#yes both of them are chipped and have their tags with my information on the tracker as well and they have no idea how much i care for them

[like-wuatafauq]

I am once again getting yelled at by my cats for not letting them go outside quickly. Meanwhile, I'm trying to make sure their trackers are working and fully charged so that they can roam further than usual😔

[carlsangel]

MY PARENTS’ RINGS

carl grimes x fem!reader

(you and carl have been “married” since childhood.)

tags: flufffff, slight angst, mentions of death.

masterlist here!

You’ve known Carl since you were born. Your moms were bestfriends from high school who’d miraculously gotten pregnant around the same time which, naturally, made you best friends as well. You can’t remember your guys’ first play date, you’d been having sleepovers with him every weekend as well.

Around kindergarten, there was an activity in class where you guys could make jewelry. Carl at the time was completely in love with you, although then you weren’t particularly interested in boys and were more interested in exploring and adventures, you needed someone to go on adventures with.

So, when he’d walked up to you on the playground with the ring he made very poorly, your five year old brain knew exactly where it was going. He proposed to you right there in the pokey wood chips under the slide which by the way was covered in cobwebs. How romantic. You thought that if he’d gone on many adventures with you previously, if he was your husband he’d be forced to be your adventure partner. So you said yes. On the condition he’d be by your side for all your escapades. “Anything for you angel.” He responded.

He held you to it, too. He’d continue to call you his wife and angel, a nickname that’d stick for the rest of your childhood. Everyone knew how much he’d loved you and how much he protected you from anything that could possibly harm you in any way. There was a spider in your room? He’d kill it. Someone was bothering you? He’d help you work it out. You got in an argument with your parents? He was close enough with them to argue with them for you. You ended up helping him through the death of his own father who was also someone you’d looked up to for a long time.

Then, the apocalypse started. You were at Carl’s house with Lori when Shane had arrived to round everyone up. They’d return back to your house to rally up your parents but when Shane went inside to get them, you heard his gun go off a couple times.

He walked out that house alone with a big frown on his face.

So you sobbed the whole time and Carl cuddled your side, holding your hand and occasionally shed some tears. He helped you process it, granted you both were ten but he knew what it was like to lose a parent. When Rick came back, he apologized oddly enough. “Angel…I’m sorry my dad came back.” He told you as you hid in the blanket on your cot that was set up in the Grimes’ tent. You flipped over on your side to look at him. “Why did yours get to come back and not mine?”

Your guys’ “marriage” hit a rough patch to say the least. At some point, Carl walked up to Rick with the dilemma. “My wife is mad at me…how do you make mom feel better?” He asked. Rick informed Lori on the situation and she helped you understand. So from there you dropped your little grudge and realized that you loved Carl back. It only took you maybe five years and yeah you were quite young to know you loved him the way you did, but he was the only person in your life who’d stay consistent; even with the world dying.

A good amount of time had passed, when Shane died the first thing you wanted to do was take anything he possibly had on him. So, you took his 22 necklace and his jacket. Handling his dead body that young wasn’t ideal but you needed to remember him. You shoved his necklace in your pockets and threw his jacket on before escaping from the walkers flooding into the farm.

Upon finding safety, you pull out Shane’s necklace to discover he’d kept your parents rings on his necklace. You didn’t say anything about it, you hid them for the right time. He’d notice them later but he kept quiet about it.

You’d gone through the prison, then Terminus. It felt like Carl had never stopped touching you throughout everything. He was holding your hand or maybe even had his hand gripping your thigh. He’d reassure you by holding you or kissing your cheek repeatedly. He made sure you were well fed while you and the group were on the road after losing Beth. “Here, Angel, take this.” He handed you half of his granola bar.

“Angel, need some water to wash that down?” Abraham nudged a water bottle your way, Carl looked at him funny which caught a couple people’s attentions. Abraham looked around. “What?” He questioned. No one really responded but Tara spoke up, clearing her throat awkwardly before speaking. “I’ve uh…I’ve learnt that ‘Angel’ is just a Carl thing.” She explains. Abraham processes and Rick sort of laughs. “Yeah I’ve known her since she’s was born…he won’t even let me call her that either.” He looks to Carl with a teasing smile, prompting the others to sort of smirk and giggle themselves. “Well my apologies.”

Carl gives Abraham a forgiving nod.

Getting to Alexandria was like a breath of fresh air. You and Carl were able to be somewhat of a normal teenage couple who could go on dates and make out in places they shouldn’t. He helped ease your nerves with the new environment, despite his own considering he didn’t know how real Alexandria really was.

He’d fallen more and more in love with you. At some point he’d brought up your kindergarten marriage.

“Do you remember when you said yes when I proposed to you in kindergarten?” He smiled at you as you leaned your head on his shoulder. The two of you were stargazing on a bench by Alexandria’s pond. “Yeah you’ve never let me forget it.” You respond with a small giggle. He pulled back to look at you. “Well I was thinking…with the way the world is and everything.” He chuckles nervously, looking down at your hands which were tightly gripping each other’s, “Maybe we can really be married.”

He stared at you, anticipating your answer. “Well, I dunno what you mean, we’ve been married this whole time.” You say sort of jokingly, causing him to smile, “I think you just mean official rings. I mean we’ve held the label this whole time. Not to mention you’ve stuck to your vows.” You remind him of how he’d promised to stick with you throughout everything. He nods for a moment, his eyes lingering on your face as he admires how beautiful you are in the light of the pretty moon. “Official rings would be nice.”

Without another word, you pulled your hand away, causing Carl’s expression to drop a tad as you dig into your pocket. Your hand comes back out of your jeans in a fist and you stick your hand out, gesturing for him to put his own out. He places his hand out flat and you drop two rings, the metals knocking into each other with a small clink as he looks into your eyes. “Wait really? Aren’t these…” His voice trails off and he looks at you intently.

“My parents’ rings.”

There’s a moment of silence before you take your dad’s ring from his palm and take his left hand, slipping it gently onto his ring finger. It fit perfectly, almost like it was fitted to him. He looks at it for what felt like ages before taking your mother’s ring in his hand. He gently held your left hand, sliding it on to your ring finger. The two of you put your hands between your bodies and just stare.

He tilts his head back up to look at you and before you could fully look at him he kissed you, gently holding the side of your face while he did so.

It was one of the thousands of kisses he’d given you, but this one was different.

Maybe you could go on honeymoon.

a/n: so anon actually wanted this full of fluff but i couldn’t help myself with some parts of angst LMAOOO sorry anon i hope u still like it. i actually think this is the cutest fucking thing i’ve written in a long ass time I LOVEEE IT SM!!! also for those who’ve been waiting for let me make it up to you part two THAT SHITS BEEN OUT idk not as many ppl saw it and there’s sm smut in that shit >_< anyway thank u sm for this cute ass request it was so fun to write and it got me out of my writing funk :)))

tag list: @zomb-1-egutzz @lunarnightt @ilikestrawberriesandwomen @hiro--aoki @h00d-tr4sh

[neoplatinum]

mission: gmag | kim minji

summary: coworkers fall in love, very oddly...

pairing: barista!minji x barista!reader

themes: HUMOR, coworkers to lovers, slow-burn, fluff...like tooth-rotting sweetness, rest of newjeans!, major loser reader

wc: 5.4k

"no, listen to me, it's M I N," sakura is so over this, honestly. but you promised to buy her a new controller for her switch if she helped you, so she goes through with it.

"m...i...n..." sakura types slowly as she scrolls with a glass of water in one hand.

"ji," you continue quickly.

"what was that?" she asks and looks up at you.

"j...i. j for james and i for like iphone, i dont know." sakura nods and returns back to typing.

"okay okay, minji.....minji...kim minji....i found her!" sakura flips her phone to show you the girl's instagram page.

you squint at sakura's shaky hands.

"stop, stop. I can't see with your hands shaking all over." sakura frowns at you and tries pulling her phone away. but you're quick to grab it out of your hands. feeling like you've hit the jackpot.

"yes! it's her!"

sakura rolls her eyes and grabs more chips from the coffee table, popping them into her mouth as you happily scroll through your coworker's public instagram page.

"you know you could just talk to her right? like at work...where you both work together in that cramped barista station."

"kkura, you really aren't helping." you mumble as you hit one of the posts of minji at the beach; she's smiling and showing off her cute brown dog. you had overheard minji talking with another worker about her family's brown mini poodle. "that must be choco."

"what i also don't understand is why you're looking her up, on MY phone. when you have a perfectly working phone." sakura continues to eat through the family size bag of lays.

you scoff and pull the blanket off of sakura's legs. "what if one day she asks me to exchange socials and she sees that i've searched her up already? i can't let that happen."

you roll your eyes like it's the most obvious reason.

"wow, i thought i was a loser, but this really takes the cake." she shakes at the bag for more lays and returns her attention to the show thats been playing in the background.

you pay sakura no mind as you now have found yourself happily going through her page. examining each post closely and even going through her tagged photos for more information.

"okay, stop, this is just creepy. you're like a cyber-stalker." sakura yanks her phone out of your hand and pushes your chest away to knock you off your balance. you topple over like a bowling pin. "don't forget you have to buy me new controllers for this!"

sakura leaves with her phone in hand, probably off to phone her friends, leaving you all alone in the apartment with whatever show's been playing.

"what a cockblock." you mutter out as you finish up the lays bag and crumple it, getting ready to go to bed. you let out a long yawn that turns into a groan until the air has left your lungs. now you're coughing like a mad man trying to drink water, you finally cool down.

--

"welcome to milk mocha!" minji shouts from behind the counters, you successfully arrive just shy of 15 minutes late for your shift.

"oh, you're here." minji comments when she looks up from behind the espresso machine and glances at you. you grimace at the dismissive tone, but all minji can see is your hair all over the place and shirt worn inside out and backwards.

needless to say, you pressed snooze a few times too many, and now you're paying the consequences.

"i am so so so sorry minji, i slept past my alarm." you beg for forgiveness and start spewing about how you tripped over your charging cable, accidentally burned your tongue during breakfast, wore wet socks. and minji's heard enough already.

"okay, lets just...get you set up. you're lucky it's slow right now." she ushered you into the staff room and your heart warms at how considerate she is. even feeling a little lovesick that she hasn't written you up for tardiness.

"you're the best minji!" you shout over your shoulder as you change into the work shirt and tie an apron around your waist. horrified to find the tag of your t-shirt facing the world.

you try brushing your hair as best as you can, then tucking into your work cap. you walk out onto the floor and see a few customers around. no one seems to be ordering and you thank the coffee gods for this opportunity.

"soooo minji...." you start, as you wipe down the counters.

"yes?" she's busy cleaning the machines in the meantime and checking that there's enough supplies in the mini fridge.

you turn to her and smile widely, "are you single?"

she stops what she's doing and turns to you. "yes, why do you ask?" in the most monotone voice you've ever heard.

you wonder if minji was a robot in her past life.

"oh, no reason, just curious, hehe." you mumble to yourself and minji looks at you confused but then a customer walks in.

"welcome to milk mocha! how can i help you?" you begin and take the guy's order.

minji's walked away to get ready for the lunch rush, but mostly to think about your question.

--

"hanni, listen to me, the girl's weird." minji says over facetime. hanni's laying on her back scrolling through instagram and nodding along to whatever minji's ranting about.

"mhm, mhm." hanni finds a cute cat video and sends it to haerin.

"she asked me today if i was single."

"mhm."

"and like, why would you ever ask your coworker that? i think that's weird, like she's crossing work boundaries you know?"

"mhm."

"bro! are you even listening?" minji starts tapping at the screen, taking hanni's attention away from the many cat videos.

"yes bro! something about being single?" hanni only spares her some attention before returning back to her cat videos.

"yes! she asked me if i was single!"

hanni looks back into the small rectangular box that minji is in, "okay, i dont see a problem."

haerin sends over a funny gif of fluffy dogs tripping. hanni laughs while minji continues to rant about her new coworker.

then a random notification pops up.

[hairein]: "HI ITS HYEIN HI HI HI"

hyein must have taken haerin's phone and has begun spamming through all the group chats that haerin has. hanni decides that's enough scrolling for a day.

hanni closes her instagram to focus on the conversation, also muting haerin's account for good measure.

"i don't think it's weird that she asked if you're single. if you find someone weird, then of course you're going to think everything they do is weird." hanni continues as she sits up and pulls her self to her desk.

minji goes quiet, thinking about her own views on her new coworker. she's between reasoning that it's okay that she thinks you're weird, but she also feels bad because maybe you two just got off on the wrong foot.

she's never considered giving you a real chance to prove yourself. when you walked in two weeks ago for your first shift with a huge staff in hand (you were going to a convention later cosplaying as maki from jjk) minji already knew to stay away from you.

it doesn't help that the other people at work also thought you were weird. later that shift, your manager reprimanded you for showing up to work with a weapon; you profusely apologized and tried to show that it was just a foam staff. all the other workers already looked at you weirdly though, so maybe minji just followed along.

"well now i feel bad." minji concludes as hanni watches her through the screen.

"good! be more open-minded next time." hanni concludes and hangs up on minji immediately. minji on the other end drops her jaw and curses hanni through the phone.

--

"order for jay!" you shout from the counter, wiping down the americano. minji's shift just started but you're already elbow deep in your shift. it seems that friday's are always busy at miilk mocha. everyone is scrambling to get these orders out as quick as possible.

you look more tired for today's shift, constantly rubbing at your eyes and yawning when no one's looking. kazuha seems concerned that you're so tired.

"hey, you okay?" kazuha asks when you sit down for a quick break. you nod.

"yeah stayed up playing genshin, you know how things go." you explain and continue rubbing at your eyes. hitting a little too hard that it makes you see stars when you blink.

"you need to stop playing till 4am, you know you have a shift at 7." kazuha explains to you, she's already working on the next order. you take a breather and sip on the coffee you made for yourself.

"it's not my fault that game is so addicting." you explain and stretch your body, getting ready to take on the rest of the orders. minji finally fixes her apron and walks out to see you and kazuha chatting it up.

minji tries inserting herself into the conversation, hoping to see a new side of you that isn't so...peculiar.

"what's genshin?"

"minji! you don't know what genshin is?" you exclaim and begin going on a long rant about the game and it's gacha mechanics. you even begin explaining the pulls you have gotten. by the end of it, minji is even more confused and intrigued by you, also worried about your financial responsibility (lack of) because you really just dropped 300 bucks for in-game content.

--

"how are things with the new girl?" hanni's eating her sandwich and minji can't help but feel down.

minji scratches her neck as she thinks about you, "she's good...explained to me the lore of genshin, and then i found out that the staff that she brought to work on her first day was actually for a cosplay outfit, and not just a weapon she carries around."

hanni nods and grabs minji's drink, taking a sip out of it, "so, she's not that weird, just probably made a poor impression."

"yes, you were right." minji sighs and digs into her sandwich, feeling guilty about making presumptions about you.

"hey, cheer up! it's okay, i had a horrible impression of you when i first met you." hanni drinks the rest of juice and lets out a satisfied "ah." until she realizes it wasn't her drink to begin with.

minji just glares at her, "you better pay me back for that."

"see this is why i didn't like you at first." hanni complains but fishes out a five dollar bill and slaps it into minji's hand.

--

"order for macy." you grab the hot chocolate and place it on the counter. a cute little girl with pigtails walks up to the counter and grabs the hot chocolate, standing on her tippy toes. you look over the counter and aw at the cute kid.

"hi macy, want to see my latte art?" you offer, macy nods enthusiastically, you grin before grabbing the frothing cup and doing a nice rosetta for the girl.

she smiles in awe and you laugh, handing her a free cookie for staying, "don't tell anyone i gave you this, okay?" you offer your pinky finger to the small girl. she pinky swears and tucks the cookie into her jacket pocket before leaving with her hot chocolate in hand.

minji's watching the whole interaction and despite being shift manager and wanting to reprimand you for giving out free sweets to customers without asking firsthand, she doesn't have the heart to ruin the sweet act you just did.

in fact, when you find her staring at you, you let out a sheepish laugh and try to move past the fact you gave away a free cookie.

--

"minji! do you want a burger, or hot dog?" you ask, you've officially dedicated yourself the grill master at the company barbecue. the other employees are busy chatting each other up, but you're manning the grill with a coke zero in hand, and expertly making everyone's orders.

"burger, please." minji walks away from her conversation to watch over you, surprisingly you're good at manning the grill, despite still finding way to trip over nothing during work.

this side is actually quite charming, even if you have those ridiculous frog sunglasses over your eyes.

"how are you doing?" minji asks, she peers over the grill and finds rows and rows of burger patties and hot dogs on the other side. you're expertly checking each burger for doneness and rolling hot dogs to ensure even cooking.

"doing great! all patties and hot dogs are coming out delicious and hot hot hot!" you explain. you turn to her and all she can see are those goofy frog glasses on your face. you give her a smirk before turning back to the grill. "first burger that's done is yours to take, by the way."

minji blushes at the sentiment. "you really don't have to do that. everyone should eat first."

"no can do minji, got to make sure you're well fed." you explain and continue flipping burgers while drinking your coke zero. minji finds it adorable how focused you are at this job, even if no one is expecting stellar quality burgers/hot dogs.

"watch out minji!" your head turns faster and you see a football flying your way, definitely going to hit minji on the head, so you block her from the football, having it land straight into your forehead.

"oof." you land backwards and fall to the grass, now rubbing your forehead from the hit. the other coworkers are running up and checking on you, meanwhile all you can do is ask, "you alright minji? it didn't hit you right?"

she blushes wildly at the question and whispers a quiet "i'm good." while you are being pulled off the ground and everyone asks how you're doing. you make jokes, playing it off, saying you were born with a head harder than bricks. everyone laughs and returns back to what they were doing.

"okay, back to the grill." you brush off the dirt all over your apron, and start humming a song while plating finished burgers, handing the first one to minji. "for you!" you tell minji and she gives a thank you before walking away to eat it.

the rest of the barbecue, minji seems to stick by your side throughout the day. this doesn't go unnoticed by kazuha who saw the whole ordeal. her eyes squinting as she sips on her drink.

--

"zuha zuha! i'm tired!" you exclaim, you're working the earliest shift, you were opener and on food prep for the shift. it's near the middle of your shift when you decide to take your break. both kazuha and minji are busy tending to the coffee shop. you sit on a step stool behind the counter to eat a cold croissant from one of the failed batches.

"go walk around or something, you need to get your blood pumping." she explains and goes into depth about the stretches that would promote blood flow and restore energy to your body. you aren't interested in hearing actual solutions, just wanting to vent.

"no! you can't tell me what to do!" you grumble and stuff more of the croissant in your face, even picking out the ham slice to eat separately. minji finds this all a bit weird, as in weird in her stomach kind of weird. the same kind of weird she feels when someone takes the last bag of chips in the convenience store when she goes up to buy it.

she watches how kazuha is so easily able to grab you by the arm, a boundary that she would never cross. and kazuha is pushing you into the backrooms, while you make kissy faces at kazuha, all of which are being dodgeds left and right. "you love me zuha, just admit it!" you shout before the door is closed on you.

kazuha walks back out to the barista station and smiling at minji before continuing to work, "she's something else." minji just nods and tries to will away that nasty feeling in her gut.

"you know she's my cousin right?" kazuha continues, minji stops what she's doing.

"no, i didn't. wow that makes a lot of sense actually." minji explains, kazuha just laughs at her shocked face.

"yeah, just thought you should know." kazuha winks at minji before returning to her espresso machine. minji is confused by the wink, but it's too late to ask; kazuha is already busy in work mode. the feeling in her stomach quells a bit.

--

"what are you looking for?" minji jumps at the sudden voice behind her. you're peering over her shoulder as she holds the walk-in door open.

"you scared me!" minji exclaims and hits you on the shoulder, leading you to pout and rub at your shoulders.

"sorry, bad habit of mine." you explain, "so, what are you looking for?"

minji's still looking around for food that she can eat. she had the great idea of waking up an hour later today, only to find out that hanni already ate her work lunch with a measly 'sorry! i'll pay you back :)) ~hanni' scribbled over a sticky note taped to the fridge door. minji groaned and sped off to get to work on time, completely forgoing a lunch.

"hopefully lunch, hanni ate my lunch."

"you have a bunny named hanni?" you question, trying to look for food in the walk-in.

"no, i have a roommate named hanni, she always steals my food, claims it tastes better than her own food." minji sighs and looked at different rows for hopefully another lone croissant or even a cookie. "is there really no food in here?"

"probably not, since shipment's tomorrow and we've had a busy week." you explain but then you pull your phone out, making a quick call.

