#you all don’t understand how much I love this man. ugh. why can’t he exist?!

[ofbatsandballads]

have this thing I wrote in a flash of pure, unadulterated love for Jason that I felt while doing my hair routine after my shower. never needed a fictional guy more in all my life and honestly this may be my personal favorite thing I’ve ever written.

Thinking about domesticity with Jason Todd. Building a home with him, a life. How ever so gradually mine and yours becomes ours.

You’re brushing your teeth one morning and decide to try out his toothpaste, the one he always buys from the bodega down the block owned by the little abuelita that loves him to death. It’s fresh and it’s minty and you swear it leaves your teeth whiter than the brand name stuff you buy, so you let your tube get used up and never buy toothpaste again. Jason, without question, simply starts buying it twice as often as usual.

You’re fresh from the shower together after a night off for both of you. You’re warm and you’re happy and you’re both so in love it almost hurts. You watch enraptured as he towel dries his hair, roughly scrunching the water from his inky curls. You don’t like how he lacks gentleness with himself, so you take the towel from him and gesture for him to lean down. Ever obedient to you, Jason complies and smiles softly as you dry his hair for him. You think suddenly that while his curls are always soft to the touch, they could do with being a bit more defined. They tend to get really frizzy and poofy by the end of the day. So you grab your curl cream and gel and just absentmindedly do your own routine on him. He raises his eyebrow in question only to quickly relent when he realizes it means you’re playing with his hair for longer. Your hunch is right; once his hair dries, his curls are so pretty you think you could get lost in the waves of them. Jason’s just happy cause now his hair smells like you.

The only clothes Jason has that are his now is his Red Hood gear. The rest of his closet has quickly become co-owned by you. His brain never fails to short circuit when you walk out in his hoodies, or his sweatpants, or his t-shirts, or his boxers. There’s not one piece of his civilian clothing that hasn’t been on both of your bodies at this point. Sometimes seeing you in his clothes has Jason blushing and his heart pounding with how much he loves you, how grateful he is to have this life with you. Other times seeing you in his clothes has him calculating the fastest way he can get them all off of you. You’re just disappointed that it can’t go both ways. But, alas, the struggles of having a massive boyfriend are that he’ll never be able to fit in your clothes. Whatever; it still does something for you when he finally wears the old Gotham Knights shirt that you’d stolen for months.

It’s also kind of funny sometimes. You two own a set of old, dark gray towels affectionately labeled “The Blood Towels”. The Blood Towels are only brought out after a really rough patrol or post-showering when you’re on your period. They came about after you’d nearly slipped while soaking wet from how quickly you’d tried to dry off to avoid bleeding on his good, fluffy towels. Jason just looked at you like you were a little ditzy, a flat “Do ya know how many times I’ve bled on these towels?” coming from his mouth. “I don’t care! I still don’t wanna ruin them!” you’d insisted. And thus, The Blood Towels were born.

Your bookshelf is never going to stop growing. You’ve actually had to go to IKEA more than once to get a larger one with how often you and Jay visit the old bookstore two blocks away from your apartment. Neither of you can resist a pretty cover, or a new annotated edition, or, heaven forbid, those rare, expensive first edition copies. At this point you’re not really sure which of the five copies of Pride and Prejudice first belonged to who, but really what does it matter when you’re both reading them anyways? And it’s always funny when you have to drag home a bigger bookshelf. You can never hold your laughter when Jason inevitably shouts “What the fuck! This wouldn’t be so goddamn hard if they actually gave you coherent instructions!” It’s also always nice to drag the old bookshelves to the apartment of the single mom downstairs whose kid loves reading. You both know she can barely afford the second hand books she gets him, so the shelves are happily given. You’re actually thinking of asking Jay if he’s willing to part with one of your first edition copies of Frankenstein for Christmas; the kid would freak.

All of this comes to a head with a cat. A big, fat, black cat that crawls up on your fire escape one night. You’d both been a little distracted–okay, a lot distracted by the feeling of being lost in each other's touch. You’d been making out for over an hour, just relishing in the intimacy of being together. It was definitely going to go somewhere until you heard the caterwauling of an animal outside your window. “The fuck is that?” Jason had asked as he pulled away from kissing bruises into your neck. “Sounds like a cat.” You’d begged, actually begged, Jason to let him stay. The next morning you came home with a grocery bag full of cat toys and bowls while Jason hauled a value-sized 40 pound bag of cat food on his shoulder. Atticus sits with you both while you watch TV now. Atticus still sometimes ruins the mood when he sees Jason sink his teeth into you and immediately swats his dad on the cheek. But Atticus is also undeniably your boy. And whatever, maybe you do start thinking about what Jason would look like with an actual baby in his arms when he’s cradling Atty as he shuffles around your home. But there’s time for that yet. You both know that. You know that beyond anything else, you’ll always have this life, this home together. It’s the best gift either of you have ever been given.

[ruminate88]

Getting Real With Me:

Getting real honest with myself: When I met my husband, I was sooo tired. All men were pigs as far as I was concerned. All men leading up to him made me feel like they only want sex. Men didn’t value me as a human. Most men got my nudes and then dated other women. I didn’t get to have feelings and crying only made men run from me. They made me feel so weak for crying. I was told on Twitter that “I was too fragile”.

So when my husband was so nice, I wanted his “friendship” but didn’t know if I liked him. He asked me out but I told him no. 🥺 but we talked 3 months and be continued to be nice. Then I asked him out this time and he said yes. THEN my ex Andrew tried to come back and it hurt so much. Ugh. Andrew disturbed my peace and got me all upset again. 😭😭 why did he want to hurt me so much???? All I wanted was to love Andrew. I KNOW I married my husband to get away from Andrew and to get “safe”.

