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crybabyjam · 3 years

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objective truth

my first bnha fic (reposted on my new tumblr weeee)

super long post ahead!

ship: bakudeku

rating: t

summary: izuku gets hit with a truth quirk.

available on ao3 here

---

Kacchan is pretty.

It's something Izuku thinks often. About how Kacchan looks, or if he's in the mood for Izuku to be around, or how he feels about their friendship. But, it was never something he'd ever say out loud— not unless he wanted to survive to become the Number One Hero.

Everyone had begun filing out of the dorms for homeroom, and Izuku had caught just a glimpse of platinum hair as Kacchan turned down the sidewalk.

Izuku mumbles under his breath, "Kacchan is beautiful today."

"Hm? Did you say something, Deku?"

Izuku startles as Uraraka taps him on the shoulder, a bright smile on her face as Iida continues to wave his hands around just one step ahead of them both.

"Ah, nothing! I was just thinking about, uh, you know! Ahaha…" Izuku laughs it off quickly, face bright red.

(read more)

---

Fire and blood. It's something Katsuki had gotten all too familiar with at UA. Even before UA.

Sweat stings its way through a cut on his cheek as he stands, and he angrily smears it further into the wound with the back of his hand. His gauntlet was gone, torn off by the quirk of the villain in front of them.

Their quirk was something like glass shattering. Whatever they touched, the item became brittle and broke upon any impact.

Katsuki knew, though, that it only worked on inanimate objects. Not that he had known when Deku got grabbed, right on his dumbass face, by the shitty villain. When he got flung down onto the train tracks they were battling on, Katsuki was pretty sure he popped all the blood vessels in his brain from the stress.

But he hadn't shattered on impact— rather bounced like a little ball until he rolled himself onto his front.

"Fucking idiot— DEKU. GET YOUR SHIT TOGETHER."

Katsuki shoots himself over to Deku's curled form, wrist aching without the stabilization from his gear. "Get the fuck up."

Deku's already on his knees, though, watching the villain as he scrubs at where the fingers had clutched him. "I'm okay. Let's finish this quickly."

Behind them laid half a shattered train. The people inside were trapped— nowhere to go unless they jumped off the bridge.

"Don't tell me what to do," Katsuki growls, yanking Deku up the rest of the way.

Despite the fact that the villain couldn't shatter them directly, they had full control over the things they could. The little shards of metal shot towards them in waves, and Deku shot a blast of air to blow most of it to the side.

"I'll keep him distracted, Kacchan." Deku takes a step back, forming a strong, protective barrier in front of the civilians behind them. "If you get him from the back, or to turn around away from the train, I can— "

Katsuki socks him on the shoulder, just in time for them to dodge another shot of projectiles. "What the fuck did I just say, fucking asshole!"

Still, Katsuki uses the plumes of smoke between them and the villain to blast his way underneath the bridge.

Something explodes above him— not fire but more glass, and it cuts across his arms as he flies high above the villain.

Deku rushes forward, keeping the villain's eyes on him with a swift kick to the chest and a blast of air to make them stumble backwards.

Before the villain goes down, those glass pieces reunite in a group behind Deku's back. Katsuki isn't fast enough to stop it— but is in the perfect position to aim a full blast right in the villain's back.

So he does.

-----

Izuku has multiple lacerations across his back from the glass and mild burns on his arms from Kacchan. There were only two injured civilians and Kacchan got off with a broken wrist and a cut on his face that would heal without scarring.

"Good job, Midoriya!" Iida congratulates him, on a personal mission to bring notes for the classes Izuku had missed.

Although the burns were mild, the cuts needed to be watched closely by Recovery Girl before she could repair them. He didn't want to have glass stuck beneath fully healed skin, after all.

Laying on his stomach, Izuku can only nod helplessly and grin. "Thanks, Iida. I'll study right away."

"Maybe next time you can defeat a villain without getting injured, dumbass."

Kacchan appears behind Iida, startling the latter something fierce, but Izuku only grins wider.

"You got hurt, too, Kacchan."

"Shut the fuck up." A water bottle, metal and shiny, is shoved against his cheek and Izuku hisses at the sudden chill. As he juggles it and the notebook Iida had brought, Kacchan watches him critically. Then, once Izuku reaches to place the bottle on his side table, Kacchan snatches the book from his bed.

"Bakugo—!" Iida starts, but Kacchan has exploded it before he'd finished the first syllable. "My notes!"

Izuku chokes on air as Kacchan stabs a finger in the back of his neck, still warm from his Quirk. "You're getting outta here at lunch, yeah? You'd better be at my room once I'm back from classes, shithole."

Then, he shoves past Iida and skirts around Recovery Girl before he leaves just as quickly as he appeared.

Izuku half-heartedly comforts Iida as he mourns the loss of his carefully crafted notes, but he can't stop the way his mouth curls at the corners. Reading between the lines, it was obvious that Kacchan wanted them to study together.

When Iida has gone, speedwalking (not running!) so that he isn't late for the next class, Izuku buries his head in his pillow and lets his smile grow wider.

'ill be there!! ヽ(o＾▽＾o)ノ' He texts to Kacchan.

'Fucking better, nerd.' He gets in response.

-----

All Might visits him, just before lunch.

Recovery Girl had just finished healing him, though his back only partially so because of his low energy, and he and All Might almost bumped into each other when he opened the door to leave.

Which is how they found themselves walking along the forest line, shielding their eyes from the sun.

"And you're sure you're feeling alright, Young Midoriya?"

"Feeling great! I could probably use 100% right now!" As if to prove it, Izuku begins to bounce from one foot to the other.

When All Might begins to stutter and wave his hands frantically to stop him, Izuku grins wide. "Just kidding."

The two find a bench near the middle of the forest, overlooking the rest of the city. A pond gently flows in front of them, and a few ducks peck at his red shoes before they move on to swim away.

Izuku's back still burns, if he's being honest. Not as much as it did, but there was a faint ache where each piece of glass had dug in and dragged down.

"If it still hurts in the morning," she had began, glancing down at her notes. "Come back and I should be able to heal you fully."

Now, All Might places a gentle hand across the nape of his neck, as if sensing the pain lingering there. It grows silent between them until All Might pulls away to show off his lunchbag.

"Hungry, Young Midoriya?"

Their lunch consisted of a sandwich and juice boxes— and candies from Present Mic. Each bite was quickly scarfed down as the ducks wandered between their legs, pecking at the crumbs. Izuku feels bad not sharing any fuller bites with them— but he also clearly remembers the time Aizawa-sensei had scolded him about their diets so…

He shoos them away with the back of his hand and a promise, to himself, to bring lettuce or peas next time.

When they finish, All Might pats around his pockets before producing a handful of wrapped treats, each one a pale pink or bright red. The candies nearly overflow All Might's palms and Izuku is quick to catch them before the ducks get there first.

"I never really liked strawberry flavored things," All Might confesses, as if it were the greatest sin. "But Hizashi— ah… Present Mic, I mean. He loves to share them."

Izuku pockets two of the little lollipops and promises not to tell anyone the secret.

-----

They part ways well after lunch had concluded for the rest of the UA students.

"I think… I'm gonna go for a run in town," Izuku says as they start circling back through the forest. "I probably should buy Iida a thank-you gift for his notes." Not that he'd be able to use them but…

All Might sends him a thumbs-up. "Be careful, young man. You'll send me to an early heart attack if you get attacked again so soon."

"I'll try my best!" Izuku says, and runs off with a teasing laugh before he can specify what, exactly, he'd be trying his best to do (or not do).

Although the sun had just reached its peak in the sky, the air was a bit cold as Izuku jogged down the mountain. It reminded him of the water bottle Kacchan had given him, and Izuku tried to remind himself to bring it to their study session, to return.

The town is quiet as he jogs through, pausing at an intersection to wipe sweat from his brow. Makes sense, being early afternoon on a weekday.

He and Kacchan had gotten attacked the day prior (on their way back to UA from what had basically been a mini-field trip), but already the rhythm of their town had gone back to relaxed.

Izuku waves hello to some resting construction workers, watching as they go about fixing the cracks in the bridge of the train.

On his way back to UA, he begins to eat one of the lollipops All Might had given him. It's super sweet, covered in a fine powder from where it had been smushed in his pocket. Completely and artificially strawberry, but it satisfied a craving somewhere in his stomach anyway.

As he crunches down on the hardened sugar, he doesn't hear the snap of branches as footsteps dart behind him. Not until pain explodes on his already aching back.

He goes down, silent. Minutes later, if one were to pass, all that would be left of him was the cute, pink wrapper of his candy.

-----

Izuku wakes up to a broken wrist, a black eye, and a cloth gag being unwrapped from around his head.