"yes one order of a club sandwich, with chips and a cookie please...thank you!" you speak into the phone, minji's confused but you smile at her when she looks at you confused. "okay thank you, can I pick it up now?" and then you hang up the phone.

"what was that?" minji questions but you've already darted out of the walk-in, and minji's hot on your trail watching you run out of the store and make a quick beeline to the deli store around the corner, with your work cap and work apron on. minji laughs at your antics, but her heart warms at the sentiment.

minji returns back into the coffee shop. she might as well wait for you to return so she opens her phone.

[minmin]: new girl bought me lunch

[hanbunny]: you're kidding. even i wouldn't do that.

[minmin]: of course you wouldn't you ate my work lunch!

[minmin]: literally this is all your fault >:(

[hanbunny]: hey, new girl literally is buying you lunch, i think im being a great wingwoman actually, my genius should never be doubted :>

[minmin]: shut up.

[minmin]: also pay me back.

you return breathing heavy but with a brown takeout bag in front of minji's face. minji puts her phone away as she grabs the bag, surprised to see all the things you ordered in the bag. "you really didn't have to do this, how much was it?"

"free 99, don't pay me back minji. it's a thank you for all times you've covered for me when i was late to work." you stretch your legs and sit down next to minji, watching her enjoy the food that you bought.

"want some?" minji splits half her sandwich.

"sure!" you happily grab at the half presented to you and chew happily; minji just laughs at the sight. you remind her of a dog in the way you're so energetic and food driven.

"well if you won't let me pay you back, can i cook you dinner?" minji takes a leap of faith and turns to you, your mouth drops open and you nod intensely, almost choking on the sandwich but finally swallowing the bite.

"yes! i would be honored to try your cooking." you offer as you bite into the sandwich again.

minji smiles at that, "it's a date then."

--

"no, kkura, listen. she said 'it's a date then', but like i don't actually think it's one." you explain while sakura's playing resident evil. her focus being taken up by this new development but also the anxiety from how scary the game is.

"okay, so it's a date." she echos back, moving her head away from the screen.

"but i don't think it is. you know how some people just say it's a date, but it turns out it's just a friend date?" you explain and groan into sakura's plushies.

"no, not really." sakura continues, jumping when a random NPC shows up on the screen's peripheral.

"i just don't want to make it seem like i read it wrong." you explain, toying with the feet of the duck plushie. "what if i the overread it and bring roses to a friend date, you know? then she would think i'm weird and not want to be friends with me. which is fine! but i really would like this to be a date."

"listen kid, just ask her directly if it's a friend date or more. it's easy." sakura explains plainly, frankly you've been going through this back and forth for the past fifteen minutes and sakura's had enough.

you freak out, taking a sharp intake, "absolutely not! that would ruin the mood, then i would look like i'm making her look like an idiot, and minji is not an idiot." you explain.

"i gave you the best advice i got, if you're not going to take it then leave."

"kkura pleaseeee, i need a better way to figure this out."

"nope, not hearing it, good luck!" sakura tunes you out, putting her headphones back on and locking in.

you walk out with sakura's duck plushie still in your hands, if she won't give you good advice then you're taking her belongings.

--

you give yourself some words of encouragement as you knock on her apartment door. behind this door was the living space of your crush and you were sweating, rocking on your feet back and forth in anticipation.

"hello! you're minji's coworker right?" the door opens quickly, and a shorter girl stands before you; she is definitely not minji.

"yes, and you're hanni?" you question to which she nods, excitedly welcoming you into their home. it's what you would expect of minji's living space, very light cream and brown colors all over the living space.

"hanni! i told you to let me answer the door!" minji rushes out of her room, with a cute top on and her hair done in cute braids framing her face, you think she looks gorgeous.

"well minji, it's rude to keep a guest waiting." hanni laughs and smiles at minji weirdly, giving her a quick wink and a pat on her shoulders before disappearing into her room, "it was nice to meet you!"

"you too!" you shout as hanni closes her door.

minji feathers through her hair, and directs you to take off your jacket. you're looking around and you spot minji's work clogs by the shoe rack, and laugh at the sight.

"sorry about hanni, she's usually not so enthusiastic." minji's leading you over to the kitchen where you can see her dinner being cooked. you smile at the delicious smells invading your nose.

"not at all, she seems very nice." you reply back and settle into one of the bar stools.

minji stands awkwardly, confused on how this date should go. "would you like anything to drink? we have water, juice, coke zero, wine-"

"coke zero." you decide, and minji laughs remembering your obsession with that specific drink, no other kind of coke.

"okay, coke zero it is." she hands you the drink to which you happily start drinking, even letting out a large burp, "excuse me."

minji just laughs and finishes stirring the pasta and plating them on the table, it's your favorite, carbonara. you thank the pasta gods for this delicious meal and start to dig in.

minji really hopes the pasta she made tastes good, "how is it?"

"so delicious, better than any pasta i've had before!" you are definitely enjoying the meal as you are finished with the plate before minji can even eat half of hers.

"can i have seconds?"

minji laughs, "of course."

you give yourself another bowl of pasta, happily chatting about interests, you find out that minji's a bit of a audiophile, enjoying all kinds music. she's speaking about her passions but you keep eyeing the stray hair on her cheek. so you reach out and pick it off if minji's face causing her to blush and glow red.

"thank you." she's back to the more reserved minji that you see whenever she's embarrassed. her hands are closed over each other.

"thank you for dinner by the way, you really didn't have to cook me dinner." you say in between bites. you appreciate the girl's kindness; you just can't tell if this is really a date. "i brought flowers by the way!" you go back to your bag and pull out pink carnations.

minji blushes at the gesture, finding it cute that you even thought to bring flowers. she grabs a vase and starts filling it to place the flowers that you have brought, she can't seem to contain her happiness. smiling wildly and then she feels her phone vibrate in her pocket.

[hanbunny]: hey

[hanbunny]: did you two kiss yet?

[hanbunny]: danielle's here too btw

[hanbunny]: hi minji! danielle here! i think your outfit is so cute <3333

[hanbunny]: anyways, hanni here, make a move by the end of the date, if you don't i don't have to pay you back for the lunch i stole

[hanbunny]: love you, good luck!

minji knew the two girls were up to something suspicious, hanni kept demanding that danielle come over earlier in the afternoon. she did not expect the two to be spying on her and your date. minji mutes hanni's conversation, turning to you.

"want to watch a movie?" minji asks as she walks over to the couch. you decide on the lego movie, claiming that it's been your favorite for years, and minji doesn't have the heart to tell you she finds it embarrassing to watch.

you both are enjoying it; well, mostly you are enjoying the movie, and minji's enjoying you enjoying the movie. you tend to recite the lines quietly when you know a long dialogue is coming up, or you clap when you find a scene enjoyable.

minji finds herself relaxing into the date, you seem preoccupied enough with the movie that she goes up to make some popcorn for herself. as she waits for the popcorn, she spots hanni's door cracked open. spotting two sets of eyes watching minji.

minji turns back towards the tv, happy that you haven't discovered the two. "i'm going to the bathroom." minji shouts. you give her a thumbs up and an okay, minji turns to hanni's room.

both girls are eyes wide seeing minji stalk towards them, trying to shut the door but minji's too strong, barging into the room, with hanni tumbling backwards into danielle. both of them sprawled out on hanni's carpet.

"you two have been spying us this whole time?" minji whisper shouts at them. quickly shutting the door behind her.

"i'm sorry!" danielle squeaked out while hanni glared at minji.

"you have nothing to be sorry about dani, minji here just doesn't understand that we are emotional support for her first date!" hanni explains, getting up to sit on her bed.

minji groans and looks around, seeing a giant corkboard filled with poorly shot photos of you and her at work, red string pinned criss crossing all over the board, as if this were a murder case.

"hanni, what is this?" minji nearly shouts, she's horrified to see photos of herself eyeing you or the other way around. hanni simply smiles at her work.

"this is my board for mission: GMAG." she explains proudly, "stands for mission: get minji a girlfriend."

"you have got to be kidding me." minji looks all over the board, trying not to be upset at hanni. she understands the girl is just looking out for her, but this is all a bit much.

"this wasn't my idea!" danielle explains, minji knows that danielle would never do something like this. so she glares at hanni instead, the girl just smirks and points at the board instead.

"whatever, just don't make a peep, i need to get back to this date." minji explains and closes the door behind her, leaving the two alone.

"sorry that took so long." minji walks into the living room, seeing you happily invested in the movie. you smile at her, and pat the seat next to you, inviting her to join you.

"no worries, movie's good!" you explain. even though minji might not completely love the lego movie, she is enjoying being around you and spending time with you. also find it cute that you dropped a blanket over her as she got comfortable.

you recognize the final portion of the movie, "this is my favorite part, minji." you explain to her how cool the collaboration of lego fans and the production cast were. giving her insight on the movie that she definitely did not know. she ends up kissing you through your avid explanation, with your hands all over the place.

you thank the heavens she made the first move because you were worried this was a friend date. minji turns shy at the action, a little shocked by her own boldness. she shifts away from you and avoids your eye contact.

"minji, you just kissed me." you say, a little slow on the pick up. your brain is trying to catch up to what just happened. minji just nods, seemingly invested in the ending credits.

"did you mean to?" you ask, pushing her shoulder a bit.

"yes." she says and you can see her ears getting all red from the embarrassment.

"oh thank god, because i wasn't sure if this was a friend date or romantic date, i mean obviously i wanted it to be a romantic date, but i really wasn't sure if it was. i asked my roommate for help, but she was no help. she told me to ask you if this was a more than a friendly date, and i was like nuh uh no way i am going to ask minji that." you trail on and on, a nervous habit you picked up whenever you didn't know what to say next.

minji kisses you a second time. and you stop talking. "it's definitely more than a friend kind of date." she reaffirms your suspicions and you let out a little laugh. you pull her into a hug, before grabbing her face and giving her a kiss as well.

"i want to kiss you more often." you say.

"yeah?"

"yeah." you conclude proudly.

hanni and danielle are still in hanni's room with their ears against the gap of the door. and then you hear a loud squeal followed by a loud crash. you turn to minji and she immediately groans.

"hanni!" minji shouts. it's silent for a couple seconds until you hear a timid muffled voice. and out comes two girls from hanni's room. you're shocked because you completely forgot about hanni, and to now learn that there was another girl too makes you even more confused.

"hi minji, hello minji's lover." hanni smirks at you, while you hide yourself behind minji.

"hanni stop." minji groans out.

"what? mission: gmag is a success from what i can see." hanni gives you a wink, you feel oddly exposed by the action. meanwhile, hanni's friend is just smiling and nodding at you. you feel a little less worried with her.

as minji and her two friends head back into hanni's room to assess the aftermath caused by the troublemakers. you sit back, scratching your head and munching on popcorn. puzzled by hanni's interest in you.

minji returns with a smile, and casually suggests, "another movie?"

"lego movie part 2?" you ask with a grin.

--

a/n: wrote this in a very silly goofy mood. this piece was only supposed to be around 2k originally...anyways, stay safe and stay healthy everyone!

[rintarolovebot]

GROCERY SHOPPING

summary in which you forced took your husband out for a grocery run and he takes advantage of the fact that you love him and can’t say no to the snacks he sneaks into the cart.

warnings/tags none. timeskip!suna. implied female reader (as the daughter called them mommy on the phone).

author’s note i’ve said it before and i’ll gladly say it again. i’m so in love with this man like ugh i can’t my heart just swells whenever i think of him i don’t think that’s good but he makes me happy.

“what is that?” you ask as he put down yet another pack of something inside your shopping cart. he has been at it ever since you two entered the grocery store.

he looks down at the pack he just placed as if he was not the one who picked them off the shelf. “gummy bears,” he says nonchalantly.

you raised your brows, “you seriously need more gummy bear packs from a different brand?” you asked.

he shrugs and walks towards you, giving you a kiss on the temple. “yeah..” he kisses your forehead, “i like both brands.”

you sighed and let him be. as always, the essentials only list you have made beforehand was now long forgotten. although, the cart is almost full of the ingredients you needed, so why not let your husband put the snacks he wanted in the cart too?

just as you thought of it, your husband comes into your view and puts down five bags of chips. you furrowed your brows as you looked at the chips then at him.

“five?”

“yup.”

“…”

“…please?”

you rolled your eyes yet your lips betrayed you as a small smile appeared, making him smile as well. “sure, yeah. get me some too please,” you said.

his smile grows wider, gives you a kiss before passing by and walked off to his previous location — the chips aisle.

your phone starts to vibrate, indicating someone was calling. you grabbed your phone from your pocket and answered the phone.

“hello?”

“hi mommy!” your daughter greets from the other line. “i did my homework today!” she enthusiastically informs you.

“you did? aww.. great job, my love! let mama see when me and daddy get home, okay?”

“yes, mommy!”

you smiled. “mommy has to go now, alright? i love you,” you said as you heard your little girl giggle at the other end.

“i love you too, mommy. bye bye, see you and daddy!”

just as you ended the call, you spot your husband with a frown and more chips in his hands. you chuckled and pushed the cart towards him so he could easily drop down the items he had in his hands.

“you didn’t let me talk to her,” he mumbled. you looked at him as you put both of your hands on his face to caress it, “i’m sorry, she just told me she finished her homework.. and i didn’t know that you were coming back so soon.”

he sighs and kisses your forehead before dropping down the chips. “you’re lucky i love you,” he mumbled as he rolled his eyes and takes control of the pushing of the cart.

“oh, trust me..” you looped your hand through his arm as you hugged it while he pushed the cart. “i know.”

end note my author’s note r always just side thoughts and random shit but hi hello!!! how are you guys doing? <333

[walker-extended-universe]

Dead Weight, Chapter 3

Chapter 1, Chapter 2

Relationship(s): Micki Ramirez & Cordell Walker, Cordell Walker & Stella Walker

Tags/Warnings: Kidnapping, Hostage, Hostage Negotiations, Threats, Hurt No Comfort

Summary: Martin raises the stakes and Cordell makes his own plans

Written for @whumptober Day 1: Race Against the Clock, Search Party

Taglist: @theladywyn, @ihavepointysticks, @klaatu51, @itsjessiegirl1, @neptunium134

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

Martin munched on some chips as they sped down the road. While he ate, he considered their options.

Finding little miss Walker had been a lucky break. So long as she was alive (and cooperative), the people hunting for them would be careful not to hurt her. That vastly increased their chances of making it out of this alive.

Of course, it also gave them more leverage. The Ranger Walker was obviously very protective, and using Stella’s phone to check his record showed a pattern of erratic activity. Martin was confident Cordell would do anything to get his little girl back, up to and including going behind the FBI’s back and disobeying every rule in the book. That was something they could use to their advantage.

And, in their case, they needed every advantage they could get.

“Does your father have his personal phone on him at work?” Martin asked casually.

“Of course. Mom- You never know if there’s going to be an emergency. Or if he’s working late. Or both.” Her hands were the only sign she was nervous as they white-knuckled the wheel. It was impressive; most other teenage girls would be a mess in this situation. “Why do you ask?”

“I just had a few questions for him and I was hoping he would answer in private.” He got out her phone and scrolled for her father’s contact information. “Is he a good negotiator?”

“He’s very stubborn.”

“But he wants you to come home alive, yes?”

Stella didn’t answer.

Hector laughed from the back seat. “Damn, talk about daddy issues!”

“Shut up,” she snapped, her first sign of personality since they picked her up.

“Don’t worry, dear, I’m sure he cares more about you than whatever it is you’re fighting about.” Martin dialed and waited patiently for the Ranger to answer. It was time to flex his bargaining skills.

—---------------

If Cordell was the sort of person who went looking for bright sides, he might consider the fact that the FBI were hell bent on getting Martin Whitly back into custody, no matter the cost, to be a bright side to his daughter being kidnapped.

As it was, he was just itching to get on the move. 

“What’s the point of having all these damn highway cameras if they can’t find anything useful?” he growled, flipping through the very unhelpful photos they were receiving. “You’d think all the property taxes Daddy pays on the ranch would pay for better quality.”

“We’ll get something soon,” Micki promised him. “And we’ve got Troopers on the road everywhere from here to the border. Someone’s bound to call something in soon.”

“I hope you’re right,” Cordell muttered. “I just need to know she’s okay.”

“She will be,” his partner promised. “Stella’s a strong girl and Martin won’t hurt her as long as he’s sure he’ll get something out of her. You heard Malcolm; he’s not stupid.”

“That’s what I’m worried about,” he admitted. “We can plan as much as we want, but if he suspects something…. She’s my little girl.” If anything happened to her, he’d never forgive himself.

“You're her father; it’s natural to be worried.” Malcolm’s sudden appearance at their desk made Cordell jump. “But she’ll be fine. She might need therapy after all this, but she’ll be fine.”

That was meant to be comforting, but nothing would really comfort him until Stella was back home safe.

“Bright, Ramirez!” U.S. Marshal Ruiz called from the conference room. “We may have an update, we need to plan.”

Cordell stood up with them, but was barred from the conference room. “I-”

He didn't even get a chance to argue. “I understand you want to be involved, but we have rules here. You’re too close to this case.”

“But I-”

“You do have an impressive record, but that’s just not how we do things. Your partner will keep you updated, I’m sure, but we can’t have you directly involved.” She had the grace to look slightly remorseful as she closed the door in his face.

Cordell stared at the door for a few seconds before storming out of the office. He needed some air.

Just as he stepped outside, his phone rang. The caller ID made his heart race.

“Stella? Butterbean, are you okay? Where are you? Is-”

“Sorry to disappoint, Ranger. It’s just me again.”

Cordell clenched his fist. “Martin Whitly. What the hell do you want?”

“I want to make a deal.”

“What kind of deal?”

“The kind where your daughter gets to live, if you give me what I want.”

Cordell should run back inside and hand the phone to someone in that conference room. At the very least, they could get a trace.

But Martin might hear that, and then the deal would be out the window. If he lost this deal, if he lost Stella….

His family might not survive that.

“What do you want? Besides safe passage to Mexico, I mean.” That was the deal Martin had put forth before; he can’t imagine that much has changed.

“Well, I’m strapped for cash. I’ll need at least 50 grand. And my partner and I will need a few changes of clothes. And some hair dye.”

Of course. Martin wanted to hide. Changing his appearance and using cash would be the best way to do that. “When do you want all this by?”

“MIdnight, tonight. I’ll send you an address in a few hours. Come alone, or you’ll be taking Stella home in a casket. Oh, and don’t be late. I’ve got a thing about punctuality.” Martin hung up before he could respond.

Cordell should go back inside and tell them what happened. He should at least talk to Micki. Rushing into this alone would be incredibly stupid and probably lead to more trouble than he could handle. Plus, it would be the perfect excuse to involve himself in the investigation.

But this was Stella on the line. He couldn’t wait around for the feds to come up with a plan. And the warning about coming alone was one he needed to take seriously. No matter how careful they were, there was no guarantee Martin wouldn’t figure it out.

No. He had to do this alone. There was too much at stake.

He sent a message to James saying he needed the rest of the day off and got in his truck. He had a few errands to run.

—-----------------

Stella and August had gone to therapy for about six months after their mom died and Dad went running off into an undercover assignment. During those therapy sessions, she learned a variety of breathing and grounding exercises to help manage her emotions and reactions.

She hadn’t ever really used them before, preferring to use her anger as a way to keep the world at bay. Now, though, she was clinging to them for dear life.

She needed something, anything, to keep her sanity in this moment. Counting the seconds between her breaths was an odd comfort to take, but it was working. At least, for now.

There was very little comfort to take in this current situation. She was truly on her own, in a car with two men who held all the cards. Even with the promise she would live, there was no guarantee she would escape completely unharmed.

She was just a tool, a pawn in their game. If keeping her alive won’t give them what they want, she was useless. She knew that

Which is why the way Hector stared at her made her nervous. If there was no reason to keep her alive, who knew what he might do to her? He’d already bragged to her about killing his victims with his bare hands, but somehow she doubted that would be the worst of it.

Martin made her nervous for an entirely different reason. He was calm and calculated. He wouldn’t hurt her unless he felt it would benefit him. But the minute she stopped being useful, there would be nothing stopping him.

She knew her dad would follow through on his end of the deal. She just hoped they would both make it out alive.

“Keep a lookout for motels. We need a little landing pad, I think.” Martin glanced at the highway signs. “Unless you know any good places down south?”

“Never been down here,” Stella murmured.

“Shame. Oh, well. Just keep an eye out. There’s bound to be a little hole-in-the-wall place soon.”

Stella tightened her grip on the steering wheel and kept breathing.

