Tumgik
#do I admit that I was working through a new wave of trauma while I packed to move for the eighth time
sl-ut · 1 year
Text
still here
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
pairing: joel miller x fem!reader
description: joel is older than y/n, but that’s never been a concern of hers until very recently.
warnings: UNEDITED, age gap (legal), swearing, mentions of sex, mentions of ageing, mentions of health issues, mentions of insecurities, angsty, i literally stole the final line from tlou s1e3
words: 2.3K
date posted: 29/03/23
(idk how i feel about this yet, the idea just popped into my head and i wrote it in about an hour and a half so don’t be too mad if its not great!)
Fifty-eight was not old. Y/n had been reassuring Joel of that since they had started dating. Maybe he was older than her, but that had very little to do with the way that she felt about him. 
His age was among his biggest insecurities. He was a man who had lived through and was hardened by the apocalypse, while she was just a child when it happened, and was able to deal with the trauma of the world ending much better due to the fact that she simply couldn’t remember any part of her life from before. The apocalypse had taken a great toll on him, both emotionally and physically. 
Twenty-odd years ago, he was a relatively young man, and a rather fit one at that. As a contractor, his body had developed and hardened from the amounts of physical labour that he was constantly performing, and while he was still physically active after the outbreak, his age made it more difficult to prevent his belly from softening and his joints from weakening. He was less willing to admit that he was insecure about his physical appearance, though he did very little to hide it. In fact, he had batted her away during their first few times having sex when she had tried to unbutton his shirt, instead choosing to stay mostly clothed while she was nearly bare. She did her best to assure him that she was very attracted to him, though it still took quite a bit of coaxing before he was willing to shed his clothes in her presence. 
Her attraction was not phased by his age, in fact, it may have been accelerated by it, though she could not deny the fact that it definitely frightened her. When she first met Joel, she was a bright-eyed twenty-year old who was morbidly turned on by the sexy fifty-year old man next door, and was wildly ignorant to the looming danger when she had started a relationship with him a few years later; the world was not built for long lifespans anymore, and there would come a day when Joel would no longer be there with her. During their early relationship, Joel warned her of exactly that, but she waved him off and promised him that it didn’t scare her.
And it hadn’t, until fairly recently. She was grateful that she, Ellie, and Joel had come across Jackson; she was able to let her guard down, socialise, and thrive in the new community. She and Joel were able to settle into their new home while Ellie set up camp in the garage out back, and they could look forward to actually living rather than basic survival. The lessened worry in her life allowed her to see what was right before her for the first time.
She had comforted Joel before when he complained about the pain in his knees and hands, though she was truly seeing the effects that it was having on him since their arrival in Jackson. Just last week, the man had nearly thrown his back out from laughing a bit too hard at something that Ellie said, and his salt-and-pepper hair seemed to have lightened considerably more. 
She had even noted his lowered libido, having gone from wanting her at least once a day to once or twice a week–though she was certain it wasn’t for a lack of physical attraction on his end, as he had been eager when she began to kiss him, only his body seemed to be working against his wants. That was his greatest insecurity yet, especially since it had begun happening on a more regular basis. He was always quick to apologise, offering to help her out in other ways, though she always assured him that everything was fine, and it was.
Everything was fine, but her fear of that changing was growing exponentially with every physical sign of his ageing. She did her best to hide her concerns, knowing that they would only be proof of his insecurities, and instead made an effort to keep him healthy in a more subtle manner, such as suggesting that he eats less red meat, inviting him on long evening strolls through the town, and forcing him to join her for long bubble baths to soothe his aches and pains. If he had picked up on this, he hadn’t mentioned it, and she could always tell when he did, because he would wave it off or do something ridiculous that would only end up proving her point.
Then came the final straw.
She was working in the gardens with Maria that day, chatting back and forth happily and they worked to tidy up the growing crops. They had become good friends in Y/n’s time in Jackson, bonding over their shared love for the Miller boys. Maria had been rambling, going on about something that Tommy had done to piss her off earlier that week, finishing her story with a shake of her head before she changed the subject.
“Oh, I meant to ask you,” the woman turned her head, “How’s Joel feeling today? Tommy told me about what happened, that’s an awful scare. At his age, chest pain is not something to be taken lightly–not to say that he’s old or unhealthy, but you know how it is.”
Y/n froze, tilting her head at the woman, “Tommy told you…chest pain?”
“He never told you.” Maria’s expression tightened, realising that the younger woman had no idea what she was talking about. She sighed, dropping her tools and turning to face Y/n as she placed her hands on her hips, “Look, I don’t mean to be the one causing issues between you two, but this isn’t something to mess around with. The other day, while Joel and Tommy were out on patrol, Tommy said that Joel suddenly got dizzy, weak, and was complaining about some pain in his chest. Now, in saying that, I know that he’s been to the doctor, and he’s probably got his reasons for not telling you.”
Y/n pursed her lips, face hardening at the sudden burn of tears at her waterline, “Yeah, I’m sure he did. When did you say this was?”
“Earlier this week. Tuesday, I think.”
She shook her head. It was Saturday, meaning that it had been almost an entire week since this happened and Joel had neglected to tell her. Y/n chose not to respond, quickly finishing up her work before bidding Maria goodnight, heading back to her shared house with Joel.
When she arrived, there was no response to her call, but Joel’s coat thrown on the back of the couch betrayed that he was home, and the soft sounds of his guitar coming from the back porch revealed his location. The strumming came to a stop as the backdoor creaked open, his eyes turning to face her with a soft smile.
“Hey, darlin’-” His peaceful expression shifted to one of worry when he took her in own sombre face, “What’s the matter–did something happen?”
She shook her head, shrugging as she leaned against the railing, “I don’t know, did something happen? Because today, when I was with Maria, she seemed awfully concerned about how you were feeling.”
Realisation dawned on his features, his brows furrowing as he moved the guitar out his lap and ran a hand over his face, “Baby, it’s nothin–”
“Don’t do that,” she scowled at him, “don’t tell me it’s nothing when it’s so clearly not nothing. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I didn’t want you worrying about me.”
She scoffed, “Fuck, you did a great job of doing that, didn’t you? What am I supposed to do when I hear from someone else that you had to go to the infirmary almost a week ago because you had chest pain? I mean, really, that’s not something to fuck around with, especially–”
“Especially what?” He challenged, already knowing what she was thinking.
Y/n stopped, debating whether or not she wanted to say it, “Especially at your age.”
He stood up and marched to the other side of the patio and rested his hands on the railing, looking out across the small backyard. Y/n could practically feel the emotions that radiated from him; a mixture of anger, annoyance, embarrassment, and shame. 
She sighed, moving to rest a hand on his back, “Joel, you know I don’t care about your age. I love you, but I need you to start taking care of yourself. This needs to be a wakeup call, I mean, it definitely is for me.”
“Why,” he huffed, “you finally coming to your senses? Finally realising that sooner or later I’m gonna–”
“Please don’t say it,” she whispered, sniffling softly as she rested her forehead in the middle of his back, “Please, please, please.”
Joel scowled, sliding away from her grasp, “About time you start to face reality, darlin’. I’m old, I’ve accepted it. Maybe you should wisen up and go find someone who’s not gonna leave you sooner or later, huh?”
Joel escaped into the house and out the front door, slamming it shut behind him. Y/n let out a shaky breath, moving to sit on the bench where Joel had been when she had gotten home, curling into herself and letting silent tears streak down her cheeks. It was only moments later when she heard her own name being called, Ellie creeping out onto the patio nervously.
Y/n wiped her cheeks, smiling weakly at the girl as she sat next to her, “Hey Jellybean.”
Ellie smiled at the name, having not heard it for a while now. She felt somewhat bad about that, having been a result of her requesting to be treated more like an adult, “Are you okay? I didn’t mean to eavesdrop but I was just over there, so…”
Y/n smiled at the teen, curling her arm around her shoulder affectionately, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just…concerned, I guess.”
She nodded, leaning against the older female, “Are you guys gonna be okay?”
Y/n smiled at the child-like question, as if she were asking her parents if they were getting a divorce–which, to be fair, she sort of was, “Yeah, baby. We’ll be okay.”
“Are you sure?”
The uncertainty in Ellie’s voice caused her breath to catch in her throat, finally thinking over the fight. Were they okay? Maybe you should wisen up and go find someone who’s not gonna be leaving you sooner or later. Those words in themselves felt like a knife driving into her gut–was that him ending things? She had dealt with Joel’s insecurities before, but he had never blatantly told her to leave him behind, nor has he ever explicitly pointed out that he would probably die long before her. Before she could even finish her thought, her head fell forward and a loud sob escaped from her throat. 
Ellie was quick to pull her into a hug, awkwardly trying to soothe her as she wept into her shoulder. She listened to her ramble on, struggling to understand everything that she was saying, frowning to herself as she made a mental note to go after Joel the moment that she felt comfortable enough to leave Y/n to herself.
– – –
Y/n’s eyes fluttered open as she felt the mattress shift beneath her. Her foggy vision took in her side of the room, dimly lit by the lamp on her bedside table before she glanced over her shoulder, finding Joel’s back as he leaned down to untie his boots. His back cracked as he straightened up, reminding her of their fight, though she was feeling more confident that he hadn’t broken up with her considering that he had come to bed with her. 
She reached out tiredly, fingers brushing over his back as she murmured his name. He turned his head slightly to acknowledge her, but he didn’t entirely face her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, voice hoarse from crying, “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“I know,” he sighed, finally twisting his body to sit sideways on the mattress. His own face showed signs of stress, and his eyes were rimmed with red, “I know, baby. I’m sorry too.”
Joel apologising was no small feat, that much she knew. Normally when they fought, he would give a simple you were right and do something nice for her, but it was very rare for him to actually apologise.
“It’s just…” she pushed herself to sit up, “I know you don’t like to think about this, but it’s really scary for me. I’m not stupid, I know you’re older than me and I know that there’s no stopping the inevitable–” she choked, “but I won’t apologise for trying to prolong it as much as possible.”
He dropped his head, “I know, I’m scared too. Just the thought of leaving you here all on your own…”
She crawled across the bed, smoothly working her way onto his lap and engulfing him in a tight hug. The weight of his arms around her pulled yet another sob out of her throat. His large hands found purchase on her back, sliding up and down her spine as his chest shook with his own tears. 
She pulled her head out of his neck, staring up at him with large, teary eyes. Her hand came up to cup his cheek, forcing him to meet her eyes, “Please let me help you. I’m not ashamed of you or your age, but I don’t know how I’m gonna live without you, so please tell me next time.”
He nodded, “I’m sorry. For not tellin’ you, and for being so fuckin’ old.”
“I like you older,” she snorted, fingers stroking along his furry jawline, “it means you’re still here.”
4K notes · View notes
gh0stlyfixation · 1 year
Text
Copycat
Tumblr media
Paring: Simon Riley x taskmaster!reader, Dreykov!reader. Mention of Bucky and Steve (there married, oops 🙊).
Summary: A new Avenger teams up with Taskforce 141, turns out her and Ghost are a like.
Warning: trauma, mixing the avengers and cod together, grammar errors probably. Not a huge fan on how I ended it.
“You didn’t tell us she was fucking crazy.” Soap said to Price and Laswell.
“You didn’t ask.” Price cheekily answered.
Simon glared at him, “where’d she come from?”
“Fury from The Avengers team sent her, said she was the best,” Laswell responded.
That made sense. The Avengers were a bunch of glorified superheroes. A mix of super soldiers and non-human things, they dealt with their kind while we dealt with wars in other countries.
“She killed twenty men in two minutes with her bare hands. What the fuck?” Soap said in shock.
“What can you tell us about her?” Simon asked.
Price and Laswell looked at each other, “not much. She’s 23, her name was Taskmaster, but we call her Copycat now.” Price told.
“That’s it?” Soap asked.
“She has a violent history that is not ours to tell. I suggest you be nice. She can put us all down in a second. Now walk away.” Laswell spoke.
——
Over the few weeks you’ve been around Taskforce 141, you didn’t speak much. The team quickly realized you also wore a mask like Ghost. Ghost warmed up to you well. He didn’t talk to you much like most of the team but he was nice to you. He offered you hellos and little waves while passing in the halls. He assumed you’d give him smiles, he always wanted to see you smile.
You sat in your room with the door open. No one was around, either on missions or out in training. You open your laptop and clicked on zoom, taking off the mask, you heard your therapist speak, “Hi Y/N,”
“Hi Doctor.” You said quietly.
What the team didn’t know was that you were in court-mandated therapy just like your friend Bucky was. You committed war crimes, however, they weren’t your fault, something you haven’t yet accepted.
“How are the nightmares?” She asked.
Ghost was walking down the hall, something you didn’t hear, Ghost was always light on his feet. He heard your soft voice speaking through your door. You left it wide open, something out of character.
He peaked his head to look in your room and saw you at your desk. He noticed the mask was off, your hair in two French braids. “The nightmares haven’t happened often, I’ve been able to control the noise, you know, so I don’t wake up the team.” You shrugged.
I shouldn’t be listening, Ghost thought to himself, but he couldn’t move away. He leaned against the wall next to your door frame. “How’s the team? Your new placement?” The lady asked.
You were quiet for a moment, “nice. They kinda leave me alone.” You sigh. It wasn’t easy making friends, Ghost felt a little bad, “There is one guy though. We call him Ghost.” You started.
His heart fluttered, he had to place a hand over it. He’s never felt that before. Ghost knew he shouldn’t be listening, but he couldn’t move. “He’s nice to me, he waves and says hi. It feels nice to be acknowledged. I’d like to think he’s cute too.” You admitted.
Ghost nearly choked on air, he covered his mouth at your confession, “you have a crush? That’s good, feeling new emotion. We’ve been working hard on that.” The lady spoke.
That’s when Ghost realized that this was a therapy session, “is that what a crush feels like? I never knew what friendships or crushes were since the Red Room. Growing up with him, being that killing machine, I didn’t get a chance at being a girl. Being me.” Your body is visibly slouched.
The red room? What in the hell was that, and you grew up in it. “The mask too? Ghost wears one.” You sat up straight at the mention of his name.
“Yeah, I find comfort knowing he wears one too, though I don’t know why. I’m sure it’s to secure his identity, meanwhile, mine is to hide the ugly scar I live with.”
That’s when Ghost knew he couldn’t listen anymore. He couldn’t listen to you putting yourself down, belittling yourself. He walked away.
You often sat out on training, you’d rather watch the men than utterly destroy them. You memorized every single member of the team's moves, besides, no one offered to spare with you. You sat in silence watching Soap and Ghost spare, 9 out of 10 times, Ghost won.
“It’s not a fair fight,” Soap complained. “But you wouldn’t know a fair fight.” Soap smiled.
Ghost looked up at you, “Cat!” His voice boomed. You looked up confused at the new nickname. “Come on, let’s spare.”
Soap looked surprised. You uncrossed your legs, fixing your yoga pants and grabbing a pair of gloves. “This won’t be fair.” You spoke up.
“Cocky,” Soap said with a smirk.
Through all the matches, Ghost didn’t win but once, and even then, he thought you let him. “I wasn’t called the Taskmaster for nothing.” You said to Ghost helping him up.
You looked around and noticed everyone had left the room, “who calls you the Taskmaster?” He asked, He wanted more information on you.
You gave him a weary look, but you’d consider him a friend and to keep friends you need to make an effort, said your therapist. “The Red Room, heh,” you nervously chuckled.
“You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want.” He said, Please tell me everything! He begged in his mind.
“No, it’s okay. I trust you.” You quietly spoke sitting down on the mat. Ghost couldn’t help but smile under his mask, “the Red Room was a training facility in Russia. We were trained to be the deadliest assassins. It wasn’t supposed to be my life, my father was the leader. But after the explosion, he couldn’t stand my face and made me who I am today.” You explained.
“He noticed my ability to memorize patterns. He put a chip in me like the other girls, made me a suit of armor, and I was forced to train newbies and kill innocents. I was a daddy’s girl once, but then I was nothing more than an ugly killer.” You whispered the last part more to yourself. “Thats the nonviolent story of my life.”
Ghost sat down with you, “I know you're not ugly.” You scoffed at him, not believing him. “I'm serious.” He said.
“I bet you're not ugly either.” You told him, “take it off.” You said with a little tease. He could see you smile through that mask.
“Only if you do.” He responded. You looked around the room, “you don’t have to Cat.” He said
“No, just, not here.” You stood up then Ghost stood up and followed you to your room.
Shutting the door behind you, you sat on your bed, patting the space next to you. “Thank you for being a friend. It’s scary how alike we are. I only have one friend back at hom, well, two if you could his husband, you’d like him. He’s full of trauma like me.” You chuckled.
“Anytime.” He said. You looked at him and then placed your hands on your mask. Slowly you pulled it up revealing your face. Your hair is in French braids but a little messier. He sees the scar on your face, a big burn scar all over your cheek, and partly on your forehead, but he still thinks you are beautiful.
“I don’t see the ugliness,” he said stroking your scarred cheek.
“Show me your face?” you asked. He pulled his mask up placing it down on yours and he ruffled his hair. He had a deep scar on his lower cheek down to his Adam's apple, “your handsome. The scar makes you look, dangerous.” You admitted.
“I am dangerous.” He replied. You giggled, and his heart started to beat faster. “And so are you Cat.”
You wanted to kiss him and like he read your mind he placed both hands on your cheeks and pulled you close kissing you passionately. He was going to help you feel normal, to feel spoiled and loved for the first time in your life.
659 notes · View notes
fanfoolishness · 1 month
Note
Hello lovely! Adoring your blog!
Can I request something for your drabble post?
Was thinking (in keeping with current events lol)
Crosshair and Omega and 'Eclipse, Goggles'.
Maybe some fluffy angst about trauma bonding by watching an eclipse through Tech's spare goggles? 😭😅
Thank you! X
thank you so much for the prompt! This ended up being quite a bit longer than a drabble - nearly 1K. Enjoy!
under sun and shade
Omega and Crosshair share memories of Tech on a sunny day.
-
He finds her under the shade of a vast spreading tree, sunlight streaming through gaps in the leaves and catching in her golden hair.  Batcher frisks beside him, then lets out a happy bark, charging to Omega’s side and rolling on the ground beside her.  Omega pats her absently, then squints up at him.
��Hi, Crosshair.”
”You weren’t at lunch.  I told Hunter I’d check on you.”
She gives him a wan smile.  “You both worry too much.”
He raises his eyebrows.  This from the kid who’d been kidnapped by bounty hunters and the Empire, who still had the Empire after her.  “I’m not sure we worry enough.”
She chuckles a little, but it’s nothing like the laugh he’s gotten used to.  Crosshair frowns, leaning against the trunk of the tree.  His shadow blocks the dappled sunlight playing over her hair and face.  A guilty look crosses her face, and then he realizes what she’s holding.
Tech’s broken goggles.
He goes cold, despite the sunny day.
“I just…” She hangs her head.  “I miss him, Crosshair.  I thought maybe I’d go and think about him for a while.”
Crosshair swallows.  He’s not sure what to do here.  She left them to go off by herself.  Is he supposed to let her be?  “I can… leave you alone.”
Her face twists to one side.  She’s crying silently, trying not to show it.  For a moment he almost does leave — he’d want to be alone, if it were him (wouldn’t he?).  But that doesn’t feel right.  He sinks down to the ground beside her and reaches out, stiffly patting her on the back.
She curls up under his arm so quickly he’s taken by surprise.  He shifts his arm, brings her a little closer.  It’s strange, feeling like a shelter, like he’s… safe, for  her.  The chill in his chest fades.
”Don’t you miss him, too?” she whispers.
”Yes,” says Crosshair.  “Of course.”  A muscle works in his throat.  He closes his eyes, blinking back a sudden sting.  “Did he like it here?”
Omega laughs, though she still sounds teary.  “I think so.  I was remembering how he recorded all the birds.  Not just their calls, but everything to do with them — how their wings sounded when they flew, the sounds of the bugs they liked to eat, the noises their babies made.  He used to sit right here recording sometimes.  Then he’d play them back for me, telling me all their names.”  She lets out a long breath.  “I think talking about him helps.”
Scenes flash before him.  Tech in their quarters back on Kamino, acting out every new plan that came into his brilliant mind. The confident little smile he’d get, pulling off something insanely clever.  His voice rising with excitement when figuring out the twists and turns of a new language.  Understanding you does not mean that I agree with you.
Crosshair opens his eyes, looking out at the distant sea, the sunlight shimmering on the waves.  “Did he ever tell you about the eclipse on Ryloth?”
”No,” she says, scooting closer to him.  He squeezes her shoulder.  
“I was on watch.  Hunter and Wrecker were laying low, resting up for a night mission.  Tech was supposed to be, but he joined me.  He wouldn’t stop talking about an eclipse by the largest moon.”
“An eclipse? During your mission?” 
“It was very rare.  He knew exactly how rare, of course.”  Crosshair smiles slightly at the memory, though he’d been irritated by Tech’s chatter about the stages of the eclipse and Ryloth’s five moons and the fact that only the largest moon could initiate a total eclipse.
“Of course.”  Omega looks up at him, curious, her eyes dry.  “What was it like?”
“Strange,” Crosshair admits.  “The light went wrong.  We’d been on Ryloth for two weeks.  I thought I knew the place.  Until totality approached, and everything fell dark.  And quiet.”  
His arms prickle with goosebumps.  It’s still such a powerful memory, the shift in the light’s register, the deep unreal shadows descending upon the world before them, the noises he’d gotten used to in the distance faltering into silence.  And then Tech beside him, voice hushed: “Totality.  It will last for six point two minutes, and this planet will not see such a spectacle again for thirty years.  We will have no other chance to see this event on this world in our lifetimes -- now, Crosshair!  Look!”
Crosshair shivers.  “We’d seen a lot of the galaxy by then.  But that stays with me.  It was… beautiful.  And Tech wanted me to see it with him.”  
He tries to describe it to Omega, though his halting words are nothing like as clear as the memory he still carries.  The image flares in his mind once more, the sun a black upon black disk, a white halo of hazy corona swirling and shifting around its borders, its light not moonlight or sunlight but something else entirely.  He’d drunk it in, goosebumps rippling on his arms.  And then he turned to Tech, whose brown eyes were wide and unblinking behind his goggles, his face shining, transported.  “It is…” Tech paused, then shook his head, gazing up at the corona.  “It is beyond my ability to describe.”
Crosshair had just nodded.  “I think I know what you mean.”
They didn’t get to talk much about it after; the mission had taken precedence, and then there was the next mission, and the mission after that.  But every time it came to mind, his arms prickled, and he remembered Tech, his face glowing.
Omega shifts beside him, and he’s back on Pabu, on a bright sunny day beneath the shade of a drowsing tree.  She pulls away from his embrace, looking down at the goggles in her hands.  
“I like that story, Crosshair.”
He takes a deep breath.  Perhaps talking does help.
“I do, too.”
