at him, throwing in a growl to her intimidation tactics. It sounded like a baby cyberwolf.

Taking no time to look back or even respond, the mech rushed off with the datapads in his hands. He screamed and practically jumped in the air when Nightlight yelled “L2400!” to remind him of where he was supposed to be going.

When the bot disappeared in the hallway, Nightlight stood still. She seemed to start to gradually vibrate, before exploding in excitement, jumping around the hallway, squealing and screaming, dancing and throwing her fists all around. She did it! She did it! She was intimidating! She could stand up for herself! She didn’t have to be bullied anymore! She was a real Decepticon! 

Nightlight then felt a little guilty. She put her servo to her mouth and thought. The mech looked so scared. Had she been too mean? 

No, she hadn’t been. Overlord told her that she should stand her ground, go full force, and dish back exactly what her bullies were doing to her. There was nothing wrong with that. An optic for an optic, and then some. The moped bounced in place. Overlord would be so proud of her!

“...I have to tell him!” she said, out of breath. She dashed down the hallway despite this, giggling and cheering, back in the direction she came from.

As Nightlight skipped away, Overlord stood at the other end of the corridor, in direct line of sight of where her bully had been standing. He backed away into the darkness with a wicked smile.

[crassussativum]

Day 7: Fierce

When he was little, Cato had lost his best friend to the oceans of his homeworld. It hadn’t mattered to him that Remmy was only a stuffed animal or that there were a dozen more exactly the same at the shop on the pier, they weren’t Remmy. He’d cried for days while his parents had argued. They’d argued a lot, he remembered, he’d just been the subject that time. The headaches had started when he was thirteen and the seizures had followed shortly after. His parents had argued about what that meant. Parthia, his homeworld, had a lot of eezo refineries and sometimes the stuff leeched into the drinking water. Cato had hoped there was anything else wrong with him. Something like a brain tumor. Something that could be fixed with the right doctors. Anything was better than being biotic. At fourteen he’d manifested and his parents hadn’t waited for a real diagnosis before dropping him outside the compound in the middle of the night. They hadn’t even argued about it. The soldiers hadn’t been kind to him. One had hit him when he’d started to spark. Cato hadn’t understood. Bad shit wasn’t supposed to happen to kids.

The Cabal had come for him first thing the next morning. Two scary agents in blood-blue armor, both wearing the scariest smile he’d ever seen. And Septimus but somehow he hadn’t been as scary, maybe because he hadn’t worn armor. Cato had still hidden from them all. Had wedged himself between stacked tires and other equipment he didn’t know what it was. He’d hissed and growled and bitten two separate hands that had reached for him. Cato remembered it was Septimus’ patience and kindness that had lured him out when all everyone else did was yell at him. He’d been adopted that day. Kind of. Cato knew it was complicated but Septimus had made an oath and he had too. It had been a good thing and he liked those.

But the bad kept happening. 

Septimus was hot to the touch, his eyes rolled back in his head and he was unresponsive even though Cato kept shaking him. His amp had shorted out. That happened sometimes when a biotic used too much of their power too quickly. He’d be alright, Cato knew, but they weren’t safe here. Agent Virim was bleeding heavily and he wouldn’t be still, popping out of cover to return fire every few moments. But Cato could see him tiring. He couldn’t get his breathing under control, scared and sparking uselessly. He was still just a kid and bad things weren’t supposed to happen to kids.

���Dad please...” Cato didn’t want them to die here.

Agent Virim swore and dropped into cover again. “Cato!” He barked. “Keep your fuckin’ head down!”

Cato hunched over Septimus, biotics arcing between them. He wished he was half as powerful as his mentor was, he wished he was good at anything other than barriers. He wished he was as brave as Agent Virim, still trying to protect them even though he was bleeding badly. And panting now, sitting down against their cover with a resigned look on his face like-

“Dad!” Cato shook Septimus wildly. “Wake up! Wake up!”

“You can run, kid.” The agent told him as he reloaded his gun. “Don’t think they saw you. Just keep low and run. You could make it to the car and call in an evac.”

He couldn’t. He couldn’t! He wasn’t fast or sneaky and he was so scared now that he wasn’t sure he could stand.

Virim flashed his teeth. “Then I need you to get your shit together, kid.” He snarled. “You’re biotic. Fuckin’ do somethin’!”

Do something... do something...

...

“Shoulda seen the kid.” Mavic muttered as Crassus popped the seals of his armor one by one in the medbay. “Fierce lil’ thing. Snarlin’ and growlin’ like he was...”

Crassus yanked the chest-piece off and he groaned at the rush of fresh blood down his torso. The docs hovered restlessly but a sharp gesture from the giant kept them from swarming. Mavic’s head spun.

“Dunno where he pulled all that power from. Never seen nothin’ like it.” He continued, watching dully as Crassus cut open his undersuit to expose the wounds. His armor was ruined, the undersuit too, but he was alive thanks to the Cabal kid.