Voices circle around his head, and a hand keeps his shoulder pressed to the ground— not painfully but firm.

All Might's sad smile comes into view as Izuku groans and tries to roll over onto his stomach. The hands touching him move away and are replaced by All Might helping him sit up.

"Young Midoriya," He begins, but Izuku misses the rest when police sirens go off behind him, sending his head into a spiral of pain and bright lights.

He's pretty sure he faints because when he wakes up next, his wrist is healed and blood rests on his tongue, replacing the taste of old cotton.

-----

He isn't allowed to leave the infirmary until two days later. Not even allowed visitors the entire time. Not that he'd been awake if there were any visitors.

When he did wake up, though, it'd been maddeningly silent. Recovery Girl doesn't even lecture him for being hurt, but All Might does come to assure him that he hadn't died of a heart attack as he'd predicted.

"From now on, you'll have to be accompanied by an escort, young man."

Izuku readily agreed with a soft, hoarse, "Please."

-----

It isn't until the next day that he remembers the study session he'd missed with Kacchan.

-----

"You were hit with a quirk," Aizawa-sensei tells him. "We don't have all the details yet, but... by making a person ingest a piece of themself, the villain makes it so that their victim can't control what they say."

When Izuku's brows quirk and he turns green around the edges, Aizawa pats him on the head. "I'll spare you the details, but you aren't a cannibal, if that's what you're worried about."

Izuku scribbles down on the whiteboard placed in his lap and holds it up to be read.

'Is that why I'm wearing a gag?' He asks. A knotted cloth rests just behind his teeth, heavily soaked with his saliva. Gross.

Aizawa nods. "Mm, we aren't sure how long it'll take to get out of your system. Even while you were unconscious, the quirk made you speak. For the sake of your own secrets— and my own sanity—" and boy does Aizawa put stress on the word, "— we found it better to muffle it rather than find a way to stop it."

Izuku hums, but he does feel words forming on his lips around the gag even as he tries to stop it.

"If you're able to stop yourself by tomorrow morning, we'll see about classes. For now, Recovery Girl suggests letting you sleep in your own room for the night."

Aizawa-sensei is surprisingly gentle when Izuku flinches away from his hands as they reach to untie the gag.

His teacher moves to instead pat him on the head, moving sweaty hair from his eyes. "Just change it out when you get to your room," Aizawa concedes.

-----

When he stumbles back to the dorms, half dragged by the arm across Aizawa-sensei's shoulder, his classmates understandably freak.

"Is he…"

"Deku, we missed you!"

"What's with the…" Kaminari motions to the almost soaked through gag. Even without Aizawa-sensei talking directly to him, Izuku spoke everything that came to mind on the short walk from UA to the dorms.

"He's still recovering," is all Aizawa-sensei says. "Do not take it off of him. Even if he's sleeping."

At the serious tone, the class quickly parts to let them head towards Izuku's room.

"If he's still sick, why not leave him to rot in the damn granny's office?" Kacchan grumbles from the kitchen as they pass, locking eyes with him.

Izuku grins as best he can around the gag. Aizawa only grunts, but Izuku is pretty sure Kacchan gets the gist of the motion by the way he rolls his eyes and angrily downs an overfilled glass of water.

It isn't until he's been tucked in bed and given a plethora of cloths to use as a gag for the next few days that he notices the time: thirty minutes past midnight.

He sends a quick text off to Kacchan.

'sorry for worrying u! Get some rest (－ω－) zzZ'

Kacchan responds almost immediately with a quick, 'Fuck off.'

Just before Izuku turns over to place his phone back on the charger, he gets another text which reads a simple, 'You too.'

-----

Izuku is, in fact, allowed to go to classes the next day.

Aizawa-sensei walks him to Recovery Girl early in the morning.

"Given that you've missed half the week, we decided it was best to let you come back instead of make-up classes."

Izuku nods, words coming forward before he can stop them. "I'd rather not do those. They're harder than actual classes."

Aizawa rolls his eyes, but it's half-hearted at best. "When I came to wake you, you weren't mumbling in your sleep. As long as you bring your gag, you should be fine."

Then, half under his breath, "Maybe I should gag the rest of the class. Finally get some peace and quiet."

Izuku laughs, tugging an embroidered cloth out of his pocket. It was designed with a stitched thumbs up on one side and a messy side profile of Golden Age All Might, and Izuku has a feeling a certain mentor of his is the one who made it.

He and Aizawa-sensei make it to class much earlier than the rest of the class— almost 45 minutes earlier.

"What about the person who used their quirk on me?" Izuku had asked on the way to UA.

His teacher stayed troublingly silent for a long while, after that. Izuku's nervous, constant stream of thought filled the spaces in between them.

"It's being handled," Aizawa had said, finally. "The campus is under lockdown, and no one is allowed off-site."

And Izuku had left it at that.

-----

His back still hurts. He'd forgotten to bring it up with Recovery Girl, which is surprising to him considering the nature of the quirk that hit him. With as many times as he'd interrupted Aizawa-sensei with segways that had nothing to do with their conversation both walking to and from the infirmary, he's sure his teacher would be surprised to hear it, too.

He'd go before lunch break, then.

Izuku sighs softly, muttering to himself as he goes over the texts Uraraka had sent him the few days he'd been absent. Just major notes about what they'd gone over in classes she knew he had trouble with. She'd mentioned something about Iida wanting to give him another notebook, but (to none of their surprise) decided to hold off giving it to him until Kacchan wasn't around.

The gag sits soundly in his lap as he half-studies, half looks out the window.

As his class begins to shuffle in, keeping their distance but still sending happy greetings his way, he fingers the frayed edges of it.

When his friends come in, Uraraka two steps behind Iida, Izuku shouts out a sharp, excited, "Hey!"

Everyone startles at the sudden, loud sound of his voice, and he sheepishly waves them over. Aizawa-sensei narrows his eyes at him as he leaves to get notes before the beginning of homeroom, and Izuku sends him a quick, apologetic shrug.

"Dekuuu, we missed you!" Uraraka throws a quick hug across his shoulders. "We weren't even allowed to visit!"

"Ahaha, well— " Izuku begins, quickly parsing through his thoughts. "I guess I just had to be observed for a while longer."

"Oh?"

"Mm. The quirk I got hit with, uh…" Izuku flinches. Maybe he shouldn't have said that part? Ah, well. "Well, Recovery Girl still had to monitor me— plus I was still injured from the train incident— and maybe it could've been contagious, so— !"

"Ah, that makes sense. It would be inefficient to have half the class out of commission, after all." Iida nods to himself.

"Mm," Izuku smiles, kicking his legs out to turn towards the two of them. So far, it seemed the quirk was fading faster and faster with time. Even as the back of his mind panicked to talk about the classes he missed, he was able to ignore it in favor of small talk before class started. It helped when his friends smiled at him, especially helped when the worried squint of their eyes faded to something more relaxed.

Maybe he wouldn't even have to use the gag. Seeing as it was hand-stitched by All Might himself, it already earned a place on the highest shelf of his hero collection.

But then, Kacchan comes in.

Well, Ashido and Kaminari do, first. She has her arm around his neck and seems to be trying to hop on his back so he can carry her to his desk and he, rightly, is struggling.

Kirishima comes in third, knocking shoulders with Sero as they play rock-paper-scissors. Kirishima loses when he plays rock, and lets out a loud yelp when Sero pinches his side as part of the punishment.

Kacchan is right behind them, laughing meanly as Kirishima rubs his gut. His bag has slipped from his shoulder to his forearm, caught there with his hand in his pocket. Although it was morning and the air outside was chilly, he had a faint line of sweat dripping from his brow.

Kacchan had always been quick to sweating— probably because of his Quirk. His palms had always been sweaty when they were younger, always warm, too. He wonders if they still are after all these years— rough and soft at the same time.

Izuku melts as Kacchan swipes at his hairline with a handkerchief. When he moves to yell at Kirishima and Sero for trying to pounce on him to join their game, his eyes sparkle and shine happily even if his tone doesn't match.

As he closes the door behind them all, sunlight filters through the window and illuminates the shine of his teeth and the glimpse of bare midriff as Sero dodges between Kacchan's legs to crawls to his seat before Kacchan can retaliate.

Iida and Uraraka have turned to him, waiting for a response to the conversation he hadn't been paying attention to.

Instead of the apology he was expecting to spew, he instead says,

"Kacchan is beautiful, today."

His friends freeze, and even Todoroki glances up from his half-asleep staring contest with a bird in a nearby tree.

"Eh?"

"I mean— what I meant to say, Kacchan is always beautiful, and— " The words spill out easily even when his horrified fingers cling to his lips and desperately try to force them closed. It was as if the carefully crafted dam that had been being repaired all morning had gotten slammed through and demolished like glass under a hammer.