25 notes · View notes
Text
Eliel Cruz for Teen Vogue:
When I was a teenager in the early aughts, conversion therapists reigned supreme in evangelical Christian spaces, spewing pseudo-scientific techniques as a supposed “remedy” for LGBTQ identities. Growing up in the Seventh-day Adventist church and school system, LGBTQ identities were vilified and demonized at the pulpit and in our classrooms. The answer to our sexualities, according to the church, was to deny ourselves love or a partner, stay celibate, or to work on “changing” our sexuality so that we were no longer queer. There were groups and conferences with self-proclaimed “ex-gay” speakers providing testimonies about how they “overcame” their sexuality and therapists eager to “help” others pursue the same path.
According to a Williams Institute report, 7% of LGB adults ages 18 to 59 in the United States have undergone conversion therapy. About 81% of those individuals were in “therapy” with religious leaders, which heightened suicidal thoughts and ideation in comparison to LGB people who have not gone through conversion “therapy” practices. Across the globe, these numbers fluctuate between 2% all the way up to 34% of LGBTQ+ people having undergone conversion practices. By the mid-2010s, these groups and their influence began to dwindle as national organizations like Exodus International, one of the longest-running and largest ex-gay organizations, shuttered its doors after 37 years, admitting that not only did conversion or reparative therapy not work, it was harmful to the LGBTQ people subjected to it. Former Exodus International President Alan Chambers said: "I am sorry for the pain and hurt many of you have experienced. I am sorry that some of you spent years working through the shame and guilt you felt when your attractions didn't change,” admitting his own attractions to men had not gone away, despite being married to a woman and having children.
The closing of Exodus International signaled the end of a decades-long push for ex-gay therapy, or so it would seem. But in recent years, as legislation has passed across the country to ban conversion therapy for youth, a new push for so-called “change therapy” has re-emerged with the same flawed premise and tactics of the ex-gays of old. A group called Changed Movement, formed in response to legislation banning conversion therapy in California, is one such group using new language to promote the same-old conversion therapy. Conversion or reparative therapy, loosely defined, is any attempt to influence and change someone’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Often, these counselors blame trauma or violence, family dynamics, or your upbringing as the root of the deviant sexuality or gender identity. Changed Movement shares stories of individuals blaming these roots as the cause of their sexuality or gender. This assertion is false and only serves to shame the individual, often for reasons beyond their control. Importantly, ex-gay groups like the Changed Movement do not seem to reckon with the fluidity of sexuality and gender and, as proponents of this ideology typically do, seemingly view things as either gay or straight, trans or cisgender.
[...] In a report by the Trevor Project, researchers found at least 1,320 conversion therapy practitioners in almost all 50 states, including states with active conversion therapy bans for minors. Almost half of those counselors are unlicensed, and most are attached to some sort of religious ministry. While couching their language and pretending to be there to help LGBTQ people, the danger of these groups and practitioners cannot be understated.
Recently, an ex-gay group called Coming Out Ministries bought a building across from my alma mater, Andrews University, a Seventh-day Adventist University, intending to “work closely” with the university on LGBTQ issues “from a redemptive perspective.” Groups like Changed Movement and Coming Out Ministries see LGBTQ young people’s identities as “confusion” instead of who they are intrinsically. Their ideology stems from a theological understanding of sexuality that does not take into account science or the world as it exists around them. Anti-LGBTQ theology fuels conversion therapy, and it’s not only flawed but also inherently harmful and violent. As a queer person of faith, I reject theology and religious practices that cause harm, as it is not from God. The history and devastating impacts of ex-gay practices are clear in the irreparable damage it has caused to large swathes of the LGBTQ community raised in religious settings.
Eliel Cruz writes in Teen Vogue the changing history of anti-LGBTQ+/anti-trans medical pseudoscience practice of conversion therapy.
32 notes · View notes
the-west-meadow · 1 year
Text
Nowhere
Tumblr media
Kendall Roy x Reader
tw: suicidal thoughts, verbal abuse, drug/alcohol abuse, drunk driving
As you stood in the shade of Connor’s patio, watching Logan and his children walk towards the old adobe church, Kendall’s absence was painfully apparent. You had grown used to seeing him at his father’s side. But he had not come with his family to New Mexico. It was a shame, you thought; he would have liked it here.
Greg, standing beside you in a long peacoat, waved as they disappeared behind the wooden church doors.
“What do you think they’re going to talk about?” Greg said.
“Years of suppressed trauma, maybe.”
“Wow. You think?”
You shrugged. “They probably won’t get around to it.”
You strolled back towards the house, where the others were sitting by the pool. Anyone who was not a child of Logan Roy had been left behind. Marcia, Tom, and Willa eyed you as you entered the house with Greg.
Greg leaned on the kitchen counter as you poured yourself a shot of whiskey from the mini-bar.
“Getting right to it, huh?” said Greg.
“You want some?”
“I’m good. It’s a little early for my system.”
Tom strolled into the kitchen, hands in his pockets.
“Hey, rascals. I see you breaking into the liquor stash. You should have invited me.”
“Well, you’re invited now,” joked Greg.
Tom leaned on the counter and grinned at you both.
“Here we are. The outcasts.”
“I’ll admit, I do feel kind of left out,” said Greg.
“God, wouldn’t you give anything to be a fly on the wall in that room? The whole thing is so uncomfortable it makes me want to puke. I love it.”
Your phone buzzed in your pocket. The name on the screen made your heart jump: Kendall Roy.
“Excuse me a second,” you said, slipping out of the kitchen.
“Is that a new lover?” Tom called after you. You jogged through the house to the room where you were staying and shut the door behind you.
“Hey, what’s up?” you said, keeping your voice low.
“Hey, Y/N. How you doing?”
“Surviving,” you said. “How are you?”
“Can you come meet me? I’m somewhere outside of Albuquerque.”
“What? When did you get here?”
“I’ll fill you in. Are you coming?”
“I’m at the ranch right now. I don’t have a car.”
“Can you figure something out?”
You thought fast, rubbing your forehead. “Yeah. I’ll take care of it.”
“You’re the best.”
You hung up, heart racing. You hadn’t heard from Kendall in weeks. He texted occasionally to check in, but it had been a long time since you heard his voice. It was a painful reminder of how much you had missed him lately.
Tom and Greg looked up as you walked into in the kitchen.
“What’s up?” Tom asked.
“Just a family thing,” you said.
“Oh, come on. You can’t have a personal life. There’s only work, work, work!”
Tom tossed back the rest of his drink and set his glass down.
“Okay, I’ll fuck off. Both of you come sit by the pool and save me from Marcia and Willa. I mean it.”
You and Greg watched until he was out the door, then Greg turned to you in anticipation.
“Well?”
“That was Kendall. He’s here.”
“Are you serious?”
“He wants me to meet him. But I don’t have a fucking car.”
“Right.” Greg glanced around as if looking for an answer. “Okay, I’m not supposed to know this, but there’s a collection of old cars in Connor’s garage. And, stupidly, all the keys are hanging on a rack in the garage. So if someone wanted to take one of those cars out for a drive while everyone was in therapy, I doubt anyone would notice for a few hours at least.”
“Cover for me. Make up a story.”
“Okay, yeah-“
But you were already gone.
You felt like a thief, skulking around the sides of the huge adobe ranch house, past the refurbished church and towards the unlocked garage. Lined up in the cool darkness were half a dozen vintage cars. Spotless. Expensive. Fueled up and ready to ride. You slowed down, taking your time to choose your ride. This was a once in a lifetime chance, after all. When Connor found out, you’d probably be banned from the state of New Mexico.
You chose an aqua 1967 Cadillac de Ville convertible. Sitting in the smooth leather seat, you watched with giddy panic as the garage door opened. Then you gunned it, kicking up a cloud of red dust as you escaped down the long ranch road from Connor’s estate.
The roads in New Mexico were long, straight, and empty. Gnarled barbed wire fences emerged from the scrublands, and distant mountains rolled beneath white clouds. It was the antithesis of what you were used to in New York. Here, everything was low to the ground, wild, free. You flew down the roads, the wind roaring all around you.
It was an hour’s drive to Albuquerque. You kept driving until you reached a diner in a small desert town beyond the city. When you rolled into the parking lot, you saw Kendall standing outside, smoking. Your heart swelled at the familiar sight of him. He stared as the aqua Cadillac parked squarely in front of him.
You cut the engine.
“Hey,” you called.
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
Kendall strolled up to the car, looking it over. Then he shook his head and let out a short laugh.
“Alright. Not really what I had in mind. But it’s cool.”
As he came closer, you were able to take a good look at him. He looked different. He was tan from the desert sun, dressed in a denim jacket and black jeans. His eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses. There was also an edginess, a restlessness to his movements that you didn’t recognize.
He dropped his cigarette, stepped on it, and put his hands in his pockets. You could feel him taking you in behind his dark shades.
“It’s good to see you,” he said.
“You too.”
“Let’s figure out a game plan. I feel like I just landed on an alien planet.”
You sat across from Kendall in the booth, squinting in the hard sunlight that slanted through the window. The waiter brought two mugs of hot coffee. You sipped it gratefully, feeling it nudge against your dull headache. As the waiter stepped away, you took in the sight of Kendall sitting across from you.
“How long have you been here?” you asked.
“A few days. Just clearing my head.”
“You seem good.”
“I feel good.” He sipped his coffee, eyeing you over the rim of his mug. “How have things been for you while I was gone?”
“I don’t know. I feel like I’m not getting anywhere. I don’t have many allies.”
“You and Greg seem pretty tight.”
“I guess so. You cling to each other for survival when you have an insane boss.”
“Pretty bad, huh?”
“It wasn’t this bad when you were around. You’re like a path through the insanity.”
“Well, thanks. But I’ve done plenty of fucked up things, too.”
“It’s different. This borders on abuse.”
Kendall looked alarmed. “Hold on, you don’t mean, like—“
“No, no. Nothing like that. Just psychological shit.”
“Are you okay, though?”
“I’m coping.”
“Meaning?”
“I’m drinking a lot more.”
Kendall nodded, still peering at you intently. “Uh-huh.”
You gazed into the steaming coffee for a moment before voicing the question that was on your mind.
“Does this mean you’re back?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m still working up the courage to see my family.”
He didn’t say any more. The waiter brought your food; huevos rancheros. Kendall stuck with coffee. He watched you dig in with a slight smile.
“You seem like you’re thriving here. Big blue Cadillac. Local cuisine.”
You laughed, shaking your head. “It’s very different here.”
“Seriously. I feel like never get to see the real you. We’re always under the cloud of my dad. You know what I mean?”
You nodded. ”Everyone’s been on eggshells around him this week. I don’t know how you live with it.”
“It’s fucking torture.”
He was smiling, but you could see the pain in his dark eyes.
“Are you going to eat anything?” you finally asked.
“Not that hungry. I guess the desert’s making an ascetic out of me.”
He smiled again and looked down at his hands, turning his sunglasses over and over. He hadn’t stopped fidgeting through the entire meal. You set your fork down and slid your empty plate to the side.
“Hey,” he said, “How long can you be away?”
“At least until someone notices the car is gone.”
“Come on. Let’s go somewhere.”
You drove the Cadillac as Kendall leaned back in the passenger seat, watching the desert fly past. An orange glow filled the sky as the sun sank lower.
“How far do you want to go tonight?” he asked.
Your heart skipped. “What are you asking?”
He laughed. “Jesus. Not like that. I mean how far do you want to drive? Mexico?”
“Are you serious?”
“I don’t know. Am I?”
You looked at him, and you still couldn’t tell. The sun was beginning to sink, casting long shadows on the black road. The mountains grew darker in the distance. Kendall leaned forward, peering out at the desert.
“Let’s stop up here for a second.”
You slowed the car, pulling to the side of the road. Low music drifted from the radio. You cut the engine, suddenly surrounded by a deafening silence. Kendall went very still, listening.
“This is a good place,” he said in a soft voice. He opened his door and started out. “Come on.”
You followed. Small jackrabbits leapt out of your way on the path, which was surrounded by yellow-flowering creosote. A low breeze set everything in motion; the shrubs, the sand, the furtive animals.
You climbed a low plateau that overlooked the sprawling desert. Kendall stood taking it all in. He pulled a small baggy from his pocket and flicked it with his fingernail. You watched in alarm as he dispensed a small amount onto the flesh of his thumb and sniffed sharply. His body seemed to relax. His expression grew lighter. He looked at you almost apologetically, as if awaiting your judgement.
“Yeah. Sorry. This is what I’ve really been doing.”
It was all starting to make sense. The restlessness, the edginess. The fact that he had been here for days without telling anyone.
“Shit, Kendall,” you murmured.
“I’m okay.”
“Are you, though?”
“Not really. You?”
You looked at his hands, which still held the bag of coke. Without a word, Kendall tapped out a rough line of powder onto the flesh of his thumb and offered it to you. You leaned forward, pressing one nostril closed, and snorted it off his hand. When you sat up, the world was reeling. The sunset had turned everything to flame. You looked at Kendall and smiled.
“I’m glad you came here,” you said.
“I’m sorry I left you alone with them. I just didn’t want to bring you down with me.”
“I’d rather work for you. I feel like I’m going to have a fucking panic attack when your dad comes into a room.”
“Now you know what my entire life’s been like.” He smiled. “If you’re not careful, you’ll turn into me.”
You turned to look at him. “But I admire you more than anyone.”
Kendall laughed. Tears slowly rose in his eyes.
“Wow. Never thought I’d hear those words.”
He sniffed, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
“I’m serious,” you said.
“You know, my dad never praises anyone. But everything I do is for him, just hoping that one day he’ll look up and say that I did a good job.”
You sat for a long time watching the sunset until the sky grew purple and dark. Eventually you wavered to your feet, then held out your hand for Kendall. With a big heave, you got him to his feet. He stumbled forward into your arms, then leaned heavily into you. You put your arms hesitantly on his back, feeling the dampness of his shirt. He rested his forehead on your shoulder.
“I missed you,” he said.
You squeezed your arms tighter around him.
“I missed you too.”
He quietly withdrew from your arms. You began to scramble down the plateau, busting your asses several times. By the time you reached the bottom, you were cracking up, covered in dirt. Kendall doubled over with laughter, his hands on his knees, wiping tears from his eyes. Then he looked up and smiled: that big, heart-melting smile.
Your heart suddenly grew warm, despite the oncoming desert cold. As you drove, you snuck a glance at Kendall. His face was turned towards the red sunset, glowing with happiness. A false happiness, you knew. But he deserved all that he could get.
As you pulled up the driveway to Connor’s ranch, you saw a tall figure running out to meet you. It was Greg. Kendall hopped out of the car and pulled Greg to him in a hug.
“What up, Greg?”
“Hey man, I’m really happy to see you but I also have bad news. Turns out those cars are highly precious to Connor. Also, Logan is pretty unhappy about the situation.”
“Does he know I’m here?” Kendall said.
“Well, yeah. It was hard to explain otherwise.”
“That’s what he’s unhappy about. My dad doesn’t give a shit about the car.”
Kendall started towards the house with you and Greg following close behind.
“Is he okay?” Greg said quietly.
You just shook your head. “I don’t think he should be here right now.”
It was cool and silent inside the adobe house. Then, the unmistakable boom of Logan’s voice shook the air.
“Where the fuck are they?”
Kendall seemed to waver in his tracks, then forged ahead towards the kitchen.
Everyone stood together, waiting. They fell silent as you entered the room.
“Has everyone resolved their familial issues?” Kendall said as he strolled forward.
“Jesus, is he high?” said Shiv.
“Are you blind?” said Roman. “He’s completely fucking wasted.”
Logan made a beeline for you, causing your heart to drop steeply.
“I should have you fucking arrested. Car theft, drug possession. What else?”
“Hey, fuck off,” Kendall said, stepping between you. “She was just doing what I asked.”
Logan’s eyes pierced through you. You couldn’t move, couldn’t escape the vice grip of his gaze.
“Don’t you know him better than that? You’re his fucking assistant, no?”
“Actually, she’s my assistant,” Tom said in a low voice, but Logan didn’t hear.
“Yeah, she got loaded with me,” Kendall said, raising his voice. “That’s because she’s my only friend in this shitstorm of a life.”
Logan turned to Kendall, looking him dead in the eye. “You don’t deserve a life.”
Then, jabbing a finger at you: “And you’re fucking fired.”
Logan turned and walked away. Kendall was still reeling from the blow his father had just delivered. He looked like he was about to fall over from the force of it.
“She doesn’t work for you!” Kendall managed.
“Technically, she works for me,” Tom said, still unnoticed.
“Then you get rid of her,” Logan said to Kendall. “She’s not good for you.”
Logan turned and stalked out of the room. Kendall just stared after him, shaking. Finally, he seemed to snap out of it.
“Come on,” he said to you. You followed as he stormed away, painfully aware of the stares of his family as you left.
“You got the keys?” he asked.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Get in that car.”
“Jesus, Kendall-“
“Then give them to me. They can say I stole it.”
You didn’t hesitate to toss him the keys. You hopped into the passenger’s seat. Kendall started the car, peeling down the ranch road with red dust glowing in the taillights.
Kendall tore down the straight desert road, headlights cutting through a thick darkness.
“I didn’t want my dad to hurt you.”
“It’s fine.”
“No, it’s not. It’s the worst feeling in the world.”
He was silent as he continued to drive, eyes fixed ahead. Finally he spoke.
“Y/N, I am so sorry. This is my fault.”
You couldn’t argue that, but you also couldn’t blame him. “It’s okay. I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do.”
“Work for me,” he said.
You looked at him, trying to gauge if he was serious.
“It’s either that or go back to my dad, begging for a job.”
“I’m not doing that.”
“I know. So I’m rehiring you as my assistant. Actually, I’m promoting you to senior advisor.”
“What does that involve?”
“Getting drunk with me until we both forget the pain.”
You bought a bottle of tequila at a nearby ABC store in the next town, then stopped at the first motel you saw, a cheap but clean place called The Desert Flower. You were both crashing from the cocaine. Kendall’s eyes were bleary and red, his face dark with stubble. He was going down fast. You sat in the car, taking turns with the bottle, unable to even make it to the room.
“I’m sick of wanting to fucking die.”
“Kendall…”
“You heard him, right? He said I don’t deserve a life. That’s how he makes me feel. Every day.”
You heard his voice break. Tears streamed down his face.
“What would it take? For him to smile at me once, to pat me on the fucking back? What do I have to do?”
“I don’t think there’s anything you can do.”
He stared at you, and for a moment it looked like his entire world was crashing down around him. You saw the loss playing out behind his eyes as he realized the truth of your words. Then he leaned forward, put his hand on the back of your head, and kissed you.
You didn’t hesitate to respond. Everything was falling apart, but at least you could feel the warmth of him, his searching hands, his desperate mouth. You squeezed his wrist as his hand gripped your thigh. Then you both suddenly pulled back.
“Fuck,” he said. “Fuck, fuck, fuck.”
“It’s okay. It’s okay.”
He was still holding your hand tightly. You wouldn’t let go. You both caught your breath, reeling from the touch.
“I need to go inside,” he said.
He leaned on your shoulder on the way into the room. When you got inside, he collapsed onto his knees, sobbing. You got down on the floor with him, stroking his back, trying to talk to him. But he didn’t seem to hear. He curled up on the floor, totally unresponsive, rocking himself as he wept.
You didn’t know what to do. The Kendall you knew was suddenly gone. You could only think of one ally who could still help you: Greg.
Need help, you texted.
Where are you?
You sent him the address of the motel. He responded immediately.
I’ll be there as soon as I can.
You finally got Kendall off the floor and onto the bed. He huddled there like a frightened child.
An hour passed. You heard a car pull up and saw headlights flare through the curtains. When you opened the door, Greg was sitting there in a red convertible. You laughed, unable to help it.
Greg got out of the car, looking completely out of place.
“Yeah, I know…” he sighed, looking at the car. “There aren’t many Ubers in the middle of nowhere.”
“Does anyone know?”
“Just Tom. He said he’d cover for me. So we’ll see how that goes.”
He peered past you into the room.
“How’s Kendall?”
“Not good.”
“What about you? You don’t look so good yourself.”
“I just need someone here to make sure one of us doesn’t die.”
“Okay, yeah. We should definitely try and prevent that.”
You moved aside, letting Greg through. Kendall was still curled on the bed, his head tucked into his arms.
You sat beside Greg on the edge of your bed, talking in low voices as you gazed at Kendall.
“What have you guys been doing?”
“A lot of coke and tequila.”
“Wow. So a pretty serious binge, then.”
“I think I’m in over my head.”
You gazed at Kendall, who had withdrawn so far into himself that you didn’t know if he was aware of your presence.
“I thought I could help him,” you said.
“That’s more than anyone else has done for him.”
“Why don’t they try to help him?”
“Honestly, I don’t think his family knows how to see him as a person. They only think of themselves.”
“Maybe it’s a good thing I got fired. I don’t know why I even want to work for them.”
“I frequently ask myself the same question. But even though they kind of suck, I still like them.”
“They’re your family.”
“That’s true.”
Greg looked thoughtful. “Then why do you stick around?”
You gave a slight nod towards Kendall’s sleeping form.
“I want to see him win. Not for anyone else. For himself.”
You couldn’t see it in the darkness, but a tear gathered in the corner of Kendall’s closed eye and slid down the bridge of his nose, then was gone.
Greg slept on the floor between your beds. You gave him half of your pillows and the top sheet of your bed.
Sometime in the night, both Greg and Kendall began to snore lightly. You could feel their resting forms in the darkness, the hum of the air conditioner, the traffic slowly streaming by outside. Cars rumbled in and out of the parking lot. Doors open and shut. Everything moved slow in the late hours of the night, the early morning.
They weren’t your family, but you loved them. You didn’t belong among them, but you had made a place for yourself in their lives. And they had become an inseparable part of yours. You held onto this thought as you waited out the long night.
It was early, and you were just beginning to fall asleep, when you heard vague sounds of movement in the room. You felt someone crawl into the bed with you. It was Kendall. He drew himself close, facing your curled form, mirroring it with his own body. He pressed his forehead against yours and reached pleadingly for your hands. You twined your fingers around his.
“Hey,” he whispered. He sounded as if he had been crying.
“Hey.”
You felt his hands for the first time, stroking them with your fingers. He held tightly to you, drawing himself as close as possible.
“Am I going to be okay?” he rasped.
You put your hand on the back of his head. He was shaking, tears dampening the pillow.
“I promise.”
You held him for a long time, until his breathing calmed and he finally stopped shaking. He never let go of your hands, never moved. Your knees touched, arms intertwined. When you opened your eyes, he was looking at you. Neither of you said anything. He stroked your hand with his thumb.
Greg groaned from the floor, and both of you went still, listening. Then you started to giggle.
“Where the fuck am I?” Greg mumbled, rolling over in his sheets, still half asleep.
Kendall snorted, and you shushed him, still trying not to laugh. You could still see tears in his eyes. But he was smiling.