I move forward with my new man and he continues to be so ever nice but things heat up before we get married becuase we’re trying to plan the future and I was scared to get hurt. We get married and stuff happens right before the wedding with my family. My wedding day was both beautiful AND sad. My honeymoon was GREAT but also very emotional. I cried a lot. My poor new husband had to deal with me being emotional and weird. I felt so uncomfortable and frustrated but couldn’t understand why.

the first year of marriage is okay, I’m sick at Christmas in the hospital for 4 days but then the next year shifts drastically. My new man wants to escape work life through video games and doesn’t always wanna go places with me, making me feel alone. I begin to complain how I fear he prioritizes video games over me. (I was being triggered from abandonment and neglect wounds but didn’t understand it yet)

For the first part of my marriage, I have NO IDEA why I feel so disconnected or upset at my man. I couldn’t stop obsessively having Intrusive thoughts of my ex Andrew. It was very bad. I was comparing everything my new man did and said to Andrew. I was low-key angry at Andrew but didn’t know it and so I look at my new man with almost frustration and anger. I slowly started building walls.

in 2021, my new man surprised me with a very expensive gift which made me feel horrible and then took me on my dream vacation at Christmas and I forced myself sooooooo hard to enjoy it. It was my dream!!!! He made that dream come true but also complains and stresses about money so giving me my dream but I feel so bad for it too.

I was soooo uncomfortable but tried so hard to enjoy myself and my man. It’s overly uncomfortable to open up and talk to my man about my feelings. I couldn’t express to him that I’m stilll obsessively thinking of Andrew and I’m angry cuz I think it will hurt him and upset him.

I want nothing from my husband. I’ve lived just to exist. I married him just to survive. I he’s a nice guy and a very hard worker. I care about him and want to be there for him. I would be upset if something bad happened to him and can’t go to bed anywhere but with him…. Sounds romantic but I AM SO TIRED 🥺🥺🥺🥺 I overthink and over analyze every move, word or choice he makes. I don’t force anything really now. I’ve reached a point where I’ll do my wifely duties and be fair to my man but whatever it’s just going through thr motions. He goes to work, I clean and cook then he comes home, I feed him and repeatedly ask him “ARE YOU OKAY???” It annoys the shizz out of me. WHEN DO I STOP ASKING IF HE IS OK EVERY SECOND??? 😝 I hate that about me. I worry to upset him all the time when I KNOW it’s all in my head.

some people have said “you need to have an honest conversation with your husband” like…. Scary. No thanks. I don’t wanna tell him I think about my exes every day and feel so stupid and small. Just the thoughts of it make my knees buckle. I feel fake when I’m trying so hard to be a good wife. I do everything for him, get up at 3am with him and blow him a kiss before he drives out of the garage for work. I pack his lunches and do his laundry. I do it all and I want nothing back 🥺💔❤️‍🩹 just don’t be upset at me or hate me or hurt me. I don’t EVER wanna hurt the way Cody and Andrew hurt me. I’m sick inside over it all.

I just wanna sit alone in my thoughts. I don’t beg my husband to turn off the video games and spend more time with me cuz whatever, I’m done fighting for men. I gave Andrew all my fight and begged Andrew to spend time with me. I’m not doing it again. My husband will either be with me or he won’t. I do feel like most of the “disconnect” is me and not my man causing it but I just don’t want to push myself. This healing journey has made me wanna just be with myself and listen to music.

[starberryshuu]

Waking Up with Iso

Iso woke up to the unfamiliar feeling of warmth, his face pressed against something soft. His brain, still sluggish from sleep, barely registered the situation until he inhaled and caught the faint scent of something familiar—Julie.

His eyes snapped open.

He was lying against her, his head buried in her chest.

Iso froze.

Julie, still asleep, had her arms loosely wrapped around him, her breathing slow and steady. It was a completely innocent embrace—at least from her perspective—but for Iso, alarms were blaring in his head.

What the hell—

His body tensed, his entire existence caught between the instinct to escape and the realization that any sudden movement might wake her. His mind raced, trying to piece together how he had ended up here. Then a strange calm seemed to settle over him. He wasn’t exactly sure why, but this wasn’t as bad as it should have been.

The last thing he remembered, they had been watching a movie in the common room. Julie had been extra moody all day, still avoiding Chamber like he was a plague. Yoru had left early, muttering something about not wanting to deal with whatever weirdness was going on. Iso had stayed behind, figuring he’d keep Julie company for a while.

They must have fallen asleep.

Swallowing, he carefully shifted his head, trying to get a better look at her. Julie’s expression was peaceful, completely unaware of the awkwardness of the situation.

This is fine. I can get out of this. No sudden movements—just... careful.

Julie stirred.

Iso immediately shut his eyes, trying to stay as still as possible, almost feeling like a kid caught doing something he shouldn't.

Julie let out a small, sleepy sigh before adjusting slightly, hugging him just a little tighter in the process.

I am going to die here.

Iso’s breath hitched. So much for avoiding it.

The universe had to be punishing him for something.

Swallowing hard, he weighed his options. He could try to slip away before she woke up, or—

A new voice broke the silence.

"...What the actual hell?"

Iso stiffened.

He didn’t have to look to know who it was. Yoru.

Standing at the doorway.

Staring.

The air grew thick with unspoken judgment. Iso didn’t dare move.

Julie, oblivious to everything, mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep.

Yoru took one slow step forward. Then another.

"...You know, I was gonna get coffee, but I think I lost my appetite," Yoru deadpanned.

Iso finally cracked open an eye and shot him a warning glare, as if silently begging him don’t make this worse.

Yoru, the absolute menace he was, smirked. "You comfy, man?"

Iso clenched his jaw. "...Shut up."

Julie stirred again, this time mumbling, "Mmm… warm… tickles…" before sighing contentedly.

Yoru took that as his cue to leave. He didn’t need to witness what happened next. "Yeah, I’m out. Good luck explaining this one, lover boy."

With that, he left, laughing under his breath.

Iso exhaled sharply. This is fine. I can still fix this.

Then Julie yawned, stretching slightly before slowly blinking awake.

Her arms tightened briefly around him before her eyes focused.

And then—

Silence.

Still half-asleep, she furrowed her brows. "...Iso?"

Iso swallowed. "Morning."

