#(shit how is it four in the morning eep) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

authorialarcanist · 3 years

Text

Gracidea Blossom Chapter 6: Luxuriating Lotad & Zealous Zubat

(Pokémon Diamond, Pearl, & Platinum x Little Busters!)

Mirror Links: AO3, Pokécommunity, Spacebattles

---

Previous - Next

---

The next morning sees Rin, Riki, Masato, and Kengo making their way through Oreburgh’s western outskirts. Heavy gray skies shadow the town, and along with the lack of noise coming from the mines, they lend the atmosphere of a city deep in slumber.

When the childhood friends had gathered in the Pokémon Center’s lobby for breakfast, Kyousuke had begged off, citing the need to clear out the blockage they’d encountered under Mt. Coronet.

“You guys should go on ahead. I can catch up when I’m done, so there’s no point waiting for me.”

As such, it’s still fairly early when the four pass the last couple of buildings and ascend a small hill to reach the mountainside walling Oreburgh off from the west. Long ago, travelers looking to reach the easternmost areas of Sinnoh had to detour up Route 206 and swing around Eterna Forest and Floaroma Town to get around the mountains that cradle the mining city. However, when Jubilife City was first built, miners were called in from Oreburgh to help carve the city’s foundation out of the mountain that once sat in its place. On the way, they wound up digging a tunnel through the rock that cut them off from Route 203, creating an easy path east and connecting them to what would become one of Sinnoh’s most bustling cities. Even now, centuries later, the foot traffic through what became known as Oreburgh Gate allows the city to maintain some economic relevance despite the fall of the mines.

The cave itself is much more straightforward than Mt. Coronet. Being a human creation rather than a natural cave system, the walls and floor are relatively smooth, if a little worn out from generations of travelers passing through. What’s more, the path is fairly straight, leading right from one side of the mountain to the other without major detours.

There aren’t many Pokémon in the Gate, either; aside from the occasional confused Psyduck wandering in, the tunnel’s only inhabitants are the Geodude and Zubat that make every cave from here all the way to Hoenn their home. It’d be child’s play to get through the tunnel without any ruckus.

So, naturally, the muscle idiots decide this is the perfect opportunity for some training.

Kengo clears his throat. “It’s important to remember that wild Pokémon won’t always be polite and fight you one on one. If you disturb their nests by accident, many will be like those Clefairy yesterday and attack en masse. If you want to deal with their teamwork, you need to know how to work together, yourselves.”

“Didn’t we do that already?” Rin cocks her head. “Riki and Kyousuke and I all fought together in Mt. Coronet.”

“Sure,” Masato replies, “But in the end, each of you was just fighting half of the Clefairy on your own.”

Kengo nods. “It may as well have been three separate battles, for how little you interacted. There’s a difference between fighting together, and fighting together.If you’re comfortable working as a team with somebody, and know how to build on their moves, then you can combine your strength and handle numerically or statistically superior opponents.”

Riki hums and cups his chin. “So… Do you two fight like that, then?”

Masato barks a laugh. “Not a chance! I’m not letting Kengo see my techniques until I can use them against him!”

“Hmph. Like you have any ‘techniques’ to speak of.” Kengo scoffs. “Your idea of a special move is to just try hitting me twice as hard.”

“What!” Masato’s eyes bug out. “How did you guess my secret weapon? Nooooo! Now I have to hit you fourtimes as hard! No, eight!”

“I didn’t think you could count that high. Be careful what you try to do with that brain, or you might break something.”

“Maybe you should stop worrying about me, and start counting your chances of winning! I’ll show you—“

“Both of you, shut UP!” Rin jumps in between the two idiots, kicking at them both and causing them to stumble. “I’m not going to fight all of the wild Pokémon because of you morons again!”

“Guh…” Kengo closes his eyes in shame at the reminder. He coughs. “…R-right. Anyways, as I was saying, you and Riki should practice fighting as a pair. You’ll be able to accomplish more if you know how to react to each other’s moves.”

“Wait…” Riki groans. “You don’t mean…”

“That’s right!” Masato grins and jabs his thumb at an innocent family of Zubat minding their own business on the ceiling not far away. They’re small, blue bat Pokémon with large purple wings and ears, wide fanged mouths, and no eyes. “Kyousuke asked us to train you, so we’re training you - and the best training is experience! Get battling!”

“I don’t want to!” Rin glares at Masato, refusing to give an inch.

“Shouldn’t we keep moving? Didn’t we have enough interruptions yesterday,” Riki sighs.

“I saw this coming, and prepared accordingly. Rin?” Kengo pulls a metal can of Pokémon food out of a pocket in his robe. “If you and Riki successfully pull off a team attack, I’ll give you this Mon Petit. It's Santa's favorite, right?”

“We’re doing it! Riki, let’s go!” Rin enthusiastically flings a Pokéball at the path in front of her, releasing Lennon. “Use Ember!” The Litten spits several small gouts of flame straight up, and the Zubat scatter. One wobbles this way and that, before it gets its bearings and screeches at Rin.

Wordlessly, Rin points her thumb at Riki. Sorry. It’s for a good cause.

Riki takes a step back, and the bat Pokémon swivels to face him. He shudders suddenly, and freezes in place as the Zubat exudes the impression of a probing stare. “Wh- come on! You don’t even have eyes!”

“There’s no choice but to fight, Riki! You have to defend yourself!” Rin eggs him on.

“Yeah, Riki!” Masato echoes Rin with a shit-eating grin. “Defend yourself!”

“Shut up!” Rin doesn’t miss a beat, and commands Lennon to jump out of the way of a Zubat as it swoops in to take a bite.

“Shouldn’t I be defending against you…?” Still, Riki sends out his Turtwig and quickly has it try to tackle any Pokémon that get close enough to attack. Unfortunately, the turtle is too slow to provide much deterrent, and the bats continue to dive bomb it with impunity.

“Ember! Ember, Lennon!” Rin’s Pokémon scatters flames this way and that, making up for the Zubats’ agility by spreading its attacks too wide to fully dodge. The Pokémon attacking Lennon finally give up, flying away to lick their wounds. “Use Scratch!” Lennon pounces at one of the Zubat fluttering around Terra, and quickly the enemies have all fled.

Rin turns to Kengo with shining eyes. “There! We won, now give me the Mon Petit!”

*BZZZZZZ!* A harsh buzzing sound makes her jump a foot in the air. She whirls around, glaring this way and that, until she sees Masato holding his Pokégear with the attitude of the cat Pokémon that just caught the canary.

“That wasn’t teamwork, Rin.” Kengo sighs.

“What!” Rin waves her hands wildly. “But Riki drew their attention while I beat them! That’s teamwork!”

“Usually, your wall should be intentionally filling that role.” Kengo pockets the can of cat food, and Rin’s outstretched hand goes limp. “Try again.”

…

The next attempt is a round rock Pokémon with two arms called Geodude lying on the side of the path, which Terra and Lennon slowly whittle down.

“Now, Lennon! Finish it off!”

“Pokéball, go!”

Riki pitches a Pokéball at the Geodude right as Lennon dives for center mass, and it smacks the Litten in the head. By the time Rin’s done yelling at Riki, the Geodude has merrily rolled away.

*BZZZZZT!* Rin yelps and aims a roundhouse kick at Masato, only to lose her balance and fall in a heap. Kengo looks on impassively. “Try again.”

…

A Psyduck shudders in fear as Terra barrels towards it, only for an Ember attack to engulf both Pokémon from behind.

“A flaming tackle! Woah, did I just invent a new move? This must be the pinnacle of team attacks!”

*BZZZRRRZZZRRRZZZT!* “Eep!” Rin windmills her arms and topples over backwards. She turns and hisses at the muscle idiots, but Kengo doesn’t react.

“Try again.”

…

Rin and Riki face off against the Geodude from before, this time with friends. She gives Riki a slight nod, which he returns.

“Now! Santa, use Confusion!” As the bell Pokémon starts ringing, a Geodude begins to roll around wildly and smack into its companions.

“Terra, Absorb!” The tiny turtle Pokémon waddles into the din and leeches energy from the distracted rock Pokémon, giddy despite the effort of using energy attacks. Its jaw snaps back suddenly as a thrown rock interrupts its feast, and the original Geodude advances on it menacingly… But Santa sneaks up and startles the Geodude with a sneak attack, throwing it off balance and letting Terra’s tackle send it backwards into a pool of water with a splash.

Wait…

Water?

Rin glances around, noticing an array of cracked boulders, small ledges, and earthy ramps around her. In front of her is a long, wide pool of cloudy water.

Riki’s voice echoes next to her. “When did we even getdown here?”

Rin shrugs, and the two stand for a moment and watch the ripples in the pool. The ripples get fainter… and then stronger…? The friends dive to either side as their opponent is spat back out of the water and ricochets off the wall behind where they were standing.

They get up and see a dark blue catfish Pokémon with a yellow mark like a ‘W’ on its forehead, long yellow whiskers, and light blue lips stretched into a wide frown peering out of the water at them. They peer back. It’s a Whiscash, and it doesn’t look very happy to be here.

Terra waddles up to it, and tries an Absorb.

…Nope, not happy at all.

“AAAUGH!” Rin and Riki scramble every which way as the Whiscash spits pulsing blasts of water at them. Terra gets knocked out in a single hit from one of its attacks, and Rin has to tackle Riki out of the way of a Water Pulse when he pauses to withdraw it. The Whiscash starts thrashing around more and more, and the ground shakes all around Rin as she pulls Riki by the hand back up the rocky stairs that led them down from the main tunnel.

The two collapse once they’re back up on the ground floor of Oreburgh Gate, and the earthquake slowly subsides.

“We,” Riki pants, “are never, doing that again.”

Rin starts to nod, before realizing something and tensing up. She glances here and there, whole body coiled like a spring, but the expected noise never comes. After a minute, she starts to relax and pushes herself to her feet.

*WEEE-OOO-WEEE-OOO-WEEE-OOO!*

…

”Okay, I said I was sorry! I got carried away! Now can I please have my Pokégear back,” Masato wheedles as the group wanders the tunnel. Santa clutches the apparatus in its tendrils, jingling merrily as it hops along with its new toy.

“No! I refuse!” Rin shakes her head vigorously. “Actually… Santa, break it!”

“Noooooo! Not my calls from Riki!” Masato shouts out in despair as the Chingling glances at his Pokégear quizzically and raises it above its head, ready to slam its rope down.

“Ahem.” Kengo catches Rin’s attention and waves the can of Mon Petit conspicuously.

“…”

“…Fine. Santa, give.” Rin hangs her head in defeat, and her Pokémon relaxes its grip so that Masato can snatch his Pokégear back. He cradles it lovingly.

Kengo nods in approval. “Try—“

Rin explodes. “I getit, okay?”

…

Scree! Scree! Several Zubat back and forth across the path in front of the group. One flies closer and… somehow… fixes Rin with an accusing glare. Several red, angry scratches decorate its wings and back.

Rin can’t help but be impressed by the hostility and determination radiating from the bat. “Woah! Even after all that, you came back for revenge? You’re amazing!” She scratches her chin, searching for a memory of learning something that’s on the tip of her tongue. Something about a banished ambassador… Ah, that’s it! She smacks a fist into her open palm, like a judge bringing down his gavel. “I’ll call you… Michizane!”

“Is this really the time, Rin?” Riki implores her, voice dripping with exasperation, but as Michizane wheels around for a divebomb, it feels like there’s a live wire humming in Rin’s veins.

“Riki, follow my lead!” Rin quickly hops out of the way of the lead Zubat’s dive, even as she calls for Santa to do the same. Before she can retaliate, the others swoop in to pester the Chingling, flying back out of the way any time it gets its footing enough to lash out with its ropes. “Ignore Michizane, we need to deal with his friends first!” Her attention flits back to Santa. “Use Confusion!”

A Zubat loses its bearings and smacks into the wall, another goes down under a thrown rock from Riki’s Bonsly, but Michizane just keeps dodging around their attacks and coming back for more. Finally, as the last of its backup goes down, the Zubat makes a mistake - it nearly smacks into its falling comrade and pauses, fluttering in place for a moment as it gets its bearings. “Riki, now!” At Rin’s signal, Riki shouts his own command and one of Sly’s thrown rocks hits Michizane right in the wing. The Zubat falls, finally catching itself a foot from the ground.

“Santa! Use Wrap!” Before Michizane can regain its altitude, Santa grabs it with its ropes and brings them down hard, slamming the Zubat against the ground. It brings the Zubat down once, twice, then finally releases it as the bat Pokémon’s thrashing becomes too much to handle. It’s at that moment that Rin chucks a Pokéball with a cry. Even dazed, Michizane executes an aileron roll to the right… But Rin’s throw was off, as usual, and the Zubat winds up dodging right into the wild ball’s path.

The Pokéball drops to the ground. It shakes once…

Twice…

…and bursts open, the top half cracking off of the hinge in the process. Michizane flutters up unsteadily, skewing first to the right, then to the left, and then it opens its mouth and a burst of high-frequency vibrations forces Rin to curl up and clamp her hands over her ears. By the time the sound stops and she straightens back up, the Zubat has fled.

Mission Failed…

As Rin’s hearing returns, she makes out the tail end of Riki mumbling “…sure that wasn’t the original mission…” Did she say that out loud? Then, a rhythmic sound of two hands slapping together.

Kengo is clapping. “You did it, you two. You worked together!”

“Huh?” Rin shakes her head to clear the fog from it.

“You know, the whole reason you were doing this?” Masato taps the side of his head. “You sure I’m the idiot here?”

“Uh…Oh! Right!” Rin finally snaps out of her daze, and greedily snatches the Mon Petit from Kengo’s hand when he offers it. Lennon’s going to love this! “Mission Complete!”

She ignores the fond shake of Riki’s head as she whirls back towards the exit, prize in hand, and triumphantly strides towardsoh whoops that’s the wall.

Ok, so maybe her head’s still spinning a little.

———

Half an hour later, Rin’s back in top form. The group decided to take a break while she recovered from the Supersonic, a consideration she’s silently grateful for, but now they’ve all picked themselves back up and are ready to go.

Thankfully, they’ve made enough progress during Rin’s training that it’s only a couple minutes’ walk before the exit comes into sight.

Less luckily, it’s accompanied by the rushing sound of heavy rain. It’s coming down hard enough that for a puddle to start to leak into the tunnel, rippling and splashing water every which way from the raindrops hammering on it outside.

Kengo furrows his brow. “It wasn’t supposed to start raining this early, was it?”

Riki scratches his chin. “I mean… it isalready eleven, after all that ruckus. What do you think, should we wait it out?”

“Nah,” Masato replies, shaking his head. “Weather report said it was supposed to go on all day.”

“I don’t want to run all the way to Jubilife in that…” Rin gives the exitway a guarded look.

“Wait!” Riki snaps his fingers. “We packed an umbrella, I’m sureI remember that on the list!” He pulls off his backpack and rummages through it. “Come on, you guys help me look!”

After a minute searching, Rin finds it hidden in a corner of her own backpack. She pulls the umbrella out, and with a flourish it pops open to its full width.

“All right, Riki, Rin! I knew we could count on the two of you!” Masato shoots them a thumbs up.

Rin glances up at the umbrella.

She glances at Riki, Masato, and Kengo in turn.

She looks at the umbrella again.

A moment later, the issue sinks in for the others, too.

“I guess we… packed anumbrella, huh…” Riki chuckles nervously for a moment before giving up and falling into a sigh.

“You know, Riki… Sometimes, you’re almost as bad as them,” Rin says.

“Ouch. Harsh.” Kengo pats Riki on the back consolingly.

“That means you’re one of us, now! Come on, Riki! Let’s be muscle buddies!”

“No, no, no…” Riki shakes his head rapidly. “I don’t think I’m quite that far gone yet…”

“Aw, Riki rejected me…” Masato hangs his head. “Ah, well! Hey, Kengo!”

“Why do I have the feeling I know what you’re going to propose…” Kengo regards his friend suspiciously.

“Let’s race! First one to get out of the rain wins!”

“Hmph. Well, with just the one umbrella, I suppose we don’t have a better choice.” Kengo starts stretching to warm up. “Good luck, you two.”

“Woah, woah, wait!” Riki waves his hands in front of him. “Are you two serious?”

Rin shakes her head. “Those two are crazy, Riki. You should have given up by now.”

“Eh.” Masato shrugs. “I’ll own it. Now let’s go!” With those words, he and Kengo burst into a run, splashing water behind them as they reach the puddle and vanish into the rain.

After a minute, Rin speaks up. “Well, let’s get moving.”

“I… they…” Riki sighs, and offers her the umbrella. “…Yeah, alright.”

Riki withdraws Sly and, after a moment’s contemplation, sends out Terra so she can enjoy the rain. Santa hops up onto Rin’s shoulder, and she takes a moment to find the position where the umbrella will offer the most protection. And then the two step out into Route 203.

The rain hammers against their umbrella with a sound like a never-ending drumroll. Rin tries to slip even closer to the middle, but her shoulder still gets wet where she’s not fully protected. The spray of water coming down and mist splashing up from puddles already obscures the path forward enough that she can’t see where Masato and Kengo have gone. It hardly takes two steps before the wetness of the grass soaks through her shoes and socks.

Still, bit by bit, she grows used to it. There’s something peaceful in the sound of the rain, and as she watches Terra venture out cautiously at first, then begin to frolic in the rain, Rin can’t help but smile. Her awareness expands, and she begins to notice the droplets running down the leaves of trees, the swaying of the tall grass around her legs, the way some Pokémon shelter from the rain and others revel in it.

As she and Riki start to descend the route’s rolling hills, Rin notices a family of Shinx curled up under a tree, huddled around their Luxray mother for warmth. One of the small, light blue kittens sticks its paw out from their shelter and yanks it back upon contact with the rain, only to poke it back out in curiosity a moment later. A short ways further, and the two pass a small pond full of Goldeen and Magikarp bobbing up to the surface, chasing ripples left by the rain. Another few minutes later, and Rin startles Riki by coming to a sudden stop.

“What is it?”

“Look.” She points at a crowd of what looks like lilypads standing in the rain. Looking closer, they’re mounted on the backs of small blue Pokémon with six legs each and short yellow bills. “It’s pretty rare to see so many Lotad at once here.”

“Oh…” Riki’s gaze follows Rin’s for a moment, watching one Lotad snap playfully at the rain. Water builds up in the leafy rain dish on its back, creating something like a miniature pond of its own. Rin wonders whether smaller Pokémon could live in it for a moment, before Riki’s voice snaps her back to reality. “Do… you think something’s wrong?”

“Huh?”

“I mean, it’s unusually heavy rain, and if there are more Lotad than there should be…”

Rin cocks her head. She’d just meant to point out something cute.

Riki shrugs. “…Anyways, we should get moving again. I just want to get out of this rain…”

Rin shoots one last glance back at the family of Lotad, but she doesn’t really have a choice but to follow the umbrella. As she and Riki reach the end of the hills and cross onto a short concrete path leading the way, she doesn’t bother pointing out any of the other Pokémon she notices in the rain.

Soon, they arrive at a small stairway leading up onto a large stone foundation. This is what’s left of the mountain that once stood in place of Jubilife City, and stepping onto it marks entry into the city limits. The change is incredibly sudden; one moment they’re walking between grass and trees, and the next they’re flanked by businesses and skyscrapers. Jubilife City is almost entirely unlike Hearthome, from the smooth grey tiles that make up the city floor to the crush of strangers hurrying this way and that even in the rain.

Rin shrinks a little closer to Riki under the umbrella as they pass.

“We need to find someplace to get in from the rain.” Riki glances around, looking from building to building.

After another minute of walking, Rin notices the sound of smooth jazz coming from a fancy café on the side of the street, with a covered patio. With one last, desperate rush, she and Riki make their way under the awning, where they can finally fold up their umbrella without getting drenched.

Once Rin is done wringing out her ponytail, she relaxes enough to glance around the café. Leafy potted plants are scattered around the patio, with flowers visible in the windows of the building proper. In the center of the patio is a circular stage, with a jazz band playing their hearts out atop it. The café’s glass double doors are open in order to let the music in, revealing several scattered tables and a bar. Riki and Rin don’t seem to be the only ones to have the idea of using the restaraunt as an escape; the café is quite crowded. There are several trainers sitting with their Pokémon at their tables, occasionally hand-feeding them bits of treats. A girl in a beige sweater is nursing a mug of some steaming beverage at the bar. And… are those Masato and Kengo, sitting at a table by the door with soaked hair?

Masato grins and waves them over. “Glad you found us!”

“Don’t worry,” Kengo adds, “We told them we were expecting a party of five.”

Riki and Rin pick their way across the patio to their friends.

“You said a party of five,” Riki inquires. “Does that mean you know how Kyousuke’s doing?”

Kengo nods. “We called him once we got here; he’s on his way.”

“We were just debating calling you to tell you where to find us, but it looks like you wound up here on your own!”

“Mhm,” Riki replies. “It seemed like the first building that was expecting people to just walk in out of the rain.”

“Yeah, that’s why we picked it too,” Kengo concurs. “So how was the walk?”

“Wet,” Riki says.

At the same time, Rin replies, “It was nice.”

“Oh?”

“There were lots of Pokémon out in the rain,” Rin continues. “They looked happy.”

“I see.” Kengo smiles gently for a moment, before their conversation is interrupted by a muffled sonic boom. Everyone looks out the window to see a Garchomp skid to a stop outside the café. Kyousuke clambers down from its back and withdraws it before striding confidently into the restaurant.

“Yo.” He waves lazily as he approaches the Little Busters’ table. “I take it everything went well?”

Masato nods and jabs his thumb at Riki and Rin. “Yup. Even got some training in for these two!”

The pair in question share a glance, concurring that they’ll never speak of the Whiscash incident.

“That’s great,” Kyousuke exclaims with a boyish grin. He sits down, scattering rainwater everywhere with his careless movement. “Now that I’m here, let’s order lunch! I’m starving!”

“Good idea. Waiter!” Kengo flags down a waiter, and they order their food before returning to the conversation.

“So… Did everything go alright with the Coronet path?” Riki glances at Kyousuke curiously.

“Oh, yeah, it just took a couple Rock Smashes and it was good as new!”

Riki just sighs at the reminder of their pointless detour.

“Honestly,” Kyousuke continues, “The hardest part of this whole expedition was just getting Irwin to turn corners. Garchomp don’t exactly have the best handling at top speed.”

The conversation continues in this manner as they wait for their food, skimming from small talk to small talk. Eventually, the band finishes their current song and switches over to a jazzy arrangement of the music that plays in Pokémarts around the island chain.

(“Even in all this crazy rain, we promise our music will drive you insane! Now here’s a song I’m sure you all find familiar - with our own twist!”)

Around that time, the girl at the counter finishes her drink and, after what looks like a short conversation with one of the employees, gets up to leave. She weaves between crowded tables, trying to reach the door, but just as she nears Rin’s table, she comes face to face with a waiter and stumbles back to avoid a collision.

“Wah—!” She windmills her arms for a moment as she topples backwards. Riki jumps up to try and help, but instead of catching her he just winds up cushioning her fall as her back slams into him.

“Ow…” He rubs his head before getting up. “You alright?”

“Hm?” The girl rises to her feet, and Rin shrinks a little in her seat as the stranger’s gaze passes over her. Her beige sweatshirt is a little ruffled from the fall, but otherwise she looks okay. She has strawberry blonde hair tied up by a star-shaped ornament with a trailing red ribbon on each side. Her eyes are blue, and there’s something oddly familiar in their expression, something that Rin can’t quite place… After a moment, the girl continues. “Oh. Yes, I’m fine. I’m sorry for the trouble…” She bows an apology before stepping around their table and making her exit. When Rin turns back to the others, she sees Riki looking after where the girl left with a pensive expression.

Before she can ask, Kyousuke interrupts her thought. “Finally!” Rin glances at the table and sees that their food has arrived; the waiter who was nearly in the collision must have been bringing it to them. “Come on, let’s eat!”

Rin shrugs, and digs in. It probably wasn’t important.

#Little Busters!#Pokemon #Natsume Rin #Naoe Riki #Inohara Masato #Miyazawa Kengo #Natsume Kyousuke #Kamikita Komari #Gracidea Blossom #Fanfiction #Sinnoh

1 note · View note

words-writ-in-starlight · 4 years

Note

JEAN/SCOTT FOR THE MEME PLEASE. if i'm allowed to send multiple i WILL be asking about other fandoms later but like. I LOVE THE KIDS.

The kids!!!!!! This turned into kind of the Jean hour. Please enjoy this puree of Comics I Enjoy, ft exactly nothing from the comics of the last twenty to thirty years.

Headcanon

This is actually straight up comic canon, but I love it so much that I have to expand on it a little. In that...niche, that plateau, when Jean is Phoenix but hasn’t quite tipped over the event horizon of power, she becomes the only person who’s seen Scott’s eyes since he first gained his powers. She’s never quite clear on what she’s doing, she doesn’t know and has an alarming thought that she might be in his brain far more literally than usual, but he smiles at her thoughtlessly. Jean can feel that he’s a little dazed by the experience, he touches her face with poorly-concealed wonder, and then his hand lands in his hair and he says in delight, “Your hair actually is this color!”

“Of course it is,” Jean laughs, halfway to sitting in his lap with his glasses dangling from one hand. “What, did you think ‘redhead’ was metaphorical?”

Scott flushes a little at the teasing, but he still has a lock of her hair between his fingers, turning it in the sunlight like he’s never seen it before. His glasses are as transparent as anyone can make them, but Jean knows that he still sees the world through a film of scarlet, half because of the quartz, half because of his own uncontrolled powers. It’s tricky to keep his optic blasts leashed, takes more of Jean’s concentration than she’d like, but it’s worth it to see the way he smiles at her, warm brown eyes crinkled at the corners.

Heartcanon

Jean writes Scott a letter, in the handful of hours that she’s--herself, that she is Jean Grey, who grew up in New York and likes riding in convertibles with the top down on the highway and sometimes makes herself peanut brittle at three in the morning so that she doesn’t have to share, and not Dark Phoenix, beautiful and terrible and hungry. Those hours of sanity were hard bought by the X-Men, by her family, and so she petitions Lilandra for paper and pen, and she writes Scott a letter. Jean already has plans for this trial by combat. She’s sorry about those plans. But she can feel the fire chewing at the base of her skull, she can taste the iron-sweetness of a dying star on her lips, she wants--

She’s got plans.

The letter isn’t long, not really. One page, unlined, with the polished cursive handwriting that Jean had drilled into her in middle school marching neatly across it. It’s all the things that anyone ever wants to say. I’m sorry, I wish it wasn’t like this, it’s not your fault. She underlines it’s not your fault until her pen rips through the paper and marks the glass-smooth desk underneath. Scott won’t believe her, but God, she wishes he would.

I could make him, Jean thinks idly, tapping her pen against the desk as she wonders what else there is to say. I could make him believe me. I could tell him, and explain, and he would understand, and then he would stay with me, I could make him stay with me, I could keep him forever, it wouldn’t matter what else I did, I could keep him--

Jean lets out a shaking breath that tastes like ash and hydrogen, and writes one more sentence.

I could never have lived with myself if I did anything else.

She signs it Love, forever, and writes her name for the last time.

Gutcanon

Before everything goes horribly wrong, Jean forges a mental rapport with Scott, a permanent link, one that will let her find him anywhere, let him call for her as easily as if she was in the next room. It’s what finally lets him drag her free of Mastermind’s illusion, of Jean as the Black Queen of the Hellfire Club, much too late to make a difference. It’s what lets him taste blood in his mouth when Jean’s control snaps and Phoenix’s teeth bite through her lip. It’s what lets him feel the billowing heat of the star she swallows down, and what lets him say with assurance that Phoenix cannot kill what Jean truly loves, and then--

And then she’s Jean again, herself, tearful and shaken by what she’s done, what she’s become, and the rapport is closed.

It stays closed until the last moment, when she’s already given away her plan and started her suicide, and then Jean’s mind comes crashing back like the tide held away through sheer force of will. It’s all fire and savage rage and joy and hunger and love, and Scott can’t tell what’s Jean and what’s Phoenix and what’s both--

The silence afterward is worse than anything he’s ever felt.

Junkcanon

Jean is the kind of person who leaves fights with a lot of left-over adrenaline and tends to crash like a motherfucker if she doesn’t handle it somehow. Scott is an extremely good sport about this, although he does enforce a very strict policy about even semi-public sex, so Jean has mastered dragging him into closets or bathrooms to kiss him dizzy before he can protest. She has a very fond memory of managing to pin him to the inside of a vault door in a bank, one time.

Also, telepathic sex! I have a lot of thoughts about it. Safewords are for people who don’t have a continuously open door into their partner’s brain. They do Stuff With Blindfolds because Scott finds it reassuring to know that he’s harmless. Jean enjoys sensation play because...*gestures to the entire Dark Phoenix saga* she just does, that shit’s canonical.

Spleencanon

I have to believe that Jean and Scott were able to raise Rachel for at least a couple years. Please let these two raise one of their kids. I understand that they’re the Skywalkers of the Marvel universe, but just let them! Raise! Their! Kids! In! Peace!

On a related note, AU where they find some assorted clones of Jean, courtesy of Sinister. They’re all half-grown, five girls with bright hair and hard eyes--the oldest is maybe twelve and the youngest can’t be more than two--and Scott and Jean stand there for a moment, looking over the lot of them.

“We’re not perfect,” the oldest says in a clear, cool voice. She reports her name to be Six. “So we weren’t finished. I was the closest--the most recent. So he put me in charge. Who are you?”

//I’m going to kill him,// Jean says silently, and Scott grabs her wrist before she can march back to Sinister and crush him.

“Let’s--okay,” Scott says. “Let’s slow down. I’m Cyclops. Scott. This is Jean.”

“We’re going to take you away from here,” Jean says, with the kind of absolute confidence that implies and god help you if you say we’re not, Scott Summers. “You’re Six--how many of you are there?”

“Just us,” one of the middle girls says in a shy whisper, the one holding the little girl on her hip. “I’m Four. One didn’t--we’re not sure. She didn’t make it.”

//All right,// Scott allows, on his private link with Jean. //Maybe we do kill Sinister, actually.//

#jean grey #scott summers #phoenix #the skywalkers of the marvel universe #xmen #starlight writes stuff #ask meme #headcanon meme #i promise i didn't mean to sideline scott so hard i really do love him #i just am...SUPER obsessed with jean as phoenix #everyone who wants to do phoenix as just Jean But Crazy is a coward and i will not be moved #make phoenix the star-swallowing heart of a nebula that never knew what it was to feel before it found jean #before it felt the strongest mind in the cosmos SCREAM for someone to save her family and answered #because how could it not? how could a thing that stirred itself out of stardust and fire not answer that kind of power?#it starts as magnet to magnet and it ends in horrible co-dependence and the entire time phoenix clutches at jean with claws of iron #and asks 'why? why are we not together? why do you fight me? why is the joy not here anymore?'#'what will bring us the joy again? the joy of flying and feeling the wind and loving the world?'#and then phoenix swallows a sun and all the people who love its light to make jean love it again and jean--#god help her jean almost does #THAT'S the shit i crave!#'phoenix is just jean but op' you are a bitch sir!#phoenix is an alien intelligence so far beyond fathoming that all jean can do it swallow it whole and wait for it to burn through her bones #jean grey knows the taste of a supernova and the sound of a planet in flames!#phoenix knows the feeling of gentle arms and stolen sweets!#these things are inimical to their respective natures and yet they are thoroughly intertwined!#a queue we will keep and our honor someday avenge #smallblueandloud #asked and answered

46 notes · View notes

iphoenixrising · 5 years

Text

For 900 Followers! Sub!Tim III

So many babes asked me to go on with this little idea. I don’t know why I wanted to write it so much or even continue with a trope I’m very unfamiliar with, .but welp, I did the AOB too, so why not? The first two are on my AO3 so some of those comments were really just as nice.

As a side note, this is a LONG POST. And I may have added notes at the end so there’s no spoilers.

Bleary eyes open–

And things like “I’m going to take care of you,” resonate in his brain pan.

The last twenty-four hours slamming into his immediate consciousness is not conducive to good morning, Red.

Rather, his eyes move frantically around Dick Grayson’s bedroom in a poor attempt at a hopeful bout of crime fighting with some kind of hallucinogenic thrown in.

Fat chance.

A full bottle of water is sitting on the nightstand. His clothes are in a chair by the door.

The Dom supplements and chemical blockers are out of his system.

He’d gone down into Subspace safely for the first time in his life, knowing that by the ache in his body and bleary, half-memories of things like safe.

And now that the crisis is over, he’s back to being somewhat balanced, he’s going to get his ass chewed out and who knows what Dick might insist on after the big secret is out.

A spike of panic hits him in the chest, cold and sharp, and he needs to get moving to try getting a headstart on some damage control.

On silent feet, he throws his clothes on over the bruises and rope burns, noting he doesn’t have a phone, a comm, keys, or anything else that would be, you know, helpful.