155 notes · View notes
sugarakis-p2 · 8 months
Text
Ten-chan is the worst! ch3
Tumblr media
(I found my art. I know Touya looks generic but I'm still proud.)
Previous chapter 2: Alternate universe Tenko a UA student but no hero. Reader x Tenko F/M]
After a heated night of passion, you finally had made up your mind about Tenko. You'd decided you wanted to be equal partners with Tenko and date for real. But little did you know that in the night, Tenko would confess to you that he had the quirk of a villain, and what he did can never be undone, his tragic past keeping him from the opportunities that will create a future for him. You were uncertain how to take this new information, but he was still the same guy that you'd fallen in love with. You thought the world was finally opening up to you until you saw Touya. Confused about why Tenko discarded you, you allowed Touya to help you since you have no home and a mysterious illness. But his help came with its own dangers; you found yourself caught in the chaotic power struggle between the Todoroki family while you desperately tried to make sense of your explosive relationship with Tenko.
Warning: Mental and physical trauma, drugging, kidnapping, loss of virginity (deflowering), blood, Todoroki drama, angst and breakups.
Chapter 3:
Tenko dropped you on the bed, quickly following, trapping you in his arms.
Tenko's face was inches from yours, his hot breath sending shivers down your spine. He looked deep into your eyes as he ran his hands over your chest.
"Are you ready for this?" he asked with a cadence of need. You writhe against him with the same need. You grab his face and pull him to you. Kissing him deeply.
"I am a little scared," you admitted, parting your lips to let him in.
"We do not have to. There are plenty of other things," Tenko was saying when you lifted a finger and stopped him.
"Yes, I'm ready," you breathe. His lips locked on yours, crashing like two planets colliding, as a fire started to burn in your core, and you melted into the kiss, feeling the sparks of electricity released between you as your tongues danced. Kissing him back with the same hunger.
Tenko's hands moved lower, slowly teasing your nipples with tender strokes and caresses. Lightly pulling and tugging your top free. They hardened under his touch, and you gasped in pleasure. You could feel the warmth radiating in the room as your mouths gradually explored each other. You could feel yourself losing control and gripping his shoulder tightly as his hands teased you. He finally broke away from the kiss, and you felt lost in your own world for a moment.
His lips moved to your neck, inching down towards your chest, leaving a trail with his tongue. His hands moved back to your nipples and rubbed them ever so softly, cupping and kneading as he pulled one into his mouth. Suckling and lapping at your peaked flesh. He moved to the other, enjoying how you pebbled and hardened under his tongue. Tenko finally drew away, coming back up for the last passionate kiss, and his breathing was unsteady as he stumbled back, pulling off his shirt with fervent haste. You felt his hardened chest against you as his strong arms kept you steady in his embrace. 
"Ten-chan, I don't want to wait any longer," you whined.
"No," he scolded, "It's your first time. I need to work your body and make it special. We'll play like we have. Take our time. I want to cherish you."
 In one swift motion, he dropped his pants and underwear until he was standing before you, completely naked. You feel heated in your core. It reminds you of how you first got caught. He was only wearing a towel. He pulls you to him again before he lets you get a look at him.
"You are so cute. Let me undress you," Tenko asked. Tenko's eyes are ravenous and intense, hands reaching for you. You felt another wave of arousal rush through your body. He pulled you to stand with him in an embrace. His cock pressed against your stomach as he ran his gloved hands through the strands of your hair. 
"Y-y-yes, please help me undress," you nodded, and he hugged you. His hands moved to the back of your dress and started slowly working the zipper down your back. With each inch of the zipper he pulled down, the tension in the roomy seemed to build until, finally, your dress fell to the floor, pooling around your ankles. His gaze wandered over your body, and he let himself drink in the sight of you, every curve and angle filling him with warmth and wonder he couldn't describe. His arousal bobbed and responded to you in only your undergarments, making him wonder how hard he has fallen for you? That can't be possible. Yet he feels something other than hate, and it confuses him. 
"Tenko. T-t-this is a little embarrassing," you say. He moved forward again, stroking his hands up your sides until he reached the bra. Shutting off his noisy brain. His fingers fumbled with the clasp, tongue grazing his lips as he struggled with the tight fabric before finally pulling the straps away from your body. Your soft skin seemed to beg for his touch, and he complied, his gaze never leaving yours. His scars are less welted. His eyelashes are sparse and short, but they are growing. You gently touch them, and he leans his head into your hand.
His smile is sweet, "You're so pretty." He breathed in your ear. As his hands moved to your panties. He slid the lace fabric down your legs and watched it pool around your ankles. You felt a sense of encouragement in his gentle touches, knowing that you are entirely exposed and vulnerable to his gaze, admiring your body, the cool air surrounding you, and prickling your skin. The appreciation came off him in waves. You couldn't help but feel beautiful in that moment and revel in it. His fingers grazed your lips. You wince in surprise as he asks with a wicked grin, "Did you shave her for me?" You swallowed hard and nodded.
He placed his hands on your shoulders, then ran one up to cup your face and spread gentle kisses over your cheeks and lips. His other hand wandered southward, teasing your nipples as his mouth tasted every inch of your skin. He walks you back until the back of your legs hit the bed, pressing you down, his tongue licked into the curves of your body, caressing and exploring until your breath hitched and your heart raced.
"Ten! That tickles," you squeal and squirm when his tongue wriggles in your belly button. 
Tenko let out a low moan as he licked up and found one of your nipples, and he licked and sucked on it hungrily until you were arching into him in pleasure. His hands roamed down to your hips, then back up to your breasts as his mouth hungrily devoured your body. You cupped his head, fingers entangled in his hair, encouraging him to suck harder. Every inch of you was consumed and explored, and when he had finally finished, he pulled away, breathing heavily. He flipped you over, and you shuddered as his tongue ran up your spine. He bit your butt, and you squeaked and kicked the air.
"Ten-chan!" Tenko pulled back and laughed. 
"You've never let me have this much. It's getting too hard to hold back. But I promise I will be gentle," he moans. Flipping you back over, parting your legs to lick and nip at your inner thighs.
"T-T-T-Tenko," you whimper, pleading with your eyes. He stops long enough to let you ask your question while he nuzzles your leg. "Have you ever been with a virgin? You seem too big." Tenko pulls a face, contemplating how to measure out his words.
"No. My partners have been experienced. I promise I will do my best and take care of all your needs. You are so perfect and wet. I studied and got advice to get you ready. I ache to be inside you," he panted. Lightly rubbing your clit with his thumb. His eyes spoke volumes of desire. Gently, he ran his hands along your thighs, the warmth of his touch setting your core aflame. His breath stroked your thigh. Dropping feather-light kisses on your skin, and lay his head softly against the exposed flesh of your inner thigh. His tongue follows down your apex in a familiar act that puts you more at ease. Your body quivered with anticipation, and you hungered for more.
"You are already dripping. You are so pretty for me," Tenko growled. Spreading your lips and staring, his fingers opening you up as he licks his lips.
"T-t-en, can you stop that," you stammer.
"Stop what? You don't like it?" Tenko asked, pausing his fingers but still staring only at your pussy. You cover your eyes with your hands.
"It's not that I don't like it. Whenever you do things to me, it makes my head fuzzy and blank, and I don't know what to say. It's like all my senses are on overload, to the point where I'm overwhelmed and don't know what to say or do! It does feel really good and embarrassing to feel your gaze on me," you whisper, blushing.
"How do you expect me to hold back when you say such cute things? Fine, I won't look," he panted. He fiercely dipped his head between your legs, his breath ragged as his tongue worked expertly against your sensitive spot. As his skilled ministrations sent electric shocks of pleasure coursing through you, it was all you could do to gasp for air. He intensified his touch, holding you firmly against him as you began to writhe in rapture. Unable to resist his advances, you begged for more, though he compelled you to remain still as the waves of pleasure coursed through you like a raging storm. Your body chose the path of least resistance, succumbing to bliss as his fondling grew more and more fervent. Oh, how he tantalized you! His tongue darted in and out of your folds, each thrust sending waves of pleasure through your center. His fingers soon found their way inside you, and you gasped, the sensations intensifying. He added three fingers again, and you squirmed, the pressure almost too much. Flinching when he spreads them to stretch you.
"Tenko. That hurts a little," you whimper.
"I know. Just a little more. I have a bit above-average length, but I can see my thickness being a problem. You're too tight. Bear with it and relax. Just a little more," Tenko mumbles around your clit. Growling and nipping, sending vibrations and sharp sensations that made you arch your back and clutch his hair. He continued to pleasure you, each caress and lick, making you moan with pain and desire.
He moved his fingers in circles, faster and faster, sending you into a frenzy. Sucking your clit roughly, nipping the bundle of nerves to grind into his face, spreading his fingers, then pumping, spreading, and pumping. You can feel your orgasm building, and as you reach the peak, you buried your hands in his hair and let out a deep, guttural moan, throwing your head back. 
"Ah, ah, ah, Ten! I'm cumming," you screamed. He pulled away, a satisfied smirk on his lips, knowing you came because of him.
"I'll never get tired of that sight. You are dripping with sweetness," Tenko sighed with contentment. Wiping his lips with the back of his hand before reaching over to open a box of condoms, grimacing as he rolled it on. You watch with rapt attention. "What the fuck," he yelped and mumbled.
"What's wrong? Don't you want me to suck you?" You panted.
"Nothing. Don't move. I want to be in you. Spread yourself wide for me," he breathed. You do as he asks. His bright eyes burned into yours as he crawled over your hot body. He cages you in his arms, a light kiss before his masterful hands joining between your frantic bodies. You felt him align with your inviting entrance. He tried to ease in but ended up slipping. With a slight shift, he gripes his shaft and thrusts his hips hard and deep, that moment of bliss and excruciating pain melting the two of you as one.
"Ten. Ten, it hurts!" You screamed, meeting his imploring gaze with a fiery glare. Writhing against his grip, you fought him with all your might, desperate to break free. His arms quaked with effort as he held onto you, his muscles tense as a coil beneath your grasp, his teeth grinding.
"Too tight," He hissed. His mouth moved, but no words came out. His lips instead twisted into a grimace of pain. It felt like a merciless invasion, held firmly in place by a blazing hot rubber battering ram ruthlessly determined to tear you in two. No matter how hard you tried to resist, it seemed unstoppable as it stretched the life out of you. Heaving and panting, he still wouldn't release you from his iron grip. Your legs shook, and tears streamed down your face.
"Ten!" Your anger and frustration boiled over like a volcano, and with one final gasp, you shoved yourself. He followed with a grunt, his eyes filled with rage, as he tore his glove off with his teeth, grabbed his base, and ripped himself free of you. Decaying the condom with a gasp of relief. Immediately you yelped and scuttled from him. Cradling your aching, bleeding pussy in your hands and whimpering in pain. Breathing deeply, you tried not to check the hurt expression on his face. But you couldn't stop those emotions from bubbling to the surface. It seemed like time had frozen as your eyes met his. His gaze filled with hurt and longing. You both share a moment of remorse before you look away, unable to bear the mixed feelings of relief and guilt. You were relieved to have finally escaped his massive cock, but a part of you still felt disturbed by the fact that Tenko had been in physical pain, too.
"Fuck, your bleeding," he hissed. Tenko erupted into action, frantically dashing towards the mini-fridge and snatching a drink. With a swift, determined movement, he grabbed a washcloth and expertly arranged it around the cold beverage. He tenderly, yet urgently, placed it against the back of your hands. You relished in the relief of your throbbing wound as an awkward chuckle escaped Tenko's lips. Amid his attempt to conceal his idiotic grin, he softly apologized, "Are you ok? I'm sorry."
"You don't look sorry," With a scowl, you gritted your teeth. You had never seen Tenko appear so ecstatic before. He was practically vibrating with joy.
"I'm sorry I hurt my favorite spot. Are you alright?" he says, feigning innocence, although the smile tugging at the corner of his mouth could give him away any second.
You shift uneasily and shrug, "I do this monthly. What are you smiling about?" Trying to ease the sting of your pride.
"I took it. It may have only been my tip, but I was in you. You gave it to me, and I took it. No one can have it. I wasn't going to let anyone else have it. What you gave me is a tiny piece of you," he giggled, barely containing his excitement. It was unnerving, and you narrowed your eyes at him.
Your heart dropped into your stomach as the magnitude of the situation dawned on you. "Wait, that was only the tip?" Your voice shook as disbelief and horror seeped into your bones. Surely not—but there was no denying the fear that raced through you as the grim reality sunk in. He may not fit, ever. He is as wide as the can you are holding to yourself. You shuddered at the thought.
"Yeah," he groaned. His expression is as pained as his words. "The condom felt like a metal vice. I've used this brand before, but maybe it was because it was you. I felt something stronger with you — a sense of desire like I never experienced before. I felt harder and more excited than with anyone else."
The full impact of his words hit you like a truck, making your heart drop even further and your mouth drops open in shock. Your heart fluttered at his pretty words. Was this a confession of love? You steadied yourself with a deep breath and faced reality head-on. There was only one thing left to do: keep calm, be brave, and deal with the situation.
"I don't feel different. My virginity wasn't something I felt I had, I wasn't using it, and it wasn't that special of a thing since it's more like a concept… it's hard to explain," you say timidly.
"Then why with me?" He asked, scratching his neck.
"I wanted to understand my feelings about you. I thought being connected more intimately would help me," you answer nervously.
He scoffed and crossed his arms. 
"So, you didn't think it would be special unless it was with me?" Your heart raced at his words. His piercing gaze left you feeling exposed and vulnerable. His eyes softened, and he brushed his fingertips across your cheek. "Well, I'm glad you did because it was special. It was with you."
"I think I'm ready to try it again," you squeak bashfully. Tenko shook his head with grave sorrow, scratching around his eye, concern creasing his forehead as he ran his hand across his face. 
"The condoms will still be an issue," he sighed, his voice heavy with disappointment.
"We can try without a condom," you say, your eyes burning with desire. Tenko's eyes widen, his breath coming in rushed gasps. Suddenly, he darts to his nightstand drawer, pulling out a bottle of lube. He quickly grabs the can without hesitation, tossing it aside, and stares hungrily at your swollen sex.
"Beautiful," he pants, his erection pressing eagerly against your thigh. "I already deflowered you, and your body still shows its pleasures. You drive me wild. Let me show you the destruction I can bring." You cringe inwardly and hope he stops saying things like that. Popping the lid open for the lube, he pours it onto both of you, the anticipation almost too much. He is pressing down on you when you throw up your hands to stop him.
"Aren't you worried about babies," you shout in apprehension.
"I'll take responsibility," He growled fiercely, staking his claim as he rubbed himself between your legs. You gasp in pleasure and pain, knowing you had to plunge this time. You hesitate, unsure of his words. You know you are taking the pill, but he doesn't know. You wonder if he really means those words? Will he keep you safe and shoulder the burden with you, or will he turn his back when things get tough? Tenko lies, but he seems sincere. His light rasp interrupts your thoughts, his cock notching at your entrance, "I will be yours, and you will be mine. Would that be so bad? Stop me. Stop me now because once we start, I will not be able to go back, no matter how much I make you cry."
No. That wouldn't be so bad, you think. You know there is bad love. With Tenko, you know it's too late. Toxic or not, you had fallen for him. You allowed yourself to be drawn in, each glance a promise of the moments to come. It would not be so bad to belong to each other. You reach between you and help him push into you with a squirm and a gasp. You can feel the heat radiating between you, entangling together in a forbidden embrace. You know it's wrong, yet it feels right. For the first time, you wonder what it might feel like to belong to one another as equals. Pulling him closer, every inch of his body pushing into yours, with a deep shuddering sigh. It still aches and throbs, but his crown pushes into your swollen entrance, so gradually it feels like a slow knife. 
"All at once," You plead desperately, eyes full of lust and longing. Your heart thuds against your chest with an emotion you've never felt. Tenko's breathing was quick and rough as he wrapped his strong arms around your waist, pushing in with a deep groan and a primal growl. He sinks into you, every sensation amplified as the wave of pain makes you writhe and dig your nails in. His hands grasp yours tightly as you succumb to the rush of rapture. Pain and bliss flooded your veins as ecstasy flowed through your quaking body.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to claw you. It stings. I feel too full," you trembled, your tears prickling your eyes and heavy on your lashes. He stared down at you, starved for more, the two of you locked in a desperate embrace.
"No, I made you bleed," he breathed, husky with lust. "This is only fair. I can take it. Are you ready? One more, and I should be in all the way," He thrust forward again, pushing roughly against your slick opening until he filled you completely. You let out a raw scream of his name and clawed at the back of his neck, your body shaking with pleasure.
"You are amazing. You are so tight. Look, I'm all the way in," Tenko whispers, his voice trembling with pleasure. Tenko shudders above you as heat spreads through your core. His eyes are heavy and languid as your grip tightens around him. Every time you move, he groans, the pleasure too much to bear. His chest heaves with each breath, drenching your skin in his warmth. You can feel his heart quivering deep within you, blood rushing through his veins. You can feel every ridge and throb of his length as you explore him further, pushing yourself into a crescendo of pleasure. A river of ecstasy persists between you, and you feel truly as one.
"I'm going to move," he growls. With one last warning, he slides out and buries himself back inside your resistive walls. His movements become more urgent with each passionate stroke taken with a renewed vigor. "Roll your hips," He urges you to move with him to help tease the sweet pressure he's executing to reach the best spots. It helps him move faster and deeper.
"Trenko, that's too rough," you plead. 
"It can't be helped. You are rocking against me," Tenko groaned. Together, swaying in a way that edges into the ultimate bliss. Your body trembling with each thrust, your palms slick with sweat and blood. His strong hands pressing into your hips, pushing you to the limit. The two of you move in unison as if fate had designed you for each other. Your bodies cling together as Tenko drives deeper and more profound, faster and harder, the tempo of your passion increasing with each stroke. The heat of his skin against yours sends sparks of electricity through your veins. Your moans of pleasure echo through the night and through your soul. He crashes through you, his eyes intent. His movements were savage, each punishing thrust taking you closer to the edge.
The passion between you reaches a fever pitch as you both reach for the ultimate climax. Waves of pleasure roll through you from the tips of your toes to the top of your head. Tenko leaned down to press his lips against yours, his tongue exploring every inch of your mouth in a tantalizing dance. His pace quickened, pushing you higher to the brink of ecstasy. Tenko erupts in a deep groan as the pleasure overtakes him. Heat and harsh throbbing made you mewl and clench on him.
His back dripping blood as you pant, "Ten, Ah, Ten. I'm cumming. I'm cumming. Ten. Slow down." He let out a low moan of pleasure as his body climaxed. His stomach muscles bunch as his hips stutter against yours. With a final hard thrust, the electricity of pleasure ran up your spine as you arched up to him, and his shudder of release sent you spiraling. You lay in each other's arms, heartbeats slowing, love and passion have conquered, and there is only bliss for now.
"I have a confession," he says, still buried in you.
"What?" you pant.
"I came when I got all the way in you. We might have to go all night long because that was not enough. Is that ok?" You kiss him in response. The two of you go for hours until you collapse on top of each other, exhausted from the intensity of it all.
"Let me rest for a moment. I want to snuggle and talk, please," you gasp.
Tenko nodded, his hot body relaxing and molding to yours, pulling you to lay on top of him, resting your head on his chest. It is hard, covered in sweat, but you can hear the steady rythm of his heartbeat and take comfort in that. "I will say our date is over. Are you going to tell me why you tried to rape me?" He freezes, rolling off and staring at the ceiling before responding. He raises his hand, now ungloved, for you to see, and chills run through your body. You still clung to him, hung on every word.
"I killed my family with this hand. My older sister, my mother, my grandparents. A villain…awoke something in me. I did not know what was happening, but I accidentally killed my family. My father hit me with a shovel. It's how I got this scar. It still itches," he touches the one over his eye. "If he had reached for the sweeper. He would be dead also." He said with a lilt of desire that frightened you. His eyes dart to you, dark with some unseen craving, flickered to you as a chill swept down your spine. You wanted—no, needed—to hear more, and he obliged, his story unfolding like a horror movie, bringing you further into its depths. "My father left me a ton of money and disappeared. My father had disappeared, abandoning me. I thought it was over when I was forsaken as a child, left alone in the world with nothing but a hefty inheritance. I was barely conscious, lying whimpering among the dust, and had almost given up hope when All Might stumbled across my pitiful body and took me in. It was then that my life changed, and he offered me the chance to start anew. Who knows what would have happened if he hadn't found me? Fate is cruel. I was mad because he offered me a spot in the hero course."
You wait with bated breath, but then he finishes talking abruptly. Your mouth agape, you look at him with fury, disbelief, and sadness. Sitting up abruptly, your heart heavy with disappointment, you grab your pillow and rear back.
"Wait--you were offered a spot in the acclaimed Hero Course, and you acted like it made you *mad*! How could you *not* take it?! Do you even know how *difficult* it is to get in, and you had the chance *so late* in your life?" You say, smacking him with a pillow for emphasis.
He mumbled from under the pillow, "You are so violent! That's not the normal reaction I get from that story." You quickly pull the pillow away, revealing tears in your eyes. You threw your arms around him, clutching him tightly. "That's what a regular response would be," he said, a hint of sadness in his voice. "I didn't accept it because I have a villain's Quirk. That is my fate in life."
"I can't even fathom," you began, shaking your head in disbelief, "The burden you have had to carry. I'm so sorry, Ten-Chan. But still, you mustn't allow your Quirk to stand in the way of your goals, whatever they may be. After all, my Quirk is nothing out of the ordinary, and people are always shocked to hear it's called 'Domestic Goddess.' Yet, despite what assumptions they may make, I use my Quirk to my advantage. To prove myself, to make money, to better myself. I would jump at the chance of attending the hero's course if I had the opportunity. It's not about the Quirk itself. It's about the potential and the power of what that potential can become," you finished, emphasizing your words with a passionate determination.
"Power? Domestic goddess? Come to think of it, you've never talked about your Quirk or inquired what mine is. I'm curious to know what you'd do if you were in the hero course. What are your dreams?" Tenko pressed closer to you, their nose grazing your neck as they asked, awe and curiosity thick in his voice.
"Yeah. It's a family quirk, hence the stupid name. People think it's only good for being a domestic partner or a baby machine. Maybe I will marry and have kids, but I will earn money in the meantime. It's hard surviving without it," you say, playing with his hair in self-comfort. "I'm an enhancer. If I have strong emotions like love or hate, I can make it affect what I touch. It's nice that no one can stop me from using it. But if I was in the hero's course, I would use it for inside trading," you admit, your eyes dark and desperate. A shaky breath escapes you.
"That's not a very hero thing to say." Tenko kissed. You rolled your eyes. One thing you will never claim to be is a hero, "What, do you think I'm going to be able to beat up villains?"
"How do you plan on earning all this money alone? Wouldn't it be easier if you let your lover take care of you? Just a little for once," Tenko purred, his suggestion dripping with innuendo as he rolled you over and nestled his hard cock against your pelvis. His words lingered in the air. The implications are as heavy as the desire between you both.