Julie blinked again, looking down at how they were tangled together. Slowly, her expression shifted from confusion to understanding—then to sheer horror.

A beat.

Then:

"WHY ARE YOU IN MY CHEST?!"

Iso, exhausted, simply sighed. "...I woke up like this."

Julie scrambled away so fast she nearly fell off the couch, her face burning red. "WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP?!"

"BECAUSE I DIDN’T WANT TO DIE?!"

They stared at each other, both equally flustered.

From somewhere in the hallway, Chamber’s amused voice floated in: "Ah, young love."

Julie buried her face in her hands, groaning.

Iso closed his eyes. "Kill me now."

Julie, still covering her face, groaned louder. "This is so embarrassing. I can’t believe I—ugh!" She flopped back onto the couch, kicking her legs in frustration.

Iso, now sitting up properly and rubbing his face, exhaled sharply. "You think you’re embarrassed? I woke up in that position. Yoru saw everything. I’m never going to hear the end of this."

Julie peeked at him between her fingers, her face still flushed. "You could have woken me up sooner."

"I tried to move, but you hugged me tighter in your sleep!" Iso shot back, exasperated.

Julie gasped. "Lies! I don’t do that!"

"You literally did!"

Before she could argue, they both froze at the sound of slow clapping.

They turned toward the doorway—Chamber stood there, absolutely delighted.

"Magnifique," he said, giving them a slow, deliberate applause. "A wonderful way to start the morning. I must say, Julie, you have quite the affectionate nature. I had no idea you were so… welcoming."

Julie shot up, pointing an accusing finger at him. "DON’T YOU START!"

Chamber only smirked, stepping forward with an amused gleam in his eyes. "I must admit, I am deeply impressed with your choice, Iso. You move quickly."

"I didn’t choose anything!" Iso snapped.

Julie flailed her arms, still incredibly flustered. "It was an accident! A dumb, stupid accident!"

Chamber let out a low chuckle. "Ah, yes. Accidents. The kind that lead to—"

"STOP." Julie cut him off immediately, her face somehow growing redder. "I KNOW YOU’RE ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING GROSS!"

Chamber placed a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Julie, mon trésor, you wound me. I was simply going to suggest that accidents often lead to new discoveries. Perhaps you and Iso have uncovered a newfound comfort in each other?"

Julie was about to throw a pillow at him.

Before she could, Iso, still clearly exhausted, ran a hand down his face and sighed. "Can we just—not do this right now?"

Chamber chuckled, watching as Julie fumed but ultimately collapsed back onto the couch, covering her face with a pillow.

"Fine," she grumbled. "But I swear, if Yoru tells anyone, I’m moving out."

Iso crossed his arms. "You really think you’re gonna stop him from running his mouth?"

Julie let out a dramatic groan. "I’m doomed."

Chamber, still enjoying every second of this, gave them one last amused look before walking off.

"Don’t worry, ma chérie," he called over his shoulder. "I shall only tell a few people."

"CHAMBER, I SWEAR TO GOD—"

*********************************

Utterly Doomed

Julie buried her face into a pillow, her entire body burning with embarrassment. Iso sat beside her, rubbing his temples with a resigned sigh.

"I need a redo on this morning," she mumbled into the pillow.

"You and me both," Iso muttered, leaning back against the couch, clearly still recovering.

Before either of them could recover, Yoru entered the room with a slow, knowing smirk.

"So," he started, crossing his arms, "anything interesting happen last night?"

Julie peeked out from behind the pillow, eyes wide. "WHO TOLD YOU?!"

Yoru raised a brow. "Told me? Oh, so you’re admitting something happened?"

Julie gasped, realizing she had just walked right into a trap.

Iso groaned. "Yoru. Leave it alone."

Yoru ignored him, looking at Julie with pure amusement. "Look, I just think it’s funny, really. First, you’re avoiding Chamber like he’s going to eat you alive, and now, you’re waking up with Iso in your arms?"

Julie made a tiny, distressed noise and pressed the pillow tighter against her face. "I WAS ASLEEP!"

"Yeah, sure." Yoru snickered. "That’s totally what it looked like."

Julie felt her ears turn bright red.

And then, as if things couldn’t get worse, Chamber appeared in the doorway, a cup of coffee in hand and an infuriatingly smug look on his face.

"Ah, yes. Quite the adorable scene this morning. Iso, mon ami, I must say, I did not take you for the type to enjoy such… intimate sleeping arrangements."

Julie let out a tiny squeak and curled further into herself.

Iso just sighed. "I was asleep."

Chamber took a slow sip of his coffee, his gaze flickering back to Julie. "And you, ma trésor? You looked quite comfortable. A new habit of yours, perhaps?"

Julie peeked out from behind her pillow, her voice barely above a whisper. "N-No..."

Chamber hummed. "Curious. First, you refuse to come near me, and now, you’ve taken to clinging to Iso in the night. Should I be jealous?"

Julie squeaked and pulled the pillow over her face entirely.

Yoru, snickering, leaned closer. "Julie, at this rate, we should start expecting you to wake up tangled up with someone new every morning."

Julie peeked out again, voice small. "D-Don’t say it like that…"

Chamber chuckled, shaking his head. "Ah, Julie, mon ange, you truly are a delight to tease."

Julie, still burning with embarrassment, peeked up at him with wide, nervous eyes. "Y-You tease me too much lately..."

Chamber smirked. "Oh? But you make it so easy, ma chérie."

Julie, completely overwhelmed, could only bury herself deeper into the couch, making tiny distressed noises.

Chamber, utterly pleased, took another sip of his coffee. "Ah, this is the best way to start the morning."

Yoru, laughing, patted Julie on the head. "Face it, you’re doomed."

Julie whimpered into her pillow. She knew it too.

Utterly Doomed (Part 2)

Julie stayed curled up in the couch, refusing to lift her face from the pillow. She was completely and utterly done with today.

She could still feel Chamber’s gaze on her, smug, and Yoru’s presence mocking. Iso, at least, had the decency to stay quiet—but she knew he was suffering too.