“He’s biotic.” Crassus said and pushed gently at his shoulders. “Lie down.”

Mavic resisted only a moment, his heart pounding, glancing at the docs before back up at Crassus. Spirits he was tired. Lying flat on his back felt good. “They gonna be okay?”

“Far as I know.” Crassus pressed the hypo-syringe against his throat. “Ready?”

It was hard to breathe. Mavic clutched at his arm. “No.”

“I’ll be here when you wake up.” Crassus promised him and injected the sedative. “I’ll be right here.” 

[queen-of-deans-booty]

Reader is a wolf that’s hurt and Sam and Dean rescue her from a pack of hunters. She’s very untrusting around other people. Mary tried to help her but reader reacts badly and almost bites Mary, but Dean intervenes. (It’s 3am don’t judge me)

father’s day challenge

a/n: i don’t ever judge you. i like the crazy ones. it’s more creative.

Hunters can be ruthless if they figure out someone isn’t human. If someone even so much as sneezes wrong, they will be on their ass within seconds. That’s exactly what happened to you: they saw you transform into a wolf, and they held you captive to see if they could break you into telling them where your pack is.

They tried, and it hurt like hell, but you were eventually rescued by other hunters. Of course, you don’t trust them at all, but when they said their last name, you knew exactly who they were. They can be gentle men, but they were also the scariest hunters known to men. You’re not sure what they wanted with you, but you don’t want to find out.

Ever since they brought you over to their Bunker, you haven’t let them near you. You’re hurt, you’re tired, and you’re very untrusting of anyone that comes near you. All you’ve done since entering the place is stay in the corner of the library with your tail between your legs and yours head down.

Sam and Dean went out to get you some dog food because they thought you were an actual wolf. If they knew you were also human, they’d get you something else. So, Mary Winchester is the only person who is left to watch over you. She hasn’t done anything except watch you, and you haven’t taken your eyes off her since she got here.

“You’re so dirty. Do you want a bath? I can clean you up,” she offers and takes a couple steps toward you.

You bare your teeth at her and growl as a warning sign to back the fuck up. She stops when she sees this, but she puts her hands up in defense mode to show you she means no harm. You’ve seen that before, and you know exactly what that means.

“I’m not going to hurt you. You’re okay here. You’re safe,” she says and continues to walk.

You’re really not messing around. You’ll give one more warning before you bite her. You bark loudly and growl much louder than before. How can she not see that she’s in danger by coming near you? She takes a couple more steps and you just snap.

You jump up and try biting at her, and she flinches back to avoid you. That’s the exact moment when Sam and Dean come back from the store. Dean drops whatever is in his hands and rushes at his mom to get her away.

“Mom! She’s hurt and scared! Don’t go near her!” Dean urges and back away from you.

Once they are at a safe distance, you go back to the corner and lay down. Sam comes in with a bowl of food, and your stomach growls. They could have poisoned the food, but there’s a certain look in Sam’s eyes that makes you understand he isn’t here to hurt you.

He sets the bowl on the floor and steps away to let you do your thing. Are they really here to take care of you? You’re so hungry, and that bears your level of trust for the strangers. You sniff the area around the food before digging in, getting food all over the floor as you munch on it.

“You have to show her that she can trust us. Let us do the work and then she’ll see that we aren’t someone to be afraid of,” Sam says gently and watches you devour the food.

He can’t imagine ever treating a dog like this, and he’s going to do everything he can to make you trust him.

[howtodisassembleyourdeviant]

What was the scariest moment you’ve had in public? For android Connor and How would you describe yourself? for human Connor

Ask my muse extremely personal questions!

What was the scariest moment you’ve had in public? For android Connor

"After... After the news broadcast, when they recorded me pointing a gun at Markus... I didn't leave Hank's house. Even after being visited by Markus and explaining the situation, and he told all he could, I was... Scared.

"However, Sumo wanted to go for a walk and it had been nearly two weeks since we went on one. Hank had been busy with work and I wasn't hired back on yet. I figured we could just go around the block. Halfway through our walk, I was starting to feel a little better when a group of androids spotted me. I recognized some of them from Jericho. Rather than cower away, they came closer. I didn't want to hurt anyone, but they intended to 'take care' of the 'traitor'." Connor's eyes glazed over as he thought back to that time, how terrified he was. Not for himself, but for anyone that would trigger his defenses, the part he still has trouble controlling.

"Sumo started growling and barking and that seemed to have scared them off," he finished. Sumo really is a good dog. The RK makes a note to stop by the pet store to get him a nice treat.

How would you describe yourself? for human Connor

"Do you want what I tell everyone or do you want the truth?" He asks tiredly, "I'm just an average detective trying to get by. Nothing special. Only, I'm less than that. I'm not good enough. There's always so much to do and I'm not fast enough or smart enough. All I am is a disappointment, just like she said, and that's all I'll ever be." Connor stands up and heads for the door. He needs a smoke. He'll blame the cold for his shaking hands.