"I'll work for my Mom after graduation and expand her physical shop and company's contracts. I got a few gigs on the side. I am not looking for a hero, Tenko." You gasp when four fingers tenderly wrap around your throat, and the look of contempt spreads over his face. His gaze is ice cold, daring you to say something else he will hate. Suddenly, Tenko seemed to double his strength, his bright eyes burning with intensity, flipping you face-down. His powerful arms pinned your face to the pillow, and you squealed in fear because it was his ungloved hand. He leaned closer, his breath hot against your ear, and growled, "I'm not your hero. I'm your villain and lover." He gripped your waist and entered harshly with one thrust. You turned your head to gasp for air and looked up at him with one of fear and arousal. His words made your cunt tighten on his length. He moaned.
"You really know how to rile me up. I'll take the hero's course. I'll even help you with inside trading. But you have to make me want a future," he graveled. What? You thought. He entered you with fire in his eyes. His fury was palpable, and yet the passion with which he seized you was undeniable. Pressing his chest into your back and his hips against your tight, round ass. Tenko began to move his hips against you. Every thrust felt like a desperate plea as if he begged you to be his and his alone. You tried to fight back the tears, yet they threatened to give way as you allowed yourself to be consumed by him. You rocked your hips back and forth with each thrust, feeling the pleasure grow more and more intense as the sensations built up within you. He increased the pace and intensity of his thrusts, kissing your womb and sending a shockwave through your center up your spine. 
You can't let him have you with the weight of the Touya threat looming over you. You melted into each other, still connected, the intensity of the moment still radiating through you. Tenko pulled you up into his arms by your neck, his heart still thumping against your back as he kissed the back of your neck. With one final, deep thrust, you cried out in pleasure as your body trembled with the powerful wave of orgasm that consumed you. Your body spasmed with pleasure as he filled you with his warmth. When it was done, he let you collapse in a gasping, quivering heap on the bed. He embraced you and kissed your neck tenderly as you both calmed your breathing. He held you tightly, feeling a deep satisfaction as you curled against him, your body still trembling with pleasure from your passionate tryst. Tenko's gentle breath hit your neck as he asked if it was good. His voice was deep and full of the same emotion racing through your veins.
"Yes," you sighed, surrendering to the warmth that rushed through you as his warmth enveloped you. As you drift into sleep, you smile, feeling the strength and love you have just shared through their bodies.
Tenko  rose from the bed with a newfound vigor and a determined gait, putting his glove back on as he went. He paused, watching with adoration as you lay beneath the blanket, he had pulled over you. There was no doubt in his mind. He had finally admitted to himself he's been in love with you for a long time. Probably the moment you walked into the gamers' club with that look, he had never seen a look of such fervent obsession, and underneath it was an undeniable fear. You are tenacious. He knew he wouldn't be able to keep you if he kept the All Might thing from you. But he didn't tell you everything. He went for a short walk. With a satisfied smile, he gently kissed your lips before crawling beside you on the bed and wrapping his arms around you, hiking your leg around his waist, and placing his cock back in you.
He had fucked you so hard you didn't wake. You sighed in contentment and flopped your arm over him. Although you had been sleeping through it, a soft hum of satisfaction escaped your lips, and your body aligned itself with his, molding to him. His heart was so full that he feared it might burst. In a satisfied whisper, he uttered, "I ruined you for all other men. This was fate." He allowed his eyelids to succumb to the exhaustion. His face hurt because he never smiled this much in his entire life.
You yanked yourself away from Tenko's embrace, feeling like his touch still lingered on your body, perhaps a consequence of his aggressive lovemaking. No, it was he let himself go limp inside of you. You knew he was worn out, but Tenko was still fast asleep after your shower. You see, he had gotten your bag at some point in the night. You left a text letting him know you were getting some breakfast before you left the bedroom. Unaware that Touya was following close behind. You gasped in shock as you felt his presence, jerking away as quickly as possible.
"You're so jumpy, little mouse. I only wanted to tease you a little bit, not scare you," Touya grinned.
You back away, gripping your chest, heart pounding as you ask, "What are you doing here?" Touya shrugs as if it is obvious.
"Shiori was tired. This was affordable, available, and close by," Touya says. That makes sense. It's the reason you chose this hotel. Touya seems too friendly, and it puts you on edge. He is too close, adding to your anxiety, "You wanted to talk to me about something. How about I buy you breakfast, and we can talk." The closer he is to you, the more something about his smile makes you anxious. 
"That's a nice offer..." You attempt to finish your sentence when he suddenly captures your hand and pulls you towards Shiori's table. A mixture of uncertainty and anticipation swirls in your head, and all the possibility of a new opportunity looms. It should be alright if Shiori is there. You try to wrest your hand free, "I need to get my portfolio! I'll be right back!"
You race to the room, grabbing your bag as you leave. Tenko is still sound asleep. Your heart swells with butterflies as you suddenly realize the magnitude of the offer. This could be it! You can become equals and express the love to Tenko that you have kept hidden for so long. You take a deep breath and make the decision to seize the moment. You will confess your feelings to Tenko and do whatever it takes to start a new life together. The thought of it fills you with excitement and determination. There's no turning back now!
You present Touya with your portfolio, your eyes meeting his with determination. "I spoke with several girls, and while your reputation as a lover is awful, I showed them these pictures demonstrating your gentle, caring, personal side, and their overall perception of you improved by at least 20%. Your social media lacks any personal touch if you take a look here...." You gesture to the charts, explaining in detail how his income could increase if he utilizes all the tips and resources within your portfolio.
"I like a lot of these photos. You took them, didn't you? Many are in the gamer room," He nods approvingly at the photos, a satisfied look on his face, and he winks at Shiori a few times. Her expression quickly shifts from confusion to distress as she stands up from the table. She was already looking glazed over from the start of the conversation. Clutching her hands together nervously, she hastily returns with two glasses of juice. You take a sip and murmur a quiet thank you. Even though you and Shiori have never gotten along, you suddenly find yourself filled with pity. Touya seems to have completely broken her last night. Suddenly, the pieces of why she's here are all coming together. You can't help but feel a tug of compassion for this girl who had the world at her fingertips only to have it taken away by Touya's whims. The thought is almost too much for you to handle, although she knew what he was like, and it was her choice. She shouldn't have hooked back up with him again.
You steel yourself for the approaching moment of truth. You want Tenko. Touya noticing that you have been taking pictures of him also makes you feel edgy, "Of course. With my quirk," you say with a sly half-smile. "I can put you in the best light in any situation photo. I…I…What?" you ask, confused. You feel so sleepy suddenly, a feeling of weariness washes over you. Tenko did go hard last night. You continue as professional as possible but the world wavers. The moments after that are a blur.
You  open your eyes, and the world is like a twisted blur, whirling around you in dizzying circles. You felt a sharp wave of nausea surge over you, and when you looked over, Touya was holding out something for you. "Stop!" you pleaded desperately. In response, Touya quickly pulled over, coming to a screeching halt.  
He couldn't bear watching you suffer any longer as you began to turn green. Swerving to the side of the road, he pulled over and held your hair back, tenderly caressing your head in a tight embrace. "Are you getting car sick? It always happens to me. That's why I carry Dramamine in the glove box," he murmured softly.
You looked up with shock, stammering, "Wha-What's going on?" Your voice quivered as you stepped away from him, uncomfortably aware of the intensity of the situation. You shook your head as you stared blankly, unsure of what was happening. Your lungs felt heavy, your head fuzzy, and your heart sank as he shuffled towards you.
"Whoa, their little mouse. Don't hurt yourself. We have so much work to do," he breathed in your ear. His fingers stroked through your hair.
Flashes come to you.
"Is this sorting out your feelings! Is this what you think of me!" Tenko shouted. Rage and hatred radiated off of him. Tears and crying. You groan.
"Ten-chan? No. I love you." That pathetic sobbing is you. The lightning flashed furiously, cutting through your memory like a thousand knives. Images of the past came tumbling out, colliding with your present. You were surrounded by tumult, captivated, and immobilized in an ocean of memory. You look to Touya, "Did Tenko really break up with me?"
"Are you crying?" Touya grinned, a devilish smile stretching across his face. Emotions crashed together like turbulent waves, threatening to drown you in the chaos. Tenko yelling. You could feel yourself unraveling, being enveloped in a deluge of thoughts. Tenko is being pulled away by a dark figure. You attempted to express your feelings, but the words seemed caught in your throat, terror keeping them hostage. "I will fucking kill you, Touya! I'll teach you to play with people's hearts!"
"Wha-yes," you sobbed, your body shaking as you kneeled on the side of the road. The tension built until it seemed unbearable. One final flash of lightning and the heavens opened, unleashing a torrent of emotion. Tenko said, "You couldn't wait two weeks! You are trying to break our deal with only two weeks left. For this evil fucker! You will always be mine!" You could feel yourself collapsing under the weight of it all, clinging onto anything that could keep you afloat. 
"No," you wept.
"Then it is true - he has broken your heart and taken your innocence. I warned you it is what he does," Touya said, harshness and delight ringing in his voice. You look at Touya, and a memory of his hot fingers forced into your mouth as he pulls you to him. Tenko screaming at you in your face. Blue flames. A black swirl. People holding him back. Touya saying he will help you. "You want to get to know the real me?"
In the present, Touya scooped you up from the ground and buckled you back into the car seat, his face haughty as he spoke, "I know you're in a bit of a mess, but it'll be alright. We just need to stay out of sight until Tenko calms down." You feel so weak and tired that you let him take care of you.
"What happened? Where are we going? My head is so foggy I don't remember everything," you groan. Touya gingerly turns your head to face him, a strange smile tugging at his lips. Unsettled by the sight, you shudder, unsure of what he has planned.
"Hey, now. Are you ok? Should I take you to a doctor first? What do you mean you don't remember? Come to think of it, you did seem a bit out of it," Touya grins as he brushes his finger against your bottom lip and the corner of your mouth, assuming it is vomit until he leans in and gently kisses your lips. You shriek, recoiling in horror, your eyes wide with confusion. 
"Little mouse," Touya replies calmly, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "You told me everything. I don't mind a little puke from you. Your desperate need for a place to stay and how you require more data. How you pined for me. It is like fate. I'm taking you to my place where we can both lay low."
"What?!" You gasp in alarm, frantically trying to recall anything. Unable to, you begin to frantically look for your phone. Your gaze casts up to Touya, who holds out the mangled remains of your cell phone, the glass splintered in a million pieces. He arches an eyebrow at you, looking concerned as he asks, "Sorry, it got broken in the scuffle. You really don't remember anything?"
"No," you whimper, tears streaming down your face. "We can't go back to your place if Tenko is still angry." The thought of returning brings a stab of pain to your heart.
"Your right." He cups your face in his hands and looks into your eyes, a grin spreading across his lips. "I'm not taking you there. I'm taking you to my family's estate, where I will introduce you to my family as my girlfriend. You said you needed more data for a personal touch to my social media account. I never thought I'd have someone by my side to share this moment with. But first I'm taking you to a doctor. We can worry about the rest later," he says as he tenderly brushes a strand of hair from your face.
Your stomach churns, and a cold fear washes over you as his hand moves to your shoulder. You recoil sharply, and the words spill from you like venom. "I'm not your girlfriend!" you snap as the car speeds recklessly to some unknown destination. Where is he taking you? You barely have the time to think before pulling up in front of a private doctor's office. How long has it been since you passed out? As you step out, you feel a wave of relief roll over you, despite the weird circumstances. You realize that it's probably best for you to be checked out by a doctor. He takes your hand, reassuringly stroking your knuckles.
"First, let's get you to a doctor. I thought you fell asleep due to stress and car sickness, but this is something else," he says, his voice deep and tender. You nod, barely able to keep a glimmer of hope in your heart. You know it's a risk, but what else can you do? As you stumble out of the car, his strong hands cradle you, steadying you. His gaze is unwavering as he speaks, "Well, that hurts, little mouse. I was hoping for the real thing. I know you're putting yourself out there for Tenko, but I can offer you so much more. A chance to finish your final project and to have a nice place to stay. You can pretend to be my girlfriend like you did for Tenko."
He presses his forehead to yours, his breathing ragged. You shut your eyes, letting his warmth envelop you. You can feel the sincerity and truth resonating from him. He pulls back, his expression soft but his gaze burning. You could feel the intensity he was radiating as he looked at you. "I promise everything will be alright." You can feel the strength of his sincerity through his words and the intensity of his gaze. He pulls back, smiling down at you. His voice is a reassuring whisper in the night.
Touya  tugged at the doctor's shirt sleeve, your uncertainty of the situation palpable. As they pulled away from you, your anxiety grew as you scanned the room, noting each detail with a heightened sense of unease. What could be so important, you wondered, that Touya had to whisper it into the doctor's ear? You sang from your feet, tugging anxiously at the sleeves of your hoodie as you awaited the answer.  
"I'm Doctor Ujiko. You're not out of the woods yet, Touya," Doctor Ujiko warned sternly, shaking his head. "You have been severely dehydrated, and that bump on your head means business. I'm going to prescribe fluids. Make sure you get some serious rest for the next two weeks. I don't want to see you here anytime soon. Do you understand me?"
Touya nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Yes, Doctor. I promise I'll take care of her. Thanks," he said solemnly.
"But I have to get back to school," you sniffle as a nurse gets you a bag of fluids. Your head seemed to clear at that moment, and the pangs of screaming pain started to subside.
"Do you want to die?" Dr. Ujiko snarled, his voice seething. "I'm giving you a prescription for the pain, but bed rest is what you need. Touya, you still have to pick up that item you need at the front, and it won't come cheap!" With a final, sinister scowl, the old man swept out of the room, leaving you feeling shaken and alone with Touya.
"You look worn out," Touya's voice takes on a note of concern as he watches you, his gaze cold as he sees the weariness in your expression and the dark circles under your eyes. He frowns slightly at the sight of the ragged, oversized hoodie you wore instead of the cute clothes you usually have on. Gently, he reaches out and grasps your hand, feeling your brokenness and sensing the heaviness of your heart. With compassion he doesn't feel, he says, "Come, let me take you to your new home."
The  place looks like an impenetrable fortress, majestic and timeless, hewn from the traditional Japanese architecture of old with a few daring touches of modern innovation.
"You need to play along, and you don't know Shouto; otherwise... "Touya's stern warning shattered the silence, an ultimatum that hit you hard. Curbing your gasped response, you nodded in unwilling acceptance as Touya's grip on your shoulder tightened. You felt a surge of panic. Fired and homeless, cast out into a world you can no longer rely on. Worse, your final project will only succeed if Touya agrees. A tri-colored hair girl ran up before your fears could take over. Upon seeing you, her steps froze as if startled. Instantly, understanding flashed in her eyes.
She gasps, her voice quaking in shock as she cries, "Touya brought a GIRL home?! He has NEVER done that before! Oh no, what do we do? We don't have enough room for another person at the table!"
"Will Dad join us or eat with Shouto alone again?" Touya grumbled, his voice chilling the room. His icy eyes glared intently at his sister, eager for an answer. All his charm melted away. This was Touya with no pretenses. You shudder. Fuyumi's eyes widened, her smile fading as her brother's hostility grew unmistakably clear.
"Touya, don't be rude. Introduce us. I'm Fuyumi, Touya's little sister," She smiled. Fuyumi exuded a motherly aura rather than a sisterly one. Something Touya clearly found annoying. Touya interrupted her.
Touya's expression is dark and stormy as he demands, "She's, my girlfriend. Tell him it's serious. I brought her to meet the family." His gaze slides to you, and you feel the color creeping into your cheeks. You haven't eaten all day, and your stomach betrays you with a loud growl. You close your eyes, wishing the ground would swallow you up, but Touya's voice cuts through the air, softer this time. "Clearly, she's had it rough. She's usually so cute and bashful. I just brought her straight from the doctor's office. Make an extra place at the table."
Touya leads you to the table, you gape, and your eyes widen when the intimidating figure of Endeavor strides into the room. His bulky frame and handsome features strike amazement into your heart, and Shouto's eyes light up with excitement. Gathering your courage, you introduce yourself and bow politely, pretending you met him for the first time. Endeavor sends him away to eat alone because Shouto is on a special diet. It still seemed weird to you, but you stayed quiet. The dinner proceeded peacefully, enjoying a delicious dinner and easy conversation with the siblings, Fuyumi and Natsuo. The tension between Touya and Endeavour was evident. Endeavour looked up from his plate and cleared his throat.
"Touya, you said this girl was crucial that we must meet. What is your news?" Curiously, Endeavour folded his arms and questioned. Touya wrapped himself around you, gently rubbing your belly, making you stiffen and squeak.
"We're having a baby. I got my little mouse here knocked up. The doctor says she needs bed rest, and I'm going to take care of her." And as if that wasn't enough, Touya's voice took on a mocking tone as he spoke. "I'm asking you to treat her better than just family. I'm sure you'll manage." The tension in the room increased. You can almost taste it as anticipation hangs heavy. Your jaw slacked in shock as realization and dread hit you like an avalanche. He grins manically, touching you tenderly while Touya holds you close, and his hands continue their soothing motion until he is draped over you possessively, "Here's the proof. Positive pregnancy test and an order to for bed rest." Touya barely gave Endeavor time to process before he continued, wrapping both arms around you and pulling you close, tossing the paperwork at him. Tenko's hands worked in sweeping, soothing motion like he was trying to comfort you even after he'd dropped this bombshell of news. You sure as hell don't feel comforted. Endeavor's face grew stony as he stared at the pregnancy test and doctor's orders before him, disbelief slowly morphing into anger.
You try to use your eyes to express your mental scream directed at Touya. What are you doing, Touya!?! They shouted. The pressure crackling between you was so thick you wanted to puke. The siblings stared at you, their eyes wide in disbelief, draining of color.  What is Touya up to?  Your mind raced with the reality of the night before, you had lost your virginity, but you had been on the pill. There was no way you could be pregnant. This was insane. Endeavor had just heard from his eldest son that he had gotten a girl pregnant and was now feeling a mix of rage and disappointment extremely evident.
"What were you thinking!?" Endeavor roared, thundering through the room as he slammed his fist on the table, crushing the paperwork and scattering it across the floor.
"That I could become a better father than you!" Touya smirked at him and replied cockily.
Endeavor shook his head and looked away, trying to control his anger. He looked back at his son and slowly spoke, "You're not a father. Not yet. You're still a boy and haven't even finished UA."
"Age is just a number, Dad." Touya shrugged and drew a circle in the air with his finger, "And besides, it's all worked out. She wants to keep the baby, and our family is growing."
Endeavor took a deep breath and said in a more even tone, "I just want you to understand the gravity of the situation. I can't believe you would be so irresponsible."
 "Hey, I'm going to be a dad," Touya shrugged again and said. "What else is there for me to understand?"
Endeavor closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. He silently counted to ten before slowly opening his eyes and looking at Touya, "It's no longer just about you. Can you even afford it without my income? You know your eccentricities are not suitable for this huge responsibility. Your quirks are not compatible. Think of the child and what you'll do to provide them with a decent life. Abortion provides an alternative. Consider it."
Did he really just dare to utter the words that ignite the fires of fury within you? Quirk Compatibility is that sickening phrase that you can't stand to think about. This arrogant man, full of hubris and completely undeserved pride, has the audacity to say such words after all the pain and trauma he has inflicted upon others due to his pursuit of a perfect quirk. You can feel your rage growing, your cheeks flushing, and your eyebrows furrow angrily. He notices the shift in your demeanor and pauses, looking at you with a newfound caution in his gaze. Natsuo's expression morphed from confusion to anger as he gazed at Endeavor. His chopsticks clenched between his fingers, ready to be plunged into Endeavour's eye. It reminded you of the harsh reality. You are the outsider, while these children had to stay here with this man.
You pause, a sly smile playing across your lips. "I think none of that will be an issue, sir," you say, your voice warm with honeyed promise. "My mother owns the largest custom textiles and clothing alteration company in the nation. From exclusive schools to prestigious members of society, those in power are her clients. Detnerat and even you are numbered among her clients. As for me, I'm looking to build on her success after graduation. Taking her empire to heights never before achieved." You pause, your gaze flicking up to meet his as a wicked grin spreads across your face. "Touya, my darling, could you please bring me my portfolio? I think that should be all the convincing you need."
Touya sprinted towards you, his excitement noticeable. Felt alive and circling for its prey. The kids are laser-focused on you and their father, who you are staring death in the eye and meeting his gaze unwaveringly. After all, you understand what it takes to be a world-renowned hero, and Endeavor was no exception. Your Dad is a pro-hero, too. You understand, scary men. Endeavor doesn't intimidate you. Touya slid and presented you with your portfolio with a flourish, his enthusiasm radiating from him.
You slide the glossy charts across the desk to Endeavor, the intensity of your gaze bearing down upon him. Explaining the numbers and the formula used for estimations, "This is how I plan a future for your son. After graduating, he can become a fully-fledged hero who simultaneously builds a career as a model. It is more than enough for him to live a comfortable life. If you look here, I intend to increase his follower numbers to catch Detnerat's eye. I intend to acquire a contract with them. Then expand to skincare and Apothecary." Endeavor is struck speechless by your ambition, silently regarding the charts with rapt attention.
Touya stared defiantly as his father glanced away. The father looked at everyone at the table and sighed, "My son needs to understand that if he's going to be a father, he needs to behave like one."
"As for quirks. Mine is called a domestic goddess. It was made for being a good wife and mother," you beam. Touya is practically vibrating with joy. Endeavor sighs, looking almost defeated when he rises from the table.
"I'll start the ball rolling and talk to the school right away so we can get you set up with remote learning for when you start showing," Endeavor gritted through his teeth. "You'll be married before giving birth and stay here with our private doctors. I'll have a prenuptial drafted for you tomorrow. A least you found a smart one," he added with a menacing glare. You gulp. A part of you did not think that would work. What he was saying sounded like orders. 
Touya's eyes flashed as he purred, "I'll put your things in my room," giving you a look that dared you to say otherwise.
Endeavor's voice was a thunderous boom as he cut in. "No. She will stay in the guest room. You've already done enough damage." He set his sights on Shouto, a deadly glare in his eyes. "It's time for training." You really didn't like him.
Fuyumi and Natsuo stepped forward with a determinedly enthusiastic offer. "We'll help!" they exclaimed, turning down the bed and picking up the suitcase. Touya watched from the door with an expression of apprehension as Fuyumi gave a tearful cry of joy. "I'm so excited to have a big sister!" With that, they left, leaving Touya darkening your door.
"You did good," he murmured, his voice oozing with a seductive hunger. His steps grow closer, like a lion preparing to stalk its prey, "You deserve a reward." In a desperate panic, you lunged for the nearest object and hurled it at him. He easily dodged everything.
"How could you do something so reckless?!" you seethe, your anger fueled by humiliation. "Do you realize what you've done? Your family now thinks we are getting married and I'm pregnant! Do you even comprehend the magnitude of this?" You give him a look that conveys your disbelief and confusion. "What in God's name were you thinking?! Have you lost your mind?"