Her mind kept flashing back to this morning. The warmth. The firm weight of Iso pressed against her. His hair tickling her chin. The way his arms had automatically settled around her waist like it was natural. And worse—how she didn’t immediately push him off.

She let out a tiny, muffled whine.

Yoru smirked. “What, embarrassed because you liked it?”

Julie made another tiny, strangled noise.

Iso threw a cushion at him. “Shut up.”

Chamber, still sipping his coffee like a man watching the best entertainment of his life, leaned against the counter. “Oh, but I must agree with Yoru, ma trésor. You are quite… affectionate when you sleep.”

Julie peeked out from the pillow just enough to glare at him. “D-Don’t say it like that!”

Chamber smirked. “Like what, exactly?”

Julie pouted, her face still burning. “Y-You always say things in a weird way!”

Chamber raised a brow. “Weird?”

Yoru, still snickering, leaned closer. “Ohh, she’s catching on.”

Julie turned to Iso for support. “I-Isn’t he always talking funny?! It’s like half the time I don’t get what he means, and the other half, I feel like I shouldn’t get it!”

Iso, who absolutely understood what she meant, sighed. “Yeah. Welcome to the struggle.”

Chamber simply smiled. “Ah, mon ange, if I speak in a way that confuses you, perhaps you should ask for an explanation?”

Julie squinted at him. “…I don’t trust you.”

Yoru burst out laughing.

Chamber placed a hand over his chest, feigning offense. “Ma chérie, you wound me. I am nothing if not an honest man.”

Julie’s pout deepened. “A lying, sneaky, dishonest flirt of a man.”

Chamber chuckled. “Ah, but now you understand. Progress.”

Julie let out a frustrated groan and threw herself back against the couch, covering her face. "Why do you always tease me?!"

Chamber leaned closer, his voice smooth and amused. "Because you are adorable when you fluster."

Julie squeaked.

Iso, rubbing his temples, sighed. "Chamber, leave her alone. You’ve done enough damage today."

Chamber chuckled, stepping away. “Very well, very well. I shall be merciful.”

Julie peeked out at Iso, who was visibly tired of everything. She whispered, “…How do you deal with him?”

Iso just shook his head. “You don’t.”

Yoru, grinning, added, "You just suffer."

Julie let out another small, defeated whimper.

This was her life now.

Utterly Doomed (Part 3)

Julie was trying to move on.

She really, really was.

She ignored the way Iso kept glancing at her like she might spontaneously combust. She ignored Yoru’s barely hidden smirks whenever she so much as looked in Chamber’s direction. And she definitely ignored the way Chamber kept acting like he had won something—because if she acknowledged that, she might just die on the spot.

She just needed distractions.

So she focused on the game in front of her, mashing the buttons furiously as she played against Yoru. She was losing—badly—but that was fine.

At least she wasn’t thinking about waking up pressed against Iso’s chest.

Or Chamber purring innuendos into her ear.

Or how flustered she got when she finally realized what all those things actually meant.

"Oi."

Julie blinked, snapped out of her thoughts.

Yoru was grinning.

"You suck at this," he said, effortlessly landing another combo that destroyed her health bar.

Julie scowled. "Shut up."

"Can’t. I’m too busy winning."

Julie whined in frustration, gripping the arcade controls tighter. "Just let me win once!"

Yoru smirked. "Where’s the fun in that?"

Julie huffed, leaning forward to focus. She was determined now. She was going to—

—lose.

Again.

Yoru laughed as her character dramatically collapsed on the screen.

"You’re the worst!" Julie pouted, crossing her arms.

Yoru stretched, looking way too pleased with himself. "Maybe if you weren’t so distracted, you’d actually stand a chance."

Julie froze.

Yoru grinned wider.

“…What are you implying?” she asked suspiciously.

Yoru just shrugged. "Nothing~."

Julie squinted at him, feeling her face warm up.

Iso, who had been watching, sighed. “You are kind of spacing out a lot today…”

Julie covered her face with her hands. “I HATE EVERYTHING.”

Yoru snickered. "Yeah? I bet Chamber would love to hear that."

Julie let out a high-pitched scream of frustration.

"DO NOT BRING HIM INTO THIS."

Yoru cackled.

—

Later that night, back at HQ, Julie tried her best to avoid Chamber.

She was careful. She took different hallways. She darted into rooms if she heard his voice. She pretended to be super busy whenever she saw him from a distance.

She was doing great.

Until she wasn’t.

Because as she turned a corner, she immediately crashed into something warm and solid.

Julie froze.

A hand gently steadied her by the waist.

"Ah," came that voice, smooth and deep, "ma douce, I was wondering where you had been hiding."

Julie looked up and locked eyes with Chamber.

Her brain stopped working.

She yanked herself away so fast, she nearly tripped. "I—I wasn’t hiding!"

Chamber raised a brow, amused. "No?"

"N-No!"

Chamber smirked, stepping closer. “Then why do you run from me, hm?”

Julie’s face was on fire. "I-I—I was just busy!"

"Hmm. And yet, whenever I enter a room, you mysteriously disappear."

Julie sputtered.

Chamber leaned in slightly, his voice dropping to a silky whisper.

"Tell me, mon ange… do I make you nervous?"

Julie’s soul left her body.

She made a noise—something between a squeak and a dying gasp—before she whirled around and bolted.

Chamber laughed.

"Ah, I truly adore her."

Utterly Doomed (Part 4)

Julie refused to acknowledge what had just happened.

She did not get flustered.

She did not feel heat creeping up her neck.

And she definitely did not run like some scared little animal after one (1) French man leaned too close and used his stupid, smooth voice on her.

Absolutely not.

…Okay, maybe she did.

But that wasn’t the point!

The point was— she needed help.

And unfortunately, the only two people she could ask were Yoru and Iso.

So here she was, standing in front of their door, reconsidering every life choice that had brought her to this moment.

She took a deep breath. Knocked.

Silence.

Julie frowned. She knew they were in there.

"Guys, open up."

More silence.

Her eye twitched. "I know you can hear me."