[insufferable-pri]

have too many thoughts on the new madoka trailer to ramble in the tags of other people's posts so rambling under the cut instead (i am too excited to go back to sleep help)

Clara dolls theory real (to me). Which brings the question of how did they get powerful enough to turn into doppel homuras

Who are the new girls. Where did they come from. How did they get here. Actually assuming homura's uhh universe sized witch/demon barrier thing works more like a regular witch barrier did the law of cycles send more people to bring back madoka

That green girl is walpurgis isn't she (or at least one of the girls who became part of walpurgis). The trees in the background remind me of a post-walpurgisnacht scene (maybe i'll find a picture later)

The repaired tea cup. At the end of rebellion we hear a glass shattering and iirc this was basically signifying homura rejecting her friendship with mami. What if (probably reaching here) walpurgis is trying to reconnect with madoka after becoming friends in magical girl heaven idk or (reaching even more) this scene is misleading and she's actually talking to homura and trying to befriend her

what if even though the law of cycles is trying to bring back madoka, she's also still trying to save homura. Without madoka as guidance all she knows is eat hot chip and lie bring back madoka and whatever was the last thing she was instructed to do (yes this is basically the kagerou daze)

oh my god madoka heaven is basically kagerou daze without the snakes (and the suffering)

What if lawofcycles.exe broke after the split more than anyone originally thought. What if that statue isn't just a statue it's the now formless law of cycles because madoka has been away for too long and it's starting to lose itself

There was something else i wanted to say about lawofcycles.exe broke but i dont remember it anymore

Something something sayaka is there because she was madoka's secretary in the law of cycles (from the concept movie)

If i go back and forth between referring to the law of cycles as a person and as a dimension/space it's because i did not get enough sleep

Mentioned this in the tags of another post: kyoko eats a bunch of snacks in the anime, but only eats apples in rebellion (when most of her memories are wiped/altered). Her holding an ice cream thing probably signifies a return of her memories. Also the whole apples kinda says something about homura's perception of kyoko but idk how to articulate it (this is assuming there was an actual reason for kyoko only eating apples in rebellion)

I have been informed the other small child is bear girl from episode 12. I need to rewatch episode 12.

The narration "I will go with hope. Hope will go with you. The miracle that I achieved with you will surely guide us", followed by white feathers ascending with a single feather turning black as it descends. Not entirely sure what to make of all this, but i'm guessing the miracle refers to the law of cycles

Theory: madoka will choose to reunite with the law of cycles. Maybe she'll try to absorb homura and maybe homura rejects/is rejected by the law of cycles (again). The universe doesn't really know how to handle both of them coexisting as gods so it recreates itself for the third time. No idea what'll happen with the magical girl system in the new universe

Would anyone be happy with this? Who knows

idk where kyubey falls into this but his presence never bodes well

[blackink-onpaper]

The Descend and the Resurface

Damian Hart x OC

Summary: OC comes from a complex background, and in the midst of trying to save it all and help her family she enters a strange arrangement, which will change her life forever.

Masterlist 🖤

Tags: Beyblade, Beyblade Metal Masters, Julian Konzern, Jack, Damian, OC, Gingka Hagane, team Starbreaker, Masamune Kadoya, Kyoya Tategami, dr. Ziggurat, Hades Inc.

A/N: (ambience suggestion) this chapter will go along with the canon storyline, so watch Beyblade Metal Masters episode 98, 99 and 100 if you like, it’s available on youtube! Enjoyyy :D

Chapter 22

I was trying to get into Ziggurat’s wing, suspecting if he and the boys are back that they may be together. Moving along the long, repetative, identical hallways I heard the echo of running footsteps, but I could not tell from which direction they were coming.

“Someone’s there! Get ready!” I heard an all too familiar voice: it was Gingka. He came up to me running with two other boys, launchers pointed at me because they were probably thinking I was a security guard or something. He was followed by a tanned guy with green hair and scars on his face, and Masamune.

“Camila?!?” Gingka almost dropped his launcher from confusion: “Wha… what are you doing here?!”

“Are you here with Julian?” Masamune also chipped in

“Uh…” I let out the longest, most confused, idiotic sound ever because I had no idea if I should just say yes and not overcomplicate things, or correct them seeing as I was in Hades Inc. and they were technically tresspassers to me.

“Gingka what are you doing here? It’s dangerous!” I tried to scare them off, I didn’t know if I should alert security

“Camila if you’re lost we can help you!” Gingka came closer to me, extending his hand: “We are looking for Ziggurat, Toby or the Spiral Core - they need to be stopped!”

I was feeling overwhelmed by the stress and weight of the moment: on one hand Ziggurat was definitely doing something fucked up, but then again I couldn’t just betray Damian and the boys if they are behind this too. But then again - they have to be behind this since they all work for Ziggurat, maybe even they are not aware he is doing something fucked up.

“Forget this” the green hair boy shook his head in dissapointed annoyance: “We’re just wasting our time with her.”

“Kyoya, seriously?” Gingka looked at him, but I kind of felt like he was right - I didn’t know if I should help them or not, and I didn’t even know in which direction to point them in: I literally found out about everything in the same day as them.

“I am completely serious Gingka” Kyoya said, shooting me a piercing judgemental look: “No matter the reason why or with who she’s here, she’s the enemy.”

Gingka and Masamune slowly looked back at me with a clear expression of shock and realisation, as if they couldn’t believe they were decieved by me even though I didn’t decieve them. Gingka soon snapped back to his old self:

“Doesn’t matter! Camila, if you want to help us save the world please do, and if you don’t then please step aside!”

“Save the world?” I picked up on this part, because it seemed I wasn’t aware of something.

“Oh for cryin’ out loud!” Kyoya screamed in frustration, almost punching a wall: “Gingka stop wasting your time! We have a battle in front of us and she doesn’t even know what you’re talking about!”

Gingka looked at me with a gleam of hope in his eyes: “Camila, he intends to sell the Spiral Force and won’t do anything if they use it as a weapon of mass destruction.” A wave of ice passed through my body upon his last four words: “Please help us if you can.”

I stood there for a minute, paralysed with the new information and with thinking if I could even help them in any way. Then, I remembered what Ziggurat’s assistant said about the subterranean levels of the facility - which were both guarded, secretive, unauthorised to almost everyone and big enough to have a reactor of some sort down there:

“If it’s anywhere, it’s down below” I pointed downwards with my hand: “that’s all I know”

Gingka smiled at me: “Thank you so much!” before all three of them ran off. I was left alone again, shaken by what I’d just heard, but shaken once more when I realised there was a camera on the ceiling just a meter away that has maybe filmed the entire thing. I almost shat my pants from stress in that very moment - will Ziggurat throw me out? Will Damian end his relationship with me because I betrayed his father and Starbreaker? A whole new rush of overthinking came over me as I slid down against the wall, shaking and shuddering. I was entering a panic attack from everything that was happening, and I couldn’t do anything to stop it. After a couple of minutes a group of security guards came running past me, probably after Gingka and the boys:

“Hey, we have an injured girl!” One shouted after the others before kneeling down to help me, another one stopping in bis tracks to assist him: “She has the watch.”

My panic attack was shaking me so bad I couldn’t get a word out of my mouth, the security guards obviously had no idea who I was and my ID was not on me, making the situation very complicated.

“Let her go, Ziggurat gave us clear orders to stop the tresspassers!” The one who joined later stood up and started running after the other security guards before looking over his shoulder when he noticed his colleague wasn’t following him: “It’s your job on the line!”

As he dissapeared into the length of the hallway, the kneeling security guard was trying to calm me down in any way he could. He ended up calling for medical assistance and giving them my location before leaving, assuring me help is on its way. Although I couldn’t say it to him at the time, I was grateful for his kindness. By the time the paramedics arrived I was a bit better but very weak, the same feeling from before when I was struck by Spiral Force acting up again. The paramedics took me to the medical wing when I heard an explosion somewhere far in the building. I sat up abruptly: “What is that?”

“Nothing, miss, please lay down” the main nurse pushed me down gently, before mumbling something to the other nurse about sedatives. I looked to the left towards the open door of the nurse’s room, where a small part of a computer screen revealed some security camera footage. From a distance, straining my eyes, I could see a small part of a Bey battle arena, and a white cape:

“Damian!” I gasped: “Where is he? Where is that?”

“Now” the main nurse instructed the other nurse, who came up to me with a needle, pressing my arm down to get a clear injection point.

“Please no!” I begged, shaking my arms and legs so she couldn’t inject me: “Please! I’ll be good! Just tell him I’m here! I won’t be any trouble!”

“I believe you” the main nurse looked at me with sincere, compassionate eyes: “But these are the doctor’s orders.”

I gasped: “Ziggurat.”

He must’ve seen the camera footage, and this must be his way of preventing me from causing more inconveniences for him while he deals with Gingka. The nurse managed to grab my hand and inject the sedatives into my arm, slowly letting go and stepping back to disinfect and dismantle the small apparatus. Slowly, my mind was battling the urge to drift off to sleep. I was trying to stare into the lights and wake myself up somehow, but the drug was very strong. I resisted, trying to defy the chemistry that was happening inside my body and trying to persist against Ziggurat’s wishes. My eyes were blurry and my vision dizzy, I couldn’t tell the time even though I could see the watch on the wall in front of me, and I had no idea how much time passed. The nurses were in a commotion around me, but their unintelligible voices made me wonder if this drug is that strong or if they are actually speaking in a foreign language. They rolled my bed outside into the hall, where other nurses were waiting, and pushed my bed down the hall while running beside me.

The lights were pulsing in red, a voice echoing across the metallic hallways. Something about an evacuation? Even though the drug was preventing me from making the movements and sounds I wanted, I tried to move out of the bed and escape, but the nurses pushed my limbs down. Soon we were at the Hades Inc. medical heliport, where I was transferred onto a stretcher and placed inside of the helicopter along with a couple of others who were severely injured. I rested my head against the plastic support pillow; there was nothing I could do now. I was restrained by the staff, heavily drugged and completely clueless and hazy about what is happening around me. As the helicopter took off my consciousness drifted away as my body gave in to the drugs, unable to resist any longer.

I abruptly woke up with a gasp as the helicopter landed, the grounding snapping me out of my heavy, clouded uncosciousness. I realised they removed the restraints at some point in the flight, and that I could move my hands and feet. When the helicopter door opened I jumped up pushing the paramedic who was blocking me, and running outside. We were grounded in the city harbour, with hundreds of Hades Inc. boats pulling up with the evacuated staff. With a lazy limp in both of my legs, probably from the sedatives, I walked around trying to find the boys:

“Damian? Zeo?” I looked left and right, repeating myself like a paranoid parrot: “Jack? Damian? Anyone? Zeo?”

A wave of panic swooped over me, overwhelming me with the idea that they might have not survived the evacuation. Anyone I stopped and asked had no idea where they were, even the security guards. Our smart watches also stopped working because the main computer in Hades Inc. died in the evacuation process:

“Damian!” I cried, shaking, praying for them to be alive. Suddenly, I saw a familiar head of pink hair:

“JACK!” I gasped as I ran over to him, almost knocking a few people over: “Jack oh my God are you okay?!”

He was seated next to a pramedic, seeming normal at first, but as I came closer I realised he was shaking, his eyes lost to a gaze pointed somewhere behind me: “Jack do you hear me?”

“The Arrangement…” he whimpered: “They ruined it…”

“Jack where is Damian? Have you seen him?”

The paramedic next to him looked at me: “They were on the same boat before Jack’s entered shock. I am afraid I didn’t see where he went.”

I got up, spinning around trying to see Zeo or Damian - heck, I’d even be glad to see Ziggurat if Damian was next to him.

“Damian!” I called, continuing my search on foot, step by step choreographed with looking left and right: “Damian! Zeo!”

No one payed any attention to me, and no one answered my tearful calls:

“Damian! DAMIAN!” I cried out, begging for him to be okay:

“DAAAMMIIIAAAAN!”

[secretsfromwholecloth]

Tagged by @likeyua​.

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The last song you listened to: Solju - Oabbá

Currently reading: Oof, I don’t think I’d be able to sustain enough concentration to Read Something right now. The last book I took a dip into was a collection of sheet music for songs by Rafael Hernández.

Last Movie: Everything Everywhere All at Once. I think. I neglected to log it at the time, so I have no clue if I watched it before or after the last two movies I did log. Anyway! Good movie, I was happy it won things.

Craving: OK, maybe I will get to have that burger tonight. Very good.

What are you wearing right now? What’s left of my work outfit, navy blue stretch pants and a black T-shirt with vaguely occult-looking art on it. (The dress code at my job, aside from not showing so much skin it makes one’s coworkers uncomfortable, boils down to “I hope you don’t mind potentially getting motor oil on that or worse”, so. I’m the only one in the whole garage not wearing a uniform, too.)

How tall are you: 5′4″/163cm

Piercings: A ring in my left nostril. I finally gave up on keeping any earlobe holes open.

Tattoos: Not that I haven’t thought about it, but nope.

Glasses? Contacts? Glasses, though they’re so heavy and lopsided that I can’t wear them for more than a few hours without a long break.

Last drink: The last of today’s tea ration at work was a nice big travel mug full of peppermint tea.

Last show: How lovely that you’ve caught me at a time when my last movie and TV show are both things I’m willing to admit to in public on this site! Anyway, the last one I finished was The Glory. Not flawless, but I had a lot of fun and came out of it with a few more actors to look into. And I feel like my mother would’ve felt some kinship with the writer, given certain conversations we’ve had (not to mention appreciating the eye candy, which she’s become quite the connoisseur of in her widowhood). I’m currently chipping away at Maestro in Blue, which mom didn’t watch when it aired in Greece (it was airing very late and she keeps early hours) but did hear about, which is something. I’m finding it much more of a slog, as evidenced by the fact that I’m not done with its mere nine episodes after eleven days.

Last thing you ate: Some slightly spicy nachos.

Favorite color: Depends entirely on what application we’re talking about. Can’t go far wrong with a good burgundy, though.

Current obsession: Now that’s not public information right now. Some things are just for me to enjoy inside my own head.

Unrelated obsession: Oh for the times when I have that kind of energy.

Any pets: Nope. Bad idea. I don’t want to think about what would happen, I have enough trouble taking care of myself. What a cruelty to do that to an innocent animal.

Do you have a crush on anyone? Define “crush”, and define “anyone”. Anyway, the answer is closer to “no” than “yes” right now.

Favorite fictional character: I’m honestly too miserable to access that storage right now, and even if I could I’m not sure what I found there would be public information.

The last place you traveled: It’d have to be Philadelphia to visit Girlfriend’s parents for whatever the last family-visiting holiday was. Christmas! That’s the bitch.

[rebeccathenaturalist]

Regarding this reply from @bakehebi, you're very welcome! I mean, bots gonna bot, and I think the deniers just follow climate change-related tags so they can make a fuss on posts there. I'm not writing for them, though; I'm writing for anyone who actually wants to do something, or at least learn about the issue even if they're not in a place to act right now.

The thing is, when you have a big, complex problem like climate change, there isn't just one go-to solution, but there are a lot of ways to chip in. We're all stuck in a situation where we're still largely dependent on fossil fuels and other sources of greenhouse gases so it's not like the average person in the West can just instantly shrink their carbon footprint to zero.

We can, however, choose to do things within our power to try to help the problem. Yes, some of that can be personal choices like walking or biking or taking transit instead of driving if possible, or working on habitat restoration projects to create havens for biodiversity. We can also share ideas and information with other people; I'm not a professional restoration ecologist, but I AM a professional writer and have been for two decades in varying arenas, and so writing is one way I can disseminate those ideas.

But the main sources of greenhouse gases (and, for that matter, the bulk of environmental destruction in general) are major corporations and governments. Putting pressure on them from a variety of angles is really hard work and takes a LOT of concerted effort from both organizations and individuals, but over time it can work. The fear, of course, is that change won't happen quickly enough, but that's why we keep pushing as hard as we can. I am well aware of the massive forces who have an invested interest in the status quo; I've been fighting this battle for decades at this point. But in my view, any chance is better than no chance at all, so I think it's important to take it.

The decision to allow the transplantation of endangered species in ways that were previously prohibited isn't a very big thing in the grand scheme of it all, but it is a sign of change nonetheless. And while assisted migration is still a controversial topic, at least we have a little more leeway to try last-ditch efforts to save species that are a heartbeat away from extinction.

This ties into one of the big conundrums of restoration ecology. When trying to decide what plants to add to a restoration site, should we add those that are there now, even if some of those species are increasingly stressed by the effects of climate change? Or do we start importing native species in adjacent ecoregions that are more tolerant of heat?

Animals can migrate relatively quickly, but plants take longer to expand their range, and the animals that they have mutual relationships with may be moving to cooler areas faster than the plants can follow. Whether the animals will be able to survive in their new range without their plant partners is another question, and that is an argument in favor of trying to help the plants keep up with them. We're not just having to think about what effects climate change will have next summer, but also predict what it's going to look like here in fifty years, a hundred, or beyond. It's an especially important question in regards to slow-growing trees which may not reproduce until they are several years old, and which can take decades to really be a significant support of their local ecosystem.

For example, here in the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades, western red cedar (Thuja plicata) is experiencing increased die-off due to longer, hotter summer droughts. Do we continue to plant western red cedar, in the hopes that some of them may display greater tolerance to drought and heat? Or do we instead plant Port Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana), which is found in red cedar's southern range, and which may be more drought-tolerant, even though it's not found this far north yet?

Planting something from an adjacent ecoregion isn't the same as grabbing a plant from halfway around the world and establishing it as an invasive species. But there is the question as to whether the established native would have been able to survive if we hadn't introduced a competing "neighbor" species. Would the Port Orford cedars and western red cedars be able to coexist as they do in northern California and southern Oregon, or would the introduced Port Orfords be enough to push the already stressed red cedars over the edge to extirpation?

There's no simple answer. But I am glad to see the government at least allowing some leeway for those ecologists who are desperately trying any tactic they can to save rare species from extinction.

[specter319]

WHERE IN THE WORLD HAS SPECTER BEEN?!

So it's been quite a bit, almost two months now since you lot have seen me active, but i promisE you lot. i've been snooPing around, reading a lot more fanfiction, mostly call of duty ones, and have been getting a hell of a lot of ideas with both my own personal novels and fanficTion that has completely gone head over heels as of the 15th of august, 2023. what Exactly do i mean by this?

i have a lot of thoughts, story ideas, and plots that run through my head every day, whether it be froM the use of bots, yes, I use character ai. and I have seen the atrocities that some people have done with them, you heathens, though, I'm not one to talk. one story that i have been having the most difficulty with, was that of a zombie story. this one had been in the back of my mind since the long depths of 2017-2018 at Best, and every execution of it, every draft, every iteration of it brought it further. but never to a complete state. and on the 15th of august. that all changed thanks to a rEddit post. though i have been busy with university work and currently taking up a writing and pRofessional editing course. this thing has been plaguing my mind since, and has been making me think a lot about my projects thanks to it. so what happens From here?

the original plan was to have some form of story to be done by the end of this year with one of my personal novels. nothing has really gotten far other than a few chapters and the complete planning of a few books. as you'll see when you check this post, I've only gotten so far, but not as near as i was hoping. but that's okay because I'm letting all of the projects take their time to simmer and let them come to me in due time. howeVer, this means that certain projects are going to be stopped entirely, and some are going to be put on the back burner, as they haven't come to me with ideas as of yet. but i'm hoping at some point, they do. so what about this nEw project? this new project will probably see the light of day in within the month given i've been running for my life with it and haven't even checked it for any proper mistakes yet, this thing haSn't left my mind since, and given I've stopped thinking about it for a bit, it's also pushed me off to my novel to get chipping away on that too. i'm fortunatE enough to say that i know exactly what and where i want to go with it, and i'm proud enough to state, that it's an alternate timeline to one of my stories with the samE characters from my black angel series. though i haven't given much information about the characters from the black angel series. i'm hoping that in due time, alongside this constant nagging of writing this story, i can put some time aside to thoroughly introduce all of the characters that are going to be introduced in this storY. so what can be said about this new 'prOject'?

nothing in cement as of now. however, there will be a few teasers and what to expect in the form of photos. make it like a taylor swift post and take everything as an easter egg, because for this story, alongside the photos? it'll all make sense when it drops in time. as for when the first teaser drops, yoU will just have to wait and see. as for the people who have happily inspired me, you guys will get a very Special tag down the bottom of the story, because i can not thank you guys enough for allowing me to run like hell with this. what projectS are being dropped?

for now, both original projects for tmnt are being dropped as well as an original novel called 'project: roadrunner' these didn't move much more forward than they really did and have run out of the steam that was once amazing past projects that might see some form of further iteration somewhere alOng the road, if at all. though i will not be updating them any further or orphaning them. i will be leaving them up with an [project stopped] beside them to let you guys know about them not being continued. i do apolOgise if you enjoyed the stories, however, looking back at it now, i feel as if my writing has matured beyond what i was writing back then, and thought that i could do a lot better than my past self's writing. that's all for Now, much love, specter319

[gillianthecat]

Between Us - episode one an intrepid reporter watches, without having seen UWMA

Going in, I know next to nothing about this show. I have the tag filtered, and I haven't read the summary or seen the trailer. I did see part of the first episode of Until We Meet Again, but as far as I remember these characters weren't in it. The only information that has made it through the cone of silence is that either the characters or the actors are named Win and Team, one of them is blond, and they did a bunch of product placement in UWMA, possibly with Lay's chips. And I'm not very positive about any of that being true.

summary after watching: For me, this show is holding up on its own. It turns out I did remember more about the beginning of UWMA than I thought, but I feel like Between Us would work even if I didn't know UWMA's basic premise. Yes, Pharm's flashbacks would be confusing, but they're also confusing for him so I don't think that would make the episode too confusing overall. There are a lot of things I still don't know, but it feels like normal episode one information still to uncover, not plot holes because the show is assuming I already know the story. And, up to a point, I would rather have less information than too much, so I appreciate the mystery. I was surprised by how prominent Dean & Pharm's story has been so far. I expected it to be more background. I wonder if its going to stay this prominent, or if it's more to set the stage. Overall the show feels very professional and... not expensive, but adequately funded. The production values all feel pretty high - lighting, sets, editing, soundtrack, cinematography - and the acting is very good. It all makes me trust these storytellers know what they're doing. So yes, I am hooked. I can see why y'all have been so excited about this show. I will definitely keep watching.

