#would you believe someone who presents normally and is good at masking if they said they were autistic.

[supergraphicultramoderngirl]

like it’s giving very much

let me know when you’ve gotten to the “you can do whatever you want forever” stage and then we can have a productive conversation

u ever hear a friend say something that they think is like this highly political and progressive thing and ur just kind of sitting there like. oh you haven’t gotten the new update yet

[blissfulip]

Dopamine

on AO3

Viktor x f!reader

Rating: Explicit

Tags: enemies to lovers, slow burn, angst, idiots in love (?) dubious science, mostly canon compliant, no use of y/n, chemist!reader, eventual smut, masturbation, angry sex, unprotected sex,

Cw: mentions of alcohol consumption, creepy dude being creepy, bood.

Words: 2.1k

[A/N: tags and content warnings to be updated in each chapter, updates weekly(ish). (also, let me know if you want to be tagged in fic updates!)]

Tags: @ihopeinevergetsoberr @chemical-killjoy @jinxed-jk @bobobomao @queen-of-elves

Previous Next

Chapter 7: Mixer

You liked the academy’s dormitories because they were spacious and old (the room had belonged to someone before you and someone before them, and so on for hundreds of years). You had come to believe each room could fit two people comfortably, but in the empty yet thorny air between you and Viktor, lying side by side, you began to second-guess this. The once-springy, commodious mattress now felt sticky and narrow for the two of you.

The high lasted less than it normally does when you are on your own, perhaps on account of your sudden strong self-awareness of the circumstances, or it could have been the contention between the person you had been for the past hour an hour has passed? Felt like 15 minutes... and the person you had tried to appear as on any regular basis. The vulnerable versus the impervious, or is it persona and shadow?

It doesn't quite matter now; I have to say something and come out on top—no, not like that.

“We still have two pages to edit.” Your voice came out timid and craven, and you dared to turn your head to look at him. The picture of his eyes staring blankly at the ceiling and his chest heaving up and down suggested his feelings of regret were probably akin to yours.

“Three, in fact. I wasn’t able to finish before, eh, this.”

You adjusted your underwear, pulled your dress down with the swiftness of someone who has not a care in the world or wanted to appear as such, and bounced up to a sitting position, giving the bed under you a small slap with each hand.

“Let’s get to work then.” You did not wait or turn around to observe Viktor’s take on this little parade of pudor, but assumed it went something along the same line. You handed him his cane from where it had fallen on the floor and sat on one of the chairs, all of this done while painfully trying to avoid each other’s gaze.

Naturally, once the work had been revised and you had agreed to each do half of the speech, you picked up your belongings and unceremoniously left his dorm to go to your own. How strange it was that the anxious worry of giving not one but one and a half presentations for a full audience was nowhere in your tired mind, and that the single object of your musings when you plopped on your bed was the image of his eyes enraptured by you and how you’d cover the two bruised bite marks on your neck that the academy uniform wouldn’t hide.

Your eyes closed sluggishly, and you dreamt of amber and violet.

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

“A turtleneck? I know it’s chilly in this auditorium, but isn’t that a bit overkill?”

“I have to protect my voice.” You answered Lara, looking her straight in the eyes. This is something you were good at, technically, lying through your teeth without showing any semblance of discomfort. Unfortunately for you, she knew (or rather, by then, only suspected) too much, and nothing could have prepared you for how quick her hands would be at pulling down your collar to reveal what she expected to find imprinted on your neck.

Her eyes grew wide.

“And what about it? Can’t a girl have fun the night before a stressful day?” You tried to keep that mask of nonchalance you’d been trying to carry around, and you hoped she had forgotten who you were supposed to be with the previous night.

“I thought you said you weren’t together?” She got closer to you and did her best to whisper, but the animation in her voice was giving away so much information that you were glad there was no one around to pick it up.

“With whom?”

“Stop that; I know you two spent the afternoon together!”

You let out a sigh of resignation.

“And we are in fact not together; it was simply a lapse in judgment that neither of us wants to remember or talk about.”

Whatever Lara intended to say was lost to history the moment she saw Viktor enter the backstage area. The mix of your panicked expression and Lara’s hungry-for-information face made his shoulders cringe almost all the way up to his ears. You had to let out a chuckle at the sight of him immediately turning on his heel and walking away.

"I can't believe that guy is the same one who did all that to your neck.”

“Please never say that again.”

Lara chuckled through her teeth before giving you a smug look and leaving for her own venue. Without Cirian there, the backstage area was exclusively for you and Viktor, perchance only you if he had decided to forgo his spot on the schedule and move back to the undercity, or maybe quit the academy and jump off a bridge. Maybe I’m projecting.

Soon enough, you could hear Jayce’s booming voice coming from outside the door and getting nearer. You oscilated between relief and dread for about 30 more seconds before Viktor and him came waltzing into the room. He hugged you, and you talked. It was casual and comfortable to see your friend again, but Viktor’s looming presence as he stood slightly behind him like a kid waiting for his mom to finish catching up with an acquaintance at the market shortly became too much to ignore.

“You should sit; we will probably stand for over an hour when it starts.” You told Viktor as you walked to grab one of the folding chairs you had found in the other room and handed it to him. He took it from you with a stiff ‘thank you’ and sat on it in silence. Jayce took notice of the awkward tension and looked back and forth between you with an eyebrow raised before asking.

“What did I miss?"

“Hm?”

“What is going on here?”

“What are you talking about?” Viktor asked.

“I fully expected you two to be all over each other."

Your mouth went dry, and you heard Viktor choking up.

“What?” You managed to cry out shyly.

“You know, you’re always fighting, and I haven’t heard a single insult from either of you yet.”

“Our minds are probably preoccupied with, eh, the presentations.” Viktor interjected, and this sounded plausible enough to make you lose some tension.

Jayce didn’t seem to fully believe it, though; his choice of words earlier hadn’t been intentional, but your reaction to it seemed rather disproportionate, so he kept this on the backburner until he could bring it up again.

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

The conference itself went without a hitch, and you were both showered with praise in the aftermath by all the students and academics in attendance alike. And although you generally abhorred being the center of attention to this extent, this came as a welcomed distraction from everything else you had in mind.

You were more than ready to go home and take a bath, but a small mixer was going to take place at the academy for the teachers, academics, and faculty members. Somehow Lara, Jayce, and Moira—who had been nice enough to show up to your presentation—collectively managed to drag you and Viktor along.

No drinking for me tonight. You thought, not after...

Among the noise and the scent of liquor and the faraway attempts at conversation from myriads of unknown people, both happy and not, the lack of sleep and sore leg muscles were starting to catch up with you.

Somewhere on your way to the velvet-red sofa were Lara and Cirian, having a conversation that seemed way too animated for someone who claimed to have been near a bittersweet passing that very morning. You pondered going over to him and questioning him; after all, he was to blame for the way Viktor’s hands fit so tightly on your waist. He was to blame, for sure, but you couldn’t possibly say anything, at least not without hinting at the serpentine paths you had dug into Viktor’s back, so you sat on the couch and people-watched.

It was so bizarre to see the members of the council at an event like this, but you figured Heimerdinger probably had a (tiny) hand on that, and he had probably taken all the praise for the conference that they might have had to offer, so you did not have to worry about interacting with any of them. Jayce certainly didn’t seem intimidated, at least not by Councilor Medarda.

You sat there and watched as he turned to talk to her when she approached him. You saw his hand slither up her back, and you saw them walking away, leaving a lonely Viktor standing there, an eye roll and sour expression parading through his face in quick succession. You figured he would take this opportunity to leave, and he in fact started to do just that, scanning the room for the exit, when he was intercepted by that sweet intern that always followed them around. 

Sky was quiet, at least around you. You suspected the cold looks she gave you sometimes were due to your usual jabs at her boss (friend?) in her presence, and you understood that; you accepted it even and always tried to be as nice as possible to her. The taste of bile in your mouth when Viktor inconspicuously put a hand on her shoulder was a response you did not prepare yourself for.

For a short second, you tried to give yourself validation. You thought about all the times she had ignored you when you greeted her at the lab and felt valiantly justified, Then you almost fell victim to the impulse to walk over and ‘accidentally’ knock her over. You were quick to sallow the venom and figuratively shake yourself off your high horse; there was no valid reason for you to suddenly be so vile towards someone you had barely ever spoken to, all because—all because Viktor touched her affectionately.

You had no time to feel sick, even though your body certainly gave you the cues that it was going to, because you felt the weight of someone sitting next to you on the sofa. Asher put one arm around your shoulders and leaned over to your ear to say something.

“I heard you did amazingly today."

“Thank you.” You responded incisively as you took his arm and untangled yourself from it.

“I’m more impressed at how you were able to do any work with that dunce.”

“Viktor?”

“Yeah, he looks like he’s a complete idiot; I'm not sure how he managed to convince the Academy that he wasn’t a complete fraud.” He said, giving you a small nudge on the arm.

“You expect me to agree with that?” You asked after a prolonged silence.

“Well, yes, you must know that better than anyone, given how much you two dislike each other.”

“I don’t dislike him because I think he’s a fraud; he is clearly one of the most brilliant people in Piltover.”

“You can’t be seriously defending him.”

“I’m not ‘defending him'; I’m simply not blind enough to affirm that he is not intelligent.”

“I thought you hated him.”

“I do, just not for that reason!” You started to raise your voice in exasperation.

“Then why?”

“Because he—” You started, and soon noticed you couldn’t think of why with as much ease as you did in the past. “Why do you care so much?”

You said that and excused yourself to run to the bathroom. Once there, you closed the door and didn’t bother to lock it, quickly opening the faucet to splash some water on your face. You gave it more thought and repeated it to yourself like a mantra.

He’s arrogant and impatient, and he only cares about himself and his work. He's the academy’s perfect boy, hogging all the resources, and he’s uptight and...

Well, it wasn’t really his fault that the academy neglected everyone else, and his dedication to his work was admirable. You leaned on the sink with both hands, looking at yourself in the mirror as you mumbled.

Arrogant, impatient, and uptight. No, definitely not uptight.

More memories from the night before flashed through your mind, your hands trailing the seam of the turtleneck you were wearing.

He is arrogant and impatient; that is a fact.

Another splash of water, and you were feeling better, but although you had one hand on the door handle, it burst open without you turning it. You were faced with Viktor’s tall figure blocking your way out, and though you were ready to tell him how ‘impatient and arrogant’ you had concluded he was, the copious amounts of blood trickling down his nose and mouth deterred your attention from that.

[nethhiri]

Marooned: Chapter 3

Kid x FemReader x Killer

Warnings: None I think

Bull-headed

The wild, red hair that sprouted from the man's head unmistakably belonged to Eustass Kid. Orange eyes aflame with rage glared at you as the man snatched the goggles you had discarded from the ground and placed them on his head. It was all coming together in your head. Of course you didn't recognize Killer. His face was normally hidden behind a shield of blue and white. The thing you had initially identified as a stupid looking colander was what remained of Killer's mask. It, along with Kid's goggles, must have been ripped from the two men in the tumultuous sea. 

You took a step back to put some distance between you and he. This wasn't the first time you had met these two particular pirates. The first time had been a very long time ago, when they were just starting out as pirates and you were just a cadet. For a moment you were nervous that he might recognize you, though with the right half of your face being disfigured since then, it was unlikely. In that brief meeting years ago, you had the upper hand. Sizing him up now though... If you were at your best, you still weren't sure you could take him. He was much smaller the last time you saw him. Well, as small as one Eustass Kid could be. Currently though, he was back up on his feet at his full height of 6'9" and he had a murderous aura about him, which snapped you to the present.

"Wait," you had your hands up in the universal gesture for 'I mean no harm' and I'm stalling for time.  "Without me, he'll die," you said, nodding your head in the direction of the Kid Pirates' first mate. It was sort of a lie. The truth was that he would probably be fine as long as he didn't get an infection and someone sewed him up soon. 

Kid looked at his crewmate and looked back to you. He looked like he was contemplating how true that really was. 

You continued, "I was going to get my first-aid kit when you..." There was a dull ache in your neck. "...pretty rudely attacked me for no reason."

Kid's lip curled. "FI-. Fine." He winced as his voice cracked. Kid massaged his Adam's apple and cleared his throat. "But if he dies, then you die." You could tell he kept his voice low to avoid another crack, but his demeanor didn't change. 

Turning, you wondered if he would use this opportunity to attack you again, but he must have believed you because you weren't being tackled or choked out. You could feel his smirk burning into your back, though, as you went to fetch your things. Wish I still had seastone bullets. What use is an emergency gun if the threat is a magnetic son of a bitch? It was your turn to glare. With narrowed eyes, you gave the middle finger in Mini's general direction. "Thanks for helping, you ass," you muttered. Some twigs snapped in response. 

It only took a minute to grab the things you needed and within 15 minutes you were back. The Red Menace was sitting next to Killer, cross-legged, with a jar tipped back into his mouth. Y/C/E flicked to the other empty jars on the ground next to him and your temper flared. "HEY! What in the hell do you think you're doing, helping yourself to my food?" For just a second, he looked like a boy who got caught with his hands in the cookie jar. 