"Yes," he says, face falling, the word laced with icy coldness as he approaches and gently wipes away the tears cascading from your eyes. His hot hands felt tender against your skin as he spoke. "You have witnessed what I have been forced to live with, and you have surpassed all my expectations, little mouse." He leaned in for a kiss, but you turned away. He looked annoyed but plastered on a fake smile. "Hey, now. Don't be mad at me. You needed a place to stay and wanted to know more about me. My Dad wouldn't let you stay if I asked nicely."
A tear cascades down your face as you utter, "This is it. The moment I snap. You could have let me know what to expect. You didn't because you wanted to mess with me as much as your Dad. You can't expect me to want to play any games with you right now. I'm in pieces, broken apart with no idea of what the future holds. And here you are, trying to make out while I'm standing here crushed? How could you be so cruel? I only want to curl up and cry until I drift into blissful sleep. What you want shouldn't be so one-sided in the first place. I need a connection, fun conversation, eating together, sharing dreams." You collapsed on the floor, exhausted and in tears.
"You're right, little mouse," Touya left and returned with a glass of water. Touya's smirk widened as he towered over your trembling frame, relishing the vulnerability in your eyes. He raised the glass of water and extended it towards you menacingly. "You must take your medicine if you want to feel better, little mouse," he said, his voice dangerously low. You searched his gaze for any sign of pity or understanding, but you found none. Relentless, Touya stood like a statue, waiting for you to accept your fate, the glass of water symbolized. You reluctantly accepted the glass and bowed your head, knowing defeat. "That's a good little mouse," Touya said, a devilish glint in his eye. "Now rest so that you may find peace."
He turned to leave, not expecting such a small broken thing to rise. With a sudden surge of strength and determination, you lunged at him, planting your foot on his backside and shoving him out the door so hard that it slammed into the adjacent wall. He grunted in surprise, dodging the glass of water that shattered beside him. He collapsed on the ground, gazing up at you in shock. Your chest was heaving, your eyes blazing with fear, adrenaline, and an unquenchable rage. You roared, "I am more than what you see!" Your veins bulged in your neck as you slammed the door for the final time.
Fuyumi's  worried voice cut through the air, "What happened?" But he didn't respond. Instead, he got to his feet and listened as you curled up and the sobs began to escape your trembling lips. The terror that lingered in your gaze only amplified his resolve. Even while Fuyumi tried desperately to clean up the mess, he smiled at her. A response is even more disturbing than his silence. He knew Fuyumi lived her life walking on eggshells.
He gazed thoughtfully and said with a sincere note of admiration, "You didn't think I would marry a girl that didn't have fire in her veins?" Fuyumi's face lit up, her eyes sparkling in recognition and affection for your courage. She smiled kindly at your door's direction and said, "She is extraordinary. I've never seen anyone else, except you, have the strength to stand up to my father like that."
"Good night, Fuyumi," he sighed, the sound of his father's rage resonating in the distance as he trudged toward the garden. Listening as his father beat the hell out of Shouto helped ease his nerves. He reached into his coat pocket, pulling out a pack of cigarettes, tapping the bottom impatiently before lighting one with a flame from his finger. All the while, his phone kept buzzing. Taking it out to check, he let out a groan. 663 missed calls and 232 texts, all from Tenko. The task could have gone better. Sensei Kurogiri had to step in to clean up the mess.
Tenko's deep inhalation was markedly drawn out, suffusing his lungs with a sickly, acrid smoke tickling his lungs before he answered his phone. "Where is she? What have you done to her?" Tenko snarled. His words echoed through Touya's mind, and as each syllable settled like poison, the air filled with the unmistakable sound of wet, frenzied scraping. Tenko had most surely worked himself into an animalistic hysteria, scratching his body raw with sheer, unrestrained rage.
"Don't worry about her. She is perfectly safe. It's a shame it had to come to this. Before you came, she was muttering some interesting things in her dazed state. She mentioned a connection, fun conversation, eating together, and sharing dreams. Tsk. Tsk. Did you forget our shared dream first?" Touya asks, his voice breaking with false sorrow.
"She is the one who convinced me to enter the hero course last night. Let her go," Tenko says with clenched teeth, his fingers scratching with barely restrained fury.
Touya stared coldly at the dancing smoke as he imagined the pleading figure before him, a smug expression slowly creeping onto his face as he spoke, "I don't think so. When I see you succeeding, rising up to be the leader your role requires, then I will let the little mouse go." His pleasure was unmistakable. The joy of controlling another's destiny twisting in the air like the smoke before fed his sadistic nature sweetly. He snapped his fingers, and the smoke danced in a frenzy.
"I don't forgive anyone," Tenko hissed. An ominous threat that reverberated in the deathly stillness that had settled over Touya. Touya took his time to consider the Shogi playing in his mind. The threat said many things, and Touya was a little impressed. The tension weighed heavily in the air until it seemed to crush them both.
"You think she won't take you back? After all, you made her cry," Touya teased. "Well, you could always call a hero. Tell them I kidnapped her."
"You think you can play me like a fool?" Tenko scoffed. "You think you can trick your way out of this. Otherwise, you wouldn't have taken her. I know you will hide behind your privilege. You don't even understand her." Tenko growled, his temper rising. "Once I'm in the Heroes program, you'll release her. That is the step you wanted toward your dream. That's fair," Tenko affirmed, his wrath boiling in his veins.
Touya knew it was an order. One, he will have to figure out how to get around. He mulled it over and decided he wouldn't mind being the cat to his little mouse. He was able to manipulate Tenko easier than you with just a few things you said before you rejected him. He finished his cigarette and snuck into your room. Prepared to take action, Touya stealthily made his way to your bedroom. Silently standing in the shadows, he studied your resting figure with a satisfied gleam in his eye.
Like Shiori, Touya was incredulous as to why Tenko was so captivated by you. He believed you to be a naive, dumb little shallow crybaby. A girl trying too hard to get attention. He initially assumed that Tenko sought to experience what it felt like to ravage somebody's heart. An act that Touya himself had done multiple times to all the girls that had any fondness for Tenko. Then, you stole Tenko's cold, blackened heart. Something that Touya never thought would happen. Had he known that you would be the one to persuade Tenko to seek a hero's path, he might have backed off. Unfortunately for you, it's now too little, too late.
You were an enigma, almost as capable as he was of manipulating emotions. He adjusted his stance to be closer and leaned in, breathing in your scent. To him, you smelled like sweet fixation and tender love. One of those things he did not understand. His heart raced as he slowly pulled the blanket off you, exposing your half-naked form. You didn't stir, so he continued to study your body. Letting his gaze wander over your body, taking in every inch of you and causing a smirk to pass over his lips as he noticed you were clad in only a hoodie. Your bare legs caught his eye. His fingertips trailed up from your thigh, and his grip tightened on the supple flesh of your ass, causing you to moan in your sleep, and he felt an overwhelming possessiveness surge through him. What a lewd body, he thinks with a pleasant smile. You shifted but stayed fast asleep.
He began rummaging through your personal things, devising a strategy to unravel you emotionally. He is confused about why you started dating Tenko in the first place. You seemed utterly terrified of him. He heard the rumors of blackmail from your girlfriends, but he could not get you to confirm or deny it. Tenko seemed to have won you slowly over time. That's not how consensual dating works, from his experience. He wonders what kind of girl would like Tenko enough to reject him? His intuition tells him it will be easier for him if he can discover why and how Tenko caught you. Tenko mentioned a deal in his rage.
He was on the brink of his patience, ready to give up, until he stumbled upon something that sparked an unseen fire within him. His mouth suddenly broke into a wide, wicked smile as an ingenious plan began to form in his mind. One that would crush his father and maybe his world. He goes back to your body. The decisions before him were weighted heavily; he didn't want to cement it until he could see what you could do for him. He was tempted to imagine the shock and surprise on your face if he ripped your panties off and left the door wide open, yet he chose to wait until the time was right. He had to know if you could handle what would follow. You should be able to handle it if you can handle Tenko.
"Let's see how you handle the real me first," he said to the darkness.  
32 notes · View notes
kraviolis · 1 year
Text
debris becoming whole again (The Owl House)
Rating: Teen Relationships: Amity & Hunter, Belos & Hunter Words: 4.4k Additional Tags: Birthday Trauma, Pre-Canon Flashback, Hurt/Comfort, Implied/Reference Child Abuse, Angst & Fluff, Banter, Grief/Mourning, Complicated Feelings, Post-Canon (W&D Timeskip) Summary:
Hunter blinks at her in pure disbelief. “There’s no way you forgot my last birthday.”
“I’m sorry.” Amity does look genuinely sorry about it, which is nice but not what he was getting at.
“No, I mean, it’s actually impossible that you could forget it. You were there.”
“I’m gonna be honest… I don’t think I even know when your birthday is.” She admits, looking sheepish as if that’s her fault, somehow.
AO3 LINK
__________________
Hunter is smiling as he makes his way down the castle halls. 
No one sees it, of course. All the coven scouts see as they’re passing by is the Golden Guard power walking with purpose down the hall. They step out of the way and avert their gaze, avoiding any kind of eye contact, which is just fine to Hunter. He doesn’t want to be delayed for a second longer than necessary.
It’s not every day that Emperor Belos wakes him thirty minutes early with a coven courier giving him a letter requesting his presence in his Uncle’s workshop. Hunter had barely been able to contain his excitement long enough to close the door before he was smiling ear-to-ear and rushing through his morning routine. His hair was still slightly damp, but he couldn’t be late– not today.
When he reaches the door, he straightens himself out and clears his throat before knocking.
“Come in,” Belos calls through the wood, and Hunter obeys.
The workshop is one of Hunter’s favorite places in the whole imperial palace. It’s always a cluttered tangle, with half-cooked blueprints and random tubes and bolts and pieces of scrap metal scattered across any flat surface. He’s always careful to step over the various items littering the floor, knowing that it may look like a huge mess but isn’t actually. His Uncle prefers an organized chaos just like Hunter does, and he’ll do his best to respect the space as a guest in it.
“Good morning,” Belos greets him from his seat at one of the benches, his own mask and cloak nowhere to be seen and his long hair pulled back out of his face. He’s bent over, charcoal pencil in his hand scratching away with quick strokes, but pauses his ministrations to turn to Hunter as he approaches. “I see you received my invitation.”
Hunter moves to kneel, bowing his head. “Good morning, Emperor B–”
His Uncle cuts him off with a wave of his hand. “No, none of that, if you please. I do prefer my mornings outside of court and with as little bureaucracy as possible.” He turns back to the bench, pencil in hand as he continues his sketching.
Blushing under his mask, Hunter stands and nods. “Uh. Right. Sorry.”
Belos swipes a hand over the paper he’s working on, brushing away any particles. Then with the same hand, he beckons Hunter closer without looking up. “Come, nephew. Tell me what you think of this– and take that mask off while you’re at it.”
With a practiced hand, he removes his mask and hood in a single swift motion, leaving the golden vizard on the first clear surface he sees. Belos leans back so that Hunter may look over his shoulder at the sketchbook laid on the table.
“It’s… a new artificial staff?” Hunter leans closer, putting a hand on the table to get a better look. His eyes widen as he takes it in. “No, wait, is that my staff? Are you planning another alteration to the mechanisms?”
“It is, and I am.” His Uncle confirms, pointing with the pencil at the fresh blueprint. “There’s actually quite a bit I’d like to implement, but for now– do you see this modification here? With the internal wiring? What do you make of it?”
He absorbs the page, soaking in the looping cockatrice-scratch of his Uncle’s handwriting. “Mixing metals in the wires– tonguesten, copper, and Titan’ium?” He murmurs to himself, trying to connect the dots in his head. “Using copper as the conductor instead of gold would increase power, even if the charge becomes unstable… but putting those two metals together like this wouldn’t work, right?”
Hunter looks to his Uncle, who tilts his head to one side wordlessly with a neutral expression. Seeing that he won’t be getting any hints, he hums and goes back to squinting at the page in front of him.
“This configuration would brick the staff at best, or at worst, cause it explode in your hand the second you try to use it.” He crooks a finger against his chin, running through all his knowledge of magical engineering. “Copper is leaky and Titan’ium reflects magic, which is why normally you should make an effort to avoid using them together, but… not unless… the tonguesten! ”
He straightens his back, holding back a smile as he finally makes the connection. “Using tonguesten as the barrier because of its density will prevent the leaking and keep the refractions of magic within the wire itself, which lets it flow faster and at higher concentration!”
“Very good, Hunter.” Belos nods his approval, making Hunter swell with pride. “These new wire compositions should prevent both that pesky half-second delay and make this mechanism here unnecessary. Once we can remove that eyesore, the head will become lighter and render the staff more balanced than ever. In fact, all these changes I’ve noted down should make it all feel a bit more… natural, so to speak.”
Hunter can’t stop the grin this time. “That’s so– Uncle, you’re a genius! This is incredible!” He says, turning to the elder in excitement.
Belos smiles back, but it’s tense in a way that gives Hunter pause. When he raises a single brow, Hunter suddenly realizes he’s grabbed the Emperor of the Boiling Isles by the shoulders. He pulls his hands back quickly, cheeks and ears burning like he’s just slathered firebee honey on them as he takes a step back.
“I– uh. Um.” Keeping his eyes to the ground, he clears his throat and tries to regain his sense of professionalism. He bends at the waist, arms planted to his sides. “I apologize for my overenthusiasm, sir.”
“That’s quite alright, Hunter. I’m glad to know you’re appreciative of my work.” Belos puts a hand on his head, patting gently. “Just don’t make such reactions into a habit, hm?” Hunter’s breath catches, something warm blossoming in his chest at the gesture even when his Uncle quickly pulls his hand away.
It’s not every day that he receives so much casual affection, as his Uncle has never been very open with his touch– which Hunter understands, of course! The curse is dangerous to those around him, and Belos doesn’t like Hunter getting too close just in case he accidentally injures him. But today must be a good day, one where his curse isn’t bothering him too badly.
“Are you ready to get started?” His Uncle asks, drawing him from his mind. 
Hunter blinks and tilts his head. “Started on what?” 
“On your staff modifications, of course.”
“Today?” Hunter breathes, lighting up at the nod he gets. “Really? And I get to help?”
Belos chuckles, regal and dignified. “It is your staff, Hunter. You know it nearly as well as I do.” He glances to the door of the workshop, his brow raising again. “Though, I don’t imagine we can begin right this second.”
“Oh.” Something deflates in Hunter but he does his best not to frown or whine like a petulant child not getting his way. “Do you need me to gather the materials first?”
“No, I should have everything we need already.” His Uncle gestures towards his storage containers in the corner, half the lids off of the containers and several labels misplaced or illegible from age. Hunter glances from the materials back to Belos, still not understanding. “It’s just that… well, it would be rather difficult to begin when your staff isn’t here.”
Hunter gasps. “I forgot it in my room! Agh, stupid!” He hits his forehead with his fist a couple times, then turns to run out the door. “Sorry, Uncle! I’ll go and–”
“Hold a tick,” Belos grabs his own staff from where it leans against the wall to his right, using it to levitate Hunter’s mask over to him. “You don’t want to forget this as well, do you?”
“Right– Thank you!” He slips it over his face and pulls his hood up swiftly. “I’ll be right back!”
Before he can rush out of the door, his Uncle calls him back again. “Oh, and one more thing.”
He freezes and wrenches his head back into the room, buzzing with enough energy to power his staff a hundred times over. He forces his tone to stay polite and respectful, no matter how badly he wants to just take off running down the hall towards his bedroom. “Yes, Uncle?”
Belos smiles kindly at him. “Happy sixteenth birthday, Hunter.”
Hunter is so, so glad his Uncle can’t see his face anymore. The second he processes the words, he smiles so wide it makes his cheeks hurt and has to blink the sudden blur in his vision away. It feels like his chest is about to burst from nothing but pure joy.
He has an urge to run back across the room and throw his arms around his Uncle, or even just tell him for once how much he means to him, but he fights it back. No matter how much he cares for him, he can’t cross those boundaries. 
His Uncle is a complicated man and has been through a lot of pain in his life– he wouldn’t be appreciative of gestures like that. It’s not in his nature, and Hunter refuses to make his Uncle uncomfortable or, Titan forbid, start putting up his walls when it’s just the two of them again like he did when Hunter was small.
(Back when his Uncle was so distant he often would go weeks without seeing him at all. When he couldn’t find a single chance to show his Uncle how helpful he could actually be to him. No, he won’t go back to that.) 
(He’ll show the Emperor every single day just how much he can rely on Hunter, how useful he can be. He’s not going to become more dead weight, and he’s not going to let anyone else take his place.)
(Plus, it’s best for Hunter to remain as professional as possible in the castle. After all, he can only take so much muttering behind his back about nepotism and daycares.)
Instead, Hunter just nods quickly to show his appreciation. “Thank you, Uncle!” 
He waits a second for his Uncle to wave his hand, officially dismissing him, before he closes the door to the workshop politely and takes off in a dead sprint down the hall.
Hunter grins under his mask the entire way there and back. 
_________________
Hunter sniffles, drawing his knees to his chest tighter. 
It’s getting colder out here by the second as the sky darkens, the sun already gone below the horizon. His back is pressed against the wall of the Owl House as he hides away in the backyard. The sounds of the birthday party still going on inside does nothing but make his heart sink even lower.
There’s a sudden raucous of muffled laughter and Hunter squeezes his eyes closed. Everyone is having such a good time. Why can’t he? Why does everything have to be ruined by his dumb brain? Why does he have to be ruined?
It’s not fair of him. It’s supposed to be Gus’s special day. Hunter is supposed to be inside playing games with him and teasing him for turning fourteen and still being a pipsqueak, not sitting outside in the cold and having his own little pity party. 
Gus is gonna notice he’s gone soon, and then he’s gonna have to deal with Hunter’s stupid problems instead of getting sick from eating so much of the human cake Luz and Camila brought. But even though Hunter wants more than anything to just suck it up and let himself have a good time with his friends, he just… can’t . 
“Stupid,” He mutters to himself, sniffling again.
“Hey.”
Hunter whips his head around, startled. Amity is standing to his right, hands folded in front of her awkwardly. He hadn’t even heard the backdoor open.
She frowns at him and Hunter quickly turns away again to wipe at his face. “Hu–” He cuts himself off and clears his throat before trying again. “Hey.”
Amity approaches carefully and sits down right next to him, not touching but still close enough that he can feel the warmth radiating off of her. Ghost is conspicuously absent from the palisman’s constant post of circling her ankles, and Hunter knows it was on purpose.
His friends can’t even just hang out with their palismen near him without needing to walk on eggshells because of how stupidly sensitive he is. Like, it happened months ago, and Hunter still can’t even think about Flapjack without–
Hunter sniffles harder and scrubs at his eyes. Stupid. He’s so stupid . What’s wrong with him?
“There’s nothing wrong with you.” Amity tells him, and he realizes he was talking out loud. “You’re just having a hard time.”
“I’ve been having a hard time for seventeen years,” He says bitterly and continues to fight his own tear ducts. “I should be used to it by now. I never had these kinds of problems before– before I…”
“Before you left the Emperor’s Coven ?” She gives him a look, flat and unimpressed. “The same coven where showing an ounce of real emotion like this was– how did Luz word it? Like bleeding in shark infested waters?”
Hunter looks away without answering, frustrated over hearing such a logical comment in the face of his very illogical emotions. It makes too much sense for him right now, which makes everything about what he’s doing feel even more stupid. 
Amity sighs. “Do you… wanna talk about it?”
Hunter stares ahead, eyes fixed on the edge of the forest around the Owl House. The crowd inside laughs together at something again, muffled and barely-heard through the stone walls and thick glass window next to them.
“I’m just being stupid.” He repeats, turning his head to look at her.
“I mean, when are you not?” She elbows him, smiling. He glares at her in mock-offense and elbows her back, causing a mini elbow war that ends in seconds after a mutual surrender. “Seriously, though. Spill it already.”
Hunter moves a hand down from his knees, picking at the red grass underneath him. “Swear you won’t make fun of me for it?” He asks. 
“Swear. Look,” Amity makes a gesture across her chest. “Cross my heart.”
Hunter raises a brow at her. “...What does that even mean?”
“Luz did it once. It’s a human way of pledging a serious promise.”
Hunter sighs. “If Luz used it then good enough, I guess. Fine.”
There’s a long stretch of silence between them. Amity twiddles her thumbs together and Hunter tries to fit the words together in his head in a way where it possibly, just maybe, won’t actually be the stupidest thing he’s said and ever will say to another living soul.
“So…” Amity says. “Are you gonna–”
“My birthdays have always been my favorite memories.” Hunter blurts out, digging one hand into the grass and the other into his hair. Amity goes silent instantly, fixing her attention on him. “Except for– well. You know what happened during the last one.”
“...Do I?” She asks, squinting.
Hunter blinks at her in pure disbelief. “There’s no way you forgot my last birthday.”
“I’m sorry.” She does look genuinely sorry about it, which is nice but not what he was getting at.
“No, I mean, it’s actually impossible that you could forget it. You were there.”
“I’m gonna be honest… I don’t think I even know when your birthday is.” She admits, looking sheepish as if that’s her fault, somehow. “I didn’t realize you already turned seventeen until you said so just now.”
“I… Oh, Titan.” He laughs, but it’s not actually funny. He stops quickly. “I– I just remembered I never actually told anyone. I was so focused on everything else, I never…”
"When is your birthday?"
“My birthday is– Amity, it’s on Samhain." He swallows, his mouth suddenly dry. "Or, well, technically last year it was on Halloween.”
Amity blanches. She’s frozen in shock for a second, staring at him with wide eyes, before she nearly scrambles to take his hand in hers. The pressure is grounding, and he squeezes back just as tight. “Hunter,” She breathes in that same old tone– the one that everyone uses whenever Hunter shares anything about his life that’s less than perfectly happy. Horror, concern, and pity mixed into one single specific tone of voice.
“Don’t.” Hunter shakes his head. His free hand twists itself in the front of his shirt. “I already know. It’s– That isn’t what I wanted to talk about.”
Amity purses her lips and nods, but that doesn’t stop her from looking like she won’t be forgetting it. He just hopes she doesn’t let it slip to Luz before he can get the chance to tell her on his own– that will only end in a grievous amount of tears and yelling. Again.
“Anyways,” He clears his throat. Amity gives his hand another squeeze, encouraging him. “Um. Where was I again?”
“You said your birthdays were always your happiest memories.” She tells him, and he nods.
“Yeah. They were. Are? It’s– complicated.” His shoulders fall, and he leans his head against his knees again. “I didn’t get my birthdays off, in the Coven. No one did, really, but even when I was a kid I never had any birthday parties. Not like this one.”
“Are you upset because you… want one?” She guesses.
He shakes his head. “I– I don’t think that’s it. I think…” He hesitates, rolling the next words on his tongue before deciding to just spit them out. “I think I miss him.”