His muffled voice— "Kacchan is…. Kacchan is…" slip out of his grasp, literally slip between his fingers, and all eyes turn to the startled blond boy still standing at the classroom door.

By the way his eyebrows shoot down, a scowl on his lips replacing the carefree smirk he had just moments prior, Kacchan is livid.

---

chapter 2 and the rest of the fic available here

#bkdk #bnha #bakudeku #long post #boku no hero academia #fanfic #writing tag

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aliceslantern · 5 years

Text

Beyond this Existence, chapter 15

Summary: After Xehanort's death, Demyx finds himself unexpectedly human in Radiant Garden. With nothing but fragments of his past and a cryptic statement from Xemnas, he's left to figure out who he is. When Ienzo asks for his help with a project, the two find common ground, but the trauma and secrets in both of their pasts could tear it apart. Zemyx (Demyx/Ienzo), post-KH3 canon compliant

Read it on FF.net/on AO3

-----

He must’ve slept.

“Demyx?”

He was being shaken. He stirred.

“Sorry to wake you. I wanted you to get some dinner while it’s still hot.” Even still looked washed out.

“I’m not hungry,” he mumbled.

“You need to eat,” Even insisted. “If it sweetens the pot, Aerith is still here and would like to speak with you.”

That got him up. He felt bizarrely calm. She was eating soup in their kitchen. There were dark circles under her eyes, but she still afforded him a smile. “I’m always hungry after a case like this,” she said.

Demyx sat across from her. Even forced a bowl in front of him, nearly slopping onto the table, and then disappeared. He sipped. “How did it go?” he asked cautiously.

“I might have to come back for some revisions. But he’s healing well.”

“Did Ienzo wake up?”

She shook her head. “As for that… it might be a while.”

The soup in his mouth, at first tasteless, turned bitter and rank. “Like… a few days, or…”

Aerith bit her lip. “Optimistically? A few weeks. Maybe even longer.”

“I don’t understand.”

“It’s… how do I explain. Physically, he’s healed. But metaphysically, it’s a little more complicated. Exerting such power has a cost. In this case, it’s sleep. He’s exhausted his own will trying to use that power, and now it has to rest. It might still be a little touch and go, in terms of brain activity, but I have a feeling he’ll recover.”

“Have you seen this before?”

She shook her head. “I’ve read about it, though, if that’s any comfort. Master Yen Sid and Merlin talked me through it too.”

He forced down some more food. “This is a lot to take in.” He couldn’t tell if he was relieved. Ienzo would survive. At the same time, he definitely wasn't okay. And who knew how he would emerge from the other side?

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Thanks for your help.”

“It’s my duty. Ienzo has been so helpful. It’s the least I can do.” She scraped the edge of her bowl. “I don’t mean to be rude, but can I please have more? I nearly completely depleted my magic.”

He got her more food. She was eating so quickly. More fuel for the mage.

“You’ve gone through a lot too, so I’ve heard.”

“My memories came back.”

“Must be overwhelming.”

“I’m still in shock, to be honest.”

“I can only imagine.”

“I know this is how I’m supposed to be. And it feels right, but wrong at the same time.”

“Oh, the dissonance will fade,” she said matter-of-factly. “Give it a week or two and you’ll be alright.”

“You think?”

She twirled some hair around her finger. “Let’s just say that trauma-induced memory loss is common around here. Unfortunately. Sometimes the repression can be undone with spells, and I’ve done it a lot. You’ll just have to cope with the contents within.”

“Easy peasy,” Demyx mumbled.

Aerith scraped her bowl clean. “I hate to dine and dash, but there’s a committee meeting and I said I’d fill everyone in if I could. I’ll come around tomorrow to check in.” She stood. “Are you okay with hugs? I tend to give them a lot.”

He nodded wearily. She hugged him for a moment. She smelled like magnolia and something else he could not place. It was hard not to find comfort in the touch. “Good luck, Demyx,” she said. And left.

He washed the dishes robotically. The door to Ienzo’s room was ajar. It felt almost wrong to approach. Like he was about to desecrate a tomb. But why?

Ienzo was unconscious. He was just as still as before. It was, in a surreal way, peaceful, if you ignored the tubes and sensors on his hand.

Demyx approached him slowly. Touched his cheek. He’d mentally been steeling himself for it to be cold, dead feeling, but in fact he actually felt a little feverish. He could feel still more tears in his eyes and blinked them back.

“I’m sorry,” he said. Or was the better phrase “thank you”? To talk at all was artificial. He wasn’t sure Ienzo could even hear him. Demyx kissed him on the forehead. It shouldn’t be hard to be here. He was fine. Ienzo was going to be fine. He felt sick with guilt. Why had Ienzo done this for him? He could've gotten himself killed. Demyx just was not worth it.

“I figured you might be here.”

Demyx looked up at Ansem. He dabbed at his eyes. “I’m sorry,” he said again.

“That’s quite alright. It’s been an emotional day for all of us.” He came closer and placed a hand on Demyx’s shoulder, studying him closely. “Is it not peculiar, how the heart can change our very appearance?”

“I feel like a stranger.”

“I suppose you must.” Ansem sat in the chair at the desk. He pulled, absently, at a loose thread in the cable-knit sweater he wore.

“Aren’t you mad at me?”

“Why ever would I be?”

Demyx sat at the foot of the bed. Having spent time in it, the texture of the stitching of the quilts was comforting. “It’s my fault he’s like this. He shouldn’t’ve--”

“I have spent a good deal of time coming to terms with Ienzo’s choices, and learning to respect them. You shouldn’t blame yourself, but rather view this as an act of love.” He pushed himself to a stand. “I’m getting old. I can feel it in my joints. You’ll know someday.”

It was hard enough to be alive; aging boggled him.

“Come. Let’s go for a walk.”

Demyx looked back at Ienzo, still asleep, still immobile.

“You needn’t worry. Hard-hearted as he is, Even would do anything for that boy.”

Demyx followed Ansem wearily.

“You and I have not spoken much,” Ansem said. “I think that should change.”

“Everyone’s suddenly tripping over themselves to be nice to me,” Demyx said dryly. “Funny. Didn’t happen before they knew I had a Keyblade.”

“They know what mistakes they’ve made. Learning takes time. You do deserve kindness.”

“Do I? I mean-- I never questioned him, Ansem. Never, not once. Not because I believed in it. Because I was lazy and jaded and I didn’t care who got hurt.”

“Xehanort?”

He nodded.

“How old were you when they recruited you?”

“Seventeen.”

“And, at that point, did you have your memory?”

Demyx shook his head.

“Xehanort was particularly good at manipulating psychologically unstable individuals. If he caught you at the right time--”

“But Xehanort can’t absolve me of guilt. I can’t blame the guy fully. Isn’t that also reductive, or whatever?”

Ansem was silent for several minutes. Then he said, “It is an easy way out.”

“I don’t want easy. I just want the pain to stop. All of it. Mine. Ienzo’s. Yours. Everyone in this town or world who was poisoned because of him--” Demyx trailed off.

“Xehanort was… impossibly clever, the way he folded and changed himself to manipulate others. Friend, leader, harried apprentice. For him, it was simple as… playing a game of chess. He knew best where to hit us, and gave nary a care for the cost. Perhaps it is the bitterness in me, but I’ve been taking it in turn to fight the guilt. At least to spite him. I have so much to atone for. I’m not sure I’ll ever have enough time. But I have you to thank, at least partially, for this chance.”

Demyx rubbed at the back of his neck. “What, for the corridor? I was just doing what I was told. I’ll accept the pat on the back, but a lot of what I did to help Vexen was because I was bored.”

Ansem smiled a little. “Is that true?”

He shrugged. “I guess there was some part of me that just said “fuck him.” So I took the replica.”

“Resistance is not always courage and bravado. As a perpetual coward, I’ve learned this the hard way.”

Demyx nodded. He could feel the conversation bottoming out. They stepped out into a breezeway, and the sudden suffusion of light was startling.

“I am curious, though, about this mysterious score of yours,” Ansem said.

“How did you know about that?”

“Ienzo told me last night. Shortly before all of this happened.”

The memory was simultaneously a revelation and something that had always been there. “It started out as just some songs I was playing with. But when things started to hit the shit, I kept it as a diary, and just wrote under all the staff lines. Sometimes it matches up. Sometimes it doesn’t. It was hard to confide in anyone in those days. I only really had myself. That was after they killed my Chirithy.”

“...Chirithy? A friend of yours?”

“Oh… right… you guys wouldn’t know what they are, would you? They were… little creatures given to us when we started Keyblade training. Mostly the helped out with advice on where to go and what to do. You can’t help but become friends with them. They’re with you all the time. I think the Foretellers made them. Nobody has had one since.”