A look of guilt flashed across his face before it was replaced with a scowl. "I was fucking hungry." 

Tossing your things to the ground next to Killer, you flopped down with a huff. "Yeah well. You better get used to it." Orange eyes watched you intently as you took out some sinew and a needle made from a tiny rib bones. Expertly, you threaded your needle and decided to start on the leg wound. It was still nice and clean under the cloth from earlier. You repositioned the flesh to properly plan your stitches. It was a little jagged, but it wouldn't be difficult. Plenty of time had passed on the island, you had your fair share of injuries with only yourself to fix them. Probably good thing he's out because this is gonna hurt a little. With deft hands, you worked at closing the gash. Your eyes flicked between what you were doing and Kid. His knuckles were white and he was craning his neck to watch what you were doing. "Can you do something other than hover? Something productive?" His scowl deepened at that so you were taking it as a "no". He wasn't making you nervous. Actually he was kind of annoying you. You finished stitching Killer's leg within the next few minutes and bit the excess off. Examining the finished product, you nodded, satisfied. 

A deep sigh left the captain across from you. Was he holding his breath? Is he really that worried? That's actually... Not what you expected. Cute even. Cute wasn't the right word. Refreshing, that even the ruthless Captain Kid seemed to care this much over his partner. For the first time, you noticed that along with the empty food jars, Kid had grabbed his first mate's broken mask too.

You shifted over to move behind Killer's head, gently lifting it to be propped up on your crossed legs and trying to sort through the blond mane to map the entirety of the laceration. God there's so much hair. "I think I might have to cut some of it away." You were talking to yourself, but you felt the giant next to you bristle.

"ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT." 

"I am right next to you. You don't have to yell." If your hands weren't occupied separating Killer's hair, you might have thrown them. You looked him up and down, with a scowl to match his own. "Seriously, go make yourself useful. Find something to eat, since you ruined my dinner." Naturally, your voice had authority in it. You did used to have a crew of your own after all. 

Kid must have picked up on it. "Oh? You know who I am and you still think you can give me an order?" His head was cocked to the side. 

You got your needle ready again, only briefly considering stabbing him, before starting to mend Killer's head. So he wants to play this game...  You planning on being nice and helping him, helping them both, by showing him what he could and could not eat. You weren't going to waste precious calories arguing. "Sorry... you're right." You sighed. "I'll finish up here and leave you to it." This island was lush, no doubt, but it took you a long time to figure out which things you could eat without shitting yourself silly the next day. It'll build character to let Eustass Kid struggle. You ignored him until you were done with the last stitches. "All set." 

You stood up and brushed yourself off. "I'll find you later so I can check on him. I don't need you hunting me down because his wounds got infected." You gathered your things into the sled that was still waiting from your excursion this morning. "Not to give you an order or anything, but you can put his clothes back on. I cleaned them." The wet clothes that Kid had been in earlier had long since dried with a thin, salty crust. 

"WHATEVER."

________________

Next

Since this story is based on my OC, here she is so you can have an idea of what reader's scars look like.

AO3 link

[waxingrunes]

you said in a tiktok somewhere about sirus loving to hold 2 of remus' fingers and it got me curious, do you think sirius would ever experience littlespace and if so how do you think remus would be about it?

Personally, I have never seen Sirius as someone who would experience little space, but I do think that it’s possible he could experience regression to a degree.

It’s no secret Sirius grew up with one of the starkest upbringings that battered his mental health into what it was as a teenager and onwards. Being Sirius, meant he grew up with a heavy load of expectations saddled to his back and a strict image to maintain. Yes, he came into his own within early adulthood and has always been somewhat of a rogue against his family name, but that doesn’t diminish the fine line of teachings he’s had nor the extensive abuse he’s suffered. He is a smart man, a resourceful and practical one who can make good of most situations once given time to think about it. I don’t think he relies on a lot of people to get what he wants, partly because he’s never allowed himself to and because he seldom trusts. I think Sirius’ trust issues could even delve deeper than Remus’ but that’s a conversation for another day.

Considering the above, he is someone who has a lot of trauma and that’s putting it lightly. He has a natural charisma about him but there’s also a lot of masking that goes unnoticed by the many, but not by Remus. When Remus came along and their friendship/relationship began to blossom, I think Remus was the one person that simultaneously dislodged and lodged something into his brain. Remus is someone who he quickly learned he didn’t have to be anything that he didn’t want to be around and with that, came comfort. There is argument for James being a similar totem for this but as Remus is a different kind of love I think it’s more significant.

Remus is someone who, despite coming with his own difficulties, anxieties and flapping from time to time (including a very mild temper issue) is overall a grounding presence. He is calm and doesn’t need to take up space by volume, and has a more quiet confidence to him. In the right lights, a quiet authority too. Sirius has always felt like Remus could deflate him with a look, calm him with a touch and be that fixed north point on his compass towards home. Sirius knows Remus has him in a way he’s never felt with a romantic partner before. He can be his base self and truly unmask around this man which in turn brings unparalleled ease of physical and mental rest.

So, this is why I believe Sirius can and likes to regress every so often. He will slip into a submissive place of being pliant and alleviated of any worries, allowing Remus to physically take charge of what’s happening. I believe he will simply seek that umbrella of comfort and protection he finds in his Moony (he strictly calls Remus by this name, Moony, when he’s in that state) and lean into the warmth, allowing Remus to take charge of him for however long he needs that respite for. I wanted to reflect that on a superficial level with that two finger hold because I think it shows the innocence that comes with Sirius when he’s in this state. He doesn’t want anything else, other than to be cared for by his Moony and Remus will do everything and more by instinct because he knows exactly what he needs. Sirius will have certain telltale signs when he’s having one of these episodes or days, and Remus has learned them carefully so he can adjust his attention and behaviour accordingly. It’s something that would’ve been discussed as his mental capacity would be definitely altered.

Little space is full regression to a considerably lower age which I don’t necessarily think he does, but regression to a mentally smaller, perhaps more vacant version of himself where he isn’t exactly as present as he would be normally, I think is very likely.

[captain-mj]

Can we get another part of soap becoming monsterghosts handler???

Screaming!! Crying!! So happy someone was interested in that au!!!

Part 1 and part 2

Ghost quietly got ready. He tied his wings down flat and attempted at making himself presentable. His... muzzle was made to still look like a skull and prevent anyone from seeing his face. All for "his comfort", they had explained.

Ghost avoided thinking of when he woke up like this. Roba had found out about the experiments used to make things like him and tried his hand at it. It had been horrible. Waking up flawed. Fundamentally changed.

When Price had found him, he explained that he should've been able to shift back. Had gotten advice and tried to help him. Unfortunately, Ghost was wrong and stuck like this.

He avoided looking in mirrors usually, but he had to check now. The thing staring at him was unnatural. Too big and bulky, even with his wings tied flat. His eyes stared back. Still human at least. Still Simon.

He covered his mirror back up and went outside, marching to the meeting. Ghost perched in the back, mostly hidden by the shadows of the room and stayed there, only visible by the white of his mask.

Soap came in first and almost jumped out of his skin. He smiled at him once he realized who it was and stood nearby. Not within reach, just... nearby. It unsettled Ghost.

Price talked the entire time. Gaz was there, another human though Ghost didn't talk with him much, and Alejandro. Ghost wasn't sure about Alejandro. He never stated he was human, but he never did anything to suggest otherwise. Though if he was like Ghost, he was much better at keeping it hidden. Rodolfo... maybe was one. He was second in command, made more sense for him. But he had never shown anything to indicate he was anything but human either.

Alejandro flashed him a smile, as if he felt Ghost staring at him and Ghost quickly looked to Soap instead.

Soap was... a person. He was pretty normal. His hair looked dumb though. Ghost kept staring, tracing his features and looking him over. He'd steal his file later, to learn more. It wouldn't exactly be the worst thing he'd done recently. Price would be a little upset at him but Price was Price.

"Ghost." Speak of the devil.

Ghost flicked his eyes over to Price. "Yes, sir."

"You'll be showing Soap the base, understood?"

"Affirmative, sir." He hissed it through gritted teeth and he could see how Gaz tensed just a little at the tone.

"Good. You two are dismissed. Colonel Alejandro I believe...." They started talking but Ghost paid in no mind. He had his orders and he wasn't interested in whatever they had going on. Soap looked up at him.

"It's going to be great getting to work with you, sir." He smiled.

Ghost narrowed his eyes and brushed past him. He kept a brisk pace so Soap had to job to keep up with him. To his credit, he didn't complain, just walked faster.

"It's exciting right? We worked so well together on the previous mission."

Ghost side eyed him but Soap did not get the hint.

"Now, I know I'll be your handler, but like before, you're still my Lt, yeah? I was thinking you could call most of the shots until we ge-"

"Shut up." Ghost said coldly.

"Oh." Soap paused. "Not happy about the change?"

"To you, this is an exciting chance for fucking career development. For me, I just got a fucking demotion. The fact I have to have a handler is fucking stupid. Do you think I'm untrustworthy and feral?" He swung around, leaning down so he was in Soap's face.

"Only a little feral. I trust you." Soap smiled again. He did that a lot.

Ghost huffed at him and kept walking.

"So where's your room?"

"Why?"

"I'll need to know for later."

"You're not allowed in my room."

"I feel you're being unnecessarily cruel to me, Simon." Soap teased.

Ghost faltered before quietly saying. "Don't call me that."

"It's your name, isn't it?" He didn’t sound mean, just confused.

"Ghost. My name is Ghost. Simon is a dead man."

Soap gave him a side eyed glance this time, as if weighing his options.

“Alright, Ghost.”

Ghost did show him his room. Reluctantly. He didn’t let him in, just let him look around for a moment from the door and then shoved him forward so he could show him the mess.

After a few minutes of awkward silence, Ghost remembered how Soap acted around the other guys. Class clown behavior.

“Why is it so easy to shoot a fish in a barrel?”

Soap smiled. “Why?”

“Its already in the gun.” Ghost deadpanned. There was a beat of silence before Soap started laughing.

“Good one, Lt.” Soap hummed and eventually thought of one. They traded jokes back and forth for a minute. The dumb man had to ruin it.

“Why are you still shifted?” Soap’s eyes flicked to the muzzle and Ghost knew what he really meant. His ears flicked and those blue eyes moved to catch it.

“Can’t shift back. But you knew that. They would’ve given you a file that went over it all. You want to know why i can’t shift back.”

“I did ask why, yes.”

Ghost just managed to keep his composure. “You read the file. Defective is in Fucking bold.”

“But I’m asking you. Not the file.” Soap put his arms behind his back in a parade stance. “Why?”

Ghost reached over and patted his head. His giant hands looked even bigger next to him. It was odd. He knew Soap was average sized, but still. “Go Fuck yourself. And that’s the end of the tour.” He walked away from him.

“We’ll train tomorrow Yeah?”

“You hope.”

[thestuffieguardian]

Fair enough. But love is everywhere, and not everyone is wearing a mask. (Well, I'm wearing cool sunglasses, hehehe)

I've been hurt, badly, and I know I'm stupid because I still trust in people... I trust a lot, mostly because of their energy.

You're so adorable. I hope someone gives you everything you want, need, and deserve. This might sound cringe, but I wish you would let me, sorry! I feel like even your flaws are adorable. That sounds weird, right? Hahaha I'm like this, weird

Love is everywhere. You're right. But it's not for me and I've accepted that. You ARE wearing cool sunglasses! They're cool on you, unfortunately they've been worn by a lot of dickheads over the years 😂

You're not stupid. Having a trusting nature is a good thing. It's not your fault you got hurt. You don't control what other people think or feel. That's on them. I've been hurt too. Kinda why I'm the size that I am. Heartbreak is the biggest motivator. I wanted to believe there was a woman who could fall in love with me, but the feeling is fleeting constantly.

I'd love to let you. But I've been torn to pieces over and over and I'm just...tired. Plus with my past as well, it's just a whole shitshow. People don't leave things in the past. So there is no way I could ever believe you were the one for me for a second. I'm not judging you off the bat without knowing you, but I'm saying the chances of you and I being meant for eachother is slim to none. Notice I still said there's a chance. I too believe in love. Not sure if I believe in life after love, just don't think I'm strong enough, no.

My flaws aren't adorable. They're being worked on constantly, but I'm stuck in an endless paradigm of women who have a desire to hurt me. It's just happened for so, so many years & I'm just very tired. Very very tired.

Women constantly flourish themselves around me, moving their hair behind their ear, flipping it to make them more presentable and attractive and honestly, I don't even bat an eye at them. You'd think with the very little attention I got from women in my younger years, I'd be fawning over them now. But. No. Well. I like weird. Being weird is better than being normal. When you're normal you're mundane. It's the weirdoes who created the beauty of our world. Keep being weird. Keep being you 💙

[kafkaoftherubble]

人生第一次演唱会、感想是：

It was fun! I'm so glad I joined it!