Since he’s in Gotham, his only chance is to get to the Perch and get some tech under his belt, prepare before Dick tries do something he thinks is probably in Tim’s best fucking interest since now–

They know.

Random things going through his head while he dresses, mentally struggles to push himself up and away from the call of Subspace.

(If...if he was still here when Dick finally came back, maybe he would be nice and gentle, happy that he woke up still close to slipping over.)

(Or he might want to talk about things like we should find a Dom to take care of you. It’s for your own good, Timmy.)

(“You’ll learn to love it.”)

Dick might think he needs to go to hormone therapy, might make him register so an interested Dom could...could–

(It’s all about ownership, isn’t it, Tim?)

There’s too much “I won’t punish you like this,” that he doesn’t have enough evidence to know what Dick’s next move would be now that he wasn’t going to go catatonic and shit.

(You won’t be able to hide forever.)

What he does know, is that he needs some time to get himself together–

–and make a plan.

The window is up and he’s halfway out, heart in his throat when he picks up the sound of footsteps and a door opening. A strange bout of sudden panic climbs up out of his chest at the noise, and it’s enough to spook him into not to bother closing the window when he throws himself on the fire escape and starts to climb.

Panicky impulse is not necessarily a good motivator. Give it to someone with years of vigilantism and extensive martial arts training under his belt, and the decision-making process is fraught with more options and factors than the average person.

Which is why Tim Drake is taking a short-cut through the Red Hood’s usual stomping grounds in hopes to cut the route he’d need to take to his Gotham Perch by half. It’s a stupid move on his part, attracting too much attention by going via the rooftop express than making it down to the street to get lost in the shadows between lamp posts.

But before Hood had claimed this as one of his territories, back when Tim was the one wearing the tunic, the shuriken R on his shoulder gleaming in the night, back when things were simpler if not still bat-shit crazy (heh) because of things like psychopaths with delusions of grandeur and megalomaniac kinks, back when he was that Robin, he’d combed every inch of these rooftops, crouched down to eat power bars and drink grape Zestis in-between busting drug deals and kicking the shit out of purse snatchers.

Gotham was his first stomping grounds in the cape, so he knows all the good places to hide.

It’s why his battered blue and white DCs feel like boots when he lands it on Gold’s Pawn, takes the whole thing in five big strides, pushing up into gravity, flying for just a second, and landing it on the run-down laundry mat next door.

He crouch-walks to keep himself low as possible, moving in the shadows when he can, breathing in the night around him with senses painfully alert after the first easy drop into Subspace he’s ever had.

(Which he is absolutely not thinking about. Nope.)

The drop-off into an alley and corresponding sprint to the next dumpster are so he can hot-foot it up to the side of a bail bondsman, avoid a loose plank, and scale up with a few handholds in the brick that are all about forearm strength.

He’s running on adrenaline, paying attention to the path ahead, panting and too full of his own thoughts–

–that he doesn’t expect the whistle of a bolo sailing through the air, or the abrupt stop of it wrapping around his knees. Embarrassingly, he makes an eep before he hits the roof, fumbling enough to scrape his damn hands.

He flips over, already working the heavy weights of the bolo from around his knees, eyes darting to the shadows, wondering if Hood might have found him after all.

(How the fuck was he going to talk his way out of this one?)

But it’s Nightwing that steps out of the shadows, brows drawn above the domino, his mouth such a sharp downward slash that Tim cringes, automatically tries to make himself smaller.

“D-Don’t!” He tries hoarsely, fingers working faster, more frantic.

(If he was back up, he’d be out of this already – his panicky brain is telling him, and that just makes it even harder, and he can’t stop to think through what he could be facing next–)

“Stop. Now.”

And the bitter bile rises up in his chest when he responds to that voice, when he stops, has to wait.

He’s still too fresh coming off of Subspace, too long of not going down, that it’s ten times harder to resist.

“I’m not happy,” is low and dark from the Dominant in front of him, hands deceptively loose at his sides. “You aren’t ready to be out yet. I’m sure you’re fully aware of that, Tim.”

His hands are starting to shake because he still tries to fight, eyes fixed on booted feet coming toward him. His fingers curl into fists, but that’s as far as he can go.

“What if you dropped a few minutes ago? No grapple? No way to catch yourself? You obviously aren’t thinking rationally, which means you need to be taken down at least once more before you’re stable. Maybe even twice if I can get you there.”

A sob works it’s way up, and he has to clench his teeth against it, arms straining with the effort to just get his fucking hands to work.

“You were so good for me, and this? Running away? Such a big no-no.”

(“Don’t fight it. Don’t ever fight it.”)

He bites down hard, harder, needs the pain to break free. He has to get free.

(“I’m not going to punish you like this.” So, you’ll wait until I’m not dropping, right?)

“I understand why you didn’t come to me when you needed help,” and Nightwing is only two steps away, pauses when he notices blood on Tim’s chin, on how the chest under the oversized hoodie is rapidly rising and falling.

The choked sound could have been a laugh or a sob, telling the vigilante some of what he needs to know.

“You presented after Bruce was lost in time, didn’t you?” It’s deceptively soft, but the undertone is all Dom.

“Y-Yes,” he grits out grudgingly, unable to stop himself. “After I lost my spleen.”

There’s something there that makes Nightwing pause, the booted feet hesitating.

“I’m sorry.” Is softer than he wants to hear, than he wants to deal with while he’s fighting against his true nature. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you. I wasn’t there for so long, and it’s going to be hard to trust me now.”

It’s all a jumble of whatever, so he’s only got half an ear on the voice, trying to make it subtle when he lowers his clenched hands enough to wiggle one finger in the bolo’s rope around his knees from the back. He needs to get them loose enough to get away–

(from that voice, from that promise, from everything Dick represents to him right that second).

“But you need to at least try,” the older vigilante continues, takes one step forward, pausing again when Tim flinches violently back, is breathing too fast, too harshly, might work himself over into hyperventilation.

“Ssstop,” from between clenched teeth, “stop it.”

“My inner Dom would never let me leave a Sub in need, and I wouldn’t anyway because you, one of my partners, needs this. You need to submit. You can feel what your body is telling you, Tim.”

To run the fuck away and never look back.

And Nightwing slowly takes a knees, those whiteouts focusing on the Sub’s face hidden by the hood.

Luckily, Dick Grayson is a good Dom.

He’s the one that figured out B’s secret not long after getting the inner Dom senses when he presented. It all happened during the crazy span of time Clark had to vanish deep in the universe, and left B to keep things on Earth in line with the JLA while also doing the usual vigilante justice in Gotham.

Still in pixie boots, Dick had done everything to help shoulder the burden, but it wasn’t long when he started seeing the signs. When his Dark Knight was getting closer and closer to the edge. He’d overwork himself to the point of exhaustion, trying to keep from getting too violent with criminals and megalomaniacs. The struggle to keep himself at the top of his game, one step ahead of the baddies, the more intense brooding.

It killed Dick to watch B spiral, so he’d done his homework on Submissives, trying to put his first scene together that would be easy for both of them without ever acting as a Dom before.

Even back then, he was good at anticipating, and it was as simple as ordering his other Dad to shower and change into pajamas, to eat everything Alfred made him, and sleep for eight hours.

That was enough to balance them both out, to bring them closer as partners.

That might have been the first time he used the Dom Voice on Bruce, but it wasn’t the last. It was the high point of their partnership when Bruce finally gave in and let his Robin take him down when his Dom was busy and the world was closing in.

It had gone far in making him into a good Dom, able to talk down terrified Subs, to volunteer as a Service Dom, to separate out Dick Grayson’s Dom with all his personal preferences and the Dom that wants to give the Sub what he or she needs.

(It’s still a sore point with him, how he thought being Bruce’s stand-in Dom is what drove him to take away the tunic, because B couldn’t look at him the same, couldn’t see his sidekick after a while…)

He hoped he and Tim could at least come to an understanding. To be equals, partners again. And this revelation could be such a big step to making that happen. If he could make Tim believe in him, if he could give the third Robin a safe place to be able to let go.

He could make up for at least some of those old pains, maybe even earn Tim’s trust back again.

It was a solid plan, but not as easily executable as he’d thought, proven when he had caught the sound of the window opening, half-way into making something breakfast-y, his heart slammed hard when he’d taken off down to the hall to find his bed and bathroom empty.

A moment of panic hit Dick in the chest because Tim was still too vulnerable to the Dom Voice after the drop into Subspace while riding the dregs of withdraw–

He hadn’t had time to explain the plan to keep Tim from running. Hadn’t had the time to admit he’d had taken a blood sample to analyze once he’d finally un-tied the dazed Sub and let Tim sleep off however many days of insomnia he’d been riding. A call to Bruce while Tim was passed out cold in his bed to share the results, and they made a tentative plan.

He’d talked to Bart, Kon, and Cassie, asked them to come by tomorrow night, hopefully to see for themselves that Tim was getting better, more lucid and on-his-game. He thought making a point to bring some of the Titans to Gotham could have meant avoiding this very thing.

Tim’s usual deflection methods.

And as much as he doesn’t really want to, he’s going to have to put his foot down, and listen to his instincts on this one.

Blinking away the wetness in his eyes, Tim’s hands pause, and the sinking feeling in his chest that might N have a valid point weighs him down on the rooftop in Gotham, just as much as the bolo around his legs.

The Dom is doing that Bat-loom thing because he’s fucking concerned. Just looking up to see hands poised over his arms, waiting for permission, and everything in Tim sways closer when the Dom voice comes out–

(like when he’s told how good he is, how beautiful in ropes and restraints, how perfect he is when he just gives the fuck in)

–so, of course, when he insanely thinks he can’t have this means he has to push it and see if it’ll break.

“Trust? You want me to trust you, Dick? You think I don’t know you all want the same thing?” He grits his teeth to shut the Submissive in the depths of his brain pan the hell up, “fucking Doms. Want to punish me, Dick? Want to beat me until I bleed for you? Want to hit me until I’m a good little bitch?”

Some kind of tension bleeds out of Nightwing’s rigid spine. His hands flex and loosen, the deep frown gone when the vigilante sighs.

He finally moves then, pushes Tim’s hands away to work the bolo loose himself.

“Not all of us are assholes like that. I know you know I’m not like that.” And even when he gets the ropes loose, drops it beside them, the weights making a light thump, fingerstripes flash through the night act like impromptu manacles.

“Look at me.”

Even without the Dom voice this time, he can’t disobey. More because it’s Dick rather than the man that wrapped him in ropes and gave him what he needed to be able to go down without pain or force or fear.

“This is terrifying for you. No, I don’t really know, but there’s no other reason for you to run away from me than if you thought things were going to change, or if you thought I would give a crap about you being a Sub.” He taps his domino to raise the whiteouts, blue, blue eyes zeroing right in. “I would never, never punish you for protecting yourself, Tim, and that is exactly what you were doing. I hope, after you were able to go down for me, you’ll realize you don’t have to anymore.”

And since it’s Dick, the words his deep enough to make him suck in a breath, to ease down some of the blatant fears that came along with this little reveal.

Tim can’t look Nightwing in the face as blood rushes back in his lower legs when the bolo comes off, but blue and black kevlar is presses in tight against him so he can’t get up to run again.

“Hey, c’mon Detective. Use the evidence you’ve already got.” Is more gentle than he expected, making some of the steel in his spine soften.

“I...he-he told me,” and the words get caught up somewhere, stuck somewhere in the center of his chest because he’d never spoken about what happened when he was desperate, before synthetic supplements, before heavy mediation and self-dropping techniques.

(But he couldn’t only ever get himself down so far, only to skim the top of Subspace, still achy and half-manic after every attempt.)

“Well, well, well, lookit what we got here.”

Oh fuck. Oh fuck.

Nightwing is on his feet in a breath of movement, escrima sticks out automatically, knees bent and ready to lunge.

But the Red Hood just holds up both .45s, barrels pointed to the sky, and cocks out a hip. “Nice ta see ya, Baby Boy. Thought ya couldn’t be out t’night ‘causea some business.”

Tim already knows it’s too late to run, but the opportunity is one he really can’t pass up.

“Case, we were...we were working on a case. Hood. Hey man. How’s kicks? Any new baddies lately?”

“Slow night in Gotham, Timmers,” as he hops down off the high ledge and makes the walk over look good. “Good t’ see ya made it outta that last throw-down. I hate those DaDa fucks like ya wouldn’t believe.”

“Tell me about it,” he ignores Nightwing’s hand and clambers to his own feet, hoodie keeping his face on the down-low in case nosy reporters are snooping about the rooftops.

“Nah. Ain’t one a’ my best stories anyhow.” Hood puts a big hand to Tim’s shoulder, ducks down a little so the whiteouts can catch his eye, “‘sides, ya look like ya could fall the fuck over any minute now. Been balls deep in yer case means ya ain’t been sleepin’, right Timmy?”

“Yeah,” he makes his eyes meet the whiteouts, tries to play it off because he desperately doesn’t want to react to Jason Todd’s inner Dom (if anyone would know how to cause pain, it would be the vigilante that almost killed him more than once. They might be better now, might even work together sometimes, but he’s got no way of knowing how Jay would react to the truth). “Yeah, it’s been a rough couple of days.”

He internally cringes when the helmet perks.

“Seems that way since yer workin’ a case right after those fucks had yer team runnin’ ragged.” And the Red Hood takes a small step closer, a hand goes for Tim’s wrist, leather fingers overlapping. The tight hold makes his knees wobble, black eating at the edges of his vision (he’s between two Doms and the Submissive in him can’t help but want to drop to his knees for them, to be Good, to beg for their orders, to give himself over–).

Hood is saying something, but he can’t really hear the words, can only stare up at the whiteouts with his wrist held tight between them.

Your restraints would feel safe comes completely out of left fucking field and that panicky feeling is back, creeping up his throat, coppery in his mouth.

(I’m so screwed.)

Subtly, Nightwing slides a hand up to the back of Tim’s neck, thumb pressing at the right pressure point, helps flood his brain pan with the right endorphins, shaking him out of the daze.

“Yeah, lookit ya,” and the helmet shakes from side-to-side while the synths register the tisking. “Better get yer ass somewhere and sleep it off, Timmy. Ain’t ya still godda Perch in Gotham?”

“I’m taking him to my place,” N interjects, “so I can make sure he takes care of himself.”

Tim is with it enough to look at the Dom behind him, the threat of the hand on the back of his neck enough to keep him from protesting in front of Hood, but he can’t stop his body from tensing up when Nightwing takes just a tiny step closer to his back, the heat of him, the power and strength, the command an enticing pull and terrifying prospect in the same breath.

(“You’ll learn to love it.”

“I’ll never punish you for protecting yourself.”)

The synths are quiet for a long second, the Red Hood pulling off a little bit of that Bat-stillness.

“Hey Dickie, what case didja say ya were workin’ again?” Is off-handed, but if Tim knows anything about Jason Todd, it’s that very few things about him are accidental.

He opens his mouth to blurt out something that could be somewhat believable, but Nightwing beats him to it, “we’re looking into some shady dealings happening in a few care centers around town. Abusive Doms that like to ignore contracts if you know what I mean.”

It must have been the thing Hood needed to hear because the vigilante’s attention shifts, and he throws up a pointer finger in their direction, “s’at so, Big Wing? Ya need anyone else on ‘at, just lemme know. Motherfucking hate shitty Doms, you feel me here?”

Through the haze settling over him, fighting the urge to sink to his knees, Tim sucks in a surprised breath, not sure if he wants more information or to get the hell off this rooftop before he gives himself away.

“I mean, ya know what I’m sayin’. Some asshole ain’t gonna be what his Sub needs, ain’t gotta place workin’ a clinic. ‘At’s fer damn sure.”

“Agreed,” Nightwing replies quickly, “so we’re going through a lot of personnel files, you know? If we need another pair of eyes or hands in on it, we’re going to call you first.”

“Sounds righteous, boys. If ya need it, ya know how ta find me,” a two fingered salute before the gauntlet grapple fires into the night, “an’ fer fuck’s sake, Timmers. Get some damn sleep. Look like a fucking pile a’ shit warmed over.” With that parting shot, the Red Hood leaps off the roof, going back to patrol.

The second he swings off around the 7-11 on the corner, Tim lets out the breath he’d been holding in a woosh, and with it, the strength left in his knees.

“Stubborn ass,” Dick gripes, catching him easily enough, slides one of his arms over Kevlar and Nomac. “But you’re my stubborn ass, aren’t you?”

He might make a noise, something slurry and low, something that could have been bite me or bet me.

But he turns enough to catch those fingerstripes stark against the pale skin of his wrist, and something in him, something long buried and denied makes a knot warm in his belly, makes his mouth water, makes the random flash in the forefront of his brain pan–

Those fingerstripes in his mouth, opening him up, playing with the rope around his chest and shoulders, tapping on the gag in his mouth, feeding him bits of food, his tongue curling around them, following the motions of his Dom…

– “Timmy? Oh baby, you’re going down deep aren’t you?”

“N-No, no, I’m–” but somehow he’s sitting on Dick’s overstuffed couch, his shoes and hoodie removed, and Dick crouched at his side, holding a grape Zesti with a little straw sticking out. The top of the Nightwing suit is open to the waist, the top half pulled off to flop around Dick’s legs.

Fuck, how much time did he lose?

When he would have jerked up, tried to run his mouth for a little deflection tech, he’s pathetically at a loss for words when Dick’s free hand comes up to cup over his mouth, not letting the deflections come out–

And Dick keeping a hand over his mouth, muffling his moans, his screams, his sobs…

– and a thumb pressing gently into the pressure point in his wrist makes his eyes flutter enough to focus.

“That’s it. Open again for me. Such a good boy,” and his mouth drop open automatically, another piece of bagel with cream cheese for him to chew. He’s on Dick’s lap this time, not on the couch by himself, or kneeling at Dick’s feet, but just laying against the Dom’s chest with some sense of satisfaction when he chews, swallows, and opens up for the next bite.

“I know it’s hard to think right now, but you’re so perfect like this. Doing exactly what I wanted. My perfect Sub, doing so beautifully for me.”

He moans a little around the bite, warming at the praise, hands lose in his lap, gets to lick the extra cream cheese off Dick’s finger for the next bite.

“Mmhm. I’m going to let you stay down for a little while longer. You’re feeling really nice right now, and you need it, don’t you, baby? You haven’t let yourself have this nearly enough.”

He makes a soft noise in his chest, using words too much of a bother at the moment.

“I know, I know. But it’s okay. You’re safe here with me. You can let go when I’m here, Timmy, I promise. I’ll keep you safe.”

A few more bites and he gets a few drinks of some tart juice, the taste sharp and tart enough to make the haze around him lighten up, gives him enough awareness to turn his head and make sure he knows where they are this time.

The color of the walls and pulley system on the ceiling tells him they’re in Dick’s bedroom this time, and the suit hanging on the back of the door has absolutely nothing to do with their usual nightlife.

He gets a few minutes to take in the shine off the latex, the embedded rings stark silver against the black, the heavy hood with extra straps to go over the eyes and mouth, holes in the nose so the person inside could breathe.

“Another drink, Timmy. That’s it. My pretty Sub is almost ready, aren’t you?” Dick leans down just a little to talk lower into his ear. “You’re going to go down for me again, all the way, aren’t you? You’re going to let me see you like that again, how gorgeous you are when you’re in Subspace. And you’re going to be good and let me help you get there.”

But Tim shudders a little in the Dom’s hold, trying to think through the haze that just wants him to be pliant, that wants him to give in and make Dick happy, wants to do whatever he has to for Dick to keep saying he’s...he’s good.

But...But there was a reason he left in the first place, isn’t there?

“D-Dick, I…” but that felt wrong in his mouth, the words so hard to form when he feels almost woozy, wants to slide to his knees and kneel at Dick’s feet, wants to call him Sir and feel that attention fixed on him again.

The hand on his jaw is warm and the touch sends a thrill through his nerve endings, automatically lets him lean into the touch, eyes fluttering open–

(when did he close his eyes?)

–to the dark blue of Dick looking down at him critically, assessing, seeing more than Tim had let anyone but the occasional Titan in on.

“Oh,” the Dom breathes out very, very quietly, looking at the soft flush to Tim’s pale face, the way he’d immediately softened at skin-to-skin touch.

A new plans starts forming, his eyes darting to the latex suit he’d pulled out when it seemed like Tim needed another scene with sensory deprivation (not that the idea of putting his Sub in the suit wasn’t very appealing to his helpless kink – his mind going places featuring Tim in the suit writhing below him), but the automatic reaction makes him change his mind immediately.

He tests his theory, hand slowly moving so his palm spans the side of Tim’s throat, thumb back-and-forth over his jugular.

The vulnerable position doesn’t bring any self-preservation to the fore, just makes Tim’s mouth open for a soft sigh.

Touch-starved.

“Mmhm,” he draws out, low and deep, “you’re ready to get started now. I want you to stand up and strip down to your boxers. Fold your clothes neatly and put them on the bureau. Then, I want you to kneel and wait for me. Do you understand, Tim?”

He sees the sluggish movement of violet-blue eyes go to the suit on the back of the door, start to get fixed.

“I asked once, Tim. I don’t want to ask again.”

The hazey quality makes his movements more sloppy and sluggish, something he can’t focus on while he’s trying to do what his Dom wanted, half-terrified of punishment, half-excited at what his Dom might do to him this time, what could make the quality of his tone, the glaring warning (“I don’t want to ask again.”) change into something...else.

His hands are shaky by the time he’s done, laying his folded clothes neatly on the bureau. There a moment of panic, of fear, spearing his chest when he realizes he doesn’t know where to kneel. Sir didn’t tell him where.

(Close to the suit, by the bed, in the middle of the floor? If he gets it wrong, what will Sir do to him? If he asks, will he get punished anyway? He didn’t listen close enough the first time, must have missed it, because he’s bad at this, a bad Sub...)

His mouth goes dry and coppery, the air cool on his bare skin, goosebumps rising on his arms.

“S-Sir, where…?” Is trembly and tentative, so unlike the dangerous vigilante lurking under his skin, under the haze, under the need to do this, to be this.

To give in.

“Right by the bed, Timmy. That’s where I want you. Good boy for asking.” Sir calls absently while he’s in the bathroom, light on and door open, where he’d apparently gone while Tim was stripping down.

But the relief is a palpable thing, makes him stumble on the first step. But he focuses on sitting back on his heels, hands loose on his bare thighs, breathing through his nose.

He keeps his chin tilted down when Sir comes back with a white bottle in his hands, and opens the nightstand drawer, pulling out a set of leather cuffs.

“You’re doing perfectly. Stay right there while I get some things ready for you.”

But his eyes slide to the suit waiting, something about it just–

Dick pauses in rifling through the drawer, turning to look at him, really look even though he hadn’t heard a sound. Something here set off his inner sense.

“Tim,” is careful, curious. “Check in.”

But his eyes can’t leave the hood, the shiny zipper up the back, the straps over his mouth both soothing and stifling and his brain doesn’t know if he can take it right now, if he can calm down enough not to fight it. If it won’t choke him.

(That could be your punishment after all. No movement, can’t scream, can’t breathe, just a body tied down to be fucked or bled, just like he promised…)

Dick’s hand is warm on his jaw again, the touch turning him abruptly, breaking him out of a mental loop.

“What are your safewords?” The Dom Voice, the one thing that could really bring him back, make him focus.

“Red...Yellow...G-Green, Sir.”

“Good Boy,” low and slow, “now check in.”

He swallows softly, trembling with the possibility he’s getting himself in trouble by admitting, “...y-yellow.”

And as deep as he is, as the heavy haze settled over him pulls this part of him out, the one with the need to please, that wanted praise, terrified of fucking up, of being bad, being thrown away and abandoned and–

He cringes back, wincing like an animal waiting for the blow.

But the Dom doesn’t let him pull away, the grip on his jaw gets tight, giving him another spike of fear right in the center of his chest.

But Sir is unfailingly gentle when he says, “that’s right, baby. My. Good. Boy. I’m so proud of you for telling me the truth.”

The breath he’d been holding rushes out, leaving him trembling slightly, trying to concentrate on just staying still where Sir’s hand is holding his jaw.

“What do you need to calm down? Maybe a collar?”

“I…” his eyes go to the suit again, “th-that. The suit. I...I don’t know if I can– if I can do it this time? I...I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Sir, I–”

“That’s okay. I changed my mind about the suit, too. Maybe another time. I think you don’t need that to go down. I have something different planned.”

His shoulders and back relax with the tension he hadn’t realized he’d been carrying, but he keeps his jaw right in the palm of his Dom’s hand. “Th-thank-you, Sir.”

“You’re welcome,” is gentle, but still with an edge. “And now you know I expect you to use your safeword, Tim. You will use it when you need to, just like you needed to a few minutes ago and didn’t.”

“I,” and he blinks wetly, eyes suddenly hot, “I...Sir–”

“Mmhm. I already told you last time that you will safeword out, and you didn’t, did you, Tim?”

His breath is more of a gasp, a hiccup, and he has to blink again, try to keep his eyes from spilling over, “No. No Sir.”

“Tell me why.”

“I-I,” and he has to swallow, can’t close his eyes, or stop the tremble up his spine, “I was a-afraid you would punish me if I...if I said no.”

“Mmhm, and what did I tell you on the roof?” Is soft with a dangerous, low edge.

“That...that you wouldn’t punish me for protecting myself.” And it’s too late because one lone drop spills out, rolls down until Sir’s thumb rubs it away.

“That’s right. You will safeword out when something might hurt you. That is absolutely non-negotiable.” Dick’s tone is firm, an edge of anger that makes the Submissive in him shrink down because he’d made the Dom angry with him. “Rule number one, Tim. If you let me hurt you when you could have stopped me–”

Tim’s eyes widen, a shudder runs down his spine, because the cool, calm facade doesn’t touch those eyes, a promise of something dark lurking just under the surface.

(And it’s not too far out of the realm of possibilities that Sir’s been playing the Good Dom with him up until now. Being nice and attentive, caring and touching … but there’s something, something there that pulls at his instincts, makes it easier to submit each time...would it sting so good if Dick was the one using a crop on him this time?)

“–I will punish you. Do you understand?”

“Yes–yes, Sir,” and punish makes his spine snap ramrod straight, makes him tremble in the palm of Dick’s hand, makes him lower his eyes.

“Now, you are going to wear my cuffs again. I’m going to restrain you, and you are going to lay down on my bed on your belly.” Sir’s thumb swipes under his eye again before the hand is gone off his face, letting Tim drop his chin to his chest.

Dick watches the struggle for a few moments, the movement of eyes under the lids, the pink staining his nose and under his eyes, the rapid blinks to keep his eyes from spilling over. And even if he wants to do nothing more than drop to his knees and take Tim in his arms, to keep him held securely, to surround him in strength and support, to talk against the top of his head, to call him little brother and I’ll never let another Dom hurt you. Even if his arms ache, his chest tight with it, he knows that isn’t at all what the Submissive hiding inside Tim Drake, Red Robin, really needs.

He needs to understand where the boundaries are, not the ones imposed on him from the abusive Dom, but the real boundaries Submissive and Dominants set for any Scene (normally by way of contracts, which they will be having that conversation, Timmy, you can bet on it).

“Give me your wrist, sweetheart. I’m going to take care of you,” no room for questions or internal struggle. It’s the Dom in him taking care of his Sub in need.

The hand trembles but rises up without Tim lifting his face, and Dick very gently leans down to press his mouth against the throbbing pulse before fitting the thick leather cuff around and buckling it securely in place.

Without being told, Tim holds up the other one, the trembling moving down his wrists to his shoulders, and Dick can see how it’s starting to be too much, too overwhelming, knows where they need to go, how they need to stop all those riotous thoughts from controlling him.

“Good boy, Timmy. You look so good in my cuffs, just perfect.”

“Thank-you, Sir.”

“Now, up on my bed, sweetheart. I want to get your ankles.”

Even though he doesn’t want to, Dick steps back instead of helping his shaky Submissive, watches Tim crack his eyes open and turn to crawl on the bed, laying down on his belly with every muscle strung tight.

It’s fine. By the time he’s done, he’s going to make sure Tim falls into Subspace, soft and relaxed, eyes dazed and mouth pink, smiling up at him when he’s so sweet, so trusting, so perfect putting himself in Dick’s hands and giving the hell in.

He doesn’t give further instructions, just picks up the two remaining cuffs, runs his fingers gently down Tim’s calf until he gets to the ankle, wraps his long fingers around one and tightens down. The tense muscles relax just a little, just enough that he can tell, can take the sign for what it is, and fit the cuff, buckle it in place with the D-ring facing the right way. Dick repeats the process with the other ankle, working his Sub into it with his touch first before fitting the cuff and tightening it down.

The bottle he’d prepared and chain lengths he’d attached to the braces at the bottom of the bed are ready for step two.

It’s easy to keep one hand moving up and down his Sub’s lower leg while the other clips the chain on the D-ring at each ankle, moving up so he can make light circles on Tim’s back. He doesn’t need to tell Tim to stretch out his arms, the tentative movement puts the cuffs close enough to secure.

“That’s right. You know I’m going to take care of you, aren’t I, Tim?”

The body under his hand shudders, “yes, Sir.”

But, no, Dick isn’t convinced, but right now, he and Tim have all the time in the world.

He picks up the last thing he’d prepared. “Yes, I am. Now, open.”

His jaw trembles, but Tim closes his eyes and tries, tries, to believe. He opens up and the taste of silicone is like another checkpoint. This one has holes, is more breathable, and he holds still as the buckle is fastened and then, the silk comes over his eyes.

He just breathes out and lets it happen.

And it’s so beautiful when Tim stops fighting him again, starts to give in, is gingerly putting his submission in Dick’s hands.

It gets to him down deep where the Dominant wants his Sub to always be this loose, this giving, whether it’s after a few rounds with the riding crop or overstimulated with more orgasms than they thought possible.

Or, what plans to spend the next two hours doing.

“Shake your cuff, Tim,” is soft and dark when both hands start making easy strokes up and down his back. One disappears and comes back smelling like soft musk, is slick and warm and strong. It’s a crazy thing how he unconsciously arches into it, the touch light but still firm, his skin sensitive against it.

It takes a second for his brain to hear the gentle jingle-jingle-jingle.

Bell. Attached to the restraints.

“Shake it once for Red. Twice for Yellow.”

Tim might have made a noise, might have raised up when those fingers lightly brush over old scars. He might let out a soft noise through the because it’s starting to feel like too much, just being...touched.

While Tim tenses and relaxes, Dick tries to be easy about throwing a leg over Tim’s hips, using both hands to start working out all the tension, all the knots, all the tight tendons. Back when, he’d worked at the gym in the Haven, he’d had plenty experience rubbing out old injuries, not to mention his many, many superhero and vigilante besties that get hurt doing something stupid in the name of justice. He literally spent an hour on Wally’s calves and thighs once, and the guy passed right the hell out before Dick was even halfway done.

But this? Feeling how hard Tim falls for this, moaning out at being touched and tended, those noises helpless through his gag when the hard muscle finally gives under his hands, the way he sinks further into the bed between Dick’s thighs just gives him all the evidence he needs.

(Octopus Hold Protocol is a GO.)

So he settles back on his heels, sitting gingerly on the back of Tim’s thighs, gets himself in the mindset for the long haul, occasionally picking up the bottle to slick his hands with warming massage oil so he could move slow and firm, touching and rubbing and working his tense Submissive all the way down to the waistband of his boxers, then takes his time to work back up again.

It takes a few minutes of constant touch, of Dick’s hands on him, before the tension really starts melting away under the massage. The Dom finally moves down, starts on thighs and calves, rhythmic and soothing, taking satisfaction from each boneless flop when he’d worked out the entire leg, listening to the soft sounds, muffled but oh so enticing.

By the second or third time he’s reached the back of Tim’s neck, uses thumbs to work the vertebrae and around to the hinges of his jaw, Tim was making soft, satisfied noises.

Dick’s pretty sure if he removes the blindfold, those eyes would be dazed and soft and trusting, that Tim is down far enough to be in Subspace, completely lax in his restraints, hands open, flopped on the soft bedspread.

“That’s perfect, Pretty Bird,” when he just slows down to rubbing his thumbs down his Sub’s neck again, humming from his own high off the successful scene. “I want you to stay just like this.”

And since Dick’s an amazing detective, he’s completely right when Tim’s eyes are softly unfocused, don’t immediately seek out the boltholes and easy-getaways, but lazily blink up at him, relaxed and open and trusting.

He unconsciously brushes fingers over Tim’s cheeks, is enamoured when his palm is nuzzled and a big sigh lifts Tim’s chest a little, making the Dom roll with the rush of endorphins from a job well done.

“Beautiful,” Dick praises softly. “But it’s time to eat, sweetheart, and I want you to kneel for me, just like this. So soft and sweet while you’re down.”

He unclips ankles and then wrists, leaves Tim’s ankles free, but arms pulled behind him, the D-rings fastening his wrists together.