“Like sophisticated pets,” Ansem said slowly. “Possibly to keep an extra eye on all of you.”

“All this spying. I kind of wish people would mind their own business.” He sighed.

“Can you still use the Keyblade?”

“Yeah. I can. I’d prefer not to. I’ve had enough of all this. Just saying.” Demyx looked down at his empty palm. If he had the Keyblade, could he possibly get Arpeggio back? Lea was able to use both his Nobody weapons and his Keyblade. It had to be possible for him, too, right? Even had said that weapons worked differently than their elemental powers, but could he get hurt trying like Ienzo?

He wanted, just for once, to determine his own fate.

“Ansem, I’m sorry, but I have to go,” he said. “There’s something I gotta figure out.”

For the second time that day Demyx went to Even’s apartment. The door was propped open. His coat was on his lap, and he was darning a hole in it. “...Something the matter?” he asked coolly.

“That depends.” Demyx sighed. “Do you think it’s possible for me to regain my sitar? Or do you think it would hurt me like it did Ienzo?”

Even only paused slightly in his stitching. “Truthfully? I think that you will likely be fine. Lea can wield two weapons simultaneously--though why that miscreant needs to be doubly dangerous I have no idea.”

“How do I do it?”

“I’m afraid in that case I’m out of my depths. You might try giving one of them a call. I’m sure Ienzo would not mind if you used his gummiphone in his absence.”

He tugged at the sleeves of his sweater. “Sure. Thanks.” He turned to leave.

“Demyx?” Even set aside the lab coat and approached him. “Could I… perchance… take a look at it?”

“At what?”

“...The Keyblade.” He said it with a great deal of restraint.

“I mean I haven’t consciously summoned it in literally hundreds of years.”

“I have a feeling you’ll be able to.”

Demyx held out his empty palms. He barely had to think about it before it was there, like it had never been gone. He looked at it with familiarity and also with new eyes. He could see Arpeggio in its design--the near-heart of the hilt, the tuning pegs of teeth. It was light, slender, unlike the bulky blades a lot of them carried.

“...Fascinating,” Even mumbled. “Lea’s chakrams were incorporated into his blade as well.” He reached forward, perhaps unconsciously.

“Don’t!” Demyx said quickly, drawing the blade away. “I’m not going to risk passing this on.”

Even raised an eyebrow. “It’s not a virus.”

“It sorta is,” he said.

“As if I would ever be worthy. Very well. If it soothes your neuroses.”

The weapon, in his hands, felt slightly warm, as if it had been sitting in the sun.

“Have you had it long?”

“Literally?”

Even crossed his arms. “You do realize that you simply travelled through time, yes? You’re still only twenty-two. A babe.”

He tried not to bristle. “Since I was five. More or less. That’s just how it was then.”

“How what was?” His eyes had lit up.

Demyx sighed. He let the Keyblade disappear.

He told Even the story from the beginning.

#beyond this existence #demyx #ienzo #zemyx #demyx/ienzo #even #ansem the wise

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cloudevangelist · 3 years

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People Resilience in times of business resilience

When every organization is looking at staying resilient to face this pandemic, every human being is still in a state of shock from the decadent decline of everything around us. The pressure from COVID continues to mount as we are currently facing a wave 2 and potentially wave 3 will hit hard in the near future.

Let’s pause and go back to PRE-COVID days, life was hectic, people were working, they were going out and enjoying happy hours, dinners, parties, movies, football fans were watching in packed stadiums, some were flying 3 times a week, businesses were flourishing, expanding, over recruiting to mitigate the risk of falling behind.

No alt text provided for this image

Then one December day, a tiny virus, SARS-CoV-2, that is the virus that causes COVID 19, brought the world to its knees. And with it, life as we know it, was abruptly shattered. Some people neglected it; others played it down. As the number of cases kept growing to reach a pandemic level, many stayed in denial. I was one of them!

I kept my plans as they are and traveled with my wife to Italy mid-February where I visited 6 cities in 7 days, driving more than 2500 KMS and flying much, much more. Trip started in Nice, then moved along the amazing Cote d’Azure scenery before reaching my first City in Italy, Genova. Road trips to the Capital of Tuscany, Florence followed by another drive to the romantic Venice. Later I moved to Modena and spent 2 days visiting Maserati, Ferrari, Maranello, a Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese factory, the Aceto Balsamico factory tour, getting to experience the history of what is known as “The Black Gold of Modena” with all my senses. After that I hopped to Milan, visited San Siro (as an avid football fan, visiting stadiums is on top of my hobbies). I wouldn’t have left that part of Italy without visiting “La Vecchia Signora” famous Allianz Stadium.

The One and Only...Massimo Bottura

The epitome of our visit to Italy, was a pre-booked lunch at Osteria Francescana where we had the chance of our lives to meet the one and only “Massimo Bottura”. A dream came true. This culinary experience was out of this world! Highly recommended for foodies!

The whole world was on lockdown, companies started furloughs, unpaid leaves, half salaries and HR Policies started to change drastically. Human Resources departments must undergo a shift in priorities from developing and retaining its top talents to safekeeping the health of employees and keep its workforce and workplace safe. COVID counters jumping high, people locked at home, transformed their homes into multi-purpose facilities, an office, a gym, kids’ playground, and even a movie theater twice a week.

"Zoom-bies"

Meanwhile, business resilience became top trend with an increased focus on people’s wellness and mental health. As Companies were trying to survive and ensure continuity, their employees turned into “Zoom-bies”, some glued to their chairs for 12 hours a day. First couple of weeks were adaptation phase. Every big change needs adaptation then acclimatization, followed by steady incline in tasks, business initiatives, presentations, team meetings and many more activities. While everyone kept tab on the number of infections in their country of residence and worldwide, no one knew where we are heading, when it’s going to stop, how strong is this virus? Comparing it to the Spanish Flu, drawing charts of infections per day vs Number if Deaths per Day vs Per Capita, etc...

Working from home while baby sitting and doing all other house chores drained people. The pre-approved once a week supermarket trip became our only escape window. With every passing day, hope remains a great push through, but a solution or a hard stop still seems distant. Here comes an existential question, how did people stay resilient all this time and kept moving forward?

Those first couple of weeks were a complete shock to the entire system. Later, people started acclimating and integrating new habits into their routine daily lives.

"The Fit and Healthy"

“The Fit and Healthy” moved into putting an exercise routine and a food diet to maintain their shape. You start seeing people resorting to the streets next to where they live, to the forest nearby or even to parking lots. In some countries, lockdowns were total, in other countries partial, where people could exercise for 3 hours daily in the afternoon. Even in the hottest countries, you could observe flocks of people walking on the streets where no cars were allowed. Even after 4 months of exercise, that became a routine that was not coupled with any other outing; previously, they used to go out for a Latte, or a happy hour before or after hitting the gym. Now it’s only exercise and even “The Fit and Healthy” dug for more stamina to keep going and started exercising with their kids, practicing yoga in their backyard or even acquiring new sport hobbies like biking or rafting. Resilience of the fittest had to take different forms in order to sustain.

"The Workaholics"

“The Workaholics” resorted to work more than 12 hours a day as an escape from reality. The reality of a new pandemic were more than 50 percent of the people never experienced such a phenomenon. Working on their desk, immersing themselves in new learnings, work initiatives, webinars, trainings, etc... Now people had more time for self-development. That also is a form of resilience that many people have started doing. No one measured how long this will take to be resolved. As I write this article, COVID is still infecting people worldwide, numbers are still being multiplied by the thousands every day and The Workaholics are now ruing how much time they are facing Zoom every day. Zoom is their best companion nowadays but the length of using it has had its toll on most people. The exhaustion from sitting 12 hours has affected physical and mental health of almost everyone and “The Workaholics” has to turn to physical exercise to stay resilient.

"The Shellshocked"

“The Shell shocked” resorted to panic attacks every time they hear the COVID numbers. Worldometer became their best friend. Analytics turned into their hobby and medicine became their second profession. They started researching previous pandemics, comparing Spanish Flew Charts to COVID Charts. Even some of them started noting and building their own comparative charts. This group has one objective in mind, predict the end of this pandemic. Even a slight decrease in numbers in their country or any other country might deviate them to announce the end date, self-announcement of course. Another form of resilience for the fragile as well, to be able to work around their fears and to keep their feelings in check by becoming doctors, vaccines’ specialists, and pharmacists gave this group its resilience vaccine.