Amity doesn’t ask who ‘him’ is. She doesn’t have to. Hunter avoids looking at her face, not wanting to take the risk of seeing disgust or hate in reaction to his admission. She doesn’t stop holding his hand, which he takes as a good sign.
“He always made time in his day to spend my birthdays with me.” He keeps going, not sure if he can stop now that he’s started. “Even if it was only for fifteen minutes, even if we spent it going over budget reports, he always made an effort. For me .
“It’s stupid, right? How idiotic does someone have to be to miss him ?” Hunter growls, clenching his hands. “He was nothing but a liar and a murderer. He wasn’t even my uncle! I was only a tool to him, one that he had no problem with throwing away the second I–”
Amity quietly lets out a pained squeak, and Hunter rips his hand away from hers quick as lightning. “Sorry!” 
“It’s fine,” She can’t hide the wince in her face as she rubs her palm with her thumb. She shakes her head, her purple bangs falling out of place. “Don’t worry about it, keep going.”
Hunter hesitates but with a threatening brow raise from Amity, he deflates and curls back in on himself. It takes him a second to regather his thoughts from where he’d left them.
“You know what the worst part is?” He says. “When he wasn’t actively making my life into a living nightmare, he was actually really nice to me. For example, he used to sneak me hard candies during meetings that went long. Oh, and he’d let me sit in his workshop with him and rant about my day, or ramble about magical theory while he tinkered. That’s the version of him I miss more than any other. The version who felt like… like an actual, real person.
“And I know it wasn’t ever real to him, I know that everything nice he did was just another way for him to manipulate me, but… but it was real to me.” A lump begins to form in his throat, and it doesn’t fade when Hunter tries to swallow it down. 
“Belos,” He spits the name like it’s poison. “Never cared about me, but I cared about him. I– Damn it.” He scrubs at his traitorous eyes again, his breath hitching. “I- I loved him.”
His voice breaks, and so does Hunter. Unable to hold it back anymore, he wraps his arms around himself as his body begins to tremble and jolt with every sob that rips from his throat. Amity pulls him in, leaning him on her shoulder as he cries. 
It’s stupid. It’s so, so stupid . He should know better. Yet here Hunter is, grieving a genocidal tyrant who wouldn’t have given his own death a second thought. Grieving the man Hunter had thought he was. Grieving a family he never even had when his new family was right inside. They’re going to smile at Hunter when he goes back in later and look at him like he’s made their lives better just by being there, but right now he’s sobbing over someone who made Hunter feel like he had to earn the right to be his nephew.
“Stupid,” Hunter chokes out through his tears. “‘m so stupid.”
“It’s okay. I- I get it.” Amity tells him quietly, one of her hands rubbing up and down his back. “I miss my mom, sometimes.”
Hunter leans against her with more of his weight. “Your mom s-sucks .”
“I know,” Amity laughs wetly, ducking her head down. “How awful is that? I still love the woman who tried to kill Luz like, twice. I’m a horrible girlfriend.”
“Shut up.” He sobs, serious despite his sniffling.
“It’s true.” She argues back, something weird in her voice. “I have dreams about my mom waltzing into my life again, completely changed and telling me how sorry she is. I always end up crying when I wake up and remember it’s not real. I’m such an idiot .”
“Shut up.” Hunter repeats, shifting his neck to look her in the face. He barely blinks at seeing Amity with tears streaking down her face, too. “Don’t– don’t say that. You aren’t an idiot for missing the person who– who raised you.”
“I know I’m not,” Amity agrees breezily, tears all but forgotten in the blink of an eye. “And neither are you.” She pokes him in the forehead, and Hunter stops crying out of pure shock. 
“You…” He trails off, pulling back from her even more.
“Now, if you say you’re stupid for missing your Uncle, you’re calling me stupid, too.” Amity flutters her still-wet lashes, as if she’s one of those innocent little angel baby statues that sit on the shelves in the Noceda living room, and not what Camila calls el diablo .
Hunter stares at her, mouth gaping like a fish. She giggles and the sound makes him scowl. He crosses his arms, glaring at her. “I’m– I’m changing my mind; you also suck.”
“Gotcha.” She grins wickedly, taking a second to wipe her face. Her eyeliner had run when she was crying, painting black streaks down her pale cheeks before her hands smeared it all into an even bigger mess. 
He groans and pushes her away, rubbing at his own eyes and nose. “I can’t believe you. You can’t just– trick someone into not calling themselves stupid over something that is objectively stupid!”
“I just did, though.” Amity leans her chin on her hand.
“That’s not how it works!” Hunter argues, throwing his hands up. “I’m not gonna stop doing it just because you– you think you trapped me!”
“What if I blackmail you?” She says it so sweetly, like she’s asking to give him a hug and not attempting to threaten him into being nice to himself. Honestly, Hunter is ninety percent sure she doesn’t actually have anything to blackmail him with, but that ten percent is making him nervous.
“I know for a fact that you don’t have anything on me.” He calls her bluff.
“Do Camila and Mr. Deamonne know when your birthday is?” Amity asks, checking her nails casually.
Hunter reels back, eyes widening. “You wouldn’t. I told you in confidence!”
“Hmmm,” She rolls her eyes up to look at the stars in the fully darkened sky, tapping a single finger to her cheek. “I really wonder what they'd say if they found out.” 
“This is low, Blight.” He shakes his head. “Even for you.”
“All you have to do to guarantee my silence is agree to my terms.” She smiles at him, waiting for what she knows is inevitable.
Hunter plants his face into his hands and groans into them. “FINE!” He bursts, throwing his hands up. “ Fine! I won’t call myself stupid. You happy now?”
“Very.” She nods primly, a smug little smirk on her face. “Though, I would be happier if you went back inside, hugged Camila, and had some cake.”
“You’re so bossy.” He rolls his eyes, using the wall as leverage to lift himself up. His legs take a second to solidify under him, but he manages.
“Hunter, you’re the only one who lets me boss them around like this.” She tells him bluntly as she holds out her arm in a wordless command. He sighs and pulls her to her feet in a single smooth motion. “I have to capitalize on that. Where else am I gonna get the same rush of power and superiority now that I’m not a total bitch?”
“You’re just taking advantage of my brainwashing from being a child soldier.” Hunter sniffs. 
“You can’t keep pulling the child soldier card.” Amity argues. “It’s so unfair!”
He doesn’t actually care that he was a child soldier or whatever– it was quite honestly the least of his worries. He’s just echoing the words that Darius or Raine or Eda have said to him after witnessing one of his more unnerving habits. Like the compulsive kneeling.
“Whatever. I know when I’m not wanted.” Hunter raises his nose at her as he says it, brushing past towards the door leading into the kitchen. “And, for the record, you still are a total–”
He yelps in a very dignified manner as something trips him and he falls face first towards the ground. Before he can hit the ground in a way that definitely could have broken his nose, he’s caught in a levitation spell.
“You wanna finish that sentence?” Amity asks from behind him.
“...no.” Hunter grunts, struggling in the grip of the magic.
“I thought so.” She says happily, helping him to his feet.
“That’s cheating.” He huffs, brushing himself off. “I can’t do magic like that.”
Amity breezes right past him and to the door. “And I can’t use my childhood trauma as a trump card to win every argument. We all have our strengths.”
He grumbles under his breath but follows her. Before she opens the door to rejoin the party, she pauses, as if realizing something.
“Did my makeup get smeared?” Amity asks, looking up at him.
Hunter blinks. “No. Not at all.”
55 notes · View notes
lacefuneral · 5 months
Text
i don't want a season 3, but if we get it, these are the things i'd want:
blackbonnet slow dance
stede is allowed to dress feminine again
lucius is also allowed to dress feminine again. maybe he even keeps the beard while doing so
ed and stede actually have a real conversation where stede talks about his trauma because ed knows precisely none of it. not his upbringing, not the details of his marriage, and certainly not the chauncy thing.
sexual intimacy is also properly addressed wherein stede apologizes for rushing ed and ed admits that while it /was/ too fast, he doesn't regret the night he spent with stede and he felt loved and safe in his arms. they agree to genuinely go slower now, as they have all the time in the world. about mid-season we get an incredibly gentle and tender sex scene.
blackbonnet marriage proposal. preferably a double-proposal OR ed proposing to stede (with stede having to Think About it for a bit because his first marriage was a disaster)
blackbonnet wedding where both of them are in colorful, feminine attire. i really want to see both of them in gowns but i don't think wardrobe would be that generous. i'd accept ed in a gown and stede in a suit like the wedding cake toppers
return of the red silk. even if it's a New Red Silk that stede gets for ed as a gift
izzy hands stays fucking dead. better yet, something happens to his grave and no one cares. maybe he's buried too close to the shoreline and the waves carry him away during a storm.
human buttons appears at the inn, and admits that he's been wandering for some time. we, the audience, learn through flashbacks that buttons never actually turned into a seagull. he simply saw something shiny in the woods and ran towards it. and by the time he catches up to it, the revenge has already left. in-universe magic no longer real.
jim and oluwande actually have a real conversation this time where oluwande mentions offhand that he misses being jim's boyfriend. and jim realizes that oluwande thought he'd been dumped. jim asks oluwande if he's okay with being metamours with archie, and he says that she seems nice and he's willing to give it a try. oluwande brings this up to zheng, who is not happy about it. the two of them break up.
zheng finds prince ricky and completely and utterly obliterates him. she blows up HIS fleet, and goes even farther by blowing up his house and the homes of his allies.
the inn DOES work out. fuck you. the conflict of the season comes from external forces trying to pull ed and stede out of their blissful retirement from piracy.
the two of them mostly live off of canned goods and hardtack bc neither of them can cook for shit. they later meet someone in town who is a talented cook and hire them to work at the inn.
by the way we see more of their hobbies. stede gets into gardening (based on his love of flowers) and ed gets a lyre (based on the contents of his desk in season 1.) stede occasionally reads stories to children (and adults, too) at the town library. ed "goes fishing" by sitting in a boat and not actually caring if he catches anything
ed boobies? please? for me? for jay? at least a little cropped top?
10 notes · View notes
Text
Sins & Amends Chapter 40
Tumblr media
Billy Russo x Female Reader (60 part story)
This follows pre- the punisher into the storyline of daredevil, punisher season 1 and beyond
This is NOT Canon Billy. This is decent human being Billy left with bad options over worse decisions
This was also posted to A03 under: WaywardGaPeach. That account and this one is the only place you'll see me post this. If you see it on any other platform/account know it's not me.
Chapter Summary/Warnings: You finally open Billy's letter [Also this is now starting a storyline separate from the show]
"Y/N It's been almost a month..you aren't curious just what's in that envelope?" Alice asked while the two of you walked out the hospital from dropping a patient off. "I am! Believe me, I am but as bad as I hate to admit it.. I don't want to be alone when I see whatever it was Billy thought was so important for me to have" 
You were proud of yourself any time you managed to say his name without your voice breaking. It was hard seeing him in the shape he was. There were guards on his door twenty four even though so far there hadn't been much change in his condition. The only reason you were allowed in the door was because Dinah had called Mahoney who had given you a pass. You were allowed into his room once a week for thirty minutes. It wasn't a lot and he probably didn't even know you were there but what was important was that you knew you were there. 
Once the two of you were in the ambulance and headed back to the station house she said "Why haven't you said something? I would've already came over for a night to hold your hand while you open it" you shot her a smile "I may call Karen and get her to come too, Pete's supposed to be back in town this weekend" you'd let her in on Frank's new persona so the two of you could freely talk about him in public or at the station house.
You chanced a glance at her since the two of you were stopped at a red light  "Is he still acting off towards you?" You sighed with a nod "I don't know what it is. You don't think he really does blame me on some level? I mean if Billy hadn't picked the way he had"
"Hell no. He loves you. He would never hold you still being alive against you. Why don't you just ask him? I mean you've never had a problem with being blunt" you laughed because from anyone else that would sound like an insult but coming from Alice you knew it was a compliment. "I may do just that" 
---------------------
The rest of the shift was nothing unusual. Of course Hunter slipping in the bays and almost knocking himself out on the corner of the firetruck caused a round of laughter once everyone made sure he was ok.
While you were gathering your stuff to leave the next morning you were on the phone with Curtis to see if he needed any help with the soup kitchen. "Y/N are you sure? I mean you're coming off a twenty four hour shift" you zipped up your bag and shrugged which caused Alice to roll her eyes.
"You're on the phone babe. Curt can't see that shrug" you stuck your tongue out at her and she laughed so you said "Curt I'm getting off now. Soup kitchen isn't till four. I can go home, shower and take a nap. Please? I can't stand the quiet of my apartment quite yet" he let out a breath then finally said "Ok. I'll see you then"
Alice was leaned against the wall watching you so you waved a hand "Go ahead Hendricks" she put her hands up in a defensive manner "Don't shoot the messenger but are you still seeing Kenzie in office? I mean are you working through the trauma of finding two of the people you have known and loved for years half dead?"
"I'm facing it a little at a time. If I go all or nothing I may just break down" you admitted and she held her arms out so you walked into them. She hugged you tightly then said "No shame in breaking down honey" you nodded then finally said "I promise, I'm as ok as I can be given the circumstance" she let you go but held your gaze for a second "If you ever need me I'm here ok?" You smiled "I know"
---------------------
You walked to your apartment in silence. The air had the crispness of winter starting to it. Lisa and Frank Jr would be wanting to go ice skating, Maria would be talking about Christmas dinner. You hugged your jacket tighter around you trying to ward off the coldness of your mind. It was your fault they were dead.
Billy had put your life ahead of Frank's and it had ended up costing all of you everything. Maybe that was why Frank had barely spoken to you since the fight. Maybe he was trying not to hate you but maybe the thought kept popping in his head as well that maybe if Billy had just told him, even if it had cost your life Maria and the kids could've been spared.
You were jarred out your thoughts by a text alert going off on your phone. You pulled it out and smiled when you saw Leo's name. "Mom wants to know if you're still planning to come to Christmas dinner" damn you'd actually forgotten about Sarah's invite.
You texted back "Unless I end up assigned a shift at the last minute I'll be there kiddo" she sent back a few smiley emojis. You formed a friendship with all the Liebermans, even managing to win Zach off with a few gnarly tales of injuries you'd seen on the job.
David still side eyed you at times so you'd call him micro with an attitude to your voice to make a smile sneak onto his face. It was weird seeing a halfway functional family. Kenzie had set them up with a family therapist she knew and trusted so they were working through their issues.
Even Sam was making strides in his physical therapy but again hearing from Sam how Billy had stopped him from being killed, from Sarah how Billy had stopped her and Zach from being hurt. It fucked with your head. You'd went through hell since Maria and the kids had been killed and he'd known the entire time. He'd left Frank out in the cold when he could've just told him the truth. 
You shook your head and realized you'd made it to your apartment so you headed inside. At least you had helping Curtis to look forward to.
Tumblr media
When you left the soup kitchen you still felt a sense of unease. You pulled out your phone and started a new group chat with just Karen and Alice. "I need to know what's in that envelope. My place thirty minutes?" Alice texted back "I'll grab Chinese food" and Karen texted back "I'll bring the wine" you smiled at just how fast the two of them had been willing to give you their night and wondered if maybe Alice had already called Karen. 
Thirty minutes later you were sitting on your couch next to Karen while Alice sat on the floor between your legs "Open it!" She said handing the envelope out to you from where it had sat on your counter for the last few weeks. You leaned forward and downed the rest of your glass before tearing the envelope open. There was a letter, and two more smaller envelopes. "Letter first?" You asked and they both nodded.
You unfolded the piece of paper and your stomach flipped when you recognized Billy's handwriting. You felt your hands start shaking slightly and shook your head "I can't do this.here Karen you read it!" You handed her the letter so she took it gently from your hand then cleared her throat before she started reading aloud.
Y/N,
I've written this letter more than a dozen times just to turn around and burn it. I'm sorry, from the very pit of my soul please believe that. When Rawlins first came to me I didn't want to help him but he made a point, I was in love with you and didn't have anything worth while to offer. Christ if I had known then what I know now I would've shot the bastard in the face. I've hurt you in ways I can never take back or make up for. When I was given the choice of you being in his crosshairs or Frank...shit I didn't know what to do. On one hand my first instinct was to tell you everything then and there but Rawlins knew where you worked, where you lived and I'd see the shit that man was capable of. I split with you an hour before calling him and telling him to kill Frank. Yes I handed my best friend over on a silver platter. I'm not proud of it and I regret not making a different decision every day but I would never regret knowing you're still alive even if you hate me. When I got the call about Maria and the kids I knew how hard it would hit you. Please know that night we spent together I meant it. I just wanted to make your pain go away but before you woke up the next morning Rawlins somehow found out Frank was still alive so I was again handed the choice "Help me hunt down Castle or I'll carve his location out of your little medic" I've made a thousand shitty decisions but loving you isn't one of them. You may not believe a single word in this letter but I had to tell you. There's two more envelopes along with this. One holds the deed to the cabin, it's yours. Maybe just maybe you can remember me in a better light there. The other envelope holds information for a bank account in your name. There's fifty thousand in there, use it however you see fit. I already made sure you had a new vehicle at work maybe now you won't be walking so much. There is also a paper trail to prove not a penny of that money came from Rawlins. It was all honestly earned. I love you.
Billy
You sat there staring at the letter in her hands by the time she was done reading. "Oh my god" Alice breathed opening the two other envelopes and reading over all the paperwork.  "Y/N are you ok?" Karen asked and you numbly shook your head "What am I supposed to do with the money? I don't want it. I make enough at my job. I own this apartment" her and Alice shared a look and you realized it was because you weren't reacting at all. 
"Y/N, babe..it's us. Blow up. Cry. Just react please" Alice said and that seemed to finally break through "Why did he do any of the shit? Did he not fucking love me enough to see how much I loved him? We could've been fucking happy just being together. He fucked it all up for his warped idea of accomplishment and ruined everyone's lives because of it! He says he loves me but I honestly don't know if he ever did. I've lost Maria and both kids and now I think I've lost Frank too" you were crying by that point and finally broke down sobbing. They both moved to have their arms around "Kenz said it was coming" Alice said quietly as you allowed them to hold you.
After a few minutes your crying had slowed to a few hiccups so Karen pushed your hair back from your face "Sweetie, I understand how you must feel but please know you haven't lost Frank"
"Why won't he talk to me Kare?" You asked and she gave a small smile "He feels guilty. I can't say any more than that but I promise as soon as he hits New York he'll come see you ok?"
You nodded and a wave of embarrassment suddenly hit you "Oh god I must look like an idiot" "No you don't" Alice said and Karen nodded in agreement "You look like someone who's been through a lot and who has held it together for far too long" you managed a smile and said "Can we drink now?" Alice scoffed "Bitch please. Drinking is always an option"
Tumblr media
The rest of the week you had to admit you'd felt a little better after breaking down. Thursday afternoon you went to the hospital for your thirty minutes.
The process took about an hour to get into the room. You stood by the door for a few seconds before slowly walking over to the bed. The body laying there still didn't resemble anything near Billy. The height was all that was the same. The bandages had yet to come off.
You sat down next to the bed and listened to the machines.  "Billy I don't know if you can hear me. I don't know if you'll ever wake up" you stopped when you felt your throat getting tighter with unshed tears.
After a moment you continued "I don't know why you thought I needed money. I just wanted you. I don't know if you ever felt as deeply for me as I felt for you. When I met Maria I finally learned what familial love was. I was content with just that then she met Frank and Frank was always telling me stories about the smooth talking Billy the beaut. When I met you I never thought I would've fell in love with you. I guess a large piece of my heart will always belong to you. I don't regret it, I just wish things would've been different. I wish you would've just let me go. I know he's moving forward now. He loves Karen even if they're both too scared to admit it but every morning I wake up. I'm reminded I'm the reason they don't and it kills me"
You sat with him for a while long before knocking on the door. The cops gave you everything back and told you to have a good day. They didn't really understand why you came but Mahoney must have told them to not be rude or maybe it was a mutual respect thing despite the rivalry between NYPD and FDNY.
----------------------
When you walked out your phone started ringing. It was Karen's ringtone so you answered on the second ring. "Are you going to be home around nine?" You were a little thrown by her of all people not saying hello. "Why hello Karen. Nice to talk to you and why yes I'll be home at that time"  the hospital visits always put you a little on edge so maybe that was the reason for the extra sass.
She laughed and said "Sorry he's just wanting to know" you knew who she meant. "Oh. Ok. Yeah I'll be there" after the two of you said your goodbyes and she hung up you checked the time. There was still two hours to kill.
-----------------------
You were leaning against your kitchen counter nursing your third cup of coffee when a knock at your door nearly made you throw it. You weren't sure why you were so nervous. Hell it was Frank.
You sat your cup down and hollered "I'm coming!" You took a deep breath before finally opening the door. When you opened it he was standing there with his hood pulled up. You managed a smile at seeing him. "Hey" "Hey" you realized he was left standing in the hall so you stepped back quickly "Shit. Sorry please come in"
He walked in and as soon as you shut the door and turned to face him he pulled you into a hug. "I missed you too but I can't really breathe" you managed and he pulled away "Sorry" you smiled "No problem. Um I've got coffee made?" "Sounds good" he nodded so you lead the way into the kitchen. You poured him a cup and handed it to him then waited for him to talk.  "I've been doing some thinking and we've never really talked about that night. What happened between me and Bill" 
You felt your stomach lurch at the memories  "You don't owe me anything Frank. Whatever happened you both survived. That's what counts" he nodded then said "We damn near killed each other" you almost laughed at his words "Yeah I know. I was the one that kept you both alive until Dinah got ambulances there"
He looked up to meet your eyes then "I never did thank you for that did I? I guess I just got used to getting hurt and you patching me up" you shrugged one shoulder "that's what family is for"
You took a sip of your coffee and a part of you hoped he'd stop there but he sat his cup down. "Y/N I've got to tell you the truth" "Ok" you sat your cup down next to his and leaned against the counter staring up at him. "I baited him into that fight. I said horrible shit about you and I've been too damn guilty to face you" "Frank it doesn't matter" you hated knowing he'd felt any guilt. He shook his head "No it does. Y/N.. I called you pathetic and broken and told him killing you would've done the world a favor"
"That would probably hurt if I didn't agree with it. I should've been killed. I wish I would've been" you didn't realize you were crying until Frank wiped a tear from your cheek "C'mon now sweetheart, don't say that. I've lost too much, don't make me think about losing you too. I'm glad he kept you alive. At least he did one thing right" 
"We're family Frank. Me and you are stuck together. Whatever you said to Billy doesn't matter. Don't you dare hold any guilt for that. What you said doesn't change anything and I know you didn't mean it" 
He nodded then said "I'm gonna start checking in with you more. I'm sorry I haven't here lately"  "It's ok Frank. I know you've went through hell" "So have you sweetheart. So have you" 
@intothesoul
@weallhaveadestiny
17 notes · View notes
mistysharks · 1 year
Text
Summer of '85 Baby!