I can't believe I slept all the way to 12pm today! That's completely out of my character! Neither Fionn nor I ever sleep past 9am. Lyi said it's not even that bad when you consider when I started sleeping, which was 3am, and what I was doing hours before sleep. 9 hours after an eventful day is normal in her mind.

Plus, yes, I have initial trouble sleeping comfortably in a foreign bed (even in my own house. Sleeping in a new room or a new bed takes time to get familiarized; new things beg for new attention and so the brain and body both become vigilant), which means the first few hours were fitful. There was also the cumulated fatigue from rushing my work since last week; I haven't had a full 8 hours for a couple of nights, which made naps a necessity—something not at all a habit to most of this life. All that combined probably made me sleep this much, but still... To sleep this late at someone else's home is just... Unbecoming!

Oh, right! The points! I have to write them down because I don't foresee breathing time for my diary writing in this short amount of time, so I'll have to put some thoughts down to strengthen my memory and then I can write my diary without missing the most important beats.

My hypothesis was true. Even with a good few songs I love being sung, and even with multiple moments of genuine mood to dance, I still couldn't feel connected with everyone. Not even with Lyi, or the Indonesian exchange student next to me who was having a full-on karaoke night, or Lyi's friend Ash, who was screaming hard at every single thing. But...

The only thing this distance really did was affirm how happy Fionn and I feel when so many people are happy and enjoying their time. You look from a distance and realize everyone's just fucking stoked. I still wish I was part of that "everyone," but it doesn't take personal involvement to feel vicariously happy. Hmm... Is this "muditā?"

FUCKING HELL, CHRIS MARTIN AND HIS GANG CAN FUCKING BUSK! It was pouring almost 80% of the concert, and the stage and standing area are uncovered, but these mad lads just kept going on and on without letting pesky water stinging their eyes stop them from jamming! He sounds just like his recording! He didn't lip-sync! He cleared his throat at one point! He made up a silly ass song called Malaysian Rain right there and then! It's so fucking Family Get Together Energy. I wonder if this is what a wholesome Thanksgiving Day would look like. We don't celebrate it, but I would love to think this is a taste of it!

The sounds and numbers of humans were astoundingly overwhelming. Being perceptive and attentive to others is the shared trait of both Fionn and the 8-foot Tall Woman, so I adopt it for their benefit, but man... It was just so much that I ended up reverting to Lyn's Real Trait: distant and dumb, hahaha! Nevertheless, there were times when those two would break me out of my default stupor!

I wore a mask because of the crowd and therefore higher chance of airborne viruses being transmitted, especially considering the Malaysian weather pattern come November and December (pouring rain in the late afternoon sometimes to night). But! It also has additional benefits...

I didn't have to worry about not knowing the lyrics and making shits up! I don't have to worry about not singing along! I don't have to worry about my spit on the woman's hijab, who was sitting in the (lower) row in front of me when I shouted "DAMN FUCKING STRAIGHT!" at Chris apologizing for not coming here sooner (2 decades, my dudes!)

There was this nifty LED wristband we all had to wear. Turns out, it lit up in synchronicity and patterns in their concert! It's pure audience engagement—it's the most evident presentation of how you are part of the experience they make. It amazed me immediately how inclusive this felt; Lyi didn't even realize it until I told her about how much I liked it. She thought it was just an amazing audience engagement gimmick and fucking rad aesthetics and theatrics.

I liked it because even someone who can't connect to "the crowd" had this visible evidence that no, you're part of "the crowd" too. I contributed to the show; I enhanced the experience they were trying to give us by being here. That's one of the nicest things someone could ever show me. I mean, people do tell me that they are appreciative of me being here and helpful and whatnot, but I'm an evidence-based debate-y robot-ghost. I can reason myself out of the equation and still doubt my own existence. So nothing makes me happier than to be defeated by solid proof I cannot refute—the scientific way! Coldplay, you fuckers, you defeated my feeling of being unreal with FACTS!

Because of this... I didn't feel alone at all!

I liked it the most when my wristband was this dim, orange-like yellow. When our wristbands were yellow. I think it's because it reminded me of chamomiles, my favorite flowers... though technically chamomiles is orange on the inside and white on the outside hahahaha. Wait why do I associate yellow with chamomiles?!

Bruh I have so much respect for bigshots who come on time. I'm so used to self-important bigshots, those YB and Dato and whatnot, to be late. And celebrities love being late too. Bigshots are like that. But no, Coldplay came on time. Right on the clock. I cannot stress the magnitude of how impressed I was. Even the concert ended on time.

But the crowd on the way out and back to the metro was claustrophobic. Luckily my bag was big and fat enough that I used it to clear up space in front of me, therefore making sure there was never any actual squeezing around me. I didn't want my claustrophobia to act up and made me suddenly disassociate and then the body started screaming and shrieking and barreling through people on its own. That would ruin everyone's experience and mood! And also just stressful for everyone.

The bottleneck issue stemmed from the train gates. There were only this many pass gates. I think our public transport company deserves to profit from concerts and events since they operate at quite a loss most time of the year (Malaysians and their love for cars; some of that love is because cars are a way to show off status. The lack of pedestrian infrastructure and walking+biking culture too). But I think they should just make the pass free in This Station, where the stadium is, and then charge everyone a fixed price when they disembark at whatever station they chose when passing through that station's gate. This will ease the load on This Station.

I mean, they are already operating the trains on overtime—way past their usual last train. This sort of special case adjustment should be pretty easy to implement. Shall I make this suggestion to them?

I shall treasure this memory and not let it be forgotten!

-----

Even before the concert, there was something to talk about!

I originally planned to walk all the way from The Mall to the stadium. Yes, it was pouring by that time—exactly as I predicted.

Which is why I brought my favorite piece of clothing! The yellow raincoat I bought because I love the way it looked on Jonah Kahnwald in Dark. Now there's an additional love for it because it was how Atom was introduced in Pluto!

I surmise that yellow raincoats are the classic outfit to put on for childlike people going through strange experiences. Isn't that swell?! Maybe the odds of seeing a ghost will increase if I wear a yellow raincoat! Or an interdimensional portal.

Nah, it doesn't do jackshit. It's just rainwear! But still, it means I can ramble in the rain! Isn't that just as swell?!

But I didn't get to because Lyi was like "DUDE I NEED YOU TO BE IN THIS STATION WHERE THE MALL'S FREE SHUTTLE BUS GOES, NOT THE STADIUM YET"

and my sister was like "Didn't you buy a book? IT WILL BE WET IF YOU WALK." "My bag is waterproof!"

"Your shoes will get wet!" "My boots are waterproof!"

"There is no pedestrian pathway!" "Yes there is, I walked it before when I was an intern!"

"There will be fumes and what if you catch a cold?" "I am masked and I have also prepared a towel!"

".... DEGIL MACAM BABI (you're stubborn as shit) I WANT TO FLY OVER HERE TO SLAP YOU WITH A SELIPAR (slipper)"

So no walking in the rain, unfortunately. No rambling. Kinda suck, but I'll find another chance.

And yes! I bought a book because I couldn't believe I found it! It's not a full collection, even though it's only 8 books in the entire series. Vol. 4 and 6 were missing. Also, I think it displaced my To Your Eternity manga; the position the series occupied was where I found my Vol. 18 the last time. Hmm. Bit of a "I got it! But at what cost?" situation, innit?

The book in question?

Weeeee! My bag was too fat and packed to handle multiple volumes, so I could only pick one. I picked the last one this time!

[elpida]

Beck was a good listener, that was part of his charm , the way he could cold eye contact and nod his head, the way he could show he was truly listening and not pretending to care with fake nods of acknowledgement. Part of that was down to training, another part of it was heavily down to the fact he really did care to hear what she had to say. He could've listened to her talk endlessly. "Did I stutter?" he questioned. "I said breathtaking because I meant breathtaking Polly! Sure, I've met women in my lifetime, plenty of pretty women, beautiful women but breathtaking? Well, they're more rare, and you're one of the first breathtaking women I've ever had the nerve to even say hello to."

"A busy body." he stated, listening to her say that she liked to be doing something, moving, then he waved his hand. "Not like- I mean in the, have to be doing something sense! See this is probably why breathtaking women don't talk to me, I put my foot in it really quick." he had a polished act really, of being loveable, likeable, of being someone that you'd cherish in your life when in fact.. he wasn't really those things. He was a golden retriever dealing with the energy he couldn't get rid of normally by playing games, but he was still very much the loveable golden retriever.

Australia. That was a good place to start, he could do some digging with that, a name and a location could get him quite far and all he'd had to do, was talk a little.. and listen a little bit more. His smile grew, smiling to her when his wine was poured. Inwardly it was a success, he could start to dig on Andrew, find out snippets, wind the path and build a case against the man. It didn't matter how nice he might be on the surface, the mask he chose to present.. Beck knew all about the mask being presented and how it was never the same as the person wearing it. "So you're a big believer in destiny then? Do you think I was meant to end up in that club?" He wondered what she might say, the day when he had a case and took the mask off on who he really was, would it still be something that was meant to be then? Would it be the same level of acceptance?

Beck wasn't sure really, if he liked the idea of how she'd look at him when that day came, but he'd find a way to deal with it. Part of being an undercover detective was accepting that no matter what path you walk, you'll walk t alone... and he'd come to accept that long ago. Alone was fine with him. Alone meant there was no room for disappointment, nobody could abandon you or change career, you couldn't lose a partner if you just choose to remain doing the job alone, you didn't have another life in your hands, another back to watch, a responsibility weighing on your shoulders. "I like the idea that I was meant to find you, I'm not sure how much I believe in destiny.. I think I like to believe that we carve our of path, that's not to say I don't admire what you believe." he paused, his eyes lowering down to her smile. He wanted to commit her smile as it was right now to memory. "I do love seeing you smile like that, Polly."

It wasn’t often that Polly found herself feeling at ease with someone so quickly, but with Beck, it was different. She was beginning to enjoy his presence, appreciating how effortlessly their conversations flowed. There was something about the way he truly seemed interested in getting to know her beyond the club’s glittering facade, something that made her feel seen. His charm didn’t hurt either—it was subtle yet powerful, drawing her in more than she had expected. As they talked, she found herself opening up, sharing pieces of herself she usually kept hidden. “I just… had that thought many times over because of my own family’s situation,” she admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of vulnerability and reflection. It wasn’t easy for her to talk about her past, given how it often led her to a place she didn’t want to be in, a place where she didn’t feel safe.

“Breathtaking? Oh, come on…” Polly laughed, her voice light but tinged with disbelief. She shook her head, a shy smile playing on her lips as she brushed off his compliment. “Please,” she continued, trying to downplay his words. “I’m sure you’ve met plenty of women in your lifetime—real breathtaking ones.” Accepting compliments had never been easy for her, especially ones as sincere as this. She glanced away, a faint blush coloring her cheeks, unsure whether to believe he truly saw her that way or if it was just another sweet line. But there was something in the way he looked at her, something that made it hard to dismiss his words entirely. “I was never a fan of office jobs for that reason. I need to be moving, doing things… Well, I’m in the adult entertainment industry, after all, as weird as that sounds.”

Polly shook her head, her expression firm as she explained. “No, Andrew doesn’t just recruit girls out of nowhere. He doesn’t see someone and think, ‘Oh, I must go with this one.’ It’s not like that at all.” She paused, wanting to ensure her point was clear. “He made an exception with me because he said he saw something in me, something that could make me the star of his club. And that was it.” Her voice softened slightly as she continued, the memory of that moment still vivid. “The other girls have to go through a process, the same one I went through, but it’s different for them. They have to do an interview with Andrew, but I didn’t have to.” She explained, wanting to make it clear that Andrew wasn’t the type of guy who just picked girls at random for his club. He was selective, and while she was his favorite, she understood that her situation was unique.

“I met him that night,” Polly began, her tone reflective. “At first, I was so insecure about the whole thing, unsure if I could trust him. But after he explained everything—even gave me the option to refuse—I ended up accepting it.” She glanced at Beck, wanting him to understand how it had all unfolded. “He’s from Australia, very successful in the business industry. He’s always busy, so we don’t get to see him often.” What Polly didn’t know, of course, was the darker side of Andrew’s success—the weapon smuggling, money laundering, and drug trafficking that underpinned his empire. She had only seen the surface, the polished exterior that Andrew presented to the world. Their conversation was interrupted as the waitress returned with a bottle of wine and the drink Beck had ordered. Polly fell silent, watching as the red wine was carefully poured into her glass. She took a moment to appreciate the deep color of the wine, letting the silence settle between them. Once the waitress left, she looked back at Beck and smiled, her eyes softening. “I believe I ended up at that club for a reason, you know?” she said thoughtfully. “And now, I get to be here, in this place, with a man like you.” Her smile grew a little wider, and there was a hint of warmth in her voice, as if she was starting to believe that maybe, just maybe, everything had led her to this moment for a reason.