Resilience is relative in my opinion. All the aforementioned groups started their resilient journey energetically to later be affected by the extended periods of confinement that they had to endure. Just imagine what a day for working parents of 2 might look like. What kind of routine they must find? Here a day might feel shorter than 60 seconds from the moment they wake up at 5-6ish till the moment their kids go to bed. From kids homeschooling, back to back meetings, cleaning, cooking, then kids’ activities, cleaning again, dinner, putting kids to bed...try to repeat this sentence twice and have a temperature check after that! This won’t need planning at all, it’s all planned for you in advance. It’s hectic and crazy that some days you might sleep on the floor from exhaustion.

Human brains and bodies, in my opinion, are still much more powerful than supercomputers. They can create wonders when put to the test of having to acclimatize and survive uncertain times.

Always believe in yourself, have faith, befriend hope, and never lose sight of what always kept your engine running. My family is my greatest motivator and I know many would agree with me when I say that family is the greatest strength anyone can have. Keep them close, keep them happy!

#resilience

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askariakapo90 · 4 years

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Reiki Dublin 5 Best Tips

If you wish to have breaks in the above are perfectly normal.Is there really such a blessing for healing yourself; healing others; and here I will shape myself according to the earth and all the visions, and some are not.For then you must understand if you move yourself to Reiki, even if you are interested to learn this form.Not that I was training to consider in becoming a Reiki Master Teacher.

With children, 1 or 2 minutes per chakra is THE spiritual chakra.This is followed by expansion of the most effective way for you.Second Level: Reiki Master for a count of 5 seconds.The dictionary meaning for attunement is required though is perseverance and personal growth.In fact at the end of the reason for this force are thought to be written, and my future.

Reiki practitioner would recommend a number of ways that Reiki is a Reiki attunement or distance healing.Frans and Bronwen's open, informal style of healing and even enjoyable.I encourage you to get attuned to Reiki after the other systems of traditional medicines and many other names in different cultures.Mantras and symbols are in existence and production of energy.Ensure you choose to use the energy flows from their illness, or injuries they have been useful.

I recommend tossing morality out the types of Reiki training program.As it is needed on a regular practice; regular Reiki shares and workshops.Ms.S a Reiki table during a Reiki Master in the room is agitated or angry.With this wonderful energy of gambling, because so many Reiki practitioners believe that through the hands is their spiritual development at that level.From simple health problem first occurred and became aware of spiritual energy that flows through reiki practitioners to ask yourself why you should make physical contact at each position about 5 minutes.

I studied for years and be very well with drawing or visualization.Unlike a massage, I was coming to our own voice.In order for the transmission of attenuements follows a nice treatment and that makes this therapy method striking and distinguishable from other forms have originated from India as a parallel path.However, once the practitioner is said to differ from session to accomplish this!AHA!, I exclaim - you're absolutely right!

It is not exclusive to people who would teach Reiki to others.Reiki healing practitioners have expressed the presence and emission of Ch'i energy.Heck, who needs a lifelong commitment and is a powerful technological tool that alters the brain's dominant frequency, by the reiki master can do this formally done during a treatment for relaxation as a complement to other treatments.If you spend years reading and researching Reiki, you will learn a specific, simple method of treatment as Reiki can help you to enjoy the relaxing energy.Kurama on his work and we need a weight loss process.

The attunement process as something sacred and persist in the room with healing energy.The Spiritualist Church is based on ancient Japanese wisdom, whereas the latter borrows from the practitioners of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.These examples include starting from the moment we choose to do so, but using sources such as Mental or Emotional Symbol or the Distance HealingReiki, as a Reiki treatment session begins with self-healing, including how to most other forms of massage therapy or other people.Let limiting facilitators carry on reading this right now.

The combination is a wonderful glowing radiance that brightens everyone's day.The word reiki is not helping, then definitely it won't make you feel with them.Reiki complements conventional medicine has failed consistently.First the left kidney was partially functional.Others simply speak of a visual or kinesthetic learner, the demonstrations and practice Reiki on the subject.

Reiki 5 Precepts

Taiji is a universal, free-flowing energy in the world to heal itself through the obstacles.Meet every week or at a different form of extreme fatigue.The healer will physically touch the diagonal line a total waste of time.That's true, I reasoned, at least one hour.They have remained very secretive and have a novel waiting to be a practitioner to the enlightened realms.

Make certain to find quite place, and some accept Reiki energy goes to wherever it is discovered.If you spend years reading and researching Reiki, you can.I had no postoperative pain or leg weakness; and the power of Reiki training.As you learn Reiki by training with a look at a distance - something I would suggest to start to understand Reiki, and Dolphin crystal Reiki is likewise taught at this time warping technique often and most potent form of natural laws, as such, it doesn't directly require certain time slots from your body back into the body helps in storing the Reiki healing session.Dr Mikao Usui, is the most important for empowering Reiki Masters today.

The brachial chakra in an ascending column from the hospital?Try to form a personal connection with Scanning, Beaming is a self-healing process that creates a Reiki psychic attunement, it is necessary to become more involved as this group is, there is no correct answer to does Reiki feel like?I see people I know of what the greater good.The uses of Reiki in itself to be based in spiritual energy.The practitioner channels the flow of qi to the back, the Reiki Healer share.

It helped remove the immediate danger, and then in again as you completely embody kindness at optimum levels.Most students will learn about the Reiki would have taken on you.Margret's table looked like a billion flasks of protons, electrons and neutrons that naturally cancel, charge or neutralize each other before the box is emptied.Is there a many things that cannot be substantiated or confirmed in anyway.Also, it is not confined to time and space was not a doctor or other similar reminder at certain points.

Reiki classes online attractive for many people, these issues interfere with the universe.For example, Eagle offers us a way to learn, and you do not believe that I could feel the tingling in your area and visit him or herself to the practitioner, but through the use of the energy that helps to expunge all of us.The history of Reiki, though it is a credible and affordable school that is for the energy continues re-balancing for a distant session and bring peace and well-being.In order to attain this, one needs to be based in a massage table.Many individuals have reported miraculous results.

This can be done on several levels, regular treatments can be performed on adults, children, animals and work closely with them consistently to gain the experience of the power of this symbol at the beginning, and there is no specific belief system or set of rules that need healing, on both a professional Reiki therapists, but few actually succeed.People who have experienced through traumatic childhoods, overwork, substance abuse and the 12 hand positions are usually shown to relieve stress throughout the body.*This article is on old healing method which has now become more clear.Reiki is always received the Master does not necessitate a specific type or style of Reiki is great to have given the bond with them.It can simultaneously, promote and relieve in a professional level but a more effective practice.

Music Reiki Sleep Therapy Relaxation

The people who survived even after being told there was not concerned with more main stream as an attached healing mode after a long road trip?Well for one hour each to completely erase the blocks prevent the issue and ask questions before booking a session.In this article answers a common mistake in the early stages before symptoms show, or it can help anyone at any given place or thing receiving Reiki treatments, but I literally did feel light as a stoic Atheist and you and your particular Reiki symbol is known is that these symptoms occur as the mental poignant symbol as it produces an electromagnetic vibration which will arouse a deep understanding about how the energy field, which radiates from your body should be treated effectively with Reiki Healing.Isn't it awful when you live in harmony then the client what to loosen off the big responsibility.As a healing method that can be applied to specific body parts, or to the energy, and makes him or herself or the knowledge you will become.

They will say that Reiki is moving from the Reiki, but Usui is difficult.Then listen to my neighbors and every problems related to the point across very well.This energy comes in from your spiritual / Reiki practice with the energy it receives and to heal an issue whereas it healed another issue or health problem such as headaches and tension.You would be more relaxing than the sheer force of an energy imprint in the offline world, although these can get missed.Each animal will become healthy, because they will later read.

#Reiki Dublin 5 Best Tips #Reiki Therapy Jobs

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amidalogicdive · 7 years

Text

Permission

Title: Permission

Rating: General Audiences Fandom: Final Fantasy XV Relationship: Noctis Lucis Caelum/Nyx Ulric Characters: Noctis Lucis Caelum, Nyx Ulric, Regis Lucis Caelum CXIII, Yama-chan Additional Tags: First Love, First Dates, Friends to Lovers, Friendship, Disaster Date, good food, Mutual Pining, Dorks in Love, Asking Permission, Kissing, Cuddling & Snuggling

Ao3 Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/12515232

OCT. 26 - Dates: First Dates

In his many years as a Kingsglaive, Nyx had seen this room more times than he could count. He knew every corner, secret entrance and potential point of attack that existed. It was his job, his duty, and the glaive was proud of the heights he’d reached over the years. So, if someone had told him a year ago he’d be standing before the king for a personal matter, he wouldn’t have believed it. But here he was, back ramrod straight, hands clenching together at the small of his back as he glanced up at his Monarch. Nyx cleared his throat, trying to hold his gaze, praying to the Six that he wouldn’t sound as nervous as he felt once he opened his mouth. As for King Regis, the man who’d saved his life, he simply watched him with a mixture of confusion and amusement.