The gag comes out, but Tim’s too far down to fight and put on a mask, just leans into it when Dick wipes the saliva from his chin with a soft cloth.

“One more thing,” is the (his) collar buckled and snug, marking him. A leash clips to the ring right under the Good Boy, makes it easier somehow for Tim to find his balance when he stands with his arms fastened behind him, hazy and focused on Sir’s every move now that he can see.

Eat. Sir said it was time to eat, time to kneel. He can do that. He can be good and do that.

He follows a step behind, his body achy and loose, legs wobbly like Jello-O, but he’s never felt lighter.

It’s easy now when the real world is far, far away, and he can be here, in Sir’s apartment, following the rules, making Sir happy with him.

It’s easy to keep one foot in front of another, hoping for hands on his neck, his shoulders, his back. Wants to feel hands in his hair, wants to suck on the fingers feeding him, wants to lay against Sir’s leg again and just be.

He kneels without being told, going down too hard, too fast, hitting the wood floor hard with a sharp crack, still not jarring enough to pull him back up from this fuzzy contentment.

“Easy next time, Pretty Bird. I don’t like my Subs damaged unless it’s at my hand when they’re begging for it.” Sir uses the leash wrapped around his hand to pull Tim up to his feet, free hand tilting his face up, and Sir’s eyes are light blue, are pleased with him. “First, you’re going to get the snack I made for us. Then we’re going to eat and relax a little.”

“Yes, Sir,” is soft and happy, making the Dom hum as he unclips the leash and sits back on the couch to watch what his Sub is going to do.

He’s too far down to realize picking anything up with his hands isn’t going to work, but the basket on the counter has food inside and a handle, with a clean cloth laying over it. So he doesn’t think of anything else but opening his jaw and using his mouth to carry their snack over and kneel on the pillow by Sir’s feet just like he was told.

He doesn’t even wobble, just tilts his head back and offers the basket to Dick with his cheeks pink and hair an adorable mess, waiting for the next set of instructions.

“So smart, aren’t you?” Dick coos, taking the basket from his Sub’s mouth and gently running his fingers through the snarls. “You knew what I wanted you to do, didn’t you, Timmy? My clever little Sub.”

The fresh fruit and lunch meat is cool and easy to take from Dick’s fingers, makes his Dom happy, makes his Dom focus on him, give him attention he desperately craves. The satisfaction wells up in his chest, gives him the boldness to lick at Sir’s fingers, scrape his teeth gently against the tips, suck more than he needs to.

Some water for him and Dick flips on the television, The Trouble With Tribbles coming on.

“I’m going to catch up on paperwork, and I want you to stay right here with me. Got that, sweetheart?”

Tim is already moving when the hand on the back of his neck makes him list against the Dom’s leg, eyes half-mast watching the program.

“Yes, Sir. Going to stay with you.” He sighs in contentment, falls a little further under where everything is soft and nothing hurts. He doesn’t have to offer to help, doesn’t have to focus on his own cases, doesn’t have to be Tim or Red Robin. He doesn’t have to be the vigilante or the leader of the Titans, he can just fuzzily tune into the show while soft scritches punctuate when Sir writes.

After a little while, he gets questions and doesn’t even have to think about his answers really. It’s okay to tell his Dom whatever he wants to know, to tell the truth because that’s what Good Boys do.

And it feels so good like this when Sir calls him good, runs fingers through his hair absently even when his attention is fixed on the spiral notebook. Getting the attention even when Sir is busy makes warmth bloom in his chest, makes it easier to sink back down.

“Hm. If another Dom put restraints on you, would you like that?”

“Mmhm. Feels good, Sir. Like being held.”

“That’s good, baby. I’m so glad you’re telling me the truth.”

“I...I’m being good for you, Sir?”

“You absolutely are. My good boy, my Pretty Bird.”

He vaguely hears tisking and rubs his cheeks against his Dom’s thigh, hears, “hm. Still a lot of questions I don’t want to ask while you’re nice and relaxed. Maybe I’ll come visit you in the Tower one day when you can’t run from me.”

The Submissive in him reacts when Sir’s tone changes, hides his face in Dick’s leg, shoulders tensing.

The hand in his hair starts moving again, subtly sliding down to palm the back of his neck, and the grip gets just a little more firm. “Mmhm. Seems like you’re back enough to know I haven’t forgotten. Does that mean you’re to tell me why you ran out this morning?”

And maybe because he isn’t the vigilante, because he’s down far enough that lying to his Dom makes him cold and sick, makes his eyes burn, and he has to blink wetly to keep from getting Sir’s pants wet.

“You… you were going to punish me.”

“What? Tim,” and the hand on his neck isn’t gentle or coaxing, but firm enough that his head moves bonelessly on his neck, dazed, watery eyes looking up. “I already told you I wasn’t going to punish you.”

“ ‘Like this,’ you said.” And his chest stutters with a hard breath, “but I lied. For years. It...it’s going to eventually be time, and I...I–”

Would rather get it over with.

“Tim,” and Sir’s eyes are so blue, “one of these days, I am going to punish you. That’s going to happen. But, I will always, always tell you first. I will tell you when and why you’re being punished, and when you can finally talk to me about what that other Dom did to you, I will make sure I don’t make those same mistakes. Do you understand?”

He opens his mouth, eyes getting hot, the haze of Subspace fading because he doesn’t know if he can really believe it, believe in Dick, believe in something different than what the other Dom made him believe.

“Tim. Check in. Right now.”

“R-Red,” is hoarse, his eyes finally spilling over.

The hold is gone from his neck, and he can pull away, can pull back, the softness of Subspace, the safety in it abruptly fading away until he can at least start to think again.

Well, he can come back up enough to pull away from Dick’s leg, off the pillow where he’d been kneeling, scramble back in his boxers to the far wall while Dick watches him try to hide, try to stop the vulnerability in every twitch of muscle.

“That’s really not how I was hoping to bring you back up this time,” Dick admits softly, and tries to be easy when he stands, keeps his hands loose by his sides, footsteps light when he kneels by the trembling Submissive, one that didn’t have time to come back in his own time, one that probably feels nauseous and disoriented and afraid with the abrupt mental shift.

Eyes intent, Dick Grayson has had enough experiences with Submissives to know the effect of being forced back out of Subspace and leans over slowly, snags a soft throw off his chair to wrap around Tim’s back, ignoring the obvious flinch.

“But, it’s definitely time we talked.”

This time when Dick’s fingers tunnel through his hair, it’s easy and gentle, nails scratching lightly at his scalp, just like back when they were train surfing and vigilante-ing it up all over Gotham and the Haven and most of the world, it’s a comforting thing he’d almost totally forgotten about in the years he’d been on his own.

“N-no, I...no.”

“Yeah, sorry kiddo, but I’m not taking that for an answer. Not anymore.”

And as crazy as it is, he tries to fight it with weak, bound arms and his brain half-trapped in that warm place where nothing hurts, tries to remember Dick is a Dom and anything he says could very well be used against him, but it’s all for nothing when the older vigilante wrangles him off the floor and back in the niche of a lap (safe), wraps both arms around him to keep him from running.

The ending credits are playing in the background, forgotten while Dick gently rocks Tim in his arms, waiting for the shivers to stop.

“Before Jay showed up, you were about to tell me what that other Dom said to you,” is breathed out against his too-long hair. “Maybe we should get back to that, so I can tell you exactly what is bullshit and what is the truth. We can set some boundaries to make this easier for you.”

Clenching his fists against the comfort Dick is making him take, keeping his eyes closed so maybe he doesn’t lose his pride, Tim grits out, “I know the truth, Dick. I’ve helped pull Subs out of underground clubs and shit too.”

Like I really have to remind you. Robin, remember?

“No,” is drawn out a little, Dick’s nose close to his, “you’ve only see the absolute worst of us, Timmy. Unfortunately, vigilantes only get to see the douche bag Doms that hurt their Subs rather than the good ones that understand what a gift it is to have someone compatible trust them enough to submit.”

“The only thing Doms want from their Subs is to fuck them or punish them. You think I don’t know that?”

And oh. Oh, Timmy. Just wait until he finds the Dom that did this to you. “Did I do either of those things to you?”

“T-That doesn’t mean it still isn’t true–”

“It absolutely isn’t true. At all. Don’t get me wrong, there are some Doms that might only want that from their Subs, and it’s their job to find a Sub into that same scene, not to force their preferences on someone else. But as for all of us? Hell, no. Jay isn’t like that and neither is Roy or Donna or Gar or any other Dom I’ve ever met outside of ones I’ve arrested.”

Those eyes flutter open, look sharper, less hazy and compliant, “You hang around with heroes, Dick–”

“Hey! I have a social life outside of vigilantes and metas, Tim. I scene, and often. I was even a therapy Dom for a while, so no. It’s not just because of the people we meet in our nightlife.”

In his lap, Tim shivers, the ring at the bottom of his collar shiny in the light through the windows.

Carefully, Dick reaches behind him and thumbs the D-ring on the right cuff open, lets the other ring slip out so Tim can bring his arms around and hold himself under the blanket.

It’s another way he can help ease the transition out of Subspace.

“This is hard, sweetheart,” he continues softer, reaches under to wrap his fingers around a wrist above the cuff, “I know it is. You haven’t felt safe enough or had the space you need to explore what you like as a Submissive. Part of my job is to help you find out so you can say no when you need to. And I want to help. I want to help you so much. I don’t want you to be afraid to go down or to let go when you need to.”

It makes his heart ache when Tim turns his face away, hunches deeper into himself.

“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t...ideal for you. If there had been time, B and I would have tried to find a Dom you could trust, but you were too close to dropping too hard to wait.”

And he may or may not have lost his mind, both hands fisting in the throw around his bare upper body, when he abruptly blurts out, “I know self-dropping techniques. It’s how...how I’ve dealt with it until now. It’s why I’ve never needed one.”

“It’s not enough anymore, Timmy,” Dick counters gently, appealing to the detective in him, “if you were so far gone that you went down in the middle of a fight, and again on the rooftop, then that’s your proof self-dropping mediation isn’t working anymore. You need to go all the way down, just like you were able to do for me. Twice.”

“I...I can’t. Dick, I can’t–” because the prospect of someone else putting a collar on him, trying to take him down, could possibly learn all his secrets while he’s in Subspace (if someone other than Dick apparently, could even get him there), is someone he would have no choice but to trust, is enough to make him want to run all over again.

“For the time being,” Dick cuts him off, easily listing him to the side, manages to lift his legs on the coffee table and settle deeper in the couch with Tim laying heavily against his chest, head nudged under Dick’s chin, “you’re going to agree to come back here next weekend and let me take you down again. And you’re going to do it for your own health. Because no one would be happy if a Dom like Ra’s al Ghul catches on when you get triggered to drop in the middle of another fight.”

“Are you–?” And even though he feels like his brain is fried from coming up too fast, even though his heart is beating harder, his thoughts faster–

“I’m not saying that!” Dick’s eyes are wide when he looks down, “I’m not saying you should think I’m trying to get a Bond out of you when you haven’t had the chance to know what you really want. But, I am saying I’m going to be your Service Dom until you are comfortable and stable enough to find someone with the same wants in a scene as you. For the time being, I’m here to help you figure out what exactly you like.”

Tim lays his head in his hand and resists groaning because honestly, this is not how he saw tonight going. Like, at all, at all.

“I…” and he’s so close to blurting out how terrified he is of giving up control, of losing himself while he’s down in Subspace.

“It’s okay, Timmy. It’s just me, just Dick. Nothing changes this between us, not the fact you’re a Sub and I’m a Dom. Nothing changes the fact we’re friends and partners and kick-ass vigilantes. So, it’s okay, you can trust me.”

He’s so close to telling Dick exactly what he wants to know that it’s the first thing he can think of to keep Dick from finding out the worst secret–

(I would go down for you every time just to hear you tell me I’m yours.)

“I...I presented after I took over Wayne Enterprises,” is more hoarse than he expected, makes his chest tighter just to start saying the words out loud. “I’d given up on...it was a shock.”

Dick makes soft humming noises, gently slides his hand up in Tim’s hair and scratches his nails against the scalp.

“I was hoping I’d be a Null or a Switch, but a full-blown Sub was...” terrifying “...not what I expected.” He swallows, lets his eyes slide closed to be surrounded by darkness where he knew how to hide. “I knew I needed to get a handle on it, I needed help outside the team and the community, someone that could be discreet.”

With a sinking heart, Dick can make a few guesses as to why Tim had been adamant about keeping the secret to himself when Dick was in the cowl and Dami the new Robin. Those raw wounds still stood between them to this day, and for over a year, Dick had to wonder if they could ever come close to the partnership, the friendship, the comradery they’d once had.

(Dami was my Robin, but so were you Tim. Don’t you get that?)

“The clinic out by the Midtown Bypass,” is soft with memory, “not a lot of crime, pretty quiet when you compare it to the rest of the city. I used a pseud, got a list of Doms to choose from, and went in disguise.”

Thumb moves to the tender spot right at the base of his skull, moves in gentle, mesmerising circles, makes it easier for Tim to fall into his narrative without stopping, without hesitating.

“He wasn’t that much older than me, but his profile said he’d been a Service Dom for over a year, and the ratings were good. No comments, but positive stars. He looked...kind I guess, so I was stupid and didn’t make a contract, thought verbal agreement would be enough.”

(He looked like you. Tall, dark hair, blue eyes, nice smile. It’s stupid how I judged him based on what I started to want but couldn’t have from you.)

He sucks in a deep breath, eyes fluttering to keep the images at bay.

“He sat me down at the table in the room and started talking about the scene he’d planned for newly presented Subs. Said since I was older, he could go a little harder on me to make sure I was absolutely satisfied by the time I left. He said I’d need to go harder since I presented later than most people.”

“A-and he started out pretty easy. I got to keep my pants and an undershirt on, he let me pick music for the scene, told me his hard limits. It seemed to be...fine. No evidence to the contrary. I mean, even if he was a creep or something, I’m a vigilante, I could fight my way out if I had to.”

It’s shaky, the rawness of saying it out loud puts some strength back in Tim’s spine, shocked it comes out so easy when he’d never talked about it, never admitted any of it before today.

He comes closer to the surface, takes a deep, deep breath, and tests the octopus hold, pulling away just enough to be serious.

Dick lets him, and Tim pulls the throw closer around him and finds a perch on the other end of the couch, taking a second to close him eyes, focus on the floor under the coffee table.

He must have been quiet for long enough that just a blink and Dick is kneeling at his feet, bringing soft sweatpants up to his knees. He’s already got a shirt on, and makes it easier for the Dom to pull him standing long enough to bring the pants over his boxers, give him comfort and protection with just clothing.

The cup of coffee warms his palms and he drinks deeply, the confusing mass of wants and needs, fears and traumas starting to ease when he can put his brain in front of it.

With his own coffee, Dick is sitting sideways with less than a foot between them, the illusion of space.

“I’m guessing,” his old mentor and friend draws out, eyes strangely still intense, “you probably waited it out as long as you could, Timmy.”

He looks sideways, startled because he’s still floaty and flighty apparently, and blinks a few times, makes himself focus.

“The worst part,” comes out of somewhere deep in him, “is that he made perfect sense with what I was feeling at the time. I...I couldn’t move against him when it came down to it. I couldn’t pick his restraints and get myself free. He told me that this is what I was meant for, what Subs were supposed to be, and not to try fighting it. I wouldn’t win.” He blinks, his eyes feeling hot and heavy. “I mean, yeah, yeah. His first lesson was not to fight whatever my Dom wanted to do to me, never to say no. Second lesson was my Dom would punish me. No matter what, every Sub gets punished, and most Doms choose pain. Most of them enjoy it, and it’s the Sub’s job to give them what they enjoy.”

And he can feel the emotions emanating from Dick, even though the Dom is utterly still. He can feel how badly his vigilante partner wants to put on the black and blue suit, make some people that deserve it feel pain.

The Submissive in him wants to huddle into that strength, wants to trust Dick won’t hurt him, won’t use him, won’t be one of those Doms.

(But he hasn’t done anything awful, hasn’t been what that other Dom was, so he can trust Dick… can’t he?)

“He started with a ruler, then used his hand, rectangle paddle, oval paddle, belt, crop, and cane. I could barely walk out the next day, had to...” but those memories of having nowhere to go after leaving that clinic, a time when the Cave and the Manor weren’t home, weren’t safe makes him suck in a breath through his nose.

And it’s a hand gentle on his wrist, fingers circling without seeming like it’s suffocating–

(because he really believes if he pulls away, he knows Dick will probably let him go)

–that brings him out again. “So...it was the first time I kind of went under, and I hated every second of it. That’s why the chemical balancers and Dom supplements. Self-dropping meditation. It’s safer than trying again.”

Dick is oddly quiet and intense, the muscles of his biceps and thighs tense, but the hand on him is still loose, thumb moving over his pulse.

“So, you don’t have to...do this. It’s kind of you to offer, Dick, but I’ll figure it out again. My system is going to be clear in a few days and I can come up with another solution. But I appreciate–”

“Timmy, it’s not safe for you to go back on balancers and supplements, at least not for a while,” is gentle but still firm in a way that’s still shocking coming from Dick Grayson, a way that’s so different from the vigilante big brother he thought he’d lost for good, but still recently bullied his way in the Tower to start making Tim come back to Gotham again. (He’d totally claimed a couch in the communal room with unapologetic stubbornness. Pure exasperation from the Titans made him finally give in and literally take one for the team. He hadn’t imagined this is how that little sitch was going to end up...or the fact he’s got a room in the Manor again. Talk about a throwback.)

“When you’re balanced again, you’re going to go back to the Tower and rest for at least forty-eight hours. You can do analysis and work the back end on some of your cases, but no out and about until after that. The team can handle the field work for a few days.”

He blinks again, starts to open his mouth to argue, muscles tensing because he’s close enough to the surface, closer to himself to be able to fight.

“Hear me out,” and Dick somehow creeps just that much closer, “self-dropping and supplements will only take you so far, Timmy. Doms are the same way. We get the endorphins we need from having a scene. Sometimes it’s just about being touched, like we did today. Sometimes it’s about needing another person to make you stop, like we did first. For me, it’s being that person that can anticipate those needs, to be allowed to give my Sub these things.”

To keep from being admitting out loud how much he needed to be touched, how right Dick called it,, Tim sips his coffee again, glad to see his hands have stopped shaking.

“I just want you to completely understand what that Dom did to you was wrong. I didn’t make you tell me much while you were down because most of us respect Submissives, just like I respect you.”

And based on the evidence, he can’t call bullshit here. “All right. I see your point about not suiting up, I mean, I do feel less scattered than before.” Because he has to admit it to himself, how much better he feels after he’s gone down, how much calmer in that hidden part of his brain he tries to suppress. That if Dick really calls for that part of him again, how he’ll probably slide down to his knees, craving to be a good boy again. “I didn’t know it could…”

“You didn’t know it could work without pain or sex,” Dick fills in gently. “I hope you know it can be different, just like we’ve done so far.”

“I’d really like if you would listen to a few audio files while you’re working, just some lectures from an expert on Dom/Sub relationships. I really think–”

He pauses when Tim turns, eyes narrowed, clearer than he’d been since going down the first time, and the patient look is so very familiar. “By the time the Dominant and Submissive electives were available at my high school, I had already pretty much dropped out. Robin shit was going down in those years.”

And idea sparks in the back of Dick’s mind where the Dom is still hovering, is still intense, noting everything with his Sub, still angry he didn’t have enough time for more aftercare. If anything, an abused Sub deserved more cuddling and spoiling from a good Dominant, and watching Tim draw away, start putting the mask back on before he was ready, before he was able to come back up on his own terms, sweet and soft and balanced, ready to tackle the world.

It grates on him, makes him want one more chance to take the third Robin down so he doesn’t feel like he has to hide.

But the idea turns into a plan, on all the ways he should be showing his Submissive how their dynamic should be, how a healthy relationship between the orientations should work. How he could work punishments without pain while creating scenes to give Tim the freedom to explore his preferences.

Dick props his elbow on the back of the couch, and refuses to back off even an inch.

“Then give me a chance to show you, Tim. A blood test will prove you need to go down at least once a week for a while, then maybe stretch it out to once a month to get your system back to normal. Give me some of that time as your Service Dom to help you. Together, I can help you figure out what you need as a Submissive.”

And it’s so absolutely fucking unfair for Dick to look that intense, and Tim is sitting there never even thought he’d be facing a Dom actually pleading with him.

His brain still warming up, picking up on the possibilities of hitting a hard few nights and dropping in the middle of another fight, of Kon or Bart or Cassie getting hurt because he couldn’t keep himself together, because he was terrified of going down and being vulnerable.

“...okay. Okay. Until my system is back to normal, and I can either find another Dom or another option.” He swallows hard, wonders how much he’s going to end up regretting this.

But it’s almost comical to watch Dick’s tense shoulders relax, and the blinding smile come back to his face, already making Tim feel like he’s accomplished something just by giving in.

“Thank-you, sweetheart, that’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.” And just like that, the dynamic shifts between them, and the hand tightens down on his wrist again, “so why don’t we have one more try before bed? You could absolutely use it, and I have...another idea.”

It’s not until much later when the rope burns around his chest are just lightly stinging in a way that’s so right. It’s later when he’s buzzing off the easy fall into Subspace that seemed impossible even a day or so ago. It’s later when he’s lazily flopped in Dick’s bed, sipping juice from a straw, blinking up at the soft expression on his Dom’s face, something heavy-lidded and sated that the thought comes out of nowhere–

I really am going to regret this...once it’s over.

Spoiler AN: I’ve talked to some people about keeping the main story as a non-sexual submission on their part, but that is not to say I don’t have a doc with some beginnings of serious D/S play. So, that will probably be like one shots or something ;) But if you made it this far, thanks for reading babes <3

#900 followers #winter writes #long post #sub!tim #tim drake #dick grayson #tw: Sub abuse #tim finally talks about it #jason todd #dom!dick #my fic #my writing #dc comics

117 notes · View notes

carol-effing-danvers · 4 years

Text

knock me the fuck out (i dare ya, babe), finale

Weep with me tears of joy and fulfillment for this soft boy and his cuddly boyfriend.

i have some more thoughts about this universe that i may or not get to, but they aren't really relevant to the story i wanted to tell here, so those will have to be for another tale :D

part one, part two, part three

(if you’d prefer to read this in Ao3′s format, click here)

Billy is deliciously warm, deliciously relaxed and deeply asleep when the phone rings on the table beside the bed. He gives a displeased grunt and buries his face into the pillow as Steve rolls away from him to pick up the call, hoarsely croaking “’ello?” There’s a pause as he listens to the caller, then surprises Billy by tapping him on the shoulder. “For you, Billy.”

What the fuck? He mumbles a confused “Hello?”

“I’m so sorry.” Max sounds as tired as he is, maybe more. “But Lauren refuses to go to sleep – I told her that you’d be back in the morning, but it’s already almost midnight, and the more tired she is, the more upset she gets. Can you please talk to her for just a few minutes?”

“Yeah,” he slurs. “’a course. Lemme get up first so we ain’t talking in Steve’s ear while he’s tryin’ to sleep.”

“Oh my god,” Max says miserable and guilty, repeating “I’m so sorry, Billy.”

“No, no, no – it’s okay,” Gently, he closes the door behind him, thankful that Steve owns a cordless phone and trying not to walk into a wall. “I shoulda knew she’d bug out if I didn’t come home.”

Max murmurs “Lauren, Uncle Billy wants to talk to you.”

His whole heart breaks – Lulu is sucking in air hard, sobbing quietly. Poor Max must’ve been trying to get her to sleep for hours. “Hey, my girl. Why won’t you let Mommy tuck you in?”

“Wh-wh-why did you leave?!” she wails, sorrow all renewed.

“I didn’t leave you, baby. I’m having a sleepover with my friend, I’ll be back tomorrow. Mommy told you that, right?”

In a tiny voice, Lulu replies, “Yes.”

“I’m never gonna leave you without saying goodbye, Lulu,” he says softly. “I promise. Who’s my girl?”

“I-I am,” she hiccups, but she sounds a few shades calmer now.

“That’s right. And it’s gonna snow tomorrow, so I thought I’d take my girl out to make a snowman,” he says solemnly. “But we can’t do that if you’re too tired to play outside, Lulu. Can you lay down and close your eyes for me?”

“Don’t hang up!” she says, a bit frantic, and Billy feels another tug on his heartstrings.

“Won’t hang up, baby. Close your eyes for me and lay down. Okay? Lulu, skip to my Lu. Lulu, skip to my Lu. Lulu, skip to my Lu. Skip to my Lu, my darlin’…”

He has to stay with her, and sing to her, for he doesn’t know how long. He won’t leave until he’s sure that she won’t feel abandoned and there’s a period of calm before Max whispers “She’s asleep now. Thank you so much, Billy.”

She sounds close to tears herself. She’s probably been up since four or five o’clock this morning and as it turns out, Lulu isn’t the only girl with a piece of his heart. “Sweet dreams, little sister.”

“Sweet dreams, big brother.” Max sniffles.

Billy stumbles back toward the bedroom and finds Steve basically doing what he was doing for Lulu, except that Steve is singing his song to his fucking cat, a dark blob resting on his stomach as he pets her, scratching her around the ears and beneath her chin. “With no lovin’ in our souls, and no money in our clothes, you can’t say we’re satisfied…”

His voice is a beautiful purr, husky with sleep, warm and loving to an animal that Steve obviously cares about.

Billy is leveled like the Starcourt fucking Mall.

He blurts out, “You’re gettin’ the words wrong. It’s ‘coats’, not ‘clothes’.”

Fuckin’ smooth, Hargrove. Real fuckin’ smooth.

“Mmkay,” Steve says serenely, eyes closed. “It sounds better my way.”

Anything coming out of your mouth sounds better. “Yeah, it kinda does, doesn’t it?”

As he slides back underneath the covers, Angie gets annoyed with them moving around the bed and hops off to wander back out of the room, tail held high. Steve curls around him, humming contentedly under his breath. Steve’s nose brushes along his neck, breathing inward, and Billy feels like he’s gonna die, because this much happiness at once just can’t be good for you. His mouth has gone dry.

Steve gives another contented hum, wrapping an arm around his waist and a leg around his hips. His hand, resting at Billy’s heart, caresses down the scarred skin and muscle to rest near the waistband of his boxers, and Steve’s thumb leisurely strokes up and down his lower belly, through the trail of hair leading down to his crotch. He murmurs against Billy’s skin “I never get this.”

“Hm. I hope I’d remembered getting you to feel me up,” Billy replies, grinning at the quiet darkness.

“No.” He feels Steve grin against his shoulder, which is…just…the best feeling. “A bed. Talking. Just…letting me kiss you.”

“Letting you,” Billy repeats, a bit sarcastically. “It’s become my cross to bear.”

Steve lightly bites him on the shoulder, and Billy can feel the way his mouth still stretches around a smile. “Okay, you know what I’m saying here.”

“Yeah, I guess I do. But ain’t no hardship, sweetheart.” He squeezes Steve’s hand, and he’s silent for long enough that Billy asks, “What’chu thinkin’ about, Stevie?”

Steve sighs, low and sweet, fingers still petting at his belly. “Billy Hargrove thinks I’ve got heartbreaker’s eyes. I’m thinking ‘bout that.”

“You do,” he whispers, earnest, heart in his throat. “Took your sunglasses off and I see these big brown eyes – and my soul left my fuckin’ body, Steve, I swear. I remember-” Billy swallows, and part of him can go back to that scared, raging, confused boy. “I remember thinking that it wasn’t fair, that no boy should be able to break my heart with just eyes.”

Steve laughs, ducking his face into Billy’s neck sheepishly, even though Billy can’t see him anyway. His skin is hot against his own, lashes like the flutter of his butterfly wings over his skin, making his heart thud harder. “You are a real romantic. I never get that, either.”

Billy snorts, but he can’t really deny it. “It’s too bad, y’know. Cause you’re pretty good at this part, darlin’. Where the hell is my lullaby, though?”

Steve pets his skin some more, slow and lazy, and Billy thinks that maybe he’s already falling asleep-

“Which way you goin’, Billy? Can I go, too?” he croons, fingertips warm and gentle on his skin, petting his abdomen and stroking along the tendons of his neck, lips warm and whisper soft upon his skin. “Which way you goin’, Billy? Can I go with you? You are my whole, babe, my heart and soul, babe. I’d have nothing to show, babe, if you go away…”

He’s got chills running up and down his spine, even though his face and chest feel hot and feverish. Billy’s dying, he’s dying, because he knows now that his love was never wasted on this boy. “Who’s the real romantic?” he whispers hoarsely, relaxing his weight back against Steve’s body. “You’re sweet, Stevie.”

“You’re not fooling me,” he murmurs back and kisses beneath his ear, soft and wet. Billy shudders. “You are, too.”

He takes Steve’s hand, smooth from a life of finger-paint and glitter-glue, and presses his mouth to the palm. “Gotta keep that our special secret, darlin’.”

Sleepily, Steve says “Ain’t a secret, baby.”

---

Steve spends a week just sort of walking on fucking air.

“What’s up, buddy?” Steve doesn’t even bother to ask who it is – Dustin calls him at five o’clock on the dot, every Monday. “Excited to finish up your midterms and come home for a little while?”

“Yeah, I’m going straight to a study group as soon we’re done.” He sounds as cheerful as he ever is, but by now, Steve is also intimately familiar with what he sounds like when he’s tired, too.

“Okay, but try to make sure you get enough rest,” Steve says, holding the phone on his ear with his shoulder as he lifts Angie onto his lap. “You’re smarter when you’ve slept longer than four hours a night, buddy.”

“Yeah, I know.” Then, a little less cheerfully, “So, uh…how are you feeling?”

Steve frowns. Had he been sick the last time he talked to Dustin? He didn’t think so… “Uh…fine? Why?”

“Well, you know…the ten year anniversary is coming up,” Dustin says awkwardly. He sounds distinctly like he’s also frowning now. Unhappy. “And like…I get worried about you, and stuff.”

“Dustin…”

“-and you always say you’re fine, even when you’re definitely not fine…”

“…pal…”

“Robin says you’re okay, which I guess is good but…”

“Dustin.”

“-it’s not the same as be able to see for myself…”

“Dude, seriously-”

“And you’re lonely, man, the people there treat you like shit!”

“DUSTIN!” Steve says loudly, scaring poor Angie right off his lap. “…I have a boyfriend.”

He says the words before really thinking about them and all of their implications. Dustin lets out this hilarious little ‘eep!’ before shrieking “Oh my god, really?!” like he’s suddenly sixteen again and asking Steve how two men have sex, in the technical sense, and jeez-

Steve really misses him, feels his eyes sting. “Yeah. I mean…it’s a new thing, but we’ve already gone on a few dates and it’s going pretty well.”

“Really? Okay, well, what’s he like?!” Dustin asks impatiently.

“Uh, well…” Nervously, Steve wishes that he hadn’t bought a cordless phone. His fingers have nothing to play with in moment like these. “You sort of already know him…Or, I guess, knew him, would be the better way to put it.”

Exasperated, Dustin says, out of the blue, “Oh my god, if it’s Tommy Hall, Steve, I know he had a crush on you, but you can do way better-”

“What?! No, Tommy Hall didn’t-what the fuck, who gave you that idea?”

“Robin,” he says, with an obvious ‘duh’ at the end.

“What the fuck?!” Steve repeats, this time at a volume that makes Angie cower under the coffee table. “Oh Ang, I’m sorry, baby – c’mon. Daddy’s sorry.”

Apologetically, Dustin explains “She told me and Erica not to tell you, because she didn’t wanna out Tommy to you even though she was pretty sure he wanted to fuck you. Then after your crisis, we agreed he wasn’t good enough for you.” Steve feels a sudden headache coming on, because this entire scenario has ‘Scoops Troop’ written all over it in big bold letters. “If it’s not Tommy Hall, then who?”

“Billy. Max’s Billy.”

There is a pause before Dustin asks “…is he okay now?”

The thing about Dust is that he’s so outwardly goofy that it’s easy to forget that he’s so smart, and he’s so smart that it’s easy to forget that he’s so empathetic. “Yeah, he’s okay now. He grew up a lot more when he went back to California.”

“Is he nice?” It’s less a question and more a demand.

“He’s really nice,” Steve says honestly, finally coaxing Angie back onto his lap after earning her forgiveness. “And he’s more…patient now. More relaxed. I think Lauren might be his best friend – he calls her Lulu, and I see him every morning when he drops her off. He um…he works for El.”

Jane Hopper is something of a…not exactly a sore spot for Dustin, but mentioning her tends to make him droop like a wilting daisy. They are not close and probably never will be. Steve used to think Dust was exaggerating when he said that Eleven didn’t like him, but she tends to shut down in one on one conversations with him, and she’ll do just about anything to avoid being left in a room alone with him.