Below are my notes as I watched. I took a lot so they're beneath the cut.

So. Diving in.*

*pun unintentional at the time, but appreciated now post-viewing

- I like this parallel morning opening. Blondie with the tattoos is hot, pushing back his hair to the rock soundtrack. Actually they're both cute. I like the alarm clock cliche, although Mamoru from Kabe Koji wins with his 20 plus clocks, and Wah from Why You... Y Me? still beats this guy with his paltry single alarm clock.

- The cool kid and the chaos boy? That's my first impression.

- Hmm. Swimming pools may be important? based on the opening credits.

- Aw. A crash-into-you with an adorable het couple. Including whats-her-name (Sammy?) from those other shows I can't recall. Were they in UWMA too? (Don't answer that.) Interesting that they get to meet each other first, before our main couple.

- ooh... A one sided pining situation? or love crush at first sight? I can't tell yet.

- And here comes That Fucking House 2.0. I guess I knew four things about this show- I'd heard she was in it too. (Do you think there is stock footage of the exterior that all these shows are using, or do they each shoot their own?)

- Wait, is that Santa?! He looks so different, I mostly recognized him by voice. I'm still not sure, I haven't gotten a good view of his face yet.

- Ah. Team at least is a swimmer. That makes sense with the pool footage. And now I've figured out their names.

- I like Team's dorky new friend group! I don't always like the comic relief characters but so far A, Bee and Sea seem fun. (Also love the names joke.)

- I feel like I just saw this pool in something but I can't remember what show.

- I think I like Win's friend group dynamic as well. Whew, that's a relief. I also like Win's slight mysterious brooding air. And the way he looks at Team, with the heavenly music on the soundtrack. (so I guess it is crush at first sight? rather than long term pining?)

- so far I've gathered Team is a first year and Win seems to be a sophomore or a junior, but my instinct is junior. (I don't know if the U.S. terms apply in Thailand.)

- Team seems like a sweetheart so far. Is Win making this announcement about scholarship students not being guaranteed a spot in a "I like you. Get out of my school" kind of way, or is it just a coincidence? Either way, its stressful. Athletic scholarships are a fucked up system in general.

- Oh Pharm! He's the main guy from UWMA! I recognize him. I (obviously) have no idea where we are in his story.

- My guess is that Pharm and Manow were his friends in UWMA, but A, Bee and Sea are new for this series.

- Win looks so cool, even his sauntering walk. I totally would have had a crush on him in college.

- Oh! I was about to get excited about their first real interaction but they were just teasing us.

- Is Win basically raising his brothers? He acts like it.

- It is Santa. He seems so different here somehow.

- Tul looks vaguely familiar, but I'm not sure from what.

- Hmm, what is going on with Team? Why is he being mopey?

- I continue to really like the way Win looks at Team, and how they show Team as totally oblivious.

- oh. That's why this whole thing with Manow is familiar? I think I did watch this part of UWMA where they watch the swim tryouts. So I guess Pharm's love interest is one of the other guys on the swim team? I honestly can't remember what he looks like, or how they met. Ah, I guess this must be him staring love struck. It's slowly coming back to me. (Are these scenes reshot? or are they using footage from UWMA?) Ah Dean, that's right. I did know his name at some point. So far I'm finding him more intriguing here than I did in the little bit of UWMA that I watched.

- oh yes, I remember that Pharm was in the cooking club too. It's slowly coming back. Maybe I did watch a little more then I thought.

- These hints of Dean and Pharm's story are working for me. Perhaps they're just there as a treat for UWMA fans, but I'm enjoying them as well. But I do know the basic premise of UWMA, I suspect I would be more confused if I didn't know the whole second life thing.

- Also, I was not expecting this much of their story. It really feels like a side couple, rather than a couple whose story is over and done with. Which perhaps makes me expect that the makers intend this story to stand on its own - that Between US and UWMA are supposed to be parallel pieces, rather than a main show and its companion.

- There is a lot more attention to Pharm & Dean's story than I was expecting though. Which isn't a problem, I was just expecting them to be more background characters. And this is making me want to watch UWMA more than seeing the beginning of that show did.

- Aw, what a good friend Team is. And Win thinks so too. Yet again, I like the way Win looks at him.

- So far I have No Idea what Win & Team's story is going to be - what their conflict or obstacles will be. But I don't mind, I'm still intrigued.

- Is Tul played by the same actor who played the horny roommate in Love By Chance? If so, he's certainly been typecast, poor guy. I did like him in LBC though.

- They finally interact! I love how Win is always tracking Team with his eyes, while Team remains basically oblivious to existence. Ignoring him, not in a mean way, just in a only aware of him as a generic swim team leader way.

- Ouch. The make up artists here are good.

- Win. What is your deal? You obviously have a crush, why are you so mean to Team to his face? I am Intrigued.

- Dean comes across as such a weirdo, omg.

- Interesting that it feels like In learning more about the setup of Dean and Pharm's relationship than about Team & Win's. I admit that I'm getting a bit impatient with it. Part of the reason I dropped UWMA is that I didn't find Dean's actor that compelling and I still don't (so far, that could change).

- Ah, some insight into Team: "You never let anything be important to you!" I do like his and Dean's friendship.

- Um, WHAT is Team's friend (I can't remember if he's A, Bee or Sea) wearing as a pendent? It looks like a piece of fried chicken.

- oof this porn watching scene is so awkward. Poor Team. It does all feel realistically adolescent though.

- Ok, wow, I was not expecting THAT. I like it though.

- on shit, and Team's following him!

- oh I really like this sex scene. See BL, consent is sexy. The way that Win, keeping tight rein on his very obvious desire and arousal, makes sure that Team wants this, that he knows what he's doing. It is Very Hot. And their chemistry is fire. I also like how cool kid Win has his post-shower fluffy unstyled hair, making him feel much more vulnerable.

- I don't know if it's intentional, but I like the contrast between Pharm and Dean's literally destined love, and this thing between Team and Win, which feels like it could be any college hook up. Yes, Win has had his eye on Team for a while, but as far as I can tell, Team took little notice of Win until his porn induced horniness drove him into Win's arms. And Team I really don't think was planning this, he just got aroused by win's arousal and gave in to temptation. I just like the arbitrary feeling of it against the backdrop of the heaviness of fate.

- I still don't know what their story is going to be. And honestly, if I wasn't being an intrepid reporter I probably wouldn't even try to figure it out, I'm just intrigued by them and their dynamic and content to see where it goes. But since I am doing these reports, my first guess is that they're going to continue to hook up in secret, outside the bedroom Win is going to pretend Team doesn't matter to him, and Team will slowly fall in love and get hurt by this. I'm not very attached to this theory, but it's the best I've got so far.

- Thinking about it, so far I actually know very little about Win and Team as characters. But the actors have made them both compelling enough that I'm intrigued, and want to know them. I feel like my initial impression of Win as "cool kid" is probably correct, but I'm not so sure about Team as "chaos boy." He seems a little more organized than that, a bit innocent but not too naive, kind but not saccharine. He seems a bit of an average everyman in fact, but not in a boring way.

Ok! That's it for now. I probably should go to bed, but I want to watch episode two instead. The nice thing about starting a few weeks behind is I don't have to wait.

[assembletheimagines]

I was so scared to ask this I’m sorry. Do you think you could do a little something for Steve where he’s on an undercover mission with the reader and one of the people in the neighborhood they’re investigating doesn’t think they’re an actual couple. The same night while the neighbor comes to snoop around the house, Steve notices and uses this as a way to tell the reader how he really feels? I’m sorry if this is trash

It’ll Work Out

a/n: I apologize if I somehow made it seem you can't send in asks or requests or even talk to me! I swear, I really am nice! So, please, no need for apologies! I was super excited to get a message in my inbox and this request was so cute! I hope you like it, babes ♡ (also I haven’t slept so if there are errors- no there isn’t because I will fix them later lmao)

tag list: @nana1000night @elle14-blog1 @potatothots @getwellsoontana @avengetheunnatural @adoreyouusugar @peaceinourtime82 

-

It was a simple mission.

You had been here for a week and honestly didn't realize how natural it would feel to walk up to Steve, a smile gracing your lips as his arm wrapped around you in greeting. His lips pressed into your forehead and you hummed a happy hello to the handsome blonde before shyly meeting the eyes of all the other neighbors who surrounded you.

You and Steve were currently located in the suburbs, undercover as newlyweds who had just moved into their first home together as a married couple.

Or that’s what your file stated you needed to portray.

In reality, you were a telecommunication operative while Steve was a literal superhero.

But right now, you two were tasked with playing house as you gathered intel on a target who lived in the neighborhood. And so far, your lead hadn’t shown his neck far enough for you two to finish the mission. Which, if you were being honest with yourself, you didn’t mind.

It was nice to greet Steve home every night, having dinner made for the both of you as you discussed the mission and any new information gathered.

So yes, for now, you could enjoy it secretly, while it lasted.

“So, how did you two young love birds meet?” Clarice, a mom in her forties who lived on your left asked you both. You two were currently attending the neighborhood summer cook out. Playing your part of a happy married couple as children ran around and the men grilled while the women gossiped.

You could feel Steve’s fingers squeeze your waist softly as the question registered in your brain. You know, for someone who had been there for a week, you two really should have put more details in your cover because the one question had you both stumped.

You didn’t discuss those type of details during the debriefs of the mission, which was stupid, and you couldn’t help but look over at Steve for some guidance.

Steve’s blue eyes met yours and you blushed as Steve brought you closer against his body. You both faced the couples around you and responded online, while Steve said a café at the same time.  

Fuck.

Realizing your mistake, your blush darkened and your neighbors gave you both strange looks.

But luckily, Steve continued to keep a hold on you as he cleared his throat, a small laugh falling from his lips. “We met online and our first date was at a café.” He provided, quickly covering up both of your guy’s mistakes.

Clarice giggled, nodding her head, “no worries, if it was actually Tinder, you guys can tell us.” She laughed but her husband still looked unsure as you awkwardly laughed along.

-

Other than the one hitch, everything else was smooth sailing. The men tugged Steve along to meet the “other husbands” leaving you alone with the wives. It was a long hour and a half of unnecessary gossip before Steve came to your rescue with two plates of food.

You happily followed him to a small corner of a table in someone’s lawn as you finally had a moment alone with him.

“Sorry,” you blurted as he slid over a plate with chips and a burger on it. You were still feeling bad about the mishap but Steve just smiled shaking his head.

“No worries, I was caught off guard too.” He laughed and it instantly made you relax as you took a bite of your food. “Did you get any good gossip?” Steve teased and it was your turn to laugh as you rolled your eyes.

“If you mean that Henry is having an affair with his secretary than do I have a story for you, mister.” You giggled not noticing the way Steve smiled at you.

-

Once the day had turned into night, you and Steve were finally able to say your good-byes and head back to you house for the time being.

It was amazing to slip your shoes off and drop the fake smile as both of you stumbled your way through the living room and to the kitchen. “You really don’t think it’ll cause trouble that we said different things?” You asked Steve, turning in time to see him uncuff his sleeves and roll them up to his elbows.

His eyes went from his arms to you as another charming smile appeared on his face. “Well, if it does, it might be enough to get our target out of the shadows.”

Even though his answer was true, it still brought a frown to your face as you thought about the complications of your cover being blown. If the target decided to flee instead of confronting, it could be a while before anyone gathered more intel of their new hideout and result in even longer paperwork filing for the both of you.

You were so deep in thought you didn’t realize Steve had moved closer to you until you felt his hands on your waist, pulling you from your thoughts. “Hey, it’s fine.” He assured, head tilting down to keep eye contact with you. His hands rubbed your sides, pulling you closer to him as he spoke, “it’ll work out.”

Out of instinct, your fingers curled around the front of his shirt as you took a breath in. Steve’s scent overwhelmed your senses, vanilla, coffee and paint, relaxing your overthinking and making you realize just how close you two were. Your head tilted up to look at Steve, your eyes glancing from his lips to his eyes as you slowly exhaled.

Steve still had a strong hold on your hips, watching as you glanced at his lips again. And he couldn’t help but bite his lip in response, saying your name softly and grabbing your attention once more. His eyes met yours and the moment shifted, his hands moving on their own accord, went to either side of your face as he pulled you into a kiss.

Your body melted into his as you held onto his shirt tighter, kissing him back with all of your unspoken feelings. And you squeaked in surprise as Steve’s hands went behind your thighs, swiftly lifting you and resting you on top of the kitchen counter.

Before Steve could kiss you again, his eyes focused behind your shoulder and his head tilted, “Is that... Clarice?” He asked and you whipped your head around.

Steve was right, Clarice and her husband were sneaking into your backyard through the side-gate. You would have laughed but your eyes caught the silencer connected to the pistol in her husband’s hand. “Steve,” you warned and felt his hands squeeze your thighs.

“On it.”

[geminixevans-stan]

Whatever It Takes

Pairing: Andy Barber x Nanny!Black reader x Manny!Steve Rogers

Words: 3.6k+

Summary: Your best guys work together to keep you safe

Warnings: 18+ Minors DNI, Explicit language, fluff, angst, mentions of past abuse, mentions of violence (not towards reader)

A/N: Anddddd we’re back! Definitely took a break on the Nanny's heart au but here goes the fifth installment! No smut this time but hey we gotta build-up to the good stuff! I hope that you all love it and Like, Comment, & Reblog ♥ Divider made by firefly-graphics

I do not consent to my work being copied, plagiarized, or translated in any way >:P

Previous

Three weeks…. Well, two weeks and five days since you had seen Steve after his party. There was so much on your mind and avoiding him was the best bet for you. How could he not tell you? Not even give you a heads up that he knew Roque. He had to have known just who you were, he just had to…. Right? There was no way that Steve knew Roque for that long and not have an inkling that at one point you were his friend’s punching bag.

Girlfriend was putting it lightly because you were more of a stress ball to him than anything. To him, you were just a beautiful piece of art that he chipped away at every time he was either drunk or angry at the smallest things that you would do. Dinner late? Slap. Didn’t like how you dressed? Punch. Maybe even a solid kick. The bruises became too much for makeup to cover so, being covered up was the next best thing.

There was nothing that the monster didn’t do to you. Honestly, he should be under the prison for how many times he took your body without permission. A piece of information that you kept to yourself for the longest time. If anyone knew your story, they would wonder why it was so easy to give yourself to Steve, let alone Andy. The simple answer was they both saw you. Saw you as more than just a pincushion.

On many occasions, both men would state their protection over you, something that Roque never did. They both adored you and yes they were rough but in the best ways. Hell, you deserved to have this type of attention. They were your second chance on life and yes you were being selfish in having both men crazy about you. Eventually, they would both know and you weren’t ready for your slice of heaven to end.

Maybe you didn’t have to because after what Andy saw at the party, it didn’t change how much he wanted you. He already knew that you were who he craved and if sharing you with Steve was what he had to do, he was going to make sure Steve was on board too. But not until both men had a little chat about just what the hell Steve was doing with Roque.

Today was a perfect time too since the kids convinced you that a pool day was what they wanted. They begged for the Stark kids to tag along and you let Steve know that you could handle four of them on your own. You just weren’t ready to talk to him and he could sense something was wrong because of the distance. He wanted to ask, wanted to know what he did. But whenever he got even an inch near you, the distance happened again.

The man missed you like crazy and it would be a lie if he said he didn’t. He got both kids situated in the back seat with the others and giving you a small smile and nod. For a moment he could see the twinkle in your eye that you always had for him, but it dimmed and you gave a forced smile. Steve hated how he couldn’t figure out what was wrong with you. Sure, the bond you two shared started off as just sex. That didn’t mean that he didn’t have feelings for you. Over the months, he has never been crazier over a girl than you. So yeah, it was definitely cutting him up to see his best girl not want to be around him.

He watched as you pulled out of the driveway, waving at everyone in the car. When he could that you were out of sight, his next move was to sulk back into the house. Except, he heard his name being called from behind him. Much to his dismay and even piqued interest, there stood Andy leaning against the door frame of his own front door.

Andy was the last person that Steve thought would want to talk to him. The men’s relationship wasn’t strained but it wasn’t close either. In a way, they were just next-door neighbors, nothing more and nothing less. Yet that seemed to changed once he caught Andy being a peeping tom. Something that he didn’t mind because he got the price for one on his birthday. Steve was a lover of all so of course, he found Andy attractive, more than that even. He just couldn’t read him until the infamous peeping happened.

Steve wanted to indulge in whatever Andy wanted with him so he jogged over to where Andy stood, giving a quick nod, “How’s it going, Andy?”

“Steve. Join me inside. Some things we need to talk about…” Andy knew this was something that should have come from you. Knew that this would go either way and he was ready for it. After his kids, his priority was you. He made sure of that a long time ago. So when the person responsible for hurting you is in the vicinity, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect you.

One thing that he did know about Steve, is that he was willing to do the same thing for you. He didn’t have to have to talk to him to know he would. Andy wasn’t oblivious by a long shot, no matter if sex was just what you two were, there was something else there. Which is why for the life of him, he didn’t understand how he could be friends with a monster like Roque. Andy carved time out of his schedule for this and he was ready for some answers.

With Steve already past the threshold of the door, Andy followed behind him shutting the door and making sure every lock was in place, alarm system too. Steve stood still in the middle of the living room, looking back as Andy secured the house as if he wasn’t going to let him out. Andy caught his stare, giving a light chuckle, “Don’t worry I’m not gonna kill you. Wanted to talk to you man to man for a bit,” he reassured and Steve’s shoulders lowered.

“Lucky for you, I wouldn’t have gone down so easily. So tell me, what have I done?” Steve knew this had something to do with you. Why else would Andy want to talk to him? He was sure that it was nothing else that the two could possibly have a conversation about. With a small motion from Andy, he sat down on the sofa next to the coffee table, Andy on the other side.

Andy looked like he meant business and for a guy like Steve, that didn’t bother him. If this “talk” was going to give him some insight on just what could be going on with you, he was willing to have it and work to get you back to normal. He watched as Andy straightened his back, crossing one leg over the other.

“You know I don’t bullshit so let’s talk… Roque. How do you know him?”

Steve had to rise up and bit, furrowing his brow, “That’s what you want to talk about? What does he have anything to do with you?” now he was on alert and the look on his face stayed the same.

Andy the calm man that he is wasn’t moved and just kept firing, “Nothing. But he has everything to do with Y/N. Did he ever mention a girlfriend to you when you two were “war buddies”?”

“No. I don’t remember him ever mentioning a girl. We both lost contact 10 years ago. Wouldn’t know what or who he was doing.”

With that admission, Andy grabbed the manila folder from the side table and threw it on the table in front of Steve, “You might want to take a look at that and see what your “friend” has been up to,” in that folder were police reports, images, and arrests made to Roque.

Steve picked up the folder, flipping through the various papers of your name and his. Police reports of repeated domestic violence, evidence of bruises done to your body, and hospital records of your last stay. The color in Steve’s face drained, his throat becoming dry from everything he was seeing.

Andy stood up, walking over to the kitchen to grab two beers. Reaching back to a very shocked Steve, he twisted the caps of both bottles, placing one in front of Steve. He watched as Steve, looked through the folder from front to back, seeing the red creep up his neck and veins become visible.