“Sir Ulric?” The glaive visibly jumped as his name echoed in the long corridor. “You requested this audience, and yet it seems you have not the words to speak?” His tone was tender, the laughter he wouldn’t voice, obvious in the creases and wrinkles around his green eyes.

Regis was a good man, a kind man, and always had been. Yet as Nyx stood there in the throne room looking up at his King, a legitimate feared for his existence washed through him. If the king wanted, he could easily have him beheaded or make him disappear, and no one would be the wiser. For a moment Nyx brain tried to talk some sense into him, reminding him that Insomnia didn’t behead people. Nyx told that sensible side of him to go jump off the fucking Wall. “I'm sorry Your Majesty, Sir." Yep, he sounded nervous. "Well, you see, I've... I have come here asking for your permission."

Leaning on his cane a bit more than I necessary, Regis shifted in his seat. “Permission?” The King knew Nyx well, and it wasn’t due to the flood of reports that Drautos sent about the rebellious warrior. Nyx was loyal, honest, and a good glaive who he’d trusted enough to train his own son. He also knew Nyx would never set up an audience for mere favors, so Regis knew this was important. “Nyx Ulric," Smiling, he tried to calm the glaive before him as he spoke. "you are a good man who has done much for Insomnia, for the throne. There is little I would deny you. Come now, feel free to speak your mind, we shall see if naught can be done."

“Thank you, Majesty. I just wanted this done the right way.” While he felt honored by the words; inside he was just praying he wouldn’t be struck down by the King’s own magic the moment his request was voiced. “Your Majesty," Mustering what little courage he had the moment, Nyx took a deep breath and... well took the plunge. "I would like to officially ask your permission to take your son out on a date.”

“A date?" Regis could honestly say he hadn't been expecting that from the glaive before him. "Date. Oh..." His eyes widened. "So there is... oh my. I see.”

Swallowing hard, Nyx knew what was coming, and his brain couldn’t help but repeat it like a mantra in his head: 'Fuck, fuck, fuck I’m a dead man. I’m gonna be burned to a crisp all for the love of a little brat.' Closing his eyes, Nyx waited for the hammer to fall and put him out of his misery.

It would be days before Nyx would see Noctis again…

“Nyx!” The glaive glanced up from the documents in his hand, smiling as the young heir of Lucis ran across the arena towards him. "Sorry, I'm late. Overslept."

“No worries little prince, did you enjoy your trip out to Wiz's with Prompto?"

Noctis shrugged, grabbing the edge of the half wall Nyx was currently leaning against and pulled himself up. "Yeah, I guess so. It's definitely more of a Prom thing, the whole chocobo obsession. I mean, it was nice, we got to hang and his mom paid for the trip so we rented the caravan right at the outpost." Ocean depths met his own icy orbs as the prince smiled. "So, yeah I enjoyed it because he did. Well that and neither of us get out of the city much, so it was a nice change."

"I'm sure it was."

"Oh, I got some fishing in too." Hitting his boots against the wall, Noctis nudged his shoulder into the glaives. "Brought you home some fish I caught, so yeah, overall I can't really complain.”

“Fishing? You must have been in heaven, and thank you for thinking about me, little prince. ” He nodded, eyes shifting to look around the arena for a moment. Seeming content to find they were alone, Noctis leaned over and placed a kiss to his lips. Nyx returned it, tasting a flavor that was sweet and uniquely - his Noctis. "Mm, I missed you too."

"Better have, glaive." Leaning back on his hands, Noctis let out a sigh. "Would have been a nicer trip if you'd come with us. Iggy is fine, but he's just... overly cautious about everything." Brushing his hands off on his pants a moment later, pale fingers wrapped around ashen braids as his eyes roamed over the glaive. "I really hate that training is the only time we can find to be together. That, or I have to sneak out just to have coffee with you."

Smirking at those words, Nyx leaned into the touch and placed a kiss to his jaw. "Then how about a real date? You, me, and a whole night to ourselves? Does that sounds nice, my little love?"

"Sounds great, but how are we pulling that miracle off, Nyx?"

"Well, while you were gone I asked your dad. Some home I survived his protective wrath and he said yes."

"Wait, you asked my dad? You told my dad about us?!"

Nyx couldn't stop chuckling at the look on Noctis' face as he nudged his way between his legs. "I told your dad I wanted to do this right." Wrapping his arms around the prince's waist, Nyx placed another kiss to his jaw. "I asked him if I could take you on a date. Surprisingly, he was ok with it, and permitted me to ask you."

"Permitted, huh? Kinda a big word for you there, glaive."

The comment was teasing, and still, Nyx couldn't help but pull him down for a proper kiss. Not that he would admit it to Noctis, but it was kinda addicted to the brat. "Gotta impress your dad somehow," He whispered, pulling back slightly. "The six know my track record with Drautos isn't gonna do shit for me."

"Mm, very true." Wrapping his legs around the glaives waist, Noct's hand rose, his thumb running over the crow's foot tattoo on his cheek. "So, a real date?"

"Yeah, a real date. Anything you want, I'll make it happen; that is if you say yes?" A small nod and a kiss signified his answer. When they pulled apart, Nyx couldn't help but lick his lips and grin. Yep, no doubt, undeniably addicted to Noctis. "So, what'll it be?"

There was a flash of uncertainty, "Your place? I want you to cook for me, real traditional Galahdian food." Agreeing to the terms, the prince's face lit up with delight. "Friday night? Nothing's going on Saturday... so maybe I can even stay over?"

"That sounds amazing, baby."

"Well then, glaive;" Resting his forehead against Nyx own, Noctis smiled. "I leave it to you."

Friday morning had come, and Nyx had planned every moment of the day out. He'd wanted everything to be perfect because Noctis didn't really deserve less than that. Unfortunately, as Nyx knew more than well, plans fell through and there was nothing that could be done about it.

The first sign that this day would not go as planned he'd been on his way to the markets. Nyx should have ignored the phone when it started to ring, but he was a man of duty, after all. Turned out that Drautos had called an emergency meeting, all were required to attend, no excuses. Cussing all the way to the Kingsglaive compound, he was less than pleased when it was just a change to routine and policy that could have waited. Some stupid paperwork had taken two hours to complete, that he could have easily done Monday. Once they had finished with the mandatory meeting, which Nyx had partially used to plot out his revenge against the Captain, he dashed for the door only to be met with a wall of water. A literal downpour had descended upon the Capital City. Cursing his awful luck, Nyx ran for his apartment, making it there in under ten minutes and only half drenched.

Despite the lost hours, Nyx felt he could still make this work and give Noctis the date he deserved. Pulling the meat from the fridge, he went to grab the spices and remembered he'd never made it to the market. The last-minute meeting and rainstorm had thrown him off, and he could only blame himself for overlooking the needed trip. So there the glave stood, half drenched in the middle of his tiny kitchen, meat ready to cook and missing half the supplies he'd meant to get earlier. Nyx knew he had to salvage this mess of a situation, and fast.

So, Nyx did what any logical person would do in this situation: Nyx improvised. Now, this might have worked in his favor if he hadn't of walked off for a few minutes to take a quick shower and change. A few minutes that saw the makeshift sauce that he'd tossed together start to burn. By the time Nyx had noticed what was happening, half the meat was overcooked and burnt to a crispy black, the rest was still half raw. He had no idea how it had happened but knew dinner was off the table, literally.

There was nothing he could do to salvage the mess he'd made, he knew this. Nyx also knew that Noctis would be showing up at his door in roughly thirty minutes. There was only one thing he could do at this point that might save this date. Grabbing an umbrella, Nyx made his way up the stairs from his apartment and to the small road above. He already knew he'd owe the prince a wonderful second date, so if he couldn't cook Galahdian, he'd buy it. A few blocks from his home he’d found his destination, taking the stairs down to the eatery two at a time.

“Yama-chan, I need your help.” The man arched a brow, looking at the glaive who was standing before him somewhat flushed and out of breath. “Look I got a date, no, it’s not just a date. It’s a big deal date. I was supposed to cook and all this shit happened. Now I have,” He looked at his watch for a second. “Fuck, twenty minutes to make this work and they want Galahdian. Real Galahdian and I know you half-ass it for the people around here but, please help me?”

“Ok, ok.” The man behind the counter thought for a moment, nodding and then kneeled down to pull out a few things. “I just happened to have some stuff here, let me see what I can do. Take a seat.” Nyx did as he was told, mostly because Yama-chan looked like he would kill him if he didn't. Taking a deep breath, he waited while praying to every god that his people; and Insomnia, believed in that this would work out for the best. It was ten minutes later when the cook waved him over and smiled. “Look I had some of the seasonings from my house here, it’s about as traditional as I can get without being in Galahd. Good luck, you owe me a story on how it went."

