@croptopjames // frat boy james in a very tiny t-shirt proves to be quite distracting when regulus is trying to study // words: 687
Regulus is just about to consider the pros and cons of repeatedly slamming his head into the desk when the door opens.
He’s holed away in James’ room, escaping the madness of his own dorm, where Evan is frantically trying to memorize human anatomy, and the library, where Regulus’ soul vacates his body one hour at a time.
James is a willing host, although he seems to have some trouble letting Regulus study. He had to send his boyfriend on a run to get some quiet, because James can be very very distracting when he wants to be.
Thankfully, Regulus has managed to make his way through a good few chapters by the time James returns and it’s for the better because—
“Hi, sweetheart,” James pants, sweat dripping down his neck, catching on the gold chain that disappears under the collar of his shirt. “Got some studying done?”
Regulus swallows dryly. His eyes catch on the strip of skin between the hem of James’ t-shirt and shorts.
His t-shirt. His very tiny t-shirt. His t-shirt that rides up when James lifts a hand to card through his sweaty curls and reveals more tan skin. Dark hair trails down his stomach and disappears beneath the waistband of his boxers, a path Regulus is eager to track.
There is cotton in Regulus’ head, static between his ears, not a single thought behind his eyes, only a continuous loop of JamesJamesJamesJa—
“Take a picture, baby. It’ll last longer.”
Heat floods Regulus’ face. “Shut up.”
“No, I’m flattered, really.” James lifts a hand and presses it against his still-heaving chest.
“Your own boyfriend ogling you is not a flex.”
“No, but half the campus ogling me is.”
“Only half?” Regulus mocks, bottom lip jutting out in a pout. He ignores the spark of annoyance he feels; James is just trying to rile him up, he knows this. But James is very good at finding Regulus’ last nerve and picking at it until it snaps.
Admittedly, the stress of exam week leaves him slightly more irritable than he usually would be, so when he asks, “Where is the rest of your shirt, by the way?” there is a bit more bite in his tone than he intended.
James simply shrugs. “Laundry day.”
Regulus’ eye twitches.
He turns in his chair again, eyes trained on the chapter he is currently revising. It is riveting stuff, something about Alexander the Great and his conquest of Macedonia. Except, the words swim on the page, none of them registering, but Regulus refuses to give James the satisfaction of— of— well, he just refuses to give James the satisfaction.
“Sweetheart…” James murmurs, voice low and sweet, tempting Regulus into looking up again. He’s leaning against the door frame, posture relaxed but his brow furrowed. Neither of them says anything when their gazes meet.
“You really shouldn’t be allowed out of the house like this, you know. It’s obscene.” Regulus’ voice sounds rough. It is not annoyance that makes the words gravelly.
“Are you mad at me?” James crosses his arms in front of his chest, the muscles in his arms bulging a little with the movement. He tilts his head in consideration.
Regulus scoffs and a slow smile spreads across James’ face.
“Regulus, sweetheart, are you mad at me?”
“Yes!” Regulus slams his textbook shut. “Because you’re distracting me! Again!”
The corner of James' mouth twitches. He says nothing for a moment, simply regards Regulus. Then:
“Wanna get it out of your system?”
The question has barely left his lips before Regulus is shoving the chair back, not too worried about the way it topples over onto the floor. He is much too busy tugging James’ shorts down, allowing a hand to trail up up up under James’ shirt and splay possessively over his abs while he swallows his boyfriend whole.
The next time James and his very tiny t-shirt go for a run, Regulus makes sure no one gets any ideas. A hickey on the tan skin of his stomach tells everyone that they can look all they want but James Potter is a taken man.
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It's interesting to think about how, to me at least, Dust and Killer are like mirror versions of each other.
One who joins a villain enthusiastically, jumps at the chance to leave his past behind and have a purpose again, and the other who has to be dragged in, would rather rot in the consequences of his own actions.
One who needs orders, needs the distraction and the action and the thrill, can't sit alone with his thoughts for too long lest he hear them clearly, and the other who can't bring himself to ignore the ghost over his shoulder, would rather sit in place and listen to his own self loathing parroted back at him than stand up and find a way to drown it out.
One who doesn't associate with his past anymore, that wasn't me and I wasn't him, and cannot stand the thought of going back from where he came, and the other who wants nothing more than to be his old self again but feels so strongly that he doesn't deserve to return to the life he tore down himself.
They both wear their new names like dog collars, but one is a gift given by someone else because he's theirs, he has somewhere he belongs that he's expected to return to, and the other is a choker tying him to a post, warning others of his danger while never allowing him to get out of arm's reach of his past.
And getting them both back-to-back while trying to understand mortals was probably enough to give Nightmare whiplash
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avatrice au fic recommendations:
i don't think there is a single avatrice au fic that i haven't read so here are some my favorites. i tried to find ones that weren't as popular, so hopefully there are couple here you haven't read.
I want to believe by puppybusby @yashastrongarms - x files au - basically 23k of avatrice flirting while being incredibly reckless with alien shit. unfortunately, it is only a one shot that doesn't delve into their relationship, but it is so worth it. and the tension. woof.