The things Steve just saw not only disgusted him but set him on a fire he never knew he had. He wanted to kill Roque, to end him so he could never be near you again. Steve looked up at Andy, swiping the beer from the table and taking a long swig, “He did this to her? How did you know?” he questioned looking at the calm demeanor of the lawyer.

Andy sat back against the chair, looking directly at Steve, “Her background check and I’m a lawyer. I wanted to make sure I knew everything. When I saw that… there wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she needed to be here. To be protected. I don’t take kindly to men who hit women. Let’s make one thing clear, had it not been your party that night, your “friend” would have been taken care of that night,” he said calmly. But Andy was far from calm. He wanted Roque’s head on a platter.

So there sat Steve, confused but sure of what had to happen, “By ‘taken care of’” he paused, “what exactly does that mean Andy? You want his blood on your hands? Is that it?” Deep down, Steve wanted Roque’s blood on his hands. He wouldn’t have felt anyway about it afterward. Friend or not, he put his hands on you and that’s all the reason he needed.

There was a silence in the room as both men stared at each other, with Andy breaking the silence, “It sounds like you’re protecting that piece of shit Steve. Maybe she was right to avoid you.”

“Don’t…” Steve warned

“You ask me if I want that prick’s blood on my hands and you damn right I do. The question is does she mean that much to you? Because if she does then you should be ready to get your hands bloody too,” Andy says, glaring at Steve as the pace in his breath changes. If he had to get rid of Steve, he’d do that too. But no one was going to hurt you like that again.

There was no conflict in Steve when it came to you. This is why you were avoiding him. For a good reason too, because you felt that he knew and he was going to make sure you knew that he didn’t. Had he known, Roque wouldn’t have made it past the sidewalk to the Stark’s house that day. It was all or nothing now and here was a man who wanted to protect you as much as he did.

Just seeing how serious Andy was about you, Steve knew that he could trust him and without hesitation, “Anything for her. But if we do this, we do it together and with a plan. No funny business Andy, your kids need you.”

“Then let’s make a plan…”

The sun beamed down on everyone at the public pool, but the kids could have cared less. You kept a watchful eye on them as they played under the overhead sprinklers. While the boys were being rambunctious as ever, the girls were holding hands and just running around as carefree as they wanted to be. Seeing them smile was what made your day and today was just as beautiful as them.

You were thrilled when the kids wanted to take a trip to the public pool, more of a waterpark than anything. Spending time with them would temporarily take your mind off Steve and the pang of betrayal that you felt. Part of you just knew that he was aware of you and the other part knew that you were assuming. Did you owe him an explanation for being so distant? Maybe, but he was too close to Roque and that was a risk you never wanted to take again.

Your thoughts had to be put on hold when you see a laughing and screaming pair of Sophie and Morgan run up to you. “Now what are you two troublemakers up to hmm?” The looks on the girls’ faces just looked like they were up to no good.

Morgan looked at Sophie and Sophie at Morgan and then back to you, “Can Morgan and Jr. stay over tonight? Pleaseee please please!!” She clasped her hands together, jumping up and down.

You pushed her hair from her face, giving her an amused look, “Well we have to ask your dad first and then Steve and their parents,” you look over to Morgan, “Think they would say yes little miss?”

Just as Morgan was about to open her mouth, a shadow overcast over the entire group. Margan gave a toothy grin at the figure above, “Oh hi Mr. Roque! Look! It’s Mr. Roque” your hands froze against Sophie’s head as you looked up, your throat going instantly dry.

This couldn’t have been a coincidence. It was clear that he was following you in some way and a chill crawled up your spine. He gave the girls a smile, looking over at you as he pulled his shades off, “Hey there little ladies,” patting their heads, your eyes widening at him being so close to them.

Instantly you knew they needed to be away from him. Giving them a warm smile you rub both of their arms, “Ok my little princesses, go have some more fun. We’ll be leaving a few, okay?” they run off automatically, joining their brothers.

Roque took a seat by you, staring at the little kids playing, “Cute kids shug, which ones he got you looking after?” you tried to keep your cool and not go off. The kids didn’t need to see that, so you did your best to keep your eyes on them.

“None of your business… Just leave. Nothing for you here,” you say calmly, feeling the anger creep up slowly. The nerve of him to think he could even talk to you. Just why was he still here in the first place? That fear of him was still there and one thing that you vowed was to never let him see it again.

Roque sat up in his seat, pushing his shades up, “Oh but there is. The way I see it is that I could make your life hell while still staying close to my guy Steve,” he paused and your blood boiling from his name coming from Roque’s lips, “First man you saw and you go fuck em. How ironic that we know each other huh? Small world Shug.”

“Don’t call me that!” you seethed not changing your expression.

He chuckles, getting a little closer to you, “You think cause these kids are here that I won’t cause a scene? Don’t forget who still owns you. No matter how many white boys you fuck, I’m the one you belong to,” he whispers harshly, gripping your arm.

Even though you were scared out of your mind, you knew just where to hurt him and it was time you did. You slowly pull away from him, standing up from the lounger, “You sound jealous Roque and you should be. Those ‘white boys’ that you’re referring to? Fuck way better than you ever could. Sad that your ‘friend’ made me cum before you did,” you pull your shades to your face, waving your hand over to the kids. The look on Roque’s face was dangerous but you knew just what made him tick.

The kids came over and you gave them all towels to dry off. With your attention on them, Roque slipped away without you noticing. You knew that wouldn’t be the last of him but for now, you could breathe and head home in peace…hopefully.

The sun was setting as soon as you pulled in the driveway of the Barber home. You stopped briefly to get the kids some food before making it home and before you made it around the corner, every single precious baby was fast asleep. You stare in the rearview mirror and look at their sleeping faces, praying they never had to endure everything that you did.

Getting out of the car, you could see the porch light come on and the door open, Andy always knew when you were home. Not that you found it creepy or anything, it just like you knew he would always have your back. Not only did Andy emerge but so did Steve. That’s something that you thought you never see in a million years.

Automatically the alarms in your head began to go off when both men descended the stairs. But they were… smiling? Just what was going on here? You didn’t have time to say anything as the men opened the back door and scoop the kids up in their arms. Strong bastards.

You grab the bags, following both men into the house, stopping to whisper to Andy and Steve, “Morgan and Jr wanted to spend the night over here. That okay?”

Both men nodded, carrying the kids upstairs. It was odd to see them together and not have Andy scowling or trying to play nice. They actually looked like they were cool. With everything that happened today, it was evident that you had to talk to Steve and soon. You didn’t know how tired you were until you felt a hand lightly shake you awake.

Your eyes flutter open, seeing both Andy and Steve standing above you. They were still smiling and you just said abruptly, “Okay what gives? Just two weeks ago you two were on ‘hi and bye’ terms and now you’re acting like best buds? Talk.”

You look between both men, folding your arms over your chest. Steve and Andy looked back at each other and Steve started, “I didn’t know about… Roque,” your eyes darted to Andy as you were about to open your mouth, “Doll, he did it for your own good. You trust us right?”

Even though you felt like your privacy was invaded and you were definitely gonna say it, you felt that they both had your best interest at heart. Looking between both men, your face softened and then the tremble in your voice came, “I- yes… It’s something I need to tell you both -”

“I know that too doll and it doesn’t change anything,”

“You know… what?”

“About you and Andy? Wait what were you going to tell us?” both men straightening up because what else did you have to tell them

Honestly, you were relieved that they knew about each other. Because you didn’t think that you were going to be able to hide that part from either one of them. Of course, Andy knew about Steve but before today, Steve knew nothing of the things you and Andy did. You knew that you had to tell them, hell the bastard was close to the kids and you know that wouldn’t have happened if they were with you.

Fidgeting with your fingers, you chew at the inside of your cheek, “Um, today at the park… He was there. He.. Roque was close to Sophie and Morgan and threatened me,” you didn’t have to look at either Steve or Andy to know they were pissed.

“Honey why didn’t you call us?!” Andy said quietly

“I didn’t want to make a scene! Definitely didn’t want to scare the kids! I did what I had to do and got them out. He’s following me… the kids don’t need to be in the middle of this. All I was thinking about was getting them home. I stopped for food and come straight here.”

“And how do you know he wasn’t following you there?

“I don’t...

Andy crossed his arms over his chest, looking down at you. He was worried about everyone and his anger was going towards the wrong person. Steve could see the situation escalating, he kneeled down to your eyesight, “This wasn’t her fault,” turning his head to Andy then back to you, “and doll you have to know how reckless that was to not come straight home.”

Of course, you knew, but you couldn’t let the kids be hungry after playing all day. But also could have waited until they were home. Feeling ashamed, drop your head as the tears form at the corners of your eyes, “I’m sorry and I was scared. I didn’t think,” your lips quiver, placing your sight on Andy, “I’m s-sorry,” Andy couldn’t take the sadness on your face.

He kneeled next to Steve, wrapping his arms around you, Steve following, “It’s okay honey, shh it’s okay I promise. It’s gonna be okay. He won’t come near us, ya hear me?” he cups your face in his hands as you nod at both of them, “Been a long day. Go upstairs and take a nice, hot bath and we’ll be here when you get back, okay?”

You nod through your tears, giving both Steve and Andy a long hug before going back upstairs. They both watch you disappear, waiting for you to get out of earshot.

Steve gives Andy one look and that’s all the confirmation he needs. Andy takes his phone out and calls a number that’s only for emergencies, “Yeah Pronge, got a job for you. I’ll pay triple don’t worry…”

[emperor-palpaminty]

Payback

Hi welcome to part 2 of this horny disaster, which could also be called "Minty does not know how to write anything beyond hugging" or “Minty has been watching Oceans 11 too much please take it away”

Also this is rated 18+, go away children, I will give you a juice box, I cannot FUCKING write romantic buildup please don't hurt me, my one-shots are better, I am just a nervous mess, send help

Any great scientist knew to test a hypothesis before they execute it as fact. You were not a scientist, simply looking for revenge for the (finally) faded hickey on your neck. You were, for once, thankful that the body glove went up to your neck.

The Sepratist group affiliated with Farnbec were found to frequent a casino in Canto Bight, where dealings would also often go down among the rich distractions, where enough alcohol and gambling adreneline could turn many a blind eye to illegal activities.

Because Tech was the most knowledgable about (in Wrecker’s words) “fancy high class stuff” and you were (in Hunter’s words) “eye candy” for vulnerable separatists, you were both roped into the next infiltration mission. The whole situation was (in Crosshair’s words) hysterical and laughable. At least, that was what you picked up from his hysterical laughing. 

You glanced sideways at Tech, next to you on the shuttle. He was reading some book on his holopad, eyes skimming it, consuming the information with a hunger you had begun to admire. You watched him for a moment, eyes flickering to his full lips, which were moving slights, perhaps tracing the words or formulas that came to him from the page of the books. 

Those lips could do a lot of damage.

Your head turned quickly and fixated on the window, pressing a hand to your chin, fingers tapping against your lips. Tech, know-it-all and snarky and talkative Tech, had all the swagger of a womanizing God, and he... just didn’t show it. Ever. Until that gala, and now you couldn’t get his lips, his damn hands, off your mind, and you wanted them back on you. 

Subconciously, your hand moved up to your throat, stroking it in thought. Maybe he would do it again, or more. Your throat bobbed in a swallow, thinking of your back to a wall, that same heat in his eyes, hands yanking at your clothes-

You were pulled out of the daydream by Tech’s hand gently laying on your arm. “We should be arriving shortly. The funds went for one of the... higher class locations.”

”It makes sense.” Your arm relaxed under the warmth of his hand, and you risked a glance back him. His lips were pulled into a small smile, which pressed further in a smirk as you glanced at those lips. Your gaze snapped back up to his eyes. “We have to match the whole... fancy role we’re playing.”

Tech bobbed his head in a nod, curly hair bouncing. “Yes. I believe this mission will be easy.” He stood, tucking the holopad under his arm, and smiled back at you, a devilish gleam in his eyes. “Especially if it’s anything like last time.”

You felt your brow press as you grabbed your bag, standing, hurrying out after Tech, snarling at him under your breath. Oh, it would be just like last time.

Maybe this time, the roles would be flipped.

___

You tugged at the clasp on your dress, hand fumbling for the other half of it. "Stupid-" You hissed. You twisted your wrist, trying to catch it, and you groaned, fingers brushing it but never able to grab the clasp. You paused, glancing back into the bedroom, and you popped your tongue in thought. 

You smoothed a hand in your hair, toussling it slightly, and you leaned in the mirror, checking the red lipstick. You stepped away, clearing your throat. “Hey, Tech? I need a hand.”

“Coming,” The trooper called. You heard him shift, standing off the bed, and you leaned over the counter again to pretend to examine your lipstick once more. He entered, pausing at the door, eyes skimming your form momentarily, before he entered, eyes moving to meet yours in the mirror. Yours met his, and you pressed your lips together to set the lipstick, and his eyes- oh, those eyes, they flicked to your rosy mouth, and he ran his tongue along his lips, gaze slowly searing against you. “Nice dress.”

“Thanks.” You straightened up, examining your reflection innocently. “Can you get the clasp?”

He nodded and walked over behind you, softly taking your hair and moving it aside, fingers stroking your neck. You inhaled and glanced down at the counter, pressing your hands against the cool stone quietly. His breath was warm as he leaned close to your back, fanning your bare skin as he took his time clasping the back of the dress behind your neck, which still exposed a majority of your back.

You let his hands smooth down your spine, gingerly, softly, but you moved away from him quickly, flashing a smile at him brightly, tossing the hair he had just moved over your shoulder. “Thanks, Tech,” You purred, swaying as you walked away. Maybe, if you played your cards right, he would be helping you take this dress off, too.

___

The air of the casino was thick with luck and the scent of drinks. Tech had you on his arm, and he exhaled softly. “Alright, darling.” He said gently. “Let’s see where our friends are.”

You smiled and nodded, eyes scanning the high-life around you. “After you, dearest.” You let him lead you, watching his eyes skim the club. You could practically hear the gears twisting in his head. You took his hand, tugging it up and gently kissing the inside of his wrist. His fingers twitched, and you watched in fascination. You parted your lips, gently pressing your hot tongue to his wrist.

Tech’s fist clenched, and he looked at you, lips half-parting. “What was that about?”

“We have to look like a couple.” Your smile turned into a smirk, and you dropped his hand from your lips, gently weaving your arm in his. Tech's gaze flamed, and his lips matched yours, tugging into a smirk.

His gaze was caught by something behind him. "There." He said, interrupting the moment. "I found them."

You glanced back at the table, filled with fine and rich men and women, sitting around, dealing cards and throwing dice, drinking wine that was far more pricey than it should have been. "Do you know how to play?"

Tech nodded, calmly. "It's all math, I believe, and I play with Hunter all the time."

"Yes, because you play with our Sargent, you're fully prepared to go against some of the richest gamblers in the galaxy."

His brow arched, and he began leading you to the table. "Precisely."

You chuckled and shook your head, matching your stride to his. "Of course. I'll be your moral support." Your hand moved up and arched on his back, running it over the fine material of his suit. "You look confident, act the part."

Tech gave a curt nod, his own fingers slipping down to your waist. "Only if you do the same."

"Oh, darling," You whispered, bumping your hip to his. "You couldn't handle me if I went all out."

His fingers left your back as Tech slid into the extra, empty chair. You moved to sit on the arm of the chair, sliding your hand across his shoulders, massaging gently into the flesh- his armor made him look lanky, awkward, and like that word he disdained, cute. You felt his shoulders stiffen as your fingers traced up to his neck, skimming up and down the tanned lines of it up to his jaw.

You leaned down to look at his cards, nails tracing nondescript shapes into his skin. You watched him, his eyes glancing at each one, the ones splayed face-up on the table, and saw his lips moving, tasting each number that came into his head. He lowered his cards and tossed in a few chips, a dangerous calm settling around him as his free hand reached up and caught the one you had on his neck. His thumb began working in circles on your knuckles, and he tugged your hand to his lips and kissed it, slowly, glancing up at you, expression fierce with confidence.

You sat back and watched him, placid faced, until it came his turn to bet again. The process of calculating began once more.

Why was all of this so easy for him? And why should you have made this easy for him?

You leaned down to his ear, gently kissing his lobe, smoothing your hand back towards yourself. "Good hand?" You mumbled, voice low.

"Yes," Tech's voice was steady, but you watched as your hand skimmed around his lower back, and everything below the table was tensed up, stressed. "Very good hand."

"Good." You smoothed your hand gently along his thigh, leaning away from his ear. Your fingers squeezed the tense muscles gently, running down to his knee.

Without a word, Tech tugged you off the arm of the chair and into his lap, still keeping his face level as he looked over his cards again. No one looked twice, too drunk or too wrapped up in gambling. His free hand curled absentmindedly in your hair, and he leaned towards your ear. His lips pressed distractedly pressed to the back of your neck, and he set down his cards, calmly, declaring himself the winner of the round. "You," He huffed, gently squeezing you to him. "Are very, very eager."

You squirmed and his hand lazily drifted up and down your side, lips gently pressed on your ear. You allowed yourself to settle against him (partners and companions were commonplace here, it seemed), and then you swiftly rose, moving away from him, a smirk playing on your lips as he watched you, vague shock on his face as you leaned in, kissing him, and you felt him stiffen and heard him hum.

___

You tugged away, grinning, pressing a final peck to his nose. "I'll be waiting." You whispered, turning and swaggering away, hormones and buildup making your stomach flip.

With how his eyes followed you, and how his eyes seared into your back, the confidence in your hips, you knew you wouldn't have to wait very long for him to join you.

Tags for yall sinners:

@milkytheholy @shuttlelauncher81 @itskeletor @kittykollision​

[mistresspotterhead]

The American Ymbryne- Chap. 1

Alma Peregrine x fem!reader

Warnings: Yelling, slamming hands on a table, being outed (kind of)

Words: 1,900 on the dot

A/N: Wow, this took a lil bit. Alma doesn’t appear until the very end of this chapter, but she’ll be in the next one a lot. Everyone has been so kind, and that has helped a lot <3. Also: Miss Saker indicates the type of bird you are, not your given name. I hope you guys like this. 😊😊😊

Tags: @itsonlydana @evil-feather @merci-bitch @multimilfs @escapetodreamworld @gay-and-sad-tm @multifandomfix @romanottsmaximoff @n0thing-is-real-exe​ @theaudreymere 

(ask if you want to be added/removed)

In a strange way, Cairnholm reminded you of the Chicago loop you and your wards had just fled from. They were both very dreary, cold, and, from what you could tell from those on the ferry, the people would rather be anywhere else. 

“M-miss Saker? I’m cold.” The bundle of talking coats shivered next to you. 

“I know, Astrid. We’re almost there, though.” You sighed and looked out toward the slowly approaching coastline. Your surviving children, Elina, Alexander, Leonard, and, of course, Astrid, all huddled closer to you. You stared at Cairnholm for a while longer, until the ferryman’s voice suddenly called out.

“Alright everyone, ‘ere we are! The… lovely… Cairnholm!” He steered the small ferry over to the somehow smaller docks, and you led your children out.

“Is everyone here? Astrid, Leo, Elina, Alex?” David, Beth-Anne, Lisa, Frankie, June, Stefanie, Josef, Alice, Rosie, Reggie. You suppressed the urge to call out their names as well. 

“Yes, Miss Saker,” they called in long-suffering voices- you were very adamant about attendance. It was good to see something was normal.

“All right then. Leo, can you see where the loop is? And Alex, are there any other peculiars near?” Ah yes, your diviners. It was very lucky for all of you that they were two of those that survived the wight’s invasion of your loop. 

Your Chicago loop near the Art Institute was one of the last surviving loops in America maintained by an Ymbryne, along with your South Side, McKinley Park, and St. Louis loops, though the latter was run mainly by its older wards and reset once a week.

As of a fortnight ago, though, the Art Institute loop was the only one you had. McKinley Park was attacked by Wights and Hollows in December, with South Side following close in early January. Samuel, the sole survivor of McKinley Park, was what Syndrygasti call a Librarian. He could see hollows and alerted you to them when you were traveling to St. Louis for reset. The problem with this, though, was that Sammy was only five years old, and so frequently got distracted.

It wasn’t hard to understand- Illinois in 1975 was very colorful. Sammy was gone now, though, as were all most all of your children. Speaking of… 

“There aren’t any other peculiars on the island, Miss Saker- at least not in this time,” Alex said, startling you out of your thoughts.

“Thank you, dear. How are you faring, Leo? Have you located the loop? I don’t like being out in the open for this long.” For emphasis, Elina gave a giant, chattering shiver that was surely exaggerated.