Steve doesn’t really think that it’s because El straight up doesn’t like him, he thinks that it’s more of a matter of a sheltered person like El not quite knowing how to deal with a personality as loud and attention-grabbing as Dustin’s could be. That reaction crushes his self-confidence though, so the Scoops Troop try not to bring her up, and Steve tries to do El the courtesy of not overwhelming her too often.

“Oh good, Mike was just telling me she was getting busy enough to start needing help,” Dustin says neutrally. There was a pause, and then, more quietly, he asks “Is Max doing okay?”

It’s a little weird, because even though they’re all the same age, Max kind of had to grow up the faster, because while the others were thinking about the end of their freshman year of college, Max was giving birth and dealing with a marriage and a mortgage. “I think she’s excited to have Billy back in town – he’s hinted that she was having a bit of financial trouble before he got here.”

“So, you don’t think that she and Justin will be getting back together?”

Steve sighs, irritated. “If Lucas wants to make me a spy, the least he could do is ask me the questions himself.”

“That’s not a yes,” Dust coaxes. “Just yes or no, I refused to ask you anything else.”

“No, I’m pretty much sure that if he comes back to town, Max will be asking to borrow the nail bat.”

“Hm, there’s a long line for that. Can you pick me up from the station?”

“Uh-huh. Eight o’lock on the 30th, right?”

“Right.” Dust sighs, and again Steve’s heart gives a painful pang at hearing how tired he sounds. “Sorry, it’s time for my study group. Love you, Steve.”

“Love ya, kid.”

---

He has way more work to do now, since Robin insists that the original bet was for only a make-out session and he kind of ended up with a boyfriend, so she gleefully dumped upon him all of the quizzes she gave before the students began spring break, including the twenty page midterms she made them do. He didn’t have to grade the three page essays at the end but that still left seventeen pages to mark through forty-five times.

Despite the stack of paperwork in front of him, Steve’s still got a huge grin on his face as he sits across from Robin in the diner and lifts his coffee mug. Dazed, he says “I’ve got a boyfriend.”

He can’t say it too loud, that’s inviting trouble on himself that he doesn’t need, but he can’t hold it in.

Robin looks up, threads of hair escaping from her messy bun, and smirks at him, but her eyes are enormous and warm. “Yeah, you do.” Setting down her pen and flexing her fingers, Rob rests her chin on her hand. “And you still haven’t given me any details on dates number two and three.”

Steve’s brain helpfully provides him with the dreamy vision of both of those.

Date number two was a pool house in Evansville, drinking beer, talking trash at each other that was at least half flirting, and finding reasons to brush up against Billy in public, until Billy stood behind him as he was making a shot and growled in his ear, “Get in the fuckin’ car, darlin’. Gonna bite you where you like it.”

They steamed up the windows of the Impala that was the Camaro’s spiritual successor, and Billy pulled him on his lap, yanked opened the buttons on his shirt and assaulted Steve’s chest – pinched, kissed, sucked, and yes bit him, until Steve had his hands braced on the roof to keep himself grounded in a world that kept spinning, and cried “Oh fuck, Billy, stop, I’m gonna come.”

“Mm, I don’t hear a downside anywhere in there. Lemme get you off, heartbreaker.”

Right there in the driver’s seat, Steve’s head thrown back and mouth wide open as he tugged frantically on Billy’s shortened hair, coming without a hand ever touching his dick because he had Billy’s groaning mouth sucking at his nipples. Limbs shaking, Steve shoved his hand down the front of his pants and jerked Billy off with sharp rotations of his wrist, kissing all over his face, his neck, his chest. “Baby, baby,” he murmured, nipping at Billy’s neck. “Look at me.”

Billy’s eyes were the blue of distant oceans, like he kept a part of California in him wherever he went. Steve whispered “Fuck, Billy, you’re beautiful” and suddenly his fingers were soaked with come, Billy staring up at him in stunned rapture, like Steve was the sun and he couldn’t bring himself to look away.

Date three was Billy making California-style tacos for him (he had no idea that avocados were so delicious, what the hell!) and then watched Stand By Me, the Friday night movie on tv, head on Billy’s shoulder while he explained how Stephen King basically ripped off The Party’s life story, minus Maxine and Eleven.

Billy looked so startled when Steve started groping him on the sofa. There were sometimes moments that Billy really seemed to think that Steve was some kind of stuck-up prude, when he looked absolutely flabbergasted that Steve was as into this as he was, could be as aggressive as he was.

“Bed?” Billy asked in his ear, grinding down against him, his hands squeezing Steve by the hips. Thick, throbbing against him, making Steve’s mouth water and his heart beat three times faster. His belly was wet with pre-come, smeared all over his skin, burning hot where their skin met.

Steve had his teeth clenched together, trying not to shout so loudly that all his neighbors knew his guest’s name was Billy. He grabbed Billy by the upper arms and squeezed hard, sweating and arching his hips into his every motion, thighs tightened around his hips. “Billy, if you stop right now, I swear I’ll kill you.”

“Yeah?” The dummy was so surprised. “Getting close, heartbreaker?”

Sometimes, Billy still seemed surprised that Steve even reacted to him, like he was an untouchable statue. My ice princess. But he was flesh and he was blood, and it scared him, how much he wanted Billy to touch him. How bewildered he felt at the sight of Billy lying next to him in the morning, face down in the pillow.

He’d show him a goddamn ice princess.

“Give it to me good, baby, c’mon,” he moaned, and Billy bucked faster, breathed harder. Steve could feel his arms shake and smiled against his mouth. Raking his nails down his back, Steve slid his hands beneath the back of Billy’s boxers and got two handfuls of his ass, rasping “That’s it, like you mean it. Fuck, don’t stop, Billy. Right there! Baby-baby-!”

“Steve-o, earth to Steve-o!” Robin sing-songs. “What planet did you land on, dingus? Care to share with the class?”

He waves her off. “You don’t want to hear all the sweaty, manly details, Rob…”

She watches him drift off, pale skin flushing warm and vivid. “Oh my god, what’s that face for? What did you do?!”

Blushing like a schoolgirl, Steve hides his face. “After the boning, he made me hot chocolate and we spent three hours cuddling on the couch!”

“Oh my god, Steve, leave it to you to get embarrassed by the high school romance bits,” Robin is laughing at him, loud and happy. “What a dingus!”

Despite her laughter, Rob is practically glowing. Has Steve’s new relationship really made her this happy? With a bit of a whine to his tone, Steve says, “Well it’s not like I haven’t done the other parts before! I didn’t even know Billy wanted to do the sappy shit!”

She clicked her tongue, grinning fondly. “You love it.”

“I do,” he admits, bashful. “He’s all…romantic and stuff. Y’know.”

“And stuff? Come on, you can give me better details than that.” Steve can’t manage to do anything but blush harder and Rob smiles like the Cheshire cat. “Oh, that good, huh? I bet he brings you breakfast in bed and calls you pet names.”

Steve is hiding a smile behind his fingers, a lost and awed expression in his eyes. “Heartbreaker.”

“Hm?”

“He calls me sweetheart, and darlin’, and-and heartbreaker.” Self-conscious with himself, Steve buries his head in his arms and moans, “Oh god, please don’t make me say anything else.”

“That’s ridiculous and I love it,” Robin replies, with an enormous grin.

“Buckley, why are you torturin’ my guy?” Neither of them heard Billy walk into the diner, but there he is – blue flannel, fleece-lined jacket, and heavy denim. Steve becomes a puddle in the booth and it must be obvious because Rob looks positively gleeful and Billy is starting to look smug and maybe a little besotted.

Fuck.

---

Billy knows that Robin must’ve been teasing him – Steve’s pretty face is all pink, even the tips of his ears are red. Buckley, on the other hand, is almost demonic with glee. Clearing his throat, Steve gives him such an adoring expression that it leaves Billy nearly breathless. “Hi there, Harrington.”

“What are you doing here?” Steve asks playfully, with a smile that veers dangerously close to naked flirtation.

He shrugs. “Lulu went to her friend Sam’s birthday party. Wanted to check on you, since you said the slave driver chained you to your paperwork.”

Buckley huffs. “I won that bet fair and square!”

Steve huffs back, with an endearing little pout. “I never agreed to it, you bully!” He throws Billy a look with those devastating eyes. “She’s going to abandon me to see a movie. Wanna keep me company?”

If anyone ever figures out how fucking easily he falls to that gaze, he’s a dead man. Aw shit. From Buckley’s face, she’s already figured that out. “Yeah, ‘course.”

Buckley rolls her eyes. “Yeah, yeah, like getting to moon at your new boyfriend is such a hardship.”

“Rob!” Steve hisses, looking at nervously.

She scoffs, getting up from the opposite side so that Billy could take her place. She gives Billy sort of a challenging stare, and tosses her head. “If he didn’t wanna go public, he should’ve said no the first damn time, when you warned him.”

Maybe Billy’s answer would be different if his father were still alive. But he ain’t. “It ain’t that big a deal – just don’t wanna get Harrington into any shit.”

She pitches her voice so that it won’t carry. “You don’t get to take whatever you want in private and leave him out in the cold in public.”

He can’t even imagine how Old Billy would react to having a woman talk to him like this. But by the hardness in her eyes, he does know that even Old Billy wouldn’t have scared her. Robin Buckley has fought monsters far more disturbing the one he used to be. She also, judging from the steel in her jaw, has seen people (men? women? both?) do this to Steve before. Take their physical pleasure from him in dark of night and then pretend they can’t see him in the light of day.

She looks ready to knock his teeth out if she doesn’t like his answer, and Billy can both understand that anger, and respect her desire to protect Steve from pain. “Down girl,” he murmurs, “I wouldn’t leave him out in the cold anywhere, never mind around these wolves.”

“Rob,” Steve says lowly. “Don’t give him a shovel speech. I can take care of myself.”

“You shouldn’t have to,” she responds, with a smile that’s equally sweet and poisonous. Billy’s opinion of her skyrockets. “Have fun, boys.”

Steve sighs at her retreating back, looking put upon for a moment before he smiles at Billy again. Flicking his hair out of his face, he pushes his glasses up his nose and admits, “I actually do have to work on these. Sorry.”

Billy steals his coffee mug. “Yeah, I kinda assumed that.” He pulls a dog-eared copy of Red Dragon from his jacket pocket. “Don’t worry, I can keep myself entertained. Besides, I got somethin’ real pretty to look at.”

He throws in a wink just for good measure, just because he knows he’ll be well rewarded with another rosy blush coloring Steve’s cheeks.

It’s relaxing, sitting around like a normal couple, nobody giving a shit about the two of them sitting there. Understandably, he’s pretty surprised when something – or someone – touches his dick under the table.

His eyes immediately shoots up to Steve’s face as the arch of a socked foot presses into the fly of his jeans, rubbing gently against the rapidly thickening semi there. The question on his lips dies almost instantly. He hardly needs to ask if it’s an accident – Steve’s gaze is already fixed on Billy, biting down on the corner of his lip as he tries to hide the curve of a wicked smile, his eyes dark behind the frames of his glasses.

Billy’s mouth drops open slightly as Steve’s toes curls around the rigid line of cock, wedged painfully against his zipper. Steve makes a low noise, a satisfied kind of purring, at how quickly Billy goes from semi to fully hard. Gripping the edge of the table with one hand and squashing his book into an open position with the other, Billy croaks “Steve.”

Oh so innocently with his angel-faced smile and his creamy rose blush, Steve says “What are you reading?”

Billy has to bite down a pained groan as Steve rubs him just a little harder. It’s torturous – there’s too many layers between them to get Billy off, which he suspects that Steve is well aware of, but it also feels so good that he doesn’t really want him to stop. Too late, he recalls Robin’s words about Steve in the 11th Hour. He likes to flirt with danger. He’s addicted to risk.

He honestly couldn’t think of anything riskier than Steve trying to bring him off in the middle of one of the town’s busiest attractions, only edged out by the churches and the bars. Billy stares at him helplessly, wide-eyed and voiceless with the force of his surging arousal. There is the hint of a command in his voice when Steve repeats, “What are you reading, Billy?”

“R-red-Red Dragon,” Billy responds hoarsely, fighting to stop himself from humping Steve like a fucking animal. He can’t stop himself from letting go of the table and sliding his hand under the cuffs of Steve’s slacks, wrapping his fingers around his ankle to keep him there.

Steve looks very pleased indeed and gives Billy’s dick another rub, finding his cockhead through his pants and flexing his toes right around it. “Steve,” he says weakly. “Are you trying to give me a fetish?”

Surprised, he asks “Do you have one?”

“No, but-” He holds in a whine and hisses, “Keep touchin’ my dick like that, and I’m gonna start having inappropriate thoughts about your feet, sweetheart.”

Surprised and curious now, Steve presses harder. “Can you come this way?”

“I don’t-I don’t know.” Billy has to hold back another whine and quickly lets go of his book before he can start accidentally ripping out pages. “Why…why are you…?”

Shyly, which is very rich coming from someone in the middle of giving him a footjob in public, Steve says “Just trying to make you feel good. Can’t use my hands from all the way over here.”

Despite these words, his stare on Billy is hungry, and he can hear Steve panting softly through his words. The distant part of his mind that’s still rational wonders what is that’s doing it for him – that Billy is kinda weirdly turned on by his feet, that Billy is somewhat at his mercy, or that anyone could catch them doing this. Or maybe it’s a little of all three.

Unable to take it any longer, Billy gently pulls Steve’s sock off, preferring to be able to touch warm skin, and cups the top of his foot against his dick. He strokes Steve’s ankle and rolls his hips as subtly as he can, swallowing a moan as Steve’s dark longing stare holds him captive.

“Dunno where you got an idea like this, heartbreaker,” Billy croaks.

“We can stop,” Steve suggests sweetly, pushing his heel against his aching balls and flexing his toes again. Watching Billy’s eyelashes flutter and the way the hand still on the table clenches and unclenches spastically. Steve nibbles his lower lip and lowers his voice to a suggestive, throaty husk “Or you can just come for me.”

“Steve.” He doesn’t know which is stronger, surprise or desperation or fear.

“Nobody’s watching,” he promises, still in that honey-sweet persuasive purr. He emphasizes this with an up and down rub against the denim seam and licks his lips with an obscene flick of the tongue.

Billy’s cock twitches hard, weeping pre-come into his boxers, and he knows that Steve can feel it because he’s losing the effort to hold in that wicked smile now. His tongue darts out again, like he can taste Billy in the air, and Steve squirms around like he’s trying to relieve the pressure on his own cock.

He sinks down in the booth and spreads this thighs apart, holding Steve against his prick with a little more pressure. He pleads “F-faster, darlin’. Just a little…”

Billy can feel the muscles and tendons in his ankle flexing and shifting as Steve immediately gives in, all coy teasing over as rubs at a pace clearly meant to bring Billy off even through the thick fabric. An echo from the past murmurs “Yeah, it’s me. Don’t cream your pants.”

His lips form around a silent ‘fuck’, trying not to be extremely obvious when he bucks into the contact, choking off his noises to soft helpless whimpers.

“Fuck, you are so hot,” Steve breathes in the present, nostrils flaring. He’s almost openly panting now and his eyes look nearly black.

Black holes that want to completely consume him. Billy bites down a scream and comes, wet and sticky, because beneath that angel-faced sweetness is a wicked, hungry smile. Just for Billy.

Lazily, Steve takes a twenty dollar bill from his jacket and slaps it down onto the sticky table. “Gimme my sock back,” he says, collecting all his papers and fondly stroking down Billy’s thigh before taking his foot back. “Do you like French silk?”

“Who doesn’t?” Billy says faintly, dazed.

“Good,” Steve says, all sugar and sweetness again. Billy’s fucking dizzy, man. “I made us one. Let’s go.”

“Don’t you want…?” His eyes dart down to Steve’s lap.

“Already did,” and there’s a hint of that dark gleam again. “Watching you, baby.”

Holy fucking shit.

#harringrove #knock me out babe #teacher steve #soft billy

27 notes · View notes

saaranghaeyo · 6 years

Text

Get to Know Me

Thanks for the tag, @xpastelgrungeheartx

Rules: answer 30 questions then tag some people you’d like to get to know better.

Gender: ♀

Nickname: “Miss” because I’m a teacher

Zodiac: Gemini

Height: 152cm (if I round up I’m 5’0 but technically... 4’11.8 feet)

Time: 20:59

Favorite bands/soloists: Blackpink and Little Mix are my true loves right now. I also love EXID and Red Velvet.

Song stuck in my head: Boombayah by Blackpink (specifically - ‘click clack botta bing botta boom’. Also this one line from Forever Young: 오늘이 가도 후회 없게

Last movie I saw: I don’t remember, it’s been a crazy busy week. I watched a couple of horror movies recently to pass the time. I watch TV more often, the last TV I watched was the season 2 finale of Westworld.

Any other blogs: No

Do I get asks: Very rarely but feel free to throw them at me.

Why my username: I’m a huge fan of the character Daisy Johnson and I think she deserves better - DaisyCampbell-Johnson references her former love interest, Lincoln Campbell, who was the only one who gave a shit about her autonomy and wellbeing.

Last thing I google: Bohemian Rhapsody (the song, not the movie)

Following: I’m following 49 and I have 322 followers

How many hours of sleep: Hahahahahahahahahaha. Whatever I can get between work. Usually closer to 5 hours (like yesterday) hence me living on four-packs of Red Bull.

What am I wearing: Pyjamas!

Do I play any instruments: No. I used to play the violin but gave it up because I wasn’t allowed to play songs that interested me.

Learning any languages: I’m learning Korean.

Favorite show/s: Agents of SHIELD (for Daisy), Mr. Robot (FOR EVERYTHING, MY FEELS, CAN TYRELLIOT HAVE A SCENE NOW?) Gotham (for EVERYTHING), Westworld (but mainly for everything around Maeve and her gang of kids/disciples), The 3% (a Brazilian show), Black (a Korean show), Jessica Jones, The Defenders, The Walking Dead (occasionally - it’s pissing me off), all of Tom Pelphrey’s scenes in Iron Fist but only his scenes, Wynonna Earp (especially for Wayhaught), Game of Thrones, Santa Clarita Diet (this should be earlier in my list, I can’t believe I forgot it), Daredevil (especially for Elektra), Glitch (it’s Australian). I also enjoy iZombie, Riverdale and Shadowhunters, although not as much as the others I just mentioned. I watch too much TV. Oh, and The Gifted. I also really love The Tunnel (French/British), although I am MAD BEYOND BELIEF about what happened in season 2.

Dream job: My dream job used to be to be a writer but now I want to do something that really helps people. I would love to work for Stonewall or something similar but I don’t think I could live on charity wages.

Favorite color: Bright colours. I wear a lot of mustard for work. I love bright, flamboyant, nearly-flourescent pink.

Favorite song: Secret Love Song - Little Mix (for the emotion). Boombayah - Blackpink (for the dance party)

How many animals: None!

Do I play any video games: Yeah! PC

Favorite video game: Mass Effect 2 & Skyrim

What color hair do I have: Bright red

What grade am I in: I’m actually a high school teacher

Am I morning person: HAHAHAHA no

Where would I like to travel: Tokyo & Seoul - I have plans for around the next Olympics!

Siblings: One half sister and one half brother, I don’t really know/see them though

Favorite food: Tandoori

I am tagging mutuals (I think) who I don’t know and have never talked to. Eep. @eliseswassermann for bi pride reasons & being the only person I’ve ever seen who actually watched The Tunnel @thelegendarydragonwarrior because your posts always entertain me (at least the ones in English) @thesillybus for Daisy reasons

If you (don’t) want to be tagged or you’ve already done it, please let me know.

#me #tag

5 notes · View notes

gunnerpalace · 6 years

Text

The Two-Body Problem - Chapter 5: Asymptotic Freedom

After the defeat of Xcution, Byakuya stopped just short of issuing Rukia an order to stay with Ichigo. Despite finding that his closet had been set up for her to sleep in yet again (by Isshin), she began to make herself at home in Ichigo’s bed too. A little more than a week has passed and Ukitake has yet to send her any further instructions. Most recently, Ichigo came home beaten up after yet another schoolyard brawl. One thing led to another and their last night in bed became rather more intimate than either had planned.

You can read the first four chapters here on AO3! Set the morning after Chapter 4 (NSFW), this also contains a NSFW situation and language, although the former isn’t explicit and it’s basically all fluff and banter. (It’s a “morning after” type of fic.) Fairly hurriedly written for #IchiRukiWinterFluff, not quite as long as it could be, ≈2050 words.

Sunlight streamed into Ichigo's bedroom—now more properly Ichigo and Rukia's bedroom—from the south, and did its best to wake Rukia gently. Perhaps unwisely, they'd left the curtains open the night before, having felt no need for privacy in the rain. This morning the sun's rays slowly swept across the blankets covering the two of them until, later than Ichigo usually awoke, they caressed Rukia's cheeks.

Still asleep, she mildly fussed at the additional warmth, pressing closer to him and trying to conceal her face in the crook of his neck, but it was a battle she inevitably forfeited. She blinked her eyes open slowly, squinting into the warm light for a moment and frowning.

Soon however, her focus changed, and she turned her head to consider the other source of heat upon her: Ichigo.

He was still sound asleep, facing away from the window. They were nude together, and he was hard against one of her thighs to boot.

Rukia's cheeks grew increasingly pink as she considered him and truly awoke, her memories of the previous night coming back to her. Honestly? How is he already... like this again!? Although she'd huddled with boys for warmth in Rukongai, she'd never really had to deal with the phenomenon of morning wood before—she'd been sleeping against Ichigo's back until this morning too. Her internal exasperation was theater for herself; there was nothing about being encircled within his arms and held against him that was off-putting.

Finally, she closed her eyes and pressed her face back up against his throat, breathing him in and allowing herself to simply enjoy the feeling of his skin upon hers. There was no real difference between how the sun felt on her and how Ichigo did.

She lingered like that for some strange length of time that seemed both unknowably long and altogether too short, before a thought intruded upon her relaxation: breakfast. As if on cue, her stomach growled. She blinked her eyes open with a sudden realization. Yuzu always makes breakfast... what if they...

Wait, what day was it anyway? It had been Friday, so it must be Saturday. The human calendar was mercifully similar to Soul Society's, at least. And Ichigo had explained that they'd all stopped having to go to school on Saturdays sometime the prior year—something about a government directive? Whatever, none of that mattered at the moment! Even though it was only her second weekend back, it was highly unusual to sleep so late into the morning! They would surely notice! And she was so hungry, damn it! This was certainly his doing with... what he'd done the night before...

Rukia abruptly pulled her head back, the flush of her cheeks quickly dispersing. "Ichigo."

He didn't react.

"Ichigo!" she repeated more urgently.

This time, he let out a snore in response.

Rukia twitched an eyebrow and pinched his nose shut. "Fool!"

Ichigo turned his head and sputtered at the sensation. "Ah! Hey! What the—" he began, only to be cut off by her hand clapping over his mouth.

"Not so loud, you imbecile!" she husked in warning. Slowly, she withdrew her hand from his mouth.

He glowered at her for a long moment before their situation drew his attention, and memories of the prior night filled his mind. Oh... He was waking up nude in bed with Kuchiki Rukia. ... Shit. This was... very conflicting!

On the one hand: yes! That had been incredible! He'd done well in both ways, and she'd enjoyed it!

On the other hand: fuck! Why was she so irked?! What were they?! Was Byakuya going to kill him?!

"Now's not the time to be embarrassed!" Rukia admonished, looking him directly in the eyes. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she turned her head, trying to see his alarm clock.

Ichigo blinked and followed her line of sight. "Fuck," he whispered. It was 10:13 AM.

"We missed breakfast!" Rukia bemoaned, as though they'd been cursed to roam the earth forever.

"Forget breakfast, they're all gonna know!" Ichigo rebuked.

Rukia faced him again with a peevish and accusatory expression. "I am famished, I'll have you know!"

"Don't say that like it's my fault!" How could something like that make her so hungry? It was only possibly because she was so damn short...

"Isn't it?" she demanded, her mien becoming haughty and imperial.

"I don't recall you complaining about the... the midnight snack!" he snapped.

Rukia's eyes widened as she gaped in disbelief at his audacity.

Ichigo immediately realized what he'd said and squeezed his eyes shut. "Wait, wait, I—"

She slapped his chest and spun around, pulling away from him to feign disapproval as much as to hide the cheeky little smile curving the corners of her lips. The nerve! I didn't think he had it in him...

"Oi, Rukia," he continued, rubbing the back of his head. He looked her way just as the mattress recoiled from her getting off it, and was transfixed by the sight of her backside in the sunlight, bare of everything but her natural beauty. Her skin had such a glow and sheen to it, and her curves were just as proudly shapely as they'd been in the shower the prior evening. He was awestruck and stupefied.

Pointedly ignoring his words, she grabbed her panties and hooked her heels into them to shimmy them up her legs. There was no way she'd let him get away with such insolence and insouciance, even if she was kind of impressed by it. "Well, Ichigo, if you want to stay in bed all day, then be my—" she began to lecture, only to stop with an "Eep!" Her panties were somehow still damp and sticky, and they were also cold from having been on the floor overnight!

She hurriedly yanked them back down her thighs, peering down into them with a flustered expression. What exactly had he done to her the previous night?!

Ichigo was, by this point, beet red, and forced himself to look aside as he got up and stood behind her. "You... should change," he suggested mildly, gathering his own clothes while facing away to give her a moment of privacy.

Rukia glared sideways at him, but without much heat. It was transparently obvious when he was mocking her and when he wasn't, and this was clearly the latter. After a moment of indecision and studying how abashed he was, she kicked her wet underwear off and went to retrieve a new pair from the closet drawer that'd been set aside for her.

They both dressed hurriedly, throwing on their sleeping clothes again and assembling by the bedroom door. The two of them glanced at one another in a conspiratorial way and put their ears to the door, listening intently.

After many, many long seconds, they pulled their heads back and looked at each other again.

"I don't hear anything," Ichigo whispered.

"Neither do I," said Rukia.

They continued to watch each other for a second before nodding at one another. Rukia stepped back and Ichigo opened the door, the two of them heading downstairs in a way that, as they descended the steps, became a practiced attempt to look lazy and blasé.

"Good morning!" Rukia called as they reached the landing, putting all of her acting skills into play.

"Yo," Ichigo added in a drowsy way.

"Sorry we slept in so—eh?" she continued, only to stop and look around.

Ichigo, already at the bottom of the steps, was also doing much the same. "Huh?"

Isshin, Karin, and Yuzu were nowhere to be found. All the lights were off and the downstairs rooms were lit only by ambient sunlight coming in through the windows.

The pair cautiously crept forward, Rukia proceeding forward off the stairs to join Ichigo, both suspecting some sort of surprise at their expense. Still they found nothing until they patrolled into the kitchen.

On one of the counters there was a note.

Ichigo snatched it up and read it, visibly relaxing as he did so.

"What does it say?" Rukia asked.

He simply handed it to her in response.

Her suspicious look ablated as she scanned it.

It was clearly written by Yuzu, and read: 'Onii-chan, Rukia-nee: Dad is taking us to the Tama Zoological Park for a school project! We decided not to wake you since we'll be leaving early. Breakfast and lunch are in the fridge! We'll be back before dinner!'

"We're saved," Ichigo said, exhaling. He wasn't one for prayers, but it felt like his had just been answered.

Rukia's brows knitted together. "What's a zoo?"

He blinked before frowning. "Really?"

"Watch your tone! You know there's a lot I don't know about the Living World!"

Ichigo looked to one side in what was only part of an eyeroll. "It's... a place where wild animals from around the world can safely live while also being seen in person."

Rukia tilted her head in thought. "... What kind of animals?"

"You know, stuff like lions and tigers..." Ichigo trailed off. It'd been a long time since he'd been to that zoo. He was pretty sure they had hares, but Rukia had just finished being pissed off at him for his earlier remark—he wasn't going to set her off again.

She eventually nodded her head sagely at that, and went to the fridge. "Alright, then let's eat, Ichigo!"

He let out a sigh at her one-track mind, before feeling his own stomach starting to grumble. Chastened, he followed her to the fridge and opened it, studying the meals that'd been left for them. "Might as well fix both breakfast and lunch, given the hour..."

At that he glanced to Rukia, finding her beaming at the suggestion, and felt a sweatdrop forming at his temple. "Uh, do you want to have a bath after this, considering—"

Rukia simply and firmly cut him off with "Yes."

Ichigo nodded, not really thinking on either how easily he'd proposed the idea or how readily she'd accepted it, and pulled out the food containers, starting to work on heating them up.

Sometime later, the two of them were in the tub together, up to their necks in hot water. Rukia was seated with her legs crossed between Ichigo's, facing away from and leaning against him as he rubbed her shoulders.

He had his head back against the edge of the tub, looking elsewhere. It was difficult to be embarrassed at seeing or feeling her after everything that'd happened in the last day, but she was still... pleasantly distracting. He let his mind wander as he worked out the knots in her muscles.

An earlier question returned to him: what were they? They were lovers, at least. And it was clear from last night that they'd... had feelings for one another for a long time. So, were they dating? Or were things just going to go on as they had? Was there a difference? What had that trip to Hoteiya earlier in the week been, if not exactly that? She had fit back into his life again so seamlessly and easily that he hadn't really thought about it... hadn't questioned her living in his room again, or sneaking into his bed.

Being Kuchiki Rukia's lover...what should he do?

Some time had passed when he lifted his head up again. "Hey, Rukia?"

"Mmm?"

"Uh..." He realized he had to be careful with how he phrased this, given what he'd said earlier, and closed his eyes, rubbing the back of his head. "I think... It's been a long time since I was at the Tama Zoo, but I've been trying to remember. I think they have Japanese hares there. They're not quite rabbits, but... Do you wanna surprise my family by meeting up with them there?"

When she didn't say anything, he opened his eyes to look at her.

Rukia had turned her upper body to regard him directly, her hands resting upon his knees. Her mouth was a flawless lunar curve and her eyes were slightly hooded as she studied him.

Ichigo blinked at her expression. She looked gladdened and satisfied.

Her smile turned impish. "Are you asking me on a date, Ichigo?"

After a second, he just grinned.

#Bleach #IchiRuki #DeathberryReclaimed #IchiRukiWinterFluff #IchiRuki Fanfic

40 notes · View notes

lukeysgirl · 7 years

Text

The Note Tree ❋ L.H. Pt.7

Part S E V E N

Summary: A cherry blossom tree, residing at the farthest part of the schools courtyard. Nobody dwelled there, and you didn’t care much for it. Until you kept hearing one song played over and over, with lyrics changed to touch at your curiosity. They knew you were listening, and one day you gave in and made your way to the pink tree. Waiting for you, a series of notes tied to a single strand of string.

Word Count: 3k+

AN: eep, i came back early from my small vacation aha ^^ anyways, hi! im so happy you guys are getting to like this series (makes me smile lots). im so sorry this part was a little delayed as i was away w/o my pc. but im here and will try to write much faster x oh, and 100 notes please <3

Parts: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, eighteen, nineteen, twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three, twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty.

I M A G I N E

Sunday

After sleeping through the rest of Saturday, you decided to stroll outside on a Sunday morning. And, of course, it was raining.

You draped on a large, gray sweater, the kind that was actually hand knit and not a generic made from a company. Your legs were hugged by navy blue leggings, which was ornate with unintentional holes. You shoved on a pair of green-gray Converse as you walked down the middle of the quiet, vacant road.

Your head was buzzing. Your body was slowly adapting back to its usual, completely-in-control setting as you slowly trotted down the road. The black road ornate with yellow streaks worth of paint shined from Natures produce. You felt the cool dollops moisten your face, feeling somewhat refreshed but annoyed. It hadn’t occurred to you to get an umbrella until you were too far to go back for one.

As you walked slowly, you suddenly found light making the road glisten before you. A honk proceeded, and that’s when your brain crashed. Pain ensured through your skull as you quickly held your head with your hand. A loud, high-pitched beep began in your ears, and you had begun offering deals to the Devil to make it all stop. So you walked over to the sidewalk, as that’s what you assumed the car wanted. But it remained still when you moved, so you turned to look over in curiosity.

“What the fuck are you doing in this rain?” A distant voice called, having you squint your eyes to see Luke Hemmings in the drivers seat. Just your luck. “Get in here!”

The Australian’s beckoning made you somewhat reluctant, but it was Luke. Your eyes scanned his ride, seeing a black colored who-knows-what right before you. It wasn’t required to know car names or brands, so you hadn’t been bothered to fill your mind with none of that. Slowly, you welcomed yourself back on the road before opening the door to shotgun and hopping in.

“What’re you doing out in the rain like that, Y/N?” Luke demanded, his voice 10 times as loud as you slowly and gently closed the car door. You hissed in pain, waving at him to lower his volume as you clipped the seat belt on. “Hungover?”

“Apparently,” you muttered, your voice sounding incredibly muffled. Your eyes diverted to Luke to eye him a bit. White tee, black jeans, black converse-- the usual with Luke. His lanky being was bent due to the seat, but his posture was proper with his blonde hair droopy and weak due to the rainfall. It was strange to see Luke out of school, even if that has happened often before. But this was a first to actually hop into the boys car.