Truly a Steadfast Love by StoicLastStand - medieval au - they have a whole series of ficlets, but this is one of my favorites. there's a tournament to win ava's hand in marriage, ava goes undercover to fight for her freedom, but she ends up falling for the very knight who everybody wants to win. i also love their lucifer au, Greater Sacrifices.
a lover, or something of mine by Smokestarrules - reincarnation au - each chapter is a different life with a different story, and i promise you, if you have anything that even resembles a heart, you will cry. i keep going back and rereading chapter 4 because apparently i love to hurt myself. i also love the world is just illusion (trying to change you) by them, it's a road trip au.
i should love you (and i swear i do) by Noteveryonefitsintothebadbitchgenre - harry potter au (fuck jk rowling) - its that trope where they're married and they talk about each other constantly but nobody actually knows they're married. their students all think that professor silva and professor young have a friendly rivalry, but there are a couple of moments that don't add up.
purple by sxftmelody - hitman au - technically, but really it's just sad, i always cry at the end. beatrice helps ava run away after a job, and slowly they open themselves up and start to fall in love. tw: major character death. also love turning page by the same author, mercenary/princess au.
in our corner of the world by definitelynotthere - roommate au - i know, i know, there's a thousand roommate aus, why would i recommend a fic that isn't even finished and will probably never get finished? i don't know, i just really love this one, and if you're like me, you'll go "ooh, two cakes" and read it anyway.
The last hero of Ogygia by jessnope - percy jackson au - specifically calypso au, ava is calypso and beatrice is the flirty hunter that washed up on her shore. it's super cute.
stay there, 'cause i'll be coming over (while our blood's still young) by britishngay - spiderman au - ava's character voice is actually designed to be spiderman, and bea is the perfect doctor lady that patches spidey up when she gets hurt. plus beatrice telling lilith to "shut up and sit down" will never not be iconic.
sunday people (sunday shines for you) by gilligankane @piratekane - another roommates au - jealous ava is back again and out for blood, specifically jenn-with-two-ns blood.
this is my prayer (I'm in love with you) by nyxtyka - my best friend's wedding/spies au - i'll be honest, this fic went to my marked for laters to die. i don't know if it'll ever be finished, but it is one of my favorite aus, i promise it'll be worth the pain.
spellbound by onomofication - witch au - beatrice is the witch in the woods that ava goes to to finally find a way to explore the world like she has always wanted to. but as she gets to know the surprisingly kind, serious, kinda-sorta witch, she discovers that maybe the world was smaller than she had once imagined. i also love another fic by this author, hit me with you best shot, which is basically a cupid au, where ava runs around trying to stop jc, a cupid, from shooting the love of her life, beatrice.
the celestial glow is blinding by understreetlights - firewatch au - did i think ava and beatrice sitting around, looking at trees, and falling love with each other through walkie talkies was going to be interesting? no, but the world loves to prove me wrong.
too cold, it's withdrawal by KatieQgle - captain america au - give this one a chance, even if you don't like marvel. beatrice is hot as fuck as bucky and honestly the winter soldier plot line needed a little sapphic yearning. come on, avatrice in the army in the 1940s, being badass and fighting nazis together? who wouldn't love that?
i have a ton more, reach out if you want them!
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wait, since kirby has been manipulated mentored by galacta to be more cold- hearted, how does he react to affection in this state? (hugs, sharing, etc.)
cw for abusive manipulation tactics. like.. mind games. just in case. this response is a little dark just by merit of it being about psychological manipulation through lying, so take care.
kirby is as affectionate and loving as ever! he actually adores galacta knight, who stole the existing trust and familial affection kirby already felt for meta knight when they switched places.
there's a line in the another dimension fight comic, where galacta knight says "he's my family now, as he could have been yours.", and he means this truly. where meta knight was always a little stoic and guarded with his feelings, galacta knight is quick and easy with affection when it suits him, and reaps the rewards instantly
but what he does is targeted. if he were going after someone else (like bandee or dedede) he'd use a different tactic. kindness only works this well because kirby is so isolated and lonely, and craves it so desperately
this is super important i think; his core traits are the same as always. kirby is a good little guy!
he wants to be a hero. he wants to have friends and have a fun time and keep the people he loves safe. he wants to be good and to do the right thing with all his heart, it's just that what is "good" and "the right thing" is being purposefully warped around him
maybe it's good to act pre-emptively to prevent a war with the nation in the clouds, especially when they acted aggressively first.
maybe it's good to seek out and squash any trace of dark matter before it can infect anyone else, even if it's currently harmless.
maybe it's good to put that clearly possessed person out of their misery on sight, so they don't have to suffer anymore, because you couldn't save them anyway, right?
for bandee, who becomes aware this is happening, it's heart-breaking to watch. but he can't confide in kirby, because galacta knight's claws are too deep in him. also he will not put the pressure on kirby to keep a secret that could get them all killed
all he can do is try to be there to keep kirby safe, and hope he can reverse the wish before kirby crosses a threshold of misery or ruthlessness they cannot get him back from
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