“Indeed, but it is on the other side of the island, and the night is fast approaching.” 

You looked over and scowled at the sun; if you couldn’t get rest, then why was it allowed to?

“Well then. It looks like we’ll have to go into town.” Immediately, protests arose.

“Aw, no!”

“Come on, Miss Saker! We can make camp out here!”

“Because that sounds comfortable,” Leo deadpanned to Astrid.

“Well, it’s better than town! There probably isn’t even a hotel!”

“Actually, Astrid, that’s where you’re wrong.” Astrid looked shocked at the suggestion that she could ever be incorrect at something. “There is a hotel. It’s called the….” You took out the crumpled guidebook the ferryman had given to each tourist. “Preist Hole. What kind of hotel is called the Priest Hole?” You muttered that last part to yourself. “Anyway, off we go. Come along, single file now.”

Your ducklings dutifully arranged themselves from youngest to oldest, seven-year-old Elina closest to you and sixteen-year-old Leo at the back.

You hoped that the food was at least good.

Nope. Everything on the Preist Hole’s menu was covered with vinegar. You wondered if that was a Welsh thing or a Cairnholm thing. Maybe the owner just liked vinegar. Next to you, Elina was grimacing with every bite. On a whim, you decided to flag the bartender down.

“Hey, Kev, was it?” He grinned widely at you. You gave him a small smile in return.

“Yes, ma’am, that’s me. What can I do for you ‘n yer bunch today?” 

“I was just wondering if you had some fries- sorry, chips- with less vinegar. My youngest is still picky.”

“Hmm. Well, I’ll talk to Arnie ‘n see what he can whip up fer ye. He’s the cook, ye see.”

“Thank you so much, sir.” You attempted a bigger smile, but it still felt forced.

“Naw, it ain’t a problem, really. ‘N please, call me Kev. Sir sounds like I’m fifty- ‘n I’ve still got twenty years ‘fore that,” he chuckled.

“Well then, you must call me y/n.”

“Of course, ma’am- y/n, sorry.” He rubbed the back of his neck.

“It’s alright, Kev.” This time, your smile was a small bit genuine- his hesitancy was endearing.

“Yeh. Well, um, I’d better talk teh Arnie now. I’ve kinda been lingering here for a while.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t want to keep you from work, anyway.”

“I mean, I wouldn’t object if yeh did,” Kev concluded, winking before walking away.

Once he was out of earshot, Astrid started chittering.

“Ooh, was that flirting I saw, Miss Saker?” You rolled your eyes, and Alex guffawed into his water.

“Miss Saker? Flirt with a guy? I think Elina would drink an entire bottle of vinegar before that happened.” You turned your head sharply in his direction, but not before Astrid snapped back at him.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” You jerk your head toward her now.

“Well, Miss Saker isn’t really the type to, ah, dabble in the male gene pool.” It was like you were watching tennis, really, with all this head-turning.

“That doesn’t make any-”

“ENOUGH!” You stood up, placing your hands on the bar. “This is not a discussion we are having, especially not here and now. Alex, I told you that information in confidence, and I am severely disappointed that you have betrayed that. Astrid, whether or not I am flirting with someone, and really my love life in general, is none of your concern. Do you both understand?”

They nodded, Alex looking especially ashamed of himself.

“Sorry, Miss Saker. It just slipped out.”

You sighed and ignored all the stares you and your wards were getting because of your outburst. 

“Alright, Alex. Just… you can’t share things that people tell you privately.”

“Yes, Miss Saker.” He was quiet after that, poking at his food.

It bothered you that he had shared that information, though it didn’t seem as if the other wards had understood. Of course, Leo was the only one you would expect to, as he was sixteen, but he had been sheltered in your loop his entire life. All of your wards had, really.

Just as you were beginning to sink into your past again, Kev came out with Elina’s new plate of fr- chips.

“Here ye are, little lady. I hope you like these better.” He smiled at Elina, tugging a small one out in return. You both watched expectantly as she took a tentative bite. And another. And another. Until the plate was almost gone, and she was rubbing her stomach in contentment.

“Well, that was fast.”

“It was good, Miss Saker. I wasn’t going to let it cool.” You laughed at the disapproving look on her face.

“Alright, alright. I suppose you have a good point.” You turned to Kev. “Thank you again, sir, for-”

“Kev.”

“...right. Thank you for doing this. How much will it cost?” You were ruffled at his interruption, but he didn’t notice. He pretended to think for a moment.

“Hmm… how much will makin’ a little girl ‘n her mam happy cost? I dunno.” He smiled at you. “It’s on the house. I can see that ye haven’t had such a good day, so….”

“Really? Are you sure? I mean, I have the money….”

“I’m completely sure. It’s good te make someone happy once in a while.”

“Well, I truly do thank you. It also seems that we’ll need a room, if that’s alright?”

“Sure. Room four was just recently vacated. It’s right up here.” He led you up the stairs, the kids trailing behind.

The room was small for five people, but it seemed like a mansion to the children, who only had their old, overcrowded loop to compare it to. There were four rickety beds, though they did seem to be clean, and a barren nightstand next to each of them. 

“Ah… I forgot that this only had four beds. I can get ye another room, or-”

“No, no, this is fine. Thank you for your help, Kev.” You subtly ushered him toward the door.

“Oh- well, if ye need anythi-”

“Yes, of course. Ta, then! Have a nice day!” You shut the door, leaving him very confused.

Alex was wheezing on the floor behind you.

“That… that was absolutely amazing Miss Saker! You are an absolute icon!” 

What in Abaton does that mean? You never could understand the new slang terms that the 1970s held. 

Elina yawned, setting off all the other children and alerting you to their needs.

“Alright then, time for bed.” Immediately, they were completely awake.

“I’m not tired at all, Miss Saker, therefore I shan’t be able to fall asleep.” 

“The fact that your accent is coming out very strongly tells me that you are indeed tired, Leo.” You crossed your arms. “Bed. now.” Your wards slouched, and grudgingly picked out a bed each.

“Miss Saker, where will you sleep tonight?” Astrid asked as you were tucking her covers in.

“On the floor, of course. Now, did you remember to take off your gloves?”

“But it won’t be comfortable! The floor is so hard and cold and dirty and-”

“Your gloves, Astrid.” She was very talkative, even late at night, though you had come to enjoy it. Sometimes.

She took off the gloves that helped control her peculiarity and was about to start chattering again when Elina suddenly spoke up from her bed in the corner.

“I could make you a nest with a spare blanket, Miss Saker?” You gave her one of your very rare genuine smiles.

“That would be lovely, Elina.”

“Wait- how did she know you were going to sleep in bird form?” Alex asked, finally catching on. You smiled again at Elina and kissed her on the forehead.

“She’s made me a little nest before when I fall asleep in my study while in bird form.”

“And that happens often?”

“Surprisingly so. Now, snuggle in and no more talking.” As the children said their goodnights, you finally transformed into your bird form; a stunning saker falcon. You jumped lightly onto Elina’s bed, careful not to hurt her with your razor-sharp talons or accidentally hit her with your wing (which had happened on more than one occasion). 

Though you nestled into the warm bunch of blankets right away, you didn’t fall asleep until much later, and even then, you were restless all night. 

---

Little did you know, in the old manor that you would trek to the next day, a group of peculiars and one very curious ymbryne had observed all of this. Alma LeFay Peregrine set her watch and gave the children a reassuring smile while she pondered what this meant and why her stomach had fluttered when you gave that dazzling smile.

[4dtk]

pas de deux — gojo satoru

pas de deux [pa•de•de] (french, literally “step of two”), a dance duet. 

summary: striving to become a principal dancer, you’re unaware of the curious blue eyes from across the studio, only knowing of his reputation from rumours. when you have to shadow your seniors to learn a principal role and meet the infamous gojo satoru, what happens then?

word count: 11k lmfao

genre: a bit of angst, mostly fluff

a/n: gojo brainrot done. sorry this took so long lol i’m not used to writing long fics but i’m glad i did bc this is acts also as a place for me to dump my passion of ballet aha :”)

playlist here! most of them are classical pieces and a bit of ballet class music, i hope you don’t mind uwu. personally, i’d recommend watching (before or after the fic doesn’t matter hahah) the crazy talented marianela nuñez and vadim muntagirov in the pas de deux that i reference a lot in this fic. they’re my absolute favourite! (´･ᴗ･ ` )

tags: @fiona782​

it was unconventional to see a ballerino don white hair during rehearsals, let alone in a company; the familiar head of white whizzes through the studio like an angel of the night, with graceful moves and powerful jumps to match those of a faerie's seamless manoeuvers through her flowers.

that was only expected out of a principal anyway.

gojo satoru, a principal dancer of the six eyes theatre. they were part of the three prominent companies that carried the ballet world and industry. behind all the glimmer and glitz lay hours of endless rehearsals and worn-out pointe shoes, as well as smiles behind kitri's fans or even the emotional miming from giselle.

he was untouchable, a leading face that carried the ballets he starred in with immense skill and an aura admired by everyone. anyone lucky to score a pas de deux with him would be torn between a world of conflict. those soft eyes that looked down at you with love were solely meant to portray siegfried's ardour for odette and nothing else.

you sigh, eyeing the confident man giving his all in the company class, no doubt hyping himself up for tonight's last show. you couldn't fall behind, either, knowing your performance was monitored way more now that you were considered amongst the directors to be promoted to principal.

"next group, pay attention, loves!" the teacher for the morning caught your attention, letting the chattering group in front head out first before the next group of dancers took their turn. 

dancing was all you could remember, taking up most of your life even when you were a kid. through competitions and gruelling schedules, you managed to land in the six eyes theatre. sure, it wasn't as popular as the zen'in company or the kamo national ballet but, it still held up a wicked reputation, partially thanks to gojo satoru. 

your feet naturally hail your command, placing it behind the other in a curtsey to thank the instructor for the morning class as you stretch your feet in some simple pointe repertoire. 

"nervous about your posting, (y/n)?" nobara asks, rolling the arch of her feet back and forth with a tennis ball.

you shrugged, "in a way, yeah. i'm getting observed on mainly every move that i make."

the smile your best friend gives you calms you down, at least. megumi chipped in, "hey, you'll become one of the best principals around, i know it."

"yeah! and we'll go to your shows, no matter wha... oh, right, we're first soloists," itadori trails off. 

you laugh, settling down to wipe the sweat from your brow. however, there's an uncharacteristic silence when you start to remove your pointe shoes.

"what if i do become principal? i'll miss you guys like hell." you mutter, rubbing off the skin peeling from your toes. removing the tape and toepads, you sigh again even after nobara lands a hand on your arm.

"stop sighing, you idiot, the company's small. sure, you'll have extended rehearsals, and i will now have to deal with yuji's noisy ass, but i doubt we're going to be separated like oil and water." 

you roll your eyes, chuckling a little through glossy eyes, "true. it's just that we've always been together, through the competitions where we met and going up the ranks. hell, i wouldn't even imagine all of us becoming first soloists when we entered six eyes."

megumi raises an eyebrow, "are you underestimating us?" 

putting your fingers together, you offer a sheepish smile, "just a little."

"and now you're going to become a principal, (y/n). we all know you put yourself to crazy standards that you always reach, maybe even higher than that. you're going to kill it as a principal, i'm sure."

thankful to nobara for the little speech, you pat her arm gently, easing into a stretch to prevent any tensing up later in an afternoon class. 

"(y/n), they're coming over, look sharp," itadori notifies you, turning to the barre to do his own stretching as your friends busy themselves with their phones.

you take another curtsey at your instructor, along with the director of six eyes, masamichi yaga.

why... was he here now?

"(y/n), love, we'll need to talk to you about something. would you mind coming to the office later on? just before the company's afternoon class at 2 would be good."

you were at a loss for words.

was i already raised to principal? no... they wouldn't promote someone who's only danced her first soloist role a couple of times. were they going to remove me for consideration? maybe they found a better dancer to monitor?

"it's nothing terrible, (y/n), i promise." with a smile, masamichi walks away, not before patting your shoulder for reassurance.

the next few hours go by in a flash: eating lunch, lazing around in the studio, filming some tiktoks and then getting ready for another class took up most of your time that you didn't get to ponder over the office visit.

so you were definitely surprised to see gojo satoru himself, a shit-eating grin on his face once he hears you enter. he lays back on both arms to welcome the first soloist, you. 

you curtseyed again to ms ieiri and masamichi. before you got to gojo, however, he held a hand up before standing up himself to bow. you let out a small smile as the familiar step led you to curtsey on the other foot.

it left a weird feeling in your bones to greet a principal dancer, but you two weren't all that close, anyway. plus, curtseying was basic courtesy in the company, where actions spoke louder than a "good morning" or a "thank you".

"nice to see you, (y/n). miss nitta, as you know," masamichi gestured to your teacher and then to the white-haired man, whose beauty never fails to amaze you, as cliche as it sounds, "and gojo satoru." 

"nice to finally talk to you, miss (y/n)," he nods his head, wearing an attractive smile that had you sucking in a breath. you could only manage a smile at the moment, brought back to reality when masamichi's firm voice resonates in the office.

"you've done a tremendous job these past few months, love. we've been watching your roles this season, hopping from one position to the other with no problem at all. i'm sure you were informed that you were being considered to be principal..." you leaned forward in anticipation, "...although you'd have to let your skill shine through more before we promote you to principal any time soon."

bummer, but it's nothing you can't handle.

"we do have something to ask of you, however. your potential is clearly set in the right place, and your talent and determination are not lost. we want you to shadow and learn the repertoire of shoko ieiri and gojo satoru while they rehearse for the next season's premiere."

nevermind, it might actually be something you can't handle.

"me?"

masamichi only lets out a knowing smile. "are you up for the challenge, (y/n)? you'll get to learn and watch how principals rehearse, act and mime out the story in the hands of ballet masters and mistresses like kiyotaka ijichi and mei mei and even tengen hoshi." 

your fingers dug into your thigh at the well-known names, always seeing them in the corridors but never knew how they taught or conducted rehearsals. this was your chance.

"of course, director masamichi. i'd be honoured to observe and shadow the company's principal dancers, let alone miss shoko ieiri and mr gojo satoru here. their chemistry onstage is honestly unmatched!"

okay, shut up, (y/n). you're laying your fangirling thoughts on the actual director of six eyes theatre. a simple yes would've sufficed.

"great! you start tomorrow. skip the afternoon class and come straight to the studio on the ground floor. we'll be expecting you."

you couldn't help the grin that appears on your face this time, passing a bow to everyone in the room before curtseying and almost exclaiming a "thank you!"

once you're out of the professional eye, you have a little celebratory dance outside the office, immediately fishing out your phone to text the trio. 

"a...ah! gojo senpai!" you take a step back in instinct, the tall principal looming over you with nothing but an intimidating air around him.

however, nothing screams intimidating on his face, as he shoots you a polite smile and a hand to get introductions out of the way.

all you can think about is his large hand enveloping yours while he tells you his name. you're stuck in a trance, locked on his eyes cut off by the black of his sunglasses. 

how would those hands feel on my hips when he's lifting me? or maybe we'd engage in a kiss in romeo and juliet...? are we doing r&j for the next season's shows?

fuck.

"uh- yes, nice to meet you too, senpai! i-"

"call me gojo, (y/n)."

you're at a loss for words, the man knowing he's left you speechless with the way he's smirking off into the other direction. you manage to get the prodigy out of your head, willing yourself to get to the company class as soon as possible. since your distraction was gone and the air cleared of any tension, you were able to hear the voices in the office.

"are you sure about this, nitta? we can't have any more dancers off their game just because they were enamoured with satoru to the point of confessing their love to him. every time we get first soloists and principals to pair with him, something always comes up."

"i'm sure, director. (y/n)'s mettle and focus on her roles are strong, and her skills are off the charts. if anything happens, we'll just pair her with another principal, like kento or something." masamichi sounded unconvinced, grunting as their footsteps increased in volume.

company class! company class!

you slipped into the studio just in time to avoid nitta and masamichi, carrying your things as you looked for the trio.

"(y/n)!" yuji catches your attention, although a little too loudly for your liking. you were left to greet the other dancers on the way to their corner, dumping your bag with much more exasperation than you expected.

"what's wrong?" megumi asks, doing some plies at the bar to warm up his feet and muscles.

"i think i should text y'all instead. let's wait for after the show tonight."

you get three nods from the trio in reply, dropping into some simple stretches as the next instructor takes over. at least gojo wasn't here...

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

the applause was deafening as you take your bow, thanking the audiences from the balcony and stalls as you gestured to your pas de deux partner, megumi. putting your hand in front of your heart was a big thing to do, giving thanks to one of your best friends and partners for a fun pair such as bluebird and princess florine. 

as you walked back to join the other dancers, the principal roles were taking their bows with no doubt roars and cheers from the audience from yet another electrifying performance from the golden pair as princess aurora and prince florimund: gojo and ieiri. 

as ieiri led the conductor on stage, he was the last to thank the audience, bringing the heart of the ballet to life with the score of tchaikovsky's sleeping beauty. 

with one last bow, the curtain closes, leaving you to let loose from the rigid position you were used to. 

"we're done!" you laugh, hugging megumi as nobara and itadori squeeze their way through the many dancers on stage. the two convey their compliments, prompting you to nudge the two on their puss-in-boots and white cat roles. the two then freeze up, staring at something that was approaching from behind.

"miss (y/n)-" gojo bows, interrupted by ieiri as she crashes into you with a hug.

"oh man, (y/n) you were great out there!" you grin, embracing her as tight as she did. 

"thank you, senpai," you were practically beaming, thankful she still remembered you after being promoted to principal years ago. it was hard to communicate and talk when she had so much going on, a natural dancer who rose up the ranks fast with her hard work. 

ieiri formed herself up into a refined dancer that you wouldn't think she was the young girl at your studio trying on pointe shoes for the first time years ago when you were a kid.

that was if you didn't know her personally, of course. 

"here, first position, just like that!" the curious girl interacted with the kids outside a smaller studio, teaching them the various positions that at least a grade two or three class would use.

she picked up pointe work fast, obviously guided by the mentors at the school with nights of rehearsal and decision making whether she wanted to pursue this professionally.

"oh shush, you, you don't have to call me senpai, see you tomorrow (y/n)!"

ieiri bids you goodbye, no doubt to talk to the choreographers and director. gojo follow suit shortly after your exchange, not before taking your hand to plant a kiss on it.

you retract almost immediately after his lips descend on your skin, the area hot from the lighting, your sweat and your feelings.

nobara tsked, "what's his deal?" you let out a shaky sigh and shrug, hooking an arm around megumi's as you went around to mingle with the dancers.

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

[nobara is typing...]

you're to shadow gojo-senpai and shoko-senpai?! no way???!?!1/!?!?

[itadori is typing...]

no way, that's so cool! 

what was he like? was he in the office that day?

[(y/n) is typing...]

yeah, he was. not gonna lie, a bit cocky... kinda overheard that partners throw themselves at him sometimes too, which makes it a bit troublesome, lol.

and yes, kugisaki i'll need to observe them starting tomorrow. i cant come for the company class :(

[megumi is typing...]

Then what about Shoko-senpai?

you shake your head even though no one could see you, the forgotten tv series playing in the background while you text your friends instead.

[(y/n) is typing...]

she's too good for him, i think. they're long time friends too, but i'm not sure if any feelings blossomed since then tho

[nobara is typing...]

you don't like him, do you? i know you dont like guys that are full of themselves, altho that man rlly is that attractive .......

[itadori is typing...]

LMAOO whos the smitten one now

nobara sends a vibe check sticker, the one with both hands outstretched with a threatening stare into the screen. 

[nobara is typing...]

i'll kill you tomorrow, yuji itadori.

[itadori is typing...]

you'd have to reach my height first, loser

[nobara is typing...]

you- UFGGHKHH

i'll kick your shins, thats what!!!!!! 

you roll your eyes as the two of them get into another friendly banter, leaving the group chat to blow up in messages as you switch off the neglected tv. 

there's a silence that feels almost too foreign, contrasting to the fact that you enjoyed silences daily. it felt criminal, almost, to be in such a quiet space with no one to fill in the gaps.

you look to your black and white poster for some clarity, the young boy standing at 16 with a softness in his eyes and a lengthened extension that conveyed his love of ballet to you.

you never knew who was the boy, getting a poster shoved into your hands in a hurry when you and your mom bought tickets to the local ballet competition. you never questioned the poster, nor had you caught the boy in the midst of his variation either, settling for a theory that his performance had already passed the day before.