“I’ll shut off my music then,” Luke said simply as he disconnected his iPhone from the AUX cord that was connected to the car. You appreciated this gesture and mumbled a quick thank you as Luke also began winding up the windows. “Back to my ask, though. Why are you out in the rain like that?”

“Like what?” You asked, looking down at your damp clothing. “I’m not butt naked, Hemmings.”

“But you could’ve at least tried to stay dry,” Luke said quietly, having you watch as he twisted his torso to direct his body to the back of his car. He began reaching for something, having pain annoy your eyes when diverting towards the back.

“I forgot my umbrella when it was too late,” you admitted, yawning right after. Tears began collecting in your eyes from it, indicating your exhaustion as Luke stopped his digging. Suddenly, Luke had tossed a warm objected on your lap. You felt the car begin to move as you stared down at the basil-colored object. It was a blanket, almost a small quilt as you rubbed your hands upon its silky texture. You opened it to spread it some more, feeling it cover all of your legs as you tugged it a bit up to cover your torso. You unintentionally too a whiff, and found it to smell exactly like Luke.

“Have you eaten yet?” Luke asked quietly, having you look up at the windshield to see nothing but wet road. Water droplets hit the window as the wipers kept coming in on beat to smear them away. You shook your head no, too tired to keep using your vocals as you watched the road. “Alright, let’s go to a diner.”

“I don’t have that kind of money,” you admitted embarrassingly.

“I didn’t ask if you did,” Luke said simply, shutting you down as you watched the road in defeat.

The two of you were seated in a booth, across from one another.

80s music boomed the restaurant, thanking the restaurant mentally for the choice of Michael Jackson. People were ornate all over the retro scene, most of them being seniors. Wisps of red and shiny silver were the rhythm of the place, with waitresses forced to wear yellow polo’s and short, red skirts. They were skating around the place, having you question if they could be good at ice skating.

“Order whatever you’d like,” Luke began, giving you his genuine, small smile as he held up his menu. You left yours lying on the table, studying the disgusting stains of food from previous customers. You then shut your eyes as you pushed your menu a bit away from you. “Do you already know what you want?”

“I’m not eating anything,” you muttered, your sight pitch black as you listened to Billie Jean dance around the joint.

“Oh?” Luke responded in a shocked tone. “Why not?”

“Because you’re trying to pay for it,” you admitted with a gulp. “And I’m not in the mood to bother with debt.”

“Then tell me this: why didn’t you eat at home?” Luke asked, having you open your eyes at his words. You couldn’t come up with a valid point without exposing the entirety of your life, having you purse your lips as you looked down at the menu.

“I’m not hungry,” you lied, twiddling your thumbs as you listened to the rain become more harsh beside you. You were far too stubborn, and you could admit that proudly. Everyone hated owing people. Especially owing to someone as kind as Luke Hemmings.

“Then I’ll just order everything on the menu, and eat as much as I can,” Luke began, diverting your eyes to see his stern expression. You were in disbelief, attempting to find bluff somewhere in his ocean eyes. But they hadn’t dared stared somewhere else, seeing nothing but seriousness in them. Luke then turned over and rose his arm, his eyes searching for a body. “Waitress!”

“I’ll have pancakes,” you spat, grumpily slugging into the uncomfortable, red couch of the booth as a skater girl came over. She rose her notepad over, barely looking at you before ogling Luke.

“What would you like?” The waitress asked kindly, seeming unsatisfied with her own performance. It was likely she thought you and Luke were a thing and was unable to flirt with him. You felt bad for mentally laughing at the girl as Luke told her the orders. You were far too tired to be bothered to stare her down and take in her appearance and features. As soon as she left, you diverted your eyes back to Luke and crinkled your nose.

“She wanted to get in your pants,” you respond bluntly, having Luke snort before taking a sip of his tap water. He was quick to drop his smile and stared at you intensely, having you raise an eyebrow at him.

“Why were you so mean with Nadia?” Luke asked, having you stare at his immensely stern face. How did he get that from her wanting to fuck him?

“Ha ha,” you sarcastically laughed as you grabbed your own cup and took a sip. “It’s not like I want to be. I’d rather save my energy than lash at her.” And that was the full and utter truth.

“Then what was with the cruel remarks?” Luke began quietly. “I understand you defend yourself when she’s being a bitch, but it seemed like you had a genuine grudge on her.”

“Ah, she was being dumb earlier at the party at the bar,” you said simply as you grabbed the covered straw at the side and began opening it. “She had started by calling me ugly, but that’s not the thing that really pissed me off.”

“Oh? Enlighten me.” You felt suddenly challenged by Luke for some reason. It was stupid to request elaboration from you when your words should be the most trusted. At least, in your opinion.

“I mean, she called Des an ape and made fun of Savannah’s dyslexia,” you replied, dropped the straw in the cup and watched it swirl down until it hit the bottom. You crossed your arms over your chest, feeling goosebumps dry from the coolness of the restaurant striking at your fairly damp clothing. “So if you wanted me to stand there like a useless piece of shit, you’ve got to be some sort of stupid. Racist and ignorant, that girl.”

“Alex splashed her beer on her,” Luke tries. You laughed bitterly.

“I don’t control the girl, but she needed to cool down,” you joked, but Luke didn’t take that kindly. He slammed both of his hands on the table, having it shake while releasing a very loud noise. Pairs of eyes around you diverted to your booth, having you look at Luke in shock as he looked immensely annoyed. A vein was crawling up his left temple as he studied you angrily. Intense ripples developed in both cups of water as it danced to the center of the cups before returning to the rims.

“Stop acting like you were justified!” Luke barked, leaving you slightly agape as his ocean eyes danced with vexation. “I get what she said was disgusting but you’re not the bigger man here!”

“Lower your fucking voice with me, Hemmings,” you growled, refusing to take that from him. Your heartbeat was loud and clear in your head, making your skull throb with Luke’s loud tone adding to it. “I don’t fucking understand what you want me to do-- apologize? You’re out of your fucking mind if you think I’ll be doing that.”

“No, but you should realize that you were not completely in the right here,” Luke barked, bending his fingers as the tips were firmly on the table. “Alexis went a little too far and you should not be proud of her.”

“Why the hell are you trying to scold me like you’re my boyfriend?” You spat, having Luke’s eyes somewhat lighten from your words. You held yourself from saying father. “You’re clearly not my boyfriend, Luke, so don’t start.” You then stared a little more and allowed gears to run in your head. “Oh I see...”

“See what?”

“You’re her boyfriend, huh?” You accused, having you lean back and let out a cold chuckle. “What a catch she is. No wonder why you couldn’t help yourself last night and let me get taken by another pair of arms.”

“Your assumptions are beyond me sometimes, Y/N,” Luke said with an awestruck smile. “I’m not dating Nadia, nor will I ever want to. It wasn’t my fault that you chose to let Nathan take you home. Did he even take you to your house?”

“Oh man,” you dragged, smiling from disbelief as you stared at the obviously jealous Luke. “Are you jealous, Luke?”

“Yes, I fucking am!” Luke barked, placing his forehead on his hand to let out an aggravated sigh. You shook your head, slightly pissed that he was using up your energy just because he was a little jealous. “I said I love you, Y/N. Did you think I’d be cool with Nathan taking you home?”

“I asked you to take me home, Luke,” you began darkly, having Luke’s face soften. His eyebrows rose, his blue eyes turned like the sky, and those rough lips barely parted. “Did you think I was cool with Nathan taking me home?” Luke fell silent, having you let out a shaky sigh as you stacked the two menus and leaned it at the edge for a waitress to come and retrieve them. “That’s what I thought.”

“But you didn’t do anything,” Luke began quietly, diverting his eyes down to his lap. “You didn’t beg for me to come over, you didn’t try to get out of his arms. You didn’t let me do what you asked of me, Y/N.”

“Luke, I was fucking drunk,” you began, having Luke wince as you spewed those words. “I was drunk, and at that time, I relied on you. We’re not close, but you always put in effort in finding reason to be around me so I trusted you more than anyone there. My girlfriends were too busy having a ball and I didn’t want to ruin that for them. I didn’t want to ruin that for you either but I really wanted your help just this once. And I know how much you want to help me.”

“Y/N...” Luke muttered, allowing himself to trail off so you can continue. But he didn’t stop there. “You left with that prick anyways, even when I was calling your name.”

“Did you think I wanted to?” You glared at Luke, unsure as to how stupid he could really be. “Nathan took me home because you let me go and he caught me. I was drunk and he just so happened to pop up and steal your damn thunder. So I’m sorry if you’re mad but the only thing I owe you was going to the party and I did go. That’s it.”

The two of you held an annoying silence. The several pairs of eyes remained as you locked eyes with Luke. His azure orbs glistened, seeing the pupils shake as they dilated. A sudden fatigue arrived and you found yourself moving towards the window to lean your head against the window. Luke watched you, seeing you stare outside where the rain was pouring and bodies of waters walked around with their portable roofs worth of umbrellas.

“I’m sorry,” Luke said gently but you were quick to wave him off.

“Ah, don’t worry about it,” you said simply while diverting your eyes back to the blonde. He moved over as well so he could be exactly across from you. “I’m only taking it if it’s solely over raising your voice at me because my head is searing right now.”

“Ah shit, m’sorry, Y/N,” Luke began, his cheeks flaring pink as he as well leaned his head on the window. You two locked a stare and stayed there for a few moments to cherish the quietness. But the noise surged back after the two of you had quieted down and that made you disappointed. “I’m glad he took you home though. He gets some tolerance for that.”

“Oh wow, how rewarding,” you began sarcastically, allowing a soft smile to paint your lips as Luke smiled back. You didn’t want to admit, but his gentle smiles were very sweet and full of warmth. It made the coolness that you currently felt disappear. “You’re something else, Luke.”

“Ditto,” Luke said with a small snort. His sharp nose crinkled a bit as he did and something hit your heart so suddenly right after. “I’m surprised you didn’t have some dignified last words before storming out of the diner in the rain.”

“D’you think this is a real like teenage drama show?” You exclaimed, having Luke chuckle as you rolled your eyes. “You wish. It’s effort to be petty, Luke. I’d also like to point out that the rain is falling onto earth like fucking bullets, so you’re insane if you thought I was gonna storm out of here over that.”

“Ha,” Luke hummed, grinning at your stupid pun as you gave him a small smile. “I still am sorry for that really brief argument I started. Is there anything I could do to prove it?”

Before you could say a thing, your waitress returned to place several plates of food on the booth’s table. Fluffy hot cakes with eggs and bacon, ornate with pepper and salts of the spice family. Bowls of berries that looked too much like art to even be real. Cups of milk and orange juice joined the party as she grabbed your menus. You and Luke muttered your gratitude, receiving a simple nod before she skated away.

“Then I guess this will be it,” you began quietly. “I won’t pay for my meal and I won’t force you to take my money because I said I owed you.”

That’s when Luke erupted with laughter. You watched as he covered his mouth, uttering soft laughter from his mouth as his eyes squinted. Through the slivers, you could see his blue eyes gradually being coated with hysterical tears as he let out his laughs. You could help but grin at how endearing it was.

“Y/N,” Luke began as he picked up a fork and a knife. He sliced a fine cut of his hotcakes and took it in his mouth, chewing quickly before forcing it down. “I wasn’t going to take your money anyways.” You rolled your eyes, picking up your utensils as you looked at his triumph smile.

“And you thought I was going to give you the money directly?” You hummed, cutting your own pancakes slowly. “I was going to hide it in a common place where you’d sift it out and find it. A pleasant surprise that’ll take you a few minutes to realize why it was there.”

“Then you can keep your money,” Luke chuckled.

“Huh?” You responded with a puzzled expression. “Why?”

“Because the money would end up at my dick and I’d have to pay you for the service,” Luke replied cheekily, having you flush before throwing one of your blueberries at him.

“PG, Hemmings,” you hissed, having him laugh as he took another bite of his food into his mouth.

you already know-- tell me what you think right over here please and i hope you guys enjoyed this xx

122 notes · View notes

takecxver-blog · 7 years

Text

They Don’t Know - Michael

So this is my first post on this new blog… eep. Hope you like it. I had that super old One Direction song in my head while writing this and I’m not even a that big fan of them but it fit so whatever… idk. Also lowkey inspired by Good Girls (that one line is cringy I know I couldn’t resist). Flashbacks in italics.

Everyone will say they know about your relationship. The ‘bad boy’ and the ‘nerd’. They just know what they’ve seen and heard. Michael driving you to school and walking you to class, you sometimes wearing his leather jacket, that one time you got detention for being late (“it’s that boy’s bad influence on her, she’s never been slightly late before” - your chem teacher while shaking his head), you failing a test and being grounded (again, his bad influence, according to your dad). In reality, they knew a fraction of what they thought they did. For example, how you met.

You sighed, looking around nervously before pulling a crumpled packet of marlboro reds from your backpack and pressing one in-between your lips. It was a habit you’d picked up from the stress of studying for finals, your dad’s pressure to get into Harvard and all nighters. Staying late in the library every night had been his idea, and you weren’t one to argue. Fumbling in the bottom of your bag for your lighter, you cursed when you realised exactly where it was: in the hoodie pocket you’d used when you had a cigarette outside yesterday before your dad got in from work.

“Need a light?” You jumped at the unfamiliar voice and looked up to see Michael Clifford offering a lighter matching the current bright red of his hair. The school had long given up telling him not to dye it anymore. You’d always thought he was pretty cool, if a little irresponsible.

“Sure.” You took the lighter and lit the cigarette, taking in a long drag and exhaling in relief. Handing him back the lighter, you offered a smile. “Thanks.”

“No worries, you looked like you needed it.”

“You can say that again.”

“You looked like you needed it.” He smirked. Rolling your eyes, you took another drag and watched as he pulled out his own packet and lit up.

“Are you always this annoying?”

“Seriously, what are you, five?”

“Seriously, what are you, five?” You shook your head, laughing.

“You’re something else, I swear.”

“Don’t swear, it’s offensive! I’ll tell on you!”

“Oh no, anything but that, please!” You pretended to fake cry.

“Can you keep it down, some people are trying to study. And put those death sticks out, or I will tell on you!” A girl called from inside the library, then slammed the window behind her. It rattled in it’s frame and Michael shushed it, making you laugh even more.

“So what are you doing out here behind a library, doesn’t seem like you?” You asked after a while.

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, (Y/N), I could be here studying.” He retorted, making you snort. “Okay fine, I was dragged here by Mr Higgins for extra math tutoring. He thinks I’m in the toilet. What about you, miss goody two shoes, smoking, doesn’t seem like you?”

“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover, Michael.” You repeated, grinning. “And anyway, good girls are bad girls that haven’t been caught.” Stubbing out your cigarette, you winked at him before disappearing back inside.

He’d appeared by your side as you left that evening, offering you a ride home. It beat taking the bus, so you agreed, chatting pleasantly the entire ride to your house. When he pulled up outside, he asked for your number, and you found it hard coming up with reasons to refuse. He began texting you memes within the hour and you knew you’d made the right decision.

One thing people did get right about your relationship, though, was how protective of you he was. Practically the whole school had witnessed it nearly eight months into your relationship.

You stood outside your school, waiting for Michael. He insisted on picking you up, since it was still winter, and so pitch black by the time you finished school at four o’clock. And hey, you weren’t going to complain about not having to wait for the bus in the dark and cold, plus getting to see your boyfriend was a bonus. He’d gotten suspended for refusing to take out his new eyebrow piercing, so you hadn’t seen much of him the past week except for five minutes when he drove you home. But tonight was your weekly date night. Your dad hadn’t been too happy when you’d told him you had a boyfriend, as it would ‘impact your studies negatively’, and he was even less thrilled when you introduced him to Michael, not liking his appearance or grades in the slightest. After a few ‘loud discussions’ though, he’d come to accept it. You had a strict curfew of six that he extended by an hour every Wednesday, and you’d never broken it (at least not that he knew of). You’d been texting Michael all day, and were honestly so excited for the new chocolate fudge sundae from the ice cream place in town. Skipping one or two study sessions wouldn’t hurt.

“I bet your boyfriend thinks he’s so badass, doesn’t he?” You raised an eyebrow as you turned to see one of the douchey guys from your english class, Josh. He was popular and pretty much a fuckboy. He was also butthurt because Michael had called him out in class last week for calling a girl a slut, and then given him a black eye when he confronted him when he came to pick you up yesterday.

“If you’re talking about him kicking your ass, you deserved it.” You said, turning back around, only to be stopped by a hand on your shoulder.

“Ooh, kitty’s got claws.”

“Yeah, and I’m about to claw your eyes out if you don’t let go of me and fuck off.”

“Oh, come on sweetheart, I was just playing.” He raised his hands in mock surrender. You shot him a tight smile and spun around to see Michael, leaning against the hood of his car, smirking. He walked over and wrapped an arm around your waist, kissing your cheek in greeting.

“Hey love, good day?”

“Not too bad, relieved that it’s over though.” You smiled.

“Ah cool, this asswipe’s not bothering you, is he?”

“She threatened me!” Josh exclaimed. “I was just asking her a question and the little sl-”

“If you’re looking for a black eye to match the first one, finish that sentence, I dare you.” Michael’s tone hardened as he glared at Josh.

“What? The little slut threatened me?” The asshole smirked, reaching over to brush your hair behind your ear. The next thing you knew he was being held against the wall by his collar.

“Don’t fucking touch her. I know you’re not exactly the smartest, but trying to get to me through her is probably the stupidest thing you’ve done yet.” Michael growled. By now a crowd had gathered around the three of you, attracting the attention of a couple of teachers.

“Mr Clifford! Let go of him this instant!”

“Mikey, c’mon, he’s not worth it.” You pleaded, not wanting him to get suspended for longer than he already was. Michael sighed and dropped Josh to the floor. He turned around and reached for your hand, only to freeze when he spoke again.

“Yeah, Mikey, your little slut needs attention.” Needless to say, Josh ended up with a second black eye and you spent the next two hours sitting outside the principal’s office. The ice cream place closed at five.

“I’m sorry, love. I know you wanted to go to that ice cream place tonight. We can go Saturday, I promise. Are you okay?” Michael said, squeezing your hand as you sat on the uncomfortable plastic chairs.

“I’m fine, just annoyed that I’m gonna have to wash my hair again, I only washed it this morning. Or maybe I should just bleach it like yours instead?” He was giggling until he was called into the office.

“I really am sorry.” Michael said as you walked out to his car at half six.

“Hey, it’s okay. That was so boring though, I need a cig. Plus, we still have time to make out in the backseat of your car.”

“Fuck, I love you.”

Badass. That was pretty much everyone’s view of Michael. They didn’t know how sweet he could be, or how much of a dork he was.

“Okay, you can open your eyes.” Michael removed the beanie from over the top half of your face (you didn’t have the heart to tell him you could see through it the entire time). You were in his bedroom/basement, and you had to give him credit, it looked amazing. Fairy lights were strung all about the room, and there was a very inviting blanket fort in the middle of the room, over the small sofa, facing the TV. On further inspection, you saw pizza, a tub of your favourite ice cream, and a bunch of movies inside the fort. “Happy anniversary, love.”

“Mikey, this awesome!” You exclaimed, running to get comfortable.

“Really?” He asked, crawling in next to you. You knew he was slightly insecure that he couldn’t take you out to some fancy restaurant for your second anniversary, his job in this alternate coffee shop wasn’t the best pay. But you couldn’t care less, this was thoughtful and adorable and way more fun than sitting in some posh restaurant all night.

“Yes!” You giggled, proceeding to tell him all the reasons why this is the best kind of date. Plus, it was Saturday, so you had all day to yourselves. Most of that day may or may not have been spent feeding each other pizza and making out.

Deadpool had just finished, and you were having a hard time staying awake. It was half five, and you were just so warm and comfortable wrapped up in Michael’s arms as he played with your hair and dropped kisses onto your forehead. Surely you could nap for a little bit? Michael would wake you up when he had to drop you home.

Bad decision. You shot up at 6am and, after checking your phone, panicked. “Fuck, fuck, fuck! Mikey, get up!” You shook your boyfriend. Normally, his adorable, sleepy face would melt you, but right now you were too panicked by the missed calls and texts waiting for you. “Michael!”

“W-What?” He yawned, sitting up. “What’s wrong, love?”

“What’s wrong is that we fell asleep and I was supposed to be home twelve hours ago!” He perked up, suddenly much more awake.

“Shit.”

“Shit is right. I’m gonna die. My dad’s gonna kill me. It was nice knowing you.”

“Hey, hey.” Michael wrapped his arms around you, seeing tears in your eyes. “This is the first time you’ve ever been late. Text him now and explain, I’ll drive you home and we can talk to him. It’s gonna be alright, I’m gonna be right there with you the whole time, love, I promise. C’mon, deep breaths.”

“Okay, yeah. He’ll understand, right?” You sighed, and Michael nodded, kissing you softly.

“Let’s go.”

Turns out you had nothing to worry about. Sure, your dad was initially angry, but after you explained (and nearly cried), he calmed down, and just told you not to let it happen again. Which is why you’re currently biting your lip, debating on whether to sneak out and see Michael on a school night when you’ve got an exam tomorrow. It’s not the first time you’ve done it, and you’ve never been caught, but this exam is a really big deal. Sure, your place at Harvard, still your dream school, is pretty much secured for September, but this is in the thing you’re going to be minoring in (your major is chemistry upon your dad’s request), your true passion, art. A text comes through, jolting you out of your reminiscing.

from: mikey ♥

I know you’ve got your art exam in the morning, but that stuff comes naturally to you. It’s why you should be majoring in it, love. You don’t need to study for something you’re already amazing at.

Fuck it, you think, grabbing a hoodie (Michael’s) and some sneakers. Even after two and a half years, you never were good at saying no to him. Climbing out of your window and down the conveniently placed tree, you jog over to Michael’s car and jump in.

“Hey, love.” He greets you with a kiss and you giggle.

“Just drive, Mikey.”

#michael clifford imagine #michael clifford imagines #5sos imagine #5sos imagines #michael clifford #5sos #5 seconds of summer