Still nothing.

Julie narrowed her eyes.

"Fine," she said sweetly. "If you don’t open this door in five seconds, I’m telling Brimstone you two broke his coffee machine last week."

Immediately, the door flew open.

Julie smirked.

Yoru scowled. "You’re evil."

Iso just sighed in defeat.

Julie strode in, shutting the door behind her.

"I need help," she announced.

Yoru groaned. "If this is about Chamber again—"

"It is," she confirmed.

Yoru threw himself onto the couch, looking done.

Iso, sitting at his desk, gave her a weary look. "What did he do this time?"

Julie fidgeted, tugging at her sleeves. "…He cornered me."

Both of them immediately stiffened.

"Did he touch you?" Yoru demanded, already looking ready to throw hands.

"N-No!" Julie waved her hands frantically. "Not like that! He just—he got really close and—and talked in that voice—"

Yoru groaned. "Oh my god."

Iso pinched the bridge of his nose. "Julie…"

Julie pouted. "What?! I didn’t know what to do! My brain just—stopped!"

"Yeah, no kidding," Yoru muttered.

Julie flopped down onto a chair, burying her face in her hands.

"I hate this," she mumbled. "I hate him. I hate his stupid voice and his stupid face and his stupid—stupidness."

"You hate him so much you run away like a blushing schoolgirl?" Yoru teased.

Julie whipped her head up, face burning. "Shut up."

Yoru smirked.

Julie groaned loudly, slumping back in her seat. "How do I make him stop?!"

Iso sighed. "You don’t."

Julie gaped at him. "Excuse me??"

Iso gave her a look. "You ran. He knows now."

Julie blinked.

Yoru snorted. "Yeah. He’s like a cat. You run, he chases."

Julie stared at them in horror.

"So you’re saying—"

"—he’s gonna have even more fun messing with you now," Yoru finished smugly.

Julie let out the most miserable noise imaginable.

"I am," she declared, collapsing onto the floor, "so, so doomed."

Yoru and Iso exchanged glances.

And for the first time in history—

—they actually agreed on something.

Utterly Doomed (Part 5)

Julie, despite knowing that she was doomed, refused to accept her fate.

She was not going to let Chamber get away with this.

She was going to be strong. She was going to be fearless. She was going to look him in the eye and not crumble into a flustered mess—

…The moment she actually saw him, she immediately turned on her heel and walked the other way.

“Pathetic,” Yoru muttered behind her.

“I know,” she whispered back.

But she was not ready to face him!

Ever since that moment—that mortifying, brain-melting, soul-leaving-her-body moment—she had been avoiding him like the plague.

If she sensed his presence, she took a detour.

If he entered the room, she suddenly remembered something very important she had to do elsewhere.

If he even looked in her direction, she looked away so fast she almost got whiplash.

It was working.

…Or so she thought.

Because one evening, he finally caught her.

Julie had been carefully making her way through HQ, eyes peeled for any sign of danger.

Then, as she turned the corner—

"Bonsoir, ma douce."

Julie froze.

Standing right in her path, arms folded, wearing that infuriatingly smug expression—was Chamber.

Oh no.

"Where have you been hiding, hm?" he asked smoothly.

Julie panicked.

"Hiding?? I wasn’t hiding! Who’s hiding? Not me!" she laughed way too forcefully. "Haha! What a weird thing to say! Anyway—I gotta go—"

She tried to escape.

Chamber stepped in her way.

Julie almost slammed into his chest.

Her face burst into flames.

"Julie," he purred, "why do you keep running from me?"

Her soul left her body.

"I—I’m not!" she stammered.

Chamber tilted his head, eyes glinting. "No?"

"N-No!"

"Hmm."

He leaned down.

Julie squeaked.

"Then why," he murmured, "do you look like a rabbit caught in a trap, ma chère?"

Julie, whose brain was short-circuiting at an alarming rate, blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Because you talk weird!"

Chamber blinked.

Julie clamped a hand over her mouth.

She did not just say that.

She did not just call Vincent Fabron—possibly the most dangerously charismatic man on Earth— weird.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then—

To her utter horror—

Chamber laughed.

Julie wanted to die.

"You wound me, ma petite," he chuckled. "Weird? Is that truly what you think?"

"Y-Yes!" she stammered.

"And yet," he mused, "you seem to hear me so often."

Julie whipped around.

"I—I don’t have time for this!" she spluttered, marching away at full speed.

She did not look back.

Because she knew—she just knew—he was smirking.

And that realization haunted her for the rest of the night.

Utterly Doomed (Part 6)

Julie was not okay.

In fact, she was the opposite of okay.

After that horrifying encounter, she had locked herself in her room, face buried in her pillow, mentally screaming.

She could still hear him laughing.

She could still see his smirk.

And worst of all—

She could still feel how close he had been.

Julie kicked her blanket in frustration.

"This is so unfair!" she whined.

She hated how he got under her skin so easily.

She hated how he made her brain stop working.

She hated that—despite knowing he was an absolute menace—she still…

Nope.

Not thinking about that.

She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head.

"Stupid Chamber," she muttered.

Unfortunately, Julie’s suffering did not end there.

The next morning, she was determined to act normal—to prove that she was unaffected.

That lasted exactly five minutes.

Because the moment she stepped into the common area, she locked eyes with Chamber.

And her entire brain malfunctioned.

Julie: stops walking.

Chamber: raises an eyebrow.

Julie: spins around and walks out.

Yoru, watching from the couch: "Wow."

Iso, sipping his coffee: "Pathetic."

Julie’s greatest weakness, however, was her own curiosity.

Because no matter how much she wanted to ignore him…

She couldn’t stop wondering what he was thinking.

Does he know how flustered I am?

Does he find it funny?

Is he planning something??

The more she thought about it, the more paranoid she became.

She found herself stealing glances at him, trying to figure him out.

Unfortunately, Chamber noticed.

The first time, she had been peeking at him from behind a book.

Chamber, without looking up: "See something you like, ma chérie?"

Julie: chokes on her own spit.