[joyful-soul-collector]

Just Steven

Ok so @parknerandirondad​ asked me a question about my favorite pictures of Steven and one of my favorites was of Steven with his Mr. Knight suit for the first time! But as I was trying to figure out WHY I liked this picture so much, I started analyzing Steven himself and how his confidence changed when he put on that suit and how his confidence changed THROUGHOUT THE SHOW--

Eventually I realized there were a lot of reasons why I liked said picture of him, and would need a separate post to explain my analysis of everything. 

This is said post. 

Here we fuckin go:

First off and VERY IMPORTANT, we see Steven in TWO suits in Moon Knight, not just his Mr. Knight suit. The first suit we see him in is actually this one: 

And what does Steven say when he sees himself in this moment?

“Ya look like a knob.”

He puts himself down. Just immediately shuts down and takes it off. Steven doesn’t wear suits often clearly, and it seems as though the sight of himself in the suit was so unfamiliar that he immediately pushed the idea away completely. Steven normally dresses in layers of larger clothes and brushes his hair so it’s more in his face, effectively hiding his body (as a trans man, same), so we can tell that he doesn’t exactly think highly of how he looks.  

All of this is just showing that Steven doesn’t believe he looks nice. He’s nothing special. He’s not handsome, not good-looking, definitely not hot in any sort of way. In fact he’s so certain that the moment he’s presented with the image of himself in a suit, the image of himself in clothes that objectively look fine and good on him, he calls himself a knob and takes them off. 

However, ALLL that changes the moment he sees himself in THIS:

“I do look sharp though!”

The MOMENT Steven sees himself in this, his confidence just SKYROCKETS. Suddenly he thinks he can fight, he challenges the jackal, drawing it towards him and celebrating when he lands a good blow. The Steven wearing that brown suit is clearly NOT the same Steven wearing this white one. 

But beyond this white suit being higher quality, and magic, what really is the big difference between them? Why did one suit make Steven put himself down, and the other compliment himself?

Well the biggest difference is that the Mr. Knight suit covers his face. 

Before now he’s reiterated constantly that he’s just Steven, just Steven Grant, who works at a gift shop, he’s not a mercenary, he’s not Marc Spector, he’s just. Steven.

He doesn’t see himself in that glass, not really. He sees someone that’s stronger than him, better than him, he sees someone that wouldn’t run away from danger, someone that would challenge a jackal and send it flying with a single punch. He doesn’t see Steven Grant, he sees Mr. Knight. 

But this confidence doesn’t last very long. Obviously he’s not a skilled fighter, not yet, and after landing that one good blow he gets dragged around and thoroughly defeated. And THAT is the moment when the mask comes off:

“Alright, you take control, for now.”

He’s realized he’s not as strong as he thought, not as good as Marc is. His confidence is gone. He gives control over to Marc and lets him handle the jackal instead. For a moment he thought he could be strong and brave, and he was, but it wasn’t enough. 

He’s just Steven again.

However! We do see his confidence, and his suit, come back here:

This is the scene where Steven is shown to be just as important as Marc, just as powerful and brave as he is. For the first time, somebody needed him. Marc and Layla needed Steven to solve the puzzle, and Konshu needed Mr. Knight to turn back the sky. And you can see the exact moment when Steven and Mr. Knight are one in the same:

Konshu is losing power and Steven’s mask falls away. Mr. Knight is gone, but Steven still has power. Steven is the one that keeps the night sky in place long enough for Layla to get the coordinates. Steven is the one that uses up so much of his energy that he passes out. Steven is the one with the stars in his hands, not Mr. Knight. Steven is the person with power right now. Not Marc, not Moon Knight, not Mr. Knight, not even Jake, just. Steven. 

That’s when Steven becomes Mr. Knight. That’s when he wears the suit as himself. 

And that leads us to the last time we see Steven in a suit:

“Hey I’m really jazzed about showing you these new skills we have!”

Steven first shows up in the suit without the mask! And god look at him! He’s BEAMING! He’s excited!! He’s fuckin’ jazzed! He’s learned now that not only is he just as brave and strong as Marc is, he’s also just as necessary as Marc is! He has a role now, he can access Marc’s fighting skills, he has people in his life who love him, who love him as Steven. 

He’s got his confidence. More confidence than he’s ever had so far. 

He looks sharp in that suit. 

And goddamn does he know it

[mochikeiji]

Looking Like U Got Me

Request: "Prompt no. 56 and 55 for Gojo ＼(^o^)／"

55. "You look like my husband/wife"

56. "Keep doing that and I'll marry you faster"

↠ Pairing: Gojou Satoru x Reader

↠ Warning: none! Simply fluff

↬ Word Count: 1.7k

↠ a/n: i accidentally mixed up prompts 55 and 57 ;-; but still hoping this turns out good!!

↳ from Go! Go! Gogatsu Event!

All he wanted was to wake up in bed, next to you— who would cuddle deeper in his arms even in slumber so he'd smother you with his kisses and tighten his hold around you and drift back to sleep longer, finally free of responsibilities for once and enjoy quality time with his only favorite person. But instead he wakes up with a groan passing through his lips, supporting his back side with his hand while shuffling to his side in a different position as the light sun rays shun through the window blinds, softly fanning his eye and forehead.

Gojo chuckles a bit before wincing. His lower back so tensed that he feels himself get older by the day. Pouting at the empty space next to him, he palms the cold sheet in wonder of where you are. Up so early in the morning when you could've just stayed in for him. How annoying. His eyes shut for moment when the scent coming from outside the room intruded his senses. Ah, you must be cooking breakfast. How sweet of you.

Thank goodness it wasn't another batch of dried crackers or cup of noodles that'll enter his mouth. He was never one to cook meals when he was on solo or when you weren't around. The very thought of not only the meal was awaiting for him outside, but also you excites him that it made him feel tingly inside. Call it dramatic, yeah, but it's not every day someone gets to wake up and immediately feel this full of love in the morning. You were the only and last love he's ever wanted to have in this world. It was so surreal even to him.

Sighing before pushing himself up, Gojo yawns out the remains of drowsiness in his system and stands. He didn't bother wearing a shirt since last night, claiming that he misses how his body rubs off yours in both comforting and suggestive ways. Plus it was just you and him home, he'd rather walk naked than wear the usual long sleeved uniform on a warm day.

The scent of coffee got stronger as he closes in his journey towards the kitchen. There was faint sizzling coming from the pan as you stood there in attendance. Stuck in your own little world, swaying to the sound of the radio playing, U got Me by Yung Heazy. It was one of the few songs that reminded you of Gojo back when you were both high schoolers. The exact song you remembered playing when you both hung out on a small cafe in Tokyo. Where he was so flustered, attempted to hide his blushes with his round glasses. The little things that reminded you of that memory never fails to make your heart race.

Of course Gojo knows this one as well. Because it was on that date as well he had call you, "his" after masking his embarrassment and from obviously checking you out every minute. How could he contain himself? He was a young man who was having trouble in the arts of love. Nevertheless he was glad to have grown up from those years. If his younger self could see him now, he'd be gagging at the sight of a softer version of his older self.

Snaking his arms around your torso carefully to avoid surprising you, he places his chin above your shoulder. Salivating at the sight of thick bacon in deep frying, shamelessly letting you know he was hungry from the sound of his stomach growling. "This is a nice way to greet me." you smile at the man behind you, who had his eyes closed in delight while rubbing his cheek against yours like a cat in need of attention. "Good morning to you as well, sweet cheeks." he says after  pressing a kiss on your skin.

"You got up early." whining softly, his hair and nose tickling the side of your neck and shoulder, "I was hoping to stay longer y'know?" trailing his hands underneath the his shirt you were wearing, mapping out on all the skin he could squish and hold with his large palms. Noticeably pressing himself closer to your body, the much needed space gone but you weren't complaining. After all, this was Gojo, a man who knows no boundaries.

"I wanted to make breakfast for you. We haven't had one together since we're both busy." you say as you grabbed the nearby plate, turning off the stove as the now cooked meal sizzles softly from the pan before sliding down to the porcelain surface. In attempt to lick his lips at the now prepared food, his tongue grazes upon your skin, sending you to jolt a bit, hearing the joyous laughter from him as he places a kiss on the spot as an apology.

"W-why don't you go sit down, there's rice bowls and cooked eggs prepared already." stammering, you quickly excused yourself away from his embrace to clean out the mess from the counter. Gojo sighs out the adoration but obliges to your command. Not long after you had finally settled down in front of him. Seeing him in all smiles as he scarfs down on his food made you smile as well. Thank goodness his blindfold was off, they looked adorable twinkling in happiness.

This felt nice. To have an opportunity to be a normal couple once again. So many times you could only daydream of scenarios like this. He could say the same as now that you were present on the usual spot he'd come home to empty. Often dozing off during meetings thinking of where you were or how you were, the multiple times Megumi has fed up with his whining about how he never gets to see or have more time with you. Nobara even pointed out a fact saying, "You act as if you're both married." and Yuuji, being the happy child of the three had said something that always ponder in his mind, "Why don't you marry each other yet, sensei?"

It was a statement he's been considering for a long time. Marriage. Of course Gojo wanted to marry you after years of torment love. To have his precious students say that you both already looked as if you were married got him all heart racing, and very very happy. He's had vivid images of a life with you. Not far from what it is today, but imagine. Unlimited happiness after so long of fearing it. Perhaps maybe even tiny legs running around, giving him such big love as his grows for the family he's craved, watching you smile beside the doorway and calling them in for a meal.

If marrying you means he can have that every day, then the hell with it.

"You look like my wife."

The spoon drop echoes. Slowly his face erupted into a faint blush while staring back at your widened eyes and opened mouth. "What?" gulping down the stuck food in your throat, Gojo bites his lips watching you maintain your composure. So cute. "Y-you know you say funny stuff when you're out of it. Maybe some daifuku would help? Yeah! Wait a sec." quickly getting up from your seat and rummaging in your fridge, you breathed out the heavy puff of air from your lungs.

He did not just say that so directly towards you. Maybe you were dreaming? You wouldn't be if your heart wasn't practically being forced out. Gojo is always fun and games, right? He doesn't mean that.

Sad to think of it that way.

"Ow!" thumping your head above the fridge as you grabbed some of the take outs of Daifuku you got yesterday, closing the fridge back before returning shortly to Gojo, who seemed as out of it as you were. "You did say your brain functions best when you eat sweets. Luckily for you I bought these yesterday. That's why I cooked earlier now because I wanted to try it out with you!"

Gojo can't tell if he wants to be offended at the fact that you think he was joking or just now, cover his half of his face to hide his laughter and igniting squeals. God he wished he had his phone right now, the moment was just so priceless and precious as you were.

"...ter"

Muffles from behind his hand was heard. Tilting your head to the side, trying to process what he said but no avail. "What was that?" you moved a little closer next to him, tapping his hand away almost eagerly. When he does, you spot that knowing smile present on his lips and the uncharacteristic blush still painted on his cheeks.

"Keep doing that and I'll marry you faster, honey."

You've gotten more shy when his hand held yours in the most loving way while drawing patterns. Searching through his eyes if he was playing around, but you were met with ones you know of when they were full of sincerity. "I-i. You know, they were so cheap anyways and I figured you'd want them." he snorts before leaning his head on your arm and laughs hysterically. It was painfully obvious that you were in state of shock that you couldn't even process his words.

Up until now the effect he has on you was still there like before.

"Sweetie." he turns his body away from the table to face you, pulling you so that you were standing in between his legs looking down shyly on the floor. "I'm serious." his fingers reached for your chin to pull your head up to meet his features. His other hand still holding your smaller one; index finger tracing your ring finger in circular motions as if he was creating a make believe ring.

He should thank himself for falling in love and be trusting once again.

Because now, staring back at your eyes filled with the same amount of emotions as his. Reciprocating the exact thing he was feeling. Waking up just to start the day already wanting him to be there. Knowing all the littlest things he's shared. Hearing the erratic sound of both of your heart beats.

He knew he's made the right choice.

"You really do look like my wife. My future."

© all content belongs to mochikeiji. Please do not repost or copy, ありがとうございました!! (=^･^=)

[mehiwilldoitlater]

Creator reader who loves to sing. So they get along well with Yun Jin, Xinyan, and surprisingly Shenhe (because reader made her come) and they form something like a band

So with they all go around Teyvat but Liyue is their home base.

They go to Mondstadt where they sometimes team up with Venti and make the best music in Teyvat.

YES! YES! YESYESYESYES i love this troop! I love the idea of a reader that just enjoys music and singing!

Not everyone knows about your passion, only the people close to you or the ones that usually spend a majority of their time with you. Shenhe, as one of these, became quite accustomed to your habit of singing old melodies from your world, lullabies, or just humming a tune from time to time. She would even say that your amusement had inadvertently influenced her condition, per se. Even so, you never had it in mind to let this hobby take up a large part of your life. It was something that helped you lift your mood, and you were fine even if your only listeners were the Adepti or Zhongli.