(Steddie Cis!swap part 1 part 2.) (its lesbians time folks) Eddie gets held back a year, which she thinks is both a blessing and a curse. Sure, it means money becomes tight and she needs to start dealing, but it also means she's the oldest kid in hellfire, with the most DM experience, and being the DM means she can set the rules. And, drop a dragon on anyone who she doesn't like. It's pretty freaking great.
And maybe she lets it get to her head a little sometimes. And maybe she climbs a table or two at school while making an especially strongly worded social commentary but hey, at least nobody calls her a bitch or a slut. Nah, she gets a word just for herself. Freak.
Wayne keeps trying to get her proper summer jobs, keep her out of trouble. It's a shame dealing pays way better.
It does mean, though, that she's stuck painting the fence outside of Gareths moms house at 1PM on a Saturday afternoon, within hearing distance of the guy absolutely going to town on his Drum set in the garage. On that day, Corroded Coffin is born.
And its easy, to spend the summer with Gareth, who she'd only barely known as the new kid in hellfire before. He's chill, in a way Eddie's never learnt how to be. He doesn't treat her like one of the guys, exactly, though she can't quite put her finger on what it is. Maybe its that he just treats her like a person.
Having to re-do senior year for a second time doesn't feel so bad, if she's got Gareth hanging around.
So its natural, of course, for them to drop by Starcourt on a hot day, and even more so to scramble together whatever change they got left to pick up some Ice Cream on their way out.
Neither of them had been quite prepared enough for what met them as they walked into Scoops Ahoy though.
Stevie Harrington. The Queen Bee of Hawkins high, newly graduated and now... Standing behind the counter in an ill-fitting sailors outfit, bored expression on her face and gravity defying waves of hair, a jaunty sailors hat balancing precariously on top as if held in place by will alone.
And the thing is, Eddie's noticed Harrington, of course. You don't go through the years of high school (plus extra) without knowing about the hottest mean girl in school. And if you are, like Eddie, a raging Lesbian (even though she's only just admitted this fact to herself), and who also has a thing for girls with a mean streak?
Yeah... She knows about Stevie, all right. Gareth also seems surprised by this development, thank god, stopping in his tracks right next to Eddie.
He does not, however, make a pained little noise as they both watch Stevie stretch, the far too short top rising to show off a generous sliver of tan, muscled, midriff.
Eddie... Does. And then promptly flees the scene.
Later, back in Gareth garage while Eddie tunes her baby best she can with only her ear to go on, Gareth says
"Its ok if you're a lesbian, you know"
And it catches Eddie so off guard she snaps the string
------
Stevie works the summer at scoops ahoy. She flirts badly, makes minimum wage, gets tortured and drugged by Russians, and makes a friend for life. They hate each other at first, of course, Robin remembering all to well what Stevie used to be like, and Stevie's just too tired to try and convince anyone she's changed.
Nothing like a plot to unravel and shared trauma to change things though, and if she's honest, Stevie was already starting to warm up to the girl before they even started solving mysteries together. There was just something so refreshing about someone who says exactly what they think, even if that is sometimes by accident.
"This summer is the most fun I have ever had" Stevie tells her, on that bathroom floor. "I really think you could be my best friend, Robin"
And when Robin tries to protest, says that she wouldn't think so if she really knew her. if she knew what she is, Stevie is just confused at first.
"but... Tammy Thompson is a girl"
"Stevie..."
"oh."
And look, Stevie's never really thought about the concept rather than as an insult before. It was something you called a girl you didn't like, that's all. But... Robin's great. She's sweet, she's funny, and she didn't hesitate for a second to save kids she barely even knew. So... the idea that she could in some way be bad, just because she thought Tammy Thompson was cute? It... didn't feel right.
So she rolls with it, mocks her for her bad taste, and way too many things happen after that for them to really have a chance to talk it over.
But later, as they are curled up on Robins bed, too wired up to sleep, too scared to turn off the light fully, she asks her about it. Wants to know what it really means. And... if she asks maybe a few too many questions, a few too in-depth ones, Robin doesn't comment on it.
Just answers best she can. It's several weeks later when Stevie even thinks of the concept that if Robin is into girls, and Stevie is a girl-
"Wait!" She asks suddenly, in the break room of family video "how come you never had a crush on me?"
And Robin just wrinkles her nose, which, rude. Stevie knows what she looks like. She should be everyone's type. "Sorry dingus, I only date cute girls"
"Wha- I'm cute!" Stevie answers, gesturing to her Pink V neck, tight jeans and her carefully styled hair, but Robin just shakes her head.
"Too much Jock energy, sorry!" Robin says, flippantly, as she walks out of the room "Wha- what does that even mean" Stevie asks, following her out the door (next time- they interract??? with Each other??)
(My HC is that Stevie looks a lot like Carol from s1 but taller and more athletic. Plus moles, of course)
18 notes · View notes
sachiko1309 · 10 months
Text
The good old Doc - Part 14
Missed the start? No problem, here is the first part, the following ones are always linked at the end, so you dont have to search endlessly. 😉
Summary: Lieutenant Lilith Adams enlisted back in the military, only to be met with a certain cocky pilot. Overcoming certain past traumas, she tries to fit in with the team of pilots as their personal medic. Soon finding her stuck between a certain good looking aviator and her work morals.
This is a series which is currently in the making, so I don’t exactly know how long it is going to be. 😊
Word count: 2781
Warnings: generally none, maybe some for those who have deeper knowledge of military stuff. I do not and I am sorry in advance, if I got things wrong (you are welcome to correct me in the comments)
I will be on vacation for a week. Thats why I posted part 14 and 15 today, so that I dont have to interupt my time off. I hope you guys understand. Have a great week. 🥰
Tumblr media
The next Monday, I found myself called to the Admirals office with the rest of the team. We were all waiting for his arrival. And by the looks on Warlock’s face, the situation was critical to say the least. Nobody dared to talk or ask questions. The tension in the room weighting us down like we were buried alive. When Cyclone rushed into his office minutes later, we all jumped to our feet, saluting him. He waved us off, without saying anything. Slumping into his seat. Another swing of his hand signaled us to sit down. Quickly we shuffled into our seats, eyes curiously trained on Cyclone. He was reading through a file over and over again, seemingly not willing to accept what was written there.
“I have bad news.” He said after a while, shutting the file. His face showed no direct sign of distress, but I could read it in his eyes. “Apparently, our borders have been breached by two enemy carriers, accompanied by five warships. As far as our knowledge goes, one is filled with ten SU-51 and the other with several helicopters and support aircrafts. Our base is the closest to the next carrier. It is currently turning to pass our coastline. The daggers will fly their jets and land on the boat, while Lieutenant Adams, me and all our bags and supplies will be picked up by a helicopter. Prepare for the mission, call your family. This mission is classified, so if you must, lie. Everything else will be discussed once we land on the carrier. Time is of essence. Take off is in two hours. You are dismissed.”
As soon as he finished talking, everyone rushed out of the room. While I was running towards my office, I called my mother: “Mom. Its me, Lillith. I am pulled for a mission. I don’t know how long it will be and I am not allowed to tell you more.” She interrupted me: “What do you mean, pulled for a mission? Why cant you tell me anything?” Her voice was laced with worry and I could practically see her pacing around, wherever she was.
“It’s a classified mission, that just came up a few hours ago. We get mission details when we depart. Don’t worry. I will be fine.” I tried to calm her, but she was over the edge already: “This came up in the last hours? That means something dramatic happened. You are deployed with aviators. Your missions are always planned out over months. We are getting attacked, aren’t we?”
She of course knew how the military worked, having connections all her life. But I couldn’t tell her. “I cant deny or admit anything, mom. You have to trust me, okey? This is the last phone call for a while. I will not take my phone and I don’t know if we are allowed to call from where we will be. If something happens, be assured I love you, okey? You have been the best mom, someone could have asked for.” I tried to keep my voice steady, to not further upset her, but a few sniffles escaped nonetheless.
“I love you, too Lillith. Just promise to come home again, okey?” I could hear her crying, even though she was hiding it pretty well. But I didn’t know anything that was about to happen. And one of the first rules in the navy was: Don’t promise something you cant keep. “I will try my best, mo. But I have to go. I love you, bye.”
Before she could answer I hung up, turned off my phone and locked it into my safe. Then I started to view over my medical supply bag. Luckily it was complete. Then I packed my go bag. The three sets of my uniform, I always kept on base, my first aid body kit, a book and the small plushy my mother gifted me when I was accepted into the navy. Then I practically ran across the base to the called out meeting point. The helicopter was already waiting. Cyclone and the pilot started to load it with the bags the team brought in. As soon as he saw me, Cyclone came over and took the heavy bags from my shoulder.
“There was enough time, for you to do two rounds.” He said, voice stern. Concentrated on what was about to happen. I ignored him. “Where is Jake?”
“He already dropped off his things. I believe he is doing the last check ups in his jet.” Cyclone answered. “Yes, you may say good by to him.” He added, once he saw my face. I didn’t need to be told twice. Racing down the runway, I crashed through the big gate, my eyes frantically searching the hangar. When I made out Jake, I walked over to him. He noticed my appearance as soon as I stood next to him. Stopping his check up, he took me in his arms. That was the moment I started to uncontrollably sob into his chest. Letting go of all fears bottled up inside of me.
“I know, darlin. I know. But I promise, whatever we are about to do, I will do everything in my power to protect you, okey?” He whispered, caressing my back. I wiped my tears away. “But what about you?” I asked, voice, thing and shaken by my cries. He offered me one of his big flashy smiles. “Well, I believe in the best medic of the navy, to stich me up again.” His playful comment had me laughing. “Just promise not to do something stupid, okey? I know how you fly and I swear if you pull some risky shit and die, I will come to wherever this afterlife is, and kill you again, understood?” Jake let go of me, saluting rigidly. “Understood, Ma’am.”
I pulled him down by his vest, pressing my lips against his. This kiss was filled with desire, pain and uncertainty. But I swore, that I would do whatever it would take to keep him safe. And I truly believed he would do the same. With that safety rushing through my veins, I ended the kiss, stepping back. “See you on the carrier, aviator.” I smiled tilting my head, watching him climb onto the wing of his jet. “See you soon, medic.” He answered, smiling at me, while he put on his helmet. Turning around I made my way back to Cyclone and the helicopter.
The flight didn’t take long. And while I was squeezed between Cyclone and what felt like tons of stuff, I learned, that the pilot was my old companion Mickey from Afghanistan. He was like me a total sucker for madness, so I wasn’t surprised to learn he volunteered for this mission. “Tell me, Wifey. Is there some man in your life, or do I still got a chance?” He playfully asked over the coms, not knowing the whole dagger squad was connected with us.
“Back off, man. She is taken by a real pilot.” I could hear the possession lacing Jakes voice. Mickey didn’t seem to be impressed that much, ignoring the unfamiliar voice in his headset. “Didn’t know you would fall for an aviator. I always thought you would go for a real man. A man that knows how to handle a combat and not just drop a bomb from thousands of feet of air.” Snickering he turned around to look at me.
“Stop it, Mickey. They don’t know you and probably now think you are a piece of shit. And to answer your question, you never had a chance.” I said, squinting my eyes at him. He placed one hand over his chest. “You hurt my feelings, little Lady. All this time I believed I was your favorite pilot, only to then be replaced by a voice in my head.”
Rooster laugh rang through the coms. “I swear, whoever you are… I really like you. We should go for a beer after this shit show here. My name is Rooster by the way. The best of this squad.”
“Shut up, Rooster.” Jake interfered. “And my name is Hangman. I am Lilliths boyfriend and the best. Because unlike little Rooster, I am already have to take downs registered in my file.”
“Still, Maverick has five. Makes him an ace and the best.” Phoenix interrupted him. “Phoenix by the way. I fly one of the double seaters with Bob. Say hi Bobby boy.”
“Hi… I… uh… I am Bob.” Bobs voice was quietly heard. Payback was the next to speak. “If we already are bragging: My name is Payback and if you ever find out, why I am called that way, then pray you are not the one on the receiving end.” His introduction had everyone laugh, remembering how he would throw out several people out of Pennys bar each Friday night. “Yeah. And I am Coyote. I am just existing. That’s all.” Jave spoke after the laughter had subsided.
“You have a cool team, Wifey. But still. I think we Marines are better.” Mickey cockily shot back. Our bantering got interrupted by the control tower on the ship: “Tower to dagger squad. Runway clear for landing. Mickey you can hover.”
So, we did. One by one I watched the squad land their jets on this short excuse of a runway. And with every time they managed to drop and catch the rope taut to slow their landing I was whisked away. I knew what good of a pilots my team were, but seeing them act it out whipped me from my feet every time. Once the runway was cleared from any jets, ropes and crew members, Mickey got the permission to land as well. Quickly the helicopter was unloaded, the bags stowed away and the quarters obtained. I was sharing with Phoenix. Bob with Maverick, Coyote with Jake, and Rooster with Payback.
Not even half an hour later, we found ourselves scrambled into the very small control room staring at a wall of screens. Cyclone was explaining what happened and what our mission would be. Apparently, the team was called to take down any aircraft in the airspace inside the US sea area. I was supposed to expand the team of medics on board, having detailed information on the medical history of the dagger squad. Nobody knew exactly why our borders have been breached and any signal towards the enemy ship wasn’t answered. And based on the route they were taking the as well didn’t seem to steer outside of our borders, making their actions officially an attack on the safety of US citizens.
I looked at the clock on the wall. Nearly 5 pm. That meant this meeting was about to be over and we could take our dinner in the great mess hall. My thoughts about nutritious but bland military food where suddenly disrupted by Cyclone addressing me directly: “Lieutenant Adams. After this meeting, please accompany Lieutenant Smiths to the medical quarters and get familiar with the area. This meeting ends now. You are dismissed. Mission tomorrow starts at 0800.”
“Yes, Admiral.” I quickly answered, letting my eyes scan over the crowd. A tall woman with brown hair smiled at me, identifying herself as Lieutenant Smiths. After we were dismissed, I waved my team goodbye, telling the I would meet them in the mess hall. Then I made my way through the crowd towards Lieutenant Smiths. She offered me her hand. “You can call me Cookie. Whats your name?” She had a bright angelic voice, I could not quiet connect to her tall, and fit statue. Shaking her hand, I answered the question. “Lieutenant Adams. But everyone calls me Wifey.”
She laughed at my name. “Wifey, huh? How did you get your callsign?” I tilted my head, smiling and following her through the corridors, trying my best to get them stamped into my brain. “My first deployment got me on a base where I was the only woman. Being the medic I was their contact person for any problem they had. And one day, when a Marine came in with a dislocated shoulder, I had to completely knock him out on medication, because he wouldn’t sit still. When he gained his consciousness back, he mistook me for his wife. After that, my name was set. How did you get yours?”
“I loved cookiees, so I used to dress up as the cookie monster from the sesame street back in elementary school.” She answered, pulling a small bag of cookies out of her pocket. “Besides that, I always carry a bag with me. You never know when you need them.” Opening the bag, she offered me one. I took it gladly, since this was the first thing I had eaten in the last hours.
After a while we reached the medical bay. Two men and another woman were waiting for me. Pointing towards a smaller thin man, Cookie started to introduce me to them. “This is Apollo, he got his name, because his last name is Armstrong. The woman next to him is Bambi. She got her name, because of her doe eyes.” A blond woman with big blue eyes waved at me. “The last one is Beetle. Whenever we are in an area with many insects, you can bet they all swarm around him. We haven’t figured out why yet, but the study is still running. If you have a guess, we take it, doesn’t matter how wild it is.” A tall darkhaired man with a mustache offered me a bitter smile. “Yeah, about that. If you ever need any insect or spider removed just call me. My presence alone will lure them in.”
After a short walk through the med bay, we made our way towards the mess hall. The dagger squad was already waiting on a long table, so we joined them. Luckily, they were connecting with each other quickly, so a was able to zone out. Letting my thoughts wander, while quickly shoveling down the food I thought about what would make someone act out this clear of a war threat with us.
It wasn’t that I was scared of the mission. But I was concerned with the plainness another nation was breaking a truce. What if this was something planned from a long hand, baiting the US military to act, then making us look like the aggressor? What would happen then? Would we be at war, with said country? What country even was it, that send out this ship? It wasn’t sailing under any flag, nor did it answer any calls. And worse of all, what if someone of my team would get hurt? I couldn’t do anything, if they get shot down somewhere over the ocean. And who could guarantee, they would be able to return alive with a rescue helicopter?
The longer I thought about tomorrow, the more agitated I got. Not noticing my leg jiggling, I was startled to feel Jakes hand on my thigh. “Whats wrong, darlin?” He quietly whispered into my ear.
“I am nervous.” I answered. “What if this is a trap? This ship isn’t sailing under a flag, not answering any calls. Who would do something like this?” His hand started to caress my leg, trying to calm me down. “I am sure its nothing. Probably just some miscalculation and they don’t understand us, or don’t get our calls. We will scout and that’s all. In and out quickly.”
“My guts tell me otherwise.” I mumbled, not looking up from my plate. Jake put an arm around me, pulling me into a hug. “Everything will be alright. Its normal to worry before a mission. Especially since your last got you kidnapped and tortured. But if something goes wrong, I will protect you and I promise to come back to you. Even if that means I have to slaughter a whole army by myself.”
“You are a jerk, Jake.” I laughed, letting my body sink into his. He laughed at my comment, getting up from his seat. “Lets get you into bed, darlin. Otherwise, I am sure, the enemy will turn their ship as soon as you would catch their eyes.” I squinted my eyes. “Is there something you wanna tell me, Bagman?” I threatened, causing him to raise his arms laughing. “Not at all. You look beautiful like a sunshine when you wake up. I am sure the creature crawling around in the kitchen making coffee is just in my imagination.”
“I hate you.” I grumbled, not taking the hand he offered me.
“No, you love me.” Was all he said, guiding me towards Phoenix and my quarters.
6 notes · View notes
joshriku · 5 months
Note
Hi!!! I just read how do you sleep at night, your WandaJericho fic, and I'm having so many feels right now!!! Wanda's decision to getting a break from her relationship with Jericho made me like, oh wanda!
Her getting constantly anxious that nothing big is happening after their semi breakup was so sad. Girl is having grief in her romantic and maternal life since Vision's disassembling. It happens in reality too, when you are having constant drama and trauma in your life, you can't just suddenly adapt to peace. And you just start creating the drama and the unstable ness, whether you want it or not. Self Sabotage, or craving drama, you name it.
But the consequences that come with it—what always happens when she loves too much, the things that get ruined, the life she tries so hard to keep under control—it’s all so paralyzing. It’s as paralyzing as this touch. Oh dear!
And Jericho was so supportive! He was extremely right to be hurt, but I think he must have gotten an inkling later(maybe pietro?) about why is she behaving like that. I loved their Astral plane conversations, and "simply souls waving each other hello." This is so good!!
Also pietro!!! I loved how he just knew why Wanda is behaving like this. Self Sabotage indeed. The twin sense must have gotten activated. He is actually more emotionally intelligent about people he loves and cares, so that wasn't a surprise when he knew what wanda didn't want to admit yet. Also I knew it when he said he likes Jericho! Honorable mention Wanda's thought on how easy is to fight with pietro. Hope next years mini does twins justice.
Also Happy New Year!!
🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺 happy new year!! firstly thank you so much for such a lovely ask it really means a lot that you'd take the time to let me know you liked my writing, i really appreciate it!!!! 🥺🫶 already made my 2024 a great year!!
second AHHHHHH THANK YOU.. I LOVE WANDAJERICHO SO MUCH. ever since SW #9 when they reveal they're inexplicably exes / still have feelings but with "no strings" i've been like. oh?? what?? 😭 at first i was like, oh thats funny they dont strike me as characters who'd do No Strings Attached thing. but then i gave it more thought and started thinking of ways they COULD be and wanda essentially growing uneasy and anxious over a relationship that was going so well, when she is so used to things going wrong, came to me and i was like ohhh yes... thats it... now we got it 🫵 i can see her cutting things out before them getting "ruined". i really wanted it to be like, this relationship is *fine* and thats whats freaking her out!!
when i wrote this i wrote jericho with the intention that he knew exactly why she did it, but knowing it didnt change that she did hurt him, and the whole crutch of this story being that theyre both unequivocally very in love with each other still. still the case does remain that jericho is also very committed to his duties in the academy, esp after everything they went through - something wanda would also know firsthand. i think all those student deaths/the death of doctor strange/mandatory other marvel events would take its toll on anyone tbh i can see them trying to put at least a pause on everything while they try to fix the world. As Usual. i didnt write jericho immediately taking back wanda too because, yknow, it takes two to tango! BUT THEYRE SO GONNA WORK IT OUT. BECAUSE THEY LOVE EACH OTHER THATS THE WHOLE POINT.. THEY NEVER STOPPED..IN MY HEAD. CAUSE I SAID SO AND THEYRE MY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT SHIP...
and AHH THANK YOU.. pietro in that fic was my favorite part 🫶 he loves wanda and hes really good friends with jericho of course hed have a deeper understanding of whats going on! i think pietro is a lot more emotionally intelligent than what most writers give him credit for. and if theres anyone who knows about self sabotaging or recognizing it on someone itd be him, and ESPECIALLY on wanda. defo one of my fave scenes to write in that fic 🥹 MAXIMOFF TWINS MY BELOVED..
Anyway this was a really long reply just to say that thank you SO much and this ask made my whole year and i am really grateful that you liked my fic!!!!!!! i liked writing it too!!! 💛💛💛
2 notes · View notes
abbyfmc · 2 years
Text
Yandere Boyfriend! x Girlfriend! Reader:
No one has asked me for this.
This idea of ​​one shot from a yandere phrase that I published in my third book of 'Phrases and things of a yandere boy' which is the following (it's in Spanish but I'll translate it for you):
Tumblr media
*Phrase #18:
'Why are you with my love? And why are you pissed? It is not you who has been robbed of many years of life in a hospital bed by a coma. Trust me I'll do anything to make up for lost time with her, so do me a favor and stay out of our lives.'
-By: Me.
Context: Y/n and William (it was the first yandere that came to mind) already had a love relationship but William one day suffers an accident so bad that it left him in a coma for a few years and when he wakes up he discovers that his lover later got a "friend" ( that of "friend" from William's point of view) who was keeping her company in his absence. When William managed to return home after several psychological and bodily resuscitation therapies, the friend was upset with Y/n but William was not going to give up on him, and said the phrase in a calmer but somewhat disturbing way.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
yandere name: William(original oc).
Warning: Tampering.
Tumblr media
*__ PO.V*
I had just arrived home in the middle of a rainy night.
I live with my boyfriend William. We are both 28 now and we met when we were about 23 or 24 in college. He works as a lawyer and was busy most of the time and I was the manager of a fancy restaurant from which I sometimes bring home leftover food that no one wanted. Other times I or William cook.