The second time, she had been watching him from across the room.

Chamber, casually sipping his wine: "Ah, such intense eyes. If you wish to admire me, my dear, you need only ask."

Julie, nearly dropping her cup: "I WASN’T LOOKING AT YOU!"

Chamber, utterly amused: "Hmm. If you say so."

The final straw came when she caught him smirking at her.

Julie, eyes narrowing: "…What."

Chamber, tilting his head: "Pardon?"

Julie, crossing her arms: "You’re looking at me like you’re up to something."

Chamber, lips twitching: "Am I?"

Julie, suspicious: "Yes."

Chamber, leaning forward, voice smooth as silk: "Ma douce, if I were truly plotting something…"

Julie leaned back.

Chamber’s smile deepened.

"…You would not see it coming."

Julie fled the scene.

Yoru and Iso, watching all of this unfold:

Yoru: "She’s so doomed."

Iso: "Completely."

Utterly Doomed (Part 7)

Julie was on edge.

Not because she was angry.

Not because she was annoyed.

But because Chamber was still smirking.

And that was never a good sign.

She tried ignoring him.

She tried avoiding him.

She even tried pretending he didn’t exist.

None of it worked.

Because no matter where she went, somehow, he was there.

And every time their eyes met—

That stupid smirk.

At lunch, she sat as far away from him as possible.

Chamber, sipping his wine from across the table: "Distance makes the heart grow fonder, non?"

Julie: "The only thing growing is my suspicion."

Chamber: "Ah, so I am on your mind, then."

Julie: chokes on her food.

In the training room, she was stretching when he walked by.

Chamber, watching her touch her toes: "Such impressive flexibility, ma chérie."

Julie, immediately standing up: "WHY ARE YOU TALKING."

Chamber, utterly composed: "Am I not allowed to admire?"

Julie, face heating: "No! Admire somewhere else!"

Julie tried hiding behind Yoru.

It was a mistake.

Chamber: "Ah, Yoru, how fortunate you are. To have such a soft, warm presence behind you."

Julie: flies out from behind Yoru like she’s been set on fire.

Yoru, looking at Chamber like he’s the devil himself: "STOP DOING THAT."

Chamber: "Doing what?"

Yoru, exhausted: "EXISTING."

Julie was desperate.

She needed an escape plan.

A way to counter his attacks.

So she turned to the only person she could trust—

"Iso."

The Chinese duelist glanced up from his book. "Hmm?"

Julie leaned in, whispering. "I need help."

Iso raised an eyebrow. "With what?"

She looked around, as if afraid Chamber would hear her from across the building. "With… him."

Iso stared at her for a moment.

Then he sighed.

"You’re hopeless."

But even hopeless people had one last resort.

And Julie?

She was willing to take the risk.

Which is why, the next morning, she marched straight up to Chamber—

And smirked at him first.

Chamber paused.

Julie: "What? Surprised?"

Chamber, amused: "A little."

Julie, crossing her arms: "Yeah, well. I figured it out."

Chamber, intrigued: "Figured what out?"

Julie: "You’re just trying to fluster me."

Chamber, smirking again: "Am I?"

Julie, standing her ground: "Yes. And it won’t work anymore."

Chamber, stepping closer: "Oh? How bold of you to challenge me."

Julie, regretting everything: "I—I’m not challenging—"

Chamber, lowering his voice: "You’ve declared war, ma douce."

Julie, realizing she’s made a mistake:

"…Wait."

Chamber, eyes gleaming: "And I always win my battles."

Julie, panicking:

"WAIT—"

She turned to run—

But Chamber caught her wrist.

She froze.

He leaned in, so close she could feel his breath against her skin.

"Tell me, ma chérie," he murmured, voice smooth as silk, "if I whisper something into your ear right now… will you still claim to be unfazed?"

Julie’s soul left her body.

She ripped her arm away and bolted.

Yoru and Iso, watching from the sidelines:

Yoru: "Dumbass."

Iso: "She was doomed from the start."

Part 8: The Unavoidable Truth

Julie’s heart was still racing as she hid in her room, lying face down on her bed. The sound of her frantic breathing filled the air, the weight of Chamber’s words still hanging in her ears.

What had she done?

She couldn't escape him, no matter how hard she tried. His presence was always so overwhelming, so hard to shake off.

But…

That moment—

It was different.

He had sensed her challenge, her attempt to stand her ground, and he had turned it all back on her with a single glance.

Her thoughts swirled like a storm, trying to make sense of everything, but it was futile.

She couldn’t think straight.

She couldn’t do anything but feel like a fool.

She should’ve known better than to confront him head-on.

The next day, when she ventured outside her room to grab some food, she almost walked straight into Chamber’s path.

He was there, standing in the hallway like some kind of predator, smirking that devilish smirk that made Julie’s insides twist in confusion.

Chamber, observing her awkwardness: “Ah, ma chérie, I see you’ve returned to the battlefield.”

Julie stiffened. “I—”

He took a step closer, closing the distance. Julie instinctively backed away, her back hitting the wall behind her.

Chamber, leaning down slightly to meet her gaze, his voice low and teasing: “I must say, your retreating form is quite… captivating. You seem to run from me, yet I can still feel you pulling me closer.”

Julie’s face flushed instantly. No, no, no. She couldn’t do this again.

Her mind raced, but she couldn’t find her words. She just stared at him, too flustered to move.

Chamber, his tone softening just enough to be dangerously sweet, reached forward and brushed a lock of hair from her face. “I understand, ma douce. The truth can be difficult to accept, but it’s already clear. You want me to push you. You want me to keep going.”

Julie took a sharp breath, instinctively raising her hand to push him away, but—

It was too late.

He had already drawn her in with his words, his presence, everything about him. And the worst part? She knew it.

Her chest tightened. She wanted to scream, to run, but she couldn’t.

Chamber straightened up, his smirk turning into a grin. “You have a lot of pride, don’t you? It’s admirable. But remember—” He paused, his gaze shifting to her lips, “—pride comes before the fall.”