When Yun Jin and Xinyan discovered your passion, they were merely following the rumor of a singer in the mountains who was able to calm monsters and demons with her voice. They had no idea it was you! They never got a chance to actually meet you, but, on the other hand, you became one of their biggest fans!

Her arms were protectively in front of you, ready for every strike. When you stopped singing abruptly, her first thought was of a possible threat, but your reaction, a series of small gasps and giggles, wasn't exactly what she expected. The two girls, on the other hand, were still trying to collect themselves from what they had recently discovered. "Wow...just...wow?!" "I would never have imagined this outcome!" It seemed like they weren't there for any kind of trouble. That calmed Shenhe for now. Still, that place was a sacred place, one that you could only use in order to remove the stress of your work! Of course, no one was allowed to come here. The two were bold enough to elude what the elders said about the mountain. So, she decided to take it easy on them. "This place is a sacred area for only Adepti and Gods. Leave now or-" "Oh my gosh! I can't believe that i can finally meet you! " Without warning, you leave the security of Shenhe protection to run to the two girls, more shocked than before. "I'm your biggest fun! I love both of your shows. I haven't missed one in weeks!"

It has become a habit for you three to meet, talk about music, and share some new information and ideas. You loved all of the Qixing, but being able to finally talk about your passion with someone that could understand was a totally different story! You loved every second, from you and Xinyan singing to the top of your lungs, to you learning a few tricks from Yun Jin about opera and theatre. When the idea of performing was presented to you, they confessed that both of them had the same idea and shared the same intention of finally combining your three techniques together. Initially, the prospect of performing seemed like a dream come true, but one fear began to take hold in your mind. You had no problem with staying out in public. After so many royal meetings, it has become a custom for you. The real problem for you was what to do if the audience isn't there for the performance but just to take a glance at the creator. What if they say that your band is good just because you're the one that sings? That idea stopped your enthusiasm initially, but Yun Jin was ready with an idea.

The young girl placed the small wooden object in your hands. Vibrant colors recreated the pattern of make-up. The feminine feature gave the object an elegant shape.

"A...mask?" "Yes, in the opera, it's normal for us to wear them in certain cases. If you're wearing it, combined with the right objects and dresses, you'll be unrecognizable!" "But...wouldn't sound strange? I mean, who's gonna come and see someone that doesn't even show their face?" "As strange as cool! It'll give a mysterious touch to the band Y/n! Let's give it a try!"

It was a good idea—brilliant, to be honest—but you were nervous about it. You looked at Shenhe, possibly looking for approval. She glanced at you, folding her arms to her chest, sighing .

"It...would be a shame to not let you try... I won't always be there to protect you, but if you're in Liyue, there won't be any trouble. "

It became clear after a few of your shows that your fears were unfounded. You three became the most well-known band in Liyue in a matter of weeks. Every time you were able to put on a show, it was always sold out! The elders from the Yun Jin troupe were finally able to accept the change that you were able to make; a new kind of music, one that could touch many hearts! They were even able to accept Xinyan, and now she isn't mocked for her style anymore! Of course, your identity was still well hidden, even from the troupe and many of their friends. If someone was so eager to know something about this curious masked singer, the only thing that the snoop could get was an elegant smile or a hearty laugh from the two performers. On you, someone did have some hints about what was happening, but the thought of half of them was just that it couldn't be possible! While the other half just decides to keep a dignified silence, letting you indulge in that activity that was making you happy. It was exciting, keeping such a secret from everyone and listening to everyone's ideas and assumptions.

"Who knows! Maybe it's a misterious adeptus, not bound to Morax and Liyue, that is secretly living among the humans! Or maybe a God that survived the war!"

You laughed at Xingqiu's strange guesses. "My my, you did run with your idea! You should write something about it!

 Shenhe, of course, didn't exactly do what she had said to you that day. She didn't show herself directly, but preferred to stay hidden in the leaf shade of a tree, or admire the perfomance on the rooftops of one of the houses near your location.

This brought a few misunderstooding, but, seeing how much this meant to you, she understood that she couldn't just back down, not now that you made it that far with your friends.

"You know, the other day at the performance... I thought I saw my auntie, not far from the stage." "Your auntie?... Maybe she likes their music?"

The idea stared inside Chongyun's brain, and, as strange as it seemed, he genuinely believed that that was the only plausible assumption.

The day when you three came up with the idea of starting a real tournè, it was a complicated one. On one hand, you were still scared of the other nations' Archons, especially the Raiden Shogun after what had happened, but on another, you deeply wanted to open up again, to be able to spring your wings and finally let everyone in Teyvat know who you three were! It was a painful situation, but Xinyan and Yun Jin never tried to pressure you on any side. They wanted to be a team with you, and that meant being able to decide all together!

When you accepted, it was time to tell the Qixing about everything and your plan to travel again, this time protected and accompanied by your friends. It wasn't the first time that Ningguang had to cover up some secrets, and she wasn't pleased with the idea of you being out of Liyue, but you were adamant about it. Your commitment to your cause compelled her to assist your band in getting from one town to the next on your tour. Zhongli was another problem... How could you expect him to be fine and dandy and just let you go?! To visit the nations that want nothing but to hurt you?! Did you forget your suffering? Your pain?! He didn't want to understand; he refused to accept this idea! 

When he noticed your eyes glittering and your lips trembling, his firm resolve shook. This wasn't a simple whim, this was something that you held dear, so dear that your fear dissipated in that moment. Maybe, like for Liyue, your change needed something radical like that?

��Just...promise me that you’ll be careful.” “I will, Zhongli,don’t worry! Shenhe will be with me till the end, nothing can hurt me with her at my side!

His hands held you tightly, fearing that after that moment he would not be able to see you again. He couldn’t stand the idea, so he savoured the moment, trying to hold it in his memory like a promise to keep between you two till your safe return to the harbor.

" I know...just remember, if anything troubles you, please do not hold it inside you. Inform me, I'll be at your side immediately. "

Your first stop was in Mondstadt.

Xinyan was quite accustomed to the city, thanks to her continuing travels for her music. For Yun Jin, that was the first time she had even left her nation, so it was every time a new surprise! To the strange way of dressing, to the food, to the structure of the city! Everything filled the girl with new ideas and compositions for her stories! You did quite remember that place...for another matter. But, for the sake of your friends, you decided to hold it together. After all, it was supposed to be an easy job! One night, enough for singing and playing your music, and you would all be back on the road for the sunrise!

"How are you doing over there?"

You almost choked on your sandwich, Xinyan had noticed your behaviour in the moments you stepped into Mondstadt. She had an idea of what was happening in the little head of yours, but she would have preferred that you be the one to speak your mind.

"I...i think fine? Good...i'm not sure." "Still thinking about the hunt, uh? You're an open book to me! No need to hide it. "

It wasn't like you didn't want to talk about it, it was just hurtful to remind you of it all those nights alone...

"You need to remember two things! One: when you wear this thing," she said, pointing to your mask, slightly to the side, allowing you to eat. "You are no god at all, just our singer. Two: you're not alone anymore! The creepy lady is always watching, you know? "

She gestured at a house, a small movement of silk well hidden from prying eyes. Wow, she was good...

You didn't want anybody to unmask you, especially Venti. You had to hold on to every string of your strength to not just slap him. How could someone be so calm and nice after everything that he had done?! Of course, your companions were aware of your interactions with him and the other knight, and the few things they could do was to convince you to hold it together, to remind you that this wasn't for them but for you! Somehow, your animosity was capable of being perceived even by Shenhe, and she had to fight the urge to just attack each one of those filthy mortals that dared to frighten you. But she resisted. Like you, she would hold it together till the end.

Then, Venti insisted on playing with you three, declaring that he looked forward to a collaboration with the three musicians of Liyue. That and a strange familiarity with the singer, the one that seemed to not be able to look in his eyes, that looked distressed. At the end, you three decided to agree, fearing some kind of trick during the performance. Just before the curtain lifted, he noticed something familiar on the shoulder of the masked singer: a scar, made from an harrow.

[shurisneakers]

harmless (iv)

Summary: Bucky volunteers to go stop a small time villain, but nothing can prepare him for what exactly he has to deal with. (Bucky x villain!reader, drabble series)

Warnings: cursing, guns, mention of war, frustrated bucky, dramatic reader

Word count: 1.5k

A/N: good evening i’ve never been to any of the places i mention in this series so dont come @ me

if you have any ideas for future inventions/evil plans, lemme know! i might actually end up using them 

here’s my ko-fi if you’d like to support my writing <333

Previous Part || Series Masterlist

He spends the weekend doing nothing. It’s supposed to be relaxing. He finds it nauseatingly boring.

“No mini mission this week?” Steve asks him from across the couch. 

They’re supposed to be catching up on Star Wars but two prequels in and Bucky could feel himself lose his sanity. Anyone could present him with a random assortment of alphabets, call it a Star Wars species and he would have no reason not to believe them.

It’s not like he doesn’t like space. It’s just that he’s had enough of it and everything and everyone who came from it for the foreseeable future.

“No. Someone else is taking care of it.”

“Didn’t you volunteer for this?”

“I pulled myself out of the case.”

“I thought you were having fun.” 

Bucky’s head slowly turns to look at him. “Why would you think that?”

“I don’t know,” Steve shrugged. “Looked like you were.”

Well, he wasn’t. He likes it here at home, glued to the TV. Popcorn beside him, sweatpants on. Refreshing, calming, slow, mundane, and Jesus Christ, so fucking boring-

His spiralling is interrupted by the dinging of the elevator to the common floor. No one was allowed up there unless it was extremely urgent. Guests were barely allowed into the Tower as it was. 

It reveals the receptionist from downstairs, Marie. She’s always a little reserved, a little shy. But Bucky had seen her chew and spit out trespassers or anyone who dared to get on her nerve. He adores her.

“Hey, Marie,” Steve says while Bucky sends her a friendly wave in greeting. “What’s wrong?”

“There’s a hostage situation downtown,” she informs them. 

“Okay...” Steve drawls, waiting for a reason why this was an Avengers level threat.

“They’ve asked for Mr. Barnes by name.” She makes a mention towards him.

Bucky sits up straight. Bits of popcorn fall off his chest. 

“What?”

“They said, and I quote-” she looks down at her notepad. “‘Tell that grumpy motherfucker that I’m waiting for him and that he’s not getting out of this so easily because we have come too far.’ End quote. They’ve also told me to include a kissing emoji. And a skull.”

Steve and he look at each other.

“Well?” Steve prods. 

Bucky sighs and gets up to go get ready.

The entrance of Chuck E. Cheese is more crowded than he’d ever seen. He wasn’t even sure he’d seen people in the store before. If there were, they probably only came up till his waist. 

There are a few journalists, a few policemen standing together outside. Whispers of confusion and curiosity reigned free. 

Bucky gently pushes his way to the front. He gets a nod from a police officer who opens the door for him after a quick briefing. 

The place is darker than it usually would be. A trademark, it seemed. The blinds are drawn shut and most of the light is coming through whatever sneaks in through the crack. 

“Hey, Barnes.” Your voice is muffled by a mask that looks suspiciously like it was made out of classroom craft supplies.

There’s a person in a loose chokehold in your hand with a gun pressed against his head. Once again it looks straight out of a cartoon, purple with round disks lining its barrel. 

“What’s all this now?” He gestures around monotonously. 

“A hostage situation. Didn���t you get the memo?”

“Got that part down, genius,” he bites back. “But why?”

“Fucker kept harassing me when I was walkin’ down the street.” 

The guy’s helpless gaze met Bucky. 

“Catcalling me, stalking me.” You tighten the grip you have on him. “Call me darlin’ one more time, you son of a bitch. I dare you.”

He wasn’t impressed with his pleading eyes. He kinda felt like he deserved it. 

“Why’d you do it here?” The bright colours were starting to give him a heading. “And where are the staff?”

“It’s symbolic, Bucky,” you emphasise, “He deserves to be among other rat bastards.”

Of course.

“The staff?” he asks again. 

“Gave them thirty bucks and told them to leave. I’m not a monster.”

“Right.” He doesn’t bother refuting you. “Why’d you call me here?”

“Dunno.” You shrug. “Thought it’d be fun. You having fun yet?”

You shake the guy you’re holding. He gives a small whimper. 

Bucky doesn’t want to stop you. He had chugged enough Respect Juice in his lifetime to know that this guy probably deserved a threat or two.

Hell, he’d even help but you were more than capable of handling this on your own.

“Listen,” he sighed. “As much as I’m sure he deserves it, this is technically illegal and I’m required to stop you.”

“Sorry sarge, I thought you weren’t interested in playing this stupid game with me,” you mock, voice dropping to imitate him.

“I’m not.” It wasn’t entirely true. One Saturday with Jar Jar Binks had convinced him otherwise.

“Okay, so before you leave, do me a favour and call Hawkeye. I hear he looks mighty fine when he’s annoyed.”

His face involuntarily scrunched up. You were going to replace him with Clint? Clint?

He probably took it more as an insult than he should have.