"how do you think it's going to go down tomorrow?" you mumble to no one in particular, tossing and turning in your sheets that didn't quell your worries no matter how much you thrashed.

the dreamless slumber welcomes you into its arms almost immediately, although the morning after was the opposite.

"shit, shit, shit," was your mantra, jumping from place to place in your small apartment to get the things you needed for class. you manage to catch the bus in time, heading straight to the studio with no cup of tea in your hand as usual. 

"(y/n)!" nobara grins, seeing you stumble through the door just as everyone finishes their individual warmups. the instructor greets everyone, eager to get into the class as soon as possible.

the thought of the rehearsal shook you up more than you thought it would, leaving you to let out nervous breaths that got worse by the time that class ended. 

ieiri didn't miss the way you'd wipe your hands on your tights in worry, going over the steps more than you usually would. you had a killer memory, but it seemed that today that that ability had melted away at the sight of gojo.

"wish me luck, guys," you muttered, hurriedly packing up your things before heading off yourself. the trio only could give you a small smile, knowing you had wanted time to yourself to calm your nerves.

you had always done this for the many shows you starred in: the music and positions mimicking a recording. it was as clear as day when it replayed in your head, the different orchestral parts and the dynamic changes you apply to your steps to give the best performance, for performing your best was all that mattered. the trio understood instantly, always sending you off on your memory replay with an encouraging smile.

well, almost, for you didn't even know what the rehearsal entailed or what piece they would be dancing to.

"hi," your voice appeared meek in the big studio, the only three people there slowly getting warmed up to each other. your feet carried you into a curtsey.

"ah, mei mei-sensei! miss shoko and mr gojo," you acknowledged their presence, placing your things down right where you stood.

"let's begin then, shall we? for this is a gala event, the pas de deux couple will only be performing the entree and the adagio parts. there might be the possibility you two would have to rehearse your individual variations and the coda. still, the organisers haven't gotten back to us on the duration we'll be on stage for. with the switching in and out of the different repertoire, this year should align with don quixote. before we start, i wish that everyone is honest with each other; that way, we can learn from different views."

don quixote?! you hold in your excitement at the revelation, thinking back to the fiery portrayals of kitri and lively spanish music to pair with it. your excitement was on cloud nine while by fifteen minutes, your feet and body were seemingly screaming at you to take a break.

to say it was tiring was an understatement, at the very least. you were to only shadow ieiri's parts, and the absence of a male partner proved challenging when you were the first soloist mirroring a principal and her partner.

"(y/n) should try too, of course! come, come," mei mei beckons you over from where you went over the steps, fingers fidgeting with the waistband of the sheer skirt you'd just bought a few days ago.

"i trust that you are familiar with the wedding PDD, (y/n)?" mei mei asks.

you nod eagerly, not missing the way ieiri beams at your enthusiasm. 

"good. we'll just try this part on your own. remember to keep yourself lifted and trust your partner," mei mei eyes you while gojo was already getting comfortable with a hand on your back, "would you like to try it without the music first?"

you nod cautiously. you take note of the way it burns like fire, the contact of his skin on yours. oh god, you wished you had wiped the sweat from it, although the other didn't seem to mind it due to the many partners he's worked with before.

with a quick glance, you snuck a look at the tall dancer, never much prepared for the striking blue of his eyes. however, this time, the cheeky gojo appeared to be kept under wraps, bringing forth a more solemn and nervous exterior. he did seem different and quiet, even catching the attention of mei mei-sensei and ieiri herself. they opted not to say anything.

nevertheless, the two of you narrate the lifts and steps, mixing in the counts with the french vocabulary that stuck with you throughout the years. you were surprised at how much leeway gojo had provided you, allowing you to move freely while bringing you back effortlessly for the couple work.

a smile formed on your face at the flow of your steps as the music plays seamlessly in your mind with how much you've watched different renditions of the wedding pas de deux.

"with the music now, my dears."

ieiri shoots you a thumbs-up, noticeably more tired than you, as she massages the bottom of her feet with calculated force.

the piano starts as the pas de deux passes by smoothly with minimal mishaps, save for some off balances here and there. as always, your hand tingles when it comes in contact with the principal's, willing the quick heartbeats away by thinking of his cocky smirk the other day. with the easy beginning completed, the lifts were now appearing more often.

"hold your body up during the fish dive (y/n), hold your back and position!" gojo stumbles a bit at your mistake, but for the second time around, you manage to get it, coming up from the tricky step into a beautiful arabesque. 

a hasty nod, and you're off, pulling away from gojo a tad bit quicker than how you wanted to initiate it. he's taken by surprise at your change of personality, wondering where the flustered soloist had gone to previously. with the same corrections directed at you, mei mei gives you a "good job" before bringing ieiri back in.

"we'll cap you two's pas de deux at that point before the turns. ieiri, you ready to get back into it?" she hesitantly nods, albeit more relaxed than the earlier exchange.

the music starts again, and this time, you manage to gape at the couple's artistry, weaving over and under to fit the delicate notes of minkus' score. with the many turns and tour en l'airs, it now came to the difficult part of the pas de deux: where the woman will wind their hand around the man's single finger, engaging in two turns connected only by that single contact point.

they complete it easily, leaving ieiri to then balance en pointe with one leg suspended in the air. the two repeat it again with no problem, except for the fatigue seeping through their faces at a few moments in time.

as the music reaches its climax, so does the movements with increasing pirouettes and lifts. their chests heave with exhaustion, but their smiles showed that they were satisfied with the run.

it was hard to believe that gojo and ieiri only started to rehearsed this a few weeks ago, especially since these were leading roles with a reasonably complex pas de deux to pair with. nothing seemed to faze them as they received the feedback from mei mei, nor did they have trouble correcting the lift that had gone wrong earlier or the balance that ieiri fell out of.

so this was what it meant to be a principal.

"(y/n)! any feedback that you'd like to give to the two?"

"h..huh, me? i'm not sure if it'd be helpful to-"

"nonsense, hit us, (y/n). rehearsals are always a place for feedback," ieiri grins, taking your hand to bring you closer to the three of them.

"well, i think... i'll comment on the repeated melody where you'll go from the turns into the attitude balance is where it's a bit difficult. since gojo-senpai is tall, he might've put his hand a little too high. i mean, of course, lifting up is ideal, but ieiri-senpai might have some trouble balancing because of that."

they wordlessly try it out without the music, noting how gojo places his hand at a lower height for ieiri. it might've felt foreign, but it looked a tad bit better to you, with a better centre of gravity and stability. 

"yeah! like that!" a smile dons your face, "does it feel better, senpai?"

"tons," gojo simply states, almost too eagerly as blue eyes uncharacteristically boring into yours. opposed to the quick glances he always gave you along the corridor or within classes, this one was a strange, longing one. ieiri's voice snaps you out of the spell, almost not wanting to leave his stare.

"way better, thank you (y/n)," she pats your arm before turning to the sound of mei mei's voice.

"alright, beautiful legs and extensions, but we still have a lot to work on, as well as getting (y/n) accustomed to more pas de deux and principal work. would you like to stay on (y/n)?"

you admired your own determination, but sometimes it was better to take a break. having just attempted the coda, you could already feel blisters forming due to your prolonged use of pointe shoes. with a breath, you let gojo complete his pirouettes, restraining the sigh coming from your lips at the perfect revolutions and momentum he had going.

a little more, and you were close to catching a breath, finishing off a quadruple pirouette and tour en l'air with gojo's help. with a slight stumble, you let out a startled laugh before taking your last step with a knee to the floor. with palm outstretched, the piano does a trill before ending off on a chord.

out of the corner of your eye, you spot gojo smiling down at you, a beam that doesn't come often with how much confidence he carries around the company. 

ieiri applauds first, followed by mei mei's impressed smile.

"you execute your fouettes well, (y/n)," you bow your head in thanks, brought up unconsciously with gojo's hand as it stays linked in yours. 

"thank you, mei mei-sensei. i'm just glad to have tried it out; the don Q coda is one of my favourites," you gush, "the costumes, the music is just everything."

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

"to dance with your partner is one thing, but the connection is another. translate the story of the elation of kitri - her father finally gives his blessing for their wedding, and she's excited to the moon. basilio is marrying the girl of his dreams. know what and who you're dancing for." mei mei speaks over the music easily, giving pointers they go over the steps like always.

"i know it's just an empty stage. there's no set, no scene to show the joy all around the cast, but you still are dancing as kitri and basilio," mei mei says after, "let's try again with (y/n)."

rehearsals carried on like this, day after day. some days longer than the other, and on others, you were paired with another first soloist. however, he wasn't tasked with shadowing the couple every day, so the pas de deux was left to you to master. 

as you wipe your sweat, ieiri waves her towel in front of you, "wanna have lunch with us?"

"i don't want to intrude-" 

"it's gojo's treat," ieiri whispers, "plus he doesn't treat people often."

"is he okay with me coming alo-" she pulls on you, leaving you no choice but to pack your things hurriedly.

"(y/n)'s coming, yea?" ieiri mumbles quickly, hooking her arm around yours in a hassle as you try to keep your things from falling out of your bag.

"i'd like that." gojo says to no one, finally catching up to you two after switching off the studio lights.

"whaaaat, you're leaving so fast?" you pout, eyeing ieiri's neat tray of finished food as gojo lets her pass through in the booth.

"i'm sorry you have to stay here with this dumbass (y/n), but i have a date with the orthopaedic today," ieiri groans.

"like an actual date?" gojo jokes.

"no," she rolls her eyes, "my muscles are acting up a little lately. plus, my arch hurts more often than it usually does. it's best to just check it out, i guess. but yeah, an actual date would be nice, too."

you shrug, "eh, hard to come by when you're a busy ballet dancer in a company. bye, senpai!" you and gojo wave to her as she leaves the diner, now coming to terms with the fact that you were alone with the charming dancer, as much as you hated to admit it.

with his perfect hair and long eyelashes and the enchanting smirk he always seems to wear. not to mention the sheer strength in his leaps in contrast to the delicate grip on your waist-

"thinking about me, love? of course you are."

"what? no!" you stiffen, the blush on your cheeks immediately giving away your thoughts.

"for the record, i've thought of you, too," gojo drops a bomb, leaning over the table to plant a gentle kiss upon your cheek before leaving the booth in a hurry. 

you were thankful that he was gone, at least and thankful for the empty diner, leaving you to melt in a puddle of confusion and warmth. 

just like the first rehearsal, your cheeks feel hot, as does your body. the place where his lips touched seemed to burn a hole through, your gaping mouth failing to close even after a minute of staring into nothing.

fishing out your phone was the first thing your mind sought out from the endless thoughts in your head.

nobara, nobara, nobara... gotta find her contact..!

[nobara is typing...]

he WHAT???!??@

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

"ieiri-senpai, what's a pas de deux to you?" you mumble after rehearsals one day, picking at the tape stuck in between your toes.

"it would have to be what mei mei said, definitely. she still says the same exact thing till today: dance and connection are two different things. and it can't go to the point where two different stories are being told by the male and female dancer. you'll need to go into pas de deux work with a mindset that you come in a pair. every correction and every emotion needs to be felt by both parties for it to reach the audiences."  

"what about you?" the question catches you by surprise, resorting to humming as you think of the answer.

"it's something along the lines of your answer and mei mei-sensei's definition. you'd have to be on the same wavelength as your partner. every extension that appears or a gentle port de bras is meant to show the character's personality. you'd also have to think of the context of the ballet, i guess," you stop yourself, looking at gojo as he finishes a tour en l'air en passe. three revolutions and you realise that a. you're staring and b. you were talking way too much.

"sorry! i'm rambling again," you splutter, going back to your original task of taking out the tape from your toes.

ieiri giggles, "no, no! ramble all you want. i love listening to my juniors talk about how much they love ballet."

"sleeping beauty, just like the show a week ago, is set in the royal court, so it's hard to show aurora's personality. she's a little playful and young, although it's hard to slip that in when the wedding pas de deux for that is so grand. and then you'll compare it to the black swan in swan lake, where it's also in a royal court, but odile's the one deceiving siegfried, so there's an opportunity to include some side-eyeing in it. i personally love zenaida's version," you trailed off, "i mean, of course, there's also-"

"then what about odette?" gojo shouts across the studio, with his hands on his hips. the white of his hair matched the pureness of odette's tutu, something you always wished to wear and dance and master when you got accepted into six eyes theatre.

"don't mind him-"

your words take precedence without effort, "with the white swan, odette has to show the struggle of her spell with the frantic miming that she has to do. 'i'm the queen of the swans, rothbart the bastard turned me into a swan' and so on and so forth. because she's a swan, she has to imitate the gentle way that swans move, along with the technical challenges of the pas de deux. she's very soft and fragile, and the violin makes it all the better in showing the shyness and fear in odette."

two pairs of eyes stare at you curiously as the male's smirk leaves you to break into a nervous laugh as you fidget with your fingers. 

"sorry, i'm talking a lot. too much. do carry on with your jumps," a small apologetic smile appears on your face, failing to note gojo's hesitation to move from his spot and his interest in the way you can talk endlessly about the art.

gojo's smirk merges into a smile even when he accomplishes the many pirouettes demanded of him. he'd want to hear it from your lips next time when you're wrapped up in each other.

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

"don't you think he's a little bit too confident for his own good?" nobara whispers to you. with rehearsals off for a few days, you were able to see your best friends again, munching up the calories lost from the afternoon class. 

"yeah... for all we know, he might be stumbling around in rehearsals and picking up girls," megumi muttered.

you rolled your eyes, "he's... not like that, guys. he is confident in class and seems a bit cocky, but that's because he really does live up to his name."

"we might not know much, either. (y/n) has been in rehearsals with the guy. he's probably more focused when there are lesser people in the room," yuji chats through his food, gaining disgusted looks from the three of you when lettuce and chicken litter the table.

"well... don't go falling for the guy, yeah? i've beaten up too many exes in the past," megumi tsked, devouring the salad bowl in front of him.

"yeah, but i didn't ask you to, plus you'd do it anyway. didn't even have to ask," you grin, leaning back in your chair triumphantly.

"if i beat up gojo-senpai, i'll probably get jailed."

you and yuji stifle a laugh at his comment, but nobara doesn't seem impressed with the joke, instead focused more on you and your reactions. 

you weren't actually developing feelings... right?

the memory and kiss linger in your mind like a stubborn stain, not forgetting the intense stare nobara had given you before you said goodbye to the three. a vibration from your phone snaps you out of the daze, opening your chat group to answer your friends. 

[nobara is typing...]

how was rehearsal today?!???! we jsut finished class

also it's been so long since we saw u :(

[(y/n) is typing...]

so good as always is that even a question luv xx

theyre both so talented as individuals as they r in a pdd... it was rlly insightful too!

gojo-senpai kept staring at me today for some reason tho. he felt different today, a little more reserved and whatnot

[megumi is typing...]

Maybe he felt intimidated by your skill lol

"i'll take my leave first, (y/n)! i've got an errand to run. mei mei's accompanying me," ieiri grins, bringing you into a sweat-filled hug. she's used to soaked leotards, even if the grimace on your end doesn't go unnoticed by the principal.

she lets out a chuckle, "you'll get used to mixed sweat and whatnot, (y/n). see ya!"

curtseying comes easy, bidding goodbye to the principal and the ballet mistress.

you were ready to go back to the conversation on your phone, although a call of your name distracted you from the conversation.

"yes...? gojo?" you mumbled, the last name feeling foreign on your lips without the honorific at the back. you put your phone away as the studio immediately diminishes in size, seemingly putting the two of you in a tight space with nowhere to go. it certainly felt like it, with the wordless prompt of his hand.

"try the pas de deux with me," gojo proposes, pulling up a piano rendition of the score on spotify. it wasn't hard to spot the mischievous sparkle in his eye, along with the attractive grin plastered on his face.

the studio appeared calmer now that ieiri and mei mei had left, yet the conflict in your mind was loud and unwelcomed. it felt like a battle between the angel and the devil, and you were sure the devil was nobara herself, screeching at you to remind you of the shit-ton amount of conceitedness he had.

"are we allowed to? don't other people need to use the studio?" you mumble, standing up with the help of gojo nevertheless.

you're playing right into his hand, yet you took it anyway.

he waves a hand, "it's fine; you do know the pas de deux, don't you? we didn't go over it together much, but i'm sure the past rehearsals served you well."

the beginning was refined, having done it earlier with mei mei's help. it was mostly the only thing the two of you went over when mei mei was around, leaving the more complicated parts to ieiri. the fish dive comes naturally this time, imagining the glowing lights and the striking wedding tutu that kitri sports in the third act. 

there are howls of laughter at the many mishaps after that. knowing you hadn't rehearsed any of it with your partner, nor with the music before, it was only fair that accidents were to happen.

"no, no, if you let me go, i will kill you- ah! gojo!" you threaten, but it's lost in your mouth as he spins you way too many times, letting a loud shriek escape your mouth.

from a failed pirouette to a fish dive where he almost dropped you (he didn't), the laughter spilling from yours and his lips weren't common in a company class with everyone trying to dance their best.

"hey, hey, lay off the hair!" gojo quips, catching your off-balanced pirouette with a secure hand on the waist. you went along with the music, anyway, giving your exaggerated interpretation of kitri just as the music builds up. that earns a laugh from him, skillfully guiding you through even with the light banter in the room

"here it comes," he mutters to you, feeling the support of gojo's hands on yours as he pushes you off the complete the double attitude turn before hearing a loud ‘thwap!’.

"fuck, sorry! oh my god," you apologise, retracting your leg almost immediately after the collision.

"ah, shit," gojo exclaims, rubbing the side of his thigh as he brings you down gently. there's a frown on his face as you take a peek at the place you hit, the only thoughts running through your head being the articles or scandals you might be caught in.

(y/n) attempting to harm six eyes theatre's golden principal dancer? (y/n)'s downfall full of jealousy? (y/n) and the infamous gojo caught in a fight?

a giggle gets you out of the trenches, hands revealed like a finished magician's act. 

"i was kidding; that didn't hurt one bit," gojo jokes, hands naturally reaching forward to place them on your hips, "loosen up a bit, (y/n)."

"i am loose!" your mouth falls into a straight line, "shit that sounded bad, didn't it?" bursting into laughter, your head falls onto his shoulder as your hand reaches up to grasp at his forearm before recovering from the unexpected joke.

as the pas de deux fades off into nothing, only your breaths could be heard in the large studio, blending with the cold air of the air-conditioning and the hot breaths coming from your mouths. strings play softly from the phone, but all you can hear is the echo of the familiar melody as if it was being played in an auditorium. 

gojo gives you a gentle smile that you reciprocate, stuck in that annoying hypnotisation of his blue eyes and the same soft look he gives you whenever you aren't looking. 

you were looking now, though, and you'd like it even better if time stood still for you to savour this moment.

"would you like to go on a date with me (y/n)?"

there it was, the million-dollar question. it wasn't like you imagined this every night before you slept or whether he'd perform a flashy proposal to ask you out.

but even then, you thought back to the smirks he directed at every other dancer, you thought back to the conversation in masamichi's office, you thought back to nobara's advice.

"surely you're not thinking of getting wooed by gojo satoru, are you? it's dangerous, (y/n), i'm sure you know that."

"fuck, i know! but then he kisses my cheek that one time and everything feels right again. he jokes with me in rehearsals and nudges me when mei mei-sensei compliments me. he treats me to lunch and looks at me with so much passion i almost want to believe it. these past weeks of rehearsals have taught me well in dance, but i'm sure it's making my love life miserable with how much he looks at me and then goes back to flirting with the other dancers."

"i'm sorry, i can't, gojo."

you make haste with the way you're scurrying out of the studio, breaking into a jog to make sure he doesn't catch after you.

you should've said yes, right? with how much he's been building up the courage these past few weeks, careful not to let ieiri spot his sneaky glances. even the kiss on your cheek left his heart pumping long after he's left the diner. 

all that to leave him in the dust.

gojo lays in bed that day, eyes fully open as he struggles to get some rest, unaware of the similar turmoil you were going through. the dancer managed to sleep after innumerable amounts of overthinking, departing from consciousness with thoughts of you, just like he always has.

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

there weren't any tears involved on your end, save for some of the glossy looks you've given your black and white poster as you played with your pillowcase in anxiety. 

you dreaded the next rehearsal, knowing you had to face gojo sooner or later, especially with how you reacted to his question.

"mei mei-sensei, gojo," his name was muttered instead, embarrassed with the way you rushed out of the studio the previous day. mei mei looks between the two of you, clapping her hands together to get your attention.