Before Julie could even react, he walked away, leaving her breathless and completely unsettled.

After what felt like an eternity, Julie found herself in the kitchen, trying to prepare a meal, but her thoughts kept drifting back to him.

She glanced over her shoulder. He wasn’t around, but the weight of his presence still lingered.

Her fingers fumbled as she chopped vegetables. She was trying so hard to ignore him, but all the subtle comments, all the knowing smirks, the moments that had left her heart pounding in confusion—they were all so close to overwhelming her.

"Julie, you alright?"

She froze, knife mid-air, before looking up.

It was Yoru.

His expression was more serious than usual, his eyes watching her closely.

Julie tried to force a smile, but it was weak, barely a twitch. “I’m fine, just... thinking.”

Yoru raised an eyebrow. “Thinking about what?”

She hesitated, then shrugged, feeling her cheeks burn. “Just... about things.”

He didn’t seem convinced, but he didn’t push her. Instead, he leaned against the counter and crossed his arms.

The silence between them felt heavy, but it was a welcome change from the silence she had been battling on her own.

After a long pause, Yoru broke it with a dry chuckle. “You’re really avoiding him, huh?”

Julie’s heart skipped a beat, and she turned her gaze back to the vegetables she had almost ruined. “W-who?”

“Chamber, of course.” Yoru’s voice was laced with amusement. “You’ve been acting like he’s the plague. Thought you two were friends?”

Julie’s eyes widened at his words. “N-not really!” She shook her head violently. “I—I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Yoru simply shrugged, his expression unreadable. “Okay, okay. But just... don’t let it bother you too much. I know he’s... difficult, but you know what you’re getting yourself into when you’re around him.”

Julie paused, her mind racing. Yoru’s casual dismissal was enough to make her feel like she was missing something—something important.

Was it really that simple? Was she making a bigger deal out of this than she thought?

Before she could ask him, the door to the kitchen opened.

There stood Iso.

He looked between the two of them, then sighed, shaking his head. “What did I miss?”

Julie, still feeling the unease in her chest, simply muttered, “Nothing, just... being stupid.”

Iso blinked in confusion. “Stupid? What happened?”

Before she could answer, Yoru, always eager to deflect, said, “Julie’s just overthinking things. Same as usual.”

Julie shot him a look, then turned to Iso. “I think it’s best if I just... don’t think about him for now.”

Iso smiled softly. “Fair enough.”

But as she watched them both, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Something had changed in her—and it wasn’t just about her relationship with Chamber. It was about herself.

She had been pushed into a corner, and now, no matter what, she felt like she couldn’t escape the truth: there was no denying it anymore. She was slowly but surely becoming too aware of how he affected her.

The question wasn’t whether she was going to confront him again—it was when.

Part 9: The Final Straw

The atmosphere in the house was tense, even though the day seemed like any other. Julie tried her best to stay busy, avoiding the hallways where Chamber usually lingered, but the closer she got to the living room, the more she could feel the pull of his presence.

It wasn’t like she could just ignore it, or pretend she didn’t feel it when he was near. Chamber’s aura was impossible to escape.

Julie tried to focus on the task at hand, her heart hammering in her chest. She was pacing the hallway when she heard footsteps behind her.

It wasn’t just anyone.

Chamber.

The heat in her chest flared immediately. She froze, knowing what was coming. She tried to walk away, but his steps quickened, closing the distance between them.

"Running away again, ma chère?" His voice was low and teasing, and it made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. "It’s becoming a habit."

She gulped, her body tense with the sudden onslaught of nerves. He was too close. Far too close.

"Chamber, please..." Her voice faltered, but it didn’t stop him. He was already beside her, standing with his usual arrogant, self-assured smile.

His hand reached out, touching her arm gently but possessively. "Why do you fight me so much, hmm? You know what I want."

Julie took a sharp breath, her pulse racing. This wasn’t supposed to be happening, not like this. She wanted to pull away, but his grip on her was firm and unrelenting.

"Chamber, stop it. I—I don’t want this," she stammered, her voice shaking as she tried to keep her distance. But her body betrayed her, her heart beating erratically in her chest.

He wasn’t listening.

With one fluid motion, he pressed her back against the wall, his face dangerously close to hers. His fingers brushed the side of her neck as he leaned in, and Julie’s breath caught. There was no escape now, not from his touch, not from the tension crackling between them.

"You're always so strong with your words," Chamber whispered, his lips just inches away from her ear, "but your body is telling me something else."

Before she could say anything else, his lips crashed onto hers.

It wasn’t gentle—it was commanding. Powerful. And Julie’s body was frozen, caught between the overwhelming force of his kiss and the overwhelming storm of emotions threatening to swallow her whole.

From across the room, hidden in the shadows, Yoru had seen it all.

His fist clenched tightly, his jaw setting in a hard line as he watched Chamber corner her like prey. He had watched for weeks as Julie was pushed around, as Chamber toyed with her feelings, testing her boundaries. But now… this was too much.

He had been silent, hiding his frustration and jealousy behind quiet indifference, but this? This was the moment that snapped something deep inside of him.

Without thinking, he stepped forward, the sound of his boots hitting the floor echoing louder than he’d intended.

Chamber, still deep in the kiss, didn’t even notice at first. But Julie’s eyes went wide, her heart pounding in a new way as she saw Yoru approach.

"Get off her," Yoru’s voice was low but filled with an unmistakable fire.

Julie pushed against Chamber’s chest, her hands trembling. She wanted to escape, but it felt like she was being held captive by both of them, in different ways.

Chamber’s eyes flicked over to Yoru, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Ah, I see. So, the boy’s finally grown some teeth."

Yoru didn’t respond, his gaze hardening as he took another step closer. His body was tense, his fists clenched at his sides. He wasn’t backing down.

"I said get off her." His tone was cold, the fury bubbling beneath it unmistakable.

Julie, still breathless and shaken, pushed harder, breaking free from Chamber’s grasp. Her body was still tingling from the heat of the kiss, but now she was shaking with something else—fear mixed with relief.