“I’m not doing that.” Bless his foul mouthed friend, but he was a little shit who was too sarcastic for his own good. At least twice a week he’d say something stupid to Bucky and then take out his hearing aids when he tried to argue back. 

“You’re leavin’ me with no options here,” you groaned, using your thumb to flip a switch. The gun looks like it powered up, lights along the side turning red.

If he let you have this, it’d be a bad look for the Avengers.

New York man dies in Chuck E. Cheese lone hostage situation, unable to be saved by same superhero who tried to fight Thanos with a machine gun.

“Tell ya what,” he says instead, “If you kill him, there won’t even be a slight chance that you’ll see me again.”

Your grip on the gun falters.

“If I let him go...”

“I might consider coming back next week.” He’s trying to spin it, make it look like he’s the one with the upper hand here. “But you gotta let him go.”

You search his face for any signs of dishonesty.

“Let him go or you’ll never see me again.” It sounds too much like Clint’s arguments with his dog who brought a live squirrel into the house. 

“Fine,” you relent, a glint in your eye. “but say goodbye to this fuckface.”

Before Bucky can open his mouth to shout in protest, you pull the trigger. The man clenches his eyes shut, face red.

He expects blood to be splatter across his face.

Nothing happens.

A barrage of bubbles floats into the room.

“I meant it literally,” you say, pushing him off you. “Say goodbye. He’s leaving.”

The man stumbles to the ground and Bucky doesn’t make any attempt to catch him. He scrambles to his knees, picking himself up and scurrying out the door to a hoard of reporters.

The door shuts behind him with the chime of a bell.

“You’re annoying,” Bucky states, giving a small sigh.

“I’m well aware of that.” You pull off the mask, wiping the sweat off your brow.

“Where is the agent assigned to your case?” 

“Dunno. Last I saw he was crying on the driveway of my lair. I just figured he’d pick himself up later so I left him there.”

Bucky’s nose twitches. 

“You weren’t actually going to kill him, were you.” He shrugs with his shoulder towards the door. It wasn’t a question, more a statement. He knew you wouldn’t. 

“I could have.”

“But you weren’t going to,” he repeats. 

“No,” you admit. “I wasn’t. But I’m glad to see you showed up.”

“You held someone hostage as leverage.”

“No, no. I held someone hostage and then asked to see you. They were completely unrelated.”

“You’re evil.”

“You jumped to conclusions,” you point out. “Would you like a trampoline next time? Maybe a pogo stick, you clown?”

He has a very real gun in his holster. His very real metal death arm aches to use it. 

“No one else agreed to come,” he deflects. 

“We both know that’s a lie. You were going to come back anyway.” You stuff the bubble gun back into the bag. “I’m deliciously irresistible.”

“I beg to differ.”

“Then beg.” You give him a smirk and he rolls his eyes. “Don’t worry, you win this round, sarge.”

He doesn’t say anything. He watches you remove your heist gear, revealing normal civilian clothes underneath.

You walk casually to the kitchen, intending to leave through the back door.

“But I can’t say I lost either.” You send him a wink before swiftly pushing open the door and leaving him behind.

He only watches you leave.

It doesn’t hit him until a few seconds later that he let a criminal out of his hands when there were several policemen and journalists outside.

He entertains the idea of chasing you down and handing you over. 

It takes him only a few seconds to decide that if they wanted you, they’d have to try themselves.

Next part 

[quicksilverownsmysoul]

Stay pt. 2

Summary: An unknown killer has been abducting local girls but somehow you managed to escape but you are still scarred to be alone. You are now safe in Easttown where you meet Colin Zabel a detective who is helping Mare with your case. When he finds out you have no where to stay he offers to let you stay with him. Little does he know where this offer will lead, and in the end you both end up finding comfort in one another.

Warnings: Mentions of kidnapping, restraint, angst, there us fluff sprinkled throughout it

Word Count: 2879

“What if she stays with me?” Mare whipped her head up to look at him and Harriet did the same. He looked at them, his head tilted slightly to the side. “What?” 

Mare gave him a hard look as if willing him to understand what about what he had said was wrong. 

“What?” He asked again.

 “Really? You think she should stay with you?”

“Yea.” 

“Are you stupid?” At this point Harriet was glaring at him as well. 

He gave a shrug, his arms still crossed over his chest. “I mean I know I’m not the ideal person to take her in, Harriet is the best candidate. “She nodded her head at this. “But I'm a detective and I have training, I can protect her.

“Zabel.” Mare said slowly as if willing him to understand. “You want the girl who was abducted and assaulted by a male killer to stay with you, a man.”

 Colin’s eyes widened at the realization. “Oh okay I get why you guys were so concerned. But no I’m not offering her to stay with me alone I’m offering for her too. Wait.” He said taking a deep breath trying to clear the awkwardness but only making it worse. He took a deep breath and started again.” Look, I live with my mom.” Mare raised an eyebrow at this but she was in no position to judge him. “She could come stay with me and my mom. There would be a woman present at all times and an older woman at that. She might provide some motherly comfort to (y/n). My mom is also retired so she’ll be able to look after her like all day while I’m at work. And I’ll be there too and can prove protection if it comes to that.” Colin let out a breath of relief after fully explaining his intentions. 

Mare and Harriet glanced at one another. “That’s actually a good idea Zabel.” He smiled at Mare’s compliment. “If she doesn't want to stay alone at her apartment she can stay with you if she feels comfortable with it.” 

Mare stood up making her way to the door. “I’ll go and explain everything to her and let you know what she says.” Mare excused herself from their office and made her way towards you. She nodded at you as she sat down on the bench, making sure to keep her distance. “Hey so we know you have your apartment and if you want we are more than willing to drive you there, and we’ll have eyes on the surveillance to make sure no one bothers you.” You nodded your head at her proposal, a seed of dread still sitting in your stomach. You really didn't want to go back and be all alone. “Is there any way I can stay with you or Harriet?” You asked meekly. 

Mare gave you a tight smile and shook her head with a no. “Sorry.”

You sighed. “That's okay.”

“There is another option.” Your head whipped up, you were ready to accept whatever it would be if it meant you wouldn't be alone. “If you want you can stay with Detective Zabel.” You felt yourself heat up at the offer, that was the last thing you had expected Mare to say. 

You leaned to the side and looked past Mare towards Colin. He was working on something but when he saw you looking he gave you a wave and a smile. “You can stay with him and his mother.” You looked at her with wide eyes not believing her offer. 

“I don’t want to be a bother.” 

“You won’t be. And honestly we would feel much better if you were staying with someone we know.” 

You bit your lips weighing your options. On one hand you really didn't want to be alone right now. But you also didn't want to inconvenience Colin. You looked up at him again, he looked like he would be able to protect you if anything happened, he was the most obvious choice. You were still a little hesitant about staying with him because a part of you wanted to do it for a more selfish reason. He was so nice to you and the way he talked to you brought you a comfort you hadn't felt in a long while. And he was cute, you chided yourself for thinking it but it burned in the back of your mind. You sighed already knowing which option you were going to pick.“Okay.” 

Mare gave you a soft smile. “Okay I’ll tell him.” 

Mare got up to leave but she stopped herself glancing around the room. It seemed Harriet had left to go back to her department floor. Mare knew that she had told her that they should wait to interview you till later but she really needed to talk with you and see what you knew. Sh turne dback to face you and you gave her a curious look. “Hey, would you mind answering a couple questions.”

“About the case?” 

“It’s okay if you-”

“Yeah of course.” Mare was a little taken aback at your response. She was expecting you to try and push it back but there was this hardness in your eyes. You hated that man more than anything in the world, you wanted to do anything you could to get justice for the girls he had killed. You got up and followed Mare into the interrogation room, she called Colin to come in and he sat beside her on the other side of the table. You avoided their piercing gazes and stared down at your lap, playing with your hands. Mare’s voice made you look back up.

“So you were only missing for about two weeks, correct.” 

“Yes but it felt like longer.” You watched Colin as he scribbled down your answer to what Mare had asked you. “He um he approached me late at night. I was walking home from work, my car was being repaired. It was a Tuesday I think.” You furrowed your brows as you tried to recall the exact details of what had happened on the night of your abduction. 

Colin looked at the way your face scrunched up and set his pen down. “We can do this later if you’d like.”

“No, I want to do this now.” You said with a harsh tone. “Sorry, it’s just I want to help you guys anyway I can.” Colin nodded and picked his pen back up. “It was tuesday and I had to work late so I didn't walk home with my friends like I usually do. I was walking home and this guy jumped me near the alley.”

“Do you remember anything about him?” Mare asked.

“Yeah, he had a scar across his palm on his right hand. He was big, but he had a stomach. I never saw his face though. I was new so all he really did with me was tie me up and drug me. So my memory of the house is really hazy. The girl that was there took care of me, she was supposed to teach me how to act around him.” 

“If you were tied up, how did you escape?” 

“He only tied us back with rope, and for the most part during the day and night we were allowed to just be in the room unrestrained because it was locked.” You rubbed your wrists, remember the way the rope burned your skin and how raw it made it. “But one day when he came in to get the girl I was with, she was pregnant and he didn't like that. He pulled her out in a haste and when he locked the door behind him he didn't do it right.” You were crying at this point, remember the screams of the girl as she is pulled away. She had looked out for you when you got there and you knew there was no hope of ever seeing her again.You knew they would find her eventually but it wouldn't be alive. “So when he went to bed I was able to slam against the door and after a couple hits it opened.”

“He didn't hear you?”

“No, we were kept in this storm cellar near the house. It was raining that night, I waited for the cracks of thunder and then hit the door, that way it would mask the sound. I don’t remember the house or where it was as soon as I broke out I ran. It was really secluded, I could hear his car chasing me but I guess I lost him once I hit the woods.” You sniffled, your heart rate picking up at just remembering the events. You had tripped so many times out of fear alone, at one point you believed that there really was no escape. You had collapsed at the edge of the woods from exhaustion, at the time you didn't have any idea that you had actually made it out. 

Colin watched the tears stream down your face. He hated that they had to make you relieve your trauma, but anything you remembered could be critical in catching the guy. Mare reached out and consoled you, telling you that there were only a couple more questions they needed to ask you. You nodded and answered them the best you could. 

“Thank you (y/n). You gave us a lot of good leads to look up on.” She stood up and you did the same. “Detective Zabel will take you to your apartment so you can get some of your belongings and then to his house and help you settle in.” 

You weren't prepared for how out of place you would feel in your own apartment. You hadn't even been gone that long and yet everything seemed so foreign to you. You told Colin he would make himself comfortable as you got a bag together. You walked through your apartment looking at all of your possessions. Nothing seemed real, or brought any comfort. In your mind you were still trapped in that small space, sharing a twin mattress with a girl who was long gone. You had loved your apartment and now it just seemed constraining. Willing you to continue with your life and go back to normal. Something you weren't quite ready for yet. You rifled through your clothes, pulling random out of the drawers, not even bothering to see what it was. All you wanted to do was get out of your apartment. 

Colin was looking at the pictures that were hanging on your wall. He smiled to himself at seeing you through the years, from your awkward teen years to now. He liked this one picture in particular, you were on the beach standing about ankle deep in the water. Your hair was blowing around your face and you had the happiest smile on your face. He blushed looking at it, you  looked very pretty in the picture. Of course he had thought you looked very pretty the first time he had laid eyes on you. As soon as he thought about it he shook his head trying to clear it from his mind. It wasn't right of him to think things like that, he had just met you and you had gone through something horrible. The last thing you needed was the man you were staying with thinking about you in that way. 

You watched as Colin looked over your pictures with a smile on his face. You blushed at the way he stared at our pictures. You cleared your throat and he turned to face you. You lifted up your bag. “I’m ready to go now.” 

The ride to his house was awkward and quiet. Colin glanced over at you. “I wasn't sure if I was supposed to have the radio on or not.” You raised an eyebrow at him and he continued on. “You know how they always say in serious situations you should not have your radio on cause it seems insensitive.” He started to ramble and you watched him with an amused look. He was so considerate but in the most awkward way possible. He sighed and glanced at you again. “That didn't make any sense did it?”

“Not at all.” He laughed and you did as well. It surprised you, you didn't expect to be able to laugh like that anymore. You took a quick glance at Colin, there was something about him that you couldn't quite place, something about him that made you feel safe and almost normal. Being around him reminded you of who you used to be. Colin saw you looking at him and smiled, you looked away with a smile of your own taking hold. Colin flipped on the radio, ABBA started playing. He hummed along to the tune mumbling the words to the song under his breath. After a while you joined him, your shoulders moving away from your ears as you relaxed. “Afraid of a love affair, but I think you know, that I can’t let go….” 

Your first thought was that Colin’s house felt like a home. The minute you stepped through the door this wave of comfort settled over you. The dated furniture and childhood pictures really tied it all together. His mom tried to ambush you at the door with questions and hugs as Colin did his best to fend her off. He told her she could talk to you after you got settled in. 