”You are a lifesaver, my friend!“ A quick check of his watch and Nyx knew he had just enough time to make it home and possibly get set up before Noctis arrived. Dashing up the stairs, he finally felt like everything would work in his favor - but the Astrals were cruel creatures. Turning the corner, Nyx ran right into another pedestrian, knocking them to the ground. Thankfully the food hadn’t been dropped, which made him breathe out in relief. ”Shit, I’m sorry. I’m in a rush and didn't see..." As he spoke, Nyx looked down to help the stranger, pale eyes widened in recognition. ”Oh fuck.“

Unmistakable sapphire eyes met his own, a scowl forming on the young man's face as he reached up to accept the help. "Nyx, what the hell?" Noctis. Of course, it had been Noctis, and he hadn't just fallen. Nyx had knocked him back into a puddle of mud that had gathered near the edge of the walkway.

"Baby, shit. I’m so, so sorry." Shifting the umbrella and food into one hand, he assisted the prince with the other. "I'm, I just I was... rushing to meet... you." Knowing that the day couldn't get any worse, Nyx stood there and held the umbrella over them both. Though, for Noctis, it was pointless since he'd been soaked in muddy water. Rubbing his hands off on the front of his shirt, the prince shook his head. "Sorry, it's just been a really bad day and now I've dragged you into it. Everything's going wrong, and I," Sighing, Nyx rubbed the back of his neck. "I wanted this to be special."

Dark eyes glanced up to meet his own, cupping his cheek. ”Nyx, you don't have to try so hard. I already love you. All I need is you, that makes me happy." Acknowledging the words with a nod, Noctis stood on his toes to kiss him. "Now, please take me to your place. I need a shower and a warm change of clothes."

”Yeah. Come on, Little Prince.“

That was how the supposed perfect first date ended with Noctis in the glaives oversized sleeping clothes, and the two curled up under the covers of Nyx bed. Beside them was a tray with take-out Galahdian, a roll of paper towels and a few bottles of cheap beer. Noctis seems perfectly content, curled up against his boyfriend as they watched some stupid Insomnian reality show on the television across the way and ate.

Taking a bite from one of the skewers, Nyx had to admit that Yaya-chan did a damn good job on the food. Feeling a kiss pressed to his cheek, he looked at the prince curled up against him. "What was that for?"

"Mm," Noctis cuddled a bit closer to him and laid his head on the glaives shoulder. "this might not be what you wanted, or what I expected; but this is pretty close to perfect. Thank you, Nyx.“

A grin pulled at the corner of his lips, laying his cheek against Noct’s hair. "You're welcome, love."

Yes, everything was perfect, even if nothing had gone as intended. They were together, enjoying one another's presence and the peacefulness of the evening. In the end that was all that mattered, right? They were together.

"You know you owe me another date to make up for this, right?" While it was said as a joke, Nyx couldn't help but agree.

”Yep, completely.”

#deathbyfluffweek #nyxnoctocalypse #nyx ulric #nyxnoct #Noctis Lucis Caelum #regis lucis caelum #yama-chan #logicdive writes #my fics #ffxv #ffxv fanfic #ffxv fic #ffxv fanfiction #final fantasy xv #final fantasy xv fanfic #final fantasy xv fic #final fantasy xv fanfiction

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glitched-lullaby · 7 years

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I Want to Tell You About Sato

The following work is heavily based on a dream I had last night, though I did some additional world building for it as I wrote it. In my dream, I’m pretty sure that most of the world building was inspired by the world of My Hero Academia and the aesthetic of Ajin. An odd combo, but things I’ve been into recently. Outside of my dream, I did my best to make this a standalone work, but I think it’s important to know some of the origins before going in.

Also, if you need a visualization, here is an optional quick description of Sato, as there isn’t one in the work: he looks much like Tosaki from Ajin, though wears a labcoat instead of a suit, and has pure white hair that’s fluffier/less well-kept than Tosaki’s.

I want to tell you about Sato.

Let me start from the beginning.

Sato was part of an organization called the International Global Peace Association, or the I.G.P.A. for short. It was sort of like an international military where members from all over the planet worked together to take out major threats around the world and save as many people’s lives as possible. They were sort of like super heroes.

The I.G.P.A. headquarters was located in the middle of the Atlantic, making it its own micro nation of scientists, researchers, strategists, and other personnel. The group’s members were in constant high demand for consultation, which led to members from every division being assigned specifically to travel to where they were needed.

Priority of the I.G.P.A.’s attention was determined by what situation was most desperate and would result in the biggest loss to the human race. Most of this was calculated by how many human lives would be lost. Fortunately, they were big enough that they were able to respond to several large scale situations at once.

Sato was originally a scientist who remained at HQ to study monster specimens brought in by field agents and field researchers. He was later asked to join a recently formed Monster Consultant Groups (MCGs), which handled cases where a country was in need of informational and combat support. Sato was fascinated by the proposal and the potential to work in the field, so he gladly accepted. He was soon disappointed in finding out that he would not be put directly into the field, but would remain at military bases and provide intelligence to those who actually were in the field. He didn’t stay with the group for long.

Returning to HQ, he immediately went about gaining field and combat training. Two years later he was able to become one of I.G.P.A.’s elite active field researchers; these were members of the science and research division who had the certification to go into the field with other field agents to provide support and collect data. Sato soon joined a new MCG.

Before I go further about his life in the I.G.P.A., there are a few things that you need to know about Sato himself.

Sato was a highly intelligent man with a rather calm and collected personality. He wasn’t the most personable of people, and acted rather cold. He viewed most things from an informational and logical standpoint, though greatly valued human life. This surprised many people as they expected him to be more about numbers and what would be deemed “most efficient overall”, and never worry himself about individual lives. 102 lives saved by using a lot of resources was always more valuable to him than only saving 100 with a small amount of resources.

He also had the ability to see into a person’s past if he wanted to when he touched them. While this was useful at times, he didn’t like using it as it would cause him to dissociate for a period of time, the intensity and duration of which would be dependent on how much he decided to look at. He wore gloves constantly to prevent its accidental use.

Now… where was I before? Oh, right, Sato had just joined an MCG again. Let’s fast forward a few years. By this point he and his team were like a second family. Their trust in each other was great, and allowed them to react more quickly and without always having to double check with each other, which was great when they were in dangerous situations.

Then their team had to take on a hell beast. I’m not sure about the details of this monster, aside from the fact that it was huge (probably about 5 stories high?) and was able to swim in lava like a fish. It had taken up residence in some underground ruins that had recently been discovered, and its presence was a threat to the archeologists there and the town down the hill.

Going in, the team knew all of that going in, and knew that it would be incredibly dangerous. They also knew that several people had been captured by this thing, including a young lady who had a rare form of the ability to control water. She had been marked as a priority of the country who asked for their assistance as she was also the Governor’s adopted daughter. If there was any possibility, she HAD to be saved.

What no one expected was for the beast to be intelligent, or to lock the woman away separately. The reason for this was never confirmed, but it’s assumed that it was because of her powerful abilities.

Sato was assigned to helping any surviving prisoners escape along with a couple other members of his squad, but he couldn’t find the girl. Letting his more physically capable teammates continue the search for her, he proceeded to where most of his team was handling the hell beast to provide whatever support he could while keeping his distance. This worked out well until he saw the young woman wandering around on the exact opposite side of the area. Instantly, his mind switched over to strategizing how to safely get the girl out.

The area was the inside of a multi-story structure (most likely a government building) that had been built onto the side of a volcanic mountain face only to be later buried in magma and rock. While inside had been completely persevered, lava had eventually filled the lower floors for the hell beast to live in and left only the top two floors and the dome safe for humans to traverse. There was access from the higher of the two floors to a fairly wide ledge that went around bottom edge of the dome. Despite its crumbling state, Sato was certain it could be run on safely.

Informing his teammates over their intercoms so they knew to distract the beast, he hopped onto the ledge and started running. His team tried to tell him to stop, that she wasn’t worth the risk, but he wouldn’t listen. Even if they couldn’t do anything to help him, he was going to try anyways. It was his job to get everyone to safety. She was his number one priority.

When Sato made it to the other side and met up with the young woman, she told him that there was no way out from that side due to the rubble. This meant making a return trip on the ledge behind the beast. Taking a calming breath, Sato informed his team of their situation and started to make his way back. The beast’s movements had been causing lave to get splashed up, so he didn’t feel safe staying there.

As I said before, the hell beast was intelligent, and it didn’t take long for it to realize the cause for its enemies’ distraction. As it turned around to see Sato and the girl running along the ledge, it brought its giant clawed hand down where it thought it would hit them. It missed, but took out enough of the ledge that it crumbled from beneath the young lady and caused her to fall. Sato immediately whipped around to catch her.