12 notes · View notes

elliotthezubat · 7 years

Text

DEATH CITY DAYS CHAPTER 67

from new recruits, to mixers

PlushFix: *tossed out the window* >_< kinuta: hmm? PlushFix: *looks up* "Hey, beautiful..." kinuta: wait a sec....nofix?! PlushFix: "In the flesh!" ^^ kinuta:....*picks him up* you're a fucking stuffed bear. PlushFix: "Yeah, but now I'm cuddly and more compact." kinuta:...*looks up at the window* saku *glaaaare* PlushFix: "I got knocked out..." kinuta: shit. hina: oh? you know this chippy? kinuta: who the fuck? PlushFix: "Kinuta." hina: oh? kinuta: and you? hina: call me hina. PlushFix: "This is where I've been hanging out since some medium shoved me into this doll." kinuta: so you died? that sucks. PlushFix: "Yeah, it does. Surprised you're here--the authorities didn't catch you?" kinuta: let's just get inside. PlushFix: "Come on in! Get comfy..." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *bows* "Hello, Aunt Amelia." amelia: hey, sweetie. ^^ *hug* Jacqueline: .\\\. *hug* "How are you?" amelia: i just got the packages today. the maids told me what happened.... Jacqueline: "...I'm sorry." amelia: oh it's alright, dear. those two have always had such sticks up their asses. *chuckles* Jacqueline: -___-;; "You can imagine _I_ can't say that..." amelia: well it's true. it's ok sweetie, you're always welcome here anytime. Jacqueline: "..." *sniff* "Th-Thank you..." *rubs her eyes* -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: *looks out at the city* {zelda: *holding their newborn daughter* she looks just like you, francis.} {Fitzgerald: "Are you sure? I think she has your smile."} {zelda: *chuckles* hey sweetie, say hi to papa} ???: sir? Fitzgerald: *sets down his drink* "Hmm?" louisa: is everything alright? Fitzgerald: "...How many cities have you seen with this view?" louisa: well, the was the penthouse back in new york. Fitzgerald: "Such diverse neighborhoods here, though...If only..." louisa: ?? Fitzgerald: "...If only they could see this." louisa: ...... -elsewhere- Gopher: *sweating, shivering* inori: *giving him medicine* father said this will help you. Gopher: "Th-Thank you..." *sips water, takes the medicine* "I-I have felt so w-weird since that incantation..." inori: it is most likely nerves. Gopher: "I-I hope...I don't want to m-miss the Festival..." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *tucks Sonia in* sonia: zzzz Chuuya: *smiles, kisses her forehead* sonia: =u= Chuuya: *exits, leaving the door open a crack* mito: *asleep in the cat bed* Chuuya: *in his bedroom, lies down in his bed...and there is a lot of room* "..." *turns to the center of the bed, resting a hand along the empty spot...closes his eyes* -morning- Jacqueline: "Zzz..." *tosses* kim: hey jackie? Jacqueline: *yawns, opens her eyes* "Huh?" kim: are you up? Jacqueline: "Yeah, I am now...You?" kim: yeah. Jacqueline: "...What do you want to do today? We have a few days before we go back to Death City..." kim: maybe visit the shops? Jacqueline: "Good idea...I can show you some with some cute dresses and good pastries." kim: that sounds awesome! -elsewhere- Anya: *asleep dreaming* {Anya: *looks down--she's in a wedding gown* "???"} {???: *holding out their hand*} {Anya: "Wh-What is going on? Why am I in this dress?"} {???: *holding her hand*} {Anya: .\\\\. "Is-Is this a wedding?"} {???: *nods and smiles*} {Anya: *gulps* "M-My wedding?"} {???: *removing the veil*} {-their face cant be seen...-} {Anya: "..." *leans closer*} {???: *leans in*} {Minister: "You may now kiss the bride."} {???: *leaning in to kiss her*} {???: "I object!"} {*the crowd looks to the doors*} {*Hyde marches into the room, dragging Licht with him*} {Anya: "?!!!"} {???: what the fresh hell-} {Anya: .\\\\\. "Y-Yeah--I'm wondering the same--"} {???: *from the window* "I object, too! Anastasia, I love you!"} {???: *looks up* ._.; } {*Clay is descending down a rope*} {Clay: "Marry me!"} {Anya: O\\\\\\O "...What is even happening here?"} {rowena: *blinks* am i lucid dreaming right now?} {Anya: "I-I don't know what to say about this! I can't marry all of you!"} {Hyde: "I think you can--it's legal in dreamland."} {???: fools...} {-the faceless person reveals themselves as......EXCALIBUR!?-} {Hyde: O___O } {Clay: .___. } {Hiro: "...Wait, why am I here?"} -THUD- Anya: *LOUD SCREAM* tsugumi: WHA WHAT?! WHAT IS IT?! Anya: "DON'T MAKE ME MARRY HIM!" tsugumi: anya! *shaking her* get a hold of yourself!! Anya: *stares* "...Please tell me you aren't going to marry me, too." tsugumi:....*blinks* what? Anya: "N-Nothing...Just a bad dream..." ^\\\^ "I-I'll...just try to fall back to sleep. Maybe milk..." -elsewhere- Relan: *holding grocery bags* "Just a bit more..." *struggling* Arthur: "Hurry up. The applicants will be at the HQ soon." Relan: -_-# "I am hurrying..." iris: i can take some of the bags. Relan: "Thanks, Iris. I'm glad for the help." ^^ tamaki: so we're getting a new recruit today? Arthur: "Yes." Relan: "Think the Commander will have a rough interview process?" shinra: hard to say. Relan: "..." *holds grocery bag close* shinra:...*pap pap* Relan: T~T "As long as nothing scares the new medic away--" *BANG BANG BANG* tamaki: looks like vulcan's working hard as usual Vulcan: *stops banging, lifts up his mask* "Yo. You got my soda?" shinra: *hands him a tab soda* Vulcan: "Awesome. Thanks." *cracks it open, brings it to his lips--* *The engine backfires--knocking Vulcan back, the can slipping out of his hand* -the can hits tamaki right in the face- Relan: o_o Arthur: D8> Vulcan: ._.;;; tamaki:.....*drenched*.....someone get me a towel. shinra: *trying not to laugh* Vulcan: *running for a towel* Arthur: *takes off his jacket, drapes it over her shoulders* Relan: *fast-walking to the kitchen* shinra: *notices a few people* oh? are those the people looking for a medic position? Medic: *nods* "Yes. Just waiting for the Commander..." medic 2: *shuffling in their seat, nervous* .~.;;;; Medic #1: *ultra-serious* "...How are facilities in your headquarters?" shinra: decent, i guess. medic 3: are the beds nice and soft~? *pulling his own sleeve down* shinra:.... i guess so? Medic #1: "Hmm. How frequently are members of this brigade injured? Do you have access to any local hospital?" shinra: erm. ._.; Akitaru: *exits the office* "Sorry, sorry! I was delayed. I'm Commander Obi. It's a pleasure to meet you all!" medic 2: *muffled reply* medic 3: charmed~, really~ Medic 1: "Hello." medic 4: *holds up a note that says 'hello'* Akitaru: "...Well, I'm afraid I didn't schedule specific times to talk with you all, so I can answer your initial questions here as a group before we start one-on-one interviews. Any questions?" medic 2: *looking down at their feet* ..... .~.;;; Medic 1: "I would like to see a detailed budget for your facility." Akitaru: ._.;;;; "I'd refer you to our, um, 'accountant'?" Medic 1: "...Did you just put 'accountant' in quotation marks?" Akitaru: "NEXT QUESTION." medic 3: anyone single here~? Akitaru: .____.;;; "...I don't see how that's relevant? Is this about sexual health or something?" medic 3: ufufu, im not picky, mr commander <3 shinra:.... >->;;; Akitaru: "NEXT QUESTION." medic 4: *she holds up a sign saying 'do we get our own room or just sleep on the medical cots?'* Akitaru: "You'll have your own office, medical ward, and your own bedroom." medic 4's sign: 'i see' Medic 1: "What are the exact dimensions of the bedroom?" Akitaru: "Um...4 Shinra's long, 1.5 Shinra's tall, 3 Shinra's wide?" Medic 1: "...What the devil is a Shinra?" shinra: sir, did you just use me as a measuring tool? ._.; Akitaru: "Look, I'm really nervous--I've never interviewed four people at once." maki: maybe just do one at a time, sir. Akitaru: "Um...Okay. How about you?" *points at Medic 2* medic 2: O~O;;;; uhhhhhh...... Akitaru: "...Are you okay?" medic 2: eep! *hiding their face in their hoodie* Akitaru: "...Okay, we'll get back to you. Um...You?" *points at Medic 4* medic 4: *holds up a sign that reads 'Komori Otonashi'.* Akitaru: "Okay, Otonashi--right this way into my office." otonashi: *follows* Medic 1: *crosses their arms, sits back in the chair, closes their eyes* -elsewhere- PlushFix: "This is great--like bringing the gang back together!" saku: .... mimeca: ^u^ Akua: "...Who brought this thing back?" kinuta: *raises her hand* Akua: "...No, see, when I said 'this thing,' I meant you." kinuta: me? Akua: "You. I know enough about you, witch." kinuta: you have a problem with witches, kid? Akua: "I got a problem with you. Witches tend to bring unneeded attention." kinuta: is that right? Akua: "Yeah. Haven't you been arrested already, like, 9 times?" kinuta:...weeelllll PlushFix: .w. "Maybe we all need to unwind...Mimeca, get some drinks?" mimeca: *salutes and goes to do that* Akua: "Just water...This witch will probably be hungover come morning." -elsewhere- Medusa: *hidden in trees in a park, surveying bystanders* woman: *on her phone, she seems to be by herself* Medusa: *slithers down the trunk, blending in with it* woman: yeah, im really busy right now, i'll call you later, god! *hangs up and grumbles* Medusa: "..." *resumes human form behind the woman* woman:... ?? who the fu- Medusa: *a snake slithers out of her mouth* woman: ?!?! what the fuckin- Medusa: *grabs the woman, slams her against the tree* woman: *trying to scream* Medusa: *smashes her mouth against hers* -a man hears the commotion and runs over- man: what the hell is going on? i thought i heard screaming? Medusa: *the snake has passed from her mouth into the woman's...her body collapses* man: *glances* hey, are you ok, miss? *The ground is damp in front of the woman* man: ma'am? "Woman": "Yes...I'm sorry. I thought I saw a snake..." man: well, the most you'll see around here is a garden snake, and those are harmless, haha. "Woman": "Heh...Yes, I just get a bit jumpy around them." *grabs the Woman's purse* "I better get going before it gets to late. Again, sorry to bother you." -later- neian: *baby babble* *The "Woman" enters* neian: *reaching* mamu! *The "Woman's" eyes change slightly, assuming Medusa's usual stare* Medusa: "Yes...Mama is here..." *picks up Neian* neian: ^u^ Medusa: *bounces her lightly, as she pulls her body's ID card* "Ah, so that's where I live..._We_ live, now." -elsewhere- Free: "So...You can take my bed for tonight." milia:....are you sure? Free: "Yeah, sure--I'm a big guy, so the bed will be super-king size. And I just washed the sheets before you got here. New pillow, too." milia:....o-ok. Free: "...You want something? Maybe cookies?" milia:..*she nods* Free: "Alright...Well, I'll be back." *pats Eruka's arm* eruka: *smiles* milia: .... Free: "Keep an eye on her...Maybe put on a movie?" eruka: sounds good. Free: *pours milk* eruka: .....so, do you like tea parties? milia: *she nods* Free: *puts cookies on a plate* "You do that with your dolls?" milia: yeah.... Free: "Well, we can do one of those...Don't really have dolls here..." eruka: but we can get you some! milia: for real? *shiny eyes* Free: "Sure thing..." -elsewhere- Shotaro: "So...if you eat ice cream all the time, you aren't lactose intolerant?" nea: not always ice cream, it just has to be cold food. Shotaro: "I heard cold pizza can be tasty--you like that?" -elsewhere- Belkia: *bruised* TT~TT otogiri: and what have we learned from this? Belkia: "When they ask for a refund, just give them the refund..." -elsewhere- Spirit: *sips coffee* "...They make these cups tiny here in France, or what?" kim: yeah. Jacqueline: "Mostly because it's more caffeinated...You picked up souvenirs?" Spirit: *sets down his drink* "Yep! Some treats, something fashionable for Sachiko..." kim: cool. i got this. *holds up a mona lisa keychain* Jacqueline: ^^ "That's adorable...I...will just be bringing home...everything." *looks down* kim:.....*pats her back* Jacqueline: "..." *nods* "R-Right..." *inhales, exhales* -elsewhere- Akitaru: "Thanks for your time." ^^; shinra: so, how does it look? Akitaru: "I don't know...Feels like just one of them leaves something lacking..." shinra: oh? karin: how so? Akitaru: "I mean, the quiet one seemed really smart but not easy to talk to, the uptight one was annoying but got things done, and the nervous one...Well, maybe this isn't their place." tamaki: what about the other one? shinra:..... 7_____7;;;; Akitaru: "No." karin: so basically we have three options... maki: i think maybe otonashi might work. Akitaru: "Well, we're doing some on-site practice with each one to test them out. But I don't know that they'll get much work if we're not on missions and not injured--" maki: ah. Relan: "I mean, Tamaki will probably get injured a few times--" tamaki: *glaaaaaare* Relan: .____.; *steps back...* Akitaru: "Well, Otonashi is the first up, so if you need medical help, talk to them." -elsewhere- Todoroki: *staring at his phone* -1 new message from; ochako cell- Todoroki: *pulls it up* ochako: [good luck in the finals \(^o^)p ] Todoroki: "..." [thank u. that means a lot] ochako: [^u^] Todoroki: [will u be there?] ochako: [u bet!] Todoroki: [i appreciate that. i wish u were in the competition] ochako: [i tried TT3TT darn you bakugo! *fist shaking emoticon*] Todoroki: [i'll face him...i hope i can win] ochako: [do your best! *fireworks emoticon*] Todoroki: [i will. well, back to preparations] -elsewhere- Sakuya: *curls up in the kotatsu* naho: zzzz =w= Sakuya: *smiles, shifts hair off her face* naho: =///= Sakuya: *cuddles* -elsewhere- Medusa: "...Our new home is not too bad, is it?" neian: ugu? Medusa: *glances at the mail she brought in* "Wonder what New-Me was into..." *looks at a bill for...* -mostly just stuff for work. seems she applied to a catering job- Medusa: "...Catering? I mean, there's science to that, but......I guess I can try for it..." *picks up Neian, looks around the rooms--finding an office* "Hmm...I guess we'll convert this into your new bedroom...Would you like that?" neian: *babble* Medusa: *opens the bathroom up* "...Well..." *sniffs Neian--then grimaces* "Oooo!" *sets Neian down, takes off her jacket* "I think we both need a bath." neian: >3< -elsewhere- mafioso: you got plans for tonight, chuuya? Chuuya: "Dinner." mafioso 2: you got a date~? Chuuya: -_-; "I'm making dinner for my daughter." mafioso 2:...oh. Chuuya: "Yeah. So get your mind out of the gutter and get me that report." mafioso 2: r-right. ._.; Gin: "...How is Sonia?" Chuuya: *sighs* "Doing well...Just keeping me on my toes ahead of the Festival." mafioso 3: oh right! good luck in the finals! Chuuya: "Thanks...Just want to get a victory." higuchi: ... Gin: "...Higuchi?" higuchi: hmm? Gin: "You with us?" higuchi: yeah, just worried... Gin: "..." *pats her shoulder* "We're doing all we can to find Q." higuchi:.... {rain: he sounded so scared....i felt so useless...} {higuchi: it's ok, we'll find him, i promise.} higuchi: .... Gin: "...Let's look through logs again." -elsewhere- Poe: "And work treated you well?" lana: yeah. now i can finally unwind. *streeetch and lays on the couch, her head on his lap* Poe: .\\\. "..." *strokes her head* lana: u///w///u Poe: "...This feels nice." lana: yeah. *smiles* i love you, edgar. Poe: *smiles* "I love you, too, Lana." ^\\\^ -elsewhere- eckleburg:....sir? are you in? Fitzgerald: "Hmm? Ah, Eckleburg. Need something?" eckleburg: i was just wondering....um..er....does miss alcott have any plans for this weekend at all? Fitzgerald: "I wouldn't know--she handles my schedule, not the other way around. And she hasn't asked for any time off this weekend. Why do you ask?" eckleburg: um... .///.;;; i mean, if she doesnt have any plans at all, maybe she and i could....i dont know....visit a museum or something? .////.;;;;;;;; Fitzgerald: "..." *light bulb* "Oh ho ho! I understand." *smirks* "...You want her assistance with historical research!" eckleburg: um.... yes! that's it! hahahaha! ^///^;;;;;;;;;;;; bram: -___-; Fitzgerald: "Well, I can put in a word to ask her whether she is busy, Old Sport." *pats Eckleburg's shoulder* "I'm sure she will be interested." eckleburg: thank you, sir.... ^^;;;;;;;; Fitzgerald: "You're welcome. Now, return to your work, and I'll speak with Miss Alcott." *walks* eckleburg:...*FAINTED* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *sitting at the headboard of her hotel bed, knees pulled up to her* "..." kim: jackie? you ok? Jacqueline: "...Just can't sleep before going back...Leaving home..." kim:.....*hug* Jacqueline: *shivers...rests her head against Kim's shoulder* kim: *pats her back* Jacqueline: *sniffs* "M-My parents kicked me out..." kim: it's ok...you deserve better than them, anyway... Jacqueline: "...I'm sorry. I know I...haven't had the worst that many have had with their parents." kim: ...*rubs her back* Jacqueline: "...Kim? I...I'm sorry you had to find out about all of this." kim: hey, you didnt do anything wrong. Jacqueline: "...Not to my parents. Being...me is 'wrong' to them." kim: well they can just piss right off. if they cant respect you, then they dont deserve to be respected. Jacqueline: "...Yeah. They kept talking about me marrying some boy since I was a kid...and I just never felt respected." kim: at least now they wont pester you ever again. plus now you have your aunt looking out for you, and she seems pretty cool. Jacqueline: *small laugh* "She is...She always understood..." *hug* kim:..... -elsewhere- ox: *walking with his mother in her wheelchair* mama ford: ^u^ Harvar: *waiting* ox: i'll be back tomorrow, ok, mom? mama ford: uu uu! ox:....night mom, i love you. *exits*....... Harvar: "...How you feel?" ox:....it's draining, but someone has to, and i know my old man isnt going to do it.... Harvar: *shakes his head* "Come on. You need a re-charge." ox:...*sigh* yeah, no use getting worked up over it now... Harvar: "..." *awkward pat* "Tomorrow is another day. Come on. We'll pick up some dinner." ox:.... {ox: you're just going to walk away?! how can you be so selfish?!} {mr ford: there's nothing that can be done.} {ox: mom needs us-} {mr ford: your mother is gone. all thats left is a shell.} ox:...*grips fist*.... -elsewhere- Kid: "..." *looks at a photo of his mother* shiori: O^O~? Kid: "..." *smiles at Shiori, shows the photo* "My mother. My...first mother, I guess." shiori: bubu? Kid: *nods* "She's my birth mother, while our mother is your birth mother..." shiori:.....mumu? Kid: "Mama...She...is no longer here." shiori: .....*paps the photo* Kid: "..." *stares at Shiori's hand...then looks at his mother's face and then Shiori's face* shiori: ^o^ babagu! Kid: TTWTT *places the photo back in his pocket, picks up Shiori* shiori: *laughing* Kid: "Hee hee..." *stands up, carries her to the playpen* -elsewhere- FD: "..." yana: <what's up?> FD: <With the damage to the city, I imagine you have had more opportunities to explore with less detection.> yana: *she nods and hands him some notes* <found some info you might be interested in> FD: <Summary?> *examines names* yana: <names, places, stuff like that...i've also found some interesting notes on a certain company...> FD: <..._That's_ who runs the company?> yana: <mmhmm. the rats have eyes, you know....and they see some very interesting things...> *she hands him a file that reads 'eyes of god'* FD: "..." *smiles* <About time...> *pats her head* <Good work.> yana: <what am i, a dog?> =3=; FD: <We move forward. I can't wait to play this new game...> -morning- Spirit: *packing his suitcase, shutting it* kim: time to head home? Spirit: "Got your ticket?" kim: *she nods* Spirit: "...How's Jackie holding up?" kim: better, i think. Spirit: "...Maybe it's cathartic for her to cut ties with her parents...Can't help but feel badly it turned out like this..." kim:....im still mad that they treated her like this! Spirit: "Same...That's fair. A parent should never be like that to a child...I think your partner is going to need you more than ever now." kim: *she nods* Spirit: "Well, I'm ready when Jacqueline is to take off. Think she wants to see her aunt before we leave?" -elsewhere- Medusa: *typing on her host body's computer, forging adoption paperwork* neian: umumu? Medusa: *finishes typing* "Just have to put this into official databases, and you'll be ready, child, for this world..." neian: mumo? Medusa: *stares* "...I wonder whether daycare is available...but I don't know who could follow me, and find you..." neian: ?? Medusa: "..." *picks up Neian, hugs her* neian: =w= Medusa: "Come. We'll go out and get you a stroller...assuming this body's credit cards work...I still have to memorize her name, date of birth..." -elsewhere- Free: *snoring...on the couch...that is too small for him* eruka: *making breakfast* kerona: *helping* sephy: ooooi, wake up. *pokes him* Free: *falls off the couch* "AAH!" *thud* milia: D8 sephy: there ya go! Free: -____- "Oh. You." *yawn* "Stopping by for a visit?" sephy: *she nods* we heard we have a granddaughter now. kerona: *hugs milia* and she's as sweet as can be ^^ milia: o///o; Free: ._.; "I mean, we're going through the adoption process..." kerona: ah. sephy: well, if you two need help, let us know, ok? we'll do what we can. Free: "Oh, hey, thanks...You got any of Eruka's old clothes or toys?" kerona: *she nods* Free: "Maybe Milia would like them..." -elsewhere- Chuuya: *inhales* naoya: how's it going, chuu? Chuuya: "Just readying myself for the end of the competition." naoya: ah. Chuuya: "Don't know about this kid, but we'll see how the fight goes." -elsewhere- Hibana: "...Another medic?" gabriella: *she nods* Hibana: "Do we really need one that badly?" *her heel is currently buried into Kishiri's back* Kishiri: TT~TT -elsewhere- Anya: *walking to school* rowena: hello. Anya: .\\\. *waves* "Hello, Rowena." rowena: ?? is everything alright? Anya: ^\\\^ "You're fine." rowena: ^^; yeah, im doing much better now. Anya: "...?! Oh-Oh, right! I-I had meant I'm fine..." *presses her fingers together* "So...Maybe we should celebrate your recovery at Deathbucks?" rowena: that sounds lovely. ^^ Anya: ^^ "Great...Looking forward to the Sports Festival wrapping up (finally...)?" rowena: i suppose. Anya: "...You ever play in sports?" rowena: not really, i suppose it's not my particular interest. Anya: "We had to do a lot of them at school for NOT classes, including a sports fitness competition." -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: *sets out the next week's schedule* "I trust you will enjoy your weekend." mary: awesome! louisa: ^^ Fitzgerald: "Has Eckleburg spoken with you?" louisa: i dont think so? Fitzgerald: "Hmph. He was to speak with you, but oh well...I guess I'll explain." louisa: ??? Fitzgerald: "Mr. Eckleburg would like to accompany you to the museum." louisa: oh? is that right? Fitzgerald: "Yes. He seemed insistent on having someone look into history with him." louisa: t-then i would be glad too. ^^ Fitzgerald: "Very good." *removes $200* "Will this be enough for admission?" louisa: i think so. thank you very much! Fitzgerald: "Excellent! Give me a report on the activity after it is completed." louisa: i wont let you down! Fitzgerald: *nods* "As you were..." *opens his folder* "Hmm...Need to change that password or someone could hack in." -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "Thank you for visiting us at the airport before we left, Aunt Amelia." amelia: *hug* any time, hun. i'll be sending you care packages soon, so be on the lookout for those! Jacqueline: -\\\- *hug* "I will. Thank you for everything." -elsewhere- mafura: .....~? Touma: "Now, do you understand my instructions? The clean-up work will make it easier to locate them." C3: understood, sir. Touma: *nods* "Dismissed." *pulls out a file* mafura: ouo~? Touma: *removes a slip of paper from the file...lays it out on the table...it's shivering* mafura: ?? Touma: *smiles* "When you have to face an author...resort to your own paper..." -elsewhere- Gopher: *holding up a sign: "DO YOUR BEST!"* kirika: ....the match wont be for a few days. -.-; Gopher: owo;;; "Then...think of it as daily advice?" kirika: .....eh, alright. Gopher: "An-And when you win, I'll buy you meals for a week!" -elsewhere- Dazai: *holding up a cat treat* mii: *nom* ^u^ Dazai: *pet pet, stroke* -elsewhere- Hyde: *asleep at school desk* teacher: mr kranz? MR KRANZ! Hyde: *swings his head up* "Napoleon!" licht: pay attention idiot. teacher: as i was saying, it was around the time of the revolutionary war that japanese immigrants came to the west coast of north america and began founding small settlements known today as 'the western prefectures'. a vast majority of death city residents are descendants of these immigrants, also known as 'west-pres'. atsushi: *taking notes* Lucy: "Huh...So that's why Japanese is so prevalent here..." Hyde: *drooling on his notebook* licht: *chop* teacher: indeed, miss montgomery. but in spite of that, there are many cultures shared within the city. Hyde: "Owie!" -elsewhere- Akitaru: "So, how you settling in the medical ward?" otonashi:.... *her sign reads 'it's fine'* Akitaru: "Got it. Well, I'll be finishing lunch in a bit, so feel free to join us." -elsewhere- Medusa: *sitting in a cafe, a job application laid out in front of her* "Hmm." waiter: would you like something to drink, ma'am? Medusa: "Yes. A small green tea, please. And some milk." *rocks Neian's holder* neian: zzz Medusa: *looks up at the waiter* "...She'll need the milk when she wakes up." -elsewhere- Mori: "..." *turns another page* -...silence- Mori: *looks out the window* "..." ("Q...You better not do anything stupid.") -elsewhere- Q: *asleep* zoey: *stroking his head and humming* FD: ("Finally...") *pulls blanket over Q* Q: =w= zoey: hehe... FD: "..." *whispers* "You like him?" zoey: of course...he's...our baby, after all....<3 FD: "...Right, about that..." zoey: ?? FD: "...You've taken well to parenting." zoey: *smiles* i have to.....*rubs her stomach* you've given me a wonderful task to carry your child.....after all...<3 FD: "..." .______________. zoey:...eheh<3 FD: "..." *smiles* "That's great." ("AAAAAAAAAH--") -elsewhere- Aizawa: "Zzzzzzzz..." *in his sleeping bag...that is being dragged by a truck* yuuji: .___________________________.;;;; Aizawa: *shifts in the sleeping bag, as if he is going to crawl out of it--only to reveal he is holding a teddy bear* =w= *continued to be dragged through the street--even crashing into a mailbox* yuuji: *chases after him* Assi: *crossing the street* "I think you'll really like it! They even have donuts." mono:...ok what the hell is that? Assi: "!!! Incoming--!" Aizawa: "Zzz..." *shifts in his sleeping bag as the truck turns a corner* mono: *knocked over* OOF! yuuji: you ok, sir? Aizawa: *yawns* "...Why did you wake me up? I was having the best sleep in weeks." Assi: "!!!" *offers a hand to Mono* "Are you okay?" -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *looking out the airplane window* kim: *snoozing* Jacqueline: *turns, stares at Kim* "..." ("...It feels like this has been my home much longer than...my 'home' with my parents.") kim: *leans* Jacqueline: .\\\\. "..." *carefully lets Kim rest on her shoulder...* -elsewhere- Tokoyami: "Have you heard from Iida?" tsuyu: not yet. Mineta: "That really sucks. Who could be powerful enough to take out his brother?" sero: it's scary to even think about it... Bakugo: *looking out the window* -elsewhere- Melville: *staring at a fish tank* ango:....thinking? Melville: "Yes...You should add some Java moss. Your fish will appreciate it." ango: ah. Melville: *rolls out a sheet of paper with blueprints* -elsewhere- Asura: *grumbling* mikan: *pat pat* nirvana worker: you've gone soft! *SLICE* -the workers body slumps to the ground- mikan: nice one. Asura: "It is not that impressive. They were...soft." *grin* -elsewhere- Kid: *seated on a pillow, his eyes closed* stocking: *rubbing his shoulders* Kid: =\\\w\\\= "Thank you..." -elsewhere- liz: *nuzzle* =u= thanks, wes. Wes: "You're welcome." *smooch* ^\\\^ -elsewhere- Ivan: *grumble* katya:... <boss, vachenka's being mopey again.> FD: <What is it now?> Ivan: owo; <I-I didn't mean to bother you, M-Master, sir...> katya: Ivan: *crosses his arms* <What is there to be jealous of some snooty sociopathic flat-chest trollop?> >3< katya: <getting dicked by the boss is one thing.> Ivan: .\\\\\\. <Katya!> FD: *slams the palms of his hands onto the table* katya: OxO pushkin:...*muttering* <she's technically not wrong*> FD: <All of you will be punished.> katya + pushkin: OxO;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;; Ivan: D8> <B-But Master--> FD: <Katya, lock yourself in your room. You too, Pushkin.> katya: ....*lightbulb* <understood sir, come on pushkin.> *drags him off* Ivan: *whimpers* FD: *grabs Ivan by the collar of his shirt* Ivan: o___o;;; *dragged along into his room* pushkin: ???? katya: <mission successful> pushkin: ??? katya: pushkin:... katya: *whispers* pushkin: o///o; <you are the best and worst wingman.> katya: <indeed i am.> FD: *pushes Ivan inside, who lands just in front of his bed* Ivan: <M-Master! I said I was--> FD: *pulls down on Ivan's collar, planting his lips along his shoulder* Ivan: "!!!" =\\\\= FD: *his hands wrap around Ivan, unbuttoning him, as he kisses along the back of his neck* Ivan: *groaning...he's already rubbing against the edge of the bed* -elsewhere- Akitaru: "How's the new medic working out?" maki: i think she's doing well. not very talkative, though. Akitaru: "It takes all kinds, like my grandma used to say. Have we had any injuries?" tamaki: *face bandaged* mpghpgh Akitaru: "...What happened to you, Tamaki?" Relan: "Run into the wall? Again?" tamaki: *muffled explaining* shinra: ouch. Akitaru: "Yeah, that sounds pretty awful..." Arthur: *holding a sword* "I'll slice off those bandages..." Relan: .____.;;;; *backs away quickly* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: "Zzz..." kim: so, you guys are parents now? eruka: *she nods* yeah. Free: "Well, working on that paperwork..." kim: i see. maybe dont tell jackie right away... Free: "??? Why?" kim:...maybe i should let jackie tell you when she's ready... Free: "...Got it. That flight must have exhausted her." kim:....yeah. -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: "???" mary: museum trip, yay! eckleburg: .-.;;;;;; louisa: ^^; Fitzgerald: "Have fun!" mary: we will! eckleburg: *sweats* -elsewhere- oscar: *browsing through old guild paperwork* ???: need something? oscar: EEP! oh, emily, it's just you. emily:... *sweatdrop* i was here this whole time... Steinbeck: *calling from downstairs* "Where are you all?" twain: up here! *on the roof with a picnic basket* emily: coming, sir! *goes down to see him* oscar:.....*examines one file* -the file reads; Fitzgerald, Jay- Steinbeck: "Playing hide and seek, Emily?" emily: sir. im right here. *she's right at the door* -_-; ebie: *in spider form, plopping herself on emily's head* emily: EEP! ebie: *PWOOF* hi. oscar: *still examining the file* (thinking: huh, so fitzy's grandpa was part of the guild back in the day....hmm.) Steinbeck: "Well, hurry up to the roof--I don't want to miss out on food." ebie: awesome! oscar:....*taking notes before heading out* -elsewhere- Shamrock: *looking at the mirror* lilac:...?? Shamrock: "..." *tries combing his hair the other way* "...Nope." lilac:... ?? Shamrock: *tries putting his hair up with hairspray* "Nope." lilac: what are you doing? Shamrock: *blushing* "Just trying for a new look..." lilac:...oh. Shamrock: *suddenly in a wig* "Maybe this?" tsubaki: ^^; maybe let it down naturally? Shamrock: *now down in front of his eyes* "...I can see even less than usual." -elsewhere- christa: *coloring* Yumi: "Really pretty drawing, Christa." christa: it's mama. Yumi: "No wonder it's pretty." ^^ christa: hehe. marie:...*faint smile* Yumi: *looks at Shiori* "Having fun, sweetie?" shiori: baba! Yumi: ^^ "Just don't get crayons off the paper..." -elsewhere- Victor: *climbing in through the window* otonashi:..?? Victor: "Woo...Made it back in before--" *looks up* owo;;;;; "...Hi, new...person?" otonashi:.... *SMACKS HIM WITH A BEDPAN* Victor: *knocked out* XWX otonashi:....*writes down 'oh shit' on a notepad* -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *tossing in bed* {Jacqueline: *crying*} {-SMACK-} {mrs du pre: you stop that at once!} kim: jackie? Jacqueline: *opens her eyes* "Wh-What?" *rubs her tears away* kim: are you ok? Jacqueline: "...Just a bad dream." kim:....*hug* Jacqueline: "..." *hug* "Sorry." -elsewhere- Yohei: *sighs* chie: long day, hun? *kiss on the forehead* Yohei: =\\\= "Yes...We've been having to do sub-contracted work." chie: ah. Yohei: *yawns* "Chie..." chie: *kiss* Yohei: "Mmm..." *holds her* -elsewhere- Lucy: "...The heck happened to you?" ranpo: *muffled as there is tape over his mouth* Lucy: "...Do I untie him, remove the tape, or leave him like this?" ranpo: *muffled yelling* >x< Lucy: "...Hey, if I let you go, will you share your secret stash of treats~?" ^^ ranpo: *open eyed glaaaaare* Lucy: >3< "Then I guess you can just stay like that and free yourself, brilliant detective..." *takes his glasses off* '"Without these~" ranpo: *SCREAMING and flailing* Lucy: "Hee hee..." *opens the cabinet, takes the cupcakes and sits by the window* -elsewhere- Kid: *hug* lord death: *hug* ^^ Kid: *pat pat* "I feel much better." -elsewhere- katya: .......<quiet> pushkin: katya: <yeah.> pushkin:... <fuuuck im bored.> Shousaku: "..." katya: <you and me both. does the boss even know what he's doing? i mean, it's been months, im starting to have my doubts.> pushkin: <you and me both, kati> Shousaku: *gets closer* katya: <if this starts going to shit, let's just bail the fuck outta here and become mercs.> pushkin: <that sounds awesome!> Shousaku: *looks up* *touches the wall* pushkin:....!! <hey check this out! it's a minecart!> katya: <well, this is a mine, so...> Shousaku: ("Could that be an escape?") katya: *glances back* ?? Shousaku: *hides* katya:.... pushkin: <oi kati, what's up?> katya:.....<hold up a sec...