 Colin rubbed the nape of his neck giving you an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry about her. She means well.” 

“I think she’s nice.” You gave him a gentle smile.

He led you down the hall and stopped at the door closest to the living room. “This is the guest room.” He opened the door. The room was filled with boxes and crafting supplies, they were scattered over the bed and tossed into various corners. Colin cursed and scrambled to quickly empty the room. You giggled as you watched him apologize for the mess. He shook the blanket out, coughing at the dust that erupted from the fabric. He placed the blanket back down and placed his hands on his hips. “I didn't think the room was this bad.”

“It’s okay, it’ll be interesting to stay here.” You joked. 

“No, it’s not, um let’s see.” Colin thought for a moment before it hit him. He grabbed your bag and opened the door across from the room. “You can stay in my room.” He smiled widely at you and you just gaped at him.

“What, no-

“Yes, you can stay here and I’ll sleep on the couch.”

“Mr. Zabel-”

“Colin.” He smiled shyly at you. ‘Please call me Colin.”

You returned it and started again. “Colin, I can sleep on the couch. I mean you’re already letting me stay here. I can’t take your room either.” 

“Please, take the room.” His tone was firm. You sighed and nodded. “Great, so you can get settled here while I go back to the station.”

“You’re leaving?” 

“I have to get back to help Mare, but my mom will be here if you need anything. And if you need me you can call me. Okay?”

“Okay.” He moved towards you and kissed your cheek, you flinched and he reeled back. 

“Oh my god I’m so sorry!” He practically jumped to the other side of the room. “Force of habit I usually kiss my mom on the cheek before I leave. I-” he sputtered out, his face flushed red. I’m just going to go now, I’ll see you later.” He rushed out before leaving you standing alone in the center of his room. 

You lifted your hand up to your cheek to feel the spot where he had kissed you. It was wildly inappropriate that he had done so, but it was even worse that you enjoyed it. You felt your heart flutter at the thought of him kissing you again, but this time moved slightly over. 

You set your bag down on his bed and made your way to the kitchen. His mom was sitting at the dining room table and got up when she saw you coming. 

“It’s okay ma’am, you don’t need to get up. I just came to get a drink of water.” 

‘Let me get it.” She didn't even give you room to protest, she sprang out of her chair and rushed back with a glass of water. You thanked her.

“You have a really nice home Ms. Zabel.”

 “Thank you dear.” She smiled warmly at you and hesitantly reached her hand out towards you. Resting it on your forearm, you looked at where her hand rested. You hated how such a simple act of comfort made you tear up, it was nice to feel such a loving touch. Her voice made you look back up at her. “You know, this is your home now too.” 

You smiled at her, nodding at her statement. Little did you know how right she was. And little did you know that pretty soon Detective Colin Zabel’s house would become more of a home to you than any place before.

Taglist: @anonymushhy @chiswritingandreadingcorner @xxspqcebunsxx @coffeeandteaintheevening @kitwalkerangel @xmaximoffic @livingmybestfictionallife @evanmybeloved @kaismessiahbb

[beyondspaceandstars]

Renegade

Relationship: Din Djarin x Reader Warnings: N/A Summary: [based off the song Renegade by Big Red Machine feat. Taylor Swift] You're a shopkeeper in a remote corner of the galaxy just trying to get by. For some reason, every now and then a certain Mandalorian pops into town. He comes and goes as he pleases until one day you finally get the courage to confront him on his drifter habits. Unexpected confessions spill out. A/N: I haven’t written something for The Mandalorian in a long time but i just had this idea for a while and i wanted to actually try to execute it. Idk if this came out good but i think it’s still sweet. I hope someone enjoys it :)

Masterlist

You never knew when he was coming into town.

It would happen pretty much in the blink of an eye. You’d shut down your store for the day, retire to your home, then he’d be there, in the middle of the village, bright and early. The Mandalorian kept no schedule it seemed but his surprise visits were always welcomed by you. 

He’d make it a point to stop at your store first. He never really bought anything, just browsed the fabric and clothing you had to offer. The Mandalorian seemed to appreciate your craftsmanship, always taking time on his stay to ask about your newer items or what your plans were for your next collection. Your shop was modest but it helped bring in some kind of income which was very valuable as the fate of the galaxy hung in limbo.

You built up some kind of rapport with the masked man but feelings have been shifting within you for a while. You didn’t really understand how it was possible. You had begun falling for a man that never even gave you the courtesy of saying goodbye. But at the same time, the hours you would spend chatting meant everything to you. It felt so good to confide in someone as a life as a solo storekeeper could be quite a lonely one. He also seemed to be no stranger to loneliness as a man roaming the galaxy, taking odd bounty jobs. Nowhere to really call his own. 

A deep, deep part of you wished he would call this village his home. He seemed to enjoy it here, evident by his numerous stops. When he’d come and go from your shop, he was always bringing back new treasures. The woman down the road would be testing a new stew recipe or the jewelry maker at the end of the block had talked him into buying something. Most of the time, he’d just give the items to you, claiming he couldn’t resist the shopkeeper but had no use for the trinkets. The pseudo-gift giving was a little ridiculous to you but it couldn’t help but fuel your burning crush. You always accepted and wore whatever the Mandalorian presented. 

Yes, you two definitely had formed a relationship over time. You didn’t know really what to call it and you two never seemed to want to speak about it but it was no secret that it was there, and you were a bit thankful for it. No matter where he had gone or how long he had left for, you were always there to welcome him back to the village with open arms.

As many times before, the Mandalorian arrived unexpectedly one beautiful, clear morning. He was hovering around your shop, seemingly waiting. His armor shined so loudly in the daylight, it was nearly blinding, but you appreciated how powerful he was. He may show you his soft side in the village but you’d heard plenty about his hunts. If the truth was even half as alarming as the gossip, you were impressed he could have such a gentle side. 

“You’re early,” you called out, pulling your shawl tighter around you as you walked towards the passing bounty hunter. He stopped dead in his tracks upon hearing your voice. 

“It would appear I am,” he said, letting out a breathy laugh. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the time.”

You came to stop right in front of him. You peered up at his helmeted face. You certainly couldn’t see anything through that insane gear but some part of you still felt him staring into your eyes, deeply. Instinctively, you fiddled with the necklace resting on your lower neck. The charm was a piece of some dark crystal. You didn’t know what it was and you were slightly too nervous to inquire the jewelry maker about it but the Mandalorian standing before you had given it to you the last time he was here. He simply said he thought it would look nicer on you. You didn’t ask anymore.

“It’s alright,” you smiled. “I’m just glad to see you back here in one piece.”

He seemed a bit taken back by that. You worried you had overstepped the boundary between flirting and kindness but then he tilted his head, curiously. “Yeah?”

Oh, you felt yourself blushing a bit. You ducked your head and stepped around him, beginning to work on the lock of your shop. 

“Yeah,” you shrugged and opened the door. The Mandalorian followed closely behind. “I’ve heard your work can be demanding. Lots of opportunities for you to get hurt.”

“Does that worry you?”

You stopped in front of the pile of new fabrics you had just woven. You sighed. “I’ve come to think of us as a little bit more than acquaintances. It’s normal to worry about others.”

You swore you heard him let out a low chuckle at that but he didn’t acknowledge it. Or your statement. You chose to do the same. You walked around to the counter and began prepping the logbooks for the day. The Mandalorian continued to hang around, gaze and hands roaming the new pieces you had set up last night. You were hoping this new collection you were previewing was going to bring in some hefty credits. Maybe allow you to take a holiday.

The Mandalorian broke the tense silence with the most unexpected comment. “I worry about you too, you know.” 

Your finger stopped abruptly as it scanned your list of sales for the week. When you had offered your care, you had never expected it back. You two technically weren’t on that level, at least not verbally. In other formats of gift-giving and worried looks, it was a different story. 

“You worry about me?” You inquired, brows raised in surprise. 

He gave a very Mandalorian-like shrug, his gaze still fixated on your for-sale items. Something in you was crushed when it looked like you weren’t getting any more from him. Maybe he’d disappear tonight, embarrassed by this exchange. But then by some miracle, he spoke again.

“Of course,” he said it like it was so obvious. “You’re a very kind shopowner living out in this village alone. This galaxy, no matter what corner you hide in, can be dangerous.”

You smiled to yourself. “I’ve done this for many years, Mandalorian. I think I will be alright.”

He hummed in acknwoeldgement. “I’m sure,” he mumbled. “But can you blame me for having concerns?”

This conversation sure was going to a funny place, you thought, but you were along for the ride. If he was going to talk about concerns, you could for sure rattle off yours. He was worried about your safety in this little village while you worried for his health. It cannot be good for a human, assuming he was human under all that gear, to be wandering the galaxy with no rhyme or reason besides the bounties strung about this galaxy. You never thought you’d express these things to him but the Mandalorian appeared to be a talkative one today. And you felt you two were beyond strangers. 

“Well, I’m flattered you think of me,” you admitted. “But I fear it’s you who faces more dangers than me.”

The helmeted man gave a little scoff at that comment. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Sure, you didn’t doubt that, but that wasn’t what was on your mind. “I’m not talking about bounty hunting. I’m talking about your habit of being a drifter.”

The words didn’t feel very impactful in your brain but when they hit the open shop it was like you had dropped a bomb. The Mandalorian stilled, his gloved hand letting go of one of the scarves you had laying on a table. He began making his way suddenly towards where you still stood behind the counter. You frowned.

“A drifter?”

His eye gaze wasn’t seen but it was sure felt. You shrugged. “I’m not a fool. I know you bounce around from planet to planet throughout this galaxy. Maker knows why you keep coming back here but... I just worry you don’t have a home-,”

“I don’t,” he confirmed. Your heart all about stopped. Well, you didn’t exactly want to be right.

“Oh,” you said, averting your eyes to the wood counter. “And that doesn’t bother you? You must want someone waiting for you. Someone to just spend...moments with.”

“Don’t I have you?”

The question hung in the air between you two like a heavy pendulum. You couldn’t believe what you were hearing. He… He thought of you like that? Of this village? But why would he… Oh, but didn’t it make some kind of sense? The reappearing? The coming and going… He waltzed in and tried to get to know everyone. Got to know you.

Your head was a jumbled mess, so much so the only thing you could get out was a soft, “Me?”

The Mandalorian nodded. He wasn’t looking anywhere near you, finding such interest in the wall of your shop. But you noted his stiff stance. Maybe he hadn’t meant to say that… Except he had. And now it was out there. Something in the mysterious bounty hunter made him let out such a grand confession.

“Yes,” he eventually confirmed. “You. This village. I have that. I have this to come back to.”

With thoughts swimming violently, you had to ask, “But why don’t you stay?”

“I have jobs to do.” He almost sounded offended you had asked that. You shook your head.

“N-No, I mean… Get a place for yourself. You’re always sleeping on that ship. Maybe accept the invites to dinners the sweet lady down the path invites you to. Or you and I could…” Your words faded fast, slightly scared of what was going to slip out. But the Mandalorian wasn’t letting it go.

He turned his gaze back to you. “We could what?”

“S-Spend time together or something,” you mumbled. Real smooth, you thought. Just the perfect way to flirt. You expected him to now be so offended, maybe even storm out such a suggestion, but the armored man didn’t move. Instead, he cocked his head, curious.

“You’d want to do that?”

You sighed. “I want you to start a life somewhere. Really start it. Drifting around this galaxy cannot be very promising. You deserve this. You deserve a home, Mando.”

“Din.”

Your brows furrowed. Now it was your turn to be curious. “What?”

“My name is Din,” he explained. “You don’t have to call me Mando.”

If a heart could sing, yours would be a full chorus. He finally told you his name. After collecting jewelry and stories, he had finally opened somewhat to you. That was a good sign, a great sign. 

“Din,” you said, testing the name. It rolled off your lips easily. “We’d love to have you around.” A beat. “I’d love it, especially.” It was a bold declaration but he had given you something, the least you could do was make your intentions more obvious.

“Thank you,” Din said. 

“Of course,” you shrugged. “We all need to find the place where we belong.”

Din let out a bit of a chuckle. You frowned at that.

“You think I belong here?” He asked, amused. 

You didn’t like that he wasn’t taking you seriously but it would be okay. Just gave you more of a reason to show him everything this place had to offer. From the nice shopkeepers to the lovely food. This would be some kind of home for him or at least a place where he’d always be welcomed. Your heart fluttered at the idea of him leaving less, maybe even never leaving. He could train people on fighting or - or… 

You had to stop yourself as your brain was getting beyond reality. You shot the Mandalorian a smile.

“I think you’ve always belonged.”

[stxleslyds]

MY TOUGHTS ON THE END OF RED HOOD BY CHIP ZDARSKY.

Dishonour! Dishonour on you, dishonour on your cow! 

Well Jason Nation, it happened again, fanon wins over canon. The amount of bullshit that DC made Zdarsky write in this issue is insane, I have never seen this many fanfiction tropes shoved in a single issue in my life.