She stumbled back, her heart racing.

Yoru moved forward quickly, grabbing Chamber by the collar and shoving him back, his chest heaving with the raw emotions surging through him. "Don't touch her again," he growled, his voice dangerous.

Chamber raised an eyebrow, amused and a little impressed. "Well, well, it seems our quiet Yoru has a lot more to him than I thought."

Yoru didn’t care for Chamber’s playful tone. This wasn’t a game anymore. It had never been a game to him.

Julie stood there, frozen, watching the two of them. Her mind was in chaos—she didn’t know what to think, or who to turn to. But one thing was for certain: this had crossed a line.

"Yoru, I—"

Before Julie could speak, Yoru’s gaze softened, just for a moment. He turned his attention back to her, his voice calmer, but still filled with an edge. "Get away from him, Julie. You don’t deserve that."

Chamber chuckled softly, brushing himself off. "A protective little knight, huh? Cute. But she’ll come around, just like always."

Julie could only watch, still in a daze, as Yoru finally turned his back on Chamber and walked over to her. He didn’t speak as he placed a hand on her shoulder, guiding her away from the scene.

Chamber watched them leave, his smirk never faltering.

This wasn’t over. Not by a long shot.

Julie’s heart was still racing as Yoru led her out of the hallway. His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, a silent reassurance, but it didn’t quite reach the depths of her panic. The kiss. Chamber’s touch.

She wanted to scream, to run away, but the quiet of Yoru’s presence grounded her. His protective aura wasn’t just a façade; it was real. Still, the moments that had just passed kept replaying in her mind. The kiss. The way her body had reacted.

She stumbled slightly as Yoru gently guided her back toward the living room, not speaking, but the tension in the air spoke volumes. Julie felt small. She felt… confused. So confused.

Yoru didn’t ask her if she was okay. He didn’t need to. His expression said it all: he was furious, but he wasn’t going to push her. Not yet.

But Julie couldn’t stand the silence between them.

"Yoru..." Her voice came out quieter than she’d intended, small and uncertain. She couldn’t look him in the eyes, though she felt him standing so close.

Yoru didn’t turn around immediately. He was breathing steadily, his jaw tense, his posture rigid. But when he did finally look at her, there was a softness there that she wasn’t expecting. He didn't say anything, but the way he met her gaze—steady and comforting—was enough.

"Yoru, I..." She felt a lump in her throat, the confusion and frustration bubbling up again, a wave that threatened to drown her. She didn’t know how to make sense of everything that had just happened. Of the emotions swirling in her chest. Of Chamber’s games. Her own reactions.

Yoru took a step forward, his gaze steady but softening. "Julie… you don’t have to explain anything to me. But I just want you to know, you don’t need to face this alone."

Julie’s hands trembled at her sides, her heart skipping in her chest. She had so many things she wanted to say—questions, doubts—but none of them seemed to come out right. She was overwhelmed, too flustered by everything, by the pressure.

“I didn’t mean for this to… I didn’t ask for it,” she whispered, almost to herself. The words sounded more fragile than she wanted them to.

Yoru nodded once, his expression unreadable for a brief moment, but there was something almost protective in the way he stood in front of her. "It’s not your fault. You know that, right?" His voice was soft, yet there was that underlying firmness to it. "Chamber’s not someone you need to figure out. He’s a... problem we’ll handle, okay?"

Julie felt like she could finally breathe for the first time in what felt like forever. But even as she nodded, still unsure of what was really going on, she felt Yoru’s presence—steady, unwavering.

The sound of footsteps broke the silence.

Chamber was coming toward them.

Julie’s heart immediately skipped, her instincts screaming to get away. But Yoru was already standing in front of her, blocking her from the man who had crossed all the lines.

Chamber’s smirk was still in place, but it looked more like a challenge now. His eyes flickered to Yoru, then to Julie.

“So, what’s this, then?” His voice was laced with amusement, though the glint in his eyes told a different story. "You don’t want to share the pretty girl, Yoru?"

Yoru’s response was nothing but cold silence. His eyes were narrowed, but there was no anger there—only a quiet, dangerous calm. He wasn’t going to rise to Chamber’s provocations this time. Not when Julie was right there, clearly shaken by everything.

Chamber took a step closer, but Yoru didn’t move an inch.

"Do you think I care about your little… games, Chamber?" Yoru said quietly, his voice controlled but sharp. "Don’t you dare cross that line again."

Julie’s heart skipped another beat. There was a deep intensity in Yoru’s voice that she’d never heard before. His words were a warning.

Chamber stopped in his tracks, seemingly unfazed by the challenge in Yoru’s voice. His smirk remained, but it was tinged with something darker, something she couldn’t quite place.

"Fine. I’ll back off." He raised his hands in mock surrender. "But remember, Julie," he added with a dangerous edge in his tone, "you can’t hide from me forever. Sooner or later, you’ll come to your senses."

Yoru moved between them without a word, and Chamber gave one last glance at Julie before turning away.

Julie’s chest was still tight. It was hard to breathe, hard to think, after everything that had happened. She felt exposed, vulnerable—but not in the way she had with Chamber. It was different now.

Yoru turned to her, his expression softer than it had been moments ago. His hand reached out, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "Are you okay?" His voice was quiet, and the sincerity behind it made her feel both comforted and exposed at the same time.

Julie nodded, though she still couldn’t look him in the eye. She wasn’t sure if she could trust her own thoughts at the moment. "I don’t know… Yoru. This is all so… confusing."

Yoru exhaled softly, stepping closer to her. He didn’t say anything more, just gently wrapped his arms around her. His embrace was warm, safe, and Julie found herself sinking into it despite her racing thoughts. She didn’t understand everything, not yet. But maybe it was okay not to have all the answers right away.

For now, all she wanted was to stay here, in the safety of Yoru’s arms. It was the only thing that felt real in a world where everything else seemed to be spinning out of control.

Chamber could wait. He would always be there. But Julie wasn’t ready to face him anymore—not yet.

For now, she needed time. And Yoru seemed willing to give it to her.