> Shousaku: *steadies his breathing* katya: well hello there. a bit far from base, arent ya? Shousaku: o_O;; katya: *grins and pistol whips him* -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: "..." *taps his fingers on the desk* "...Wonder how they are doing." -at the museum- louisa: *taking notes* eckleburg: ./////.;;;;;;; Guide: "--and was donated to Lord Death during a good will mission." shinoa: hmm... hyakuya: ..... Jun: "Hmm. What is the value of this painting? And what is the security here?" Guide: ._.; -elsewhere- Chuuya: *signs paperwork* "Okay. I'm done." kouyou: mind if i come in? Chuuya: "Certainly." *offers a seat* kouyou: *sits down* seems the girls took quite a shine to sonia. *smiles* Chuuya: *smiles* "She is wonderful, after all." kouyou: some of them have even offered to babysit sometime. *she chuckles* Chuuya: "Oh. How kind of them. That would be helpful." kouyou: ^^ mind if i make some tea? Chuuya: "Sure." *turns on his office's heater* koyuou: *making tea* Chuuya: "How are you?" kouyou: busy. and you? Chuuya: "Still thinking about this competition..." -that evening- Anya: "I'm home." mio: hey. tsugumi: welcome back! Anya: *sets down her books* "Master said 'hi.'" *stretches* tsugumi: how was work? Anya: "I had to slap a customer." tsugumi: yikes. Anya: "That's what you get when you complain about service and try to touch me." >3< "...I hope Master can get the face-smears off the wall." -elsewhere- Akitaru: ._.; "...Don't knock out members of our brigade, okay?" otonashi: [sorry] Victor: ^^; "N-No harm..." *holding ice to his head* otonashi: [i thought he was an intruder] Akitaru: "Well, Victor has been visiting family and been out at weird hours--" Victor: QWQ;;;; otonashi: .... ?? Akitaru: "Victor is assigned to us to help with investigations. He goes through soil samples, rocks, tunnels--" otonashi: ?? Victor: "And mushrooms! The tunnels can lead you to multiple mushrooms growing around here--" *SCREAM OUTSIDE--then a thud* otonashi: *running outside* !? Takehisa: *collapsed in the tunnel* X~X maki: what the heck!? Victor: OWO;;;; Akitaru: -_-; "I think Otonashi's signs gave me an idea...Let's put up signs that warn about 'dugged tunnels: proceed with caution.'" shinra: woah! Arthur: "...Now that he is dead, may I have Captain Hinawa's possessions?" -chop- Arthur: *falls into another tunnel* X~X tamaki: -_-; -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *looking at her hair in the mirror* "..." *goes to her desk, opens a drawer, pulls out a pair of scissors* kim: jackie? Jacqueline: "!!!" *SNIP* kim: *opens the door* !!! jackie? Jacqueline: Q~Q *she only managed to cut some of her hair off--unevenly* "Y-You startled me..." kim: .....her, let me. *trimming jackie's hair* Jacqueline: *sniff* "It-It's looking better." *weak smile* kim:....*hug* Jacqueline: "..." *hug* "I'm being difficult." kim: it's ok. i know this is been a tough time for you... Jacqueline: "Thank you for being patient with me...I-I'll get better, I promise." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *walking* naoya: calling it a night already, akuta? Akutagawa: "I have plans." naoya: oh? Akutagawa: "I will be meeting someone." naoya: oho~ got yourself a date? Akutagawa: -\\\\\- "...No?" naoya: oh? care to explain? Akutagawa: o\\\o; "...It's a secret?" naoya: *griiiin* Akutagawa: >\\\\< "I AM LEAVING NOW GOOD NIGHT." *fast walking* naoya: ...*blink* Akutagawa: ("Can't be late. Time it right...") -and so- Akutagawa: *holding binoculars* "..." -someone is walking down a sidewalk- Akutagawa: *moves binoculars to get a look* atsushi: *carrying home groceries* Akutagawa: *uses Rashomon to descend from the rooftop to the alley* "..." atsushi: ?? hello? Akutagawa: "...Do you need help carrying..." atsushi: .-.; im good. thanks. Akutagawa: "Going home?" atsushi: >->; y-yeah... Akutagawa: "I will walk with you." atsushi:... ._.; okaaay? Akutagawa: "...You look well." atsushi:...thanks... ._.;;;;; Akutagawa: "How have you been since the Festival?" atsushi: been getting by. .____. Akutagawa: "Oh? You've been with...Dazai?" atsushi: yeah.... ._____. Akutagawa: "...How is he?" atsushi: same as usual, i guess.... Akutagawa: "Suicidal." atsushi:......yeah..... Akutagawa: "Hmm...That Montgomery girl..." atsushi: lucy? she's doing great too. *small blush* Akutagawa: "...That's too bad." >\\\\\> atsushi: ....i take it you still have feelings for me? Akutagawa: "...Yes. Incredibly." atsushi:.....*sigh* i figured as much... Akutagawa: "...Is that a problem?" atsushi: i-im not saying it's a problem. but, i dont think i could feel that way about you. Akutagawa: "...That is disappointing." atsushi: ...... (thinking: aaaand i just made it awkward. think man, say something!) Akutagawa: "...I'm not happy by that. I do understand, though." atsushi: really? owo; Akutagawa: "Yes. I did not make a good first impression." atsushi: *remembering how he attacked tanizaki and naomi* ...yeeeeeah... >->;;;; Akutagawa: "...I still will see you as a rival. And I still have these feelings of wishing to be close to you." atsushi: ..... Akutagawa: "...I _will_ face off against you again in the future. So you had best be ready to give me your all..." atsushi:....yeah...well, my stop is just up ahead. i better get going now. Akutagawa: "I as well..." *leans up--and pecks Atsushi's cheek* "Good night." atsushi:....*confused blink* *internal screaming* Akutagawa: *smiles--and uses Rashomon to rise to a rooftop and dash away* atsushi:.....i dont know how to feel about that just now..... Akutagawa: "..." ("I DID IT.") *leaps over one roof--and lets out a 'Yes!'* -elsewhere- Medusa: "I hope you'll like the daycare tomorrow while I start work..." neian: dadu? Medusa: "...'Daycare.'" ("...Please tell me she did not say 'Dad'...") neian: ^o^ Medusa: *holds her, rocking her* "I'll be there to pick you up after work..." -elsewhere- higuchi: zzzzz Gin: "..." *hug* higuchi: =w= Gin: *whispers* "I'm glad you're here." higuchi: *smiles and nuzzles* Gin: *small cheek smooch* -door creeeeeak- Akutagawa: *closes the door, locks it, walks to his room--* higuchi: zzzz Gin: *carefully pulls from Higuchi, tucks her in, puts on her robe, exits* "Ryu?" Akutagawa: "...Sorry. I woke you?" Gin: *shakes her head* "You okay?" Akutagawa: "...I don't know. I feel a bit better." Gin: "...What happened?" Akutagawa: "Just...prioritizing." Gin: "..." *hug* Akutagawa: "...Thank you." Akutagawa: "..." *pat pat* "I'll...make myself something to eat, then go to bed." Gin: "Okay." *smiles* "Don't be up too late." -morning- atsushi: ......... Kyoka: "??? Are you better?" atsushi: i think so....had trouble getting to sleep.... Kyoka: "...Maybe take a bath before heading out? I can make breakfast." atsushi: maybe....... Kyoka: "..." *hug* atsushi:...*pat* thanks.......i cant get it out of my head.......he seemed.....really sad, but calm about it.... Kyoka: "...He has problems. He needs professional help. Don't get involved." atsushi: ...... Kyoka: "...Maybe introduce him to someone to talk to." atsushi: maybe... -elsewhere- Akutagawa: *buttoning his shirt* -one text message from naoya- Akutagawa: *opens it* naoya: [u have a good nite? ^^ ] Akutagawa: "..." [i feel sad] naoya: [did something happen?] Akutagawa: [things just didn't work out. not yet] naoya: [that sux =3=] Akutagawa: [it does. but it could have been worse] naoya: [u want me 2 bring u 2 breakfast?] Akutagawa: "..." [that would be helpful] naoya: [anything in mind?] Akutagawa: [bacon and egg sandwich?] naoya: [kk. BRT] Akutagawa: [thanx] *finishes buttoning his shirt, looks up in the mirror* "..." *grabs his jacket* -in class- Hyde: *raises his hand* "Miss Marie? I can't see the board. May I sit closer?" marie: *looks at the student next to him* Hyde: *waves* "Yo, teach! Over here!" *looks at the student next to him* marie: yes, mr kranz? Hyde: "I just want to see the board. Can I move closer?" *now sitting at Marie's teacher's desk* "That's better!" -elsewhere Lucy: *looking around* "No sign of him..." rowena: *examining books* Lucy: *glances at the books* rowena: hmm? oh, hello. Lucy: "Hello. How have you been since...your brother's girlfriend's apartment went kablooy?" rowena: ...i've been alright. ^^; Lucy: "...Everyone okay after that attack on the city?" rowena:.....yeah. Lucy: "...Are _you_ okay?" rowena: ...*she nods* ran into some trouble, but im fine. Lucy: "Yeah, same...The hospital got so full." rowena: i mostly just stayed with my brother. Lucy: "...That's really good to be around Edgar. He really cares about you." rowena: *she nods* he's had a lot of struggles in his life. i really worry about him. Lucy: *nods* "I think that's why he came to the Guild. He seemed so isolated, but he would brighten up when talking about his writing." rowena: *she nods* but.....i think he was seeking out validation....back then, he hated what he was.....he was afraid of himself. Lucy: "And does he now?" rowena:....he's mostly gotten better.... Lucy: "...Does he have new friends?" rowena: *she nods* miss lana and mr ranpo are some examples. *she smiles* Lucy: "Yeah...Ranpo..." >_> "...I can't talk to him right now." rowena: ?? Lucy: "...I may have taken his 'Secret Stash.'" rowena: oh.... oh goodness. ._.; Lucy: "...I can't go back to the Agency office, or he will kill me." -elsewhere- Kid: "Father, the report you requested." lord death: thanks, kiddo. Kid: ^^ "Happy to help. Will it help with your questions?" -elsewhere- Harvar: "How you holding up?" kim: exhausted. Harvar: "Yeah, that's going around. The flight was long?" kim: *nod* Harvar: "...How's Jacqueline?" kim:....getting better. we got her hair cut. Harvar: "...Has she _ever_ had her hair cut? It's always been long." kim: im not sure. Harvar: "Does it look awful?" -CHOP- kim: *fist steaming* ox: .____.;; Harvar: X______X -elsewhere- Patty: *holding up a sweater* "You should get this one!" stocking: aw, how cute! Patty: -w- "And it'll be time for 'tacky sweater' season soon, too--so treat yourself to this fashion." shiori: *in the carrier* *happy babble* Yumi: *holds up baby clothes* "Getting so big..." *holds up a Christmas tree sweater* -elsewhere- Rin: *asleep at his desk* izumo: *taking notes* Yukio: -_-;; "Wake him up." shiemi: *poke poke* .-.; Rin: "?!!" *falls back in his chair* shiemi: ._.; seiya: -___-; *she sighs* anyway... -elsewhere- PlushFix: *holding the ID card* "Good work, sexy~" kinuta: ufufu~ PlushFix: "Now onto Step #2: we need to clone this card and break apart its tech before that guy's company learns they were compromised...What did you do with that guy, anyway?" kinuta: i let hina take a crack at him~ hina: *covered in blood* PlushFix: ._. "...Well, that buys us more time." *taps his tiny arms onto the keyboard* "...Man, I need fingers." -elsewhere- Mori: *opens a box of vials* -they read; I. Higuchi, G. Akutagawa, M. Kosaka, K. Ozaki, A. Sakurai, S. Kanei, N. Shiga, etc- Mori: "..." ("How do I fill the remaining? I had pressured enough medical staff...") miura: perhaps a mandatory blood drive? Mori: "?!" miura: ?? Mori: ._.;; "Th-That would be a good idea...Please prepare a memo for it." miura: noted. Mori: "..." *small giggle* miura: sir? Mori: "J-Just pleased, that's all." miura: very well. *exits* Mori: *smirking* ("Soon...This will all work...") -elsewhere- FD: *biting his thumb* -silence- FD: "...The next step, bestows me with vision..." *presses Enter on his keyboard* -several screens pop up with cameras- FD: *smiles* "God..." -elsewhere- Shamrock: *spots a photo under the living room credenza* "???" *picks it up--it's of a young Tsubaki* tsubaki: ah, that's me when i was younger, celebrating hina matsuri. Shamrock: "You look happy." *hands her the photo* tsubaki: *she smiles and places it on the table* Shamrock: "The next Matsuri should be entertaining...Maybe all of us will be able to go..." tsubaki: that would be nice. Shamrock: "..." *sad sigh* tsubaki: .... Shamrock: "Just thinking...I've lost many people..." tsubaki: .... Shamrock: "It would be nice if those still...alive were with us." tsubaki:.....yeah. Shamrock: "...S-Sorry. I'll get back to work." -elsewhere- Touma: *waving a page, smirking* "Quite an interesting paper..." mafura: ?? Touma: *folds it* "Just watch..." *The paper is still...then slowly unfolds itself, removing all creases in the process* mafura: *observing* *...Then the paper starts to fold itself, assuming the form of a dragon...It looks up at Mafura* mafura: oh! O.O Paper Dragon: *tilts its head, innocently staring at Mafura* Touma: *smiles* "The doll changes, based on whom it encounters..." mafura: hehehe ^^ *pet pet* Paper Dragon: ^^ *small rustling sounds of the paper, as if imitating purring* mafura: ^u^ Touma: *smiles* "Mafura, this new 'toy' will be helpful...But I will need more of this paper." -elsewhere- Fitzgerald: "Miss Alcott?" louisa: yes sir? Fitzgerald: "How was your weekend museum visit?" louisa: it was a rather enlightening experience, sir. mary and eckleburg seemed to be enjoying themselves, but he seemed nervous... Fitzgerald: "??? That's odd. He was excited to learn more history by visiting the museum. And he went to that effort to invite you." louisa: ...........*lightbulb* O////////////////////O;;;;;;;;; Fitzgerald: "...??? What's wrong?" louisa: *flustered* o-oh-oh goodness, i dont know what to say! >////<;;; Fitzgerald: *frowning* "Neither do I, as I don't know what afflicts you. Is it a temperature?" bram:....sir.....i think eckleburg essentially asked her on a date. Fitzgerald: "...Oh...Oh!..." *opens a compartment in the wall to his office, removing a musket* louisa: D8 Fitzgerald: "I will have to remind Eckleburg about some manners..." louisa: D8> bram: o________________________________________o;;;;;;;;;;;; Fitzgerald: *knocks on Eckleburg's office* eckleburg: yes si- O-O;;;;;; *gulps* louisa: sir francis no! Fitzgerald: "Now, I'm going to say this once...If you hurt Miss Alcott, I will unleash the full fury of the invisible hand of the marketplace upon your very soul, and bury your remains in ashes. Is that clear?" eckleburg:..........*wide eyed and sweating* -he nods. very quickly- Fitzgerald: "..." *smiles* "Excellent, Old Sport." *pats his back* "May your first born be a strong child." louisa: *her face is hidden by both her palms, utterly mortified* eckleburg:.................. *KER-FAINT* louisa: D8 Fitzgerald: ^^ "I think this was most successful. Everyone, I'm treating you all to ramen! Miss Alcott, please drag Eckleburg along." -elsewhere- Steinbeck: "...So, you do knit?" ebie: *she nods* my gran taught me. Steinbeck: *nods* "Same with some of my family." *holds up a sweater* "Just got this in the mail." ebie: aw. ^^ Steinbeck: ^^; "I think I'll have to grow into it..." oscar: *reviewing files* -post civil war; the guild is founded to give american ability users a place to belong- -Jay G. Fitzgerald made co-head of the guild- -there are many other files like this- Steinbeck: "??? Digging into reading material?" oscar: hmm? just reviewing some old notes. apparently fitzy's grandpa and ancestor have the same first name. imagine that <3 Steinbeck: "...Huh. Seems common enough. Common enough name, too..." twain: HOLY SHIT! i found an old office! it's dusty as heck! ebie: spider friends! *goes running on in* Steinbeck: "???" *follows* -it appears to be an unused office, with books and furniture still inside of it- Steinbeck: "Jeez, is this furniture even still sittable?" oscar: *covering his mouth and nose* so dusty >A< twain: i bet there's all kinds of cool stuff in here! Steinbeck: *picks out one book* emily: ._.; -it seems to be notes written by ####- -the name is faded and hard to read- Steinbeck: "Huh..." *turns a page* twain: *peeeeek* Notes: "--escaping after the Battle of ####. I have lost all: family, land, my wealth." {???: *writing* "I have had to escape to neutral territory. I have taken up a few menial tasks along the river--guiding ships, navigating waters, avoiding alligators so that I can still count to 10 with both hands."} {-one man is asleep in a cot next to them-} {???: "Hours grow longer. My body aches. However, every cent earned is enough towards reclaiming what was taken from me. However long it takes, I will reclaim it all."} {???: oi. how long are you going to stay up for?} {???: "Until I finish this entry."} {???: well, i'm gonna keep watch out front.} {???: "Okay. Thank you."} {???: *exits the tent*} {???: *signs at the end of the note, slips the book underneath a pillow*} twain: ...signed by... *squints* Steinbeck: "..." *turns the book around* -the next day- announcer: IT'S FINALLY HERE! THE FINAL MATCHES OF THE SPORTS FESTIVAL!! Izuku: *sitting in the stands--shaking* announcer: first match up, KATSUKI BAKUGOU VS SHOUTO TODOROKI!! whimsy dream: match, start. Todoroki: *clenches his fist, summoning an entire ice wall that surrounds Bakugo* ochako: ... *Everything is silent...The ice wall has contained him?* Izuku: "...You hear that 'thumping' noise?" itsuka: ah! *THUMP THUMP THUMP* Todoroki: "..." *KA-BOOM!* itsuka: O_O denki: he blasted his way through! Izuku: "No...He blasted _before_ the ice encased him! That gave him the space in which to weaken the crystalline structure of the wall, thereby letting him continue to pound against it until--" *mutter mutter mutter mutter* Monoma: "..." *feeling something trickle down his forehead--then notices the ice shard that hit right in the middle of his forehead* "...That's not good." Todoroki: *narrows his eyes, firing another ice blast--* Bakugo: *leap-frogs over--and grabs Todoroki's shoulders* Todoroki: "?!!!" Bakugo: "DON'T YOU LOOK DOWN ON ME, YOU ICY-HOT BASTARD! Grenade...flip!" *knocks Todoroki down with a flip and an explosion* Todoroki: *sliding along the field--right to the boundary* *summons an ice wall to slide along to avoid going out of bounds* Izuku: "Y-Yeah! This is even more explosive than usual for Kacchan..." Bystander: "??? 'Kacchan'?" Todoroki: *sliding along the wall--as he shoots an ice arrow at Bakugo* Bakugo: *dodges, leaping at Todoroki with his hand ready to explode* Todoroki: *narrows his eyes, grabbing Bakugo's arm--with his left arm* Endeavor: *in the stands* "Yes...Use it!" Todoroki: "..." {Shouto: *crying, his face bandaged*} Todoroki: "..." *turns off his flames--and lets Bakugo go* Bakugo: "?! What...Am I now good enough for that?! You let that out for Deku, but not for me?!!" Izuku: .____.;;;; "Kacchan..." Bystander: "No, seriously, who the hell is 'Kacchan'?" Aizawa: "...What do you think, kid?" yuuji: cant tell by this angle. Aizawa: "Hmm...Why's Todoroki so lacking in these attacks? This match should've ended minutes ago." Todoroki: "..." Bakugo: "...LOOK AT ME! I told you I would be the number one hero! This the best you got?! You can't even respect me like Deku?!"Death the Kid: *Bakugo Death the Kid: Bystander: "Okay. I'm lost." *dials a number* "Anne? Look up some kids named Deku and Kacchan." Bakugo: "But you're gonna treat me like Tape Guy and just use your ice?!" *Bakugo has sparks swirling around him* ochako:....*grips her fists* COME ON TODOROKI YOU CAN DO IT!!! Todoroki: "!!" *flames up* Bakugo: *sneers* "That's more like it..." *spins--and blasts his body forward at Todoroki* "USE THAT FIRE! Make this a fight for first! Push yourself harder!" Todoroki: "!!!" {Endeavor: "Push yourself! Don't back down!} Todoroki: "..." -FWBWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM- ochako: !!!! itsuka: !!!! Bakugo: "..." *barely standing* *There is only ice, no flames...* yuuji: wha...what just? Endeavor: ("Oh, what the f--?!") ochako: !!!!! *she gets up and runs to where it leads to the field* Aizawa: "The match with Midoriya overwhelmed him emotionally..." Todoroki: *unconscious* yuuji: even though it was days ago.... Bakugo: "...No..." whimsy dream: todoroki is out of bounds. bakugou is the winner. Aizawa: "Emotional scars take longer to heal, kid." yuuji:.....(thinking: sachi.....) Aizawa: "..." *pat pat* Bakugo: "...FFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUU--!!!!" itsuka: oh shit. *gets up and also heads on down* Bakugo: *standing away from Ochaco and Todoroki* "YOU WERE SUPPOSED TO GIVE ME YOUR BEST. BUT YOU PULL BACK BECAUSE OF WHATEVER BULLSHIT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR HEAD?!" ochako: *running* Bakugo: *walks* "I WANT A VICTORY! NOT THIS SHALLOW KIDDIE MATCH! WAKE UP, YOU, YOU...YOU STUPID JERK!" ochako: TODOROKI! itsuka: *running as well* whimsy dream: do i intervene? Aizawa: "..." *shrugs* "Might as well." Bakugo: *grabs Todoroki's collar* "WAKE UP!" *shakes him, crying* "WAAAAAKE UP...PLEASE..." whimsy dream: fluuuuuffy! *part of her hair breaks off and forms a scarf around bakugou's neck....it's quite soothing* ochako: *running over to todoroki*....*sigh* he still has a pulse, thank god... itsuka: *phew* Bakugo: *still shaking Todoroki* "YOU..." *yawns* "...stupid...icy...flame-e-o...nerd...Stupid Deku..." *looks at Itsuka...smiles* *waves* "Hello, pretty lady..." itsuka:...*sigh* at least he didnt kill someone..... -later- ochako: ....... Todoroki: "Zzz..." ochako:....i swear, im seriously going to punch bakugo in the face... Todoroki: "N-No..." ochako: todoroki? Todoroki: "No..." {Endeavor: *his face masked in shadows* "You failure..."} {Todoroki: "..."} {Endeavor: *emerges...with Bakugo's face* "LOSER!"} ochako:...*holding his hand* Todoroki: *his eyes break open...small gasp* "..." ochako: hey. *small smile* Todoroki: "...Ochaco?" ochako:....you got knocked out...i was worried about you. Todoroki: "...Sorry." *looks at her* "I...lost." ochako: hey, you got second place! that's pretty impressive! *smiles* Todoroki: "Thank you...I'm sorry I didn't defeat Bakugo." ochako:...i can punch him in the face for you if you want me to. Todoroki: "..." *small laugh* "Th-That's okay...Save that for the next competition." ochako: ^^ -elsewhere- itsuka: congrats on winning 1st place, katsuki! Bakugo: *crossing his arms, glaring at the wall* itsuka: ?? what's up? Bakugo: "...That was fucking weak." itsuka: i saw. he didnt go all out like he did with midoriya's match. Bakugo: >-< "THAT JAGOFF FUCKING DISRESPECTED ME." itsuka: *sigh* i guess patience isnt your strong suit, huh? ^^; Bakugo: "No. I want a rematch. Right now." itsuka: maybe later. *pats his back* -elsewhere- mrs iida: .... Iida: *running in the hall* nurse: sir, please dont run! Iida: "Mother!" mrs iida: !! tenya! Iida: "Br-Brother...Where is he?" nurse: he's in his room. the anesthetic just wore off, but he's still out of it- Iida: *opens the door* tensei: *laying in bed, with IVs, bandages, and a breathing mask on him*..... mrs iida: *covers her mouth and falls to her knees, sobbing* Iida: *frozen, shocked* tensei:.....mom?....tenya? Iida: "Br-Brother..." tensei: ..heh....sorry.....i goofed up....you always....did look up to me....huh? Iida: "Brother...I...I didn't..." tensei: you're a good kid, lil bro.... Iida: *crying* -at the festival- Chuuya: *walks up the steps* Gopher: QWQ *shaking* *whispering to himself* "She'll be fine, she'll be fine..." kirika: *stretch* Chuuya: *standing on the platform, ready for announcements* announcer: AND NOW THE FINAL MATCH FOR THE NOT CLASSES TOURNAMENT! CHUUYA OZAKI VS KIRIKA KURE!! kirika: alright, better make this one good, ok? Chuuya: *tilts his neck* "I got to give it my all..." whimsy dream: begin! kirika: *circling* Chuuya: *circling as well...in a step-and-slide fashion with his foot* kirika: ....*glances up*.... hmm? what the? *The ground is shaking* kirika: !!! *BOOM* kirika: ?!?! what the fuck?! *A circle of the platform has been ripped up by Chuuya, levitating the battlefield* Chuuya: *smirks* "Now this will be more interesting." announcer: WOAH! THE FIELD HAS GONE SKYBOUND! kirika: heh. *dashes forwards, very quickly* Chuuya: "!!!" *tries to dodge* kirika: *kicking at his head* *The kick connects, knocking Chuuya down* Chuuya: "URK!" kirika: *grins* that all you got on ya? how lame! Chuuya: *grabs her ankle* kirika: !! Chuuya: *flings her up--and slams her down* Gopher: D:< kirika: GRK- tch- *drops her other heel onto his arm* Chuuya: "AHHH!" *grabs his arm* "Damn it!" kirika: *KICK TO THE FACE* Chuuya: *knocked back, his head just hanging over the edge* Gopher: "YAY, KIRIKA! I LOVE IT WHEN YOU'RE BADASS!" Mineta: "...Dude, what's your problem?" kirika: *runs at him to shove him off* Chuuya: "!!!" *slides under her* kirika: ?? Chuuya: *backflips--and kicks her in the back in the process* kirika: AH! s-shit! Chuuya: "Going down!" *punches her face* kirika: *fist catch* Chuuya: "?!!!" kirika: too slow~ *kicks him in the gut* Chuuya: *coughs, tries to grab her foot, falling back* student: they're seriously going all out. Meme: "Yeah...Dang, this is brutal." Chuuya: *pulling her leg, as he falls back to the floor* kirika: *HEADBUTT* Chuuya: "GAH!" *nose bleeding* *swings his fist at her face* kirika: AH! shit! Chuuya: *leaps, tackles* kirika: *trying to shove him off the edge* Chuuya: *puts his hands around her neck* kirika: grk- *still shoving* Chuuya: *tossing with her--until they are both at the edge* kirika: *SHOVE* -they're both falling- Chuuya: "...Heh." kirika: *still punching at him* Chuuya: "Ow!" *slaps her face--leaving a glowing mark* kirika: *elbow drop to the gut* Chuuya: *lets go...smirking* kirika: !!! *Chuuya is falling* *A pebble hits Kirika's head lightly* kirika: ?? *looks up* *The stage is falling...* kirika: !!!!!! SHIT! *dodge* *She's now...floating in mid-air, not falling* Chuuya: *flying up* "Problem~?" kirika: you suck. Chuuya: "And you're done." *flies past her, up to the top of the stage* "PRACTICE YOUR DODGING!" Gopher: D8> kirika: *smirks* AND YOUR MOM SWALLOWS! Chuuya: "..." *pushes the entire stage downward* kirika: *DODGE* YOU MAD BRO? Chuuya: *pushes the stage down harder...his eyes are glowing red* kirika:.... .____.; *The stage is falling faster and faster* kirika: oh fuck. Chuuya: "GAAAAAAAH!" *BOOM* kirika: >-<;;;; *opens her eyes* fuuuck. ow. Chuuya: *dazed, eyes still red...* Gopher: "Kirika!" *running across the field* whimsy dream: shoo you. *cotton blanket around gopher* Gopher: *knocked down* "Zzz..." Chuuya: *growling* whimsy dream: kirika kure is out of bounds. the winner is chuuya ozaki. Chuuya: *ROARS--and the stage explodes* kirika: WHAT THE FUCK?! whimsy dream: *COTTON BLANKET* Chuuya: *ROARS...then loud yawn...then collapses* Gopher: =w= "Zzzz..." kirika:...what the shit? -elsewhere- Aizawa: -_-; "Can't we have one day without the entire stadium being wrecked?" teacher: well, at least it's the last day of the festival. ^-^; teacher 2: we're gonna need to fund raise the shit outta this mess. Aizawa: "Dig it out of Endeavor's pockets." -elsewhere- atsushi: !!! dazai....w-was that-? Dazai: *already escaped* -at the medical ward- Chuuya: *grunting in his sleep* Gopher: Q~Q kirika:*grumble* Gopher: "I-I was so worried...You were so powerful out there." kirika: yeah....and im sore everywhere.... fuuuuuuck =_=; nurse: sir! you cant just go barging in- Dazai: "It's okay! I have a physician's permission to be here." yosano: *sigh* he dragged me along. Chuuya: *eyes snap open--red* *GROWLS* Dazai: "And how is the patient~?" *SLASH* kirika: !!! yosano: !!! Dazai: *has slashes along his face now* =w=;;;;; "..." *picks up a tissue, wipes his face...then punches Chuuya in the jaw* Chuuya: "!!!" X_______X yosano: *cracks knuckles* time to get to work~ -too violent- Gopher: O______O *hides behind Kirika* kirika:.....*softly, but with a lot of feeling* bruh. Chuuya: *LOUD SCREAM* Dazai: *eating popcorn* =w= -later- Chuuya: ( O ) _ ( O ) "...I'm traumatized." yosano: i'll just let you two have a chat. Dazai: "Thanks!" *sits down* "So...What happened out there?" Chuuya: "...I won." Dazai: "..." *chops his head* Chuuya: "OW!" Dazai: "You have a kid now. Get your head out your ass." Chuuya: "...!!! Sonia! Where is she?" Dazai: "Oh, probably at home, watching your fight and being traumatized--" Chuuya: Q______Q Dazai: "...I was kidding. About the home part. I don't know where she is." Chuuya: Q______________Q -phone rings- Chuuya: *reaches--* Dazai: *too late* "Yello?" naoya: YOU FUCKING WASTE OF BANDAGES DID YOU STEAL CHUUYA'S FUCKING PHONE!??! Dazai: *hair blown back* ._. "...It's for you." *hands the phone to Chuuya* Chuuya: ._. "..." *gulp* "H-Hello?" naoya: YOU FUCKING MOTHERFUCKER YOU ARE IN SO MUCH FUCKING TROUBLE RIGHT NOW!! DO YOU REALIZE HOW STUPID A MOVE THAT WAS??!! WHAT IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO YOU?! YOU COULD HAVE DIED OR BLOWN OUR- Chuuya: *bowing* "I'm sorry I'm sorry Imsorryimsorryimsorry--" naoya: YOU BETTER BE! IF YOU DIE THEN WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN TO YOUR DAUGHTER, HUH?! Chuuya: "I was trying to win for Sonia!" naoya: THAT DOESNT MEAN YOU CAN GO AROUND USING CORRUPTION ALL WILLY-NILLY! {rain: please...........dont scare me like that anymore....} Chuuya: "..." *weeping* Dazai: O_O;;; naoya:.....*sigh* just be glad that spoiled brat and the sheep lady were there to stop you... Chuuya: "Y-Yeah..." -after the awards ceremonies had concluded- Bakugo: *chewing his medal* Tokoyami: ._.; Gopher: *sniff* "I'm just glad you're okay..." Izuku: *standing with Tsuyu* .___.;;; "This was a weird competition." tsuyu: no kidding. denki: it feels like it lasted forever. Todoroki: "..." *looks at his medal* -that evening- kouyou:....... Chuuya: *limping forward* kouyou: i saw your match today. Chuuya: "..." *nods* kouyou:.....naoya's right you know. you did something incredibly stupid today. Chuuya: "...I got caught up." kouyou:....are you certain you've recovered now? Chuuya: "Yes, I am..." *rubs his face* kouyou: i just want to make sure of that before i let sonia go home with you....for both your sake and hers... Chuuya: "I understand. I promise, I have recovered..." kouyou:....alright then. sonia: papa? Chuuya: *smiles* "Hey, Sonia." sonia: *hug* grandma said you got sick. kouyou: ...... Chuuya: "I-I wasn't feeling too well. But I'm better now." sonia: grandma told me not too look cause it was really bad. Chuuya: "........Your grandmother did the right thing." *hug* kouyou: ...... Chuuya: "I'm sorry to have scared you, Sonia." -elsewhere- Gopher: Q___Q "I'm sorry you didn't beat him." kirika: hey, at least i didnt die. lord death: *HUGGING* Q-Q;;; Yumi: *hug* "We're just happy you're alive and safe." kirika:.... =////=; Gopher: =w= Yumi: "Now, let's get you something to eat...We got cake." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "Hmph. He was irresponsible." naoya: un-fuckin-believable... Akutagawa: "...I could have won." naoya: just as long as you dont get killed in the process....sorry, im just....really freaking annoyed that he'd do that, especially when he has a child... Akutagawa: "Then why did he do that?" naoya:.....*sigh* i dont know.... Akutagawa: "...At least I know Gin would survive without me..." naoya: ...............maybe we should talk about something else right now. Akutagawa: "Okay...I ran into the Weretiger." naoya: and how did that go? Akutagawa: "He is still not into me." naoya: that sucks. Akutagawa: "...I kissed him." naoya: woah! Akutagawa: -\\\\- "Just on the cheek." naoya: still, that took guts. did his girlfriend punch you out? Akutagawa: "She wasn't around." naoya: ohoho, what a scandal! Akutagawa: >\\\\< "Don't say it like that." -elsewhere- Todoroki: "I'm home." fuyumi: congrats on second place, shouto! Todoroki: "..." *bows* "I am sorry I did not get first." fuyumi: *hugs* you did your best. Todoroki: "...I don't think I did." fuyumi: .....well, how about we go out and celebrate? my treat. Todoroki: "...Are you sure? I don't want to put you out." fuyumi: hey, i want to do this. Todoroki: *smiles* "Okay. Thank you." -elsewhere- Akitaru: "??? Huh. Maybe we need a new group photo." shinra: sounds like a good plan. Akitaru: "Well, you all got 5 minutes to spruce yourselves up--" Arthur: "Ready." *in his armor* tamaki: -_-; Takehisa: *chops him* "Take that off." Arthur: >_> *presses a button--and the armor pops off, leaving him in his boxers* miwa: want us to handle the camera? Vulcan: "...Dude." *hands Arthur a shirt and jeans* "You can't be running around half-naked." Akitaru: "That'd be great." ^^ Victor: OWO; *stands away from the new medic* Relan: ._. *trying to stand up straight* Arthur: *puts on the shirt and jeans* iris: *adjusts her habit* shinra: ok, everyone in position? tamaki: yeah. karin: yep nozomi: *nods* otonashi: [yes] miwa: alright. say, 'fuzzy pickles'! -elsewhere- Jacqueline: *has her hoodie pulled up* .\\\. reporter: -with chances of snow later in the week. in other news, the sports festival award ceremonies- -a few days later, the first official snowfall of the year- Patty: *holding a net* roxanne: what is she doing? liz: just let her to her thing. jack: ._.; Patty: *opens the door, swings the net* "GOT A SNOWFLAKE!" Gopher: *caught in the net* Q_Q Patty: "??? You're not a snowflake. KIRIKA! YOUR BOY-TOY IS HERE!" *goes outside, swinging her net* -elsewhere- Todoroki: *head lowered, not bothering to pull up his hoodie* *approaches the building* nurse: may i help you, sir? Todoroki: "I am here to see...Um..." *looks around* nurse: ?? Todoroki: "...Yuki Todoroki." nurse: .....i see. right this way, sir Todoroki: *nods, follows* yuki: *staring out at the snow falling from the window* Todoroki: "..." *stares at the door* "......" *opens the door, quietly enters* yuki: ..... Todoroki: "...Mom?" yuki: !!!.... *she turns to look at him* Todoroki: "..." *smile* "Hello." yuki: ..... Todoroki: "..." *glances at the paper in her hand* yuki: ......*looks down* -it seems to be a photograph of shouto, fuyumi, and their brothers. her thumb is over the face of one brother- Todoroki: "...Do you mind me being here?" yuki: .... Todoroki: "I...imagine there is so much for me...you...us to say." yuki: ........ Todoroki: "It's okay..." yuki:......i dont....understand.... Todoroki: "...I wanted to see you." yuki: i thought.......you hated me....after i.....*trembling* a-after i.... Todoroki: "...I have to live through this. I don't forget what happened. And I...want to be...a hero." yuki:.....*shaking* Todoroki: "...However long it takes, Mom...I will...be here." yuki: *hugs him and sobs* shouto... Todoroki: "!!! ..." *hug* "It-It's going to be okay..." -elsewhere- Mr. Uraraka: "Ochaco? Are you not hungry? You've barely touched your food." ochako: hmm? i guess im still winded, haha. ^^ Mr. Uraraka: ^^; "Sorry. I know you've been working hard and we kinda surprised you with the meal. We're just excited with the new work permit." ochako: *smiles* Mr. Uraraka: "And we're excited for what you do next." ochako: thanks guys. -elsewhere- Hyde: *taking down food stand at the Festival* "Well, that eliminates one of my jobs..." kyouko: .... Hyde: "??? Yo, we got some leftover treats. Want them? Free." kyouko: *nom* Hyde: ^^ "How did you like the competition? Who were you rooting for?" kyouko: ..... Hyde: "Me, I had my money on that Todoroki guy..." TT_TT "And lost." kyouko:...thats rough, buddy. Hyde: "And I'm out 40 bucks...I don't think I saw you much after the attack on the City. How you holding up?" kyouko:................... Hyde: "...I wasn't much use. Still kind of stiff. My...friend dropped a piano on one of those creatures. And I heard they captured some witches--" kyouko: .........................................