This book has been a constant insult to Jason’s character and his Red Hood “persona” since the very first issue but I never thought it would end this badly. It’s incredibly sad.

I will go ahead and say it, this tumblr and this post is not “Batfamily” friendly and it definitely isn’t fanon friendly when it comes to Jason Todd.

Fanon is destroying canon for Jason Todd. I am sorry but that’s how I see it, fanon doesn’t belong in canon, I would never get tired of saying that. But here is the thing, DC latches on to Jason’s fanon version because it fits their narrative of “the Batman is all that is right and all must follow his rules or they shall disappear”.

DC has been dying to make Jason bland and flavourless just like Batman. And now here it finally is.

Let’s be honest the story in this book, the new drug, Cheer, Tyler and his mom, none of that shaped this story, none of those things were the support beams for it. It was all about this never ending “daddy issues” thing that DC pretends is going on between Jason and Bruce.

It was all about those two fighting because they “think differently” so in the end they can push Jason towards the “no killing rule” being also the Red Hood’s modus operandi.

Its utter bullshit.

From the moment that Jason had to put a bat suit on I knew that this was going to be a mess. Luckily like I predicted they didn’t make a big deal out of him wearing it but the “Jason admires Batman” feeling was very present in the issue.

I will not talk about how easy it was for that one thug to land a punch on Jason while he was distracted and I will also not talk about Jason being a dumbass for not securing his dumb mask better when he knew the fight will involve gases. I will not talk about it.

Anyway, let’s talk about the Cheer Gas induced illusion, shall we?

In Jason’s illusion he finds Bruce at the manor looking at the picture of Joker’s death (?) and even though that is strange what Bruce says next is even weirder, he says this: “I did it. He was the last one, but I did it…Joker is dead. I am done.”

Now what the hell was that? This is Jason’s illusion, and by the looks of it in his illusion Bruce has killed every baddie in Gotham and left the Joker for last? Am I reading that right? Is this this a joke?

I understand that this is an illusion so the gas is making “real” things that Jason probably doesn’t know he wants, like wanting Bruce to go on a killing spree, which Jason never wanted because he said it himself, do you guys remember the iconic “I’m not talking about killing Cobblepot and Scarecrow or Clayface. Not Riddler or Dent…I’m talking about HIM. Just him.” Because I remember and it’s so important to Jason’s character, Jason never wanted Bruce to go on a killing spree, he wanted Bruce to kill the clown who had killed him when he was only fifteen. Is that so hard to remember DC?

And then it gets worse! Since WHEN has Jason wanted a perfect family life with the people that he has tried to kill, harm or looked down to? Why is “being with a bunch of people who NEVER get together for anything other than “help” the Bat in a fight against a fucking clown” the idea of happiness to Jason? Has this man ever interacted with any of these people in a positive way without the intrusion of a Batman/Robin event in the way? I will give you the answer, it’s no, the answer is no.

Jason Todd doesn’t care for your “Batfamily” bullshit DC, why would it matter to him? Because he was Robin? He was killed by the Joker when he was Robin, and he was killed because the man in charge of him didn’t pay enough attention! Jason Todd who was written as Dick Grayson’s number one hater for so long (and fandom loves that) is now having an illusion where he enjoys happy times with him along the others? Cass and Stephanie? What? Am I missing something, is this actually AO3, is this fanfiction?

I think Zdarsky got confused, this illusion is what would happen if Jason were dosed with fear gas. That must be it, I solved it everyone! Zdarsky just got confused by his own writing!

I wish.

Let’s go back to the sad reality, Jason has a moment in which he actually puts all his training in motion and shakes of the gas’s grasp on him. He does that but he is grabbed by so many people (who are this people?) and he is unarmed and I believe that’s the only reason why Cheer is still alive after saying that he has someone in Tyler’s mom’s hospital room ready to kill her if he doesn’t join him.

(If this were the real Jason, Cheer would have dropped dead instantly.)

But this is not the real Jason and this is not a *real* comic, it’s fanfiction! So just like that time in Batman #100 when Dick was fighting alone as Nightwing (for the first time since his “family” left him alone after losing his memories) the rest of the “family” shows up to fight Cheer and four random thugs.

Yep, its like the MCU had considered having Cap say “Avengers Assemble” when they were fighting a couple of robots instead of Thanos.

What a mess.

Also having Jason say, in real life (not illusion world), “You know what happiness is? It’s knowing that others have your back.” about this group of people is the perfect recipe for a big OOC moment for absolutely everyone. I cannot believe they have dragged Jason back to this awful concept and that they have sank him so low. It’s quite honestly, disgusting.

But the horrors don’t end there, we have a wonderful moment after Jason gives Batman the antidote, Jason stops Batman from punching the living shit out of Cheer. Because I am not stupid. There is no way in the world that you can convince me that Jason just stopped Batman from killing Cheer.

How incredibly delusional do you have to be to write Batman finally killing someone and that someone being Cheer, a guy that was introduced to comics two months ago?

Yes, later its said that between the gas and the antidote Bruce was a little too crazy and couldn’t help himself BUT I call bullshit once more, because Bruce has gone completely bat-shit-crazy on people before! I remember two recent instances in which that happened. Batman #57 in which Bruce beats the living shit out of KGBeast after he shot Dick. And the other one is Batman beating up Jason more brutally than he ever beat up Joker in RHatO #25.

DC cannot fuck with me. I might has bought this digital comic for 8 dollars but I am not buying that bullshit.

ALSO, there was no need for Zdarsky to do Jason as dirty as he did him when he made him say: “If you are going to come down from mount judgement to MY level for once… he’s not the guy to do it for.”

Zdarsky, why did you write a Red Hood story when you hate Red Hood? Couldn’t you have just told DC that you wanted to write a love letter to Batman? Once again, I am reading a Red Hood story for RED HOOD content not Batman content. Is it really that hard? I bet that if Zdarsky had asked DC to let him write a Batman story they would have said yes, there are like 20 Batman stories, they wouldn’t say no to one more!

Can you tell I am mad? And salty?

This post is so long and so full of anger, I am truly sorry for that but I have to write these feelings down or I would explode. And I am not even done, our suffering, Jason Nation, continues.

But first a little break from the pain, Tyler. Thank you after all the pain this book has given me Tyler is back and just like I predicted his mom is fine and he will stay with her, they both have been given a place and money to rebuild their life (not given by Jason nor Dick but I was close enough). The only happy ending that Tyler could have, he had and I am thankful for that, we even got a little adorable moment between the Red Hood and the Blue Hood.

I am weak for these little glimpses of a good Jason take in the middle of an incredibly awful/OOC story. And just to live in my own fantasy world I will headcanon that Jason promised himself to keep an eye out for Tyler and his mom. He would have wanted to know about their life and that they are still out of trouble.

Jason is a good man, don’t you forget that DC, I don’t care how much you twist it. Jason killing Tyler’s dad wasn’t a horrible act, it was fair game. That man was a horrible person, he drugged his child and made his wife (?) almost overdose. You never gave context as to why that man was working as a drug dealer but you told us those things so Jason should never feel like he did something wrong. As far as we know, Tyler and his mom are better off without him.

Having said that, lets go back to the pain of what is reading a Red Hood story.

“I’m giving up the guns.”

You know what, fine, as long as DC doesn’t pull another “I will stop being Red Hood for you Barbara” I will be fine. He can kill people with other things, he used to have the all-blades, he had normal swords and he had crowbars.

I will sacrifice Jason looking hot as hell when he pulls out his guns just to keep him as the Red Hood, all DC has to do is not give him that stupid… bat… symbol… oh no…. oh my god I can feel it… that thing, that horrible thing is making a comeback! NO!

Jason and Bruce’s talk is basic and it doesn’t do anything for anyone, in the end saying that Jason isn’t changing his ways for Bruce but that he is doing it for himself is more of the same. We know he is doing it for Bruce and we know DC is doing it because they cannot handle good, complex and interesting characters. We know that and sadly we have to live with it.

About Bruce’s illusion, well, Bruce has said that he wanted to kill the clown for a very long time and in the King run it was basically said that if Bruce were to be happy then the idea of Batman would die.

Listen, between me and you, sometimes I think that the Joker isn’t that big of a problem for Gotham as a whole, that clown has beef with the Bat and no one else. If Bruce has killed the Joker Jason would have been happy with Bruce all those years ago but killing the Joker wouldn’t make Gotham a safe place and any of his kids happier.

Bruce needs to care for his children, but he won’t do that, he has Dick for that. Taking care and raising Damian? No, thank you, I will not do that. Giving a shit about my son who lost all his memories and is alone? No thank you, I won’t do that and then I will lie about having watched him over. Tim? Oh, never heard of him, sorry.

The last page of this story is the one of Jason arriving home and finding a new suit that Bruce gave him with the bat symbol on it. That symbol that he had ripped off of Jason’s beat up body back in RHatO #25 (nope, I am not letting that one go).

Oh, and Bruce leaving that suit in Jason’s home gives me the same exact vibes as the time that Bruce was like “Long overdue. This is where you belong. As one of us. One of the family” in Nightwing #74 a second after Dick had regained his memories.

I don’t know why but they make him sound incredibly cold and like these people are just his pawns that he needs to rope back in every time they get away from him. It’s very disturbing.

Anyway, that’s all from me, I obviously LOVED this book, best Jason Todd/Red Hood characterisation ever! 11/10 would recommend to everyone including my enemies!

🙃

[nanamisflowerfield]

Here's a fic feature Walpurgisnacht MC and Vil in Chapter 5. This happens at Vil's overblot

Title: Villains are everywhere

"So you're a villain right?"

Her words caught him off guard. Vil is surprised that Y/n , the girl that the Dark Mirror has spoken so fearful about, is so calm in this situation and she's even smiling so kindly as if the atmosphere and the Monster behind him doesn't faze her at all.

"This girl can destroy this world however she would or would not do it"

The Black Mirror's words are echoing in his mind and to be honest, those words confused him greatly. He heard rumours around the school,they said that Y/n can destroyed overblots in one swift moment and moments after the Overblot happened it will disappear almost immediately. No one knows how that happened and they think it was something relating to her "Unique Magic".

Vil at first didn't believe those kinds of things and he theorised that she has some kinds of illusionary magic that make it look like the overblot disappeared then she and her friends took care of it, perhaps she did that to calm everyone and to turn over the situation. No way someone can take care of Overblot that quickly not even Malleus!!!!!

Y/n was truly a mystical girl, he never see her demonstrating any real magic and she's relatively a kind and polite lady. She's more mature than she looks like though. Vil didn't pay any attention to her before because with the VDC and his ultimate goal, he didn't have time to think of that. In the training weeks, she helped him with the boys and such that make Vil has a good impression on Y/n, although he can't help but feel there's something terrifying about the young girl

Vil broke out of his thoughts and became annoyed at her question because he hate being called a villain: "Just what are you saying? What kind of question is that??!"

"Oh it's just that to me, you look like someone who was terribly wronged, you have a passionate desire on something and you're determined to achieve it but you know you can never achieve it. All those things have increased tenfold at this moment": Y/n said smiling amusingly. Vil widened his eyes: "How come she find this fun?? Is this some kind of show to her??!"

But Vil can help but to be even more shocked. The girl talked as if she knows his feelings and how he felt back then!!! Vil gritted his teeth. There's no way a normal girl like her know anything about him

"Madam Walpurgis,please don't provoke him further!!!!" Rook said worryingly and he's also shocked that the girl is smiling despite this drastic situation. "Oh don't worry Mr Hunt, I know what I'm doing. I'm sorry if I have hurt your feelings Vil-san~": The girl said apologetically but there's a small tone of condescending beneath it as she slowly walked towards the Overblotting Man

Ah right Vil knows that kind of tone all too well, she's mocking him isn't she? Being in the entertainment industry,he knows people there put on their masks all the time. They talk with their enemies oh so friendly and only talk about them so horribly behind the scenes.

"THIS GIRL!! HOW DARE SHE TALK LIKE THAT TO ME??!!? DOES SHE EVEN KNOW WHO I AM!!?"

"YOU FOOLISH GIRL. HOW DARE YOU-.."

Y/n was standing before him in one swift moment and her face was quite close to him, she was smiling ever so fondly: "Hmm I didn't know you know my presentation is The Fool, Vil-san! My nature is Helplessness anyway so I can't help being a Fool sometimes~"

"Huh?"

Then Everything turned black

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Vil immediately widened his eyes, did he fainted? Then Vil realized he's laying on a black and white grid-patterned, chessboard styled floor. What just happened? He remembered being overblotted and Y/n confronted,provoked him. The last thing he remembered is Y/n's face

"You know, laying a floor is not that comfortable. I prefer something softer like a sofa or a bed~"

Vil immediately sat up, before him Y/n is sitting on a chair,at a silver table shaped like a clock gear with a monochrome-colored parasol on top of it. There's a tea pot, two tea cup,one small jug fill with fresh milk, and a tea set with cookies, macarons, berry tarts

"Why don't you come here and take a seat?~

(1/2)

I need a part 2🥺