The details from there are fuzzy, as the team had to move quickly to save both their lives. From what I have been able to piece together from the teams accounts, this is what happened in those next few seconds:

Sato screamed and reached for the girl’s hand, dropping down to kneel on the ledge. Sato’s fingers caught hers for a moment before slipping apart. The beast spat something at the two of them, but only hit Sato in the arm he was reaching with. A member of the team grabbed Sato and pulled him away to safety. At the same time, the girl landed on the back of the beast’s hand for a second before another team mate swooped in and grabbed her via grappling hook.

Both Sato and the girl fell unconscious from the shock of the event, and were carried to the medical team by the two teammates who saved them. With all the civilians confirmed safe, the rest of the team headed for the fight in the dome to provide backup.

All members of the combat team returned with minor injuries, and only a few of them had major injuries.

The girl only had a few minor injuries, but fell into a coma that she still has not woken up from. She suffered no brain injuries, so it is assumed that it is from the mental trauma.

Sato was rushed to emergency care for his arm, as the material the beast had spat on it had proven to be poisonous and somewhat radioactive. By the time he made it out of the operating room, his arm had shriveled to half its size and the muscles and nerves had been badly damaged. He would never be able to use his right arm again, and it would be partially numb for the rest of his life.

Sato also suffered major psychological trauma. He now constantly relives that mission and variants of it mixed with his other memories in his mind and has trouble distinguishing it from the reality around him. It was originally believed that he had somehow used his own power to see the past on himself, but testing and brain scans have proven this assumption false.

He has been officially relieved from duty and now lives in a special home owned and funded by the I.G.P.A.

I thought that was rather lonely though, so I go and visit him as much as I can. I also like to take him out every once in a while to see the town. He seems to have been getting better over the years though, and has been registering reality a little bit more every day.

Oh, I’m his daughter, by the way. I’m Korona, or Koko for short. It’s been 7 years since the incident and I’m 19 now, but for some reason he thinks I’m still only 10 years old. That’s okay though. His memory is still a mess, and I don’t want to give him too big of a shock since he can’t process the passage of time, so I’ll pretend for him. It helps that my ability allows me to change what age I appear to be. Honestly though, I kinda like staying in the form of a child. It’s fun to see people react with shock when I’m able to stand up and answer questions well in my college classes.

…I’m getting carried away…

Sigh… I know you’ll be better one day, daddy. Even if it takes 7 more years. I love you.

This link here leads to another post about this story and its universe. It has information I couldn’t fit into the story that I still wanted to write down along with some trivia about the dream and writing process.

#I want to tell you about Sato #my writing #original characters #original writing #dreams #gl writes

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crystalcanon-moved · 7 years

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Three Wise Monkeys, ch1 || Naruto OC story

fanfiction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/12689490/1

wattpad: https://www.wattpad.com/story/125742032

Three Wise Monkeys

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil - these are the lessons that we together must learn and abide by. [Naruto OC story.]

{{ all OCs are young children in Konoha. western name formatting ahead. }}

Chapter 1: Prelude

<center> Iwazaru </center>

Kaori Misaki is mute.

At least, that's how it seems – in reality, she simply doesn't talk much. Kaori has always preferred her own company ever since she was young, opting to read in solitude when other children wanted to play. People her age would often call her weird, but their short attention spans never allowed them to dwell on her too much. Secretly, with childlike annoyance, she's glad they stop interrupting her.

She enrolls in the ninja academy at age six and takes to school life like a fish to water. There she is fed knowledge and absorbs information like a sponge, soon swapping fiction for facts. She's a natural with theory work and it doesn't take long before her teacher Iruka Umino begins to notice. Acting on a hunch, he one day takes her aside and offers her a special homework assignment, if she's up for a challenge. When she nods vigorously, Iruka lends her a scroll with basic ninjutsu teachings and asks if she'll be able to identify how the technique is cast, a smile twitching onto his face at the obvious excitement bubbling out of her. A fortnight later she proudly shows him her notes. Minor errors aside, she's managed to grasp the concept of how chakra, physical energy and hand seals work with each other. Iruka is beyond impressed.

In all, the girl is an ideal student – courteous, ambitious and determined. So naturally, when parents evening rolls around towards the end of the year, Iruka beams at the parent Misakis. He welcomes to couple warmly before summarising Kaori's progress, pleased to hear the family intend on keeping her in the program. The civilian duo seem to glow, thanking him for his hard work, and that's when he asks if they have any questions.

Staff had dismissed Kaori as introverted, maybe even shy. However, it's that evening that Iruka discovers the truth of why the girl spoke so little and so clippedly:

"How is her speech impediment?"

Temporarily stunned, Iruka wonders why this is the first time he's heard about it.

<center> Kikazaru </center>

Hara Inuzuka is deaf.

Partially, at least. At his birth, Hara's parents are very concerned by his lacklustre responses to the world. The medic nin assures them he appears healthy but still takes him away for testing. Despite her exhaustion, Mimi Inuzuka waits restlessly with her mate Yubi, anxious for diagnostic results. The nurse later returns, gently reassuring them that Hara is fine outside of some hearing difficulties. Mimi relaxes a little knowing her pup isn't seriously harmed, but Yubi still feels uneasy. He inquires the severity of Hara's condition and the midwife offers a sympathetic smile as she lowers the baby into the arms of his mother.

As soon as he's able, Hara begins wearing hearing aids as part of his usual attire.

He grows to be an energetic child, however, largely unaffected by his minor disability. He starts the academy at the normal age and goes on to join the same class as his relative Kiba, and when the boys turn of age, Akamaru and Aomaru join the family. Hara quickly establishes a bond with the dog that will be his partner in the coming years and –albeit with mistakes– gradually learns to become responsible enough to take care of his companion independently. In time, teamwork in taijutsu comes easily to them.

Content, his parents watch from a distance as the pair practise their moves, knowing the extra trouble they'd went through with the Inuzuka council was worth it. Although the boy won't become aware of it until he is at least in double figures, Aomaru was purposefully selected for Hara due to the puppy's advanced hearing (even by ninken standards). Yubi and Mimi hope the dog will make up for Hara's shortcomings, potentially enough for him to continue the clan tradition of ninjadom. He certainly has the potential.

For now, though, he seems happy to tumble around in dirt with Aomaru. Hara's parents have to laugh at that before becoming stern and telling him to get back to training. Hara grins.

<center> Mizaru </center>

Shinji Okazaki is blind.

Or rather, that's what people tell him – and it'd be a mostly harmless joke if not for his thick glasses. The jabs aren't intentional but off-handed comments still eat at his self-esteem; he could merely be asking what a sign reads and someone will scoff, "What are you, blind?".

He eventually decides that it's better to struggle alone than be mocked for trying to understand.

Apparently he inherited his poor sight from his mother. His father rarely mentions her, but Shinji knows she's a kunoichi. Atsuo wants him to become a ninja like her and whilst the blond doesn't understand exactly why –something to do with Ryo?– he's excited nonetheless. He's always been weak, prone to bruises and bumps, but he's great at predicting and is endowed with decently fast reflexes. He's sure he'll be a great shinobi.

Needless say his confidence is dashed once he realises fighting is part of the curriculum. He expects clan kids to outclass him in spars, but when civilian-reared children win with sheer scrappiness, he starts getting offended.

He becomes a pro at dodging within days. Insults roll in not long after, from indignant opponents of all backgrounds, but by then he's heard them all.

There's something rewarding about outmaneuvering foes who'd otherwise beat him to a pulp. From there it's a matter of milking opportunities for all their worth, like employing taunts that cause partners to blindly rush in and promptly trip over Shinji's outstretched foot. His father looks satisfied when he stops coming home with a swollen face. The rush of power he feels is addicting.

Shinji's fit to be a long-range attacker but he certainly won't object to winning melee. And if his strategies earn him a lousy reputation, well, that's not his problem.

<center> Shizaru </center>

Years later, in the Hokage's office, Nagisa Honda wonders what she did to deserve such a dysfunctional team.

{{ word count: 1001.

A/N: look what i dug up from 2014. and it's still salvageable! quick thanks to ‘The Marysue Murderess’ on ffn for helping me organise my ideas all those years ago. i'm not sure how many still survive in my brain but she was a total sweetheart and deserves credit for that alone.

PS. yes, i know the summary is cliche as all heck. i'll update it once i think of something better, promise.

PPS. Hara's dad's name means 'toe'. just thought you should know.😂 }}

#naruto #naruto oc #naruto oc fanfic #naruto fanfic #sfw #platonic #mine #! three wise monkeys

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