*shaking* Hyde: "??? Hey...Sorry. I said something wrong?" kyouko: i just.....dont want to think about it right now. Hyde: "...Okay. Let's talk about something else...What do you think of ear piercings?" -elsewhere- Izuku: "..." -the doorbell rings- inko: izuku! your friend tsuyu is here! Izuku: "!!!" *almost falls out of his chair* "I-I'll be right there!" *walks over* "H-Hi, Tsu..." tsuyu: hey izuku. how're you holding up? Izuku: "Oh, you know, learning how to use one hand for eating." ^^; "How about you?" tsuyu: been doing alright. Izuku: "...What are you doing days we have off after the Festival?" tsuyu: well, since it's getting colder out now, my family has been talking about spending some time in florida. Izuku: "Makes sense. Any family there?" tsuyu: no, just going down for the warmer weather. Izuku: *nods* "Your siblings been to Florida before?" -elsewhere- Kid: *staring at the stadium* "..." *whimpers* lord death: *pat pat* Kid: "Please make repairs swift and beautiful..." -elsewhere- sonia: *drawing* Chuuya: "Zzz..." {rain: please.....dont scare me like that anymore....} Chuuya: *shifts in bed--and groans* "Ow..." mito: *mew* Chuuya: "..." *strokes Mito* mito: *purr* Chuuya: "Miss me, Mito?" mito: *nuzzles into his palm* Chuuya: *smiles* "Thanks..." *looks around* -something has been slipped under the door- Chuuya: "???" *struggles to sit up, walks over, picks it up* -it's a drawing of chuuya and sonia with the words 'get well soon, papa' written on it- Chuuya: *his hands are shaking as tears begin to fall* *opens the door* sonia: *looks up* Chuuya: *rubs his eyes* "Th-Thank you, Sonia." sonia:...*walks up to him....hugs* Chuuya: T_T *hug* sonia: i love you papa. Chuuya: "I love you, too...This meant a lot to me." sonia: ...did you get sick because you miss mama? Chuuya: "...It's complicated. I did feel really sad during that competition." sonia: auntie naoya sounded really mad... {naoya: that kid's going to be depending on you, you know...} Chuuya: "She...wanted to make sure I was okay. People get upset sometimes with people when they do something foolish and dangerous." sonia: hmm....ok. Chuuya: "So...I need to do better." *rubs her head* -elsewhere- FD: *under his desk, fixing some electronic components* Q: *staaaaaare* FD: "?!!" *sits up--and bashes his head into the console* "Ow!" zoey: master! are you alright? FD: "Yes...Just hit my head...Was surprised." Q: sowwy. FD: "...It's fine. Please go play..." Q: okaaaay. *walks off with his doll* FD: "...Maybe someone can play a game with him..." Ivan: "I'LL DO IT!" zoey: what?! FD: "Good. Go play with him." zoey: eh?! D8 Ivan: ^^ "As you wish, master~" *turns to Q* FD: *stares at Zoey* zoey: b-bu-but- Q: ?? FD: *But. What?" zoey: ....nevermind. as long as he doesnt hurt our baby... FD: "I assure you, he will not." *leans to her ear* "And Q will learn how to bend him to his will..." zoey: ah...<3 Q: what'chu lookin at? Ivan: *slight shake* "N-Nothing..." *smiles* "So, Q...What do you like to play?" Q: well, i like to curse people. but mommy told me to be nice. =3= Ivan: OWO;;; "...That is actually good advice...M-Maybe a board game?" Q: but there's nothing down here! >3< leo: perhaps tea? Q: yay! Ivan: *whispers* "Good save..." Q: can we invite elise? leo: .....perhaps another time. Q: oookaaaay. Ivan: *heating water* "Is Elise your girlfriend?" Q: no! she's my friend. i tried to ask out Aya. it didnt go well. QuQ leo: i can understand... Shousaku: ("Aya?!") Ivan: TT_TT leo:....perhaps the tea now? Q: i want brown sugar with mine! ^u^ Ivan: "...Yes." *pours into a cup* keek: .......*laying on her side* Shousaku: "..." *approaches Keek* keek:.... ?? Shousaku: "..." *offers her a cup of tea* keek:.....im good... Shousaku: "...Okay...Food?" katya: oi! how did you get out?! Shousaku: O_O; "...Your boss said I could be here." katya: oh? <oi vachenka! did the boss say anything about letting bomber boy out of his cell?> Ivan: "??? I haven't heard." katya: *glances at shousaku.....punches him in the gut* Shousaku: "!!!" *collapses* keek: !!! katya: *locks the door* Shousaku: *groans* keek: *drags herself over to him* a-are you...? Shousaku: *sits up* "...Sorry." keek:....*leans against him* Shousaku: "..." *groans as he rests a hand on her shoulder and pats* "Th-Thanks." katya: *takes a sip from her flask* <so, is the pastor still in solitary?> leo: <yes> Hawthorne: *seated on the floor of his cell* "..." katya: <shouldnt be too long now, hopefully.> FD: *pats Zoey's side* zoey: *soft sigh* Death the Kid: FD: *passes his hand to her stomach* zoey: m-master~<3' katya: *squick face*...oi, half'n'half brat. Q: ?? katya: want to learn something cool? FD: "How do you feel?" zoey: im....so happy <3 FD: "Very good...You have to take care of your health." zoey: of course, master. anything for you... Q: mommy! auntie katya taught me how to say 'i love you mama' in russian! zoey: really? FD: "..." Q: *he nods* here i go! *ahem* <you're a fucking twatty whore and i hope you get shot> zoey: awww, how sweet. ^^ katya: *laughing* FD: O_O leo: *stunned* Ivan: *sly smile* katya: *cackling* FD: ^^;;;;;;;; "How...smart." zoey: *hug* our baby boy~ Q: ^///^ -elsewhere- Medusa: "I finished your order." customer: thank you so much. Medusa: *small bow* "Thank you for your patronage." *deposits the money into the register* -elsewhere- Kuro: "Tell your uncle to buy more chips." mahiru: well, we'll just have to go out to the store then. my uncle said he'd be busy. Kuro: "...I don't want to go out." *hides under blanket* mahiru: *liiiift* come on...kuro...it's not...that long...a walk... Kuro: >_< "It's far, cold, and bright..." -elsewhere- Poe: "Welcome back!" Jacqueline: "...Thank you." EF: oh, did you do something with your hair? Jacqueline: "Just a cut." EF: it looks nice. ^^ Jacqueline: ^\\\^ "Th-Thanks...I was worried it's too short." EF: it looks nice! i might do something with my hair next year, but im not sure. Jaqueline: "I think it would look nice, especially for summer." Poe: ._. ("I don't know what to say...") -elsewhere- Iida: "..." -text from momo cell- momo: [how is it?] Iida: [his surgeries will take time] momo .........[it will be ok] Iida: [he likely will never be able to go on patrol ever again] momo: ...... Iida: [sorry. this is not your burden] momo: [if there is anything i can do, let me know] Iida: "..." [i will] -elsewhere- Lucy: *pouts* "With the festival over, traffic here has dried up." -3- atsushi: well, you still have us, right? Lucy: =\\\\= "...I suppose that's a start..." *pulls out her pad* "So order a lot of food." -elsewhere- Johannes: *pokes the specimen under glass* metsu:....im not even going to ask. Johannes: "I found this little fella after the battle. I'm gonna name them 'Millie.'" *the specimen jar has scratches inside* metsu: i....see.... ._.; -elsewhere- Karim: "...Nuts." *sets down the newspaper* pearl: ?? father fulham? Karim: "Sorry...Just annoyed by this." *taps the photo of Bakugo and Todoroki at the award ceremony* pearl:... foien: *chuckle* salty much? Karim: "It's not every day that someone with fire and ice abilities gets some positive attention--and then he loses to some hotheaded madman with an explosive temper." *crosses his arms* pearl:...*pat pat* Karim: "...Thanks. Just would've been nice when I'm one of the few icy people in a fire brigade." -elsewhere- Gin: *lifts Motojiro by his collar* -_-##### higuchi: what did he do this time? Gin: "His expense report has items that will never be reimbursed, he has determined how to sneak hidden cameras into lemons and placed them in locations he should not have--" Motojiro: "A hidden camera in a lemon! No one would ever expect it!" Gin: "I FOUND A LEMON IN THE BATHROOM. HOW DID YOU THINK NO ONE WOULD QUESTION THAT?" higuchi: ....i say we castrate him. Gin: "Agreed." Motojiro: D: "N-Now, wait a minute! I also put them in the boys' bathroom!" higuchi: still. Gin: *already has a switchblade out, swings* Motojiro: O_O; *nothing happens--then a bit of his hair is sliced off and falls* D8 -elsewhere- Crona: "..." *sighs* soul: what's up? Crona: "I...haven't been feeling well." soul:.... *pats their back* Crona: *sighs* "...All of this is awful." *looks at broken light posts and torn up sidewalks* soul:...it's getting better. little by little Crona: "...Wish it was faster...Feels like if it isn't, then it's...a failing." soul: .... Crona: "...I don't think I'm getting better." soul:....want some coffee? Crona: "..." *nods* "Yes." -elsewhere- Hibana: *strokes Gabriella's head* gabriella: this is nice =w= hanako: *watching the snow* Hibana: "Yes...Hanako, when it stops snowing, we'll be able to make some snow-people." hanako: wow! -elsewhere- Lily: "Now bundle up, children~" yuri and mari: *listening* Lily: "We'll make a snow fort, snow angels--and maybe rope in Misono~" misono: =~=; kiddos: yay! Lily: *pats Misono's back* "You'll like the snow! We can even make a snow throne for you." misono:...very well then. Lily: ^^ *puts a scarf around his neck* misono: =///3///=; -elsewhere- Todoroki: "..." ochako: hey todoroki! Todoroki: "!!!" *turns, waves, smiles* ochako: it's already snowing, can you believe it? Todoroki: "The time has passed quickly...How are you liking the snow?" ochako: it's chilly out. Todoroki: "Yes...Best to dress warm." *looks at her jacket* "Is that warm enough?" ochako: yeah. so how did you spend today? Todoroki: "...I visited my mother." ochako:....how is she? Todoroki: "...Recovery still takes time. It was a long visit." ochako: ...... Todoroki: "...I feel more hopeful. But I also have learned not to expect much." ochako:...*pat pat* Todoroki: "..." *nods* "Thank you. Sorry to bring it up." ochako: it's fine. *smiles* Todoroki: "...Okay." *pulls out an umbrella, opens it over them* ochako:...*smiles....slightly leans against his left side* Todoroki: .\\\. "..." *turns on his heat just slightly* ochako: nice and warm. ^u^ Todoroki: ^\\\^ "I try." -elsewhere- Black Star: "??? Okay. Where did Belkia go?" otogiri: he's in the yard. Black Star: "In this snow? Why?" *There's a snowman outside* naho: first snow of the season, baby! *The snowman is...moving?* naho: !! belbel! *The snowman...starts tap-dancing* naho: *laughs, clapping* lilac: ah... Belkia: *waving his hand* "Just a little thing I do~" *The snowman does a flip--and crashes into the snow, breaking into tiny break-dancing snow-babies* ayami: ah..! Belkia: "Hee hee..." *closes his hand, like a composer ending an orchestral piece* *When finished, the snow-babies hop onto each other's shoulders, re-forming as the now stationery snowman* -elsewhere- Mori: *sneezes* elise: you better not be getting a cold, rintarou. if i get sick from you, i wont forgive you! >3< Mori: D: "I-I'm sorry, Elise! I'm trying to take care of myself...It must be that someone is talking about me, that's all..." elise: ...im bored. i miss Q. Mori: "...We're searching as quickly as we can." elise: this sucks! im the only other kid in the mafia! kyouka's with the agency, Q's been Q-napped, and sonia's always too scared to talk to me and that's your fault! >3< Mori: Q~Q "I'm trying my best..." miura: perhaps we could take you out to enjoy the snow? elise: yeah! Mori: QwQ "Dress warmly!" -elsewhere- Aizawa: *bundled in his sleeping bag* yuuji: oi. i brought cat food. Aizawa: "Thanks..." *unzips the sleeping bag--and shudders* "Too cold..." -elsewhere- *BOOM* *A villain has appeared--holding a TV set* Villain: "This is mine now! I stole it! Ha ha ha! Now I'm going to hook it up at home and steal cable!" mt lady: where do you think you're going, hun? ^^# Villain: "..." *looks up and down* "Well, if it isn't Mountain Woman!" -BWAM- mt lady: THAT'S MT LADY TO YOU! Villain: X~X *slammed head-first into a wall* Mineta: "..." *claps* -a snow plow drives by....mineta gets buried under the snow- Mineta: D:< Hyde: *driving the snow plow* "???" -elsewhere- Yumi: "Anything I can get you, Kirika?" kirika: .....can i have pancakes? Yumi: "Of course. Give me 15 minutes. Want any fruit? Whipped cream? Chocolate chips?" kirika: chocolate chips? Yumi: "Coming right up!" *takes out flour and a bowl* "Did you sleep okay?" kirika: yeah, a bit sore, but im not dead. Yumi: "...Yes." *mixing ingredients* "You gave as good as you got, though." kirika: mmhmm....*looks out at the snow* *Kid is outside...with a ruler* kirika: oh my fuckin god. Yumi: "...He just wants the snow to be even outside..." >_> -elsewhere- Poe: *walking home* lana: it's already snowing. i cant believe it. Poe: "...Time passes more quickly than I would like." lana: yeah. feels like it was just getting warm out, then bam! Poe: "Yes...Best to make all use possible of the time available." *holds out a hand to let snow rest on his palm* -BWAP- Poe: "?!" ranpo: bulls eye! Poe: O_O "...That's how it'll be?!" *scoops up snow* lana: *also making a snow ball* Poe: *smiles at Lana* "Ready...Aim..." -elsewhere- Kunikida: "Now your sweater...and jacket. And gloves. And scarf. And hat. And earmuffs." *steps back* "...Okay. I think you're ready to play outside now." aya: *muffled talking* naomi: she looks like that one kid from a christmas story. Kunikida: "Yes, a fine instructional guide to child care." *wraps scarf around Aya's face* yosano:...i fear for his future children. Dazai: "I don't think you have to worry. Given how uptight he is, his little swimmers probably couldn't get out of him even if his significant other gripped him by his--" kirako: *covers his mouth* Dazai: OXO Kunikida: *death glare at Dazai* "...Aya? Go play." *opens the door, picks her up, and drops her outside* kenji: wee! Kyoka: *on a sled* "Wee." aya: *muffled* Kunikida: "..." *gently takes her arms, and lowers them...* -sproing- aya: >~< Kunikida: "...Just go through any narrow entries sideways, not frontally. And don't touch the yellow snow." -elsewhere- mana: *working on a snow fort* Shotaro: *bone of spider--as he uses multiple hands to pad snow along the fort* nea: *casually chilling out....in a swimsuit* Shinoda: ^\\\^;;; "Comfortable?" nea: yeah. *streeetch* chie: .................your just exploiting your ability. nea: yes. yes i am. Shinoda: "I'm not complaining." chie:....kids, dont wear swimsuits in the snow. mono: *staaaaaare*....*trembling* mana: mono- mono: WHAT?! >3< Emine: "...Something got under her skin. Or chest." mono: STOP TALKING! >n< Emine: "Just because you're flatter than a board doesn't mean you have to take your animosity out on me--" -BWAM- mono: *fuming, crying ghibli tears* lin-kimpur: D8 Emine: X~X yohei: why dont you just lay down in the snow and cool off? ^^;; Assi: O_O;;; "...Big boobs are over-rated." -PUNCH- mana: =_=# *fist steaming* -elsewhere- Patty: *sits in hot tub* =w= liz: ahhh. =w= heather: this is nice. Patty: "No kidding...After cold day, nothing better than the hot tub." *splashes Liz* liz: ah! patti! riley:....dudes. i have the sickest idea. Patty: "Hee hee!" riley: patti.....get the bubble bath. liz: NO. heather: DO NOT. Patty: "Yes!" -elsewhere- Mr. Tsubaki: *diving into the snow* mary: *making snow angels* Fitzgerald: *making...snow dollars?* louisa: they seem to be enjoying themselves.... eckleburg: *bundled up* indeed. bram: *staying inside* Mr. Tsubaki: "..." *nudges Eckleburg towards Louisa before leaping back to Bram* eckleburg: o///o; louisa: hmm? Mr. Tsubaki: *small fox giggle* eckleburg: soooo....i heard mr fitzgerald is already planning the company christmas party. -elsewhere- julian:....hyde....is that....a snow statue of licht? Hyde: *on one knee, holding up his hands at it* "Isn't it life-like?! I spent so long working on getting the fine details into the snow." owo kranz: are those.....abs? romina: he's got himself an ol' 8-pack! licht:................ Hyde: "...Yes." *pats lightly along the abs* licht:.......... Hyde: OWO "What do you think, Licht?" licht:........... *kicks him into a snowbank*...it's nice. Hyde: *his butt sticking out of the snowbank* *muffled* "YOU'RE WELCOME!" -elsewhere- Chuuya: "Oh. Hello." *waves at Scarlet* scarlet: hmm? oh, hey. i see you're enjoying the snow with your daughter. sonia: *meek wave* Chuuya: *nods* "This is her first snow, so a lot to see." scarlet: ?? sonia: .... Chuuya: "...She was in a different...climate before coming here. Do you like the snow?" scarlet:...it's fine, i guess. -elsewhere- pushkin: dudes, hear me out. what if...we stole a zamboni? katya:....that may just be the best think you have ever asked. Ivan: "??? ...why?" pushkin: why not? OwO Ivan: "The master may not approve..." katya: =3= Ivan: "What benefit would it serve him?" katya: vachenka, have you even once give thought to what _you_ want to do? dont you just wanna cut loose every now and then? pushkin: yeah gon, your gonna get hemorrhoids. Ivan: >3< "I'm just focused on what Master wants--because what Master wants is good!" katya: *sweatdrop* pushkin: maybe if we steal this zamboni, the boss will be really impressed! you have way more skills for it than the nurse does! Ivan: "..." <Let's do this.> -elsewhere- naoya: *drinking* Gin: "Hello." naoya: hey gin. Gin: "What are you having?" *sits down* naoya: the usual.....i think i know what you want. Gin: *nods* "Thank you..." naoya: you want....a gin fizz, right? *grins* Gin: "..." -_-; "Fine." naoya: come on, you got to admit, that was good. Gin: "It was...the first 12 times." *looks around* naoya: *pout* so, how's your brother? Gin: "...He seems thoughtful but calmer." naoya: ah. Gin: "Has he mentioned anything to you?" naoya: depends~ Gin: "Naoya." naoya: ya? Gin: "Please be direct with me. I'm concerned." naoya: ...i think akuta went and saw the weretiger... Gin: "!!! Oh no..." naoya: did he mention anything about that recently to you? Gin: "Hardly." naoya: want me to talk to him? Gin: "If you could...It is not fair for him to keep this to himself, even if these are his...own interests." naoya: ..... *idea* i have a plan! Gin: "Do tell." -elsewhere- ranpo: a mixer? Dazai: "It'll be fun!" atsushi: ^^; yosano: yeah, plus kunikida needs to get out there. Kunikida: -_-; "I'm fine in here." -elsewhere- Kid: *curled up under a blanket* stocking: *nuzzle* Kid: =w= "So warm." stocking: *kiiisssss* Kid: "Mmmm~" *hug* stocking: this is nice. Kid: "Agreed...I'm so happy to be with you." stocking: im happy to be with you too. ^^ <3 Kid: *cheek smooch* stocking: hehe~<3 Kid: "Maybe we can spend a day back at the slopes..." stocking: yeah. maybe try for a baby~? 7w7 Kid: o\\\\o "...You're ready?" stocking: *griiiin* Kid: "..." *brushes his lips against hers* stocking: mmm~ u////u Kid: "Stocking..." *kisses where her cheek meets her neck* -elsewhere- Chuuya: *drops mini-marshmallows into hot chocolate* sonia: *shiny eyes* Chuuya: *smiles* "Let it cool just a bit more. Use the spoon to test whether it is too hot." sonia: ok. Chuuya: "And this weekend, we can try baking gingerbread people." sonia: *shiny eyes* Chuuya: "Anything else you'd like to try for winter?" -that evening, at a bar- yosano: ... -three other ladies are seated across from her, dazai, and kunikida- Kunikida: "..." Dazai: ^w^ girl 1: .-.; girl 2:.... sooooo.... Kunikida: "May I see your references." Dazai: "Which balconies are your favorite in this city?" yosano: so where do you girl's work? girl 1: well, i'm a department store clerk. girl 2: references to what? Girl 3: "Oh! I know a great balcony that has a lovely view of the sunset--" Kunikida: "References as to your income, criminal record..." Dazai: "How high up is this balcony?" girl 2: .____.;;; um.... girl 1 + yosano: *sweatdrop* Girl 3: "I think it's 20 stories high--" Death the Kid: Dazai: OWO "Ah! So, high enough that if we j--" -chop- yosano: down boy. Kunikida: *sets down a small jar* "I'm going to need a sample to complete drug tests." Dazai: XWX -chop x2- yosano: -_-; girl 1 + 2: ._.; *blink* -elsewhere at the bar- naoya: you guys having fun? Chuuya: *stares at his glass of water* "...Yeah. Real fun." Tachihara: *looking around* "...Sausage party." Akutagawa: "..." *sips his soda through a curly straw* naoya:....hmm? oh, there looks like some contenders. oooi! over here! girl 4: eh? boy: .-. Girl 5: *waves* "Well, hey there!" Girl 6: "...Hi." *serious face* Akutagawa: "???" Chuuya: "...Naoya, what are you up to?" Tachihara: owo "Hello~" naoya: you guys want drinks? ^^ girl 4: *chuckle* ^///^ Girl 6: *adjusts glasses* "Yes." Girl 5: "Cool!" Akutagawa: *stares at Boy* boy: lots of people....ah, i wanna go home, sis. im gonna pass out. Girl 5: *small nudge* "Just give it a chance. 5 minutes. Please?" *puppy dog eyes* Girl 6: *rolls her eyes* Tachihara: *whispers to Chuuya* "The girl in the glasses is hot..." Chuuya: "..." Q_Q ("This was a mistake...") girl 4: so, what brings you guys here? naoya: thought we'd come on by, get drinks, meet people, ya know? Girl 6: *glances at Tachihara* Tachihara: *winks* Girl 6: "..." >\\\\> Girl 5: "...Why's your friend sticking with water?" naoya: he's driving. Chuuya: "And I promised my daughter I'd be up early tomorrow for sledding--" Girl 5: *shiny eyes* Girl 6: *shiny glasses* boy: ??? girl 4: oh...you have a kid? how...nice... ^^; Chuuya: "Y-Yes. I adopted her." ^^;; Girl 5: "Do you have photos?" Girl 6: *sits next to Tachihara, bumping into him* "Show us." Tachihara: .\\\. boy: sis, please. >~<;;; Akutagawa: *looks at Boy* "Do you like cats?" boy: um...i guess? Chuuya: ^^;;; "I...like having some privacy for my daughter." Girl 5: "Mad respect to that." Girl 6: "..." *her knee touches Tachihara's* Tachihara: o\\\o Akutagawa: "I like tigers." boy: oh, um... cool. Akutagawa: "...I like your jacket." boy: um, thanks...my sister told me i should get out more... Akutagawa: "My sister says the same thing." Girl 5: *looks at Naoya* "Cute top." naoya: thanks. ^^ girl 4:.... *awkwardly looks around* Chuuya: "???" *looks around* Girl 5: *to Naoya* "What's your beverage?" naoya: just having some whisky, you? Akutagawa: *to Boy* "Where do you go to school?" Girl 5: *smiles* "I think I'll have the same." boy: im just a university student. Akutagawa: "Ah. I'm...at DWMA." boy: woah. naoya: yep, so goddamn proud. *fist clench* Akutagawa: -///- Girl 5: "This your brother?" naoya: nah, im more like a cool aunt, haha. *eye shine* Chuuya: "..." *stares down at his water* Girl 5: "That's so cool to be supportive of your friend." *smiles* Tachihara: "..." .\\\. Girl 6: *serious stare* girl 4: so...what to the rest of you do? naoya: well, we do some....speciallized work *wink* Girl 5: .\\\. Chuuya: ^^; "I'm in school with him." *points at Akutagawa* Tachihara: =_= *puffs out his chest* "I'm the best at what I do..." -elsewhere, in another town- katya: *driving the zamboni down the road* ..... pushkin: *passed out on the passenger seat* katya:....<well this sucks.> Ivan: <...Oh! I have an idea! We could make money polishing ice rinks around town!> leo: <and risk being arrested?> Ivan: OwO; "..." leo: katya:.... AHHHHH! <THIS IS SUCH A GODDAMN LET DOWN!> DX< pushkin: <Want to steal stuff?> katya: <mug the next fuckers that drive by?> leo: ._.;;;; Ivan: <Okay! We can give the jewelry to Master~> -elsewhere- Man in the Alley: *knocked down* "L-Look, lady! I don't want any trouble..." hina: oh? you didnt do anything. Man: ._.;;;; "...Nope." hina: *puts a knife to his neck* im just doing this cause i feel like it. -slice- Man: "GRK-!" *collapses* *bleeding out -elsewhere- Medusa: *sets down her tea, looks out the window* "..." neian: *chewing on a washcloth* Medusa: "...Your poor teeth..." neian: *babble* Medusa: "At least I don't have to worry about breast feeding any more...You hungry, Neian?" neian: *responsive babble* Medusa: *takes out formula, starts preparing it* "...I hope you're staying warm." -back at the mixer- Dazai: TTwTT "And it's just so hard when you don't know what it is you even want anymore!" Death the Kid: Kunikida: =_= "When I get home, I like to relax with a glass of wine and light jazz." girl 1 + 2: ._.; yosano: *sighs* you guys are such light weights Dazai: "Let's all take this to the roof!" Kunikida: "I would like to read my poetry." *opens his book--and a bouquet of flowers pops out* "...I forgot I wrote that down." -elsewhere in the bar- Girl 5: =\\\\= "Tasty whiskey, Naoya..." naoya: ^////^ how you guys holding up? girl 4: *asleep* boy: im gonna diiiie... Akutagawa: *pats his back* "You'll be fine. It's just stress." *Tachihara and Girl #6 are not there* boy: where did those other guys go? Chuuya: "He needed the restroom--then she left to use the restroom, too." boy: urg... girl 4: and you? Chuuya: "I'm fine...I'll need to get home soon for my babysitter." girl 4: ah. Chuuya: "...Sorry I'm not very good at talking." naoya: ..... Girl 5: "Naoya, you come here often~?" Chuuya: "..." *takes out his phone, looks at it* higuchi: [how's it going?] Chuuya: [i'm not up for dating.] higuchi: ......[do you want to come home?] Chuuya: [yeah. but i'm designated driver and i don't know when everyone will wrap up] Girl 5: *smiles at Naoya* Akutagawa: "It'll be okay...These things happen." Dazai: "HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLO!" Chuuya: "...No." Akutagawa: "..." .\\\\. boy:.... ./////. um... naoya: ugh. =_=# Dazai: "You all out for a mixer, too? What a co-inky-dink!" *shakes Girl 5's hand* "How you doing, lovely?" Girl 5: "...Naoya. Who the heck is this weirdo?" naoya: 7-7 human garbage. Dazai: D8 Chuuya: "That's an insult to garbage. And I'm completely sober in that assessment." Dazai: *stabbed in the heart* X_X boy: .... 7///7; Akutagawa: "...Dazai can be bothersome." Dazai: *collapsing on the floor* girl 4: hey! arent you that weird guy who asked me to jump in front of the subway with you? .___.;; Dazai: *bounces back up* "Why? Did you change your mind~?" *smiles* Chuuya: -_-##### girl 4:...... naoya: i see you havent changed a bit. Dazai: "Hey, I'm consistent!" *sits next to Girl 4--then looks--* "Oh, Chuuya. Didn't see you there. Have you gotten shorter?" Chuuya: >_<########## boy: o//////o;;;; Dazai: *looks at Girl 4* "...Madam." *takes her hand* "Are you interested in joining me for another subway ride?" girl 4: ............................... *gives him a weird look* -POW- naoya: =_=# *fist steaming* Girl 5: "..." *giggles* "So cool." -elsewhere- lana: edgar? Poe: "...Hmm? S-Sorry..." lana: are you ok? i heard you whimpering... Poe: "...I..." lana:....*hugs* Poe: "..." *tears up* lana: it's ok, just let it out. Poe: "It's wrong..." lana: *listening* Poe: "I am wrong..." lana:...*strokes is back* Poe: *whimpers* "I-I just...When you and I were playing in the snow...I don't deserve..." lana: of course you do. *warm smile* Poe: *shakes his head* "T-This is what happens wh-when I get my hopes up: it's just disappointment." lana: *sigh* well, im still here, ok? *brushes his hair back and kisses his forehead* Poe: T\\\\T "Th-Thank you..." -elsewhere- Gin: *pacing* -knocks- higuchi: ah! they're back. Gin: *opens the door* "..." Akutagawa: "..." *small smile, wave* naoya: *YAAAAAWN* im gonna just crash here tonight... sonia: *peeek* papa? Chuuya: *holds out his arms* sonia: *runs up to him and hugs him* Chuuya: >w< Gin: "...How was it?" Akutagawa: "Bizarre. And Naoya knocked out Dazai." Gin: "...You seem pleased." Akutagawa: "...It wasn't a bad evening." naoya: *asleep on the couch* Chuuya: "Let's get you home, Sonia...Thanks Higuchi, Gin." -morning- Tachihara: =w= Girl 6: "...I'm going to go now." Tachihara: "Not up for breakfast?" Girl 6: *puts on her jacket* "No." *leaves, slams the door* Tachihara: "..." *contented sigh, falls back asleep* -elsewhere- Kid: *rubs Stocking's back* stocking: =w= Kid: *smooch* "Morning." stocking: morning to you too~ Kid: *continues to rub her back lightly* "How are you?" stocking: good. thanks for last night~ Kid: ^\\\^ "Thank you as well...That was great." *kisses the back of her neck* stocking: hehehe~ Kid: "...You know what?" *hugs her* stocking: what~? Kid: "I think the saying goes 'practice makes perfect'..." *rests a hand along her stomach* -elsewhere- yana: so you guys just dumped it off the side of the road then? pushkin: pretty much. Ivan: Q_Q "...Don't tell Master." yana: hey, if you wont say anything, i wont say anything. Ivan: *imitates zipping his lips* yana: plus, i think he's been preoccupied in dealing with the padre. Hawthorne: "..." *staring at a table* FD: "...You don't like it?" Hawthorne: "..." *picks up a mask from the table* FD: "It's either that, or you can be discovered immediately as soon as you set one foot outside of this cell." Hawthorne: "...How do you know I won't run?" FD: "You won't. You've seen what I have done to my captives. And what I could do to your friend." zoey:.... Hawthorne: "..." *takes off his glasses...puts on the mask* zoey: master.....will you.....put him in his place? FD: *smiles at Zoey* "As you can see, I already have." -elsewhere- Kunikida: >_< "That was a waste of an evening..." *takes an aspirin* yosano: *sigh* Dazai: "..." Tanizaki: ._.;;; "...So, Doc, was your evening any better?" -elsewhere- Todoroki: "Zzz..." fuyumi: *making waffles* *Phone alarm goes off* Todoroki: =_= *turns it off, gets out of bed, exits room* "..." fuyumi: morning. Todoroki: "Good morning..." *yawn* "Thank you again." fuyumi:.....so, how was....you know... Todoroki: "..." *sits down* "...She is not how I remember her." fuyumi: ...... Todoroki: "She still seems distant, sad..." fuyumi:.....if i get some time off, i'll go see her. Todoroki: *nods* "She would like that." -elsewhere- dia: *looking at the snow falling* Karim: "..." pearl: she always looks so sad this time of the year... Karim: "Holidays can do that...without family." pearl: ..... dia: ...... {dia: *wide eyed, terrified*} {FD: <Now, now...Is that really the face you want to put on?>} {dia: *backing away, slipping on some of the blood*} {FD: <Oh...Watch your step.>} {dia: <s...stay away....>} {FD: <Or what? You think you can escape punishment?>} {dia: *trembling, tears falling*} {FD: <None of us can escape it. And I am here to fulfill one purpose...To create a world without sin.> *lifts his hand*} dia:........ Karim: "..." *nudges Pearl* pearl: um....dia? dia: !!....yes? Karim: "...We were going to have some hot chocolate and watch the snow. Mind the company?" dia:...fine, thanks. Karim: *sets down the mugs* "...It's really coming down." dia:...yes. Karim: "...Enough to build a snow fort." -elsewhere- Triple A: *face down in snow* trixie: *sniffing* Triple A: *muffled grunt* "Be gone, you dumb mutt." *his head was pelted with snowballs* trixie:....*squats* -elsewhere- Mephisto: "??? Dear? You're...looking rather pleased." felisia: i have a feeling things are looking up. ^^ Mephisto: "Oh, that sounds lovely!" *offers a cookie* -elsewhere- Hiro: *struggling to carry grocery bags* sayaka: heyo! EF: mind if we help? Hiro: "O-Oh! Hey, you two..." *offers one bag each* "What are you up to?" sayaka: just doing some grocery shopping. ^^ mom asked me to picks some stuff up Hiro: "That's good...I'm running this errand for Mom." *points to a food bank across the street* sayaka: ah. i see. Hiro: "Yep...It's getting colder, and after the city's destruction, more people are without homes this year." sayaka: ...yeah.... Hiro: "Sayaka, have any plans for the winter break?" sayaka: i might do some snowboarding. Hiro: "Nice! I tried that...and fell...down the slope..." EF: ._.; sayaka:...ouch. Hiro: ^^; "Not my best...How about you, EF?" EF: i've never actually been snowboarding. ^^; Hiro: "Skiing?" EF: no. sayaka: ice skating? EF: *shakes head* sayaka:....have you ever built a snowman? -elsewhere- Yohei: "Yo, Mono." mono: ya? Yohei: "Chie wanted you to have this. She just knitted it." *holds up an asymmetrical sweater* mono:....i dont want it. *putting it on* >n< Yohei: "...Yeah, you're really showing me how much you 'don't want it.'" *smiles* "I'll let Chie know you love it." mono: !!!! 7n7 Yohei: "Yo, Chie! Mono says it's the best thing ever!" mono: HEY! chie: *chuckles* glad to hear. *shadow head pat* mono: =///n///=;;; Yohei: "Maybe you could knit her another one for Christmas." -elsewhere- Akutagawa: "..." *closes a book, looks out the window* -snow's coming down nicely- Akutagawa: "..." *grabs his jacket, exits his room* -naoya left a note saying 'went home, thanx 4 letting me crash'. there is a small doodle of her giving a peace sign- Akutagawa: "..." *small smile, places it on the bookshelf* "..." *looks around* -no one else home- Akutagawa: "..." *exits the apartment, locks the door...walks downstairs to the snow* -peaceful out...- Akutagawa: "..." *falls back into the snow* elise: akutagawa are you dead? Akutagawa: "...Just making a snow angel." -elsewhere- Tsukiyo: =w= "So warm..." fang-hua: yeah. reimi: =w= Tsukiyo: *stretches* "I don't want to get out...Hey, how's the Commander doing?" fang-hua: training as usual. Tsukiyo: >3< "He should be enjoying the winter weather...Or taking a dip in the hot spring." fang-hua: well, you know how he is. Tsukiyo: "..." *smirks* -elsewhere- Medusa: *sets out ingredients...and a magic tome* neian: *in her playpen* Medusa: *has the page opened to a locator spell* ("Without Ponera's resources, I'll need to locate some additional items...") -elsewhere- Free: "You enjoying this?" milia: *staring at the tree in awe* eruka: ^^ Free: "Pretty tall, right?" milia: it's so shiny! Free: "Still got this..." *holds up the tree topper* milia: can i put it on? *shiny eyes* Free: *hands it to her* "Just need to lift you up..." milia: hold on! *butterfly wings and...* *place* success! eruka: well done, milia! Free: "Yeah--that was really good!" milia:.....^^ Free: "Just have to plug in the lights..." -elsewhere- Steinbeck: *sipping tea* twain: *asleep* Steinbeck: "..." *opens the window, scoops out snow...* twain: *yaaaawn* uuugh, i always get so tired in the winter! =3=

#death city days

0 notes