"ieiri pulled a nerve around her arch, which was why we've been going to the orthopaedic more often. it's a minor injury, and she's resting right now, so we'll have to work with the two of you first. we'll stop at where we always do but feel free to continue if you feel comfortable."

great. it had to be on a day where i couldn't possibly face gojo.

he says nothing at that, both you and the pianist unsure of whether you were to continue.

gojo was still in his a game, hitting every leap and lifting you without much struggle. you, not so much, as the words you said to him replayed in your head like a broken record.

you fell off your balances, you couldn't portray kitri well, you felt the weight of your body get heavier with each repeated thought of the day before. hell, even your practice tutu felt heavy. 

he sighs again for the umpteenth time as the music stops, the two of you receiving the same criticism from the previous run. mei mei tries her best to be polite, although you can tell she's losing her patience as well.

"(y/n)? what's gotten into you? i understand every dancer has their bad days, but today appears terrible with the silent treatment you two are giving each other."

you swallow at the question, taking a shaky breath before opening your mouth. you look to gojo for help, but his eyes evade yours by looking at the floor with arms crossed. his head whips toward you with your following words.

"he asked me... on a date. i rejected him, rushed out the studio," you mutter, tracing the fabric of the tutu hanging on your hips.

"you asked her out on a date?" mei mei states in disbelief, looking at the ballerino with a face full of perplexity. 

"yeah, i did, and i would do it again," the last whisper is lost to you, unable to hear because of the distance between you and him.

"wh- why? what's wrong with that?" you ask mei mei-sensei, yet again being pulled in by the sky blue of his eyes before looking to the ballet mistress.

"mei mei-"

"gojo never asks anyone out. ever. i'm sure you're the first one."

you can see gojo deflate at that at the corner of your eye, shoulders sagging forward in defeat while mei mei takes the chance to leave for you to sort things out. 

"what...?" was the only thing you could muster, eyes following your instructor as she exits the space.

"you two are dismissed for now. talk to him about it and resolve your problem," she waves a hand at you, the tension growing by the second as she's entirely out of the studio.

"gojo?" you ask cautiously, stepping up to him to pull him from the position he was in.

"you believe the rumours, the articles, don't you?" he says, completely unrelated to the situation at hand. the look he gives you was something you couldn't figure out, snatching his arm out of your grip as he puts some distance between the two of you. 

"you think i'm some cocky bitch who's just strutting around the company, free to do my own thing?" the other says it in a quiet tone, but it didn't make it less menacing than if he were to shout it. 

"do you think i enjoy the way the female dancers throw themselves at me when i'm trying to focus on my mistakes and corrections? you think i enjoy the annoying ass articles written about me?"

with each question, gojo doesn't fail to intimidate you, taking a step each time until you're cornered against the barre. those questions are left unanswered as gojo's eyes bore into yours, losing its usual spark when he glances at you during the pas de deux or when he's laughing at a joke you made over lunch.

"do you think i enjoy being talked about every. single. time?! when i'm passing in the corridors, in masamichi's office, in the company classes, among the little trio you have going on. when i asked you out, it was because i genuinely felt that i could connect to you: with no wrong assumptions or bad impressions," gojo runs a hand through his sweaty hair, the frustrated emotions he felt seeping through into his speech.

"...everything felt so fake to me while getting to know you were the only real thing i could cherish when i get to hold you during the pas de deux, or when my lips landed on your cheek. it was the only real thing that brought on your blush that i imagine your lips on mine way too much."

you chose to ignore the way your heart flutters at the confession, staring up at him with apparent conflict on your face.

"then why can't you just ignore them? i'd expect someone like you to not give a shit about what people think," you whisper.

"you got to know the wrong gojo, then. just like right now, i can't face what others have to murmur around about me."

"right now...?" you caught onto his words fast, your eyes immediately spotting the curious faces of both your friends and a few other dancers fighting for a spot to watch you two through the studio door's glass.

"c'mon, pack up, let's not talk here," gojo states. within seconds, the two of you were out the door with your hand clasped in his. you were quick on your feet to leave the premises, naturally following gojo's lead to an unknown building. 

letting go of his hand, you explore the space, taking note of every tiny little thing that made the apartment his own.

"sorry for the mess. i live alone and hardly clean the apartment." the nervousness from the studio stayed, the other opting to remain at the doorway in worry. the silence in the apartment grows, your eyes now trained to the floor as gojo suddenly speaks up.

"i couldn't ignore them, (y/n). their expectations disguised as gossip and rumours allowed me to perform properly. i was afraid of disappointment, of getting ridiculed if i were to make mistakes on stage. any slip-up was seen by the company's sponsors, critics, everyone. their eyes were always on me, and i could never let myself get eaten up by the articles." 

"the industry is filled with competition and talent. anyone can replace anyone at any given time; you'd have to have a mind of steel to not get affected by every little thing!"

his eyes meet the back of your head, the fatigue leaking through the lines of his eyes and face. as you turn around, you meet his exhausted ones, and, step by step, you approach the man.

"i can't say i have that mind of steel that i mentioned. i hardly come close to it, (y/n). i'm happy with the company, i'm content with my place, and i'm terribly in love with ballet, but... i'm so tired, really."

your expression of unsaid pity was all you could offer, bringing gojo into a hug as he wrapped his arms around you. the way he relaxed told you of the safe space you provided, while his tight, squeezing arms showed he hasn't embraced in a long time.

a minute or two passes, relishing in the now comfortable silence as the other collects himself. 

"i'm laying everything on you, fuck, i'm sorry."

you shake your head into his chest, "don't apologise, you idiot. i should be the one saying sorry for rushing off like that," pulling away, you were heartbroken to see the shine of his tears waiting to cascade down his cheeks.

"i'm sorry i ran off. i was afraid, for a different reason. my rational side always protects my heart, knowing i've had bad experiences with friends and connections. if i couldn't sustain a friendship, who was i to jump into a relationship?" you hand trails to his nape to mindlessly play with the hair there as a form of habit with your own hair.

"it was brave of you, putting yourself out so vulnerably when i only looked at the surface of what you were. i'm sure it felt like those weeks of getting to know each other meant something to you, and i threw it away in fear that you'd leave me after a few months."

"so please don't apologise, i'm sorry i ever made you feel like shit because i didn't know about the weight on your shoulders."

a smile graces your face, the hand on his nape going back to his cheek.

"and stop crying; it doesn't make your eyes look good," you whisper, wiping the tears before they fall as gojo lets out a chuckle.

"you think my eyes look good?" 

you roll your eyes, "god, who wouldn't? it's like looking at the sky and the ocean all at the same time. and when you stare at me? i always have trouble looking away from you because of how striking they are."

"are they now?" distracted from the emotional vomit earlier, he grins at your description of him. you're lucky to have your hands on his cheeks just so you can feel the effect you have on him every time you offer a compliment.

"are you done complimenting me?"

"i've only commented on your eyes, though. would you like me to continue?"

"i think you should kiss me first."

you're taken aback by gojo's boldness, a surprised expression appearing at the question. the way he looks at you beats the gazes through the mirror as he warms up and the look of interest over his bowl of miso soup. it beats the glances at you during the company classes and the short, fleeting glimpses as you move together during the pas de deux. it beats every single one that your head descends back into his chest, shy at the look of adoration he was giving you.

"can i really?" you whisper in his shirt, refusing to look up even when he pulls away from your embarrassment.

as his arms unwind themselves from your middle, he crouches down to reach your eye and bring you back from a world of uneasy firsts.

"is it your first?"

this was when gojo satoru was at his rawest, with his hands cupped around your cheeks in the slowly darkening apartment as he prepares himself to kiss you.

"it is."

gojo says nothing after that, the moment of silence feeling like forever before his lips meet yours. the sunset coming in from his windows hits at the right time, because then you'd be able to point at it and describe the colours you feel when his mouth moves against yours. you'd be able to sense your heart pumping and blood flowing more clearly than when you've just finished a demanding combination of steps when he encircles his arms around you to bring you closer.

without choreographed steps, nothing feels more fitting than a kiss full of passion that isn't in a pas de deux. ironically, it was the ones you enjoyed more, more than the kisses in romeo & juliet or in manon.

oxygen becomes scarce, then, prompting you to break away from gojo just as your heart fills up with joy, way more than you can fathom.

you crash your lips into his again, now catching him off-guard. he melts into it with no problem, a laugh spilling from his lips at your eagerness.

"i like you a lot, tons, (y/n). i don't say this often, but i like you."

"it's too early to say it's love, right? because i think i like you too, a lot, tons."

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

you agreed to keep it under wraps for now, with you planning to leave half n' hour later to avoid suspicion. the dancer sacrificed his Z's so you could catch them instead, although you continued to lay awake in his bed watching the white-haired man get ready. 

"are you sure the floor wasn't uncomfortable? you could've just used your own bed, y'know."

he only shakes his head, "'s okay. my back was acting up, anyway. it was basically free therapy."

you laugh at that, now sitting up fully to admire gojo's physique. with how affectionate and sweet he is behind closed doors, you swore that he was a different man. he shoots you a finger gun and a wink, knowing the way he's got you wrapped around his finger.

"see you later," gojo whispers, landing a peck on you before taking off on his own. it wasn't long before you had to get up, taking in the room and its decorative spaces. he has ballet posters and photos of his friends; he even had a diffuser.

a yawn takes over you as your hands land on the shirt on you.

fuck, you didn't have anything clean to wear. gojo had provided you with a shirt and pants from his wardrobe yesterday, rejecting his briefs with a laugh. with no bra, you decided to just use a spare leotard you keep in your bag, settling for the clothes gojo had lent you the day before.

the theatre felt different when you entered, heading straight for the studio to avoid any more prying eyes from the younger dancers. 

"hey," you say, rubbing at your eyes to the trio warming up their feet.

nobara gasps, grasping at your hand immediately to pull you down onto the floor.

"are you good?" she mumbles, staring at your face for any signs of hurt or crying.

"do i need to beat him up?" megumi challenges, flexing his bicep as a joke, "i've been working out more."

"i'll go tell him off for you, (y/n)!" yuji grins, preparing to quite literally stand up to head over to the other corner of the room.

"no! i mean, yes, i'm good. please don't beat him up, and... sit down, yuji." you sigh. 

"nothing... happened, guys. i know what it looked like in the studio yesterday but there wasn't any catfights or physical fights," you pause, looking at megumi, your hands instinctively going to the pouch where you kept your shoes, "we figured out our problem and solved it, that's all."

"so why are you wearing his shirt, then?" nobara shoots without hesitation, causing you to halt your movements for a bit. beside you, you can hear yuji choking on his water. 

"i... we.. uhm," you trail off, trying to find the right words to fill in the gaps of your explanation. your eyes flit around the room before landing on gojo's, finding that his were already fixed on you.

"uh... yeah... we cleared up our differences and talked a bit," you mutter, lips breaking into a smile before you break eye contact with him. the trio stay dumbfounded at your word vomit, witnessing the exchange with the principal dancer with puzzlement. 

"oh my god, did you guys fuck?" nobara whispers.

"what? no!" you laugh, whacking her shoulder as you stood up to loosen up your feet, preparing for the class conducted by masamichi himself today.

"i'll explain everything when i get back home, okay?" you say to the three of them, stuck in a side hug with nobara as her arm stay loosely wrapped around your waist.

they can only offer you their  nods, bidding you goodbye with a slight wave.

as you enter the same rehearsal studio, there's only a single lone dancer in it, stretching over in a middle split as he scrolls on his phone mindlessly.

"hey," you call out to gojo, setting your bag of things down while you run up to him. he stands up instantly, pulling you into an embrace that shocks you with the sheer force of it.

"did you already miss me? that's fast."

he mumbles into your hair, "mhmm... shut up, please."

you laugh at that, recovering from the hug despite the other's protests.

"c'mon, i need to warm up, plus we're supposed to keep this a secret, right?"

gojo whines but lets you go anyway, but not before he plants a kiss on your hand as he lets you do your own thing. the next set of footsteps catch you in surprise, eyes widening at her presence when you run up to her in excitement.

"ieiri-senpai! are you feeling better?" you ask, peeking around at her feet, where she limped on earlier.

"yes, i am, (y/n)," she pats your head and realises your choice of clothing. you noticed her smirk, but before you could counter her question, she beats you to it, "and... i've seen that the dumbass finally made a move."

there's no denying the blush that makes its way onto your cheeks, seemingly oblivious to the stares from everyone when in reality, they were curious to know of what happened the day before.

"yeah, i guess he did," you sigh dreamily, giving off your feelings as ieiri could only smile at your situation.

mei mei enters the room with authority, making you perk up at her words as she walks to the centre of the barre with purpose.

"i trust that you've solved everything, yes? because you two have been quite the talk around the studio," mei mei states, braiding her hair into a side braid as ieiri takes a seat.

"i took her hand to get away from the crowd, sensei. if anything, i should be blamed for engaging in contact that might've given off the assumption that we were dating," gojo steps up.

"but you are dating, aren't you?" mei mei grins, putting on her shoes.

"i..." you tried to speak, but gojo interrupts you before then.

"only if she'll have me, then yes, we are."

you fight back a smile, stepping forward to catch his hand in yours. he's shaking, not at all the confident gojo satoru that you've become so accustomed to.

"yes," your single affirmation holds so much weight, looking up at him with as much joy as he did with you in the morning.

"okay, good! i've gone through enough of gojo staring at you from across the room. let's continue," mei mei casually says, "i'm sure (y/n) has heard the news, yes?"

she's quick to pull you out of your thoughts of gojo looking at you during rehearsals with the question of the news that left you texting the trio at 1am.

[nitta-sensei is typing...]

(y/n)? do you have a minute to spare?

[(y/n) is typing...]

yes sensei?

what seems to be the...

you're cut off by the abrupt phone call as gojo brushes his teeth, speaking to you, though incoherently, through the foam and lather in his mouth.

"yes, nitta-sensei? what is it?"

"i'm sorry for conveying this news over the phone, and i was too excited to wait until the next day. you might or might not like it, but... you're to replace ieiri in the gala event for now." by now, gojo had stopped brushing due to your lack in reply.

he peeks his head out of the bathroom as nitta continues, "she has to heed her orthopaedic's advice and take a break for now, but since you've been shadowing the two for a good amount of time, masamichi thinks its best you take up the role of the female part."

your jaw stays dropped even after nitta says her goodbyes, the phone lit up due to your shock. 

"(y/n)? what happened?"

"i'm going to be dancing with you, gojo," you say quietly, "i'm dancing the pas de deux with you!" 

you bow your head in acknowledgement, "yes, i have." 

ieiri sees the hesitation since now the original dancer was seated in front of you. she shoots you a double thumbs-up as motivation while mei mei briefs you on the gala like she did with the couple at the start.

it's short, and within the next moment, you're already flying through the sky with gojo's help. the steps start to become more apparent and distinct to you, letting the pianist lead the way as the lifts and pair work merge together like a seamless thread.

mei mei is firm in her teaching, knowing your weaknesses and strengths by heart with the past rehearsals that she's done. stopping the two of you before letting ieiri take over was routine, but for now, ieiri contributes with her wisdom from the chair instead. 

the rehearsal progresses slowly, opting instead to complete it bit by bit as the weeks turn into days and the days turn into hours. you had to take extra care of your feet, icing them and making sure your blisters don't distract you as rehearsals extend longer to ensure your best performance.

when you had your own commitments, your best friends had theirs, fulfilling principal or first soloist roles just for the gala. there was hardly any time for you to see the trio, but you made up with late facetime calls and online dinners with them.

even with the distance in the company class, gojo never fails to make it up to you with kisses under the moonlight as you watch video after video on don quixote, although taking a specific liking to the pairing of nuñez and muntagirov. 

・．━━━━━━━━━━．・

"you ready?" gojo lets out a nervous breath, already hearing the chatter of the gala attendees behind the curtains. beside you, other dancers are warming up for their own parts. some were doing a solo while others were doing a pas de deux like you were, but nonetheless, everyone gathered here was to share the love for ballet.

"hell no, i'm shaking," you laugh, playing with the elastic that was to go over your middle finger. a beautiful, white tutu was tailored just for you with minor tweaks from ieiri's tutu while they were in the midst of completing it. to honour and perform the role of kitri gave you immense joy and excitement, even though you were jittery at the responsibility passed on to you.

"how are you doing?" nobara asks, making you jump at the sudden voice. she lets out a giggle, "sorry."

 "i'm... very nervous. is that even a question?" you ask her, holding onto her exposed shoulder a little too tightly. she dons a breathtaking, flowy costume with puffy sleeves and intricate detail. at the same time, yuji was suited up as nobara's partner in a pair of yellow tights, completing the couple look in the comedy-filled la fille mal gardée.

"oi, hot pants, come here! my partner's here finally after taming his hair," nobara jokes, pulling yuji over. they lean into each other's sides naturally, posing with peace signs and big smiles that they were asked to convey to the audience.

"good luck out there," megumi catches your attention, awkward as can be, as he pulls you in for a hug. his pas de deux partner is smiling at you beside him, taking your hand in hers.

"your rehearsals with gojo-senpai are incredible, (y/n)-senpai! all the best for your performance later," she bows, clearly relieved at saying the things she wanted to say.

"all the best for your le corsaire, too," you grin, waving them off excitedly before joining your basilio at the hip.

"you'll do great out there, trust me," gojo places a peck on your temple, holding you close by the waist as you warm up together. there's shared laughter between the two of you, exchanging jokes to calm your nerves and keep your mind moving. with the rush hour backstage, it was imminent that the show was starting soon, the many dancers continuing their warmup without trouble.

only you seemed to be on edge, performing as the first couple of the night for a role you've always loved and adored while watching from the balcony of auditoriums.

"i will. we will." you nod, hands twined with the other's as the curtains make their way up.

"breathe. we'll nail this like we always do," gojo kisses your linked hands, staring down at you with those same eyes you fell in love with. a smile replaced what you couldn't say out loud, bumping your head into his chest as an affectionate gesture, "let's go."

among the cheers and blinding lights, you could only focus on gojo's hand on the small of your back as he led you out. with practised steps, nothing could faze you except, maybe, his dazzling smile and the gentle eyes he has on you for the whole pas de deux.

living the life of an innkeeper's daughter was what you had to portray. while your 'father' was hesitant at first, he's finally given you the blessing to marry your lover, basilio. the glimmering tutu and effortless partnership was only half the job done, and for the radiant smile you had on at the moment, you hoped at least ieiri and mei mei would be proud of the story you were telling together with gojo.

the feeling from rehearsals is amplified on stage, with the orchestra's power and the costumes, providing you with a feeling like no other. and as gojo approaches with a flawless tour en l'air, you realise that with how much work you put in behind the scenes, the result always pays off. 

as gojo has his hands on your waist, twirling you around like nothing in a quadruple pirouette, you realise that every step was made possible with the help of ieiri and mei mei and your best friends and lastly, gojo satoru.

the golden, treasured prodigy which you somehow managed to develop feelings for. the talented principal who whines when you won't refuse to give him affection and the once-cocky individual who softens just at the sight of you.

and as the music reaches the end, you want nothing more than to stay in this pas de deux with gojo satoru, in a dance of two.

you end off on an incredible note, chest heaving from the demanding technicalities of the pas de deux. nevertheless, your brain shuts out the thunderous applause, with some imparting you with their standing ovations and others who decided to scream 'bravo!' at the stage.

gojo offers a grin, bringing you close with a hand as you thank the audience with endless curtseys. bowing to your partner was next, thanking him for the interminable rehearsals and that hectic day of emotion from the studio right up to his home.

you almost practically run backstage with the adrenaline flowing through your body, the next act already on stage for the gala. 

"oh my god, oh my god!" you whisper-shout in pure glee, hugging gojo close the moment you were out of view of the audience.

"you did it."

"we did it," you reassure, pulling from the embrace to smile up at him. you could feel the dancers' eyes around you, not knowing whether they should look to you or to look away.

his voice snaps you out of your thoughts, "'s okay, let them look. i don't mind it when i'm with you."

"just to confirm, we... shouldn't kiss, right?" you mumble, but you inch closer to his lips anyway.

"no... i don't think we should," gojo grins, indulging you in the very kiss you've waited for, knowing that right now, it wasn't the stage lights, nor was it the general heat after completing a difficult pas de deux.

it's as if the world gave you rose-tinted glasses, because that was all you could recognise now as gojo pulls you from backstage with your hand tightly locked onto his. he wasn't the six eyes theatre's prized principal, he was just gojo as you run past the many costumes being hung with the click-clacking of your pointe shoes.

you could compare it, almost, to running across a field with a billowing dress behind you, but alas, you were satisfied with being his kitri. for when she and basilio have a life of marriage ahead of them, you and gojo satoru have nothing but longing glances and shared laughter over your stumbling slip-ups in the studio as you tackle one act after the next.

the pas de deux was a connection and a story, and the both of you were just starting out yours.