We had a beautiful life despite the time that our jobs took us, or despite the stress we felt and no, we had no children or plans for it because we wanted to live more peacefully. We tried to talk even if it was by text and spend time together going for a walk, watching a movie or playing sports.
Until a specific day.
I had received a call on my phone after I got home. Sirens, crowds of people and horns were heard. It turns out that William had a car accident and when they searched his phone they found my number, and I believed it even more when the accident was reported on the news, so I took my coat, my keys and my bag and desperately ran to the hospital that I have been told and yes, William was admitted there.
--Sorry-- Once I got to the hospital I immediately went to the reception area and after asking for my boyfriend's name to find out where he would be, they told me that they were checking him in the Traumatology area on their respective floor, but that I should wait until They moved him to a room, so with my heart pounding I had no other.
--I hope you are well William-- I didn't want him to die. He and I had been through a lot together and if that happened, I would be so sad.
Tumblr media
Time has passed and William still does not wake up.
Apparently, due to the accident, he has fallen into a coma and has been like that for several months.
I gave my contact information to the doctors and nurses so that while I was at work they could inform me of any progress or decline that my partner had, such as his severe trauma and yes, the prices of the bills to pay. I still haven't figured out who the opposing car was that left William like this, but as soon as I do, I'll see if I can do something about it legally.
--Hi again William-- I waved dejectedly as soon as I entered the room without receiving any response. The room didn't have much. Just a small bathroom next to it, the monitor William was hooked up to showing his vitals, a chair where I sat, and a small table.
I have been reading his favorite books to him, telling him things that have happened to me during the day and how I missed him in a calm way or… as calmly as I could because other times my voice broke and I ended up crying from fear maybe that he never woke up and the doctors disconnected him or that he ended up dying. I insisted to the doctors that they let him live and to the nurses too. On the other hand, she was tired since she left work and came here on weekdays and on weekends she used to clean the house for when William woke up and came back or tried to do the weekly shopping that could no longer be weekly due to our tight schedule.
--Yet I feel like I can't blame you-- Of course not. I can't be mad at him. Where are your other relatives? Only his old mother came to see him but after her no one else has come to see him.
Sometimes William moved his fingers or toes, cried or frowned, which the first time it happened really moved me but the doctor who was with me at the time explained that this type of movement is normal in people who they fall into a coma, and I'm used to that, although I don't lose hope that he will finally open his eyes and wake up.
--Come on William, you can survive. I know you can do it, I'll be here to see you wake up-- Sometimes I wished that he would wake up, that he would get better and that we could finally go home and remember this event as a bad nightmare or a bad time to restart a peaceful life.
On the other side, I have met a new guy at my job named Axel. He was the same age as me and at first he seemed like someone very serious, but he turned out to be someone very nice as time went by. However, when I saw his car, I must say that I felt that it was very very familiar to me for some reason and I thought I had heard of it somewhere, but I don't remember very well. He has tried to ask me out and has kept me company all this time. At first I didn't say anything to him about William for the first year until two years had passed.
Axel was very respectful when I told him about it and even went with me to the hospital, but his surprised face when he saw William made me suspect him, although he told me that nothing was wrong.
--ok if you say so-- I sat in the hospital cafeteria next to him since I haven't managed to eat that much all day, so I took the opportunity to relax.
--Well and… hey, are you seriously planning to sleep here? I see you very tired-- He showed concern for me, but William's mother has already been here all day and that lady must be tired, so I said yes and instead please take William's mother to her apartment since It's something like 10:00PM and it's a little late for her to be out alone.
--In agreement. We'll talk tomorrow, good night-- We said goodbye and I went to William's room. I have permission from the Traumatologist who treated my boyfriend and that is why no staff has told me that I should leave since apart from the mother, I am the only relative who comes to keep him company.
Tumblr media
Time has passed really fast.
Axel has shown more interest in me than I expected over the next six years that we have known each other despite the fact that I still love William and stay with him, waiting for him to open his eyes to the point where whenever I can I check my cell phone in case there is a message from the doctor or her mother or I am always on the phone at home without losing hope.
But one day while I invited Axel to have coffee at my house, I received a call on my phone. It was late afternoon and calm was finally prevailing on that Sunday, so I stopped to pick up my phone, took the call and realized that it was William's mother.
📳📳Call📳📳
--Y/n! Honey, you there?-- William's mother asked really surprised and anxious about something.
--Yes ma'am, why does it sound like that? What's going on?-- I started to worry until my heart skipped a beat hearing a familiar voice in the background, which made me assume only one thing.
--Come to the hospital quickly! He has woken up and wants to see you!-- A wave of joy flooded my heart and my eyes immediately filled with tears of joy.
--I'm going to the hospital immediately ma'am! Tell William I'm coming!-- So I hastily closed the call.
📳📳End of call📳📳
I closed all the windows and quickly turned off all the lights while Axel looked at me all confused by my tone of voice when talking to my mother-in-law.
--What's going on?-- He asked confused and standing up immediately from the sofa.
--My mother-in-law called me from the hospital. William is awake and I have to go see him!-- He understood and left the house to his car, willing to take me since the car William used had a problem recently and I sent him to make some changes and improvements which are not ready.
--Thanks for taking me. Sorry if I put too much pressure on you, it's very important to me-- It was true. Many times I felt bad with him for rejecting him but he has never seemed to get angry although he has continued to try to have something with me on occasion, but my feelings already belonged to someone else during these six years.
I can not believe it. The love of my life managed to survive and woke up, I knew I shouldn't lose hope!
The whole way, she looked like a little girl about to go to her favorite water park. Axel didn't say anything about it, and when we parked in the hospital's civilian parking lot, I immediately got out and rushed into the building, looking for his room with Axel behind me trying to follow my steps until I was in front of the door of the aforementioned room.
--I think it's better that I stay here and wait for you-- Axel added, sitting down on one of the hall chairs with his phone. I insisted that he come with me and he did, so I opened the door and went inside.
--Good afternoon Mom-- Yes, my mother-in-law trusts me so much that she lets me tell her mom sometimes. I see William talking to her with some confusion perhaps because she told him that it had been six years since her fatal accident. William had been looking at me for a while, perhaps having mixed feelings, and I walked towards him with tears in my eyes and my heart pounding in my chest.
--William, I knew you'd survive-- He seemed to smile and I hugged him as best I could so as not to hurt him. I didn't feel able to say a word. I could feel him respond to my hug which lasted a long time while Axel and my mother-in-law talked about who knows what topic. We didn't part for a while and then I sat down in the chair next to her.
--You are still as pretty as before. I'm glad to see you-- He then proceeds to see Axel talking to his mother about how things have been around these six years and after Axel also looks at him, I feel like all of a sudden a not-so-good tension builds between these two.
--Who are you? Have we met?-- William asked Axel seriously.
--No, I do not think so. But anyway, I'm Axel, nice to meet you-- I could see that they were both giving each other a fake smile. I feel like something is wrong here and I don't know why.
--Yes, equally. Did you come with Y/n?-- William asked him in response and Axel nodded, so I told him that he is a friend I met on my job shift some time ago and that I brought him so they could meet, although internally I could already see that perhaps it was not a very good idea.
--I see-- Will answered. To break the awkwardness, Axel said that he had to leave at that time. I felt bad for him and tried to apologize but Axel said it wasn't my fault so I let him go "quiet".
My mother-in-law named Gladys and I proceeded to tell him that six years have passed since his accident and that we have been taking care of him all this time. Both me and my mother-in-law have even had to wake up here and divide our schedule. While I was here I talked to him and even read to him or simply waited for him to wake up and his mother did the same when she was here.
--Thank you both very much indeed-- I was able to see William smile again after a long time, which made my heart and his mother's too happy.
Tumblr media
During the following days, Mrs. Gladys and I have been helping William to follow the resuscitation therapies that the doctor has made him follow, since after six years in a coma and therefore, immobile, his body was asleep, so it was very difficult for the beginning, but I was always giving him encouragement and support after leaving work unless I was cleaning the house while Axel helped me with the weekly shopping when it had to be done, giving me my money, of course since he insisted on helping me with the errand.
And after a long time waiting in recovery at the hospital, William was finally able to return home with me where the medical processes, both resuscitative and psychological, continued and I was able to be more relieved just as William was able to be happier with me. It goes without saying that the night William came home we even slept in each other's arms, especially me since for some reason I felt that they were going to take him away from me.
--Calm down darling. Nothing and no one is going to separate us, I will never leave your side again-- I hugged him at bedtime. It felt strange yet good to have him back by my side once more, and with him reciprocating it is so much better.
But that's not the only thing, since every time Axel and William see each other, it's noticeable as a kind of not-pretty tension between those two. I've tried to find out what it is but William just tells me that he doesn't trust him, that it sounds like it came from somewhere but he still doesn't know where and that it doesn't bother him at all while Axel is annoyed with me and didn't want to tell me nothing as much as I wanted to insist. On the other hand, Mrs. Gladys has been staying with William while I was at work and is taking care of him while helping him heal and slowly readjust to his life again.
However, things got weirder on my birthday when Axel came to bring me a rather happy present which was a small piece of cake, at which point William came out of our room and pretended to greet Axel kindly.
--Oh hello Axel. It is very kind of you to come to congratulate my girlfriend and remember her birthday on top by bringing her cake-- William sat in the armchair next to me and in front of the sofa where Axel was sitting who did not seem in a very good mood when he saw him. I decided to get up and go to the kitchen to make some tea for everyone.
--Guys, I think I'll make some ginger tea, would you like it?-- They nodded slightly and then I left. He couldn't bear that awkward situation. The kitchen isn't that far from the living room so if they said anything I could hear it. I looked for the ingredients in the pantry and while mixing them, I heard a strange conversation between the two of them.
--So… you've been coming here after that day-- I could hear William say to Axel. What day are you referring to? Isn't it…
--Please man, I already told you that was not my intention even after that trial, seriously-- Lawyer? What judgment are you talking about? I mean, I know that William before the coma belonged to a respectable law firm but I didn't know that Axel was also one since he never wanted to tell me what he worked for.
--I don't care what your intentions were. It is not going to be that the client you defended that time wants revenge for making my client win successfully-- Now that I remember, William before the crash (which I was not by the way) told me that he had to fight a popular rich criminal around town to defend his client and told me to get as little involved as possible even though Will and his client victim won and the defendant was sentenced to a lengthy jail term.
--What? Do not say foolishness. When I met her in that restaurant, I didn't even know that she had anything to do with you. I fell in love without even knowing it-- I was about to light the stove with the match when I heard that. Neither I nor William said anything for a few seconds that seemed so long that you could hear a pin drop to the floor. I turned the stove on low and put the pot with the tea, then let it boil while I listened.
--So that was it. You were in love with her while I was in a coma-- William replied.
--Yes, but she was always faithful to you and we are just friends now although I always helped and supported her in whatever way I could. We never try anything wrong-- That was true. Axel helped me and supported me in my difficult moments like any friend would but we never tried anything behind William's back, my heart and feelings of love and hope that my partner would come back from the coma always won me over.
--That makes me happy. But I'll make something clear to you-- William replied again.
--She will always be mine-- I didn't know this facet of William, although I can understand it being someone who doesn't exactly cause a pleasant memory.
--I know, I already accepted it, what's your problem with that?-- Axel replied annoyed.
--And why are you angry? It's not you who's had six years of life in a hospital bed in a coma. Trust me, I'll do anything to make up for lost time with her, so do me a favor and stay out of our lives-- William replied calmly but seriously. I could hear a growl from Axel followed by a 'Whatever you say' and then I heard the kettle ding, indicating that the tea was ready, so I turned off the stove, found cups and poured the tea into each one to leave. carefully to the room without saying almost a word, but Axel was gone.
--He had some problems to solve and that's why he left, but don't worry love, you have me-- I handed his mug to William as I put the small pot on the coffee table in the living room and took my cup of tea, but not before blowing on it a bit.
I was surprised to hear that side of William, but I dare not say anything about it yet. Although I already know the origin story of their rivalry.
I don't know how far it can go though.
I just hope it doesn't go too far.
-The End.
38 notes · View notes
Text
I was just thinking about the chainsaw man au earlier today and someone liked the old post so im gonna talk about it a lil bit :] Specifically Fred/Spooker’s whole dealio
So. It starts with Toast temporarily being out of commission and him and Ghost realizing that having a two-person devil-investigation team, while effective, is not the best in cases of emergency. Because of that, Toast recommends that Ghost hire someone new before the next investigation, that way they don’t leave someone stuck with a devil and Ghost doesn’t have to put his life at further risk. Neither of them are too sold on the idea at first, but eventually realize that the number of people who actually know them has dropped dramatically since they started their business.
With the structure of the AU, Ghost and Toast are collectively misanthropic because they’re basically married to their work and don’t seek to meet new people or make friends outside of it. So when most of their friends and connections either died or went cold, they just didn’t think to make new allies in their place, and they’ve just realized that might catch up to them. Plus— Ghost struggles to understand and get along with people, while Toast is working through a lot of trauma and is scared to make new friends. Luckily they put their lives first, and make a little eBay ad to try to get a new member.
In enters Fred! He’s about the same age as Ghost and seems a little skittish as soon as he meets up with Ghost. Initially waving him off as being dead weight, Ghost decides to give him a walkthrough of a job instead of an interview to try to scare him off. However, the job runs slow and the two get to know each other over time. Fred admits that while he’s had a couple encounters with devils before, which is why he said he thought he might be able to work with the team, he actually just really needed the money and was running out of options. He’s obviously anxious Ghost is going to be annoyed at his initial dishonesty, but Ghost concludes that being too invested in wanting to “take down” any specific demon is counterproductive to what they’re trying to do, so it might be better Fred is less personally involved.
Over the course of the job(s?), the new guy shows a lot of intelligence and understanding not of the devil, but the world around them and what seemed to be manipulated. He’s incredibly down-to-earth and is able to use his grasp on reality to stay calm when things start to get a little freaky. Ghost slowly comes to the conclusion that this guy might actually have a fighting chance and future in this career that he thought no one else would be able to survive, not least of all because he’d gone this long without being scared off. While originally Spooker only has one mission with PIE before him being a ghost ever came up, I think in the AU Ghost and Fred went on a few different jobs taking down weaker devils like practice rounds or something. Toast is in jail, probably for arson, through all of this and gets to hear Ghost slowly warm up to this guy he initially thought was hopeless. Toast had mixed feelings about the whole thing, but was mostly just happy Ghost wasn’t throwing himself into danger alone— and to a lesser extent— that Ghost was making friends.
Then, Ghost comes back in kind of mopey and explains that something happened. Ghost got overconfident and the pair ended up biting off more than they could chew, and only Ghost made it out. Toast at first tries consoling him, but Ghost cuts back in to blurt that ‘Fred’ is now a fiend of the devil that killed him (probably something like a devil representing things hiding in the darkness) and is still legally working for the team. Now, actual Spooker is here, and Ghost’s resentment of him isn’t unbiased or because he’s annoying, but because that guy is a devil who killed the first proper friend he made in years. Even as Spooker tries showing that he’s on the team’s side, Toast is the only one who accepts him as a real member of the team (after he is forgiven for the arson). Unfortunately for Ghost, Spooker is actually more helpful to the team, even managing to actively save Ghost’s life in a way non-devils couldn’t. However, Ghost becomes more bitter and irritable after this incident, and concludes that having anyone else work for PIE is stupid dangerous and can’t happen again.
Until Chris comes along a fe years later, of course— and this one doesn’t die! Chris probably isn’t invited into the case, but sneaks along because he recognizes the school they’re investigating as the one he went to as a kid, and became worried for the students and followed Ghost in.
7 notes · View notes
incarnateirony · 2 years
Text
Ah, good morning world. So now that fandom has had a bit of a wake-up about 2p0 and his violent sources and their real motivations,
While I say everything on his blog is as dumb and wrong as it gets, finally in all of this, he said one true thing people should listen to: People can lie about M&Gs. Easily. Especially people with biases, such as the regulars he uses for sources. All the time.
All Pat ever HAS is M&Gs. It's his whole schtick. Him unironically admitting they can be lied about and manipulated is the only true thing he has ever said, because it's all he and they do.
A huge section of Profound Bond fell for this child fucker's nonsense. They've let him rot dialogue, try to control people using their basic eyeballs on The Winchesters, stomped down people observing what the show is doing to try to save his throne, and it's not gonna work.
I can tell you right now. I didn't lie about the M&G and on site, 2p0's sources didn't either, because they were raging about it. They snarked sarcastically back about questions. They asked to try to identify who the girl was that knew the song, or asked the question, and then the threats started, then they're going "how do people know what was said?" because your drunk asses (already a CE violation) were ranting in the lobby about cutting people.
It's time to pay real, real close attention to 2p0. His actual patterns. His actual agendas. Not just what he says or claims, but what he does and who he engages with for what purpose.
That nonnie "well he can be out there but I prefer your (pat) level-headed-" fuck your comfortable civility culture. The truth is the truth, what about that are you jackasses not getting? No rebel ever accomplished anything by making sure to keep their voice down and saying yes maam yes sir, I'll eat and consider your bullshit.
It's bullshit. You guys know it's bullshit. It was convenient to attach to, to continue to nurse rather than address your own trauma like this show is designed to even walk you through. And people latched on. And now you're realizing it's bullshit and going WELL HE'S MEAN.
No, I'm fuckin mad. Because this fandom is liable for dragging queer creatives, representation movements and more all in its own petty personal wants, and they don't fucking like hearing that. But we're in new Orleans. Get your shit together and learn how we do, here.
half the sunday crowd is a hair's breadth from getting blackballed as a start. I take after my big bro, alright. the one you deny exists, because you think reality can work like that.
2p0 has been lying and controlling PB's narrative for years manipulating M&Gs, occasionally scrambling to look like he has actual sources by pulling ancient scripts. He denied the market testing, berens intent, the confession, the roadhouse, the omissions, and the winchesters pilot script itself along with the direction the show itself is shaped into. He denied it all. bc of his super itk M&Gs he reads badly.
Look past finding crumbs of old scripts he buys. Look how his sources failed him repeatedly on The Winchesters, even on payroll, even if he waves her around a LOT. Remember my warnings about low grade coffee runners not knowing their place like Manchin and the market testing. See the entire little clout game they're playing.
It's a bubble for wincels and bronlies and multishippers to try to pretend this is gonna be another decade they can pretend shit is relative in rather than like, a season. It's talking and being loud and turning you against your content and faves. That's why it's this cobbling of wincels and samstielers and salty megstielers all sticking on an I Ship Destiel pin to fuck around in PB. Like, Quickreaver? Are you guys fucking insane?
You wanna know why servers like mine exist to house PB refugees? It's this insufferable rot. Hundreds of people just wanting the fuck away from the fake noise and hysteria these people intentionally inspire that clutters up and makes your server just outright unenjoyable. The amount of people that outright blame 2p0 for chasing them out because he won't let them have eyes and watch the show is astounding.
Pay. Attention. All he's ever had is M&Gs. Stop trusting this incestuous son of a bitch with whispers from a god awful, physical harm threatening, j2 tinhatted friend ring and y'all been letting him and these people yank your chain for years because they're salty it isn't their ship, literally. Look at 2p0's post that like. Fic Must Be Appropriately Only Subtextual, As I Enjoy Platonic Friendships, But I Ship Destiel. Let Me Dogwhistle By Manipulating Queerplat Terms.
All that asshole ever does. Pay. attention. The one time he has ever told the truth is that people can lie during M&Gs, and that's his entire grifting fandom career.
His pet spnscripthunt project others sold out to work him with has one script left, so fire away, fire away dude. From here anyone is as fair game as the next there too, and well, your wiki script source seems to have an 8 month concept delay and frankly, the fandom isn't gonna need the scripts for the near future so whatever dude.
Fandom's realizing your M&Gs are years of nonsense, your script queue old is empty and new is just you playing games with shit they coulda enjoyed back in February, lmfao fuck off. Anyway people can enjoy my film hunt tags framing out the episodes or flights in for the guys if they want.
15 notes · View notes
sketch-shepherd-art · 2 months
Text
Tumblr media Tumblr media Tumblr media
Well this only took me over a decade to do somehow, finally made some proper updated digital ref sheets for my classic gang of MLP OC's I used to draw all the damn time back in 2012
(Well, technically MOST of them are mine. Tide Pool is a shared OC actually created by one of my friends but that's beside the point lol).
Info about each of them under the cut:
Cherry Flower- probably one of my most popular MLP OC's that my online friends recognize, as she's still my favorite MLP OC I've created period. Cherry is the only member of her group with a relatively depressing backstory (because of course she is). She was prematurely born to cruel family that led a tribe of bandits and ruffians. Being the result of an unwanted birth, her parents and older siblings were often cruel and neglectful towards her, driving her to run away at a young age until she landed in Ponyville (long before Twilight did so this was before the Mane 6 met) and was taken in by her adoptive older brother Lightning Bolt.
After learning fighting skills to defend herself through martial arts training and subsequently stopping her evil father and his gang from carrying out a raid on Ponyville, she now is able to live a normal fulfilling life with her friends and new family
Tide Pool- Cherry Flower's love interest. Like I said, he's actually a shared OC with a friend so not 100% mine. In contrast to Cherry's brash demeanor, Tide is a more laid-back and calm Pegasus who helps Cherry Flower regain her self esteem and work through her trauma
Water Wave and Kikyo Bud- Cherry Flower and Tide Pool's foals. Never really fleshed out their personalities much tbh, just as innocent as you'd typically expect kids to be. Cherry Flower especially treasures them as she does her damnest to be a better parent to her children than her parents were to her
Lightning Bolt- Cherry Flower's aforementioned adoptive brother who took her in and raised her. Obviously as Cherry's loving older sibling, he tends to have a friendly aptitude towards others. Typically cool and carefree, he's also an unsuccessful flirt towards attractive mares, and had a one-sided crush on Rainbow Dash for years. Naturally he matures with age and drinks respect women juice rather than just trying to impress them, which is why he forms a genuine relationship with his new girlfriend Sugar Zip. Speaking of which...
Sugar Zip- Lightning Bolt's current girlfriend who played a big role in teaching him some manners and helping him grow. While she comes from a family primarily consisting of Pegasus rockstars, she chose a different path and runs her own sweets shop/bakery in Cloudesdale
Spark Pyre- A calm, quiet, hospitable unicorn who enjoys providing for his friends. As his name indicates, he specializes in fire magic which he utilizes for his favorite hobby of cooking hot tasty meals
Silver Dust- as I said a few times before, she's legit my VERY FIRST MLP OC I ever created back in 2012. Silver is an extroverted artistic unicorn who loves crafting and sculpting. She also specializes in ice-based magic and is usually hired to create ice sculptures for parties and formal events. She has a very big crush on Spark Pyre, one that he silently reciprocates. Unfortunately both have yet to admit their feelings for one another... for now anyway
Tidal Wave- an Earth pony who lives in a beach house whose favorite sport is surfing. The fun-loving daredevil who's always down to try new and more thrilling surfing stunts, which more often than not terrifies her friends.
5 notes · View notes